Easy-listening music, mini pizzas served on a tray — it's a lot like a cocktail party, only it's the grocery store. But the more you relax during one of your most necessary errands, the more the store will be able to sell you. With these basic strategies, you can shave time off this chore and save on your bill.

The Playing Field

There is a colossal war going on behind the scenes between the retailers and the manufacturers. There is a plan for every inch of shelf space in this billion-dollar industry, says Paco Underhill, chief executive officer of Envirosell, a New York City-based research and consulting firm, and author of Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping, $15, www.amazon.com. Typically, big companies pay a premium to have their goods placed in prime spots, so brands that are less expensive often get pushed to the outskirts.

Prime placement is usually at what is called "eye level," which is actually just below eye level. Look for lower-priced items on the top and bottom shelves. (For instance, a 28-ounce bottle of Sun Light dishwashing detergent for $2.89 on the bottom shelf costs more than a dollar less than the 25-ounce bottle of Dawn at eye level.)

On the top and bottom shelves, you can also find the bigger sizes, which tend to offer a lower price per unit. Smaller sizes, with a higher price per unit, are often at eye level. (For example, on the top shelf, a box of Kleenex with 160 two-ply tissues costs the same as a box at eye level with only 85 two-ply tissues. The top-shelf box is almost half the per-unit price.)

The middle of the aisle is also a coveted location. Market researchers have found that shoppers don't stop to linger in an aisle until they're in the middle, and they often turn around halfway down the aisle instead of going to the other end. Thus, the ends of the aisles are less appealing for retailers — and more appealing for bargain hunters.

The display at the very tip of an aisle (called an end cap) acts as a billboard for the brand. It's not always a special deal.

When an item says two for $4, it doesn't always mean you have to buy two to get the same savings.

When a sale item has a limit, you are being led to think there is a shortage so that you will buy as many as permitted.

They know you're right-handed; they know your brand loyalties; they know how tall your kids are (think sugar cereals). Shop defensively.

The Game Plan

"It's not about being smart on the supermarket floor — it's about being smart in your home," says Underhill. So before the tinny Muzak lures you in, do your homework.

Make a list. Often, when you walk into the store, you have no intention of buying two-thirds of what you end up bringing home, says Underhill. A list can curtail excess shopping. Even better, a master shopping list will save you time. Create a list of all the items you regularly buy and check them off as you need them. The list can be arranged by aisle and by store — grocery, outlet, green market. It requires a onetime set-up.

Forgo coupon clipping. The chore takes precious time, and finding the coupons when you need them can exhaust anyone's sanity. Coupons pay off only when an item is on sale and the store doubles coupons, says Mary Hunt, editor and publisher of Cheapskate Monthly (www.cheapskatemonthly.com), "If you don't have the time and the personality to be an avid 'couponer,' you should skip the coupons and buy what's on sale," she says.

Make room for new items. Toss less-than-fresh produce before you shop and determine not to overbuy and end up throwing food away. You don't want to stockpile.

Eat something before you shop. You'll spend less.

Save a trip. If you can't park by the store entrance, park near the cart corral so you can easily drop the cart off after you unload your groceries.

Next Steps

Print checklists of pantry staples. Real Simple consulted with cookbook authors to determine which staples to stock.

Make an all-inclusive shopping list. Get tips and a printable sample list here.