Not only is my Blog Boring, My 2010 GIVEAWAYS ARE BORING!

So I got this idea from Happy Mom of 5(check it out-her blog button is on my right sidebar).....and she in turn got the idea from someone else's blog(sorry, I can't recall whom or I would rep you).  I thought it was a neat idea.

I am going to host a Whole Year of Giveaways in 2010!

I'm calling it.....
SLUGGY'S BORING BLOG BOX of FUN GIVEAWAY!!

And here is what you can win.....

And just WHAT IS THAT, I hear you ask??
It's the inside of a USPS Priority mail box of course!

It's empty just now.....
But it won't be when you win it!

Here's what I am going to do.

I am taking a Flat Rate mailing box.
And I will add prizes to it as the weeks go along and I'll post pictures of what I have added, when I add it.
And when it's full, I'll draw a name and one of my lucky readers wins whatever is in the box!

And just what are the prizes?
Glad you asked!

The prizes will be items I pick up in my couponing travels for free or almost free and/or samples I have requested from companies that I feel compelled to share with my readers.

These will NOT be company sponsored Giveaways!  No company will send me stuff to giveaway.
These boxes will be filled with items I have purchased myself.  Payment for the items and the postage is coming out of my pocket.  Ya see how much I must love y'all?lol


Now I have no clue how long it will take me to fill a box.  That will depend on how much/what deals I find and when.  We'll all get a handle on a timeline as we go along.

As soon as I ship off a Box to the Winner, I'll get another empty mailing box and start filling it and will continue doing this all year.

So what are the rules?
1.  You can enter 1 time per day.  I'll post that a New Box Giveaway is ready to start and then let the entering begin!
On the right side of my Blog, right at the top will be a LINK to the current Blog Post about the Giveaway  where you are to leave your entry/comment.


2.   Besides just saying, "Here's my entry" & leaving your email addy, you will have to post some kind of a comment in your entry.  Talk about an amazing deal you got that week, what a wonderful person you think I am(LOLOL), something that happened in your life, a goal you have or have attained, what your weather is like, a story or joke or a link to a website we might like.....just post Something!

3.  You MUST be a follower of my blog to enter AND when the Giveaway Winner is announced, you must STILL be a follower.  No following, entering and then unfollowing.  If the name I draw is not a follower,  then I will draw another winner.
If you don't know how to follow, just look on the right sidebar for where it says "followers" and there should be a FOLLOW BUTTON you can click on.  If you are still having problem, email me at slugmama@yahoo.com and I'll try to help you sign up to follow the blog.


4.  Extra Weekly Entries for Bloggers.  There are 2 ways to get an extra weekly entry.....blog about my Giveaway and/or put my blog on your blogroll.
You can do both of these each week or only do one.  Each will give you 1 extra entry.  
If you blog about the Giveaway, leave an extra comment and the link/url to your blog post.
If you put me on your blog roll, leave an extra comment and the url to your blog.

5.  Since the box is being mailed Priority FlatRate mail, you must live where this can be mailed to.....meaning only people with US mailing addresses.  Sorry if you are in Canada or overseas but I would need a home equity loan to pay the postage outside the USA.



6.  When the Prize Box is full,  I'll post a LAST CHANCE Post with the last date/time to enter for the current Giveaway.  After the Giveaway is closed,  I will use Random Generator to pick the Winner of the Giveaway.  

7.  After the Prize Box has been awarded and sent, I'll post a new Giveaway Post when a new Prize Box is ready.  Please wait until the new Giveaway Post is up to enter.


8. I reserve the right to change or amend the rules or end the Giveaways at any time.   It's my Giveaway so I'm in charge. ;-) 

I think that covers everything that needs covering.

So look for the 1st Prize Box Giveaway to begin soon!

Sluggy

Friday 1/22 Rite-Shopping to Finish off January's SCR Period

First off let me say Thanks! to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday.  I appreciate it very much. ;-)

I didn't do a darned thing yesterday!  I slept as long as the hounds would let me and then I sat around in my nightgown most of the day just puttering around the house relaxing.
No shopping for this gal!
Are you shocked?lol
No cooking either!  Hubby insisted I was NOT to cook on my Bday, so it was Subway Sandwiches all round.  Not the healthiest but it was tasty.

