Loudoun County Limbo: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Ebay "Trash to Cash" Sales for May, 2014

This was an exciting month for me on Ebay, as I achieved both Top Rated Seller and Powerseller status, and decided to open up a store! Here is a rundown of the items that I sold from my dumpster dives and coupon deals:

This lot of 13 Harlequin romance books from the "Men in Uniform" series that I found in the dumpster sold for $15.75 with free media mail shipping, which cost me $4.84.

This ceramic dog bowl that I found set out by the curb with someone's trash sold for $11.99 plus the buyer paid $11.34 for shipping by Parcel Post.

This lot of 12 Harlequin Historical Romance novels that also came from the dumpster sold for $14.50 with free media mail shipping, which cost me $4.84.

This hardbound book which I believe I found at the recycling center sold for $6.99 with free media mail shipping, which cost me about $3.00. It could have sold for a little more, but it was missing the dust cover.

These 2 boxes of Osteo Biflex that were a money maker at Rite Aid a year ago sold for $9.25 and the buyer paid $2.76 for first class shipping.

This lot of 8 back issues of Ceramics Monthly magazine from 2002 that I found at the recycling center sold for $22.00 and the buyer paid $5.55 for parcel post shipping.

This Zantac that was a money maker at Rite Aid earlier in the month sold for $7.27 with free first class shipping that ran me $1.93. I had cut the UPC code off to the do the Try Me Free offer, but the buyer was OK with that since she got it so cheaply! My rebate check came in today's mail.

This Cuisinart carafe that had been sitting in the basement ever since my coffee pot died 2 years ago sold for $11.95, and the buyer paid $6.94 for parcel post shipping. Apparently, replacement parts for high end kitchen items are profitable niche on "the bay".

This lot of 48 vintage mass market paperback novels from the 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's was listed with free shipping for $65.00 or best offer. They also came from the recycling center. A buyer offered me $39.99 which I declined, then the same buyer offered me $49.99, which I accepted. The box weighed over 10 pounds, so the media mail shipping cost was $7.64.

And this was my favorite deal for the month, even though it didn't involve a free item: my husband travelled to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for business and asked what I would like as a souvenir. I asked for a mug from Starbucks. He brought back three, that he bought for 179 pesos each, equivalent to $14.00 apiece. I listed one in a 7-day auction starting at $39.00 and it sold today for $50.00 plus the buyer paid for the shipping!

My total for these items was $177.44, but after Ebay and Paypal fees which run approximately 13%, my profits for May came to about $154.00.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Best Harris Teeter Deals - May 28 to Jun 3, 2014

The bad news - Harris Teeter will not be holding Super Doubles the week of June 4th after all. I don't know if they announced it and then cancelled, or a certain big name blog (Southern Savers, cough cough) got a rumor and published it as fact, but in any case, no need to knock yourself out clipping coupons to get ready.

The good news - some great deals this week. Sorry for the lateness of my post, but still time to grab some goodies before Wednesday!

Dove Ice Cream Bars, 3 pack - $2.39 BOGO Free single price
or
Twix or Snickers Ice Cream Bar Multipacks - $2.34 BOGO Free single price
- $1.50 ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- $1.50 coupon that you can print HERE
= Money Maker!

New York Texas Toast Croutons - $1.39
- 75 cent coupon rom the May issue of All You magazine
= Free!

Horizon Organic Mac and Cheese - $1.00
- this coupon:

$0.55 off off any One (1) Horizon™ Mac & Cheese

= Free!

La Brea Bakery Demi Baguette - 79 cents BOGO Single price
- $1.00 coupon that you can print HERE
= Free!

Kikkoman Soy Sauce or Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce, 10 oz - $2.00
- 55 cent ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- 55 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= 35 cents

Annie's Macaroni and Cheese, 6 oz - $1.09
- 35 cent coupon that you can print HERE, doubled
= 39 cents!

Silk Almond Milk, 1/2 Gallon - $3.00
- $1.00 ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- 75 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= 50 cents!

Oscar Mayer Lunchables with Chicken Poppers & Smoothie - $2.50
- $1.00 ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- this coupon:

$1.00 off any ONE LUNCHABLES with Smoothie

= 50 cents!

French's Dijon or Honey Mustard Dijon Mustard - $2.00
- 75 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= 50 cents!

Blue Diamond Almonds - Coffee, 4 oz bag - $2.00
- 75 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= 50 cents!

Snack Pack Pudding - $1.00
- this coupon, doubled:

$0.75 off any THREE (3) Snack Pack Pudding 4ct

= 50 cents each when you buy 3!

Jif Peanut Butter - $1.57 Evic Price (Limit 2)
There is supposedly a coupon for $1.00 off 2 Jif Peanut Butters that would make the price 57 cents when you buy two, but I cannot seem to locate it.....

Zevia Soda, 6 pack - 43.99
- $1.00 ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- $2.00 coupon that you can print HERE
= 99 cents

Planters Flavored Peanuts, 6 oz - $1.99
- this coupon, doubled:

$0.50 off any ONE (1) PLANTERS Peanut Flavors

= 99 cents

Eckrich Smoked Sausage, 14 oz - $2.50
- 55 cent coupon from the 5/18 Red Plum insert, doubled
= $1.40!

