July Monthly Totals

My budgeted amount for groceries, household stuff, kitty food, eating out, etc. this month was $160.

CVS Shopping
Merchandise Total: $501.38
Value of Coupons Used: $340.67
ECB's/Gift Cards Used: $152.20
OOP: $17.12
ECB's Earned: $161.28
# Items: 205
# Free Items: 142

All Other Stores
Merchandise Total: $579.14
Value of Coupons Used: $412.61
OOP: $128.79
Rewards/Gift Cards Used: $54.36
Rewards Earned: $15
Rebates: $122.73
Total Cost after Rewards & Rebates: $45.42
# Items: 227
# Free Items: 130

Survey says...I stayed within budget! My goal for August is to reduce my budget to $140. We'll see how I do.

Our Special Day

Today is my boyfriend and my one year anniversary! On the one hand, I can't believe I've only known him for a year, but on the other hand, I feel like I've always known him. He's truly my best friend and the sweetest and kindest man I've ever met. We met online at a itsy bitsy website called datemypet.com -- I know, its corny! I think there are a whole 50 people on the entire website...for the entire country, but we found each other there, so it holds a special place in my heart. We clicked right from the start - he really "gets" me and vice versa. That's such a wonderful feeling and so very important in any kind of relationship. We love to do many of the same things, and I can honestly say that this past year has been the happiest of my life. Happy anniversary hunny!

Would you look at this?!?

What does he think he is?? Human? And his eyes are like that because he was sleepy, not because he's mad at me. Looks like he's going to jump out of that chair and attack me, doesn't he?

Lots of Free Shampoo

RiteAid

• 4 Loreal Hydra Gloss shampoo/conditioner (cleaned out the store...this was ALL they had left!) = $4.99 each = $19.96 - $9.98 (store BOGO sale) - two $1 RA coupons - two BOGO coupons (7/13 paper) = $2 profit! *Don't ask me why I didn't use four $1 RA coupons, honestly I have no idea! If you do this deal, try to use a $1 RA coupon for every bottle you buy. It should work and give you more overage.
• Coast soap $2.99 - $2 SCR = $0.99
• Total was $1.90 after tax

A&P

• 2 Tropicana OJ's $3.99 each, BOGO - $1 off 2 coupon (5/4 RP) = $2.99
• 3 Yoplait yogurts 2 for $5 - $0.50 coupons (tripled) = $1 each (for some reason, I thought these were going to be free. I swear, its been one of those days)
• Clearanced rolls $1.40
• Apples $3.04
• 4 Sure deodorants $1.39 - $0.75 coupon (5/18 RP -doubled only up to $1.39) = FREE
• Used $1 catalina and $5 catalina from previous Excedrin deals
• Total was $4.05
  

Beautiful Weekend

On Saturday, DBF and I went to the Skylands Botanical Garden in Ringwood NJ. It was a little late in the season for some of the flowers, but the park itself is gorgeous. Now if only someone had remembered to check the batteries in her camera and make sure they had enough juice for more than 10 pics, but we're not going to talk about that. There were amazing statues all over the property, and this one caught my eye. Say hello to Diana. (Hello Diana!) Know what's so great about Diana?? She's the Goddess of the Hunt! How appropriate is that? Plus she looks really cool.

The flower garden itself was pretty small and many of the flowers were withering in the July heat, but I managed to find a couple that were still in full bloom.
This bridge/walkway looked so cool. I felt like it was something straight out of Lord of the Rings.

We're definitely going to go back, and next time, I promise I'll check my batteries BEFORE we leave. :)

Moneymaking Sunday

RiteAid

• Electrasol $2.99 - $2.25 coupon (7/13 paper) = $0.74 - will get back $2 SCR #257= $1.26 profit!
• Crest whitening expressions $2.49 - $1 coupon (7/5 P&G) = $1.49 - will get back $2.49 SCR = $1 profit
• 4 Loreal Hydra Gloss shampoos $4.99 each, BOGO sale, BOGO coupon (7/13 paper) - two $1 RA coupons = $2 profit...hmm, I wonder if I could have used 4 RA coupons?
• Total was $1.31

DBF bought second container of Electrasol - total was $0.95 and will get back $2 rebate

A&P - thanks Dhunny for the tips!

• 5 papers $1.50 each
• 2 containers of milk $2.29 each
• 2 Colgate fresh BOGO sale - $0.75 coupon (6/29 SS) (tripled) = $1.01 overage
• 4 Suave deodorants $1.39 each - $0.75 coupon (5/18 RP, also more in today's paper) = FREE (coupons only tripled up to amount of deodorant - no overage)
• Crystal Lite to go sticks $0.99 - $0.50 coupon (from free sample) = FREE (no overage)
• Coupons used: 2 $0.75 Colgate, 4 $0.75 Suave, $0.50 Crystal Lite, $5 catalina, four $1 catalina's
• Total was $0.54!

