Rolling RRs at WAGS this Week....Drama follows me!

I had about $119 in RRs expiring on 6/3 & 6/6 so I had to head to WAGS on Monday.
Now this week the deals are pretty thin for rolling RRs, so I went to roll some but also to just burn RRs too on things for the kids and me.

I went to the store that's a bit of a ride as it was a nice day for a drive and I hadn't been there in awhile. That store also usually has better clearance stuff and sales items don't get cleared off of the shelves....the good stuff tends to disappear on Sunday at the other store closer to my house.

I did 2 Transactions at the 1st store....

#1 Transaction

Revlon Hair Dryer $12.99 (Suppose to be $19.99 but rang up $12.99)
2x Aquafresh Toothpaste on sale $.99 w/Wags Ad Q=$1.98
Mtn. Dew Lip Balm clearanced $.50

Ecotrin on sale $2.00

3x Duracell Batteries on sale $2.99 w/Wags Ad Q=$8.97

2x Water 12 pack on sale $2.49=$4.98 **only 1 pictured**

2x Lifesaver Bags on sale BOGO=$2.29

Ballpoint Pens clearanced $.50

Subtotal $34.21

Tax $1.38

Coupons Used
Ecotrin $2/1

2x Aquafresh $.75/1=$1.50

3x Duracell $1/1=$3.00

Coupon Total $6.50

$35.59-$6.50=$29.09

RRs Used

$10,$10,$4.50,$3
Total $27.50

$29.09-$27.50=$1.59 OOP put on GiftCard

Value of Items $60.36

RRs Received

Ecotrin $2, and NO $10 for the Hair Dryer!

So we go back and forth with the Cashier, then the Manager, then another Manager. It rang up $12.99, but the ad says it was suppose to ring up $19.99 and give a $10RR. They were thoroughly confused! In the end they refused to give it to me for $12.99 AND give me a $10 RR, but they would reduce the price to $9.99 for the Dryer. I know I got screwed on this deal but I took the $9.99 price deal, so I got a $3.18 refund on the $12.99+tax price I paid above. I know I should have fought harder or just told them forget it and refund it all but I just was tired of the DRAMA that always seems to come with at leat 1 transaction at WAGS.

Subtract my $1.59 payment from my $3.18 refund and my OOP for this transaction was Negative $1.59. I GOT PAID $1.59 to buy this stuff....or something like that.

#2 Transaction

2x Bottled Water pack on sale $2.49=$4.98 **only 1 pictured**
2x Chips Ahoy Cookies on sale 2/$5=$5.00

3x Duracell Batteries $2.99 w/Wags Ad Q=$8.97

3x Duracell Photo Battery clearanced $3.12=$9.36

4x Keebler Cookies on sale $10/4=$10.00

2x One a Day Drink Mix clearanced $.75=$1.50
Ecotrin on sale $2.00

2x Lifesavers Bags on sale BOGO=$2.29
4x Smucker's Jam on sale BOGO=$6.58
Mtn Dew Lip Balm clearanced $.50

2x Aquafresh Toothpaste $.99 w/Wags Ad Q=$1.98

3x Tresemme Shampoo on sale 3/$12=$12.00
Soleil Razors on sale $4.99

3x Butterfingers King Size clearanced $.42=$1.26 **only 2 pictured**

Subtotal $71.41

Tax $2.15

Coupons Used

6x Duracell $1/1=$6.00

One a Day $1/1=$1.00

Ecotrin $2.00

2x Aquafresh $.75/1=$1.50

Smuckers $1/3=$1.00
3x Tresemme $1/1=$3.00

Total $14.50

$73.56-$14.50=$59.06

RRs Used
$10,$10,$10,$5,$5,$5,$5,$2.50,$1,$1,$1

Total $55.50

$59.06-$55.50=$3.56 OOP on GiftCard

Value of Items purchased $116.59

RRs Received
$2 Ecotrin, $3 Chips Ahoy, $3 Keebler, $5 Tresemme, $1 Bic=$14RRs

I have to stop doing such larger transactions. Every time I do, the register won't take enough RRs in payment to get my total low enough. I should have been able to use another $1RR to get my total down to $2.56($2.15 of that $3.56 was tax so I couldn't get it lower than $2.56). I had enough items to let me use another few RRs/or Manu. Qs in my payment. I'll try to stick to smaller Transactions after today.

