Cheap Thrills

Shopping Trip: Harris Teeter, 8/28/10

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:25:29 +0000

“I hope someone is going to help you carry all this in,” the checkout lady said. I assured her my husband would help (and he did).

I didn’t do too badly for a non-doubles-or-triples-week:

Free:

Nothing, sadly.

50 Cents or Less:

Newman’s Own salsa, regular $2.99, sale $1.49, minus doubled coupon for 50 cents off = 49 cents
Newman’s Own salsa con queso, regular $2.99, sale $1.50, minus doubled coupon for 50 cents off = 50 cents
Allen canned veggies, four cans, regular $1 each, sale buy one get one free = $2, or 50 cents each
Edwards Singles Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Pie, Key Lime Pie and Cookies and Ice Cream, regular $3.15 each, sale $2 each, minus three doubled coupons for 75 cents off each = $1.50, or 50 cents each
Pillsbury cinnamon rolls, regular $1.95, sale $1, minus doubled coupon for 35 cents off = 30 cents
Friskies cat food, 14 cans, regular 55 cents each, sale 45 cents each, minus coupon for $1 off 14 = $5.30, or 38 cents each

$1 or Less:

Luzianne green tea, regular $2.39, sale 99 cents
Chock Full o’ Nuts coffee, three bags, regular $4.79 each, sale $2.50 each, minus three doubled coupons for 75 cents off each = $3, or $1 each
Harris Teeter two-liter cola, for making pot roast, regular 99 cents, sale 80 cents

The Rest:

Valu Time tomato ketchup, $1.47, for making pot roast
Lipton tea, five 12-packs, buy two get three free at $6.29 each = $12.58, or $2.52 each
Hefty OneZip bags, two boxes, regular $2.99 each, sale buy one get one free = $2.99, or $1.50 each
Hormel Compleats pot roast, four boxes, regular $2.49 each, sale $1.97 each
Quilted Northern, regular $8.85, sale $5.99
Celestial Seasonings decaf green tea, $3.59
Harris Teeter popcorn, regular $1.67, sale $1.37
Harris Teeter bleach, $1.19
Swheat Scoop cat litter, regular $10.65, sale $9.65
Ground chuck, two pounds, regular $6.99, sale $2.99
Angus roast, $7.77
Yellow peaches, 1.54 pounds, regular $1.79 a pound, sale 99 cents a pound = $1.52
Bunch fresh spinach, $1.99
Two pounds carrots, regular $2.29, sale $1.47
Harris Teeter hamburger buns, regular $1.49, sale $1.17
Tyson grilled chicken breasts, regular $9.59, sale $6.99, minus coupon for $1 off = $5.99
Shoestring potatoes, $1.77
Harris Teeter shredded cheese, two bags, regular $2.65 each, sale $1.97 each
Harris Teeter grated Parmesan, regular $2.99, sale $2.39
Silk soymilk, regular $3.39, sale $2.99
Harris Teeter half & half, regular $2.27, sale $1.47
Eckrich kielbasa, regular $2.99, sale $2.29, minus doubled coupon for 35 cents off = $1.59
Harris Teeter boneless skinless chicken breast, regular $9.99, sale $4.99

Total paid was $108.06; total saved was $78.71, or 42 percent.

Elvis Lives: 8/21/10

admin — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:27:47 +0000

I FINISHED MY APRON.

This is a picture of someone who is totally not me wearing the apron. Nope, not me at all. Someone else entirely. But this person looks very excited about said apron, as you can tell by the two-thumbs-up action, and I don’t blame her. IT’S HANDMADE.

My first attempt at gathering — the ruffly bits along the waist — obviously didn’t go too well. But I made facings, and I made straps, and I understitched and hemmed and clipped curves, and I am SO PROUD. So proud.

Just look at all that Elvis.

Lasagna and Unmentionables: 8/21/10

admin — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:16:56 +0000

Below, what I brought home today for $10.80 out of pocket:

The monthly Unmentionable from Victoria’s Secret, shrouded in pink tissue paper to protect the innocent.

A great big pile of library books on sewing, because I love the library and I think it’s completely wonderful that this free resource exists. Our library has free wi-fi and a reading garden and access to all sorts of fascinating databases (ancestry.com, even, which is way expensive to join on your own), and as you can see, it does not want for sewing books, either. Well, now it does, because I’ve borrowed them all, but you know what I mean.

