Krystyna

I have always used coupons and keep a binder with baseball card sleeves to organize them. On some trips I don't use many -- if any -- coupons at all. At other times I use a ton. Yesterday I shopped the local King Kullen store because I noticed in the flyer that many things were on sale for $1 and they also double coupons including $1 coupons. My grocery bill ended up being $237.10 -- and that included a huge roast beef and lots of American lamb (on sale for $2.99/lb). After the coupons, totaling $101.90, my bill was $135.20. Almost half off. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have that $101.90 in my pocket than in the cash drawer of the supermarket. I also keep coupons for fast food and casual dining in my portfolio along with a list of which ones offer senior citizen discounts and on what days. If we're on the go and it looks like there won't be time to cook, we use those coupons and discounts. We get a newspaper delivered daily - and got that at a discount, too - $1.99 a week. The complex I live in gets a delivery of a free paper with ads and coupons in it. After discovering that no one in my building uses them, I wait a day or two and pick them all up. I don't dumpster dive at all. There are also lots of coupons online. You do need to plan your trip and know the store's policy for coupons -- and that might mean several transactions -- especially at Joann -- but it's well worth it.