And the Pillsbury Giveaway Winner Is.....

The fine folks, er....automated random number generating program at Random.Org helped me pick the winning entry for the Pillsbury Giveaway.


And the # picked was Comment No. 10....

Mimi said...

A good recipe almost always has sausage in it! mad2267 at gmail dot com

February 28, 2011 8:59 PM

 Congratulations to Mimi and her sausage!! ;-)


I'll be contacting her presently.   If for any reason she can't fulfill her duties as Contest Winner, her runner-up will take over the crown.

 Thanks to everyone who entered.  Stay tuned to this Bat Channel for more Giveaways!

Sluggy

"The Time has Come," the Walrus said, "To Talk of Many Things..."

First things first.....here's a Rite-Aid shop from Saturday evening.....

I burned about $12 in +Ups on those trash bags.  The rest of it was free at sale prices and Qs.  I put .61¢ on my gift card and didn't get any +Ups.


And I finally got up to Rite-Aid Sunday late afternoon.  The plan is to roll some +Ups into cash and get some freebies too.  Here is what I got....

1 x Thermacare on sale=$3.19  *My 20% wellness disc. lower than sale price
1 x Keri Lotion on sale=$6.99
1 x Desenex powder on sale=$6.99
1 x Snickers candy bar=$.70  *20% wellness discount applied
2 x Colgate Toothpaste on sale$2.99=$5.98
2 x Sardines on sale BOGO50%=$1.93
2 x Valentine's candy 90%off=$.20
SubTotal....$25.98

Coupons Used
1 x $3.99/1 Thermacare In-Ad Q=$3.99
1 x $1/1 Keri Lotion IPQ=$1.00
2 x $1/1 Colgate Toothpaste IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total.....$6.99

$25.98-$6.99=$18.99+$.11 tax=$19.10
I used $19 +Up Rewards and put .10¢ on my Rtte-Aid gift card.
I received back $6.88 back in +Up Rewards(2 x $2 Colgate, 2 x $1 for each can of Sardines and $.88 for the Snickers bar).
I'll submit for 2 SCRs...$6 for each the Keri Lotion and the Desenex, so $12 in cash rebates.

I got $18.88 'back' in +Ups/Cash and spent $19 in +Ups.

So did this transaction again, minus one of the Valentine's candy using BIL's card....

$25.88-$6.99=$18.89+$.14 tax=$19.03
Used $19 +Ups again and put .03¢ on the gift card.

Now, I totally don't understand why my tax was .03¢ more when I bought .10¢ less of products here.lol



Altogether I managed to 'roll' $24 in +Up Rewards into $24 in cash rebates.  I only bought what we'd use or eat too.(Hubs loves sardines....bleck!)

Here are the numbers....
THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....3
Total Spent....$.74 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$100.08
SCR qualified for...$24.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$13.76
+Up Rewards spent...$38.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$137.75

TOTALS--March Rebate Period

Number of Transactions......3
Total Spent....$.74 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$100.08
SCR qualified for....$24.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for March SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 2/28.....$161.99
+Up Rewards spent....$38.00
+Up Rewards earned....$13.76
+Up Rewards left....$137.75  includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period


I still have a boatload of +Ups that expire on March 15th.  I'm considering spending them down & rolling them into SCRs by buying a couple of electronic thingys that are giving $20 SCRs this month.  That might be the solution to carrying these things from month to month.  It's getting tiring finding ways to roll so many.  I can spent 1/3 down,  roll 1/3 into rebates and keep 1/3 for rolling into more +Ups PLUS get a couple gifty type items for giving out later. 
What do y'all think?   Good idea or should I just buy a year's supply of toilet paper or something with them all?





 So if you were starting from 0 +Ups, here is what I would buy this week at Rite-Aid....
First buy 4 cans of sardines for $3.86 OOP.  You'll receive $4 in +Ups back.
Then buy 2 tubes of Colgate Toothpaste....the on sale for $2.99 size.  Use 2 $1/1 ManuQs.  Add in a small filler item(90% Vday candy or something that's about .10¢).  Use your $4 in +Ups to pay.  Some stores will adjust down your +Ups, so you "could" possibly not add a filler item to your $3.98 total and they will adjust your $4 in +Ups down so no OOP.  You'll receive $4 back in +Ups for the 2 toothpastes.
Then see if any of the SCR items available this week in the SCR Directory are things you can use.  Most of them will end up costing .99 after the SCR.  You could save your $4 in +Ups for next week's sale or roll them via a SCR item into cash back.  IE-Get the Comtrex at $4.99 this week.  Spend your $4+Ups plus $.99&tax(or $0 OOP if you have a Q for it) and submit your receipt info. for the $4 SCR on the Comtrex.  By doing this, you spent $4.85+tax OOP and you will get back $4 of it via SCR, so you will be OOP .85+tax and you will have 2 cans of sardines, 2 tubes of toothpaste and a box of Comtrex.
5 items for .85¢ OOP.



When I got back out to my car at Rite-Aid Sunday late afternoon, it was coated in ICE!  I had a nice slide back home.....
The ice storm kept going and going for hours.  We lost power a few times before I decided maybe I should shut down the computer for the duration. 
Yes, I am quick witted like that sometimes.
Before I went to bed the Snunder(Snunder=Snow+Thunder) and Lightning began.


I woke up to this......

Bright sunshine and about 5 inches of snow with an inch of ICE under it.
Who ordered this!!??!!




And the dogs were feeling squirrely.

The beagle with the back problems has decided that jumping up and sleeping in "Daddy's chair" is something she needs to be doing.  So little "Miss Jealousy" chihuahua decides she needs to be in the chair too so she can bark at the beagle.  Doesn't it look like the beagle is pleading with me to "get her off of my chair Mom, puhleeeez!" 


I broke down on Saturday and bought a Netflix membership.  Ok, so it's free the first month.  I love movies but I don't buy them, nor do I go to the movies since I consider both of those huge wastes of my money.   And we don't have any rental places close enough that would entice me to get in a car/go rent a movie/watch movie/get back in a car/return movie before the time limit expired or I owed more money for keeping it.  Plus our library's collection of free rental dvds is miniscule and is mostly made up of Disney drek and kiddie films.  I've seen enough kiddie films to last me a lifetime thankyouverymuch!lol

I can deal with paying $9.99 a month to see all the movies/shows I want without leaving my sofa.
At least until it gets to the point where I have seen everything I want to see or I don't utilize it enough to make it cost effective or everything left to see has to be ordered on dvds they mail me and can't be seen instantly.
This 'lifestyle inflation' will be re-evaluated every month.

I still have no Meal Plan done for the week yet and no clue what I am serving for dinner tonight....it's 4:45pm by the way....
I felt it was more important to watch a film about the history and evolution of Skateboarding with my 15 yr. old instead.
Yah see?....Netflix has already become a suckhole......

So what's up in your corner of the world today?

Sluggy

Decluttering and Donating

If you are into decluttering be sure and check out my bloggy friend Mark's blog HERE.  Most Fridays he posts his weekly decluttering booty....er, or should I say bounty?  Anyway, HERE is a recent example of what he's sent packing.  Be sure and go check out his efforts and cheer him on!
Gotta love a man who fights the urge to hoard his kid's outgrown clothing.....

Well I DID get a donation for Sallie's together for February!
Here it is.....

 One big trash bag full of assorted used clothes......

