Approximately 2.97 billion grocery coupons go unused each year according to the Herald Tribune, but in 2008 and 2009 manufacturers and supermarkets can expect a massive increase in coupon usage. According to Shop Smart Magazine a typical household can save $678 a year using grocery coupons, which could provide them with much needed relief from souring food costs during this global recession.

In the past, one of the main reasons grocery coupons went unused was because people had a hard time finding the coupons they needed when they wanted them. In addition, many Americans were too busy with family and work to cut and organize coupons from their weekly grocery flyer.

As the US unemployment rate approaches 7%, consumers are becoming more open to cutting coupons.

The problem is that even the most diligent coupon cutters are unable to find the coupons they need when they want them. The reason is because weekly flyers in their region only contain a handful of brands that consumers actually use.

One woman we spoke to, Tonya Whitney had a different approach to finding grocery coupons. She uses a site called selectcouponprogram dot com, which provides free grocery coupons for its members. Unlike some of the printable grocery coupon sites we found, this site has a much wider selection of grocery coupons. As a matter of fact we counted well over 200 brands on everything from baby supplies to cereals. The best part is that these coupons can be used anywhere in the United States.

The program is pretty simple to use, you sign up and pay a small monthly fee which goes toward a $125 gas certificate. Immediately after signing up you can order up to $25 worth of your favorite grocery coupons.

You choose the coupons you want, and they are mailed out within a couple of days. Each month thereafter you can order a new set of coupons or choose the same list as the previous month. We found the site to be easy and simple to navigate.

When we spoke with Tanya after using the program, she said ?I never enjoyed shopping until I joined the coupon club. The coupons have saved me about $50 each time I shop??

The bad new is that the recession is here to stay, but there is still hope yet for the American consumer.