Frugal Friday.....the October 18th Edition

**Don't forget that today is the last day to enter the giveaway.  Use the link HERE.  Entry ends at 11:59 pm ET tonight.**

Now let's see what passed for frugal this past week in Sluggy's World............

* I had to give Kim a ride back to Sissie's house last Friday because Sissie had to leave a day early from our trip to OC due to work.  I didn't want to have to drive in rush hour around DC to get to my brother's house so I spent the night so no motel bill.

* When I left the next morning to go to my brother's house in VA I left 2 items.....a small package of country ham biscuit slices in the fridge and a bottle of Tums which fell off the nightstand and I forgot to pick up.  So Sissie is ham and antacid richer.
But I am mustard richer..........

Sissie had brought a cooler full of food to OC and somehow this got thrown into one of my bags by mistake and I didn't find it until I got home to PA on Wednesday.
I guess it's an even trade. lolz

*  I used 2 gift cards and 1 coupon while on vacation--I took Kim out to breakfast at IHOP(gcard)when we left OC, my brother and sister in-law to dinner at Cracker Barrel(gcard)and my son and his GF to dinner at Bob Evan's(coupon).

*   I found money!
On Sunday my brother, his wife and I went to Aldi.

I spied an un-corralled cart outside which yielded a free quarter when we were done shopping.
I also spied 2 pennies in a closed checkout and had to stoop under the strap across the lane to pick them up.

On Monday my brother took me out for breakfast at the Huddle House(like a Waffle House).  On the sidewalk outside I found a penny.

Also on Monday I did some laundry at my brother's house and I found this penny on the floor under their laundry sorter thing.

On Wednesday I fueled up by my son's apartment at a 7/11 and found a penny by the gas pump.

And when I stopped again for gas in Carlisle PA I found another penny by that gas pump.

On Thursday Hubs and I went to our local McDonald's as they were having a giveaway for their re-opening.

I found a dime in the dining room.

When I went back to the car I spied 13¢ in the drive-thru lane and scurried over to pick that dime and 3 pennies up and I didn't get run over. lolz

That makes .34¢ in found change for this past week.

*  The Giveaway at our local McDonald's I mentioned above..........

I won a pair of socks and Hubs won a free beverage.

*  Here are all the freebies I gleaned from our stay in Ocean City...........

Shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sugar packets, a coffee pod, soap, tea bags, marmalade packets and a tiny dish soap bottle.
Not pictured is the fist full of make-up remover wipes I gave to Kim. ;-)

*  My brother paid for my lunch last Sunday.........

A $1.50 hot dog with soda at Costco.
We are a family of big spenders evidently.......lolz

*  I brought Kim and Sissie's Xmas presents with me(wrapped and labeled), as well as my brother and his wife's Xmas presents and hand delivered them all in person.  This saved me a butt load of postage on mailing it all in December, especially Kim's box since she has the temerity to live clear across the country from me! ;-)

* Hubs didn't do any grocery shopping this past week(he's not a fan of shopping and grocery stores anyway)so no grocery spending other than the few things I bought while on my trip.(Report on that coming soon.)

That's about it from here for the week.

What frugal wins did you have this past week?
Let us know all about it.

Sluggy

The Weekend...Good, Bad & Ugly

I went out on Thursday looking for those Wendy's gift cards other Dollar Generals in my area.  Found them at one, took a handful up to the register and the cashier couldn't get them to activate. ???
I hit the Bread Outlet while I was out and then grabbed a burger at BK on a gift card and headed home.

On Saturday it was a cold but sunny day so Hubs and I decided to head South of here to use a gift card I won at the Church auction last Fall for a local diner.
Diners in PA are most usually owned/run by Greek descent folks.  The menus are vast, the prices are good and the food in plentiful.
This is one we like Walnut Bottom Diner in Carlisle PA and this one, The American Star Diner in North Wales PA.  Both Greek American run.
Diners offer great deals and food except if you go to a diner it seems in the town we refer here to "Little Havana".  This isn't a negative reference,  It's just that after 9/11 Hispanic NYC dwellers moved here in record numbers to this little PA town.  It's now populated 50% at least by those folks.  You are more likely to see store signs in Spanish than English there or bilingual signage.

Anyway, this diner, both clientele and staff are Hispanic from what I could tell.  The menu was vast, the food plentiful but the prices were a bit higher(probably because being NYC refugees they are use to paying/charging higher prices anyway).
But the food.....sigh.....the food was not what we were expecting.  Not as good and some menu Greek staples which we tried were NOT authentically Greek.  Instead of real Greek olives on Hubs Greek Salad they were canned black olives, like you'd get on a pizza.
Ack!

So at least we didn't pay full price for the meal as the gift card cost me at the auction less than face value and we paid an additional $9 and change for the check.
Oh well.....you live and learn and remember not to go back there again.

