My Trip--The Ocean, WW2, Pruney Donuts and Russian Prostitutes Part 2

Here's where we left off last time.....

A beautiful sunrise on Wednesday morning.
Being bored with the cafe in the motel for breakfast(we had used 1 voucher and had 1 left for breakfast to use on Thursday before we left), Hubs ventured out early to forage for morning sustenance while I tried to pry my eyelids open.

I had introduced him to The Fractured Prune last trip.
Seems he was hankering for more 'pruney donuts' this trip.
The FP is a gourmet donut shop that originated in OC.   A few years ago when we had a teacher's strike at the local school and the kids were out of school for 4 weeks at the beginning of that school year, I had taken my boys and one of their friends to Virginia Beach and then, OC and had dragged them to the FP for breakfast one morning.

There were only 2 locations at that time but it seems the FP has caught on and there are scads of outlets down in that area and beyond.  The only problem is they are only open from 7am to noon during the off-season.
They make cake type donuts.....fresh and hot. 
When they pull them from the deep fryer, you tell them what glaze to put on your donut and if you want toppings....like jimmies, chocolate chips, coconut, nuts, marshmallows, etc.
There are 'regular' combinations that are popular that they have on the menu you can get or you can make up your own.
This is something like what Hubs carted back to the room.....still hot.

They may not look like much, but if your computer had Smell-o-vision, you'd be licking your screen.

Seriously, if I lived down there, I'd weigh 600 lbs.....

This was just the incentive Hubs needed to pry my off of the mattress....at least until I ate 3 and then I just wanted to lay back down for 4 hours and sleep the sugar/carb coma off.lol

We did some sightseeing on Wednesday.  Up in Delaware near Bethany Beach they are replacing the little bridge with this monster....

 It's the same type of construction as the bridge on Route 1 that replaced/bybassed the one over Route 13 near St. George DE.   Actually it's called the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal Bridge.  It was one of the 1st cable-stayed bridges in the country and the only one in the Delaware Valley.  This one just seems gargantuan for it's purpose.
Gee, did I just talk about another bridge on my Maine trip post?  Maybe I have this latent 'thing' for bridges and engineering, huh? ;-)

When I took the kids during the teacher's strike to OC I noticed these big concrete things along the shoreline as we traveled up the coast from OC to Rehobeth.....

This shot was taken from the car so it only shows the top half.  They are quite tall and obtuse, sticking out from the scenery.
I just discovered that they are fire towers that were built along the coastline in NJ and DE during World War II.  Fire Tower is a misnomer since these were really enemy spotting & artillery aiming towers.  Our military feared/expected a Pearl Harbor type attack on Trenton and the Philly munitions and shipbuilding yards at the head of the Delaware River, so these towers were built along the route to guard against the German battleships they thought were going to sneak up the River......ships that never arrived.  Quite a few have yet to be torn down and there is a group taking on restoring them as they are historically significant.

This shot thrills me yet makes me sad....

The shoreline of Delaware is NOT totally developed and settled yet.  There are towns dotting the shore but there is still open, undeveloped acreage without huge condos or hotels on it.  This is a big contrast to the shoreline once you hit the Maryland line which is wall-to-wall monolithic buildings.  There are some state parks on the beaches in Delaware too so some of the beaches will never be developed.  This was a piece of a state park I saw from the road near where one of the fire towers is located.  It just gave me chills to see a piece of shoreline without a building or a trace of a person having been there.  An unsullied place....well, except for the road.lol

Besides buying groceries again on a vacation....lol....we went to Roses.

When I was growing up, our area was lousy with Roses stores.  It was the Woolworth's of my part of the South.  The Wal-mart of it's day. 
Now it's barely hanging on.  It concentrates on high-end dollar store junk....sort of like a Family Dollar or Dollar General, but the stores are usually bigger.  There are still Roses in VA, DE, MD and NC that I know of.
If we are near a Roses as the holidays approach, we always stop in for this....

I am NOT a fan of fruitcake per se, but.....
Claxton's Fruit Cake is da bomb!  As Alton Brown might say....
Serioulsy.
Good.
Eats.

But being the cheap, miserly, frugal gal I am, I refuse to pay $9 a lb. to buy it locally up north or online.
It was $3.50 a lb. at Roses.  We stocked up......for eating purposes, not gift-giving purposes so if you are on my gift list, don't be a'feared that I'm sending you a fruitcake for Christmas.
You are safe....

After lugging fruitcake bricks to the car it was time for an early dinner so we headed over to West OC to search out a BBQ place we had seen in the phone book.
We found it quickly enough but gee, it was CLOSED like every other restaurant down there in the off-season.
So we drove down the main drag for a bit until I smelled a heavenly porcine aroma and turned me head and saw this....

A kitchy old motel sign, a motel office with a huge B for BUDWEISER Neon sign in the window and an OPEN Flag waving us in from the other side of the office building were a BBQ Joint was perfuming the air with pig from it's on site smoker pitt.

They had me at pig.


We had stumbled upon bbq heaven.
It's name is Rascal's in West Ocean City MD.
If you hanker for smoked/barbecued chicken, brisket or pork, check it out.  Good eats and cheap eats!
We stumbled along to the back entrance of the building into a tiny poolside bar with a few boofs and sat down.

In walked Roscoe Nelson, the owner/manager of the Alamo and Rascal's.
Roscoe turned out to be a pretty colorful character.
He told us all about the history of the Alamo and it's original owner and then about himself.
He knows all the locals in OC and told us to get Denny, the guy who owns the tavern next door to our motel, to tell him the "one armed man" said hi.
Did I mention that Roscoe has one arm?
He lost it when he was 12.
After about a minute and a half of talking to him you forget he's got one arm....that is, until he brings the subject up.

Seems because Roscoe hires pretty foreign women to work his bar and more pretty foreign women live in his motel during the in-season when they work at the hotels in OC, rumors of Prostitution Rings at the Alamo started going around.  And drunk men started showing up in the late evenings/early mornings looking for the whores.....wreaking all kinds of havoc.
Bullet holes in motel windows anyone?

The gal working the bar & tables when we were there was decidely American, not foreign.  Though this rumour started years ago people still turn up at the motel looking for some 'comfort' besides the bbq kind.
Figures I'd end up at an infamous seedy motel owned by a one armed man, with fabled Russian hookers.
Even when I try to be boring, I can't.  I can't make stuff like this up.....lol

Here's a you tube vlog that the DC paper did on the story.....


 I personally liked this article located HERE that the same Washington City Paper outfit also put out.
And before you ask, no, I didn't play horseshoes or "party" with Cory and Roger.  ;-)

The motel is decidedly flea bag-esque but worth the trip for the 'Cue!

After a leisurely breakfast in our motel's cafe Thursday morning-served by Fran who after 2 pots of coffee in her by 8am was chatty as a flock of seagulls fighting over a tourists dropped bag of salted peanuts-we packed it up and headed home.
No lingering since we had to get north of Philly before rush hour started at 3pm.

Here's one more pre-sunrise shot of the Atlantic Ocean.

Funny thing I noticed this trip......usually I can smell the sea air miles before we hit the coast.  This time, not so much.  The beach didn't smell like the beach should.  Hubs even commented on it.  Maybe our noses have shorted out from old age or something....lol

Sluggy

My Trip--The Ocean, WW2, Pruney Donuts and Russian Prostitutes Part 1

Well, I guess that title got your attention enough to look at my post, huh?lol

Let me tell you....thought I run a boring blog and life, it's never a dull moment when I'm around!

Hubs and I took a 3 night get-away to the ocean last week.  That's part of the reason why I wasn't online. ;-)
There is a beachfront motel in Ocean City MD that runs a very nice off-season package including $80 in food vouchers.  And let me tell you, $80 in food vouchers does NOT go very far in the 'OC'...but I digress.

I've been to Ocean City 3 times now in the last few years.  Let me say, I am NOT a big fan of big, built-up beach places....like Ocean City.  The place goes on for miles....over 140 blocks of big ass hotels/motels, junky souvenir shops, pizza joints, restaurants, putt putt golf, ice cream and candy shops and on and on and on.  It's a cacaphony of Visual Clutter in bright colors as far as the seared corneas of your eyes can see.
Not only that but I hear the place swells to a population of over 300,000 in the summer.  I am not a 'wall-to-wall obnoxious, touristy people' type of gal.  Maybe when I was a college student I could handle a beach scene like this....

But now?....not so much.
So we go in the off season when the college crowd and the families with children are back at home and in school. Having grown up in a beach town I relish the beach in the fall and winter when the tourists are scant and the locals rule.  This was more like the scene on the Boardwalk last week in Ocean City, without the snow however...

Relaxing and nothing moving at a frantic pace.  And the $500 a night hotel rooms have dropped to a reasonable price.
Since the tourists are mostly gone until next spring, alot of the businesses are closed up as well at this time of the year so there are no outside pools, no go-karts, no rides, no arcades.  Nothing that would make my head explode.   Just lots of walking along the beach or boardwalk or renting a bike and looking out at the horizon line.

