Songs of the Season Giveaway Winner

Ok, I know I am late getting around to posting who won my Christmas Songs Surprise Giveaway....a pox upon me!

I'm sure nobody noticed actually due to the fact that everyone has been so gosh darn B-U-S-Y lately with the Holidays and all that entails, right?

To get down to business......

There were 9 valid comments/entries.  I numbered them as received and went to Random.Org and the winning number is..................

Comment #6---Diane
Diane said...

Favorite Christmas Song - Silent Night - 12 Days of Christmas Favorite Carol - Oh Come all Ye Faithful Funny Song - Frosty the Snowman Never Hear Again - Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

December 21, 2010 6:35 PM

Congratulations Diane!
You have 48 hours to contact me via email(it's on my profile page)with your mailing address.
If you could tell me a little about what you like on your Christmas tree, favorite colors, themes, etc. that would be nice too so I can pick out something appropriate to send you.

Thanks for everyone who played along.  It was fun reading everyone's favs and not-so-fav tunes of the Season.

Sluggy

The Year in Review 2010--Part III

No, I am not celebrating the New Year yet!
Mimi over at LIVING IN FRANCE is doing a Linky Thingy...don't ya like my use of technical terms?

Anyway, you are suppose to post your life's highlights from 2010.  This installment is covering July, August and September.  Be sure and check out the other bloggers' posts too....



JULY

After a rather late start to the growing season we finally have our first Harvest in early July....yay!

I start my Christmas gift shopping this month.  By buying throughout the year you can pick things up for discounted prices and save a ton over waiting until the Christmas season when discounted prices are hard to come by, if not impossible to find!  The key with shopping this way is to be O-r-g-a-n-i-z-e-d!  Keep track of what you buy and whom you need to buy for.  Otherwise, you'll find yourself spending way more than you need to or planned to.

It is a very hot month here in my corner of the world.  I don't do well in the heat....never have.  Despite that, I keep my donating momentum going and many more items are sent off to Sallie's.  I also glean the stockpile again and send off a large donation to the Food Bank in July, as well as a nice healthy cash donation. 

I talk about striking a balance between store bought/processed foods and making everything from scratch and the cost implications.  About that same time #2 son has a meltdown with me over not getting fast food anymore.  Imagine having a mother who cares enough about you to cook from scratch....why, I have alot of nerve torturing him that way, don't I?!?

I do some Rite-Aid shopping(not much really this month)and I hold a bevy of giveaways on the blog.

Our beagle is diagnosed with cancer.

AUGUST

This month I attempt to not spend money at the grocery store.  We eat from the stockpile/freezer, the garden keeps us in veggies and I supplement what the garden didn't supply with produce from the farmstand.   I keep track of how many pounds of food we grow and we pass the 29lb. mark this month.  

I reminisce about my Shopping Triumphs of 2009--The great Catalina scores and KMart Double Coupon shops that just seem to have not happened in 2010.  I shed a wistful tear or two.

Hubs & I take a short vacation to Maine for some decompression time.  We go sightseeing and visit  friends.  It is relaxing because we have no set itinerary.  We just play it by ear each day and chose something to do/see from our list and don't try to cram every possible entertainment in.  It is also a very frugal vacation since we stay in an RV, or with friends, eat cheaply or use coupons at restaurants whenever possible and do free or almost free activities.  We even Christmas shop at discount stores as one activity.

I turn my minivan into a solar oven.  #2 son and I make chocolate chip cookies.  They are excellent, cheap to cook(free energy!) and we do it all without heating up the kitchen or the house.

The fridge breaks and I can't get anyone to come fix it.  We buy a new fridge.  It is a necessity as....

#1 son returns home from his summer job.  He brings with him a friend from England who stays with us for a week.   Just guess how much food 2 19 year old guys can eat in the course of 1 measly week!

I actually sew....patch and hem pairs of  pants for #1 son.

