Sometimes I am A Deal Hunting Mess!

I meant to get back to Rite-Aid during the week after Halloween day to get some Glad trash bags and try to make up another $25 transaction but it slipped my mind until I got up from a nap at 8pm Saturday night.
Eek!
So #2 son and I flew to the store.....flew there right after I got my Rite-Aid coupon envelope and then spent 20 minutes trying to find my Glad trash bag coupons.  I was convinced I had cut them out of the inserts but never did find them...until an hour after we got home from the store....ugh.  They were still in the inserts....lol
So basically I just went to get the Suave 'Poo that I hadn't picked up yet on sale(2 for $3)and I figured the Glad bags would be out of stock by now so I figured I'd get a raincheck.
I hadn't planned on buying anything else.
Yah.....famous last words, right?lol

So we get to the store 1/2 an hour before they close and I grab the 'Poo I wanted(2 bottles)and made a wide swing around the back of the store to where they keep the trash bags.  Along the way I see that they still have 3 of the Diabetes lancing tool that is/was free on sale after coupon. And by buying 2 I'll have over $30 in qualifying diabetic items in ONE TRANSACTION so I'll get my $5 +Up Reward...finally!  I just happened to have clipped those coupons so I threw them into my cart. 

While I am digging in the coupon envie I find other coupons I can use to get other stuff that is still on sale for the next 1/2 hour.lol  So I send #2 son off in search of 3 kinds of gum(Orbit, Trident layers and Mentos)as I have coupons for those.  We grab some Soy Joy bars and there is 1 box of Glad bags on the shelf so I grab that even though I don't have my ManuQ for it, I do have a AdPerks/VV Q.  Plus my $5 off $25 will help cover most of the cost for the trash bags.

Total before coupons was $49.65.
Coupons used were....
$5 off $25
2 x Up to $19.99 on the lancing tools(adjusted down to $15.99-the price w/my wellness disc.)
$.50 AdPerks/VV Glad Q
2 x $1/3 Soy Joy bars Q
$1/5 AdPerks/VV Soy Joy bars Q
$1/2 Suave Professional 'Poo Q
$2/2 Suave Items AdPerks/VV Q
2 x $.75/1 Triden Layers Q(I got $.01 overage on one of these Qs)
2 x $1/1 Mentos Q(I got $.51 overage on one of these Qs)
$.50/1 AdPerks/VV Orbit Q

Coupon total was $47.48.
$49.65-$47.48=$2.17
I used 2 $1 +Up Rewards to pay and put the .17¢ on my free Rite-Aid gift card.
Again, I spent nothing out of pocket.
And I received a $1 +Ups for the Glad bags and a $5 +Ups for the Diabetic Promo for a totala of $6 in +Up Rewards.

The Suave I picked up was NOT the type on sale 2 for $3, but my ManuQ was only for the Pro-type I bought and it was only $4 and change after my wellness discount so I got it anyway.  The one on sale was $3/2 and w/the AdPerks Q it would have cost $1 for 2 bottles.  I used $3 in Qs on the Pro-type so it cost me $1.46.  It was worth getting what I wanted for the extra .46¢ instead of the other stuff.

Interestingly, the expiration on the Diabetic +Up is 1/8/11!
I have $27 in +Ups that expire next Saturday that need to be used this week, including a $10 +Up.
I'm on a mission to find something with a SCR attached to it's purchase to use that $10+Up on so I can basically convert that +Ups to cash.

I did get my raincheck but the cashier forgot to put the $1+Ups on the deal and write the price for a $1 less than the current sale price.  bleh

And after I had my order rung up and paid(well, I didn't PAY actually but you know what I mean...lol), I was talking to the MOTD and the cashier while she rang up someone else in the store.  We were talking about my wellness discount and this lady, though she had the wellness card, didn't have a discount yet, so I gave her my card to have the cashier scan so she'd get the 20% discount.  And before I get any comments about that is cheating, the MOTD was standing right there and had no problem with it. ;-)  This lady was complaining that the price of the item she was buying had gone up around $3 in the past couple of weeks and was NOT currently on sale.  After my discount, she got it for $3.19 less so it was the old price she use to pay, making her very happy.  Just my random act of kindness for the day....

