Great diaper deals at Harris Teeter through Tuesday

I noticed most of the diapers at Harris Teeter are on sale this week for $8.99 a pack, and while this isn't a very good deal without coupons, you can get a GREAT deal on Huggies Snug & Dry. There are blinkie machines at both the stores closest to me with coupons for $1.50/1 Huggies Snug & Dry. So through Tuesday (the end of Super Doubles), you can get a pack of these diapers for $5.99. Remember, HT only doubles 3 like coupons per day, so if you want to stock up, you'll have to make a few trips.

And through March 1, the e-VIC special is Pampers jumbo packs. You can pick up 2 packs per household for $5.99 each with your VIC card, no coupon required. If you're lucky enough to have a fully potty-trained household, Loaves and Fishes, Salvation Army and Bright Blessings will be more than happy to take a donation.

Saturday Brag for 2/12/11

This week, I was really motivated to pick up some stuff to donate to the Boy Scouts' Scouting for Food drive. I pulled together some coupons for Hamburger Helper, Quaker Oats, Maalox and Friskies. Here's my haul:

8 boxes Hamburger Helper (stroganoff & cheeseburger macaroni flavors), $1 each
5 bottles Maalox chewables (65 ct.), $3.79 each
2 bags Friskies Party Mix cat treats, $1.13 each
1 box Quaker instant oatmeal variety pack (22 ct.), on clearance at Target for $3.94
= $33.15 before tax

- (2) .75/3 Hamburger Helper, SS 1/02

- (2) .50/1 Hamburger Helper, IP (down right now, sorry!)

- (2) $1/1 Friskies cat treats, any, SS 1/23

- $1/1 any Quaker oatmeal, RP 1/02

- $1/1 Quaker instant oatmeal TQ, here

- (5) $5/1 any Maalox product, SS 1/09 (coupon value adjusted to $3.79 each by cashier)

= $7.70 after coupons!

I really wish the cashier hadn't insisted on changing the coupon value. At first, she tried to say that she couldn't take them because they were more than the value of the items (not true, according to Target's coupon policy), and then tried to say that I could only use one, since the coupons say "one per purchase". However, "one per purchase" means "one per item". If a coupon says "one per transaction", you can only use one in your order. Target got in big trouble over the summer for giving customers less than the full face value of the coupons, and most stores will now go ahead and give it to you. Unfortunately, they do still reserve the option of adjusting the value of the coupon if the item costs less, according to their official coupon policy. I don't like this at all. I really doubt Target's telling the manufacturers to keep the extra money, since they only let me have part of the value of the coupon. But I digress...

If I was a little luckier and had a cashier who gave me the full $5 off each bottle of Maalox, my total would've been $1.65. Even my "big" total of $7.70 is a teeny price to pay for all the stuff I'm donating! I hope this inspires you to get out and use your coupons. See you back here next week for another brag! And if you want me to share your trip, leave a link to your blog in the comments.

Hamburger Helper .50 a box at Target

I promised you cheap deals on food for the Scouting for Food drive, and I've got one for you. Go to the Hamburger Helper website HERE and print a .50/1 coupon. There was a coupon for .75/3 Helpers in the 1/2 SmartSource, and there's also a .75/3 printable HERE.

Most varieties of Hamburger, Chicken and Tuna helper are $1 right now at Target, so they'll be either .50 or .75 each, depending on your coupon. Don't forget to take your finds to Harris Teeter this week and drop them off in the collection bins!

Cheap finds at Target's Baby Sale

Target is continuing their big Baby Sale this week. Here are some coupon matchups for you. Don't forget to donate your extras to Loaves & Fishes, Salvation Army Center of Hope, or Birthday Blessings' Bless-A-Baby program.

Desitin, 2 for $6

- $1 off Desitin (excludes trial size), 1/9 SS

= $2 per tube

Johnson's baby wash, 15 oz, 2 for $6

- $1 off Johnson's Baby item (excludes trial size), 1/9 SS

- $1 off Johnson's Baby toiletry item, Target baby mailer

= $1 per bottle if you have both coupons, or $2 if you have just the MQ

Kerry at Totally Target is also reporting that you can find bottles of Johnson's Baby Wash bundled with a small bottle of Johnson's Bubble Bath for $1.99 at some stores. If you use the MQ, you can get this deal for .99, and if you have the TQ from the baby mailer, they're FREE!

Vicks cold medicine deal at Walgreens

There is a great deal on Vicks cold medicine this week at Walgreens! You'll get $5 in Register Rewards (RR) if you spend $15 on participating Vicks products, and $10 in RR if you spend $20 or more on Vicks. There were several coupons in last week's P&G insert that make this actually a potential $7 money maker (MM). Please visit Wild for Wags to see all the possible scenarios. If you need the coupons, hustle over to eBay or My Coupon Hunter and order yours now. I usually receive mine in 2-3 days after ordering, which will leave you plenty of time to do this deal. Be careful and check where the coupons are shipping from; if you buy some from a seller in California but you're here in Charlotte, they may not make it before Saturday. Look for sellers on the East coast or in the South. My Coupon Hunter is based in Florida, so the9y'll get to you pretty quickly.

The Vicks coupons have a limit of 4 in one transaction, so if you plan on doing this deal 2 or 3 times and "rolling" the RR into another order, you'll have to do a transaction without Vicks in between 2c with Vicks. Let me explain:

Transaction 1:
(4) Vicks Sinex, 10 or 12 count - $16

- (4) $4/1 Vicks Sinex product, any -- 12/26 P&G insert

- $5 in RR

= $5 MM!

You can use this $5 RR to buy some other stuff on sale at Walgreens, like:

 - Walgreens Big Roll toilet paper, 2/$1

 - Progresso Soup, 4/$5
 - Mott's 100% apple juice, 64 oz., $1.79
* These items require coupons in the weekly ad, so bring yours from home or grab one when you walk in the door.

If I were to do these deals, I'd give the medicine to Charlotte Rescue Mission and the toilet paper and food to Loaves and Fishes.

Charity Profile: Loaves & Fishes

This is the first Charity Profile post on Couponing for Charity. I plan to spotlight an organization in the Charlotte area each week, explaining a little bit about what they do and what you can do to help. If you know of a charitable group that you think deserves some extra promotion, please let me know in the comments below.

If you've lived in the Charlotte area for even a short time, you're probably aware of Loaves & Fishes. This local charity consists of 18 food pantries across Mecklenburg County, and according to their website, served 102,638 people in our community in 2009. Clients are recommended to Loaves & Fishes by other community agencies, and if they are approved, L&F will provide them and their immediate families with a week's worth of groceries every 30 days. Their goal is to help people in crisis get back on their feet.

Loaves & Fishes accepts donations of food, personal care items and baby care items (diapers, wipes, formula, etc.). You can drop off your donations at any of the 18 pantries. Please click here to find pantry locations and hours of operation. Their priority needs are:

- Canned fruit

- 100% juice

- Pork & beans

- Peanut butter

- Canned meat

- Soup

A really easy way to help this week:
Harris Teeter: BOGO Skippy Peanut Butter, 15-16.3 oz - $2.79 ($1.39 each this week)
- .50/1 or -.75/2 Skippy Peanut Butter, Red Plum 11/14 insert, exp. 12/12 (coupons double with VIC card)

= as low as .39 a jar if you have the -.50/1 coupon!

This is a great way to help feed a young family without spending a lot of money! Please consider picking up some extra peanut butter to donate when you visit Harris Teeter this week.

- Thank you, Southern Savers!