Last trip we did some historical type excursions in the area.  This year, we just sat around and vegetated mostly, contemplating the water and the occasional surfers.

We stopped on the way down in Rehobeth at the Outlet Malls to do some promised clothes shopping for the teens and Hubs picked up some much needed shoes for a deal.  We also did some Christmas shopping as well.....


I did some shelling our 1st morning, as a storm had just passed.  Being among the first on the beach I was able to score this beauty.....

 An intact 8" long Whelk shell.....

These whelk shells, especially of this size, are hard to come by intact off of OC or any mid-Atlantic beach for that matter.   A predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod, use to call this beauty home.  Sort of fitting that the Slugmama, a human gastropod, owns it now....though I don't exactly fit into it.  ;-)
We talked with a local gal on our beach outing, who was oohing and ahhing over my shell.  She had a beautiful Australian Cattle Dog that was an unusual Red Heeler coloring that you don't see much of in the US.  She  had adopted from an Animal Rescue Group.  Real nice dog....and owner.lol

We headed over to West Ocean City later to do some shopping, food shopping.  We picked up a few things to eat during our stay so we didn't have to go out and spend for the high-priced/mediocre quality restaurant offerings or for the ubiquitous fast food.  Those seem to be the only choices in the off-season as alot of food joints are closed up.  We had a choice of Subway, Arby's, Mickey D's type places or some Crab Houses, non-descript local overpriced Restaurants and Pizza Joints or Ruth's Chris Steakhouse where hamburgers start at $30, not including fries.lol

We also hit a Save-Alot grocery store looking for Smithfield Ham for ham biscuits.  This place had it 2 years ago but not now.  We did find the ham at Food Lion and on sale....woohoo!  While at Save-Alot I found a couple of good deals....100% Juice for $.99 and $1.79 and Veg. Oil for $2 for 48 oz. sized bottles.  Daughter has a 'thing' lately for deep fried ravioli and has been going through my oil stockpile, so I loaded up with 4 bottles, since it was almost half the price of what it goes for around here.

We also hit the Dollar Store and picked up some water for the stay and a couple of books to read on the beach.
I took a nap when we got back to the motel while Hubs took a swim.

We used our $40 dinner voucher Tuesday night at a nearby hoity toity restaurant that's been in OC for ages.

Authentic Italian food but the view was non-existent.  Our hotel has a deal with this place for the food vouchers.  The restaurant provides a price fixe menu(one price meal menu)with a small selection of entrees.  Of course it's $20 a person, so your voucher covers dinner for two.  The food was good but I wouldn't say that it was necessarily "worth" $40.  But I am NOT complaining.  It was a deal with the voucher and the place was empty so we enjoyed the peace and quiet.
We had drinks on the balcony of our room and just enjoyed listening to the water and the cool night air.

Hubs was up bright and early each morning to enjoy the sunrise.
Here's one of the photos he took.  This is the only way I saw the sunrise since I don't "do" mornings.....

Part 2  tomorrow.....

Sluggy

Isn't It Always The Way.....

....when You (I) go offline for a few days(a week), that some tiny(earthshattering) deal comes along and you (I) don't get to appreciate(take advantage of) it?!?
Seriously.
It's always the way it goes, right?!

So I leave my coupons and my beloved Rite-Aid behind for a small little oceanfront getaway and THIS HAPPENS.....

Yes, I'm sure all you Rite-Aid-istas(not me) saw this unfold last week where 'mystery' $2 +Up Rewards were magically appearing on receipts that made your(not mine) candy purchases FREE after +Ups.
And I(not you) am down at the shore, with Rite-Aids lined up along the main drag there and NO internet access to find out about this deal until I(not you) got home late Thursday evening.

I tell ya, it was difficult to soldier on with my life knowing I missed some premio sugar scores with Trick-or-Treaters baring down on my front door in a few short weeks..... ;-)

I did hear that 1 lone variety of Skittles was still spitting out the Mystery +Ups on Saturday and I had 1 lone +Up that was expiring that evening so I forced myself to head over to my local Rite-Aid to check things out.

Here is what I brought home with my limited clipped/printed coupons.....

1 x Gallon of Milk=$3.28 
2 x Maxwell House Coffee on sale $2.99=$5.98*
2 x Nivea Lip Recovery Balm $2.39 with 20% wellness disc.=$4.78**
1 x Sally Hansen Nail Polish $2.99/$2.39 w/20% wellness disc.=$2.39***
2 x Candy Bags(1 Skittles/1 Jolly Ranchers) on sale $2.50=$5.00****
SubTotal....$21.43

Coupons Used
1 x $4 off $20 Wellness AdPerks/VV IPQ=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Maxwell House Coffee IPQ=$2.00
1 x $.50 of $5 Candy Purchase Wellness IPQ=$.50
Coupon Total....$6.50

$21.43-$6.50=$14.93 OOP
+Ups used.....$10, $2.50, $1, $1=$14.50
$14.93-$14.50=$.43 put on Rite-Aid Gift Card

+Ups earned....2x$1.99(Nivea), $1(2xCandy), 2x$1(Coffee), $2(Choc Club)=$8.98
SCR qualified for...$2(Sally Hansen)
So that's $10.98 back to me, against the $14.50 in +Ups I spent.

*After Qs and +Ups generated the Coffee cost me $.99 each. 
**The Nivea variety I bought was regularly priced $2.99, which was the sale price on the other varieties in the store.  Since I get 20% off the reg. price, these were $2.39 each and when they each generated a $1.99 +Up they cost me $.40 each after all the discounts.  I sure wish I had had some coupons for the Nivea but of course our region never gets Nivea ManuQs in the inserts. 8-(
***The nail polish was $2.39 after wellness 20% discount and earned a $2 SCR so it cost me $.39 in the end. 
****As for the candy bags.....there was 1 lone Crazy Cores variety of Skittles in the store so I picked that up along with the Jolly Ranchers.  As the cashier rang the CC Skittles up, he noticed the bag was opened.  I didn't want to have to run to the back of the store for another bag of candy(hehehe) so I told him to use that opened bag to ring it up and I'd go back and get a replacement bag after we finished the transaction.  I also said that was the only bag of that variety so I'd have to get a reg. Skittles bag instead, which was on sale for the same price/deal.  So the 2 bags gave me the $1 +Ups and the CC Skittles bag he scanned generated a $2 "Mystery" +Up.  In the end I got $3 in +Ups for the 2 bags so both bags cost me $1.50 or $.75 each after Q and +Ups received.

Coffee...$1.98
Milk...$3.28
Nivea...$.80
Nail Color...$.40
Candy...$1.50
$7.96 left after Qs/+Ups used-$4 AdPerk Q on $20 order=$3.96 is what everything "cost" me in gift cards/+Ups.


THIS TRIP Total Spent....$.43(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$30.61
SCR qualified for...$2.00(Nail Polish)
Gift Cards earned....$0.00
+Up Rewards earned...$10.98
+Up Rewards spent...$14.50
This trip was a net loss of $3.52 in +Ups but no money OOP.

GRAND TOTALS so far-October Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......6
Total Spent....$1.95 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$222.86
SCR qualified for....$10.00
Other Cash....$0
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0

+UPS Totals for Oct. SCR Period
+Up Rewards carryover from last trip....$26.00
+Up Rewards spent....$14.50
+Up Rewards earned....$10.98
+Up Rewards left....$22.48

Sluggy

Another 2010 BORING BLOG BOX of FUN GIVEAWAY is OPEN! Box #4 LAST Post ENTER NOW!

This is the 4th Sluggy's BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY for 2010!

It's time again for a Boring Giveaway.
I run a Boring Blog here so why not give away boring stuff, right?

Just to recap, I put things in the box(mostly what I have gotten for free or almost free)each week and when the box is filled we draw a winner from all the entries received.  The stuff can range from HBA, food, toys, collectibles, home decor or books.  Someday if enough people Click On enough Ads and this blog makes some cold hard CASH, I may add a gift card, so get to clicking already!!lol

The box is now FULL!  This is the LAST POST for This GIVEAWAY BOX so enter now!

Here is what went into the Box today.....

1. full sized bottle of Garnier Shampoo
2. Rembrandt Toothpaste-this stuff is expensive!lol
3. a travel Calculator/Alarm Clock
4. a bag of BLISS Chocolate with meltaway centers

So far there are NOT ALOT of Entries so be sure and enter to win this box, since your chances as of when I wrote this are darn good!


And here is a recap of everthing that is now in the box.....

