This has been a BIG thing for me and BFF lately: learning to SAVE money with coups. She does better than I do because she seems to buy a LOT more things that you find coupons for that I have no need for, but I am saving anywhere from 30 - 50% off my grocery bills using the coupons and shopping the sales with an average around 40%. She averages closer to 50% consistently.
I have little in the way of brand loyalty. If I use a product (in general like, sour cream or canned soup or canned tuna), I clip the coupon no matter the brand. It doesn't take anymore time to be less picky about what I clip and its no big deal if they end up in the recycling bin later. There have been times when I was SO sad that I hadn't clipped a coupon b/c I could have gotten it free or nearly so if I'd had the coup. Generally I clip coupons for: dairy items, soups, cereals, frozen vegetables, personal care items (floss, bandaids, razor blades) and some of the gross frozen foods that my husband is determined to eat.
Now, if I don't use a product at all, I don't clip the coupon. I don't use Bisquick, I don't cut the coupon. I don't buy Keebler cookies or Fruit Roll-Ups or Chex Mix, so I don't cut the coupons.
Every week when my store flyers come in the mail, I get out my shopping binder (this has menu planning sheets, shopping lists, recipes I am eager to try and its where the store flyers go) and get busy. I go through the flyers with my coupons handy and I start looking for the good deals. Things like: the sour cream and barbecue sauce that I can get free this week b/c of double coupons, the cereal I can get for $1, the Silk Soy half gallon I got for 99 cents or the yogurt I got last week for 18 cents a container.
Then I start planning the menu and making my shopping list. I try to plan meals around three things: what's in my freezer, what's in my pantry, what's on sale. I don't always take advantage of every sale, but when I do, its because its a really good one and I can stock up.
Internet coupons are totally hit and miss. I have one store here where I can use them as long as they aren't for a "free" item. That store also offers double coupons everyday, up to 99 cents. Makes those 75 cent coupons (that then turn into $1.50 off!) seem like gold.
BUT, there is another local store that does double coupons too and often beats out the price at first store. I
always check both and make sure I get the best deal.
I would call your local stores and ask for their coupon policies, start collecting coupons (my mom saves them for me, I buy at least one Sunday paper a week and my BFF and I trade the ones we get ourselves each week after we have taken what we want) and then give it a shot. Think of it as an experiment that could really pay off and have fun with it. If it doesn't work for you, no harm done. At least you'll know, right?
Some links to check out:
thegrocerygame.com (I have not tried this yet. Might this summer, but I dunno)
thegroceryguide.com (my BFF uses this one - its free - and really finds it helpful)
Coupon sites (for printing them off if your stores accept any):
coupons.com
boodle.com
couponbug.com
smartsource.com
mambosprouts.com (natural products)
The first four mostly have the exact same offers, but that's okay because they often limit how many you can print and if its a good one and you want to stock up, you can print more by going to each one.
I hope that's helpful - sometimes I have a hard time being concise when I am trying to describe something like this. There's more I could say, but that is a start.
: yeah I buy those 
) on sale for $4.99 for a 40 count box. They also sent me a coupon for $3 off a $15 Health or Beauty department purchase. They also are running a special this week that if you buy more than $15 worth of Procter and Gamble products (which Tampax is one), you get an automatic $5 off at the register. And, :
roll:: I have 4 coupons for $.50 off Tampax, which Kroger will double, making each one worth $1.00.