And another bundle of mostly clothes and some odds and ends.
Among the odds and ends is an MP3 player my Daughter had to have one Xmas, that's been sitting in my desk for a couple of years now.  Everyone has Windows 7 here now so we can't upload anything to it.  I hate technology......well, the fact that things go obsolete so quickly!
Ugh....
The rest of it mainly is a load of my sweaters.  5 of them I never even took the tags off of, let alone wear them.  They were my size, the right colors and styles that don't make me look like a troll(a rare thing!lol)AND they were a "deal".  So I bought them.
Let's not get into the fact that I don't WEAR Sweaters....ever!
Nope.
I live in PA on the top of a mountain.
Even so, I wear a winter coat maybe 3 days out of the year....if that many.(We won't get into the fact that I have a winter coat hanging in the downstairs Coat Closet that I have never worn.  It's been around since Clinton was in office, or since my Daughter was an infant....)

I go outside barefoot....in the winter......in snow even.
I am a walking 24/7 Hot Flash....not just since menopause but ALWAYS.
Why the hell am I buying sweaters?!?!LOLOL

So after keeping them safe and snug in my cedar chest for the last oh.....7 years or so!....I have let them go, hopefully to a new owner who will actually WEAR them.

We got our donation together in February and Hubs actually dropped it off on Friday, March 4th.  I am still going to call it a Feb. donation.
Monday morning, we begin gathering the March donation.

So what clutter have you sent packing outta your life lately?

Sluggy

Enter this Cheerios Giveaway but HURRY....ends Friday Midnight!!

Gosh, I've been so distracted I forgot to mention my friend's Giveaway.
Hurry on over ASAP cecause it ends Friday(that's today!!) at Midnight!
It's over HERE on I'm So Pretty I Fart Fairy Dust.

And check out her blog while you are there entering the Giveaway.
Cindy has a wicked sense of humor and she gets some good Shopping Trips in at places like Rite-Aid, Target and GiantPA.
She just got a bigass shed that would be 'da bomb' for a stockpile!
Color me jealous......

Sluggy

This isn't Work?...The Heck You Say!

I'm sorry I haven't been around much lately.  I have a good reason for it.  Let me explain....

As it's well known to all you who read me here, I'm a  mom.  I live the life of your typical average mom.
I clean(when nagged), I cook, I do laundry, I yell at my kids(when provoked).  I generally tend to
the upkeep of my home and my family.  I am the Domestic Major Domo of Chez Sluggy.  
Hubs brings the income and I keep it from becoming the outgo any possible way I can!  And I am always on the lookout for a way to generate more income.

In my quest to bring in $ to the household I have been trying out various online opportunities.
I'm not talking suverys and 'click on the emails' kind of stuff, though if you keep at that and do enough of it, you can make what they use to refer to as "pin" money doing those sorts of activities.

I'm after more interesting offers that compensate better.  More in the realm of Mystery Shopping, but without having to leave my house.

In that mindset, I joined a Focus Group Company about a year ago.
I had a love/hate relationship with them for the better part of a year.  They would sent me surveys to
fill out to see if I qualified for a group/study.  Mostly I'd spend a good five minutes or so progressing through said surveys only to get the screen that said, "I'm sorry.  You don't fit the profile we are
looking for at this time." or "I'm sorry but this study has already reached the number of participants  with your profile."  And I would instantaneously jump on these surveys and still get shut out because  they were filled.
Argh!

But after dilligently and patiently filling out survey after survey, things began to shake loose for me.

I got chosen for an online chat group sponsored by a regional utility company.  That paid 3 figures for 3 hours of chat.

Then I just missed out on a mock jury next sponsored by a local attorney firm.  I think the client settled the lawsuit or something so it was called off.

I tried next for a focus group community project.  And I wasn't picked at first, again because of my 'profile'.  But a week later someone dropped out and they called me to take their spot.  It helps to chat it up with the Recruiter and win them over.  The guy remembered me, liked me and gave me the call and I grabbed the opportunity!

This panel has been ongoing over the last 6 weeks... a longterm committment in the focus group world.
It started out being very bizarre but over time the tasks have been very engaging and interesting.  Compensation started out in the mid 3 figures but there have been incentives for meeting deadlines and competitions amongst the participants along the way.  After winning 1st prize in the last competition, I'm up to the high 3 figures in compensation. 8-)

I just completed the last task for this panel moments ago.
I don't know....maybe I take these studies too seriously.  I've slept little in the past 2 days as I've mulled over the original concept I had to come up with for this task.  I've spent way too much time refining this idea and putting it down on paper.  Maybe the bonus money has driven me to stress out and put more into this than anybody should/would?
Probably.....

With the deadlines and work expected from me, my Type A Personality Traits have taken over.
Why am I knocking myself out?
Anything I come up with they can take and use and I get nothing more....so I am making their job easier for what will amount to small change.

This has become a Job.
And a job=hard work.  Work and all the negative things that come with it...stress & not enough pay.
For all the hours I've put in they sure aren't paying me enough.
I'm glad I am done with this one.

But as a short term, now and again hobby type thing, you can't beat this type of work with a stick.
Getting paid to tell them what I think.
Talking=$.
It's a Dream Job really for someone without a job other than as a Domestic Major Domo.

Sluggy

$32K Savings Challenge of 2011......February Totals

Since I foresee food prices, as well as other expenses/costs/taxes to rise in 2011, I am only upping my Savings Challenge Goal by $2,000.  While I hope to bring in more income this year, I feel we will be spending more on necessities in 2011, thus the small increase in goals.

So I present to you February of the 2011 $32K Savings Challenge!

I have posted my FEBRUARY End of Month $32K $AVING$ CHALLENGE Totals.
Check out the side bar to your right for the specific numbers.

I have 2 goals really each month.....
The 1st is to actually finish each month in the black and not the red.
The 2nd is to hit the targeted savings amount of $2,666.67.

I have to report that we finished up January in the black!
The extra cash amount we ended the month of January with was a meager.......$374.00.

Income
We had $328.00 left over of DH's salary after our expenses were deducted.
Add in $46.00 of Rebates applied against the food expenses and you have a deposit of $374.00 toward the Savings Challenge!

Our monthly target is an average of $2,666.67 to reach our Year End Goal so we didn't even come close to our 2nd monthly goal in Feb.

Outgo
As for the expenses in February....we always seem to hemorrhage money in this month.
*The credit card bill(which is paid off each month)was over $1100 because Hubs replaced his dead computer. 
*Then the electric bill is a killer in the winter at $419.19. 
*The cable company raised our rate this month. 
*The semi-annual car insurance bill of $1486.37 was due. 
*We had a $676.85 AND a $110.35 car repair. 
*We paid our state income tax bill. 
*2 dental bills,
*A marching band payment(for #2 son's trip in the Spring),
*3 Dr. bills
*And the other usual water, phone, cash withdrawals for eating out and food purchases, gasoline, and Hubs WAM, etc. and we are left with $374. 
Most February's however, we end up going into the RED so I am NOT complaining that we're only left with a few hundred bucks!

The Food Budget costs for February are in another post, which is located HERE.  The actual Food/Toiletries spending in February was very low!  It figures....I go off of my self-imposed Spending Diet at the end of Jan.(which was a flop)and I actually was able to slice the food budget in half.

What's ahead for March.....
Looking back at last year's check register, I see we may have less $ outgo in March.
A quarterly sewage bill and the balance of #2 son's marching band trip to pay out, but otherwise nothing beyond the usual monthly bills. Knock on wood it stays that way and "Murphy" doesn't show up on my doorstep. ;-)



YEAR-TO-DATE TOTAL.....
With 2 months behind us, our Savings total to-date for 2011 is $2,667.97.