So now I am off to check out the upcoming sales that start Sunday 11/7/10, check out my coupons and to pull together a transaction or two so I can bring home more food/HBA for nothing out of pocket.
It's just too bad Rite-Aid doesn't have a meat and fresh produce department then I would be all set and wouldn't have to shop anywhere else....except for when someone has a Catalina deal.....lolol

Sluggy

What To Do....A Bean-filled Dilemna

In one of my past lives.....I sound like a cat sometimes, don't I?lol.....I was a beanie baby collector.Can you believe this about me?  I know sometimes I can't. lol  Some day I'll have to tell y'all the story about how my daughter's near death experience led me into this evil beanie habit. ;-)

I was part of(and still am)two different online beanie groups.   Well, one started as a collector group for beanies, and the other was a spin-off from a list led by a nasty women we all hated and that list was populated by collectors of another line of Ty critters called Attic Treasures. That second snip-off group expanded to include collectors of all things Ty.  Both lists(the original 2)held conventions of sorts back in the day....one of the public, national kind and the other list held annual private get-togethers.  No one on these lists collects these things anymore and we don't post much nowadays but we have remained friends to some degree or another. 8-)

Long story short, I came into possession of some counterfeit beanies back about 12 yrs. ago.  This was back when beanies were hot and going for insane amounts of money. The only way most beanie collectors(the SANE ones)could have those old rare beanies for their own collections was to obtain counterfeits.  I hang my head in shame now that I ever participated in this. I was not in my right mind and not in possession of my faculties.
Ok, maybe that's bull but I just didn't care back then.
I don't think the Ty company was hurting for money/sales because of it...if anything it fueled the craze...so I don't lose sleep over buying some fake beanies back then.

Some of these critters are obviously fakes.....

 In the Photo--Old Face Teddies....left to right....Jade, Teal, Magenta.  The "jade" one is obviously not jade, the "magenta" one is more fuschia and the "teal" one, while it looks fairly teal-ish in the photo is plain Grass Green in real life. 

Anyway, I mention about the beanies because as I was going through the clutter and crap here to get rid of, I found my fakes......and I want to get them out of my life now.
I can't rightly go on eBay and attempt to sell them.....if nothing else, my auctions would be shut down post haste by the 'beanie police'.

So I thought I'd ship them off to Salvation Army with the other boxes of detritus from my life so someone else can enjoy them.
But then I thought, what if someone bought them from Sallie's and after they wet themselves thinking they had a real Royal Blue Peanut and a Billionaire Bear, tried to sell them as authentic rare beanies?

Hubs says to put a tag around their necks saying that they are NOT authentic.
I don't think I have to worry about anyone paying a fortune for one of these things anymore since the beanie aftermarket has been in the toilet for years now, but someone might still want one of these super rare ones and whoever ends up with them might find one of these people who would part with alot of money to have one.
 It would bother me if giving them to Sallie's caused this down the line.

And I have a problem as well with just throwing these perfectly good playtoys in the garbage.  There is still play-value for some kid in them and to send something to the landfill prematurely doesn't sit right with me.

I guess I could hang onto them and have my will amended to note that they should be tossed into the casket with my cold, lifeless body.....

So dear readers, if you were me, what would you do with them?

Sluggy

October Budget Results.....Food and Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2010.
I have posted October's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2010.

I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in October.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom Totals information.

These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(4 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 14.

