With prices rising almost daily, wise consumers are seeking ways to lower the total of their grocery bill. There are simple ways that can trim costs and these include:

The Dozen Ways To Save

1. Buy fresh produce in season. Prices are lowest for fruits and vegetables when these are in season. Fresh strawberries are low priced in the summer; apples in the fall when orchards pick the ripe fruit.

2. Buy basic. The most basic products are almost without exception cheaper than packaged combination products. Buy fresh chicken and season it yourself rather than buy an all-in-one kit. If your family likes a Chinese stir-fry, don't opt for the frozen meal in a bag. Select fresh vegetables and meats with a sauce product for results that taste better - at a less expensive price. The same goes for tea - tea bags are much cheaper than instant tea products.

3. Buy the advertised specials - especially those on the first page of the ad. The weekly specials on the front page of most grocery ads are called "loss leaders" in the industry. Loss leaders are items sold lower than wholesale cost to bring customers into the store. Stock up on staple products when they are at sale prices. If the store imposes limits, divide your order with a spouse, significant other, or teenage child. Example: If a four pound bag of sugar is selling for 39 cents, limit two with $10 purchase, buy two and split your order with your husband so that he can pick up two bags for the lower price. If you can't round up a shopping partner, consider making two trips through the check-out.

4. Use coupons - but only for items you need. Clipping coupons can be time consuming and despite the coupon masters we see on television, it's seldom that consumers save more than a few cents with coupons. The best way to beat the system is to save coupons for products you normally buy - and if possible, buy the item on sale for extra savings.

5. Compare price per ounce. At one time, most consumers believed that they got more for the money if they bought the giant size of a product. Today, that isn't always the case so savvy shoppers should calculate the price per ounce. How to do this is very simple. Bring along a calculator and divide product price by the number of ounces. Check shelf tags - many stores now offer a comparison right on the grocery shelf.