Coupons are everywhere. Industry experts estimate a whopping 400 billion coupons will be distributed this year... and this comes just in time!

As more of us struggle to keep up with the rising food prices, using coupons is a quick and easy way to save big bucks. Since January of this year, more than $173 billion in coupons have been delivered just in those newspaper supplements and mailings alone.

With the average face value of food coupons now at 91 cents each and non-food coupons worth an average $1.61 the savings can add up quickly.

Tom Lemke, a talk-show guest on Oprah, explained years ago how he bought more than $400 of groceries for less than $100 using coupons. And, while Lemke's level of success is rare, coupons can easily shave 15-20% from every grocery bill. That's an annual savings of over a $1,000 for a family of four.

Check your supermarket couponing rules carefully – these days many who used to double coupon value are limiting the doubling value to those coupons under $1. For even more savings look for coupons that can be redeemed on products that your store have put on sale and offer additional savings with their frequent shopper card program. But here’s the catch – many shoppers have to give up their favorite brands in order to go with what’s on sale. With a little preplanning you wont have to: Stock up on your favorite brands when they are on sale and you wont have to sacrifice the quality you are used to.