Week of coupon shopping wrap up and how to do it yourself

Here's the past week wrap-up for shopping with coupons. Between Food Lion, Bi-lo, and 3 trips to Harris Teeter, I spent $188.33 and received $472.35 in groceries. That is $284.02 in free groceries. I saved anywhere from 41% to 77% for an average of 60% which isn't too shabby.
I hope by previous articles, I have shown what can be done to lower your grocery bill buy using coupons. Want to get in on the deals and try it yourself? The first step is to get as many coupons as you can. You can get coupons from the Sunday newspaper, sometimes the library has a coupon exchange box (if they don't, ask them to make one), from relatives and friends, and of course printable Internet coupons.
The biggest Internet coupon sites are: http://www.redplum.com/, http://www.smartsource.com/, and http://print.coupons.com/couponweb/index.aspxpid=13903&nid=10&zid=xh20&cid=0&bid=1152450001 which is coupons.com.
You can print each coupon twice.
The best website I have found for helping you match up coupons with the store weekly specials is:
  Just click on the box and you are on your way.
They have price match ups for Harris Teeter, Bi-lo, Food Lion, Kroger, Publix, Bloom, Commissary, H-E-B, Harveys, Ingles, Lowes Foods, Sweetbay, and Winn Dixie. There are match ups for pharmacies and some super stores but, more on that later. I will also being doing an article on coupon organization soon.

3rd Trip to Harris Teeter $65.68 in groceries for $16.67

This is from my final shopping trip to Harris Teeter during there double coupons up to $1.99 during the week of 11/3/2010-11/9/2010. I scored $65.68 in groceries for $16.67.

Here's the run down:

4 Betty Crocker potatoes on sale for $1.00 each. I had 2 $ .50/2 coupons which doubled to $1.00 each, making each box of potatoes $ .50.

2 cans of Clabber Girl baking powder for $2.00 each. I had 2 $ .75/1 coupons which doubled to $1.50 each. I paid $ .50/can.

2 Idahoan mashed potatoes packets on sale for $ .99 each. I had 2 $ .60 coupons, which doubled to make both packets free.

3 cans of pringles for $1.50 each. I had $1.00/3 coupon which doubled to $2.00. I paid $2.50 for 3 cans or $ .83 each.

1 can of Hot Shot ant and roach spray for $3.99. I had a $1.50 coupon which doubled to $3.00 making this $.99.

2 Friskies cat treats for $2.00 each. I had 2 $1.00 coupons, which doubled to make these both free.

2-7th generation dish washing detergents for $1.99 each. I had 2 $1.00 coupons, which doubled to make both detergents free.

1-4 count of wisps toothbrushes on sale for $1.50. I had a $.75/1 coupon which doubled to make this free.

3 packs of bagel bites pepperoni pizzas on sale for $2.59 each. I had $1.00/1 and $1.50/2 coupons. After doubling, I paid $2.77 for all 3 or $ .92 each.

6 green giant frozen vegetable boxes on sale for $1.00 each. I has 2 $ .40/3 coupons which doubled to $ .80 each. I paid $4.40 foe 6 or $ .73 each.

Country Crock margarine on sale for $1.14. I had a $ .40 coupon which doubled to $.80 making the Country Crock $ .34.

4 pack of Danactive on sale for $2.50. I had a $ .55 coupon which doubled to $1.10 making the cost $1.40.

1 Dannon Greek yogurt cup on sale for $1.00. I had a $ .30 coupon which doubled to $ .60. This cost me $ .40.

Harris Teeter large eggs on sale for $ .77.

Between VIC savings and coupons I had $49.01 in savings. I paid $15.76 EBT and $ .91 cash for a total of $16.67 for $65.68 in groceries. That is a savings of 75%.

Now Harris Teeter is back to doubling coupons up to $ .99. I can't wait for the next triple to $.99or double to $1.99 coupon sale comes again.

Bi-Lo $179.57 in groceries for $88.84

This is what I bought at Bi-lo last night:

