Thursday thoughts: Shopping at stores that don't double coupons

One of our readers has asked a question and I think many of you can help her!  She lives in Princeton and they have no stores that double coupons. She wonders how she can save at Food Lion, Walmart and Piggly Wiggly. For those of you who do not have access to stores that double coupons, how do you best work the sales at your stores. If there are any Piggly Wiggly shoppers out there, please share your best savings strategies for that store.

"I would love to save money when I go grocery shopping, but how can I do what you say when the stores we have around here to shop at doesn’t do double coupons, or 2 coupons on one item and so on like you talk about ways to save.? I have asked but they said no. No double, no two coupons on one item, etc.

Also, all I have to shop at is stores like Wal-Mart, Food lion, Piggly Wiggly. We don’t see going out of town just to go grocery shopping like at Harris Teeter in Garner I think will be the closest one to me.  I live in Princeton, NC in-between Goldsboro and Smithfield, NC. What can we do to save money?"

* Make sure you scan your card at the Food Lion coupon kiosk before you start to shop to see if there are any good store coupons you can use.  Sometimes they offer produce and meat coupons, like a $2 off a $10 produce purchase coupon.

* Match the sales with coupons and especially look for Buy One Get One Free sales that match with coupons.

* Contact companies to request coupons for the products you use so you have plenty of coupons to chose from. Even if they won't double, many of the coupons companies send you have longer expiration dates so you can hold onto them and wait for a good sale.

* Take advantage of the drug store rebate programs for CVS, Rite Aid and/or Walgreens.  You will be able to get many free and close to free items using the rewards programs at these stores.

* Consider driving to Clayton a couple times a month to shop at Lowes Foods. They double coupons that are .99 or less every day and they will let you double up to 20 coupons per day. If you drive with a friend and split the cost of gas (you can just alternate who drives each time), you'll save on fuel. Depending on where in Princeton you live, it is probably only about a 30 minute drive to Clayton. If you can save $50 or more with the sales and doubled coupons, it may be worth your while to make the drive. Lowes Foods is also one of the stores I have mentioned that lets you use a store and manufacturer coupon on the sale item.

What other suggestions do you all have for her? Thanks for your help!