money savers: blog 
money savers' blog
is it possible to save money at food lion?
by javajoePublished Jul. 11, 2009
Views: 2364
I'm sure you've heard how Harris Teeter doubles and even triples coupons at times. So guess what? I clip coupons! There's only one problem. One BIG problem.
The nearest Harris Teeter is over 30 minutes away. And I pass 5 Food Lions on the way! Bummer, right?
NOT SO FAST! You can save money at Food Lion, too!
Here's my "How to Start Saving at Food Lion" guide:
- Get an MVP card! You can't get the best deals without it.
- Sign up to receive the Food Lion Shopper's Companion weekly email -- it has highly valuable coupons! Many of the coupons are for Food Lion store brand items, but they really add up -- most are AT LEAST $1.00 coupons. Sometimes you'll find $2 off produce, $2 off meats, $3 off deli/bakery coupons... if you're not "brand conscious" you can score some sweet deals with these coupons.
- Scope the Food Lion website -- yes, that's right. You can find coupons hidden all over the website! For example, on the Private Brands webpage, you can find $5 worth of printable coupons, such as one for $1 off ANY Home360 product (paper towels, trash bags, aluminum foil, bird seed... the options are endless)
- This is important! Save the coupon inserts in your Sunday paper! Buy extra copies of the paper, too, to stock up on coupons.
- This is also important! Print coupons from online coupon sites such as:
- www.smartsource.com
- www.coupons.com
- www.redplum.com
So what's the trick to saving money at Food Lion? Match the MVP sales each week with your coupons -- your printed coupons and your clipped coupons. Also, there's usually a Clearance section in every Food Lion store (I typically see them in the frozen foods). They're usually filled with health and beauty supplies that are marked down. Add a nice coupon, and you're saving that much more!
So what kind of savings are we talking about? Here are some examples from this week's shopping trip. I know, I know, these deals may not be as great as Harris Teeter, but it's well worth it for those of us who don't live near a Harris Teeter store.
- Ken's Salad Dressings
- Regular: $2.99 each
- MVP Sale: B1G1, or $1.50 each
- Shopper's Companion Coupon: $2 off 2 bottles
- Total: $0.99 for 2 bottles, or $0.50 each!
- Hormel Refrigerated Entrees
- Regular: $7.49 each
- MVP Sale: $3.99 each
- Internet Coupon: $2.00 off
- Total: $1.99
- Crystal Light Drink Mix
- Regular: $3.99
- MVP Sale: 2 for $6.00, or $3.00 each
- Internet Coupon: $2 off 2
- Total: $2.00 each
- BUT WAIT! There was a tearpad coupon on the aisle for $2 off Wheat Thins with any Crystal Light purchase
- Wheat Thins
- Regular: $3.99
- MVP Sale: 2 for $6.00, or $3.00 each
- Tearpad Coupon: $2 off
- Total: $1.00
- Home360 Paper Towels [pretty good quality, I might add]
- Regular: $1.99
- MVP Sale: $1.50
- Food Lion Home360 Coupon: $1 off any Home360 Product
- Total: $0.50
- Total Without Sales/Coupons: $27.43
- Total WITH Sales/Coupons: $8.49
Filed under: Shopping
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IMO Food Lion consistently has lower prices that Harris Teeter...with or without coupons....
GOLO member since January 9, 2009
July 11, 2009 12:33 a.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
July 11, 2009 12:34 a.m.
GOLO member since September 1, 2007
July 11, 2009 12:36 a.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
July 11, 2009 12:36 a.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
July 11, 2009 12:39 a.m.
Now that I have moved, I have purposely found where the Food Lions are close to my new place.
I used the Harris Teeter close to me in Cary before the move because they were open 24/7. Even with a VIC card it seems they were still a bit higher. Of course the cost of staying open all hours goes in to the equation and renders this cost acceptable....
But for day to day, I think Food Lion remains the less of the two....
GOLO member since January 9, 2009
July 11, 2009 12:39 a.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
July 11, 2009 12:40 a.m.
However, you'll never catch me in the Walmart food section buying groceries willingly. The food section is always CRAMMED with people!
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
July 11, 2009 12:42 a.m.
GOLO member since January 9, 2009
July 11, 2009 12:43 a.m.
GOLO member since July 2, 2008
July 11, 2009 12:44 a.m.
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