Meal Plan Monday...November 15th Edition...Quick and Easy Week

I am late again with the menu this week....sigh.  Oral surgery & painkillers will do that to a person.

Last Week's Menu Postmortem...

Everything but the Shrimp Alfredo and Hot Dogs were served.  Not in the mood for that shrimp dish this week, so I'll go with a different seafood meal this week and I'll move the hot dog meal to this week(we had it last night actually).  I also didn't make the apple pie as we had so many other dessert type foods already.  I'll make that pie later this week with some of the tons of apples I still have here.
Hubby made steak, scalloped potatoes and butternut squash on Sunday.  I appreciated the day off from cooking and he did a great job!  He has offered to make dinner again this Sunday.  Now, how could I refuse an offer like that?  ;-)

Here's what I will be serving our family of 4 this Week....

MONDAY--Hot Dogs(freezer), Beans(stockpile), Carrots(root cellar)
TUESDAY--Chicken Parmesan(freezer), Salad(fridge), Spaghetti(stockpile)
WEDNESDAY--Beef Pie(freezer/stockpile)
THURSDAY--Lasagna(stockpile/freezer), Swiss Chard(end of garden!)
FRIDAY--Grilled Pastrami Panini(fridge), Soup(stockpile)
SATURDAY--Leftovers
SUNDAY--Hubby Surprise...I get the day off, hubby is cooking!

SNACKS/DESSERTS--Apple Pie, lots of stuff in the stockpile

This week is chock full of easy meals since next week will be the major league cooking marathon for Thanksgiving.  I'm giving myself a rest this week.

Last week I spent $84.49 on food and toiletries.  $16.57 of that was on Part 2 of the massive haul from Acme, talked about Here and the rest was stocking up on other Catalina Promos.  It would have been much less OOP on groceries last week except for the Acme Catalina Deals and both my local independent grocer and the regional chain grocery store here had Catalina Deals going.  I can't resist a Cat Deal it seems.  Now that I've gotten my Rite-Aid shopping done for the week I am trying very hard to stay out of the stores this week.  Except for weekly milk purchases, we require NO additional food purchases.  I don't have any RRs to roll at Wags and I have to check if my ECBs are expiring this week or next so I might be able to stay out of CVS too. I'm hoping this week turns out to be a Low Spend Week and I'm going to try for a No Spend Week next week. 

Food Waste Report....nothing wasted again this week.  All vegetable matter composted.

Check out ORGANIZING JUNKIE to see what other Home Cooks are serving this week!

Sluggy

November Charity Challenge Courtesy of Acme

So I finally got all the Acme Booty gone through and rebagged up a load for the Food Bank in Teeny Tiny Town.  This friday is the weekly distribution and the last one before Thanksgiving so I am glad I got this up there when I did.  The shelves at the FB weren't bare but man, was there ALOT of empty space and boxes in the store room.
Here's what my donation looked like strewn across the minivan....

Pretty full, right?
But here is how small it all looked once it was unloaded onto a table....

Ok...it IS a big 8 foot long table and the shot is from a distance but still....
It didn't seem to make a dent in the need.

Here's the list of what's there....
27 boxes of Cereal
5 jars of Peanut Butter
1 jar of Jelly
14 packages of Pasta/Rice
2 containers of Bread Crumbs
4 sacks of Flour
4 boxes of Fruit Snacks
2 boxes of Cake Mix
2 jars or Frosting
1 box of Instant Potatoes
16 cans of Vegetables
3 boxes of Crackers
4 bags of Pasta
5 boxes of Pop-Tarts
3 jars of Spaghetti Sauce
8 cans of Soup
6 boxes of Mac & Cheese
1 box of Tea Bags

I also hauled up some medical stuff that can be used at the Free Medical Clinic there as well.  I didn't get a shot of the Glucose Meters and the bag of OTC medicines but those were included in this drop off of goodies.
The value of the food part of it was $361.71.

Because of a bit of work and time on my part and ALOT of Coupons and a really nice Sale at Acme last week, there are going to be a few people who otherwise don't qualify for any government programs getting a bit more to eat later this week.
And that can only be labeled a good thing.

In this Month when many are Counting Their Blessings, do you have an opportunity to show your thankfulness by sharing your Harvest with others?

