This is Why You Always Get Rainchecks

I still had Gum Qs expiring today, 12/12/12, so I went up to Rite-Aid.
I also had $3 Conair Vibe Brush/Scunci hair items R-A Q(released thru their FB page-The 12 Deals of Xmas).
You can get 1 Q per account/Wellness card/email addy, so I had 2(1 for me, 1 for BIL).

I bought this.....

1 x Conair Vibe hairbrush W/Gold discount=$2.63
2 x Trident Gum on sale $1.00=$2.00
SubTotal.....$4.63

Coupons Used
1 x $3 Conair Vibe hairbrush R-AQ=$3.00
1 x BOGO Trident gum IPQ=$1.00

$4.63-$4.00=$.63 + $.01=$.64
I put the .64¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.

I paged through the Weekly Sales Flyer again and saw that the flash drives were on sale so I took a stroll over to the "electronic stuff wall".   After seeing signs for stuff % off this week and other stuff giving $5 +Ups when you spent $25.00, I had a crazy idea.
I whipped out my flash drive raincheck I got from the Black Friday sale and then I went about buying more stuff like this......

1 x Hormel Compleats(the hubs likes these for lunches sometimes)on sale=$1.99
4 x Ricola drops on sale 2/$3.00=$6.00
1 x Conair Vibe hairbrush w/Gold discount=$2.63
2 x Pentel Pencils w/Gold discount $3.99=$7.98
2 x Stride gum on sale $1.00=$2.00
2 x Trident gum on sale $1.00=$2.00

2 x SanDisk 8Gb flashdrive reg. $27.99/raincheck price $3.99=$7.98
3 x Magnetix Nail Polish reg. $7.99 clearanced $1.99 ea.=$5.94
SubTotal.....$36.52

Coupons Used
1 x $1/1 Hormel Compleats IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Hormel compleats Load2Card Q=$1.00
1 x $3 Conair Vibe Hairbrush R-AQ=$3.00
1 x BOGO Stride gum IPQ=$1.00
1 x BOGO Trident gum IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$7.00

$36.52-$7.00=$29.52 + .28¢ tax=$29.80

I used $29 in +Ups to pay and put the .80¢ on my gift card.
I got back $24 in +Ups(6 x $1 Ricola, 2 x $4 Pentel, 2 x $5 SanDisk).
And those 3 clearanced nail polishes can be submitted to the SCRebates, so I'll get $6 back for those from Rite-Aid.
Basically, I "spent" $29 and I'll get $30 back(after $6 rebate).
I also have $5.26 tracking toward a $5 +Ups(wyb $10 in Conair/Scuni hair items), so if I buy another $4.76 in items I'll get $5 +Ups, which would make it free.

Those flashdrives are rung into the register first at their regular price and then price adjusted to $3.99, so it must trigger the computer to think I am spending $27.99, thus triggering the $5 +Up Reward.
So I "spent" $3.99 on flash drives and got $5 +Ups back, making them free and giving me a $1.01 profit each....before tax of course.

I had a hunch and it worked out this time.  ;-)
The funny thing is that I also have a line of tracking labeled "$25 Photo Items-$5 +UP and $7.98 spent toward that goal.
$7.98 is what the flashdrives came to, so it looks like this is a Double Dipportunity!  If I found $17.02 more that qualifies, I could get another $5 +Up but I am not even going to try.

There is a Home Improvement Card(it's a Discover Card really)Deal that gives a $10 +Ups back(limit 2 per Wellness card) this week.  I'll probably convert some dollars earmarked for home improvement into a couple of these gift cards/Discover cards and add the +Ups into my stash as a bonus.  I'm loving all the bonus +Ups I can take advantage of this time of year.  It's a way to put some of that spare cash we have sitting around to use.
The local market is doing a gift card Deal too--Buy $100 in any sort of card/denominations and get a $X bonus chit to spend in the grocer's.  I've been buying up gift cards to places we go anyway--Subway, KMart, etc.  Might as well get the Bonus of free groceries if I am going to spend the money at those other businesses anyway, right? ;-)


These trips to Rite-Aid--
OOP....$0.00
Value of items....$118.90
+Ups coming into this trip....$51.00
+Ups used....$29.00
+Ups earned.....$24.00
+Ups at the end.....$46.00

*And here are my MONTHLY TOTALS*
 
GRAND TOTALS FOR DECEMBER so far.......

Out Of Pocket....$0.00  cash
Value of items bought.....$450.12
Savings Rate of  100%
Single Check Rebate due....$8.00
Other Rebates due......$0.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $0.00
Savings Rate.....101.78 %

+Ups at beginning of month...$47.00+
+Ups used....$155.00+
+Ups received...$154.00+
+Ups currently...$46.00+  

Sluggy

What Is That I Smell?

