Last of my Triple Points at Rite-Aid

I did 2 transactions today and rolled/spent all my $22 in +Up Rewards.

Transaction #1.....

6 x Renuzit air fresheners (used an old Rain Check I forgot I had)=$2.00 *
2 x Lindt choccie bags on sale=$6.00
2 x Dawn dish soap on sale=$1.98
2 x Food Should Taste Good chips on sale=$4.00
2 x Wet Ones wipes on sale BOGO=$3.49
1 x Reach toothbrush on sale=$2.99
2 x Reese's Halloween PB cups on sale=$5.00
2 x Kit Kat Halloween candy bags on sale=$5.00
SubTotal......$30.46

Coupons Used
2 x $2/1 Lindt bags 5.1oz or more IPQ(Facebook)=$4.00
1 x $1/2 Dawn Hand Renewal dish soap(P&G expires today)ManuQ=$1.00 **
2 x $1/1 Food Should Taste Good IPQ(HERE )=$2.00
1 x $1/2 Wet Ones products IPQ(HERE )=$1.00
2 x $1.10/2 Hershey's candy bags IPQ(coupons dotcom)=$2.20
1 x $1/2 Reese's Halloween bags Video ValuesQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Kit-Kit Halloween bags Video ValuesQ=$1.00
1 x $2/$6 of Hershey Candy purchase IPQ(Facebook HERE )=$2.00
Coupon Total......$14.20

$30.46-$14.20=$16.26 + .03¢tax=$16.29

I used $16 in +Up Rewards and paid .29¢ OOP.
I received back $12 in new +Up Rewards($2 wyb 5 Renuzit, 2 x $1 wyb3 Renuzit, $1 Food Should Taste Good, $3 Wet Ones, $2 Reach, 2 x $1 wyb2 Hershey snack bags).

I also have tracking of $6 spent for the Lindt.

I then spent/rolled the remaining $6 in +Ups I had that weren't earned today.....

2 x Lindt choccie bags on sale=$6.00
1 x Oxi Clean dishwashing tabs on sale=$3.99
2 x Wet Ones wipes on sale BOGO=$3.49
Sub Total.....$13.48

Coupons Used
2 x $2/1 Lindt bags(see above link)IPQ=$4.00
1 x $1/1 Oxi Clean dishwashing tabs ManuQ(also available on coupons dotcom)=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Wet Ones products (see above link)IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total......$6.00

$13.48-$6.00=$7.48 = .08¢tax=$7.56
I used my $6 in +Ups and paid $1.56 OOP.

Yes, I was one +Up Rewards short to have my total under $1.
I hang my head in shame......

I received back $8 more in +Up Rewards for this transaction($3 wyb$12 in Lindt, $2 Oxi Clean, $3 wyb2 Wet Ones).

The total spent today.....$1.85
Total value of goods brought home.....$84.76
Total +Up Rewards spent/rolled......$22
Total +Up Rewards earned.....$20

*  The Renuzits was an outstanding deal, mainly because I had an old rain check I never cashed in when they were an +Up Rewards Deal last year and they ran out of product.  It was $3/3 but gave a $2 +Up so the rain check cost was $1 for 3 items with a limit of 6, so $2 for 6 air fresheners.  They also spit out $4 in +Up Rewards this week(2 x$1 for every 3 you buy and 1 x $2 for every 5 you buy).
This made the Renuzits a $2 MM!
If this is a product you can use and your store is out, be sure and get a rain check(will make 3 cost you $2)and wait for another +Up generating Deal on the item to cash it in and you will make out much better than paying $2 for 3 air fresheners. 8-)

** My Dawn Q was expiring today.  Though I didn't receive any kind of reward for buying these items, I may want to do the Tide/Dawn Deal later this week.  The Dawn was .98¢ for 2 with the coupons so even if I don't do the Tide/Dawn Deal it's a good buy.

I also will receive another .75¢ cash back from SavingStar for activating that electronic coupon before shopping and then buying the FSTG chips. 
So really after I get that my OOP spending goes down to $1.10.

Here is how everything shook down after +Up Rewards were received back/applied--
The 6 x Renuzits were a $2 moneymaker
The 4 x Lindt choccies cost $1 for 4 bags.
The 2 x Dawn was .49¢ a bottle.
The 2 x FSTG chips cost .25¢ for 2 bags.
The 4 x Wet Ones were a $1.02 moneymaker
The Reach toothbrush cost .99¢.
The 4 x Hershey's cost .45¢ a bag.
The Oxi Clean dishwasher tabs cost .99¢.

