This week's grocery musing is not focused on any particular store, however it's more about educating you on how to navigate around the store for the best deals. I will use Fred Meyer as an example because that is where I do the bulk of my shopping. Most grocery stores are pretty much the same when it comes to how they price merchandise.

Learning how to read a shelf tag is the best place to start. Here's a great example: Not long ago I asked my husband to pick up some canned dog food at the store for our Odin. He brought back the large 22-ounce cans of Alpo, where as I prefer to buy the 13.2-ounce cans.

He assumed that he was saving money by purchasing the larger can. Well, if you break it down by the ounce, you're really not. The small 59-cent can equates to 71.5 cents per pound. At a $1.25 the larger cans are 90.9 cents a pound. Even buying the smaller cans in the "convenient multi-pack" at $8.98 for 12, you're paying considerably more than the smaller individual cans, $1.05 a pound or 75 cents a can.

I know it seems like nit picking, but this really adds up over time. You have to do the math - and I do hate math.

By the way, that 13.2-ounce can of Alpo for 59 cents is an amazing deal. I have never found it for less than 89 cents anywhere else. My Odin is getting old and now refuses to eat unless there is a little soft food in his bowl. I'm a sucker to please.

A good example of cost saving is bulk russet potatoes. A five-pound bag for 99 cents breaks down to a little less than 20 cents a pound. Buying the potatoes individually is 39 cents a pound. That is a great deal of savings, IF you are planning to eat five pounds of potatoes.

Often I get lured into buying bulk thinking, "Oh yeah, I'll use that two-pound package of sliced turkey in the week." But I don't, and throw most of it away. The point here is to really pick your battles and do the math. You have a calculator on your phone, so use.

"Two for One" or "Two for $4.00" deals also need to be watched - especially when they are red peppers, which I always buy a lot. I'm sorry, but $2 for a red pepper is a little too much "green" for me to spend on a pepper, but doesn't it SEEM like a deal at first glance?

Store brand labeled products are another great way to save. Many items can be hit or miss, and only give them one shot to please me. It's a crapshoot, but many times the store brands are just as good as the popular national brands. I encourage you to experiment.

I also save a ton on ready to expire items like pre-packaged salad mix and cheese (last time any of my friends come to dinner). These are really just recommended dates of expiration, so be smart. Do the greens still look healthy not limp and brown? Does the cheese smell? Well, that's not a good example, most cheese does smell, but does it smell like ammonia? I LOVE stinky cheese, but ammonia is a sure sign it's bad.

I hope many of you already know these little tricks to save while you shop. My husband didn't, but he does now. Grocery stores want your money and they pay really smart people to think of creative ways to get it.

Shopping for a good deal really is about common sense. In this economy (which honestly I'm tired of hearing, true or not), we do need to make our dollars stretch. Read the weekly circulars, cut the coupons and just pay attention when you shop. Use your brain people.

Tap into T-Town

Speaking of using your brain, I must give kudos to smart girls, Stephanie DeRosa, Jennifer Johnson, Tanya Chapman (Bandito Betty) and yours truly, on Team Weekly Volcano for kicking some serious butt last Saturday at the Tap into T-Town scavenger hunt. Out of 73 teams, we placed second, or as some like to call it, "first loser." I prefer "second place" myself, but either way, damn we're good! This is a yearly event, so be sure to put it on you calendar for next year. If you dare. ...