The Coupon Challenge

Hampton Roads (Virginia) Coupon Blog

My Shopping Trip

My Farm Fresh Trip 01/11

by Dana Zeliff on
in Farm Fresh Weekly Ads, My Shopping Trip

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Farm Fresh has a decent ad this week.  Derrick and the kids have been asking me to make Stuffed Cabbage, but I’ve been holding off until a bacon sale.  Now that I have bacon, I just need my Ground Beef order to arrive from Zaycon Foods and I can get cooking.  By the way, you can still jump in on the Beef and Bacon Event until Friday, January 13th.

*January is also Double Month. Make sure you cut off your 123-4 rewards from the bottom of your receipt and donate to your local school!

Get your Farm Fresh coupon matchups

Tortilla chips $2.19
Potatoes $1.99
10 Chef Boyardee $4.80
3 Green Giant Veggies $1.80
4 Yoplait Greek yogurt $2
1 GoGo Squeeze Applesauce $0.50
2 smithfield Bacon $4.98
4 Barilla whole grain pasta FREE

Total Paid: $18.83
Total Saved $16.70

I plan to get a few things from Harris Teeter such as milk and organic milk since they are both on sale this week.  Other than that, I don’t need anything else.

How did you do?

8 comments

My Farm Fresh & Harris Teeter Trips 01/04

by Dana Zeliff on
in Farm Fresh Weekly Ads, Harris Teeter Weekly Ad, My Shopping Trip

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I don’t have great shopping trips to share today for Harris Teeter Super Doubles or Farm Fresh.  I did okay and mostly purchased items that we needed. I was thrilled to get FREE shower gel since I’m almost out and found a bunch of tearpad coupons.

$1/1 Mission Artisan
$1/2 Doritos
$1.50/1 Thereaflu

Harris Teeter

Strawberries $2.49
2 Lunchables $2
3 Campbell’s soup $2.95
2 V8 V-fusion $2
1 Honey Bunches of Oats $0.50
2 Mission Artisan $0.99 ($2.99 – $1/1 tearpad)
2 Nivea shower gel FREE (clearance $1.99 – $1/1 old mailer coupons)
2 Pantene Shampoo $1 (use $3/2 from the 01/01 P&G insert & load the $3/2 e-VIC coupon on your card)
Muir Glen Tomato Paste FREE

Total Paid: $12.82
Total Saved: $38.83
Earned $1 to my SavingStar account for V-fusion

Farm Fresh

I picked up a lot of the items I was running low on a Farm Fresh today.  I also bought the Perdue Chicken to use in Chicken Parmesan.  I can’t seem to cook my chicken right for this recipe so maybe a breaded chicken breast will work better for me.

Hefty Kitchen Bags $4.49 (had $1/1 printable *gone*)
Tortilla Chips $2.19
Bread $0.99
Milk $3.99
Sugar $2.99
Onions $1.99
2 Kraft Cheese $2.98
Perdue Smart Chicken $4.99
2 Bob Evans Sausage $4
2 Yogurt $1.20 (yikes)
3 Nissin cup soup $0.07
Lunchables with Fruit $1 (reduced to $2 – $0.50/1 printable)
2 Starkist Tuna FREE

Total Paid $28.66
Total Saved $16.10

Not too often that my total paid is actually higher than my total saved ;(

**Now off the computer for awhile.  I’m so tired I can’t seem to string two thoughts together 🙂

How did you do?

2 comments

My Farm Fresh Shopping Trip 12/07

by Dana Zeliff on
in Farm Fresh Weekly Ads, My Shopping Trip

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I’m pleased with my Farm Fresh trip today.  I had coupons that were about to expire, so I paid a bit more than I normally would on a few items.  I also received an unexpected surprise when a $2.50 CAT printed from Campbell’s!  That was a $1.50 moneymaker!!!  Additionally, I received (2) $1.50 CAT’s from Slim Fast!