Off to my usual store for more transactions and MORE DRAMA!ACK!!

Transaction #3

Hair Dryer $12.99

Flavor Ice Pops $2.00
Water Balloons $5.00

2x Aquafresh Toothpaste $.99 w/Wags Ad Q=$1.98

Ecotrin on sale $2.00

4x Ramen Noodles=$1.00

Subtotal $24.97

Tax $1.08

Coupons Used

Ecotrin $2/1=$2.00

2x Aquafresh $.75/1=$1.50

Total $3.5o

$26.05=$3.50=$22.55

RRs Used
$9,$5,$5,$1,$1

Total $21.00

$22.55=$21.00=$1.55 OOP on GiftCard
Value of Items $37.14

RRs Received-$2 Ecotrin & again NO $10 RR for the Hair Dryer!!!

So here we go again......round and round with the Cashier, then the Asst. Manager(Kevin who's a cutie pie!) and then the Manager on Duty. First they try to tell me I had the wrong item....NOPE!lol Then they tried the old "the RR won't print because I used coupons" routine, until I pointed out it printed the Ecotrin RR....lolol Then they grilled me on what RRs I had used(figuring they'd explain it away with me using a Revlon RR to pay, so it wouldn't print a Revlon RR....but I had written down exactly what company each RR was from and surprise, surprise-No Revlon!

Then the 2 Managers disappear into the back for about 10 mins. leaving me just cooling my heels. I guess they were calling someone to find out what to do. I was all hyped up this time and wasn't leaving there without my RR AND the $12.99 price! Why should I pay the higher price if they have 2 conflicting prices/deals going on the same item, right?

Finally, Kevin, the Asst. Manager came back with my receipt, my hair dryer and a $10 RR. I got my RR and the lower price w/out a fight...yay! I noticed they had taken down all the signage on the hair dryers the next time I went down that aisle.lol I wonder what's going to happen the next time someone tries to buy one of the hair dryers.....

So RRs Received update for Transactions #3=$12RR

Back to the Pharmacy and they had a Meter...

Transaction #4

Bayer Meter on sale $10

Ecotrin on sale $2

Subtotal $12.00

Coupons Used
Bayer $30 adjusted down to $10

Ecotrin $2/1

Total $12.00

$12.00-$12.00=$.00 OOP

Value of Items $83.48

RRs Received

$2 Ecotrin, $10 Bayer=$12RR

Transaction #5

2x Starbucks Drinks $2 w/Wags ad Q=$4.00

Bic Soleil Razors $4.99

Veggie Cream Cheese clearanced $.45
Ecotrin on sale $2.00

Subtotal $11.44

Tax $.30

Coupons Used

Ecotrin $2/1=$2.00
Bic Razors $1/1=$1.00

Total $3.00

$11.74-$3.00=$8.74

RRs Used $5,$3

Total $8

$8.74-$8=$.74 OOP on GiftCard
Value of Items $16.75

RRs Received

$2 Ecotrin, $1 Bic=$3RR

Transaction #6

Bic Soleil Razors $4.99
Ecotrin on sale $2.00

Bug Repellant Pin $.99(WHY did I buy this for a filler?LOL)

Subtotal $7.98
Tax $.36

Coupons Used
Ecotrin $2/1=$2.00
Bic Razors $1/1=$1.00
Total $3.00

$8.34-$3.00=$5.34

RRs Used
$4.50

$5.34-$4.50=$.84 OOP on GiftCard
Value of Items $10.83

RRs Received
$2 Ecotrin, $1 Bic=$3RR

Transaction #7

2x Ramen Noodles $.29=$.58
Bic Soleil Razors $4.99
Ecotrin on sale $2.00

Subtotal $7.57
Tax $.30

Coupons Used
Ecotrin $2/1=$2.00
Bic Razors $1/1=$1.00
Total $3.00

$7.87-$3.00=$4.87

RRs Used
$4.50

$4.87-$4.50=$.37 OOP on GiftCard
Value of Items $10.36

RRs Received
$2 Ecotrin, $1 Bic=$3RR

Transaction #8

Ecotrin on sale $2.00

Subtotal $2.00
Tax $.00

Coupons Used
Ecotrin $2/1=$2.00

$2.00-$2.00=$.00 OOP

Value of Items $3.49

RRs Received
$2 Ecotrin

GRAND TOTALS

OOP $5.47 ($8.65-$3.18 refund on Hair Dryer)

Value of Items $339.00

Savings of 98.4%!