And if you need to start putting money into savings......What's that you say?  You don't have an emergency fund of 6-8 months worth of expenses!!??....consider playing along in 2011 with me and Challenging Yourself to Save Money each Month Toward a Realistic for YOU Savings Goal!
Not everyone can shoot for $32K, I fully get that!
But everyone can shoot for some number, right!?

Find a money goal that works for you and put that number out there for everyone to see.  It will help keep you accountable to your goal if other eyes are on you.
Ooo, that sounded kind of creepy didn't it? ;-)

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!
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

February Budget Results.....Food and Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for FEBRUARY 2011.

I have posted February's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2011 and updated the Yearly Totals.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in February.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Summary.

My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(4 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 15.
******************

CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP  $94.73

Qs/Ads  $76.62
Value  $171.35
Savings  44.72%

RITE AID
OOP  $8.67 (whole amount put on free Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads/+Ups  $1,286.63
Value  $1,295.30
Savings  99.33% before gift cards/ 100% savings after free gift cards

WALMART
OOP  $2.69
Qs/Ads  $.55
Value  $3.24
Savings  17%

WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town/doubles up to $1 total)
OOP  $25.47
Qs/Ads  $7.50
Value  $32.97
Savings   22.75%

I don't track Rite-Aid's +Ups here, nor 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

Admiral Nelson's....$4.00(one of the few alcohol rebates valid in PA)
Kellogg's Toy Cash...$10.00
Pinecone Research....$3.00
Rite-Aid SCR...$29.00
Subtotal........$46.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES

Subtotal....$0.00--How sad is this?lol

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$46.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Chef Boyardee.....Free Ravioli Q
CoffeeMate....Free Creamer Q
Egg Beaters....Free Item Q
Herbal Essence 'Poo...$1/1 Q & Free Item Q
Karo Syrup....Free Item Q
MegaRed....Free Supplement Sample
MyBlogSpark/Pillsbury....Free Apron/Pen/Recipe Booklet
P&G....Q Booklet
Yoplait Yogurt....Free Item Q

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from Rite-Aid at 100%,  Carone's at 44.72% and  Weis Markets at 22.75%.  I barely shopped at 4 stores in February.lol


TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$122.89
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$1379.97
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$207.56 before Rite-Aid
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1502.86 with Rite-Aid figured in
TOTAL Savings of...................................91.82%

TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$46.00

TOTAL Out of Pocket After Rebates........$76.89
TOTAL Savings including Rebates...........$1425.97
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1502.86
TOTAL Savings After Rebates...................94.88%

This closes out the February spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-
I set out to spend half my allotted Food budget for Feb. which was $125.00.  I managed to come in under that total even before adding my cash rebates into my allotted kitty.
We substantially ate down the freezer and some stockpile.  I did manage to refill the freezer space up with free ice cream from Rite-Aid in Feb. and I processed the last of the pumpkins into puree for the freezer.  Besides the ice cream and cookie mix from Rite-Aid I did very little stockpiling of food in February.  The HBA/Toiletry haul from Rite-Aid is another story altogether!lol  I see a Garage Sale in my near future once the weather warms up.....

What's ahead for March.....
I think I'll try for another Low Spend Month with the Food Budget. Nothing as severe as $125 though, but something like $200.  If some good 'Stockopportunities' come up in March(it IS National Frozen Food Month, is it not?) I will abandon my Low Spend Goal for that.  Either way, I'll be shooting to keep the food spending under or at $250 for the month. 


How did you do in February with your Food Budget?
What are your challenges for March?
Please leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear about your progress!  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

Rite-Aid Catch Up.....some Deals And End of SCR Period TOTALS

***Since I am not going to Rite-Aid today, which is the last day of the February Single Check Rebate Period, I have my Grand Totals for Feb. at the end of this post.  If you just want to see those, scroll to the very bottom of this post. ***

Here are my 2 shops for the end of last week at Rite-Aid.
Basic details only as the deals are done now....

More Johnson & Johnson free 'poo and baby wash products, free Finish, free Hall's, free Reach Floss, free item Q Ruffles, cheap Dixie plates, Hormel Compleats and Oreos.

OOP....$.41 put on free Rite-Aid gift card.
Value...$131.90
+Ups Spent....$34.50
+Ups Earned...$33.00
I am 'down' $1.50 in +Ups for these 2 trips.

Then on Sunday and Monday I bought all this at two different stores, on 2 different days, in 4 different transactions....

 I believe today, March 1st is the last day to snag all the free after +Ups snack items(Combos, Stax, TGIFridays and Burger King brands).  They are on sale for $1 each this week and generate a $1 +Up Reward thru March 1st.  The Bodi-Heat patches as well are on sale for $1 and generate a $1 +Up thru Tuesday.
Buying these snacks allowed me to 'roll' my +Up Rewards that are expiring this week.  I now have a ginormous pile of $1 +Ups that expire 3/15.  I'll be converting a bunch of these into cash, via SCRs offered during next week's sale.   What I don't convert, I'll roll or spend down.

I tried to use a raincheck for the Rite-Aid coffee(raincheck price was $1.99), but the coffee rang up $1.99 anyway.  It's regularly $4.49.  Sooo, either it'a an unadvertised temporary price reduction or nobody changed it in the system from when it was on sale for $1.99 over a month ago.  At any rate, there are $2/1 Rite-Aid coffee Qs located HERE.  You may be able to snag free coffee w/out a raincheck but price check the cans first.

In other raincheck news.....the Dove Deodorants were $1 each with my raincheck from 2 week's ago when it was on sale $2 each and gave a $2 +Up wyb 2.  I also had $2/1 Qs that expired Sunday, so I got $2 in overage.

The Dental Floss is also $1 this week on sale.  I have $2/1 Qs from a tearpad at my Dentist's office so I got $1 in overage on this item as well.  There are $1/1 Qs in the inserts also you can use if you don't have a cool dentist like me! ;-)

The Bouty Basic towels were .50¢ after $1/2 Qs and sale price of $1 each this week.  My Qs for this expired Monday but there are new identical ones in Sunday's P&G insert so go get your cheap towels!

Select Nivea lip products  are $1 on sale this week.  Check out Nivea's page on Facebook and snag a $2/2 Q there....you must "like" them first....to get some FREE lip stuff.

The Folgers is on sale for $2.99 this week and generates a $1 +Up.  Coupons.com has various values of Folger's Qs, depending on what zip code you use.  I found a $1.50/1 Q there so my can of coffee 'cost' me .49¢ after Q/sale/+Ups.  There is also a $2.50/2 Q and lower value Folgers Qs at that site so good luck finding a good value Q!

The Lysine Cold Sore Treatment stuff is also on sale for $1 this week.  There is a MIR of $1.25 located HERE.  Doubtful whether you'll get the rebate but it's worth a shot.  I bought the Lysine anyway since it's handy to have around and it is regularly $9.49!

Last but not least.....the Smart Start Cereal is BOGO this week at Rite-Aid, so 2 boxes for $4.99(at my store, your store's price may vary).  I used 2 x $1/1 IPQs from HERE, making 2 boxes $2.99.
There is a MIR on one of the boxes, so I can get a refund of the whole $4.99 I spent on that box.
Spend $2.99, get $4.99 back.....works for me!

Combined numbers for these 4 transactions....

OOP....$.70 put on free Rite-Aid gift card.
Value...$140.92
+Ups Spent....$34.50
+Ups Earned...$36.00
I am 'up' $1.50 in +Ups for these 4 trips.


THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....6
Total Spent....$1.11(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$272.82
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$4.99 & maybe $1.25 or $1.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$69.00
+Up Rewards spent...$69.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$161.99 


***GRAND TOTALS--February Rebate Period***

Number of Transactions......29
Total Spent....$11.42 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1,756.30
SCR qualified for....$69.97
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$4.99(maybe as high as $6.24)
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Feb. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 2/21.....$161.99
+Up Rewards spent....$490.94
+Up Rewards earned....$496.93
+Up Rewards left....$161.99 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period





I spent $11.42 on my free RA gift cards.
I am getting back $69.97 in SCRs and between $4.99-$6.24 in other cash rebates.
I also received $1,756.30 in products.

Another successful month shopping at Rite-Aid! 8-))



Sluggy

Pillsbury Giveaway Time!.....Win Some Neat Stuff

 Unless you've been living under a rock for the last 45 years, you should know that the PILLSBURY BAKE-OFF Competition rolls around about this time each year.  And it is now in full swing for 2011!
Yes, can you believe that this Contest has been revving up the cooking mojo of home cooks for 45 years!?!
And if you love to create new recipes or dishes your family loves, why not go and enter your creation in this year's competition!

Pillsbury is looking for original recipes that taste and look delicious, are easy to prepare and that families across America will love to eat. Consumers can submit recipes in one of four recipe categories:

* The Breakfast & Brunches category includes casual brunch or weekend family breakfast ideas. For example, sweet rolls, pull-aparts, pastries, breakfast breads, egg dishes or breakfast sandwiches.

* In the Entertaining Appetizers category, entrants can submit appetizers and snacks to serve at casual gatherings with family and friends or for holiday entertaining. For example, bite size appetizers, tartlets, pinwheels, puffs, bruschetta or focaccia.

* The Dinner Made Easy™ category encourages home cooks to create easy-to-prepare main dishes that will delight your family. For example, pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, foldovers, casseroles, chilis, soups or savory pies.

* Quick and easy treats for anytime celebrations can be entered into the Sweet Treats category. For example, cookies, pies, tarts, brownies or bars.

Entries are being accepted online between now and April 18, 2011, at www.bakeoff.com. One hundred lucky finalists will compete for a chance at the grand prize during the contest finals, which take place March 25-27, 2012 at the Peabody Orlando Hotel in Florida. You’ll also find contest details, including eligible products, prizes and the official rules, on the web site.

The recipes will be judged for 1) taste, 2) appearance, 3) creativity and 4) consumer appeal. All entries must meet the requirements of the recipe category and appropriately use two of the eligible products in at least the quantity specified.

Sue Compton of Delanco, N.J. was named the grand prize winner of the 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 2010 for her original Mini Ice Cream Cookie Cups recipe. At the 43rd Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest in 2008, Carolyn Gurtz walked away with the million-dollar grand prize for her Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies. At the 2006 competition, the 42nd Contest, Anna Ginsberg, a stay-at-home mom who you might know from her blog, Cookie Madness, earned the $1 million prize for her Baked Chicken and Spinach Stuffing.

Who knows?  Maybe this year your recipe will take home the big prize?

The fine folks at MyBlogSpark and Pillsbury sent me a cute apron, pen with the Pillsbury Dough Boy on it and a Book of 100 Winning Recipes from the 44th Bake-Off Contest.   Each recipe is on a 5"x4" card(2 per page)that can be removed and filed in your own recipe card box or book.  Each card has a full color photograph of the recipe as well.

Here are a few recipes from the booklet that caught my eye...
*Maple-Bacon Breakfast Rolls
*Orange-Kissed Breakfast Bread Pudding
*Pesto-Quinoa-Spinach Quiche
*Sesame-Chicken Pot Stickers
*Bourbon-Street Muffuletta Braid

Are you ready to get cooking yet?  I know I am!

WIN IT!
MyBlogSpark and Pillsbury have provided me with a duplicate Book/Apron/Pen Gift Set to offer to my readers.
If you would like to be entered into the drawing for this prize simply leave  a comment on this blog post about what you feel makes a Prize Winning Recipe.  Is it the ease of preparation?  A small number of ingredients?  Using Bacon?....ok, that would be my idea of a winning recipe.lol  Or something else?

Just tell us what you think in a comment.  Be sure you leave your email address unless your email is linked to your Blogger account and I can access it through your Blogger Profile page.

EXTRA ENTRIES
You can earn extra entries(after your mandatory entry)by tweeting about this giveaway.  Please include the hashtag #myblogspark in your tweet as well as a link to this post directly in your tweet.  Leave a comment with a link to your tweet on this blog post for your extra entry.
This tweet entry can be performed once per day until the close of the Giveaway period.

This Giveaway will close at 11:59pm EST on Monday, March 7th, 2011.

Good Luck and Happy Cooking!

Legal Mumbo-Jumbo
**This is where I tell you that Pillsbury supplied me with the information, free products and giveaway prize through MyBlogSpark.**

Sluggy

Hammer Time!

Thanks to all my bloggy friends who were worried about me yesterday.
The wind has blown away the dark clouds and I am feeling a bit better today.

Here's some fun for a Friday.
Go watch the video below and try to pick me out.
Sort of a Where's Waldo in gold lame pants.....

I so want to be part of a flashmob, don't you?

Have a good weekend and find something to smile about! ;-)

Sluggy

How To Diffuse a Ticking Time Bomb......Not Quite

I don't care who sees this.
I went and bought the largest damned Shamrock Shake they make, thinking a big old dose of unhealthy nastiness would make me feel better.

The gal at the window hands me the shake.....not in the waxed paper cup I'm use to getting something like this in.
No, she hands me this PLASTIC CUP!
I HATE PLASTIC DISPOSABLE CUPS!!!
And not only is it nasty plastic......it's nowhere NEAR the size a Large Shake should be/used to be!
The censor in my brain that keeps me for saying what I am thinking malfunctioned and I actually glared at her and said....
"THIS is a LARGE Milkshake?  You have GOT to be kidding me!?!?"



***Open Letter to McDonalds***

Dear Swollen Corporate BigWigs,

This may come as a shock to you but not everyone in America is in love with fancy pants drinks.
Yes, more than a fair share of this nation worships at the altar of the Starbucks.
And seeing all that potential for making even more profits, you have offered similar fancy pants coffee and other similar drinks in your establishments in order to garner some of those Starbucks destined dollars for your own bad selves.

Be it known that those of us who aren't lured by the Pied Piper's song of fancy pants, overly decorated and enhanced drinks aren't impressed.
We aren't impressed by Starbucks and we certainly aren't impressed by your mediocre imitation.

And we don't want to pay the extra money you insist on charging for all these liquid machinations.
If we want coffee, we want coffee.
Period.
Not flavorings.
Not whipped "topping".
Not cherries.
And we want to pay a fair price for the coffee.
Not an inflated price for the 'extras' whether we want them or not.

And when we want, oh, say.....a Milkshake.
A milkshake which is not a fancy pants drink mind you!
We don't want it covered in whipped "topping".
Or topped with a cherry.
A Cherry for gosh sakes!
How are we suppose to suck that 1" in diameter cherry through a straw that is 1/3" in diameter?
Forget World Peace, go spend some of your obscene profits on answering that scientific improbability!

And if we are paying for a LARGE milkshake, we expect it to be......LARGE!
I know, I know.....this is a brazen concept, so try to stay with me here.

Not Medium.
Not Small.
Large....like in a Large Milkshake cup.
Not in a much smaller than large, will never decompose in a landfill, fancy pants iced coffee drink cup....or fancy pants smoothie cup, etc.

You have toyed with the wrong menopausal already pissed off and wound too-tight woman today McDonald's.

