A Busy Friday on my 2 Good Feet

Not much time for playing on the computer today. I have been to the dr. this morning and my foot is aok again....yah!
Since the foot is on the mend, I have a list of things to get accomplished today.

1. Packing up items to take to the Salvation Army & sorting the recycling to drop off tomorrow. It will feel good to get all this stuff done and gone! The clutter it caused was driving me bonkers.

2. I also need to put back all the stuff back under the kitchen sink that was pulled out & boxed almost 2 WEEKS AGO from when my favorite Countertop Installer was here putting in my new Countertops.
Have I mentioned lately how in love I am with my new Countertops?? ;-))

3. After that chore, I need to go through the toiletries box from the upstairs linen closet. I have a box on the floor of that closet up there with my spare toiletries. Since beginning the hounding, my box runneth over....literally!lol

I need to find a storage method for my ever-expanding stockpile of HBA. I think I'll keep the small box upstairs in the linen closet where I'll keep an immediate supply of restocking supplies(ie, 1 tube of toothpaste, 1 shampoo, 2 bars of soap, a package of razors, t.p., etc.)
I need to find a much larger area for the bulk of the stockpile....the garage perhaps?

4. After I get all of the HBA Stockpile cleared off my dining room table, I can get more items listed on eBay. I actually got a phone call from eBay yesterday!lol They really miss me....er, that is to say, they really miss the money I pay out in fees over there.
I really need to get back to selling stuff. I just let the eBay thing slide this month while I concentrated on bringing my Food/HBA Budget down, and now my March Savings Challenge totals will suffer for it. Well, yes and no....the food savings will help keep more of our income but the lack of selling will not grow additional income. In a perfect world, I need the discipline to achieve both.

Ok, I am off to get some things done now that I am cleared to use the foot again. If I have time leftover I may hit the store to return a couple of things.
I figured I'm going to be wiped out by day's end, so all bets are off for the Friday Menu Plan today. I'll see what creative meal I can pull out of the pantry tonight or just say the Heck-With-It and order a pizza. That's so not like me but change is good, right?lol

Here's a funny photo I snapped the other day. #1 son has become addicted to those Mickey D's Shamrock Shakes they sell every March. He drank one and left the cup in the wastebasket by my computer desk. That's a big no-no with 3 dogs who love to get into food garbage. I came into the room and found the chihuahua had jammed her head so far into the cup trying to lick that minty green goodness left in the bottom of said cup, that she had gotten the cup stuck on her face & couldn't extract herself!LOL

(I did take it off her face after taking the photo.)

There is always a new hilarious moment around every bend at our house....

Sluggy

GREEN & THRIFTY THURSDAY-Being Frugal AND Green

I'm starting a Series of Thursday Posts here on "Don't Read This; It's Boring!", called GREEN & THRIFTY THURSDAY.

It will be a Post with a small tip on things you can do to save money AND help the environment. After all, being frugal is great but saving money & time is not so good, at the expense of our Planet!

The 1st Tip is about ink, paper and waste.

Since I've been printing coupons from the Internet, I found that I've had ALOT of paper waste and I run through ink like I'm bathing in it sometimes. I do use recycled printer paper as that's better for our world, or the Green Option, but it's NOT the Thrifty Option. Not having to use as much paper & ink IS both the Green & Thrifty thing to do.

Some sites print 1 coupon per page, some sites fill up the page with recipes or ads for the product below the coupon, & some sites will print multiple coupons on each sheet of paper. I like the last kind of coupon site, not so much the first two. But sometimes you just don't have a choice if you want certain coupons.

Here's what I do to save some paper and ink.

Most coupons/sites let you hit the back button and print each coupon twice. If I am only printing 1 coupon on a sheet of paper, after it prints, I put the sheet back in the printer turned upside down, so I can print another coupon on the blank bottom of the page. That way, I get 2 coupons on 1 page.

I also watch as the coupon is printing. If the printing process gets to the point where you can tell that the actual coupon has finished printing, but the printer is still now printing an ad(using all your expen$ive colored ink!)below the coupon or a recipe you have no desire for, hit the CANCEL PRINTING button to stop the printer. Your paper should immediately come out and you've saved both the bottom of the page to print another coupon and you've saved all that precious ink!

If all else fails and you find you can't avoid ads or recipes & waste of partial sheets of paper when printing coupons, don't throw those scraps of paper away after cutting the coupons out.

Here are some ideas for reusing those leftover paper pieces.

*Tear or shred paper scraps to compost with your kitchen scraps.
*Use it to make homemade paper if you are crafty. Google 'making homemade paper' to find some instructions.
*Shred it and use for small pet bedding(like hamsters, mice, etc.)
*Cut the paper scraps into notepad size sheets and use the clean backside for writing notes.
*Give paper scraps to your small kids for coloring or doodling.
*Any other ideas? Please leave them in the comments section below.

