Penguins Love to Ski!

I was googling around last night after #2 son and I had a conversation about talented guitar players. (#2 plays the bass.)
He wanted to show me some YouTube clip of a guitarist who plays some awesome riffs.
We got to talking and one topic led to another and I in turn wanted to show him a clip of an old artist who was very popular in the French New Wave Music Movement back in the 1980's.

Since he is taking French in school and this guy sang in french(though he is Belgian and not French), I thought he might be interested in hearing some numbers.
I must say #2 wasn't very impressed.....and neither was I almost 30 yrs. later.lol

But I did find in my wanderings this cute clip to share.......
Believe it or not, this was only one of a number of these remakes of songs and they were a big hit in France and then Germany.

The title is "Me, I Love to Ski!"
You'll recognize the tune.....even if you can't speak French.lol
It's a cute clip.

Sluggy

Meal Plan Not-Monday

I am just having a devil of a time coming up with dinners this week.  I'm on Day Three of mulling it over and I just give up.
I think I'll just call it "Surprise Meal Plan", come down and throw the freezer door open each morning and see what strikes my fancy or just close my eyes and grab something out of the ol' Chill Chest.

I made a big pot of homemade Boston Baked Beans and Cornbread on Sunday.  Either my eyes are going and I can't read the recipe clearly anymore or I grabbed the wrong measuring spoon because well, those beans were like eating a salt lick to me!
Ugh....

I guess I'll have to dilute them with some canned beans before we eat them again later this week.

Monday night I just invented something from what I had on hand.  I had a big container of leftover enchilada sauce from the other week that needed using up.  So I grabbed a roll of ground turkey(that was pre-seasoned for taco filling), a can of refried beans and a small can of no beans chili.  I dumped that all together(after cooking the turkey of course!lol), thawed some cheese and made chili enchiladas.  Served it with salad and sour cream.

I've been considering all my usual meals and nothing is striking me as appetizing.  Maybe something with fish tonight?
Perhaps if I go stand out in the stockpile inspiration will hit me....if the bags of flour falling off the shelf don't first. lol

Since I am trying to keep up with ANNIE JONES this month with her No Spending/Eating from The Pantry Challenge, I'll report in here that last week I spent $35.08 on groceries.  Well, some of that was a receipt I lost & didn't find until it was too late to add to November's spending and $12.78 of it was a trip to the local market that I really didn't need, but I spent because I had to take BIL to the grocery store because he totaled his car....I was there so I spent. ugh
Some of it was for fruit and lettuce but I also bought panko on sale and deli meat.

So far this week I've spent $4.09.  I ran out of eggs so Hubs picked up a dozen and then he picked up some tortillas for last night's dinner.

So I'm off to contemplate the stockpile/freezer.....I'm thinking fish but I might do a veggie quiche of some kind....or hamburgers since I have the rolls and the ground beef.
At any rate with these 3 ideas plus a leftover night I am set until Saturday for meals now!

Sluggy

What is Sluggy "Buying" at Rite-Aid This Week?

Maybe I should make that post heading "What is Sluggy Taking Home from Rite-Aid This Week?" instead.  Saying "BUYING" seems a little misleading to me. lol
Or maybe "What is Rite-Aid Giving Sluggy This Week?"
I just can't choose..... ;-)

Had to brave the bone-chilling cold and make a trip to Rite-Aid after dinner tonight.
And I finally got my Christmas tablecloth out too! 8-)

My Transaction

2 x Pot Of Gold Chocolates on sale $3.99=$7.98 *
2 x Revlon Nail Polish on sale BOGO50%=$7.18 **
1 x Airborne on sale=$4.99
1 x Chloraseptic Spray on sale=$3.99 ***
2 x Tugaboo Diaper packs w/wellness discount=$1.58
SubTotal....$25.72

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 purchase Q=$5.00
2 x $1/1 Pot Of Gold Chocolates(1ManQ/1 IPQ)=$2.00
2 x $3/1 Revlon Nail Polish wellness Q emailed to me=$6.00
1 x $1.50/1 Airborne IPQ=$1.50
1 x $2/1 Airborne Wellness IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Chloraseptic Spray IPQ=$1.00
2 x $1/1 Tugaboo Diaper items inside previous diaper packs=$2.00
 Coupon Total...$19.50

$25.72-$19.50=$6.22

+Up Rewards used...$6.00
OOP......$.22 put on free Rite-Aid gift card

Received $10 in +Up Rewards(2 x $2 Pot of Gold, $4 Revlon wyb2, $1 Airborne, $1 Chloraseptic)
"Spent" 6+Ups, Got 10+Ups back=$4 moneymaker.

*It was a treasure hunt this evening trying to find these boxes of chocolates.  Supervisor said they were out and the truck is due in tomorrow(truck usually comes on Thurs/Fri.)and they might get more in(though I've heard reports that the warehouse is empty of this item already).  These boxes of Hershey's choccies are not a regularly stocked item, they are seasonal so I don't have much hope that there will be anymore showing up on store shelves.  If you find some, buy them!
I did find 2 boxes however that someone had hidden behind larger different brands of chocolates.  No doubt they were coming back later to buy them.hehehe

**I used 2 of the $3/1 emailed Wellness Qs, one for each bottle.  Some stores let you use 2, some don't so YMMV.

***This item was NOT in the sales flyer here this week but it IS on sale and giving a $1 +Ups and qualifies for SCR #82.  You can also buy the LOZENGES AND GET ANOTHER $2 SCR!  The lozenges are #81 and they are also on sale for $3.99 and giving the $1+Ups.  Limit of one of each type of Chloraseptic product.  I didn't realize both items had separate rebates until now.  I guess I'll be heading back to Rite-Aid later this week. ;-)