So today after getting together bunches of paperwork so I could start the dreaded T-A-X-E-S, I did some calculating to see what I still needed to purchase at Rite-Aid to finish off some open deals and rebates there.
I needed another Secret Deo for the $2 SCR, more SCRs for BIL, I had some stacking Qs for John Frieda 'Poo that was B1G150% this week to get it for $.75 a tube, Free Bayer Aspirin & NyQuil and more cheap snacks too.
As I sat and worked on some scenarios I thought I might end up getting at least to the $5 level for BIL on the P&G Prepaid Visa SCR deal as well.

So we hit Rite-Aid this evening.....

Transaction #1

1 x Secret Deodorant=$4.99
2 x John Frieda Luxurious Volume 'Poo B1G150%=$10.48
3 x Bayer Aspirin on sale $1.99=$5.97
SubTotal....$21.44

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x $2.50/1 JF Lux. Volume 'Poo IPQ=$5.00
2 x $1/1 JF Lux. Volum 'Poo AdPerks IPQ=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Any Hair Care over $1 Wellness IPQ=$2.00
3 x $2/1 Bayer Aspirin AdPerks IPQ=$6.00
Coupon Total....$20.00

$21.44-$20.00=$1.44+$.09tax=$1.53 OOP

This purchase qualified me for the SCR for the $2 WYB2 Secret Deodorants, so $70.23 SCRs.

Transaction #2

1 x Olay Make-up Cleanser/Remover clearance 50%=$4.99
2 x John Frieda Lux. Volume 'Poo B1G150%=$10.48
1 x Doritos on sale=$2.49**This store rang up $2.49, not $2.50**
1 x DayQuil on sale=$3.99
1 x Crest on sale=$2.99**qualifies for the $1.25 SCR but not for the P&G Visa Card Deal
SubTotal....$24.94

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $3/1 Regenerist Olay Cleanser ManuQ=$3.00
2 x $2.50/1 JF Lux. Volume 'Poo IPQ=$5.00
2 x $1/1 JF Lux. Volume AdPerks IPQ=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Any Hair Care item over $1 Wellness IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Doritos AdPerks IPQ=$1.00
1 x $.50/1 Any Snack Item over .50 Wellness CRT Q=$.50
1 x $2/1 DayQuil ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Any OTC Cough/Cold Med Wellness CRT Q=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$23.50

$24.94-$23.50=$1.44 OOP

SCRebates BIL qualified for.....$1.25(Crest), $1(Dayquil)
And if I add the Olay Regenerist on this receipt to the 3rd one I bought on Sunday(on a separate receipt from the other 2), BIL can send for the $15 Regenerist Cleanser Rebate now.

That brings the Monthly January OOP(before rebates) to.....$63.71

Money I am getting back changes--
SCRebates qualified for(both persons)......$72.48
Other Rebates(Kraft,Olays, Lotions).....$91.23






And 1 more Transactions on the way home.....

Transaction #3

2 x Old Spice Red Zone Deo $4.29=$8.58
1 x Secret Flawless Deo=$4.99
2 x Pantene Shampoo on sale $3=$6.00
1 x Luden's Drops on sale=$.99
3 x Chocolate Roses $.88=$2.64**  Not Pictured-#2 son took them for his girlfriend
SubTotal....$23.20

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/2 Old Spice Red Zone Deo=$1.00
1 x FREE Secret Flawless WYB 2 Old Spice Red Zone ManuQ=$4.99
1 x $3/2 Pantene ManuQ=$3.00
2 x $1/1 Any Hair Care Item over $1 Wellness IPQ=$2.00
1 x $.25 Luden's Drops GOL Q=$.25
3 x $1/1 Any Seasonal Item over $1 Wellness CRT Q=$3.00
Coupon Total.....$19.24

$23.20-$19.24=$3.96+$.04tax=$4.00 OOP
While the Old Spice is NOT the one that qualifies for the SCR, the P&G items purchased in this transaction and the previous one give BIL a total over $25, so he qualifies for the $5 Level of the Prepaid Visa Card.


