I generally am a pretty happy person. Well, maybe not but I can usually keep my disatisfactions to myself.
But I've been having a really rough patch lately.
Have I mentioned I have 3 teenagers?
Since the oldest #1 son is off living the high life at college I can't complain too much about him, as I'm not dealing with him on a day-to-day basis.
It's the other two alien life forms living in my house.
Yes, I called my beloved children aliens....deal with it!
Because afterall, that's what teens are....aliens.
The hormones have overtaken their brains and bodies, turning them into people I don't know anymore.
And most days, that means people I would really rather NOT know!
And it's just to the point where I can't even say a word to them without being demeaned in some way....either with a look, a sarcastic tone, a negative put down.
I've.
Had.
IT!
It's parent abuse.
It's got me depressed.
And I just want to run away.
I find myself thinking as I'm doing a chore around here, why the hell do I even bother?
Doing their laundry.....why do I bother since they'll just dump it on the floor.
Cooking meals....half the time they say they don't want to eat since it's something they suddenly don't like.
Cleaning up after THEIR dogs.....it's easier just to do it because I am tired of fighting with them to do their chores.
Why do I go through all the hassle and trouble to coupon and shop strategically so I can get the things they want and not go broke in the process?
What does it get me? A snarl, an eye rolling, a put down.
Yes, they KNOW everything and I'm just a pitiful old stupid woman who's ready to be wheeled to the nursing home.
When school lets out in the afternoon, I spend the rest of the day/evening avoiding my own children.
Yah, I know this phase will pass but please, can it pass a little faster?
I just don't get why mothers have nervous breakdowns when they become empty-nesters!
I'll be the mom throwing a block party the day the last kid pulls out of the driveway headed for college.
Ok, I'm done with my depressing babbling for now.
Time to go get a spoon and seek out my only true friends, Ben & Jerry.....
Sluggy
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Fried Fish...A Breading Idea
If someone is cooking fish and there is a southerner involved, you know that fish traditionally will be fried. While fried fish is NOT the healthiest choice around, sometimes you just have to give in to your inner Southerner and make it!
In the south when it comes to frying fish, like Shakespeare might have said if he was from North Carolina, "The breading is the thing."
If a southerner is frying up a mess a' fish that breading will involve cornmeal.
Everyone has their own ratio of meal to flour that they prefer....some even fore go the flour altogether and bread in straight cornmeal.
I also love one of the quintessential southern side dishes that goes with fried fish....hush puppies! That slightly sweetened, oniony ball of fried dough takes me back to my youthful days. Nothing beats a good puppy....
But fried fish and fried hush puppies are just too much fried for my old clogging arteries.
Here is how I get the taste of both with half the grease....
I use hush puppy mix to bread my fish!
This simple yet elusive taste combination was borne out of neccessity. One night as I went to bread some fish for frying, I discovered I was out of cornmeal..oh the horrors! I didn't even have one of those handy little boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix to substitute for the missing ingredient.
But I remembered I had a bag of hush puppy mix, which is basically cornmeal and flour with some spices and a touch of sugar.
So I used the puppy mix for my breading.
Let me tell you, it was a taste of heaven!
And not only was it a great way to get BOTH taste treats and a grease & calorie reducing move(since I only consumed 1 fried item, not 2)but it was a time saver too since I didn't also have to make the hush puppies.lol
Sluggy
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
2 Manu Qs+Wellness CRT Q=Cheap Herbal Essences at Rite-Aid 3/14-3/20 *UPDATE*
Ok, if you have a Wellness Card and used it at Rite-Aid this week or last, you probably received a Q printed on yout register receipt(CRT Q)for $1 off any Hair Care Product purchase priced at $1.99 or more.
The week of 3/14-3/20 at Rite-Aid HERBAL ESSENCE Hair Care Products will be on sale for $2.99.
Take that CRT Q and the Herbal Essence BOGO(Buy any Herbal Essence item, Get a Styling item free) Q from the P&G 2/7 insert to your Rite-Aid AND the $1/1 Herbal Essences Q that is due in this Sunday's inserts.
Buy 1 Herbal Essence Shampoo or Condition and 1 Herbal Essence Styling Product.
These will ring up for a total of $5.98.
Hand over your $1 Hair Care CRT Q, the $1/1 Herbal Essence Manu Q from this Sunday's insert and your BOGO Herbal Essence Styling Product ManuQ. The BOGO will get you 1 product for free and the other 2 Qs will be taken off your other Herbal Essence product.
$5.98-$4.99=$.99.
Pay $.99 for both items.
A nice price for Hair stuff!
Sluggy
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Rite-Aid Trip on 3/6/10.....Strange Register Voodoo Makes me Smile!
Well, this store only had 1 SCR item left that I wanted, the Listerine Pocket Packs.
So I wandered around the aisles looking for what else I could buy as inexpensively as possible, to get me up to $20 so I could use the $5 off $20 Q.
I ended up doing the PREVACID Deal this trip as well, though I didn't need it to get to $20. Now I know Prevacid will be on sale next week at Rite-Aid but since I am getting everything OOP back, except for the $4 they will deduct for the ManuQ that was with the Rebate form in the Parade Magazine, I'm not concerned. No matter the OOP now, I'll get it back minus the $4 Q amount.
So here's what I bought....
4 x Kleenex Tissue on sale BOGO($2.49)=$4.98
1 x Ocean Saline Rinse on sale=$.99
1 x Colgate Toothpaste on sale=$2.49
1 x Colgate Toothbrush on sale=$2.49
1 x Prevacid 42ct.=$28.99
2 x Revlon Eye Shadow on sale BOGO($4.99)=$4.99
1 x Listerine Pocket Packs on sale=$3.99
2 x Ricola Cough Drops on sale($.99)=$1.98
SubTotal....$50.90
Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/4 Kleenex Tissue ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/3 Kleenex Tissue AdPerks IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Colgate Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 any Oral Care over $1.99 Wellness IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Colgate Toothbrush ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 any Oral Care over $1.99 Wellness IPQ=$1.00
1 x $2.90 10% off Wellness Discount on Prevacid=$2.90
1 x $10/1 Prevacid Manu IPQ=$10.00
1 x $10/1 Prevacid 42ct. AdPerks IPQ=$10.00
1 x $4/1 Prevacid Peelie Q=$4.00
2 x $2/1 Revlon Eye ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $1/1 Listerine Pocket Packs ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 any Oral Care over $1.99 Wellness IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Ricola Cough Drops ManuQ=$1.00
Coupon Total....$42.00
$50.90-$44.90=$6.00 OOP
I have spent enough at Rite-Aid that I get an automatic 10% discount on any item I buy that isn't on sale.
That is why I received an additional $2.90 off the Prevacid that wasn't on sale.
You'll also notice that I used THREE coupons on the Prevacid. I came armed with a ManuQ printed from the Prevacid website and an AdPerks Q...which doesn't look like your normal AdPerks Q.
The box of Prevacid also had a $4 Peelie Q on it. After the cashier scanned the box she started to remove the Peelie so she could scan it. I said not to bother with it since it was only for $4 and I already had 2 coupons to use on the Prevacid. She then said that I could use that 3rd peelie Q for another discount on the item. I attempted to argue(LOL)since the RA coupon policy I had said 2 Qs per item, not 3. Cashier said that they always let people buying stuff use any peelies on the products, even if they have other Qs.
OK.....lol
I must have looked dubious so she called over the MOTD=Manager of the Day, and asked her. She said fine, take all the Qs!
Gee....it's like I didn't WANT to use as many Qs as they would let me, huh?
So on my $28.99 Prevacid, I got a $2.90 wellness auto. 10% discount and $24 in coupons taken off.
So I paid $2.09 for the Prevacid!
And then I'll get $24.99 back for the MIR!!!
Like I said, $6 is what I was suppose to pay.
What I actually paid was $2.00 OOP.
When the cashier went to use any of the 3 Prevacid Qs, they beeped....peelie, AdPerk and ManuIPQ.
Every.
Last.
One.
So she tried taking off the Prevacid item and adding it back onto the transaction multiple times, trying different coupons against it. One time 1 Q went through but not the next....so she kept putting on and taking off the Prevacid and assorted Qs.
Finally she called over the MOTD again and had her key in or authorize or whatever it's called all 3 coupons.
My register receipt ended up being about 3 ft long!lol
And my total was now $2.00 instead of the $6.00 I had calculated it would be.
But after all that....and holding up the line for 15 min.....I didn't want to argue again and spend more time redoing this disaster of a transaction, so I just shut my mouth, paid my 2 bucks and got the hell out of Dodge!lolol
The next day I went over the receipt and found the error....the cashier had added the $4 peelie Q discount once and hadn't taken the discount off again and then gave me the $4 Q discount again in the midst of the Prevacid coupon fiasco.
I figure, it all evens out in the end, since there are times they forget to use some of my Qs.
I got the better end of the stick this time....next time, who knows?
Ok, so I am OOP $2.00 for this transaction.
I qualified for a $3 SCR(Listerine) so this becomes a $1.00 Moneymaker!
Add in the $24.99 Prevacid MIR and I've got a $25.99 Overage...WOOT!!!
Sluggy
Tuesday Frugal Tip Because Spending Money Sucks!
Ok...this isn't a ground breaking, new way to save money.
And it won't save you A LOT of money all at once but if you do this and live to be oh....120, it might save you enough to pay for your trip to the Scooter Store for your motorized chair.
See this?
This is a mini Oreck Vacuum Cleaner called the Buster. I got if for free when hubby bought me a big Oreck about 6 yrs ago.
I heart my baby vacuum.
It's highly portable & lightweight, not like the big vacuum cleaner. It has a strap so you can wear it on your shoulder while you vacuum.
It's good for cleaning stairs, around the edges of the room or under/near furniture where the big vacuum can't go.
Since moving here 10 yrs. ago we have slowly reduced the number of rooms in the house that have carpeting to 4, so I don't use the big vacuum nearly as much as I use to, but I continue to use the baby vacuum a lot!
Vacuum cleaners are great.
But besides the electricity they draw to operate, there is another continuing cost associated with them....well, unless you bought one of those bagless Dyson ones.
Vacuum bags.
It's sort of like printers, you know?
The printers are cheap but the ink cartridges will bleed your wallet dry.
Vacuums are not too expensive but buying those vacuum bags for them every year is an annoying expense I'd rather do without.
And I do.....do without that expense.
See this?
It is my vacuum bag for my baby Oreck vacuum.
This is the last bag from the original set of 12 that came with the vacuum when we bought it new.
I have been using/reusing this bag for the last 3 yrs.
Yes, I said three years.
That was when I discovered we were on the last bag, three years ago, and told the kids NOT to throw out the bag when it was filled.
And I have been taking it out, emptying it out gently into the trash and reusing it ever since.
In the 1st three years we used/owned the vacuum we went through a bag every 3 months...4 bags a year.
A dozen new bags cost $15 and lasts us 3 years....for an expense breakdown of $5 a year for bags.
After 3 years of reuse my last bag has about had it and will need replacing soon. I am coming around to facing the fact that I'm going to have to buy a new bag of bags soon.
$15.
Ok...$15 might not sound like much but I am sure you could think of things you'd rather spending $15 on or save $15 for, right?lol
Once I buy the new bags, it's the LAST TIME I plan on buying bags for this vacuum.
It will then be a contest to see what goes to it's reward first....me or my baby vacuum!
3 years out of 1 bag x 12 bags=36 years.
I'm pushing 51.
Let's hope the vacuum goes to Oreck Heaven before I do...because if this 86 yr old half-blind woman has to drive her motorized scooter to the Oreck store to buy more bags, it won't be pleasant!
