Harris Teeter doesn't get much love on certain coupon shoppers' message boards as their everyday prices tend to exceed that of other grocers' everyday prices...but I still shop there frequently. Why? Because it's generally much cleaner than other stores, the staff is typically friendlier (they even know my baby girl's name!), they're definitely more coupon friendly than other stores and I really love their triples and super doubles promotions. Rumor had it that there would be a super doubles this week but alas, no. And I still went there today because even though their everyday prices tend to be higher, their specials ROCK and even more so with coupons.
Even without super doubles, I did very well. I picked up 6 boxes of Orville Redenbacher microwave popcorn (my .40/1 q's expire today), 2 NY Strip Streaks, some Angus Sirloin tips, 6 cans of Campbell's Chunky Soup (these are free with .75/1 peelies!) and a Palermo's Thin Crust frozen pizza for $6.05. Yes, that's right- $6.05! I had two $1/1 beef winetags that expire today and $5 worth of Walgreen's Register Rewards and a $1/1 Palermos coupon too. Coupons and VIC savings totaled $39.41. That's over 85% savings.
Lessons learned- you don't need super doubles or triples to save big at HT and you need to keep tabs of your coupon expiration dates. If I hadn't made a quick run-through of my coupons this past weekend, I wouldn't have remembered that the Orvilles would expire and I would have lost out on super cheap popcorn (67 cents a box after B1G1 sale and coupon). Jon and I love our popcorn! I think it even tastes better when I pay less money for it. 8-)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sharing the Wealth
Today I made my first official charitable donation of food and household items! After you've been couponing awhile, you find yourself with quite a stockpile of stuff. And yes, with a family of 6 we probably could actually use all I've been able to find for free or on the cheap...but it would take awhile- and as I've learned during a year of hardcore couponing, there are always more freebies & cheapies on the way. So, I took a big empty box from our garage and stuffed it with over 50 pounds of food (including pasta, rices, peanut butter and lots of Warm Delights), deodorants, toothpaste, unopened cans of infant formula and bottles of Lysol Toilet Bowl cleaner and brought it with a happy heart to Western Wake Ministries in downtown Apex.
If you have an envy-worthy stockpile or even if you're just beginning, I urge you to gather up some of your couponing goodies and donate them to a nearby shelter or charity. There are so many folks in need right now. Normally, when coupon shopping I try to stick with only items I know our family will need or want. After speaking with the Ministries' volunteer, I plan on also picking up other kinds of items for the specific purpose of donating when I can find them for free.
As always, happy shoping all...and happy giving too.
If you have an envy-worthy stockpile or even if you're just beginning, I urge you to gather up some of your couponing goodies and donate them to a nearby shelter or charity. There are so many folks in need right now. Normally, when coupon shopping I try to stick with only items I know our family will need or want. After speaking with the Ministries' volunteer, I plan on also picking up other kinds of items for the specific purpose of donating when I can find them for free.
As always, happy shoping all...and happy giving too.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Drugstore Deals - week of 9/26
Some good deals at the drugstore this weekend! Rite Aid is a little slow but will have lots of freebies coming up over the next 2 weeks. Walgreens has lots of freebies after Register Rewards but as previously indicated, the rules of coupon redemption are usually more hassle than these are worth. But I likely will stop by for a few of their deals and earn some RR to redeem at Harris Teeter during the upcoming super doubles. Here's a quick store-by-store breakdown of the week's highlights...
Rite Aid
You can get free Nivea Lip Balm, Crest with Scope, Gillette Fusion Power Razor, Dentyne Gum (if you have some B1G1 blinkies and your RA accepts B1G1 q's on B1G1 sale items), Profoot Symposium Pain Relieving Gel, Oral B Advantage and Renpure Shampoo. The Renpure, Oral B and Profoot are all small moneymakers if you have the coupons necessary to make it work. You can find out all the details by clicking here for Southern Savers' match-ups. I'll also be trying to use a soon to expire B1G1 IP for Sobe Lifewater to get 2 for free.
CVS
Unfortunately, I am forced to stop at CVS this week to roll soon to expire ECBs. There are a couple of freebies to be had - namely, the Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion and Fruitopia or Viologie shampoo/conditioner. You can also get $10 ECB when you buy $25 worth of Proctor & Gamble products. The best way to make this deal work for the least amount of money is by buying Tide Stain Release or Bounce Dryer Bar with larger value coupons. You can find out all the details by clicking here for Southern Savers' match-ups.
