Battling food price inflation, Belvidere resident Carla Smith is literally * cutting back on her grocery bill.

" I buy the Sunday newspaper to get coupons I always get my money back"..says Smith

Right now even more shoppers are saving with scissors. Coupon supplier..."Entertainment Publications"...reports... a 153-percent increase in discount redemption this year.

"I just use them because with the cost of groceries going up I feel like it's wasting money if you don't use those coupons" says Smith

From the super market to the stock market..to prices at the pump.. shoppers say they're feeling the crunch of a shaky economy ...

"To keep up with gas and groceries and your kids you got to cut corners anywhere you can" ..Tracey Puruski says she not only clips coupons.. but fills her cart with generics.

"No brand names.. I'm really going for the cheaper stuff .I don't shop that much.. thats just really what it is" says Puruski

... It's not just locally owned stores seeing more clippings in their cash drawers...both Target and Walmart have seen an 11 percent increase in coupon use since 2007...

" I love it when you have something on sale and have a coupon for it .. to me that's like winning the lottery"says Smith

..and with our tough economy, for some, even 40-cents off... feels like we've hit the jackpot.