On the way down to this diner we stopped at a Dollar General along the way to check for Wendy's gift cards and they had them.
Another attempt to purchase a stack and this cashier also could not get them to validate. ???  This store I had also tried to buy different discounted gift cards at back last Fall before Christmas and at that time the cashier also couldn't get those gift cards to scan.

So we stopped at another Dollar General right near our diner destination and I tired again to purchase the Wendy's gift cards.

Success!!!!!!
Why on earth do they scan correctly at one Dollar General out of the three I tired to buy these gift cards at?
I think it has something to do with the cashiers not knowing how to ring them up or not.
I now know where to avoid getting gift cards from.
This would have been so much easier if my town's DG carried the Wendy's one.

We've gotten a couple of warm days this past week.  Yesterday it hit the mid 60'sF here.
Here is what is left of our snow pack........

 Mostly the backyard is clear but the deck is still covered.

The front yard gets full sun most of the day so we just have some mid-sized piles left.

I cleared my bookshelf area, filed papers away, reorganized my gift card box and list yesterday.
Hubs finished and filed the taxes electronically yesterday.
We had to do FOUR tax filings for 2016....Federal, PA state, LA state and the local PA taxes.

We got a moderate refund on the Federal(which was our money we were FORCED to loan to the government for 12 months interest free!), we owed $2 on the local PA taxes and then we got pounded in the ass on the PA and the LA state taxes!!

Since the house we own and rented out is in Louisiana we have to declare this income in LA.
We also had to declare this income on our PA taxes for some reason with the caveat that we would get a "credit" to offset the LA income on our PA form.

Well that "credit" only amounted to half of what we paid to LA so basically we got DOUBLE TAXED on half the LA income in PA too!
Taxation is theft and doubly so if you pay it twice!!!

It's no wonder people LIE all the time about their income to the government and I don't blame them.
I am so tired of being made to pay for shit I shouldn't have to and supporting irresponsible people's financial irresponsibility.  And then you get made to feel guilty if you don't want to let the government pick your pocket constantly.

*Putting Libertarian Soapbox away now*

So I am off to make "Sunday gravy" and cook meatballs for Hubs' dinner and mellow myself out.

What are you up to today?

Sluggy
"Taxation is theft"

Go SEE Frances for Some Biscuits! & Shopping....And It's NOT Rite-Aid!

I still have $15 in Catalinas to use by Saturday at Weis Markets from my Cat Deals of 2 weeks ago.
I also have a $25 Walmart Gift Card I won awhile ago over on Frances' Blog HERE.  She was joking about how much stuff using coupons I'd be able to get with that amount of cash so I promised I'd post about what I got with my winnings.

****Oh, and Frances is having another Giveaway for Grands! Mini Biscuits now so Go Enter it on this Post HERE.****

So now, on to the Savings!
I wanted to use 2 of those $5/5 Kraft items Coupons because mine were expiring in the next couple of days so I decided to try Walmart as they have the cheese on rollback for $2 a bag.  I hadn't tried using them here yet, just at the local chain grocer that takes internet printed coupons.  I don't shop at Target but was considering trying there if I HAD to, but there are reports that Target isn't being very friendly about taking these Qs.
I had an ace-in-the-hole if Walmart had tried to deny the Qs though!
Look at the bag of MEXICAN cheese in the photo.  Quite a few of the bags had this peelie on it....the peelie that tells you to go to the Kraft "Huddle To Fight Hunger" website & print off a $5 off 5 Kraft products coupons(the same one I am trying to use here!)  I was all set to rip that peelie off the bag and ask why they are selling products that tell me to go print and use this coupon on these products if the store won't take the coupon??  And then if they still wouldn't relent I'd be giving Kraft an earful about this!

10 x Kraft shredded Cheese on rollback $2=$20.00
3 x Ocean Spray Grapefruit Juice on rollback $2=$6.00
3 x French's Dipping Mustard $1.94=$5.82
2 x Ground Turkey w/Taco seasoning $1.18=$2.36
1 x GV Sour Cream=$1.14
1 x 2.02lb. Grapes on sale $1lb.=$2.02
1 x 2.06lb. Bananas on sale $.39lb.=$.80
SubTotal....$38.14

Coupons Used
2 x $5/5 Kraft items IPQ=$10.00
3 x $1/1 French's Dipping Mustard ManQ=$3.00
Coupon Total...$13.00

$38.14-$13.00=$25.14
Used $25 WalMart Gift Card=$.14 Out of Pocket

Ka-ching!  
The Grapefruit Juice was an excellent buy as well for the 100% Juice stuff at $2 a bottle.
I finished using my French's Qs too so #2 son is set for dipping mustard for some time to come.

