I did a little Rite-Aid shopping this week...this was 3 separate transactions on 2 different card....
4 x Daylogic razors on sale $5=$20(2 x bought on 2 diff. cards)
2 x CG eye shadow on sale BOGO50%=$9.43
1 x CG eyebrow pencils 20% Wellness disc.(since I didn't buy 2 items)=$3.83
SubTotal......$33.26
Coupons Used
1 x $3/2 CG items CatalinaQ=$3.00
1 x $2/1 CG item IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total.....$5.00
$33.26-$5=$28.26 + .60¢ tax=$28.86 paid for with Bonus Cash
I earned back $25 in new BC(4 x $5 razors, $5 wys $10 CG). Depending on your states sales tax(if there is any)the razors are free or almost.
I went back on Friday to pick up Daughter's Rx and bought this lot......I had $3.26 tracking toward another CG BC Deal......
1 x CoverGirl lip pencil clearance=$2.07
1 x CG face powder clearance=$2.62
2 x CG lipstick clearance=$4.38
SubTotal.......$9.07
Coupons Used
2 x CG $3/2 CatalinaQ=$6.00
$9.07-$6.00=$3.07+.20¢ tax=$3.27 paid with Bonus Cash.
I earned back $5 Bonus Cash as I hit $10 spent on CG($9.07+$3.26 tracking from before).
Supposedly the clearance Cover Girl isn't included in the Spend $10/Get $5 Deal.....but it was!
I bought 2 items separately to make sure they would qualify and then bought the other two when they did.
And 3 more $3/2 CG Catalinas came out of the machine(1 Cat on the first transaction and 2 Cats on the second transaction). And FINALLY the new computer scanner got fixed a couple of days ago they said at my store so that these CatalinaQs didn't beep!! Didn't matter what CG product you bought, these Cats would beep.....
$32.13 spent in BC for all this together, $30 in new BC earned back so it all "cost" me $2.13 in BC.
Let's see what frugal wins we had this past week at Chez Sluggy......
* Hubs went to Weis last Friday and picked up the Friday Freebie as it was something we can use.......
Free Hot Sauce. That bottle won't last long in this house. lolz
* Since Hubs out patient surgery was delayed 1.5 hours on Wednesday they gave me 2 x $8 vouchers that can be used in the hospital cafeteria and/or the gift shop. I used one to get a free lunch while Hubs got cut up. lolz
Then I found a Vera Bradley wallet on 75% clearance while browsing the gift shop.....
After 75% off it was $14.31 w/tax.
I used the second $8 voucher on this purchase so I spent $6.31 OOP for this! This will be sold or given as a Xmas gift so either way it's put into the WIN column. 8-)
* I also scored something else at Weis for the Xmas box AND something for the pantry stockpile......
2 x 12 packs of K-cups. The French Vanilla is discontinued at my store so was marked $3.29(reg. $6.29) and I had 2 x $1.50/1 Qs for this brand so they cost me $1.79 per box. I know a few folks on my Xmas list who would love these(ssshhhh, don't tell!). ;-)
And I had 7 Ragu Qs expiring on Thursday for .75¢/2 jars of sauce that doubled to $1.50/2 jars. Ragu went on sale starting on Thursday at Weis so I stocked the pantry with ready made sauce for $12.84 for 14 jars after sale/Qs so .92¢ a jar. I usually make my own sauce but sometimes you need ready made and I can't make sauce for that price anyway. ;-)
* I also got almost free razors this week at Rite-Aid.......
$5 each and gave back $5 in Bonus Cash so the tax spent down my BC on this by .60¢ for 4 razors.
* I made $1.50 on Ibotta and .75¢ on SavingStar cash back last week.
* While at Weis(PMITA)Markets the cashier shorted me on one of my Ragu coupons. Weis policy is double fully any Q up to .99¢/4 like Qs per order(unless it states on the Q not to double it). I had 7 Qs so I purposely went through the register twice so I could double all 7 of these Qs.
A couple of the Qs didn't scan for some reason(they were valid and I had bought the proper products to use them on)so she had to manually put the Qs through. They were for the same amount/same products but she didn't double the second Q. She was too busy wanting to chat to pay attention to what she was doing.
I thought about just letting it go and not making a fuss but then I thought, "Damn it! It's MY money and I should fight for it back!" I know it was only .75¢ but over time if they keep shorting me that adds up and it could pay a bill or something. If I got shorted this amount every month, that's $9 a year, every week, that's $39 in a year. That's REAL $$!
I was in the right so I went to the Customer Service desk and got my .75¢ back. It only took a minute out of my day. You can imagine how many customers don't try to right this sort of wrong and let it go.....it's just like rolling down your car window and throwing money out the window.
