COUPON QUEEN: Where to look for little discounts

Have you ever walked out of the grocery store wondering how a "quick trip" turned into a $150 receipt? You're not alone. Here's the good news: There are so many quiet little discounts hiding in plain sight, no coupons required. You just have to know where to look. Follow the meat markdowns One of my favorite money-saving tricks is keeping an eye out for markdown stickers in the meat department. Stores will discount fresh meat as its sell-by date approaches, and the savings can be huge. In fact, this weekend at Meijer, I scored 11 packages of meat for 55 percent to 75 percent off. I spotted those bright red stickers from across the aisle and zoomed over like someone was giving away free coffee. Into my cart went sirloin steaks, beef stew meat and a rump roast. As soon as I got home, I repacked it all and put it straight in my freezer. Don't skip the produce markdowns Fresh produce isn't always full price if you know where to peek. Many stores have a small rack or bin for slightly imperfect or overstocked fruits and veggies. Some items, such as bagged salad, will have a markdown tag right on the front. At Giant Eagle, keep your eyes peeled for its quirky banana deal. They'll bag up single bananas in a large bag for just $1. It's not the prettiest bunch, but it makes perfect smoothies, banana bread, or a week's worth of lunchbox fruit, without bruising your budget. Swing by the discount bakery stand Before you pay full price for bread and cookies, check the discount bakery section. Most stores mark down items that are a day or two from their sell-by date, including buns, bagels, cakes, and cookies. Grab what you can use now, and freeze what you can't. Bread products thaw beautifully, and your wallet will thank you later. Find the clearance cart (most stores have one!) Somewhere in every grocery store is a clearance shelf, cart, or sometimes multiple carts, loaded with random treasures. The trick is simply finding it. These hidden goldmines can include seasonal items, discontinued snacks, boxed mixes, dented-but-fine canned goods, household products, beauty and pharmacy markdowns. Each department does its own markdowns, so take a quick lap. You never know what you'll find. Sometimes it's tea for 75 percent off, sometimes it's your new favorite cereal. Saving money at the grocery store isn't always about clipping coupons; it's about shopping smart, slowing down and knowing where the deals hide. The little markdown sections can add up to big wins over time. This week's deal Here is a deal to grab this week at Dollar General.Dove holiday body wash — $5Clip $5/2 digital coupon found on the Dollar General app or website= $2.50 each Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at rachelkrych@gmail.com