More Excedrin

I stopped by another A&P tonight and picked up 6 more Excedrins. They are on sale for $1.99 each and there are tons of coupons out there. I also used the A&P Excedrin coupons I received on my previous transaction. My total was $0.94 and I got back $7 in Catalina's and two more $1 Excedrin coupons. I'll also submit for a $3.79 Excedrin Back & Body rebate.

Ooh, this was fun!

Thanks to coupons from DogsRKids2, I was able to finish out the Olay deal this week on my card - thanks again! Here's how it went:

• 2 Dove chocolate bars (forgot to put in pic!) - 2 for $1 and had scanner coupon for BOGO = $0.50
• 2 Olay face washes $5.99 each - two $3 coupons = $5.98
• CVS hand sanitizer spray - $1.79 - got coupon for a free one from scanner = FREE
• CVS trial size cotton swabs - $0.50 - $2 CVS Skincare coupon = $1.50 overage
• Coupons used: two $3 Olay, free coupon for sanitizer, $2 CVS skincare, $1 ECB
• Total was $1.70 and got back $10 ECB for Olay

A&P has triple coupons this week and I was very happy with how I did. My total was $0!!!

• 2 Hellmann's mayo - raincheck for 2 for $5 - used two $1 coupons (5/18 RP) = $3 for both
• 4 Excedrin PM and 2 Excedrin Back & Body - $1.99 each, used six $2 coupons (see post below for details on how to find coupons) = $0.06 overage
• 3 Daisy sour creams - $1 each - $0.60 coupon (6/1 RP) x 3 = $0.80 overage on each = $2.40 overage
• 3 Ragu pouches of sauce - $2.49 each - $0.75 coupon (5/18 RP) x 3 = $0.24 each
• 3 jars Bertolli sauce - $2.99 each - $0.75 coupon (5/4 RP) x 3 = $0.74 each
• Lipton Pure Leaf tea - $1 - $0.55 coupon (found on tearpad at CVS) x 3 (only tripled up to $1.39 for some reason) = $0.39 overage
• Total was negative $0.58! I told the Customer Service girl not to worry about it, that's good enough for me. :) Plus I'll submit for the Excedrin Back & Body rebate!
• Got back $1 catalina, $1 catalina, $1 catalina AND $5 catalina for Excedrin deal! The deal was for a $5 catalina when you spent $10 worth, so I'm not sure where the extra ones came from. I had to go to the Customer Service desk to get my catalina, so she saw all of them print and still gave them to me - yay! To get the catalina to print, she had to re-ring the Excedrin and then return them. The machine printed a $1 catalina and a $1 coupon on the return - she gave me these too! I also got three $1 Excedrin A&P coupons (will combine with manufacturer's coupons when I do this deal again...I'm thinking on Sunday so I can pick up my papers too).

New RiteAid Deal - All Month Long

I found this over on iheartriteaid.com...John Freida travel size hair sprays work ($1.79 each) for SCR #220:

• One (1) of Any Variety for a $1.00 Rebate OR
• Purchase Two (2) of Any Variety for a $3.00 Rebate OR
• Purchase Three (3) of Any Variety for a $5.00 Rebate

There are $1 coupons for John Frieda Frizz-Ease product or John Frieda Sheer Blonde, Brilliant Brunette or Radiant Red Product in the May Issue 5 of All You magazine (found at Walmart check out aisles) and July Issue 7 of All You. The May issue has both coupons, the July only has the Frizz Ease. With the coupons, its a moneymaker. If no coupons, you come out almost free after rebate: $1.79 x 3 = $5.37

I'm going to swing by RiteAid tomorrow to see if I can find these. She recommends looking in the register area for them.