If I had bought this load of stuff at one of the two grocery stores in my town at reg. retail prices, it would have been something like $62.76, or $59.76 after French's coupons because they won't take the internet printed ones.


Then I hit Weis Market with my $15 of Cats in hand....

2 x Fresh Express Salad Mix on sale BOGO=$3.69
2 x 3lb.approx. each Ground Beef=$18.39
2 x Breyer's Ice Cream on sale $3=$6.00
SubTotal....$28.08

Coupons Used
2 x $3/1 Instant Meat Dept. Discount Peelie on package=$6.00
1 x FREE FE Salad Mix(won in a giveaway)=$3.69
4 x $3 OYN meat or chicken Order Catalina=$12.00
1 x $3 OYN Order Catalina=$3.00
Coupon Total....$24.69

$28.08-$24.69=$3.39 Out of Pocket

Ok, I screwed this one up a bit!  The ice cream was suppose to be $1.99 each, not $3 each.....if you bought THREE containers.  And obviously math was not my strong suit in school as I only bought TWO.  So I have to go back with my receipt and return the 2 and rebuy them with ANOTHER one to get the $1.99 price.  So stupid....if you buy 3 it's 3 cents cheaper than if you buy 2 at $3.  They should just tell you(me) as you(me) are checking out with only 2 containers, "Look moron!...Go back and get another ice cream so I can give you 3 cents change!"lolol
Gawd.....sometimes I just outwit myself.....

Anyway, the Ground Beef ending up costing me .39¢ after the Cats and Instant Peelies, both bags of salad were free with the BOGO sale and the Free Item Q and the last $3 OYNO Cat made my ice cream half price($3).

All totaled, I am out $3.53 for both orders.
Mucho Savings!

Sluggy

2 Last Transactions & Sept. SCR Period Totals at Rite-Aid

Yes, I need a life....

While I waited for #2 son and Hubs to return from the Marching Band Tournament Sat. I hit up Rite-Aid one last time before the September Single Check Rebate Period ended that evening.

Here is what I brought home....

Two Transactions.

The 1st transaction was the 3 packs of diapers.

Please hold your congratulations!
They are NOT for me.
Bite.
Your.
Tongue.
lol

I got paid $4.03 in a way to buy them.
Between the +Ups I got back and the $10 Gift Card, Rite-Aid is sending me for buying them, I come out $4.03 ahead.
Value of Items....$37.47
I don't hang with the "babymaking set" so I'll either donate them(food bank that takes this kind of stuff or make up a gift basket for a charity auction/raffle) or take them to the flea market if they are still hanging around here when I get around to doing that again....if I get around to doing that again. ;-)

The diaper transaction was $.47 OOP after all the coupons and +Ups I used, and that change was put on my gift card.
I received $6 more in +Ups and I'll get a $10 Gift Card(#70) through the SCR program.

The other stuff pictured(plus a Sobe drink that is NOT pictured)was bought in a second transaction.
The Lamasil Spray was $5.99 after $2/1 IPQ.
The Quaker Oats was $.99 after $1/1 ManuQ.
The Oral-B Toothbrush was $1.99 after $1/1 ManuQ.
The Crest was on clearance($1.99)and $.99 after $1/1 ManuQ.
The Tuna cans were on clearance($.47)and were $5.64 total for 12.
The Always was free after FREE ITEM Q(daughter gave me from a magazine).
The Sobe was free after FREE ITEM Q(won online).
SubTotal was $15.60.
Used $5 off $25 purchase Q=$10.60.
Used $10 in +Ups=$.60 OOP put on gift card so Zero spent.
Value of Items....$53.12

Earned +Ups....3 x $1 for 12 cans of tuna, 1 x $1 for Quaker Oats, 1 x $2 for Oral-B Toothbrush=$6.00
Will submit Lamasil(#40)& Crest toothpaste(#55)for BIL's SCR account=$7.00
This Crest purchase also put him over the $5 Oral Care gift card threshold=$5.00 gift card.
So after +Ups the Oatmeal and Toothbrush were -.01 each and the Lamasil cost me -.01 after SCR.

Spent $10 in +Ups, earned back $6 in +Ups & $7 SCR=$13 so this transaction put me ahead $3.02.
$4.03+$3.02=$7.05 moneymaker or $12.05 if you count the $5 gift card.


THESE TRIPS
Total Spent....$1.07(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$90.59
SCR qualified for...$7.00
Gift Cards earned....$15.00
+Up Rewards earned...$12.00
+Up Rewards spent...$21.50
These trips were a $12.50 moneymaker.

