[LittleGopher]

My family has been working hard on this very budget item! I can't say we're perfect or have it all down pat, but we've made a sizeable reduction in our grocery bill. Here's what we did that might work for you.

First I started shopping every two weeks instead of weekly. And I don't go backto the store in between those trips. I plan out meals and keep my pantry and freezer stocked, so can usually work out most missing ingredient dilemmas.

I've gotten better at getting what we will use plus a little extra until the next shopping trip to the grocery store and the bakery outlet for bread. I am improving at using the leftovers that I've frozen, and rotating everything in my freezers, so it is all used in a timely fashion.

I try to buy ingredients, rather than anything pre-processed or -packaged. I do admit to buying the 25cent mac & cheese - a cheap convenience that my girls will eat! I buy up ground beef in family packs, and brown it and repackage 1 lb. bags into the freezer, for easy inclusion into many meals.
And I do stock up buying frozen chicken breasts bags on sale. So I'm not perfect, and appreciate some conveniences. I bake treats for my girls' lunches, rather than travel down the snack aisle.

We eat at least two non-meat dinners a week, tend toward cheaper meals - spaghetti, eggs, etc., watch for deals or free (even better!) and keep an eye on reducing waste (freezing or eating leftovers soon, using up the fresh vegies and fruits.)

Good luck!