Days 2 & 3: Harris Teeter Triples

Well I took it easy on you guys for day one…easy deals, simply matching Sunday paper coupons with sales to get free or cheap items. NOW we get to some deeper stuff! I am burdened by how long this will take me, but happy to explain some deals that people all across the nation may be able to relate to- As most stores offer promos similar to these. But watch out! We had triple coupons on top of it all!

Let’s sub title this post “Instant $$ Back and Catalinas”

First, I will explain the “instant $$ back” offer we had this week. The store I shop at, Harris Teeter, is offering a $5 instant coupon when you buy (wyb) 15 general mills (GM) items. So if I checked out with 15 GM items in one transaction, the cash register took $5 off of my total, instantly. No coupon needed.

Second, there were two “catalina” deals to take advantage of. Catalinas are coupons that print at the register when you buy certain qualifying products. You find out about these in several ways: Looking on the store’s website under a “promotion” tab, reading about it in their weekly ads, or receiving a “catalina” a week before that explains the deal. The first deal was  “Buy 3, 4 or 5 Green Giant frozen veggies and get $1, $2, $3 back on your next order (respectively).” The second deal was “Buy 3 or 6 Old El Paso items and get $1 or $3 back on your next purchase of chicken or beef (respectively)”. Both of these $$ on your next order/purchase of beef/chicken would print out as those register coupons to be used on the next trip to the store.

The best part? The Old El Paso products AND the Green Giant products were both also GM products- Making the deal even sweeter!! Not to mention there are coupons out for both. I didn’t have the good Old El Paso coupons, but I bought them regardless since we love Old El Paso. Now I will attempt to show you my complete deals/savings/coupons used. Don’t go getting  confused now, this is meant to help!!

HT Trip # 2- Yesterday

Here’s what I bought, and the coupons I used:

GM Product- (3) Total cereal: on sale $3-.75 coupon x3= .75c ea

GM product- (4) Old El Paso Taco(OEP) shells: on sale $1.50 ea

GM product: (2) OEP taco seasoning packets- Free with (2) coupons stating “buy 2 OEP products, get (1) free seasoning packet (found on boxes of taco shells)

GM Product- (6) Green Giant frozen boxed veggies: on sale .99c ea- .50/2 coupons x3= .50c/2

(1)Scrubbing bubbles: on sale $2.99- .75c coupon x3= .75c ea

(1) Reese’s PB cup 8 pack: on sale $1.65- .55c coupon x3= FREE

(1) Murphy’s Oil Soap: on sale $1.79- .50c coupon x3= .14c

(1) Wacky Mac veggie spirals: on sale $1.39- .75c coupon x3- FREE

(2) Mento’s Gum: $1.49- .55c coupon x3= FREE

(4) Barilla Pasta (whole grain and piccolini): $1.50- .50c coupon x3= FREE

(1) Bumble Bee Tuna pouch: on sale $1- .55c coupon x3= FREE

(1) Silk Soy Milk: $2.99- .75c coupon x3= .74c

WHEW. Total: $12.03. Minus $5 for the GM deal= $7.03. And I got back (1) catalina for $3 off my next purchase and (1) Catalina for $3 off my next purchase of chicken or beef. So I guess you could say I spent $1.03. Counting the two catalinas and the $5 back, I saved $62.38

Ready for round 2?

HT Trip #3- Today

GM product- (8) Green Giant veggies: on sale .99c- .50/2 coupon x3= .50c/2 or .25c ea

GM product: (4) OEP taco shells: on sale $1.50

GM product: (1) OEP seasoning packet: Free with (2) coupons stating”buy 2 OEP products, get (1) free seasoning packet (found on boxes of taco shells)

GM Product: (3) Total Cereal: on sale $3- .75c coupon x3= .75c ea

(3) Viva paper towels: $2.49- .85c coupon x3= FREE (not pictured)

(3) Barilla Whole Grain pasta: $1.50- .50c coupon x3=FREE

(3) Grande reduced fat tortilla chips: on sale $2.50- .75c coupon x3= .25c ea

(1) Amy’s Hot Cereal: $2- .75c coupon x3 = FREE

(1) Silk Soy milk $2.99- .75c coupon x3= .74c

(1) Florida Natural OJ: $4.69- .75 coupon x3= $2.44

(6) Bakery fresh French Breads: on sale $1.47- $1 store coupons (found on product)= .47c ea

Total: $17.91, minus GM deal discount= $12.47, minus (2) $3 catalinas = $6.47

Saved: $75.21

Not the best totals all of you have seen by far, I know. But I’ll gladly admit I’m not the best. I just want others to see one example of what can be done!

The coupons used for this trip were from Sunday inserts, Blinkies, printed from online and traded or purchased on hotcouponworld.com and ebay. If you’d like more information on where coupons come from, please see my post on “Coupons: Where do they come from?”

Health note: We only purchase items that are made without high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and MSG (in most detectable forms). I try to buy mostly whole grains, all natural products and even organic when I can. So while my totals may be a bit higher than some, its because I’m buying things that our family enjoys. Just a few highlights of the items above: The Grande chips are all natural, the Old El Paso taco shells are made with Palm oil instead of hydrogenated oils, the Green Giant veggies are those without sauce (or at least just an olive oil sauce), and Amy’s is an organic brand. Sure, I got french bread, but that’s a treat for pasta night, and HT doesn’t use any of our “no-nos” in making them. As a side note …anyone need OEP seasoning packets? LOL. Those were just to get the discount.

Whew. This is a long post- But I hope its helpful to some and an encouragement to many!

Here’s to living: Happier, Healthier, more FRUGAL lives!

~FrugalMegan~