If you find your grocery bill creeping up and your waistline expanding, then it would be a smart idea to take a hard look at how and where you buy your food...and all those other seemingly inevitable extras. Seasons, smells and samples can empty your wallet and fill your belly, so let's take a look at some of the pitfalls you might find in your grocery store.

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During the various holiday seasons, you might notice decorations and festive desserts side by side right as you enter the store. You can avoid sweeping the entire display into your cart by making a list beforehand of the decorations and food items you'll need to celebrate. Stick to the list, and buy decorations at discount stores, not the grocery store, where they tend to be more expensive. Avoid end caps - those end-of-aisle displays that tend to house sales items and seasonal combinations, like pumpkin pie ingredients at Thanksgiving.