Save money at the grocery store

How can the average family of four chop its grocery bill by $190 a month?

By shifting to a lower-cost mix of foods, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. Making different choices in the supermarket and when eating out can net monthly savings ranging from $130 to $255.

The agency monitors prices of four nutritionally balanced grocery baskets at different cost levels: liberal, moderate-cost, low-cost, and thrifty. The liberal basket contains more food per month than the moderate-cost one, a greater proportion of pricier food like beef and fish, and more wasted leftovers.

Learn how to shop smart for food in our Money report, Cut your spending by $500 per month. Also see our reports on organic baby food and keeping your baby's food safe for more information.