Sluggy
And it won't save you A LOT of money all at once but if you do this and live to be oh....120, it might save you enough to pay for your trip to the Scooter Store for your motorized chair.
See this?
I heart my baby vacuum.
It's highly portable & lightweight, not like the big vacuum cleaner. It has a strap so you can wear it on your shoulder while you vacuum.
It's good for cleaning stairs, around the edges of the room or under/near furniture where the big vacuum can't go.
Since moving here 10 yrs. ago we have slowly reduced the number of rooms in the house that have carpeting to 4, so I don't use the big vacuum nearly as much as I use to, but I continue to use the baby vacuum a lot!
Vacuum cleaners are great.
But besides the electricity they draw to operate, there is another continuing cost associated with them....well, unless you bought one of those bagless Dyson ones.
Vacuum bags.
It's sort of like printers, you know?
The printers are cheap but the ink cartridges will bleed your wallet dry.
Vacuums are not too expensive but buying those vacuum bags for them every year is an annoying expense I'd rather do without.
And I do.....do without that expense.
See this?
It is my vacuum bag for my baby Oreck vacuum.
This is the last bag from the original set of 12 that came with the vacuum when we bought it new.
I have been using/reusing this bag for the last 3 yrs.
Yes, I said three years.
That was when I discovered we were on the last bag, three years ago, and told the kids NOT to throw out the bag when it was filled.
And I have been taking it out, emptying it out gently into the trash and reusing it ever since.
In the 1st three years we used/owned the vacuum we went through a bag every 3 months...4 bags a year.
A dozen new bags cost $15 and lasts us 3 years....for an expense breakdown of $5 a year for bags.
After 3 years of reuse my last bag has about had it and will need replacing soon. I am coming around to facing the fact that I'm going to have to buy a new bag of bags soon.
$15.
Ok...$15 might not sound like much but I am sure you could think of things you'd rather spending $15 on or save $15 for, right?lol
Once I buy the new bags, it's the LAST TIME I plan on buying bags for this vacuum.
It will then be a contest to see what goes to it's reward first....me or my baby vacuum!
3 years out of 1 bag x 12 bags=36 years.
I'm pushing 51.
Let's hope the vacuum goes to Oreck Heaven before I do...because if this 86 yr old half-blind woman has to drive her motorized scooter to the Oreck store to buy more bags, it won't be pleasant!
Sluggy
Monday, March 8, 2010
What's Worth Buying this Week at Weis Markets...3/7-3/13
It's an interesting week at Weis. Nothing free and not much cheap but interesting nonetheless.
MEAT
Perdue Frozen and Weis All Natural Fresh Chicken is 40% off.
Angus Top Round Roasts are BOGO. Reg. price is $5.29, so if you can find 2 Roasts that are about the same size, you'll pay $2.65 lb.
My meat pick of the week is the Catfish, Flounder or Tilapia Fillets for $3.99lb. The best price/value item here is the Flounder, which you hardly ever see for less than $7 or $8 lb. This Fish Special comes IQF in bags of around 2lb. each so you'll have to spend $8+ of your budget. But you'll have 2 or more meals from each bag, depending on how big your eaters are at your house. I've already picked 1 bag up and will have to stock up a bit more.
DAIRY
More yogurt...AGAIN!....Dannon for $2 a pack. Various $1/1 ManuQs out there, so $1 yogurt.
Kraft Singles are $2, so if you found any $1/2 blinkies you can get them for $1.50 WYB2.
Laughing Cow Mini Cheeses are $2.50. Use the $1/1 ManuQ and pay $1.50.
PRODUCE
Not much at a real good price this week. Grapes are still $1.99lb., strawberries aren't quite seasonal yet so $2.50 lb.
My local store had a special on Empire Apples...$2 for a 3lb. bag so I picked that up. Smaller apples in it which is good for the teens to take to school.
If your store has the loose mushrooms, they are a better deal at $2.99lb. than the packaged sliced ones on sale for $2 for 8oz.
You'll probably do better buying the Weis brand bags of veggies this week over in the frozen section. Some of them are $1 per 1lb. bag.
BREAD
Sara Lee Bagels are BOGO($3.69). There's a $.55/1 ManuQ in the 2/21 RP insert. Use 2 and if your store doubles, pay $1.69 WYB2($2.69 WYB2 if your store won't take 2 Qs on a BOGO.
CATALINAS
There are FOUR Catalina Deals this week. I've done some recon work for you on the 1st three Cat deals, so here are the Regular Shelf Prices so you can figure your scenarios. REMEBER--Weis calculates off the reg. shelf price, not the sale price for purposes of seeing if you bought enough to trigger the catalina coupon. In this way, "Spend $XX" means you don't necessarily have to spend that to qualify for the Catalina IF the item is on sale. So you can get a deal even without a coupon...of course, coupons would make this better and cheaper!lol
Please keep in mind that the reg. prices at my local Weis make NOT be the exact same prices at your Weis.
#1 $3 Cat WYB $12/$7 Cat WYB $20 KELLOGG'S products
Kellogg's Corn Pops/Apple Jacks/Froot Loops Shelf $4.29/Sale $2.50 **Blinkie machine with $.70/1 on the shelf!
Pop-Tarts 12 ct. Shelf $2.99/Sale$2.50
Kashi Hot Cereal Shelf $3.19/Sale $2.50
Keebler Chips Deluxe or Fudge Shoppe Shelf $3.59/Sale $2.50
Cheez-its Crackers Shelf $4.19/Sale $2.50
Nutri-Grain Bars Shelf $3.29/Sale $2.50
Fruit Snacks Shelf $2.69/Sale $2.34
The items here are junk food...sugared cold cereal, pop-tarts, cookies, fruit snacks, though it does include Kashi Hot Cereal.
If you need the cold cereals in this Catalina, do this transaction....
5 x Corn Pops/Apple Jacks/Froot Loops Shelf $21.45/Sale $12.50
Use 5 of the $.70/1 Qs from the Blinkie Machine...$12.50-$3.50=$9.00 and if you are rolling one the $7 Cats your total is $2.00 OOP!
#2 $3 Cat WYB $12/$7 Cat WYB $20 on Heinz Products
Smart Ones Entrees(smaller sizes) Shelf $2.50/Sale $2.00
Smart Ones Entrees(6-11 oz.) Shelf $3.33/Sale $2.50
Bagel Bites Shelf $2.60/Sale $2.00
TGIF Appetizers or Poppers Stuffed Jalapenos Shelf $3.79 or $3.49/Sale $3.00
Classico Sauces Shelf $2.55/Sale $2.00
Heinz Ketchup 40oz. Shelf $2.85/Sale $2.00
Ore-Ida Potatoes/Onion Rings Shelf $2.89/Sale $2.50
Ore-Ida Steam and Mash Shelf $3.89/Sale $2.50
Now is the time to stock up on your Heinz ketchup! Coupons are non-existent on the ketchup but there are coupons floating around for most of the other items that qualify for this Cat.
I'll definitely be doing this Cat a couple of times. Freezer space limits me on the frozen stuff however.
#3 $3 Cat WYB $12/$7 Cat WYB $20 on Clorox owned brands
Clorox Bleach 82-96 oz. Shelf $1.99/Sale $1.79
Clorox 2 Color Safe Bleach Shelf $5.29/Sale $4.49
Clorox Wipes Shelf $2.89/Sale $2.50
409 or Clorox Anywhere Shelf $2.79/Sale $2.50
Clorox Clean-Up or Pine Sol Shelf $3.75/Sale $2.99
Brita Water Filters 25% off Shelf price
Glad Trash Bags 14-35ct. Shelf $4.39/Sale $3.50
Glad Pres N'Seal or Containers or Bags Shelf $?/Sale $2.50
Fresh Step Cat Litter Shelf $10.49 or $10.95/Sale $8.49
Kingsford or Match Light Charcoal Shelf $11.99/Sale $8.99
KC Masterpiece BBQ or Marinade Sauce Shelf $2.89 or $2.99/Sale $2.50
Hidden Valley Dressing Shelf $3.65/Sale $3.00
Another Cat I'll be rolling. If you are in need of Brita products, I found some packages of the faucet system had $10 MIR stickers on them($5 WYB the faucet system and $5 off WYB a replacment filter later on). There are coupons available online so the Cat with the 25% off makes this a possible good buy. I'll be picking up loads of bleach here.
#4 $5 Cat WYB$25/$10 Cat WYB $35 on P&G products
I don't know about you but I am just about P&G'ed out!lol There is nothing much I want/need here after getting tons of P&G at Rite-Aid over the past 2 months for almost zero OOP. Unless there is an incredible deal(like the recent Gillette Body Wash and Deodorant Deal with great high value coupons), I don't buy toiletries at grocery stores so I didn't check the shelf prices on these items, sorry.
So what are you getting at Weis this week?
What great deals did you find that I didn't see? Let us know!!
Sluggy
Amazon Gift Card Giveaway at Four Hats & Frugal
Amiyrah over at FOUR HATS & FRUGAL is having a Giveaway for a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Go check it out HERE.
Sluggy
Go check it out HERE.
Sluggy
Meal Plan Monday.....March 8th....Spending Breakdown & 2 Recipes
Last Week's Menu Postmortem...
Everything was served as planned except the Crockpot Chicken. Weis had a special on fish fillets($3.99lb!) and I went and bought some flounder and we had a fried fish dinner last night instead of the chicken. I just had a hankerin'!lol Since I'm not in the mood for Crockpot Chicken this week, the chicken that's moving to this week will be a casserole dish instead.
Hubby won't be here for dinner 2 nights this week so the teens have convinced me to do Take-Out those evenings, which comes out of the Entertainment money. It shouldn't be too much of a hit on the budget in this way....
1.We'll do chinese take-out but order it before 3pm so we get the lunch prices.
2. At Taco Bell they'll order off of the $1 menu and I'll just have something from home or a leftover.
These 2 things should keep the total under $20 for both nights for 3 people.
Here's what I will be serving our family of 4 this Week.....our household presently consists of 2 adults and 2 teens at home. No children under 14.
This week is all about using what I have and incorporating leftovers as well. Since alot of what I am serving is stockpiled, I'm putting what I paid for the ingredients that are on hand so you can see what I spend w/stockpiling & sales versus buying it weekly when it might not be on sale. If I use a leftover ingredient I won't add that cost as it was already figured into the previous meal's cost.
MONDAY--Taco Bell .89¢ Burritos for the teens($4), leftover Baked Ziti for me
TUESDAY--Chinese Take-Out($15 ordered at lunch prices)
WEDNESDAY--Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole($4.50)-makes leftover for 1 additional meal
THURSDAY--Ham Slices($4), Green Beans(.50¢), Potato Skins($2)
FRIDAY--Corned Beef(need to buy), Cabbage(need to buy), Biscuits(.50¢)
SATURDAY--Leftovers
SUNDAY--Dutch Oven Pot Roast with Carrots, Mushrooms & Onions($5), Mashed Potatoes(free)
SNACKS/DESSERTS--Cantaloupe(leftover),cookies(.49¢), apples(.15¢)
I need to buy $10 worth of items for this menu. I'll pick up a small corned beef on sale for $1.29lb. this week plus cheap cabbage & a gallon of milk for drinking.
Adding up what has already been spent and what I need to spend for this week's menu, I can serve this menu of 5 meals(not including the take-out nights as that is on the entertainment dime) to a family of 4 adults/teens for a total of $30.14.
