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We all want to get the best value for our food dollar. Generally speaking there will be some types of food that are better to buy at the grocery store, and other types that are consistently less at other stores. For example, items like meat and breads that can be frozen are almost always cheaper at the warehouse stores. Canned goods may be cheaper at stores like Target. Grocery store sale prices may beat them all. But how do you know for sure?

The easiest way is to compare prices between grocery stores and other food stores by keeping a price book. To start one, save your receipts the next time you go shopping, and note the prices of things you usually buy. Then go to the other stores you’re interested in and write down their prices for those same items. In each case, note whether or not the items in question were on sale, and mark down the price per ounce or gram (in addition to the total price). After just a couple of trips to each store it will become obvious which items are consistently cheaper where.

Of course, to really save money by buying food at the stores where they are priced lowest, you have to be sure to buy ONLY the items you came for. If you walk into Target and get a great deal on a can of chilli but throw in a hundred dollars worth of bedding, you’re better off sticking to the grocery store and avoiding the bedding temptation.