Is there a Couponing for DUMMIES out there?

Just got back from grocery shopping.  I have to admit...I'm super discouraged.


Usually I attempt to be a frugal-ista-I hunt for the best bargains in the store and use my coupons to match up with the sales.  I don't know if it's the grocery stores in my area, but lately I haven't been finding anything worth writing home about.  Honestly, I haven't found much at all.  And it's pretty frusterating.


A few months ago, I found a really great, helpful website called athriftymom.com.  The site owner, Sarah Barrand is very clear about what she does on her site and has a couponing 101 section which really helped me get all set up.


So one Sunday night, while babe and I were settling down in the living room after we put H to sleep, I gathered my Sunday paper with all of the fliers and inserts and sat down try my hand at this coupon-ing thing.  It went well at first-I really nabbed some great deals!  "wow!" I thought.  "Maybe this can work afterall!"  I didn't mind putting in the time and effort to gather the coupons.  I actually enjoyed it.  And still do.  It's fun when you see a great sale and can match the coupon up to get even better deal.  I understand now when I hear other people say it's like a rush.  It's a great feeling to walk away from an item that would normally cost $20 and nab it for 5 bucks AND get a $3 register reward (yayy Walgreens!).


BUT...lately...at least where the food is concerened, I haven't been seeing much.  I went in to Hannaford today and found NADA.  Price Chopper wasn't any better.  I am armed with this perfectly labeled (thanks Sarah!!!) binder with plastic photo inserts and can't even use it.  It's like dressing up in your hottest little black dress but having no where to go. Where's the fun in that?


Maybe I'm doing this wrong.  If I am, please..someone let me in on the secret.  Or maybe it's the grocery stores in my area of NY.  I'm not sure.  I feel so bad because babe works so hard and I never seem to bring home that many groceries.  I look at prices on items such as orange juice, fruits, veggies...EVERYTHING and think even 2 years ago prices weren't this high.  I hunt around, even shopping at ALDI. We are not poor by any means, but we are not close to well off either.  He's the breadwinner right now, and I'm the stay at home mom who is trying to finish graduate school.   The fact is, money is tight and I'm finding it's getting more and more difficult to stretch a dollar and really make it count.  I spent $80 and feel I have hardly anything to show for it.




 If any of you have good couponing tips, I'd love for you to share them!