An average American spends $4,464 a year in groceries. That's according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Stretching that budget can be challenging, but shoppers say it's possible with these tips.

*Plan Ahead

Mother of four Melissa Erdelac, a recipe developer and writer behind food blog MamaGourmand, only grocery shops once a week. She makes a list based on the recipes she plans to prepare. She also picks up grocery staples like eggs, bread and milk.

By streamlining shopping to once a week, consumers can minimize impulse buys and overspending.

*Stock Up

Study grocery ads so you know the different sale cycles. Then, stock up -- but only if you'll use the items in a timely manner. For example, February often has canned food sales, and March, which is National Frozen Food Month, often has deals on frozen items. Be careful not to overshop; you won't save money if the food stays on your pantry shelf and doesn't get used.

*Pay in Cash

Tanya Peterson, vice president of brand for Freedom Debt Relief, recommends paying with cash.

"When you shop, leave the credit card at home," she says. "Many studies report that people spend up to 20% less when paying with cash."

*Be Seasonal

Plan your meals around what's on sale, such as corn in the summer or pumpkin in the fall. You'll get fresh, seasonal items at a good price. Peterson says buying seasonal often means saving 15%.

*Buy Store Brands

Store brand items -- everything from cereal to coffee to ketchup -- are often cheaper than their name brand counterparts. Plus, store brands are typically still good quality. Read the signs and labels, too, since some retailers offer a satisfaction guarantee on store brand items.

*Shop With a Friend

Warehouse shopping at places like Costco or BJ's can mean bulk savings. But if you don't want a dozen cans of tuna or multipacks of crackers, consider splitting purchases with a friend, family member or neighbor. You can break up multipacks of items like spaghetti sauce, loaves of bread and more, making for good savings.

*Consider Shopping Alone

"Leave the kids at home," says Peterson, a mother of twins.

She says the danger of shopping with kids is that parents may spend extra money rewarding good behavior with a treat, or they may want to silence a fussy kid with a snack.

*Use Your Calculator

Some simple math can help you save big. Check an item's unit price to compare products, including different sizes of the same item. Some stores list the unit price next to the retail price, but you can do the calculation yourself, too.

Peterson says large packages don't always have the greatest value; midsize packages often do.

*Shop Local

Stop by a local farm, orchard or farmers market for fresh deals.

"These are great places to find excellent prices and savings, especially on large quantities. Think bushels of fruit," says Peterson. If you don't need perfect-looking fruit, consider buying B-grade or No. 2-grade produce; it has the same taste and vitamins for up to half-off.

*Consider a Service

Often, going to the grocery store means you'll impulse shop and buy extra items. These days, shoppers can order the food online or via an app and never even walk into the store.

Many consumers are using online shopping with pickup service or home delivery. Instacart, for example, charges $3.99 for same-day orders over $35, while Walmart offers free pickup with a $30 minimum at over 3,100 store locations.

*Other Grocery Store Savings Tips:

Skip convenience foods. Instead, make your own recipes, which tend to be healthier and more budget-friendly.

Minimize waste. Keep inventory of what's already in your fridge and cabinets so you can use what you have.

Shop clearance. Ask your grocer which days they do markdowns.

By keeping these strategies in mind, you could save big -- without sacrificing your favorite grocery items.