Now imagine how many more folks don't even pay attention and know that the store cheated them!
Any time you are out in the marketplace and are spending your hard earned $, Pay. Attention!!!
Sorry I've been MIA mostly this week.
I spent yesterday walking around the hospital downtown while Hubs had out-patient surgery.
He had a growth on his neck removed which I've been nagging him for YEARS to get looked at.
And I also got to use my Arnold Schwarzenegger voice.....
I sat out in the waiting room for an hour before they let me go back and sit with Hubs while he waited to be wheeled into the OR.
And we sat.
and sat.
and sat some more.
An hour and a half after he was suppose to be operated on one of the staff came in and apologized for the long wait and gave me 2 vouchers good for $8 in the cafeteria and/or the gift shop. Since Hubs was about to be cut open and wasn't going to be able to eat I took both vouchers and at 11 am they finally wheeled him off.
We'd been there since 7ish am so I wandered off to find the cafeteria. I ended up at the end of a hallway at one point(the signage was almost none existent sometimes). This hospital was bought by the big corporation healthcare system around these parts and this building is old and has been renovated/added onto haphazardly(like most every other building downtown here)over the decades.
Hallways end abruptly and elevators open in the front or the back and some elevators only go to certain floors such that it seems like Daaedalus' mythological labyrinth at times....I felt I was going to find the Minotaur around a corner at one point! lol
Finally arrived at the "Southside Cafe" at 10 minutes of 11 am to find it closes between breakfast and lunch time and reopens at 11. sigh
So I parked myself in the vending area which was open and read some of my book. After the "Cafe" opened I went in and grabbed a tray and tried to find something to eat for $8. Of course the place wasn't laid out in any kind of methodical, logical way and no cafeteria employees were anywhere to be found.
I stood there with a tray and was awash with hospital employees flooding past me to grab food/drinks and queuing up at the register to pay and beat it back to their departments. I walked around and found their offerings(no listings of what they serve/specials anywhere in one place). The only sandwich(anything on bread)you could get was an Italian Hoagie which didn't sound good to me. They did have a tuna salad served in a wedged tomato(came with a pickle wedge)so I got that along with a bag of multi-grain "chips"(some sort of healthy chip in a bag product). The only drink products were bottles of diet soda(nothing regular), diet or unsweetened tea, water and diet Powerade.
My lunch came to $8.01 but they didn't make me give them one penny that it was over the voucher.
You could get hot coffee or tea but there were no sugar packets in the place. There was also no ketchup in the joint(even though among the daily hot meal offerings was french fries?). Evidently as I sat and read the signage in the dining area they only offer low/no-sugar/diet items so I guess ketchup is a no-go here. lolz
I haven't had the opportunity/displeasure of eating in a hospital cafeteria in many, many years so I don't know if this is the current trend in hospitals or just our corporate comglomerate healthcare system's idea.
So having kept down lunch(lolz)I started wandering back to the other end of the hospital where the surgery suite waiting room was located. I got lucky and didn't end up down any dead ended hallways this time. Go me!
I passed by the gift shop and thought, "What the hell! I've got time to kill so why not wandering around in there and spend the other $8 voucher." so I went inside. Everything was overpriced and/or meaningless tchotchkes nobody needed so I figured I'd get $8 worth of cold drinks to take home for later.
Then I rounded a corner and spied a 75% clearance sign on a basket of Vera Bradley items.
EEK!
I scored a brand new tagged $54 VB wallet.
Came to $14.31 after 75% off.
After applying the $8 voucher I paid $6.31..........
Now I love me some Vera Bradley but I don't need another wallet so this baby will either go into my Xmas gifting box for a few months or may go up on eBay where I can get $25-$30 easily for it. 8-)))
I made it back to the waiting room avoiding the Minotaur with my VB prize intact just in time to see "The View" was signing off for the day on the tv there. I timed that excursion into the bowels of the hospital labyrinth well to avoid Whoopee and her gang. lolz
And the surgery board said that Hubs was still in the OR so I pulled out my book and read for about a half hour before the surgeon snuck up behind me and grabbed my shoulder and I about shit my pants he scared me so badly.
What medical school do they teach that technique in??!
Geez.....
So he had me go into a room so he could tell me how it all went(which was fine and you don't need nor want all the gory details I was made privy to).
The nurses called me back about 30 minutes later after Hubs was coherent and able to talk.
We sat until he didn't feel woozy anymore and he drank something and they began unhooking him from the IV setup and going over the discharge stuff.
We got him dressed while I told about my journey into the center of the beast/building and pretty soon he was raring to go........
As soon as they found a wheelchair to wheel him out to the car since he was still unsteady on his feet and I just knew I'd be under the hospital in the dark parking lot alone trying to pick him up off the ground if he tried to walk out of there and passed out.