Even if your food budget doesn't stretch enough to be giving what food stuff you purchase away, there are other ways to help the hungry that are painless.

Did you qualify for a FREE TURKEY or MORE than One Turkey at the grocery store this month?
Instead of jamming yet another turkey into your freezer, how about sharing one of those Turkeys with a needy neighbor who doesn't have one, either directly giving it to them or through donating it at your local Food Bank/Pantry or Soup Kitchen.

What about those 20 cans of whatever that were an amazing deal but your family won't eat that is languishing in your stockpile?  I bet your local food drive could put them into the hands of people who would really enjoy them!

How about inviting someone who has no family to gather with next week to your family Thanksgiving meal.  Surely, one more mouth to feed won't be much of an imposition or strain on your budget? And it could very well mean the world to someone who feels left out and islolated in this time of community and family.

Take a minute to make a tangible difference in someone's life this week.  Buy some food or write a check to your local program that feeds the needy.

If you can't swing a monetary donation to some good cause, give your time.
Better yet, do Both!

Check out the CVS SAVER to see what others are doing this month to make a difference in their small part of the world!

And leave a comment here to share what you are doing for others this holiday season.




Sluggy

Mystery Building Revealed!

Remember back in July of this year when I posted about a Mystery Building going up near Teeny Tiny Town Here?

Well, I took an updated shot of the construction site last month....

Was I right or what?lolol
Can't wait until it opens.  Maybe with THREE Walgreen's stores around here I can actually get in on some of the deals and won't find shelves cleared of all goodies every-single-time-I-go-there-lately.

I don't know if it's one person doing it or a gang of marauding couponers but seriously people,
knock it off!  Stop running to the 24/7 Wags here at 12:01am on Sunday and taking ALL the goodies in the first 5 minutes.

A little common decency and coupon etiquette would go a long way around here near Teeny Tiny Town.
Target is another place I don't frequent often either because we have one store for a large area and it's usually wiped out by Monday morning after the Sunday sales start.
This is partly why I have been concentrating on Rite-Aid offers & not even trying Wags much.  We have Rite-Aids coming out our ears here so there is ample opportunity for everyone to get the deals.  That and if I am going to hit Rite-Aid hard in any particular week, I can shop at many different locations, practicing some coupon courtesy myself. ;-)

Sluggy

Today's Post is Brought to You by the Letter "W"....Walmart & Walgreen's

I had those internet printed Sara Lee $2 off a package of deli meat coupons expiring.  I've priced this product at all the grocery stores I frequent over the last 2 weeks and none of them would allow me to buy this item after using the coupon for less then $3.50!   So I broke down and hoofed over on a RARE trip to Walmart to see how I could make out on Tuesday....of course, I brought along other coupons just in case I found any other deals there.

WALMART
2 x Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice $2.97=$5.94
4 x Sara Lee Lunchmeat  $3.98=$15.92
1 x Sara Lee Bagels=$2.88
1 x Sara Lee Rolls=$2.27
1 x Progresso Panko Crumbs=$1.86
1 x Morton's Kosher Salt=$1.58
1 x 1 Gal. Milk=$3.16 *not pictured*
SubTotal=$33.61

Coupons Used
2 x $2/1 Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice IP Q=$4.00
4 x $2/1 Sara Lee Deli Lunchmeat IP Q=$8.00
2 x $2/1 Bread Product WYB 2 Sara Lee Deli Lunchmeat Tearpad Q=$4.00
1 x $1.10/1 Progresso Bread Crumb Product IP Q=$1.10
Coupons Total=$17.10

$33.61-$17.10+$.36 tax=$16.87 OOP
**Actual OOP was  $15.87, because the cashier somehow took off an extra $1 somewhere.
The Deli Meat was a good price with the $2 Qs but I found a tearpad at Weis last week(over on the gourmet cheese case)with $2 OFF Sara Lee Bread products WYB 2 Sara Lee Packaged Deli Meats.
So I got bread for $.27 and Bagels for $.88.

I hit Walgreen's also on Tuesday as I had RRs expiring....

