My 2 Scenarios for Rite-Aid for 3/7-3/13...$10.07 Moneymaker!

Here is what I'm getting this week at Rite-Aid....

Transaction #1
1 x Metamucil on sale=$9.99
2 x Cover Girl Face Product on sale BOGO=$9.99
1 x Crest Toothpaste on sale=$2.74
SubTotal....$22.72

Coupons Used
1 x $5/$20 purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $3/1 Metamucil ManuQ=$3.00
1 x Cover Girl BOGO ManuQ=$9.99
1 x $1/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
Coupon Total....$18.99

$22.72-$18.99=$3.73 OOP

Transaction #2
1 x Always Pads on sale=$5.99
2 x Nyquil on sale $4.99=$9.98
1 x Puffs Tissue=$2.49
1 x Crest Toothpaste on sale=$2.74
2 x Almay Eye Shadow on sale BOGO=$7.49
SubTotal....$28.69

Coupons Used
1 x $5/$20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/1 Always ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $1.50/1 Nyquil ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Any Cold/Cough OTC Meds Wellness CRT Q=$2.00
1 x Free Puffs WYB 2 Nyquil ManuQ=$2.49
1 x $1/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $2/1 Almay Makeup ManuQ=$4.00
Coupon Total....$18.49

$28.69-$18.49=$10.20 OOP

$3.73+$10.20=$13.93 OOP Total

SCRs qualified for....
$5 Metamucil
$1 Crest
$1 Always
$2 Nyquil
$5 Almay
SCR TOTAL....$14.00

$13.93OOP-$14.00SCRs=$.07 Moneymaker!

Plus....The Metamucil, 2 x Crest, Always, 2 x Nyquil are all qualifying items for the "Buy $30, Get a $10 Gift Card Deal"--SCR#18, and they total over the $30 threshold, so I also get a $10 Rite-Aid Gift Card.
I get over $50 worth of merchandise & I get paid .07¢ to take it all home and they give me a $10 Gift Card to boot.

Not bad, huh? ;-)

Sluggy

 

Vacation Planning......Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Because of family stuff, we didn't get to take any kind of vacation last summer.  Well, if you don't count driving almost 1,000 miles in a big circle the week of the July 4th holiday to take care of family business and attend a funeral.
Nope, not what I'd call a fun trip.

The last summer vacation hubby & I took was 2 summers ago, to Maine.  #1 son was working all summer and daughter wanted to stay home instead, so it was just #2 son and us.  Oh, and we took along BIL and the nephew too.
When we vacation, we do it as frugally as possible.  Last trip, we rented trailers at a campground and made day trips to do/see stuff.
Here's a photo of #2 son and nephew in front of Steven King's house....

And here they are along the shoreline in a smal inlet near Bar Harbor....

I love Maine....every since I worked there in theatre for 2 summers while in college.  I still have a friend who lives up there I enjoy visiting when we get a chance to go.
I've told hubby that if we must retire someplace warm, I get to have a small cottage in Maine to escape the heat in the summer....I don't do 'heat' well....

Anyway, I am beginning the planning for this year's escape, er....I mean trip.  Because of Band Camp, we only have about a 2 week time frame the latter half of July when we can go. 
The only kid who will be accompanying us is #2 son, since both his older siblings will be working all summer at camp.
So I need to take into consideration destinations/activites that a 14 yr. old boy will like.  Well, maybe 'like' is too strong a word, since he is sullen and doesn't 'like' anything beyond his guitar, playing online games and texting his friends.  'Tolerate' might be a more appropriate word.....

So can anyone think of some place that isn't too hot & has nice scenery(for me), historical stuff and good food(for hubby)and won't annoy #2 son too badly-especially since he has to be there with his....sigh and eye roll....parents?

I know #2 son would probably enjoy an amusement park....but only if we take a friend of his as well and only if we drop him/them off for the day and don't go in with them.
Oh, and don't even mention disney anything to me....we don't do disney.

It has to be someplace we can drive to, as we don't fly.  We are open to driving to a destination that's more than 2 days away if there are things to see/do/stay along the way.
We like oddball stuff as well as going off the beaten path.
Hubby is 'into' native american stuff.
We are not big into shopping on vacation.
We've been to Maine and all of New England various time, Niagara area(both US and Canada), Ontario/Toronto, Maryland/Delaware beach areas, Virginia Beach, NC Outer Banks and the Crystal Coast, Myrtle Beach, Erie PA, a resort outside of St. Louis.  I've been to Minneapolis/St. Paul area on pleasure but w/out the family.