And I added another 100 or so points to this Wellness card.  I have to go into the account in a day or two to see the final total of points up to now.

I still need to go back this week to do the Dove/Unilever Deal on my card and maybe a few more things besides.
This is a good week to roll those +Up Rewards at Rite-Aid!

Sluggy


 

Rite-Aid So Far This Week

We got home Sunday evening and what do I do?
Unpack?
Clean the house?
No.....I went up to Rite-Aid! lolz

My mission this week is to do some deals on my last Wellness card while the triple points are still being doled out.

Here is Sunday's booty.....

1 x Dove Body Wash on sale=$5.50
2 x Tresemme 'Poo on sale=$8.00
2 x Dove Advanced Deodorant on sale=$10.00
1 x Clear men's 'Poo on sale=$5.00
1 x  Dove 'Poo on sale=$3.00
SubTotal......$31.50

Coupons Used
1 x $2/1 Dove Body Wash or Bar Soap Video ValuesQ=$2.00
1 x $5/2 Tresemme ManuQ(Sunday inserts)=$5.00
2 x $1.50/1 Dove Advanced Deodorant ManuQ(Sunday inserts)=$3.00
2 x $2/1 Dove Advanced Deo Video ValueQ=$4.00
1 x $1.50/1 Clear 'Poo ManuQ(sunday inserts)=$1.50
1 x $1/1 Clear 'Poo In-Ad Q(sales flyer)=$1.00
1 x Buy Dove Body Wash/Get 'Poo Free ManuQ(Sunday inserts)=$3.00
Coupon Total.......$19.50

$31.50-$19.50=$12.00
I paid with $12 in +Up Rewards and spent Zero OOP.

I received $10 in new +Up Rewards(2 x $5 wyb $15 Dove).
So all this "cost" me $2 in +Up Rewards.

Then I went back up on Monday for this stuff and the Saga of my Love/Hate Relationship with Load2Card Coupons kicked into gear......

6 x Renuzit Air Fresheners on sale 3/$3=$6.00
2 x Dove Men's Body Wash on sale=$7.00
2 x Suave Body Wash on sale=$3.00
2 x Suave Pro 'Poo on sale=$6.00
1 x OxiClean dishwasher soap on sale=$3.99
1 x Reach toothbrush on sale=$2.99
SubTotal.....$28.98

Coupons Used *What was suppose to happen*
1 x B3G3Free Renuzit(Sunday inserts)=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Dove Men's Body Wash ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Dove Men's Body Wash Load2CardQ=$2.00
1 x Buy2 Suave Pro/Get Free Suave Body Wash ManuQ=$1.50
1 x .25¢/1 Suave Body Wash Load2CardQ=.25¢
2 x $1.50/1 Suave Pro Poo ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $1/1 Oxi Clean dishwasher soap Load2Card Q=$1.00
1 x .75¢/1 Reach single toothbrush Load2Card Q=$.75¢
Coupon Total......$13.50

$28.98-$13.50=$15.48

Coupons Used *What REALLY happened*
1 x B3G3Free Renuzit(Sunday inserts)=$3.00
2 x $2/1 Dove Men's Body Wash ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Suave Load2Card Q=$2.00
1 x Buy2 Suave Pro/Get Free Suave Body Wash ManuQ=$1.50
2 x $1.50/1 Suave Pro Poo ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $1/1 Oxi Clean dishwasher soap Load2Card Q=$1.00
1 x .75¢/1 Reach single toothbrush Load2Card Q=$.75¢
Coupon Total......$15.25

$28.98-$15.25=$13.73

*  The $2/1 Dove Men's body wash L2C didn't come off, so I had to use both of my $2/1 ManuQs.
**  The .25¢/1 Suave L2C didn't come off, but 2 $1/1 Suave L2C did!  They attached to the Suave Pro 'Poo items so when the cashier tried to put through the ManuQs I had for those items($1.50/1 each) the register wouldn't take them.  Usually if you have both a Manu paper Q & a L2C, once the paper Q scans in the L2C Q comes back off your transaction.  But this time they didn't come off nor would they let the cashier ring in the paper Qs I wanted to use instead(because the value was higher).
The cashier couldn't figure out how to manually delete the L2CQs so she just rang in the other paper Qs a different way(as a generic merchandise taxable coupon).  So this gave me an extra $2 off in coupons.
I am not complaining except to say it's difficult to work up a scenario when you never know if a L2C Q will come off or not.
***  Both the Reach and the Oxi Clean L2C Qs worked properly.  Finally, something that worked correctly! lolz

So I used $13 in +Up Reward and spent .73¢ OOP in cash.