As a thank you for sewing his pants, #1 son leaves home to go back to college, taking with him the other "Eating Machine".  My wallet sighs in relief.....

SEPTEMBER

By the end of this month, we top 77lbs. of produce from our garden...wow!

I hit a 75% clearance sale on food items at Rite-Aid.  Most of this goes to the Food Bank.

I put out a call for all Eastern/Central PA Bloggers to link up together.  Nobody answers the phone....

Just about the time I was running low on dog food, Weis Markets runs a Purina Catalina Deal and I take advantage of it.
Synchronicity?....I think so!

This month also sees those $5/5 Kraft Cheese printable coupons.  Many people end up with many many packages of shredded cheese for $1 a pack, myself included.

I talk about how to effectively complain to a company about a product to obtain refunds, free product or high value coupons.
I then complain to anyone reading the blog about how our local newspapers are inconsistent from one to the next with which coupon inserts are included on Sunday.  Maybe I should follow my own advice and complain to the newspaper companies and not y'all. ;-)

The neighbor's RV saga begins when I complain about how they leave that huge thing parked in their driveway and block my sightlines.  I get some Anonymous nasty comments over that one.  Hmmm....perhaps the neighbors read my blog?  Naaaahhh!

By the end of the month, the garden is still producing....especially Giant Alien Cucumbers.   Now there's a title for a Sci-Fi parody......"When Giant Cukes Attack!"

The Final Installment, PART IV, is coming tomorrow so I can get this finished before 2010 is over.

Sluggy

January SCR Period has Begun.....Here are my Shops!

Crazy Coupon Lady me went out in a snowstorm Sunday evening for newspapers(coupon inserts).
Here's what I also bought since I was there anyway.lol

2 x Pantene 'Poo on sale $3.50=$7.00
2 x Gillette Clinical Deo' on sale $7.99=$15.98
2 x Tugaboo Diaper packs w/20% wellness discount=$1.58
1 x Newspaper=$.99 *Not Pictured*
SubTotal....$25.55

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25=$5.00
1 x BOGO Pantene ManuQ(last P&;G insert)=$3.50
1 x $3/2 Pantene ManuQ(current P&G insert)=$3.00
2 x $3/1 Gillette Clinical Deo ManuQ(current P&G insert)=$6.00
2 x $3/1 Gillette Clinical Deo Flu BookletQ=$6.00
2 x $1/1 Tugaboos Q inside previous package=$2.00
Coupon Total....$25.50

$25.55-$25.50=$.05 OOP put on Rite-Aid gift card, making ZERO out of pocket.
I used $0 +Ups and received $7 +Ups(2 x $3 Gillette, $1 wyb 2 Pantene).

Analysis....
Needed the newspaper for coupons, natch!
Color treated hair 'Poo for me cost .25¢ a bottle after Qs(but before the $3+Ups WYB 2).
The Clinical Deo' was on sale for $7.99, after stacked Qs($3 ManuQ+$3 Flu BookletQ)and $3+Ups was a $1.01 moneymaker.
The diapers were a filler to get over $25 and will be donated to my local food bank.  I bundle these 2 packs up into 20 diapers per bag and take them over.  Personal hygiene and paper goods are very welcomed at our food bank.

And here are the 3 transactions I did on Tuesday....

#1
2 x Herbal Essence 'Poo on sale $2.50=$5.00
1 x Gillette Clinical Deo' on sale=$7.99
2 x Darice Craft Kits w/20% wellness disc. $1.83=$3.66
6 x Assorted Harvard Square school supplies w/20% wellness disc. $.79=$4.74
2 x Harvard Square Pencil Top Erasers w/20% wellness disc. $1.19=$2.38
1 x 3 pack of YooHoo w/20% wellness disc.=$.79 *Not Pictured*
1 x Xmas Clearance candy item=$.50 *Not Pictured*
SubTotal....$25.06

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Q=$5.00
1 x $1/1 Herbal Essence ManuQ(last P&G insert)=$1.00
1 x BOGO Herbal Essence ManuQ(current P&G insert)=$2.50
1 x $3/1 Gillette Clinical ManuQ(current P&G insert)=$3.00
1 x $3/1 Gillette Clinical Flu BookletQ=$3.00
Coupon Total....$14.50

$25.06-$14.50=$10.56
I used $10+Up Rewards and put the .56¢ on my free Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $16 in +Ups($3 Gillette, 4 x $2 school supplies wyb2, $5 Darice wyb2), making this a $6 moneymaker.

