Extreme Couponism?

One of the largest choices that someone has to make is whether to spend hours on coupon clipping / sorting / organizing / driving around to use at specific stores on specific days.

There are many people who blog and show just how much money they can save with store coupons + manufacturer coupons + double coupons + Ads + ...

Most people that we talk to, the families with 3 or 4 children, usually avoid extreme couponism. However, they still work hard to stretch the limited budget.

What strategies do they employ instead?
- Shopping at Canned Food Outlet every 1 to 2 weeks for basic items. (and they know what is a good deal, and what isn't)
- Shopping at Winco for most items. Focus on the bulk-food section, and other items which they've price checked.
- Use Costco wisely. Costco has a tendency to suck in the consumer with their "samples" and such. However, many items just make sense to buy at Costco. (diapers, vitamins, some clothes, etc.)
- Take advantage of sales at stores like Fred Meyer and Albertsons.
- Buy Vegetables from stores with 'good' prices, but above average quality and longevity. (thrown away food = waste)

So, instead of going crazy and spending hours on coupons, here are some alternatives:
1) Spend more time cooking instead of driving. Use wholesome foods from the bulk food section.
2) Shopping repetitively at the same 2 to 4 stores, and do some price comparisons. (save the most money on your regular purchases)
3) Limit your advertisement reading and coupons to ONLY those stores that you visit, and ONLY to the products that you use. (i.e. don't waste time reading other ads, and don't clip / sort / organize coupons that you won't or shouldn't use)
4) Know which days your favorite stores have Clearance sales, Meat Sales, and when is the best time to optimize your shopping times.
5) Buy commonly used items in bulk when they are on sale. (this is where it helps to know what you use the most)
6) Don't buy what you don't need. Remember that every dollar counts, every gallon of gas costs money, and your time is valuable!