Harris Teeter Super Doubles 8/8-14

This week Harris Teeter will double coupons up to $2.00.  They will double up to 20 coupons per household per day.  Here are some of the best deals this week.

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks & Mott's Medley Fruit Snacks: 2/$4
Save $.50 on 1 Mott's Medley (doubles)
Save $.75 on 2 Betty Crocker (doubles)
Save $.75 on 3 e-VIC
Final price: 3/$2.75

Betty Crocker Pouch Cookie Mix: 2/$4
Save $.75 on 2 (doubles)
Save $.75 on 2 e-VIC
Final price: 2/$1.75

Zone Perfect Bars: $1.39
Save $.55 on 1 (doubles)
Final price: $.29

Hefty OneZip Storage Bags: BOGO
Save $1 on 2 (doubles)
Final price: 2/$2.64

Suave Professionals Shampoo: $1.69
Save $1 on 2 (doubles)
Save $.25 e-VIC
Final price: 2/$1.13

Tampax Pearl Tampons: $4.49
Save $2 on 1 (doubles)
Final price: $.49

ZzzQuil: $3.99
Save $2 on 1 (doubles)
Final price: FREE

Meal Deal: $6.99 
Must buy Nutella, Corn Flakes, Nature's Own Oatmeal Toasters, 1/2 gallon milk
Save $1 on Nutella (doubles)
Final price: $4.99 for all 4 items

Saving Money on Vacation

A few tips to save money while on vacation:

1. Check sites like kayak.com or hotels.com to compare several different flights or hotels and try bundling them together for the best discounts.

2. Use sites like Groupon or Living Social to get great deals, most 50% or more on hotels, meals and things to do.  You pay up front which also allows you to keep an eye on your budget.

3. Check out free things to do at your destination online.  Most places have lots of great attractions off the beaten path for little or no money.

4. Find a grocery store or drug store at your location and stock up on essentials.  Bring along coupons you think you might use.  On a recent trip, I picked up water bottles at a CVS and paid with my register rewards, getting water for my trip for free and avoiding the $4 a bottle fees at most places.

5. If you're traveling somewhere by car and where the cost of living is lower bring along your coupon binder and take advantage of stocking up on non-perishables at lower prices.  Just be sure to check the store's coupon policy if it's not a store you normally shop at.

Harris Teeter July 25-31

Here are some of the great deals from Harris Teeter this week:

Dawn Detergent: $1.00 
$1 off 2 Coupon
Final price: $1.00 for 2

Colgate Toothpaste: $2.89
Buy 2 Get 3 Free
$1 off 2 Coupon
Final Price: $.96 each for 5

Lean Cuisine: $5/10
$2 off 4 Coupon
Final Price: $1.50 each for 4

Pepsi Next: $1.25 each
$1 off 2 Coupon
Final Price: $.75

My total retail value was $58.65 with an out of pocket cost of $25.25 for a 57% savings.

Harris Teeter 7/11-7/17

General Mills Fiber One Cereals: 2/$5
Save $.75 on 1 Coupon (doubles)
Final Price: $1 each

Eight O' Clock Coffee: $4.88
Save $1 on 1 Coupon
Final Price: $3.88

Betty Crocker Helpers: 4/$5
Save $.75 on 3 Coupon (doubles)
Final Price: 3/$2.25 + $1 off meat catalina that will print at checkout

Tetley Tea Bags: Buy One Get One Free
Save $.50 on 1 Coupon (doubles)
Final Price: $.32

South Beach Protein Bar: Buy One Get One Free
Save $1 on 1 Coupon
Final Price: $.64

Cottonelle Bath Tissue: 2 at the e-VIC price of $5.97
Save $1 on 1 Coupon
Final Price: $4.97

Zyrtec 5 ct: Buy One Get One Free
Save $4 on 1 Coupon
Final Price: FREE or $.51 moneymaker depending on store's policy on overages

Turkey Hill Tea: 4/$5
Save $1 on 2 Coupon
Final Price: 2/$1.50

Meal Deal: $6.99
Butterball Turkey Burgers, Harris Teeter Buns, Utz Chips, 2 Liter Coke
Save $1.50 on 1 Coupon off Turkey Burgers
Final Price: $5.49 when you buy all 4 items

Types of Coupons and Where to Find Them

Manufacturer

The most common type of coupon is a manufacturer coupon.  These are put out by the companies that make the product.  The easiest way to pick up these coupons is to get your Sunday newspaper.  There are several inserts like Red Plum, Smart Source, Proctor and Gamble and Pepsi.  Red Plum and Smart Source come almost every week, Proctor and Gamble once a month and Pepsi a few times a year.        

