I’ve always considered myself pretty thrifty. When I shop for clothing I typically take enough time to pick things out and then put them back after talking myself out of spending the money. Time waster? Yes. But money saver? Definitely. I buy an Entertainment book every year at a discount and then always rifle through it to make sure I’m saving a couple bucks wherever I go. When I push my cart through Target I always hit up the Clearance end caps on the aisles. (Oh, and Target Pricing People – please take note that 30% does not constitute “clearance.” 30% is just a starting point). I mean, I know how to save a buck or two. Or at least mess with my head and end up saving a buck or two.

But grocery shopping. I wouldn’t call it my downfall, but it’s definitely not my strong point.

I use coupons. Sometimes. And I understand how using a coupon works. But the whole “couponing” movement is beyond me.

There are people out there who are getting food for free, or practically free. And I want to be one of those people. I just don’t get it.

I have a Master’s degree for crying out loud. And yet couponing has, to this point, been beyond my grasp.

I shall master it this year. Oh yes, I shall. I am now armed with a book – The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half – and am at page 59. And I have not had to scratch my head or throw the book across the room in anger even once.

You know, if you head over to You Tube and type in the search word “couponing” you will get 503 results. So there are plenty of people out there that know and understand the couponing secrets that I have decreed must be learned by yours truly.

Between the book, the videos and a ton of websites (including Coupon Mom – the site the book is based upon) there is a wealth of information at my fingertips. Now, if I can just get my brain to process it…

Updates shall be forthcoming (of course).