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP $11.89
Value $64.66

Savings  81.61%

BIG LOTS
OOP  $33.46
Value  $57.00
Savings  41.30%

CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP  $75.47

Qs/Ads  $51.91

Value  $124.42

Savings  39.35%

FAMILY DOLLAR
OOP  $10.00
Value  $19.00
Savings  47.40%

FARMSTAND
OOP  $32.70
Value  $84.60
Savings  61.35%

FOOD LION
OOP  $16.88
Qs/Ads  $11.07
Value   $27.95
Savings  39.60%

PRICE CHOPPER(Northeast)

OOP  $77.85

Qs/Ads  $207.06

Value    $284.91

Savings  72.68%

REDNER'S

OOP  $83.92
Qs/Ads  $115.20

Value  $199.12

Savings  57.86%

RITE AID
OOP $9.30 after cash refunds(whole amount put on Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads  $1,094.06

Value  $1,103.36

Savings  99.16% before gift cards/ 100% savings after free gift cards

SAV-ALOT
OOP  $25.97
Qs/Ads  $20.29
Value  $46.26
Savings  43.86%

TURKEY HILL MINIMART
OOP   $2.96
Value  $2.96
Savings  0%

WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town)
OOP  $31.60

Qs/Ads  $10.65

Value  $42.25

Savings   35.21%


I 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 SEPTEMBER
Home Depot/Behr Paint Rebate....$20.00

P&G/Back-to-School Olay Rebate....$10.00
Pinecone Research....$6.00
Rite-Aid SCR....$30.99
Visine Maximum Redness TMF Rebate...$5.83
Subtotal........$72.82

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES

Rite-Aid Oral Care.....$10.00
Rite-Aid Kimberly/Clark....$10.00
Staples (Giveaway win)...$25.00
Subtotal....$45.00

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$117.82

COUPONS and FREEBIES
Advil.....Free Item Q
Cottonelle Wipes....Free Item Q
Greeting Cards(Giveaway win)...50 Free Cards
Kleenex.....Free Box
Pringles Chips.....Free Item Q x 2


My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from Rite-Aid at 100%, The Bakery Outlet at 81.61% and Price Chopper at 72.68%.

TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$402.70

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$1,653.79

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$2,056.49

TOTAL Savings of..........80.42%

TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$72.82

TOTAL OOP After  Rebates....................$329.88
TOTAL Savings of..................................84%

This closes out the October spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-

I went waaaaay over on the budgeted $250 amount for the month, even after you add on the rebates received to offset the spending total.  Just so many good Catalina deals so I stocked up(think bacon).  It's nice to have 'wiggle room' in your monthly spending to take advantage of sales when they come around, without having to worry about being able to meet all your other bills.  Being frugal in other areas and living well below your monthly income gives you that freedom.

What's ahead for November 2010.....

Seeing as the freezer is stocked to the gills at the moment, we'll be eating down on the frozen items here this month.  Beyond onions, pumpkin, apples and peppers I didn't get to the farm early in October for more veggies to preserve and now it's too late.  Oh well....

I am keeping the November food budget at $250.  Though we won't need to spend the full budget amount, I will still pick up non-perishables if deals present themselves in November.  While we are good on flour and nuts, sugar is low so I'm looking for those baking sales to start.  I also might pick up items on sale now from the store that is running the gift certificate deal if you spend X amount by Nov. 14th.  Presently we are only 1/3 of the way to the $300 amount we need to get the certificate.  All other things being even(price this month or in Dec.)I'll buy it in Nov. to qualify toward the cert. instead of buying it in Dec.

As always, any rebates received in November will be added to the food budget to offset what we spend.

With ten months of the year behind us, we have averaged $194.27 per MONTH after rebates on food/toiletries spending for 2010 for a family of 4-5 adults/teens + 2-3 pets.

How did you do in October 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

What's in Your Wallet?.....Sluggy Style

I saw this over at REAL LIFE LIVING and if it's good enough for Annie Jones to blog about, it's good enough for me! ;-)

Here is my Ultra-Exciting Wallet!

 OOoooo!
Isn't it......brown?!?
And old?
And not very exciting?lol

Sort of like me....except for the brown part....

But Wait!  There's more.....

