When I was writing "Super-Couponing 2: Saving on Everything!" one of the questions I was frequently asked was "How do I save on Cable TV?"

The simplest answer? By not paying for it.

(Breathe. It's okay. You're going to do just fine without cable... because I don't have it either. And I'm still watching all of my favorite shows... for FREE. Legitimately, too -- no illegal cable boxes or anything like that!)

Today's Wall Street Journal has a story on coupon fraud, particularly with regard to internet coupons, is on the rise:

In January 2008, Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. issued 250 coupons for a free bag of its adult dry dog food. As of May 5, 2,754 coupons for the product have been redeemed, the company said, but declined to comment further on coupon fraud.

The Indiana Post-Tribune has a nice article on my Super-Couponing class at Purdue University:

WESTVILLE -- Jill Cataldo was running low on diapers when she saw they were on sale at a local store. After a quick shopping trip, the 66 full-size packs of diapers she bought cost her only $7.92 -- after using coupons.

Plus, the diapers looked impressive stacked up to the ceiling, so she posed her son in front of them and snapped a picture to prove it.

Occasionally I like to blog about some of my shopping trip experiences as well as coupons. Today is one of those days...

As many of you know, I am a stay-at-home mom, and when I shop, I do shop with my two preschool-aged sons. We went to the Algonquin Meijer today to check out the free water and cheap Kool-Aid/free sugar deals (check this post if you're interested in those!) and as usual, I had my boys in tow.

Serious grocery savings are just a snip away

Jill Cataldo knows a thing or two about maximizing the savings of her family grocery bill.

"I shopped today and bought $120 worth of groceries for $3.40," Cataldo said.

Jill Cataldo gives a class at the Sugar Grove Community House on how to use coupons to their greatest advantage. Some 100 people signed up for the two-hour workshop sponsored by the Sugar Grove Library Friends.

Sharing the art of saving

Jill Cataldo gets a lot of attention at the supermarket.

Cataldo, a 35-year-old mother of three from Huntley, is one of a rising number of so-called coupon divas who have turned saving at the grocery store into an art form.

Diapers drove Cataldo to become a maven of saving. Three years ago, she heard in the news about the extreme savings available by using coupons. Read more.

The NWI Times has a story about my class at Purdue University this past weekend:

'Super Coupon' queen cuts to the saving chase

Everything about the "old" way of shopping for groceries is wrong, according to "Super Coupon" queen Jill Cataldo.

Instead, "stockpiling," "stacking," and surfing the Internet are just a few ways that shoppers can really save money on groceries and other household items -- and many times, even get items for free.

In my Super-Couponing classes, I'm often asked the question whether it's easier just to shop at an "everyday low price" supercenter vs. a "more expensive" supermarket with coupons to get the same savings. If you've used coupons for any length of time, you know that you'll actually get much better savings at the "more expensive" supermarkets by following the sales and matching them with coupons.

I'm quoted in today's Daily Herald, which has an article on expired coupons no longer being accepted at Jewel. (And yes, technically this changed a year ago, but the company is going to strongly enforce it starting May 1.)

I'm often asked what, if anything, I'll pay full price for. Each time this year, I do a huge stock-up on one thing that's totally worth it to me... Kosher Coca-Cola!

Yes, this is a lot of Coke. But hey, we all have our vices! :)