Sluggy

WAG-ing on Sat. March 14th Oy! The Pain

I hit WAGS saturday night. I figured not much would be left on the shelves but I was in the area anyway, so I went to check it out. I don't do diapers anymore(thank goodness!), so I wasn't hounding after the Huggies deal.
Everything in pictured together from all Transactions, except 1 Coffee-Mate. Daughter polished it off before I could take a photo.lol

I went into the Store with $21 in RRs to spend.

Transaction #1

4 x Grape Nuts Cereal(I love this in yogurt!)@ $2.50 box
2 x Blue Diamond Nuts BOGO @ $3.49 for 2
2 x Coffee mate BOGO @ $2.48 for 2
1 Sambucol @ $12.99
2 x Smart Balance Butter Spread BOGO @ $2.99 for 2
6 x Dove Travel Size Deodorant @ $.99 ea.
Dr. Pepper Freezer Pops @ $2.00 (Just HAD to try these)
2 x Colgate Total Toothpaste @ $3.49 ea.
2 x Folding Travel Toothbrush 2 packs Clearance @ $.75 ea.
4 x Garnier 'Poo & Styling Products @ $2.99 ea.
1 Irish Spring Body Wash @ $4.49
SUBTOTAL $64.82

Coupons used...
Blue Diamond MQ $1/2
2 x $1.50/1 Coffee Mate IP Q -$3/2
Sambucol WAG Q -$10/1
Sambucol IP Q -$4/1
Smart Balance MQ -$1/2
3 x $1.50/2 Dove MQ -$4.50
2 x $1/1 Colgate MQ -$2/2
2 x $2.50 Colgate WQ -$5.00
4 x $1/1 Garnier MQ -$4/4
4 x $2.00 Garnier WQ -$8.00
Total Coupons....$42.50

WAGs RR Used....
7 x $2 RRs -$14.00

TOTAL $64.82-$42.50-$14+$.87 tax=$9.19 OOP

The Irish Spring Body Wash generated a FREE IS BODY WASH, the Grape Nuts Cereal generated a $4RR & the Dove Deodorants generated a $1.50/2 Q.

I know the travel Dove Deos weren't generating RRs, but I wanted to use my 3 coupons and that made these $.24 each. I am planning on giving a donation of toiletries to the local Women's Shelter and these are just the right size for that.

Transaction #2

2 x Grape Nuts Cereal @ $2.50 box
2 x Smart Balance Butter Spread BOGO @ $2.99 for 2
Colgate Toothpaste @ $3.49
Irish Spring Body Wash @ $4.49
2 x Coffee Mate BOGO @ $2.48 for 2
SUBTOTAL $18.45

Coupons used...

Smart Balance MQ -$1/2

Colgate MQ -$1/1

Colgate WQ -$2.50
Free Irish Spring RR -$4.49

2 x $1.50/1 Coffee Mate IP Q -$3/2
Total Coupons $11.99

WAGS RRs Used....

2 x $3.50 RRs -$7.00

TOTAL $18.45-$11.99-$7= -$.54 OOP

The Irish Spring Body Wash generated a FREE IS BODY WASH, the Grape Nuts Cereal generated a $2RR + a $1.50/2 Q for Grape Nuts.

This transaction was a mess!

The register wouldn't take one of my coupons this time and the Asst. Manager came over to 'help' and ended up voiding things and reringing and charging me a penny for the Body Wash(can't be giving things away for free!lol). He had no clue what he was doing and even said that management is NOT trained in running registers so they are clueless & the cashiers are the only ones in the store who really know how to operate the machines.LOLOL
So I think I got overcharged on this transaction BUT to complicate things even more....

After I got out into the car, I noticed all 4 Coffee Mates weren't sale priced on my register receipt. I had gotten the WRONG ONES! ugh The LIQUID were on sale, I got the POWDERED. So back into the store I went and exchanged them for the correct items. Now they owed me money back, as the Powdered were $4.49 & the liquid ones on sale were 2 for $2.48. So I got $8.04 back(4x $2.01 each). I have had to reconstruct the Transaction #2 receipt(and #1 to an extent)....this is why I come out with a negative OOP for #2.

Transaction #3

Irish Spring Body Wash @ $4.49

Coupon used...
Free Irish Spring Body Wash $4.49

TOTAL $4.49-$4.49 +$.27(tax)=$.27 OOP

The Catalina Machine stopped spitting out FREE Irish Spring RRs on this purchase. I think I wore it out.lol

GRAND TOTAL all 3 Transactions...$8.92 OOP

Value of Items.....$126.79
Savings of 92%

This post has been an ordeal to straighten out. Thank goodness it's over.lol
I need to go take a walk and clear my head now....

Sluggy

I won a Giveaway! And I Love my Tucker Bag!

I entered a Giveaway over on Lindsay's Blog, FRUGAL & FABULOUS, last month.
And I won!
Yay me....

