1Pre-Cut Veggies and Fruits
Getty "Skip the apple slices and do the food prep yourself," Jeanette Pavini, savings expert for Coupons.com. "Even things like lettuce can be a lot less expensive if you wash it yourself."
2Baked Goods
Getty The confections at your grocer's bakery feature markups of up to 300% in some cases, according to Kendel Perez, savings expert for CouponSherpa.com. Flour, sugar, oil, eggs and milk are inexpensive. "A boxed cake mix costs a dollar and can be thrown together in less than 10 minutes," writes Perez. "Ditch the bakery and head to the baking aisle instead."
3Chicken Pieces
Getty You can get 2-3 times the amount of meat for your money by buying a whole chicken versus individually packaged pieces like chicken breasts, says Coupons.com's Pavini.
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4Pre-Seasoned Meats
Getty Steak kabobs, cubes of meat for a stir fry, and chicken tenders can be marked up by nearly 60%, says consumer finance expert Andrea Woroch. She recommends picking up larger slabs of meat and untrimmed chicken to save money.
5Out-of-Season Produce
Getty Reduced supply makes off-season produce is incredibly pricey. "Just because strawberries are available in December doesn't mean you should buy them," says Perez. She recommends either buying only what's in season or opting for frozen produce, which is flash-frozen at peak ripeness.
6Fat
Getty Yep, that's right: When you get a cut of meat that's priced per pound, you're paying for any fat on it, too. "Ask your butcher to cut the fat off of the meat before they weigh it," says Pavini.
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7Snack Bags
Getty Consumers can save $150 per year by nixing individual servings sizes of potato chips, according to ClarkHoward.com. Those little bags, and lunch-sized portions of produce, are often marked up by 50%.
8Pet Food
Getty Woroch says buying pet food in bulk from either a warehouse store or big box store like Walmart and Target will get you the best bang for your buck.
9Frozen French Fries
Getty Freezer section fries can cost up to $4 per 16-oz. bag. Buy a 5-lb. bag of potatoes for less than that and get nearly triple the amount of fries by making your own. It takes minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven.
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10Cleaning Products
Getty "You'll find the best deals on household cleaners at big box stores," says Woroch. The dollar store can be a good place to pick up these items, too, though it's worth noting that their brands may be more diluted. "Better yet, make your own multipurpose cleaner for less than 50 cents by using pantry staples like vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon," Woroch adds.
11Kitchen Utensils
Getty You'll find tools like spatulas, cookie sheets and baking pans on the baking aisle, but you probably shouldn't spring for them unless you have a coupon. These items sell for 30% more than they would at stores like Target, Walmart, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, according to CouponSherpa.com's Perez.
12Spices and Herbs
Getty Woroch says local ethnic stores often sell spices and herbs for up to 90% less than the name brands sold at grocery stores. "You may not get a fancy bottle, but you can pick up a few reusable ones from the dollar store that will work just as well," she says.
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13Greeting Cards and Party Supplies
Getty "Despite the abundance of cards and party supplies at your local grocer, the dollar store is a much better outlet for these items," says Perez. Stock up on cards at the dollar store (usually 50 cents each) so you won't be tempted by the grocery store's $5 cards.
14Batteries
Getty "You can find better prices on batteries at warehouse club stores or online at sites like Amazon," says Perez.
15Canned Beans
Getty Canned legumes cost upwards of $1 per 14 ounces, but a 2-lb. bag of dried black beans goes for about $1.59 at Aldi, according to ClarkHoward.com. That's12 cups of beans (96 oz.) after soaking — a difference of $0.042 per ounce for canned versus $0.016 for dried.
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