This year, a trip to the grocery store may hit your wallet as hard as a stop at the gas station. Food prices are rising along with gasoline, and the results are leaving many Americans struggling to find any extra money come the end of the month.

Is your grocery bill causing you and your family more anxiety than usual? Follow these tips to save on your bill.

Get Into Gardening

Though the task may seem daunting, tending a small garden in your backyard will generally pay for itself with the first harvest. Americans are planting fruits and vegetables at home in record numbers.

One tomato plant, according to Bankrate.com, can save you $60 on your bill if you harvest 30 pounds of product over time. The cost of the plant, fertilizer and water to care for it might total around $3.05.

Other expensive fruits and vegetables that will save the average consumer plenty of money if grown at home include mushrooms, green peas, asparagus, blackberries, cherries and strawberries.

Choosing those plants that you enjoy most and those that are easiest to care for will ultimately save you hundreds. Just make sure you get the garden guru next door to show you the ropes of planting before you throw those seeds in the ground.

Plan Meals Ahead Of Time

Although it may seem like a lot of work, planning the week's meals ahead of time, and buying food accordingly, can shave plenty of money off of your grocery bill. Simply taking the time to buy only what is needed, and nothing more, will remove impulse purchases from the equation and ensure that no perishable items go uneaten.

Store Perishables In Freezer

When meal planning falls short and the meat in the fridge will go bad before you have time to eat it, freeze it as soon as possible to enjoy later. Make sure the meat or other food product is packaged properly; it's generally safer, and will make the end product better, if the product is placed in an airtight bag or other packaging.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, raw meat is better than cooked meat when freezing because cooking removes moisture from the food. Although freezing your foods will keep them safe from additional bacteria and allow you to store them for far longer, they may not taste quite as delicious as they would when fresh.

You can cut costs without scrapping nutrition. With a little planning, grocery shopping doesn't need to be stressful. Reap the benefits -- and the vegetables from your garden -- while saving money.