2 French Vanilla 8 O'Clock coffee

Dixie Crystals sugar

5 cans Del Monte diced tomatoes

Hunt's Ketchup

Taco Bell taco shells

can of Southern Home chili beans

can of Hormel chili beans

Clear Value party peanuts

Hormel Completes Pot Roast

2 Hormel Completes Chicken & Dumplings

4 cans Progresso French Onion Soup

2 cans Progresso Tomato Rotini Soup

2 cans Progresso 99% fat free Minestrone Soup

2 Wise Cheese Doodles

14 packs of Koolaid

2 Packs of Nabisco Iced Animal Cookies

Act II popcorn

Nerds rope candy

Southern Home snack mix

Southern Home pretzels

Southern Homes sugar substitute

4 Whiskas cat food (single serve)

Gain Dish washing detergent

Pampers baby wipes

Marcal Facial Tissue

Breakstone Sour Cream

Kraft Mild Cheddar Cheese

Southern Home Mild Cheddar Cheese

Smart Balance Milk

6 Banquet Frozen Meals

Healthy Choice frozen Shrimp Diavolo meal

2 Healthy Choice Sesame Chicken Steamers

5.88lbs. Ground Chuck

Bar-S bologna

3 lunchmakers

Land O Frost Turkey sandwich meat

Del Monte peach fruit cup

2 Del Monte Mandarin orange fruit cups

2lbs. carrots

Sweet Moments bite size brownies

Sweet Moments molten Lava brownies

Total before savings:$179.57

bonus card and coupon savings: $91.08

EBT total: $87.60

cash total: $1.24

Grand total: $88.84 for a savings of 49%

This isn't too bad considering Bi-lo only doubles coupons up to $ .99 and I bought 5.88 lbs. of ground chuck and nerd candy rope because my child was with me and had stuck it out this far so, I treated him. Several of the items ended up being free and I am able to try out some new products I have been wanting to try.  Because of using coupons, I paid $1.24 cash for 4 Whiskas single serving cat food, gain dish washing detergent, Marcal facial Tissue, & pampers baby wipes.



Trip 2 to Harris Teeter $74.27 worth of groceries for $16.94

Here's the picture from my last night shopping trip to Harris Teeter during their double up to $1.99 coupon week. There is a limit of 20 coupons a day per household.

Here's the run down:
2 liquid original coffee mate creamers for $2.85 each. I had 2 $1.50 coupons which doubled to make both free.
2 Martha white muffin mixes. BOGOF + $ .55 coupon on 2 which doubled to $1.10. The muffins were $1.15 for both so, I paid $.05.
2 Jello instant sugar free chocolate puddings. $ .95 each and I had a coupon for $ .50/2 which doubled to $1.00. $1.90 - $1.00 = $ .90 for 2 or $.45 each
2 boxes of Ritz Munchables pretzels/crackers on sale for $2.99 each. I had 2 $1.00 off each coupons which doubled to $2.00 each. I paid $ .99 each.
2 Friskies treats for cats at $2.00 each. I had 2 $1.00 coupons which doubled to $2.00 each.These were both free.
Act II popcorn 3 count on sale for $1.99. I had a $ .75 coupon which doubled to $1.50. I paid $ .49.
2 Zone bars for $1.25 each. I had 2 $1.00 coupons. HT doesn't allow overage so it doubled the coupons $ .25 each to make them both free.
7th Generation dish washing detergent for $1.99. I had a $1.00 coupon that doubled making it free.
7th generation baby wipes for $2.99. I had a $1.00 coupon that doubled. I paid $ .99 for baby wipes.
2 Kotex pantiliners for $1.45 each. I had 2 $1.00 coupons that doubled to make them both free.
Jimmy Dean sausage, egg, & cheese biscuits on sale for $4.99. I had a $1.00 coupon that doubled. I paid $2.99 for sausage biscuits that are normally $5.99.
4 boxes of Totino's pizza rolls for $1.00 each. They are usually $2.19 each. I had 2 $ .40 off 2 coupons which each doubled to $ .80. I paid $ .60 for each box. On the back of each box are $1.00 off 3 Totino's pizza coupons.
10 Totino's pizzas on sale for $1.00 each. I had 2 $1.00 off 5 coupons which doubled to $2.00 each.
I paid $6.00 or $ .60 for each pizza.

My total was $15.50 food stamps and $1.44 cash for a total of $16.94. Between coupons and sales, I saved $57.33. That is $74.27 worth of groceries for $16.94 a savings of 77%.
I will be going to Harris Teeter one or two more times before the double coupon sale ends on Wednesday.

How to find a food pantry

If you are in need of food and need a food pantry here are some links for you:
http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx
http://www.foodpantries.org/
211 is the number to know. In most states, you can call that number and they will be able to refer you to almost any kind of help you need. If you are not sure if 211 works where you are, go to this link and it will tell you the number to call based on your location.
http://www.211.org/

You can also do an Internet search for a food pantry by typing in your city, state + food pantry. Sometimes food pantries can be hard to find so, these links are a great start in your search. It doesn't matter if you receive food stamps, especially if the amount you receive doesn't even cover you for half the month.
Food pantries are nothing to be ashamed about. They are here to help and right now with the economy the way it is, there are people having to go for help that have never had to do so before.  It is a good idea to call the pantry before going to find out if you need to bring any information with you for verification. It is a shame that people are starving in America. When you are back on your feet, maybe you can give back to the pantries that helped you in your times of need.

Food Stamps & Coupons

Did you know you can use coupons with food stamps? You really can. It is a great way to stretch your allotment. I must warn you that some grocery stores still charge tax on the coupons. Also, if you buy a non-food item in the same order and use coupons, sometimes a little more money is subtracted from your food stamp balance. I do not understand why this happens but, any time it has, I have been told it is because I used coupons. If you do not receive much in food stamps, you will want to buy your non-food items in a separate order. If you receive a good amount in food stamps, it's in your best interest to combine food and non-food items together. Any time I have combined them, a little more is taken from food stamps but, I pay less out of pocket for the non-food items. Sometimes, I have even received cash back. I guess they are giving me the extra that was charged to food stamps because I used coupons.  By combining coupons with sales, I have almost doubled the amount of food I can get using food stamps. It is well worth the time to clip and organize coupons and to plan your purchases based on sales.