Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Derp

Does anyone else dread organizing coupon inserts? Ugh, this mess has been sitting on my coffee table for a week or so now, and it was driving me crazy.
Ahh, that's much better. Here's the method I use to organize my inserts each week.

What a day. I had to do some interviews today for an AA position we're trying to fill. I mentioned before that I'm going to be transferring campuses soon, so I did the interviews along with the Dean I'm going to be replacing. We're good friends, so we chatted about the resumes and what we wanted to ask before the interviews started. It amazes me in this job market how sloppy people can be on their resumes! I will admit that I have high standards and I'm looking for a strong candidate to work in my department. The position involves writing letters, keeping databases up to date, checking records, etc. In short, detail-oriented work, so I expect your resume to be error-free. When I see things like "19940" instead of "1994" or three different font sizes on the same resume (and I'm not talking about making your name bold, I'm talking three different job tasks, three different sizes), its not encouraging. We also received resumes from former students, which I think is great. If you loved your experience with us enough to want to come back and work here, fabulous! But please don't list that you received a BA from us when that's not even a degree that we award.

During our interviews, we mentioned how I'm going to be moving into this position shortly and the current Dean is moving to another campus. It does not bode well to congratulate her on her upcoming transfer and ignore the person that would soon be your supervisor if you were to get the job. Also, probably not a good idea to ramble on and on so that your interviewers barely have a chance to ask any questions. Or tell us that you already know what the position entails, even though we haven't discussed it yet. Probably also shouldn't neglect to mention on your resume that you're working for the college already and then blame the omission on the gal whose helping you with your resume. Sigh. The interviews continue next week and I really hope we find some great applicants.

Until then, all I have to say is, DERP!


Monday, August 9, 2010

Lots and Lots of Shopping

CVS - old card
  • Dulcolax Balance (8.3 oz) $9.99, used $4 coupon (*Goes straight to printing or 5/16 SS) and got back $9.99 EB (Limit 1) = $4 profit
  • 4 Coke 12 packs $3.25 each, got back $3 EB (WYB 4, Limit 1) = four for $10 or $2.50 each
  • Used $5.98 EB and $7.99 EB, total was $5.93

New card

  • Dulcolax Balance (8.3 oz) $9.99, used $4 coupon (*Goes straight to printing or 5/16 SS) and got back $9.99 EB (Limit 1) = $4 profit
  • Honey Nut Cheerios $2.50
  • Used $7.99 EB, total was $0.50

Separately I bought two $25 Applebees gift cards, got back $10 EB (Limit 2) = $10 profit

DBF's card

  • Dulcolax Balance (8.3 oz) $9.99, used $4 coupon (*Goes straight to printing or 5/16 SS) and got back $9.99 EB (Limit 1) = $4 profit
  • Bengay Pain Relief + Massage Gel $7.99, used $3 coupon and will submit for Try Me Free rebate (6/20 RP) = $3 profit
  • Used $1 EB, $4.99 EB and $5.98 EB, total was $1.01

Walgreens

  • Bausch & Lomb Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution (4 oz) $4.99, used $4 coupon (found at Walmart) and got back $4 RR = $3.01 profit
  • Dial Nutriskin Body Wash $3.99, used $1 coupon and got back $3 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit
  • Paula Deen Cinnamon/Sugar Grinder $1.99
  • Used $5 RR, total was $1.60

Did this transaction again, substituting Imperial Sugar $1.29 for the grinder, total was $0.90. At another WAG:

  • Bausch & Lomb Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution (4 oz) $4.99, used $4 coupon (found at Walmart) and got back $4 RR = $3.01 profit
  • Secret with Olay Deodorant $2.59 (clearance price), got back $3 RR = $0.41 profit
  • Old El Paso Taco Shells $1.99
  • Used $5 RR, total was $1.10

Then bought another Biotrue and Secret, used $3 RR, total was $1.11. Finally, I used my last $4 Biotrue coupon and bought a bottle on its own.