Leftover nights have no cost as they were already figured in when the meal was served the first time. If you divide the meals and snacks cost by 5 nights, you get an average cost per night of $6.03. That's $1.51 per person per night. And this is mostly a cooking from scratch menu. The only 'processed foods' are the can of soup and the roll of biscuits. Who says you can't cook healthy on the cheap?
LAST WEEK'S FOOD SPENDING
$59.05 was spent on food/toiletries last week. $38.17 at Weis(and I received a $7 Catalina to roll this week), $.01 at CVS, $9.87 at Boyer's(on cheap tp and BOGO eggs), $9.00 at the Entenmann's Bread Outlet($3 bread and Hubby went and asked for donuts $6) and $2.00 at Rite-Aid on bunches of stuff.
$48.71 of the $59.05 of the spending was strictly on food.
FOOD WASTE REPORT
We still have Baked Ziti leftover but it will be eaten this week. The only food that was wasted was the slice of cheese I had to cut off block of cheddar that molded.
Cantaloupe rinds, potato peels and other clippings were composted.
Check out ORGANIZING JUNKIE to see what other Home Cooks are serving this week.
Sluggy
Saturday, March 6, 2010
My 2 Scenarios for Rite-Aid for 3/7-3/13...$10.07 Moneymaker!
Transaction #1
1 x Metamucil on sale=$9.99
2 x Cover Girl Face Product on sale BOGO=$9.99
1 x Crest Toothpaste on sale=$2.74
SubTotal....$22.72
Coupons Used
1 x $5/$20 purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $3/1 Metamucil ManuQ=$3.00
1 x Cover Girl BOGO ManuQ=$9.99
1 x $1/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
Coupon Total....$18.99
$22.72-$18.99=$3.73 OOP
Transaction #2
1 x Always Pads on sale=$5.99
2 x Nyquil on sale $4.99=$9.98
1 x Puffs Tissue=$2.49
1 x Crest Toothpaste on sale=$2.74
2 x Almay Eye Shadow on sale BOGO=$7.49
SubTotal....$28.69
Coupons Used
1 x $5/$20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/1 Always ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $1.50/1 Nyquil ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Any Cold/Cough OTC Meds Wellness CRT Q=$2.00
1 x Free Puffs WYB 2 Nyquil ManuQ=$2.49
1 x $1/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $2/1 Almay Makeup ManuQ=$4.00
Coupon Total....$18.49
$28.69-$18.49=$10.20 OOP
$3.73+$10.20=$13.93 OOP Total
SCRs qualified for....
$5 Metamucil
$1 Crest
$1 Always
$2 Nyquil
$5 Almay
SCR TOTAL....$14.00
$13.93OOP-$14.00SCRs=$.07 Moneymaker!
Plus....The Metamucil, 2 x Crest, Always, 2 x Nyquil are all qualifying items for the "Buy $30, Get a $10 Gift Card Deal"--SCR#18, and they total over the $30 threshold, so I also get a $10 Rite-Aid Gift Card.
I get over $50 worth of merchandise & I get paid .07¢ to take it all home and they give me a $10 Gift Card to boot.
Not bad, huh? ;-)
Sluggy
Vacation Planning......Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Because of family stuff, we didn't get to take any kind of vacation last summer. Well, if you don't count driving almost 1,000 miles in a big circle the week of the July 4th holiday to take care of family business and attend a funeral.
Nope, not what I'd call a fun trip.
The last summer vacation hubby & I took was 2 summers ago, to Maine. #1 son was working all summer and daughter wanted to stay home instead, so it was just #2 son and us. Oh, and we took along BIL and the nephew too.
When we vacation, we do it as frugally as possible. Last trip, we rented trailers at a campground and made day trips to do/see stuff.
Here's a photo of #2 son and nephew in front of Steven King's house....
And here they are along the shoreline in a smal inlet near Bar Harbor....
I love Maine....every since I worked there in theatre for 2 summers while in college. I still have a friend who lives up there I enjoy visiting when we get a chance to go.
I've told hubby that if we must retire someplace warm, I get to have a small cottage in Maine to escape the heat in the summer....I don't do 'heat' well....
Anyway, I am beginning the planning for this year's escape, er....I mean trip. Because of Band Camp, we only have about a 2 week time frame the latter half of July when we can go.
The only kid who will be accompanying us is #2 son, since both his older siblings will be working all summer at camp.
So I need to take into consideration destinations/activites that a 14 yr. old boy will like. Well, maybe 'like' is too strong a word, since he is sullen and doesn't 'like' anything beyond his guitar, playing online games and texting his friends. 'Tolerate' might be a more appropriate word.....
So can anyone think of some place that isn't too hot & has nice scenery(for me), historical stuff and good food(for hubby)and won't annoy #2 son too badly-especially since he has to be there with his....sigh and eye roll....parents?
I know #2 son would probably enjoy an amusement park....but only if we take a friend of his as well and only if we drop him/them off for the day and don't go in with them.
Oh, and don't even mention disney anything to me....we don't do disney.
It has to be someplace we can drive to, as we don't fly. We are open to driving to a destination that's more than 2 days away if there are things to see/do/stay along the way.
We like oddball stuff as well as going off the beaten path.
Hubby is 'into' native american stuff.
We are not big into shopping on vacation.
We've been to Maine and all of New England various time, Niagara area(both US and Canada), Ontario/Toronto, Maryland/Delaware beach areas, Virginia Beach, NC Outer Banks and the Crystal Coast, Myrtle Beach, Erie PA, a resort outside of St. Louis. I've been to Minneapolis/St. Paul area on pleasure but w/out the family.
Anybody have any thoughts or ideas I can explore?
Please give them to me! ;-)
Sluggy
Nope, not what I'd call a fun trip.
The last summer vacation hubby & I took was 2 summers ago, to Maine. #1 son was working all summer and daughter wanted to stay home instead, so it was just #2 son and us. Oh, and we took along BIL and the nephew too.
When we vacation, we do it as frugally as possible. Last trip, we rented trailers at a campground and made day trips to do/see stuff.
Here's a photo of #2 son and nephew in front of Steven King's house....
And here they are along the shoreline in a smal inlet near Bar Harbor....
I've told hubby that if we must retire someplace warm, I get to have a small cottage in Maine to escape the heat in the summer....I don't do 'heat' well....
Anyway, I am beginning the planning for this year's escape, er....I mean trip. Because of Band Camp, we only have about a 2 week time frame the latter half of July when we can go.
The only kid who will be accompanying us is #2 son, since both his older siblings will be working all summer at camp.
So I need to take into consideration destinations/activites that a 14 yr. old boy will like. Well, maybe 'like' is too strong a word, since he is sullen and doesn't 'like' anything beyond his guitar, playing online games and texting his friends. 'Tolerate' might be a more appropriate word.....
So can anyone think of some place that isn't too hot & has nice scenery(for me), historical stuff and good food(for hubby)and won't annoy #2 son too badly-especially since he has to be there with his....sigh and eye roll....parents?
I know #2 son would probably enjoy an amusement park....but only if we take a friend of his as well and only if we drop him/them off for the day and don't go in with them.
Oh, and don't even mention disney anything to me....we don't do disney.
It has to be someplace we can drive to, as we don't fly. We are open to driving to a destination that's more than 2 days away if there are things to see/do/stay along the way.
We like oddball stuff as well as going off the beaten path.
Hubby is 'into' native american stuff.
We are not big into shopping on vacation.
We've been to Maine and all of New England various time, Niagara area(both US and Canada), Ontario/Toronto, Maryland/Delaware beach areas, Virginia Beach, NC Outer Banks and the Crystal Coast, Myrtle Beach, Erie PA, a resort outside of St. Louis. I've been to Minneapolis/St. Paul area on pleasure but w/out the family.
Anybody have any thoughts or ideas I can explore?
Please give them to me! ;-)
Sluggy
Friday, March 5, 2010
What to Do with Leftover Ground Beef Meals?...make Enchiladas!
So what do you do with leftover meatballs and a slice or two of leftover meatloaf?
That was my problem earlier this week, as we had both of these leftovers from last week's menu.
My solution was to make Beef Enchiladas.
First I took the meatballs and meatloaf leftovers and crumbled them up. I took chopped onion(about 1/2 cup)and sweated them in some olive oil. I had a can of chopped green chilles so I added that to the mix once the onions were translucent.
Next I made the Enchilada Sauce. You can see the recipe HERE. You can also use a canned sauce if you prefer.
Take a large roasting pan and coat the bottom of the pan with the Enchilada Sauce.
Next I gathered the other ingredients I needed....flour tortillas, grated cheese(cheddar and montery jack), a can of refried beans, and the enchilada sauce and meat filling.
Then it was just a matter of plopping some meat, some beans and cheese onto a tortilla and rolling it up, placing it in the roasting pan.
Cover the enchiladas with sauce....
Top with grated cheese....
Cook in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes and here's what comes out....
Each enchilada serves 1 hungry person, so this pan served 5. Young children would probably only eat 1/2 of an enchilada. I usually make 6 in a pan but someone ate one of my tortillas.lol
Optional...Serve with lettuce, tomato, guacamole or sliced avocado and sour cream.
My Cost Breadown
enchilada sauce $.80
tortillas $1.00
meat filling $0-leftovers
1 can green chillies $.16
1 can refried beans $.50
2 blocks of cheese $2.50
Total....$4.96
Since I didn't use all the meat filling, the leftover meat is being reinvented Again tonight in Tacos!
Meatballs, Meatloaf, Enchiladas, Tacos....That's 4 meals out of 2.75lbs. of ground beef.
Sluggy
That was my problem earlier this week, as we had both of these leftovers from last week's menu.
My solution was to make Beef Enchiladas.
First I took the meatballs and meatloaf leftovers and crumbled them up. I took chopped onion(about 1/2 cup)and sweated them in some olive oil. I had a can of chopped green chilles so I added that to the mix once the onions were translucent.
Next I made the Enchilada Sauce. You can see the recipe HERE. You can also use a canned sauce if you prefer.
Take a large roasting pan and coat the bottom of the pan with the Enchilada Sauce.
Next I gathered the other ingredients I needed....flour tortillas, grated cheese(cheddar and montery jack), a can of refried beans, and the enchilada sauce and meat filling.
Each enchilada serves 1 hungry person, so this pan served 5. Young children would probably only eat 1/2 of an enchilada. I usually make 6 in a pan but someone ate one of my tortillas.lol
Optional...Serve with lettuce, tomato, guacamole or sliced avocado and sour cream.
My Cost Breadown
enchilada sauce $.80
tortillas $1.00
meat filling $0-leftovers
1 can green chillies $.16
1 can refried beans $.50
2 blocks of cheese $2.50
Total....$4.96
Since I didn't use all the meat filling, the leftover meat is being reinvented Again tonight in Tacos!
Meatballs, Meatloaf, Enchiladas, Tacos....That's 4 meals out of 2.75lbs. of ground beef.
Sluggy
Easy Enchilada Sauce....Make it Yourself and Save $$$!
Before you reach for that can of icky overpriced Enchilada Sauce at the grocery store again, give this recipe a try!
Here's what you need to make it....
Red Enchilada Sauce
2 TB Oil(I use Olive/Canola but reg. Veggie is fine)
2 TB Flour(any kind)
2 TB Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1 8oz. can Tomato Sauce(I use pureed Tomato)*I had leftover tomato paste/sauce so I dumped that in too.*
2 Cups Water
1 tsp Salt(I use Sea Salt)
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
Heat your oil in a large saucepan(2 qt. or larger).
Stir in Flour and Chili Powder; cook for 1 minute.
Add your Tomato Sauce/Puree.
Add your spices.
Now add the water.
Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 10 minutes.
It's ready to use!