Eggs = $1.79
1 Minute Maid Juice box $3.79 – $1/1 printable (gone) = $1.79
6 Hunts Diced tomatoes = $0.50
2 Nestle Morsels = $1.98
2 All Detergent (had old $1/1 printable) = $3.98
1 Krunchers chips $2.50 – $1/1 from 09/11 SS = $1
2 Grande Tortilla Chips $5 – $1/2 from booklet = $3
2 Uncrustable $3.79 – $1/1 old printable = $3.58
10 campbells tomato/chicken noodle = $1
4 Slim Fast = free product coupons = FREE
2 Castleberry chili (had old $1/2 printable) = FREE

Total Paid = $18.71
Total Saved = $64.72
Total CAT’s Earned = $5.50

How did you do?

5 comments

My CVS Black Friday Shopping Trip (Plus Share Your Trips)

by Dana Zeliff on
in CVS, My Shopping Trip

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I have been looking forward to the CVS Black Friday deals for weeks!  I had a perfect plan all mapped out and ready to go.  I called to confirm the opening time last night and was told 8am.  I arrived at 7:45am and they were already open! Two of the products I wanted were already sold out which made a mess of my 3 transaction plan (as you can imagine).

The 2 products not available were the Theraflu 8ct and the Benefiber Sticks.  I had $2 off coupons for both products which is why my OOP was much higher than anticipated. My goal had been less then $10 OOP including tax since I only had $2 ECB’s from previous shopping trips to roll.  I’m still happy even though I spent over my goal.

I do want to commend the Kempsville CVS.  There was still plenty of the other free items in store when I left.  The staff did an excellent job of stocking for the Black Friday sale.  Additionally, the employees were friendly and helpful which always great since it’s easy to get frustrated with a packed store.

Below is my original plan and how I changed things up.

Transaction 1

Breathe Right Nasal Strips Bonus Size 10 + 2 ct., $5.99 Limit 1
-$1.50 off Breathe Right product
stack with $1.50 off Breath Right 10 ct. CVS Coupon printable

Finish Quantum, 10 ct., $2.99 Limit 1
-$1 off Finish Quantum

LA Looks Styling Gel, 20 oz, $2.49 Limit 1
-$1 off LA Looks product, 20 oz, RP 10/09

Colgate Toothpaste, $2.87 Limit 2
-$1 off Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste

Benefiber Sticks, 3 ct., $1.49 Limit 1
-$2 off Benefiber stick pk

Theraflu Caplets, 8 ct., $1.87 Limit 1
-$2 off Theraflu multi-symptom Severe Cold w/ Lipton Green tea and Honey Lemon flavors

Listerine Pocket Packs, 72 ct., $2.99 Limit 2 BUY 1
-.50/1 Listerine Pocketpaks 24 ct +

Balance Bar, $1.69 Limit 1

Added in Chex cereal $2.87, earn $2 ECB’s & 1 M&M’s from transaction 2 – needed to hit $25 for coupon

Total before coupons = $25.25 $25.51
-$5 off $25 purchase
-$11.50 in coupons! $7.50 (lost $4 in coupons)
-$2 ECB’s
Total OOP = $6.75 + tax $11.01
Earn $25.25 ECB’s back!

TOTAL PAID = $11.93 ;(
EARNED = $24.64 ECB’s
Transaction 2

Listerine Pocket Packs, 72 ct., $2.99 Limit 2 BUY 1
-.50/1 Listerine Pocketpaks 24 ct +

Theraflu Daytime or Multi-Symptom, travel size, 1 ct., 99¢

Carmex, .15-.35 oz, $1 Limit 1
-.30/1 Carmex lip balm

GUM Super or Micro Tip Soft Toothbrush, 2 ct., $2.99 Limit 2

Starbucks Double Shot, 6.5 oz, $1.69 Limit 1

Hershey’s King Size Bar, 2.1-2.86 oz, 99¢ Limit 2 1

Realized the Excedrin for $0.99 didn’t make it to my list so substituted for one of the Hershey’s King bars (not sure why I did that now – should have bought both)