Mott's for Tots Juice Boxes - $2.50
- this coupon:

= $1.50!

Harris Teeter Eggs, Dozen - $1.25

Dunkin Donuts Coffee - $4.97 Evic Price (Limit 2)
- 50 cent regional coupon from the 6/14 Red Plum insert, doubled
= $3.97
Washington Post got a coupon for $1.50 off two bags.

Saving Star Friday Freebie - Hunts Tomato Paste!

Log in to your Saving Star account and select your Friday Freebie - a 6 oz can of Hunts Tomato Paste! Must purchase by Sunday, June 1st.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

KFR Bonus Code for 50 Points!

Here is a nice bonus code from Kellogg's Family Rewards worth 50 points:

JUSTBECAUSEBONUS

Saving Star Weekly Healthy Offer - Tomatoes!

The healthy offer for this week is 20% back on any single purchase of loose tomatoes at participating retailers! Expires 6/2/14. Log in to your Saving Star account to select it.

Harris Teeter Super Double Coupons Week of June 4th!

Monday, May 26, 2014

How To Procure Produce on a Budget

One of the questions I am most frequently asked is - how do we manage to cut the expense of produce? I have several strategies to keep our fruit and vegetable costs down, as follows:

1. Stock up on frozen and canned fruits and vegetables whenever they are free or very cheap.
2. Use the FLIP coupons at Food Lion to save on produce whenever they come out. Also, Safeway often has electronic coupons for fresh produce that you can load to your store card.
3. Take advantage of the weekly Healthy Offer from Saving Star and Checkout 51 to get money back on produce purchases.
4. Send off for No Beer/Wine Purchase Required mail-in-rebates to get money back for produce purchases.
5. Grow our own vegetables at home.
6. Join a CSA - a community supported agricultural program.

Last year I spent about $400 in February to join Great Country Farms, which the farmers then used to purchase seeds and fertilizers. In return, I received a share of organically-grown, seasonal produce each week for 20 weeks - which works out to $20 per week. This plan had both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages were - lots of fresh, healthy, locally grown veggies throughout the season and yummy, pick-your-own berries. The disadvantages were - not being able to choose what I received each week, getting vegetables that I didn't especially like (beets, anyone?), and getting huge quantities of something one month and none the next month.

If you are a person who loves to cook, can, chop and freeze things, then this a great way to go. I only have the urge to spend time in the kitchen once in a blue moon, so this year I opted to plant my own garden.

I went to Southern States last week and spent $3.99 each on 4 tomato plants. One of them was a cherry tomato plant, which went into the Topsy Turvy planter that I got on clearance last year at CVS for free with my Extra Care Bucks.

The other three regular tomato plants went into my backyard box garden, which is a very easy thing to make. All you need is some boards and soil. We also used the Osmocote plant food that was free after mail in rebate!

I was lucky to snag these brand-new plant supports off my Facebook virtual yard sale last week for free! Do you think my tomatoes will get high enough to need them?

Next we planted strawberry plants that were a gift from blog reader and gardener Dologram.

Dolgram also blessed us with a raspberry bush. It won't go into the garden but up against a fence, since it needs support.

I did an interesting trade with someone from A Full Cup a few months ago. I sent her some coupons and she sent me some seeds.

So, we planted those in the garden as well, then watered everything thoroughly.

I look forward to picking our own produce right out of the backyard in a few months!

Get 5 Easy Swagbucks for Memorial Day!

In honor of Memorial Day, Swagbucks is giving every member 5
bonus swagbucks with this code: AllHeroes

This offer is good today only - Monday, May 26th - from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

If you are not already a member of Swagbucks, you can click HERE to join!

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Best Harris Teeter Deals - May 21 to 27, 2014

This week most of the great deals are for those who have coupons from papers other than the Washington Post. No word yet on the next Super Doubles or Triples event - I will post as soon as I know something!

Beneful Baked Delights Hugs Dog Treats - $4.59
Money Maker if you have 2 ZVR's like this:
- Load the ZVR for $4.00 off 2 to your Vic card
- Load the ZVR for $1.75 off 1 to your Vic card
- Buy 2 for $9.18
- Use this coupon:

$4.00 off (2) boxes of Beneful Baked Delights

Note: If you only have the ZVR for $4.00 off 2, they work out to 59 cents each!