Rite Aid - bought two, one for my account and one for DBF's account

  • Crest Pro-Health Sensitive Toothpaste (4.2 oz) $2.69, used $1 coupon (8/1 P&G) and will get back $2.69 (SCR #47) = $1 profit *Also counts for SCR #556
Don't you love that Walgreens is carrying more food items lately? I was surprised to see the Paula Deen items. They had a couple of salt grinders and this cinnamon/sugar one.

Target
  • 12 Crystal Lites $2.98 each, used six $1 off 2 coupons (tearpads found at WAG) and got back $15 in Target gift cards ($5 gift card for every four you buy) = $1.23 each
  • 10 Hartz Cat Treats $1.66 each (Price Cut until 8/28), used ten $1.50 coupons (6/6 SS) = $1.60 or $0.16 each
  • 2 Kraft Deli Fresh Cheese Slices $2.25 each, used two $1 coupons = $1.25 each and got FREE loaf of Arnold Soft bread (WYB 2 Kraft) = $2.50 for all three
  • Hillshire Farms deli meat $3.29, will send away for coupons or rebate through Fresh Taste Challenge
  • Total was $39.81

ShopRite

  • Ritz Crackerfuls $3.49, used FREE coupon (Kraft home mailer) = FREE
  • SR reusable bag $0.99, used FREE catalina = FREE
  • 3 Dr Pepper 12 packs $9
  • Markdown lettuce $0.99
  • Milk $1.99
  • Hillshire Farms deli meat $3.99, will send away for coupons or rebate through Fresh Taste Challenge
  • Used three $5 catalinas, total was $0.57

Friday, August 6, 2010

Finally Got to my Weekly Shopping

I got my weekly coupon order in from Mad Coupons the other day, so off to the stores I went. If you haven't heard about Mad Coupons, let me tell you...its fabulous! You pay $10.50 for TEN (count 'em TEN!) copies of the coupon inserts for that week, including shipping costs. And the rates don't change depending on how many inserts there are that week. Its always $10.50. I send off my payment via PayPal on Saturdays and I usually get my coupons on Wednesday or Thursday of the following week. The service is pretty new, so I imagine it won't stay at these fabulous rates forever.

The downside to ordering coupons online is that you obviously don't have them in-hand to do a sale right away. Most weeks that's fine with me, but this week, most of the deals I wanted involved Sunday's coupons so I had to wait. The newspapers in my area stopped carrying the RP insert, so I'd be stuck buying those online anyway. But even on weeks where there isn't a RP, at $1.50-$2 a pop, Mad Coupons blows the price of buying papers out of the water.
Rite Aid - did this transcation twice, one for my rebates and one for my boyfriend's account. I also used up all the UP Rewards I had on-hand, so no pressure to rush back in to RA if the deals aren't looking hot.
  • Bengay Pain Relief + Massage Gel $7.99, used $3 coupon and $3 in-circular coupon and will submit for Try Me Free rebate (6/20 RP) = $6 profit
  • Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor $9.99, used $4 coupon (8/1 P&G) and will get back $5 (SCR #78) = $0.99
  • 4 Crest Pro-Health or 3D White Rinses $5 each, used four $2 coupons (8/1 P&G) and will get back $10 (SCR #39) = $2 *Also counts towards SCR #556
  • Used $5 off $25 coupon, $3 UP Reward and $5 UP Reward, total was $8.73

CVS - stopped in mainly to get some Skippy PB but the store only had chunky, so I walked out with a raincheck instead.

  • 2 Kudos Bars $2 each
  • Used $1 EB and $1 EB, total was $2

When I was a wee lass, my mom and I flew to Florida, just the two of us. I only have a few memories from that trip - waving goodbye to my dad and sisters at the airport, watching cartoons in the hotel room, laying down beach towels on the black leather seats of the car we rented (Florida + black leather seats + summer = unhappy frugalsuz) so we could stand sitting on them and flicking lizards off the screen door of my grandparents' house each morning. My mom assures me that we visited Disney, but I just don't remember! One of my clearest memories is from the plane ride. Our in-flight meal included a Kudos bar and I remember turning to my mom in amazement, wondering what this little bar of heaven was called. I'm sure she laughed at me (as she usually does when I say stupid stuff like that) and passed it off, but my life was forever changed that day. Every once and a while, I like to nosh on some Kudos bars for old times sake.

