Frugal Friday....the November 13th Edition

 Before I get to what passed for frugal this week I want to clear up that yes, we get paid to work the voting polls here in PA but it's a nominal amount.  Sort of like jury duty pay but a little better, but still not commensurate for the time you spend in training classes and the aggravation of dealing with some of the public. ;-)

So what frugalicious things happened here in Sluggy's world this past week?

*  Until Thursday our heat was still off due to a week+ long heat spell that was uncharacteristic for November in NEPA.  Saving on electricity for heating?  Yes please!

*  I did a couple deals at Rite-Aid this week.  Using the $10 off $30 Load2Card Qs in two accounts made both these transactions small moneymakers, which grew my Bonus Cash a bit in preparation for some Black Friday shopping there.......

See previous Rite-Aid posts from earlier in the week for details.

*  I went to Ollie's(Good Stuff Cheap!)on Wednesday in the town South of us to use Hubs' 15% discount they mailed him.  I picked up 2 Xmas gifts and 1 stocking stuffer for real cheap.  As far as food goes I spent $9.13 on food there as well-4 cans of chili for Hubs, a box of pasta, some pita chips, a 4 pack of protein shakes and a teriyaki taco kit.

*  I also hit CVS which was right down the road from Ollie's and got all this for .03¢...

See previous post for details.

*  I got another $5 Bonus on my Ibotta account this week so between Walmart and Weis I bought 12 items so I could get that bonus--at Walmart; a jar of Ragu, 4 jars of Gerber baby food(for the food bank), a container of Fage sour cream, the Free GV green beans(finally found them!), free 2 ltr Pepsi Zero Sugar, 6 tins of wet dog Food, a box of Lipton tea bags, 2 boxes of CrunchMaster crackers(plus 2 x .10¢ any item rebates)and at Weis; a 12 pack of Bella dog food, 4 boxes of Scotties facial tissues, a container of Keebler cookies(for Ex-CB)and a bottle of St. Joseph baby aspirin(plus a .10¢ any item rebate for dog food there). Between the $9.29 in rebates at Walmart and the $3.85 at Weis and the $5 Bonus I got back $18.14 of my $22.63(after using coupons)I spent making these 12 items $5.34 total OOP.

*  I found money!

This .02¢ was found in the parking lot next to my car at Rite-Aid last Friday.

I hit two different Rite-Aids on Monday.  I found the penny at one store at the register counter and the nickel at the other store, on the base of a refrigerated drink case between their registers.

I found another penny on Wednesday at the Pharmacy counter when I went to pick up Hubs' Rx.

And on Thursday I found these two pennies at Rite-Aid(of course!)in the prime hunting spot under the candy racks by the front registers.

Total Found Money This Week...  .11¢
Total Found Money This Year so Far...$50.94  

*  On my trip to the town South of here I was in need of gas for my car so I made a point to check all the signs at the gas stations I passed on the way down.  I stopped on the way home at the cheapest station-a Sunoco with regular unleaded gas for $2.27 gal.  With my Sunoco card discount it was $2.22 per gal.
The various stations were all over the place in price, from $2.49 at one Sunoco to $2.27 at the station I filled up at, as well as another station where I wouldn't get a discount.

*  I had bought a Lean Cuisine(a type I like and have bought/eaten many times before).  This one was substandard in my opinion.  The sauce was very runny and had no taste.  So I emailed the company a week or so ago, to complain and also give them the lot # off the box so they could look into the matter.

An envelope arrived in the mail on Monday from the company.  In it were 2 FREE item Qs as well as 4 other ¢ off Qs for various types of their frozen meals.

That's about it for this past week.

What frugal goodness happened in your world?  Tell us all about it!

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....June 30th Edition

So what thrifty things got done around Chez Sluggy you ask?
Here's the list.........

*  I hit two more Rite-Aids yesterday for more water as I was out near both stores on errands.
Can you say FREE water?

8 bottles from each store, so I am up to 20 bottles.  If I can find 4 more bottles at my local store today when I am there picking up an Rx that will make 24 in total. These will be lovely to take on our road trip this Summer.

*  I made $1!

I used to be a Nielsen grocery scanner person years ago.  They sent me an offer to join some radio study along with a crisp, new dollar bill inside the envelope.
We will pass on being in the study/survey but yes, we will take and thank them for the FREE MONEY! 8-)))
This just shows that it does pay to open all the junk mail you get.  ;-)

*  We had a bag of apples that needed using up since it's been hanging around here for so long.  Daughter was suppose to use them while I was in VA but she didn't.

We've gotten some cool days so last Saturday I made a massive apple pie. I also made a carrot cake using ingredients I had on hand. The pie is gone now but we still have some cake left.  The cake is good without any frosting too(though Daughter made me frost it).

