You are not alone if you have been feeling the pinch at the grocery store checkout line. The rising cost of food production paired with rapidly increasing inflation rates have driven up grocery bills in a big way. While these costs are out of your control, there are active steps that you can take to help to fight against rising food prices. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Eat at Home

The astronomical cost of food at the grocery store may have you tempted to just head to the drive-through. However, it is important to note that these costs have been passed on to restaurants as well. You will be spending even more money if you choose to eat out. The number one thing that you can do to save money on your food costs is to simply make a conscious effort to eat at home.

Limit Prepared Food

Along the same lines, you need to limit your purchasing of prepared foods from the grocery store. Today's modern society has grown increasingly dependent on the trend of prepared foods ready to go. These ready-made meals may be convenient but they also come with a hefty price tag. If you do need to lean on these meals, consider compromising with what you purchase. For instance, perhaps you want to splurge on the rotisserie chicken but prepare the sides from scratch at home?

Leave the Kids at Home

If you are a parent, you understand all too well how persuasive kids can be when browsing the grocery store aisles. This is particularly true if the kids are hungry or tired when you are trying to fit in that last-minute shopping errand. In addition, research has shown that you spend more money for every minute you spend inside the store. Having kids in tow simply means that you will spend more time shopping, boosting the odds that you unintentionally spend more money.

Lean on Coupons

It may seem antiquated but coupons are still an invaluable resource when looking to save money on food costs. Today's savings are often available online so that you do not have to deal with messy paper coupons. Many grocery stores also have apps that allow you to simply clip your coupon from your smartphone and apply it to your account, bringing down your bill. It could not be easier to browse through the app while you are waiting in line and apply your savings to your account.

Shop the Sales

Savvy shoppers understand that it pays to shop the sales. If you are lucky enough to have a few different stores in your area, it will likely be worth your time to spend a few minutes each week combing through the online circulars to see what each store is offering at a hefty discount. Particularly with non-perishables, it will save you a significant amount of money if you shop the sales and buy these times and stock up when they are at a deep discount.

Buy in Bulk

If you have a lot of mouths to feed, you have probably already discovered the great savings that can be found when buying in bulk. The key to buying in bulk is taking the time to figure out the cost per unit. Once you get in the habit of buying your staples in bulk, you will learn what is a good price for each item. Keep in mind that you are not saving money if you are not consuming all of the items that you purchase in bulk.

Pay in Cash

It may be the oldest trick in the book, however, there is no doubt that many shoppers spend less if they are paying in cash. Giving yourself a set budget each week will ensure that you are not tempted to purchase those impulse items. There is something more tangible about counting and handing over cash than simply swiping a credit card. Paying cash will keep you more accountable to what you are spending each week at the store.

Although you cannot avoid spending money on all of these essentials, practicing these tips will go a long way in helping you to avoid paying too much to feed the family each week.