Grocery Store tonight, how to not spend a fortune?

I bring a calculator with me (app on my phone) set the spending limit before we go in. As we add items to the cart deduct the money. It seems to make it more concrete what we are spending and helps us to really choose what we want.

Bring a list and shop the outside of the store.

I just usually buy the same stuff and replenish it when it's gone. I have a better system for not buying too much/junk food than you, probably, because I don't have a car, I bike. And biking home with a sack of junk food would be like 30 minutes of guilt staring me in the face.

I also carefully consider any non-normal item and think of how I can use it in the future. Just grabbing it on an impulse is how I ended up with a big sack of nice smelling raspberry gummies in my fridge. Never be in a hurry to shop.

go to walmart and price match!

Shop the perimeter first. Produce, meat, dairy, etc.
Don't go hungry
I don't eat frozen food, so I stay out of that area too. I buy all fresh veggies and fruits and only enough that will last me a few days so I don't buy something and it goes bad.
Buy meat on sale and freeze it.
Stay out of the snack/chip aisle. Lately the only aisles I go up are the rice/beans aisle and the cleaning/paper products aisle.

1.) Make out a grocery list and stick to it
2.) Make a menu to go with the grocery list so you're not tempted to buy extras.
3.) Stick to the walls (dairy, meat, produce, bread) usually on the perimeter, away from the chips and snacks.
4.) Don't go hungry. Have a snack or go after you've had a meal
5.) Shop with cash. My husband and I started doing this so we have to stick to a certain budget...makes it much more difficult to buy extras/snacks without going over budget.

I use dried beans at least one a week - making a big pot of lentil soup is super easy and cheap. I buy the big containers of plain yogurt and mix in some store-brand jam. Another good idea is to buy the huge family packs of meat - like, if I get 4 lbs of chicken breasts, I lay each piece out on a pan lined with parchment or wax paper and freeze them, then throw the individual frozen pieces into a large freezer bag so I can grab as many as I need and thaw.

If your boyfriend insists on throwing in unhealthy snacks, etc. limit him to watch can fit in the child seat of the cart. Then he has to be selective about what he gets and you will purchase less. I also base my menus on what is on sale in the ad. When I write my list I write it in the order that will take me to what I want without detours or crisscrossing the entire store. The longer you are in the store, the more money you are likely to spend. Stick to your list and don't be afraid to try store brands. Nowadays they are the same quality as the name brands although they may differ in taste slightly.

I went last night and spent way more than i intended!!! I bought all the salad fixing items. Tons of proteins and some pizza for my kids as well as the free EDEs icecream with the pizza (they hava a 100 calorie serving slow churned ice cream, better than skinny cow).

Anyways! My point is it could have been worse. I never deviated into an isle at all, hugged the outsides. Fresh fruits and vegies, lean meats, dairy and a few items for the kids in the last side.

I try to grab a bottle of water and sip while I am there. I went hungry cause our fridge was empty, but this is a do not normally.
If you can meal plan that is even better, you can plan steak, make 1 extra and load it with vegies for a steak fajita. There are super super lean and pretenderized, cheap steaks at our store. We do chicken with a salad a lot, so we grill a bunch and keep it ready in the fridge. I plan to make (95%fat free) hamburger into tacos for the kids then do nachos with bluecorn chips tomorrow.

Planning it out on paper helps a lot and gets a lot easier too. Try making a master list of what you usually shop for and a master list of recipes you usually make. I have one for sides too. Then I highlight what I want to serve and buy from the printout..

1) I go to a couple different stores to get what I need. If a store has something on sale, I will go there to get it instead of my regular store. This is only convenient if you have several stores in close proximity to each other.
2) Do you have a farmer's market? If so, get your produce from there. It's usually cheaper and locally grown which feeds your local economy instead of giant corporations
3) Shop the perimeter. Everything up and down the aisles is pretty much processed junk any way.
4) buy stuff to cook your own meals. Buying pre-packaged meals (which tend to be super bad for you anyways) is expensive.
5) Buy in bulk. If a store has a really good deal on chicken for example, buy some extra and freeze the rest. Also, when it comes to meat many stores will mark down the price if it's a day away from expiration. Buy it and use it that night or freeze and use it later.
6) Fresh produce is one of the most inexpensive things and soooooo healthy! Stock up!
7) Take cash and leave your credit cards/check book at home. If you want to spend $100 on groceries, only take that much money with you, that way you can't over spend!

I always use my leftovers. I usually plan a second meal around them for example, if a ham is on sale for cheap, I will buy enough to have a ham dinner and then use the leftovers for sandwiches, ham and beans, ham and macaroni, etc. We also save money by having my husband take leftovers to work for his lunch. He is usually the envy of all the guys who just have sandwiches. I hate wasting food and money.