Tuesday was all about stinky stuff for me.
There were deals to be had(or so I thought), so I headed out to do some damage to my wallet.
Ok, not toooo much damage since I was after DEALS and I had my trusty coupons in hand.

First stop--Rite-Aid....of course!
My Rite-Aid store doesn't carry any cheap Calgon items, so I went out in search of them at 2 other stores.
I also had BOGO Stride and Trident gum Qs expiring 12/12 to use....

2 x Calgon bath beads BOGO50%($2.99 reg.)=$4.48
2 x Ricola cough drops 2/$3.00=$3.00
1 x Pentel Pencil Gold discount=$3.99
1 x Almay eye pencil 75% off ($7.49)=$1.87
2 x Trident gum on sale $1.00=$2.00
2 x Stride gum on sale $1.00=$2.00
SubTotal.....$17.34

Coupons Used
2 x $1/1 Calgon product IPQ=$2.00
1 x .75¢/1 Ricola cough drops ManuQ=$.75
1 x BOGO Trident IPQ=$1.00
1 x BOGO Stride IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$4.75

$17.34-$4.75=$12.59 + .05¢tax=$12.64

I used $12+Up Rewards and put the .64¢ on my gift card.
I received back $11+Up Rewards($4 wyb2 Calgon, $4 Pentel, 3 x $1 Ricola). * 2 of the Ricola +Ups printed as "Ricola", 1 printed as "Halls/Ricola", so I think the last one is the weekly Deal +Ups($1 wyb2)so these others must be a hidden or monthly Deal on just Ricola?
At any rate, with $3 in +Ups printing, the Ricola drops are free after +Ups!

I can also submit for a $2 Almay SCRebate for the eye pencil that I "spent" $1.87 on.

So I used $12 in +Ups and I got back $11 +Ups and $2 cash.

I also had some more $2/1 Dana fragrances IPQs to use(mine expire on 12/12)but neither this store of the next store had ANY of the $2.99 size bottles.


Here's the only thing I could scare up at the other Rite-Aid......

2 x Speed Stick Deodorant on sale $2.99=$5.98
1 x Cella cherry w/Gold discount=$.26
SubTotal...$6.24 + $.02 tax=$6.26

I used No coupons....ok, don't faint!lol

I paid with $6 in +Up Rewards and put the .26¢ on my gift card.
I received back $4 in +Up Rewards(2 x $2 Speed Stick).
Not free but .99¢ each after +Ups and it's the kind Hubs likes.

Then I hit the Dollar General Store because I had these....

 A DG $2 off Axe Gift Set Q and a $3.75/1 Axe Gift Set ManuQ to stack.

1 x Axe Gift Set=$10.00
2 x Stride gum on sale .90¢=$1.80
1 x Birthday card(Daughter turns 20 tomorrow)=$1.00 *I sprung for the expensive card! ;-)
SubTotal...$12.80

Coupons Used
1 x Dollar General Q $2/1 Axe Gift Set=$2.00
1 x $3.75/1 Axe Gift Set ManuQ=$3.75
1 x BOGO Stride gum IPQ=$.90
Coupon Total.....$6.65

$12.80-$6.65=$6.15 + .31¢tax=$6.48 OOP

Then I hit KMart.  Have I mentioned that both my sons are crazy for this Axe stuff?
Here is the ad that got me into the store....

Use your Shop Your Way Rewards Card and Spend $20 on Axe products, get a $6 Catalina(technically it's not a Catalina since it prints from the register tape thingy but it spends like a Cat).
I also saw this in the ad....

 Axe Gift Sets that "looked like" they were priced at $10.  So 2 Gift Sets, 2 $3.75 Qs and I'd get a $6 Cat, so $6.50 after Qs and Cat for 2 sets.
Nice, right?

Well if you could read the fine print, the Axe sets were NOT $10.
They were....ready for this?.....$9.99.
Making me 2 CENTS short of getting the $6 Cat.
Making me have to buy another Axe item.
And did I buy the Shower Gel that was on sale for $3.99?
No!
I bought a full priced body spray.
Ugh.
But it's a body spray #2 likes and I can't find.  And it's Christmas so I'll spring the extra buck(diff. between price of shower gel and body spray)and not complain too much .

2 x Axe Gift Sets on sale $9.99=$19.98
1 x Axe body spray=$4.99
SubTotal....$24.97

Coupons Used
2 x $3.75/1 Axe gift set ManuQ=$7.50
1 x $1/1 Axe item ManuQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$8.50

$24.97-$8.50=$16.47 + $1.50 tax=$17.97
I used a KMart merchandise return card(I found it laying on the ground a few weeks ago in a parking lot)that had $3.95 credit on it.
$17.97-$3.95=$14.02
I received a $6 Catalina for spending $20 or more on Axe items in 1 transaction.
Goodness!....$1.50 in tax??!  I am getting spoiled at Rite-Aid using +Ups to pay and paying tax only on the little OOP I put on my gift card there.