And a few things from Harris Teeter:

Buittoni lasagna, $9.99, minus $1.50 coupon = $8.49
Diet Sierra Mist, regular $2.19, free with purchase of lasagna
Texas toast, regular $3.49, free with purchase of lasagna
Chocolate gelato, regular $5.35, free with purchase of lasagna
Honey nut Chex Mix, regular $2.65, sale $1.32, minus doubled coupon for 50 cents off = 32 cents
Barbecue and chipotle cheddar Chex mix, regular $2.65 each, sale two for $2.65, minus doubled coupon for 50 cents off two = $1.65, or 83 cents each

Total paid at HT was $10.80; total saved was $18.51, or 63 percent.

Go Hovercat Go: 8/17/10

admin — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 02:24:58 +0000

My previous foray into sewing didn’t go so well. It turns out that even if a pattern envelope lists specifics for sizes in both the “A” range and the “B” range, that doesn’t necessarily mean both ranges are enclosed in said envelope. Also I apparently have no idea how to make fusible material, well, fuse. And I have to use pliers to get my machine to backstitch, and my steam iron spat on me.

That said, one thing I did do right was sew a damn seam. Several, even. I sewed the hell out of those seams, and I liked it. I liked it so much that I vowed not to let these minor missteps get me down. I raised my clenched fist to the sky, and I vowed, I am going to learn to sew.

Thus, a nice lady named Suzy is coming to my house on Thursday to give me my first lesson. Until then, I have been drooling over Depression-era fabrics and dress patterns and dreaming of the day I will be able to effortlessly whip together gorgeous retro styles. I’m sure it will be Friday at the latest, right?

In the meantime, I did make this:

It is a T-shirt that has become a grocery bag! That still looks like a T-shirt! But trust me, it’s a reusable grocery bag! With a hovercat on it! Right now, to me, this is the greatest thing that has ever existed on the planet.

I got the instructions from Martha Stewart (side note: I watched the instructional video linked there, and I realized I’d never heard her speak before — she has a rather unpleasant voice, no?). But Martha didn’t tell me to do this:

I HEMMED THAT HANDLE. I hemmed it even though IT IS A CIRCLE. And while I realize, intellectually, that you can definitely tell I’m a novice by looking at that stitching … I am as proud as though I just sewed my own hovercat-themed wedding dress.

You Know How to Shop: 8/14/10

admin — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 03:59:59 +0000

“You saved $64.50,” the checkout guy said solemnly as he handed me my receipt. “This is why I say, you know how to shop.”

This was my final Super Doubles trip this week.

Free:

Taster’s Choice, $1.25, minus coupon for free Taster’s Choice = well, free (I don’t think I’ve ever had Taster’s Choice, but I do remember Giles was in the commercials, so it must be good)
Lance crackers, regular $2.99, sale $2, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = free
Mango/pineapple smoothie, regular $2.99, sale $1.49, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = free

50 Cents or Less:

Ziploc containers, two packages, regular $3.45 each, sale buy one get one free, minus doubled coupon for $1.50 off two = 45 cents, or 23 cents each
Arizona tea, 10 cans, regular 99 cents each, sale 49 cents each
Yoplait YoCrunch Parfaits, three packages, regular $3.19 each, sale $2 each, minus three doubled coupons for 75 cents off each = $1.50, or 50 cents each

$1 or Less:

Rice Krispies Treats, two boxes, regular $2.79 each, sale $1.99 each, minus doubled coupon for $1 off two = $1.98, or 99 cents each
Harris Teeter sour cream, regular $1.19, sale 77 cents
“Hot Off the Bone” buffalo chicken for sandwiches, two packages, regular $4.99 each, sale $2.99 each, minus two doubled coupons for $1 off each = $1.98, or 99 cents each

The Rest:

Lipton Brisk tea, regular $6.29, sale $3.34
Assorted snacks, regular $5.99, sale $3.99, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = $1.99
Harris Teeter salsa, regular $2.99, sale $1.97
Harris Teeter paper towels, regular $7.99, sale $5.97
Harris Teeter TP, regular $6.99, sale $5.47
Fresh Express baby spinach, regular $3.79, sale $3
5 pounds of potatoes, regular $3.99, sale $2.99
Nesquik chocolate milk, three four-packs, regular $3.49 each, minus three doubled coupons for $1 off each = $4.47, or $1.49 each
Harris Teeter milk, regular $3.19, sale $2.47
B complex vitamins, regular $7.49, sale $3.74, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = $1.74 (why not?)

Total paid was $46.96, total saved was $64.50 or 58 percent.

Thumbs Up: 8/13/10

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 02:16:09 +0000

Thumbs up are what the checkout guy at Harris Teeter gave me on my way out today. He always remembers me during coupon week and is nice to me and I like him.

