Frugal Friday....the March 15th Edition

There are very few Frugal wins this past week but here goes....

*  I successfully used up odds and ends and incorporated them into new meals and no food got thrown out. 8-)

*  I did some Ibotta rebating this past week and ended up spending $6.56 total after all the Qs/Rebates/Points.  Some of what I got that we don't/can't use will be donated.

*  We used a Subway coupon for 3 subs for $17.99 on the last day it was valid. $6 each for a sub(like in the pre-Covid days)and we used a partial gift card up.  Hubs got what he wanted, I got what I wanted and we agreed on the third sub because we would split it.  Lunch for me was half a tuna sub and dinner was half a chicken sub.  I've still got the other half of the chicken sub so that will be lunch or dinner today. Hubs is on his own since he ate his whole 12" sub for lunch yesterday. lolz

*  I got my eyeball zapped last Friday at the creepy eye doc's office.  My supplement plan paid the 20% Medicare didn't pay so no OOP for that.

*  I found money!

The March 9th Walmart trip I found 3 pennies in various spots in the store.

And on the March 12th trip I found a dime in the self-checkout coin return and then another penny by the drink cooler while leaving the self-checkout area.

Total Found in last Week.... .14¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$2.03

That's all I got.  

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy    

A Couple of Trips to Walmart & Possibly Free Energy Drinks

I bought some things at Walmart last weekend....

 

1 x Knorr rice cup $1.98
1 x Dove body wash $9.97
1 x Airwick 2 refills $6.98
1 x 24 ct. wet dog food $27.96
1 x Purina canned dog food $2.38
1 x Dove new deodorant $11.98
1 x Snuggle dryer sheets 70 ct. $3.74
1 x Children's Claritin liquid $12.26
Total.......$77.25

I earned back--

$28.85 Ibotta
$16.00 Shopmium
$6.00  Tada
Which was $50.85 off making this lot $26.40

Then I got 1,625 pts.($6.50)Shop Kick and $7.00 worth of points from Fetch(the dog food).
The 24 pack of dog food is for when we take the dogs to be boarded for our cruise.

Grand Total after all the points are cashed in is $12.90.

Then I went back on Tuesday for this stuff, even though I never received a Midweek Bonus on my account......

1 x 12 ct. wet dog food $16.96
1 x Pronamel mouth wash $6.98
2 x Axe deodorant(new scents)$11.94
1 x Cover Girl eyebrow pencils $4.47
1 x Febreeze trial size spray $1.97
1 x Johnson's trial size baby lotion $2.16
Total....$44.48

I earned back--

$16.30  Ibotta
$15.00  Shopmium
$4.00   Tada
Which comes to $35.30 making this lot $9.18

Then I got 2,155 pts.($8.62)Shop Kick and $7.00 worth of points from Fetch(the dog food).

Grand Total after all the points are cashed in comes to a $6.44 moneymaker.

So combined these two trips will end up costing me $6.56 for everything pictured.

While the dog food kept both of these trips from being better than free it's something we need to buy.  Hubs wanted the mouth wash and I wanted the small lotion for the cruise.  The Air Wick scent is gardenia and I dearly love the smell of gardenias(plus it was better than free so why not?) 8-))

There is an offer on Aisle for $5 back when you buy 2 Rock Star drinks.  Depending on where you find these drinks(if they are $2.50 each or less)it might be a moneymaker.  I'll be looking for Zero Sugar ones when I go out on Friday.  Here's the link with my referral code......

https://rockstar.gotoaisle.com/?referralCode=kq98hepHXk

That's all I got for today. 8-)

Sluggy

The Creepy Eyeball Doctor & Artwork Strikes Again!

I returned to the eye doctor last Friday for my laser zapping on the secondary cataract in my left eye.

After some eye drops(ack!  hate those), signing a release form(listing various "oops!" that can happen, including retina detachment and blindness-Yikes!)then a red sticker dot was placed on my forehead above my left eye before herding me into the "Dilation Room".  I guess this sticker makes sure the doctor zaps the correct eyeball, like when I had my TKR, the surgeon and I both signed my knee so they didn't have an "oopsie" and saw through the wrong knee.  Someone in the Dilation Room had their sticker fall off and we all cautioned them to make sure they put it back over the proper eye. lolz

All of us "laser zapping folks" waiting exchanged some pleasantries and after about 15 minutes I got called in for my zapping.  I sat in the chair and an assistant put even more drops in my eye(have I mentioned how much I dislike having drops put in my eyes yet?).  Then I put my chin in the chin holder and my forehead against the forehead holder(lol)of the machine and was instructed to stare at the eye doctor's left earlobe.  I "saw" red exes and heard the laser go off in bursts and what appeared to be clouds of white smoke?

After 10 seconds it was all over and the eye doctor asked me if I wanted to get glasses(the upsell-at least he didn't try to sell me on Botox injections or other cosmetic shit at his MediSpa next door), then handed me an appointment card to return in 4 months.  I went to get up and leave and the eye doctor stopped me as I rose and removed the red sticker on my forehead.  I told him, "Gee, I thought I'd get to keep that as a souvenir." 8-)  He smiled and I went to the waiting room to find Hubs.

After 2 days and the drops wearing off I can discern crisper vision in the eye that got zapped.  Perhaps I'll get the other one done as well if I can stand to run the creepy eyeball artwork gauntlet again. ;-)

But as promised I did snap photos of the eyeball artwork I came upon on this visit.......

It started at the reception desk....there were 3 eyeballs on canvas artworks(only got 2 in this photo)and a snow globe of sorts with an eye ball in it.  Now that eye in glass was the creepiest thing......