I received back $12 in new +Up Rewards(2 x $1 Renuzit wyb 3, $2 Renuzit(monthly deal wyb 5),$2 Dove Mens, $2 wyspent $6 on Suave, $2 OxiClean, $2 Reach) and I walked out of the store with $50.46 worth of stuff.

I will be going up again today and figure out something to buy and not spend much money on, so I can eek out a few more Triple Points on this card, as it's the last day for the bonus points at Rite-Aid.

Come back later to see what I found to buy.

Sluggy



 

And the Winner of the Giveaway is.....

There were 52 valid entries for the Giveaway.
I assigned a number to each name and then used Random dotorg to generate a number and the person assigned to that number won.

And the winner is......


anne marie!

Random dotorg picked #1 and the first person to enter the contest was anne marie.

Congratulations anne marie and as soon as you email me your mailing address this Boring Box will be winging it's way to you.

A big THANK YOU to all my readers who entered and please keep coming back to see what boring things I have to write about.
I LOVE your comments!  I am real bad about responding to comments most days but I do read every single one and cherish them. 8-)

Y'all really do want to keep reading because another Giveaway will be starting soon, maybe later this week if I can get my proverbial shit together.  ;-)

Gotta go write something worthwhile for y'all to read now so see ya on the blogs,

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Saturday was a Pot Luck Lunch" Edition---

Here's my plate of food from the Family Reunion.  Yummy homemade goodies like pasta salad, baked beans, Quinoa Salad, Corn Casserole, Mac and Cheese, Green Beans, a Deviled Egg, which was hiding behind the Fried Chicken, and a bottle of water.  I also have a couple of bites of the Baby Back Ribs my brother made.
Tiny helpings(except for that piece of chicken! lol)and some I didn't finish it all.


Onward to the meal planning!

What was planned last week--

1.  Teriyaki Salmon, Coleslaw, Spinach Souffle

2.  Leftover Stuffed Peppers

3.  Zucchini and Chicken over Rice

4.  Lasagna, Spinach Salad

5.  Pizza, Tossed Salad
6.  Eating Out
7.  Eating Out

 

And this is what actually happened--

 

1.  Teriyaki Salmon, Coleslaw, Spinach Souffle

2.  Leftover Stuffed Peppers

3.  Zucchini and Chicken over Rice

4.  Lasagna, Spinach Salad

5.  Leftovers
6.  Eating Out
7.  Eating Out
  

The plan was kept too pretty much, except I didn't buy the pizzas(had the lasagna that night instead) and we ate leftovers one more night during the week.
    

Last week I made 1 trip to Weis Markets and spent $64.93 and 1 trip to Rite-Aid where I spent .94¢.  I left $ for the brother in-law to pick up a few things while they were here(and we were gone to the reunion)and he spent $20 of it(on what I have no clue since he didn't save the receipt).

This adds up to $85.87 in food spending for last week.
I am up to $298.19 for September food spending and once you add in the $5.90 I have spent at Rite-Aid in September, I am at $304.09 total spending for the month.

 

I don't plan on grocery shopping again until after October 1st but I do have another trip to Rite-Aid to undertake so my Sept. total will go up a teeny, tiny bit.  ;-)

 Going into this week, in leftovers we have.........some taco filling and fixings, stuffed peppers, lemon pepper chicken with zuke and lasagna.  Evidently the BIL didn't eat anything I left here for them and explains that $20 they spent. lol

Here is the plan for this week.........

1.  Leftovers

2.  Fish fry, leftover coleslaw, veggie of some kind from the freezer

3.  Leftovers

4.  Leftovers

5.  Pork Chops, Red Cabbage w/Apples
6.  Chili over Rice or with Burritos
7.  Subway sandwiches


Food Waste--nothing.

What I need to buy this week......I haven't checked the sale ads this week so I don't know what I'll get later this week(sometime after Tuesday).I have everything I need here for the 3 new meals on the plan, except some apples.  So apples, salad greens(for lunches) and milk are on my list so far.

   

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?
Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?
How much did you spend on food so far in September?

 

Sluggy

Last Day to Enter the Giveaway.....Ends Sunday Night

Last Chance to enter to win Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway.
Entries close Sunday evening.

Go HERE.

