Save Money on Heart-Healthy Groceries

Clip Coupons to Save Money 

Once your list of recipe ingredients and other grocery items is compiled, check your local newspaper inserts or search online for money-saving coupons.

Clipping, organizing, and updating coupons can help you save money every time you shop. "I'd say I save anywhere from $70 to $90 every week," author Randall Putala says.

Coupon-clipping tips:

• Compare the price of brand-name foods on the coupon with generic brands.
• Bring competitor coupons to a different store. "Tell the cashier you'd like the deal the competitor is giving with the coupon," Putala says. "And nine times out of 10 they'll give it to you because they want your business."
• Don't buy something with a coupon you wouldn't normally buy without one.
• Write your list on an envelope, then put the coupons that go along with those items inside the envelope so you have them ready for checkout.
• Clip coupons during the commercial breaks of your can't-miss TV show.
• "Make a routine out of it," Putala says. "I do it every Sunday after I have my morning coffee."

If clipping coupons sounds like a hassle, just try using them for a couple of weeks to see if they make a difference. However, don't let a little savings persuade you to buy packaged items high in sodium, cholesterol, or fat. Saving money doesn't justify breaking your heart-healthy diet.