Walgreen's
Walgreen's has 10 available freebies this week thanks to the Register Rewards program and coupons! Freebies include Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion, Emergen-C Booster, Oral B Advantage 1-2-3 Toothbrush, Chapstick Fresh Effects, Robitussin DM to Go, Dentek Floss, Halls Refresh Sugar Free lozenges, Trident gum, Herbal Essences and Gillette Fusions Razors. You can find out all the details by clicking here for Southern Savers' match-ups.
Happy shopping all!
Rite Aid
You can get free Nivea Lip Balm, Crest with Scope, Gillette Fusion Power Razor, Dentyne Gum (if you have some B1G1 blinkies and your RA accepts B1G1 q's on B1G1 sale items), Profoot Symposium Pain Relieving Gel, Oral B Advantage and Renpure Shampoo. The Renpure, Oral B and Profoot are all small moneymakers if you have the coupons necessary to make it work. You can find out all the details by clicking here for Southern Savers' match-ups. I'll also be trying to use a soon to expire B1G1 IP for Sobe Lifewater to get 2 for free.
CVS
Unfortunately, I am forced to stop at CVS this week to roll soon to expire ECBs. There are a couple of freebies to be had - namely, the Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion and Fruitopia or Viologie shampoo/conditioner. You can also get $10 ECB when you buy $25 worth of Proctor & Gamble products. The best way to make this deal work for the least amount of money is by buying Tide Stain Release or Bounce Dryer Bar with larger value coupons. You can find out all the details by clicking here for Southern Savers' match-ups.
Walgreen's
Walgreen's has 10 available freebies this week thanks to the Register Rewards program and coupons! Freebies include Vaseline Sheer Infusion Body Lotion, Emergen-C Booster, Oral B Advantage 1-2-3 Toothbrush, Chapstick Fresh Effects, Robitussin DM to Go, Dentek Floss, Halls Refresh Sugar Free lozenges, Trident gum, Herbal Essences and Gillette Fusions Razors. You can find out all the details by clicking here for Southern Savers' match-ups.
Happy shopping all!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday Finals - 9/26
Thanks to HT's triples promotions & Rite Aid's Huggies deal, this week was a PHENOMENAL week for saving in our household! All told, I wound up paying $35.67 out of pocket for $476.63 worth of groceries and household items...and I'll be getting $27.99 out of that back in Rite Aid Single Check Rebates and a Kellogg's Special K jeans rebate promotion. When you subtract the rebates I'm anticipating from the total out of pocket, it's as if we've saved a jaw-dropping 98%!
Here is a store-by-store breakdown:
Harris Teeter
Total before sales and coupons: $383.78
Total spent: $13.24
Total saved: $366.05 or 95%
Oh, triple coupon weeks...how do I love thee? Let me count the 366 ways! I need to get pics up of our growing stockpile because it is truly amazing. We're all set for soups and frozen veggies for the winter thanks to this triples go-round. I am awestruck at how much we got for so little- the GM & GG deals were the icing on the cake this week at HT.
Kroger
Total before sales and coupons: $19.57
Total spent: $13.24
Total saved: $6.33 or 32%
Kroger is our go to store for cheap cottage cheese and produce specials. Since winetags have been mysteriously elusive for the past few weeks (oh how I miss them!), I was stuck paying full price on most items bought at Kroger- still less money than I would have paid elsewhere for same stuff, so I'm happy.
Lowe's Foods
Total before sales and coupons: $15.76
Total spent: $1.11
Total saved: $14.65 or 95%
One of the few Lowe's stops I make are for rock bottom deals such as the Special K one going on this week. I bought 2 boxes of Special K cereal and three boxes of bars for $1.11 and promptly mailed out the jeans vouchers on each to earn a $10 jeans rebate. I've heard the rebate check is good for anything though! Can you say moneymaker? Love it!
Rite Aid
Total before sales and coupons: $52.57
Total spent: $20.57 (zero out of pocket thanks to a gift card)
Saved: $32 or 60%
Took advantage of Huggies diapers & wipes SCR deal, as well as the Proantinox moneymaker. Should get my September rebate check in the mail in the next couple of weeks. These are processed quickly. I love the SCR program!
Target
Total before sales and coupons: $3.56
Total spent: $3.56
Saved $0
Our Z bar coupons we had on hand expired and hubby needed them so I paid full price. Shame on me, I know. Anyone have any Clif coupons they're willing to spare or trade??
Whole Foods
Total before sales and coupons: $1.39
Total spent: 3 cents (sales tax)
Total saved: $1.39 or 100%
I rarely make stops to Whole Foods due to their regular high prices but did so this week thanks to a free Yo Baby meal coupon and the promise of an October coupon flier featuring a free gallon of milk and free carving pumpkin coupon good for separate weeks (thanks go to Jenny @ SouthernSavers for the fabulous tip!). You'll need to buy something to get this coupon flier...at least at the Cary location. They don't have these up front to pick up. A cashier will put one in your bag after ringing up your order.
