Food Outlet & Rite-Aid Shopping on Monday

I'm finally getting around to posting my Rite-Aid updates for the week.

Monday, Hubs and I went out shopping for those sweaters I mentioned before. We hit 3 Rite-Aids as well, per my request.lol

Rite-Aid #1--I got 1 bag of Rice, 1 bag of TGIF Snacks and 1 bag of BK Snacks. I know the BK Snacks aren't giving a $1 +Up back but #2 son likes that kind.
After using $3 +Up Rewards, total was .13¢ put on a gift card.
I received $2 +Up Rewards back.

Rite-Aid #3--I got 3 bags of TGIF Snacks & 1 Rite-Aid facial tissue(their sign said limit of 3). After using $2 +Up Rewards, total was .91¢ put on a gift card.
I received $3 +Up Rewards back.

The weird thing at this store was the cashier didn't even ring up the R-A facial tissue and no +Ups printed of course! I am guessing here, but with all the misinformation flying around on Monday about the limits on the free paper goods, management must have told them to keep track of how many they 'sold' but not ring it up since the register wasn't giving back the correct amount of +Ups? I bet they were tired of hearing the customers complain when the +Ups didn't print, so they just gave the stuff away.lol  I'm just guessing here....

At any rate, I was down $1 on one transaction, and up $1 on the other.

At Rite-Aid #2 I did a bit more buying.......

2 x Eco-Speakers 90% xmas clearance .59¢=$1.18
1 x R-A Coffee on sale=$1.99
5 x TGIF Snacks on sale .97¢=$4.85
4 x Hormel Chili on sale $1.25=$5.00
1 x R-A 4 pack TP w/wellness discount=$.80
1 x 2lb Rice w/wellness discount=$1.19
2 x 2lb. Brown Rice w/wellness discount=$2.70
1 x Computer Mouse on sale=$2.99
SubTotal....$20.70

Coupons Used
1 x $2/1 R-A Coffee Wellness IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total....$2.00

$20.70-$2.00=$18.70+.04¢ tax=$18.74
I used $18 +Up Rewards and put $.74 on my free Rite-Aid Gift Card so Zero out of pocket.

I received $19 in +Up Rewards back(5 x $1 TGIF Snacks, 5 x $1 Hormel Chili, $1 R-A TP, 3 x $1 Rice, $5 Mouse), making this a $1 Moneymaker.

The coffee was free after my Q, the Chili was free after +Ups, the TGIF snacks were a .30¢ moneymaker and the TP was a .20¢ moneymaker after +Ups, I got paid $3.01 to buy the Mouse after +Ups, the rice was either .19¢ for reg. or .35¢ a bag for brown after +Ups and the speaker sets were 90% off.

******************

At the Food Outlet I bought packs of Mott's single serve applesauce for Hubs lunches for .59¢, cans of Whack Biscuits for .50¢, a large bottle of Blackstrap Molasses for $2.50, 2lb bag of Powdered Milk for $1.99, boxes of blue corn taco shells for .99¢.  I also picked up some impulse buys--a Mayan chocolate coffee drink powder for .99¢ and some Jasmine Tea for .99¢.
It wasn't a very fruitful trip to the Outlet but that's how it goes sometimes. 


Now for the Rite-Aid numbers....

THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....3
Total Spent....$1.78 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$61.47
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$24.00
+Up Rewards spent...$23.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$143.00

 
GRAND TOTALS--January Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......34
Total Spent....$18.65 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1332.82
SCR qualified for....$12.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$40.00

+UPS Totals for Jan. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 1/16.....$142.00
+Up Rewards spent....$360.50
+Up Rewards earned....$380.00
+Up Rewards left....$143.00 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period

Sluggy

My 1,000th Post & Birthday Giveaway Jamboree Celebration!

First off, thanks for stopping by to read me today!

After I posted my last blog post I noticed on my dashboard that it indicated that I had published 999 blog posts.  I don't usual keep track of stuff like that but....
WOW!
I was one post away from my ONE THOUSANDTH POST!!

The stars must be aligning themselves, I thought, because my Birthday was 3 days away(Friday the 21st) so it I held off posting until Friday I could have my 1000th post on my Birthday.
Now how cool would that be, huh?!?!

But alas.....
I went to work on this post this morning and I saw that my Dashboard now indicated that my PREVIOUS POST was #1000, not the one I was working on.
Blasted Dashboard Lag!