**The Chocolate Roses were $1 each but my Wellness card took off $.12 on each one.  Neither the cashier nor myself noticed the items were now under $1(I just noticed while writing this up), and the coupons didn't beep, so my OOP is .36¢ lower than it should be.



That brings the Monthly January OOP(before rebates) to.....$67.71

Money I am getting back--
SCRebates qualified for(both persons)......$72.48
Other Rebates(Kraft,Olays, Lotions).....$91.23
GOL Winnings.....$2.00
Rite-Aid Gift Card.....$5.00
Visa Prepaid Card.....$40.00 

A total of $165.71 Cash, a $5 GC & $40 in Visa Cards.

That's a $98.00 MONEYMAKER for January!
Plus $45 in Gift/Visa Cards and lots of flea market goodies too.

Sluggy

Johnson & Johnson $10 Rebate....Last Week's Deals at Rite-Aid to Bring My Monthly Total Forward

I never did post the rest of the transactions I did for the Johnson & Johnson $10 Lotion Rebate.
To refresh your memory, I did the 1st transaction on 1/13 and it's posted HERE.  That transaction put me at $16.66 toward BIL's Lotion Rebate.

**Warning.....this is looooooong.  If you just want the Grand Total figures, skip to the bottom.**

So I did another Transaction on the 14th... to finish off his Rebate....

2 x Lubriderm $4.29=$8.58
1 x Clean and Clear=$5.49
1 x Theraflu on sale=$4.99
3 x Ramen Noodles on sale=$.99*I got eaten before I could take a pic.lol*
SubTotal...$20.05

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Lubriderm IPQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Rite-Aid Lubriderm In-Ad Q=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Clean and Clear IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Rite-Aid Clean and Clear In-Ad Q=$1.00
1 x $2/1 Theraflu IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total....$16.00

$20.05-$16.00=$4.05+$.06.tax=$4.11 OOP
Another $19.06 makes the total $35.72 so he qualifies for the $10 Lotion Rebate.
The Theraflu also has a SCRebate from Rite-Aid of $3.00.

Monthly OOP....$27.91
SCRebates.....$65.98
Other Rebates(including $10 Lotion)...$20.00
GOL Winnings....$2.00
RA Gift Card.....$5.00

Then I decided I needed some Glade Candles and TP....

4 x Cottonelle TP on sale $1.99=$7.96
2 x M&Ms BOGO=$3.99
2 x Glade Candle Tins on sale $2.49=$4.98
2 x Glade Refills on sale $2.49=$4.98
SubTotal....$21.91

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x $1/2 Cottonelle TP ManuQ=$2.00
4 x $.50/1 Cottonelle TP In-Ad Q=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Any Seasonal Item over $1 Wellness CRT Q=$2.00
1 x $3/2 Glade Items ManuQ=$3.00
2 x FREE Glade Refills WYB Candle Tin Blinkie=$4.98
4 x $.50/1 Glade In-Ad Q=$2.00
Coupon Total....$20.98

$21.91-$20.98=$.93 OOP


Monthly OOP....$28.84
SCRebates.....$65.98
Other Rebates(including $10 Lotion)...$20.00
GOL Winnings....$2.00
RA Gift Card.....$5.00

Thursday afternoon, I received an emailed 'reward' coupon from Scott.  I had sent for a rebate and it arrived just in time for me to use it at Rite-Aid this week.  The coupon was for $2 off any Scott purchase and Rite-Aid had 4 packs of TP on sale for $2.99 PLUS a $50 off In-Aid coupon in the sales flyer, which would make my TP packs $.49 each!  And I was able to print that coupon 4 times....WOOT!
So Friday I said, "Oh heck!  I have to go use these Scott Qs, so let's do this Johnson & Johnson Rebate again for me this time!"
And off I went to where else?....Rite-Aid!
My local Rite-Aid was out of Scott TP so we hit up a different store.....