Analysis....
More 'Poo that after sale and Qs(stack BOGO in recent P&G with $1/1 Q in last P&G)costs you $.75 each bottle.
Clinical Deo', ditto moneymaker, same as last trip.  The foamie crafts are $1.83 w/20% wellness discount and give a $5 +Up wyb 2, so these were a $1.34 moneymaker after +Ups.  If you have the Dec. AdPerks/VV Q for the $5/2 Foamies you could explore other combinations with higher priced craft items.
These Harvard Square school supplies are giving a $2 +Ups wyb 2.  All but the pencil top erasers were $.99(or $.79 after 20% wellness discount), so were a $.42 moneymaker with the +Up for each pair.  The pencil tops were $1.49(or $1.19 ea. w/20% wellness discount)so every 2 packages cost me $.38 after +Up.

 #2
1 x Olay Lotion=$7.49(part of BOGO50% sale)
1 x Olay Body Wash=$3.75(part of BOGO50% sale)
2 x Gillette Deodorant on sale $3.99=$7.98 *20% wellness was 1¢ cheaper than sale price*
6 x Assorted Harv.Sq. school supplies w/20% wellness disc. $.79=$4.74
1 x Andes Xmas Mints 50% off clearance=$.99
1 x Sierra Mist single bottle on sale=$.99 *Not Pictured*
SubTotal...$25.94

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Q=$5.00
1 x BOGO Olay Lotion/Body Wash ManuQ(last P&G insert)=$7.49**
1 x $2/1 Olay Body Wash Flu BookletQ=$2.00
1 x $2/1 Olay Wash/Lotion/Etc. product ManuQ(current P&G insert)=$2.00
1 x BOGO Gillette Deo'(current P&G insert)=$4.00
1 x $2/1 Gillette Deo'(last P&G insert)=$2.00
1 x $.55/1 Sierra Mist Cranberry TearpadQ(in the store)=$.55
Coupon Total....$23.04

$25.94-$23.04=$2.90
I used a $2.50+Ups and put the .40¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $9 +Up Rewards for this transaction(3 x $2 school supplies wyb2, $3 Gillette wyb2), making it a $6.50 moneymaker.

Analysis....
The regular strength Gillette Deo' is on sale for $4 and there is a $3 +Ups wyb 2.
Stack the BOGO Gillette Deo Q(current P&G insert)with the $2/1 Gillette Deo Q(last P&G insert)and your 2 Deos cost $2 total.  Then you get a $3 +Up which makes the buy a $1 moneymaker.

**The Olay Body Wash and Olay Lotion is BOGO50% off this week.  Buy one of each, stack the $2/1 Body Wash or Lotion Q(current P&G insert)with the BOGO Olay Lotion/Body Wash Q(last P&G insert) AND the $2/1 Olay Body Wash Flu Booklet Q for a great deal.  It's an even BETTER deal if the cashier rings up the full priced item of the pair as your FREE BOGO Q item.lol


More Harvard Square pencils and erasers=more small moneymakers.


Andes peppermint bark mints...part of the Christmas candy clearance.
They were shouting at me as I passed by the shelf.  I had to quiet them up by throwing them into the cart.  Candy enjoys being told what to do....unlike teenagers.



And finally.....