Signed,
Internet Hellion
Sluggy

I'm a Little Teapot

Have you ever had one of those days.....

One of those days where everything you read or everything someone said to you just made you angry?

One of those days where everything you had to do or wanted to do or tried to do just pissed you off?

One of those days where you just kept dwelling on a thought or two and the more you picked it apart, the more negative you felt, and slighted and hurt?

One of those days where you were just danged tired of being taken for granted(or 'granite' as my kids use to say)and having people feel they owed you nothing....not the consideration of a reply, or the acknowledgment that you were going out of your way for them and arranging your schedule around THEM and their needs?

Well if you haven't, consider yourself lucky.

I am bubbling over with resentment in regards to some stuff that's come to a head around here.
I don't like myself particularly that I am reacting like this but gosh darned it!...I have a right to feel this way nonetheless!!

And it's family stuff so that's all I am liberty to say at this time though I want to scream at the top of my lungs at the moment....

You know what happened to the Little Teapot don't you?
"When I get all steamed up, I just shout..."

I just had to put it out there and get a piece of it off my chest or drown in it.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr

And now back to your regularly scheduled happy programming.....HA!

Sign me Seething Sluggy

Wednesday Stuff

Well I finally got around to paying the February bills. Let's just say for now that my Feb. totals are NOT going to be pretty. ;-)
Last week put me off my game a bit so I am behind doing lots of paperwork.  At least with so few trips to the grocery store, I have less paperwork to get to, right?
You would think.....
But Oh NOOOOOOOOO!
All that free time this month was taken up with the TONS of extra paperwork thanks to Uncle Sam x 9 filings, plus FAFSA......and then plus PHEAA(for PA state grants)for Daughter.

For her to attend her 1st choice school she is going to be around $12 thousand.....yes I just said 12 THOUSAND!!! dollars short for the academic year AFTER we pay what we have allocated for her.  We are crossing our fingers for lots of scholarship money from the University to take up a heap of the shortfall.  I doubt it will be enough to cover it all so we are applying for whatever aid we can find.  The PA state grants are limited to around $4500 a year so that won't be enough even if she gets a full grant from them.  I see many Many private loan dollars in her future.....  It will be her choice and her burden to bear moving forward but I still worry because that's what us Moms do. ;-)

My youngest turned 15 years old yesterday too.  He's firmly entrenched in full blown Teenager-itis now!
When did my always happy little man who loved to cuddle, suck his thumb and carry his blankie everywhere and would watch Blue's Clues and play with his Power Rangers grow into the surly lifeform who feels that grunting is a sufficient form of communication?!
And who gave him permission to transform into this, because I certainly did not!

I am having a hard time concentrating and getting things done this week.  I just want to crawl back into bed and hide from the world.
I guess I am just dog tired....or is that tired of the dogs?
I'm dwelling in a full-on state of Ennui....


Sluggy

No Spend February.....Not Going as Planned

Well I was doing fairly well on trying to only spend HALF of my usual $250 Food/Toiletries Budget in February.

The 1st week of Feb. I did great until I took the BIL to the grocery store and went inside.lol  I only spent about $83 that week total.
The 2nd week of Feb. I did GREAT!  I didn't spend a penny of the budgeted $!!
The 3rd week the funeral happened so I broke down and bought some hot foods and baked goods at the grocery store to serve while Hub's family was here.  I consider this week unusual circumstances but I still spent about $60 on food.
For the 4th week I am trying to stay out of the grocery store again to salvage my $125 goal.  At the moment I am at $115.27 spent on food in February.  So I have just over $9 left in the budget.
Saturday we are eating out for #2 son's Birthday so I only have 6 days to meal plan.

MEAL PLAN  Feb. 20th-Feb. 26th

Sunday--BAKED ZITI & SALAD  *This used up stockpiled cheese, pasta, sauce and sour cream I had gotten on dairy dept. clearance a few weeks ago.  I also added some ground beef(stockpiled in the freezer)to the sauce. I make a double batch so we'll be eating this another meal too.
Monday--LEFTOVERS  *We finished up some Chili, some had more of last night's meal, and some leftover Chinese take-out from the weekend
Tuesday--CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS   *I'll be using up the leftover Baked Chicken Hubs bought at WeisMarkets that we served on Wednesday to the relatives before the funeral.  I'll add some more stockpiled chicken to make this dish and make the Dumplings from scratch.  We'll have enough for another meal or for leftovers.
Wednesday--BOSTON BAKED BEANS AND CORNBREAD  *One of my crockpot meals that makes more than 1 meal's worth.
Thursday--LEFTOVERS
Friday--FISH, FRIED ZUCCHINI, FRENCH FRIES  *Using up some potatoes, stockpiled frozen fish and digging into a large bag of breaded zuke rounds.
Saturday--Birthday meal out for #2 son

Lots of filling, hearty comfort foods due to the weather here and the apres funeral comforting needs of my family. ;-)
The only item that I need to buy for these meals is some carrots for the Chicken and Dumplings.  I'll probably buy some salad greens as I like to have them on hand and some lunch meat for sandwiches.
That will take care of my $9 that is left.

As for not spending on non-food items, all the toiletries have been free from Rite-Aid, as I've been using my +Up Rewards and free gift cards there.
I am not one to shop for non food/toiletries much so I don't have a problem staying out of those kinds of stores.  Except, with the funeral we had to buy #1 son some dress slacks and #2 son some slacks and a dress shirt, since they didn't have anything appropriate to wear to the service.  We did do some shoe borrowing so nothing was spent on footwear, but we did spend $60 on the clothes.  If I had had more time to find the stuff, I would have hit the thrift store and saved money of these things.  Oh well.....sometimes you have to spend in an emergency.

So are you doing a No Spend or Low Spend February?
How is it working out for you?
Has it been easy or difficult to stay the course?
Leave a comment and let us know!

Sluggy

About Last Week.....

First off I'd like to thank everyone who sent condolences for my Mother-in-Law's passing.
This past week was difficult.  Between all the in-laws descending on us for the funeral, Hubs having to drive across the state to fetch #1 son so he could be with the family here during this period of mourning and Hubs having to handle the bulk of the business stuff that needed doing because face it, half of his family is totally worthless when it comes to stepping up to the plate, it has been mighty stressful for us personally.

While my Hubs adored his mother, I had a contentious relationship with her at best.  At first I think she felt that being involved with me, kept her 'baby' from achieving more in life.  Eventually she got use to the idea that I wasn't going away and we settled into a relationship that worked for us, mostly because she kept her distance and was very hands off. 

I think in a way we were very much alike in so many areas and that is why we butted heads. 
I appreciate her for raising her kids to be decent human beings.  She was the original Frugalista too, living through the Depression as one of a large family.  She was very smart and graduated with honors from high school.  She could have gone to college if they had had the money for it.  Instead she fell in love, went to secretary school and worked until WWII was over and then married her soldier and raised a family.  She passed on that thirst for knowledge to her kids.  Her and my FIL were very poor starting out and suffered many injustices at the hands of my FIL's bigoted Italian-American family.  They survived and flourished in spite of it.
She was always reading(and I'm not talking romance novels)and questioning authority and societal norms. She was not afraid to stand up to anyone, no matter their position in life. Quiet yet outspoken.
When her oldest son asked an African American woman to be his wife, she was the first person to welcome her with open arms into the family. 