After Qs, Kmart credit and Cat, I spent $8.02 on these 2 sets and body spray.


All in all, not a bad shopping day.
I got everything pictured above and I'm out of pocket after Qs, Cat, $2 SCR and tax.....$12.50

Lots of stuff to either make you stinky or take away the stinky & More!


Here are the Rite-Aid Numbers.....

These trips--
OOP....$0.00
Value of items....$36.91
+Ups coming into this trip....$54.00
+Ups used....$18.00
+Ups earned.....$15.00
+Ups at the end.....$51.00

*And here are my MONTHLY TOTALS*
 
GRAND TOTALS FOR DECEMBER so far.......

Out Of Pocket....$0.00  cash
Value of items bought.....$331.22
Savings Rate of  100%
Single Check Rebate due....$2.00
Other Rebates due......$0.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $0.00
Savings Rate.....100.40 %

+Ups at beginning of month...$47.00+
+Ups used....$126.00+
+Ups received...$130.00+
+Ups currently...$51.00+  

What kind of deals have you gotten this week?
Anything good!?!?

Sluggy

Can You Say Peterson Brothers?

This just in.......


Gangnam Style has hit the Midwest!

More of those wacky Peterson Farm Brothers here.....




Now I ask you.....what is sexier than a young working man in a big green machine?


Sluggy

Food Spending DECEMBER Week 1, Meal Planning Week 2

This nifty little gadget gives a whole new meaning to the term "Guitar Shredding".

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And here is what actually got served last week.... 

Sunday--Everyone was sick but Hubs, he had soup and sammie

Monday--Lasagna Casserole, Salad

Tuesday--Chicken and Gravy over Fried Stuffing, Cali blend Veggies

Wednesday--Leftovers

Thursday--Tuna Sub Sandwiches

Friday--Going Out for Dinner....woohoo!

Saturday--Breakfast for Dinner

Yes, we pretty much ate every meal I planned(except for the Rigatoni which moves to this week's plan) but we may not have had them on the designated day above.

The food spending last week was massive.  $110.48 in 3 trips to the local grocery stores and throw in that stock-up trip to Ollie's for olive oil and other sundries at $54.90 and I blew through $165.38 of the month's food budget. 

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Going into this week, I have leftover Lasagna Casserole to use up.  I'll take care of that for lunch one day.

This week's menu....

Sunday--Rigatoni w/Meat Sauce, Salad

Monday--Chicken Parmesan, Mashed Potatoes, Beets

Tuesday--Halushki and/or Leftovers

Wednesday--Salmon, Coleslaw, Green Beans

Thursday--Hot Dogs, Beans, Potato Salad

Friday--Beef Pie with carrots, green beans and cornbread

Saturday--Leftovers or Breakfast for Dinner

Last week was crazy here because of the school musical and Daughter finishing her college classes.

This week will be crazy here because of rehearsals for jazz and concert bands, music lesson, college finals and my own personal eBay Hell.  The evening schedules aren't conducive to having everyone sitting at the dinner table at the same time.  I've planned accordingly by having 3 casserole type meals that can be eaten whenever, 2 meals that can be made quickly by whomever is hungry.  The salmon night will be whichever night we can get everyone to eat together since reheating fish isn't how you want to eat it. 

I'll be glad when all this extra busyness is done and we can go back to the normal level of insanity in our home. ;-)

What I need to buy for this menu?

Cabbage, Potatoes, Carrots(I think?).  Everything else is on hand.

A quick glance at the ads and there isn't much I want this week other than what is needed for the menu.  Daughter will be spending about $15 on lunch items to take to work.  I hope to get by this week spending $30 or less.

What are your menu plans for this week?

Sluggy

It's a Shining Miracle!

I'm a night late but I want to give a shout out to my Friends who are MOT and celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah.
It's a great holiday.....all about the underdog defeating the mighty, freedom from tyranny, and celebrating your culture, your religion and a miracle.
Even if you aren't Jewish, there are lessons to take away from this celebration of the Festival of Lights.
And the food!......Paula Deen has nothing on the deep fried latkes and doughnuts and chocolate gelt that are part of the celebration.

What's not to like?!?

So on this the 2nd night of Hanukkah, I wish you freedom, may your oil supply never run dry and may your latkes be the fluffiest....except for those nice crispy edges....Mmmmmm

Chag Sameach y'all!

Sluggy