Sluggy
 

There are No Words for This

Seen today at lunch outside of Harrisonburg, VA.

Really, there are no words.......I am speechless.

Sluggy
 

Something in the Air

This post title refers to the big news here for this week.

Once we got the minivan hauled off(and taken off the insurance thankyouverymuch!)it was time to take care of another long delayed project.

Having the driveway repaved.

Hubs called a couple of companies Monday morning before a dental appointment and around 11am a guy shows up at the front door.
It's the owner of one of the companies he called.  They happened to be working nearby so he came over to give us a quote.

I called Hubs with the quote and he said ok, let's do this!

About an hour later, noonish, the guy is back with workers to prep the driveway....

And then by 4pm they had finished with the job.....

And now we have a nice new driveway with no holes, cracks or potholes.
Rah.
Of course the bank account took a hit for this.

Usually I pull extraordinary expenses like this from my previous year's Savings Challenge funds.
But luckily for us I didn't need to do that since we still have a big chunk of Hub's Bonus this year leftover.
Yes, it was a nice fat bonus this year.  8-)))

So the Savings Challenge for 2013 funds stay intact(and I am hoping they end the year that way so I can put them into permanent savings status).

I still can't walk into the garage without the lovely scent of asphalt in the air in there.  It should  dissipate after a few more days.

I sold some more fabric last week/this week which has lifted my mood.
I still need to straighten up the house a bit before the brother in-law arrives to stay for the weekend.
I got brownies made to take to the family reunion.

I've been trying to write up some genealogy information for my mother's cousins, who we will see this weekend.
Of course every time I go to do this, I get sidetracked.
Today it was an email from a woman who's ancestor I put a memorial and headstone photo of on F.A.G.
She wanted to know if I am related and what information I have to share with her.
I feel bad every time someone makes an inquiry like this because I usually have nothing else to share beyond what I put up on the F.A.G. memorial.
I was able to help this person today.  I found her ancestors immigration information....the ancestor and his whole family came in 1854 as a unit from Germany.  This confirmed information she had and gave her names/birthdates for all the family members(which she didn't have)and gives her a town name in Germany to inquire to about birth records and may get her past this previous brick wall.  I just hope she speaks/writes/reads German now. lolz
I feel good knowing the little bit I did helped somewhat.

I was able to track down a few ancestors to hang onto my family trees this week too.  I found some "died young" ancestors, who were never in census records because of this, buried with their parents on F.A.G.  I also found an allied family to my mother's Fosters, McKay, which I didn't know about before.

I did a bit of research on my father's side and found another branch, the Schwartzes.  My 2 x Great Aunt Adeline Bowman married a Schwartz and I found a Schwartz cousin(well not a cousin but the nephew of the husband of my 2x great aunt) on F.A.G.  He seems a nice guy but we really don't have much ancestral information the other needs.  He is in contact with the granddaughters of Adeline(another branch of his Schwartz tree)and they live in the area of New York state where my great grands lived later in life(which was when these granddaughters were growing up there)so I am hopeful he can find some kind of information on my Bowmans through them.  They had to have known at least my great great grands!


Ok, I am off.  I still have to pack, pick up rxs, feed the dog and prepare mentally for company tonight.

Sluggy

Matilda

I didn't discover the writer Roald Dahl until I had kids.
Though I was 32+ years old at the time I loved his stories!
And still do.

I also love  Tim Minchin.
When Dahl's book Matilda was made into a musical and Tim composed the lyrics and music I knew it would be a fantastic show.

I have yet to see the show live but hope to see it some day.

One of the great, funny villians of musical theatre was written into this show.
Miss Trunchbull, the Headmistress of the school Matilda is sent to.

Unfortunately for me, this woman's part is usual played by a man in drag......well, if you can call Miss Trunchbull a woman.  ;-)
British actor Bertie Carvel won an Olivier Award(the UK equivalent of the US Tony Award)for originating the role back in 2011.

But anyway......
Miss Trunchbull has a showstopper of a number called "The Smell of Rebellion".

Broadway actor, Dean Vince, preforms it on YouTube.....




And here is a low quality video of the whole musical Matilda HERE.  If you want to see the actual production number with Mr. Carvel go to 1:15.

I think, if I was born 20 years later than I was, I would have been FAB-ulous in this number.

But then again, I always thought I'd make a great Miss Hannigan aka Dorothy Loudon too.....




Sluggy

Sluggy's Solo Road Trip Part 5......WI to MN to IA

Day 9, Friday, I hit the road.
A quick hug for Blanche goodbye and I was back on the road.

