To the left, a brightly lit white sign with bold black letters said, "SEX AND THE CITY."

To the right, another sign said, "N&O SUE STOCK."

Most people -- nearly 300 of them -- went right and were glad they did.

Stock, a business reporter, is our self-described "Coupon Queen." Since telling our readers in November 2005 about her coupon obsession, many of our readers have become obsessed with her advice.

Her Taking Stock blog at newsobserver.com (check out her database of coupons) is one of our top-drawing blogs, consistently ranking just behind the ACC Now and Under the Dome blogs in readership.

So when our circulation staff put together the event featuring Stock a few weeks ago, I wasn't surprised that I had to drive around for five minutes to find a parking spot. Stock Mania had swept through Mission Valley.

It started with the 2005 article in which she revealed her passion.

"I'm obsessed with coupons," she wrote. "I clip them, categorize them and swap leftover circulars with friends. ... It's a bit psychotic, I know. But there's nothing like the euphoria that sweeps over you when you get something for nothing."

Stock wasn't always a good saver. After she graduated from the University of Delaware in 2001, she took a reporting job in Lansing, Mich., at an entry-level salary. She borrowed money to buy a new car and leased an apartment with a rent that took nearly half her take-home pay.

She used her new credit card to buy furniture, a television, dishes and appliances. Then she realized she was broke. "I had to get a very fast reality check," she said. "I ate a lot of Ramen noodles."

Coupons were part of her reality check. She moved to Raleigh in late 2004 and and was thrilled by the high level of competition among grocery stores.

She learned more and more about getting the most out of coupons. She started sharing her knowledge with readers. And she also started to speak to groups, such as the enthusiastic audience she encountered at the theater.

Stock delivered a handout titled "Saving on your grocery bill -- It's really not that hard," took questions and handed out rewards for correct answers. The rewards were staples she had acquired for free using coupons.

"We're here to save you money," Stock said, as she walked around the theater Oprah-style.

With a minimal amount of effort -- an hour or less -- Stock says you can save $10 to $20 a week on groceries. Last year, using coupons and shopping during sales, she saved $4,633 on all her purchases, food and otherwise.

As I was leaving Mission Valley, a woman whispered, "Give her a raise."

I'll look into that. In the meantime, I'll give her my coupons -- some of them, anyway -- from today's paper.