Hitting the Discount Stores This Week + Rite-Aid

First off here is what I spent my $5 in ECBs at CVS on the day they expired, July 12th.........

I didn't want to generate more ECBs with my purchase so I bought something I could use for the puppies.  2 packs of dog bone treats to keep them busy.  I paid $1.06 OOP for these after using the ECBs.
Now I am off the CVS merry-go-round, thankfully.  It's just too much work trying to stay on top of ECBs and BC as well.  I'll stick to Rite-Aid for now. ;-)

So here's where I went this week to cherry pick some deals.......

Went to P and R Discounters(a salvage/discontinued item store)and got--

* 2 x BC pie crust mix boxes for .99¢ ea.
* 2 x Smash Mallow gourmet marshmallow bags for .59¢ ea.
* 1 x Ocean's Halo Stir-Fry sauce for .79¢
* 1 x Ocean's Halo Soy-Free Soy Sauce for .79¢
* 1 x Seeds of Change Sesame Ginger Asian sauce for .99¢
* 2 x Mi-Del Ginger Snap Pie Crust for .79¢ ea.
* 2 x Bell's Stuffing Mix for .89¢ ea.
* 2 x Essential Everyday Spaghetti for .59¢ ea.
* 1 x Boudin Sourdough Pita Crisps for .99¢
* 1 x Velveeta log for $3.49(for Ex-CB)
* 2 x Folger's Coffee Singles(19 in box)for .99¢ ea.(for Hubs)
* 2 x Goya 28 oz Tomato Paste for $1.29 ea.(HUGH CANS!)

* 4 x Stop and Shop Mozzrella 1 lb. for $1.99 ea.
* 3.66 lbs. of BSCB for $1.29 lb.!
*1 case(12 boxes)of Hamburger Helper Lasagna flavor for $1.99 total.

Total out the door was $33.98.

Now I know I'll catch shit for buying a CASE of Hamburger Helper but.....
1-It's a flavor we like now and again and everyone here will eat it.
2-It's something Hubs can prepare if I am not well.
3-With 1 and 2 above, it was also .0825¢ a box!
Bonus-each box has Box Tops for Education I can sell on eBay.
sweet. 8-)

Then I hit the produce market(Hubs calls it Macarena because he can't remember the name!lol It's Malacari's)......

* 5 lb. Russett Potatoes for $2.49
* 1 x cuke for .50¢
* 2.22 lb.s cherries for $1.99 lb.
* 1 x Red Pepper Cream Cheese spread for $2.99
* 1 lb. pack of Snow Peas for $1.84
* 1 pack of Hatfield hot dogs for .99¢
* 3 x lemons for .99¢
* 1.06 lb. chicken deli meat($6.99 lb.)
* .58 lb. roast beef deli meat($4.99 lb.)
* 1 gallon of Whole Milk *not pictured*
If I can't get to the farm stand or over to the Restaurant Supply this is the best priced produce and deli meat in town.

Total out that door was $27.14.

Lastly I hit the Bread Outlet........

* 2 x Arnold's Oatmeal Bread  $1.33 ea.
* 1 x Thomas' English Muffins  $1.33 ea.
* 1 x 16 pack of hot dog rolls .89¢
* 2 x Entenmann's cinnamon doughnuts $1.50 ea.

Total out the bread store door was $7.89.

I hit Weis on Tuesday.........

I did the Mix and Match/Buy 6 Items, Get $3 Off--
4 x Birdseye veggies
2 x Tums antacid
Total was $18-$3=$15-.25¢ WeisQ for 1 Birdseye pack and 2 x $1.50 Tums Qs doubled=$11.75 for all 6 items.
The can of tomato soup was .75¢ after another WeisQ.
I found these Shrimp Cup O' Noodles on clearance for .50¢ ea. and picked them up for Ex-CB.
The trash bags and bleach were part of a "Spend $20(based on shelf price)/Get $7 off Instantly.  I also have 2 x $2.50/1 Glad trash bag IPQs so OOP for those 3 items after sale prices/Qs/$7 instant off was $6.98 total.

