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Is it worth it to print off manufacturer's coupons from the Internet to use at the grocery store?

Absolutely.

In fact, during a recent General Mills promotion at Albertsons, I was able to get six free boxes of General Mills cereal by using printable coupons from the Internet.

I recently noticed an advertisement in the Daily Herald from the Food and Care Coalition of Utah Valley. The advertisement listed items that the coalition is in need of at this time.

Some of the items listed were: frozen juice, canned fruits, canned vegetables, canned chili, tuna, antiperspirant, shampoo, conditioner and lotion.

The Savvy Shopper grocery saving program recently passed its six-month anniversary date. Over the past six months I have met some wonderful people through this program. I love hearing your success stories.

With the growth of this program, I have some observations on store policy I would like to share.

There are many reasons to get into couponing -- to save money, to build up a usable pantry, to save time, and to provide security and peace of mind to name a few.

There are a couple more reasons that make now the time to get into couponing.

First, the price of gas and second, the projected increase in heating bills this coming winter.

A very important aspect of the Savvy Shopper grocery saving program is its flexibility. You can tailor this program to meet your personal needs. Shop at as many or as few stores as you would like. Spend as much or as little time as you have. You can use coupons to maximize your savings, or simply find the best sales each week at local drug stores and grocery stores.

Acquiring a basic supply of food does not need to break the bank.

The Savvy Shopper and the Daily Herald help you build up a usable pantry or food storage for very little money by finding all the best deals at local drug stores and grocery stores and giving you that information for free.

There are probably items in your pantry that you can use in different ways than perhaps you have thought of.

For instance, I needed to take a dessert to a party recently. I used two of the Betty Crocker Muffin Mixes that I purchased for 20 cents each.

Now is the time to start planning for your holiday food needs.

Start by sitting down with a calendar, pen and paper. First, consider if you are going to be hosting a party. If so, write down needed ingredients, food items etc. Next, list the parties and events you will be attending and what food items you will be bringing to these activities.