I caught the cat in mid-ear-scratch.

Free:

Deer Park water, regular $2.25, sale $1.99, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = free
Reach floss, three packages at $1.65 each, minus three doubled coupons for $1 off = free

50 Cents or Less:

Colgate toothpaste, regular $3.39, sale $2.29, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = 29 cents

$1 or Less:

Hunt’s Snack Pack pudding, eight packages, regular $1.49 each, sale $1 each, minus two doubled coupons for $1 off four = eight for $4, or 50 cents each
Hormel “Compleats” meals, six, regular $2.47 each, sale $1.97 each, minus three doubled coupons for $1 off two = $5.82, or 97 cents each (this and the pudding will keep Mr. Jones in lunches for more than a week, though I admit they may not further our goal of “fewer processed foods”).
Noxzema cleanser, regular $4.75, sale $3, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = $1
Bic pens, two packages, regular $2.29 each, sale $1.60 each, minus doubled coupon for $1 off two = $1.20, or 60 cents each
Misson tortillas, three packages, $2.55 each, minus three doubled coupons for $1 off = $1.65, or 55 cents each

Mr. Jones’s Birthday Cake:

Cupcake liners, two packages at $1.19 each
Confectioner’s sugar, $2.35
Cakemate sprinkles, $1.99
Flour, regular $2.19, sale $1.67
Butter, $2.57

The Rest:

Harris Teeter black beans, $1.69 (I’m going to use these, the 55-cent tortillas, and my free rice to make some more 17-Cent Burritos)
Duracell Coppertop batteries, 10 double-As, regular $7.99, sale $5.49, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = $3.49
Tyson chicken fillets, regular $9.59, sale $6.99, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = $4.99
Bagel Bites, two boxes, regular $2.99 each, sale $2.59 each, minus doubled coupon for $1.50 off two = two for $3.18, or $1.59 each

Clearly this was not my most natural, healthy, or organic trip to the store. That said, this is what Mr. Jones eats for lunch — Bagel Bites, pudding, Hormel Compleats (which are really quite good despite their ingredient list). I myself am a person who enjoys a Cheeto. We are not here to judge each other, only to score great deals. And I’m going to make him an awesome from-scratch yellow cake with chocolate frosting for his birthday, too.

Total paid: $38.66. Total saved: $54.12, or 58 percent.

Shopping Trip: Harris Teeter Super Doubles, 8/11/10

admin — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:01:56 +0000

I know I say this every time, but I love Harris Teeter.

Sometimes their receipts or emails ask you to take a survey, and I’m always all over that. Ten! Ten! I give everything a ten! Why yes, I do have some comments, and those comments are that your store rules!

Anyway, Super Doubles is back, and today was Trip 1:

Free:

Peter Pan peanut butter, two jars, regular $2.89 each, sale 97 cents each, minus two doubled coupons for 60 cents off each = free
Mentos gum, four packages, regular $1.50 each, sale 99 cents each, minus two doubled coupons for $1 off two = free
Lance crackers, regular $2.99, sale $2, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = free
Hartz cat toys, regular $2.49, sale $1.87, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = free (these have loud bells in them and will thus be going to the shelter!)

50 Cents or Less:

Philly mini tubs of cream cheese, three packages at $2.15 each, minus three doubled coupons for $1 off each = 45 cents, or 15 cents each
Hunt’s Snack Pack pudding, four packages of four, regular $1.49 each, sale $1 each, minus two doubled coupons for $1 off two = four for $2, or 50 cents each
Pounce cat treats, two packages at $1.67 each, minus doubled coupon for $1.50 off two = 34 cents, or 17 cents each
Glade plug-in apple-cinnamony thing, $2.35, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = 35 cents
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice, $2.35, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = 35 cents
Harris Teeter veggies, four cans, regular 89 cents each, sale 50 cents each
Vive Pro conditioner, regular $4.79, sale $2.50, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = 50 cents
Degree deodorant, two sticks, regular $4.49 each, sale $3 each, minus two doubled coupons for $1.25 off each = $1, or 50 cents each

$1 or Less:

Ragu pasta sauce, four enormous containers, regular $3.75 each, sale buy one get one free, minus two doubled coupons for $1 off two = $3.50, or 88 cents each
Krunchers potato chips, regular $3.79, sale $2.99, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = 99 cents
7th Generation dish liquid, regular $4.99, sale $2.99, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = 99 cents
Mrs. T’s pierogies, $2.89, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = 89 cents

The Rest:

Softsoap body wash, regular $4.79, sale $3.89, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = $1.89
Vaseline lotion, $3.79, minus doubled coupon for $1 off = $1.79
Chicken leg quarters, 5.63 pounds, regular $7.26, sale $2.76
Pork chops, regular $5.32, sale $2.66

I accidentally had 21 coupons for $1 or more, meaning one of them did not double. But I also had a competitor’s coupon (from Giant) for $3 off any order of $25 or more, and not only did they take it, the checkout lady had the customer service lady come and approve it before she was done scanning all the coupons, so I’d be sure to meet the $25 requirement before it was put in. I thought that was so sweet of her.

