My Frustrating Food Lion Trip

I couldn't wait to get the Sunday coupon inserts in the paper today, so that I could cut out the B2G1 Free Iams cat food coupon and run to Food Lion. My husband needed 1-gallon sized freezer bags and my daughter wanted eggs and I planned to get them both free with overage from the deal I posted HERE.

When I got to the store I scanned my MVP card at the Savings Center and got 2 nice coupons:  50 cents off a bag of Food Lion brand sugar and 30 cents off a bag of Food Lion brand dried beans. 

As soon as I got to the pet food aisle, however, I encountered a glitch. My small store didn't even carry Iams cat food, so I needed to rework my scenario. 

Second glitch - someone had already beat me to the small stock of canned Iams dog food. There were only 4 cans left and they were $1.39 each. I had to add 2 cans of the more expensive Iams Woof wet dog food at $1.99 each to use my coupons. 

Then, my B2G1 free coupon disappeared. I roamed the aisles looking to see if I had dropped it somewhere, but I never did find it. 

I had 6 cans of dog food in my transaction, so I added 9 bottles of Powerade to earn the $10.00 Gold Medal instant savings.

Then, I noticed that Ritz Bits were on sale for $2.79. I had a freebie coupon from My Coke Rewards valued up to $4.99 with me and I knew there was a $1.00 Checkout 51 offer for them too, so I added them to my transaction, hoping that the full value of the Ritz might come off (it did).  Even so, I ended up owing $7.57 for my groceries. I think it is funny that I was sad with this outcome, whereas most people would be thrilled to get this much stuff for under $10.00!

Here is the breakdown:
9 Powerade at 89 cents each = $8.01
4 Iams canned dog food at $1.39 each = $5.56
2 Iams Woof wet dog food at $1.99 each = $3.98
1 Ritz Bits = $2.79 sale price
1 Home 360 gallon sized freezer bags - $1.79
1 My Essentials brand sugar, 4 lb bag - $1.97
1 Food Lion brand split peas - 99 cents
1 1/2 dozen My Essentials eggs - $1.09
Total: $26.18

Minus:
2 coupons for $2.00 off 3 Iams wet dog food = $4.00
1 freebie coupon for the Ritz Bits from My Coke Rewards = $4.59
1 store coupon for 50 cents off ME brand sugar = 50 cents
1 store coupon for 30 cents off FL brand dried beans = 30 cents
Coupon Total = $9.39
Instant Savings = $10.00

Final cost = $6.79 plus 78 cents tax = $7.57, and I will get back $1.00 from Checkout 51 for the Ritz Bits. That means I paid 38 cents per item!

My husband thinks that perhaps the Coupon Fairy snagged my B2G1 free Iams cat food coupon to deliver to someone who needed it more - like someone who actually has a cat!

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Edit:  I just realized that I should get $1.99 back from Saving Star for the Iams Woof wet dog food, since I activated the Friday Freebie for it. That means I only spent 23 cents per item!  Now I feel happier about my trip!!