This recipe makes enough for 1 meal's worth(a pan of enchiladas). If you noticed in the photo of the ingredients, my tomato puree is a lot bigger than 8 oz. I always make a double or quadruple batch when I make the sauce. Just double or quadruple the ingredients. I always make enough to freeze or to make a second batch of enchiladas for the freezer.
You can adjust the proportions to taste....more chili powder for spicier, less salt for less saltiness, etc. I've even put some large chunks of peppers(poblanos)in the sauce for added flavor.
It's really just tomato products, flour, spices and water. So easy to make so don't pay what they charge for it in the store....especially if you don't have a coupon and it's not on sale!lol
Cost Breakdown....
$.30 Spices
$.01 Flour
$.39 can of Tomato Sauce
$.10 Oil(Olive, Veggie would be less)
$0 Water
Total....$.80 per meal
I'll be posting my Leftover Enchiladas Meal that used this sauce in a bit.
Sluggy
Here's what you need to make it....
2 TB Oil(I use Olive/Canola but reg. Veggie is fine)
2 TB Flour(any kind)
2 TB Chili Powder
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1 8oz. can Tomato Sauce(I use pureed Tomato)*I had leftover tomato paste/sauce so I dumped that in too.*
2 Cups Water
1 tsp Salt(I use Sea Salt)
1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
Heat your oil in a large saucepan(2 qt. or larger).
Stir in Flour and Chili Powder; cook for 1 minute.
Add your Tomato Sauce/Puree.
Add your spices.
Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 10 minutes.
This recipe makes enough for 1 meal's worth(a pan of enchiladas). If you noticed in the photo of the ingredients, my tomato puree is a lot bigger than 8 oz. I always make a double or quadruple batch when I make the sauce. Just double or quadruple the ingredients. I always make enough to freeze or to make a second batch of enchiladas for the freezer.
You can adjust the proportions to taste....more chili powder for spicier, less salt for less saltiness, etc. I've even put some large chunks of peppers(poblanos)in the sauce for added flavor.
It's really just tomato products, flour, spices and water. So easy to make so don't pay what they charge for it in the store....especially if you don't have a coupon and it's not on sale!lol
Cost Breakdown....
$.30 Spices
$.01 Flour
$.39 can of Tomato Sauce
$.10 Oil(Olive, Veggie would be less)
$0 Water
Total....$.80 per meal
I'll be posting my Leftover Enchiladas Meal that used this sauce in a bit.
Sluggy
Quickie to CVS to roll some ECBs...3/1
I had a $10ECB to roll that was expiring on 3/1.....
1 x Schick Quattro Razor $8.99
2 x Crest Rinse used Raincheck $3.50=$7.00
1 x Gatorade 6 pack on sale=$4.50 **daughter needs for track**
SubTotal...$20.49
Coupons Used
1 x $4/1 Schick Quattro ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $2/1 Crest Rinse ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $10 ECB=$10.00
Coupon Total....$18.00
$20.49-$18.00=$2.49 +$.15 tax=$2.64
$2.63 put on gift card....$2.64-$2.63=$.01 OOP
I earned the following ECBs...
$4 Crest Rinse x2
$3 Quattro Razor
Total...$7 ECBs
Nothing exciting here.....keep moving.....
Sluggy
2 x Crest Rinse used Raincheck $3.50=$7.00
1 x Gatorade 6 pack on sale=$4.50 **daughter needs for track**
SubTotal...$20.49
Coupons Used
1 x $4/1 Schick Quattro ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $2/1 Crest Rinse ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $10 ECB=$10.00
Coupon Total....$18.00
$20.49-$18.00=$2.49 +$.15 tax=$2.64
$2.63 put on gift card....$2.64-$2.63=$.01 OOP
I earned the following ECBs...
$4 Crest Rinse x2
$3 Quattro Razor
Total...$7 ECBs
Nothing exciting here.....keep moving.....
Sluggy
What I Bought at Rite-Aid this Week.....2/28
I had been in my local store on Saturday & saw that they had marked down some varieties of Dove Shampoo to 50% off.
Egads....there were $1.50/1 ManuQs for that expiring on Sunday! So you know I sat all day Saturday, praying nobody bought all the marked down 'Poos, so I could buy them on Sunday.lol
I also had a Holiday Gift of Savings $20 Certificate to spend and figured now was as good a time as any, so here is what I bought......
8 x Scott TP on sale BOGO $1.29=$5.16
4 x Sunsweet Prunes on sale $2=$8.00
3 x Dove Shampoo on clearance $2.49=$7.47
1 x Listerine PocketPacks on sale=$3.99
1 x Anti-Monkey Butt Powder on sale=$3.99
2 x Sure Men's Deodorant on sale BOGO=$3.29
2 x Carefree Pantiliners on sale $.99=$1.98
2 x Blistex Lip stuff on sale $.99=$1.98
2 x Luden's Cough Drops on sale $.99=$1.98
10 x Cadbury Creme Eggs on sale BOGO $.88=$4.40
SubTotal....$42.24
Coupons Used
1 x $5/$20 Purchase AdPerks Q=$5.00
2 x $1/2 Sunsweet Prunes ManuQ=$2.00
3 x $1.50/1 Dove Shampoo ManuQ=$4.50
1 x $1/1 Listerine PocketPacks ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $1.50/1 Sure Men's Deodorant ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $1/1 Carefree Pantiliners PeelieQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Blistex Lip ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Luden's Cough Drops ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $.25/1 Luden's Drops GOL Q=$.50
5 x $.50/2 Cadbury Creme Eggs AdPerkQ=$2.50
Coupon Total....$21.50
$42.24-$21.50=$20.74-$20.00 GOS Certificate=$.74 OOP
SCRs qualified for....$3 Listerine, $3 Anti-Monkey Butt=$6.00
$.74-$6 SCRs=$5.26 Moneymaker!
Should haves.....
I should have used a $2 off any Skin Care item over $2.99 Wellness IPQ with the Anti-Monkey Butt Powder. I would have had an additional $2 to spend or approx. $1.20 to spend and get closer to a $0 total at the register.
I also should have used a $1 off any Oral Care item over $1.99 Wellness IPQ with the Literine Pocket packs...but again, I didn't have one with me.
If you still need to pick these 2 items up this week and you can use the Wellness Qs, be sure and print one up to use when you go to Rite-Aid!
Don't be a bonehead like me....
OH!!!
If you are looking to do the SCR #24(Purchase $50 in select products for a $25 rebate) here's a bit of info. Though it's not listed/pictured in the SCR Directory, the Luden's Cough Drops ARE part of this deal!
I went to input my purchase info. yesterday for this transaction and not only did the Carefree items show up as qualifying for SCR #24(which they are listed as qualified in the directory), but the Luden's also showed up! If you are close to the minimum purchase &/or need cough drops, these are a cheap option.
Sluggy
Egads....there were $1.50/1 ManuQs for that expiring on Sunday! So you know I sat all day Saturday, praying nobody bought all the marked down 'Poos, so I could buy them on Sunday.lol
4 x Sunsweet Prunes on sale $2=$8.00
3 x Dove Shampoo on clearance $2.49=$7.47
1 x Listerine PocketPacks on sale=$3.99
1 x Anti-Monkey Butt Powder on sale=$3.99
2 x Sure Men's Deodorant on sale BOGO=$3.29
2 x Carefree Pantiliners on sale $.99=$1.98
2 x Blistex Lip stuff on sale $.99=$1.98
2 x Luden's Cough Drops on sale $.99=$1.98
10 x Cadbury Creme Eggs on sale BOGO $.88=$4.40
SubTotal....$42.24
Coupons Used
1 x $5/$20 Purchase AdPerks Q=$5.00
2 x $1/2 Sunsweet Prunes ManuQ=$2.00
3 x $1.50/1 Dove Shampoo ManuQ=$4.50
1 x $1/1 Listerine PocketPacks ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $1.50/1 Sure Men's Deodorant ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $1/1 Carefree Pantiliners PeelieQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Blistex Lip ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Luden's Cough Drops ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $.25/1 Luden's Drops GOL Q=$.50
5 x $.50/2 Cadbury Creme Eggs AdPerkQ=$2.50
Coupon Total....$21.50
$42.24-$21.50=$20.74-$20.00 GOS Certificate=$.74 OOP
SCRs qualified for....$3 Listerine, $3 Anti-Monkey Butt=$6.00
$.74-$6 SCRs=$5.26 Moneymaker!
Should haves.....
I should have used a $2 off any Skin Care item over $2.99 Wellness IPQ with the Anti-Monkey Butt Powder. I would have had an additional $2 to spend or approx. $1.20 to spend and get closer to a $0 total at the register.
I also should have used a $1 off any Oral Care item over $1.99 Wellness IPQ with the Literine Pocket packs...but again, I didn't have one with me.
If you still need to pick these 2 items up this week and you can use the Wellness Qs, be sure and print one up to use when you go to Rite-Aid!
Don't be a bonehead like me....
OH!!!
If you are looking to do the SCR #24(Purchase $50 in select products for a $25 rebate) here's a bit of info. Though it's not listed/pictured in the SCR Directory, the Luden's Cough Drops ARE part of this deal!
I went to input my purchase info. yesterday for this transaction and not only did the Carefree items show up as qualifying for SCR #24(which they are listed as qualified in the directory), but the Luden's also showed up! If you are close to the minimum purchase &/or need cough drops, these are a cheap option.
Sluggy
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Go Enter the Giveaway at Marilyn's Money....Ends March 5th
My friend Marilyn over at MARILYN'S MONEY is having a Giveaway.
Go check it out Here.
Hurry though....it ends at 8pm on March 5th!
Sluggy
Go check it out Here.
Hurry though....it ends at 8pm on March 5th!
Sluggy
$30K Savings Challenge FEBRUARY 2010 Totals....a Great Month!
I have posted my FEBRUARY End of Month 30K $AVING$ CHALLENGE Totals.Check out the side bar to your right for the specific numbers.
I have to report that we finished up February in the Black.
The amount we ended the month of February with was.......$4,094.60
Income
Besides Hubby salary we had a hefty amount in Rebates and some rolled Coins under the Income Heading. Hubby also got a Bonus check from work...yay!
Not sure where the Bonus $ will end up but I'm putting it into the Savings Challenge for now. Without it, we are at $966.20 in savings for Feb.
Outgo
As for the expenses in February.....
The electric bill was $399.10, just a few dollars more than January's bill. Since Feb. is the most expensive month here for heating, I am good with that number.
The credit card bill seemed also a bit high(over $1K) but was paid off(like every month)so no interest charges at least. On second thought, the cc bill wasn't too bad, since hubby didn't make as many Cash Withdrawals this month. He used the cc more for gas and such instead of cash. When you combine the cash withdrawals and the cc charges this month against those charges combined in previous months, they average about the same per month.
We had some large out-of-the-ordinary expenses in Feb.
The car insurance is due then, so that was almost $1300.
The other BIG expense was our part of #2 son's dental extractions, $475.00, after the insurance paid their part.
All other regular bills...Cable, Internet, Phone, etc. are the same each month.
The Food Budget costs for February are in another post, which is located HERE. Food/Toiletries spending in February was under the budgeted $250(due to the rebate money that came in last month)and our Savings percentage was a whopping 91.12%!
Looking Ahead to March....
The cc bill is on track to being under $500 this month, which is always good. ;-)
There are three non-monthly charges this month--the quarterly sewage bill(not very much), the County/Municipal Tax Bill and our State Tax Bill.
One tax bill is over $1K, one is under $100, so that's approx. $1200 in extra expenses for March.
YTD Standings....