Out of pocket was $22.67, and I saved $81.69 — or to put it another way, I paid $22.67 for $104.36 worth of stuff. That is a 78 percent savings, and one of which I am Very Proud!

Shopping Trip: Harris Teeter, 8/8/10

admin — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 04:10:09 +0000

I have to say that I thought $1.43 was cheap for hair dye. And it is, but 89 cents is even cheaper.

The joys of Harris Teeter:

Agave nectar, $3.99
Dentyne gum, $1.39, minus coupon for $1 off = 39 cents
Orville Redenbacher popcorn, five boxes at $2.99 each, sale buy one get one free, minus two coupons for $1 off two = $5.48, or $1.10 each (I only meant to get four, I swear, but I will never be sad about more popcorn)
Cinnamon corn flakes, regular $3.29, sale $1.64, minus doubled coupon for 75 cents off = 14 cents
Fiber Plus cereal, regular $3.99, sale $1.99, minus doubled coupon for 75 cents off = 49 cents
Friskies cat food, 15 cans, regular 55 cents each, sale 50 cents each, minus coupon for $1 off = $6.50, or 43 cents each
Harris Teeter flour, regular $2.19, sale $1.67
Harris Teeter pineapple chunks, 89 cents
Harris Teeter salsa, regular $2.99, sale $1.97
Harris Teeter queso, $2.99
Harris Teeter dish detergent, regular $4.49, sale $2.99
Grande tortilla chips, regular $3.49, sale $1.74, minus coupon for $1 off = 74 cents
Swheat Scoop litter, regular $10.65, sale $9.65
Garnier Nutrisse hair dye, regular $8.49, sale $2.89, minus coupon for $2 off = 89 cents (I am waiting for my newly Nutrisse-d hair to dry so I can see whether 89-cent hair dye is a joy or a horror)
Yellow peaches, 4.33 pounds, regular $1.79 a pound, sale 49 cents a pound = $2.12
Tomatoes, 1.39 pounds, regular $2.49 a pound, sale 99 cents a pound = $1.38
Green bell pepper, regular $1.49, sale 99 cents
Spinach bunch, $1.99
Sweet onion, 0.66 pounds, regular $1.79 a pound, sale $1.59 a pound = $1.05
Red bell pepper, $2.59 (I hate how expensive peppers are!)
Harris Teeter hamburger buns, regular $1.49, sale $1.17
Stouffer’s pepperoni French bread pizzas, three boxes, regular $3.75 each, sale $2 each
Tyson chicken nuggets, $6.89, minus coupon for $1 off = $5.89
Gorton fish fillets, regular $5.19, sale $3.99
Shoestring potatoes, $1.69
Harris Teeter sweet tea, regular $1.99 each, sale $1.87 each = $3.74
Sargento cheese, regular $3.39, sale $3.19 (I cannot believe we are out of shredded cheese — I stocked up months ago and our freezer was jam-packed; it seems impossible we could have ever made it through so much cheese, and yet we did)
Nesquik, three bottles at $1.67 each, minus three doubled coupons for 50 cents off each = $2.01, or 67 cents each
8th Continent soymilk, $2.99, minus coupon for $1 off = $1.99
Harris Teeter milk, $3.19
Harris Teeter half & half, regular $2.27, sale $1.47
Hillshire Farm kielbasa, two packages, regular $4.49 each, sale buy one get one free = $4.49, or $2.25 each

Total paid was $91.77; total saved was $52.51, or 36 percent. I am most happy about the cereals — one box of cereal and one container of soymilk can stretch to two weeks of breakfast for $2.50, or 25 cents a day — and the veggies. I made sweet and sour chicken tonight to take to lunch this week, and there aren’t many things I consider myself an excellent maker of, but sweet and sour chicken (or pork, or whatever) is definitely one of them. As for the hair dye, my hair is still wet, so the jury is still out. We’ll see!

