Weekend Adventures in Wags-land ...93% SAVINGS!

Hubby took off from work last Friday. We headed out to do some Easter dinner shopping and I had him take me to WAGS too, to pick up some goodies. I had him do a transaction for me too. I put the items in his hand along with the coupons and RRs to use & he did great. He doesn't 'get' the whole coupon thing but he's a great at doing what I tell him & he doesn't mind saving money. lol



I hit WAGS again on Saturday night & did multiple transactions when I went out to finish up my Unilever Campaign at Price Chopper. More on that later....

Here's what we got at Walgreen's....

#1 Transaction(friday)
Crest Toothpaste(Free w/Q from buying Glucose Meter last week) $0.00
Colgate Toothpaste(Used $1/1 Q) $2.49
Envelopes(Used WAG Q)$.69
Cadbury Butterscotch Candy(on sale)$2.49
Used $3.00RR from Edge Shaving Gel bought last week
Tax $.05
Total OOP $2.72
Received $3.50RR for Colgate



#2 Transaction(friday)
Breeze Meter (Used $14.99 Q)$0.00
Skintimate $2.99
Envelopes(Used WAG Q)$.69
Used $3.50RR from Colgate
Tax $.23
Total OOP $.41
Received $3RR for Skintimate
Received FREE Crest Toothpaste Q/RR



#3 Transaction(friday)
Chapstick $1.99
4x Lipton Ice Tea Bags(Used WAG Q & 2x$1/2Q)$5.96
3x Hershey Candy Bags @$2.50(Used $1.50/3Q)$6.00
2x BettyCrocker Frosting @$1.50(Used 2x .55/1Q)$1.90
3x Oust $2.99(Used 3x $2/1Q)$2.97
1 Reach Toothbrush & 1 Reach Floss @$5.00(Used $3/2Q)$2.00
Used $3RR from Skintimate
Tax $.66
Total OOP $18.48
Received $2RR for Chapstick
Received $1RR for Frosting
Received $2.50RR for 2 Reach Items



#4 Transaction (saturday)
Breeze Meter (Used $14.99 Q)$0.00
Total OOP $0.00
Received FREE Crest Toothpaste Q/RR



#5 Transaction
Contour Meter (Used $14.99 Q)$0.00
Colgate Toothpaste(Used $1/1Q)$2.49
1 Reach Toothbrush & 1 Reach Floss @$5.00(Used $3/2Q)$2.00
Used $2RR from Chapstick(friday)
Tax $0.00
Total OOP $2.49
Received $3.50RR for Colgate Toothpaste
Received $2.50RR for Reach Items
Received FREE Crest Toothpaste Q/RR



#6 Transaction(saturday)
Crest Toothpaste(Free with Crest RR/Q from Meter)$0.00
Edge Shaving Gel $2.99
1 Reach Toothbrush & 1 Reach Floss @$5.00(Used $3/2Q)$2.00
Used $3.50RR from Colgate
Used $1RR from Frosting
Tax $.18
Total OOP $.67
Received $3RR for Edge Saving Gel
Received $2.50 for 2 Reach Items



#7 Transaction(saturday)
Breeze Meter (Used $14.99 Q)$0.00
Edge Shaving Gel $2.99
Colgate Toothpaste(Used $1/1Q)$2.49
Crest Toothpaste(Used Free RR/Q from Meter)
Used $2.50RR from Reach Items
Tax $.18
Total OOP $3.16
Received $3RR for Edge Shaving Gel
Received $3.50RR for Colgate
Received FREE Crest Toothpaste Q/RR



#8 Transaction(saturday)
Breeze Meter (Used $14.99 Q)$0.00
Edge Shaving Gel $2.99
1 Reach Toothbrush & 1 Reach Floss @$5.00(Used $3/2Q)$2.00
Crest Toothpaste(Used FREE RR/Q from Meter)$0.00
Used $3.50RR from Colgate
Tax $.18
Total OOP $1.67
Received $3RR for Edge Shaving Gel
Received $2.50RR for 2 Reach items
Received FREE Crest Toothpaste Q/RR



#9 Transaction(saturday)
OAD Powder Drink Mix $1.49
Colgate Toothpaste(Used $1/1Q)$2.49
Used $3RR from Edge
Total OOP $.98



TOTAL OOP $30.58


From these receipts I can send for Easy Saver Rebates....

