Frugal Friday....the June 28th Edition

There are a few Frugal wins over the past week.

*   I grabbed a few freebies at Walmart this week......

The pads and toothpaste are headed to the food bank.  The Winged Wellness gummies, the Mushroom gummies and "Wonder Gut" I am keeping and all had full price rebates on them(well not the Wonder Gut).  The Shepherd's Pie was an "The Insiders" offer I qualified for...cost $5.98 and I am suppose to get a $15 electronic debit card.

*  About those electronic debit cards--seems you can't combine them with another form of payment if the amount on the EDC doesn't cover what you are trying to purchase(at least not on Amazon or Walmart, etc. as I have tried).  So you need to track what you spend and find something that, after tax included hits or comes close to but not over the amount on the card.  The last time I had one of these EDCs it had $30 loaded on it and after buying 2 items I had $2.14 left on it.  I figured I wasn't going to have that card expire with $2.14 still on it(these debit cards have about 6 months of life).  I actually found something for $2.14 including sales tax to LA the other day so ordered it.  It's something I'll either give as a gift or put in a giveaway box in the Fall(too hot here to mail anything that might melt in this heat and humidity now).

*  Every PT session I grab a bottle of water from the fridge there.  So free 16 bottles of water total. 8-)

*  I went back to the Orthopedist for my shoulders.  Still having pain in the left one(PT and continuing to do exercises at home seems to have helped the right one)so I got a steroid injection in my left AC joint.  I am bruised and still sore where it was administered but hopefully this will give me some relieve(this and avoided doing certain actions with my left arm).  The AC joint is full up with arthritis inflammation, and it's right where my bra strap sits so going braless seems to help as well.  Good thing I don't go much of anywhere and can stay home and not wear one of those torturous devices. lol

*  I also did a little Kroger shopping on Tuesday.....

In preparation for being at my brother's house in VA, where I won't have a car and they eat a strange diet(due to medical issues), so I don't know what they will have I can consume, I bought 5 boxes of protein bars plus 3 single bars.  The Dave's Killer Bread bars were on sale(and had a coupon and a rebate, which made them free), the singles were part of the Mega Sale and the 2 Annie's boxes and 2 Fiber One boxes were on clearance(and both had rebates making them ultra cheap-$1.04 each for the Annie's and $1.77 each for the Fiber One).  The breakfast cereal and 3 toothpastes were for the food bank and the box of cookies were for Hubs(plus had a coupon and rebate making it $1.79).  The Knorr noodle cups were on sale and had Shop Kick offers making them .89¢ each, the Excedrin Head Care(no NSAID in it, just melatonin and other "herbs")was .49¢ after clearance sale + $3 digital Q and $3 Swag Bucks offer.  The double pack of Voltaren was 50% off on clearance and it's something we can use with my shoulder issues so I gladly spent $17.49 on that.  The Duke's soap & body wash was on clearance for $3.52 each and had $1.75 on each in Ibotta rebates and a matching $1.75 off each KCB(who knows if that will ever show up!)so were .02¢ if the KCB does magically appear. lol  I'll either sell or donate those toiletry items so they are not counted in my grocery tab.

We did spend on 2 packs of Klondike ice cream sandwiches on sale and with Ibotta rebates, a pack of clearance priced trout fillets for Hubs to make when I am gone(I don't care for trout)and an almost half priced with store coupon hunk of salmon.

Also picked up a 2 lb. of strawberries for $2.88(changed my location in the app to get the best coupon deal)and a 4 pack of Dannon yogurt cups on clearance which cost $1.39 after digital coupon.  These regularly go for almost $5 at Kroger!

Also bought were some bagged salads(3 on clearance and 1 on sale)and a cantaloupe, also on sale.  I also picked up a 12 pack of Cesar wet dog food for the little beasties, after coupon was $13.49(plus I got a $1 from Ibotta and I had tracking on Fetch so received another $6 for hitting a threshold there).