We have a Year To Date Total of $4,850.25 in Savings. To save $30K for the year, we need to put away $2,500 per month average. We are almost on target after 2 months....Jan. was dismal but Feb. was great due to the bonus. I'm looking to only put away $1400 in March due to the Tax bills since it's a high bill month.
So how was your February financially? Leave a comment and share with us what you did with your money, both the good and not-so good. Do you have any tricks or tips that help you to end your month before the money runs out? Let us know!
Sluggy
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
February BUDGET RESULTS-Food & Toiletries Spending
Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for FEBRUARY 2010.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in February.
These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(4 at home-all 5 home for 2/3 of this month & 3 dogs. No kids under 14.
BIG LOTS
OOP $41.02
Qs/Ads $34.42
Value $75.44
Savings 45.60%
BOYER'S(small local chain in next town)
OOP $11.38
Qs/Ads $6.43
Value $17.81
Savings 36.10%
CARONE'S(local Independent Grocery that doesn't take IP Qs)
OOP $11.13
Qs/Ads $7.82
Value $18.95
Savings 41.30%
CVS
OOP $0 ($1.57 put on Gift Card)
Qs/Ads $27.76
Value $29.33
Savings 100%
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in February.
These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(4 at home-all 5 home for 2/3 of this month & 3 dogs. No kids under 14.
BIG LOTS
OOP $41.02
Qs/Ads $34.42
Value $75.44
Savings 45.60%
BOYER'S(small local chain in next town)
OOP $11.38
Qs/Ads $6.43
Value $17.81
Savings 36.10%
CARONE'S(local Independent Grocery that doesn't take IP Qs)
OOP $11.13
Qs/Ads $7.82
Value $18.95
Savings 41.30%
CVS
OOP $0 ($1.57 put on Gift Card)
Qs/Ads $27.76
Value $29.33
Savings 100%
ENTENMANN'S OUTLET
OOP $6.00
Ads/Sales $11.64
Value $17.64
Savings 66%
GERRITY'S(local chain that takes IPQs)
OOP $11.78
Qs/Ads $11.76
Value $23.54
Savings 50%
PRICE CHOPPER Northeast
OOP $127.48
Qs/Ads $599.59
Value $727.07
Savings 82.46%
RITE AID
OOP $24.96 ($41.94 put on Gift Card/Prepaid Visa Card)
Qs/Ads $732.17
Value $799.07
Savings 96.88%
WALGREENS
OOP $30.93
Qs/Ads $155.74
Value $186.67
Savings 83.43%
WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town)
OOP $111.55
Qs/Ads $497.58
Value $609.13
Savings 81.70%
I've don't track CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons". I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly. Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.
REBATE CHECKS RECV'D. IN FEBRUARY
Caregiver's Marketplace(for 2009)....$14.50
Ducolax.....$5.00
Kraft Jingle in Your Holidays x 2....$20.00
Naked Juice.......$10.00
Nature Valley Granola Bars....$2.50 OOP $24.96 ($41.94 put on Gift Card/Prepaid Visa Card)
Qs/Ads $732.17
Value $799.07
Savings 96.88%
WALGREENS
OOP $30.93
Qs/Ads $155.74
Value $186.67
Savings 83.43%
WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town)
OOP $111.55
Qs/Ads $497.58
Value $609.13
Savings 81.70%
I've don't track CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons". I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly. Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.
REBATE CHECKS RECV'D. IN FEBRUARY
Caregiver's Marketplace(for 2009)....$14.50
Ducolax.....$5.00
Kraft Jingle in Your Holidays x 2....$20.00
Naked Juice.......$10.00
NeilMed Sinus....$9.00
Olay Quench Rebate...$12.48
Olay $20 Rebate.....$20.00
Pinecone Research....$3.00
Rite-Aid SCR....$57.52
Subtotal........$154.00
FREE ITEMS
Free Oreos x 5!lol
FREE ITEMS
Free Oreos x 5!lol
Stacy's Chips
Pillsbury Orange Rolls Q
Barilla Pasta Q
Kraft Crackers
Kraft Pizza
Kraft Cookies
COUPONS
Jollytime Popcorn
PC Catalinas $18
Weis Catalinas $20
GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
CVS/Biologie 'Poo $9.99 Prepaid Visa
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received..$163.99
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from CVS at 100%, Rite-Aid at 96.88%, and WAGS at 83.43%.
The best Grocery Savings Total was Price Chopper at 83.43% saved.
TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$376.23
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$2128.42
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$2504.65
TOTAL Savings of..........85%
TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$154.00
TOTAL OOP After Rebates....................$222.23
TOTAL Savings of..................................91.12%
This closes out the February spending.
THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-
I think I did quite well this month, especially considering all the Catalina Deals I did! The spending before rebates was $376.23 but with rebates added to the budget of $250, we had $404 to use, so we have $27.77 left to carry over into March's food/toiletries budget.
Leftover food budget money....wow!....what a concept!lol
PC Catalinas $18
Weis Catalinas $20
GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
CVS/Biologie 'Poo $9.99 Prepaid Visa
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received..$163.99
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from CVS at 100%, Rite-Aid at 96.88%, and WAGS at 83.43%.
The best Grocery Savings Total was Price Chopper at 83.43% saved.
TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$376.23
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$2128.42
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$2504.65
TOTAL Savings of..........85%
TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$154.00
TOTAL OOP After Rebates....................$222.23
TOTAL Savings of..................................91.12%
This closes out the February spending.
THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-
I think I did quite well this month, especially considering all the Catalina Deals I did! The spending before rebates was $376.23 but with rebates added to the budget of $250, we had $404 to use, so we have $27.77 left to carry over into March's food/toiletries budget.
Leftover food budget money....wow!....what a concept!lol
What's ahead for March 2010.....
The February 2010 Food/Toiletries Budget is set at $277.77($250+$27.77 carryover from Feb.) cash out of pocket. Any rebates received this month will offset this OOP spending. I have $129.85 in Rebates outstanding, so anything that comes in this month gets thrown into the food budget kitty.
I have finally put away all the food I bought in Feb. at Price Chopper and Weis procured during their Catalina Deals and my stockpile does indeed runneth over now!
What I am hoping for March is this....that a good chunk of the Cash Rebates I am waiting on arrive this month. Then by combining that rebate money and not food shopping much this month and eating what is here, I can keep the food spending to an amount equal to the rebates received and the leftover budget money from Feb.($27.77)and NOT touch the proper Food/Toiletries Budget amount of $250.
Wouldn't that just be awesome if I can pull it off?
I am going to try! This week has been good so far as I've stayed out of the stores mostly....does Rite-Aid count?lolol
As long as some "stock-upportunity" doesn't present itself, I should be fine. ;-)
At any rate, whatever is leftover (if anything is leftover!)in the food budget for March, I'm going to throw it into the Savings Challenge money pot instead of carrying it over into April's food budget.
The Savings Challenge kitty needs anything I can throw at it!
How did you do in February with your Food Budget? Leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear! By sharing our struggles and efforts we can help each other stick to our budgets and learn to be better guardians of our resources.
Sluggy
The Giveaway Winner is......
I drew the winner at noon.
I numbered all the comments from the Giveaway posts and used Random.org to pick the winner.
And the Winner is comment #13, which is......
Marilyn from Marilyn's Money.
Congratulations to Marilyn and I'm sorry I can't have everyone win. 8-(
I want to thank each and everyone of you for entering and I hope the folks who found us here through the Giveaway will stick around awhile. ;-)
I have another smallish Giveaway(from Pillsbury and MyBlogSpark) coming up in the next day or two.
When that is done, I have a Humdinger of a Giveaway(sponsored by ME!)that all you Coupon Mavens and Maven Wannabees will want to enter so sit tight and don't go anywhere!lol
Plus I will be starting to fill up a new Box of Fun for the 2010 Boring Blog Box Giveaway #2. I'm hoping to start being able to include liquids in the box now(shampoo, lotion, etc.), since the sub-zero weather will no longer be a concern. Nothing worse than opening a box of winnings with a burst bottle of some liquid oozing all over everything, right?lol
Again, thanks for playing.
The fun just never ends here at "Don't Read This"!
Sluggy
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway....Now CLOSED!!!
*****THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! WINNER COMING UP LATER TODAY....STAY TUNED!*****
My Giveaway ends tonight at Midnight EST.
Here is what you can win....
1. 1 Pair of hunter green Men's Winter Thinsulate Gloves Size L/XL
2. 1 Box of PUREVIA(40 ct.) stevia sweetener
3. 1 Bag of Luden's Cough Drops(cherry)
4. 1 Bar of DOVE Soap
5. 1 Tin of Sugar-Free ALTOIDS
6. 1 RIMMEL Mascara
7. 1 BOGO Dozen Eggs Coupon from the Good Egg Project Facebook Giveaway(expires 3/31/10)
8. 1 Ty HALO Beanie Baby
9. 1 Bottle of DUCOLAX Balance
10. 1 Tube of AVEENO Lotion
11. 1 Mesh Bath Sponge
12. 1 set of Make-Up Brushes.
13. 2 travel size Tubes of Toothpaste(Aquafresh and Colgate Total).
14. 1 Tube of Rite-Aid brand Apricot Scrub Face Wash.
15. A set of Stationery Folded Note cards.
16. 3 Tubes of MENTOS Sugar-free Gum.
17. a Sample of HEAD & SHOULDERS Shampoo.
18. a GLADE CANDLE(Clean Linen scent).
Go check out the Original Giveaway Post HERE.
You must be a follower to enter(click on the "follow" button on the right sidebar) and still be a follower when I announce the winner.
To win, Just leave a comment on THIS POST before 12 midnight EST tonight March 2nd.
Get an extra entry for putting my blog on your blogroll if you have a blog.
Leave a separate comment on this post for this extra entry.
Get another extra entry for blogging about my giveaway on your blog or on a forum.(Leave a link to the post in your entry.)
Leave a separate comment on this post for this extra entry.
Good Luck....and HURRY!!!
Sluggy
My Giveaway ends tonight at Midnight EST.
Here is what you can win....
2. 1 Box of PUREVIA(40 ct.) stevia sweetener
3. 1 Bag of Luden's Cough Drops(cherry)
4. 1 Bar of DOVE Soap
5. 1 Tin of Sugar-Free ALTOIDS
6. 1 RIMMEL Mascara
7. 1 BOGO Dozen Eggs Coupon from the Good Egg Project Facebook Giveaway(expires 3/31/10)
8. 1 Ty HALO Beanie Baby
9. 1 Bottle of DUCOLAX Balance
10. 1 Tube of AVEENO Lotion
11. 1 Mesh Bath Sponge
12. 1 set of Make-Up Brushes.
13. 2 travel size Tubes of Toothpaste(Aquafresh and Colgate Total).
14. 1 Tube of Rite-Aid brand Apricot Scrub Face Wash.
15. A set of Stationery Folded Note cards.
16. 3 Tubes of MENTOS Sugar-free Gum.
17. a Sample of HEAD & SHOULDERS Shampoo.
18. a GLADE CANDLE(Clean Linen scent).
Go check out the Original Giveaway Post HERE.
You must be a follower to enter(click on the "follow" button on the right sidebar) and still be a follower when I announce the winner.
To win, Just leave a comment on THIS POST before 12 midnight EST tonight March 2nd.
Get an extra entry for putting my blog on your blogroll if you have a blog.
Leave a separate comment on this post for this extra entry.
Get another extra entry for blogging about my giveaway on your blog or on a forum.(Leave a link to the post in your entry.)
Leave a separate comment on this post for this extra entry.