Heading west across Wisconsin.

Lots of dairy farms, little traffic......

Hey look!
Another dairy farm.....

Oh goody, more cows.......yawn......

I got off the highway to grab a breakfast biscuit and tried to find some fresh cheese curds while I was in the little town of Colby.
You know, like the cheese?

I tried two different spots with no luck.

       Main street in Colby, Wisconsin

But the town was just beginning their COLBY CHEESE DAYS Festival......

   Rides being set-up

Ah, too bad I was a couple weeks too late for the local Lions BRAT FRY.
Brat Fry???

Back on the highway and after awhile I saw a little building on a hill right of the road.
Well whaddayaknow?

The Nasonville Dairy Cheese  & More Store.
They were bound to have fresh curds, right?
!

I knew I found something good/authentic when I opened the car door and took a deep breath.
Let's just say the air was perfumed with eau d'cow patties.

Yes, this cheese store was on-site of the dairy.

And the variety of cheeses was spectacular.  I wish I had had a bigger cooler because the prices were awesome too!
I got a few different cheese you don't find everywhere.

The girl in the store was bagging fresh cheese curds.
She even let me have one to try before I bought them.
Now I know what everyone means that they SQUEAK. lol

And the prices on a lb. of curds was the lowest I saw anywhere.

I did pass on the cheese head hats however........

Now I knew(if I didn't before then) I am nNOT on the East Coast anymore because the gal in the cheese store took my personal check! lolz

Unheard of where I live, even when they KNOW you and you are local.

                       The water tower in Stanley WI.

 

I still had a long way to go before I got to where I was staying for the night.
I passed through Eau Claire and then spent some time practicing saying, "Menomonie" as I passed by there.  I had a hard time saying that one. lolz

I finally crossed over into Minnesota.

I crossed a couple of large rivers, the St. Croix crossing into MN and then the Missippippi near St. Paul and drove around the outskirts of the Twin Cities area.  Traffic was moderate but not heavy through the Twin Cities since it wasn't a rush hour time thankfully.

I stopped at a Walmart to stretch my legs once I got past the worst of the traffic and was South of Minneapolis suburbs.
I found #2 Son some khaki pants on sale and I bought a 12 pack of cherry cola flavored Diet Rite Cola.  They don't sell this flavor out East where I am and it sounded good.  And it was only $3.

Back in the Sonic and back on the road until I hit Owatonna MN.

There was this T-38 formation near the Cabela's right off I-35.

But I got off the highway to hit the liquor store in this town.  I found out that they carried some liquid refreshments I wanted to get for some people.
The fun was finding the way back onto the interstate afterwards, since the entrance ramp back to South I-35 was closed for construction. ugh.

Short detour and we were back on the road.
I had one more quick stop to make before leaving Minnesota.......

 
 The World's Largest Walleye Fish.

I tried to take this shot so it looked like the fish was laying on top of the Sonic.
Not quite.....lolz

A big fish selfie.....

I wish I had a spare sticker to add to the collection on the side of the fish.
A Texas and a Doula sticker?  I wonder if Lisa Pie(a friend who is a doula in TX) had been here? lolz

Fairly quickly after that I was over the state line into Iowa.

Man, I need to clean my windshield, don't I?

And then I saw the first Iowan wind turbines......

Before long I was getting off the exit for Clear Lake to visit my online friend Anne for the first time.
I've know her since 1999.

    Anne and her new puppy Becca.

It was about 2 pm and I was starving by now, so I took Anne out to a local deli for lunch.  We parked next to this classic car in town.
The Iowa R.A.G.B.R.A.I. Cycling Tour was due to come through town the following week so there were a lot of interesting people in town already.

 

We walked over to her friend's store.  In the back half the Clear Lake Historical Society, which Anne is very involved in, has a display of local history and sights.

Lots of antique photographs from the 1800's.....

Pictures of the Surf Ballroom.....

After lunch Anne drove me around and gave me the "I've lived here my whole life Tour" of Clear Lake.
We saw about everything that is worth seeing in Clear Lake....except for the Buddy Holly sites.
I guess I'll have to get my picture took with the Ballroom and/or the giant pair of black framed eyeglasses statue the next time I come through here.

One of the lake's South shore public areas....

We both loved this old unseaworthy speedboat turned into someone's flower bed/planter.....

A little...ok, not so little.....cute cottage on the lake.

Over on the North shore they had a park/camping area with these awesome yurts.....