WALGREEN'S
3 x Ocean Spray 100% Juice on sale $1.99=$5.97
1 x Honey on sale $3.99=$3.99
1 x Sunsweet Apricots on sale $2.00=$2.00
1 x Walgreen's OraGel=$5.99 *not pictured*(Was slathering this on my tooth for relief from the pain until Friday)
SubTotal=$17.95

Coupons
3 x Wags Booklet $1 off Ocean Spray=$3.00
1 x $6 RR
1 x $8 RR
Coupons total=$17.00

$17.95-$17.00=$.95 OOP
Finding Peelie Qs on the Juice(like others have reported)would have been even more awesome but it didn't happen at this store.

I forgot something so I went back in and I got this....

3 x Kleenex reg. $2.59=$7.77
Used Wags Flyer Q $1.09(deducts $1.50 per box)=$4.50 off
$7.77-$4.50=$3.27

Then I used the $1 off Q in the Wags Savings Booklet in the store.
$3.27-$3=$.27 OOP

The cashier didn't say BOO about using both Qs on the Kleenex.  I didn't go back for more since I wasn't feeling well.  I figure with all the Facial Tissue I have already(after all the FREE Marcal Small Steps ones AND the Acme Kleenex from that week), I can donate a bunch or share with BIL and I am still set until Spring.

OOP for the day...$17.09
Value of Items....$59.33
Savings of 71.20%

I am all out of Register Rewards at this point.  It's sort of a relief not to have the pressure of having to find stuff to buy that I can use to roll them right now.  I find it difficult to keep track and juggle the CVS, Wags and Rite-Aid "Games" all at the same time.  I'm going to have to do a bit of pondering on how to handle this in the future.

Do you play all 3 of the Drugstore Games?  How do you manage it?  Any tips for the rest of us?  Please leave a comment or five on the post! 8-)

Sluggy

Get Paid to Buy Things at Rite-Aid this Week

Ok, I am so proud of my evil plan this week.  It only works because...
1-I can submit an item for SCRs for my BIL
2-I bought 4 packages of the T.P. & 4 boxes of rice by Sunday(to meet a purchased deadline for a rebate) and
3-I have a new Rite-Aid WELLNESS Card(meaning I can use the new Wellness Coupons at Rite-Aid).

Here's how it went...

Transaction #1-Sunday
2 x Quilted Northern TP@$5.99=$11.98
1 x Crest Toothpaste=$2.69
1 x Tic Tac Chill Gum=$1.00
Subtotal.....$15.67

Coupons Used
1 x Rite-Aid $3 off $15 Purchase from coupons.com=$3.00
2 x Quilted Northern TP $1/1 ManuQ Sunday inserts=$2.00
1 x Rite-Aid AdPerks $5/2 Northern TP Q=$5.00
1 x Crest Toothpaste $1/1 ManuQ Sunday inserts=$1.00
1 x $1 off Toothpaste Wellness IPQ=$1.00
1 x Tic Tac Chill $1/1 ManuQ Sunday inserts=$1.00
Coupon Total....$13.00

$15.67-$13.00=$2.67 OOP

Transaction #2(different store)-Sunday
4 x Planters Peanuts($4.39/$4.49) on sale BOGO=$8.88
2 x Quilted Northern TP on sale $5.99=$11.98
Subtotal....$20.86

Coupons Used
1 x Rite-Aid $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerksQ=$5.00
2 x Planters $1/2 ManuQ(store booklet)=$2.00
2 x Quilted Northern TP $1/1 ManuQ Sunday inserts=$2.00
1 x Rite-Aid AdPerks $5/2 Northern TP Q=$5.00

Coupon Total....14.00

$25.76-$22.00=$6.86 OOP

 Well I screwed up on Transaction #2...I need that receipt to submit for TWO different rebates!argh  So now I have to rebuy the 4 Planters jars.

Transaction #3-Monday
1 x Crest Toothpaste on sale $2.99=$2.69
2 x Centrum Silver Vitamins on sale $6.99=$13.98
4 x Planters Nuts on sale BOGO($4.49/$4.39)=$8.88
Subtotal.....$25.55

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Purchase Rite-Aid IPQ=$5.00

1 x Wellness $1 off any toothpaste IPQ=$1.00
1 x Centrum $5/2 IPQ=$5.00
1 x Centrum $5/2 AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x Wellness $2 off any Vitamin over $2 IPQ=$2.00
2 x Planters Nuts $1/2 ManuQ(store booklet)=$2.00
Coupons Total...$20.00

$25.55-$20.00=$5.55 OOP

**The cashier wouldn't take my $1/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ at this store because the 'picture' on the Q wasn't the same as the toothpaste I bought, even though the WORDING on the Q said it was valid on this tube of toothpaste.  It would be a much nicer couponing world if all Rite-Aid cashiers were literate.....