So I am going to ignore I saw that last bit on my Dashboard and THIS POST is the Official 1000th Post!
Yah, you all KNOW I can't keep my mouth(or fingers)still for another 2 days so that my "fake" 1000th post is published ON my Birthday, so why try to be what I am not--a patient, well mannered, quiet blogger?!

In honor of my Natal Day I am pulling out all the stops and holding a Birthday Giveaway!
It's sort of a BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY but on Steroids!

You will all have to come back on Friday to find out the details.
As Oscar Wilde once said, "This suspense is terrible. I hope it will last."

In the meantime, I need to go sort through all the birthday freebie food deals in my inbox.   Yes, I'll be eating my way through this birthday.lol

Sluggy

Stuff & Nonsense

This shirt would sum up my mood lately.  January Spending Diet?
Yah....not so much!lol
I am truly sick of spending already.

Yesterday since Hubs had the day off, we took a ride down to the Food Outlet to see what goodies we could find.
You never know what cheap finds await you at the Food Outlet.  Last time I got burritos for the teens.  Odd children here...they don't like my healthier, cheaper, homemade burritos.  They want the store bought kind. Humph!

I don't get down to the Food Outlet much as it's a long ride(see uses alot of gas!)so we look to combine that trip with other necessary shopping and we load up on the goodies we find at the FO.
Hubs wanted to get some sweaters to wear to work.  Seems they are keeping the thermostat at work lower and Hubs is getting chilled now.  He gave away or wore out all his sweaters a few years back so we hit the winter clothing clearance sale at KMart near the Food Outlet.
We found 4 nice, heavy cotton sweaters for under $35 total.
The Food Outlet was a less than thrilling outcome.  Picked up single serve applesauce for .59¢ per 6 pack(for Hubs lunch), tubes of ground chicken or turkey for $1, Blue Corn Taco Shells for $1, and some other bits and pieces.  Then Hubs snuck in a box of garbage bags for $7.99(eek!)so we dropped $32.80 in there without any real stocking up.

I dropped by a couple Rite-Aids down there as well and got a few goodies.  I'll post that separately after I get the photo taken.

Some blog business.....I've added to the right sidebar a new feature, my Monthly To-Do List.  Hopefully this will keep me from going an entire year without considering the Sewing chores I need to do.  At least now I'll have to ignore doing things IN SPITE OF it Staring me in the Face!lolz

I'll also be taking down the 2010 Grocery Spending Totals and the Savings Challenge Totals shortly.
Time to start fresh for 2011, right? ;-)

I have a hypothetical question for you all....
If  'someone' was to give away a Gift Card as a blog contest prize, for which store would YOU want to win a gift card?
Any kind of store, movie theatre chain, gas station, whatever.
Just leave a comment with your top 3 choices.

Ok, I'm off to the garage to whip my stockpile into better organizational shape.  Since I have the good fortune....cough, cough.....and pleasure of my children's company for a 4th day in a row(thank you snow day from school!), I am getting some work out of them today.

Sluggy

Free is Good, Greed is Not

So I got my Rite-Aid shopping out of the way for the week early on Sunday.

Rite-Aid has 3 items that are free after +Up Rewards this week, facial tissue, a 4 pack of toilet paper and the single rolls of toilet paper.  All are Rite-Aid brand items.
I figured if I wanted to see/get any of this stuff, I'd have to be up at Rite-Aid Sunday when they opened the doors.
Sometimes it pays to be a non-church going heathen......

Was the 1st customer in the door here.
Plenty of facial tissue boxes and single rolls and not one single 4 pack of TP on the shelf.  The manager said there is probably some in the stockroom but she couldn't locate it(it was jammed with boxes)and the person who breaks down the boxes and stocks stuff wasn't in yet to work on things.
I knew that if I came back later in the day, unless I had INCREDIBLY GOOD TIMING, I'd miss out on the TP.
So I just bought a few facial tissue and single TP rolls....

10 x TP w/wellness discount .95¢=$9.50
3 x facial tissue on sale=$3.00
Total....$12.50 +$.01 tax??=$12.51

No Coupons and used $12.00 +Up Rewards.
Used Rite-Aid gift card to pay OOP of .51¢

I received $13 +Up Rewards back, making this a $1 moneymaker.
I didn't get the memo that only $10 worth of the facial tissue triggered a special $3 +Up Reward.
If I had I would have bought 7 more facial tissues(since they were lousy with them)and gained an extra $3 +Ups.


Now free paper products is awesome!
But I just bought a 'normal' amount and didn't fill a shopping cart or something like has been reported.
If you took a store's whole stock(if they had more than just a couple rolls/packs of something)then.... Shame.
On.
You.

