My 5 Transaction Moneymaker at Rite-Aid.....The Final Report In

Here are my Transactions from Sunday, 1/17, at Rite-Aid.
I went to 3 different stores and did a total of 5 Transactions.  I had planned on 4 but found I needed a 5th trip to get everything purchased for the deals.
The important thing I had to remember was that I had 3 separate Olay Rebates to send for and needed these on 3 separate receipts, I needed to purchase the corresponding Olay products in 3 SEPARATE Transactions!
That was the foundation when writing out my scenarios.  Otherwise, it was just building on these purchases with other items, to get to the $20 or $25 mark so I could use a $X off $X Purchase coupon on top of the individual items' coupons.
The "filler" items were things that qualified for the SCRs &/or items I wanted/needed that were cheap or free after coupons.

And the best advise I can give Anyone who coupons is to BRING A CALCULATOR WITH YOU TO THE STORE!  It is sooo handy in avoiding dumb math mistakes while shopping!!
"Nuf said.....lol

Transaction #1

1 x Olay Regenerist UV Cream stuff=$29.99 YIKES!lol
1x Olay Regenerist Eye Roller 50% sale=$10.99  What the hell is this thing??
SubTotal....$40.98

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Purchase IPQ=$5.00
2 x $3/1 Olay Regenerist ManuQ(1/17PG)=$6.00
1 x $20 Gift of Savings Rite-Aid Certificate=$20.00
Coupon Total....$31.00

$40.98-$31.00=$9.98+$.96tax=$10.94 OOP

Qualified for Olay $20 Rebate HERE($9.06 Moneymaker)AND am $40.98 toward the Rite-Aid SCR#551 $35 prepaid Visa Card.

Transaction #2
2 x Olay Regenerist Cleansers on sale B1G150%off=$11.98
2 x Bayer Aspirin on sale $1.99=$3.98
2 x Doritos on sale $2.49=$4.98
SubTotal.....$20.94

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks Rite-Aid IPQ=$5.00
2 x $3/1 Olay Regenerist Cleansers ManuQ(1/17PG)=$6.00
2 x $2/1 Bayer Aspirin AdPerks IPQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Doritos AdPerks IPQ=$2.00
2 x $.50/1 Any Snack Item over $.50 Wellness IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total....$18.00

$20.94-$18.00=$2.94+$.42tax=$3.36 OOP

Qualified for Olay $15 Rebate HERE($11.64 Moneymaker)AND am $11.98 More toward the Rite-Aid SCR#551 $35 prepaid Visa Card($52.96).

 Transaction #3

2 x Olay Lotion B1G150%off sale=$11.23
2 x Old Spice Deodorant on sale $2.50=$5.00
1 x Secret Deodorant=$4.99
1 x Bayer Aspirin on sale=$1.99
SubTotal....$23.21

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Olay Lotion ManuQ(1/17PG)=$4.00 **Though they are correct, tese Qs beeped but she pushed them through.
1 x $1/2 Old Spice Deodorant ManuQ(12/27PG)=$1.00
1 x B2Old Spice/Get Secret Free ManuQ(12/27PG)=$4.99
1 x $2/1 Bayer Aspirin AdPerks IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total....$16.99

$23.21-$16.99=$6.22+$.38tax=$6.60 OOP

Qualified for Olay TRY ME FREE Rebate HERE($4.63 Moneymaker)AND am $21.22(Old Spice/Secret/Olay) toward the Rite-Aid SCR#551 $35 prepaid Visa Card($74.18).

Transaction #4
4 x Pantene Shampoo on sale $3=$12.00
1 x NyQuil on sale=$3.99
1 x Oral B CrossAction Toothbrush on sale=$2.99
2 x Bayer Aspirin on sale $1.99=$3.98
SubTotal....$22.96

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x $3/2 Pantene ManuQ(12/27PG)=$6.00
1 x $2 Nyquil ManuQ(1/17PG)=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Oral B Toothbrush(12/27PG)=$1.00
2 x $2/1 Bayer Aspirin AdPerks IPQ=$4.00
Coupon Total....$18.00

$22.96-$18.00=$4.96+$.06tax=$5.02 OOP


Rite-Aid SCRs qualified for....$1.25 Oral B and $1 Nyquil AND $18.98(Pantene/Nyquil/Oral B) More toward the Rite-Aid SCR#551 $35 prepaid Visa Card($93.16).

