The Catalina gives you $1 back for each four items you purchase up to $10 in one order. That means you can buy forty items and get back a $10 CAT. Variable weight meat, produce, seafood, bakery and deli items were not included in the eligible items, but everything else qualified.

The quick and dirty list of cheap/free items includes:
single can of soda .25
single can of cat food .35-.37
can of veggies .50-.59 and up
box of mac&cheese .59
cup of yogurt .39
can of beans .75
jar of gravy .89
2lb bag of sugar (light brown, dark brown or confectioners) 1.50
jar of stuffed olives 1.19
lasagna noodles .99
evaporated milk .89
pudding mix box .89
can of cranberry sauce .79

Just remember that all of their other brands: Home 360, Home 360 Pets, and Taste of Inspirations do not count for this Catalina although they did the last time. Some of these items may have changed from Hannaford brand to other variations, which could effect your catalina from printing.

I know I will be running out one last time before work to grab some more goodies for the holidays, especially the canned veggies and beans. This is also a great way to donate more over the holidays when food pantries need more. Items like cranberry sauce, gravy and veggies are perfect and there are donation bins right in the store if you don’t know where your local pantry are.

Coupons available (regional amounts may not be listed-from 1/30 Unilever RP):
$1.25/1 6pack dove soap
$.75/1 6pack dove soap
$1/1 body wash
$1/1 hair product
$2/1 deodorant/spray
$1/1 degree deodorant

The spray will be the cheap driving factor. Unfortunately its also a MM at RA next week so coupons are going quickly and for .20 each or way higher.

Scenarios:
(3) Dove mist=15.39 psp
8.97 sp
-(3) $2/1 deo/spray coupons
2.97 get $5 CAT
2.03 MM

(4) Dove deo (4.29psp)=17.16 psp
11.96 sp
-(4) $2/1 deo/spray coupons
3.96 get $5 CAT
1.04 MM

(2) Dove 6pack soap=16.30 psp
11.98 sp
-(2) $1.25/1 soap coupons
9.48 get $5 CAT
4.48 oop

(2) Dove 6pack soap=16.30 psp
11.98 sp
-(2) .75/1 soap coupons
8.98 get $5 CAT
3.98 oop

(1) Dove body wash=7.29 psp
(2) Dove spray= 10.26 psp
17.55 psp
11.97 sp
-(1) $1/1 body wash coupons
-(2) $2/1 deo/spray coupons
6.97 get $5 CAT
1.97 oop

(1) Dove shampoo/conditioner= 4.99 psp
(2) Dove spray= 10.26 psp
15.25 psp
9.97 sp
-(1) $1/1 hair product coupon
-(2) $2/1 deo/spray coupon
4.97 get $5 CAT
.03 MM

The Dove/Unilever has usually doubled in the past. With enough coupons it will be a nice way to roll the $10 CAT from the current Unilever promotion. Maybe we will get lucky.

Hannaford also advertised a Unilever Catalina, but I am not nearly as excited about theirs. Since they don’t double coupons it won’t be nearly as good of a deal.

There have been several news stories recently about how bare the shelves are at local food pantries. The last one ran this past Sunday. You can read the full article here.

So I’d like to challenge you to stock your pantries. Not only the ones in your home, but the public ones that help fill those of our neighbors in need. If we all pitch in and help those bare shelves will be full in no time.

Many churches suggest their members tithe a percentage of their income to the church. I have always done this with my couponing. Even when I order coupons for something we NEED, such as dog food or peanut butter I set aside a couple for the food pantry or the humane society. Do you really need all 40 boxes of cereal? Or would 35 do you just as well? Many families find that they consume more often or bigger portions because there is not the feeling that they “only” have so much.

Some of you are wondering how you can possibly donate groceries when there are so few deals. Donate personal products instead. While most food pantries can purchase food from the state warehouse for pennies a pound, things like soap, toothpaste, and deodorant are not on that list. Everything from paper plates to makeup and cleaning supplies is deeply appreciated and in even higher demand than food. Anyone who does drugstore deals probably has a box full of such things. OTC meds, dish soap, paper towels, pet food. The list goes on forever and the only limit is your imagination.

So clean out your closets, add a few more things to your trip and fill those pantries. If you’ve been in a slump over the mediocre deals nothing will motivate you like providing for others.

Anyone who wants to join me for the month of October in this please post what you’ve managed to donate. I will pick one winner to receive a generous envelope full of non-insert coupons, MIRs, etc suitable for their area.

And then there are the things on “sale” or “pricelock” but not advertised. Those you cannot even get a raincheck for. Which means when you ask about the Hershey milk and its not in the flyer “but must have a longer sale date-you’ll be fine” you come in a couple days later and instead of 10/$10 its now like 1.69. So you will now have to hold onto your Hershey’s coupons you have been hoarding and pray they go back on sale before they expire. Or suck up and pay more at Hannaford. At least they carry the strawberry variety.

I don’t know what SuperValue is thinking, but they’d better pull their heads out of their butts and try harder. No real sales, no Catalinas, no stock, poor customer service from the same managers all the time. I really need to save money, but I find myself paying more to shop at Hannaford where they don’t have empty shelves and the night cashier asks if I have coupons.

Will be trying to order at Shaws to use the remainder on Mr. Clean liquid. Shaws is running a Buy 30 get 10 CAT offer. So a set of 8, using 4 bogo frees is 9.96 get 10 back.

I’d love to find somewhere to use the Dove or Tide Stain Release for a good deal. Might have to keep digging.

The deal is Save up to $3 on a future purchase of Beef or Chicken.
Purchase any Old el Paso taco shells, dinner kits, seasoning, refried beans or heat and serve side dishes between 1/25 & 2/21
Save $1 on your next beef or chicken purchase when you buy 3
Save $3 when you buy 6

Taco Shells
Taco Seasoning
Heat & Serve Sides
Refried Beans
Dinner Kits

Coupons out there include .50/1 or $1/1 sides, which are on sale for $1. As well as free seasoning wyb two items, free beans wyb two items, and $1 on beans wyb two items that are peelies from other OEP items.

Which means you can buy four sides and two beans or seasoning for nothing and get $3 to use on beef or chicken. Other combinations will have more out of pocket, but if you eat OEP like we do in this house, its still not a bad deal. Word on the street is the sides are backordered in the warehouses already so start getting your rainchecks and asking them to order more when possible. You’ve got plenty of time to get in on this one.

My math looks like this:

20.00 dog food plus filler

-$5 CAT

-$5 in redbox codes

10.00 for 17.5lbs which is below my price point of $1/lb for doggie food.

(1) carton of Breyers vanilla ice cream (made $1 buying after coupon and CAT)

(3) medium Granny Smith apples (free with produce WTs)

(1) cup of brown sugar (.50 for bag after coupon)

(1) cup Quaker old-fashioned oats (.30 for whole canister after coupon)

(1/2) cup of flour (.60 for bag after coupon and CAT)

(1) stick butter (.25 per stick after coupon)

(1) assortment of spices (varying prices but cheap after coupons)

Our baking dish was bought on clearance at Target for 1.49. Its non-stick Nami green apple ware. Its amazing even at full price. And of course afterward I will use my free dishsoap to clean out the pan and other dishes.