FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- According to the Food Marketing Institute the average American family of four spends about $107 a week on groceries. So, how do you stretch your dollars at the grocery store?

Quick and Simple magazine said it's a good idea to leave the kids at home, because it is often hard for kids to resist pricey sweets -- and then pester parents to add them to the cart. If the children have to come along, provide a coloring book or hand held video game to occupy them.

Quick and Simple also suggests skipping specialty items grouped together. Things like chips and dips together can result in impulse buying. And seeking out the bargain bins can save money, too.

Make sure your veggies and fruit are dry before you put them on the scale. If they have just been sprayed with water, they will weigh more and cost more.

And here is a tip you may not have heard of before: Look down while shopping at the grocery store.

In many grocery stores the best bargains are closer to the floor. The pricier items are often at eye level.