HOUSTON -- From food to pharmaceuticals, in this tough economy the amount you have to spend on necessities may be dwindling. It's why so many people are looking to save money; and some asked KPRC Local 2 investigative reporter Amy Davis how.

Davis explains where you can go to spend far less for the same stuff you buy every week.

When we see big semi-trucks loaded with shipments of food get in accidents on the freeway, most of us just want the road cleared. We never give it a second thought.

Think about it now. Where do you think all of that food goes?

Shopping at S & C Salvage Groceries is just like shopping at any store except for a few dented cans, maybe a torn label, and the prices.

"All the brands are the same. We just get more for our money," said shopper Amber Nagar.

"The packaging may not be exactly perfect or something like that, but there's no damage to the inside of the bag or anything," explained Teresa Segura, an S & C regular.

Not everything at the store is salvaged. Some of it is surplus.

Some of the products come from other stores that close and send all of its inventory back to the warehouse or when a manufacturer changes the labeling on its packages.

That's why when owners Steve and Charlotte Setliff unload their truck, it's always a surprise.

"What's in the box is what you get, "said Charlotte Setliff. "You don't order. We can't order 10 boxes of cereal or 15 cans of corn. Whatever comes in the box is what we get."

That's why they say their shoppers get such good deals.

A can of Green Giant cream style corn was 49 cents at S & C. We found the same can at a traditional Houston grocery store for $1.29.

Children's Benadryl is $2.99 at the salvage store and $7.59 at a regular supermarket.

And while the Betty Crocker Warm Delights are priced at only 89 cents, a savings of $1.60, we couldn't help but notice the expiration date was Sept. 22.

But we did some checking and discovered the dates on products are not even required. The codes usually refer to the date the product is likely to be at peak flavor and quality.

Only medicine and baby food and formula must be tossed by the expiration date. That said, 90 percent of the food at S & C is not past the date on the package.

"It don't taste no different," said Segura. "It just saves you money."

And it seems more and more consumers are coming to agree.

"We've been here almost 14 years and this last year has probably been our best year ever," said Setliff.

Salvage grocery stores are inspected by the Health Department just like all grocery stores. All of the same rules apply.

S & C Salvage Groceries is in Channelview, but there are at least five salvage grocery stores in Houston.

You can see a list here with most of the salvage stores, listed by state.

There were a couple we noticed missing from that list.

Groceries & More
8351 Long Point Road
Houston, TX 77055
713-365-9030

Houston Discount Sales
101 Little York Road
Houston, TX 77076
713-691-3586

For more information on food safety and "sell-by dates" from the USDA, click here.