Shopping and other errands are a quick way to burn through that tank of gas that you just filled up. Isn’t it worth your while to cut down all that running around if you can? The less time you spend in the car, after all, the less gas you need to buy. You might even free up some spare time that I’m sure you can find a better use for than shuttling groceries home.

There’s a simple way to cut down on your grocery shopping: surf the web. Many of us already go online to buy books, movies and clothes. Why not buy our food online?

High-Priced Myths

Every person I talk to assumes that buying food online is insanely expensive. That used to be the case: in the past, a lot of the food available online tended to obscure luxury items that companies could still make a good profit on after shipping. But Amazon and other retailers have ironed out some of the kinks in the shipping system, making it reasonable to buy at least some of your food online.

But what is worth buying online? Plenty of foods just aren’t practical to buy and have shipped — some, like milk, go bad. Others, like flour, have high enough shipping costs to make it less than worthwhile. But some items are ideal.

For the past year, I’ve bought all my spices online. Buying in batches allows me to get great deals on bulk amounts — and spices ship for practically nothing. Other good online buys are always non-perishable items. If you find an opportunity to buy with free shipping on anything, I always recommend stocking up. For instance, Amazon Prime members can often get free shipping on select items, making certain foods comparably priced to the stuff at your local grocery store.

The Coupon Game

There are some foods that will always remain impractical to buy online: milk and eggs need refrigeration and rapid transport, something that Amazon can’t exactly promise. But you can find coupons for just about every name brand online, if you’re willing to spend a few minutes at the computer. Even if you can’t time your coupon clipping to coincide with sales, you can still more than make up for the savings you might lose by shopping at only one grocery store. My grandmother used to shop on the basis on the sales papers. She’d go to one store for fruit, another for bread and a third for milk. Sure, she saved money that way, but I can save the same amount by going to just one store and not wasting gas. Coupons just make my food a little cheaper beyond that.

A Little Extra Help

If you’re willing to plan menus in advance and spend a little time thinking about where you’re going to buy your food, you can cut your grocery bill. Food costs trail only energy prices in how fast they’re rising these days. There are so many resources online for cutting your food costs, from online stores to inexpensive recipes that spending a few minutes in front of your computer is well worth your while.

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I have to admit — going to the grocery store is one of my favorite things to do. Many people view it as a chore, but I love cruising down the aisles and picking out all my food for the week. But lately the price of food is putting a damper on my grocery trips. After spending way over my budget a few weeks ago, I decided to look for a few strategies to help me save next time around. You’ll notice that these tips allow you to continue buying the food you like (it’s not practical or healthy to only buy the cheapest foods at the store). You can save some serious cash by following a few key strategies. Read on for seven tips that work for me.

1. Make a firm grocery list and don’t stray from it.
   Before you hit the store, take stock of what you already have in your refrigerator/cupboards and cross off those items. You’ll avoid buying extra items you don’t need.
2. Bring coupons.
   Check the newspaper and save coupons that come in the mail to bring to the store. Stick them to your refrigerator or put them right in your wallet so you don’t forget them. Also, read this Wealth Junkie post “Save Money with Coupons” to get some specific strategies.
3. Buy store brand items.
   Read the food labels and ingredient lists. Many store brand items have the exact same ingredients as the more expensive name brands. Definitely follow this rule for non-food items.
4. But toiletries elsewhere.
   Many toiletries and personal care items are overpriced at the grocery store (for example, toilet paper, shampoo, bar soap, dishwashing liquid). You can buy larger amounts for much cheaper at discount stores such as Walmart. Make the trip to the discount stores once a month and stock up on non-food items. You can also keep a look out for sales at CVS, Walgreens, or Rite-Aid. Their credit back reward cards can save you a significant amount of cash.
5. Don’t buy convenience items.
   Prepared vegetables or fruit, marinated or seasoned meats, and prepared sandwiches can all be traps for spending extra. I think the stores count on our culture to go for whatever is quick and easy. To save yourself some money, buy the separate, unprepared items and enjoy a little quality time in the kitchen.
6. Check quantities for the best price.
   Sometimes buying in bulk is cheaper, but not always. Stash a small calculator in your pocket or purse and take the time to look at prices for the amount of food you’re getting.
7. Pay attention to your food waste at home.
   One of my strategies is to buy organic milk. I’ve noticed that I only drink milk in small quantities, so if I buy conventional milk, half of it spoils before I’ve used it. Organic milk is more expensive, but it’s expiration date is much later than conventional milk because of the ultra-pasteurization process. For me, its actually cheaper to buy organic milk because I don’t waste it and it lasts much longer. Study your own refrigerator for items that go to waste on a regular basis.