Everyone loves to save a little money, right? Well I for one have become a bargain shopper … at the grocery store! In fact, I’ve started to make a game out of just how much money I can save in a given week. I am proud to say that last week I actually saved ($46.25) more than I spent ($42.78)!!! What’s my secret? Harris Teeter e-VIC. It’s an online tool to view all the VIC specials for the week – and they email it right to your inbox!
Here’s how it works: Sign up online – make sure you have your VIC card number handy to enroll. Every Wednesday they will send you an email of all the specials that week. The email will highlight the top 10 specials based on the things you normally buy (scary how well they know me!). I usually go straight to the “View All Specials” link and start clicking away. Each time you click on an item, it gets added to your own personal shopping list. My strategy is to build a grocery list of not only the things I know I need that week, but to plan my weekly menu around the items on sale. I also add things that I might need so I’m reminded what’s on sale or non-perishable items that I want to stock up on. Then I print out the shopping list and keep it handy in my purse for my next visit to the grocery store. You can even add your own items for a more complete shopping list. It’s so easy and only takes a few minutes!
A couple of handy tips that I’ve discovered along the way:
• The printed shopping list automatically organizes the items by the section of the grocery store in which they are located – a huge time saver for someone like me who tends to zig-zag around the store!
• When it says “10 for $10”, you don’t really need to buy 10 of that item – I mean, really! Who needs 10 bottles of salad dressing at one time??? Just buy what you need and they will pro-rate the items accordingly.
• Buy One Get One Free – you don’t actually have to buy 2 to get the deal – if you buy one, its half price! This has saved us many rotten strawberries in the fridge!!!
• By signing up for the program, you are automatically entered into a weekly sweepstakes to win $100!
• Sign up now and you could win FREE GROCERIES FOR A YEAR!
A few other VIC card reminders:
• Don’t forget to link your VIC card to your child’s school or daycare.
• Make sure you and your spouse link your accounts so your weekly spend counts as one toward the cool HT give-aways!
• If you forgot your card, just provide your phone number and they can look up your account.
Are you a VIC shopper? Share your tips! Stay tuned for a guide to shopping at Harris Teeter online – this is the ticket!
9 comments
How cool is this plate. I found it on a website. It shows you how much you should serve your toddler of each food group.www.superhealthykids.com/products.htmThanksBren
I love the E-Vic! Every Wednesday am I get an email with all the specials for the week and make my grocery list. I keep the list with me for convenience for any unscheduled trips to the Teeter. I love how the list is organized by area of the store.
I love the E-Vic! Every Wednesday AM I get an email with all the specials for the week and make my grocery list. I keep the list with me for convenience for any unscheduled trips to the Teeter. I love how the list is organized by area of the store.
grocery shopping is the best thing ever invented! There is nothing better than grocery shopping at 10 pm at night in your PJs and then just picking it up the next day. They do a great job of picking out produce and the few times that there have been problems I just call them and they credit my account. One time they forgot to put 2 bags in my car and they brought them to the house rather than me having to come back to the store. At first I was being cheap and did not want to pay the $5 fee for someone to shop for me, but then I realized that I save at least $20 each time because I am not picking up extra things that I see as I walk around and the time it gives me back is priceless. I timed it the other night, and because my master list is so built up, it took me 12 minutes to shop and place my order. This is so much better than trying to drag two little people through the store with me!!!
The above comment meant to say online grocery shopping, sorry for the confusion
Ok, you sold me! I’m signing up right now. I’m so not a coupon girl, but my husband always thinks I spend too much at the grocery store each week, yet our cupboards are bare when I return to the store – so hopefully this VIC program will help with savings while getting us all we need!
I love grocery shopping online also. If only they offered the feature at more stores. The closest is probably more than 10 miles from my house.I’ve found that buy shopping the sales at Harris Teeter, I can save more than by shopping at Food Lion or Walmart (most of the time). I also love that they have organic milk by the gallon.
Awesome tips Tracy. I’ve been shopping at Harris Teeter for 10 years and did not realize this service (E-Vic) existed. I guess like a lot of people I go into the store with one thing on my mind -“how fast can I get what I need on my list and get out of here?” We will use this tool going forward, especially to help plan the meals.., Andrea
Okay, based on the posts, I just completed my first online order for the pickup at Harris Teeter. I may never go in a grocery store again if my pickup goes well tomorrow! Plus, I spent much less than I normally do without the impulse buys. Now, if anyone knows how to use coupons with this it would be perfect…