The ongoing economic struggle that bites most of us isn't going away anytime soon. I find the best way to help stretch your dollar is by looking for deals and breaks at the grocery store.

It's nothing different than what a restaurant owner, kitchen manager or executive chef would do facing tighter budgets. They shop around and compare the prices of produce, meat, dairy, etc. that different purveyors have.

This article from the Seattle Times has some ideas which translate to the more home executive chef.

The first part of the story talks about tracking sale prices at more than one store. At my house, that's the first thing we do before making out our grocery list.

In northeast Wisconsin, we're fortunate to have a number of different options to do our grocery shopping. You have Festival Foods, Piggly Wiggly, Pick N' Save, Woodman's, Wal-Mart and Target all offering groceries.

In season, you can add local farmer's markets. Some items can even be had for cheaper at places like Aldi, Dollar General or Walgreen's.

I'm not advocating "Extreme Couponing." But with all stores putting their sale items on their websites each week, including ways to track your list, match that up with printable coupons, it is much easier these days to get the best deal on food to help slash your food bill.