Can you "shop smart" without coupons?

Of course you can!

You may not rack up three-digit savings on a regular basis. On the other hand, you'll probably purchase more of what your family actually eats - and you won't be using expensive packages of "almost made" foods.

(After all, you can "help" your ground meat or tuna less expensively and nearly as easily as that package can.)*

But back to how to save at grocery shopping without becoming a major coupon-user.

First, you'll spend about as much time shopping as you do actually buying (and this will still be less time thanyou might spend clipping and filing coupons).

Here's why: to really be a smart shopper, you need to know your grocery stores, supermarkets and ethnic markets like you know your own pantry.

You need to develop a literal route from store to store, and you need to be mindful of what is best to purchase at which store.

This also means making sure you review the grocery store ads every week, and make sure you have storage space to accommodate those "two-fer" offers.

Second, make time to include an ethnic market or two in your usual shopping pattern. You'll find many items you can add or use instead of typical American brands to perk up your weekly menu planning.

If you can only access one or two stores with ease, you can still sharpen your skills by learning which store typically has better produce vs. better meats and poultry.

Who usually has dairy sales, who has sales on breads and pastas? Use a loyalty card for "card specific" savings, too.

Third, try store brands, which are often on sale in multiples.

If you can only use two of something that's being promoted as "five for only $x," ask if you can still get the per item sale price (if you have a loyalty card, you may well receive the lower price).

Watch for "manager's special" signs! You might find something close to a sell-by date that you can use immediately or freeze for another time (don't forget: "Sell by" does NOT mean that the food expires and becomes unfit for human consumption on that day!

Usually, such foods are fine to eat for as long as a week or more beyond that date, linger if you are able to freeze it immediately.

Finally, don't forget that coupons can be helpful. If you see one for a product your family typically uses or has on hand - grab it. You'll feel even smarter about your smart shopping.

Plus, you won't have spent hours combing pages on or off line for savings you know how to create with your own savvy shopping.

And another thing…

Pulling your family dinners out of the sameold-sameold rut can become majorly simplified if you're willing to incorporate even a few ingredients from any one of our ethnic markets.

Here's a big bonus: if you're a good grocery shopper* you will find unexpected bargains than can really add pizazz to your menus.

I was thinking about this just the other day. I stopped at Giado's World Market, a kind of pan-Middle Eastern market in the plaza at the southeast corner of Elliott and Dobson in Chandler.

I bought only four items: Two, two-pound containers of Byblos plain yogurt, 1/2 pound of Bulgarian feta cheese, and one package of frozen phyllo dough.

My total tab? Just barely over $9. That's right. I got change back from a 10 dollar bill.

Lest you are skeptical, let me assure you these are not discount-style food. The yogurt is thick, almost sweet. It's fabulous by itself, with a little honey drizzled over, or with fresh fruit. And it is terrific in cooked sauces as a sub for sour cream.

The feta is wonderful, alone, on crackers, or in sauces, maybe with a few hard sauteed tomatoes and shrimp.

As for the phyllo - it's going to turn into all sorts of things, literally appetizers to dessert!

This is a typical find.

At almost every ethnic market, you are likely to find high quality ingredients that you can use for breakfast, lunch or dinner at excellent prices.

At the Asian markets, you're also going to find extraordinary buys on produce, too - and not just on Asian-style fruits and vegetables. We'll talk more about this, too, in an upcoming post!

Meanwhile, think about a few of the foods you use most often in your day-to-day cooking. And consider taking a trip to one or more of our ethnic markets - you might be surprised at how and where you can trim your grocery bills.

If this sounds a like a little too much comparison shopping, just stay tuned.

We'll be back to tell you more.

*coming next: your basic guide to savvy grocery shopping: save dollars, time and even some sanity