Good Luck....and HURRY!!!
Sluggy
Weis Sales Ad for 2/28-3/6...What is Worth Buying This Week?
Let's see what Weis is offering up in the way of good deals this week, shall we?
First off, there is a GORTON'S SEAFOOD Deal. Gorton's is 50% off this week, and when you buy 2 in a single transactions(and use your Club Card)you will get $2 off at the Register. Now the way the ad reads this looks like a straight "take $2 off your receipt total" deal and NOT a Catalina is generated deal where you use the Cat Q to take $2 off your next order. I'll be heading up to Weis tomorrow sometime(maybe)to see which deal it really is.
Anyway, buy 2 Gorton's products for 50%, use coupons(either 2 x $.40/1 doubled from 2/21SS or 1 x $1/2 from 1/24SS or 2 x $.50/1 doubled from the 1/3SS)for a better deal and then get another $2 off.
Not a real low cost OOP but still, for a protein, a pretty good deal!
Then there is 1 lone Catalina Deal. Buy $12/Get $3 or Buy $20/Get $7. The participating items are Ice Creams, sugary Frozen Food(pancakes, toaster strudels, scrambles), pizza, pizza rolls, 'savorings' and pricey frozen chinese food. All of it highly processed or high calorie dairy. Unless you have tons of freezer space this isn't the kind of Cat Deal you want to be rolling many times. We do like ice cream though, so I'll scope out the regular shelf prices when I go in and see if it's low enough OOP to be worth doing once or twice this week.
One item you might want to do, if you are working on the Kraft Back To School $20 Rebate...the Easy Mac Cups are 5/$4(.80¢each). You need to purchase 5 of these for the rebate. I would like to get these for .50¢ but I may settle for this price just to get it out of the way and completed. At any price, they will be inhaled by the minor children here as soon as they hit my kitchen.lol
PRODUCE Deals
Onions 2lbs. $1.50
Romaine Hearts BOGO($3.99)
Fresh Express Salad Bags BOGO($2.99+)
Grapefruit $1 each
MEAT Deals
80% lean Ground Beef $1.79 lb.(in 3lb. or more packages)...pretty much rock bottom price here
Gold Leaf Chicken Leg Quarters $.59 lb.(sold in a 10 lb. bag) so you're spending $5.90
From the Dock(Weis Brand)"Special Crab Meat" $2.99 for 8 oz. Now I have no clue what 'special crab meat' means but this is a great price for crabmeat! I may have to torpedo the No Spending Week here to grab some of this! I see crabcakes and she crab soup in my future...lol
SPAM $1.33 12 oz. can I guess this is meat....technically.lol There is a $.35/1 Q on the Spam website. If it doubles, you'll pay .66¢ a can. I hear this stuff is good in scrambled eggs.
DAIRY
Weis Ricotta 2lb. container $3.50 Not rock bottom but a good price if you need ricotta this week.
Dannon Danimals $2 a pack. Use one of the many $1/1 Dannon yogurt ManuQs out there and get it for $1 a pack. And what's up with all these yogurt Qs anyway?? Every week it's yogurt, yogurt, yogurt!!
OTHER STUFF
Chex Mix $1.50 a bag. There is a $.50/1 IPQ on Coupons.com for the Chocolate Variety, doulbed at Weis will get you a bag for .50¢.
Progresso Soups-Classics $1 a can OR Traditional $1.25 a can(must buy in groups of 8 for Traditional). Lots of different ManuQs out there will get you soup for under a buck.
McIlhenny's Tabasco Sauce is still $1 for the small bottle. Paired with the 1/31SS $.50/1 ManuQ when doubled, gets you FREE Hot Sauce.
Also a couple of BOGO Bread Deals if you don't have a Bread Outlet nearby or make your own.
That's about all I see worth getting at Weis this week.
Let us know if you see something we missed or a Coupon Match-Up that will get you a good price!
I am not really very good at doing these kinds of Deals and Match-Up Posts but I really can't find ANYONE out there blogging about Weis Markets Deals. I guess since it's just a regional chain no blogger has much interest in providing these kinds of posts. And you certainly don't find much on the two BIG Coupon sites Weis forums. One is a bit more informational than the other tho....
If anybody out there who shops at Weis reads these and it helps a bit, I'll keep posting them(as I feel the urge),so let me hear from ya if you find these useful, ok?
Thanks!
Sluggy
First off, there is a GORTON'S SEAFOOD Deal. Gorton's is 50% off this week, and when you buy 2 in a single transactions(and use your Club Card)you will get $2 off at the Register. Now the way the ad reads this looks like a straight "take $2 off your receipt total" deal and NOT a Catalina is generated deal where you use the Cat Q to take $2 off your next order. I'll be heading up to Weis tomorrow sometime(maybe)to see which deal it really is.
Anyway, buy 2 Gorton's products for 50%, use coupons(either 2 x $.40/1 doubled from 2/21SS or 1 x $1/2 from 1/24SS or 2 x $.50/1 doubled from the 1/3SS)for a better deal and then get another $2 off.
Not a real low cost OOP but still, for a protein, a pretty good deal!
Then there is 1 lone Catalina Deal. Buy $12/Get $3 or Buy $20/Get $7. The participating items are Ice Creams, sugary Frozen Food(pancakes, toaster strudels, scrambles), pizza, pizza rolls, 'savorings' and pricey frozen chinese food. All of it highly processed or high calorie dairy. Unless you have tons of freezer space this isn't the kind of Cat Deal you want to be rolling many times. We do like ice cream though, so I'll scope out the regular shelf prices when I go in and see if it's low enough OOP to be worth doing once or twice this week.
One item you might want to do, if you are working on the Kraft Back To School $20 Rebate...the Easy Mac Cups are 5/$4(.80¢each). You need to purchase 5 of these for the rebate. I would like to get these for .50¢ but I may settle for this price just to get it out of the way and completed. At any price, they will be inhaled by the minor children here as soon as they hit my kitchen.lol
PRODUCE Deals
Onions 2lbs. $1.50
Romaine Hearts BOGO($3.99)
Fresh Express Salad Bags BOGO($2.99+)
Grapefruit $1 each
MEAT Deals
80% lean Ground Beef $1.79 lb.(in 3lb. or more packages)...pretty much rock bottom price here
Gold Leaf Chicken Leg Quarters $.59 lb.(sold in a 10 lb. bag) so you're spending $5.90
From the Dock(Weis Brand)"Special Crab Meat" $2.99 for 8 oz. Now I have no clue what 'special crab meat' means but this is a great price for crabmeat! I may have to torpedo the No Spending Week here to grab some of this! I see crabcakes and she crab soup in my future...lol
SPAM $1.33 12 oz. can I guess this is meat....technically.lol There is a $.35/1 Q on the Spam website. If it doubles, you'll pay .66¢ a can. I hear this stuff is good in scrambled eggs.
DAIRY
Weis Ricotta 2lb. container $3.50 Not rock bottom but a good price if you need ricotta this week.
Dannon Danimals $2 a pack. Use one of the many $1/1 Dannon yogurt ManuQs out there and get it for $1 a pack. And what's up with all these yogurt Qs anyway?? Every week it's yogurt, yogurt, yogurt!!
OTHER STUFF
Chex Mix $1.50 a bag. There is a $.50/1 IPQ on Coupons.com for the Chocolate Variety, doulbed at Weis will get you a bag for .50¢.
Progresso Soups-Classics $1 a can OR Traditional $1.25 a can(must buy in groups of 8 for Traditional). Lots of different ManuQs out there will get you soup for under a buck.
McIlhenny's Tabasco Sauce is still $1 for the small bottle. Paired with the 1/31SS $.50/1 ManuQ when doubled, gets you FREE Hot Sauce.
Also a couple of BOGO Bread Deals if you don't have a Bread Outlet nearby or make your own.
That's about all I see worth getting at Weis this week.
Let us know if you see something we missed or a Coupon Match-Up that will get you a good price!
I am not really very good at doing these kinds of Deals and Match-Up Posts but I really can't find ANYONE out there blogging about Weis Markets Deals. I guess since it's just a regional chain no blogger has much interest in providing these kinds of posts. And you certainly don't find much on the two BIG Coupon sites Weis forums. One is a bit more informational than the other tho....
If anybody out there who shops at Weis reads these and it helps a bit, I'll keep posting them(as I feel the urge),so let me hear from ya if you find these useful, ok?
Thanks!
Sluggy
Monday, March 1, 2010
Price Chopper Catalina Fail.....Oy! And How!!
Under the Annauls of "It's Never a Dull Moment Around My Life"--
So remember my trips to Price Chopper early last month(Feb.) to roll my Catalinas on the 2 Cat Deals they had?
Well, I had 2 Cats that didn't print...one was due to the Q-Tips included in the Cat Deal that weren't coded correctly and the other was a Cat that didn't print due to the Cat machine being turned off.
I get an envie in the mail today, postmarked Feb. 25th, from Catalina Marketing.
It's a "sorry you didn't get your Catalina coupons" letter along with $20 in Cats.....
In the letter is this line....
"Please not that the coupon must be used by the expiration date on the coupon."
Now let's get a close up of the date on the letter.....
February 24, 2010.
Now let's take a look at the date on the Catalinas that were enclosed....
In case you can't make it out, due to my lame camera that doesn't do close-ups, the Cat says....
"Expires 02/20/2010".
4 DAYS BEFORE the Letter was written and dated.
Let's recap....
2/20/10 Cats Expire.
2/24/10 Letter written.
2/25/10 Letter mailed.
3/1/10 Letter received.
So guess who was just on the phone to Catalina Marketing AGAIN over these Cats?
Yep.
Having.
MORE.
Fun.
"Rob" assured me this will be kicked back over to fullfillment AGAIN.
I'll cross my fingers they find me some more timely Catalina Coupons that I can actually spend!lol
To Be Continued.....
Sluggy
So remember my trips to Price Chopper early last month(Feb.) to roll my Catalinas on the 2 Cat Deals they had?
Well, I had 2 Cats that didn't print...one was due to the Q-Tips included in the Cat Deal that weren't coded correctly and the other was a Cat that didn't print due to the Cat machine being turned off.
I get an envie in the mail today, postmarked Feb. 25th, from Catalina Marketing.
It's a "sorry you didn't get your Catalina coupons" letter along with $20 in Cats.....
"Please not that the coupon must be used by the expiration date on the coupon."
Now let's get a close up of the date on the letter.....
Now let's take a look at the date on the Catalinas that were enclosed....
In case you can't make it out, due to my lame camera that doesn't do close-ups, the Cat says....
"Expires 02/20/2010".
4 DAYS BEFORE the Letter was written and dated.
Let's recap....
2/20/10 Cats Expire.
2/24/10 Letter written.
2/25/10 Letter mailed.
3/1/10 Letter received.
So guess who was just on the phone to Catalina Marketing AGAIN over these Cats?
Yep.
Having.
MORE.
Fun.
"Rob" assured me this will be kicked back over to fullfillment AGAIN.
I'll cross my fingers they find me some more timely Catalina Coupons that I can actually spend!lol
To Be Continued.....
Sluggy
My Rite-Aid Rebate Period Totals....Making Shopping Pay!
Here are the numbers for my Rite-Aid shopping for the February Rebate Period(Jan.23rd-Feb.27th)
My receipts total $81.79 for all purchases made at Rite-Aid during this period.
I used $41.94 in Gift Cards and Prepaid Visa Cards obtained in previous months at Rite-Aid, making my Out of Pocket $39.85 for the February Rebate Period.
The Value of all items purchases was $961.83.
That's a Savings of 95.85%.
