Many households end up with several jars of the same spice, a few half-used bottles of dressing and a freezer full of mystery containers. This usually happens because shopping runs on autopilot, without a quick look at what's already on hand. Each duplicate seems small, but the waste adds up over a year.

Before each trip, take a few minutes to check the fridge, freezer and pantry. Note what needs to be used soon and plan a meal or two around it. You may find you already have most of what you need for a dinner and only need to pick up one or two items.

Keeping your storage organized helps too. Move older items to the front, label leftovers with what they are, and keep a simple inventory of the freezer on the door or in your phone. When you can see what you have, you're far less likely to buy it again by accident.