Grocery Store Blues--What to Do?

Are you feeling the pinch at the grocery store like I am? Boy, it sure does seem that the cost on everything is going up and up and up some more. Since we are a family of 6, I'm finding it a challenge to stock enough food at a reasonable cost. So it's time for me to try some new things to adjust how much I spend on groceries.

First, a couple of confessions. I am not a coupon gal. I have tried coupons in the past, and perhaps I'll revisit it again. But, I'm a messy and tend to be quite disorganized (yet another thing I might tackle one of these days), so coupons end up here and there and everywhere without my using them effectively. Plus, I admit I'm quite intimidated by the extreme coupon thing. You know, where you stack coupons with sale prices and get items for pennies or free. With just 2 stores nearby--Walmart and HEB--I haven't figured out a way to use coupons before that's been worth the time and effort. And with other stores like Walgreen's and CVS over 30 minutes away, it doesn't seem like I would save much running into town given the high cost of gas nowadays.

I've been a convenience food kinda gal, and that is where I'm attempting my first change. What if, instead of buying cookie mix or cookies, we make it from scratch? What if, instead of buying frozen pizza, we make pizza from scratch? Not earth-shattering ideas, I know, but it's a new thing for me. Of course, an added bonus is we can make things with less artificial stuff and make it healthier, too.

I'm curious if little things I do, baby steps, might stack up to save some $$ on groceries and help us eat better, too. Perhaps I'll post about our experiences along the way.

Any suggestions? What things work for you to save at the grocery store and make healthier alternatives to convenience items without spending your entire day in the kitchen?