QUEENSBURY, N.Y. -- Go to any grocery store right before a holiday weekend and it's sure to be packed. Most of us want to get in and out and sometimes spend more than we need to.

Queensbury resident Lisa Stevens said, "In today's world, everyone’s in such a rush that they don't take the time to look, but you can save so much money."

We decided to look for the quick and easy ways to save. Let's start out in produce. One major way to save, if you can, is to buy whole fruits and veggies instead of the pre-cut ones. Take, for example, mushrooms. You can get 8 ounces of uncut mushrooms for $1.99 or half that amount for $2 more at $3.99. A precut fruit salad will set you back about $25, but you could buy six and a quarter entire watermelons for that price. Not that you would, but you get the point.

Here's a great idea from a veteran grocery shopper.

"Always, always go with store brand. It is the same and it is cheaper," said Corinth resident Carol Patrenets.

She's right. Compare a three liter bottle of store brand cola at 38 cents a quart to a two liter bottle of Pepsi for $1.39, or 66 cents a quart. And for ginger ale, the store brand will cost you 36 cents per quart or 63 cents per quart for the name brand.

Another thing to keep in mind is that many times the most expensive items are placed right here at eye level. Marketers have studied human behavior and that's where we look first. But you can save a few extra dollars just by looking up or down.

Lisa Stevens says she has noticed this and she says she is careful about what she buys.

"Yes, ask my kids. It takes me forever!" said Stevens.

One more way you can save is with water, which could be free for most of us, but it is expensive when you look at all the packaging. Right here you'll spend $4.79 for 24 tiny bottles, which comes out to be three gallons. What we're paying for is convenience and if you can afford to sacrifice a little of that, you'll save more money in the long run.