LaKeisha Walker plans her weekend entertainment and her weekly menu with coupons.

"One of my girlfriends got me doing it," says Walker, an interior design coordinator with Turner Broadcasting. "Every time we would go out to eat, she would have a coupon. I realized how much money I could save."

One tip she offers is a book of coupons she bought through Entertainment.com for $15. "I always go through that for anything," she says. "I've been able to rent cars that way and save money. A lot of restaurants I never would have tried, I've gone to because of that. And even with Kroger, you get 15 percent off. The other day I saved $13 dollars on my grocery bill."

Another of her favorite things is Dollars for Dining (available at www.diningperks.com), where you can get $10 gift certificates for $5. "I love them because me and my boyfriend found our favorite seafood restaurant, Simon's Steak and Seafood in College Park. We go there all the time and use the dining dollars —- and it's half-price. That has been a lifesaver."

Even for day-to-day meals, Walker has a coupon solution. "I'll buy the Sunday paper and I'll go through and plan what I'm going to eat for the week based on the coupons."

Before the economic downturn, Walker wasn't quite as diligent with her bargain-hunting and would sometimes leave the coupons at home. That doesn't happen these days.

"I carry my coupons with me," she says.

31 ways to save

Every day during July, metro Atlantans will share their money-saving strategies for daily expenses such as food, clothing, transportation and utilities. Have your own way to save? Please share it at ajc.com/money.