The soup mixes were also 50% on clearance($1.32 each)so I got Hubs the Sicilian Lentil one and 2 x Mushroom mix for myself.
I got a $3 meat stickered pack of ground beef(1.33 lbs.)plus used a .50¢ WeisQ along with 2 heads of lettuce and used another .25¢ WeisQ.
A lemon meringue pie($1 off so $6), a $2 pack of cherry turnovers(50% off)and a $1 pack of muffins(50% off + used a $1 WeisQ)brought the grand total at Weis(PMITA)Markets to $41.04.
Total spent this week was $110.04 so I am still under budget for July with $15.92 to spare.

Not bad considering I got some awesome deals, bought a LOT of bread products and some deli meats and last week was an overspending disaster since I had to send Hubs to the grocery store for me on more than one occasion.  And we hosted a cook-out for 7 people last week.

Then I hit Rite-Aid also on Tuesday........

I did this on my card--
2 x Gillette shave cream BOGO50%=$5.43
3 x Colgate toothpaste on sale $3.50=$10.50
1 x Biore face product 20% Wellness Disc=$6.63
1 x Jergens lotion 20% Wellness Disc.=$6.63
SubTotal..........$29.19

Coupons Used
1 x $5/2 Gillette shave cream L2CQ=$5.00
1 x $5/3 Colgate products L2CQ=$5.00
3 x $3/1 Colgate In-AdQ=$9.00
1 x $2.50/1 Biore ManuQ=$2.50
1 x $2.50/1 Jergens ManuQ=$2.50
Coupon Total.........$24.00

$29.19-$24.00=$5.19+.53¢ tax=$5.72 paid for with BC.
I earned $4 in new BC(wyb2 Biore/Jergens/Curel)so I spent down my Bonus Cash by $1.72.

I needed to buy stuff to cover the $3.50 overage on the 3 tubes of toothpaste.  The shave cream "cost" .43 for 2 after the Q and I had high value Biore and Jergens Qs and those gave back $4 in Bonus Cash so I went with that scenario.

Then I also had the $5/2 Gillette L2CQ on my daughter's card so I bought those again..........

Used .46¢ in BC(w/.03¢ tax)to pay.

Then on my son's card I had both a $5/3 Colgate L2CQ and a $4/2 Colgate L2CQ(which would give me $6.50 in overage)so I did this deal...........

2 x Gillette shave cream BOGO50%=$5.43
3 x Colgate toothpaste on sale $3.50=$10.50
2 x Colgate toothpaste on sale $3.50=$7.00
6 x Nabisco cookies on sale 2/$6=$18.00
SubTotal........$40.93

Coupons Used
1 x $5/2 Gillette shave cream L2CQ=$5.00
1 x $5/3 Colgate toothpaste L2CQ=$5.00
1 x $4/2 Colgate toothpaste L2CQ=$4.00
5 x $3/1 Colgate In-AdQ=$15.00
2 x $1/3 Nabisco items ManuQ=$2.00
Coupon Total......$31.00

$40.93-$31.00=$9.93+.02¢tax=$9.95 using BC.
I earned back $1 in new BC(wyb2 Oreos).  I would have bought 6 x Oreos and gotten $3 in new BC but my store was cleaned out of Oreos except for the 3 I got so I had to sub Chips Ahoy!(which Ex-CB will readily eat-if they aren't gone yet....I haven't looked. lolz).
While I was too late to act on the Nabisco Checkout51 rebates I did get 2 x $1 SavingStar Nabisco rebates already so after rebates/BC earned I "spent down" $6.95 in BC for that transaction.