RRs Earned $51

The cashier at the 2nd store was the same one who I had rung me out back when the Colgate Visible White Toothpaste RR was rolling a couple of Saturdays ago. We chatted up for a bit today. She's a coupon hound like us & was commiserating with me on how bad the deals were this week.lol I still had about 8 Ecotrin Qs left but I was tired of going through and using them(yes, I was tired of making free money!lol) plus I wasn't coming back while the Ecotrin was giving RRs, so I offered them to her to use. Hey, it's never a bad idea to treat the cashier nice, right? It might help me out at some point in future hounding. ;-))

So I am done with Wags until mid to late next week when I have $50.50 in RRs expiring.

I sure hope they have some better things to roll these RRs into then.

Sluggy

Time has run Out but that's OK-Marcal Coupon Final Tally

Well, the expiration date of May 31st has come and gone on the Marcal Small Steps Coupons I had.

Here is what is left from my stacks of Qs....



Those are 29 $1/1 off assorted multipacks or napkin packs coupons. Since $1 off wasn't very near to being FREE for any of these items, I don't feel too badly about not redeeming them in time.

Even if I hadn't hurt my foot, I really don't think I would have made an effort to use most of them anyway.


I started out with about 170(+/-) Free Item & $1/1 Coupons so I didn't do too shabby a job here.


Maybe I should post pics of all those paper products after I threw them into my storage unit and have people guess how many individual items are there. Then I can count it all when I go back to organize it in a couple of weeks when the relatives all leave and give a prize for however guesses the closest.

Anybody want to play?lolol


Sluggy-who doesn't need to buy paper products for a very long time

Rite-Aid Building Single Check Rebate for MAY Part 5 THE END

This is the 5th & Final Post in My Rite-Aid MAY Single Check Rebate PLAN. See the 1st installment HERE, the 2nd one HERE, the 3rd one HERE & the 4th one HERE.

To recap, here are the Rebates I have qualified for so far.

Skintimate $2.24
Salt-Aire $6.99
Mini Drops $6.49
Listerine Whitening $2.00
ProFoot $10.00
Claritin $3.00
Got2Be $4.99

Alaway Drops $7.99

Wound Wash $5.49

Right Guard Clinical Deodorant $5.00

Electrasol Dishwashing Detergent $2.00

Bayer Crystals 10 ct. $3.99
Offer #50 $10-Highest level
Offer #500 $25.00 Gift Card-Highest level

Total of $95.18($70.18 Cash/$25 Gift Card)in Rebates
Total Out of Pocket $72.37-including tax.

Once the Rebate comes in, I am OOP $2.19 PLUS I have all these items valued at $120.18 & a $25 GiftCard.

****************************************************
I made two more transactions during this May Single Check Rebate Period.

On 5/23, I bought the following....

1 box of Frosted Flakes on sale $1.99

1 Gillette Deodorant on sale $3.50

1 Suave Deodorant on sale $2.00

Subtotal $7.49

Tax $.27

Since I was Not using a IP $5/$25 Q, I could use a $1/1 Frosted Flakes IP Q and get #2 son some sugared up cereal that he wanted.lol

Here are the Qs I used...

1 $1/1 Frosted Flakes IP Q

1 $1/1 Gillette Deo. Q

1 $.75/1 Suave Deo. Q
Coupon Total $2.75

$7.76-$2.75=$5.01OOP

New Rebates qualified for....
Gillette Deo $2.00

Suave Deo $1.50

Total $3.50

Total of $95.18($73.68 Cash/$25 Gift Card)in Rebates
Total Out of Pocket $77.38-including tax.

And On 5/30, I bought the following....

2 Dove Deo. on sale $3.99ea.=$7.98

1 Centrum Cardio vitamins $9.99
1 Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers on sale $2.50
1 Hefty Trash Bags on clearance 1/2 price $4.89

Subtotal $25.36
Tax $.39

Here are the Qs I used...
1 $1.50/2 Dove
1 $2/1 Centrum Cardio
1 $1/1 healthy Choice
1 $5/$25 Rite Aid IP Q
Coupon Total $9.50

$25.75-$9.50=$16.25

New SCRebates qualified for....
2x Dove Deo $2.00ea. $4.00
Centrum Cardio $1.00
Total $5.00

Not only do I get $2 off the Centrum & a $1 SCR from Rite-Aid for the Centrum purchase but I can send for a $9.99 Rebate directly from Centrum too. So I spent $9.99(no tax on this item) and I'll get/got $12.99 back + I get the item.

