Gerber - For $170 Worth of Groceries

Think you dont have the time to coupon? Consider this: The average American household of four spends $1,126 per month on food, according to the USDA. The average shopper makes at least 1.4 trips to the grocery store each week. What if you could reduce your grocery bill by 50 or even 70 percent, while at the same time, reduce the number of trips you made to the store for last minute items? If you have a job that brings income into the home, you could possibly work fewer hours. If youre a stay-at-home mom, you could bring income into the home simply by saving money.

Think about it this way: If I spend one hour organizing coupons each week and I save between $60 and $150, Ive essentially got a job that pays me $60 to $150 per hour. How many work-at-home opportunities pay that well? For that matter, how many traditional jobs pay that well? This money is also after tax, meaning that I dont have the tax man tax me on the savings that I make through using coupons.

In addition to the time and money youll save, clipping coupons develops a sense of discipline and focus that trickles into other areas of your life. Carrie W. of Birmingham, Alabama says , I started clipping coupons to save a little money, but the whole thing sort of snowballed. When I saw how much money I saved on our grocery bill, I started looking for other areas in our life to save money. My husband got on board and within a year, we had paid off all our credit cards. Now, our cars are paid off and were working on paying off our mortgage early.

Another benefit of clipping coupons is becoming more self-reliant. Most people who clip coupons also use the practice of stockpiling, or setting aside three to six months of food. This practice not only saves money by reducing impulse buys, but it can become a real life saver in times of economic trouble.

Kim J. of Parker, Colorado says , When my husband was laid off, it took him six months to find another job. Because we had a good supply of food, I was able to reduce our grocery bills to less than $100 per month for our family of six. I went to the store for milk, eggs and produce, and that was it. Our food storage saved us because we were able to use what little money we had to pay for our bills and health insurance.

Couponing embodies a way of life that promotes self-sufficiency and frugality, but dont make the mistake of thinking that it means self-deprivation. No, couponing allows many families to eat much better than they otherwise would. Manufacturers often offer coupons for new, innovative products to entice consumers to buy them, so you can afford to buy foods that might otherwise be too expensive. Once you embrace the couponing lifestyle, youll find bargains on everything from clothing, to electronics, to travel that allow you to live better than you previously did.

And, couponing is just plain fun. Imagine going to the store and ringing up a grand total of $160 worth of groceries. Now hand over your coupons and watch your total shrink. I remember one time my grocery bill went from $170 down to $8. The store clerk called the manager to double check it and the people behind me gaped in wonder. Pure adrenaline coursed through my body. I wanted to cheer and do cartwheels. Of course, I maintained a sense of decorum and smiled demurely at the store clerk. But truly, this was better than winning at the slots!