The Single Check Rebates qualified for in February was $77.98.
(I also qualified for $10 in Rite-Aid Gift Cards. Not cash, but will use these to lower my OOP on future purchases.)
Purchases made at Rite-Aid during this period also qualified me for Olay Cash Rebates totaling $30.00.
Rebate total....$107.98 cash
Some of my purchases in February also added to previous purchases helped qualify me for an additional $50 in Rite-Aid Gift Cards and a $35 P&G Prepaid Visa. I'm not figuring that into my total here however.
$39.85 OOP.
$107.98 in cash Rebates due & $10 in Gift Cards.
That's an $68.13 Moneymaker!(not counting the Gift Cards).
Now who wants to argue about Rebating being worth the time and effort? ;-)
Sluggy
Meal Plan Monday.....March 1st Edition....Spending Breakdown & Cheap Good Food
Before I get started, HAPPY MARCH Everyone!!
Last Week's Menu Postmortem...
Everything but the Sloppy Joe's make an appearance at our house, due to 1 night of leftovers as I wasn't feeling well. The kids told me they don't like Sloppy Joes anyway, so we are NOT putting it on this week's menu. Gee, I kind of liked them.....
2 Straight days of steady S-N-O-W did keep me home and out of the stores for a bit last week. I did get out to use my expiring Catalinas plus a bit more food/toiletries shopping in spite of the weather.
Here's what I will be serving our family of 4 this Week.....our household presently consists of 2 adults and 2 teens at home. No children under 13.
This week is all about using what I have and incorporating leftovers as well. Since alot of what I am serving is stockpiled, I'm putting what I paid for the ingredients that are on hand so you can see what I spend w/stockpiling & sales versus buying it weekly when it might not be on sale. If I use a leftover ingredient I won't add that cost as it was already figured into the previous meal's cost.
MONDAY--Free Bday meal out at Red Robin for #2 son(if some choose to stay home, it's 'make your own dinner' night)...eating out comes out of the entertainment money, not food money
TUESDAY--Beef Enchiladas(3.47), Refried Beans(.89), Salad & Dressing(2.00)
WEDNESDAY--Baked Ziti(2.50), Salad & Dressing(2.00)
THURSDAY--Shrimp & Grits(4.00), Collards(need to buy)
FRIDAY--Tacos(4.05), Fiesta Corn(.30)
SATURDAY--Crockpot Chicken cooked in Salad Dressing marinade(3.50), Garlic Noodles(.25), Creamed Spinach(.50)
SUNDAY--?? Not sure yet....maybe Leftovers if we have any, if not there is always Sloppy Joes!lol
SNACKS/DESSERTS--Cantaloupe(2.00), Cheesecake(leftovers), Ice Cream(2.50), Pineapple(.80)
Adding up what has already been spent and what I need to spend for this week's menu, I can serve this menu of 5 meals including desserts/snacks to a family of 4 adults/teens for $33.76. Since I'm not sure what people will actually eat for leftover nights, I didn't add in those costs. If you divide the meals and snacks cost by 5 nights, you get an average cost per night of $6.75. That's $1.69 per person per night. And this is mostly a cooking from scratch menu. The only 'processed foods' are the Knorr's noodles with powdered sauce and the Salad Dressings. Who says you can't cook healthy on the cheap?
LAST WEEK'S FOOD SPENDING
$33.55 was spent on food/toiletries last week. $22.47 at Weis on Catalina spending trips, $7.49 at WAGS on Toiletries only, $2.85 at Price Chopper on paper products and $.74 at Rite-Aid on bunches of stuff both food and not-food. Some of the Weis items bought qualified me for $20 in prepaid Visa card MIRs so a very inexpensive shopping week once those come in.
The only item I need to purchase for this week's menu are eggs and collards-I'll make a big pot of collards that will stretch for at least 2 meals. I'm figuring on spending $5 on the greens(making them the most expensive food for the week) as I am not waiting on a great sale to get them. If they cost more than $5 this week, I'll substitute a cheaper option that I find at the store or dig around in the freezer for something we already have here. I am almost out of eggs, milk was replenished last week and we are ok on bread until next week.
FOOD WASTE REPORT
We were successful in eating ALL the leftovers last week! Nothing went bad. We have 1 pork chop leftover from last night and the meatballs that are being reinvented tomorrow night as Enchilada filling....that is it!
Check out ORGANIZING JUNKIE to see what other Home Cooks are serving this week.
Sluggy
Sunday, February 28, 2010
CVS Trip from a Couple of Weeks Ago....Oops!
I was over by CVS a couple of weeks ago so I went in to get some cheap Glade Candles, the Cover Girl deal and Crest Rinse.
It's weird but even though we have TONS of CVS's(almost as many as our crop of Rite-Aids)and CVS tends to limit the good deals to 1 or 2, if I don't get there on Sunday or maybe Monday, the good deals are gone!
So like Target, if I go, I go with NO expectations. ;-)
The Cover Girl stuff and Crest Rinse was, as expected, GONE!
But I still had a $10 ECB to roll over or spend or whatever, so here is what I did....
4 x Glade Candles on sale $3=$12.00
1 x Aussie 'Poo on sale=$2.99
1 x Gillette Custom Pivot Razors on sale=$6.49
SubTotal....$21.48
Coupons Used
2 x $3/2 Glade Items IPQ=$6.00
1 x $1/1 Aussie product ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $3/1 Gillette Disp. Razors ManuQ=$3.00
Coupon Total....$10.00
$21.48-$10.00=$11.48-$10 ECB=$1.48+$.09 tax=$1.57 OOP, put on CVS Gift Card so ZERO spent.
Received ECBs....$2 Gillette Razors, $2 Aussie item, $4 WYB $12 in Glade=$8.00
I did have the presence of mind to get a Raincheck for the Crest Rinses but forgot about the CoverGirl Powder....oh well. Not like I NEED that anyway.
I will be needing to put an addition on the house fairly soon just to hold all the candles I've acquired in the past 6 months.lolol
Sluggy
It's weird but even though we have TONS of CVS's(almost as many as our crop of Rite-Aids)and CVS tends to limit the good deals to 1 or 2, if I don't get there on Sunday or maybe Monday, the good deals are gone!
So like Target, if I go, I go with NO expectations. ;-)
The Cover Girl stuff and Crest Rinse was, as expected, GONE!
But I still had a $10 ECB to roll over or spend or whatever, so here is what I did....
1 x Aussie 'Poo on sale=$2.99
1 x Gillette Custom Pivot Razors on sale=$6.49
SubTotal....$21.48
Coupons Used
2 x $3/2 Glade Items IPQ=$6.00
1 x $1/1 Aussie product ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $3/1 Gillette Disp. Razors ManuQ=$3.00
Coupon Total....$10.00
$21.48-$10.00=$11.48-$10 ECB=$1.48+$.09 tax=$1.57 OOP, put on CVS Gift Card so ZERO spent.
Received ECBs....$2 Gillette Razors, $2 Aussie item, $4 WYB $12 in Glade=$8.00
I did have the presence of mind to get a Raincheck for the Crest Rinses but forgot about the CoverGirl Powder....oh well. Not like I NEED that anyway.
I will be needing to put an addition on the house fairly soon just to hold all the candles I've acquired in the past 6 months.lolol
Sluggy
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Diggin' Out After the Snowicane....Rite-Aid and Weis and I'm not Done!
So after sitting home for 2 days while it snowed for 2 days straight, I just HAD to get out. I had $17 in Weis Cats to spend before they expired Saturday night plus I was itchin' to go to Rite-Aid.
So after hubby took me out for lunch to our favorite cheapy-but-oh-so-yummy place, I hit Rite-Aid.
2 x Pert for Men Shampoo on clearance $1.99=$3.98**Even better deal than the reg. Pert on sale $2.50
2 x Glade Candles on sale $1.99=$3.98
1 x Finesse 'Poo on sale=$2.99
1 x Rite-Aid Aloe Vera Lotion on clearance=$2.99
2 x PureVia on sale $2.50=$5.00
1 x Oral B Toothbrush on sale=$2.99
SubTotal.....$21.93
Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x $1.50/1Pert for Men Shampoo ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $3/2 Glade Candles ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $2 any Skin Care item over $2.99 Wellness IPQ=$2.00
2 x $2/1 PureVia ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $1/1 Oral B Toothbrush ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Any Oral Care Item over $1.99 Wellness IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$19.00
$21.93-$19.00=$2.93+$.06 tax=$2.99 OOP Put on Prepaid Visa Card from P&G/Rite-Aid Deal
Qualified for $2 SCR(Finesse 'Poo).
I went looking for the Hershey's PIECES Candy Bags for $2.50 so I could use the rest of my $1/1 ManuQs but my local R.A. didn't receive them yet.
I might go out tonight and check a different store....
Then it was onward to Weis. First I had to see if I was due a refund on 2 packages of OEP Taco Shells I bought 2 weeks ago in the Catalina Deal. The ad had this size listed but it didn't ring up on sale or give me my $8 Cat(I got a $4 Cat instead for the lower threshold level of spending). Took the shells, the ad and my receipt and had a pow-wow at CS and then with the Manager on Duty. Manager said they should have been included so I got 1 package free(full refund of $2.29)and the other package I got the difference between what they rang up and what they were suppose to be priced at($1.04 diff.), so I got to keep both shells and paid $1.25 for both in the end after my $3.33 refund. Not bad. But I still didn't have my other $4 in Cats I should have gotten.....ugh.
So it was off to spend my $17 in Cats I did have + some other free item Qs and to see if the Gillette Deal was worth doing.
4 x Valio Real Goodness Lactose-Free Milk on sale $2=$8.00
6 x Furmano Tomatoes on sale $1=$6.00
1 x International Delights Coffee Creamer=$1.50
2 x Prego Heart Smart Spaghetti Sauce on sale $2.00=$4.00
1 x Breyer's Yogurt on sale=$2.50
1 x Generic Dixie Bathroom Cups on sale=$2.99**Hubby insists we buy these, it's not MY idea!lol
2 x Fast Fixin's Chicken on sale BOGO=$6.99
1 x Steak=$6.18
4 x Gillette Body Wash $4.39=$17.56
1 x Gillette Deodorant=$3.99
1 x Gillette Deodorant=$4.55
SubTotal......$64.26
Coupons Used
4 x $1/1 Valio Real Goodness Lactose-Free Milk ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $1/3 Furmano Tomatoes ManuQ=$2.00
1 x FREE ITEM International Delight Creamer=$1.50
1 x $.50/2 Prego Heart Smart Spaghetti Sauce ManuQ(doubled to $1)=$1.00
1 x FREE ITEM Bryer's Yogurt Weis Catalina Q=$2.50
1 x $3/1 Instant Store Coupon on Steak=$3.00
4 x $1/1 Instant Store Coupon on Gillette BodyWash=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Instant Store Coupon on Gillette Deo WYB 1 Gillette BWash=$2.00
2 x B1Deo/Get1BWash FREE ManuQ=$6.78(cost of 2 BWash after Instant Store Qs)
1 x $4/2 Gillette Deodorant or BodyWash(I used on the Deodorants)=$4.00
3 x $3 Off Meat or Chicken Catalinas=$9.00
2 x $4 Off Catalinas(from 2 weeks ago Cat Deals)=$8.00
Coupon Total....$47.78
$64.26-$47.78=$16.48+$1.38 tax=$17.86 OOP
$66.46 in Savings, Value of $84.32.... a Savings of 80%.