I needed $6.84 more to get to $100 P&G purchases and that $35 Visa card.  Someone also wanted me to pick up some Soda for them so here's what I did....

Transaction #5
4 x 12packs of Pepsi brand sodas on sale $3.33=$13.32
1 x Olay Cleanser on clearance 50%off=$4.99**
1 x Oral B CrossAction Toothbrush on sale=$2.99
1 x Doritos on sale=$2.49
SubTotal....$23.79

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $3.33 WYB 4 Pepsi Products 12 packs Rite-Aid in-ad Q=$3.33
1 x $3/1 Olay Regenerist ManuQ(1/17PG)=$3.00
1 x $1/1 OralB Toothbrush ManuQ(12/27PG)=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Doritos AdPerks IPQ=$1.00
1 x $.50/1 Any Snack Item over $.50 Wellness IPQ=$.50
Coupon Total....$13.83

$23.79-$13.83=$9.96+$.60tax(on soda)=$10.56 OOP
MY OOP(after soda reimbursement of $9.59)= Negative $.03!

The soda buyer got a free 12 pack because I used a coupon for them and I was able to use a $5 off $20 coupon on my stuff because the soda purchase brought my total up over $20.

Though I can't qualify for another $1 OralB SCR, I have $7.98 More toward the Rite-Aid SCR#551 $35 prepaid Visa Card, giving me a $101.14 Total.

**Now since I have another Olay Regenerist Cleanser item with this transaction, if I can find a second of this brand/type that is inexpensive, I can send for this $15 Olay Rebate again for my *ahem* brother-in-law*ahem*.  Depending on what I spent OOP on the second Cleanser, I can add to my Moneymaker Profit with that purchase/rebate.

*************************
Total OOP for these trips.....$25.89
Rebates qaulified for these trips....$48.48 & a $35 Visa Card

$25.89-$48.48=$22.59 Moneymaker & a $35 Visa Card!
Plus some Olay stuff to sell on eBay and other stuff to take to the Flea Market in the Spring, so I'll get more $$ back too. ;-)

When I was sitting in the car out front of  Rite-Aid #3 figuring out what to buy in Transaction $5 to get over the $100 mark for the Visa card, I realized I had screwed up something.  The Old Spice Deodorants I bought were NOT the correct ones to buy to A-use the FREE SECRET Q I used and B-to qualify for SCR #74(another $2 in rebates).  I had another set of Qs to do this deal again and looked in the Rebate catalog to see what else to buy(yes, I carry this to the store with me!lol) and saw this #74 SCR and noticed the goof.
Ugh!
The cashier didn't notice my goof up and the Qs scanned into the register without a peep anyway.  The correct Deodorants are $4.29 so it should be another $1.79 a piece($3.58 more for 2).
I am torn about what to do.
I want to return them and buy the proper ones...it will raise my OOP, er....I mean lower my Moneymaker amount overall but that's not my concern.
My concern is returning them and rebuying without totally confusing whichever cashier or manager I am dealing with.  It's not simple to do since many coupons where involved the first go-around I don't know how they will handle this(return/rebuy a diff. product and not have the Qs returned for the rebuy?).  When it's all over, I might end up paying much more for them all if they just don't let me pay the difference and exchange for the higher priced Deos.
Exchanging them and paying the difference will let me apply for the #74 SCR, so after rebate only another $1.58 more to pay, and it's the right thing.  But the returning process could be a horrible mess when the dust settles.
Or I could just let it go and hope I pay closer attention next time....
Oh, decisions, decisions....

