"People are writing in and saying that the cost of those essentials is just driving up their debt," Bilker said Saturday. "As the cost of everything goes up, people who are on the edge are living off their credit cards. That's not something to recommend, but what are you going to do sometimes, so some people are just in a really bad situation."

Murray, of Pleasantville, said she's managed spend the same amount on groceries by abstaining from entertainment: She said she can't remember the last time she went to the movies or out to dinner, or the last time she's treated herself to a new handbag or pair of shoes.

"Anything extra is out of the question because you have to pay for gas so that you make it to work so that you can afford to buy groceries," said Murray, who works as a dispatcher for Comcast.

While cutting spending on nonessentials is a good idea, Bilker pointed out that people "need to live and enjoy your life within your means."

"You can cut out certain things, but what good is it to have nothing? Then you're not going to be happy at all," he said. There are ways to be more efficient with one's money, he said.

Birdie Cody, a county government worker, said she and her husband, a recently retired pastor, can enjoy movies and other extras, thanks to their stable and ample salaries. But recent price hikes have forced the 62-year-old to pay attention to her spending on groceries for the first time. To balance out the growing expense, the Atlantic City resident has cut out snack foods and sticking to "meat-and-potatoes type things."

Cody and Murray each reported spending $400 per month on groceries for single or two-person households. The USDA reported the national average for a four-person family is $904 per month.

Other ways to save at the grocery store include never going to the store hungry and always sticking to a list, Bilker said. If the paper's coupon offerings are paltry, Bilker recommended hitting the Internet, which he pointed out is offered at public libraries for those who do not have home access. The Web is also great for comparison shopping, he added.

"What you don't want to do is buy a lot of stuff just because it's on sale," he said. "People spend too much money because it's a low-volume price, and they just don't have a need for it. Instead, team up with coworkers and neighbors to get volume discounts."

And although convenience stores are notorious for jacking up prices, getting a credit card through a frequently visited chain makes sense, especially for busy professionals who cannot avoid them, Bilker said.

"I'm not saying go out and spend more than you would normally, but if you have to spend anyway look to use reward cards in ways to benefit you - it's a great way to save money," Bilker said.

He recommended locals get one through Wawa, which gives 10 percent cash back to cardholders. He said he has one, and has found it especially useful because the chain's gas prices are competitive.

Bilker also recommended finding creative ways to make more money, like selling old or used stuff on eBay.

Mike Haines, 42, of Pleasantville, said he's managed to hold the line on spending by simply buying less, with no pattern or plans to switch to generic brands of food and other essentials.

"I haven't really noticed," Haines said of the recent price increase. "To me, everything is high. I do notice I spend a lot at the register. It's the way the economy is. but I like what I like."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

To e-mail Emily Previti at The Press:

EPreviti@pressofac.com

ON THE WEB

Scott Bilker, a former engineer and author of four self-help financial management books, recommends these sites for saving money while shopping:

www.ebates.com gives 25 percent cash back to shoppers who can link to more than 800 online stores.

www.couponmountain.com offers discount codes for online outlets.

www.homemoneyhelp.com schools visitors on the basics of budgeting.

Bilker's site is www.debtsmart.com