Anyone who wants to save more money on groceries can make good use of coupons, it's just a matter of doing it.

Try to think of them as cash and you might be a little more motivated to use them on a regular basis.

When you purchase an item that you regularly buy and could have used a coupon for (but didn't), it really is just like throwing money away. Do this over and over again and we're talking hundreds of dollars each year.

As soon as you start looking at coupons as cash it should be a lot easier to make more time for them.

Don't be embarrassed to use coupons - 86% of Americans are using coupons - the other 14% are overpaying!

This may be a surprise to you, but grocery clerks do not always know their own store's coupon guidelines!

If you are a store regular, you will begin to know which clerks are easy to get along with, and which ones aren't.

For some reason, some clerks think you are stealing from the store when you use coupons and get fairly nasty about it. If you run into one of these, don't argue, just ask for the store manager to verify that you are using your coupons appropriately.

Usually the problem comes when you try to use a store coupon with a manufacturer's coupon - a store coupon is not the same as a manufacturer's coupon, it's really just their own sale price!

However, if you want to make sure your store will honor both coupons at the same time before you try it, just be sure you speak directly to the manager!

Do you have trouble organizing your shopping trips? Do you get to the store, but forget what you need for that special menu, or maybe you remember that you had a coupon for an item, but left the coupon at home?

I found a great organizer that will help you keep track of your shopping trips...it's a lifesaver for me.

Frugal shoppers rave about the amazing aisle-by-aisle grocery list online software that simplifies day-to-day shopping chores.

Target Mark Down Schedule

MONDAY- kids clothes, electonics
TUESDAY- women's clothes, domestics
WEDNESDAY- men's clothes, toys, health and beauty
THURSDAY- lingerie, shoes, housewares, sporting goods
FRIDAY- cosmetics, hardware, auto, jewelry

Target Holiday Clearance:

50% off day after holiday for three days
75% off fourth day after holiday for three days
90% off seventh day after holiday for 1-2 days

Can you really save money by shopping at a discount warehouse club?

The answer is yes, but you have to be very careful. My brother calls Costco, The Hundred "dollar store" - because no matter what he goes in there for, it ends up costing him at least one hundred dollars. So stick to the following rules or you can end up spending more than you save.

1. Shop with a list. Decide before you get their what you need to purchase. If it's not on the list, don't buy it. If you really need 40 reams of computer paper, you can always come back later to get it.

2. Shop with cash. You will avoid temptation if you only have enough money to buy what's on your list.

3. Justify the membership fee. Make sure you buy enough times at the store to save the $25 to $50 that you pay just to have the privilege of walking in the discount club's door.

Need to save Money? Start with Your Food Bill!
Learn the tips and techniques at Grocery Store Savings
Click Here!

4. Buy only what you can reasonably store. If you can't eat 50 steaks before they go bad because you don't have the freezer space, then that's no bargain.

5. Make sure you are getting a good deal. If you use coupons, you are more likely to get a better deal at your local grocery or pharmacy.

All that said here are your best(25-70% cheaper) discount club deals:

Milk, Cheese, Butter/Margarine, Ice Cream, Bread, Condiments, Cereal, Tuna, Toilet Tissue, Laundry detergent, Pet Food, & Trash Bags.

Meat is not necessarily cheaper, but because they buy in bulk, they get the highest quality and have generally good prices all of the time.

Next time you're tempted to reach for convenience items packaged in kid-size portions, stop and think. Instead of paying up to 70% more for all that extra environmental unsound and "convenient" packaging, why don't you package it yourself.

If you buy in bulk and repackage in plastic baggies or paper bags or reuse those empty used yogurt cups, you can reduce the over-packaging, waste and cost.

If you've given up waiting for coupons for yur favorite products to fall into your lap, send the manufacturer an email or call them. Most products have a number or website listed right on the label.

After telling them how much you love their product (remember catching flies with honey), tell them you'd appreciate some discount coupons.

Most companies will happily oblige.

With the new food buying system our family uses, we
save, on average, one-third to one-half off of our
grocery bill every week. These seven cautions are part of
how we do this. If you are serious about saving money on
food and groceries; give them a try.

1) Don't be brand loyal; use different brands. You
don't have to buy generic either. We almost
exclusively buy brand names. Buying a particular brand on
one or two items is OK. To save the most, get the best
deal on the majority of the items bought.

2) Be sure sales are sales. Store frequently place
certain items on sale during set times of the year.
Two for one sales are popular. However, a 2 for 1 sale
doesn't save money if the store increased its price while
placing it "on sale". Be aware of stores who constantly
have insufficient stock. The hope is the shopper will buy
what is on the shelve. Ask for rain checks. Some of our best
buys are when we combine doubled coupons with 2 for 1 sales.

3) Check expiration dates. Some sale items have dates
soon to expire. It isn't a good deal if the date goes
out before it can be used.

4) Don't buy something you don't normally use just
because you have a coupon. Using coupons wisely saves
money. If you can't or won't use the item, it's not a deal
no matter what the price. Some coupons are for new food
items. You won't know the "normal or sale" price on these
items because they are new.

5) Be careful about sale conditions and limits. Do you
have to buy $25.00 worth of groceries to get the sale
price? Is there a limit to the quantity? Is the sale
only for Friday - Sunday? It's not a deal if you have to
buy more than you need to get one item.

6) Match your weekly menu to reflect what's in season
and what's in your pantry. If you have to go back to
the grocery to get one more item, you'll more likely to
buy at a higher price. If it's out of season it will
cost more.

7) Don't buy convenience foods unnecessarily.
Convenience costs more. I would never suggest to
forgo use of convenience foods. However buying fewer or
buying only on sale will save a lot of money. Consider
learning how to create your own convenience foods. Many
sites have recipes for such food items.

Saving money is possible. Prices on items change week
to week. Be aware. You save a lot when you know your
options.

Author info: L. C. Peterson is a freelance writer and
web site consultant.

More food saving tips can be found at Click Here!

Pet Food Manufacturers are notoriously great coupon providers. My pets now eat Fresh healthy food and less than 1/4 of what I used to pay.

I realize not everyone has pets, but here is a great idea. If you don't have a pet, but have tons of coupons, why not ask your local shelter if they can use them? Or maybe "purchase" I use that term loosely because so many times you can get pet foods and treats for free - and donate the bags, cans and treats to local shelters. Sometimes senior citizens have trouble making ends meet. Could they use some help with pet food?
Click Here!