Shopping, like everything else, seems to be getting a lot more expensive. We begin our new series called Money Savers.

"We're so busy and if left to our devices to think of things at the last minute, we tend to rush through and choose more expensive items," says Laura McKnight from ISU.

And those items can add up, its hard enough to decide what to eat, do you go for health food, do you go for the junk food, or do you just find what's cheapest?

"If you go to the grocery store and start throwing things in, your ending total is going to be more," says McKnight.

Laura McKnight teaches in ISU's health and nutrition sciences program and she has a few tips to save you some money.

"The most important thing is to have a plan," says McKnight.

Decide what kind of meals you want to make in the next week or so, then do an inventory of your cupboards, and your refrigerator.

"The next thing would be to make a list," says McKnight.

Chose what ingredients you need to actually buy.

"Construct your list as your store is laid out," says McKnight.

This way you're less apt to forget things, because we all know when we run into a store for 1 or 2 things, we come out with 10 or 20...which can also be the case when you shop on an empty stomach.

"Rick: Shopping while you're hungry, that's not always...
Laura: Not a good idea...cause everything looks good."

Speaking of looking good.

"Produce, when it's the best quality is actually when it's the lowest in price."

Items like melons and strawberries are finally making their yearly come back.

"So take advantage of the things that are in season not out of season."

The first thing you should do either before you get to the store, or when you walk in...check for sales papers...and see how long the ads run.

"Coupons can be a good thing. So if you're buying things just because you have a coupon, but its not typically something you use," says McKnight.

You might just end up throwing things out.

"you're not really saving any money."

Another easy way to save, skip the brand names, and go generic.

"They're gonna be less money and they're just as tasty and nutritionally adequate . And if you're not sure buy one and try it, so that you can have that cost comparison," says McKnight.

Cost comparison and taking time to figure out exactly what you're buying will save you a lot in the long run.