Star Trek Sticker Book-this is filled with all kinds of Star Trek insignia stickers
Star Trek First Contact bubble bath
Star Trek Party Hats(visor type)
Star Trek Party Blowers
A Mesh Bath Scrubby thing
A small Bottle of Olay Body Wash
A Glade Candle
A can of Bar Harbor brand Clam Chowder from my trip to Maine last month
A Tigger Halloween Hand Towel
A Toblerone Chocolate Bar
A Nivea Lip Balm-unscented I think
A Ltd. Ed. Halloween M&M plush critter--you had to send away for this one a few yrs. ago

A full sized bottle of Garnier Shampoo

A Rembrandt Toothpaste-this stuff is expensive!lol

A travel Calculator/Alarm Clock

A bag of BLISS Chocolate with meltaway centers
16 luscious prizes ranging in value from $1.99 to $8.49!!!


If this is your first time, please go read all the rules for these Giveaways on THIS POST.


Please NOTE--You MUST be a follower to enter the Giveaway.  If you aren't one, just click on the "Follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a follower---->


TIME TO ENTER.....

Just put a comment on this POST for your entry.  Easy Peasy!

When I post again about this BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY, entries on this Post will be CLOSED and you can post on the New Giveaway Post and enter again.  I hope this isn't too confusing. ;-)

Here are the ways to get UP TO 2 EXTRA entries PER POST.....

1. Put my blog on your blog's Blogroll.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with the URL of your blog. If I'm already on your Blogroll, say so in an extra comment.
2.  Blog about this Giveaway on your blog or on a Message Board.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with a link to your blog post or the message on the board.

You can do each of these 2 things once per post, so that's a total of up to 3 entries per person per post.

Again, you can enter on this post until I put another Giveaway Post up and then you need to enter on the NEWER Post.
FYI if you are new here....it generally takes 4 weeks to fill the box, so there will be 4 posts(give or take)about this Giveaway where you can enter to win up to 3 times.

The DEADLINE to ENTER on this POST is Friday, October 15th at 11:59pm ET.
The winner will be announced on Sunday Oct. 17th.

Any questions?  Just email me at slugmama@yahoo.com

Oh yah, I pay for all the stuff in this giveaway and nobody(business or person) gives me stuff or pays me to hold them or promote their products.  I even pay the shipping just because I loves ya'll and....and.....that's how I roll!  ;-)

Happy Entering!! 

Sluggy

Taking a Hiatus....Back Later This Week...Maybe

You know what they say?
That life on the internet is just one big party with your homies.
But I need to hang up my lampshade, step away from the computer and take an Itty Bitty Bloggy Break.
*Try saying that real fast 10 times!*

So I will not be posting for the next few days as I deal with issues here that need my attention.
I'm not sick or anything, just sort of burnt out and need to go off into the woods like Thoreau and contemplate my navel.
And if I am lucky, perhaps I'll find my different drummer too. ;-)

Hope to see you all again very soon!

Sluggy

$30K Savings Challenge SEPTEMBER 2010 Totals.....Not as Good but Still Saving this Month

I have posted my SEPTEMBER 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 September in the black....with an addition to the total!

The extra cash we were able to save in September was.......$1,165.79.

Income
We had $1,036.29 left over of DH's salary after expenses were deducted. Add in $129.50 of Rebates applied to the food expenses and you have a deposit of $1,165.79 toward the Savings Challenge!

Seeing as our monthly target is $2,500.00 to reach our Year End Goal, this month was less than half of what we need each month to stay on track.

Outgo
As for the expenses in September....we had a rather large Vet bill this month(due to our doggie that passed away earlier this month)and we had School Taxes due(our property taxes are divided up into school taxes and local/municipal taxes).  Add in the usual bills plus a fairly large credit card bill(which is paid off every month)and we didn't have as much leftover to put aside this month.  But having a couple of months where we had lower expenses let us save extra before now so we aren't losing any ground in Sept.

The Food Budget costs for September are in another post, which is located HERE.  The actual Food/Toiletries spending in September was over my $250 target but the rebates we received in September helped to cover that excess amount spent and lowered the OOP to $137.67.

Looking Ahead to October....

Looking at last October as a guideline, there is only the quarterly garbage bill coming due.  In fact, we have NO unusual non-monthly bills except this one for the remainder of the year!

Plus there is one of those 2 extra bi-weekly paychecks coming before the year is out.
Now if we can just keep some restraint with the money during the Holidays and not go hog wild with the eating out & the "Gift Bacchanalia" that this Season encourages, we'll be doing well.

On the other hand, October will see the beginning of Heating Season here however, so our electric bill will be going up. 8-(


YTD Standings....
We have a Year To Date Total of $24,087.15 in Savings.  To save $30K for the year, we need to put away $2,500 per month average, at this point in the year we need to have $22,500 saved.  Currently, we have $5,912.85 to go with just 3 months left in the year.  I can't wait to get to that financial finish line!

So how was your September 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!
If you posted your financial progress on your own blog, leave a link in the comments so we can go check you out too!


Sluggy

More Rite-Aid from Last Week....Truly Boring for Non Rite-Aid-iac!

Due to forces beyond my control.....yah, I'm a Rite-Aid Zombie or something....I did 3 more transactions there last week.

4 x Kleenex Tissues on BOGO sale($2.49)=$4.98
2 x Dawn Dish Soap on sale .99¢=$1.98
1 x Crest big Mouth Rinse on sale=$4.99
1 x Crest smaller Mouth Rinse on sale=$3.49
1 x Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrush on sale=$4.99
1 x Crest Toothpaste on sale=$2.99
1 x Fisherman's Friend Throat Lozenges on sale $2.49=$2.39 w/Wellness 20% disc.
SubTotal...$25.81

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 IPQ From newsletter subbed to earlier in the year=$5.00
1 x $1/3 Kleenex AdPerks/VV IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/4 Kleenex ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $2/1 Crest big Mouth Rinse ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Crest smaller Mouth Rinse ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Oral-B Toothbrush ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Crest Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/$10 any Oral Care purchase Wellness IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total....$14.00

$25.81-$14.00=$11.81
Used +Ups....$10, $1=$11.00
$11.81-$11.00=$.81 OOP put on Rite-Aid gift card so ZERO Out of Pocket


Earned +Ups....2 x $3(Oral-B, big Crest Rinse), 1 x $2.50(smaller Crest Rinse), 1 x $1(Fisherman's Friend)=$9.50
The Fisherman's Friend was tagged on the shelf as being a $2 +Up but a $1 was received....ugh.
Also, the Crest Toothpaste didn't produce the $2 +Up it was suppose to, so I'll be calling R-A corporate to get my missing $3 in +Ups.

4 x Progresso Soups on sale $1.50-but one was on clearance for $.79=$5.29
4 x Old Spice Deo. Spray on sale $4.00=$16.00
1 x Ace Cold Compress w/Wellness disc.=$1.03
1 x EOS Lip Balm w/Wellness disc.=$2.79
SubTotal....$25.11

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 AdPerks/VV IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/4 Progresso Soup ManuQ=$1.00
2 x BOGO Old Spice Spray ManuQ=$8.00
1 x $1/2 Old Spice items ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/$10 Beauty/Skin Care Wellness IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1.50/1 Ace product IPQ=$1.50--they didn't adjust it down
Coupon Total....$17.50

$25.11-$17.50=$7.61
Used +Ups....2 x $2, $2.50, $1=$7.50
$7.61-$7.50=$.11 OOP put on Rite-Aid gift card so ZERO out of pocket

Earned +Ups....2 x $1(every 2 cans of soup produced a Mom's Cereal $1+Ups)=$2.00
I also have $2 carried over from my first P&G purchase, added to the $16 in P&G purchased in this transaction, so $18 toward a $30 total to received another $10 +Ups.


And I had to finish off the Buy $30 of P&G deal on Saturday by buying $12 of qualifying products....

4 x Pantene Shampoo on sale $3=$12.00
2 x Tampax Pearl BOGO50%=$7.93
3 x Dawn Dish Soap on sale .99=$2.97
1 x EOS Lip Balm on sale $2.99=$2.63 w/Wellness disc.
SubTotal....$25.53

Coupons Used

1 x $5 off $25 PDF filed Q online valid thru 10/31 IPQ=$5.00
2 x $1/2 Pantene products ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $1/$10 Hair Care Wellness IPQ=$1.00
2 x $2/1 Tampax Pearl ManuQ=$4.00
1 x $2/1 Tampax Pearl RA Flu Booklet Q=$2.00
1 x $1/2 Dawn Hand Renewal Soap ManuQ=$1.00

1 x $1/1 Dawn Hand Renewal Soap Manu.Home Mailer=$1.00
Coupon Total....$16.00

$25.53-$16.00=$9.53
Used +Ups....2 x $3, $2.50, $1=$9.50
$9.53-$9.50=$.03+$.06 tax=$.09 OOP put on Rite-Aid gift card so ZERO out of pocket


Earned +Ups....1 x $10 for purchasing $30 in P&G items. Gillette carryover from last Sunday($2),Old Spice on 9/30($16) and Pantene today($12)=$30.