1/15 Store #1

2 x Scott TP on sale $2.99=$5.98
2 x Lubriderm $4.29=$8.58
1 x Aveeno=$3.49
2 x Hershey's Miniatures BOGO=$3.99
SubTotal....$22.04

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid Purchase AdPerks Q=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Scott Reward IPQ=$4.00
2 x $.50/1 Scott In-Aid Q=$1.00
2 x $2/1 Lubriderm IPQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Lubridern Rite-Aid In-Ad Q=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Aveeno IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Aveeno Rite-Aid In-Ad Q=$1.00
2 x $1/1 Any Seasonal Item over $1 Wellness CRT Q=$2.00
Coupon Total....$21.00

$22.04-$21.00=$1.04 OOP
And $12.07 toward the $30 Lotion Purchase

Monthly OOP....$29.88
SCRebates.....$65.98
Other Rebates(including $10 Lotion)...$20.00
GOL Winnings....$2.00
RA Gift Card.....$5.00

And then this Transaction to finish the Lotion Rebate....

1/15 Store #2-where the evil cashier lurks

2 x Scott TP on sale $2.99=$5.98
2 x Lubriderm $4.29=$8.58
2 x Aveeno $3.49=$6.98
1 x Clean and Clear=$4.99
SubTotal....$26.53

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Rite-Aid Purchase IPQ=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Scott Reward IPQ=$4.00
2 x $.50/1 Scott TP In-Ad Q=$1.00
2 x $2/1 Lubriderm IPQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Lubridern In-Ad Q=$2.00
2 x $2/1 Aveeno IPQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Aveeno In-Ad Q=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Clean and Clear IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Clean and Clear In-Ad Q=$1.00
Coupon Total....$25.00

$26.53-$25.00=$1.53=$.10tax=$1.63 OOP
Add $20.55 more to the $12.07 Lotion purchases=$32.62, so another $10 Lotion Rebate to submit.

Monthly OOP....$31.51
SCRebates.....$65.98
Other Rebates(including  2x $10 Lotion)...$30.00
GOL Winnings....$2.00
RA Gift Card.....$5.00

On Saturday I decided to use up some more Qs I had to get really cheap Valentine's Candy, more TP, some Riceworks chips(since #2 son loves these)and a mess more Glade Candles. 
I would  have to spend more OOP and lower my percentages but for chocolate, tp and #2 son, it was worth the extra $3.lol  Plus I can always take the Glade to the flea market in the spring and make back that $3 and then some!  Even at $1 a candle, I'll still come out with at least a $5 MM for these 2 next transactions.

1/16 Transaction A

2 x Cottonelle on sale $1.99=$3.98
3 x Riceworks Chips on sale $2.50=$7.50
2 x Glade Candles on sale $2.49=$4.98
2 x Reese's Candy BOGO=$3.99
SubTotal...$20.45

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/2 Cottonelle ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $.50/1 Cottonelle In-Ad Q=$1.00
3 x $1/1 Riceworks ManuQ=$3.00
3 x $.50/1 Any Snack Item over .50 Wellness IPQ=$1.50
1 x $3/2 Glade Items ManuQ=$3.00
2 x $.50/1 Glade Item In-Ad Q=$1.00
2 x $1/1 Any Seasonal Item over $1 Wellness CRT Q=$2.00

$20.45-$17.50=$2.95 OOP
2 more Glade candles for the sell pile.

Monthly OOP....$34.46
SCRebates.....$65.98
Other Rebates(including 2 x $10 Lotion)...$30.00
GOL Winnings....$2.00
RA Gift Card.....$5.00

And at another store......

1/16 Store #2

6 x Glade Candles on sale $2.49=$14.94
4 x Hershey's Chocolate BOGO=$7.98
SubTotal.....$22.92

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Rite-Aid AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
3 x $3/2 Glade Product ManuQ=$9.00
6 x $.50/1 Glade Product In-Ad Q=$3.00
4 x $1/1 Any Seasonal Item over $1 Wellness CRT Q=$4.00
Coupon Total.....$21.00

$22.92-$21.00=$1.92 OOP
6 more Candles to take to the Flea Market.

