Freebie Find - $4 Credit to Kroger

I saw this deal on Southern Savers and had to share. By visiting the Kroger website, you can earn a $4 shopping credit to use on your next visit. Here's how:

1. Visit the Kroger hompage, click the save more with digital coupons banner. 

2. Login or Register your store card.

3. Load P&G coupons to your card (Tide, Crest, Bounty, etc.)

After your coupons are loaded, you will see a screen that asks you to tell four friends about the offer. After submitting four e-mail addresses, a $4 credit will be instantly credited to your account (expires Jan. 18th). If you want, feel free to use my blog e-mail as one of your four! allisondurhamdeals@gmail.com

Pair the $4 credit with some deals like the Kashi cereal deal, and you can really stretch your FREE money! This would also be a great way to save on couponless items, like milk or meat!

Harris Teeter Super Doubles (+ Kroger) - Trip 2

Apparently, dogs need to eat every day, and it would seem, that with all my coupon planning, I failed to realize that we were out of food for Cooper. We fed him people food last night after discovering that there was no kibble atop the fridge. Mistake.

After waking up to a mess on the living room floor that told me just what Cooper's stomach thought of people food, I bundled up Nolan and headed out for dog food (Rachel Ray - that dog is a food snob). My floors, and Cooper, couldn't handle another people food meal.

Since I was out anyway, why not coupon??

My trip feels pretty brag worthy. I made stops at Harris Teeter and Kroger (across the street from each other), and between the stores, I spent $2.03 + tax for $37 worth of groceries, a 94.5% savings! Plus, I received catalina coupons for a free Poise product (not sure why that one printed), with a value up to $6.00, as well as one for $2.00 off coffee creamer, which will help me score one for free at a later time.

I bought...

Harris Teeter

3 Starkist Chunk Light Tuna Pouches - $1.00 (regularly $1.65)

- 3 $0.50 printables (click Hungry Girl Loves Pouch, scroll down to print coupon) x 2 = FREE

2 V8 Smoothies - $1.94

- 2 $1.00 printables x 2 = FREE

1 Muir Glen Tomato Paste (I stock up whenever I see this coupon) - $1.39

- $0.75 printable x 2 = FREE

1 Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Creamer - $2.65

- $1.00 printable (click Spread Some Holiday Cheer on left side of screen) x 2 

- $0.50 e-vic coupon = $0.15 

1 Silk Soy Milk - $2.89

- $1.00 printable (check second page) x 2 = $0.89

Total = $1.04 + tax

Kroger

4 Kashi Go Lean Cereals - on sale for $2.99 each

- 4 $2.00 off one recyclebank printable coupons (*see below for explanation of how to get coupons)

- $3.00 instant savings for buying 4 participating products

= $0.96 for four (~$0.25 per box)

1 box Fiber One bars - $2.89
- FREE product coupon (Kroger home mailer) = FREE

Total = $0.99 + tax

* Getting the Kashi coupons takes a little explaining, but it's not too difficult. If you haven't already done so, you'll need to set up two Recyclebank accounts (two e-mail addresses). You will need to earn points by completing quick tasks like quizzes (takes just a minute). Once you have earned 75 points, redeem them for a $2.00 off Kashi coupon (check the food and beverages tab). You print this coupon from home, and when you do so, hit the back browser arrow, which will allow you to print two coupons for your 75 points. Do the same thing from a second Recyclebank account. This will give you four coupons to use for the Kroger promo.

Share your shopping success by linking up!

Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trip 1

I made a trip to Harris Teeter, armed with coupons to "Super Double." I often make Super Doubles trips just for the freebies, but this round, there aren't many to be had (which made the store much less crazy than it usually is on the first day of Super Doubles). I was still able to score some pretty good deals, though, and walked away with $100 worth of groceries for $27, a 73% savings. This isn't too bad, considering I bought a few items with no coupons, like deli meat, bread, and olive oil. The coupon match ups for the items I purchased can be viewed by following this link. The Sargento Cheese is not listed in that post. It was purchased for $1 per pack using two $1.00 off 2 coupons I found on a Harris Teeter tear pad about a month ago.