Florida Naturals Smoothie - $1.74
Money Maker when you do this:
- Load the $1.00 ZVR to your Vic card
- Use this coupon:

$1.00 off one Florida's Natural Citrus Smoothies

Diamond Crystal Sea Salt - 99 cents
Money Maker when you do this:
- Load the 50 cent ZVR to your Vic card
- Use the 50 cent coupon that was recently on coupons.com (no longer available to print)

Trans Ocean Crab Classic - $2.00
- 50 cent coupon that you can print HERE, doubled
- $1.00 credit from Checkout 51
= Free

Revlon Deluxe Nail Clippers - 99 cents
- $1.00 coupon from the 4/27 Smart Source insert or this one:

$1.00 off any one (1) Revlon Nail Product

= Free

Mueller's Pot Sized Pasta - 99 cents
- 75 cent regional coupon from the 4/6 Smart Source insert (not in the Washington Post)
= Free

Premier Protein Bar - 84 cents
- 50 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= Free

Texas Pete Chili Sauce - 50 cents
- 40 cent coupon fromthe 5/18 Red Plum insert
= Free

Maruchan Yakisoba - 59 cents
- $1.00 off 2 coupon from the 5/18 Smart Source
= 9 cents each when you buy two

Birds Eye Steamfresh Chef's Favorite Vegetables - $1.19
- 50 cent coupon from the 4/13 Smart Source insert
= 19 cents

Noxzema Disposable Razors (3 blade with moisturizing strip), 4 ct. - $2.29
- $2.00 regional coupon from the 5/18 Red Plum insert (not in the Washington Post) or that was recently available on redplum.com
= 29 cents

Dixie Ultra Plates or Bowls - $2.00
- 55 cent ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- 55 cent regional coupon from the 5/18 Red Plum insert (Washington Post got $1.00 off 2)
= 35 cents

Wonka Stand-Up Bag, 12 oz - $1.94
- 75 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= 44 cents

Simply Lemonade or Limeade, 59 oz - $2.00
- this coupon, doubled:

$0.75 off one Simply Lemonade or Simply Limeade

= 50 cents

Rips Candy - $1.50
- 50 cent coupon from the 4/27 Smart Source insert
= 50 cents

Philadelphia Cream Cheese - $2.00
- 50 cent ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- 50 cent coupon from coupons.com, doubled (no longer available to print)
= 50 cents!

Joy Ice Cream Cones - $1.24
- 35 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= 54 cents

Suave Bodywash - $1.99
- 50 cent ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- 50 cent regional coupon from the 5/18 Red Plum insert (Washington Post got $1.00 off 2)
= 59 cents

Right Guard Xtreme Clear Deodorant - $3.50
- $1.50 ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- $1.00 regional coupon from the 4/27 Red Plum insert (not in the Washington Post)
= 50 cents

Hellmann's Mayonnaise with Olive Oil - $2.72 Buy One Get One Free single price
- $1.00 ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- $1.00 coupon from the 5/18 Red Plum insert
= 72 cents
Note: There is also a 50 cent ZVR for Hellman's or Best Foods Product (22 oz or larger). If both ZVR's come off, the cost would be 22 cents!

Harris Teeter Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns - 77 cents Evic price (Limit 2)
*Only if you got this your weekly email from Harris Teeter*
Good price with no coupon needed!

Blue Bunny Ice Cream Sandwiches - $2.49 Buy One Get One Free Single Price
- 75 cent coupon that you can print HERE
= 99 cents

Dr. Oetker Pizza Ristorante - $3.33
$1.00 ZVR loaded to your Vic card
- $1.00 coupon that you can print HERE (zip 30045)
= $1.33

Friday, May 23, 2014

Best Rite Aid Deals - May 18 to 24, 2014

It's a little late in the week for the best Rite Aid deals, but there are nice freebies and money makers:

Bic FlameDisk Charcoal Alternative - $2.99

Money Maker when you do this:
- Look for packages with a Try Me Free peelie offer
Use the $1.00 Video Value coupon to pay $1.99 out of pocket and send off for the rebate to get back $2.99!

Puracyn Foot Wash - $10.00
Get a $10.00 UP Reward (Limit 1)
Money Maker when you use the $1.00 Video Value to pay $9.00 out of pocket, then get back an UP Reward for $10.00!

Mucinex Allergy, 5 ct - $7.50
Get a $5.50 UP Reward (Limit 1)

Free when you use the $2.00 coupon from the 5/18 Smart Source insert (or blinkie) to pay $5.50 out of pocket, then get back an UP Reward for $5.50!
Note: If you have a Gold Wellness discount, this deal is a Money Maker as the Gold price is $7.19!

St. Joseph Aspirin, 36 Ct - $2.00
Get a $1.00 UP Reward (Limit 2)
Free when you use the $1.00 coupon from the 5/18 Smart Source to pay $1.00 out of pocket and get back a $1.00 UP Reward!

Clear Eyes - $4.99 / $3.99 Gold Price
Get a $3.00 Up Reward (Limit 2)
Money Maker with Gold when you use the $1.50 Video Value coupon to pay $2.49 out of pocket, then get back an UP Reward for $3.00!
Note: There was also a regional coupon for $1.50 in the 4/27 Smart Source insert, but we did not get it in the Washington Post.

Campfire Marshmallows, 10-15 oz - $1.00
Get a $1.00 UP Reward when you buy two (Limit 4)
50 cents each when you buy 2 for $2.00, then get back an UP Reward for $1.00!

Bayer Contour Next EZ Diabetes Meter - $10.49 Rite Buy
- $10.00 coupon that you can print HERE
= 49 cents
*Watch for a $10.00 Rite Aid store coupon that may print on the bottom of your receipt. If you have that plus the mfr coupon, you could use them together for $9.51 in overage!

Loudoun County Limbo

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