Manufacturer's coupons are generally for a fixed amount off ($2 off 1) or can be for a free product (Buy 2, Get 1 Free).  Make sure you carefully read the coupon to determine if it will double, how many you can use and to make sure you have the correct product in the correct quantities.  If the expiration date or barcode does not appear on the coupon you cannot use it.

If you want multiple copies of a coupon or insert you can buy multiple copies of the paper or look for a coupon clipping service that sells individual coupons or whole inserts.  It is illegal to sell coupons, so the price you pay is for the person's time to cut and assemble the order.

You can also get manufacturer coupons from the internet by printing from a coupon website or directly from the product's website.  Most coupons will allow 2 prints for each printer you have access to.

Manufacturer coupons can also be printed by a store's Catalina machine at checkout.  A printer at the register will print out a coupon based on your purchases.  They often will indicate where you can redeem the coupon, but you should be able to use them at any store.

Another place to get manufacturer coupons in the store is near the products.  Look for blinkie machines that dispense coupons (there is a delay between coupons) and tear pads where you pull off a paper coupon.  Some products have "peelies" which are stickers that often say Save $1 NOW attached to the product.  You don't have to use your coupon immediately and can file them away for later as they often have expiration dates 1-2 years away.  Some products will have coupons inside and will often indicate the type and value of the coupons on their packaging.

Store

These coupons are put out by the individual store and can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon for greater discounts.  Some (like Harris Teeter) can be loaded directly to your store card from a website so they come off automatically at checkout.  Giant and Target send out store coupons in the mail.  Target store coupons also come in the Sunday paper as a separate insert or as part of Red Plum or Smart Source.  These coupons almost never double.

Catalina (On Your Next Order)

These coupons are often advertised in the weekly circular as Buy 3 and Save $5 on your next order.  You may also receive Catalinas for free items like milk or ground beef that rarely have manufacturer coupons.  If you buy the correct amount of items, a coupon will print at the register which can be used like cash on your next checkout.  These offers are often only good once per transaction.  If you plan to get multiple Catalinas you may have to divide your purchase into multiple transactions.  You may also receive a Catalina notifying you of a future deal.

Harris Teeter 7/4-10 and Giant 7/6-12

Harris Teeter

Kelloggs Pop Tarts: 3/$5
$1 off 3 Coupon
Final Price: 3/$4

Sizzling Salad Kits: $3.99
Buy One Get One Free e-VIC
Save $1 off 2 Coupon
Final Price: 2/$3

Refresh Wine by Turning Leaf: $5
Save $3 Mail in Rebate Catalina
Final Price: $2

ZzzQuil: $3.99
Save $2 on 1 Coupon
Final Price: $1.99

Pantene Shampoo: 2/$7
Save $3 on 2 Coupon
Save $1 on 2 e-VIC
Final Price: 2/$3

Band-Aid: $1
Save $.50 on 1 coupon (doubles)
Final Price: FREE

Gold Peak Tea: 2/$4
Save $1 on 1 Catalina
Final Price: $1 each

Giant

Barilla Pasta: $1
Save $1 on 2 Coupon
Free Box of Pasta Store Coupon (came in mail)
Final Price: 2 boxes for FREE

Kellogg's Fiber Plus Bars: $2.50
Save $.75 on 1 (doubles)
Final Price: $1

Nestle Drumstick: 2/$5
Save $1 on 2 Coupon
Final Price: 2/$4


Canada Dry Ginger Ale: 5/$11

At Harris Teeter, my retail value was $51.48 with an out of pocket cost of $23.45 and a 54% savings.  At Giant, my retail value was $55.89 with an out of pocket cost of $15.64 and a total savings of  72%.  A second trip to Harris Teeter to pick up some items that had been out of stock ran a retail value of  $26.49 with an out of pocket cost of $9.48 and a savings of 64%.  I also used my Extra Bucks and a $5 off total purchase coupon at CVS to purchase $27.32 worth of items for only $7.30, a 73% savings.   The total retail value for the weekend was $161.18 with $55.87 out of pocket and a 65% savings.

4th of July and Power Outages

If you live in the Northern Virginia area, you may have experienced power outages from Friday night's storm.  We lost power for 24 hours and were able to salvage our freezer but had to replace everything in our fridge.  Refrigerated food can last 4-6 hours without power if the door remains closed and a freezer can last 1-3 days depending on the size and fullness of the freezer. 

After our power came back on we made trips to Giant and Harris Teeter to shop for some 4th of July items as well as replenish our refrigerated goods.

