First let’s define what being frugal is, and what it isn’t.

In my dictionary, there’s a definite difference between being frugal and being cheap.

Living frugally means you’re paying attention to your money and making sure you only spend it on things that are necessary and for the best price. Splurging isn’t forbidden; but thought is put into a purchase to make sure the splurge isn’t a burden.

Being cheap means neglecting to give appropriate dollar value to products and services and refusing to pay for the value you receive, even if you have the money for it. Being cheap is more about having a negative attitude about parting with money.

Starting couponing can be overwhelming. There’s a lot more to it than randomly finding a coupon, cutting it out and handing it over to the cashier.

It’s not necessary to be “extreme” when you coupon. That is, you don’t need to spend hours upon hours preparing for a shopping trip and hoard mass quantities of everything in your house.

There are some techniques that will help you maximize your grocery budget and save big bucks. I consistently save over a thousand dollars a year on groceries using these techniques while avoiding being extreme and keeping a modest stockpile.

Here are the keys to being a successful couponer:

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A friend of mine had a brilliant idea.

They have an hour-long commute to and from work each day. (Yikes!) He thought it might be worth his time to offer to carpool with people who are heading in the same general direction and earn a few extra bucks in the process.

At the very least, he could earn enough to pay for his gas.