Just lately - i saved $115 in coupons and store sales savings...my final bill was $75...I liked that!
i do NOT extreme coupon - not all stores will break the rules and I won't buy stuff I don't need and/or won't use...when there is a food drive, I buy for that - I don't save it.
I DO have reserves. I DO have an emergency food stock. I do NOT send food to our troops - I send them candy, chap stick, hand warmers, pictures, etc.
How do I save with coupons? I make a menu for the week. I go through the coupons I get in the paper as well as on-line - penny pincher gazette, hot coupon.com, pillsbury.com, betty crocker.com, etc. and then see what's on sale in the store. If they have ketchup on sale and I have the coupons? I will buy it.
I make a list of what I NEED. Get the coupons for those items.
I make a list of what I WANT. If I have coupons, great! If I don't? I don't NEED it at that time.
I spend about $400 a month for a family of 4. This includes dog food, soda, cleaning products.