That's a sweet Double Dip!

MAY Total of $113.67($88.67 Cash/$25 Gift Card)in SCR/Centrum Rebates

MAY Total Out of Pocket $93.63 including tax.

I will use the $25 GiftCard to pay the OOP for items in my June SCR list. So it's just as good as getting $25 cash, because I would have spent that, had it been $25 cash, on items for June anyway.

So I ended the month of May with $20.04 MORE than I spent in May Plus all these Items....

Skintimate Shaving Cream

2 Listerine Mouthwash
Salt-Aire Nasal Wash

Cup O Noodles

Benadryl Allergy

3 Johnson's Baby Shampoos
2 Excellence-to-Go Hair Coloring

Claritin

Viactiv Glides-on

3 ProFoot Insoles

Sudafed PE

Tylenol Sinus

Got2be Hair Spray

Alaway Drops

Wound Wash

Right Guard Clinical Deodorant

Pop-Tarts 8-ct.
Electrasol Dishwashing Detergent
Frosted Flakes Cereal
Gillette Deodorant
Suave Deodorant

2 Dove Deodorants

Centrum Cardio Vitamins

Healthy Choice Fresh Mixer
Hefty Trash Bags 45-ct.

It's like getting PAID $20.04 to take all these things!!

So how did you do at Rite-Aid in May? I hope you did well!
Leave a comment below with what you got and how much you spent OOP & how much you will get back on your Rebate.

Sluggy

Meal Plan Monday....June 1st Edition

The Meal Plan for last week went fine. We had some school activities so a few Menus got moved around but everything but the Tacos was served during the week that was planned.
Yesterday I made a very good crockpot of chili using things I had already.
Basically, it was a lb. of Ground Beef(bought at the local rock bottom price of $1.69lb), 1 large chopped onion, 3/4 of 2 LARGE cans of Light & Red Kidney Beans, red Bell Pepper chopped, 2 small cans of Hunt's Tomato Sauce(2/$1 from Wags)& assorted spices from my spice cabinet. The leftover beans will either be mashed & go into the dogs' food bowls or I'll incorporate the rest into some last-minute side dish this week. The red bell pepper was in the form of strips I froze last fall from the local farm stand. They needed to be used up & were a nice addition to the dish. I mash some of the beans up in the chili to give it a nice creamy texture and as a thickener. We just added a pinch of cheddar cheese when served with fresh hot cornbread. What a filling meal without heating up the kitchen!

The FOOD WASTE report for last week....a container of daughter's cooked penne pasta with vodka sauce. It's going to be very hard to keep on top of the food waste with daughter making her own meals when I cook red meat meals. She often cooks more than she'll eat at a sitting, but she doesn't eat leftovers often. I'll have to earmark most of her leftovers for the doggies dinners, unless it's something hubby & I will eat.
Other than her pasta dish, I can't think of any other food that was wasted last week. There were many trips out to the compost pile, so almost nothing went to waste.
Yay!!

I can't believe I am saying this but there is NOTHING I need to buy for this week's menu! Theorectically I could NOT go into a grocery store this week!!....if I could keep #2 son from drinking milk, that is.lolol
Yes, I have everything to make the menu below. I may pick up some fresh fruit however, as we have none & the strawberries are coming in.

This week is chock full of standard meals for my house. The Chicken Broccoli Cheesy Rice Casserole is my take on the Schwan's Bagged Casserole of the same name. Mine is much cheaper however and not much more work than opening the bag of the Schwan's variety. I'll post that recipe and the Apricot-glazed Pork Chops later in the week.

Here's what is on the Menu at Sluggy's house this week.

MONDAY-Baked Manicotti, Salad

TUESDAY-Apricot Glazed Pork Chops, Potato Salad, Carrots

WEDNESDAY-Fish, Teriyaki Noodles & Veggies

THURSDAY-Chicken Broccoli Cheese Rice Casserole

FRIDAY-Pizza, Greek Salad

SATURDAY-Tacos, Spanish Rice, Refried Beans

SUNDAY-Quesadillas, Brussel Sprouts

DESSERTS FOR THE WEEK-Carrot Cake, Cookies

Organizing Junkie is the home to Menu Plan Monday. Go see what's on her and many other Home Cooks' Menus for the week at Organizing Junkie's Website.