*  Remember that $10 gift card for 3rd place we won at Trivia last week?.....

Well we went back for trivia at the new location to us on Wednesday to spend this and not have to go back again.  We didn't try very hard at trivia and there were so many pop culture, video game and Netflix series questions(we don't pay for Netflix)we though for sure we'd not win, place or show(as we don't watch movies, don't have Netflix or other streaming services and don't "do" video games).  There were only 5 teams playing(all of which were much larger than the 2 of us).  One team left after the second round so it was 4 teams competing for 3 gift card prizes.  Even with our dismal showing we got 2nd place!  We played the 15 point bonus round(where you can lose your points if you are wrong)and we got it right, which means 2 other teams either didn't even do the Bonus round or got it wrong.  Even when we try to lose we win if there are so few teams competing.  We were laughing our heads off at the 2nd place win. lolz

*  After PT on Thursday I hit up Walmart for some freebies.........

I am keeping the dog foods only.  The 2 tubes of toothpaste and the swim diapers are going to the food bank.

All this cost me $45.67, well I DID use a free gift card so it actually "cost" me $20.67 OOP.

I received back $45.62 in rebates so it all "cost" me a nickel.  I had a $2/1 paper coupon for the swim diapers which I forgot so it could have been a $1.95 moneymaker.  oh well.

*  Way back on February 14th I texted AARP.  I was already incensed that I was required to join AARP in November of 2023 and hand over $12 to them in order to get a certain Medical Supplement Plan back in January when I became eligible for Medicare, but I realized in February that when you join you are suppose to get a free gift and I wanted that free gift!  So supposedly the agent in text had ordered my free gift of a tote bag on that date and it was shipping out in 3-4 weeks.  Fast forward to June 17th and nothing had arrived nor had I heard word one from AARP on this matter.  So I texted them again and used their quoted words from before on my gift shipping out in 3-4 weeks. This agent looked into the matter and that previous employee had never actually ORDERED the bag!!!  My, that's crackjack customer service for you, isn't it?!  So this new agent assured me the tote bag was ordered and would be on it's way.

Here is what I received this week........

A very small package.

Here's the "Tote Bag" along with 3 copies of a glossy generic thank you card.  Quality control much??

This "tote bag" is about the size of a lunch bag, not the size of what anyone would refer to as a tote bag.  I have tote bags of various kinds and this ain't one.  Maybe I can use it in the Summer when I buy frozen or refrigerated food at the grocery store to "tote" it home.  I think 1 pack of ground beef or a steak will fit into this.

*  I found money!  It wasn't a great week for found coins but at least I didn't get skunked.

On Monday I headed into Walmart to pick up a new Rx from the "real" Neurologist and got a few freebies too.  I found one penny tucked under the pharmacy counter and the other near a self-checkout register before leaving the store.  Go. me.

I also found another penny at a different Walmart in their parking lot on Thursday. rah.

Total Found last week.... .03¢ 

Grand Total Found this Year.......$5.14 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got.   Next "FF" up will be in July.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy     

 

To-Do List....How I Did for May 2024

 

My To-Do List and how I did......

*  Pay Bills  DONE  Always paid first and early or on time

*  Have Bloodwork Done  DONE  Had labs drawn before I saw my PCP in May.  Everything was good.

*  Start Shoulder PT  DONE  Started and continued through May.  

*  Go to 3 Dr. Appointments  DONE  It seems all I do is go to medical appointments.  Saw the PCP, Orthopedic Doc and medical safari to MS to see my Dermatologist.

*  List 12 Items to Sell  FAIL  I just didn't get to this.

*  Take Box to One Kid  DONE  I drove over and left it on the front porch as Daughter didn't even have the courtesy to answer the door.  So I taped a note to her front door and she has made no attempt to contact either of us.  Sad.

*  Finish Arrangements for Trip and Cruise  FAIL  Well, I finished paying for the cruise but we still have to make plans for the flights out to Idaho.