Anybody have any thoughts or ideas I can explore?
Please give them to me! ;-)

Sluggy

What to Do with Leftover Ground Beef Meals?...make Enchiladas!

So what do you do with leftover meatballs and a slice or two of leftover meatloaf?
That was my problem earlier this week, as we had both of these leftovers from last week's menu.

My solution was to make Beef Enchiladas.

First I took the meatballs and meatloaf leftovers and crumbled them up.  I took chopped onion(about 1/2 cup)and sweated them in some olive oil.  I had a can of chopped green chilles so I added that to the mix once the onions were translucent.

 Next I made the Enchilada Sauce.  You can see the recipe HERE.  You can also use a canned sauce if you prefer.
Take a large roasting pan and coat the bottom of the pan with the Enchilada Sauce.

Next I gathered the other ingredients I needed....flour tortillas, grated cheese(cheddar and montery jack), a can of refried beans, and the enchilada sauce and meat filling.

Then it was just a matter of plopping some meat, some beans and cheese onto a tortilla and rolling it up, placing it in the roasting pan.

Cover the enchiladas with sauce....

Top with grated cheese....

Cook in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes and here's what comes out....

 Each enchilada serves 1 hungry person, so this pan served 5.  Young children would probably only eat 1/2 of an enchilada.  I usually make 6 in a pan but someone ate one of my tortillas.lol

Optional...Serve with lettuce, tomato, guacamole or sliced avocado and sour cream.

My Cost Breadown
enchilada sauce  $.80
tortillas   $1.00
meat filling  $0-leftovers
1 can green chillies  $.16
1 can refried beans  $.50
2 blocks of cheese  $2.50
Total....$4.96

Since I didn't use all the meat filling, the leftover meat is being reinvented Again tonight in Tacos!
Meatballs, Meatloaf, Enchiladas, Tacos....That's 4 meals out of 2.75lbs. of ground beef.

Sluggy

Easy Enchilada Sauce....Make it Yourself and Save $$$!

Before you reach for that can of icky overpriced Enchilada Sauce at the grocery store again, give this recipe a try!
Here's what you need to make it....

Red Enchilada Sauce

2 TB Oil(I use Olive/Canola but reg. Veggie is fine)
2 TB Flour(any kind)
2 TB Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1 8oz. can Tomato Sauce(I use pureed Tomato)*I had leftover tomato paste/sauce so I dumped that in too.*
2 Cups Water
1 tsp Salt(I use Sea Salt)
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

Heat your oil in a large saucepan(2 qt. or larger).
Stir in Flour and Chili Powder; cook for 1 minute.

 

Add your Tomato Sauce/Puree.

Add your spices.

Now add the water.
Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 10 minutes.

It's ready to use!

This recipe makes enough for 1 meal's worth(a pan of enchiladas).  If you noticed in the photo of the ingredients, my tomato puree is a lot bigger than 8 oz.  I always make a double or quadruple batch when I make the sauce.  Just double or quadruple the ingredients.  I always make enough to freeze or to make a second batch of enchiladas for the freezer.

You can adjust the proportions to taste....more chili powder for spicier, less salt for less saltiness, etc.  I've even put some large chunks of peppers(poblanos)in the sauce for added flavor.

It's really just tomato products, flour, spices and water.  So easy to make so don't pay what they charge for it in the store....especially if you don't have a coupon and it's not on sale!lol

Cost Breakdown....
$.30 Spices
$.01 Flour
$.39 can of Tomato Sauce
$.10 Oil(Olive, Veggie would be less)
$0  Water

Total....$.80 per meal

I'll be posting my Leftover Enchiladas Meal that used this sauce in a bit.

Sluggy

Quickie to CVS to roll some ECBs...3/1

I had a $10ECB to roll that was expiring on 3/1.....

1 x Schick Quattro Razor $8.99
2 x Crest Rinse used Raincheck $3.50=$7.00
1 x Gatorade 6 pack on sale=$4.50 **daughter needs for track**
SubTotal...$20.49

Coupons Used
1 x $4/1 Schick Quattro ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $2/1 Crest Rinse ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $10 ECB=$10.00
Coupon Total....$18.00

$20.49-$18.00=$2.49 +$.15 tax=$2.64

$2.63 put on gift card....$2.64-$2.63=$.01 OOP

I earned the following ECBs...
$4 Crest Rinse x2
$3 Quattro Razor
Total...$7 ECBs

Nothing exciting here.....keep moving.....

Sluggy