Always sticking to brand names can be a waste of money. Cheaper store brand products often rate as highly as big name ones, and you may not even notice the difference.

A taste test by U.K.’s consumer group Which? saw that a supermarket’s brand beat Heinz mayo and baked beans, which cost about twice and thrice the store brand price, respectively.

If you go shopping without a list, you'll likely browse the aisles buying items you don't need and forget ones you do, meaning you’ll need a second trip to the store.

To make things easier, plenty of smartphone apps allow you to add to your shopping list throughout the week, and others in the house can adjust them from their own devices, too.

If you leave your fridge disorganized when heading to the store, you may not have enough space for storing fresh produce when you return, which is frustrating.

A spotless and organized fridge can streamline the whole process. If you sort out your fridge beforehand, you may even find items you didn't realize you had, saving yourself money.

Buying in bulk without knowing your freezer has no space can lead to food waste, as things you had planned to freeze will have to be eaten faster than anticipated.

Hence, checking your freezer for space and reorganizing it before shopping is crucial. Consider moving items from half-empty boxes to freezer bags to reduce the space they take up.

Meal planning lets you tailor your meals to the ingredients you already have. Thus, if you go shopping without a meal plan, you’ll likely buy more items than you need.

Without a meal plan, you may run out of ideas and end up buying pricey convenience food. Plus, if your weekly meals are planned beforehand, the junk food aisle won’t lure you much.