This rebate is valid from 6/29 - 7/26 and from 06/27/08 - 07/24/08 in select California stores. LIMIT ONE (1) REBATE

A Munchie Kinda Day

CVS - my card

• Olay face wash $5.99 - $3 coupon (thanks dancinmama!) = $2.99 (now have $11.98 towards the $20 limit to get back $10 ECB)
• CVS trial size hand sanitizing wipes $0.99 - $2 CVS skincare coupon = $1.01 overage
• 2 Pringles $1 each - get back $1 ECB WYB 2
• CVS brand popcorn $0.99 (this is actually really yummy)
• 2 bags CVS pretzels $0.69 each - used $1 off 2 pretzels/nuts coupon from scanner = $0.38 for both
• Coupons used: $3 Olay, $2 CVS skincare, $1 CVS coupon for pretzels, $5 ECB
• Total was $0.35 and got back $1 ECB for Pringles

ShopRite

• 2 more Entenmann's (yummo!) $1.99 each - $0.55 coupons that double = $0.89 each
• Excedrin migraine $1.89 - $2 coupon = $0.11 overage and box had $1 coupon that I'll use some other time
• ShopRite apple juice $0.99
• Purina Healthful Life cat food $2.09 - freebie coupon (thanks dancinmama!) = FREE
• Coupons used: 2 $0.55 Entenmann's, $2 Excedrin, Purina coupon, $0.05 bag discount
• Total was $2.68
  

Upcoming Deals for 7/13

I usually plan out my deals midweek for the upcoming week and based on some feedback on the WIR board today, it seems like it might be helpful to post them as well. I hope to make this a weekly feature. Here goes:

NEW - A&P/Superfresh (7/11 - 7/17) - TRIPLE COUPONS! Woo hoo! I don't have my circular in hand yet, so I'm basing this on what the HCW folks are chattin' about.

• Daisy sour cream 10 for $10 - $0.60 coupon (6/1 RP) = $0.80 profit
• Wacky Mac pasta $0.68 - $0.50 off 3 coupon (6/22 RP - I didn't get this one :( = $0.54 for 3 bags
• Hebrew National hot dogs $2.49 (4 day sale?) - $0.75 coupon (6/22 SS, I got a $1 so no dice for me) = $0.24
• M&M's 2 for $5 - $0.75 coupon (6/1 RP - mine was $1.50 off 2 :( ) = $0.25/bag
• BIG MONEYMAKER - $5 catalina WYB $10 of Novartis products (Excedrin, Keri, Maalox, GasX, ExLax, Benefiber, Triaminic, TheraFlu and Lamisil): I'm going to get 6 Excedrins $1.99 each = $11.94. There are tons of coupons out there for Excedrin: $2 off Back & Body or Excedrin PM (4/20 Parade magazine in paper), $2 Excedrin migraine, $2 Excedrin PM (6/8 SS), $2 Back & Body (5/4 SS), $1 coupons on some packages. There was also a MIR for Back & Body in the 6/8 SS.
• $11.94 - $12 (6 $2 coupons) = -$0.01 and get back $5 catalina!
• WOOPS! Just remembered that A&P doesn't take Internet coupons, so just stick with the insert ones.
• Land O Lakes eggs - not sure of price but there's a $0.50 coupon in the 6/8 SS (it says Do Not Double, but the coupon code starts with 5, which means it'll double and triple)

CVS

• EDIT - sorry, this is for the week of 7/20, not 7/13. Trident XTRA CARE gum - BOGO $1.49 and there are $0.75 coupons in the All You magazine (Issue 7, August 1, 2008 - found at Walmart check out aisles). Use two $0.75 coupons to get 2 packs free, then get back $1 ECB (monthly deal WYB 2) = $1 profit
• 4 X 6 10 Page hardcover photo books ($3.99), $3.99 ECB = FREE, LIMIT 2
• 16 x 8 10 Page hardcover photo books ($7.99), $7.99 ECB and use $3 coupon (5/4 or 6/8 SS) = $3 profit, LIMIT 2
• NEW - Sally Hansen nail polish $0.99 each - $3 off 2 coupon from iheartcvs (Printable Coupons link) = $1.01 profit WYB 2 (no limit posted in ad - yay!)

RiteAid

• Crest Whitening Expressions $2.49, SCR:(#225) $2.49, with $1 coupon from 7/5 P&G = $1 profit (still a profit no matter how much your coupon was for)
• Loreal Vive Hydra Gloss Shampoo/Conditioner BOGO, use upcoming BOGO coupon (7/13 paper) and two $1 RA coupons = $2 profit
• *NOTE - CVS will be having a BOGO sale on Loreal during the week of 7/20. So if you don't have a RiteAid or Walgreens, make sure you hang on to your coupons for this week.
• Electrasol $2.99, SCR $2.00, use upcoming $2.25 coupon (7/13 paper) = $1.26 profit

NEW - Walgreens

• Powerade - use the in-circular coupon to make them $0.89 each. There's a $1 coupon coming out in this weekend's paper - so that means $0.11 profit on each
• Loreal Vive Hydra Gloss Shampoo/Conditioner BOGO, use upcoming BOGO coupon (7/13 paper) = FREE

Extra-Early Head's Up - CVS Week of 7/20:

• Buy $20 worth of selected CVS brand items - get $5 ECB -- I know, right off the bat, you're thinking, "So what frugalsuz? That doesn't sound so hot." Have no fear, fellow hounds...let's work this deal a bit harder, shall we?
• The deal includes CVS cotton swabs 2/$3, CVS diapers and kidpants 2/$12 and CVS baby 14-15 oz. & wipes 80 ct. 2/$4. "Wait a minute...did you say wipes 2 for $4??" Yup I did...this is the crucial part! Step one is to print off a million $2 CVS skincare coupons from iheartcvs.com (printable coupons section)...well, ok, not really a million. You'll need 10 (or 20, if you have two CVS cards like I do). The wipes will ring up as $2 - use your magic $2 coupon and your total should be zero! (I don't think there's tax on these) The annoying part of this deal is that since these coupons beep if you use more than one in a transaction, you'll either have to break up your transaction into 10 parts or do it gradually over the week. But once you've bought 10 wipes = $20 worth, the magic CVS registers will print a beautiful $5 ECB...just for you! That's a $5 profit! I have two friends lined up for all these wipes already! lol
• If your store accepts the $2 coupon for the cotton swabs, that would be even more of a moneymaker at $1.50 each - but you'd need to buy something else in each transaction to cover the overage. I'm stocked up on these from last month, so I'll just be going for the wipes...I think. We'll see how it goes. :)

Screaming Animals

Totally random, but I just love this commercial. I don't know what I like best...the crazy woman's eyes in the car...the tiny squeal of that weird looking bug...the happy little honk as he drives away...all I know is that it cracks me up every time!

Yummy!!

Ooh, how excited am I that I got Entenmann's today! The crumb cake is one of my absolute favorite treats. But I'm getting ahead of myself...here we go...

CVS - DBF's card

• Olay face wash $5.99 (finished out Olay deal on this card) - $3 coupon (from Mississippi - thanks!) = $2.99
• Pringles $1 ($1 ECB WYB 2)
• 2 Advil trial size packages $0.99 each - two $1 coupons = FREE
• CVS trial size lotion $0.79 - used $2 CVS skincare coupon = $1.21 overage
• Coupons used: $3 Olay, two $1 Advil, $2 CVS skincare, $1.50 ECB
• Total was $1.36 - paid with gift card and got back $10 ECB for Olay ($10 ECB WYB $20 worth)

Transaction 2 - DBF's card

• Pringles $1 ($1 ECB WYB 2)
• CVS lotion trial size $0.79 - used $2 CVS skincare coupon = $1.21 overage
• Orbit gum (filler because I totally did my math wrong and had to grab something quick at the register)
• Coupons used: $2 CVS skincare coupon
• Total was $0.98 - paid with gift card and got back $1 for Pringles

Transaction 3 - on my card

• Olay face wash $5.99 - $3 Olay coupon (thanks Mississippi!) = $2.99 -- and this is $5.99 towards the $20 total to get back $10 ECB
• CVS trial size hand sanitizer wipes $0.99 - $2 CVS skincare coupon = $1.01 overage
• Coupons used: $3 Olay, $2 CVS skincare, $1.98 ECB (adjusted down from $2)
• Total was: $0.14 - paid with gift card

ShopRite

• 12 cans Friskies wet cat food $4.19 (not sure if this is a really good price, but I was out and this was the lowest price I saw this week)
• 2 24 ct. Excedrin Migraine $1.89 each - $2 coupons = $0.11 overage on each
• 4 Entenmann's goodies $1.99 each - $0.55 coupons that doubled = $0.89 each! (gave 2 boxes to DBF - not in pic)
• Spray n Wash $1.49 - $0.75 coupon that doubled (6/1 SS) = FREE

EDIT - just realized I bought the wrong size Spray n Wash - I'll exchange tomorrow

• Coupons used: 4 $0.55 Entenmann's coupons, two $2 Excedrin coupons, $0.75 Spray n Wash coupon
• Total was $9.32

Imagine my delight when I realized my Excedrin coupons rang up as the full $2 amount and weren't adjusted down to $1.89! The ShopRite down the road from me does this and after contacting the District Manager, I learned that each SR is independently owned and can basically do what it wants. Two guesses which ShopRite is now my favorite...

Well...I'm Set on Butter for a Long Time...