And the Colgate Toothpaste that's on sale this week and giving a $2 +Up?  My store is already out and it's only Monday!
Argggghhh

There isn't a whole lot I want this week from the sales flyer.  Maybe some more nail polish for Daughter's stocking(sshhhh, don't tell!!)  This week, as will be most weeks leading up to Christmas, the sales are all about gifts and seasonal stuff like lights, decorations, candy/food and gift sets.  I don't necessarily "need" any of that stuff.  None of my +Ups expire at the end of this week so don't have to roll any.  The +Ups you get this week(unless they are month or longer deals)will expire on 12/25.  Keep that in mind so you don't end up forgetting to roll them within the next 2 weeks.

I have managed to get to the $5 level with the Gift of Savings Promo.  Not because of how much(or rather how little)I've spent OOP.  But because I have found some receipts outside in the parking lot that were thrown away.

I call it my community anti-litter campaign.  I am simply beautifying my town and I'm starting with the parking lot by Rite-Aid. lolol
And if that doesn't get me anywhere, I am not above getting a tin cup and holding a sign down by the traffic light that says, "Will work for Rite-Aid receipts."


THIS TRIP
Total Spent....$.22 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$46.44
SCR qualified for...$2.00(Chloraseptic)
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$10.00
+Up Rewards spent...$6.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$42.00

GRAND TOTALS--December Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......7
Total Spent....$2.66  put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$287.78
SCR qualified for....$2.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Gift of Savings Reward...$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Dec. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 12/4.....$38.00
+Up Rewards spent....$40.00
+Up Rewards earned....$57.00
+Up Rewards left....$42.00

Sluggy 

Rite-Aid Last Week....Part II--I Made $13

I did 4 transactions at Rite-Aid last Saturday.
Again, since the deals are past I won't get into the fine details unless some one asks me to. ;-)

Transaction 1 & 2 in this photo....

#1 Transaction

2 Tugaboo Diaper packs
2 Bic pens(1 Triumph pack/1 stick pens)
2 Maxwell House Coffee
2 Halls big bags of Cough Drops
1 Gilette Pro-Glide Razor
SubTotal...$27.11
Coupon Total....$17.00
+Up Rewards used...$10.00
OOP....$.11 put on free Rite-Aid gift card

Received $14 +Up Rewards($3 wyb 2 Bic,2 x$1 Coffee,2 x $2 Hall's Drops,$5 Gillette)
"Spent" 10 +Ups, Got 14+Ups back=$4 moneymaker.

#2 Transaction

4 Bic Pens(1 Triumph/3 Stick pens)
3 Folger's Coffee
1 Nexxus 'Poo
SubTotal....$26.52
Coupon Total...$19.00
+Up Rewards used...$7.00
OOP...$.52 put on free Rite-Aid gift card

Received $9 +Ups Rewards(2 x $3 Bic,3 x $1 Coffee)
"Spent" 7 +Ups, Got 9+Ups back=$2 moneymaker.

Transaction 3 & 4 in this photo....

#3 Transaction

2 Bic stick pens
2 Pine-Sol
2 Lysol Spray
1 Nexxus 'Poo
2 Foamie Kits
SubTotal....$28.00
Coupon Total...$26.00
+Up Rewards used...$2.00
OOP.....$0.00 8-))

Received $5.00 in +Up Rewards($3 Bic, $1 Pine-Sol, $1 Lysol)
"Spent" 2+Ups, Got 5+Ups back=$3 moneymaker.

#4 Transaction

4 Bic stick pens
2 Tugaboo diaper packs
2 Clorox Wipes
1 Gillette Razor
2 No nonsense Sock 3-Packs
SubTotal....$25.72
Coupon Total...$17.50
+Up Rewards used...$8.00
OOP......$.22 put on free Rite-Aid gift card


Received $12.00 in +Up Rewards(2 x $3 Bic, $1 Clorox, $5 Gillette)
"Spent" 8+Ups, Got 12+Ups back=$4 moneymaker.


THESE TRIPS
Total Spent....$.85 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$156.33
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$40.00
+Up Rewards spent...$27.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$38.00

GRAND TOTALS--December Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......6
Total Spent....$2.44  put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$241.34
SCR qualified for....$0.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Gift of Savings Reward...$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Dec. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 12/3.....$25.00
+Up Rewards spent....$34.00
+Up Rewards earned....$47.00
+Up Rewards left....$38.00

So this weekend I put .85¢ on my gift card and came out with $13 more +Up Rewards than I started out with on Friday.

Sluggy

Got Gifts?.....Now What?

Now that you've taken care of buying your Holiday gifts, now what?
You need to prepare them for the giving.
For most people, that means wrapping them or otherwise hiding them inside of some container and decorating the outside.

I'd like to direct you to a post I wrote last December about frugal Gift Wrapping.
Before you go spend a gazillion dollars on something that will destroy old growth forests, then the product will get destroyed itself and thrown away shortly after purchase, go have a read.  Buying new gift wrap is NOT frugal, no matter how little you pay for it, when there are viable alternatives.

Save the green in your wallet AND the green in nature and say NO!

There's a brief history at the link on the story of wrapping paper in this country to entertain you as well.
The link is HERE.

It's an oldie but a goody. ;-)

Sluggy