THESE TRIPS
Total Spent....$1.01(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$107.63
SCR qualified for...$2.00(Old Spice on BIL account), $4.00(Eos Lip Balm 1 for me, 1 for BIL)=$6.00
Gift Cards earned....$0.00
+Up Rewards earned...$24.50
+Up Rewards spent...$28.00
These trips were an $2.50 moneymaker(add the SCRs to the +Ups earned--$6+$24.50=$30.50, then subtract the +Ups spent--$30.50-$28=$2.50 earned).


GRAND TOTALS so far-October Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......5
Total Spent....$1.52 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$192.25
SCR qualified for....$8.00
Other Cash....$0
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0

+UPS Totals for Oct. SCR Period
+Up Rewards carryover from last trip....$29.50
+Up Rewards spent....$28.00
+Up Rewards earned....$24.50
+Up Rewards left....$26.00

 Sluggy

SEPTEMBER Budget Results....Food & Toiletries Spending TOTALS

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2010.
I have posted September's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2010.

I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in September.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom information.

These Totals include Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(between 5 & 2 at home this month) & 3 dogs. No kids under 14.

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP $20.56
Value $70.81 

Savings  70.96%

CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP $18.50

Qs/Ads $6.96

Value $25.46

Savings  27.33%

FAMILY DOLLAR

OOP $8.06

Qs/Ads $6.51

Value $14.57

Savings 44.68%

GERRITY'S

OOP $76.37

Qs/Ads $114.82

Value $191.19

Savings 60.06%

RESTAURANT SUPPLY

OOP $16.15

Value $29.95

Savings 46.08%

RITE AID
OOP $12.78 (whole amount put on Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads $687.93

Value $700.71

Savings 98.17% before gift cards/ 100% savings after gift cards

WALMART
OOP $.14
Value $38.14
Savings 99.63%

WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town)
OOP $127.39

Qs/Ads $247.01

Value $374.40

Savings  65.75%


I 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 SEPTEMBER

Finesse Shampoo...$2.50
Focus Group Payment....$75.00
Lypsyl Lip Balm....$2.39
Pinecone Research....$6.00
Rite-Aid SCR....$40.98
Sure TMF Rebate...$2.63
Subtotal........$129.50

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES

$0.00
 
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received..$129.50

My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from Rite-Aid at 100%, WalMart at 99.63% and the Bakery Outlet at 70.96%.

TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$267.17

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$1178.06

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$1445.23

TOTAL Savings of..........81.51%

TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$129.50

TOTAL OOP After  Rebates....................$137.67
TOTAL Savings of..................................90.47%

This closes out the September spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-

The garden was giving us an ample supply of goodies but I did stock up on some frozen veggies with a Catalina deal.  I resumed moderate use of coupons when shopping this month after not using many in August.
While I went over slightly on the budgeted $250 amount for the month, the rebates & focus group payment added to the food budget kitty went a long way to help keep my OOP under the set amount.

What's ahead for October 2010.....

Since we just got the new fridge I haven't stocked up on much fresh farm stand veggies for winter yet, but I'll be doing that in early October. 

I am setting the October 2010 Food/Toiletries Budget at $250. I am figuring $150 for regular monthly purchases and the other $100 for the stocking on farm buys and any good seasonal deals(sugar, flour, pumpkin, eggs, pork, apples, etc.)

As always, any rebates received this month will be added to the food budget spending.  I have 4 outstanding rebates due in but I have no rebates going out so these 4(plus any Rite-Aid SCRs)will probably be all the rebate money for the rest of the year.

With nine months of the year behind us, we have averaged $179.21 per MONTH after rebates on food/toiletries spending for 2010 for a family of 4-5 adults/teens + 2-3 pets.

How did you do in September 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

Is it Just Me? and other Randomness

**Is it just me or is it strange that at Rite-Aid you can use your WELLNESS CARD to get a discount on Junk Food?  Every week in the sales flyer there is some candy or snack food on special sale when you use your Wellness Card.
Isn't that kind of like presenting a card to show your membership as a Quaker to buy bullets?

**Is it just me or is October 1st the start of the official Fall Season for you too?  And right on cue, the weather here went from rainy and warmish yesterday to windy and cool today....or as Hubs would call it, COLD!  I swear the man can't take a stiff breeze and temperatures in the 60's without breaking out a sweater or two.  I truly believe Hubs was a lizard in a previous life wanting nothing more than to sun himself on a hot rock.lol

**Is it just me or can you really believe that the year is 3 months away from being over??!  Here comes the triad of American Holidays....Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas(or Chanukah).  Of course, if you've been in one of the Temples devoted to American business(=a store) in the past month or 2, you already know that the Holidays are quickly pressing down on us.  I am so not ready for all the hype and the pressure to be too busy with activities and stuff.  Stop this merry-go-round and LET ME OFF!  Be careful this Holiday Season and don't take a nosedive off of your Financial Future into that deep hole called Debt!  Limit your Spending, Budget for the Holidays and STICK TO IT!!  You'll be so glad you did in April when you aren't getting Credit Card bills still from stuff you bought and the kids broke in December.

**Is it just me or is applying to FIVE colleges overkill?  I've always been told to apply to THREE--the school you want most to attend, a "stretch" school(one you probably wouldn't EVER get into with your grades/scores &/or that accepts a low percentage of freshmen each year), and a "safety" school(one with lower standards for grades/scores/etc. than you possess, that would consider you a great catch even on your worst day).
Unbeknownst to me, Hubs has allowed Daughter to submit applications to FIVE schools.  In retrospect, #1 son only wanted to apply to 2 schools...both of them on par with the other, nothing "stretchy" and we had to insist that he apply to a third.  (He got into all 3 by the way.)
This is not a case of "Daughter has to spread a wide net in hopes that SOMEBODY will want her".  The girl is gifted in many ways(not all of them evil either!lol), scored 1890 on her SATs, ranks around 24 in her class of 250 something, has a 4.2 cumulative average, was in the Carneige Mellon Talented Youth Program for PA in grade school(she outscored 8th graders in the state in math when she was in the 4th grade), etc. etc. etc.
I applied to 3 schools, though my criteria for applying was somewhat bizarre....but then again, my home life during my teen years were somewhat bizarre compared to most people's lives.lol

**Is it just me, or do teenagers do things out of left field sometimes?  This same child from above, also in the last 3 months, has decided she may not go to college directly.  Like her brother before her, she's been told she's receiving XX amount of dollars for school from us, so depending on where she decides to attend/where she gets in, she may need student loans if she doesn't save any money toward her own schooling while in high school.
This seems to be putting a crimp into her grand plans for life as she envisions herself going to medical school eventually and becoming a doctor.  That's great and all but the cost of getting a medical degree is way more than we can afford without liquidating our retirement funds and Daughter is somewhat of a miser-in-training and can't see herself going into that HUGE hole of debt for medical school.  Hey, let someone else take the financial hit is cool, but not her.

That is when she came up with the bright idea to join the military because they'll send her to college for free.  Envisioning my Daughter in the military in my head sounds much like replays of Judy Benjamin in that old classic movie, PRIVATE BENJAMIN.
"See, I did join the army, but I joined a *different* army. I joined the one with the condos and the private rooms.
To be truthful with you, I can't sleep in a room with 20 strangers.
And I mean look at this place.
The army couldn't afford drapes? I'll be up at the crack of dawn here!"

So between what the recruiters are telling her and what her father & I have discovered, she is trying to wrap her head around the pseudo-reality of what enlisting & going to boot camp will REALLY be like.  She is not a morning person and she has a problem with living with 4 other people....oh, to be a fly in the barracks when/if she does join the service!

She had decided on the Air Force IF she enlists since they have a base somewhere with an actual college on it.....and she 'assumes' that is where she'll be stationed.haha  She took the aptitude test last month that they use to see what jobs you qualify for(Daughter wants to be in the medical field).  She scored 93 on a scale of 99 and will find out some time this month what opportunities await her in the military with that number.

**Is it just me or do you think Daughter has some interesting ideas about how the whole higher education crazy train runs?  Daughter "thinks" she's going to get all the options first--her career track offerings from the military and her acceptance letters from the schools WITH how much in scholarships they will give her(even though I've told her that that actual financial award letters come much later AFTER she accepts and her parents have divulged all their financial matters & they don't offer money to those who don't accept first so she'd have to accept admission to all who offer it to get all the aid letters!lol)--BEFORE she decides whom she will grace with her presence.
Yah......not only does the child has NO ego problem here, but she has only a teeny tiny clue.  It's a good thing we love her or someone around here would have met an early grave years ago....;-)

Sluggy

Another 2010 BORING BLOG BOX of FUN GIVEAWAY is OPEN! Box #4 POST 3

This is the 4th Sluggy's BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY for 2010!

It's time again for a Boring Giveaway.
I run a Boring Blog here so why not give away boring stuff, right?