 #3
2 x Gillette Deo' on sale $4.00=$7.98 *wellness disc. made it 1¢ cheaper than sale price*
2 x Darice Craft Kits w/20% wellness disc. $1.83=$3.66
2 x Dawn Dish Soap on sale $.97=$1.94
1 x Craft Marker w/20% wellness disc.=$1.43
***The soda should have been pictured in Transaction #2, oops!lol***
SubTotal....$15.01

Coupons Used
1 x $3 off $15 Q(sent to my email)=$3.00
1 x BOGO Gillette Deo'(current P&G insert)=$4.00
1 x $2/1 Gillette Deo'(last P&G insert)=$2.00
1 x $1/2 Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap ManuQ(last P&G insert)=$1.00
Coupon Total....$10.00

$15.01-$10.00=$5.01
I used $5+Ups and put the penny on my gift card.
I received $8+Up Rewards($5 Darice wyb2, $3 Gillette wyb2), making this a $3 moneymaker.

Analysis....
More craft kits and Gillette Deo=moneymakers, see above.
Hand Renewal type of Dawn is part of the .97¢ a bottle sale this week around here.  I used a $1/2 Q(the last P&G insert)making my 2 bottles $.47 each.
I needed the marker and it was a good price w/the 20% wellness discount.

Since I've accumulated quite a supply of toys/craft items in the past month at Rite-Aid, I've decided to make a point in 2011 to 'buy' more of this kind of thing.  I don't have children of the age to give these items to but I am going to gather them with an eye toward making a large donation to a local Toy Drive next Holiday Season.  I won't go out of my way to purchase toys/crafts, but if I can pick some things up for free or close to it, I'll include them in my shops.

THESE TRIPS
Total Spent....$1.04(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$122.69
SCR qualified for...$2.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$40.00
+Up Rewards spent...$17.50
+Up Rewards left to spend....$134.00



 
GRAND TOTALS--January Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......4
Total Spent....$1.04 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$122.69
SCR qualified for....$0.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Dec. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 12/24.....$111.50
+Up Rewards spent....$17.50
+Up Rewards earned....$40.00
+Up Rewards left....$134.00


So did you shop at Rite-Aid this week?
Tell us about the neat stuff you got for a great price!

Sluggy

Last of the Dec. SCR Period Rite-Aid Trips and Grand Totals

The few days before Christmas were a blur in many ways.
With all the things going on, I didn't get a chance to post my numerous Rite-Aid transactions from the last few days before Christmas.
Between December 22nd & 24th I completed 8 transactions at Rite-Aid.
OCD, me?
Maybe..... ;-)

Since these sales are over and I didn't take photos, I'll just list what I bought and leave out the juicy details.
Ready?

4 bags of Doritos/Tostitos
3 12-packs of Coke
4 Candles
4 Cans of Rite-Aid Coffee
48 Candy Bars/Skittles
5 Bottles Clearasil Face Wash
4 packs Bic Pens
2 trial packs Tugaboo Diapers
1 Winter Hat
12 bottles Motrin PM(Love this stuff!)
2 bottles Gain Dish Soap
3 trial size John Frieda products
2 Rite-Aid Toothbrushes
4 Revlon Nail Polish(75% off)
2 Mitchum Deodorant
6 Conair/Scunci Hair Products(assorted prices totaling $20.82)
1 Single serve bottle of Sierra Mist

I just want to note that the Buy $20 of Conair/Scunci products/Get $10 +Ups didn't print for me.  I put in a call to Corporate CS and they are on the way, no problem.  If yours didn't print either, be sure and call CS and get them!

THESE TRIPS
# of Transactions.......8
Total Spent....$4.87(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$307.36
SCR qualified for...$7.00($2 Mitchum, $5 WYB3 JFrieda)
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$95.00
+Up Rewards spent...$102.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$111.50


And here are my Grand Totals for the SCR Period at Rite-Aid.

