Frugal Friday.....the April 18th Edition

Here are the frugal wins for this past week....

*  I love finding marked down foods at Kroger(this really doesn't happen at Walmart).  There was a digital coupon for $1.99 strawberries this past week so I bought the limit of 5 lbs.  Some marked down broccoli, green beans and air fryer Brussels Sprouts were procured as well.  I also bought a few things to donate for Bingo prizes at my Group Therapy that also had Ibotta rebates for them

.

*  We had to buy 2 pairs of curtains as I am not leaving my curtains in those rooms.  We went to Ollie's and I picked up two different sets of curtains.  One was a Pioneer Woman brand(I don't care her show but I liked these curtains anyway.  The package said there was one panel inside so I bought two packs.

Come to find out that there were  TWO panels in a packaged so each pack covered one window.

Since I opened the second pack I now have a set for myself.  I had debated in the store about buying a set to take to PA but decided against it.  Turns out I didn't need to! 8-)

And they were only $4.99 a set!

*  We used up some more pantry items as well.  The less we have to move the better.  We went through the pantry last weekend and Hubs took a large donation to the food bank. 

*  Goodwill also got a large donation of goods we don't need any longer and don't use.  I think there will be one more trip to Goodwill plus they will send a truck to pick up some furniture next week.

*  I sold some toiletries locally finally.  You would thing with the financial uncertainly lately and with people getting tax refunds they'd jump at the chance to buy new toiletries, etc. for pennies on the dollar.

People here are so flaky and won't commit.  I didn't have this problem up in PA.

*  We are going to have stuff left in the freezer still once we are ready to bug out as I did 't stop buying frozen foods soon enough.  Hubs arranged to have a neighbor who has helped us out before take what we don't eat.  He's got 5 freezers and 2 are empty.(He hunts and fishes.)  What will be left won't even fill 1 of those freezers but I am happy to give him what we can't eat.  I'll have 7 packs of butter so come and get it Kim and Kay! lolz

This neighbor is also going to mow the grass for us until the house sells.  This is the least I can do for him and his wife.

*  It's been quite warm here so the heat has been off most days.  We had to put the a/c on some days for a time.  This house is very well insulated and keeps in the heat or a/c.

* Entertainment last week was some tv shows, You Tube, sitting on the deck reading when the pollen isn't so high. I've also been sorting through items and packing.....don't know if that is "fun" but if it gets me out of here, I'll call it fun! 8-)))

*  I found money!

I found .01¢ at Kroger on Friday.

I found 3 pennies in Walmart on the way out of the store on Sunday.

I found a quarter in the parking lot at a dr.'s office on Thursday when I went to meet someone locally to sell some toiletries.

Found Money This Week..... .29¢

Grand Total Found in 2025....$2.63

That's all I got.

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

Sluggy       

Frugal Friday...the March 21st Edition

Here are the frugal wins for this past week....

*  I love finding marked down foods at Kroger(this really doesn't happen at Walmart).  I only did a small shop at Kroger so far this week...picking up 3 4-packs of clearance Activia yogurt, 2 marked down salad kits, a couple of sweet potatoes and strawberries.

*  We used up some pantry items as well.  I have had a craving for corn pudding.  It's not on my "diet" but I can splurge now and again since I haven't made and eaten it in 3 years.  We just needed sour cream(bought that at Kroger on sale)and I only had a small portion so no worries.  4

*  We also had no food waste last week.  We even used a rotting apple to catch an opossum in a trap.

*  There was no eating out this past week.  

*  We took a load to the food bank.  Maybe one more trip there before we leave Lousyana.  It all depends on what deals I can find that we won't use before we leave.  Part of the next food bank donation will be courtesy of reader Diane R. 8-)))

*  It's been warm here so the heat had been off during the day.  The "Cajun Pony Express"(which is what we call the mail service here)lost our electric bill payment for February, so we had to pay it again online(and pay a "convenience fee" for the honor.)  Eventually the mailed ;payment showed up so now we have a large credit toward March's bill and it should cover a piece of April's bill too.  

*  Entertainment last week was free tv, YouTube watching, sitting on the deck reading or doing genealogy.  I've got two books in process--a biography of Roger Daltery of the "Who" and a book on Jesse James, who is one of my ancestral cousins so watch yourself around me! ;-)  

*  I found money!