*  Bath & Body Works had a semi-annual 75% off Sale earlier in June plus I had a $10 off $40 coupon to use.  I decided to pick up some Xmas presents.

$5 for $13 lotion and body washes for someone on my shopping list.
This Aromatherapy line at BBW hardly ever goes on sale for so cheaply. It was awesome to pick up for that price.
I also treated myself to some body wash and a candle.
7 items in total for under $40 after shipping and tax.

*  Our deck swing's awning is a rough shape.  It's old and I've already repaired it a couple of years ago.  I need the shade of that awning in the Summer to sit on the swing to not get burned up.

Before--

And here's the After--

It's not a great looking repair but if it holds up for the season I'll be happy if we can get one more Summer out of this swing and awning.  I can't remember exactly but we bought the swing the year we had the deck put up so it's at least 10 years old?.....maybe older.  Glad we have gotten our monies worth out of it at any rate and happier still not to have to shell out money for a new one yet.


*  I've been picking up household/food items for College Boy's apartment needs when he goes back to school in August.  By fitting them into my weekly shopping money/budget it won't seem such the money stretch if I were to wait and buy all what he needs/wants the week before we pack him off.

So far in June I have..........
2 skillet dinner kits
2 dish soap
1 bottle bathroom cleaner
6 bags of coffee
2 bottles of ketchup
8 boxes of cereal
3 boxes of lotion tissues

This doesn't count the stuff I already have for him like; tp, detergent, reg. tissues, shampoo, deodorant, trash bags, paper towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes,etc.  You get the idea.
I should sit him down and make a needs list now and populate it with the stuff we still need to procure to take back to college with him so I have something to work off of once we return from our road trip in August.....if there is still anything we need to get at that point.

*  I sent away for this freebie.........

A coupon for a free bottle of iced tea.
We can always find a use for free iced tea here. ;-)

*  So glad I had the Hubs put in at least some of a garden while I was in VA.  It's been growing well(except for the green bean plants)and the maters and cukes have opened blossoms now.

Before--end of May

After--end of June

And some of the yellow squash plants I started in the half barrels at either end of the garden bed sprouted and are also growing now.  Free fresh home grown veggies are awesome, aren't they?

That's about it for here for frugal lately.
What's been going on around your house?


Sluggy

Guess Who Went to Rite-Aid Last Week?

Why, yes I did!

I know I said that I was on a break from Rite-Aid pillaging but I had 4 free item coupons that expired Sept. 30th.

First I need to update my Grand Totals for September Single Check Rebate Period.
I only darkened Rite-Aid's door 1 time during that SCR Period.
You can just go HERE if you want to see my numbers for September.

I am starting October with no +Up Rewards at all.  It's still hard to wrap my brain around being +Up-less....lol
So into Rite-Aid I went on Thursday afternoon, the 30th, and came out with this.....

4 x Pantene Conditioner on sale $4=$16.00
1 x Cella cherry w/20% wellness discount=$.26
SubTotal....$16.26

Coupons Used
4 x Free Pantene item up to $4.99 ManuQs(homemailers)=$16.00
Coupon Total.....$16.00

$16.26-$16.00=$.26 OOP which I put on my Rite-Aid gift card.

THIS TRIP
Number of Transactions.....1
Total Spent....$.26 put on free gift card
Value of Items....$21.49
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$0.00
+Up Rewards earned...$0.00
+Up Rewards spent.....$0.00
+Up Rewards left to spend.....$0.00
And I have $32.39 left on my gift card.

And now, the monthly totals so far.
Rite-Aid GRAND TOTALS--OCTOBER Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......1
Total Spent....$.26 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Number of Items purchased.....1
Value of Items purchased....$21.49
SCR qualified for....$0.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for September SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 9/6.....$0.00
+Up Rewards spent....$0.00
+Up Rewards earned....$0.00
+Up Rewards left....$0.00  includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period

Analysis-- Obviously I needed to use these FREE Qs up before they expired.  I kept waiting for a Get X+Ups WYB XX Deal to come up at Rite-Aid involving Pantene during this time to get more bang for my(their) buck,  but it didn't happen.
Bleh.
I bought conditioner not 'poo.  I have tubs and tubs of 'poo.
Of course, because of this, #2 son decides he NEEDS conditioner for his hair.....of which I have none.
This lot of bottles hopefully will last until I can get more for free or he gets a job and buys his own, but I am not holding my breath on option 2 happening.  >_<

While I didn't need to buy that filler cherry thing, not having a $0 transaction at the register means managers need NOT be called to give me the stink eye and press a button to ok the transaction.  Throw in a cherry and everyone goes away happily flying under the radar. lol

Now I was perfectly happy with this transaction and not jumping back on the Rite-Aid Crazy Train until I saw THIS Rebate.