ShopRite

  • 5 Ziploc Bags $1.50 each (fifth was $2.09), used four $0.55 coupons (7/25 SS) and got back $5 catalina and cat for FREE reusable bag (WYB 5) = $1.31 profit
  • Peaches $0.69/lb = $1.99
  • Hanes undies $2.99
  • Used $5 catalina, total was $4.08
My sister and I were poking around in Target and I came across this adorable bag for $34.99. I've grown tired of my current bag (I'm a one-bag-at-a-time-kinda gal), so I decided to splurge. I used two $15 rewards cards that I got from Biore surveys, so $7.44 OOP.

Zebra print liner! How can you say no to that?

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Another Pretty Quiet Week 8/8 - 8/14

As always, my deals all come from the wonderful folks at HCW, Slick Deals and Erica at iheartcvs.com, iheartriteaid.com and iheartwags.com.
CVS
  • Dulcolax Balance (8.3 oz) $9.99, use $5 coupon (May All You magazine), $4 coupon (*Goes straight to printing or 5/16 SS) or $3 coupon and get back $9.99 EB (Limit 1) = $5, $4 or $3 profit
  • Schick Hydro 3 or Hydro 5 Cartridges (4 ct.) or Razor $8.97, use $5 coupon (8/8 SS) and get back $4 EB (Limit 1) = $0.03 profit *Also this TMF rebate if you haven't done it yet
  • Spend $50 on Applebee's or Sunglass Hut Gift Cards and get back $10 EB (Limit 2)
  • Coke 12 packs four for $13 and get back $3 EB (WYB 4, Limit 1) = $10 or $2.50 each

Rite Aid - Here's a $5 off $25 coupon good until 9/25. You can also print one on Redplum.

  • Crest Pro-Health Sensitive Toothpaste (4.2 oz) $2.69, use $1 coupon (8/1 P&G) and get back $2.69 (SCR #47) = $1 profit *Also counts for SCR #556
  • Natrol Vitamins/Supplements BOGO sale, buy six for $8.49 each (cheapest price listed online), use $5 off $25 coupon, two $3 coupons = $2.47 *Earns you $25.47 towards SCR #563

Rite Aid Monthly (or longer) Deals *You must use your Wellness card to qualify

  • Oral Care Products SCR #556 - spend $25 and get back $10 RA gift card or spend $15 and get back $5 RA gift card (Valid 7/25 - 9/25)
  • Vitamins and Supplements (select varieties) SCR #563 - spend $30 and get back $5 RA gift card (Valid 7/25 - 8/28)
  • Nature Made Vitamins - spend $30, get a year's subscription to Woman's Day magazine (Valid 7/15 - 8/28). See riteaid.com/magoffer for details *Double dip with SCR #563
  • General Mills/Kimberly-Clark/SC Johnson/Avery/Welch's SCR #10 - spend $25 and get back $5 (Valid 7/25 - 10/25) Couple of double-dips - Avery binder also for SCR #106, Cottonelle Bath also for SCR #148
  • Kimberly-Clark SCR #148 - spend $25 and get back $5 (Valid 7/25 - 8/28) - Double-dips - Cottonelle Bath also for SCR #10, Poise Pads also for SCR #60 (Week of 8/22-8/28 ONLY)
  • Kid's Lunches SCR #8 - spend $25 on various snacks and quick lunches and get back $5 (Valid 7/25 - 8/28)
  • Kellogg's/Keebler/Sunshine/Austin Items SCR #101 - spend $15 and get a $5 coupon *While supplies last

Walgreens

  • Bausch & Lomb Biotrue Multi-Purpose Solution (4 oz) $4.99, use $4 coupon (found at Walmart) or $2 coupon and get back $4 RR = $3.01-$1.01 profit
  • Dial Nutriskin Body Wash $3.99, use $1 coupon and get back $3 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit
Walgreens Monthly Deals 8/1 - 8/28
  • Benadryl Allergy Medication Dye-Free Liqui-Gels (24 ct) $4.29, buy two and use $4 off 2 coupon and get back $5 RR = $0.42 profit