Just to recap, I put things in the box(mostly what I have gotten for free or almost free)each week and when the box is filled we draw a winner from all the entries received.  The stuff can range from HBA, food, toys, collectibles, home decor or books.  Someday if enough people click on enough ads and this blog makes some cold hard cash, I may add a gift card, so get to clicking already!!lol

The box is starting to fill up now....maybe 1 more week of goodies after this!

Here is what went into the Box today.....

1. a Tigger Halloween Hand Towel
2. a Toblerone Chocolate Bar
3. a Nivea Lip Balm-unscented I think
4. a Ltd. Ed. Halloween M&M plush critter--you had to send away for this one a few yrs. ago

If this is your first time, please go read all the rules for these Giveaways on THIS POST.

Please NOTE--You MUST be a follower to enter the Giveaway.  If you aren't one, just click on the "Follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a follower---->


TIME TO ENTER.....

Just put a comment on this POST for your entry.  Easy Peasy!

When I post again about this BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY, entries on this Post will be CLOSED and you can post on the New Giveaway Post and enter again.  I hope this isn't too confusing. ;-)

Here are the ways to get UP TO 2 EXTRA entries PER POST.....

1. Put my blog on your blog's Blogroll.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with the URL of your blog. If I'm already on your Blogroll, say so in an extra comment.
2.  Blog about this Giveaway on your blog or on a Message Board.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with a link to your blog post or the message on the board.

You can do each of these 2 things once per post, so that's a total of up to 3 entries per person per post.

Again, you can enter on this post until I put another Giveaway Post up and then you need to enter on the NEWER Post.
FYI if you are new here....it generally takes 4 weeks to fill the box, so there will be 4 posts(give or take)about this Giveaway where you can enter to win up to 3 times.

Any questions?  Just email me at slugmama@yahoo.com

Oh yah, I pay for all the stuff in this giveaway and nobody(business or person) gives me stuff or pays me to hold them or promote their products.  I even pay the shipping just because I loves ya'll and....and.....that's how I roll!  ;-)

Happy Entering!! 

Sluggy

Go SEE Frances for Some Biscuits! & Shopping....And It's NOT Rite-Aid!

I still have $15 in Catalinas to use by Saturday at Weis Markets from my Cat Deals of 2 weeks ago.
I also have a $25 Walmart Gift Card I won awhile ago over on Frances' Blog HERE.  She was joking about how much stuff using coupons I'd be able to get with that amount of cash so I promised I'd post about what I got with my winnings.

****Oh, and Frances is having another Giveaway for Grands! Mini Biscuits now so Go Enter it on this Post HERE.****

So now, on to the Savings!
I wanted to use 2 of those $5/5 Kraft items Coupons because mine were expiring in the next couple of days so I decided to try Walmart as they have the cheese on rollback for $2 a bag.  I hadn't tried using them here yet, just at the local chain grocer that takes internet printed coupons.  I don't shop at Target but was considering trying there if I HAD to, but there are reports that Target isn't being very friendly about taking these Qs.
I had an ace-in-the-hole if Walmart had tried to deny the Qs though!
Look at the bag of MEXICAN cheese in the photo.  Quite a few of the bags had this peelie on it....the peelie that tells you to go to the Kraft "Huddle To Fight Hunger" website & print off a $5 off 5 Kraft products coupons(the same one I am trying to use here!)  I was all set to rip that peelie off the bag and ask why they are selling products that tell me to go print and use this coupon on these products if the store won't take the coupon??  And then if they still wouldn't relent I'd be giving Kraft an earful about this!

10 x Kraft shredded Cheese on rollback $2=$20.00
3 x Ocean Spray Grapefruit Juice on rollback $2=$6.00
3 x French's Dipping Mustard $1.94=$5.82
2 x Ground Turkey w/Taco seasoning $1.18=$2.36
1 x GV Sour Cream=$1.14
1 x 2.02lb. Grapes on sale $1lb.=$2.02
1 x 2.06lb. Bananas on sale $.39lb.=$.80
SubTotal....$38.14

Coupons Used
2 x $5/5 Kraft items IPQ=$10.00
3 x $1/1 French's Dipping Mustard ManQ=$3.00
Coupon Total...$13.00

$38.14-$13.00=$25.14
Used $25 WalMart Gift Card=$.14 Out of Pocket

Ka-ching!  
The Grapefruit Juice was an excellent buy as well for the 100% Juice stuff at $2 a bottle.
I finished using my French's Qs too so #2 son is set for dipping mustard for some time to come.

If I had bought this load of stuff at one of the two grocery stores in my town at reg. retail prices, it would have been something like $62.76, or $59.76 after French's coupons because they won't take the internet printed ones.


Then I hit Weis Market with my $15 of Cats in hand....

2 x Fresh Express Salad Mix on sale BOGO=$3.69
2 x 3lb.approx. each Ground Beef=$18.39
2 x Breyer's Ice Cream on sale $3=$6.00
SubTotal....$28.08

Coupons Used
2 x $3/1 Instant Meat Dept. Discount Peelie on package=$6.00
1 x FREE FE Salad Mix(won in a giveaway)=$3.69
4 x $3 OYN meat or chicken Order Catalina=$12.00
1 x $3 OYN Order Catalina=$3.00
Coupon Total....$24.69

$28.08-$24.69=$3.39 Out of Pocket

Ok, I screwed this one up a bit!  The ice cream was suppose to be $1.99 each, not $3 each.....if you bought THREE containers.  And obviously math was not my strong suit in school as I only bought TWO.  So I have to go back with my receipt and return the 2 and rebuy them with ANOTHER one to get the $1.99 price.  So stupid....if you buy 3 it's 3 cents cheaper than if you buy 2 at $3.  They should just tell you(me) as you(me) are checking out with only 2 containers, "Look moron!...Go back and get another ice cream so I can give you 3 cents change!"lolol
Gawd.....sometimes I just outwit myself.....

Anyway, the Ground Beef ending up costing me .39¢ after the Cats and Instant Peelies, both bags of salad were free with the BOGO sale and the Free Item Q and the last $3 OYNO Cat made my ice cream half price($3).

All totaled, I am out $3.53 for both orders.
Mucho Savings!

Sluggy

What a Bunch of Monsters!

If you are under 25, when I say 'monster',  you KNOW what I am talking 'bout.
Can an imitation be better than the original?
You tell me.....





Enjoy!

Sluggy

Frugality...the New Merchandising Ploy OR Step Away From that Cardboard Dresser!

Ok, since I was able to piss off quite a few people last week HERE....let's see how many readers and retailers I can annoy this week. ;-)

A couple of weeks ago, as I dug through the Sunday paper for the coupon inserts(why else does anybody even buy a newspaper anymore, right?lol), I happened to grab a Sales Flyer for a national chain store, that will remain nameless, by the name of Target.
I'm smooth, aren't I? ;-)

Anyway, I paged through the flyer, as I leisurely sipped my morning beverage, until I got to this page.
I chuckled......
Do you see what it says there, in lime green, right in the center of the page?

I chuckled but then I got mad.

It seems retailers are taking the basic fundamentals of the Frugality Movement and are twisting it to fit their Consumerist Culture.
Or another way of putting it is....retailers are using Frugality to Sell more Stuff by equating FRUGAL with CHEAP....which it is NOT!
Big diff...
 

If you look up the definition of frugal you'll find something like this explanation from Merriam Webster Online...
"characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources".

Furnishings your home with inexpensive NEW furniture is NOT frugal.    While buying a cheap piece of new furniture is initially using your monetary resources economically(not spending much money), in the long run it isn't frugal.

Spending money on new, poorly built furniture that used up natural resources in the making of this badly constructed stuff & used up your personal monetary resources that could have been saved and used more wisely to buy quality built items or items you can find used or free is cheap.

Buying new cheap furniture is not good for your bottom line since it will not last and will break sooner and need to be replaced, thus you will end up spending twice as much on the cheap furniture you buy.

It isn't frugal for YOUR wallet, nor is it frugal for the planet!

Furnishing your home with USED New-To-You furniture, IS frugal.  Even more frugal would be to look around your home at what you already own and see if "repurposing" some other item you already own or asking friends or family if they have something for FREE that they no longer need/want will work before you start looking to barter or buy used.
By not requiring more natural resources on this planet to be consumed by having them turned into a poorly made piece of furniture you have economized or saved those resources.  You have also saved your monetary resources because you won't have to buy more furniture to replace the new inexpensive ones as they fall apart....and as an added bonus, since you didn't buy a new thing from the store, they don't have to order another one just like it to replace it, saving even more natural resources.

So, which would you rather do?

A--Spend $20 on a new press board chest of drawers(made in Bangladesh or some other 3rd world country no doubt)and have it fall apart within 2 years, necessitating that you have to buy yet another new press board chest, that has now gone up to $22.50 in price....rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat through the years?
OR
B--Spend $25 at a garage sale/thrift store/craigslist/etc. for a used piece of quality-made, real wood with mitered corners and dovetailed this & thats, etc. chest of drawers that may or may not have blemishes/need refinishing/painting/cleaning, that has been in use for 20 years or more and will last for many years to come?

