Frugal Coupon Mom

In these tough economic times saving money seems to be the number one priority for many people, especially parents. Unfortunately, many parents do not seem to know where to start or they just do not have the time to make sense of it all. Well, to all you money saving parents out there, Frugal Coupon Mom (a.k.a. the couponer) is coming to your rescue. Her desire is to help you, me and everyone in between save our hard earned money.

Teri James of Madison, Alabama says times are tough and she would like to be able to recession proof her budget without sacrificing her current way of living.

Frugal Coupon Mom advises people to be aware of sales and put coupons to use, especially when grocery shopping and during trips to the drug store.

Below are five tips provided by the Frugal Coupon Mom herself.

1) Know the Code
Frugal Coupon Mom says there is a secret formula out there. A sale + a MFR (manufacturer) coupon + a store/competitor coupon = freebies, moneymakers, and cheap items. She says when possible combine these THREE things.

2) Be Flexible
Frugal Coupon Mom advises people to break from brand loyalties. She wants people to realize that there are a lot of great coupons out there if you are willing to try new things.

3) Learn to Stockpile
Frugal Coupon Mom says when there is an amazing sale combined with a large coupon you must stockpile. She advises people to know their store sales, how frequently things go on sale and then save enough until the next sale. Frugal Coupon Mom also says that this will sometimes require several copies of a coupon.

4) Reward Cards Are Your Friend
Frugal Coupon Mom says that many stores offer great incentives only for those who are reward card holders. She says sometimes it is best to get reward cards of stores not even in their area because some stores will take those competitors' coupons.

5) Don't Reinvent the Wheel
Frugal Coupon Mom has done all the leg work. Don't get stressed trying to plan a shopping list. Use this resource and other resources like it to see what is on sale each week and what is matched to a coupon. Frugal Coupon Mom says if you do not have the coupon, don't buy the item unless your family is in need.

Teri James says she will try to implement Frugal Coupon Mom's tips while she shops in hopes that she will not feel the intense strains associated with the recession. Ms. James says, "Times are definitely tough right now, so any advice is welcomed, especially advice geared toward helping me be more optimistic about this ordeal."