It's Time for Sluggy's Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway!

Ok Peoples!!!
Par-tay Time!

In honor of my birthday I am holding a Giveaway.
It's modeled on my Boring Blog Box Giveaways of last year.  You can go HERE and see what the Boring Blog Box Giveaway was all about in 2010 if you weren't around then.

We start with a box......

As for what will go into the box as prizes, I am going to let everyone who wants to win decide that.

I will post 3 items.  You dear readers get to vote on which 1 of those 3 items you would like to see in the box.  You will have 3 days to leave a comment on that post.  That vote/comment is your entry into the drawing for the box.

When the 3 days are up, that post will be closed and I'll put a new post up with 3 more items.  Again, you will leave a comment on that post which item you want me to put into the box.

We will continue like this until there is no more room for anything else in the box.
Then I'll close the Giveaway, gather all the entries and randomly pick a winner, who will receive the box of Goodies.

But Wait!
There's an extra Bonus Prize!!!
Since we try to be Frugal here, all my prizes have either been freebies or almost freebies I've gathered in my travels, just like last year.

But I wanted to include an extra special prize that was highly coveted but still cost me nothing.
I have a credit card account where I earn points and can turn them in for FREE GIFT CARDS.
So the winner of the Boring Blog Box will ALSO get to pick a $25 Gift Card to the store/restaurant of their choice from this List.....

*American Eagle Outfitters
*Banana Republic
*Barnes & Noble
*Bath and Body Works
*Bed Bath & Beyond
*Best Buy
*Bloomingdales
*Cabela's
*CVS
*Dillard's
*Fandango (movie chain)
*Foot Locker
*Gap
*Home Goods
*iTunes
*JCPenney
*Kohl's
*LL Bean
*Land's End
*Lowe's
*Macaroni Grill
*Macy's
*Marshall's
*Old Navy
*Olive Garden
*Pottery Barn
*Red Lobster
*Red Robin
*Royal Entertainment Group(movie chain)
*Sears
*Staples
*Starbucks
*Sunoco Gas Station
*TGI Friday's
*TJ Maxx
*The Home Depot
*Walmart
*William-Sonoma

Since I have to wait until the winner picks their gift card, there will be about 2 weeks until I get the card and can mail the prizes out, so the winner will need to have a bit of patience. ;-)

The Rules
1. You must be a "Follower" of my blog to enter and still be a Follower if/when you win.  Lookie on the right sidebar and press the big ol' FOLLOW button if you are not already a follower.
2.  Sorry but this Giveaway is open ONLY to those with a mailing address within the USA.  Hate to have to do that but the postal rates outside the country are KILLER.
3. 1 vote/entry per post with 1 exemption.  You can leave more than 1 comment per post but only your 1st vote/comment will count.

The 1 Exemption....You can earn EXTRA ENTRIES this way....
*If you get someone to become a Follower and enter this giveaway you can earn an Extra Entry for each person you bring on board.  You can blog about the giveaway or email people or post about it on a message board or call your neighbor on the phone....whatever way you want to recruit them, I don't care.  Just make sure that they mention in their vote/comment/entry that You(your name here)told them about the blog/giveaway and you get an extra entry that post.


As always, this is not a company sponsored or company supplied Giveaway.  Any costs associated with this Giveaway are coming out of my pocket because I'm just that kinda gal.  Please patronize our blog ads....I'm just sayin'.... ;-)



Here are your 3 items to choose from today....

1. Sarah Michaels Rose Scented Gift Set
2. Avon Naturals Vanilla Shower Gel
3. Tone Cocoa Butter Soap 2 pack


Just leave a comment on this post with your choice of #1, 2 or 3.
Additional praise for me on the anniversary of my birth is welcomed but won't earn you any Brownie points for the Giveaway. ;-)

Sluggy

Using Every Opportunity to Save on Groceries...

I had a bunch of errands to run on Thursday since we were suppose to get a snowstorm today.

I had 2 Wags RRs to spend, amounting to $3 from the Finish dishwashing tabs I bought 2 weeks ago. At first I thought I'd roll them into more RRs but there was nothing I really needed that was generating RRs this week and the thought of staying on the Wags RR merry-go-round was NOT appealing. Especially since I am on the Rite-Aid +Up merry-go-round and can't seem to get off of that one!lol

No photo but I picked up 2 liquid soaps and a jar of olives. I needed .03¢ more to get to $3 and I found 2 jars of Fluff on the clearance endcap at .39¢ each. With the tax my OOP came to .87¢.
I feel better having picked up some items I can use rather than rolling RRs and spending a bit OOP on stuff I don't really need.

We also received 2 coupon triplers on the Price Chopper weekly flyer this week and it is right over by Wags, so I stopped by to see what I could find.  I don't usually shop there but if there is a Catalina Deal or something great to cherry pick, I will head over to take advantage. 

You can only use the triplers on insert(glossy manuQs) or teapad type coupons(no internet printed qs)so I was limited in what I could find that was cheap or free.
I ended up getting the 2 bars of Helavu Good cheese....on sale $2 each and I had a $1/2 ManuQ which tripled to $3/2, so each bar cost me .50¢.
I also got the French's fried onions....my $1/1 ManuQ tripled so the $3.59 can cost me .59¢ in the end.

The egg nog was store discounted from $3.19 to $1.19(I picked those up for the teens as a treat), and the Smart Balance sour cream was store discounted from $1.55 to $.55 each.
There was also a flyer coupon for $2 off bags of Weaver chicken parts(limit 4)which were already marked down to $5, so those were $3 each.  Breaded chicken are a mainstay of #2 son's diet, right behind Taco Bell and Ramen Noodles. For fun I attempt to poison him with veggies any chance I get....

In the end I spent $17.03 at Price Chopper. Regular retail was $38.45, so I saved $21.42 or 55.70%.
The chicken is always needed, as is any kind/type/form of cheese in this house!  The fried onion thingies I like to have on hand in the stockpile and I was out.  The egg nog was a cheap treat as mentioned before.  The sour cream is reduced fat type.  While I am not a big fan of the mouth feel or flavor of reduced fat type, it will be fine incorporated into dishes.

This seems to be the way I shop lately....a little bit picked up here, a little bit picked up there.   Gleaning the good deals wherever I can find them.  Gone are the days of going to one grocery store, once a week, every week and spending $100-$150 a pop.  I scoop up a few items at a time on my travels around town.  While it does take more time shopping this way, time is something I have. ;-)

What about you?
Do you cherry pick the sales and go to more than one store a week?
What is your average weekly count of trips to the stores?

Sluggy

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