4th of July

Hanover Baked Beans at Giant: $.75 a can after sale and coupon
French's Mustard at Giant: $.90 a bottle after sale and coupon
Oreida Grillin Potatoes at Giant: $1.99 a bag after sale and coupon
Coppertone Sunscreen at Giant: $4.53 a bottle after sale and coupon
Ballpark Hamburgers at Harris Teeter: $5.49 after sale and coupon
Oscar Mayer Hotdogs at Harris Teeter: $5.19 a piece, either buy 1 get 1 free or buy 2 get 3 free
Turkey Hill Iced Tea at Harris Teeter: $1 a bottle after sale and coupon
Luigi's Italian Ice at Harris Teeter: $.77 a piece after sale and coupons
Barefoot Wine at Harris Teeter: $5 bottle after sale
KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce at Harris Teeter: $.50 a bottle after sale and coupons
Helluva Good Chip Dip at Harris Teeter: $1 a piece after sale and coupons

Refrigerator Stockup

Safeway Brand Eggs at Safeway: Free when you sign up for U Save
Hellman's Mayo at Harris Teeter: $1.50 a bottle after sale and coupons
Buddig's Lunchmeat at Harris Teeter: $.69 each after sale
Yoplait Yogurt at Harris Teeter: $.60 each after coupons
8th Continent Soymilk at Harris Teeter: $1.97 each after sale and coupons
Sargento Cheese at Harris Teeter: $2 each after sale and coupons

Harris Teeter deals are good through midnight tonight (7/3) and Giant deals are good through Thursday (7/5).

My total Harris Teeter retail value was $79.28 and my out of pocket cost was $32.17 for a savings percentage of 59%.  At Giant, my retail value was $37.82 and my out of pocket cost was $18.21 for a 52% savings.  Overall I got $117.10 worth of product for only $50.38 and a 57% savings.

Harris Teeter Deals Week of 6/26

Harris Teeter has lots of Buy One Get One Free specials this week including a great deal on a frozen treat.  Harris Teeter doubles coupons up to 99 cents and will double up to 20 coupons a day.

Here are my favorite deals this week:
KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce: 10/$10
Save $1 on 2 Coupon
Final Price: .50 each when you buy 2

General Mills Cereal
Trix: $1.89
Save .50 on 1 e-VIC
Cheerios: $1.72
Save .50 on 1 e-VIC
Save $1 on 3 Coupon
Final Price: $1.11 each when you buy 1 Trix and 2 Cheerios

Luigi's Italian Ice: $1.89
Save .75 on 2 Coupon
Save .75 on 2 e-VIC
Final Price: .77 each when you buy 2

Turkey Hill Tea: $1.25
Save $1 on 2 Coupon
Final Price: .75 each when you buy 2

What to do when the checkout goes awry

I am rarely nervous at checkout but I had an experience this weekend that set my heart racing.  After handing the cashier my stack of coupons, there were a few that wouldn't scan.  Normally this isn't a problem, and they'll set them aside to check at the end and/or call a manager over to override the system.  However, my cashier kept mixing up the piles of coupons that had been scanned and coupons that hadn't and I wasn't sure that all the coupons had gone through properly.  After looking through the coupons, I was able to determine which pile was which and all the coupons went through in the end.  To help your checkout go as smoothly as possible, follow these simple steps:

1. Have a detailed list when you go into the store.  I use the online circulars to add items to my list so I can see the sale price and then I write in any manufacturer or store coupons I have on the side along with the final price of each item.  This ensures I pick the right item for the right process off the shelf and also lets me make sure everything rings correctly at the register.  As you get familiar with your store's checkout process you'll notice which sale prices come up as an item is rung and which won't show up until the end of the transaction.

2. Organize your coupons before you get to the register.  If you have a get one free coupon where the cashier has to write in the value, I like to put that item at the end of my checkout and the coupon on top so it's easy for them to access and write in the price of the item to put the coupon through.  I also organize my coupons with the highest value on top so I can see when the price on the coupons changes and keep track of which ones have gone through.

4.  Keep an eye on them as they go through the register.  Listen for the beeps, watch the totals fall and make sure each one is going through properly including any doubling.

5. Know your store's coupon policy.  The more you know in advance about how they take coupons, the easier your checkout will be.  Many stores limit the number of like coupons you can use in a transaction along with how many coupons can double in a transaction.  There are also regulations on internet coupons.  Knowing how your coupons will scan and staying within the rules will make the checkout process smoother.

6. Check the receipt after you've left the store.  Double check that all coupons stored on your card came off properly and all the sale prices matched as well.  You can use your list to make sure your totals match.  Most stores will adjust your price if you bring back your receipt with proof that something did not ring correctly.

7. If something doesn't seem right, don't be afraid to speak up.  Coupons are a form of currency and the store will get reimbursed for every coupon you use.  It's in your best interest to make sure everything is accurate and you don't have to spend any more of your hard-earned money than you have to.

Harris Teeter and Giant Shopping Trip 6/23-6/24

To take advantage of all the great super double offers that Harris Teeter was offering and to stay under the 20 coupon per day doubling maximum we made two trips to Harris Teeter this weekend in addition to our regular Giant trip. 