My first Tornado Shelter sign sighting EVER!

The "Pyramid House" over on the North shore.

Hey!  You can rent the Pyramid House.

By the time we made the way all the way around the Lake, it was almost 5pm.  I was expected at quitting time Friday further south in Iowa.
I only had time for a  quick selfie with Anne and Becca.....

And then I was off again.
Right after I took a phone call from my host for the night inquiring, "where you be?".
Ok, maybe she didn't phrase it like that......

Thankfully me being delayed an hour wasn't a problem since dinner was late getting prepared at her house.

About another hour down the interstate and I was pulling up in a driveway in a tiny town in central Iowa.
McVal's house!

My arrival was quite humorous actually.
As I opened the door to get out of the car and go to the front door, an older man walked up and tried to give me a large dog.
He said, "I think this is your dog."

After a moment of WTF?!? I realized that this must be one of McVal's dogs, so I called her on my cell phone & said that I was here in the driveway and she should come outside because I was being drug away by her large dog while I tired to explain to the older man that I didn't live here but the owner was coming out to get the dog.

One of my weirder arrivals somewhere. lolz

My next stop was to see McVal and her clan at the House of Chaos.
I met everyone......Maddy, Meri, Leon(of course!), Ryan, Robb and Robb's mother and about 500 dogs. lolz  Ok, maybe it was only 5 dogs.
But I didn't get any photos right away because dinner was on deck.

The offering for the evening at McVal's Boarding House(yes Boarding House because she had a ton of people staying for the weekend)was Friday's usually dinner, homemade pizza.

I had a slice of the pepperoni and then everyone urged me to try the cheeseburger pizza too.
Well pizza had cheese anyway so I was confused how this was different from a hamburger topped pizza.

But it was.
It had cut up DILL PICKLES on it.
Hmmmm.....

Sort of like this......

but the pickles were cut up.
This must be an Iowa thang I thought.
And after trying it, it is definitely an acquired taste.
Glad I tried it but I'll stick to no pickle varieties from now on.  ;-)

Later on I snapped a few candid shots......

 McVal caught unawares and Maddy being her silly self.

Butter the Beagle, one of many members of the McVal Pet Rescue and Home for Wayward Dog.

Before dinner I did go out to the Sonic and bring in a little present so it could be enjoyed with dinner.

A keg of draft root beer I picked up in Owatonna MN.
I figured Leon needed some practice tapping a keg before he got to college.
Hey!  It's never too early to learn important life skills.......

After some chatting and looking through the genealogy research Robb had(and I didn't find any common ancestors....what a shock!)I was ready for bed.  About the time I headed down to bed Robb's brother and his wife and their dog showed up to spend the night too.
Se what I mean about a boarding house?! lolz 

I think I was asleep before my head hit my pillow.
It was a long full day and I needed to rest up for Saturday's doings here at McVal's House of Chaos.

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Nothing Much Got Accomplished Last Week" Edition--

Nothing got accomplished last week other than canning relish, cooking a few meals, selling fabric, making phone calls and dog wrangling that is.
Nothing exciting to show y'all or even any photos other than the ones of shopping hauls and the minivan getting hauled away that everyone saw already.

 

I did crack open a different one of my 3 billion brands of root beers.  I didn't care for this one much.....good thing I had only bought one of it, right? lolz
I should have seen where it says "caramel cream" that I wouldn't like it.  It tasted of cream soda.
I don't like cream soda.
meh.

Onward to the meal planning!

What was planned last week--

1.  Take-Out Chinese

2.  BLT sandwiches(use our tomatoes)

3.  Zucchini and Chicken over Rice(use our tomatoes)

4.  Tacos or Taco Salad(use our tomatoes)

5.  Flounder, Coleslaw, Butternut Squash
6.  Broccoli Cheddar Soup(in crockpot), fresh bread
7.  Leftovers or Greek Hamburgers and leftover sides

  

And this is what actually happened--

 

1.  Take-Out Chinese

2.  BLT sandwiches(use our tomatoes)

3.  Roasted Whole Chicken, leftover baked beans, leftover veggies

4.  Tacos or Taco Salad(use our tomatoes)

5.  Stuffed Peppers and Rice
6.  Leftovers
7.  Leftovers
 

Only 3 new meals were prepared.  I was feeling spent after canning all that relish and had Hubs pick up a chicken from Sam's Club one night.
Bad, bad me......
I also forgot to plan the stuffed peppers even though I had a bag of peppers leftover after the canning, so I changed things around to suit the ingredients I had.

