Eat, drink and save money

The shopper was stunned at the cost of one cucumber: $1.29.

By the time she got to the red bell peppers - $1.99 each, thank you very much - her crimson face matched the pepper's.

Tomatoes, coffee, lettuce - oh my. They're all getting outrageously expensive.

Considering we live in a nation whose government doesn't recognize the existence of inflation, we're having some trouble digesting the report that food prices rose 3.9 percent in February - the biggest jump since November 1974. Bad weather played a hand in the increase. States responsible for bringing us a lot of our produce were frigid this winter, damaging or destroying many crops.

Meantime, global prices for many commodities have risen sharply in the past year. Prices for corn, wheat and soybeans have soared, which in turn has raised the price on animal feed which - you guessed it, even if the government didn't - has jacked up the cost of eggs, ground beef and milk.

We can all wail about the inflation that may or may not be taking food off our tables, and while that may make us feel a tad better, it doesn't solve the problem. Or we can learn how to do something about it.

The amateurs among us already clip grocery store coupons and happily save a few bucks each week. But as The Press shared with readers Friday, there's another way to save - and save big.

It's a class offered by two local women who call themselves The Coupon Clippin' Housewives (www.thecouponclippinhousewives.blogspot.com). We met them, and they're a hoot. They also have developed a system that's saving shoppers a heck of a lot more than $3 or $4 a week. In some cases their students are cutting their grocery bills in half.

The catch is that you have to pay $20 and attend a class. The next one is tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. at Templin's Resort in Post Falls.

The Press is on board the coupon clippin' express. North Idahoans need every bit of financial help they can get, and these ladies have proved they can save you money. We aren't going to be surprised if their diligent approach doesn't become a regional or even national model.

For more information, call 661-4142 or 755-8185.