Anyway, that was how my game plan went down.  I had a whole scenario written down but once I got to the stores, some of the stores were out of things so it was a matter of substituting items from one scenario into another.  I also brought extra Qs and had other items to use if I couldn't come up with enough products in my scenarios that were available at these particular stores.  I could have bought more Nyquil or Pantene or even gotten Always pads/tampons(with BOGO Qs)if I had needed to.
Things never go as planned totally with multiple scenarios but by being ready with alternatives and keeping your mind open, you can be flexible enough to figure optional plans out. 

Now it's off to fill out some rebate forms and do some record keeping....

Sluggy

They Had a Dream Too......a Dream to be Funny

Not to take anything away from this day and our tribute to an amazing man, but I found this image on the internut a few months ago at FileHurricane.com and saved it to share with all my friends who enjoy a good chuckle.

Some how I think MLK Jr. also had a sense of humor and would have appreciated the really bad attempt at advertising by the person who came up with this newspaper ad for their Eating Establishment.

What more can I say here?LOLOL

Now that you've had a laugh, watch and enjoy this....


Sluggy

Meal Plan Monday.....January 18th Edition....Into the 2nd Layer in the Freezer

Last Week's Menu Postmortem...
Almost everything was served as planned.  We did "Breakfast for Dinner" on Sunday instead of the Roast Chicken though.
The fried Calamari was a big hit....but a lot of work and since we used all 2.5lbs. of it for 5 people, it wasn't very frugal.  But it's a "now and again" meal to put into the rotation when I can get squid at a good price.

The relative and #1 son are gone now so we are back down to 4 for dinner.
It is MY BIRTHDAY WEEK this week!  As such, I feeling that I should NOT have to do ANY COOKING this week, however, the family does like to eat....and on a regular basis.

I have made some progress in the freezer.  There was enough room on Saturday for me cram 9 more boxes of Green Giant veggies in.lolol  And I uncovered a bag of local corn I froze in the summer and a corned beef.  The corned beef had been TOTALLY forgotten!  But it was a nice surprise and is now on the menu for this week.  There are still more blobs of unrecognized meat in the freezer but we are into a 2nd layer of foodstuffs.  I might be able to see the back wall in the freezer by week's end...

Here's what I will be serving our family of 4 this Week.....nothing unusual or exciting really.  Just a lot of the same old-same old.

MONDAY--Take Out...Holiday....me. no. cook.
TUESDAY--Kielbasa on Rolls(freezer), Baked Beans(leftover), Corn on Cob(freezer)
WEDNESDAY--Grilled Chicken(frezer) with Peppers/Onions/Mushrooms and Cheese(freezer), Mashed Potatoes(stockpile), Harvard Beets(root cellar)

THURSDAY--Leftovers
FRIDAY--Baked Fish(freezer), Rice(stockpile), Creamed Spinach(freezer)
SATURDAY--Homemade Pizza(freezer/stockpile/root cellar)
SUNDAY--Tacos or Birthday Meal Out
SNACKS/DESSERTS--Pineapple(stockpile), Applesauce(stockpile), Brownies(stockpile), Birthday Cake(stockpile)

Last week I spent $99.86 on food/toiletries....$72.64 at Weis, $18.22 at Rite-Aid, $9.00 at the Bread Outlet(my CVS trip had no out of pocket since I used a free gift card). 

After assorted rebates on the goods purchased(naked juice, 2 x Johnson & Johnson rebate, various items for Rite-Aid Single Check Rebate)amounting to $45.98, my OOP spending for the week is $53.88.

Food Waste Report....bad week here.....1 moldy steak roll, 1 manicotti, a bowl of potato leek soup.  So many people in the house, so much chaos, things get away from me.....*sigh*

Thankfully the grocery stores ads this week here are just a big waste of trees, so there isn't much I want.  We do need some fresh produce for my menu this week that I'll pick up at the small local independent grocer, as they have the best prices this week on produce. I'll try to just buy what is needed this week and keep it under $20.
My current Rite-Aid addiction however, is a whole other story!lol

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

Sluggy

New Scott Products Reward Coupon Rebate...Good Until 1/31/10

If you shopped at Rite-Aid last week and bought the 4 pack of Scott Toilet Tissue that was on sale, on friday 1/15/10 or later, hang onto that receipt!