The Gillette Deal was worth doing. With the Instant Store Savings and Coupons, plus when you spend $25 or more in a single transaction on eligible P&G items, you can send away for a $10 Prepaid Visa Card. I spent $26.10 before discounts/coupons so I can send for the $10 Visa card. In essence, that makes my OOP here $7.86!
And when I got home, in the mail waiting for me were $18 in Cats from Catalina Marketing!lol
The $8 I didn't get(the OEP shells snafu) and then a $10 one....must be from the broken Cat Machine Register at a different Weis I went to. I hadn't expected that one! I still had the $4 CatI got instead of the $8 2 weeks ago so I am ahead $4 at any rate.
The problem here....they mailed the Cats on 2/23 and they expire 2/27...TODAY!LOLOL
So I am jumping back in the car to go spend them tonight!
I sure wish I had gotten the mail BEFORE we went out today...I would have had NO OOP if I had them to spend earlier today.
Oh.
Well.
#2 son is lobbying for a cheesecake splurge.
Maybe I can do the Gillette Deal again(send that rebate to BIL)AND get a cheesecake..... ;-)
Sluggy
So after hubby took me out for lunch to our favorite cheapy-but-oh-so-yummy place, I hit Rite-Aid.
2 x Glade Candles on sale $1.99=$3.98
1 x Finesse 'Poo on sale=$2.99
1 x Rite-Aid Aloe Vera Lotion on clearance=$2.99
2 x PureVia on sale $2.50=$5.00
1 x Oral B Toothbrush on sale=$2.99
SubTotal.....$21.93
Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks IPQ=$5.00
2 x $1.50/1Pert for Men Shampoo ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $3/2 Glade Candles ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $2 any Skin Care item over $2.99 Wellness IPQ=$2.00
2 x $2/1 PureVia ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $1/1 Oral B Toothbrush ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Any Oral Care Item over $1.99 Wellness IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$19.00
$21.93-$19.00=$2.93+$.06 tax=$2.99 OOP Put on Prepaid Visa Card from P&G/Rite-Aid Deal
Qualified for $2 SCR(Finesse 'Poo).
I went looking for the Hershey's PIECES Candy Bags for $2.50 so I could use the rest of my $1/1 ManuQs but my local R.A. didn't receive them yet.
I might go out tonight and check a different store....
Then it was onward to Weis. First I had to see if I was due a refund on 2 packages of OEP Taco Shells I bought 2 weeks ago in the Catalina Deal. The ad had this size listed but it didn't ring up on sale or give me my $8 Cat(I got a $4 Cat instead for the lower threshold level of spending). Took the shells, the ad and my receipt and had a pow-wow at CS and then with the Manager on Duty. Manager said they should have been included so I got 1 package free(full refund of $2.29)and the other package I got the difference between what they rang up and what they were suppose to be priced at($1.04 diff.), so I got to keep both shells and paid $1.25 for both in the end after my $3.33 refund. Not bad. But I still didn't have my other $4 in Cats I should have gotten.....ugh.
So it was off to spend my $17 in Cats I did have + some other free item Qs and to see if the Gillette Deal was worth doing.
4 x Valio Real Goodness Lactose-Free Milk on sale $2=$8.00
6 x Furmano Tomatoes on sale $1=$6.00
1 x International Delights Coffee Creamer=$1.50
2 x Prego Heart Smart Spaghetti Sauce on sale $2.00=$4.00
1 x Breyer's Yogurt on sale=$2.50
1 x Generic Dixie Bathroom Cups on sale=$2.99**Hubby insists we buy these, it's not MY idea!lol
2 x Fast Fixin's Chicken on sale BOGO=$6.99
1 x Steak=$6.18
4 x Gillette Body Wash $4.39=$17.56
1 x Gillette Deodorant=$3.99
1 x Gillette Deodorant=$4.55
SubTotal......$64.26
Coupons Used
4 x $1/1 Valio Real Goodness Lactose-Free Milk ManuQ=$4.00
2 x $1/3 Furmano Tomatoes ManuQ=$2.00
1 x FREE ITEM International Delight Creamer=$1.50
1 x $.50/2 Prego Heart Smart Spaghetti Sauce ManuQ(doubled to $1)=$1.00
1 x FREE ITEM Bryer's Yogurt Weis Catalina Q=$2.50
1 x $3/1 Instant Store Coupon on Steak=$3.00
4 x $1/1 Instant Store Coupon on Gillette BodyWash=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Instant Store Coupon on Gillette Deo WYB 1 Gillette BWash=$2.00
2 x B1Deo/Get1BWash FREE ManuQ=$6.78(cost of 2 BWash after Instant Store Qs)
1 x $4/2 Gillette Deodorant or BodyWash(I used on the Deodorants)=$4.00
3 x $3 Off Meat or Chicken Catalinas=$9.00
2 x $4 Off Catalinas(from 2 weeks ago Cat Deals)=$8.00
Coupon Total....$47.78
$64.26-$47.78=$16.48+$1.38 tax=$17.86 OOP
$66.46 in Savings, Value of $84.32.... a Savings of 80%.
The Gillette Deal was worth doing. With the Instant Store Savings and Coupons, plus when you spend $25 or more in a single transaction on eligible P&G items, you can send away for a $10 Prepaid Visa Card. I spent $26.10 before discounts/coupons so I can send for the $10 Visa card. In essence, that makes my OOP here $7.86!
And when I got home, in the mail waiting for me were $18 in Cats from Catalina Marketing!lol
The $8 I didn't get(the OEP shells snafu) and then a $10 one....must be from the broken Cat Machine Register at a different Weis I went to. I hadn't expected that one! I still had the $4 CatI got instead of the $8 2 weeks ago so I am ahead $4 at any rate.
The problem here....they mailed the Cats on 2/23 and they expire 2/27...TODAY!LOLOL
So I am jumping back in the car to go spend them tonight!
I sure wish I had gotten the mail BEFORE we went out today...I would have had NO OOP if I had them to spend earlier today.
Oh.
Well.
#2 son is lobbying for a cheesecake splurge.
Maybe I can do the Gillette Deal again(send that rebate to BIL)AND get a cheesecake..... ;-)
Sluggy
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Rolling Register Rewards at WAGS....2/24
Since we were expecting a long Snow 'Event' Thursday and Friday here in PA, I hopped up to WAGS Wednesday evening to roll some RRs that were expiring on Friday.
Just in case I couldn't make it out in time.
I bought this.....
4 x Hershey's Pieces Candy Bags on sale $2.50=$10.00
1 x Gillette Fusion Razor on sale=$8.99
2 x Crest Toothpaste $2.69=$5.38
2 x Right Guard Deo on sale BOGO=$2.99
1 x Goody Hairbands=$2.99
1 x Duracell Batteries 8pk. on sale=$5.99
3 x Hydrogen Peroxide $.99=$2.97
SubTotal....$39.31
Coupons Used
4 x $1/1 Hershey's Pieces Candy Bags ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $41 Gillette Fusion Razor ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $1/2 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $2/2 Right Guard Deo IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Duracell Batteries ManuQ=$1.00
1 x WAGS In-Ad Q Hydrogen Peroxide =$1.97
2 x WAGS Feb. Booklet $1.50/1 Crest TPaste Q=$3.00
Coupons Total....$16.97
RRs Used
1 x $10(Joint Juice)
1 x $3(Schick Razor)
1 x $2(Poligrip)
1 x $2(Lypsyl)
RRs Total....$17.00
$39.31-$16.97=$22.34-$17.00=$5.34+$1.26 tax=$6.60 OOP
I hadn't planned on getting the Batteries but daughter needed them for her calculator to take the SATs in 2 weeks. Without the batteries, I would have been OOP $1.31.
I received RRs totaling $11 for this transaction....$5 for the Hershey's Candy, $4 for the Razor & $2 for the HairBands. I spent $17 in RRs.
The purchase of the Hershey's candy also triggered a ManuQ for $1/1 off a bag of M&Ms. This doesn't expire until 4/21/10 so it might mean cheap M&Ms when the Easter candy goes on clearance.
I still had a $1 RR to roll so I bought.....
2 x Hydrogen Peroxide $.99=$1.98
1 x Gillette Razor on sale=$8.99
1 x Candy Bar=$.69
SubTotal....$11.66
Coupons Used
1 x $41 Gillette Fusion Razor ManuQ=$4.00
1 x WAGS In-Ad Q Hydrogen Peroxide=$1.31
Coupon Total....$5.31
Register Rewards Used
1 x $1(old RR)
1 x $5(new from Pieces Candy Bags)
RRs Total....$6.00
$11.66-$5.31=$6.35-$6.00=$.35+$.54 tax=$.89 OOP
I received RRs totaling $4 for the Gillette Razor. I spent $6 in RRs.
I now have $10 in RRs to roll within 2 weeks. Let's hope there are some good things I can use with RRs attached offered at WAGS in those 2 weeks.
Though the Peroxide was a bit more than the cheapest filler items I could have added to my orders in order to use all my coupons and register rewards, I'd rather spend a little more and get something I can use than some junkie thing. I love to use Peroxide for cleaning and in the laundry!
Sluggy
Just in case I couldn't make it out in time.
I bought this.....
1 x Gillette Fusion Razor on sale=$8.99
2 x Crest Toothpaste $2.69=$5.38
2 x Right Guard Deo on sale BOGO=$2.99
1 x Goody Hairbands=$2.99
1 x Duracell Batteries 8pk. on sale=$5.99
3 x Hydrogen Peroxide $.99=$2.97
SubTotal....$39.31
Coupons Used
4 x $1/1 Hershey's Pieces Candy Bags ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $41 Gillette Fusion Razor ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $1/2 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $2/2 Right Guard Deo IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Duracell Batteries ManuQ=$1.00
1 x WAGS In-Ad Q Hydrogen Peroxide =$1.97
2 x WAGS Feb. Booklet $1.50/1 Crest TPaste Q=$3.00
Coupons Total....$16.97
RRs Used
1 x $10(Joint Juice)
1 x $3(Schick Razor)
1 x $2(Poligrip)
1 x $2(Lypsyl)
RRs Total....$17.00
$39.31-$16.97=$22.34-$17.00=$5.34+$1.26 tax=$6.60 OOP
I hadn't planned on getting the Batteries but daughter needed them for her calculator to take the SATs in 2 weeks. Without the batteries, I would have been OOP $1.31.
I received RRs totaling $11 for this transaction....$5 for the Hershey's Candy, $4 for the Razor & $2 for the HairBands. I spent $17 in RRs.
The purchase of the Hershey's candy also triggered a ManuQ for $1/1 off a bag of M&Ms. This doesn't expire until 4/21/10 so it might mean cheap M&Ms when the Easter candy goes on clearance.
I still had a $1 RR to roll so I bought.....
1 x Gillette Razor on sale=$8.99
1 x Candy Bar=$.69
SubTotal....$11.66
Coupons Used
1 x $41 Gillette Fusion Razor ManuQ=$4.00
1 x WAGS In-Ad Q Hydrogen Peroxide=$1.31
Coupon Total....$5.31
Register Rewards Used
1 x $1(old RR)
1 x $5(new from Pieces Candy Bags)
RRs Total....$6.00
$11.66-$5.31=$6.35-$6.00=$.35+$.54 tax=$.89 OOP
I received RRs totaling $4 for the Gillette Razor. I spent $6 in RRs.
I now have $10 in RRs to roll within 2 weeks. Let's hope there are some good things I can use with RRs attached offered at WAGS in those 2 weeks.
Though the Peroxide was a bit more than the cheapest filler items I could have added to my orders in order to use all my coupons and register rewards, I'd rather spend a little more and get something I can use than some junkie thing. I love to use Peroxide for cleaning and in the laundry!
Sluggy
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