All in all, this was a blockbuster week for us. How did you fare?
Here is a store-by-store breakdown:
Harris Teeter
Total before sales and coupons: $383.78
Total spent: $13.24
Total saved: $366.05 or 95%
Oh, triple coupon weeks...how do I love thee? Let me count the 366 ways! I need to get pics up of our growing stockpile because it is truly amazing. We're all set for soups and frozen veggies for the winter thanks to this triples go-round. I am awestruck at how much we got for so little- the GM & GG deals were the icing on the cake this week at HT.
Kroger
Total before sales and coupons: $19.57
Total spent: $13.24
Total saved: $6.33 or 32%
Kroger is our go to store for cheap cottage cheese and produce specials. Since winetags have been mysteriously elusive for the past few weeks (oh how I miss them!), I was stuck paying full price on most items bought at Kroger- still less money than I would have paid elsewhere for same stuff, so I'm happy.
Lowe's Foods
Total before sales and coupons: $15.76
Total spent: $1.11
Total saved: $14.65 or 95%
One of the few Lowe's stops I make are for rock bottom deals such as the Special K one going on this week. I bought 2 boxes of Special K cereal and three boxes of bars for $1.11 and promptly mailed out the jeans vouchers on each to earn a $10 jeans rebate. I've heard the rebate check is good for anything though! Can you say moneymaker? Love it!
Rite Aid
Total before sales and coupons: $52.57
Total spent: $20.57 (zero out of pocket thanks to a gift card)
Saved: $32 or 60%
Took advantage of Huggies diapers & wipes SCR deal, as well as the Proantinox moneymaker. Should get my September rebate check in the mail in the next couple of weeks. These are processed quickly. I love the SCR program!
Target
Total before sales and coupons: $3.56
Total spent: $3.56
Saved $0
Our Z bar coupons we had on hand expired and hubby needed them so I paid full price. Shame on me, I know. Anyone have any Clif coupons they're willing to spare or trade??
Whole Foods
Total before sales and coupons: $1.39
Total spent: 3 cents (sales tax)
Total saved: $1.39 or 100%
I rarely make stops to Whole Foods due to their regular high prices but did so this week thanks to a free Yo Baby meal coupon and the promise of an October coupon flier featuring a free gallon of milk and free carving pumpkin coupon good for separate weeks (thanks go to Jenny @ SouthernSavers for the fabulous tip!). You'll need to buy something to get this coupon flier...at least at the Cary location. They don't have these up front to pick up. A cashier will put one in your bag after ringing up your order.
All in all, this was a blockbuster week for us. How did you fare?
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Yummy! Free ice cream!
Cold Stone Creamery will be hosting an "ice cream social"to benefit the Make-A-Wish foundation tomorrow night from 5-8 p.m. Make a donation (any donation!) during this time and receive a free 3 oz. Jack's Creation Sundae. This sounds yummy! It's made with sweet cream ice cream, brownies, caramel and rainbow sprinkles.We're lucky enough to have a Cold Stone just a short drive away. I'm doing a happy dance just thinking about this!
Special K Moneymaker @ Lowe's Foods
Since I was out and about to donate kid's clothes to Goodwill, I decided to make a quick stop to Lowe's and see if I could make a good moneymaker out of the Special K deal that's going on right now. And I did! Using three .75/1 tearpad q's I had on hand for Special K bars and two $1/1 internet q's for Special K Cereal, I wound up paying $1.11 for 3 boxes of bars and 2 boxes of cereal. I made sure to pick out boxes which had the jeans tokens on- after mailing all 5 of these in for Kellogg's jean rebate, I'll be getting a $10 check turning this deal into a $8.89 moneymaker!
I love the cereal so this was already a sweet deal even without the rebate. Here's links to printables that might make this a good moneymaker for you too!
$1/1 Cereal coupon - http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=58292&c=SK&p=xKeWZihO
You can find .75/1 Special K cereal bar coupons on www.coupons.com. These were still available as of this blog entry.
The rebate form can be found inside boxes marked with the special jean token that you'll need to send in for the rebate.
I love the cereal so this was already a sweet deal even without the rebate. Here's links to printables that might make this a good moneymaker for you too!
$1/1 Cereal coupon - http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=58292&c=SK&p=xKeWZihO
You can find .75/1 Special K cereal bar coupons on www.coupons.com. These were still available as of this blog entry.
The rebate form can be found inside boxes marked with the special jean token that you'll need to send in for the rebate.
