Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trip 3

This morning, I made what I expect to be my final trip for this round of Super Doubles at Harris Teeter. I went hoping that a few items would be restocked and also to try out a few new deal ideas that I wanted to see for myself before posting.  On the way home, I also stopped at Kroger and used my free $4 credit. These trips included coupon deals, as well as a few items we needed in the house to round out our weekly grocery shopping. Yes, that is KY Jelly in the picture above...not needed to round out our grocery shopping. I'll explain below how that purchase made me almost $2, which was used to pay for my other groceries. And yes, that is a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese. Impulse buy. And yes, I DID eat nearly the entire box by myself for lunch today. Judge away.

I spent $13.25 + tax at HT on $66.47 worth of items, an 80% savings. I spent $1.85 + tax at Kroger on $11.56 worth of groceries. Which means that I spent a total of $15.10 for $78.03 worth of groceries, an 81% savings.

I bought:

Harris Teeter (click items to see coupon matchups)

1 KY Jelly - $1.81 Money Maker (Use $3 coupon 1/8 inserts + $3 e-vic coupon = $1.81 Money Maker)
2 Kikkoman Soy Sauces - FREE
2 Nivea Lip Balms - FREE
2 1/2 Gallons Smart Balance Milk - FREE
1 Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Creamer - $0.15
4 boxes Barilla Whole Grain Spaghetti - $0.50 each x 4 = $2.00
2 bags Sargento Shredded Cheese - $1.00 each x 2 = $2.00
1 Digornio Pizza - $3.00
1 La Brea Baguette - BOGO (rings up half price)
Bananas
Russet potatoes
1 lime
1 lemon
1 Newman's Own Salsa

Total = $14.41
- $1.81 from KY e-vic coupon = $13.25

Kroger (prices after store card and coupons)

1 Dozen Eggs - $2.49
2 1 Liter Deer Park Sparkling Waters - $1.00 off 2 coupon (1/8 insert) = $0.25 each
1 bag Kroger mini carrots - FREE product coupon (home mailer) = FREE
cilantro - $0.69
1 Athenos Humus - $1.25 (great sale!)
1 Kraft Mac & Cheese - $0.92

Total = $5.85
- $4.00 credit = $1.85

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Couponing Tip - The Fine Print

I've quickly come to understand that the couponing world is full of rules, both written and unwritten. As the coupon gurus have taught me, one of the most important rules is carefully reading and adhering to the fine print on coupons.

So, what might you be looking for?

Words and phrases like...

• Do Not Double or Triple - Some coupons specifically state that the store should not double the coupon. If you have a coupon for $0.40 that states, "Do Not Double," and you bring it to a store like Kroger where they double up to $0.50, it WILL NOT double, so do not expect the extra savings.
• Limit of ____ Like Coupons Per Shopping Trip - Read this number carefully. Procter and Gamble coupons almost always state a limit of 4 like coupons per trip. This rule is in place to limit hoarders, who would come with dozens of like coupons in hand, ready to clear a shelf of sale items. If you want to use more than four of the same exact coupon, you'll have to go to another store or come back another time.
• Limit One Coupon Per Purchase - This DOES NOT mean that you can only use one coupon for your entire cart or basket. This wording means that you may have one coupon per item (purchase). If I am buying two bottles of the same shampoo (two purchases), I am allowed one coupon for each bottle. If I am only buying one bottle, I may not use two manufacturer coupons.
• Limit Open Coupon Per Transction - This statement means that you may only use ONE of the coupon each time you pay. If you want to use more, you will have to pay and ring up a separate transaction. I have seen limits like this when using Target store coupons.
• Words indicating the number and type of product that must be purchased - Some coupons will, for example, specify that the coupon is for $1.00 off two or three of the same product. When using such a coupon, be sure to buy the stated number of products. The coupon might also state a certain type of the product. For example, a coupon in this week's paper was for $8 off 2 CoverGirl face products. This means that you need to purchase two CG products that are for the face. Buying lipstick or eyeshadow would be a misuse of the coupon.
• Exclusions - The coupon might state specific items that cannot be discounted using the coupon. A common exclusion is trial sized items. It seems that many companies have become privy to the fact that shoppers were scoring tons of free items by using $1 off coupons on trial sized items, like toothpaste, shampoo, and laundry detergent. If a coupon does not state a size restriction, you can technically use the discount on any size product. 

To familiarize yourself with the fine print, take a closer look at the coupon pictured below (click to enlarge). Some of these rules might seem a bit ridiculous, but misuse of coupons is the top reason many stores are cracking down and limiting coupon use. If you want to continue (or start) saving, it would be best to be a rule follower! :)

Freebie Finds

Over the past few months, I've really come to appreciate a good freebie. I've already mentioned free products using your CVS card at the Magic Machine, but there are MANY more ways to score free products.

One way to find these freebies is to keep an eye on blogs like Krazy Coupon Lady. Many bloggers will put out posts about just about every free product, the instant it becomes available. I'm NOT going to be one of those bloggers. I DO plan to share some of my favorite freebie finds, as well as some different methods to scoring freebies, so keep your eyes peeled!

Now, I couldn't leave this post without giving you a little something, could I? So, teacher friends, this one's for you!

According to sources all over the web, Starbucks is giving away free tall cups of coffee (sorry, no fancy lattes) to teachers, every Monday in September. Just bring your school ID! Can't promise that all Starbucks will be participating, but it's sure worth a try! Yay for a little Monday pick-me-up!

Triple Coupons?! Ehh, I've Seen Better!