A tip on the Gillette shave cream--buying the $2.99 price point ones wasn't triggering the $5/2 L2CQ to come off so you need to make sure your 2 cans total at LEAST $5.00.  That is why I bought the slightly higher priced cans.  BUT online the $5/2 L2CQ is showing as valid on the $2.99 price point cans so if you want to get the cheaper ones and then call Customer Service and argue with them, be my guest.....otherwise just get the higher priced cans to begin with.
Also the $5/3 Colgate and the $4/2 Colgate L2CQs work on DIFFERENT types of toothpaste.  What I have pictured are the kinds that work...Totalsf Deep Clean and Totalsf Advanced + Whitening  gel work w/the $5/3L2CQ and Totalsf Advanced Whitening paste works w/the $4/2 L2CQ.

I am pooped with all the shopping this week.
Did any of y'all find some deals this week?

Sluggy

Frugal Friday on Tuesday....A Couple of Weeks Worth

Well I've been in the weeds as they say in the restaurant biz and need to "put out" as Ur-Spo's Board of Director's would comment.

As I didn't get around to Frugal Friday the last two weeks here's what happened that may pass for frugal during that time period..........

*  I found money!

.11¢ In the Shursave Market checkout when I went to buy .99¢ a lb. peaches.

And .10¢ when we took eldest son and his GF to the amusement park last Thursday.  I found this dime in the log flume we were assigned right next to my leg and you know darn well I picked that up! lol

*  I got free dental stuff that first week at Rite-Aid..........

*  I got better than free E.L.F. brushes last week, as well as Physician's Formula make-up remover at Rite-Aid.........

The $1 brushes were NOT giving Bonus Cash at my store, even though the signage didn't exclude these price point items.  I only bought 3 to test it and no BC printed.
I called Corporate Customer Service and I got my $3 BC but didn't feel like having to fight for more BC by calling again if I bought 3 more brushes so I didn't even try.

The Physician's Formula coconut milk make-up remover was a nice little Moneymaker(spent $2.54 total in BC, got back $6 in Bonus Cash).  I didn't jump right on here last week to mention it since the $4/1 Physician's Formula IPQs were no longer available and you would have needed 2 of those to do this moneymaker.  8-(

*  I got the Weis(PMITA)Markets Friday Freebie one Friday but not the other............

A free bottle of chocolate syrup.  I don't remember what the Freebie was the other week but it was something we don't use(plus I was in too much pain to go to the store)so I took a hard pass on that one.

*  A Weis deal worth noting I did...........

This dry dog food was on clearance 50% off at $4.72.  I had a $3/1 digital Q loaded to my Weis card making it $1.72.  In addition, there was a peelie Q on the bag for a free can of wet food wyb that dry dog food bag(and that peelie Q gave me .31¢ of overage(can was $2.19, Q took off $2.50)so I paid $1.41 OOP for both.

* I canned .99¢ lb. blueberries and peaches...............

4 1/2s and 3 full jam jars of blueberry(plus another full jam jar in the fridge).........

And 5 full jam jars, 1 tall 10 oz. jam jar and 3 1/2s of peach jam(plus a pint in the fridge).

*  I got a deal on leeks at the produce market where I got the blueberries too.........

$1.69 for two HUGE leeks and I sliced them up and filled 2 quart bags for the freezer.  Leek soup will be served sometime this Winter when it's freezing out to warm our tummies up.  ;-)

*  The only thing I bought on Amazon Prime Day was this............

A bottle of Turumeric Curcumin.  It was 31% off what they normally charge and this is a daily supplement I take for my HS.  I was happy to get it this cheaply.

*  The night eldest son and the GF arrived I roasted a whole chicken from the freezer, make up some asiago cheese rice and picked broccoli from the garden...........

Here's the head about a week before I picked it(didn't think to take a photo before I roasted it w/the chicken.....oh well.

That's about all I can remember that was frugal over the last 2 weeks. ER visits and medical tests were not frugal but having health insurance will make those costs a bit easier to swallow.

I hope everyone else had a good couple of weeks in the frugal arena.

