Rite-Aid This Week

I went up to Rite-Aid on Tuesday for this week's moneymakers......

Two identical transactions, one on each Wellness card--

2 x Cover Girl eyebrow pencils BOGO50% sale=$5.98
2 x Cover Girl eye shadow BOGO50% sale=$5.08
SubTotal.....$11.06 + .12¢ tax=$11.18

Coupons Used
1 x $3/1 Cover Girl product IPQ=$3.00
3 x $2/1 Cover Girl product IPQ=$6.00
Coupon Total......$9.00

$11.18-$9.00=$2.18
I paid with Plenti Points and earned back $4.00 in new Plenti Points(2 x $2.00 in PPs wyb 2 Cover Girl), making each transaction a $1.82 "moneymaker".

Rinse and repeat.

Luckily I had 2 prints of the $3/1 Cover Girl IPQ(coupons dotcom)before the site pulled it.  Then they reset that Q to a $2/1 Cover Girl one and I could print 6 more of those(using 3 computers-2 prints per computer).

If I had used both $3/1 Qs in the same transaction my total after sale/Qs would have been under $2 and I wouldn't have been able to use Plenti points on that transaction so this is why I split the Qs up the way I did.

Since I don't use make-up all these items go into/were bought specifically for my giveaway box goodies and will be showing up in some of my upcoming Giveaways.

Just trying to "grow" my Plenti Points in preparation for all those Black Friday R-A Deals where what you spend, you get back in equivalent points(=free stuff!).

What did you find for free/cheap at the drugstores lately?


Sluggy

Going Rogue......Credit Only Baby!

Most people feel that credit cards are evil....or at least can lead you into debt.

They are a tool if used properly but so many either don't know how or won't use it as the tool it was meant to be.
Resulting in many people getting into trouble with the improper use of credit cards.
If you are one of these sort of folks it's best not to even use credit.

With my frugal habits built up over the decades I am at a place were I don't need to put anything on credit....ever!  I only buy things I can afford when I buy them.
The last time I paid credit card interest was 1995(I was pregnant and forgot a deadline.)
The last time I financed a car was 1994(and we paid that one off 3 years early).
The last time I paid mortgage interest was 2007.
This is not to brag(ok, maybe a little lol)but to show that getting debt-free can take time and by golly it takes a LOT of effort!

If you are regularly buying things on credit and can't pay that bill off then maybe you really can't afford to be buying those things, can you?
If you regularly buy things on credit and don't pay off the bill in full each month then you don't own those things, the credit card company does.

It wasn't easy getting to this point of not needing credit.  It meant a lot of sacrificing over the years, giving up wants and just buying the needs.
And putting money away and not spending it.
And with time and regular money saving habits, it meant paying off large debts like cars and even a house and being totally debt-free.

Credit cards are now a convenience for me.
I am in a position that it I need/want to buy something and I don't have enough cash or a check on me, no problem.....I just whip out the vile credit card and purchase.
But I NEVER put a purchase on a credit card that I don't actually have the money for or am not prepared to pay-off before the c/c bill is due.

It's the only way I will use a credit card nowadays....pure convenience.

So since my credit card has a rewards program attached to it why shouldn't I use it for ALL purchases and reap the reward program benefit?
Yes, I am a bit slow sometimes.  ;-)

And that is what I am going to do-start paying every bill I can with my credit card to earn points.
It's a win/win as I never carry a balance and/or pay interest on my card.  Why not earn free rewards for purchases I have to make every month anyway?

I have paid cash for all my food purchases for many years now that it felt funny putting a grocery store purchase on a credit card the other day.

I'll get use to it though.
I know I won't earn that much more in rewards putting food on the c/c as I don't spend a lot on food/toiletries anyway(well, I have been spending much MORE lately since I am feeding 2 more adults)but every little bit counts, right?

I do know already that a few monthly bills I can't put on the credit card as they charge a "fee"(pass on the % the c/c company charges them to take credit payments).
The water and electric company here do this so those will still be paid via another method(check or direct checking account transfer)because having to pay that "fee" is the same as paying interest in my mind.

How about you?

Do you pay cash or put food/toiletries purchases on credit to earn rewards and is it worth it to do so?

Or do you have a credit utilizing problem and end up paying interest on credit card charges when you don't want to?

Do you think it's "worth it" to use credit cards for reward points?


Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

It's the "Nothing Much to Report" Edition.......

This shirt was seen on the way back from the family reunion in a WV Walmart we stopped at to stretch our legs and wander around(and Hubs managed to buy some beer he can't get here).
Cousin Sonya Ann needs this shirt! lolz

I've got nothing else to report in on.  I few trips to R-A/Weis/Target last week and nothing exciting got accomplished here at home.

Moving on......

Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Cheese Steak Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions(requested)

2. Monday--Hamburgers on Rolls, Fried Green Tomatoes, French Fries

3. Tuesday--Leftovers(probably Beef Bourguinon)

4. Wednesday--Chicken & Stuffing Casserole(using leftover stuffing)

5. Thursday--Leftovers(Hubs and are going out/Kids on their own)

6. Friday--Crab Cakes, Cole Slaw, Broccoli

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Cheese Steak Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions(requested)

2. Monday--Hamburgers on Rolls, French Fries

3. Tuesday--Leftovers(Beef Bourguinonover Leftover Rice or Noodles)

4. Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches, Fried Green Tomatoes

5. Thursday--Leftovers(Hubs and are going out/Kids on their own)

6. Friday--Crab Cakes, Cole Slaw, Broccoli

7. Saturday--Chicken Parmesan, Greek Salad

6/7 meals cooked at home, 2 of them a night of leftovers, 1 night Eating Out and 0 night of Take-Out.
Everything but the Chicken/Stuffing Casserole happened as I still haven't gotten a deal on chicken breasts.  I might make a trip to Maine Source this week and see if they have BSCB for a decent price.  I am almost out of onions as well and they have those in large quantities for a good price.(I like to buy onions in 10 lb. bags as that is the quantity I have found that I can use them all up before they go bad.)

