The sound of money flying out of your wallet at the grocery store is not due to imagination gone amok. According to The Bureau of Labor, the cost of food inflation these days is about 6.7 percent.

Adding to the pain is the fact that the supermarket industry has spent millions of dollars on research to learn how to get consumers to spend money. Being aware of their methods may help you save a few dollars when shopping for groceries.

Their goal is to get shoppers to make impulse purchases. They want the consumer to come in often and walk all over the store, hopefully two or three times, while there.

The more ground one covers while in the store, the more money will be spent. Have you ever wondered why you have to go to the back of the store to pick up a gallon of milk? Strategy! Milk is one of the most frequently purchased items, so it is a welldesigned plan that requires shoppers to pass the cereal and cookies and lots of other goodies while looping around to the milk and back to the checkout register.

The best option is to plan trips to the grocery store so you don't go any more than absolutely necessary. The more times you go in the store during the month, the more your total grocery tab will be.

Most stores offer bargains to entice shoppers into the business. These "loss-leaders" are priced so low that stores actually lose money on them. If you take advantage of these savings, be aware that stores are using them to get you into the store so you'll buy other items that have a high profit margin for them.

Plan your meals. Make a list of what you need and buy only those items.

Most stores have a map of their layout. Use that information and write a shopping list in columns according to the items found on each aisle. Don't go down any aisle that does not have something on the list. Not only will shopping will be quicker, but you won't have to backtrack for needed items.

Don't shop when you are hungry; you will want to buy everything you see. If possible, shop alone. Three kids and a husband who all want enticing treats won't help the budget.

Watch out for end-of-aisle displays and displays in the aisles. Designed to catch the eye of the consumer, they are usually not bargains. Similar products at cheaper prices are often found on the shelves.

Beware of where things are located on the shelves. Expensive items that will appeal to adults, like high fiber cereals, will be at adult eye level, while sugary cereals that are marketed to children will be on lower shelves where they can't miss seeing them. The check-out stand is also loaded with impulse purchase triggers.

Learn to use unit pricing labels if you haven't already. These labels, found on the shelf under each item, will show the cost per ounce. It makes it easy to comparison shop between brands and sizes. However, watch out for mistakes!

Coupons are a good way to save only if your coupons are for items that you need to buy anyway. Most of us have been taught to think that the largest package is always the best buy, but this is not always the case when using a coupon.

Knowledge is power. Planning your shopping strategies will help you save a few dollars when you shop for groceries.

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Rally Day: Lampasas Extension Education Association will hold Rally Day at 10 a.m. on Oct. 2 at the Lampasas County Office Building. This annual event is held to invite guests to visit and join the organization. Guest speaker will be Pat Clepper demonstrating floral arranging.

One lucky program participant will win one of Pat's arrangements in a door prize drawing!

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Would you like to meet new people? Perhaps you have been looking for a way to give back to the community. Or maybe you would like to support youth in the county but don't necessarily want to be directly involved as a leader. If any of these describe you, you might enjoy becoming a member of Lampasas Extension Education Association. This fine organization is made up of some of the nicest people you will find in Lampasas County. The mission of Texas Extension Education is to strengthen and enrich families through educational programs, leadership development and community service. Membership is open to everyone in all parts of the county regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion, handicap or national origin. For more information, please give me a call. I will be happy to put you in contact with some of the members. You may already know someone who is a member. If not, you are invited to attend your first meeting as my personal guest. Put October 2 on your calendar and plan to attend Rally Day with me!

Marilyn May, CFCS, is the Lampasas County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. She can be reached at Mmay@ag.tamu.edu or P.O. Box 231, Lampasas, TX 76550; phone 512-556- 8271, ext. 140.