MIL has really been 'gone' for about 6 years due to advanced Alzheimer's. With the quality of her intellect, I was very sad to see that happen.   I am sure that if she had been aware of what was actually happening to her, she would have been devastated.
My mother on the other hand went quickly from physical ailments.  Having gone through both of their final years, I sure hope my body gives out before my mind does. 8-(

The actual service was brief but then there was the 2 hour drive, EACH WAY, to the cemetery in NJ and back here.  And when going to or leaving metro NY area of NJ, you always have to consider rush hour traffic issues.  Luckily, things timed out rather well so we weren't on the road during either rush hour periods.
And I was able to provide some comic relief to all who gathered at the cemetery.  Last Thursday was exceptionally warm in our area, about 58 degrees in Jersey.  The cemetery was still blanketed in a foot or so of snow.  We had to walk about 500 yds. in about 6 inches of a melting, slushy, muddy mess of a half-assed shoveled pathway to get to the gravesite.  I hadn't even considered this possibility when picking out my footwear!
So I was in a pair of purple low cut low heeled flats, tromping through the snow/slush/mud.
Ugh! 
My feet were soaked to the bone by the time I took my 4th step.....
So I sucked it up and just soldiered on.  On the way back to the road, I misstepped into a mud hole and turned my ankle.  I pitched forward and went down headfirst into a foot of snow/slush, using my right hand/arm to catch myself from splaying out face down in the snow.  Of course, everyone was already way ahead of me, including my Hubs, so when I yelled for him to help me, nobody came, let alone heard me.  Oldest BIL's wife was still graveside snapping photos on her cellphone and she eventually saw me in my graceful position and came over.  By then I had taken matters into my own hands and crawled a couple of feet to the left, like a half-human/half-crab and used a headstone to steady myself and get upright.  I will always be grateful to Archie and Lucille for being there for me.   Sorry but I didn't catch the last name or the dates. ;-)
Leave it to me to make a Grand Exit.......

Now that things have settled back into their usual chaotic routine, I hope to get back to blogging and visiting around the blogosphere to catch up with my bloggy friends in the coming days.

Sluggy

Rite-Aid....End of last Week and Sunday's Trip

I was able to hop over to Rite-Aid a few times during this past week while the out of town relatives where here. I needed to get some fresh air anyway, so why not bring home free stuff, right?lol

Since these deals are past here are the highlights....

2 boxes of cereal *after Qs, sales and +Up Rewards generated, they were .72¢ a box.
2 candy bars *after Qs, wellness discount, they were .35¢ each.
2 candy bars *after Qs and sale, they were .25¢ each.
2 Fritos corn chips *after sale and +Ups generated, they were $1.89 each.
1 Brach's Valentines candy *after clearance sale, they were .79¢.
2 Stax chips *after wellness discount and +Ups generated they were .43¢ each.
2 Dixie plates *after raincheck and Qs, they were .49¢ each.
1 Ben-Gay massage tube *after sale and Qs, it was .79¢
2 Ziploc bags *after sale, Q and +Ups generated, they were $1 a box.
2 Almay eye shadow *after clearance sale and $2 SCR, they were .24¢ each.
6 sticks of Degree Deodorant *after sale, Qs and +Ups generated, they were free.
1 bottle of Excedrin pain reliever *after free item Q, it was free.
6 bags of Chex Mix *after Qs, sales, +Ups generated, they were free.
2 boxes of facial tissue *after raincheck, they were free.
1 Gain dish soap *after sale and Q, it was -.13¢
4 Hormel chili *after sale, Qs and +Ups generated, they were -.375¢ each.
8 boxes of Motrin PM and 2 boxes of Precise Cream pain reliever *after rainchecks, sales, Qs, +Ups generated, they were -$1.39 each.
2 tubes of Colgate toothpaste *after sale, Qs and +Ups generated, they were -$1.00 each.

I spent $36 in +Up Rewards on all this and received back $40 in +Up Rewards & $4 in SCRs.
$1.41 OOP was put on my Rite-Aid gift card.
The value of this haul was $172.88.


Here is what I brought home on Sunday, the start of the new sales week.....

1 x Gallon Milk=$3.31
2 x Jif PButter raincheck price $1.99=$3.98
2 x Hormel Compleat on sale $1.99=$3.98
1 x Sucrets on sale=$2.99
4 x Desitin on sale $2.99=$11.96
2 x Oreo Cookies on sale $3.00=$6.00
5 x Reach Toothbrushes on sale $3.43(wellness disc. lower than sale price)=$17.15
1 x Reach Toothbrush on sale $3.83(wellness disc. lower than sale price)=$3.83
SubTotal...$53.20

Coupons Used

1 x $1/2 Jif PButter AdPerks/VVQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Hormel Compleat Blinkie Q(pinched from Weis)=$1.00
1 x $1.5/1 Sucrets ManuQ=$1.50
1 x $1/1 Desitin IPQ=$1.00
1 x $3/3 Desitin/JJ 'Poo/Head to Toe Wash IPQ=$3.00
1 x $1/2 Oreo Cookies IPQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Oreo Cookies AdPerks/VVQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Oreo wyb Gal. Milk IPQ(facebook)=$1.00
3 x BOGO Reach Toothbrushes ManuQ=$10.29
1 x $2/2 Reach Toothbrushes IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Reach Toothbrush Tearpad(from Dentist office)=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Reach/Listerine item AdPerks/VVQ=$1.00
Coupon Total....$24.79

$53.20-$24.79=$28.41
I used $28 +Up Rewards and put the .41¢ on my gift card.
I received $23 in +Up Rewards....4 x $2 Desitin, 6 x $1 Reach, $2 Sucrets, $1 Oreos and $1 Month long food +Up for each Hormel, Oreos and Jif(6 in total).
So in the end, this trip cost me .41¢ on my gift card and $5 in +Ups.  Considering the milk alone was $3.31, this wasn't too bad a haul.lol

**Two bags of Oreos are giving 3 $1 Ups....1 per bag for a monthlong deal and this week's $1 wyb 2 bags +Up.
I had wanted to pick up some J&J No More Tears shampoo but my store was clean out.  Someone also came in between Sat. afternoon and when I got there Sunday and pinched all the $1 peelie Qs off of the Right Guard Body Wash so instead of free after that peelie Q and $3 +Ups they would cost $.99 per bottle.  I wanted them free after Qs/+Ups to roll my +Ups that expire this week.  So I'll poke around for some more peelies elsewhere or just burn some +Ups this week on stuff like tp or trash bags since there is nothing else I really need/want at Rite-Aid right now.

Anybody get to Rite-Aid this week yet?
How did your shopping go?


THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....3
Total Spent....$1.82(put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$251.61 SCR qualified for...$4.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$63.00
+Up Rewards spent...$64.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$161.99 

GRAND TOTALS--February Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......23
Total Spent....$10.31 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1,483.48
SCR qualified for....$69.97
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Feb. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 2/8.....$162.99
+Up Rewards spent....$421.94
+Up Rewards earned....$427.93
+Up Rewards left....$161.99 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period

Sluggy

Sluggy's Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway Winner!

Like all good things, my Birthday too, must come to an end.
Yes, it does seem like we've been celebrating this occasion for oh....6 months or so.
But I know y'all are anxious to get it over with and see who won the Box of Personalized Awesomeness!

There were 146 valid giveaway entries over the course of 9 blog posts.
I assigned a number to each valid entry and then used Random.Org to assist me in finding the worthy winner.
And to show you that persistence pays off, the Winner was someone who saw it through to the bitter end and entered on every blog post.  Either they are persistent or they have alot of free time on their hands.....lol

Without further ado, the winning entry was this one.....

Lulu T. said...  

 #1! I would love to tame my frizziness! :D

 January 28, 2011 4:17 PM

Congratulations to Lulu T!!!