As for the grocery spending.....1 trip to Weis and 1 trip to the Shursave grocery store brought my weekly spending to $64.71 and my October food spending Subtotal to $64.71.

Leftovers going into this week........rigatoni in sauce, small container of flavored noodles, cole slaw, 1 crab cake, broccoli, Greek salad.

Here is this week's "food plan".

1. Sunday--Chicken and Dumplings
2. Monday--Sausage Sandwiches w/Onions, Roasted Cauliflower w/Garlic
3. Tuesday--Leftovers(Rigatoni), Veggie TBD
4. Wednesday--Mac & Cheese w/Ham,
5. Thursday--Caesar Salad w/Chicken Strips, Baked Potato
6. Friday--Fend for Yourself/Leftovers
7. Saturday--Fend for Yourself(Out of Town)

This week will see 4 new meals cooked and 0 nights of Take-Out and 3 nights of Leftovers.
I have a whole chicken that needs using and a couple of ham steaks in the freezer I'll cube and put into the mac & cheese.  The chicken strips and Italian sausage patties are already in the freezer too.

What I need to buy for this menu? salad greens, milk, rolls.
I also need to get lunchmeat for the kids and breakfast sandwiches for the BF.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?


Sluggy

More Rite-Aid From Last Week & Stolen Gift Cards

Well you can't replicate these Deals since they ended Saturday evening but here is a second trip/transaction I did at Rite-Aid on Friday.........

I did the M&M's double dip Plenti points again and the Spend $30 Vitamins/Get $10 in Points Deal.

3 x M&M's sale $3=$9.00
5 x assorted Centrum Vitamins sale $6.99=$34.95
2 x Herbal Essence shampoo sale $2.50=$5.00
SubTotal......$48.95

Coupons Used
1 x Spend $20/Get $2 off Transaction Rite-Aid CatalinaQ=$2.00
1 x $1.50/2 M&Ms IPQ=$1.50
5 x $4/1 Centrum vitamins IPQ=$20.00
1 x $4/2 Herbal Essence ManuQ=$4.00
Coupon Total........$27.50

$48.95-$27.50=$21.45 + .05¢ tax=$21.50 OOP

After receiving $16 back in new Plenti Points this transaction would "cost" me $5.50 + $16 in current Plenti Points.
So I wanted to use one of the 2 Rite-Aid gift cards I had bought last year right before Christmas.
Last Holiday Season there was actually a deal one week where buying a R-A branded card got you free Wellness/Plenti points.  They hardly ever offer points when buying R-A cards, just name brand cards for other businesses so I had jumped on this Deal.

My 2 cards were totally unused(by me)until this moment.
So I swipe the first card and the register tells the cashier this gift card has no money on it.
Tried again, same result.
So I swipe the second card and the same result.....no money left on this card.

I am stymied.
The cashier says I'll have to call corporate and find out what is going on.
Ugh!

So a call on Saturday happens.  The CS person runs the card numbers and says these cards were used in full this past March at a store in California.
WTF?!?
She is told we haven't been to California since 1969 and live in Pennsylvania so these charges are fraudulent.
Evidently the card number was stolen and put onto a new fake card where they were used on the left coast.

She continues to say that they had a large batch of R-A gift cards with stolen information last Christmas season.  It looks like it was either an inside job within Rite-Aid(shipping/distribution area before the physical cards were sent to individual stores)or someone got a hold of the information at the facility that manufactured the cards.
Anyway, a new card with both amounts combined is being mailed to me and hopefully this time the card information is secure.

*Rite-Aid has since last year changed their gift cards to include a pin number(under scratch-off material)on the physical card which you need to use the card online and these cards are harder to fake with that feature.

As for my transaction above, I also had a prepaid Visa gift card so I put the $5.50 due on that card and used $16 of my Plenti points to cover that $21.50 in charges.
Getting $16 in new Plenti points meant this transaction cost me $5.50 in gift card coin for 2 bottles of shampoo, 3 bags of candy and 5 containers of vitamins.
Still not a bad deal, right?

Have you ever had gift card information stolen?  Tell us about it.

Sluggy

Target Freebies!

Using some coupons that expire today and Cartwheel discounts that came out on Friday I had Hubs take me to Target this morning.

Here is what I brought home.....

2 x Head & Shoulders shampoo reg. $4.99=$9.98
2 x Bic Silky Touch razor packs reg. $2.97=$5.94
SubTotal.......$15.92

Used Spend $15 bath/body/shave/etc. toiletries Get $5 Target gift card Mobile Q
Used 1 x $4/2 Head & Shoulders ManuQ=$4.00
Used 2 x $2/1 Bic razor ManuQ=$4.00
Apply 30% off Head & Shoulders Cartwheel Discount=$3.00

Total Discounts=$11.00

$15.92-$11.00=$4.08
I used a free Target $5 gift card to pay and it now has .08¢ remaining on that one.
Received a new free Target $5 gift card.

4 free items and this is a .08¢ moneymaker.

I'll tell y'all all about my second Rite-Aid trip tomorrow.  Oh boy, you won't want to miss that! lolz


Sluggy