Queen of Cheap Shares Grocery Game Secrets

Jan. 5, 2009 — -- Teri Gault has been called both the "Queen of Cheap" and the "Coupon Queen," but the penny-pinching advice on her Web site, www.thegrocerygame.com, has helped shoppers save hundreds of dollars on their monthly grocery bills.

Now Gault, along with co-author Sheryl Berk, has compiled her tips and advice in a book, "Shop Smart, Save More," which provides step-by-step instructions on how to find and shop at the right stores, master the science of coupons, organize your shopping list, stockpile effectively and more.

Read an excerpt from the book below.

CHAPTER 1: Let The Game Begin!

I've been called a lot of things in my life (some I dare not even mention!). But the one title that seems to constantly follow me around these days is "The Coupon Queen." The followers of my Web site consider me this, for sure. I enjoy hundreds of e-mails a week from my happy Gamers, and thousands on my message board every day. The Grocery Game has completely enveloped my life--I eat, sleep, and breathe saving money.

I never envisioned that this would become my career or my reputation. Someone else ago, I was an actress. My husband Greg and I met in an acting class in February 1979. He was working on CHiPs (hey, remember Eric Estrada?) as a stunt man/stunt coordinator and second unit director. I had been in the business for about three years. I was really lucky; I got right into it without having to pay my dues. Mostly, I played one type of character really, really well: the dumb blond. You see, I met this girl at a party the night before I was going to read for a pilot. She was--in a word--a ditz. I watched her and talked to her and I decided to be her. So I got the pilot and a lot of other jobs just channeling this chick. Simple as that.

Greg and I got married in August 1980. We were both working, and we had a lot of money coming in. We had a beautiful 3,000-square-foot home on a horse property, a Corvette, a boat, a plane, even a helicopter (by far our most expensive "toy"). And I had this magnificent garden that would make even Martha Stewart green with envy. I had 42 hybrid rose bushes that I loved to spend hours pruning. We were also building a gorgeous new home in Malibu, one that would be even bigger and more luxurious. We patted ourselves on the back: this was the life!

I had clothes, I had jewelry. If I liked something, I'd buy it. Yet even when I had all that money, I loved a bargain and would always clip coupons. I was always talking about my deals: "Look, honey," I'd boast over breakfast, "I got this oatmeal for only $1.29 instead of $2.99…" Greg would just shake his head. He humored me (he probably secretly thought I was nuts). But it made me so happy to get something for less--the thrill of the hunt.