The savviest coupon queens reveal how they save THOUSANDS of pounds on their annual food shop (and now you can too)

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If the news that food prices will soar in the coming months leaves you filled with dread, then look no further.

Bargain hunting has long been a staple of the money-saving game, and collecting and using coupons is a great way to get started.

And if you're unsure where to begin, Pounds to Pocket has compiled a helpful list to cut the price of your weekly food shop. 

Bargain hunting has long been a staple of the money-saving game, but collecting and using coupons is a great way to get started

Earlier this month, Bank of England boss Mark Carney warned that the plunging pound could mean the weekly shop rises.

Since the Brexit vote, the drop in the Sterling's value has made the rising costs of imports inevitable.

So there's no better time to start cost-cutting using couponing - the method of collecting, cataloging and then unleashing those discount vouchers.

And if you're still skeptical, take note from 28-year-old Sammy Hancock, who can knock down a £77 food bill to just £7.41 - saving a total of £4,000 a year for her family

Couponing - the method of collecting, cataloging and then unleashing those discount vouchers - is prized as a good way to save hundreds of pounds

Sammy, who lives in Alton, Hampshire, spends hours scouring the internet to track down money-saving coupons for her supermarket shop. 

Many websites list vouchers, like Super Savvy Me and Extreme Couponing, as well as magazines and newspapers often have free pull-outs.

Apps can be downloaded, like VoucherCloud and Redeemia, too.

Speaking about the best places to find coupons, Sammy told FEMAIL: 'Tesco monthly magazines always have a page full of coupons as well as the Pets At Home magazine.'

Many websites list vouchers, like Super Savvy Me and Extreme Couponing, as well as magazines, newspapers and apps often offer discounts 

She added: 'I always find Tesco is the best place to coupon as they always have offers on products - and then combined with coupons you can get a lot of items free, plus you can still get Clubcard points from each each item.' 

Sammy Hancock first used coupons three years ago and realised how powerful they could be when she paid £2 for a basket of goods which should have cost £20.

She now makes popular YouTube videos teaching other shoppers how best to make use of money-off vouchers and discount deals. 

Giving her top tips for nabbing a bargain, she advised: 'Always browse newspapers and magazines for coupons and cut them all out.'

Sammy listed Shopitize and Checkoutsmart as her favourite cashback apps, saying they were great for claiming money back off your shopping. 

Meanwhile, writing to a company to complain about or compliment a product can also be a good way of getting coupons sent to you in response.

Once you're stocked up on vouchers, it's time to get organised, which means keeping them in folders and ring binders, say experts

And if you want to get really creative, sites like BzzAgent and Tesco Orchard will let you try out and review items - in return for freebies.

Once you're stocked up on vouchers, it's time to get organised, which means keeping them in folders and ring binders,

And if you're feeling especially efficient, you can sort health, food and beauty vouchers into different sections.

Sammy said: 'I have a coupon folder where I organise all my coupons to make it easier. 

'I check coupons once a week to see if they are due to expire and always keep a lookout when an item is on offer - as if you have a coupon for it, it could make it free.' 

And extreme couponer Holly Smith added: 'If you find yourself always rifling through receipts in your wallet or digging deep in your handbag, why not use a paperclip to keep them together, a page in your diary or even a dedicated book to hold them in.

'Keep them in categories of expiring soon, product type or value so when you need them or you think you have one somewhere, it's easy to find.' 

The married mother-of-two, who refused to be held back by her Asperger's, holds the current world record for the biggest supermarket shop in the UK using coupons. In December 2015, she managed to get £1,164.39 worth of goods at no cost at Tesco Lowestoft.

She said: 'Most people think a good way of getting coupons is by complaining to brands! 

'One day I decided to send positive feedback to a brand and ended up getting more coupons than I would have done from complaining! I used this method to pull off  my Christmas Coupon Shop getting over £1,000 of shopping at my local Tesco for free.'

Try the act of 'stacking' - combining your vouchers and sale offers in one transaction to get the lowest price possible

One coupon queen Emma Mumford revealed that if she had coupons - and no need for them - she had a thoughtful way of putting them to use, by sending the food to food banks 

Another expert, Emma Mumford, started couponing in June 2013 when her partner left her with £7,000 of debt when she was just 22 and has even set up her own website about it all since. 

Emma suggests being tactical about when you choose to spend your vouchers.

'Wait until the items are reduced,' she revealed. 'You can use coupons against products which are on offer (ie. half price, buy one get one free), you can't use coupons on discontinued items which are on clearance.

'Items normally go on offer every twelve weeks so keep a note, and use the coupons to maximise your savings.'

This is the act of 'stacking' - combining your vouchers and sale offers in one transaction to get the lowest price possible.

Emma also revealed that if she had coupons - and no need for them - she had a thoughtful way of putting them to use.

'My top tips once you have collected your coupons are, only buy what you need. This may sound obvious but you'll be surprised how many people buy products they'll never use just because it has a coupon. 

'A great idea would be if you get any free items to donate them to a food bank if you won't use them.

'This way everyone benefits and you can do a great thing to help someone less fortunate.'