Sluggy

May BUDGET RESULTS-Food & Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MAY 2009.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in May.
These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5. No kids under 13.

BOYER'S
OOP $90.08
Qs/Ads $108.54
Value $198.62
Savings 55%

CVS
OOP $30.00
Qs/Ads $391.43
Value $405.39
Savings 92.50%

DOLLAR GENERAL
OOP $8.18
Qs/Ads $7.00
Value $15.18
Savings 46%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP $12.18
Qs/Ads $0.00
Value $12.18
Savings 0%

GERRITY'S
OOP $48.09
Qs/Ads $24.00
Value $72.09
Savings 34%

GIANT
OOP $17.68
Qs/Ads $25.82
Value $43.50
Savings 43.50%

KMART
OOP $100.60
Qs/Ads $381.22
Value $481.82
Savings 79%

PRICE CHOPPER
OOP $89.06
Qs/Ads $413.37
Value $502.43
Savings 76%

RITE AID
OOP $93.63
Qs/Ads $183.19
Value $276.82
Savings 66% **This is before Single Check Rebate & Gift Cards earned.**

SHOPRITE
OOP $190.98
Qs/Ads $225.67
Value $416.65
Savings 55%

WALGREEN'S
OOP $54.36($22.82 on Gift Card, actual OOP $31.54)
Qs/Ads $974.83
Value $1074.83
Savings 95%

WALMART
OOP $51.32
Qs/Ads $11.63
Value $62.95
Savings 19%

WEIS
OOP $233.20
Qs/Ads $496.85
Value $724.75
Savings 68%

TOTAL Out of Pocket.............................$1019.36
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings....$3243.55
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$4287.21
TOTAL Savings % for APRIL......................76.33%

I've decided NOT to track CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons". Rebates will also show up in the Monthly Totals when spent, but I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly.

REBATES RECV'D. IN MAY

Rite-Aid SCR...........$40.49
Walgreen's Gift Card...$44.52
Progresso Rebate........$1.09
Ensure Rebate...........$6.99
Unilever Ham Rebate....$19.75
Misc. Rebates..........$19.96
Pinecone Survey.........$3.00
Staples Rebates.......$209.65

TOTAL Value of Rebates....$345.45

My best 3 Store Savings Totals were at CVS 92.50% & Walgreens at 95%!
This closes out the May spending.

Looks like not only did I NOT break 82% for a monthly savings total for May but I went over my $700 goal for monthly spending.
I did spend LESS than April, about $60 less overall.

So onward to June. I forsee a reduction in grocery bills this month. #1 son will be leaving this month for his job at the YMCA Camp, so won't be here for meals. Daughter will be going with him for training and will return home until her work contract starts in Aug. Then #2 son will be attending camp the end of the month, so he won't be eating here half of the month, when he returns in July.

As for the stockpile, I can say I am more than fully STOCKED on everything except some meat and fresh produce/milk/eggs. Likewise, in the toiletries/cleaners/dog food department, we are good-to-go for the forseeable future.
So it will be a light shopping month here at Chez Sluggy.

Unless some incredible shopportunity presents itself this month.... ;-))

I'm shooting for keeping the food spending under $600 in June. We've got some traveling to do in June so we'll have to eat out some, which will put this amount to the test.

We've got the garden put in now, which is a budget help with the free veggies, but we won't see any food savings there until the plants start producing in July. Between the local farm I buy from & my garden I usually don't buy any produce from the grocery stores in the summer months. The farmer can be a bit more than the grocery store so that will keep my monthly total up but being able to pull from the stockpile the staples will keep the total down.

One thing that will affect my spending OOP this month are the state of the Wags RRs and the CVS ECBs. I have TONS of RRs to roll every 2 weeks before they expire.....rolling costs some OOP cash however. That is no problem for now, as I have a well stocked WAGS GiftCard to use for the OOP. I may just burn alot of RR's and the few ECBs from CVS I have this month. The pressure to use them, especially when there isn't that much I want to acquire lately at Wags, is getting annoying. I'm in that store so much that any day now, some customer is going to mistake me for an employee! That seems to happen to me alot whereever I go shopping in grocery & drug stores.lolol

Sluggy