Alright Durhumites...Harris Teeter Triple Coupons starts on Wednesday. The blogging world has been a flutter about this, but honestly, I just can't get too excited about it. I LOVED the Super Doubles event last month, where coupons up to $1.99 doubled. I scored tons of high quality products for free - Wholly Guacamole, greek yogurt, granola bars, body wash. As a reminder, this upcoming promo triples coupons up to $0.99. I've been scoping the deal lists put out by Southern Savers, and really, the items you can get free or cheap are unhealthy or just unappealing.

There are just a few items that I might try to get if I make it to HT this week. I don't think I'll be making a special trip for them, though. I'll tell you where to find the coupons that match up with each deal I'm considering.

Kashi Frozen Entrees = Free
sale price $2.17 - $0.75 Q (printable) x3 = Free

Silk Soy Milk = $0.20/half gallon
sale price = $2.45 - $0.75 Q (printable) x3 = $0.20

Nature Valley Granola Thins = $0.25/box
sale price = $2.50 - $0.75 Q x3 (Smart Source insert 8/7) = $0.25

Dawn Dish Soap (9 oz) = Free
sale price = $1.69 - $0.50 Q x3 (August P&G) - $0.50 e-vic coupon (link it to your card on HT website)


If you want to check a complete list of match ups for the triples event, check out Southern Savers.

CVS, Work Your Magic!

In my last post, I gave you the basics about getting a CVS card and looking for and using Extra Bucks. Something I waited to tell you, and one of the most fun parts of a CVS shopping trip, is the "Magic Coupon Machine." When you walk into a CVS store, look near the entrance or cash register for a machine like the one below.

Scan your CVS card, and the fun begins! After some anticipation, the machine will pop out a chain of mystery coupons. Some will be low value coupons for money off specific products, but most weeks, you'll find some much better surprises! Most weeks, you'll find coupons for FREE products. Over the past few weeks, I've gotten coupons for free candy bars, band aids, panty liners, and crackers. Sometimes, if I'm passing by CVS, Nolan and I will walk in, scan my card, pick up a free item, and be on our way, happy to have scored a freebie with almost no effort.

On days when you're really lucky, the Magic Machine might spit out a coupon for a certain dollar amount off your purchase, like $4 off $20 or $5 off $25. This $20 or $25 total is BEFORE your coupons.  Let's say that you add up the price of your items and it totals $21. You're over $20, so you can then use your $4 off coupon. Now you can also add any coupons or extra bucks you have earned. This can equal great savings!

*Tip - You DO need to pay sales tax on free items. I keep loose change to use for things like this. I do not count change as money coming out of our budget, as we've already deducted the initial cash withdrawal. So...any purchases I can make by only using pocket change, will not be added into our monthly spending. You'll be amazed at how much shopping you'll be able to do at CVS by only using coins that might have otherwise sat unused in your car or a change jar!

Reader Response: Have you used the CVS Magic Machine? What is the best coupon you have received?

I Get By With a Little Help

If you read my previous post, you could have guessed that my money saving journey began with a visit with my friend Google. I soon discovered that everyone and their mother has a couponing website, most of which seem to share the same information. I quickly realized that a small number of these websites are MUCH better than others. I realize the humor in this, given that I'm starting my own couponing site. :)

I came across one website in particular that helped me understand the concepts of couponing. Krazy Coupon Lady is a site that has a great section with tips specifically for beginners. It lays out how to get started and explains the ins and outs of various stores you might shop. This was my initial guide to the couponing world.

I have also come to love Southern Savers. The author of that blog is from North Carolina, and her posts focus on deals found in stores located in the south, including local grocery stores.

My blog does not venture to become a how-to coupon site or a site that will alert you to every single deal in stores or on the web (See #4 of my ground rules). Rather, I hope to focus on deals I personally find around town and give info on how you can score the same items for pennies on the dollar. So if you're considering looking into using coupons or other ways to save money, I highly recommend checking out either of these sites. This venture has much easier by using a little help from "friends!"

You+Me+Baby = Whoa! Lots of Spending!!!

Hello, my name is Allison, and I'm a recent money saving convert. On April 22nd of this year, my first baby, Nolan, was born. I gave up my job as a third grade teacher at a fantastic elementary school to take on the life of a full time stay-at-home mom. I knew that by leaving my job, our family's financial situation would take a major hit. For at least a time, savings would be put on hold, and quite possibly depleted.

My husband, Alex, and I have always kept track of our monthly spending. We categorize our expenditures and follow each transaction and log it in a spread sheet. Each year, we have a rough idea of how much we would expect to spend on certain categories, like groceries, gas, and entertainment. The thing is...this "budget" was more informative than restrictive. Though we knew about how much we were spending, going over in a category didn't stop us for going out and spending more that month. Looking at this budget, and realizing how much income we would be losing, I knew something needed to change!

In June, Nolan and I flew from our home in Durham, North Carolina to visit my parents and brother in Wisconsin. I dove right in to watching on-demand episodes of TLC's Extreme Couponing. I watched, intrigued, as ladies worked their way through the grocery stores, piling hundreds of bottles of hot sauce and packages of ramen noodles into their carts. I anxiously watched the cash register deduct their coupons...beep after beep after beep. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars of products....for FREE?! "Who would ever NEED 500 bottles of hot sauce, and what kind of person jumps into dumpsters to fish out coupons??" I asked myself.

This show was clearly over the top couponing, but the money saving ideas stuck in my mind. There had to be a way to apply these concepts to save money in a more realistic, and less dirty, way. The money saving seed had been planted!