Shopping Trip: Target and Harris Teeter, 7/31/10

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 05:35:27 +0000

Target:

Tic Tacs, two packages at $1.09 each, minus buy one get one free coupon = $1.09, or 55 cents each
Dole baby spinach, regular $2.99, sale $1.99
Chef Boyardee, three cans at $1.09 each
Lipton green tea, two boxes at $3.27 each, minus coupon for $1 off two = $5.54, or $2.77 each
Blueberries, regular $2.99, sale $1.99
Swiss sweet tea, two gallons at $2.44 each, minus two coupons for 55 cents off each = $3.78, or $1.89 each
Market Pantry shredded cheese, two bags at $1.89 each
Nivea lotion, $6.59, minus coupon for $3 off = $3.59

Total paid, $25.98. Total saved, $9.83, or 27 percent.

Harris Teeter:

Hefty trash bags, two boxes of 40, $7.79 each, buy one get one free, minus coupon for $1 off two = two for $6.79, or $3.40 each, and God willing those are the last trash bags we have to buy this calendar year; for some reason they’re one of the main things I hate having to pay for, I guess because they seem to cost so much (at least at regular price) for what they are.
Mahatma saffron rice, six packages, regular 99 cents each, sale 75 cents each, minus three doubled coupons for 75 cents off two = free
Quilted Northern, regular $9.39, sale $5.99
Coke Cherry Zero, regular $2.19, sale $1.67 (was supposed to be free with the “meal deal,” but didn’t ring up that way)
Ban deodorant, three sticks at $2.95 each, minus three doubled coupons for 75 cents off each = $4.35, or $1.45 each
Organic whole chicken, regular $8.52, sale $4.26
Pork sirloin roast, regular $7.18, sale $3.59
Boneless pork chops, $4.60
Yellow peaches, 1.03 pounds, regular $1.79 a pound, sale 99 cents a pound = $1.02
Tomato, 0.86 pounds, regular $2.69 a pound, sale $1.99 a pound = $1.71
Sweet onion, 0.66 pounds at $1.79 a pound = $1.18
Carrots, two pounds, regular $2.31, sale $1.71
Red potatoes, three pounds, $3.49
Hot dog buns, regular $1.49, sale $1.17
Mystic Pizza, two pizzas at $5 each = $10 (this was the “meal deal” — the pretzels, ice cream, and supposedly the Coke were free with this purchase)
Peppermint Stick ice cream, $4.25, free with “meal deal”
Healthy Choice, four boxes, regular $3.65 each, sale buy one get one free = $7.30, or $1.83 each
SuperPretzel, $3.15, free with “meal deal”
Kraft grated Parmesan, regular $3.89, sale $2.99
Yoplait Greek yogurt, three containers, $1.25 each, minus three coupons for 30 cents off each = $1.95, or 65 cents each
Harris Teeter eggs, one dozen, regular $1.69, sale 67 cents
Harris Teeter milk, regular $3.19, sale $1.97

Total paid, $68.49. Total saved, $53.20, or 44 percent.

Credit Card Rewards: 7/29/10

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:17:47 +0000

Mr. Jones and I use credit cards for all of our everyday purchases. We pay the bill in full every month and happily pocket our rewards. I know many people say this is a losing game, because studies have shown that people tend to spend more with cards than they would with cash. I will say that while there was a time when that might well have been the case for us, it hasn’t been for a long while. We’re careful spenders. But that story is for another post. The point is: Credit card rewards can be really nice perks (again, if you’re a careful spender), and for years we’ve been raking in maybe $800-$1,000 a year in Target and Amazon gift cards thanks to our Capital One rewards card. It gives three points for every dollar spent (3% cash back, basically), which is hard to beat.

I think Discover just did, though. The other day I got mail from two of my other cards — Discover and Bank of America. Both of them noted politely that I appeared not to be using their fine products as much as I could, and offered me extra rewards if I would choose to do so. B of A wanted to give me 5% cash back, which sounded great, but the fine print revealed this was only on up to $500 in spending; any purchases beyond that amount would be at the normal 1%. Discover, on the other hand, wanted to offer me $250 in cash back if I would use my card to make a certain amount in purchases every month from August to December.

The amount in question will be easy to reach well within our normal spending, and getting paid $250 to buy stuff you’d have to buy anyway is a hard offer to turn down. We decided to take them up on it. I accepted Bank of America’s fine offer, too, and will try to spend $500.00 with their card and not a penny more. If they want to give me $25 to thank me for paying my normal grocery, gas and utility bills, I will not say no.