$3 3x$1 for Oust
$5 for 4 Bags of Hershey's
$5 for 4 Crest Toothpaste
$1.49 for OAD Drink Mix
TOTAL $14.49 w/10% on GC Bonus=$15.94 REFUND

AND I earned $17 in Register Rewards that I haven't spent yet.


So if you figure my RRs and ESR Gift Card amounts in, I am UP $2.36 over my OOP spent.


PLUS I still have 2 RR/Qs for FREE CREST Toothpaste to redeem.


OOP $30.58

Value of Items $447.23

Savings OVER 93%

(Not counting the Rebates, RRs earned and 2 Free Toothpaste Qs.)

For those of you who think I LIVE in the store, we were in the store on friday from 12:55pm to 1:22pm and on saturday I shopped from 7:37pm to 8:37pm.

3 transactions in 27 minutes on friday; 6 transactions in 1 hr on saturday.

I would have been done quicker on saturday if there wasn't one long line after another I had to stand in to check out 6 times.

I'm feeling the WAGS love.....
Sluggy

FISTFUL OF COUPONS Giveaway!

Karrie over at A FISTFUL OF COUPONS is having a MOVIE MONEY GIVEAWAY!

Win a $25 Gift Card to one of 3 Movie Theatre Chains.

Go check it out Here.

Hurry though. Entries close at midnight on April 10th.

Good Luck!

Sluggy

GREEN & THRIFTY THURSDAY...My Potluck Chili Recipe

As promised, here is my POTLUCK CHILI Recipe.
This 'Recipe' is also my GREEN & THRIFTY THURSDAY Post.
Do ya like the way I snuck that in?lol

If you have an onion, some garlic, spices, a can of some kind of tomato product and some leftover beans and/or meat, you can make chili.

I like to use up whatever protein I have hanging around in the fridge. That's what makes this thrifty.....using up leftovers. Less Food Waste is green too!
Try this with ground(or shredded!)chicken or turkey....or TVP too(for the vegeterians in your life).
Even if you don't cook, if you can chop an onion, you CAN make chili. Just let your own tastebuds be your guide.

Ok, there are the basics....
some kind of tomato product, onions, garlic & spices-cumin or cilantro, chili powder, paprika & cayenne.
The beans &/or meat can change. Use what you have or use what you like or use what you are trying to use up(leftovers).
If I want to make an 'expensive' chili or I have expensive steak or roast leftovers to use up, I'll put small chunks of that meat in.
If I have ground beef leftovers to use up(usually taco beef), I'll put that in. Feel free to mix in whatever meats you have, ground, chunked, shredded, etc.

If I have beans leftover or someone likes bean chili I'll put those in. If you are going to use beans just make sure you have canned beans on hand or if using dried beans, make sure you have soaked and boiled them beforehand to soften them before adding. I have learned the HARD way that once you add an acidic ingredient(like ketchup or any tomato based product)the beans in your chili will NOT soften anymore, no matter how long you cook them. Make sure your beans are as soft as you need them BEFORE adding them to a tomato based chili.

Here are the beginnings of POTLUCK CHILI.