Lulu T. you have 48 hours from the time stamp on this post to contact me with your mailing address.

My contact email is on my Blogger profile page.  Please use that email to contact me and don't put your info. in the comments section for the whole world to see....unless you would like all the spam attention that might garner you.  Hey, that might appeal to some people, I'm just sayin..... ;-)

Again, I want to thank everyone of you wonderful people for playing along with my crazy giveaway ideas.
I had fun....until I had to write all these entries down and number them......lol

Sluggy

$25 Shop-Rite Gift Card Giveaway Winner......

The winner of the $25 Shop-Rite gift card is.....
coocoo's mom

"coocoo's mom said...

mmmmmmmmm Golden Grahams I could go for some indoor s'mores roght now."

The winner didn't leave their email addy in the comment and I don't see it listed in their blogger profile, so they need to contact me with their mailing address and telephone number with area code so I can pass that info. along to MyBlogSpark.
You have 48 hours from the time stamp on this post to do so coocoo's mom or I'll have to pull another winner.

Thanks to everyone who entered and be sure and go enter my Boring Blog Birthday Giveaway which ends tonight!!

Sluggy

Musical Wednesday......Sweeney Todd is My Food Waste Role Model

Once you get past the darkness of the subject matter, Sweeney Todd is a great show and some of Stephen Sondheim's best writing!
I've seen clips of the recent film adaptation but I much prefer the stage version.
Nobody plays the part of Mrs. Lovett better than Angela Lansbury did.
Both George O'Hearn and Len Cariou were great Sweeney's on the stage.

Over here at Don't Read This; It's Boring! we are all about frugality.
I am offering up this musical clip today since it gets to the heart of 2 subjects near and dear to my heart.....frugality and food waste. ;-)

The amount of perfectly good food thrown out in this country is staggering!  While you can't readily change the health laws that govern why businesses are often forced to discard palatable food or the businesses that would rather throw out food than give it away to those in need at the end of the day all in the name of profits, you can keep an eye on YOUR own Personal Food Waste!

Don't buy what you won't/can't eat before it spoils.
When you have leftovers, be sure you find something to do with them besides pitch them into the garbage can.
Reheat and eat......remake them into new dishes......give them away to someone who will eat them......feed your pets......and compost the compost-able materials(not meat or diary).

Here at Chez Sluggy, we use up our Leftovers.  It is very rare for us to have Food Waste like we did 2 years ago when I started my blog.  I am very proud of that fact!

In honor of the concept of Zero Food Waste in this country, I present today's Musical Selection......

Sluggy

Sluggy's Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway Post #9....Last Chance to Enter!

Time for Post 9 for the Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway!

If this is your first time here, get up to speed on how this Giveaway works by looking HERE.

Check out the rules.....
The Rules
1. You must be a "Follower" of my blog to enter and still be a Follower if/when you win.  Lookie on the right sidebar and press the big ol' FOLLOW button if you are not already a follower.
2.  Sorry but this Giveaway is open ONLY to those with a mailing address within the USA.  Hate to have to do that but the postal rates outside the country are KILLER.
3. 1 vote/entry per post with 1 exemption.  You can leave more than 1 comment per post but only your 1st vote/comment will count.


The 1 Exemption....You can earn EXTRA ENTRIES this way....
*If you get someone to become a Follower and enter this giveaway you can earn an Extra Entry for each person you bring on board.  You can blog about the giveaway or email people or post about it on a message board or call your neighbor on the phone....whatever way you want to recruit them, I don't care.  Just make sure that they mention in their vote/comment/entry that You(your name here)told them about the blog/giveaway and you get an extra entry that post.


As always, this is not a company sponsored or company supplied Giveaway.  Any costs associated with this Giveaway are coming out of my pocket because I'm just that kinda gal.  Please patronize our blog ads....I'm just sayin'.... ;-)


Now down to the business at hand.

This is the last Entry Post for this Giveaway.  Last chance to enter!

Here are your 3 items to choose from today.  These items are for the fashionista in your life....

1.  Revlon Color Stay Eye Shadow
2. Rimmel Black Mascara
3. N.Y.C. Lip Gloss-chocolate or fudge or something like that


Just leave a comment on this post within the next 3 days with your choice of #1, 2 or 3.
Additional praise for me on the anniversary of my birth is welcomed but won't earn you any Brownie points for the Giveaway. ;-)

This Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on Thursday, February 17th.  I'll put all the valid entries into a hat and have one of my kids draw a winner and I'll announce the winner sometime Friday.  The winning person will get all the things they voted on put into a Priority Mail box and shipped to them.

Good luck to everyone!!

Sluggy

I May Not Be Around Much This Week...

I just wanted to mention that I might not be posting much and such this week.
My Mother-In-Law passed away on Saturday evening and we have all the family coming in here this week for the service and all.
So I may be otherwise occupied this week.
I have a few things scheduled to post on the blog tomorrow and later in the week so you shouldn't see a big disruption in stuff to read.

Just a reminder....If you have access to a Shop-Rite and want a $25 Gift Card please see the link on the right sidebar(at the top of the sidebar)about entering to win that.  There are very few entries and I am drawing a winner in 2 DAYS so get your entry in asap!

And the Boring Blog Birthday Giveaway last chance to enter Post is due up Tuesday so look for that too!

Sluggy

2 Transactions for Last Week & 1 for This Week at Rite-Aid

I did 2 transacations on Friday.  Didn't need to roll any +Ups but I wanted to get a few things anyway.
Imagine that!....shopping at Rite-Aid even when I don't have to roll +Ups.lol
I did have $20 Resolution Reward to use so I rolled it into cash via some SCRs...

No detailed info since these deals are past.
I got....
4 Cheez-Its
2 Welch's Grape Juice
2 Stouffer's Pizza
3 BC Cake Mix
1 BC Frosting
10 R-A Toilet Tissue
4 R-A Facial Tissue
2 Motrin PM
2 Precise Pain Cream
2 Excedrin PM
1 Fritos
2 Halls Cough Drops
1 Reach Dental Floss
2 Extra Gum
4 Asstd. Chestal/Oscillococcinum Meds

Total after Qs and sale....$33.46
Total after +Up Rewards used...$.46 which was put on my Rite-Aid gift card.
+Ups Spent...$33
+Ups Received...$16
SCRs qualified for...$24.99
Value of Items bought...$158.88

And here is my trip for the new sales week I took on Sunday.  I had another $20 Resolution Reward to use up....

1 gallon Milk $3.31
2 Stax chips on sale=$3.00 w/wellness disc.=$2.86
2 Hormel Chili on sale=$3.00
I Hungry Jack Syrup on sale=$2.22
1 Oreo Cookies on sale=$2.79
4 Dove Deodorant on sale $2=$8.00
1 Ben-gay Massage w/wellness disc.=$6.79
1 Almay Eye Shadow 40% off=$4.67
2 Colgate Toothpaste on sale $3.50=$7.00
SubTotal...$40.64

Coupons Used
2 x .50/1 Hormel Chili AdPerks/VV Q=$1.00
1 x $1 WYB 1 Nabisco Cookie & 1 Gal. Milk IPQ=$1.00
4 x $2/1 Dove Deodorant ManQ=$8.00
1 x $3/1 Ben-gay Massage IPQ=$3.00
1 x $3/1 Ben-gay In-Ad Q=$3.00
1 x $2/1 Almay Cosmetic item ManuQ=$2.00
Coupon Total....$18.00

$40.64-$18.00=$22.64
I used $22 in +Ups and put the .64¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $17 in +Ups back(2 x $2 Dove, 2 x $1 Hormel, $1 Oreos, $1 Syrup, 2 x $1 Stax, 2 x $3.50 Colgate).
I also qualified for the $2 Almay SCR #42.
Value of Items bought...$60.47

*The Colgate gives full sales price back in +Ups this week(LIMIT 2!)and if you have a ManuQ this is a moneymaker item.
*Some stores have select Almay products on clearance so if you can find those and you have an Almay Q you can get a sweet moneymaker deal after SCR!
*The Chex Mix on sale this week gives a $1 monthlong +Up, so find a $1/2 or .50¢/1 Q and it's free after +Ups.
*The Dove Deodorant is also free after +Ups if you have the P&G insert $2/1 Dove Q.  There is also a Degree Q in that insert so if you get the Degree Deo, after +Ups it will be only $1 per stick.
*There is a .50¢/1 AdPerks Q good on the Hormel Chili among other things.  The Hormel Chili is $1.50 this week and give a $1 monthlong +Up so use the AdPerks Q and get it free after +Ups.


THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....3
Total Spent....$1.10 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$219.35
SCR qualified for...$26.99
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$33.00
+Up Rewards spent...$55.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$162.99 

GRAND TOTALS--February Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......20
Total Spent....$8.49 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$1,231.87
SCR qualified for....$65.97
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Feb. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 2/8.....$184.99
+Up Rewards spent....$357.94
+Up Rewards earned....$364.93
+Up Rewards left....$162.99 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period

Are you planning on hitting up Rite-Aid this week?
If you have the 1st Resolution $20 +Up Reward remember that it expires on Feb. 21st(next Monday)so if you haven't used it yet, it's time to make plans to get to Rite-Aid to spend it. ;-)


Sluggy

Sluggy's Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway Post #8....Time to Enter Again!

We are nearing the end now people.  Don't forget to leave your entries!

Time for Post 8 for the Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway!

If this is your first time here, get up to speed on how this Giveaway works by looking HERE.

Check out the rules.....
The Rules
1. You must be a "Follower" of my blog to enter and still be a Follower if/when you win.  Lookie on the right sidebar and press the big ol' FOLLOW button if you are not already a follower.
2.  Sorry but this Giveaway is open ONLY to those with a mailing address within the USA.  Hate to have to do that but the postal rates outside the country are KILLER.
3. 1 vote/entry per post with 1 exemption.  You can leave more than 1 comment per post but only your 1st vote/comment will count.


The 1 Exemption....You can earn EXTRA ENTRIES this way....
*If you get someone to become a Follower and enter this giveaway you can earn an Extra Entry for each person you bring on board.  You can blog about the giveaway or email people or post about it on a message board or call your neighbor on the phone....whatever way you want to recruit them, I don't care.  Just make sure that they mention in their vote/comment/entry that You(your name here)told them about the blog/giveaway and you get an extra entry that post.


As always, this is not a company sponsored or company supplied Giveaway.  Any costs associated with this Giveaway are coming out of my pocket because I'm just that kinda gal.  Please patronize our blog ads....I'm just sayin'.... ;-)


Now down to the business at hand.

Here are your 3 items to choose from today....

1. 2 Disney Store TINY KINGDOM Figures--Eeyore and Pooh
2. a pack of Dental Floss
3. a 2 Sheet Pack of Winnie the Pooh Gift Wrap


Just leave a comment on this post within the next 3 days with your choice of #1, 2 or 3.
Additional praise for me on the anniversary of my birth is welcomed but won't earn you any Brownie points for the Giveaway. ;-)

Sluggy

So Glad It's Over.....But Still Lots to Do!

Forgive me if I haven't been around to read your blogs/leave comments or respond to comments you may have left on my blog.
It's all I could do this week to just keep cranking out some new blog posts.

Nope, this has NOT been one of my favorite weeks!
Nothing bad going on here but just a really long "Things To Do" list for me....and it's not over with yet.

I was chosen to take part in a focus group back in January.  I've done one other one before this.  That one was an online chat format thing and it lasted for 2-3 hours.  Then I was done and they sent me a little check.
Well this one is a tad more involved.  It is a 5 week commitment with a 1 week break in the midst of it, so I am in this thing for 6 weeks total!  I have tasks to complete each week but I never know when a task will be thrown my way and even better, I have a limited amount of time to complete these tasks.  And they aren't easy peasy, just fill in this questionnaire type tasks either.  I am having to actually use my brain and do some w-o-r-k....ACK!!lol

We are at the end of our 3rd week and we've already lost 1 member.  If you drop out and don't finish this thing you get ZERO $.  At this point death alone will keep me from completing this assignment!

Along with the group taking up my time, I'm under the gun to get the taxes finished so I can file the FAFSAs.  I was hung up until earlier this week with all that paperwork, but #1 son's college finally sent out his 1098 form(showing what we paid them for tuition).  Now I have all the supporting documentation...rah!
At this point in time, I have the federal done tentatively, the state, the local as well as the 2 teens state returns.  Hubs needs to do their local returns Saturday, I need to do their federal returns(those will take a nanosecond)and then we both need to sit down and go over all the returns to check for errors.
After those are finalized, we can fill out the FAFSAs on Sunday.  Yes, that is our wild and crazy partying weekend plan.....filling out FAFSAs.
After it's done we may hit the bottle of Southern Comfort, if I don't open it sooner. ;-)

Add in a 2 hour session being drilled at the Dentist on Wednesday, followed by a 3 hour session working on taxes and it's no wonder I am just not feeling peppy this week.

Top the week off with a sick teen, chopping an iceberg the size that took down the Titanic(this one is in front of the door to my storage unit)so I could get the spare bags of dog food for our mutts, and then chauffeuring around the BIL most of today so he could run his errands.
I did finally get all that food to the food bank...that was the bright spot in my day.

A nice big haul, thanks in large part to the fine folks at Rite-Aid! 8-))

Well it's almost 5pm and I've got to throw something together for dinner.    Daughter's boyfriend was over on Monday evening so I cooked a large platter of pork chops with a plum glaze, stroganoff noodles and yellow beans and red bell pepper sauted in olive oil.  The only people who actually ate the meal were Hubs and I.  I could have killed daughter, BF and #2 son!!  So I have pulled my best Joan Crawford this week to show them it's not nice to fool with mother......I've offered up that leftover pork chop meal every night or some variation of the pork chops in new dishes(pork fried rice with stir-fry veggies, pork alfredo with peas, etc.)  Neither of the teens have taken me up on my dinner ideas and they have just fended for themselves from what's in the pantry or freezer.....grumbling and protesting all the while mind you.  This is great!  I don't have to cook(since I haven't felt like it this week that's a good thing!)and I don't feel guilty for not cooking for them because they are saying don't cook!lol

Another good thing is I have NOT gone to the grocery store this week(except for that stuff I bought on the gift card at Shop-Rite, so I haven't spend any cash).  Hopefully I can hold out until Sunday and stay out of the grocery store and accomplish my No Spending on Groceries Week for February.
Heck, maybe we can go TWO WEEKS without grocery shopping!  That would be awesome.

So I've got my weekend all planned out and if things go well, I'll have all the paperwork done until May when we'll have more school stuff to do....but nothing as bad as FAFSAs and all that mess.
My time will be freed up a bit and I can go back to my first love....Rite-Aid! ;-)

So what is everyone else doing this weekend?  I haven't even begun to think about Valentine's Day either.  We generally don't "do" valentine's day here.  We don't go out or anything since the restaurants are a ZOO then!
Do y'all have any special plans for the 14th?

Sluggy