Getting organized may be one of the most important things you can do to cut your grocery bills. Clipping—or downloading—coupons and looking for sales may be time consuming, but the payoff is huge. Many big-name brands offer downloadable coupons right on their websites. Most grocery stores put staples such as milk and eggs on sale—you just have to keep an eye on their circulars, so you know what to buy when.

Going "green" helps you save money and the environment at the same time. For example, use plastic storage containers and cloth napkins instead of the disposable alternatives. Local farmers' markets offer less expensive food options, and the products sold there are often fresher, higher quality and more Earth-friendly. If you have a green thumb, consider growing your own produce and herbs. Again, these ideas require a high investment of time, but you have the satisfaction of doing good and saving money.

Joining shoppers' clubs is at the other end of the time-and-effort spectrum. After taking five minutes to sign up, all you have to do is swipe your card to save on a broad range of items each time you shop. Some grocery chains even offer extra savings you can download from their websites directly to your card.