Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Savings Update

Well, this is my final week for the Sutton & Dodge $2.00 coupons at Target. I think they have finally decided that this is not a money making deal for Target. I went to get two steaks tonight with my Sutton & Dodge coupons and the clerk would only let me use one coupon. Therefore I told him I didn't want the other steak. I got a ribeye steak that had a $3.00 coupon on it and used my $2.00 Sutton & Dodge coupon. Got the steak for $2.47. Not bad for a ribeye. I also got two Gillette body washes (8 oz. ea), 4 Johnson's Buddies soaps, and a Pledge multi surface spray. All of this for a little over $7.00. I actually paid a little over $10.00 but when I got out to the car I realized that the clerk hadn't taken the $3.00 coupon off of the meat. I went into customer service and told them and they gave me $3.00 cash back. I then asked since I had to come back in, if I could go get the other ribeye and consider that a 2nd transaction. She said sure. So I did. When I went to check out, the $3.00 coupon was taken off the steak, but the Sutton & Dodge coupon wouldn't work. The clerk looked at it several times and then said it wasn't a Sutton & Dodge steak. I realized that they had two different brands of steaks and I hadn't realized that I grabbed the wrong one. I paid $4.00 for the 2nd steak--still not a bad deal.

Then tonight I was looking at some deals online and got a USB notebook light to use over my laptop for $2.99 with free shipping. We'll see if that is worthwhile.

Randy was in Chicago this last weekend and was kind enough to stop into the Bare Escentials store and pick up the free gift of a kabuki brush and some medium beige makeup. He was a bit embarrassed, but I really appreciate his effort!

Well, happy shopping everyone and keep up the good work!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

A Beautiful Saturday

This is a beautiful day and I probably should be outside working in the yard. But of course, my inside list is long and I always feel that I need to get it done first. So it's almost 5:30 p.m. and I've gotten lots of food made for next week. I got my freezer cleaned out and found several packages of meat that needed to be used up before they got too past their useful date. We now have chicken noodle soup (thanks for the tips, Fred, I made my own noodles), chicken enchiladas, dinner rolls, whole wheat orange muffins, a pork tenderloin ready to go into the crockpot, and I'm working on a way to use up some cabbage (I think we'll be having some coleslaw!). I have a lasagna in the freezer and will pull together an au gratin potato casserole and I think between the frozen prepared foods I've made and some fresh foods, we'll be set for lunches and suppers next week.

I haven't been training much since last October and my schedule is now getting much busier! That's a good thing, but then I'm too tired to worry about what to make for supper when I get home. This helps a lot. All my bargains over the past two weeks have really helped fill my freezer! I'll still be watching the specials, but won't need to buy much at all over the next few weeks. It will have to be a MAJOR sale.

Shakes and I are going to go for a walk in a few minutes. He's been biting at the bit all day. I figure if we walk around the block, he'll be so worn out, he'll sleep all evening and night--of course that's mostly what he does anyway! Ha!

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

A Dedication to my Grandchildren

For some reason, the voice and picture aren't in perfect alignment. I don't know how to change that. But...here it is anyway. Hopefully it won't confuse the kids!



This video is dedicated to my grandchildren. I've been busy telling about my "deals" and haven't gotten enough time to address the three little loves of my life! Of course my daughters and sons-in-law are extremely special to me too, but grandchildren take up a very special place in the heart of a grandparent and this blog is for them.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Wanna Win Wednesday and Thrifty Thursday!

We are getting to the end of my Mega Savings week. I didn't get a chance to write last night--went to get my nails done and didn't get home til late. Plus it's so darn cold, that when I get home, it takes my fingers a while to unfreeze! Good 'ole Nebraska weather!