Got the patient home about 2 pm., put the dogs out, made Hubs some coffee and toast, ran up to Rite-Aid for his 4 Rxs, got him medicated and up to bed for a nap and then I sat and put my feet up for awhile. I did no cooking last night(it was bad enough I had to do the dishes!)and ordered Chinese take-out and Ex-College Boy picked it up after he got home from work.
Hub is fine and home and on the mend(as long as I don't end up killing him because he is stubborn as HELL!)
Case in point, they had to intubate him for this operation so his windpipe is sore and swallowing food is rough. He decided he needed a spicy food with big chunks of meat in it for his Chinese take-out even though I told him he probably wanted to get soup or something like it.
I think he ate two bites and decided this dinner wasn't happening and he had applesauce and ice cream later. lolz
Sitting in a hospital waiting for half the day is exhausting......who knew! 8-)
Since I still have so many items left after Gerry filled her giveaway box I've decided to pick another winner to fill a box in May!
Yes, a Surprise Giveaway!!!
So if you entered the Giveaway and your entry was valid you are also eligible to win this giveaway.
Here is the photo of goodies you can pick from to fill your box..........I might also be persuaded to add an item or two besides what is pictured if you know you want something and I have it. ;-)
110 valid entries left and Random.org picked this one to win.......
My granddaughter loves hairbrushes, she is 2 and love to brush hair.
Mary G.
g.mariellen@gmail.com
Congratulations to Mary G!
Please email me Mary from the email you supplied on your entry within 48 hours of this post going live. My email is arcure(at)ptdprolog(dot)net. I need your complete name and mailing address and in order of preference which items you want in your box. (I bet that hairbrush in #1 on your list. lolz)
Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MAY 2018.
I have posted May's totals on the Total Grocery Savings Page located HERE and have updated the Totals there.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in May. If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Sum. My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3-5(4 at home this month). No "kids" under 22.
*****************
BREAD OUTLET
OOP $18.50
Value $59.66
Savings 69%
DOLLAR GENERAL
OOP $40.12
Value $67.87
Savings 40.89%
DOLLAR TREE
OOP $16.00
Value $31.66
Savings 49.46%
MAINE SOURCE
OOP $46.47
Value $74.66
Savings 37.76%
OLLIE'S
OOP $28.62
Value $68.88
Savings 58.45%
RITE-AID
OOP $0.00
Qs/Ads/PP/BC $815.68
Value $815.68
Savings 100%
SHURSAVE
OOP $28.06
Qs/Ads $26.42
Value $54.48
Savings 48.49%
WEIS MARKETS
OOP $253.45
Qs/Ads $168.33
Value $421.78
Savings 39.91%
*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 69% and Ollie's at 58.45%. My worst savings rate was from Maine Source at 37.76%.
I shopped at 8 different stores this past month.
TOTAL Out of Pocket for May..........$596.99
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales...$544.92
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.........$1,141.91
TOTAL Savings of ................................47.72% TOTAL Out of Pocket for May.....$596.99
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$1957.59
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales.........$1360.60
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items........69.50%
This closes out the May food/toiletries spending.
THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
May was a frugal challenge here. Between good stock up deals, company coming and Daughter's "diet" my food budget got sunk. I was $196.99 over what I like to spend per month.
On a whim I bought 11 lbs. of T-Bone steaks at half price to put into the freezer so that when we get a hankering for a good hunk of beef this Summer we have it to throw onto the grill. The steak alone was $44.54 of that overage I spent. 8-(
But not to worry, we have the cash to pay for it all so I'll just dust myself off and begin anew in June to stay below $400 per month on food spending.
And after all, I am feeding 4 adults on that amount which even in a good month is a challenge. 8-)))
The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 5.42% in May 2018 to 69.50% compared to April's 74.92% savings average.
The free stuff from Rite-Aid skewers my averages but without R-A I am at 47.72% savings. So even without R-A we are doing well on the "savings" front.
With 5 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $2219.41 on food/toiletries in 2018 which is a 74.38% savings rate for the year so far and averages out to $443.88 spent per month in 2018. We were almost at $400 per month average spending last month but my overshooting the food budget in May blew that goal up for now. lolz
LOOKING AHEAD To June.......
Keeping with that $400 food budget for June. If I can stay under $400, more's the better.
If you have other ideas or guidelines you follow please leave a comment and share yours with us all.
* How much did you spend on food/toiletries in May?
* Do you track your yearly food spending?
* What was your savings percentage buying on sale and/or with coupons vs. buying at regular retail price last month, if you track that sort of thing?
* What are your methods for keeping your food spending in check?
Is anyone out there up for tracking expenditures and trying to spend less but still eat well?