GRAND TOTALS--December Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......41
Total Spent....$19.31 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1,633.18
SCR qualified for....$32.00
Other Cash....$11.99
Gift of Savings Reward...$40.00*both me and BIL account*
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Dec. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 12/21.....$118.50
+Up Rewards spent....$381.00
+Up Rewards earned....$475.50
+Up Rewards left....$111.50


I finished up the December Rebate Period with $1,633.18 of products and $111.50 worth of Wellness + 'cash', as well as $40 in Gift Certificates for BIL and I.  In addition, Rite-Aid is sending me $32.00 in cash rebates for buying these products.
And all this cost me was $19.31 out of pocket which was put on a free Rite-Aid gift card I obtained from previous purchases.

This month's savings was truly amazing!
How about you?
Did you reap some great savings at Rite-Aid this past month?

Sluggy

The Year in Review 2010--Part II

No, I am not celebrating the New Year yet!
Mimi over at LIVING IN FRANCE is doing a Linky Thingy...don't ya like my use of technical terms?

Anyway, you are suppose to post your life's highlights from 2010.  This installment is covering April, May & June......and it's 2 weeks late so there is technically no Linky Thingy at the bottom, so you'll just get my post.
Sorry folks.

April
The Wellness + Program at Rite-Aid goes nationwide.  I already have earned my 20% off/Gold Level discount.  Living within a test market area sure helped me get a jump on that.lol

It snowed in April!

I reach my 600th post on the blog.  What is more amazing is that after 600 blog posts, I STILL have readers!

Did I mention it snowed here in late April yet?!

I did alot of decluttering and sending things off to Salvation Army.

I gleaned the stockpile and send alot of food off to the food bank too.

It freaking snowed here on April 27th!

I got alot of rebates sent off this month.

I gave out some awesome money advice.  Probably the best free advice I'll ever post.  If you missed it the first time, check it out HERE.

This is not freakin' Alaska!  How on earth can it SNOW on April 27th?!?!....that's only 2 weeks BEFORE Mother's Day....which is in MAY!  Whatever happened to "April SHOWERS bring May Flowers"?  They meant RAIN Showers, ok?....not SNOW Showers for cripes sake!!

MAY
Now that Rite-Aid had everyone hooked, they became the long, slow pull-back on the Wellness coupons.   The $X off a $XX purchase coupons started decreasing in value or disappearing altogether.
The other Wellness high value on 1 item coupons turned into $1 off $10 beauty or snack or cold and cough, etc. purchase coupons.
I am NOT happy!

More decluttering and sending 'stuff' off to Sallies.  In the process I reveal that sort of weird stuff I use to buy.

More food bank donations, including HBA and paper products since the FB here takes those kinds of donations as well.

#1 son comes home from his first year of college.  It only takes him 1 week before I am ready for him to go back to school!

We go sell stockpile extras at the Flea Market again. 
We leave with 13 boxes of items and come home with 6 boxes and almost $750.

I put #1 son to work on the Garden and get the soil ready to plant.

JUNE
Hubs sister comes to stay for a week.  With 6 people in the house and 4 dogs, plus Hubs brother who shows up from SC briefly, it's just a rollicking good time at our house!
And I don't lie very well, do I?lol


Work continues on the garden and it finally gets planted.  Now the waiting, watering and weeding begins....

I take part in the Food Stamp Challenge over at Katy's Blog.  This runs the whole month of June.
Though I don't have much trouble feeding everyone and staying within the guidelines of the spending aspect, I do learn alot and think differently about how our culture views the food issues in this country.

The teens leave for camp.
Some of the teens come home after a few weeks and some don't(the ones who are working at camp).
They all have an awesome time and that sound you hear is the emptying of my bank account, but it is well worth the life experiences they receive.

Hubs opens the swimming pool for the season.  We instantly become very popular with friends and relatives.  Our popularity is inexplicably tied to the heat index.....I wonder why that is?!?

PART III is coming tomorrow or Thursday so I can get this finished before 2010 finishes.

Sluggy