If it seems like there were more coupons available in 2010, that's because there were.

Coupons are so old fashioned. Maybe your mother and your grandmother were into clipping their time away, but not you. You're too cool.

In the age of social networking, group buying emerged as the Facebook-esque coupon story of 2010; bold, inventive and utterly unstoppable. But Groupon isn't the only couponing news this year. Our list counts down the 10 most impressive stories and cruelest faux pas of 2010.

'Tis the season for procrastinators and prepared gift-givers alike to rejoice over the final online shopping push of the holidays: Free Shipping Day, which began at midnight today and runs through 11:59 p.m. EST.

Reports began in August that Target was shortchanging coupon clippers nationwide due to scanner problems. The mass merchandiser instructed cashiers Saturday to hand-process customer coupons and skip the scanners altogether.

You've been scrimping, saving, toiling, scouring Sunday inserts...all for what? The coupon notch in your frugal tool belt is well established, but unless you shift those newly saved funds to something tangible, couponing will become a total drag. The biggest threat to quitting your frugal lifestyle is the lack of a visual financial return on your investment. What can these small slips of paper actually do for me?

A Coupon Sherpa survey shows men and women vary wildly on an important question: Is it tacky or thrifty to use coupons on a first date? Ladies are twice as likely to see it as a sign of tackiness, yet the overall numbers show a nearly even split. The coupon question is more complicated than it seems as professionals and everyday daters weigh in on the debate.

Military wife Toni Anderson, also known as the HappyHousewife blogger, wanted to help out other military families. So in 2008 she began the Coupons for Troops campaign, to provide expired and non-expired coupons to military families stationed around the world.

Coupon Sherpa went on vacation this Labor Day weekend! Yes indeed: I packed up my yak and headed out for some R&R before things clop into high gear for the holiday shopping season.

It's taken college coupons and coupon book vendors quite some time to catch up with their tech-savvy, green-minded target audience. Finally, a handful now have websites to boost business for local campus favorites across the country.