Everyone is using the $8/2 CoverGirl ManuQ that came in Sunday's P&G insert to get well on the way to the $50 worth of product to qualify for this by doing the "Spend $30 Get $10 +Ups Deal".  Buying tons of make-up doesn't stir my heart and Venus razors or so pricey, but........Pantene is also included in the Pink Rebate.  And the begin date is 9/1/11, which means the $16 in Pantene I just bought qualities for this rebate if I care to give it a whirl.
Hmmmm.....I only need $34 more and there is that "Spend $30 get $10+Ups deal" at Rite-Aid, but I don't have 4 of the $8/2 CoverGirl Qs, only 2.
Now my eye is twitching and I fall asleep amidst thinking up scenarios in my head....

Sluggy

Rite-Aid 9/20 thru 9/26 Deals What I Bought on Thursday.....

Finishing off the Diaper Deal....

2 x Huggies Diapers @$11=$22.00
2 x Wheat Thins on sale @.99¢=$1.98
1 x Water Bottle=.99¢
1 x Trident Sugar-Free=$1.29
Subtotal  $26.26

Coupons Used
1 x $5/$25 Rite-Aid Q=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Rite-Aid AdPerks Q=$4.00
1 x $3/1 Huggies Q=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Huggies Q=$2.00
1 x FREE Water Bottle Q=.99¢(From Oral Care Booklet Offer)
1 x FREE Trident Q=$1.49(From Oral Care Booklet Offer)
Coupons Total  $16.48

$26.26-$16.48=$9.78

$7.08 on Gift Card=$2.70OOP

I had 2 Wheat Thins IP Qs to use but they were for $1/1.  They beeped as the Wheat Thins were on sale for 99¢.  The cashier told me I couldn't use the Qs because they were for the big size boxes.
Um, NO!  The Qs had NO size limit on them.  She either didn't want to or didn't know or know how to adjust the Qs down manually.  This was at a Rite-Aid distant from my town that I had never been in before.
After I accessed the situation, I decided that it was a case of what Glenn Beck would call, "Arguing with Idiots", so I just didn't push it further and took my 2 Qs back.  My OOP would have been less than $1 but hey....some times it's worth your sanity & stress levels to just pay the $2 extra and get on with your life.  ;-))

So I'm OOP for the 2 Diaper Deal Transactions $2.80.  I'll be getting back $10(SCR#4),$6.99(SCR#23)& $1.00(SCR#90)=$17.99.

Total OOP for the month so far...$2.80
Total SCRebates due for the month so far...$33.99
Total Gift of Savings Certificate earned so far...$15.00($9.12 more to spend for the $20 Cert.)
Total CareGiver's Rebate due for 3 Diapers....$2.25
$51.24 gain-$2.80 loss=$48.44 PROFIT
Plus I have 3 jumbo packs of diapers to sell, so at least another $15 potential Profit!

I am considering purchasing $40 worth of Nexus products by Saturday night and submitting for the rebate under my BIL account.  Buy $10 in Nexus and you get SCRebate for $5.  You can do this rebate 4 times.  $40 of Nexxus=$20 Rebate.
Even though I don't have any Nexxus Qs, there are 2 RiteAid AdPerk Qs(a $3 & a $4 one).  Buy 4 products totally at least $40 in 2 transactions, use 2 of each AdPerks Qs($14), 2 Rite-Aid $5/25 Qs($10)and use some of the FREE ITEM Qs from my Oral Care Booklet to get my 2 transactions to $25 ea.
$50-approx.$36in Qs=approx. $14OOP with $20 Nexxus Rebates=$6Moneymaker?
I'll run the numbers on this deal some more  & see if it's worth doing.

I am so lovin' me some Rite-Aid this month!!

Sluggy

Toilet Paper Beat the Clock

I was able to chisel down the stack of Marcal Small Steps Qs a bit today.

The K-Mart stops were Not very fruitful, but I did get a few Paper Towel Packs.

At the local chain grocer I was able to use up the Facial Tissue Qs. And I almost cleared the shelf of the regional chain grocer in Teeny Tiny Town tonight of single T.P. rolls.



Here is the updated photo of the stacks....

I'm down to....

15 $4 item Qs(good for paper towel 3packs or t.p. 4 packs)

42 $1 item Qs(good for single rolls or facial tissue boxes on sale for $1)

29 $1 off Qs(good on 2 ct. paper towels, 4 roll t.p. packs or more-13 good on napkins also)

Total-86 Qs left to use.

Time left to use them in-3 days.

I'm not worried about the $1/1 Qs but....Must-Spend-FREE-item-Qs.....Must-Spend-FREE-item-Qs.....Must-Spend-FREE-item-Qs.....

Tune in tomorrow for the latest report....

Sluggy