I sort of liked this one in the waiting area........it was tile of either ceramic or porcelain in nature.  You figure out what this means. 8-))

And this ginormous fake chocolate rabbit complete with blue hued bow, grass and little Easter eggs was displayed prominently in front of another eyeball artwork in the waiting area.

I didn't go as many places in the building as on my first visit so I missed some eyeball artwork.  And I did notice a couple of non-eyeball themed pieces in the waiting room this time.  I wonder if in time, those two pieces will be replaced with eyeball themed artwork?

Here is a mural at the end of the long hallway and also running with ads in a loop on the tv monitor in the "Dilation Room".

This painting was next to a water fountain/hydration station down another corridor.  Notice the little figure in a space suit sitting in that eyeball. lol

Here's the painting in the room where the tech gave me the first set of eye drops.  That eyeball sort of looks like mine on terms of color but mine is lighter green with less brown around the edges. ;-)

And here I am with the Easter themed artwork they had someone paint on the building by the entrance.  Giant bunny-esque figures wearing sunglasses.  yeah.

And the Pièce de Resistance was this one.....

The giant eyeball statue is now sporting bunny ears.

Oh, I can't wait until I come back in July to see what they do to this thing for July 4th.*eye roll*

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table......March 11th Edition

The "Something I'll Miss Around Here" Edition.......

Hubs wanted to go over to Texas to our favorite BBQ Brisket place......

This place never disappoints.  I got my old reliable Brisket with Slaw and Sweet Potato Fries and a can of Diet DP.  Hubs got a 2 meat plate, Slaw, Fried Okra and a fountain soda.  

I will have to purchase one of their t-shirts before we leave here.

It a small family owned since 1927 place in a tiny town.  Not one of those big franchised chain places which seem to be everywhere.

This is day 274 of the new "way of eating".  Down 59 lbs. since the cruise(not counting the 8 I gained on the cruise and then lost again, which would make it 67 lbs.).  

Not actively trying to lose right now, just maintaining.  I plan on kicking the weight loss up again this week. ;-)

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week...........

1. Sunday--Caesar Salad, Veal Parm

2. Monday--Kielbasi, Onions, Beans

3. Tuesday--Chicken Strips, Stir-Fry Veggies

4  Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, leftover Beans

5. Thursday--Grilled Trout, Roasted Potatoes, Spinach Soufflè

6.  Friday--Get Take-Out(laser zapping day)

7. Saturday--TV Dinners

And here's what actually happened......

1. Sunday--Caesar Salad, Veal Parm

2. Monday--Kielbasi, Onions, Beans

3. Tuesday--Chicken Strips, Stir-Fry Veggies

4  Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwich, leftover Beans

5. Thursday--Roasted Carrots/Broccoli/Cauliflower

6.  Friday--Chinese food Linner(laser zapping day)

7. Saturday--Broccoli Cheddar Soup

I had milk that needed using up, fresh broccoli and a big block of cheddar in the fridge so Broccoli Cheddar Soup it became on Saturday.  

What got taken out of the freezer last week...

*  Veal Parmesan

*  1 rope Kielbasi

*  Chicken Strips(finished a bag)

*  Stir-Fry Veggies

*  2 Pork Tenderloin slices

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

*  2 packages of Perdue Chicken Chunks

*  1 lb. Sea Scallops

*  4 Sirloin Steaks

Last week we spent $154.41 on grocery shopping for March.  yikes!

Total shopping comes to $345.76 for March.   

There are 20 shopping days left in March but I am staying out of the store this week(promises, promises...lol).

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $103.00 on Ibotta in March.

I've earned $8.00 on Shopmium in March.

I've earned $0.00 on Alexa app in March.

I've earned $15.00 on Kroger Cash Back in March.

I've earned $10.22 on TaDa in March.

I've earned $0.00 on Checkout51 in March.

I've earned $0.00 on Aisle.

I've earned 11,225 points on Fetch from food shopping in March.

I've earned 771 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in March.

I've earned 0 SB from food shopping on Swag Bucks in March.

That is $121.22 in rebates(not counting the Kroger Cash Back/Shop Kick/Fetch/Alexa)on $345.76 of grocery spending so in reality it's $224.54 in food spending after the 4 rebate apps I count(the ones that give me cash back, not the ones that I turn the points into gift cards, or Alexa that gives me Amazon credit, and I count when those points are cashed in).

My savings percentage for the last week was 39.23% and the monthly savings total for March comes in at 37.37% spent so far. 

Leftovers going into this week....I helping of each of Asparagus, Baked Beans, a big container of Broccoli/Cheddar Soup and lots of Roasted Veggies from Thursday night. 

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

1. Sunday--Mushroom/Asparagus Risotto

2. Monday--TV Dinners

3. Tuesday--Grilled Trout, Roasted Potatoes, leftover Roasted Veggies

4  Wednesday--Teriyaki Pork Loin, Green Beans

5. Thursday--Leftovers FFY

6.  Friday--Leftover Pork and Green Beans

7. Saturday--Liver, Onions, Taters, Beets

Trout goes back onto the meal plan.  I also have some clearance baby bella mushrooms I need to use up asap.

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 deals on food at your stores this week?  

Sluggy    

New Baby!

 We had a new baby arrive the end of February in my extended family.

My brother's wife's grandson and his partner had a baby.
Technically my brother is the father's "step" grandfather as the grandson is the result of my sister in-laws first marriage, so the grandson's mother is mot my brother's child.  But he has been more involved in the baby's father's life than the "real" grandparents.

I guess this makes me a Great Grand Aunt?  Gosh, now I really feel old!! lolz

Sluggy