Mars Chocolate Singles Candy, 1.08-2.15 oz, 75¢ Limit 4 3

Kleenex Cool Touch Tissues, 50 ct., $1.50 Limit 1

Advil 10 ct., $2.99 Limit 1

$4.99 ECB WYB Cepacol Lozenges, 16 ct., $4.99 Limit 1
-$1 off Cepacol product printable

Total before coupons = $27.11 $25.37
-$ 1.80 coupons
-$25.25 ECB’s $23.89 (didn’t use $0.75 ECB from transaction 1 since I had a judgment lapse and didn’t get 1 Hershey’s)
Total OOP = $0.06 plus tax
Earn $27.11 ECB’s

TOTAL PAID= $1.36
EARNED = $26.36 ECB’s

 Transaction 3

Be Kool From Fever Discomfort Gel Sheets For Kids, 4 ct., $4.49 Limit 1

CVS Dental Flossers, 90 ct., $1.99 Limit 1

Pepto Bismol, 4 oz, $2.99 Limit 1

Sheets Energy Strips, 10 ct., $3.99 Limit 1

Philips or Magnavox Universal Remote, $6.99 Limit 1

CVS Alkaline Batteries, AAA/AA 4 pk., $3.99 Limit 1

Soft Lips Single Pack, .07 oz, $2 Limit 1

Advil PM, 4 ct., 99¢ Limit 1

Total Before Coupons $27.43
$0 coupons
-$27.11 ECB’s $26.36 ECB’s
Total OOP = $0.32 plus tax
Earn $27.43 ECB’s

TOTAL PAID = $1.88
EARNED = $27.43

Total before coupons $110.21
Total Savings $95.04
Total paid OOP $15.17
Still have $28.18 ECB’s

PLUS I have an MIR for the Finish Quantum from the 11/20 SS insert.  I’ll get back $2.99!!!  If you take into account the MIR and ECB’s I still have, I “made” $16 for buying $110 in products!!!!

Share how you did!

6 comments

Farm Fresh & Trader Joe’s Shopping Trips 11/09

by Dana Zeliff on
in Farm Fresh Weekly Ads, My Shopping Trip, Trader Joe's

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I didn’t get everything I wanted today from Farm Fresh.  I’m holding off until the 13th when the turkey rebate kicks in.  I want to make sure I can hit the $25 minimum after coupons, so I didn’t buy tangerines or do the back page promo like I had planned.

Here’s what I did buy:

Baby Carrots $0.99
Mushrooms $0.99
Bread $0.99
2 ground beef – $2 manager special peelies $2.27 & $2.70 (in the plastic bag)
1 Powerade 8-pk -$0.75/1 from old coupon booklet $2.50
2 Swanson Flavor Boost $2
1 Celestial seasoning tea $0.50
2 Sargento cheese $3.18
4 Progresso soup $2 (donation item)
2 Dreamfields pasta FREE (donation item)
1 Wholly Salsa – free product coupon FREE
1 Mission chips – $1/1 old coupon FREE
2 Ocean Spray Cranberry FREE
2 Bestlife Butter FREE
– $5/25 printable

Total Paid $13.09
Total Saved $33.97

 

Afterwards I went to Trader Joe’s for my monthly shopping trip.  I don’t usually post my TJ trips, but you all asked to see more of what I buy.  I love Trader Joe’s brand products.  We are working towards buying more preservative free and natural products.  I typically spend about $50 per month at Trader Joe’s.  I went a little bit over my goal, but I’m still under budget.

Be warned that I also don’t usually use coupons since most of the products I purchase are Trader Joe’s brand.  I have kept my monthly grocery budget at $280, so we are able to splurge on these purchases and other items such as organic milk for the kids.

