More Catalina Rolling at Weis 2/12/10......The Hounds are Happy!

One photo of both transactions from Friday.....

The goal here is to get to $35 in shelf prices on the qualifying items, so I get a $10 Catalina Q to roll into another purchase of qualifying items totaling $35 or more.

Transaction #1
6 x Chef Michaels Dog Food  shelf price $3.99=$23.94/sale price $3.50=$21.00
4 x Nestle Cocoa Mix  shelf price $2.19=$8.76/sale price $1.00=$4.00
2 x Carnation Evaporated Milk shelf price $1.29=$2.58/sale price $1.00=$2.00
Subtotal of Catalina Items....Shelf Price...$35.28/Sale Price....$27.00  
1 x Kikkoman Soy Sauce sale price $1.50=$1.50
2 x Tabasco Sauce sale price $1.00=$2.00
Total.....$30.50+$1.26 tax(dog food)=$31.76

Coupons Used
6 x $2/1 Chef Michaels Dog Food ManuQ=$12.00
4 x $.50/1 Nestle Cocoa Mix(doubled to $1)IPQ=$4.00
2 x $.50/1 Carnation Evap. Milk(doubled to $1)IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Kikkoman Soy Sauce IPQ=$1.00
2 x $.50/1 Tabasco Sauce(doubled to $1)IPQ=$2.00
1 x $10.00 OYNO Catalina from my last shopping trip=$10.00
Coupon Total....$31.00

$31.76-$31.00=$.76 OOP
And I was suppose to get a $10 OYNO Catalina.  When the machine didn't spit it out I asked the cashier if the cat machine was turned out since I didn't see the light on.  She nonchalantly looked up at the number sign at the register and said, "Oh, this is register 9...the catalina machine here doesn't work, sorry."
UGH!
Do I have to ASK every time I go to checkout at a store if the catalina machine is working/turned on/functioning BEFORE I let them ring me out?
Seriously.....
Like they KNOW it's not working and it hasn't worked in MONTHS AND they are running 4 Catalina Deals this week, yet they continue to use this register??  How many customers have checked out this week at Register 9 and not being aware they bought items that qualified them for a Catalina Q didn't get it? 
Bad Bad Store!

So I trot over to CS(customer service)and hope to heavens an IDIOT isn't working the desk! 
Idiot=someone who has no clue how Catalinas work.
I am in no mood for a fight and if I have to fight about getting my Cat it will NOT be pretty....

The CS gal was highly competent, for a change!, and knew to base the total price on the shelf not the sale price.  After a call to the manager I had my choice of Weis Dollars(?) or cash.....most local store would have put it on a gift card.
I took cash but it didn't matter because I was going to use it as soon as I shoved the first transaction's worth of items into the car.

Transaction #2
5 x Chef Michaels Dog Food  shelf price $3.99=$19.95/sale price $3.50=$17.50
4 x Nestle Cocoa Mix  shelf price $2.19=$8.76/sale price $1.00=$4.00
1 x Carnation Evaporated Milk shelf price $1.29/sale price $1.00
2 x T-Bonz Dog Treats shelf price $2.85=$5.70/sale price $2.00=$4.00
Subtotal of Catalina Items....Shelf Price...$35.70/Sale Price....$26.50
1 x Kikkoman Soy Sauce sale price $1.50=$1.50
1 x Tabasco Sauce sale price $1.00=$1.00
1 x Chobani Yogurt sale price $1.00=$1.00 **Not pictured**
1 x Sara Lee Carrot Cake 50% off=$2.29 **Not pictured**
Total.....$32.29+$1.29 tax(dog food)=$33.58

Coupons Used
5 x $2/1 Chef Michaels Dog Food ManuQ=$10.00
4 x $.50/1 Nestle Cocoa Mix(doubled to $1)IPQ=$4.00
1 x $.50/1 Carnation Evap. Milk(doubled to $1)IPQ=$1.00
2 x $1/1 T-Bonz Dog Treats ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Kikkoman Soy Sauce IPQ=$1.00
1 x $.50/1 Tabasco Sauce IPQ=$.50
1 x $1/1 Chobani Yogurt ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $10.00 in lieu of $10 Cat courtesy of Register 9=$10.00

Coupon Total....$29.50

$33.58-$29.50=$4.08 OOP
And I received a $10 OYNO Catalina.

I just noticed she didn't double my last Tabasco Sauce $.50 Q to $1.  OOP should have been $3.58.

Grand Total.....
OOP....$4.84
Value....Shelf Price  $83.73/Sale Price  $62.79
Savings Percentage...Shelf Price 94.22% /Sale Price  92.30%

One more day to roll these Cats.  Guess where you'll find me today?lol

Sluggy

Weis Market Shopping Today 2/11/10......Making the Catalinas Roll

3 transactions at Weis today.  I had to leave Teeny Tiny Town to go to the Weis in an adjacent town as my Weis will NOT take IPQs!

I had an $8 Cat, a $4 Cat and a $3 WYB Meat Cat going in.

Transaction #1.....