OK, so what about my savings? Well, starting with Wednesday, I dropped my free Redbox movie from Tuesday in the Redbox before work. I tried the Wednesday code to see if I could get another free movie, but it didn't work. Darn. At lunch time I went to Walgreens (of course!) and got two coffee mate creamers (french vanilla--yum!) that were on sale for $2.49 BOGO (that's Buy one/get one free--yes, there's even special lingo attached to this obsession of mine!). I had a MC (manufacturer's coupon) for $1.50 on 1. I also got some AXE conditioner (for Randy) which was $5.99. There's a rebate for $5.99 available through Walgreen's easy saver catalog this month so I'll get that back. I then used my free coupon for Irish Spring body wash which was a $4.49 value. I used $3.00 in Register Rewards to pay and gave them $2.71 out of pocket. I will still get $5.99 back from my rebate. Oh yes, and I got another coupon for a free Irish Spring body wash! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I love Walgreens!

OK, after work I went to get my nails done and then had to pick up a few things at Wal-Mart. I did not see any great deals at Wal-Mart. I know they will match prices on things but I'm not that organized yet! Then on the way home I stopped at HyVee to see if I could get the free movie code to work and it did. So I got my free movie too! Well, unfortunately it was now 7:00 and I didn't have time to go home and cook up the chicken I had marinating so I treated Randy to some Popeye's chicken--it's a rarity, so...

Now onto Thursday. I had to make some treats for work so I went in a little later today. I stopped at HyVee to take my movie back and then veered off at Walgreen's by our house. I picked up two more creamers to have at work. Unfortunately my coupon didn't print right so my $1.50 coupon didn't work, but I had another $.75 coupon. Ok, so it wasn't $.50 each, it was $.75. Still a good deal. I also picked up another package of Advil PM and for $4.49, got the $2.00 RR and used the $2.00 coupon off the box. $.49--yes! Used $3.00 in RR rewards. Then gave them $3.29 and got $2.00 in RR back. $6.98 worth of product for $1.29. Remember, I'm still supposed to pay the tax.

At noon today I went to Walgreens again (this is just too much fun!). I bought another Advil PM--same deal as before, got my free Irish Spring body wash--that makes 4 total. Divide that between the $4.49 for the original one and that's $1.12+tax per Irish Spring body wash. I also got a Walgreens brand Headache medicine (their equivalent to Excedrine) for $2.99 (this is another ES deal for a rebate of the full price.) Finally, I picked up a Gillette Fusion Gamer razor which was on sale for $8.99. I had a $4.00 MC and the sign said you'd get back $6.00 in RR. How can I pass that up? When I went to pay, I used my $2.00 RR from this morning, and when it was all done, the machine only kicked out a $4.00 RR. I asked the clerk why when the sign said $6.00 in RR. She went and looked and then called the manager over. He said it was their mistake, but the sign was a month old. Since it was the store's mistake, he gave me the other $2.00 in cash! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I can't stand it! I'm rolling with glee! Ha! Ha! $21.16 worth of product for .66 cents after coupons, rebates, RR, etc.

My last report is for super Target. I went tonight to see if they had any good meat on sale to use my $2.00 coupons on. Unfortunately, they didn't have the chuck roast at $1.99 like someone said their Target had. But I found some round steak (I can still make swiss steak or chicken fried steak with it!) and got two of them. They were $3.00 apiece so they only cost me about $1.00 each. I also got a head of cabbage for $1.69--had a coupon for $1.00 off. I got 4 cans of Cre4am of chicken soup for $.54 apiece and had a coupon for $1.00/2. And I got two Mott's Applesauce individual service cups 6pak for $1.69 each and had a $1.00 off coupon for each as well as a MC for $.55 off for each. I paid only $.14+tax for each. Awesome! Oh yes, and I had a $5.00 Target gift card that I got in the mail from something. I used $3.66 from the card--no out of pocket!

