My favorite part about writing this column is hearing from readers. A few weeks ago I shared a letter from Rachel White, a reader in Birmingham, Ala. As a young mother who was new to the idea of grocery coupons and bargain shopping, Rachel was in search of a class or a seminar she could attend in her area to learn how to save money on groceries. I shared her letter in the hopes that other readers in Birmingham would be able to give her direction.

I heard from not one, but two Birmingham readers who offered their assistance. One reader was able to connect Rachel with a local seminar. Another reader offered her services as personal mentor, who asked that I not share her name publicly. I put her in touch with Rachel, and look forward to hearing how her "coupon education" works out:

"I read the plea from Rachel in Birmingham yesterday, who was seeking a class or other help with saving on groceries. There is no class here that I know of, but perhaps I can help. As a middle-aged housewife with many years of successful couponing - I am a pretty hardcore, black belt money saver. Although my personal circumstances allow me to be far freer and less frugal now, old habits never die. I would be happy to communicate with Rachel and share strategies and approaches, and perhaps even guide her with some local shopping help. My early inspirations were the book, "Your Money or Your Life," and the "Tightwad Gazette." Both offer invaluable tips, inspiration and lifestyle advice for the frugal but happy existence. At this time, although I have the skills and knowledge, I have neither the time now the inclination to teach a class, but a little one-to-one mentoring might be pleasant and manageable."

I have also read and enjoyed these books, and will add that Rhonda Barfield's book, "Eat Well for Fifty Dollars a Week" (Rhonda Barfield, 1993) has always been a favorite of mine. You can find it in your local library or buy a used copy on Amazon.com for only $1.49.

I also heard from Joe Palko of Schenectady, N.Y. He responded to a column I wrote about the grocery coupons generated from the cash register. He added:

"We always look for the coupons in the Sunday edition because we usually save more than the paper costs. Also, I've always thought that the Entertainment Book (for the community in which you live) has a variety of supermarket coupons that make it very worthwhile. However, the relatively new practice of putting coupons on the back of supermarket receipts is a two-edge sword. Most of the time, if I buy Nine Lives cat food, there is a coupon for Friskies or another brand. Since I'm not interested in switching brands, so these are useless.

Last time, there was a coupon for Pampers baby diapers. We're 65 and have no need for baby diapers, so this was useless. However, last time I bought fruit juice, there was a coupon for "any brand" fruit juice, which was good. I teach Math at a local community college, so I food shop with a calculator. Sometimes, unit prices are in ounces or pounds, but sometimes in pints and quarts, for the relatively same item, so it is helpful to use a calculator to do a true price comparison."

I agree with Joe that the Entertainment Book can be an excellent source of grocery coupons for specific retailers. Because the new books come out every August, it is worth checking your city's Entertainment Book online to see if your grocery store has coupons in it at www.entertainment.com. You can find Entertainment books at local bookstores and drugstores as well. My city's book has over $150 worth of coupons to use at my local grocery store, which is a very good deal when the book only costs $25. I buy one when they come out and buy another when the price drops to about $10 in early summer and I still have a few months left to use the coupons.

Stephanie Nelson shares her savings tips as a regular contributor on ABC News' "Good Morning America." You can find more of her savings tips in her book "The Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom" and on her website at www.couponmom.com. She can be reached at shoppingmom@unitedmedia.com.