Remember this....you get what you pay for.  Cheaply made products don't last and by needing to be replaced frequently they suck even more money out of your wallet.
Why feed your precious, hard earned dollars to the Corporate Machine when you have a choice?

In this same vein, I found this interesting article HERE.  Seems as people try to conserve their income, they have made many Dollar Stores boom.  This phenomenon hasn't gone unnoticed by retailers, as they have begun to court these 'low-end consumers' more vigorously by adding 'low-end' merchandise.
Walmart has even lost business to the Dollar Stores and is taking steps to reclaim that lost revenue.  I found some of the comments left after this article thought provoking as well.
Go ahead and discuss amongst yourselves.....

Be looking for much much more of this kind of marketing geared toward the frugal set to show up in the print and electronic media near you!
Just because they call something Frugal doesn't make it so.
As always, when it comes to business trying to separate you from your money it's Caveat Emptor.

Sluggy

Go Enter This Contest.....Ends 9/28!!!

Go check out my blogging buddy over at PRACTICAL PARSIMONY.
She is holding a contest for all you computer savvy peoples.
You could win a free copy of Windows Home and Student Edition Software.
Check out the direct link HERE.

But you have to hurry as the contest ends tomorrow, Tuesday 28th at midnight!

Sluggy

Rite-Aid on Sunday....New SCR Period, Let the Party Begin!

So I scooted up to Rite-Aid on Sunday for the new sales week.
Here's what followed me home....

4 x Gillette Body Wash on sale $4.00=$16.00
4 x Gillette Deodorant on sale $4.00=$16.00
SubTotal...$32.00

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Purchase AdPerk/VV IPQ=$5.00
4 x Buy One Deo/Get Body Wash Free ManuQ(Aug. P&G insert-expires 9/30)=$16.00
4 x $1/1 Gillette Deo. ManuQ(Sept. P&G insert)=$4.00
1 x $1/$10 any Skin Care purchase Wellness IPQ(sent to your email from Rite-Aid)=$1.00
Coupon Total...$26.00

$32-$16=$6.00
I used $6 in +Ups to pay so $.00 Out of Pocket...I didn't even have to use my free Gift Card! ;-)
Received $10 +Ups for buying $30 of selected P&G items(all the Gillette bought), and I qualified for a $2.00 SCR for buying 2 Gillette Body Wash or Deodorant.
Spent $6 +Ups, earned $10 +Ups & $2 cash rebate means I am $6.00 UP for this transaction.  8-)
Value of Items....$43.12

Then I bought.....

2 x large Crest Mouth Rinse on sale $4.99=$9.98
2 x smaller Crest Mouth Rinse on sale $3.49=$6.98
2 x Oral-B CrossAction Toothbrushes on sale $2.99=$5.98
2 x Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap on sale $.99=$1.98
2 x local Sunday paper($.79 with my 20% wellness discount)=$1.58 **Not Pictured**
SubTotal....$26.50

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 Rite-Aid IPQ HERE=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Crest Mouth Rinse ManuQ-P&G insert from 9/26=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Crest Mouth Rinse ManuQ-P&G insert from 8/29(expires 9/30)=$2.00
1 x BOGO Oral-B Toothbrush ManuQ-P&G insert from 9/26=$2.99
1 x $1/1 Oral-B Toothbrush ManuQ-P&G insert from 8/29(expires 9/30)=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap ManuQ-P&G insert from 9/26=$1.00
Coupon Total....$15.99

$26.50-$15.99=$10.51
I used $10 in +Ups to pay so $.51 Out of Pocket put on my Rite-Aid Gift Card.
Received $15 +Ups...2 x $3(large Mouth Rinse), 2 x $2.50(smaller Mouth Rinse) and 2 x $2(Toothbrushes).
Spent $10 +Ups, earned $15 +Ups means I am $5.00 UP for this transaction.  8-)
Value of Items....$41.50

As for limits on +Ups per item/deal.....I am hearing/seeing multiples on the Crest/Oral-B items(hearing from 3 to 5 on the $4.99 and $3.49 Crest items)  and the P&G Buy $30 deal/Get $10+Ups.  FWIW, I am hearing that on the Buy $30 Deal, if you don't get up to $30 and purchase more of the selected items in a subsequent transaction, the register is keeping track and will spit out the $10+Ups when you hit $30.  If that's true I am $2 closer to a second $10+Ups if I choose to buy more of those selected products.  I just might have to go get $28 more since I am curious.lol

Ann, over at COUPONS DEALS AMD MORE posted about someone who talked to corporate and the limit on the Crest/Oral-B items priced at $2.99/Giving $2+Ups is 5 deals per card.  Here's a direct LINK.
Throwing Ann some Linky Love here for the Rite-Aid Deals, among others she writes up. ;-)

THIS TRIP
Total Spent....$.51(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$84.62
SCR qualified for...$2.00
Gift Cards earned....$0.00
+Up Rewards earned...$25.00
+Up Rewards spent...$16.00
These trips were an $11 moneymaker($9 in +Ups, $2 in SCRs).


GRAND TOTALS so far-October Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......2
Total Spent....$.51 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$84.62
SCR qualified for....$2
Other Cash....$0
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0

+UPS Totals for Oct. SCR Period
+Up Rewards carryover....$20.50
+Up Rewards spent....$16.00
+Up Rewards earned....$25.00
+Up Rewards left....$29.50

 Sluggy

End of September Weekend Garden Harvest...Still Picking!

Just a quick update on the garden.....

While we didn't get some of the beds cleaned up or the compost moved, Hubs & I did pick veggies Sunday.  Well, he did most of the picking and I held the containers and supervised.lol

I got another 3 quarts of tomato sauce made last week......good thing too, because here's another large colander 3/4 full of Romas.lol   At this point I complain but I will be sad when I can no longer make a BLT sandwich with fresh REAL tomatoes....

We also picked another larger container of Big Boys, 3 each of the Red Bell and Green Italian Roasting Peppers, 2 Jalapenos that had turned RED(hot!).  The 4 little pale Green Bell Peppers were because Hubs snapped off the top of one of the plants they were growing on so we had to harvest them 'early'.lol
And we picked 5 of the Butternut Squashes too.  There are 7 more left on the vines including a large one that is late in turning the pale color they are suppose to turn.  I'm hoping the other 6 get a bit larger before the vines die off but they are all still large enough to eat at this point.


This Harvest----
Tomatoes--7 lbs. 4.5 oz.
Peppers--1 lb. 11 oz.
Squash--14 lbs. 11.2 oz.

TOTAL....23 lbs. 10.7 oz.
Garden Harvest Weight Total to date....77 lbs.  2.72 oz.

Besides the other Butternuts we still have Tomatoes & Peppers coming plus the Collard Greens after the freeze, which HOPEFULLY will hold off on coming until I make some room in the freezer!lol


What did you harvest from your garden this week?  Leave a comment and let us know!

Sluggy

2 Last Transactions & Sept. SCR Period Totals at Rite-Aid

Yes, I need a life....

While I waited for #2 son and Hubs to return from the Marching Band Tournament Sat. I hit up Rite-Aid one last time before the September Single Check Rebate Period ended that evening.

Here is what I brought home....

Two Transactions.

The 1st transaction was the 3 packs of diapers.

Please hold your congratulations!
They are NOT for me.
Bite.
Your.
Tongue.
lol

I got paid $4.03 in a way to buy them.
Between the +Ups I got back and the $10 Gift Card, Rite-Aid is sending me for buying them, I come out $4.03 ahead.
Value of Items....$37.47
I don't hang with the "babymaking set" so I'll either donate them(food bank that takes this kind of stuff or make up a gift basket for a charity auction/raffle) or take them to the flea market if they are still hanging around here when I get around to doing that again....if I get around to doing that again. ;-)

The diaper transaction was $.47 OOP after all the coupons and +Ups I used, and that change was put on my gift card.
I received $6 more in +Ups and I'll get a $10 Gift Card(#70) through the SCR program.

The other stuff pictured(plus a Sobe drink that is NOT pictured)was bought in a second transaction.
The Lamasil Spray was $5.99 after $2/1 IPQ.
The Quaker Oats was $.99 after $1/1 ManuQ.
The Oral-B Toothbrush was $1.99 after $1/1 ManuQ.
The Crest was on clearance($1.99)and $.99 after $1/1 ManuQ.
The Tuna cans were on clearance($.47)and were $5.64 total for 12.
The Always was free after FREE ITEM Q(daughter gave me from a magazine).
The Sobe was free after FREE ITEM Q(won online).
SubTotal was $15.60.
Used $5 off $25 purchase Q=$10.60.
Used $10 in +Ups=$.60 OOP put on gift card so Zero spent.
Value of Items....$53.12

Earned +Ups....3 x $1 for 12 cans of tuna, 1 x $1 for Quaker Oats, 1 x $2 for Oral-B Toothbrush=$6.00
Will submit Lamasil(#40)& Crest toothpaste(#55)for BIL's SCR account=$7.00
This Crest purchase also put him over the $5 Oral Care gift card threshold=$5.00 gift card.
So after +Ups the Oatmeal and Toothbrush were -.01 each and the Lamasil cost me -.01 after SCR.

