It seems as though every day the news reports more and more job losses. My heart goes out to all those who are affected by lay-offs and downsizing during these rough financial times. These times have forced my family to analyze how much money we spend and where we spend it. With three children, two adults and two dogs, we spend a rather hefty amount of our income on food.

There are many ways to cut that grocery bill down to size, especially with the help of the Internet. First of all, make that list! It is well worth your time to write a detailed list before heading out the door. Without a list, you’re likely to be more vulnerable to impulse purchases and will spend more time and money than necessary. Take a quick look around the kitchen. You may find forgotten items in the back of the cabinet only needing an ingredient or two in order to prepare a great meal. Weekly sales advertisements are useful in making your list and are available on most local grocer’s websites, including Kroger and Foodland stores. This really helps in determining whether or not it is worth visiting several stores for deals on any particular week.

Sign up for those shopper loyalty cards! They are free and the applications only take a minute or two to complete. Without these cards, you often pay full price for items that are on sale. There are also many other benefits to using these cards, such as additional coupons and discounts on fuel. Most loyalty cards make it easier to track your spending and savings by listing the information on the bottom of your sales receipt each visit.

Coupons, coupons, coupons! You don’t have to spend hours going through newspapers clipping coupons to save money. Think of coupons as free money, because they really are, and they add up quickly. Visit your favorite food companies’ websites, such as General Mills, Smart Balance and Pillsbury to receive free product samples, coupons, recipes and information on new and healthier products hitting the store shelves. These websites are extremely user friendly and offer tons of information and savings. Personally, I avoid websites that promise coupons only after spending an hour completing registration information and declining thousands of unwanted offers. These sites will litter your inbox and don’t offer much of a pay-off. It is much easier to find coupons for your favorite products by going directly to the companies themselves; most are easily found using any search engine, such as Google.

Get your penny-pinching friends and family involved. Start a coupon group. Get your group together to share budget-friendly recipes, trade coupons and other advice on saving at the grocery store. Online groups are another great option. Search groups on Yahoo Groups and other sites for members with your enthusiasm to save.

I’ve added some links to videos and websites that will get you started and hopefully excited about feeding your family for less. There has never been a better time to save money. Food banks are struggling to meet demands, so if you are fortunate enough to have more than you need, consider donating.