My Harris Teeter Score

image courtesy of fotosearch.com

About a year ago, I started browsing the couponing blog niche. Blogs like Sisterly Savings and Thrifty Mommy made me wonder if I could save money using coupons. So I tried it. I found a coupon or two I thought I could use, purchased the name brand product, handed over my coupons, and still ended up paying more than I would have paid for the store brand product I normally bought. I didn't understand how anyone could save money that way! And I decided couponing was not for me.

About 6 months ago, I stumbled across Bargain Briana. I read her Couponing Basics guide (you need to read it if you don't already know how to use coupons to save 50% or more on your grocery bill), and the lightbulb went off on. From there, I discovered free coupon databases, like Coupon Mom, A Full Cup, Hot Coupon World, and Savvy Dollar (NC-specific site). Now, I regularly save 35%-60% on my groceries, meaning that I am able to buy more groceries and buy extras of sale items so that I never need to pay full price for that item again.

I have discovered that in my area, Wal-Mart, Food Lion, and Harris Teeter are the best grocery stores for couponing. (Of course there are the drugstores - CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid - where you can get incredible deals, but that's a separate post.) Harris Teeter always doubles coupons of $.99 or less and sometimes triples them. (They will multiply up to 20 coupons per VIC card per day.) This past week was triples week.

I took the time to browse the free coupon databases, matching up my coupons with the advertised sales. I went shopping last night and returned for more sales this morning. Here is what I got:

1 All 3x Small and Mighty 32 load: $3.99 - $1 coupon = $2.99
1 All 2x Stainlifter 32 load: $3.99 - $1 coupon = $2.99
2 All 2x Stainlifter 32 load: $3.99 - $1.20 ($.40 coupon tripled) = $2.79
1 Breyer's Ice Cream: $2.75 - $2.25 ($.75 coupon tripled) = $.50
1 Breyer's Ice Cream: $2.75 (regular sale price, which was still good)
1 Daisy Sour Cream 16 oz.: $2.19 - $1.50 ($.50 coupon tripled) = $.69
1 Spot Shot carpet spray: $2.74 - $1.65 ($.55 coupon tripled) = $1.09
1 Mahatma Rice 16 oz.: $1.49 - $1.50 ($.50 coupon tripled) = FREE
2 Mahatma Rice with seasoning: $.89 each - $2.25 ($.75 coupon tripled)= FREE
1 New York Texas Toast Croutons: $1.59 - $1.50 ($.50 coupon tripled) = $.09
2 McCormicks Grill Mates seasoning packets: $1 - $1.50 ($.50 coupon tripled) = FREE
2 McCormicks seasoning packets: $.50 each - $1.00 coupon = FREE
2 McCormicks seasoning packets: $.50 each (regular sale price)
3 Huggies wipes (64 ct): $3.29 each - $2.25 ($.75 coupon tripled) = $1.04
2 Ragu pasta sauce (14 oz.): $1.99 - $.90 ($.30 coupon tripled) = $1.09
2 White House applesauce (6ct. 4 oz. cups): $1.77 each - $1.80 ($.60 coupon tripled, had to buy 2) = 2 for $1.74
1 Gorton's Fish Sticks (44 ct.): $3.50 - $1.20 ($.40 coupon tripled) = $2.30
1 Betty Crocker Cheddar Sour Cream potatoes pouch: $1.19 - $.75 ($.25 coupon tripled) = $.44
2 Skippy Peanut butter: $2.79 - $2.75 ($.75 coupon tripled) = $.04
3 Domino Sugar (5 lb.): $2.69 - $1.05 ($.35 coupon tripled) = $1.64
1 Kraft Honey BBQ (18 oz.): $1.79 - $2.25 ($.75 coupon tripled) = FREE
1 Kellogg's Frosted Flakes: $1.93 - $1.00 coupon = $.93
2 Kellogg's Honey Smacks: $1.85 - $1.00 coupon = $.85
1 Kellogg's Corn Pops: $1.95 - $1.00 coupon = $.95
1 Kellogg's Fruit Loops: $1.98 - $1.00 coupon = $.98
1 Electrasol Powerball tablets (20ct): $3.50 - $2.50 coupon = $1.00
1 Duke's Mayo: $2.00 (sale price)
2 Harris Teeter sandwich bread: $.97 (sale price)
1 Harris Teeter butter (4 sticks): $2.47 (sale price)
4 Harris Teeter shredded cheeses (2 cups): $1.67 (sale price)
1 Harris Teeter eggs (2.5 doz): $2.97

If I had paid full price, the total would have been $145.73. I paid $59.70, including tax, for a savings of 59%. It's definitely worth it for me to use coupons!

How about you? Have you discovered how to use your coupons most effectively?