What I really liked about this shopping trip, is that I was able to buy a lot of very healthy food for very little money. Who says you can only save money on junk food??

Here's a breakdown of the items I purchased. Prices listed are after store card and coupons. Items purchased without coupons are listed in red.

2 Muir Glen Tomato Pastes - FREE
2 Starkist Tuna Pouches - FREE
1 Oral-b Floss - FREE
1 Wholly Guacamole - FREE
1 Coffee-mate Natural Bliss Creamer - $0.15
1 Silk Soy Milk - $0.89
1 Seeds of Change Quinoa - $0.99
2 Pom Juices - $0.50 each x 2 = $1.00

1 Digiorno Pizza - $3.00

4 Sargento Shredded Cheese - $1.00 each x 4 = $4.00
1 La Brea Wheat Bread (BOGO - rings up half price) - $2.34
1 Olive Oil - $3.99
1 bunch red leaf lettuce - $1.99 
1 can black beans - $0.79
1/3 lb deli turkey - $2.80
1 red onion - $1.06
1 Snyder's Tortilla Chips - $2.50


Total =  $27.04 + $0.90 tax = $27.04

Have you made a trip to Harris Teeter to Super Double your coupons? How did you do??

Share your shopping success by linking up!

Freebie Find - Personalized Greeting Card

Use the promo code "MCSFREE112" to score a free personalized greeting card from cardstore.com. 

Browse the greeting card selection, personalize a card if you'd like, enter the promo code....pay nothing! :)

Over the past few months, I've ordered a number of free cards from cardstore.com (building a nice little stock pile). Shipping is quick, and the cards are high quality. Definitely worth a look!

Harris Teeter Super Doubles Preview and Matchups

Harris Teeter's Super Doubles promotion begins this Wednesday. For one week, Harris Teeter stores will double coupons with a value up to $1.98. Customers are allowed to double up to twenty coupons each day. The store also allows customers to double coupons for three like items per day but only two like internet coupons per day.

This is an interesting time of year for the chain to be offering Super Doubles. If you've been clipping coupons for a while, you probably noticed that TONS of coupons expired on the last day of 2011. I weeded my binder for expired coupons last night, and really, there isn't much left inside.

The sale ad has been leaked, though some unadvertised deals are yet to be announced. Honestly, this isn't the best Super Doubles promo, as far as freebies or low cost deals go. To score the best deals, you'll need to turn to printable coupons. Remember, you can print two of the same coupon per computer.

Below, I've listed a few of the best available deals. I'll be updating as I find more.

Super Doubles Deals - 1/4/12-1/10/12

Muir Glen Tomato Paste (I stock up whenever I see this coupon) - $1.39

- $0.75 printable x 2 = FREE

Wholly Guacamole - $2.79

- $1.50 printable x 2 = FREE (must register)

Oscar Meyer Lunchables (lunch for the kids?) - $1.00

- $0.50 printable x 2 = FREE

Coke Zero 2 liter - $1.79
- $0.99 printable x 2 = FREE (click Trial on the left side of the screen)

Oral B Floss - $2.99

- $1.00 manufacturer coupon (1/1 P&G) x 2

- $1.00  e-vic coupon (load to store card through HT website) = FREE (can only get 1 free)

Starkist Chunk Light Tuna Pouch - $1.00 (regularly $1.65)
- $0.50 printable (click Hungry Girl Loves Pouch, scroll down to print coupon) x 2 = FREE

V8 Smoothies - $1.94

- $1.00 printable x 2 = FREE

Nivea Lip Balm - $1.50
- $3/2 manufacturer coupon (1/1 Red Plum insert) = two FREE

Coffee Mate Natural Bliss Creamer - $2.65

- $1.00 printable (click Spread Some Holiday Cheer on left side of screen) x 2 = $0.65
- $0.50 e-vic coupon = $0.15 (for first bottle, additional will be $0.65)