I am still playing catch-up here.
I'm taking it easier physically and not trying to over do here and Hubs is giving me hell when I do too much.  Making adjustments and soldiering on.



Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Garden is Finally Producing" Edition................

We picked our first produce last Tuesday--2 heads of broccoli for dinner that night.
I've got this feathery plant growing out of the lettuce mix and can't id it.  Carrot? Something else? Anybody know what this could be?

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Chicken Sandwich from BK

2. Monday--Risotto w/Chicken and Mushrooms and/or Leftovers

3. Tuesday--Roast Chicken, Broccoli, Some Carb thing

4. Wednesday--?

5. Thursday--?

6. Friday--Hot Dogs on Buns(or not), some sides TBD
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Chicken Sandwich from BK

2. Monday--Leftovers

3. Tuesday--Roast Chicken, Broccoli, Asiago Risotto

4. Wednesday--Burgers and Dogs, Hot Dog Chili, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Cream Pie

5. Thursday--Chinese Take-Out

6. Friday--Corn on Cob
7. Saturday--Leftovers

Last week saw 3 nights of home cooked dinners, 2 nights of leftovers/ffy, and 2 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out.   The "carby thing" on Tuesday turned out to be Mon. risotto w/out the chicken/mushrooms added.
 We had a cook-out while eldest son and his GF were here on Wed. and Hubs bought a pie instead of me making one.  I had help with Tues. and Wed. dinners from Hubs and we got back from taking the kids to the amusement park late so just got take-out on Thurs.  After they left Hubs and I just ate corn Friday night and leftovers on Sat.

What got put into the freezer last week.....

* 2 quart bags of Leeks(deal from produce market)
* 2 quart bags of Hot Dog Chili(leftover from the cook-out)

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* 1 whole Chicken(Tues. dinner)

I went to the produce market the night/morning before I ended up in the ER and spent $26.83.  They have the lowest price on deli meats there, they carry the cream cheese spread I like and they have good prices on produce.  I got  those .99¢ pint blueberries I canned last Sun. and I hit the discount rack produce--beefsteak tomato 2 pack for .49¢ and a huge bunch of leeks for $1.69.  It's too hot for making soup so the Leeks got sliced and put into the freezer.

It was difficult to stay frugal this past week though since I was confined to home(if not my bed per dr. orders)so I had to send Hubs to Weis x 3 and he didn't notice prices and just buys what is on the list.

A small trip to the Shursave Market($8.22), 3 trips to Weis(PMITA)Markets where I had to send Hubs for me($68.08), that Big Lots trip($60.16)and a trip to the Bread Outlet I forgot about earlier this month($4.89)brought the weekly spending to $141.35 and my July total to $274.04 so far.

My savings percentage last week was 44.37%(without Rite-Aid trips)and July's monthly savings total comes in at 50.66%(w/out R-A).   Still a good savings rate even if Hubs was doing some of that shopping. lolz

I have 9 more food shopping/spending days in July.  

Leftovers going into this week......Roast Chicken, Asiago Risotto, Hot Dog Chili.  Hubs has cleaned me out of leftovers.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Chicken Alfredo w/Mushrooms, Asian Slaw

2. Monday--Beer Brats(w/chili if wanted), Cauliflower

3. Tuesday--Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

4. Wednesday--TV Dinners, Salad

5. Thursday--Steak, Squash, Cuke/Tomato Salad

6. Friday--no clue yet
7. Saturday--no clue yet

This week will see 4 new meals cooked, ? night of leftovers/FFY, and ? nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.
Depending on weather(grilling out)and heat this week some of the plan is still up in the air.

With this heat if it was just up to me, I'd have a salad every night and a cold sandwich for lunch.

What needs buying for this menu? Squash and 1 cuke(since my cukes aren't ready yet)and milk.
I'm not planning on spending much this week but time will tell, won't it? ;-)

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  

She Lives!