There is another Scott family of products Rebate available.  Buy 2, 3 or 4 different Scott products and you can send away for a $2, $3 or $4 Reward.  This Reward, if like the last time Scott had this rebate, will be in the form of an emailed link to a Coupon for that dollar amount off a Scott product.  The good thing is you can hit the back button and print multiples of the coupon!

If you bought the Scott T.P. last week, you only need to buy either Scott napkins, paper towels, wipes or scrubs to get the $2 coupon Reward....2 more different items to get the $3 reward and so on.

It just so happened that I finally! received my emailed link to the coupon on thursday for the last Scott rebate, I sent away for on 11/21.  I used my $2 coupons the next day(1/15), so after the in-ad $.50 off coupon and the $2 coupon, each pack of T.P. only cost me $.49!
Now if I can find a good deal on the napkins or wipes in the next 2 weeks, I can send for another Reward.
8-))

The Rebate form is HERE on the Scott website.  The rebate period only runs until 1/31/10.

Sluggy

Johnson & Johnson..If it talks like a Weasel and walks like a Weasel....MIR Fiasco!

Well there is consternation in the Couponing World this evening!

There is a Johnson & Johnson Mail-In Rebate that was advertised in last Sunday's coupon insert.  Buy $30 in Johnson & Johnson brand Lotions(at least 2 different brand names)and Get a $10 Rebate.
The MIR form was available in last Sunday's insert as well as on Coupons.com. 
$2/1 Qs were also available on both sources for each of the qualifying brand names(Aveeno, Lubriderm, Purpose, Clean & Clear, Ambi) so you could combine store sales with coupons to get a better deal.

Well it has come to our attention via various online sources(Southern Savers was the 1st one I saw it on), that even though you CAN do this Rebate with more than one receipt, Johnson & Johnson is claiming that your receipts MUST TOTAL $30 to be eligible for the Rebate.  Now if you bought the J&J products along with scads of other things and your receipts add up to $30 or more after coupons/sales, you are fine.  But if you bought the Rebate items alone and used coupons/sales and your receipt(s) don't total $30, you are outta luck!
Go see what is being said about this fiasco HERE and HERE.

Let me bring to Johnson & Johnson's attention that nowhere in the insert ad, coupons or on the rebate form did they specify that you had to spend $30 AFTER coupons!

If this is true, J&J will have a PR NIGHTMARE on their hands with all the pissed off Couponers/Rebaters who will have their rebates denied.
You think they have a BIG Problem NOW with all the Tylenol and associated brands RECALLS(McNeill owns the Johnson & Johnson brand too)?  These recalls are small potatoes compared to a massive flock of disgruntled Rebaters marching en masse(via snail mail, email and telephone)on their headquarters!lolol

At any rate, if they deny all these rebates they will have lost a heap of customers for life....all over the semantics of their interpretation of the wording on a $10 MIR.

Here goes the Domino Effect--
Bad drugs recalled....
Bad rebating policy.....
Bad consumer feelings on two fronts....
Bad sales figures.....
Bad stock report.....
Bad news for McNeill

Well, yours truly went and bought a heap of Johnson & Johnson brands lotions last week....enough to qualify(or so I THOUGHT!)for 2 MIRs--1 for me, 1 for my *ahem*BIL*ahem*.
Being the savvy frugalista I am, the combined total of all 4 of my receipts(2 for each MIR)was $11.47.
Not quite $30, is it?LOL

So I need to decide to...
A--just send them in as is and cross my fingers that Johnson & Johnson doesn't weasel out on their word.
B--return a bunch of stuff(and lose the coupons I used and only get back $11.47).
C--go buy a couple MORE qualifying items but do it on a grocery shopping receipt, so my total receipts add up to at least $30.
D--just keep the stuff.  If I do this and either don't send for the rebates or do send them and they are denied, my Rite-Aid Profit after rebates will suffer this month.

Luckily, I have a week or so to think on this and see what happens before I do anything....and that's just what I'm going to do....wait awhile.

So what would you do??

Sluggy