*  List 2 Items on Facebook Marketplace  PASS  I DID  list 2 items on FB Marketplace.  I listed the two derelict boats in the back 40 that the previous owners left here.  I put them up for free.  We don't have the titles to either of these boats but previous owners have not made any attempts to come get them(so they have been abandoned here).  I got deluged with folks wanting one or the other or both, even in the bad conditions they are in and one of the boat trailers has no tires on it.  So Hubs looked up what is involved with actually selling/giving them away legally and it's quite a lot of paperwork involved so we are going to find another way to get rid of them where we don't have to pay fees and such to the state.   So I DID list them but we still have them. 8-((

*  Go Through Old Photos  PASS  I had to go through photos in order to put photos in Daughter's box.  

*  Contact Lawyer with Changes  FAIL  Ran out of time before we left.

*  Read/Finish Two Books  FAIL  Just hadn't felt much like reading.  Some days it's hard to hold a book still enough to read words with this danged Essential Tremor.

*  Buy Stuff for House(Always)  DONE  Hubs bought something, even if it was just kerosene for the burn pile. lol

*  Giveaway/.Donate Clothes That are Salvageable  DONE  I treated all the baby clothes I've been carrying around since the 1990's with Biz and everything that got cleaned went to Goodwill and anything too stained went into the garbage.  I gave each kid the outfit them came home from the hospital in and sent a box of boy clothes to my new Great Nephew, born in March.

As a Bonus I was able to donate some shirts and a new bra to Goodwill too. 8-)

*  Have Bone Density Scan  DONE  That wasn't much of anything other than laying on that hard "bed" at the scanner place.  ouch  Was done with that within 5 minutes and my bones all look dense and good.

*  Take Food to Food Bank  DONE

Everything pictured above got hauled to the Church Food Bank in May.

*  Edit More Photos  DONE  I got more photos on my computer edited but, I came back from the cruise with even more of those type of photos. I don't think I'll every get all these done.  lolz

*  Post About Old Trips  DONE  Worked on the 2017 Trip Out West and got near the end of that saga(finally).

*  Work on Genealogy  DONE  I was contacted by a 3rd cousin 1 x removed on Find A Grave, concerning some work I had done there putting up some memorials of relatives.  I didn't know she was my cousin until we got to corresponding about some errors in my FAG memorial placement.  Perhaps we'll stay in touch once we get this FAG issue hashed out.  We share my 3x GGrandfather Vassar but her Grandmother's maiden name is Snead and she is my 1st cousin 3 x removed too.  See what I mean about having a family macramé and not a family tree. lol

*  Buy Poly Mailers to Ship Fabric  DONE  I ordered and received the poly mailers.  Now I just have to photo and actually list fabric so I can sell and ship it. ugh

*  Photograph Fabric for Listings  PASS  I only got 3 pieces of yardage photographed before the month ended.

May turned out to be a busy month and June is about as busy.

Sluggy

Frugal Friday.....the May 24th Edition

There are a few Frugal wins over the past week.

*  Had two PT sessions this week.  Again, no co-pays.  Man, this gal works me hard too.

*  I hit up Walmart for this on Monday after my Bone Density Scan.....

The Hair Color was $1 on clearance and a $6 moneymaker from Ibotta.  The Raid spray was double attaching on Ibotta each one cost a whole .97¢.  The Carefree pads were a moneymaker of $2.52 after Ibotta and Shopmium.  The Ajax dish soap was .20¢ after Ibotta and Shop Kick.  The Gooey hazelnut spread(think Nutella)was free with a manufacturer's full refund.  The Beneful dog food was on rollback with a .50¢ Ibotta rebate on each so .56¢ for each container.

The hair Color, pads and dish soap are all food bank bound....

A side note-this Walmart has had a complete remodel and revamp, it's also the one where I had an issue using peelie coupons on the produces I was purchasing before we went on the cruise, which turned into a big old ordeal.