Thank you! for the concern and well wishes from everyone over the last week.
And secondly the ugly troll who doesn't want to listen to me whine can KMFA and don't darken my blog's door.  Find somewhere else to spew your venom thankyouverymuch!

Pain at the ER was about a 8-9(I guess when you are screaming they believe you when you say it hurts!)  After the valium when we left the ER pain dropped to a 4-5.
They did an EKG(all clear), drew blood(nothing bad showed up), and did a CT(showed a tiny gall stone which isn't an issue and a bit of diverticula in the colon, new since my colonoscopy but isn't inflamed or anything) but none of these CT findings have anything to do with these back muscle spasms.  You know I am not well when I can't even fret over the cost of all these tests that did not help diagnosis the current issue. ;-)

The weekend was rough I gotta say.
Being sent home from the ER with an Rx that helped NOT AT ALL!! was rough.   There was a lot of laying in bed(when I could get comfortable-not often), some standing around, some sitting on a heating pad in the recliner and very little sitting at the desk reading blogs but no writing. And a bit of crying when the pain got too bad.  I didn't get up to a 9 over the weekend but we hovered around a 6-7 after being at a 5-6 for 2 weeks beforehand.  Being in that level of pain wears you down after that long and there was no end in sight until Monday.

There may have also been some old pain killer pills popped too when nothing else helped and/or some CBD oil consumed and/or some edibles eaten to relax me but you didn't here it from me. ;-)

Hubs has been having to pull up the slack with shopping(oh how the budget has been blown!), dealing with dogs and anything involving bending and lifting.

And not being able to "do" anything was/is driving me nuts!  There is so much to do and I sit here twiddling my thumbs(well not that since my thumbs ache most of the time).  I can't move my stuff into my new sewing room still even though the new carpet was done a full week ago.....so there is no progress being made on the house basically. ugh.

I was able to stand to go to Big Lots on Saturday after popping a pain pill for my HS flares to do some deals since Hubs drove me.  Hubs went back get get a refund for something that rang up wrong and purchase a new desk for his man cave on Sunday since it was still 20% off everything in the store.

I did end up making and canning a bunch of jam on Sunday as the alternative drugs had me feeling less pain that day.  I had bought 4 pints of blueberries and 7+ lbs. of local peaches two days before the ER visit to can so that had to get done.  At least Hubs could help with the lifting and all for that.

Monday I got in to see the doc(after a 50 min. delay in the waiting room), recounted the last 5 days adventure(ER and beyond)and he prescribed me 2 weeks worth of the muscle relaxer that worked(thank you God!!!).  We talked about seeing a pain manager and then he asked if I've ever had back surgery/back issues before(which was all a no).  Then he had me get an X-ray or two so that meant sitting in the waiting room for another 30 minutes waiting for the gal from radiology to come back from lunch but once she was back they got me right in.
Then it was over to Rite-Aid to pick up the pills.  I went across the road to Burger King for a drink and popped the first pill in the parking lot before driving home.  Driving myself places in this condition really aggravated my back.

My eldest son and his GF are here now for a 3 day visit and I am waiting on the results of the X-rays.

The muscle relaxer is helping but now I am thinking the pain may be spine/connective tissue related or arthritis in my hip?  Last Spring my doc had an x-ray done of my shoulders/neck which showed I have degenerative arthritis in those areas plus I've had arthritis issues with my thumbs for a couple of years now which makes me think these new pains are just some sort of arthritis expanding to other areas.

We'll see what the scans show once they get read and will go from there.

Knowing me, you know it was bad if while in Rite-Aid on Monday waiting for them to fill my pain pill Rx, I saw a penny on the floor and I did not bend over to pick it up!
Yes, Sluggy is on her deathbed if change on the floor cannot get her to pick it up. lolz
I guess I'll have to put a magnet on a string and carry that in my purse from now on.............


I will continue to take any prayers, white light and good wishes I can get. 