Transaction #4-Monday
4 x Planters Nuts on sale BOGO($4.39/$3.99)=$8.38
1 x Robitussin Meds on sale $6.99=$6.99
4 x Trident Layers Gum on sale $1.00=$4.00
1 x Welch's Grape Juice on sale $3.00=$3.00
Subtotal....$22.37

Coupons Used
1 x Rite-Aid $5 off $20 Purchased AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x Planters Nuts $1/2 ManuQ(store booklet)=$2.00
1 x Robitussin $2/1 IPQ=$2.00
1 x Wellness $2/1 any Cough & Cold OTC meds IPQ=$2.00
2 x Trident Layers Gum BOGO ManuQ Sunday inserts=$2.00
2 x Trident Layers Gum $1/2 IPQ=$2.00
1 x Welch's Grape Juice $1/1 IPQ=$1.00

Coupon Total....$16.00

$22.37-$16.00=$6.37 OOP

The following I bought at Weis(I know, not Rite-Aid but just watch...trust me....lol)....

Weis Purchases-Sunday & last week
4 x Uncle Ben's Wild Rice Mixes on sale $1.67=$6.68(bought in two different transactions)
2 x Wheat Thins Crackers on sale $2.00=$4.00(One was bought last week, one on Sunday.)
Subtotal....$10.68

Coupons Used
2 x $1/2 UB Wild Rice Sunday inserts ManuQ=$2.00
1 x Nabisco Cracker $1/1 Sunday inserts ManuQ=$1.00
1 x Weis Catalina Q $1.50 off any cracker/cookie $2 or more=$1.50
Coupon Total....$4.50

$10.68-$4.50=$6.18 OOP

Total OOP for 4 Rite-Aid & 1 Weis Transactions=$28.63 OOP

I bought....
4 12 packs of Northern Toilet Paper
12 cans of Planters Nuts
2 tubes of Crest Toothpaste
1 Robitussin Cough Meds
2 bottles of Centrum Vitamins
4 Trident Layers Gum
1 Tic Tac Chill Gum
1 Welch's Grape Juice
4 boxes of Uncle Ben's Wild Rice
2 boxes of Nabisco Crackers

I paid $28.63 cash for all that.

That's pretty good deal shopping, but now Here is the FUN part!

I will get back in Rite-Aid Single Check Rebates....
$2.69 Crest Toothpaste(full price paid)
$5.00 Planters Nuts(Buy $15/Get $5)
$4.00 Robitussin
$2.69 Crest Toothpaste(BIL)
TOTAL=$14.38

Then I will send for the $5.00 Real Simple Rebate for buying $15 in advertised products(Northern Ultra Plush TP & Uncle Ben's Wild Rice Mix) for both myself and BIL's address=$10.00 REBATE.

AND...I have purchased 10 Kraft/Nabisco participating items(8 Nuts at Rite-Aid/2 Crackers at Weis) for the "Put the Jingle in Your Holidays Rebate"=$10.00 REBATE.

$14.38+$10.00+$10.00=$34.38 in REBATES Minus $28.63 OUT OF POCKET=$5.75 OVERAGE.

$91.79 Worth of Products and I'm getting PAID $5.75 to buy them.

Now the extra 4 jars of Planters I bought on the Northern TP receipt, if I want, I can buy another 4 jars and submit for a second $5 Planters SCR under BIL's name, but that would actually add $1.88 to my OOP, so I think 12 jars is plenty for now.lol

 8-)

So what are you planning to get at Rite-Aid this week?


I'm off to take another pain pill and lay down.  My jaw is actually feeling more sore on Day 3 after the extraction.  Dentist said that was to be expected though.  Hoping tomorrow I start feeling on the upside of this whole ordeal...



Sluggy