Total Paid $62.32
Total Saved $0

Back to Coupon shopping…

Reader Beth sent me her Farm Fresh trip from today:

Total before coupons was $62.90 after coupons was $19.90 saved 69%!!!!
Received $3 off next purchase, $1 CAT from Barilla Sauce and a $10 Plum district credit!!!!
I watched close this time and the $10 Plum District printed out as soon as the cashier started scanning my coupons.
Not pictured are the eggs.

Thanks for sharing Beth!!!

How did you do?

 

 

8 comments

My Walmart, Target & Harris Teeter Trips 11/07

by Dana Zeliff on
in Harris Teeter Weekly Ad, My Shopping Trip, Target, Walmart

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

I am super excited about my Walmart trip.  Most of you know that I rarely set foot in Walmart, but I wanted my FREE J&J Travel Kits and I still had my Schick Disposable coupons from awhile ago.  I also FINALLY found a Nerf case for the 3DS and was able to turn my overage into an awesome deal on the Nerf case.

2 J&J Travel kits = FREE + $0.06 overage total
6 Schick Disposable razors = FREE  + $6.18 overage total
1 3DS Nerf Case = $14.97
– $5 Gift Card

Total Paid $5.16!!!
Total Saved $20 (not including the gift card)

I also went in Target to try unsuccessfully to price match the $1 Toy Story 3 Operation game with the Toys R Us ad.  I did get a ton of great 90% off Halloween clearance items.  This is my favorite time of year to get items for next Halloween.  I have a costume ($2.50) and t-shirt for LuLu ($0.59) and ring pops for Monkey’s school ($2.09).  Everything else was $0.70 – $0.20 each!

Total Paid $9.35
Total Saved $67.10 without coupons!

I went back to Harris Teeter for Super Doubles on Saturday.  I wanted the e-VIC Folgers coffee and a few other freebies.  Most of what I wanted was back in stock and they even had boxes of free items in the aisles!  It was a rather expensive trip but not too bad considering what I purchased.

Doritos $2.14
Arnold Bread $2.14
Organic Milk $4.97
2 Creamers $3.74
1 Ring Pop $0.79 (I accidentally gave LuLu Monkey’s from Halloween)
2 Folgers $11.54
2 Nathan’s Hot Dogs $7.38 (our favorite hotdogs and coupon was about to expire)
2 Smuckers Jelly $2
2 ICBINB Tubs $1.18
2 Smart Balance Milk FREE
2 Glen Muir tomato paste FREE
3 Wolfgang Puck Pasta Sauce FREE
3 Jell-O FREE

Total Paid $36.98
Total Saved $55.02

How did you do on your shopping trips?

 

9 comments

My Harris Teeter & Farm Fresh Shopping Trips 11/02

by Dana Zeliff on
in Farm Fresh Weekly Ads, Harris Teeter Weekly Ad, My Shopping Trip

Disclosure: This post may contain an affiliate link.

Here is my mini Farm Fresh trip.  I do love only paying tax!  Still no word on if we will get $2 Doubles this weekend.

4 Lipton Naturals FREE
2 TGI Fridays for One FREE

Total Paid $0.10
Total Saved $8.00

 

I also went to Harris Teeter for Super Doubles.  They were already sold out of some products I wanted by 7:45am 🙁

My coupons are a mess and I ran out of ink last night, so I was forced to make due with the coupons I had.  I only ended up using 17 – sad, I know.  Even though I spent a bit more than I would have preferred – I got FREE milk.  That made my day!

4 Goldfish $1.20 – $1/2 from Pebble cereal box = $0.78
5 Green giant veggies $2.78
1 Bounce Dryer Bar $0.99
2 Campbell’s Kettle Soup $1.78
1 Grande Tortilla Chips $0.50
2 McCain Purely Potatoes $3.10
1 Coffee-mate creamer $0.67
1 Fruitables $1.50
2 Kettle Chips FREE
2 Revlon nail clippers FREE
3 Smart Balance Milk FREE (score!)

Total Paid $12.99
Total Saved $57.18

How did you do?

12 comments

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