Monthly OOP....$36.38
SCRebates.....$65.98
Other Rebates(including $10 Lotion)...$30.00
GOL Winnings....$2.00
RA Gift Card.....$5.00

Now let's add in 1/17, Sunday's 5 trip totals.....
Total OOP for 1/17.....$25.89
Rebates qaulified for these trips....$48.48($2.25SCR/$46.23Olay) & a $35 Visa Card

And we are up to......

Monthly January OOP(before rebates).....$62.27

Money I am getting back--
SCRebates qualified for(both persons)......$68.23
Other Rebates(Kraft,Olays, Lotions).....$76.23
GOL Winnings.....$2.00
Rite-Aid Gift Card.....$5.00
Visa Prepaid Card.....$35.00 

A total of $146.46 Cash, a $5 GC & a $35 Visa Card 

That's an $84.19 MONEYMAKER(plus $40 in GC/Visa Cards)!
And lots of goodies for the flea market(which I will estimate the selling price of after Saturday).

And I still have what I bought Friday night to add in AND there is Saturday still before the SCRebate period ends for January.  I might have to get some more free and cheap goodies! ;-)

Sluggy 

HAPPY HAPPY!!

Yes, today is the day I blow out the candles!
No telling how many candles however.....

Send all the Good Karma you can to me today.
This Aquarian can use every happy wish I can get!

Birthday-ed Sluggy

My 2010 "Hopes" List

I finally finished my List of Things I Want to Accomplish in 2010.
Notice I didn't say resolutions. 
Resolutions are just begging to be broken, are they not?

So like Carol on The Compact List said, I am making "Hopes".
You can call them Goals or any old thing you want, I like "hopes".

Here is the Big Hairy List.  These are all BIG Hopes each in their own right.  As I get to one, I'll probably break it down into smaller steps so I can get it done and crossed off.

1. Put more money into savings than was put away in 2009.
--$23,865.36 was banked in 2009.  I will be shooting for $30.000 in 2010, barring any unforeseen personal economic crisises.

2. Pare down the stuff I need to eBay by sending more of it to the Thrift Store or sell it on Craigslist.
--Get off my rump and get stuff SOLD!  And what I can't readily sell, send it off to a Thrift Store.  I have had enough of boxes of crap hanging around my living room.  It's time to actually USE that room in the manner it was intended.

3. Get rid of my last storage unit!
--This goes hand in hand with #2 above.  If all the crap goes, I won't need to pay for a storage unit any longer.  I went from 2 to 1 units last year.  It is time to let this one go as well.

4. Plan and implement my garden better so I have a chance for it to be more productive this summer.
--Last year's garden was lame.  I need to be more proactive and get things planned and going earlier this year for it to be successful.  Every bit of work you put into a garden will pay dividends in increased health from eating better and  money saved on food spending.

5. Do the taxes and complete paperwork for #1 son's schooling.
--This will be the first Hope accomplished as is needs to be completed by mid February.  It could also be a big PITA as we have added tax implications for 2009 due to an estate/inheritance issue.

6. Decide on and install a hew heating system for the house before the rate cap expires and heat is needed this fall.

--This one is VITAL and it must be completed by September!  

7. Rethink how and how much I coupon/rebate and reorganize my freezer/pantry/stockpile.
--With my 1st year of extreme couponing and stockpiling over, now is the time to step back and see what I did well, what I need to improve upon and what needs to go. 

8. Continue to meal plan and retool our diet, including cooking for scratch/semi-homemade.
--This will involve making better choices with food, will depend partly on how successful  #4 is, and will  require all of us to change some old habits.  It's probably going to be the most difficult Hope to accomplish.

9. Decide on and complete 1 major house remodel project.
--Once we decide what it will be, it's just a matter of pulling the trigger on the job, as the money is there waiting to be spent thanks to our savings challenge of 2009.

10. Complete all the unfinished craft and sewing projects!!
--This Hope is my own personal one that doesn't involve any other family members directly.  I need to just put my head down and plow through all these started projects OR make a decision to release them to someone else who wants to complete them.  This should take a good part of the year to accomplish.

You'll see this list again in the coming year on my blog, as I work on tackling these "Hopes".

Sluggy