15 Things You Should Never Buy at the Grocery Store

"Skip the apple slices and do the food prep yourself," Jeanette Pavini, savings expert for Coupons.com. "Even things like lettuce can be a lot less expensive if you wash it yourself."

The confections at your grocer's bakery feature markups of up to 300% in some cases, according to Kendel Perez, savings expert for CouponSherpa.com. Flour, sugar, oil, eggs and milk are inexpensive. "A boxed cake mix costs a dollar and can be thrown together in less than 10 minutes," writes Perez. "Ditch the bakery and head to the baking aisle instead."

You can get 2-3 times the amount of meat for your money by buying a whole chicken versus individually packaged pieces like chicken breasts, says Coupons.com's Pavini.

Steak kabobs, cubes of meat for a stir fry, and chicken tenders can be marked up by nearly 60%, says consumer finance expert Andrea Woroch. She recommends picking up larger slabs of meat and untrimmed chicken to save money.

Reduced supply makes off-season produce is incredibly pricey. "Just because strawberries are available in December doesn't mean you should buy them," says Perez. She recommends either buying only what's in season or opting for frozen produce, which is flash-frozen at peak ripeness.

Consumers can save $150 per year by nixing individual servings sizes of potato chips, according to ClarkHoward.com. Those little bags, and lunch-sized portions of produce, are often marked up by 50%.

Freezer section fries can cost up to $4 per 16-oz. bag. Buy a 5-lb. bag of potatoes for less than that and get nearly triple the amount of fries by making your own. It takes five minutes of prep time and 20 minutes in the oven.

"You'll find the best deals on household cleaners at big box stores," says Woroch. The dollar store can be a good place to pick up these items, too, though it's worth noting that their brands may be more diluted. "Better yet, make your own multipurpose cleaner for less than 50 cents by using pantry staples like vinegar, baking soda, salt and lemon," Woroch adds.

Woroch says local ethnic stores often sell spices and herbs for up to 90% less than the name brands sold at grocery stores. "You may not get a fancy bottle, but you can pick up a few reusable ones from the dollar store that will work just as well," she says.

"Despite the abundance of cards and party supplies at your local grocer, the dollar store is a much better outlet for these items," says Perez. Stock up on cards at the dollar store (usually 50 cents each) so you won't be tempted by the grocery store's $5 cards.

"You can find better prices on batteries at warehouse club stores or online at sites like Amazon," says Perez.