When I tried to purchase those clearance hair color items at a self-checkout, the employee manning this area came over and said she couldn't override the reg. price they rang up of $10.96 and I'd have to go to a checkout with a person.  So I did and when I finally got up to be waited on, she couldn't override the full price to ring them up! WTF???  So she had to call whomever was the floor manager at that time and she gave me lip about overriding the price(practically accusing me of putting that clearance sticker on the items!)so I gave it right back at her that if whomever is marking clearance items improperly they need to find that person and TRAIN them on how to properly do that job.  Incredible....  So then that manager had to call for someone else higher on the food change to put the correct price into the register.  Now WHY did that first person tell me to go to a manned register if that person couldn't do the job, and WHY did this floor manager give me attitude and not be helpful.  Hell, those hair colors had been in that store for awhile(boxes were shelf worn)and had gone through various markdowns(multiple clearance stickers under the top one).  I need to avoid this store because whomever is ultimately in charge there is a PITA Prick or worse! *End of rant*

*  As for Kroger and my KCB account...after my call with Rachelle on the 16th, who said she was escalating this issue, I then got an email from "Adam"(I am thoroughly convinced this was an AI "person")on the 18th, asking me again to explain the issue.  I did and I just wanted them to "fix" the KCB thing.  I don't want them to keep offering me store credit, I just want KCB to work and not have to spend time contacting Kroger about the KCB I am owed and don't get.  I am a good squeaky wheel when I want to be. 8-)

I then noticed that 3 of my KCB offers magically appeared in my account, raising my total there to $9.  Great!  They fixed it.....oh no, they didn't.

Then I got an email for "Future" on May 21st.  expressing their concern.  "Future" went on to say  ......"I would be more than happy to assist, however, upon reviewing your case, I was able to confirm that you issue has already been escalated to our technical team. Once resolved, someone should be reaching out to you via email with an update. In the meantime, to make this right, what I have done is applied a $20.00 store credit to your shopper's card which can be used toward future purchases. "

So I went into my KCB account and now it said I had $28 in there......I HAD $9 so if they added $20, it should be $29!  Aaargh!!!

Today I am suppose to get another $3.30 in KCB($2.55 for 3 bags of Garden Veggie Tortilla Chips and .75¢ for 2 Airheads and of course it is NOT showing up.  I feel another call to Kroger tomorrow coming on.  Plus that escalation to the technical team has never resulted in an email or call to me.

You know, I am NOT the only person who has issues with their KCB account.  I guess it's easier for them to throw store credit at squeaky wheel customers than to actually FIX THE SYSTEM!!! *End of 2nd rant*

*  I got a Rakuten Check this week.......

A big fat $6.02.  Oh Boy!  

*  I got an unexpected UPS delivery on Thursday....

A good sized box from the Texas Star Nut Company.

I had purchased a package of their product back in Feb. or Mar. and it was subpar so I wrote to them.

The bag was misleading as it was a "mixed" nuts pack but the bag said, "Cashew Crave".  So I had naturally thought it was a bag of Cashews in various preperations, right?

I had suggested they label it differently as the bag was 3/4 almonds and not cashews.  Some one responded to my email about my concern and offered to send me a bag of any of their products as a goodwill gesture for my disappointment.  I explained that we'd be out of town for an extended time and said not to send anything until we returned.  About 2 weeks ago I remembered this offer and how they had yet to send this free bag of nuts to me so I wrote and remembered them.

I received a nice letter from their customer relations person and SIX bags of nuts!!

Well, they have won me over with this.  While I will still me dubious about any bag of nuts marked "Cashew Crave", I will recommend doing business the Texas Star Nut Co.  You can find them online--https://share.nuts.com/slugmama  

Or if you don't want to use my referral link it's www.nuts.com

*  We have been using food here and eating all the leftovers(except I got a Whopper on Wednesday as it was discounted).  No eating out so far this week.