Additionally if someone wants to voodoo doll the anonymous troll(who is either very naive or just a  moron who thinks the government has my, as well as all of your, best interests at heart) won't go away that would be awesome too. 
Voodoo doll or if you "know a guy" that would work too. 8-)


Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Morning Glory" Edition................

Last week saw the first morning glory flower arrive in my garden patch.  The next day we were up to 5 flowers blooming.  Today I can't even count the number of blooms as they have exploded into color out back.
The return of the morning glories always makes me happy.  Now if I can keep Chester and the Japanese Beetles off of the leaves.....ugh!

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Caesar Salad

2. Monday--Leftovers, Spinach Souffle

3. Tuesday--Beef Pie

4. Wednesday--Fish, Cole Slaw, Sweet Potato Wedges

5. Thursday--Hot Dogs on Buns(or not), Pasta/Veggie Salad

6. Friday--Risotto w/Chicken and Veggies
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Caesar Salad

2. Monday--Fish, Cole Slaw, French Fries

3. Tuesday--Chicken Parm(I had leftover meatloaf), Spinach Souffle

4. Wednesday--Chicken Fajitas

5. Thursday--Chinese Take-Out(too sick to cook)

6. Friday--Fend For Yourself
7. Saturday--Beef Pie

Last week saw 5 nights of home cooked dinners, 1 nights of leftovers/ffy, and 1 night of Eating Out/Take-Out. 

Some stuff planned was cooked/eaten.  The Risotto and Hot Dogs didn't happen.  Might happen this week.  I had lots of haddock leftover and planned that another night(or two)but then Ex-CB took it out of the fridge to get to something else and left it sitting on the chest freezer all night(sigh)and then my back got out of whack so the plan went out the window toward the end of the week.

What got put into the freezer last week.....

* 1.5 lbs. of Haddock
* 2 lbs. of Flounder
* 2 bags of Green Beans

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* 1 huge Chicken Breast
* 2 hand fulls of Red Bell Pepper Strips
* 1 Spinach Souffle
* Breaded Chicken Patties
* 1 bag of Green Beans

About the same amount got used from the freezer as got put in there last week so we didn't make any space in there last week.

A small trip to the Shursave Market($9.36), cherry picking the deals at Weis($14.87), a rare trip to Price Chopper($41.01)for 5 lbs.+ of on sale fish, a few loss leaders and drinks for Ex-CB, and a trip to the produce markets($26.83)for deli meat/produce/.99¢ a pint blueberries,etc., brought the weekly spending to $92.07 and my July total to $132.69 so far.

My savings percentage last week was 42.82%(without Rite-Aid trips)and July's monthly savings total comes in at 55.97%(w/out R-A). 

I have 16 more food shopping/spending days in July.  

Leftovers going into this week......beef pie and chicken fajita mix.
We had a bit of food waste--a spoon or two of pasta/veggie salad and a few chunks of watermelon.  Not being very mobile last week I just couldn't stay on top of things in the fridge. sigh

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Chicken Sandwich from BK

2. Monday--Risotto w/Chicken and Mushrooms and/or Leftovers

3. Tuesday--Roast Chicken, Broccoli, Some Carb thing

4. Wednesday--?

5. Thursday--?

6. Friday--Hot Dogs on Buns(or not), some sides TBD
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 3 new meals cooked, 1 night of leftovers/FFY, and 1 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out and 2 nights of ?.  Company is coming Tuesday and I don't know beyond that evening what we'll have/eat.  After they depart I've got easy stuff Hubs can do if I'm not up to cooking yet.

What needs buying for this menu?
Nothing.  If we do a cook-out while company is here I'll need ground beef for burgers. Other than running out on Wednesday for needs I don't plan on doing much grocery shopping this week(if I am able to).
We did make a run to Big Lots($60.16)over the weekend for the 20% off quarterly sale and that will be reflected in next weeks report.

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