Unless you are destitute, you have no right taking it all.
Get your fair share and move on to the next freebie.

I could have run from Rite-Aid to Rite-Aid on Sunday scooping up free paper products but I just didn't feel the need to do so.
If you slept in on Sunday and missed out on the free paper products, be sure and get a raincheck so that if you find a spare roll/box/pack of one of these items on the shelf after this week, you can get in on the freebie.

After tucking my bit of the freebies away, I did my regular shopping......

2 x Viactiv Calcium Chews on sale $6=$12.00
2 x Ester-C packets on sale BOGO=$5.99
3 x Hormel Chili on sale $1.25=$3.75
1 x Mott's Applesauce on sale=$1.25
6 x Betty C. Muffin Mix on sale $1=$6.00
2 x Ramen Noodles on sale $1=$2.00
2 x Chow Mein Noodles on sale $1=$2.00
SubTotal....$32.99

Coupons Used
1 x $4 any Purchase AdPerk/VV Q=$4.00
2 x $3/1 Viactiv ManuQ(Sunday's paper)=$6.00
2 x $2/1 Ester-C ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Ester-C AdPerks/VV Q=$2.00
3 x $.50/1 Hormel Chili AdPerks/VV Q=$1.50
3 x $.50/1 BC Baking Item AdPerks/VV Q=$1.50
Coupon Total....$19.00

$32.99-$19.00=$13.99
Used $13 +Up Rewards and put $.99 on my Rite-Aid gift card so Zero Out of Pocket.

Received $12 +Up Rewards(4 x $1 Chili, $2 WYB 10 $1 select food items, 2 x $3 Viactic)=$12.
This transaction "cost me" $1 in +Ups.

I transaction I gained an +Up, 1 I lost an +Up so I am even for the day.

THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....2
Total Spent....$1.50  (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$72.34
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$25.00
+Up Rewards spent...$25.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$142.00

 
GRAND TOTALS--January Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......31
Total Spent....$16.87 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1271.35
SCR qualified for....$12.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$40.00

+UPS Totals for Jan. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 1/15.....$142.00
+Up Rewards spent....$337.50
+Up Rewards earned....$356.00
+Up Rewards left....$142.00 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period

Sluggy

Clipping Service Hazards & More Free Stuff from Rite-Aid

First things first.....
I found this stuff still in my car from last Sunday's plundering of Rite-Aids.  #2 son it seems is not very thorough at emptying the car.

I've already added this stuff in my big honking "What I Bought" List and numbers from last Sunday.  I just wanted to get the photo out there too.

Onward to new business......

Because our Coupon Inserts suck here, we didn't get the $6 off 2 McNeil products coupon in last Sunday's paper.
This meant I had to enlist the aid of a Coupon Clipping Service to obtain that coupon.   The geographically closest person on eBay, with the auction ending soonest, to offer this coupon clipped was in Michigan.
I took a gamble that getting those set of coupons would mean they would actually arrive here before the Motrin PM sale ended on Saturday(1/15).
Well the coupons got here in Saturday's mail...yay!
However.......
I went out to use them that day and it ended up being a hop from Rite-Aid to Rite-Aid to collect rainchecks for the Motrin PM.
Sigh......
Seems other people also got those coupons in the mail too.

While I won't be adding to my +Up Rewards count in a raincheck situation, the Motrin PM will be $1 a box and the Precise psuedo Ben-Gay cream will be $2 a tube so I'll be able to get combinations of these products for free with the coupons.  8-)

I did buy a few things in my travels on Saturday while gathering rainchecks.
That's not to say I spent money however. ;-)

No anal breakdowns since these sales are over with now.

More free Barilla Pasta(after +Up Rewards), better than free Special K Cereal(up $2 in +Ups), better than free StayFree(up $2.50 in +Ups), and .19¢ soup, .35¢ rice, .50¢ marshmallows, and $1.89 a bag Fritos after the +Ups earned.
One store had a whole slew of Beauty Tools on 75% clearance so I picked up some righteous tweezers for .62¢ and .69¢ each.


THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....4
Total Spent....$2.32  (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$74.98
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$20.00
+Up Rewards spent...$19.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$142.00

 
GRAND TOTALS--January Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......29
Total Spent....$15.37 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1199.01
SCR qualified for....$12.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$40.00

+UPS Totals for Jan. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 1/13.....$141.00
+Up Rewards spent....$312.50
+Up Rewards earned....$341.00
+Up Rewards left....$142.00 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period

Sluggy