I know this is probably boring you, but I'm loving it! I'll try to think of some way to include a picture one of these days!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Taking Charge Tuesday

This is getting ridiculous, but becoming so much fun! I can't stop myself! This is the 3rd day of my "savings" ritual. Today I took my $4 in RR and my coupon for free Irish Spring body wash and went to Walgreens over the noon hour. I decided to go light and just picked up my free Irish Spring body wash. Then as I was looking around, I found some Samy e-sen-cia mandarin citrus conditioner. It smelled awesome and had a "try me free" tag around it. Well far be it for me not to comply! So, I got $10.48 worth of products and my end out of pocket will be .73 which is the tax. Not bad! Oh, and when I was checking out, the clerk couldn't get the free coupon for the Irish Spring to scan so she had to punch it in. I don't know if that's what did it, but I got another coupon for a free Irish Spring body wash. Then I decided to stop at the Walgreens on my way home since I go right by it anyway. I bought some Sambucol which is a homeopathic cold medicine. It's normally $12.99 but I had a $4.00 manufacturer's coupon. It also had a Easy Saver $10.00 off coupon. I also found another Advil PM with the $2.00 coupon attached. This one is $4.49 and gives back a $2.00 Register Reward. Therefore, I got it for $.49 + tax. I also picked up another Edge shaving cream for $1.99 which gave back $1.00 in Register Rewards. I used one $1.00 register reward from yesterday. I still used my debit card to pay the $3.83, but got back $3.00 in Register Rewards. Do the math, I have only $.83 out of pocket for $19.47 in products. The only one I'm not sure about is the Sambucol, but I'm willing to try it.

And did I mention that I dropped my free Redbox movie off at HyVee this morning and tried another code that worked and I got another free movie for tonight. This is almost as much fun as sweepstaking!!!!!!

Monday, March 9, 2009

Maximized Monday

Maximizing savings! This is getting to be a game and a challenge! I'm having a great time. So today on my way to work I realized I forgot my lunch. Darn! I hate putting out bucks for lunch! But then I remembered that I had one last coupon for a free Arby's Roast Burger. Yessss! So I walked over to Arbys at lunch and not only got a free burger but got in some exercise too! Of course I did splurge this time and bought a medium drink instead of a small. That cost me $1.81 instead of $1.52. But I'm worth it.

Then I went to Walgreens and got the following:
1 Irish Spring body wash ....................................................$4.49
Recieved a coupon for a free Irish Spring body wash on next trip to Walgreens
1 Edge Gel shaving cream 7 oz ...................................................$1.99
Received $1 in Register Rewards making the final cost.......... $.99
1 Crest Pro Health whitening toothpaste.............................$2.49
Used a manufacturer's coupon for ...................$1.00
Received $1.00 in Register Rewards making the final cost.$.49
1 Advil PM Liquid gels .............................................$4.49
Used a $2.00 manufacturer's coupon that was a peelie on the box.
Received $2.00 Register Rewards making final cost..................$.49
1 Fructis Conditioner on sale for.........................................$2.99
Instant Extra Savings coupon of $2.00 making final cost $.99.
I also bought 2 knee high nylons (no, not on sale, but I have to dress up tomorrow. These were .$79 for one or $1.19 for 2. I got 2.
I paid with my $10.00 Register Rewards left over from Saturday and had to pay $3.87 out of pocket. So, all in all, $17.64 in merchandise plus$1.23 tax all for $3.87 out of pocket. What a rush!

Then on my way home from work I stopped at CVS and got some Palmolive Dish soap for $1.49 and received $1.00 in Extra Care Bucks. I also scanned my CVS card and got a coupon for a free cylinder of CVS Ibuprofen to carry in my purse--a $1.99 value for free. And then, of course, I splurged again. They had Diet A&W Root Beer on sale for $.99 so I got one of those.

Last stop was HyVee. Got some more packages of shredded cheese for $.99 each and 4 lbs. of butter at $1.48 each. I should be stocked up on butter now. I also got a Red Sweet Pepper for $.88. And, of course, got my free Monday night movie from Redbox. $15.45 spent today.

We'll see what the rest of the week brings. I also mailed off my rebates today so that will bring some money in the mail.



Saturday, March 7, 2009

Savings Saturday

Well, Saturday seems to be my day to blog. I've had a wonderful day today getting errands run and working in my home office. No, for those of you who are wondering if I got work done on my crafts projects, but I did get a lot of my office cleaned up which gives me more room to do my projects. Maybe I'll get something done later next week.