The prize was a TUCKER BAG. The bag arrived in a teeny tiny envelope. Here's what was in the envelope.

The bag was all folded up, contained in a neat little pouch. I undid the snap & opened it up and wow!....the bag was large.

The pouch is attached to the bag and besides being a pouch to hold it when folded up, you can use the pouch inside the bag as a pocket to hold your car keys and such. There is also an outside pocket.

I took the bag for a test drive right away to the grocery store and it sure holds more than you would think. the fabric is lightweight ripstop nylon and the bag holds up to 35 lbs. of weight.

This should last me for many many years of grocery shopping. Think of all those 5 cent "use your own bag" credits I'll be getting. This TUCKER BAG might end up saving me money as well as the planet!

Plus the fabric design is pretty. I love dragonflies and green is my second favorite color.
But if green isn't your thing, they have a wide array of fabric designs and colors.

Check them out at TUCKER BAGS.

Thanks again Lindsay for the Giveaway!

Sluggy

Weekend CVS-ing OOP $8.55/2 Transactions

My foot finally felt well enough for me to drive on Sat. so I could hit CVS & WAGS. I had a $10/50 CRT expire before I could get out to CVS.ugh

But I did have another 1 still valid. yay!

CVS had some of this week's specials out already on Sat.(the small crackers/cookies for $1 & the healthy snacks Quaker granola bars/oatmeal 2/$5, spend $15, get $5 ECBS)so I was able to get to $50 even though they were STILL out of Carnation Instant Breakfast, etc. at this store.

Both Transactions are pictured together, except for the 4 12-packs of Coke products. My foot won't let me tote them in from the garage yet.lol

CVS Transaction #1

10x Ritz & Wheat Thins Crackers $1 ea.

6x Quaker Chewy Granola Bars 2/$5

1 Crest Pro Health Toothpaste $2.99

2x Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste BOGO $2.79

2x Vaseline Body Lotion $3.69 ea.

3x J&J First Aid Kit $.99 ea.

3x J&J Buddies Soap $1.19 ea.

1 Playskool Wipes $3.29

1 Suave Shampoo $1.99

TOTAL $49.98

Even though my total was 2 cents short of $50, the cashier was able to take the $10/50 CRT, no problem!

Coupons Used...

5x $2/2 Nabisco Crackers from Jan. 25 Inserts

2x $1/2 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars from March Inserts

$1/1 Quaker-not sure where I got this one from

$3/2 J&J IP Q

2x $1.25/1 Vaseline Lotion from March Inserts

2x $1.50/1 Colgate IP Q
$1/1 Crest from March Inserts

$1/1 J&J Buddies IP Q

$2/2 J&J Buddies IP Q

$3 Free Suave Shampoo Q(Cashier took off full value even though the bottle rang up $1.99)

$2 CVS Playskool Wipes Q

*$1.25 Q

$10/50 CVS CRT

COUPON TOTAL $41.75

ECB Used...

$2.99

$4.99

ECB TOTAL $7.98

$49.98-$41.75-$7.98=$.25 TOTAL OOP

Earned $4 ECB on the Vaseline, $2 on the Crest, $5 on the Quaker & another $10/50 CRT.

*There is a $1.25 Q taken off on my receipt I can't account for. I had a 3rd Vaseline Lotion that I didn't buy & had the cashier take off. She had my Q for it though and must have rung it through.

She also didn't charge any tax on the taxables.
Plus she gave me the full Suave coupon value even though the item rang $1.99.

She was quite the train wreck!...but in my favor for a change.lol

If you add in the coupon & tax not charged to my 25 cent total, the accurate OOP total should be $1.87.

I also had a $4/20 CRT good Sat. only, so I did another transaction.

CVS Transaction #2

4x Coke 12 packs $3.25 ea.

2x Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste BOGO $2.79

1 Glucerna Cereal $4.59

1 Glucerna Snack Bars $4.89

TOTAL $25.27

Coupons used...

$1.50 Colgate IP Q

$1 Colgate Q from March Inserts

$10 Glucerna IP Q-Adjusted down to $9.48
$4/20 CVS CRT
COUPON TOTAL $15.98

ECB Used...
$.99
ECB TOTAL $.99

$25.27-$15.98-$.99=$8.30 TOTAL OOP

I should have used $7 ECB($5+$2)earned on the previous transaction to make my OOP $1.30, but I got flustered. Doh!lol

Earned $3 ECB on the Coke purchase.

Final Tally....

Used $8.97 ECB & $16 CVS CRT, Earned $14 ECB & $10 CVS CRT, spent $8.55 OOP

Check out how other Thrifty Divas are saving this week at the "Cents"ible Sawyer CVS SUPERSTARS Page.
Please leave me a comment if you get the chance. I appreciate all ya'll who read my Boring Blog.

Sluggy