Spent $10 in +Ups, earned back $6 in +Ups & $7 SCR=$13 so this transaction put me ahead $3.02.
$4.03+$3.02=$7.05 moneymaker or $12.05 if you count the $5 gift card.


THESE TRIPS
Total Spent....$1.07(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$90.59
SCR qualified for...$7.00
Gift Cards earned....$15.00
+Up Rewards earned...$12.00
+Up Rewards spent...$21.50
These trips were a $12.50 moneymaker.

GRAND TOTALS-September Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......14
Total Spent....$20.80 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$579.66
SCR qualified for....$16 in cash and $15 in Gift Cards
Other Cash....$0
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....a Glam Bag
+Up Rewards spent....$106.00
+Up Rewards earned....$126.50
+Up Rewards left....$20.50

Spent $20.80 on gift card and getting back $31 in cash and more gift cards, plus I have $20.50 in +up rewards(=Rite-Aid currency).  Do you get how this Rite-Aid shopping can be addictive? 8-))

How well did you do at Rite-Aid in September?  Leave a comment and let us all know!

Sluggy

Randomness on a Saturday

As I sit here contemplating one last run up to Rite-Aid before the September Single Check Rebate Period ends this evening, I've got some randomness on my mind to share.

Well, one thing I won't share since I'm expanding my thoughts on it into a full blown blog post all it's own.
I know, I know.....you can't wait for that, but you will have to. ;-)

* First I want to thank everyone who left comments on the passing of our BAGEL(Beagle/Basset Mix) Hound, Peanut.  Your heartfelt words were very much appreciated and touched me deeply even if I wasn't able to email and thank each one of you.
Peanut & I butted heads alot due to both of our rather large passive/aggressive streaks but he added joy to our family when he wasn't eating us out of house and home.  The photo above was one of the last ones taken of him before he left us.  It's fitting that he's sporting a rather large drool bubble on the left side of his muzzle(on the right facing the photo).  Though he was crippled and incontinent and half-deaf, in true Peanut style he NEVER lost his appetite when there was food around.   The week or so before he died he had resorted to opening up the cabinet where the trashcan was located.  #1 son always said Peanut was an idiot savant of the Dog World....dumb as a mud fence but when it came to food, he was a genuis.  ;-)

* Let me say that I sure didn't expect the negative reactions to THIS POST earlier this week.  I received quite a few hateful comments for my unvarnished honesty about my feelings on the subject.  Everyone has their own opinion and that's what makes the world go round, right?
I'm cool with diverse opinions but....when you call me evil and a witch, how can I not feel a tad unloved?
Fortunately for me, I moderate all comments(due to spamming issues) so those comments won't be published. 
However, if the commentators in question would like to step up and not hide behind posting as "Anonymous", I am more than willing to put through their comments.
Sluggy ain't afraid of being called an ass as long as I know who is doing the calling. ;-)

* Tomorrow after harvesting yet MORE tomatoes and a few other things, we'll be putting some of the garden to bed for the year.  Basically all that's left in the garden is the aforementioned tomatoes, collard greens, peppers(red bells, roastings, jalapenos)and the butternut squashes.  Most of the fences will be coming down and some of the compost moved into the beds that we clear.  I will leave the collards until the 1st frost because every Southern gal knows that collards left to harvest until after a frost are sweeter and tastier.....

I'm also hoping to get some cleaning done Sunday while the manly men are home to help me with the heavy lifting and moving part of it.  Plus get some things into Hubs trunk so he can make a Salvation Army run this week.

* I'm waaay ahead of schedule for this coming week with my Meal Plan.  Between the meals we changed up this week and didn't fix/eat and the meal ideas I listed already using what we have on hand, I've got 10 meals now for the family to choose from.
And I really hope there is a good deal soon on pork here since I am down to my last package and it would be a good way to use those OYNO of meat Cats I need to use this coming week at Weis.

* I guess my "Call for PA Bloggers" was a raging failure, as I haven't heard a peep from anyone.  I have 2 local/sort of local PA blogs I follow.  Go check them out......HERE and HERE. 
Strictly Deal Bloggers who cover most stores in PA and are located around Philly are HERE and HERE.

* I just found out yesterday that my mother's family's Yearly Family Reunion is/was being held today/Saturday.  Would have been nice to have had some advance notice.  Oh well....
It's not like we could have attended anyway.  We are in the midst of Marching Band Season here so most Fridays and Saturdays are full up.  Fridays for football games and Saturdays for band tournaments.  Today #2 son is down near Quakertown PA for a tourney.  Hubs is driving the prop/equipment truck and I get to stay home with the doggies since Daughter is working and the pups can't go all day without food, water and toileting.  Just me and doggies....Do I have to mention that it's been a nice quiet day here?lol

Have a nice Sunday and I'll be talking to ya'll on Monday!

Sluggy

Go Win a Movie Ticket!

Moviefone is having a giveaway.
Free Movie Tickets.
20,000 of 'em!
Go HERE for the link to take a brief movie quiz(4 movie related questions) and maybe win a free Movie Ticket....or maybe you'll be a big winner and win Movies for Life!

If you don't see the link on the home page to the giveaway, scroll down and on the righthand side at the bottom click on "free giveaways" under MORE From MOVIEFONE.
Please note...the comments seem to indicate that Moviefone is having some technical difficulties at times with this offer so just keep trying.
The free tickets you could win are good through Dec. 31st of 2010.
One entry per day it seems....

Sluggy

Food Shopping at Rite-Aid....75% Clearance!

You need to check out the food and cleaning supplies aisles at your local Rite-Aid stores as some of the stores have marked the clearance items down from 50% off to 75% off!
There is a thread on SlickDeals were they have compiled a list of the items to look for HERE.
So when I went out to do my errands yesterday I stopped by 2 Rite-Aids to see if I could find anything.
The store downtown in the metro area was still only at 50% off so I just got this....

1 x Gallon Milk=$3.25
2 x Oreo Cookies on sale $3.00=$6.00
2 x Bounty Towels on sale $.88=$1.76
1 x Ace Cold Pack(in travel sizes area)=$1.03 with wellness 20% disc./reg. price $1.29
1 x Crest Toothpaste Pro-Health on sale=$2.99
3 x Campbell's Tomato Soup clearance(50%)$.99=$2.97
SubTotal....$18.00

Coupons Used
1 x $3/$15 One-Time emailed Wellness customer IPQ expires 9/30=$3.00
1 x FREE Oreos WYB 2 Cookies and Gallon of Milk IPQ(monthly facebook Q)=$3.00
1 x $.75/1 Oreo ManuQ(from tearpad/booklet from Jan.)=$.75
1 x $1/2 Oreo Packages AdPerks/VV IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Bounty Towels(P&G insert)=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Ace compress item(no longer available)IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Crest Toothpaste(P&G insert)=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste(RA flu booklet)=$1.00
1 x $.50/2 Campbell's Soup at Hand ManuQ=$.50
Coupons Used....$12.25

$18.00-$12.25=$5.75
+Ups used....$5...$5.75-$5=$.75 OOP put on Rite-Aid gift card
Value of items bought....$27.16

+Ups I received....$1(Oreos), $2(Crest)=$3.00
$5 in +Ups spent, $3 in +Ups received so I am down $2 in +Ups after this store.

Even though the Tomato soups were only at 50% off, #2 son loves these tomato ones so it was an ok deal for me.


And I hit the 75% off mother lode at this store.....

