The proper strategy is to clip coupons, yes, but ALIGN their use with corresponding store sales. Some days that means using them the day they come out, and sometimes you're holding onto them for months waiting for that perfect storm of big sale + coupon.

And YES, you can buy "real food" this way. We get some processed food--cereal and cereal bars are what we're most guilty of, and an occasional frozen pizza or pot-pie. But for the most part, we buy tons of frozen veggies, lean meat, fresh produce when it's on sale, etc. As a matter of fact, I JUST posted on this very topic:

http://ninjapoodles.blogspot.com/2008/02/since-i-dont-seem-to-have-any-marriage.html

I average a 60-65% savings on all my groceries, always. I haven't paid shelf price for groceries in two or three years. And that money saved can be off somewhere earning interest. Think about it--it's worth your time to at least learn the "game."