In our current times when fuel and food prices are on the rise, it's important to take a close look at your spending habits and find ways to spend less. By doing this, you can save money to compensate for increasing expenses in other areas.

I outlined some suggestions for saving money while at work in Saving Money: Tried and True Tips, Part 1, but now want to provide money saving tips for shopping for groceries and drugstore items.

While some may seem like common sense, it's important to really put some thought into this, make a plan and stick to it, if you want to truly have success at saving while shopping for food and sundries.

Select one day a week to shop, and stick to that day. Sticking to one shopping day a week will help protect you from making impulse buys and help you get in the habit of using the items you have.

It is often fun to run to the store when you get a craving for a certain food, but try to resist if this item is not in your pantry and consider adding it to next week's list. Going to the store too frequently really can contribute to buying many things you do not need or will not use, which can lead to overstocked shelves and wasteful spending.

Scan online before you shop for weekly ads and coupons. Before you head out to your local grocery store or drugstore, take thirty minutes or so to review the coupons and weekly ads at stores near you.

Often times, stores rotate as to when they have certain kinds of sales. For example, they usually will offer deals on frozen entrees like Lean Cuisines every few weeks. If you like Lean Cuisines, then only stock up when a given store is offering five for $10, or 50% off on these items.

As you scan online for deals before you shop, make a list of items that you know you need and will use and where to get them on sale. Be sure to buy them there.

Make a list of staple items. Price check and try to buy these items on sale. Planning and organization will really pay off in this category. Make a list of key staple items that you must have, including things like paper towels, toilet paper, bar soaps, tooth paste, deodorant, coffee, coffee filters, all-purpose cleaners and detergent.

Next, create a spreadsheet or list to serve as your in-stock inventory. It does not have to be complex; you can just list each item and mark how much of it you have.

Try to run a price check for these items at your local grocer or drugstore or mass-merchandise club like Costco, and jot down where you can get these items the cheapest.

Before shopping each week, determine what you need by reviewing this inventory. Be sure to stock up on non-perishable items like these at stores that offer the lowest price, or when you can get these items on sale.

You can really save a great deal in this area, as well as slow down that need to just run to the store to grab this type of item.

Consider buying store brands for certain items. In some cases, you may want to stick to name brands just due to personal preference or your view on quality of the product. For example, it may be worth more to invest in more expensive toilet paper than the really cheap and uncomfortable kind, as you value the quality in this case over the price.

However, with many items, the store brand or lower-priced brand is not lower in quality. Try to assess what items work for you in the store brand. Often, you can really save substantially without noticing a difference in quality for such items as countertop cleaners and dairy products.

Resist overbuying shampoos, lip glosses and other fun items. If you are a beauty product junkie like me, then you may have trouble leaving a drugstore without a couple of new lip glosses or lotions, no matter what you went to the drugstore for in the first place.

Try to learn a new discipline and remind yourself that you like the products you have at home, if you are not in need for more at the time. If there is a great shampoo you really want to try, then jot down the name of it and add it at the bottom of your inventory list as a "nice to try when needed" item.

You will be amazed at how much money you can save by not buying all the latest and greatest beauty items, or grabbing one each time you shop.

Avoid buying magazines at the checkout stand. I love the newest celebrity rag as the next person, which is why I have an annual subscription to People magazine.

You can save up to 50 percent off newsstand prices on magazines by ordering a subscription. If you love magazines, then select your two favorites and sign up for them. Resist the urge to buy one when checking out or browsing the magazine aisle, and enjoy the magazines you are already receiving.

These provide just a few money saving hints when doing your weekly shopping. Putting some discipline in place when shopping may require a little effort and focus at the beginning, but once it becomes a habit you will be rewarded by spending less.