Attention all Couponers!!

Awhile back I tried the whole coupon thing thru the Newspaper- Savvy shoppers is what it think it was called. I don't know if I am just not smart enough to do it or if I just didn't know what I was doing, but it was not a success. I ended up spending way more money on things I didn't use...shopping at stores I normally don't shop at, buying things that I don't use just cause it was on sale and supposable a great deal. My first adventure I came out spending $20 on tampons....(sorry if TMI) . However, I am continually seeing people in the grocery store, usually stuck behind them buying cart loads of stuff and then out come the coupons. what seems like hundreds of papers that have to be scanned in individually and hopefully there are no complications with brands or restrictions. At first I was totally annoyed. I don't use coupons and hate getting stuck behind these penny pinching nazis. Then I started to pay attention to what they were getting and for how much. I think it is so fun to see their grocery bill start at $200 and end up at $38 dollars. My annoyance has turned into straight jealousy. I want to be smart enough to get free or even cheaper food and spend little to nothing for groceries and food storage! Why am I not taking advantage of this?! Oh ya... Because of the $20 tampon incident. I am begging anyone who knows how to make this couponing thing work for actual food and such, Please share your secrets! I am completely clueless. Where do you get the coupons in the first place, how do you know where the sales are, and how do you get such great deals?! Please,please,please share any info that you can with me. i would really appreciate it!