1 x Wheaties Fuel Cereal shelf price $4.35/sale price $2.50=$2.50
2 x GG Steamers shelf price $2.50=$5.00/sale price $2.00=$4.00
6 x Crescent or Sweet Rolls shelf price $2.29=$13.74/sale price $1.66=$10.00
3 x OEP Refried Beans shelf price $1.45=$4.35/sale price $1.00=$3.00
3 x OEP Seasonings shelf price $.89=$2.67/sale price $.63=$1.87
Shelf price total....$30.11/Sale price total....$21.37

2 x Tabasco on sale $1.00 each=$2.00 **not part of the Catalina Deal**
Subtotal....sale price....$23.37

Coupons Used
1 x $.75/1 Wheaties (doubled to $1)=$1.00
2 x $.40/1 GG Steamers(doubled)=$1.60
3 x $1/2 Crescents/Sweet Rolls=$3.00
2 x $.50/1 Tabasco(doubled)=$2.00
1 x $8 Catalina from last transaction=$8.00
1 x $4 Catalina from last transaction=$4.00
Coupon Total....$19.60

$23.37-$19.60=$3.77 OOP

Received....
$8 Catalina for buying everything but the Tabascao
$4 Catalina for buying the 6 rolls
$3 WYB Meat Catalina for buying the OEP items

Transaction #2

2 x Choc. Cheerios Cereal shelf price $3.99=$7.98/sale price $2.50=$5.00
1 x Yoplait Yogurt shelf price $2.79/sale price $1.50=$1.50
6 x Crescent Rolls shelf price $2.29=$13.74/sale price $1.66=$10.00
2 x OEP Refried Beans shelf price $1.45=$2.90/sale price $1.00=$2.00
4 x OEP Seasonings shelf price $.89=$3.56/sale price $.63=$2.50
Shelf price total....$30.97/Sale price total....$21.00

2 x Tabasco on sale $1.00 each=$2.00 **not part of the Catalina Deal**
4 x Steak $3.11/$3.11/$3.19/$3.39=$12.60 
Subtotal....sale price...$35.80

Coupons Used
2 x $.50/1 Choc. Cheerios (doubled)=$2.00
1 x $.50/1 Yoplait Yogurt(doubled)=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Crescent Rolls=$1.00
2 x $.40/2 Crescent Rolls(doubled)=$1.60
2 x $.50/1 Tabasco(doubled)=$2.00
1 x $8 Catalina from last transaction=$8.00
1 x $4 Catalina from last transaction=$4.00
4 x $1.50 Instant Meat Discount=$6.00
2 x $3 WYB Meat Catalinas from last 2 transactions=$6.00
Coupon Total....$31.60


$35.80-$31.60=$4.20 OOP


Received....
$8 Catalina for buying everything but the Tabasco & Meat
$4 Catalina for buying the 6 rolls
$3 WYB Meat Catalina for buying the OEP items

And this store was out of Chef Michaels Dry Dog Food so it was back to Teeny Tiny Town for my this....

Transaction #3.....

6 x Chef Michael Dry Dog Food shelf price $3.99=$23.94/sale price $3.50=$21.00
1 x Friskies Dry Cat Food shelf price $4.55/sale price $3.50=$3.50
1 x Tidy Cat Litter Bonus size Bag shelf $4.59/sale price $3.00=$3.00 **Not Pictured**
1 x Nestle Hot Cocoa shelf price $2.19/sale price $1.00=$1.00
Shelf Price Total....$35.27/Sale Price Total.....$28.50

Coupons Used
6 x $2/1 Chef Michael Dry Dog Food=$12.00
1 x $1/1 Friskies Dry Cat Food=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Tidy Cat Litter Bonus size Bag=$1.00
1 x $8 Catalina from previous transaction=$8.00
1 x $4 Catalina from previous transaction=$4.00
Coupon Total.....$26.00

$28.50-$26.00=$2.50+$1.65tax=$4.15 OOP
Received....
$10 Catalina for buying everything in this transaction

OOP....$12.12
Value of items....Shelf  $116.88/Sale  $87.47
Savings.....Shelf  89.62%/Sale 87.15%
And I have a $10 Catalina and a $3 WYB Meat Catalina to roll on.

Sluggy

Snow Snow Go Away....

Our little corner of PA was on the edge of the storm that departed last Friday, so we only received about 2" of the white stuff last week.  Drive half an hour south and they got upwards of 10".  My Philly Sunday paper headline said the city got 28.5" from that storm.
The storm on Wednesday tracked a bit more to the north so we got 12" this time.
This photo was taken about halfway through the storm....

Today was brilliantly sunny and a good 4 inches or so has melted already. 

I'm not complaining since we've lived where the winters were much worse. 
We lived in the northern Poconos for 14 years before moving here.  Our average snow accumulation there was 100" or more each yr.  Easter egg hunts were much more challenging for the kids as they usually had 2-4" of snow covering the eggs.  Thank goodness for brightly colored plastic eggs.lol

This is a photo of our house right after the  the Blizzard of  '93.  That storm dumped 3 feet of snow on us.  That was 3 weeks after a Nor'Easter blew through in Dec. of '92....which lasted 4 days & snowed steadily straight from Dec. 9th to Dec. 12th. 
On the evening of the 12th, just as the snow was ending I went into labor.
The interstate was closed, hubby had been bedridden for the preceeding 4 days with the flu and the hospital was an hour drive away(an hour drive if the roads were clear).

