Food budgets have been stretched to the breaking point for a lot of families. The feds try to pretend that we don't have inflation by getting cute and cutting out food and energy from their numbers. After 7 years in the state military, Clark realizes that the basics -- diapers, food, trash bags -- are a tremendous burden for enlisted personnel on a very tight budget. Instead of just hearing about this sad story, some people are doing something about it.

Clark was inspired by The Washington Post's report about a group of women who collect newspaper inserts from their neighbors and meet every Tuesday at an American Legion post. They come with satchels full of inserts and then clip coupons for food and non-perishables. The coupons are then sorted and mailed to soldiers overseas or their families here in the United States. The troops can use the coupons to buy goods at commissaries on their bases.

Clark loves what these women are doing. This clipping program was started by a woman whose veteran husband died of cancer around the time of the terrorist attacks. She came up with this program to honor his memory. But coupons can make a difference for your budget even if you're not in the military. Grocery costs are up at least 10% over last year. Try CouponMom.com to get yourself organized. Clark's sister-in-law is so into coupons that she eats almost for free every week.