*  Besides the items for Hubs new diet, I picked up this for the food bank on Wednesday too........

The razors were .47¢ after rebate and coupon and the Iced Latte packets were on clearance for $1.72.  Even people who have to use a food bank deserve a treat now and then. ;-)

*  We went to Kroger after PT on Thursday but I'll recount what we got next Friday as I am so done with this post. lol

*  I found money!

On the 19th I went to DG to buy an Anniversary Card for my Brother and Sister in-law.........

Found this behind my car in the parking lot.

Then on the 20th I found this in Walmart next to a vacant self-checkout register......

Then we dropped off a load at the Food Bank.  I noticed a guy with lots of bags standing at the church entrance on his phone.  He had been there awhile and I assumed he was trying to contact someone for a ride home because it was more than he could carry.  So I offered him a ride and after he got him safely home with all his goodies from the food bank I noticed these at the end of the dirt driveway by his house........

Two more pennies for my found change bag.

On Wednesday I went to Walmart for some items as Hubs had to start a low fiber diet.  I spied this next to my checkout register.......

Another unloved penny.

Then I went to Burger King since it was Whopper Wednesday and the thought of eating leftovers yet again didn't sit right with me.  Their drive through is glacially slow so I walked in to order my $3 Whopper and found this while waiting for it to be prepped....

Another penny....a bit grimy but it washed up well. 8-)

Total Found last week.... .06¢ 

Grand Total Found this Year.......$4.54 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got.  

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy     

Frugal Friday.....the December 8th Edition

There are very few Frugal wins this past week so here goes....

*  I went to PT 3x this past week.   Good thing I've hit all my deductibles and co-pays so I'm not shelling out cash for this service.

*  Grocery shopping this past week for December--didn't do any I can think of.

*  I found money!

On Saturday, I found a penny inside of Walmart and one in the parking lot.  Guess which is which?

Stopped into Dollar General Market on Wednesday for some gift card presents and found this shiny guy at the register.

Total Found in last Week.... .03¢
Total Found this Year.......$3.50

That's all I got.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Blogging will be taking a backseat to getting me healed so there might not be many posts here for the foreseeable future.8-)

Sluggy   

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Glad to Hear from JRE" Edition.....  

I'm happy reader JRE made a comment last week on how she is doing with her TKR post surgery.  I was just about to post something to ask her to give us an update.
I am now 7+ weeks out, still doing PT 3 days a week and am off the walker as of a week ago.  Because of my back/coccyx issues and some neurological issues(causing balance problems)it took me a bit longer to transition to a cane from that blasted walker(plus makes some balance type exercises more difficult).  Off the "good drugs" for a couple to 3 weeks now and just on OTC Tylenol plus Flexeril for my back.  Had the lower back MRI on Saturday at 8 am and waiting to hear something from the dr. on that and where we go from here.  Still no response from my neurologist.  It's been just shy of a month since I failed the EMG test they did.  NO surprise since it took a month of pestering him to get him to respond to me after the brain MRI I had back in August with any information a lay person could understand. sigh

This is day 176 of the new "diet".  Down 52 lbs. since the cruise(not counting the 8 I gained on the cruise and then lost again, which would make it 60 lbs.).  

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week.......

1. Sunday--Faux Thanksgiving at Daughter's House

2. Monday--No Clue

3. Tuesday--No  Clue

4  Wednesday--No Clue

5. Thursday--No Clue

6.  Friday--No Clue

7. Saturday--No Clue

And here's what actually happened........

1. Sunday--Faux Thanksgiving at Daughter's House

2. Monday--BBQ Brisket slice, Baked Sweet Potato

3. Tuesday--Meatloaf, Teriyaki Green Beans

4  Wednesday--Lunch out-Wendy's, no Dinner

5. Thursday--Bowl of Rice Chex, Leftover Meatloaf, Teriyaki Green Beans

6.  Friday--Yogurt w/Granola, big Zalad from Zaxby's, no dinner

7. Saturday--2 Chicken Pot Pies

No going back to old habits and eating patterns for me!