1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Meat(whatever kind you have)
Beans(kidney, pinto or whatever kind you have)
1 Tablespoon cilantro or cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder(optional)
1 Large Can of Crushed or Puree Tomatoes
1 teaspoon beef bouillion(optional)

Chop your onion & garlic.
Pour Olive Oil in saute pan.
Add chopped veggies and saute over medium heat until translucent.
When done, if you want meat, add your meat now to brown. Add as much as you like. 1lb. minimum but feel free to add more or less to taste
When meat is browned, add your spices:cilantro or cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, black pepper, salt, paprika, cayenne powder(if you want it hot)
Heat for 5 minutes.
Add your can of tomatoes.
If you want beans, add your beans now. 1-2 cans to start. Add more if you like beans or are making this vegetarian. Kidney &/or pinto beans are traditional chili add-ins, but you can use any type of bean you like. I like to partially mash(with a potato masher)my beans. The mashed beans help give the chili a creamier, thicker texture. It's the GLUE That holds the chili together, I say.

At this point taste your basic chili. If you like it sweeter, add a little ketchup, bbq sauce or chili sauce. If you like more heat, add tabasco or hot sauce. If you like more spice, add more pepper/cumin/cayenne. If you love garlic, add more of that in. If you like a more pornounced 'meat' taste, add some beef boullion or stock.
Just keep playing with the flavors until you find what YOU like!

Transfer into a crockpot at this point and just let it cook on low all day....or leave on the stove to simmer if you are home and can watch & stir the pot every once in awhile.
After at least 3-4 hours the flavors will have melded enough to serve.

Add shredded cheese, green onions &/or a dollop of sour cream on top of the chili.
Serve with warm cornbread, tortillas, biscuits or whatever bread-like food you prefer.

The picture?
Oh, those are the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
I always forget to take pictures of my food before everyone eats it up. The Chili Pepper boys will have to do in lieu of POTLUCK CHILI photos. Some people think they are pretty HOT too. ;-))

Sluggy

Back from Weis Mrkt. where it's H-O-T!

Yes it's HOT at Weis Markets.....HOT SAUCE, that is!

I needed to pick up cake mix today to make Hubby a cake for his birthday. His actual birthday was last week, but he was sick, so we are celebrating tonight.

He requested a Chocolate Cake and I have NO chocolate cake mix in the house. I do have cocoa powder, flour, baking powder & sugar but....

1. I am too lazy today to drag all that out.


2. My last made-from-scratch cake didn't turn out so well.


3. Weis is having a sale on Duncan Hines mixes this week.



So I bopped down the street to my Weis market in Teeny Tiny Town and here's what I brought home....

I got to the cake mix aisle and found not only are the cake mixes on sale for $1 a box, but the frosting is $1.50 a tub AND if you buy a cake mix, a brownie mix & a frosting, you get FREE LARGE EGGS!

Having coupons for Duncan Hines would make this deal even better. The only Q I had was $1/3 Brownie mixes and I just didn't feel the need for 3 of those today. So I bought 1 of each AND a box of Angel Food Cake Mix(I need this for Easter's meal & Betty Crocker because Betty was cheaper). ;-)

Heading on over to pick up my eggs(did I mention that they were FREE?), I made a wrong turn and passed down the condiment aisle. I noticed that the French's Mustard(classic yellow)was on sale for $1.49 or $1.79, depending on the size of the bottle. Not a very low price but....I have coupons for 50¢ off/1 (this Weis doubles up to $1), making my discount $1 on ea. bottle.

AND there is a OYNO Catalina Coupon for $1 when you buy 2 bottles. So I picked up 4 bottles.

Further down the condiment aisle I saw a cardboard freestanding display of Frank's Hot Sauce-3 for $1. These weren't the regular sized Hot Sauce bottles but smaller.

Regular small size is 8 oz, these are 5 oz. bottles. Look for them....

I had $1/2 coupons for Franks & the coupon has no size limit on it, so I picked up 12 bottles. **If you get the 3/$1 bottles you will have to buy in multiples of 3 to use the $1/2 coupons....unless your store will take a coupon that gives you overage. So my 12 bottles used 4 coupons and made the Hot Sauce FREE!

