As any cook worth her salt knows, spices can be expensive. The folks at Wise Bread know this and published this article in the Frugal Living section: Reducing the Cost of a Good Spice Rack.

The tips are pretty straight-forward: buy in bulk, dry your own, grow your own, or buy online. The author adds some suggestions and websites for reference, plus there are some great comments and tips from readers at the bottom. Another related article on Ethnic Markets offers advice on great finds at speciality stores, including spices (especially at Indian markets), various meats and seafood, and vodka (from Russian markets, of course). These are all great tips if you live in a multi-cultural neighborhood or large city.

From personal experience, and I've said this before, I've found the best deals on spices at places like the World Market. Many of the new gourmet markets that are cropping up all over town also have great selections of cheap spices. Many of these deals do not come with containers, so you may have to make an initial purchase and invest in some nice glass or plastic spice jars.

Want more tips on saving some money? Read Pining for a Penny Market.