After living there, if it's less than 6 inches, we just drive right through it.  Plowing/shoveling for less accumulation is for sissies.

Good times.....

Sluggy

$30K Savings Challenge JANUARY 2010 Totals....a Slow Start

I have posted my JANUARY End of Month 30K $AVING$ CHALLENGE Totals.
Check out the side bar to your right for the specific numbers.

I have to report that we finished up January in the Black.

The amount we ended the month of January with was.......$755.65

Income
Besides Hubby salary we had a small amount in Rebates and some rolled Coins under the Income Heading.

Outgo
As for the expenses in January.....
The electric bill doubled!  This was not unexpected as our electric rates increased 30% on the 1st plus January was colder than December so more energy was used.
The water bill jumped $15 from last month. Extra showers and laundry to do with extra people in the house in Jan.
All other regular bills...Cable, Internet, Phone, etc. are the same each month. 

The Food Budget costs for January are in another post, which is located HERE.  Food/Toiletries spending in January was high but compared to the value of the items bought we still saved just over 84%. 

Jan. and Feb. are heavy expense months for us, as some quarterly and semi-annual bills come due.
The credit card bill,which is paid off EVERY MONTH,($643.14)wasn't too bad considering it's mostly gas purchases, 1 grocery store purchase and some Birthday/Relative visiting eating out.

The out-of-the-ordinary expenses in January halved our savings for the month.
It was a bad month for this family's teeth.
3 Wisdom Teeth, 4 Regular Teeth and a set of Braces later, we saw a big chunks of cash leave our account.  We do have dental insurance(thankfully!)so these expenses won't be as bad as they could have been.  The braces are paid for, out of savings we put aside for this expense a couple of years ago but the 7 teeth that were pulled WERE paid for out of our Jan. income.  At the moment that expense stands at $1,780.  We have to pay for these services but get reimbursed with our dental benefit later.  I am still waiting on one of the reimbursements. This payment will go into the income column and be applied against the expenses in February.

So how was your January financially?  Leave a comment and share with us what you did with your money, both the good and not-so good.   Do you have any tricks or tips that help you to end your month before the money runs out?  Let us know!


Sluggy

January BUDGET RESULTS-Food & Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for JANUARY 2010.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in January.
These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(4 at home-all 5 home for 2/3 of this month + an extra relative for 1 week)& 3 dogs. No kids under 13.

BIG LOTS
OOP $20.60
Qs/Ads $9.90
Value $30.50
Savings 32.50%

CARONE'S(local Independent Grocery that doesn't take IP Qs)
OOP $8.82
Qs/Ads $0
Value $8.82
Savings   0%

CVS
OOP $1.98
Qs/Ads $150.31
Value $152.29
Savings 98.70%

ENTENMANN'S OUTLET
OOP $12.89
Ads/Sales $23.61
Value $36.50
Savings  64.70%

RITE AID
OOP $135.42 before rebates
Qs/Ads $188.91
Value $1324.33
Savings 89.78%

WALGREENS
OOP $23.75
Qs/Ads $16.99
Value $40.74
Savings  41.70%

WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town)
OOP $182.21
Qs/Ads $333.06
Value $515.27
Savings  64.64%

I've don't track CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons".   I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly.  Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.

REBATE CHECKS RECV'D. IN JANUARY

Ducolax.....$5.00

Pinecone Research....$6.00
Raisin Bran Extra(Kellogg's)...$4.39
Rite-Aid SCR........$40.78
Subtotal........$56.17

FREE ITEMS

Stacy's Chips
International Delights Creamer

COUPONS

None Received 8-(

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES

Nothing this Month.

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received..$56.17
This was a very light month for Rebates.....

My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from CVS at 98.70%, Rite-Aid at 89.70%, and the Entenmann's Outlet at 64.70%.

TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$385.67
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$1722.78
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$2108.45
TOTAL Savings of..........81.70%

TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$56.17
TOTAL OOP After  Rebates....................$329.50
TOTAL Savings of..................................84.37%

This closes out the January spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-
With the extra mouths to feed in January coupled with the dirth of Rebates coming in during the month, the Food Spending was high for me and I waaaaay overshot my $200 goal. I see now that it was unrealistically low.  

What's ahead for February 2010.....

The February 2010 Food/Toiletries Budget is set at $250 cash out of pocket.  Any rebates received this month will offset this OOP spending.  I sent away for $65.38 in Rebates in January and am still waiting on $26 in Rebates from December, so hopefully some of those will come in this month and augment my food budget.
If I don't spend all the money in the budget in February(HAHA), I'll carry over whatever is leftover into February's food budget.  I've already spent $90+ at Price Chopper on Catalina Deals last week and I'm going to be doing some Catalina Deals this week at Weis so I'm crossing my fingers that some rebates come in. 

How did you do in January with your Food Budget?  Leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear!  By sharing our struggles and efforts we can help each other stick to our budgets and learn to be better guardians of our resources.

Sluggy