[jodi]

In my experience, buying generics has saved me the most (especially at places like Aldis). I have eliminated virtually all prepared foods (cakes, cookies, doughnuts, crackers, etc.) from my grocery list as a result of going on the South Beach diet - and my grocery bill has skyrocketed because I have replaced them with fresh fruits and veggies and whole grain products, which are so much more expensive than highly processed foods. But it's worth the extra money to see those pounds slip away and know that I will be so much more healthier for it. I rarely use coupons because they tend to be for prepared food, and I cook nearly every meal from scratch.