5 x Celestial Seasonings Tea clearance(75%) .92¢=$4.60
2 x NatraTaste Sweetener clearance(75%) .72¢=$1.44
2 x Campbell's Garden Select Veg. Soup clearance(75%) .62¢=$1.24
6 x Campbell's Soup at Hand Tom. Soup clearance(75%) .49¢=$2.94
12 x COS Chunk White Tuna clearance(75%).47¢=$5.64
2 x Nature Valley PB Granola Bars clearance(75%).99¢=$1.98
1 x Campbell's Tomato Soup Bowl clearance(75%)=.54¢
1 x Skippy Peanut Butter-creamy clearance(75%)=$.74
1 x Nutrisse Hair Color on sale=$5.99
SubTotal.....$25.11

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 IPQ(pdf from newsletter sent to me earlier this year)=$5.00
2 x $1/1 Celestial Seasonings IPQ(no longer available)=$2.00
1 x $.50/2 Campbell's Harvest ManuQ=$.50
2 x $.50/3 Campbell's Soup at Hand ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Nature Valley Granola Bars ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $.50/1 Nature Valley Granola Bars AdPerks/VV IPQ=$.50
1 x $1/1 Nature Valley Granola Bars(RA flu booklet)=$1.00
1 x $3/1 Nutrisse Hair Color IPQ(redplum website)=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Nutrisse Hair Color(RA flu booklet)=$2.00
Coupon Total...$16.00

$25.11-$16.00=$9.11
I used +Ups...3 x $3=$9.00
$9.11-$9.00=$.11 Out of Pocket and put on free Rite-Aid gift card
Value of items bought....$87.47--Like I would ever pay retail for food at Rite-Aid, puhleeze!lol

And here's the crazy part...some of the clearance items also printed $1 +Up Rewards.
12 $1 +Ups printed!!
The +Ups part of my receipt was over 3 feet long.lolol  I would have taken a pic of the receipt but my arm isn't long enough to hold it up and far enough away from the camera to get it all in. ;-)

+Ups received....5 for the Celestial Seasonings, 2 for the NatraTaste Sweetener, 3 Tunas(1 for every 4 cans I bought), 1 GM for the 2 Nature Valley granola bars and 1 for the 2 Campbell's Harvest Select soups.

So in the end, after adding in the +Ups I got back.....I got paid .08¢ for each box of tea, .28¢ for each box of sweetener, .26¢ to buy 2 cans of the Harvest Select soup and $1.52 to take 2 boxes of granola bars home=$2.74 moneymaker on these items.
The tuna, while I didn't have any coupons for it, after the $1 +Ups for each 4 cans, came out to .22¢ a piece.
We still have peanut butter left over from last fall's Acme sale so I didn't dare drag anymore jars of that home under penalty of death. ;-)


THESE TRIPS
Total Spent....$.86 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$114.63
SCR qualified for...$.00
+Up Rewards earned...$15.00
+Up Rewards spent...$14.00
These trips were a $1 moneymaker.

MONTHLY TOTALS-September Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......12
Total Spent....$19.73 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$489.07
SCR qualified for....$9 in cash and $10 in Gift Cards
Other Cash....$0
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....a Glam Bag
+Up Rewards spent....$84.50
+Up Rewards earned....$114.50

Total 'Spent'...$19.73 on gift cards
Total Cash I'm getting Back=$9
Total Gift Cards I'm getting=$10+Glam Bag
+Up Rewards left to spend=$30.00

I also ran to the Restaurant Supply Store and got another 5lb. block of sharp Cheddar Cheese as we were out of slicing cheese.  $16 for 5lbs.=$3.00 lb. vs. $4.99-$6.99 lb. at the grocery store deli dept.

Cheese, tuna and soup stock-ups...hmmmm....I wonder what is on the fall menu at Sluggy's house for quick and easy dinners?lol

Have you found any good clearance deals lately?
Tell us about it! 8-)

Sluggy

ENTRY HERE IS CLOSED! Another 2010 BORING BLOG BOX of FUN GIVEAWAY is OPEN! Box #4 POST 2

This is the 4th Sluggy's BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY for 2010!

It's time again for a Boring Giveaway.
I run a Boring Blog here so why not give away boring stuff, right?

Just to recap, I put things in the box(mostly what I have gotten for free or almost free)each week and when the box is filled we draw a winner from all the entries received.  The stuff can range from HBA, food, toys, collectibles, home decor or books.  Someday if enough people click on enough ads and this blog makes some cold hard cash, I may add a gift card, so get to clicking already!!lol

Here is what went into the Box today.....

1. A Mesh Bath Scrubby thing
2. A small Bottle of Olay Body Wash
3. A Glade Candle
4. A can of Bar Harbor brand Clam Chowder from my trip to Maine last month

If this is your first time, please go read all the rules for these Giveaways on THIS POST.

Please NOTE--You MUST be a follower to enter the Giveaway.  If you aren't one, just click on the "Follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a follower---->


TIME TO ENTER.....

Just put a comment on this POST for your entry.  Easy Peasy!

When I post again about this BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY, entries on this Post will be CLOSED and you can post on the New Giveaway Post and enter again.  I hope this isn't too confusing. ;-)

Here are the ways to get UP TO 2 EXTRA entries PER POST.....

1. Put my blog on your blog's Blogroll.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with the URL of your blog. If I'm already on your Blogroll, say so in an extra comment.
2.  Blog about this Giveaway on your blog or on a Message Board.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST only with a link to your blog post or the message on the board.

You can do each of these 2 things once per post, so that's a total of up to 3 entries per person per post.

Again, you can enter on this post until I put another Giveaway Post up and then you need to enter on the NEWER Post.
FYI if you are new here....it generally takes 4 weeks to fill the box, so there will be 4 posts(give or take)about this Giveaway where you can enter to win up to 3 times.

Any questions?  Just email me at slugmama@yahoo.com

Oh yah, I pay for all the stuff in this giveaway and nobody(business or person) gives me stuff or pays me to hold them or promote their products.  I even pay the shipping just because I loves ya'll and....and.....that's how I roll!  ;-)

Happy Entering!! 

Sluggy

My Neighbor or Putting UP with the Joneses....

As I have mentioned before, the guy who lives across the street from us has owned a big ass 5th wheel RV for most of the 10 years we've lived here.
It's an eyesore!
Not that it's a broken down piece of junk or anything.....it's just that this huge  metal box sits parked in his not very long driveway....
All.
Year.
Long.
It takes up the whole driveway and they barely have room to squeeze their 2 suv/trucks into the driveway next to it.
To say it's visual clutter is an understatement......

And here is the improved view when it's not parked there.....

 

I should say it sits in their driveway except for the scant 2 weeks a year they take it out somewhere and stay in it....if they take it out for that long each year!  
 I know they never take it far away since often while they are 'gone' for the 2 weeks, the husband will appear at the house to get the mail or something.  I know he's not driving home from a far distance to do this and then drive right back to wherever the RV is parked.


 Even though we are on a hill, I feel like that big cluttering monstrosity blocks the sunlight and makes me feel claustrophobic when I sit out on my front porch since I can't see down the road beyond that behemoth.

It's like having someone's house sitting right on the edge of their property, since you can see no sunlight between the garage and the RV, and the RV ends maybe 2 feet from the side of the road at his mailbox.  Heck, when he puts his garbage out each week, it sits at the end of his driveway and the front end of the RV overhangs the bags of garbage.  God help the sanitation worker who forgets to duck when he/she goes to retrieve his trash......

So anyway, for 2 weeks out of the year, I am blesses with clear sight lines and not having to look out at the ugly ass huge hunk-o-metal of a vehicle.  Every year, my soul gets sad when they bring it home to sit for the other  50 weeks of the year.

Why don't they store it somewhere...you know, somewhere appropriate, with other overgrown toys of it's kind?  I bet it gets lonely and feels unloved most of the year and would be much happier playing with it's own kind.

If they can't afford to store it somewhere appropriate, they could at least park it in their backyard, which they never use anyway....or at least store it lengthwise on the other side of their house so it's not sticking out like the big ugly sore thumb it is in my visual life.

So I got excited this summer when the Behemoth RV disappeared and was gone for 4 WEEKS!
As week 3 and then week 4 passed a small glimmer of hope grew in my being.....a glimmer that maybe it was gone for good, or at least gone from the driveway where it sits for 351 days out of the year.

But, my hopes were crushed last month, when the old Behemoth was replaced with a brand spanking new 2011 RV model.
Just as big and ugly but shinier! and maybe a tad bigger since there seems to be less space/light between where the garage ends and this overpriced/underused piece of shit vehicle begins.

I looked up what this baby costs new.
Can you say in the neighborhood of $45,000?!?!
Hey, that's great if you can afford it.
And I am sure on the surface this guy CAN afford it, since he owns his own insurance agency.  I don't know if he still has a mortgage and if his 2 later model vehicles are paid for....but they don't seem to spend money on groceries or go out to eat much, since his wife NEVER leaves the house at all! and they only have 1 kid to pay for/raise.
So spending their money on a big ass toy is not my problem with them.

But it a problem for me to spend this kind of money on something that you park in your driveway and DON'T USE for 50 WEEKS A YEAR!
Maybe it's just "me" but.....it doesn't sound like a good use of your money, unless your last name is Gates, or Buffet or King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia or something.
Doing this is like buying a new BMW luxury car and only driving it 14 days out of the year.
Seriously......who does this?!?!
Who spends $45K on something so it can sit and rust year after year?

If you want to vacation in a luxury RV for only 2 weeks a year, why not RENT ONE!?
I am sure it would be scads cheaper than buying one and letting it rot in your driveway for years between your infrequent trips in it.
If he thinks he is 'impressing' anyone by having it parked in his driveway, he needs to think again.
All he is doing is pissing ME off!
And he shouldn't be pissing me off right now......I have colanders filled with ripe tomatoes and I know how to throw them..... ;-)

I'm off to go warm up my pitching arm.....

Sluggy