What got taken out of the freezer last week...

*  a Turkey

*  a Hunk of Brisket

*  2 lb. of Ground Beef

*  1 bag of Green Beans

What got put into the freezer last week....

*  sliced up Brisket after it was smoked

Last week we spent $157.53 on grocery shopping for November.  

Grand Total shopping comes to $306.08 for November.   

There are 27 shopping days left in December.

I've earned $209.16 on Ibotta in November.

I've earned $19.49 on Shopmium in November.

I've earned $0 on Alexa app in November.

I've earned $24.05 on Kroger Cash Back in November.

I've earned $46.76 on TaDa in November.

I've earned $9.00 on Checkout51 in November.

I've earned $13.96 on Aisle.

I've earned 4,832 points from food shopping on Fetch in November.

I've earned 2,648 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in November.

I've earned 0 SB from food shopping on Swag Bucks in November.

That is $298.36 in rebates(not counting the Kroger Cash Back/Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $308.06 of grocery spending so in reality it's $7.72 in food spending after the 6 rebate apps I count. 

My savings percentage for the last week was 55.97% and the monthly savings total for November comes in at 64.41% spent.  Nice percentages since we used what was left on that travel stipend card last week.

Leftovers going into this week....a hunk of Meatloaf, 2 small pieces of pumpkin pie(Hubs is eating that), most of 2 pans of homemade rolls(will go into freezer)but no other turkey day leftovers as we didn't bring anything home with us from Daughter's house.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Beer Bratwurst on Roll, Zero Sugar Baked Beans

2. Monday--Veggie Lasagna

3. Tuesday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

4  Wednesday--1/2 Tuna Sub, Salmon, Spinach Soufflè

5. Thursday--1/2 Tuna Sub, small bit of Ice Cream

6.  Friday--leftovers

7. Saturday--No Clue

No menu planning for me now, mostly things Hubs can do.  The meals may not happen on the days noted but they will happen this coming week.  I have earned the right not to, in my mind at this point.  I am giving up control of meals to Hubs.  I will put in requests now and then.

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 last week?

Any deals on food at your stores this week?  

I may post sporadically after this one or I might not, depending on drugs and stuff. 

Sluggy  

Frugal Friday.....the December 1st Edition

There are very few Frugal wins this past week so here goes....

*  I went to PT 3x this past week.   Good thing I've hit all my deductibles and co-pays so I'm not shelling out cash for this service.

*  We got Covid Booster shots on Wednesday.  No cost.

*  Grocery shopping this past week--

We went to a different Walmart on Wednesday and I got all this, mostly dog stuff and cleaning products plus 2 stocking stuffers.  The only "food" was 2 bags of salad toppers.....

Cost OOP was $107.36   I used $35 in gift cards earned with points which brought it all to $69.88.  Then I earned $50.15 on Ibotta, $1.76 on Checkout 51, $1.50 on Shopmium, $6.50 on TaDa, lowering the total to $9.97.  Then I got full refunds for the Would body wash($8.98) and the CleanCult cleaner($4.98), which made this all a $3.99 moneymaker. 8-)

Plus I got 800 Shop Kicks so $3+ closer to earning another free gift card there.

*  I found 2 receipts lying on the ground outside of Walmart.  Submitted both to Fetch and 1 to Ibotta and earned $2.75.  Don't leave money lying on the ground folks!

*  Took advantage of the cruise line's Black Friday sale and booked a trip for next year. Woohoo!

*  I found money!

Nope, skunked again.

Total Found in last Week.... .00¢
Total Found this Year.......$3.47

That's all I got.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Blogging will be taking a backseat to getting me healed so there might not be many posts here for the foreseeable future.8-)

Sluggy