Two pennies found in the dryer on Sunday when I did laundry.  Finders Keepers, right? 

          

Found Money This Week.....02¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$1.13

That's all I got.

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

Sluggy    

Frugal Friday....the Nov. 29th Edition

There are some Frugal wins over the past week.....

Here are our frugal wins for this past week......

*  I got my Coat in the mail last week that I ordered....

It was a great price plus it's Purple!

This will be the very last thing I buy from this company however.  They are forcing paperless billing on me or now charging me $2.99 for each statement I get.  I called and closed my account telling them I don't appreciate being charged money for the honor of buying things from them.  One less credit account and temptation to spend money, right? 

*  I got Hubs Christmas gift via Amazon..........

His luggage was getting raggedy and his favorite color is orange and these American Tourister bags fit the bill.  I used Amazon credit so nothing out of pocket.  I gave it to him early so he can use it on our trip to SC and VA.  8-)))

*  All that shopping for the food bank got taken in..........

Lots of goodness.

This makes our second trip with stuff to the food bank in November.

*  We hit Ollie's after dropping off the food bank donation.....

The Truvia and the Power Sheets laundry box weren't Ollie's(Kroger)but everything else was stuff I bought at Ollie's.  The canned Beets were 75% off even!  I should have bought more of those....

*  I hit my $3 Midweek Moneymaker & my $3 Weekend Warrior Bonuses on Ibotta and I used a free $20 gift card at Walmart to purchase items we needed to get to my Bonus targets.

*  We also had no food waste last week.  We ate everything or put it in the freezer .

*  Entertainment last week was free tv or playing with the dogs.

*  This week was time to get my Rock Star drinks.  Bought them at Walmart, making this a $3.76 Moneymaker after my rebate.

*  I found money!  

I was in Dollar General last Saturday(using my $5 off $25 coupon)and found these two pennies inside the store.

If you don't go much of anywhere you can't find money, right? lol

Total Found last week..... .02¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$9.36 & 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 Nov. 15th Edition

There are some Frugal wins over the past week.....

*  I had 2 PT sessions this week and I am done with PT now.  These sessions were free to me.

*  We sat down and worked out what Part D Medicare plan to choose.  Since Part D rules changed for 2025 I had many more plans to chose from that covered my one  expensive medicine, meaning I don't have to pay as much for my meds.

*  I picked up these new plant based Reese's cup bags.

They were in the clearance bin at Kroger(I guess they weren't very popular)marked down to $1.37 and I had $1.75 rebates for them so I made money on these, $1.14 to be exact.

*  I picked up this stuff at Walmart early in the week....

I am keeping the toilet bowl cleaner, the Glade air spray, the bag of cornbread mix and the cough drops.  The Truvia brown sugar is for my sister in-law and the rest is for the food bank.

*  I did some more shopping for the food bank..........

We are just keeping the little 3 pack of dog food in this lot.

I hit my big $30 Bonus and my $5 Midweek Moneymaker Bonus with this shopping trip which bulked up my rebating monies.

*  We did no eating out last week.

*  We also had no food waste last week.

*  The a/c and heat were not used most days again this week and our electric bill is liking this weather. 8-)))

*  Made what seems to be my last trip to the Dermatologist in MS.  I am stable on my meds so she has approval to do Telehealth appointments with me. rah

I will miss the little bag of freebies she gives me.  I think she feels sorry that I have to drive 7+ hours roundtrip for an appointment.

*  I found money!  

I found a dime inside the Walmart and a penny outside there in the parking lot.

I found a penny in the parking lot of the truck stop near the dog park on Monday.

Total Found last week..... .12¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$9.19 & 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......October 25th Edition

There are a few Frugal wins over the past week.....

Got 4 boxes of cereal for the food bank this past week--

On sale for $1.99 with $1 back on Ibotta so $3.96 OOP total.  Another item for the Food Bank.  Kids need kid food sometimes, even if they are poor and going to the food bank.

Got some more items between Kroger and Walmart last week.....

