These days, everyone’s looking for ways to save. When gluten-free specialty brands cost premium prices, Celiacs may wonder how they can pinch pennies. We at Triumph Dining have been on a mission to save you money since the publication of our first edition of the Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide. By identifying “hidden” gluten-free items by popular and store brands available in mainstream American grocery stores, we help you avoid the specialty mark-up.

But as any grocery shopper knows, prices are rising across the board. The Bureau of Labor Statistics saw a rise in consumer food spending of 5.1% from 2006-2007 to 2007-2008 (the most recent data available). In order to keep costs down, many Americans have turned to couponing. By combining the popular brands listed in our Essential Gluten-Free Grocery Guide with the coupons available online and in the Sunday paper, Celiacs can board the coupon train as well.

I consider myself a competitive couponer. I get a rush out of finding the best possible deals each week by combining coupons, weekly sales, and rebates. Some weeks are better than others, but I will often pay only 25% of the cost of my groceries out of pocket. Here are a few of my top strategies to save at the grocery store.

1. Study the circulars.

Every Thursday, my mailbox overflows with supermarket circulars. Most people consider them junk mail, but I see them as my roadmaps to savings. I always pay special attention to the first page of each circular. That’s where the best deals are, often at the top of the page with the largest pictured item. Whenever I see what I think might be a good deal, I look up the brand on an online coupon database (see #2) to see if I might have a coupon for that item. By stacking a coupon on top of a sale, I often get items for free.

2. Use online communities.

There are lots of these out there, but I have two favorites:

Both have easy-to-search coupon databases and advice forums for scouting the best deals. Both require registration with a login and password.

3. Stay organized!

There are lots of ways to organize coupons. It’s important to find what works best for you. I have a shoebox filing system sorted by expiration date. Other people organize by brand or type of item, or just keep their Sunday coupon inserts intact and clip coupons as needed. Whichever system you choose, stay on top of it every week to reap the most benefit.

4. Shop triples and super doubles.

Unfortunately, not all grocery stores run these types of deals. I’m very fortunate that the Washington DC Metro Area has stores like Harris Teeter, Shoppers, and Giant that run occasional promotions where they multiply the face value of a coupon. This is a great time to stock up on nonperishables, paper products, cleaning supplies, and bath and beauty products at the absolute lowest price (sometimes for free).

5. Drug stores… they’re not just for prescriptions!

CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid… you might not think about grocery shopping at your neighborhood convenience store, but if you combine store rebate programs and coupons, you can walk away with a small profit and a closet full of supplies. I haven’t actually paid for a bottle of shampoo or body wash in over a year! Each store has a different program with slightly different rules. CouponMom.com has a great article outlining these nuances for CVS and Walgreens (requires PDF download).

The economic climate can be difficult to navigate, especially with special dietary needs. What strategies do you use to save money gluten-free?