We ate about all the leftovers that were created this week(except for all those peppers!)and just made quick easy stuff....a big salad, a bowl of cold cereal in milk, yogurt, a hamburger patty, etc.
   

Last week I made 3 trips to the stores, the local market & Weis on Wednesday, and Target on Saturday.  And then there is always Rite-Aid were I spend a wantonly large amount of money. lolz
 

I spent $110.60 on food last week(and an additional $2.16 at Rite-Aid).

Going into this week, in leftovers we have.........some of that roasted chicken I'll eat for lunches and some taco filling and fixings and stuffed peppers STILL.

Here is the plan for this week.........The meals that didn't get fixed last week will move to Next week, not this week.  You'll see why below......

1.  Teriyaki Salmon, Coleslaw, Spinach Souffle

2.  Leftover Stuffed Peppers

3.  Zucchini and Chicken over Rice

4.  Lasagna, Spinach Salad

5.  Pizza, Tossed Salad
6.  Eating Out
7.  Eating Out

I didn't get enough tomatoes to can so I just made tomato sauce with it and will use most of it making a large Lasagna.
Family is coming to dinner on Thursday and we leave for the Reunion the following morning so Thursday will be something quick and easy and something everyone will eat.

I am also making a pot of chili on Thursday for the family that is staying here to dog/house sit while we are at the Reunion.  There will be leftover Lasagna and Stuffed peppers and good hot dogs in the fridge(all of which they like to eat...I think!).  I am leaving lots of food for them to have while they lounge around Chez Sluggy.
When we get back we'll survey the damage and start in eating whatever leftovers remain the following week.

Food Waste--a handful of baby salad greens got slimey.

What I need to buy this week......salad greens, cottage cheese(for the lasagna), and a couple of pizzas.  WeisPMITA Markets has 1lb. blocks of cheese for $3.77 this week so I will also be stocking up on cheese.  5 blocks of cheese, greens cottage cheese(on sale this week for $1.99)and milk should set me back $35.  I will probably find other things to buy though, I always do! ;-)

I am up to $218.55 in food/toiletries spending for September at this point(including the Rite-Aid trips).  That means $81.45 left in the $300 Sept. food budget now.  If I really want to I can keep it under $300 this month by sticking to spending $35 this week and keeping the 2 days left after that, the rest of Sept., as low spends on food.
I don't have to, I just want to.

But going to Southern VA next weekend might just soften my reserve......if I meet up with a salt-cured Smithfield type ham while down there, it will! 8-)
 

   

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?
Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?
How much did you spend on food so far in September?

 

Sluggy

My Trip to Rite-Aid This Week on Sunday

Just one trip this week....unless someone uncovers an amazing deal I didn't see. lolz

There is always something throwing a wrench into my planned scenarios.
This week there was no $2/1 Excedrin ManuQ in our insert so I worked around it.
Then once in the store I saw they had NO Lysol wipes on the shelves so that idea went out the window for now.
I hate having to rework my plans in the store but think on my feet I must.

Here's what I left Rite-Aid with......

2 x Excedrin Migraine on sale $3.99=$7.98 (of course I bought the 25% more product ones!)
2 x Clear men's shampoo on sale $5.00=$10.00
2 x Soft Soap body wash on sale $3.49=$6.98
2 x Colgate toothpaste on sale $2.99-$5.98
SubTotal.......$30.94

Coupons Used
2 x $2/1 Excedrin Video ValuesQ=$4.00
1 x $3/1 Excedrin ManuQ Rite-Aid mailed me=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Excedrin FBQ=$2.00
1 x $1.50/1 Clear Load2CardQ=$1.50 *
1 x $1.50/1 Clear ManuQ=$1.50 *
1 x $1/2 Soft Soap ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $2/1 Soft Soap body wash In-AdQ=$4.00
1 x $1/1 Colgate total toothpaste Load2CardQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Colgate toothpaste IPQ(coupons dotcom)=$1.00
Coupon Total......$19.00

$30.94-$19.00=$11.94
I used $11 in +Up Rewards and paid .94¢ OOP.

I received back $8 in new +Ups(2 x $2 Clear, 2 x $2 Colgate).
I have $24 in +Ups to spend/roll.
I don't have any +Ups expiring until 10/1 and I have a plan for next week already.

And I got 90 points(triple pts. until Sept. 30th) for this transaction taking this neglected card up to 265 pts. so far this year and I have one more week to use this card and get triple points.

