(ARA) – Ah, family dinner time – it’s meant to be a special time when family members gather round the table to share a lovingly prepared meal and stories from their day. The planning, time and the cost involved with serving your family a meal, however, may leave you without an appetite.

Affordable and simpler shopping routines could help you start savoring family meal time again. Regardless of whether you’re planning a holiday feast, a birthday celebration, or just day-to-day meals throughout the year, it’s easier and more cost effective if you go into grocery shopping prepared.

Consider these tips from national grocery retailer Save-A-Lot before your next shopping trip:

Plan for several meals rather than just one

Many grocery shoppers make the mistake of only planning for a big special meal when they can cut time and cost by planning for several. Decide ahead of time how your family might want to use leftover meat or veggies from the meal, and buy extra ingredients to extend your meal into the following week. For example, be sure to stock up on bread, mayonnaise, mustard and lettuce in advance if you plan to cook a turkey or ham for a Sunday dinner.

Create a weekly meal planner

This is a good idea year round, especially when your schedule gets more hectic. Think about what you and your family members typically consume each day. If there is a particular food item or meal idea that your whole family enjoys, make sure to stock up when it is on sale. Ask each family member to pick a meal for dinner.

Visit grocery store websites for tools and deals

Grocery retailers frequently offer tips and tools for meal planning, as well as exclusive online bargains. Check to see if your store is offering discounts in exchange for signing up for their shopping clubs year round. For example, Save-A-Lot offers a $5 coupon for signing up for its Smart Shopper Club.

Take advantage of store brands

Many grocery stores offer their own private brands of foods and everyday items, and frequently these items are of equivalent quality as more expensive national brand names. By using store brands, you can save a little money on your grocery bill and splurge on something special, such as a celebratory dessert. Store brands are great for helping to keep your weekly grocery costs down.

Keep track of ingredients to replenish

You’ve got everything laid out to make chocolate chip cookies, but you forgot to buy the baking soda – nothing is more frustrating than having to make a return trip to a store. Keep track of ingredients you frequently use in your cooking. Then, as soon as you use up an item, immediately add it to your ongoing grocery list. By the end of the week, not only will your shopping list be complete, but you won’t be stuck in the store trying to remember what is or is not in your cupboard. You also won’t be tempted to buy something you don’t need. What’s more, be sure to use measuring utensils so you don’t use more ingredients than necessary – which can be costly to your family’s waistline and budget.

Eliminate shopping hassles

Grocery shopping can be a time-consuming hassle especially for busy, on-the-go families. Some retailers, like Save-A-Lot, offer discounted, everyday prices that can help eliminate the need to map out complicated store-to-store routes, or navigate through a maze of aisles to find the best deals.

With these few simple tips, you’ll not only save money at the grocery store, but you’ll have more time to enjoy cooking and celebrating with those you love.