March Stockpile Challenge

Now that March is finally winding down, I can report the end results of the stockpile challenge I joined. I am quite pleased with the results! Here is a breakdown of this month's spending...

Stamps & purchased coupons
Total spent: $17.71

Extra papers purchased through N&O delivery
Total spent: $27.00

CVS & Miscellaneous Store Spending (EarthFare, Kohl's)
Total spent: $25.36
Total saved: $141.03

Rite Aid Spending
Total spent: $10.44
Total saved: $22.00

Walgreen's Spending
Total spent: $20.86
Total saved: $35.94

Harris Teeter Spending
Total spent: $72.14
Total saved: $658.33 (thank you triples!)

Food Lion Spending
Total spent: $42.66
Total saved: $91.26

Kroger Spending
Total spent: $75.20
Total saved: $485.92 (thanks to mega event!)

Lowe's Foods Spending
Total spent: $63.39
Total saved: $151.57

Target Spending
Total spent: $70.35
Total saved: $51.33

All totaled, our grocery & household expenses were $380.40 for over $2000 worth of groceries and household items. We spent an additional $44.71 in newspapers, stamps and coupon clipping services fees bringing total month expenses to $425.11.

We received $135 in rebates throughout the month and another $40 in a cash gift. Deducting these amounts from total spend, our actual out-of-pocket expenses turned out to be $250.11!

$250.11 is nearly $100 less than what I originally planned on spending this month so I am one happy camper.

Spicy Savings!

We are about to be overcome by all things spice in our home thanks to a great catalina deal going on now that is perfectly synergized with Harris Teeter triples week and a Lowe's Food special on McCormick grinders! This will only work as a moneymaker if you're one of the lucky folks who live in regions that received a .75/1 coupon in your Sunday inserts- and you purchased multiple copies.

The way I've worked it is to buy 3 spices at a time priced $2.25 and under at Harris Teeter or the sale grinders ringing up at $1.50 each at Lowe's Foods. Use a .75/1 insert coupon for each spice purchased. When you do so, you'll wind up just paying tax on your items AND getting a $2.50 off your next order Catalina printed out at the register.

One helpful tip before checking out: Always make sure the Catalina machine at your register is working! Don't be embarrassed to ask the cashier and/or lean over to see if there's any blinking or red lights up- this is a clear sign that things are amiss.

Harris Teeter Triples - Day 1

Alright, braved HT first thing in the morning and here's the rundown. I split my purchase into 3 separate transactions to make the most of the McCormick Catalina deal that's going on right now.

Transaction #1:

3 McCormick parsley flakes - FREE after .75/1 insert q's
2 boxes of Barilla Piccolini pasta - FREE after .50/1 insert q's

Total spent: .07
Total saved $7.77
Received $2.50 OYNO Catalina

Transaction #2:

2 bottles of Newman's Own Organic Low Fat Asian Dressing - FREE after .75/1 tearpad q's
1 bottle of Coke Zero (20 oz) - FREE after tearpad q
3 McCormick chili powders - FREE after .75/1 insert q's
2 boxes of Barilla Piccolini pasta - FREE after .50/1 insert q's

Total spent: .14
Total saved: $18.14
Received $2.50 OYNO Catalina

Transaction #3:

2 bottles of Newman's Own Organic Low Fat Asian Dressing - FREE after .75/1 tearpad q's
3 McCormick Cinnamons - FREE after .75/1 insert q's
2 boxes of Barilla Piccolini pasta - FREE after .50/1 insert q's

Total spent: .10
Total saved: $16.65
Received $2.50 OYNO Catalina

In total, I spent 31 cents on $42.69 worth of groceries AND have $7.50 to spend during my next go rounds at Harris Teeter. Sweet!

Have you made a trip to the HT yet for triples? What were your finds?

Kroger Mega Madness!

Kroger Mega sales can be quite the godsend when it comes to stockpiling and this March Madness event has been no exception! I've lucked into some great .50/1 Coke Zero coupons which have made for moneymaking 2 liters and I made a smart trade for a bunch of B10G5 Powerade coupons so looks like our garage will be filled up with our favorite beverages!

In a trip last night, I filled my cart with the following items:

15 bottles of Powerade Zero - used B10G5 to take $4.95 off the order
9 two liter bottles of Coke Zero - used .50/1 tearpad q's to make them each 30 cent mm's!
8 bottles of Shamrock Farms Rockin Refuel protein drinks - used .50/1 to make them freebies
12 Snickers bars - used .50/2 insert q's to make them freebies

The Mega Event takes $4 off your order for every 8 qualifying event items (the powerades and cokes were qualifying items).

Total spent: 43 cents!
Total saved: $57.67

With a triples event looming on the horizon from Harris Teeter, can we get any more spoiled here???

Harris Teeter Triples week of 3/24- confirmed!

Get those binders ready folks because Harris Teeter will be having a triples event next week! Details on sales fliers aren't typically posted to couponers boards until Tuesday morning of each week but you can still get prepared. My two favorite couponers boards have already started discussion threads on your best bets for freebies and cheapies. You can check out A Full Cup's discussion here or Hot Coupon World's thread here.

So far, I'm most excited about the free Shamrock Farms Rockin Refuel milk drinks. I've kept these coupons handy in the hopes for triples.

I'm sure more helpful match-ups will be posted throughout the weekend!

1 lb of Strawberries for $1 @ Target

I'm not sure if this is nationwide or not, but at my nearby Super Target they have 1 lb of strawberries for $1- which is a ridiculously great deal! Call before making the trip. My store was out when I made a morning trip. I called in the early afternoon and they had just gotten another truck in an hour before I made the call. I ran back out and there were only about a dozen left so they are going fast!

Free Kellogg's Cereals at Harris Teeter- TODAY 3/10 ONLY

Two great deals are going on right now for Kellogg's cereals and they will only work today (one started today, the other ends today). You'll need .70/1 Kellogg's blinkies that you can find at Food Lion and Kroger (these will begin with 5 so they'll double). These blinkies are for Corn Pops, Apple Jacks and Froot Loops only. Buy 5 boxes (mix and match) of the 12.5 ounce versions of these and you'll end up with a 5 cent moneymaker!

How it works:

You buy 5 boxes at $3.19 each ($15.95 total for all 5)
Use 5 .70/1 blinkies to get $7 off your order
Get $5.00 off your total order for buying 5 boxes

You'll then pay $3.95 out of pocket (not including tax) and get a $4 Off Your Next Order Catalina!