I tried to get the mustard for free-at least the second 2 bottles. I went to the self-check out and bought 2 bottles, using 2 .50¢ off coupons. Paid .98¢ and got a $1 OYNO catalina. I tried to use 2 .50¢ off coupons & the $1 Cat the second time, but the cashier wouldn't take the Cat. Now I realize that the Cat would have made .02¢ overage on the purchase. I gave her the coupons and THEN the Cat....I should have given her the Cat first, then the 2 .50¢off coupons. The first coupon would have rang up doubled to $1 and the second coupon would either adjust down on the doubling(to .48¢, not .50¢)OR it won't double at all. In that case, the 2 bottles of mustard would cost me .48¢ instead of the .98¢ I paid. And it would generate another OYNO $1 Cat to keep rolling this deal.

I'll have to go back tonight or tomorrow and try with the mustard again.

Transaction #1
2 Mustard @$1.49 ea.
Subtotal....$2.98
Qs Used....$2.00
TOTAL....$.98
Got $1 OYNO Cat

Transaction #2
2 Mustards @$1.49ea.
12 Hot Sauce @3/$1
2 Cake Mix @$1 ea.
1 Frosting @$1.50
1 Cake Mix @$1.67
1 Dzn. Eggs @$1.73
Subtotal.....$13.88
Qs Used
2 Mustard $2(doubled)
4 Hot Sauce $4
Instant Q for Eggs $1.73
Total Qs.....$7.73
GRAND TOTAL...$6.15 & a $1 CAT

[Grand Total could have been either $4.17(w/free mustard)or $4.66(w/2nd Q adjusted)]....oh well.

So I'm OOP $7.13, I have products valued at $16.86 AND I have 2 $1 CATs to use the next trip to the store.

Be on the lookout for those special sized FRANK'S RED HOT SAUCE at your local Weis/Mr.Z's market. Like I said, this store had the display set up in the condiment aisle, but it could be put elsewhere-like near the deli or by the Ethnic foods-so keep your eyes peeled.

I am betting that this special Frank's Sauce isn't just a Weis thing. If anyone finds this display/price on Franks in a different grocery chain, please leave me a comment and let me know.

thanks!

Sluggy

Meat and Smellin' Fine....an Inventive Scenario

Did you get this Coupon Insert in your Sunday newspaper?
If so you have an opportunity to get a FREE HAM OR TURKEY!
Yup, I said FREE.

We Coupon Hounds are a quirky bunch. Even while we are hard at work at a fulltime job, or chauffeuring ourselves or our kids to activities or folding laundry, our minds are hard at work.
Hard at work thinking up new ways to get a D-E-A-L.
Thinking up new scenarios using our Coupons to get us the best price possible for things we need to buy.....or even better, getting things we need for FREE!

The insert I referenced above has a MIR form in it. Basically, buy a ham or turkey valued at up to $20 AND buy $40 worth of UNILEVER Products during the month of April. Send in your dated store receipt(s) and they will send you a check for up to $20.
Here is the actual deal.

Someone has come up with a way to buy the $40 of items with coupons so that they cost you only the tax on $40.74.
Read it here on MOM TO MONKEYS.

Here's the gist of the scenario.
Get 42 of the AXE Products Coupon from the insert.
Take them to Walmart, where they sell the TRIAL SIZE of AXE for .97¢.
Give the cashier the 42 coupons(you might want to break this transaction into more than one so the cashier doesn't freak out on you) and pay ONLY the state tax on this purchase.
Buy a ham or turkey up to $20 in cost.
Submit the form with the store register receipt(s).
Get a check back for up to $20.

Free meat.
All the Axe you will EVER need.

Or donate it to a Men's Homeless Shelter. Just because they are homeless doesn't mean these guys don't want to smell nice too, right?lol

And if you live in a state without sales tax, you are out of pocket NOTHING!

I read this and hit myself in the head thinking, "Why didn't I think of this!" 8-))

Sluggy