In my opinion, coupons can make poor people even poorer; that is, if they do not use them in a smart way. And sadly, many people do not.
I hear many people brag about how much they "saved" with coupons. But did they really save? If they found a coupon for $2.00 off of a $7.00 widget, and buy it, they will think they saved $2.00. But if the widget was not something on the shopping list, something that was not needed, in truth, they didn't "save" anything. They are out $5.00. That would be right up there with me going around telling people that I saved $100,000 by buying a Ford Focus rather than a Rolls Royce. For us, a car is a necessity, but the Ford Focus gets us where we want to go just as well as a Rolls would. See what I mean?
Last time I checked, the Sunday Boston Globe sells for $2.00; maybe even more by now, as it's been ages since I bought it. There are tons of fliers in the Globe that contain coupons, for sure. But when I've gone through them, the value of any coupons that I would actually use, for stuff that I would normally buy anyway, is less than what the paper cost. This is a big part of why we stopped getting the paper.
Many coupons are for processed convenience foods, which I almost never buy. I prefer to buy fresh meat, poultry, and seafood, as well as fresh produce. There are never any coupons for items like these. Sometimes I do buy frozen veggies, they are a good value and almost as healthy as fresh; but I prefer just the plain vegetables, nothing with sauce packets and the like. There are also never any coupons for plain frozen veggies, either, only for the ones with sauces that I can make at home myself for a lot less. Another thing you never see coupons for are bags of plain white or brown rice (the kind you actually have to cook, not that over-processed Minute/Success rice stuff). No coupons for bags of dried beans, either. There are also never any coupons for plain old-fashioned oatmeal, only for boxes of those little microwaveable packets with different flavors.
Cold cereal? Plenty of coupons for that! But even if I used a coupon for $1.00 off a box of name-brand shredded wheat, for example, I'd still be set back $2.00. How? The store-brand version of the same size box of shredded wheat sells for $2.50, and tastes exactly the same.
So, what do I do to save money on groceries? As I just said, look for store brands. Most are just as good as the pricier name brands. As for meat, produce, and seafood, the best thing to do is look at the weekly sales fliers, and plan meals around what's on sale that week. Produce? Eat with the seasons, and try to buy locally-grown fruits and veggies when possible. Foods that are in season are always much cheaper than food that is not. If there's a farmer's market around, check it out. Even if you live in a city, you still might be able to find a farmer's market. Ask around, check with your municipal government, as they would know.
Go meatless, at least for some meals. Beans are an excellent source of protein, and are very cheap (even without a coupon!), especially if you buy bags of dried beans. Don't be put off by the long cooking time. If you do not already own a Crock-Pot (slow cooker), invest in one. You don't need a fancy one with a zillion bells and whistles, just a basic one will do. You can buy one at a store like Target or Wal-Mart for under $30.00. Use it to cook beans overnight, or while you are at work during the daytime. Once you have your cooked beans, search the Internet and cookbooks for yummy recipes to make with them.
A slow-cooker can be used for many other dishes, too. If you don't like to cook, or feel that you don't have time, this will reduce the hassle. You'll save money and eat better, too.
Try to stock up and buy in bulk, especially if you see a good sale. My husband has allergies to most laundry detergents, and the only one we've found that doesn't make him itch is Arm & Hammer Free & Clear. A brand name, yes, but sometimes, it's the only choice. What we do is wait for it to go on sale (stores here often have it as a buy one, get one free sale), and then buy as many as we can. Somehow, we almost always manage to have enough to last until the next time it goes on sale.
An excellent article for low-income people, anyone, in fact, is one I found on Bill Cosby's website: 10 Steps to Brain Healthy Eating for the Poor. It does say to use coupons, but I'm sure he means to only use them for items you would buy anyway. And I can't emphasize enough the part about spices. Never buy those little bottles in the supermarket, especially the name brand ones. Very expensive! The cheaper jars referred to here can be found at places like dollar stores, as well as the food aisles at stores like CVS or Walgreen's.
Food manufacturers like to take foods that are normally cheap when they are in their natural state, and find ways to make them more expensive (and, as a result, they are often less healthy). Then they put out coupons for them, and consumers are made to feel that they are doing the right thing by saving money. But they are indeed spending more, and putting their health in jeopardy at the same time.
So, in conclusion, it's not worth the time to hunt down coupons when most of them are for items you wouldn't normally buy. If you follow my tips, as well as those in the Bill Cosby article, you will not only save money on groceries, but you will eat healthier, too. And eating healthier has the added bonus of saving money on future medical bills! An apple a day really can help keep the doctor away!