Much to my chagrin, I also did not get any cooking done today, but maybe I'll get a chance tomorrow. If not, next week will be a major crockpot week! It's 7:05 p.m. and I just got home from running errands at 6:50 p.m. I had quite a dilemma. Since my craft room/office/exercise room is clean, should I do the treadmill before or after my dirty beer with 7 olives? Well, those of you who know me know if wasn't that difficult of a choice--the beer won out. Now, hopefully I'll still have the desire or at least ability to run on the treadmill after the beer.

Ok, now for the news on how I did with my frugal errands today. First of all, Randy and I had 2 coupons for a free Arby's Roast Burger with the purchase of any drink. He had to check his box at the post office so we went to Arby's and got our sandwich. Mine cost $1.52 for a small drink and the burger. Not too bad for lunch. Randy had a med drink so paid a little more. I also stopped at Walgreen's which was on the way and purchased the following:

  1. Colgate Max toothpaste $3.29
  2. Vaseline Intensive Care Rescue lotion 2.69
  3. Organix Hair Conditioner 5.99
_______
11.97
+ .84 tax
_______
Total 12.81
The clerk let me pay in 2 different transactions so I could use the Register Rewards from the 1st transaction on the 2nd transaction.
1st transaction (Colgate Max toothpaste)........giftcard-- 3.52 (3.29 + tax of .23)
earned Register Rewards of $3.50
2nd transaction....................................................giftcard-- 4.29
manuf. coup. -- 1.50 (VIC Rescue)
RR -- 3.50

I had my gift card from last month's rebates from Walgreens so I actually had no out of pocket this trip.

I also earned $2.00 Register Rewards from the Vaseline Intensive Care Rescue and the Organix has a Mail In Rebate for up to $6.99 (I'll get the $5.99 back). So if you look at the numbers, I paid out $11.49 and with coup9ons and rebates, I will be ahead $1.02.

My 2nd errand was at Target. They had $2.00 off of their Sutton and Dodge meats which is the brand they carry. They had London Broil on sale for $1.99/lb. I got 2 London Broils and one Round Roast. I paid $3.05 for the roast--$2.49 a lb. on sale and it was 2.03 lbs. I paid $1.18 for one of the London Broils and $1.06 for the other--great deals! I also got a package of Hillshire Farms turkey lunch meat that was $3.04 and had a sticky coupon on it for a mail in rebate for the price of the lunch meat--so FREE!

On the way home I stopped at Walgreens again. This time I used my $2.00 Register Rewards and bought 2 Pantene hair conditioners for $2.99 each with a manufacturer's coupon for $1.00/2. I also got another Colgate Max toothpaste for $3.29 and used a manufacturer's coupon for .75. That earned me another $3.50 in Register Rewards. I wanted to get some Dove soap because they had a deal on them but neither of the Walgreens that I stopped at had enough of them (it was that good of a deal--they ran out). So I stopped at one more Walgreens which was on the way home and talked with the manager who let me substitute the trial size Dove bars for the regular size single Dove bars at the same .99 price. I bought 8 of them (which came to $7.92), used my $3.50 Register Rewards and paid out $4.97 from my debit card after tax. That earned me $10.00 in Register Rewards. That's a moneymaker! I plan to go back to Walgreens and get the Wal-Zyr cold medicine and the AXE men's hair products which all have a mail in rebate for the price of the product. I can use my $10 RR for those.

I then stopped at Hy Vee and got 4 lbs of butter (a staple in our family!) for $1.48 a lb. and 3 pkgs of cheese (8 oz.) for .99 each, and a gallon of Milk for 1.98. Oh yes, and a pkg of Reynold's wrap for .00 (I had a coupon for a free 25 ft. box).

I also got my free movie Monday night from Redbox and I have heard they have a Wednesday code too so next Wed. I'll try that!

Sooooo I'm busy blogging and then I'll get to work getting my mail in rebates done. All in all, it's been a pretty successful day.