This post was originally published in May 2009 to help new readers understand the strategies we use to save so much money every month.   I don't shop like normal people, and to understand how I (and other coupon queens) save so much money you need to understand our core strategy. You see, I don't go to a bigg's Triple Coupons, a Remke Super Doubles or a Kroger Mega Sale shopping for my normal weekly shopping list and save $200 in one trip. No, that's not how it works.Instead, I'm looking through the big sale for my stock-up items. This is called stockpiling. I'm not interested in the carrots I need this week, nor the milk, nor the bread, unless they happen to be on sale too. Instead, I'm focused 100% on items that are significantly discounted off their normal price. And then I stock up.For example, at the Mega Sale in January, I stocked up on things like cheese, Cheez-its, Mission tortillas, soda 2 liters, mustard and more. At the Remke Super Doubles I'm stocking up on bread, some jarred fruits, cream soups, Ragu, paper goods, and sirloin meats. At the Kroger Digital Rewards sale this week I'm stocking up on Pillsbury rolls, Uncle Ben's rice, Betty Crocker potatoes and Skippy Peanut Butter. I may buy as many as 20-30 of each item over the course of a week or two of the sale.This eventually creates a stockpile of food in my house. Just yesterday morning I went 'shopping' for my weekly needs in the stockpile. I grabbed a couple of grocery bags and brought upstairs to the kitchen: Eggo pancakes, a box of Cheez-its, a bottle of shampoo, package of hamburger, block of extra sharp Kraft cheddar cheese, bottle of Snuggle softener, box of Electrasol/Finish dishwasher tablets, a bag of Sunmaid raisins, a box of Frosted Mini-Wheats, a new roll of Viva paper towels, a tub of Smart Balance butter, a carton of Swanson Chicken broth, a container of cottage cheese, a gallon of milk, an air freshener and a package of Cottonelle toilet paper. I don't go into a grocery store and buy all of those things at once. In fact, I rarely go into the store anymore. I can go 2-3 weeks without even stepping into a store! Produce is one thing I will go back in for-but again, if you store things properly and take advantage of frozen versions, you can often have healthier, cheaper produce already in your home.Now, there are times when I will be in a store for a big sale and see something else I want or need. Like yesterday at Remke, I noticed they had red plums already, one of my favorites. So I grabbed a few. I also grabbed a couple pounds of grapes, since they're on sale for .99/lb. And I encourage you to do that too! Purchase a few other things at stores that are giving you great deals!But can you see how the Big Sale isn't the same as a regular shopping trip? Can you see that if you shop this way regularly, stocking up on the items you need BEFORE you need them, that eventually you won't have a weekly shopping list? It's why we say here that we like to help you save time and save money! Shop less, save more!