A free AirWick warmer, 2 bags of Beggin' Strips for $1.40 each, 2 3-packs of Beneful dog food for $1.24 each, 3 single cans of Beneful for .48¢ each, 2 Gatorade Zeros for $1.50 each, 3 Flavortown Sauces for .99¢ each, 5 packets of hot cocoa for .35¢ each, a Degree deodorant for .99¢, 2 Mayos for $2.98 total, a Bachan Japanese sauce on clearance and part of the Kroger mega event for $2.23 and 2 bottle of Melatonin BOGO and coupon for $2.99 together.

I forgot to include the 2 boxes of Annie's Super Mac for .99¢ total, 4 Kinder bars for negative $1.24, marked down 4-pack corn on the cob for $1.58, On the Border salsa for $1.58. 3 lbs. of strawberries for $5 total, 1 lb. of butter for $2.49 and a pack of Airborne tablets for $3.27.

The Flavor Town sauces, the deodorant and the hot cocoa are for the Food Bank too.

*  Not much else going on here.  Home health has been coming 3 x a week for the wound on my calf and I'm still using a hospital bed in order to sleep comfortably.

I hope to resume PT next week as the Wound Doc will be releasing me from care. rah

We've had the a/c off some days and certainly don't need to put the heat on because this is Hell's Front Porch.  I laugh when I hear folks down here say it's so cold.  Honey, you have no clue what cold is if you've never been in the North in Winter. lol

My typing and writing is improving but still not back to normal.  I'm keeping at it. ;-)

*  I ordered 2 of my Rxs and they were free as I hit my deductible so much earlier  in the year.

*  I found money!  

Well no, no monies were found this past week.  It's hard to find money when you don't go anywhere.....well I did go to Kroger and Walmart but alas, no coins found.

Total Found last week..... .00¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$8.68 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got and all I can do right now.

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

Sluggy   

Rebate Shopping on Monday

 I hit up Walmart on Monday and did some rebate shopping well before Beryl hit and reeked havoc here.

It wasn't a very large shop but it turned out well.

1 x Hemp Protein Powder $7.82
1 x Skyy Vodka $14.98
2 x Old Spice Gentlemen's Body Wash  $25.94
2 X Old Spice Total Body Deodorant $16.00
2 x U Kotex liners $6.96
6 x Cesar wet dog food $5.88
Total was $77.58

I used a free $25 Walmart gift card making this $52.58 OOP
I got back....

*$32.00 from Ibotta
*$3.00 from Swag Bucks
*$3.00 from Shopmium
*$13.04 from Shop Kicks
Total rebates came to $51.05 so I am $1.54 OOP after I get back all that.

The Kotex is headed to the Food Bank...maybe the Hemp Powder as I really don't make pancakes or baked goods anymore.  The dog food is for our puppies.  The Old Spice items will be sold locally.  The vodka is for making my own vanilla if I can remember where I put those Vanilla Bean Pods I have. ;-)

Sluggy

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     

 

Frugal Friday.....the June 21st Edition

There are a few Frugal wins over the past week.

*   Picked up prescriptions at Walmart with no money OOP.  Filling that Humira prescription the first time put me in the Catastrophic category so I pay nothing for medications until the year ends and everything resets.

*  Every PT session I grab a bottle of water from the fridge there.  So free 14 bottles of water so far and counting. 8-)

*  I hit up Walmart on Tuesday after PT........

10 x Cesar wet dog food for $9.80.

2 x G-Fuel drink mix sticks for $13.96

That's $23.76 spent.

I got back $7 on Ibotta, $8.26 worth of points on Shop Kick, $4 on Shopmium, $4 worth of credit on Alexa and $6.98 on VTAGZ for the G-Fuel or $30.24 in cash and credits.

I bought all this at my local Walmart that same day.....

2 x Gatorade Water=$3.36

2 x Beggin' Strips=$6.96

2 x Carefree Pads=$17.46

5 x Dove Hand Soap=$24.85

1 x Colgate Toothpaste=$4.96

1 x Barilla Pasta=$2.52

1 x Soft Scrub Toilet Cubes=$3.77

1 x Soft Scrub Cleaner=$3.27

1 x Dial Body Wash=$3.97

Total....$43.98 after using a free $25 gift card and $7.25 in coupons.