A&P

• 10 Blue Bunny personals ice cream 10 for $10 (must buy 10) - $1 coupons from here = FREE
• 2 Friendship sour cream 2 for $3 - $1 off 2 coupon (5/18 or 6/22 SS) = $2
• 7 LOL spreadable butter 10 for $10 - three $0.55 off 2 coupons (6/1 RP) = $3.70
• Coupons used: $2 off $10 worth of dairy products (from A&P coupon booklet), 7 $1 Blue Bunny coupons (these 7 scanned fine at self checkout, final 3 didn't scan - I asked cashier for help and she said they don't accept Internet printable coupons - oops! There are no signs anywhere, so I'm not sure how I was supposed to know this), three $0.55 LOL coupons (doubled to $1.10 each), $1 Friendship coupon
• Total was $6.70

RiteAid

• 2 Herbal Essences shampoo - on sale for 2 for $5, $3 off 2 coupon (7/5 P&G), $2 SCR WYB 2 = FREE, Bonus - got 2 bottles that qualify for the free mani/pedi offer
• Infusium shampoo $4.99 - $3 coupon (7/5 P&G) - $1.99 SCR = FREE
• Crest toothpaste $2.49 - $1 coupon (7/5 P&G) - $1.74 SCR = $0.25 profit
• Lypsyl $0.99 - $1 SCR = $0.01 profit
• Total was $7.35
• Repeated transaction minus Herbal Essences and Lypsl - will do second set of rebates under DBF's name

CVS

• Febreze Noticeables $6.99 - $2 coupon from Home Made Simple. There's also a satisfaction guarantee here.
• Febreze spray $3.99 - $0.50 coupon from HMS
• Febreze Air Effects $2.50 - coupon from 7/5 P&G for free Air Effects WYB spray
• 3 Trial Size Advils $0.99 each - $1 coupon here = FREE
• Trial Size CVS wipes 5 ct. $0.99 - $2 CVS skincare coupon = $1.01 overage!
• 2 Reeses Pieces candies $0.79 each (filler) and air freshner for friend $2.99
• Coupons used: $0.50 Febreze, $2 Febreze noticeables, $3.29 Febreze Air Effects (freebie coupon - cashier took off regular price, not sale price), three $1 Advil coupons, $2 CVS skincare coupon, $1.98 ECB, $2.99 ECB, $2.50 ECB, $3 ECB. There's also another $0.50 coupon on the receipt - not sure what this was!
• Total was $0.64 - paid with gift card and got back $5 ECB for buying $10 worth of Febreze

Ole!

This weekend was a little low key in terms of shopping. DBF and I went hunting for a deserted town on the NJ/PA border he'd heard about. Guess we should've done our research...cause we didn't find it! We did drive around for an hour or so. We both love doing this and its fun to explore...and if we get lost, he has a GPS, so I don't worry about going new places. We had lunch at Red Robin, jumped into Kohl's to use a $10 Kohl's coupon I had and returned a shirt I'd bought previously at the outlet mall. We also did a little hounding:

CVS - Saturday DBF's card

• 2 Sure deodorants $2.69 each - used BOGO coupon (6/29 SS)
• 4 J&J Bath Buddies $0.99 each - used two $2 coupons from here = FREE
• Revlon tweezers $2.99 - $1 coupon (4/6, 4/13 or 5/18 SS) - thought there was a deal going on now where you get $5 ECB WYB 2 Revlon tools - NOPE! But I actually needed tweezers, so I kept this pair. I returned the other Revlon tools I'd bought.
• Coupons used: $4 off $20 (4th of July coupon emailed to me)
• Got back $3 ECB for Sure. Total is all screwy because I returned 3 Revlon tools.

Walgreens - Saturday

• 2 Cutter 1 oz. insect spray 2 for $3, had two $1 coupons (6/15 SS) and used $1 coupon from WAG monthly booklet (scans twice b/c had two items) = -$1
• Bottle of Diet Coke for DBF to cover overage
• Total was $0.91 - used WAG gift card

CVS - Sunday

• Transferred RX and got $25 CVS gift card for doing so. There was a coupon about a month or two back and my CVS manager ok'd me to use it and to hold onto the coupon until my RX was due to be refilled. Yay!
• 3 Olay facial washes $5.99 each - 3 $3 coupons (6/22 SS) = $2.99 each and get $10 ECB WYB $20 worth. I'm waiting for some coupons from my fellow hounders on the WIR message boards, then I'll buy more.
• 3 newspapers $2 each
• Gallon of milk $4.39
• Coupons used: $3 off facial skin care (CVS coupon from scanner), $4 off $20 (for updating email address at cvs.com), three $3 Olay coupons, $1.99 ECB, $2.99 ECB, $2.99 ECB, $2.99 ECB
• Total was $1.41 and paid with gift card. Will get back $10 ECB for Olay once I buy one more.