Now I am off to process tomatoes, make coleslaw and iron and pack some fabric to mail out to buyers on Monday.
Then I'll straighten up the house if I don't go take a nap instead.  ;-)

*  These Load2Card and ManuQ CLEAR coupons expire today(hence my trip today), so get up to Rite-Aid before Monday if you want/need to use them.  More are expected in next Sunday's inserts(just in time for a Dove/Unilever Deal) but they won't help you with this week's ad.


Sluggy

Saturday Shopping

First off I stopped in at Rite-Aid before leaving the mountain to finish off the Kimberly-Clark Get $8 +Ups wyb $20 Deal.....

1 x Scott TP on sale=$7.74
I used a $1/1 Scott ManuQ(Sunday inserts).....$7.74-$1=$6.74
I used $6 in +Up Rewards and paid .74¢ OOP.
And I got the $8 +Up Reward.

Before this transaction this wellness card had 902 pts. on it so getting to 1000 pts. before 12/31 will be a snap......a snap I tell ya!  8-)

Next it was a trip to Target.
Yes, you heard that correctly, "I" went to Target of all places.
Let's just say that I NEVER go to Target!
Not after I had a dreadful experience there trying to use coupons in 2009 or so.

Well you could have knocked me over with an IPQ I was so shocked to have a very good experience this time.
The store has changed a bit and doesn't throw off the negative energy like it did before.
That and the shelves were not bare from other people running the deals and even though it was a Saturday afternoon the place wasn't uber crowded....not even a little crowded.
And the cashier was friendly and knew the coupon policy.
Oh my heart......

I may just add Target back into my shopping rotation of stores again.  I don't think the deals are as good as some other places usually and it requires me to go down into the city so I won't be going there much.
But it's back on the list.

Here are the deals I did there today--
I had a $5 gift card from a many years old deal I did there back in 2009.
I also had a $25 gift card that #2 Son gave me this Summer.

Transaction #1

2 x Playtex tampons on sale $6.99=$13.98
I got a $5 gift card back for buying this.

5 x Lysol toilet cleaner on sale $1.97=$9.85
I got a $5 gift card back for buying this.
Subtotal.....$23.83

Coupons Used
2 x $3/1 Playtex item IPQ(nla)=$6.00
1 x $1/2 Playtex items Target IPQ(on their website)=$1.00
2 x .50/2 Lysol Toilet Cleaner IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$8.00

$23.83-$8.00=$15.83

I used the old $5 gift card making the total $10.83.
I used part of the $25 gift card to pay the balance of $11.01($10.83+.18¢ tax)
Zero OOP and 2 new $5 gift cards.

Transaction #2

2 x Playtex tampons on sale=$13.98
I got a $5 gift card for buying these items.

Coupons Used
2 x $3/1 Playtex items IPQ(it reset on coupons dotcom)=$6.00
1 x $1/2 Playtex items Target Q(website)=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$7.00

$13.98-$7.00=$6.98
I used $5 gift card gotten for buying the first set of tampons(transaction #1).....$6.98-$5.00=$1.98+.11¢tax=$2.09 put on what was left on the $25 gift card so ZERO OOP again.
And I have another $5 gift card.

Going into the following transaction I had $10 in $5 gift cards left.

Transaction #3

6 x Starbucks bags of Coffee on sale $6.99=$41.94
I received 2 x $5 in gift cards for buying these items.

Coupons Used
1 x $4/2 Starbucks coffee items(nla)=$4.00
2 x $2/2 Starbucks coffee items(coupons dotcom)=$4.00
Coupon Total.....$8.00

$41.94-$8.00=$33.94
I used the 2 x $5 gift cards......$33.94-$10.00=$23.94(no tax on food)
I used what was left on the $25 gift card($11.90)& paid $12.04 cash OOP.

And I have $10 in gift cards left.

After gift cards I got and coupons, the tampons were .99¢ a box, the toilet cleaner was .77¢ a bottle and the coffee was $3.99 a bag.
The tampons are for Daughter, the toilet cleaner for us and the coffee for Hubs so everything was needed and/or wanted and will get used.

Goods worth $91.75 reg. retail for $12.04 OOP and $10 in gift cards at Target.

We also picked up some clearance clothing(for Hubs and #2 Son)and 2 packages of no nitrites OM hot dogs on clearance for $3 a package so an additional $6 of the food budget did get spent as well.

Total all food & toiletries OOP today.....$18.78

Did you get any good deals at the stores this week?

Sluggy