Homemade sugar cookies, fruitcake, latkes, gingerbread men, nut rolls, sugarplums, cranberries, ham, goose, and don't forget that figgy pudding (and bring it right here)!

At some point chances are that you'll be attempting (Deal Diva raises hand) or perfecting a scrumptious holiday staple this year.

And whether you'll be spending a little (Deal Diva raises hand) or a lot of time in the kitchen this holiday season, here are some basic Grocery Guidelines for your consideration.

1) The coupon is your friend.

First, let me just say, the grocery store is not my ideal shopping destination.

I find the entire process of planning, organizing, and even buying (gasp!) groceries to be a bit daunting.

Typically, I break my grocery excursions into smaller, manageable trips and I aim for a trip chock full'o coupon savings.

The coupon can be the key to an affordable, and perhaps even rewarding shopping experience.

Many stores double coupons, and some even triple (though, I have yet to experience this incredible phenomenon), which can mean FREE, or close to free products (deal euphoria)!

Sources of coupons include: the Sunday Paper, web coupons, "blinkies" (located on store shelves), and "peelies" (stuck to the actual product). Let's break it down now:

Sunday Coupon Flyers:

Keep in mind; these can be scary, scary little buggers.

They do tend to accumulate and multiply at an unbelievable rate if they are not taken care of close to their arrival (scissors are the weapon of choice).

Also, remember that you can clippity-clip as little or as much as you like.

I recommend flipping through and taking a looksie at all the coupons. If there is an incredible deal in that week's flier (such as say, FREE Electrosol yes I have a 10 box stash), then you can aim at securing more of those beauties.

How do you secure more, you ask?

On-line sites such as The Coupon Clippers allow you to order multiple coupons through their coupon clipping service (you are paying for the labor involved in the clipping, not the coupon itself).

EBay is also an excellent source for finding coupon deals.

In addition, if you happen to have a deal-friendly paper guy (Deal Diva gratefully raises hand), then a few extra flyers may be headed your way each week.

Web Coupons:

Okay, so maybe you don't get the Sunday paper, refuse to clip thy coupons, or would just rather click it.

Check out boodle and Smart Source for super-easy on-line printable coupons.

(I must add that although most stores do accept internet coupons, some do not.

Check your local store policy before loading up that cart)!

Don't forget to check your local store's website for click and print coupons, as well.

Blinkies and Peelies:

Basically be on the lookout for these while roaming the aisles for added savings during your trip.

Blinkies are typically found in little machines on the shelves, and often feature a little light (hence, blinkies)!

Peelies are found on random products, and typically offer money off on your purchase, or free with purchase offers.

Blinkies and Peelies are definitely your friends, and aren't they just so gosh darned cute?

2) The web is your friend.

Okay, it's probably quite obvious that I highly recommend using the web as a money-saving resource (refer to every previous column by yours truly).

Check out these time and moola saving sites:

MyGroceryDeals.com:

MyGroceryDeals.com is a completely free site, which is designed to aid in navigating your local grocery store fliers/deals and planning your shopping trip.

This site is loaded with features and tools, which are user-friendly and will no doubt ease your grocery woes (yes, I am on board!)

Simply complete the easy registration and you are all set to utilize the numerous features including:

Skim Flyers:

Not sure where this week's grocery flyers ended up?

No prob, simply browse all your local stores current sales flyers with a few clicks.

While you're skimming, you can add items to your shopping list and the list automatically calculates your savings.

You can even skim by store, brand and category (very nifty features!)

Quicklist:

Search for the best deals on the products of your choice with ease.

Coupon Clipper:

Easily print money savings coupons (see above for the coupon lowdown.)

Nutri-know:

Easy access to nutritional and allergy information.

The Grocery Game: