Couponing for Charity 2/20-26

Before I get started, let me remind you about the Knoxville Coupon Fair this Saturday, February 26 from 9am to noon. It's a drop-in, walk-around set-up. So you don't have to be there the whole time. You will have access to some of the savviest coupon bloggers in Knoxville, and they will all be distributing informative hand-outs. I will be sharing tips for the "Art of Free." If you can spare one of the freebies I've helped you get, please bring it to donate. Come armed with your questions, because this is the only day of the year we're all in one room. Best part: IT'S FREE!!!! Still have questions? Gabrielle probably answered them in this post.

Can you believe it's only Sunday and I've already done my shopping for the week?! I shopped at CVS on Saturday to pick up deals from both weeks, stopped by for some essentials at Kroger yesterday, and ran into Walgreen's and Staples today. There are some good deals for sure!

*****UPDATE 2/21: GREAT TARGET DEALS*****

I just saw a series of deals at Target on Coupon Katie's site. Check posts here, here, and here. I'm hoping to get a few of these deals tomorrow:

• Finish Quantum 10ct ($2.50, $1.50 Target coupon, $1 MC=Free)
• Up & Up dental floss-50 yds ($.89, $1 TC=Free) Tip: If it beeps, have the cashier type in $.89.
• Up & Up mouthwash-16.9oz ($1.37, $1 TC=$.37)
• Up & Up pantyliners ($.87, $.75 TC=$.12)
• Up & Up ibuprofen-24ct ($.99, $1 TC=Free)
• Up & Up all purpose cleaner with bleach ($1.37, $1 TC=$.37)
• Up & Up bleach ($1.47, $1 TC=$.47)
• Up & Up dryer sheets-40ct ($1.37, $1 TC=$.37)
• Seventh Generation dish soap ($2.79, $1TC, $1MC =$.79). Using both a Target coupon and a manufacturer's coupon on the same item is called "stacking."
• Jeans (several on clearance marked $4.98, $5 TC=Free)
• There's also free Wolfgang Puck soup but I'd already printed and used that coupon.

If you have chance to go shopping tomorrow, 2/21, head to Staples for these freebies after easy rebates. It's a "pay now, save later" scenario but it's even better than the rewards deals because they send a check you turn into cash--not store rewards. And the rebates are all done online.

STAPLES:

For a complete list of freebies, go to MoJo Savings. Here's what I bought:

• 2 packs multi-purpose paper ($5.99 each, FREE after rebate)
• 2 packs photo paper ($9.99 each, FREE after rebate)
• 2 Avery address labels (normally $11.99 each, $4.99 for rewards members, should get $9.99 for each, making this a $10MM)
• 1 Pentel pack of pens ($3.79, FREE after rebate)
• 1 Staples mini post-its (normally $5.29, $4.00 for rewards members, FREE after rebate)
• 1 50 pack HP DVDs (normally $28.99, $9.99 for rewards members, $4.99 after rebate)

Total value: $94.01

Total OOP: $65.54 (remember you're still paying tax)

I will receive rebates for $64.73

I'm going to hang onto all this for now; I may donate some at a later time if I see a charity has a specific need.

It's a toss-up for which is the better pharmacy this week. So I'll start with:

CVS:

For all the match-ups, go to Southern Savers.

For pared down lists, go to Coupon Katie or Coupon Mommie.

Since I bought goods for two different weeks, I won't confuse you with my scenario specifics, but here are the best deals this week:

• 2 Colgate Maxfresh or Total Advanced ($2.99, get $2ECB, use $1MC from All You=FREE)
• 1 Gold Emblem jelly beans ($.99, get $.99ECB=FREE)
• 1 Cadbury egg ($.75, get $.75ECB=FREE); valid through 2/22 only
• 4 Mars bars; selected varieties ($.50 each, get $1ECB wyb 4; I used a B1G1 MC which expires today and a CVS B1G1 coupon from the kiosk that took off $.89. So my four were a $.39MM. Even without coupons, they are $.25 each)

WALGREEN'S:

For all the match-ups, go to Southern Savers.

For a pared down list, go to Coupon Katie.

Here's what I bought:

• 1 RepHresh box of tampons (normally $6.99, on sale for $5.99, get $5, used $1 printable=FREE)
• 1 Dove deodorant ($2.99, $1.99 with ad coupon, used $2 MC=FREE)
• 4 knee highs (normally $.50 each, $.25 each with in ad coupon, total=$1) I bought these as filler items to make the product / coupon ratio.
• Used 2 $2RRs from last week

Total OOP: $2.86

RRs for next time: $5

Total savings: $10

KROGER:

For all the match-ups, go to Southern Savers.

For a pared down list, go to Coupon Mommie.

Due to my Eat from the Pantry challenge, I may not make it in this week, but there are a few freebies to grab if you have the coupons: Voskos yogurt, Horizon milk, Colgate toothpaste, Starkist tuna, Mentos gum, and Land of Lakes spread.

The past few weeks have been primarily deals for our family, but here are some items I've added to the stash to donate: 1 pack gum ($1.49, Free after ECB), 4 tubes toothpaste ($15.96, after coupons and ECBs=$2.50MM), 1 feminine hygiene ($6.99, Free after RR and coupon), 4 knee hi's ($2, $1 after coupon), 1 deodorant ($2.99, $.01MM after coupons).

VALUE OF ITEMS DONATED: $29.43

MONEY SPENT: -$1.51 (that's negative $1.51)

TOTAL ITEMS DONATING TO DATE: 1 box of pain patches, 2 heat wraps, 6 toothpaste, 4 containers of hummus, 1 trial size laundry, 6 toothbrushes, 1 baby wipes, 24 post-it's, 2 eye drops, 3 cans soup, 1 body wash, 1 gum, 1 feminine hygiene, 4 knee hi's, 1 deodorant

VALUE OF ITEMS DONATED: $123.07

MONEY SPENT: -$6.05

See you at the Coupon Fair!