GRAND TOTALS-September Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......14
Total Spent....$20.80 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$579.66
SCR qualified for....$16 in cash and $15 in Gift Cards
Other Cash....$0
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....a Glam Bag
+Up Rewards spent....$106.00
+Up Rewards earned....$126.50
+Up Rewards left....$20.50

Spent $20.80 on gift card and getting back $31 in cash and more gift cards, plus I have $20.50 in +up rewards(=Rite-Aid currency).  Do you get how this Rite-Aid shopping can be addictive? 8-))

How well did you do at Rite-Aid in September?  Leave a comment and let us all know!

Sluggy

Rite-Aid September Single Check Rebate & Out of Pocket Totals

I just thought I'd do a brief post with my Rite-Aid Totals for September.

I just finished counting up all my receipts for the Single Check Rebate period of SEPTEMBER, which ran from August 28th-September 26th.

Here are the results.

Purchased 61 Items.

Value of Items is $281.51.

Spent on Items $78.01...$50 in Gift Cards(free from Rite-Aid) & $28.01 in Cash.

Therefore Out of Pocket is $28.01.

Rebates qualified for is $76.98.

Also qualified for the Gift of Savings Deal at the $20 Gift Card level(on BIL's account).

So I'm OOP $28.01(including tax).

And I'll get back $76.98 CASH & a $20 Gift Card.

That's a PROFIT of $48.97 cash & $20 in Gift Card!

In addition, I sold the diapers I bought for a rebate, netting $15 cash, making my PROFIT $63.97 + the $20 Gift Card.

Once again Rite-Aid proves the old adage, "It takes money to make money" is true.  I spend a little out of my pocket and get it ALL back at the end of the month Plus MORE!

Here's how to use the system to gain the advantage....

*Purchase Single Check Rebate items if the rebate is equal to what you have to pay for it.  Even better, find a coupon to use when you buy the item which makes the item Profitable once the rebate comes.

*Wait for items to go on sale to use coupons. When an item is BUY ONE GET ONE FREE, you can use 2 of the same coupons, thus you get double coupon $ off the first item since the 2nd item is already free.

*Look for clearance items in the store and pair them with coupons currently in circulation.  Sometimes you can find items with monthly rebates on clearance, so this makes your profit on the rebate even better....or if you are trying to get your purchase to the $ amount threshold to use a $X off an $XX purchase Rite-Aid coupon, clearance items that are cheap or free after coupons are great to raise your 'before coupon' total.

*Study the Single Check Rebate flyer each month.  Often there are products that will qualify for more than one rebate deal. This is called double dipping.  Besides individual items with rebates there are Group rebates(where you need to buy $XX worth of stuff or an assortment of items for a Check or a Gift Card) that can contain items that qualify for their own rebate.(IE:This month there is a Scope Mouthwash Rebate for $2 but your Scope purchase also qualifies for a P&G rebate for a $10 Gift Card when you buy $30 of products.)

*Utilize any kind of coupons available to you--manufacturer's coupons, internet printed coupons, Rite-Aid coupons printed in the weekly sales flyers and the Rite-Aid/AdPerks online coupon Program.

Be sure to "stack" or use the Rite-Aid flyer coupons WITH a manufacturer's from the coupon inserts or internet printed coupon for the same item.  You can also stack a manufacturer's coupon with a Rite-Aid/AdPerks coupon.  Doing that increases your savings on the cost of the item.

*Use the internet Money Off when you buy $XXX Rite-Aid coupon offers.  There has been a $5 off a $25 Rite-Aid purchase available online for most of this year.   Group your purchases so that you hit that $25 threshold and there's an additional $5 off your total!  The AdPerks program mentioned above also has a $5 off $20 purchase Rite-Aid coupon available.

*If you have any FREE ITEM coupons sent to your from a manufacturer wait to use these at Rite-Aid when you are trying to 'build' a purchase's total(needing to get to $25 total purchase so you can use a $5 off Rite-Aid coupon).  These FREE ITEM coupons can build your total so you get that additional $5 off your purchase without costing you any additional Out of Pocket in cash.

*Consider transferring prescriptions or having new prescriptions filled at Rite-Aid.  At certain times  in the year Rite-Aid will offer free $25 Gift Cards for new pharmaceutical business.  I have also gotten the gift card offer via letter after I've moved a prescription away from a Rite-Aid pharmacy.  Be sure and read the stipulations/fine print though on the Rite-Aid gift card offers as not every prescription will qualify you for a free gift card.

If you need to have a prescription filled & have to spend that money anyway, why not spend it at Rite-Aid and get a Gift Card as a bonus?  Use the gift card to buy your SCR items and that's more money you aren't shelling out initially to buy SCR items.

The point here is to spend as little as possible to do the Rebates AND to get a bigger rebate/refund than you spend.

So what are my plans for October & this month's SCR?

Check out my post HERE with what I already bought last week.

I'll be posting what deal I'll be doing this week tomorrow.

Sluggy

PS.  The Aveeno snafu is no more.  The rest of the Rebate was credited to my account this morning. ;-)