Gorton's Grilled Fillets - BOGO (rings up at half price - $2.19

- $1.00 printable x 2 = $0.19

Pom Juice - $2.50

- $1.00 printable x 2 = $0.50

Honey Bunches of Oats - $2.50

- $1.00 printable x 2 = $0.50

Silk Soy Milk - $2.89
- $1.00 printable (check second page) x 2 = $0.89
-or- $1.00 facebook printable

Seeds of Change Quinoa - $2.99 (regularly $4.29)
- $1.00 printable x 2 = $0.99

Armour Meatballs - $2.47 (regularly $3.99)
- $1.00 off 2 printable x 2 = $1.47 each when you buy 2

Digiorno Frozen Pizza - $5.00 (regularly $6.69)
- $1.00 printable (click Countdown to Greatness) x 2 = $3.00

Other Non-Coupon Deals

Select Seafood and Meat - Buy Two Get Three Free (I think you can mix and match)
La Brea Bread - BOGO (rings up at half price)

New Printable Coupons

It's a new month, which means new printable coupons!

Visit the Printable Coupons tab, where you will find a number of coupons that would be great to use at a store that doubles (Kroger, Harris Teeter, Piggly Wiggly, etc.). If a store near you doubles, use the $0.75 off Muir Glen coupon to score free products, like tomato paste.

If you plan to shop the Harris Teeter Super Doubles sale, which starts this Wednesday, look for coupons with a value over $1.00. There are a number available for products like Kashi and General Mills cereals. During the promotion, these coupons will deduct $2.00.

If you shop a store that doubles, you might also want to check out this coupon for $0.50 off Starkist Tuna pouches. When doubled, you should be able to get the pouches for free or very little out of pocket.

Remember, you are able to print two like coupons per computer. Use the back browser button to send the coupon to your printer for a second time.

New Year, New Money Saving Goals

It's been nearly six months since my money saving adventures began in mid-July. If you've been following this blog for a while, though, you know that my enthusiasm for deal hunting and coupon clipping has been dwindling for some time now.


When I first began this "project," deal seeking was a bit of a rush. My brain would number crunch and scenario build, mapping out ways to get the most product for the least amount of money. When I set out to money save, I told myself that I would not buy things I did not need or would not use. As I accumulated "stuff" and built a modest supply of things like toothpaste and contact solution, there came a point when I simply didn't need to buy anything more. Deal seeking began to lose its appeal.

As I told you a few weeks ago, I can't turn my back on money saving, though. Looking at our budget over the past six months, and taking out fixed expenses like rent and insurance premiums, I've calculated that I've cut our flexible spending by about 35%, while buying more products than I ever did before. So as 2012 begins, I'm setting out with a few money saving ground rules and goals, some new, some carried over from the guidelines I set for myself months ago. With these new goals in mind, I hope to regain enthusiasm for deal hunting.

2012 Money Saving Ground Rules

• I will purchase only items that I will need and use (unless it's free and can be donated).
• I will focus on healthy eating. I will not buy unhealthy grocery items just because they are free or inexpensive.
• I will not sacrifice time with my family to deal seek or blog (you may see a decline in posts - Nolan is definitely not napping like he used to).

2012 Money Saving Goals

• I will save enough money and be far enough under budget to make a contribution to our retirement account before the tax deadline in April.
• I will build a stockpile of diapers and wipes by purchasing during sales and promos (no more buying at the last minute).
• I will create and use a database/document of budget friendly recipes.
• I will keep a small stockpile (buy low) of ingredients (canned tomatoes, beans, lentils, broth, pasta, grains, etc.) I commonly use in my cooking, including the budget friendly recipes mentioned above.
• I will use my money saving skills to help out family, friends, and organizations through our church.
• I will cut our flexible spending by at least 40% (not totally necessary, but more of a challenge).

Reader Response: As you begin a new year, are there money saving goals you hope to achieve? Please share in the comments section!