For the first Harris Teeter trip, I focused on the items that were on sale that had a coupon and/or an e-VIC.  My total retail value for the trip was $121.06 but I paid just $41.66 including taxes for a 66% savings. 

At Giant, my retail value came to $75.91 but I paid $41.64 for a 45% savings. 

For my normal Saturday shopping trip, my total retail was $196.97 and my total actual cost was $83.30, giving me a 58% savings on the day.

On Sunday, I purchased a few items that were not on sale but were at a significant discount due to double coupons since I could use my higher value coupons on the items.  I was also able to buy a few of my husband's items that rarely go on sale and still save a good percentage.  My total retail value was $79.57 and I paid $44.51 for a 44% savings. 

I was also able to scoop up a great deal at Harris Teeter that I'd missed the day before:
Advil was on sale for $4.49.  I picked up a 50 count bottle and used a $1 off 1 coupon (my box also had a peelie that I removed and doesn't expire until 2015 so I added it to my binder for later) and I had an e-VIC loaded to my card for $1 off 1.  My total price after doubles and e-VIC was $1.49.

Overall, I purchased $276.54 worth of items this weekend with an out of pocket cost of $127.81 and a 54% savings.  My haul included 2 cartons of milk, 3 refrigerated meats, 4 frozen dinners, 8 yogurts, 2 boxes of pasta, 3 deodorants, 3 packages of razors, 4 detergents, 2 packages of paper towels, 5 cereals, 5 dog treats, 7 snacks and 5 assorted sauces among other items.   

Let me know the great deals you picked up this weekend by leaving a comment!

Harris Teeter Super Doubles 6/20-6/26

This week, Harris Teeter will double coupons up to $2.00 (normally super doubles do not include $2 coupons).  You can double up to 20 coupons per household per day.

Here are some of the deals I'm loving this week:
Newman's Own Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo $6.99
Save $1 on 1 Coupon (doubles) + Save $1 on 1 e-VIC
Final price: $3.99

Smart Balance Milk 2/$6
Save $1.50 off 1 Coupon (doubles)
Final price: FREE

Lea and Perrins Worcestershire Sauce 2/$5
Save $1 off 1 coupon (doubles)
Final price: $.50

Gain Laundry Detergent $5.99
Limit 2 at e-VIC Member Price of $4.97
Save $1 on 1 Coupon (doubles) + Save $1 on 1 e-VIC
Final price: $1.97

Brawny Paper Towels $7.77
Limit 2 at e-VIC Member Price of $5.77
Save $1 on 1 Coupon (doubles)
Final price: $3.77

Venus Disposable Razors $8.99
Save $2 off 1 Coupon (doubles)
Final price: $4.99

Yoplait Yogurt 10/$6
Limit 10 at e-VIC Member Price of 10/$5
Save $.50 on 8 (doubles) + Save $.40 on 6 e-VIC
Final price: 8/$2.60

Purina Beggin' Strips 2/$5
Save $1 on 2 Coupon (doubles) + Buy 2 Get 1 Free Coupon
Final price: 3/$3

Purina T-Bonz Dog Treats 2/$5
Save $1 on 1 Coupon (doubles)
Final price: $.50

I'm planning on spending $60 for items that retail around $172 on this trip.  Check back to see how I did and let me know which deals you're looking forward to at Harris Teeter this week.

My Story

I live in Northern Virginia just outside of DC where everything from rent to grocery bills are high.  Whenever my husband and I visit family in the Midwest we always load up the car with non-perishables that retail for half of what you'd find in our area. 

I am an avid TLC fan and after watching Extreme Couponing, I decided to give it a try.  We often found ourselves spending $300 at the grocery store for a half a cart full of items and tended to avoid it altogether and opted for take-out instead.  I started small, taking whatever coupons I had cut that week to the store and it was frustrating to see our totals only decreasing by a small amount each trip.  After a few false starts and some advice from "Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey" from the Krazy Koupon Ladies I unlocked the secret to saving big bucks: buy items when they are on sale and you have a coupon. 

There was only one problem; my one bedroom apartment barely has enough closet space for our clothes and we had already converted our linen closet to a pantry.  In order to stockpile and save money, I was going to have to be creative. 

After a few months of diligent planning and some creative reorganization, we have a small stockpile of items that allows us to be choosy about when we make our purchases.  With cramped couponing, you might have to pay a little more than those with large basements and 7 year supplies but the savings can still be significant.

I regularly shop at Giant and Harris Teeter and occasionally at Target when they have good store coupons.   I'll be chronicling my shopping trips each week and pointing out great deals to stock up on along with tips for maximizing space and finding new places to stash your stockpile.