I received back $33.25 Ibotta, $4.12 Shop Kick, $6.00 Shopmium, $3.63 OTC Offer, $5.00 Alexa credit, $4.25 Swag Bucks and $9.50 on Fetch or $65.75 in cash or credits making all this a $21.77 moneymaker.

The pads, pasta, toothpaste and body wash will go to the food bank.

*  Remember that $20 gift card we won at Trivia last week?.....

Well we went back for trivia on Tuesday and the freaking place was closed!  They closed up that day and never notified anyone or even put a sign on the door.  Great!  We win a gift card and now we can't even use it.

So this regional chain only has one location open now so we drove there Wednesday to use the card and play trivia. 

*  So we drove to the bar's other location on Wednesday for trivia and to use this gift card.  This is their last location.  And even though I was scared now to win, we got 3rd place! lol

*  On the way home from the closed bar Tuesday evening, we stopped at CVS so I could use my $5 in ECBs......

2 x Garnier Shampoo on sale=$8.00

1 x Cereal on sale=$1.99

I used a $4/2 Garnier Q and paid with my $5 ECB and .63¢.

I earned back a $2 ECB for the shampoo. Agh, another trip to CVS is on my horizon now. ;-)

This pictured is all bound for the food bank.

*  After PT on Thursday I stopped at where else? Walmart and picked up all this....

1 x Old Spice deo=$12.97

2 x Dove Shampoo=$11.96

2 x Clorox toilet cleaner=$5.36

1 x Crest toothpaste=$8.97

6 x Cesar dog food=$5.88

1 x Bactine liquid bandage=$5.97

2 x Splenda liquid sweetener=$6.99

Total.....$58.10

The only items bought at Kroger were the Splendas, they were BOGO and I got $4.10 from Ibotta(2 x $2 Splenda and a .10¢ any sugar substitute offer).  Plus these were bought on Wednesday got me to my $5 Midweek Bonus.

The rest of the rebates/credits were $22.99 Ibotta(including a $3 Weekend Bonus), $13.34 Shop Kick, $1.50 Shopmium, $4.00 Alexa, $8.50 Swag Bucks, $4.00 TaDa and $2.50 on Fetch.  $60.93 in rebates in total so a $2.83 moneymaker in total on all that.

The deodorant, toothpaste and shampoo will all go to the food bank.

*  As for Kroger and my KCB account...it continues to be a f**king cluster!  The last phone call was with "Charleen" and she can't find the $3.30 from 5/17 or the $12.50  I am owed from 5/19.  She can only see I didn't get a .75¢ KCB offer and put a ticket in.

On Wednesday I get a Korporate form letter from "Mherie Ruth".  After checking with the KCB team it shows that "the offer has already been redeemed on 05/19/2024 with 2 total redemptions".  WTF!  This tells me nothing....no specifics or identifying information.  It's just word salad.  Then she goes on to tell me how to send my KCB to my shopper's card.  I am not an idiot....I know full well how to do that!  That is not the problem.  So I responded in kind and just laid them out as the worthless pieces of sh*t they are.  ALL the items I didn't get back KCB for are going back to the store(except for the Tortilla chips Hubs ate lol)and I am done with this totally dysfunctional operation.  They would rather dance around customers and talk nonsense to them than Fix. Their. System!  This is a major corporation and there is no excuse for offering a system, making a customer jump through hoops to comply with this system and then deny the customer what they are owed.  Ridiculous.

*  I saw a new neurologist this week.  She is on the ball and gave me the thumbs up to fly to VA and try to have that Focused Ultrasound Procedure.  She doubled the amount of meds I was on for ET too as I was severely under medicated for the condition.   I have now transitioned away from that crappy Healthcare System to a new one that is competent.  I am so relieved!

*  I found money!

I found two pennies in Walmart when I went in to return something on Saturday.  1 penny by the CS desk and another by a self-checkout machine.

This penny was found in a different Walmart on Tuesday.

This penny was found in CVS on Tuesday evening by their self-checkout.

This penny was found on the carpet by the vending machines at PT.  I got there early so used the restroom and spied this coin.

And then I found this dime at the Walmart by PT under one of the self-checkout machines.

Total Found last week.... .15¢ 

Grand Total Found this Year.......$5.11 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got.  

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

Sluggy