Each year, my husband gets a cost of living increase. It’s always eaten up by rising cost of living. That’s expected. What isn’t expected is the economy’s increase has also eating up his other raises over the past couple of years. Our biggest expense is food and household products. Please know, we are fairly frugal and I really thought this is just how life is going to be. I didn’t think we had any control. That’s how I felt before reading Nelson’s book.

Before I go further, I want to say that we’ve tried this coupon thing before. In fact, if you read the back of GREATEST SECRETS OF THE COUPON MOM, she describes us perfectly. Here’s what it says.

“You tried clipping coupons once. You even made a grocery shopping list to go with them. And how did that work out for you? If you’re like most consumers, you ended up with an industrial-strength headache and vow never to try that again!”

“It’s no wonder that in spite of massive promotion by the grocery and coupon industries, fewer than 2 percent of the $300 billion of grocery coupons printed are ever used. Clipping coupons can be a pain!”

“Here’s the dilemma: You really need to cut your food costs. And the billions of dollars of coupons that could help you are at the bottom of a landfill. This is serious. You need help! You need a Mom to do all the hard work for you!”

That fit me perfectly!

In her book, Nelson teaches you how to become a coupon expert. The steps seem easy enough. She also says to go to her free interactive website and print out a shopping list for your supermarket.

The book committed me to the idea, but the website got me excited. It will take time to reap a serious reward, but I feel that it’s like starting a new business. We’ll have to invest first and later see the “serious” payoff. I’m not doing this to save a few bucks though. I am doing this to save some serious money. We have a family of five. Our monthly cost of household products extends over $1,000 each month. If I could cut this in half or at the very least, by 25%, I’d be thrilled. Nelson says I can do it. Steve, the accountant, says it’s possible with what he’s read, both in her book and on-line. It will be a lot of work and a major change, but I’m willing.

UPDATE: Not trying at 100%, Steve (hubby) and I saved $160 the first month. So instead of having to raise the budget for food, we’re lowering it. Yes, that’s with milk at a $4.50 per gal which is more than a gal of gas right now. ( )