Printable Rebate Offers

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

A Zip-Tastic Day

I was downright cranky today. I'm almost always in a lousy mood on Mondays, but it carried over into Tuesday this week. I have to work 10 hours days this week to cover the shift of one of my coworkers, which makes for a very long day. Earlier this morning, a student came into my office and started rifling through a metal inbox on my desk. I asked him what in the heck he thought he was doing and he responded by saying he was looking for something to write on. Seriously? I flipped over the paper he'd brought in with him and told him to go to town. Then he grabbed some papers on my desk to look at them. I said, "excuse me! Those are mine" and took them back. Unbelievable. Then as I was heading back from lunch and sitting in traffic, a guy in a motorcycle zipped in between the lanes and pulled up ahead of me to be the first one through the light. I honked at him and he just waved the peace sign at me. Sometimes I just don't understand people!
Anyway, on to something that always makes me happy. Shopping!


ShopRite
  • 6 Ziploc Bags $1.50 each, used four $0.55 coupons (7/25 SS) and one $1.50 off 2 coupon and got back $5 catalina and cat for FREE reusable bag (WYB 5) = $1.90 profit
  • Thomas English Muffins $1.99
  • Used $5 catalina and got $0.05 bag discount, total was $0.52

Another store, I did two more trips at self checkout. How much do I love self checkout? THIS MUCH!

  • 6 Ziploc Bags $1.50 each, used four $0.55 coupons (7/25 SS) and one $1.50 off 2 coupon and got back $5 catalina and cat for FREE reusable bag (WYB 5) = $1.90 profit
  • Baby Carrots $1.50
  • Colonna Parmesan Cheese $0.99
  • Used $5 catalina, total was $1.07

Even without the $1.50 off 2 coupon, you can buy five boxes and still make the same profit:

  • 5 Ziploc Bags $1.50 each, used four $0.55 coupons (7/25 SS) and got back $5 catalina and cat for FREE reusable bag (WYB 5) = $1.90 profit
  • SR Bagels $1.99
  • Used $5 catalina, total was $1.09

Monday, August 2, 2010

July Savings

July Monthly Totals
  • Merchandise Total (before coupons): $2,497.01
  • Value of Coupons & Store Sales: $770.04
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Used: $1,320.06
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Earned: $1,455.77
  • Rebates: $452.35
  • Total Cost to me for the Month: negative $118.94
  • # of Items Purchased: 485, # of Free Items: 382

Rebates Received
  • Coupon for free Huggies at RA - DBF's address
  • $2 Smirnoff - DBF's address
  • $3 Finesse Rebate - DBF's address & parents' address
  • $3 RA rebate for Nice & Easy hair color - my address & DBF's address
  • $4.50 Pilot Highlighters - my address, DBF's address & parents' address
  • $5 RA gift card - SCR from last month - DBF's address
  • $5 Smirnoff NBPR rebate DGUSA0077 - my address
  • $5 Sorrento Snack Cheese #4 & 5 (limit 5 per household) - my address and one at DBF's address
  • $5 Ste. Michelle NWPR rebate - DBF's address
  • $5 Gillette ProGlide Fusion Razor survey - DBF's address
  • $6 Armor All - my address
  • $7.99 Schick Hydro - my address
  • $8 Budweiser NBPR on summer items - my address & DBF's address
  • $10 Kelloggs Rebate x 3 - my address
  • $10.95 Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips - my address
  • $12 Glamour Magazine/P&G Rebate - parents' address & DBF's address
  • $15 Prepaid cash card from Biore Steam Activated Cleanser - my address, DBF's address & parents' address
  • $20 Smirnoff NBPR rebate DGUSA076 - my address & DBF's address
  • $54.16 Rite Aid rebates - DBF's address
  • $56.16 Rite Aid rebates - my address

NBPR/NWPR Rebates Purchased

  • 4 Heineken $5 off ANY $5.01 energy drink purchase $3.58 - big thanks to mb for pointing out to me that there are two Heineken energy drink rebates floating around now. This one and one I purchase previously for a four pack of energy drinks.