WESTVILLE | Everything about the "old" way of shopping for groceries is wrong, according to "Super Coupon" queen Jill Cataldo.

Instead, "stockpiling," "stacking," and surfing the Internet are just a few ways that shoppers can really save money on groceries and other household items -- and many times, even get items for free.

Relaying the secrets of "super couponing" at Purdue North Central on Saturday morning, Cataldo told her audience of about 75 that saving money is easy by doing a little homework.

"We have to think a little bigger than we're used to shopping," said Cataldo, who has appeared on Oprah, WGN, WLS news and radio, "ABC Morning News" and Chicago's Loop radio. Cataldo's column runs every Sunday in The Times.

A self-proclaimed "stay-at-home mom" who started couponing last August when she was dismayed at the cost of diapers, Cataldo said anyone can be a "super couponer."

Cataldo said grocery store sales run on a 12-week cycle, so grocery items are at their lowest prices once every 12 weeks. So, she recommends "stockpiling," or buying large quantities of items when at their lowest price.

"I bought 58 boxes of cereal and 40 boxes of granola for $5.15," said Cataldo, a mother of three who lives in Huntley, Ill.

To help with this, Cataldo also recommends surfing certain Web sites to print valuable coupons and saving all coupon inserts from Sunday newspapers.

"The largest newspaper in your market will have the most coupons," Cataldo said. "Save all the coupons whether you think you'll use them or not."

She said certain stores will also allow shoppers to "stack" coupons -- use both manufacturer coupons and store-originated coupons.

"The product manufacturers reimburse the stores for the full value of the coupon, plus 8 cents handling," Cataldo explained.

Cataldo also said the "more expensive," smaller stores -- rather than big-box discount stores -- are the cheapest places to shop.

"Larger stores don't cycle prices," said Cataldo. "Their prices are not too high, but also, they're not too low, either."

Audience members seemed impressed by Cataldo's suggestions.

Melissa Culbertson, of LaPorte, is a Cataldo fan.

"I've been following her Web site for about a year now," Culbertson said. "I'm trying to do better. It works."