Jenny Costantino used to think it was odd when her grandmother put empty butter wrappers back in the fridge. Turns out granny was just being thrifty. She used the oily paper to grease her baking pans.

"I come from a long line of skinflints," Costantino jokes. She washes ziptop bags and refills plastic water bottles with purified tap water.

Wendell Brock/wbrock@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

'I come from a long line of skinflints,' says thrifty shopper Jenny Costantino.

When the freelance publicist and logistics coordinator for the National Black Arts Festival left her full-time job recently, she got even more serious about saving for her family of four.

She keeps a notebook with the price of staples from four stores: Publix, Kroger, DeKalb Farmers Market and Trader Joe's. She can tell you instantly where to find the city's cheapest apple or half-gallon of organic milk.

"I had no idea how disparate the prices would be from one store to the next," she says. She hits each place when she happens to be in the area (saves gas) and follows her list rigorously. No Pringles while waiting in line.

Costantino's goal is to feed her family on $150 a week. "It's very hard. I haven't done that yet. Right now, I'm at $180."

So where's the best buy on apples? That would be Trader Joe's — where you can get four for $2.

31 ways to save

• Want to save on food? Ask your neighbors 
• Frequent diner saves with coupons by e-mail 
• Shopper works grocery sales 
• Teenage flash for less 
• Fun, cheap getaway as close as a state park or two 
• Borrowing from library cuts costs for avid readers 
• Gamble pays off in lower expenses 
• Exerciser not waiting for DVD to come out 
• Coupons bite into cost of dining out 
• Find it for a fraction of the original price 
• Purge baby items at consignment shops 
• Brazil beckons for savings-smart traveler 
• Old sol  and 'common sense'  cut electric bill 
• Cost-cutting is par for the course 
• Rack up with sales, off-season garments 
• Shopper charts the best prices 
• Public swimming pool refreshing, affordable 
• More-efficient ride picks up cash flow 
• Clean Air deal sweetens switch to a car pool plan 
• Personal trainer trims costs and fees 
• Mom shops early for school needs 
• 'Kids eat free' nights stretch family's budget 
• RVers cut back, consolidate trips 
• Teacher Web sites offer ideas, freebies 
• Mom 'not too proud' to snag a bargain 
• Cheese plates, movies fit budget 
• Take a walk to library; watch a movie for free 
• Volunteer shows way to free theater seats 
• Catch Braves in action for mere peanuts 
• Portrait of thriftiness in designer-wear garb 
• Businessman finds cheap gas via phone 
• Shopper takes bite out of grocery bill 
• Have your own way to save? Please share it with us
• Your Money: Strategies for stretching your dollars
• Saving Dough: Resources for stretching your food dollar