  Inside we have a Driver's License(it's under the flap so you can't see the lovely mug shot of me on it), 2 grocery store cards and a discount/clearance store card.  I generally operate off of the keyring grocery store card thingys and not the big cards but Hubs has my keyring cardlet for one of these and the other keyring cardlet won't scan anymore so I have to use the fullsized card.  All the other store cards(and there are a mess o' them!)are stowed away in the outside pocket of my purse.
To continue....I also have my 1 credit card(for gas purchases)and my ING card(which gets used like twice a year). 
Now we get to the exciting parts!!
There is a wad o' cash since that is how I always pay at the grocery store.
And there are 4 Rite-Aid Gift Cards(well one is a prepaid Visa but I got it from Rite-Aid), and they were all free from either previous SCR deals there or from Prescription transfers.  The top card has about $1.50 left on it(it started with $25).  I have used that particular card since September 14th to cover any Out of Pocket on transactions at Rite-Aid.  That's over 35 transactions since that date.  It's hard to spend $25 at Rite-Aid when your average OOP to put on a card is about $.75 a trip.lolol

I also have my very old Rita's Italian Ice card....Buy 10 Get 1 Free.  I am on Ice #4.  I may get that free Ice by, oh.....June of 2012 at the rate I buy them.lol

My wallet does have a change compartment. 
It is always jam packed.
It is also very dark in there and when I need change I have a hard time finding the correct coins.  My next coin compartment should come with a built-in light that goes on when you open it, like a closet.
Either that or I need eye transplants.

The best thing in my wallet though is that Dollar bill.
I received it in change somewhere about a month ago.  I noticed the writing on the back before I tucked it into the bill fold.
It says...."August 2010.  I'm everywhere you go baby!  You can run but you can't hide!  LOVE YA  Another day Clean & Sober  8 months & 9 months"
I folded and put this bill in my coin purse.
Why?
I find it very life affirming. 
There is someone out there, anonymous to me, who is doing the right thing.  Proud(I hope)of their accomplishment and living a 'real' life. 
They know where they came from and they know where they are going and by G*d, I hope they get there! And the least I can do is cheer them on.

Everytime I open my coin purse to search for a blasted nickel or a dime in that dark hole I frown.  Then I see that dollar and smile.  And I think about what this person has accomplished, what they have changed and I can't in good conscience continue to gripe about not being able to see my change.
And I silently give up a little prayer for them that they make it through to 9 months & 10 months and beyond.

So dear readers, what's in YOUR wallet this grey November day?

Sluggy

Hormel Compleats....a Review of My Lunch

So a couple of weeks ago I purchased a bunch of these Hormel Compleats at Rite-Aid, since with coupons and store sale and +Up Rewards I received back, they were basically free.
I had gotten them with the thought that Hubs could take them to work for lunch, since they do have access to a microwave in the cafeteria.  It would save us some $$ if he didn't have to buy lunch everyday and could eat these instead once in a while, right?

So I thought I would play the guinea pig and try one before I insisted he take them for lunch.  I chose the reduced-calorie Sesame Chicken meal.
Looks fairly good, doesn't it?

Now let's get a close-up of that dish, shall we?.....

Now let's take a gander at what this Sesame Chicken dish really looks like.....

Mmmmm.....
Makes you wonder how many Hormel would sell if they put THIS PICTURE on the outside of the package?

I'm gonna guess about.....zero packages! lol
If you can get past the dog food appearance(just shut your eyes and eat it!), it doesn't taste that bad.  Much better than it looks is what I'd say!

The 'sauce' is a tad sweet for my taste but acceptable.
The worst thing is the texture of the noodles.  They are waaaaay overcooked and almost at the "mush" stage.  This dish would be alot better if Hormel didn't boil the noodles to death before adding the veggies and sauce.  On a better note, there were much more hunks of chicken than I expected and the pieces were firm and meaty.  You could tell you were eating chicken.
I believe that if you dressed this Sesame Chicken meal up with rice, or chinese noodles or even more stir-fry type veggies(or all 3), it wouldn't be a half bad lunch meal.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about this Hormel product.  It's quick and easy to fix but lacking a bit in the flavor/presentation.  At free, the price was right but doesn't totally overcome the shortcomings.
I doubt if I'd pay money for this product unless the other varieties are better.

Have you ever tried these Hormel Compleats?  How was your experience with them?  Leave a comment and give us your feedback!

Sluggy