Grocery Deals - week of 9/23
Phew! I am wiped out from HT's Triples. Not sure how much shopping I'll get out to do this coming week as we're pretty well stocked on just about everything...excepting Lean Ground beef which hasn't been on sale for what seems like forever! Having said that, if I do venture out it will likely be due to one of the following deals...
Food Lion
Not much going on at FL this week. There is a really great deal on Smart Balance butter blends sticks. They're B1G1 and paired up with the $1.50 coupon from 9/13's Red Plum, you can get these for 14 cents each. For all the details on FL's deals this week, click here for SouthernSaver's match-ups.
Harris Teeter
Great E-Vic special this week on 5 lb. bags of White Potatoes (limit 1 per customer)- pair this up with their B1G1 London Broil or Top Round Roast and you've got the makings of a great Crock Pot dinner. Sorrento String Cheeses are also B1G1 and with the $1.00/1 insert coupon or peelies, you can get these for $1.50 a pack (note: I don't see these listed on SouthernSavers, but they were on my weekly specials email from HT). For all the details on HT's deals this week, click here for SouthernSaver's match-ups.
The big news from HT this week is that they'll be hosting a Super Doubles week this coming week!! So get those $1 and $1.50 coupons ready...I already know of a great deal involving Catalinas on McCormick spices so keep your $1 q's handy!
Kroger
Mega Event continues through this week. This would be a good time and place to buy items for the Nabisco Rebate if you have the form and are looking to make the most of it! Also, a great week to buy some cheap Lysol cleaners if you need to stock up as they are on sale for 1/2 off. Combine sale prices with .50/1 coupons from 8/23 and 9/13's SmartSource inserts and you can get toilet bowl cleaner for 29 cents and household cleaner for 59 cents each. Gala apples are also on sale for 99 cents/lb. Get all the details on Kroger's sale by clicking here for Southern Savers match-ups.
Lowe's Foods
Lowe's is running a Special K deal this week where you'll get $5 off at register when you buy 5 Special K products. Combine this with any coupons you have on Special K and a $10 jeans rebate offer and you have the makings of a potential moneymaker. Gala apples are also on sale at Lowe's for 99 cents/lb. Milk is $1.99/gallon and I think you can get some free Sun Crystals Sweetener after sale price and coupon. Lowe's is also running a McCormick Catalina deal, but you may be better off holding onto these for HT's upcoming Super Doubles. For all the deals on Lowe's Foods weekly specials, click here for HCW's list.
Happy Shopping everyone!
Food Lion
Not much going on at FL this week. There is a really great deal on Smart Balance butter blends sticks. They're B1G1 and paired up with the $1.50 coupon from 9/13's Red Plum, you can get these for 14 cents each. For all the details on FL's deals this week, click here for SouthernSaver's match-ups.
Harris Teeter
Great E-Vic special this week on 5 lb. bags of White Potatoes (limit 1 per customer)- pair this up with their B1G1 London Broil or Top Round Roast and you've got the makings of a great Crock Pot dinner. Sorrento String Cheeses are also B1G1 and with the $1.00/1 insert coupon or peelies, you can get these for $1.50 a pack (note: I don't see these listed on SouthernSavers, but they were on my weekly specials email from HT). For all the details on HT's deals this week, click here for SouthernSaver's match-ups.
The big news from HT this week is that they'll be hosting a Super Doubles week this coming week!! So get those $1 and $1.50 coupons ready...I already know of a great deal involving Catalinas on McCormick spices so keep your $1 q's handy!
Kroger
Mega Event continues through this week. This would be a good time and place to buy items for the Nabisco Rebate if you have the form and are looking to make the most of it! Also, a great week to buy some cheap Lysol cleaners if you need to stock up as they are on sale for 1/2 off. Combine sale prices with .50/1 coupons from 8/23 and 9/13's SmartSource inserts and you can get toilet bowl cleaner for 29 cents and household cleaner for 59 cents each. Gala apples are also on sale for 99 cents/lb. Get all the details on Kroger's sale by clicking here for Southern Savers match-ups.
Lowe's Foods
Lowe's is running a Special K deal this week where you'll get $5 off at register when you buy 5 Special K products. Combine this with any coupons you have on Special K and a $10 jeans rebate offer and you have the makings of a potential moneymaker. Gala apples are also on sale at Lowe's for 99 cents/lb. Milk is $1.99/gallon and I think you can get some free Sun Crystals Sweetener after sale price and coupon. Lowe's is also running a McCormick Catalina deal, but you may be better off holding onto these for HT's upcoming Super Doubles. For all the deals on Lowe's Foods weekly specials, click here for HCW's list.
Happy Shopping everyone!
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