Friday, January 7, 2011

Trip Down Memory Lane

I've been going through a lot of my older pictures lately. Wanna take a look with me?
Awww, Mousse was so tiny when I got him. I'd just moved into my very own apartment three months before, ended a long and abusive relationship and was loving my new-found freedom. I'd been thinking about adopting one or two cats for several months and then I found Gigi and Mousse online. Mousse's original name was Simeon but my Mom said he was the color of chocolate mousse and the name just stuck. Gigi was Gigi when I met her and it fit her perfectly.
I wonder what they were looking at! Gigi and Mousse aren't siblings, but they'd been raised and fostered together so the thought of adopting only one never entered my mind. Gigi has some medical issues (nothing major) so they'd been fostered for quite a while before I found them. They were nine months when I took them home from the pet store. I used to be able to fit them both into one carrier - that was always fun getting them inside! (NOT!) I'd just get Gigi in, scoop Mousse up to squeeze him in as well and Gigi would escape. So then I'd grab her, wrestle her in the carrier only to have Mousse make a break for it. Good times.
I'd just been petting Gigi before I took this shot and you can see the imprints of my fingers in her fur. They both LOVED this kitty condo and used to take turns squeezing inside and then turning around so they could spy on each other. That was also back when they used to play with each other. Now Mousse terrorizes Gigi most of the time. Little punk.
Ahh, the days when I used to be able to feed them at the same time! Mousse became very dominant as he got older and nowadays he'll growl at Gigi and eat all the food if I let him. They're on different prescription foods now so they eat in separate rooms anyway. Mousse looks part-monkey with that super long tail!
My sisters and I playing on the driveway. I do believe I'm sporting some pretty sweet tan velcro shoes (I'm in the middle)!
My youngest sister was the most adorable baby on the planet. Just look at that smile...and that sweet carpet!
I love this shot of my Mom, me and my youngest sister. Since she was the one usually taking the pictures, I rarely find pictures of her, especially from when I was younger. She still doesn't like to be photographed. Looks like it was a beautiful fall day. I bet she was yelling at my dad in her head to hurry up and take the picture already!
I wonder what I was so happy about in this shot? (I'm the one with the goofy grin on the left) My nose is so scrunched that my eyes have all but disappeared! My sister (left) looks like she's giving it all she's got to get out of the picture but my Dad's got a firm hold on her, and some pretty awesome glasses too. My cousin's hammin' it up for the camera. Looking at him in his farm shirt and overalls, you'd never guess he'd grow up to be the tattoo covered guy that he is today.

Don't you just love old pictures? Happy Friday y'all!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Crab Apple Old Ladies

My coupon order arrived in today's mail so I scooted around after work to get my shopping done. We're expecting another snow storm tomorrow so I didn't want to take the chance of getting snowed in and not being able to get everything done. Plus I cannot stand to shop on Saturday when all the stores are jam packed. When I got home, my sister came over and we watched Revenge of Kitty Galore - HILARIOUS! We both have wanted to see it for a while, but I was a little embarrassed to see it in the theaters.
CVS
  • 5 Wisk Detergents $5 each, used five $2 coupons (1/2 RP) and got back $10 (for spending $25, Limit 1) = $5 or $1 each
  • Used $0.50 EB (quarterly spending), $3 EB and $9.99 EB, total was $3.22
Repeated this deal on my newer card but the store only had four bottles. I'll have to pick up a fifth one before the week is out.

Walgreens - was hoping to also pick up some Electrasol but the two stores I checked out where totally out of stock. Did this twice:
  • Omega Factor 3 (Soft gel 60's) $10, used $3 coupon (found inside package) and got back $10 RR = $3 profit
Rite Aid
  • 2 Darice Foam Animals $1.83 each ($2.29 reg price, 20% Wellness discount), got back $5 UP (WYB 2, valid until 1/22) = $1.34 profit
  • Gas-X Prevention (18 - 20 ct) $4.79 ($5.99 reg price, 20% Wellness discount), used $4 coupon (12/12 SS) and will get back $2 (SCR #17) = $1.21 profit *Also counts for Buy & Save promo
  • 4 Airwick Compact iMotions $9.99 each, BOGO sale, used four $3 coupons (1/2 SS) and 2 Airwick Freshmatic Ultra Spray Kits $12.99 each, BOGO sale, used two $4 coupons (1/2 SS) and got back three $3 UP's = $3.97 *Also counts for Buy & Save promo. Was thinking I'd also get back a $10 UP for a monthly deal (WYB $30) but I think only the bigger kits counted. That's ok though, I spent $3.97 but put put $32.97 towards that $20 Buy & Save promo
  • Used three $5 UP's and $3 UP, total was $1.99
On DBF's card:
  • Gas-X Prevention (18 - 20 ct) $4.79 ($5.99 reg price, 20% Wellness discount), used $4 coupon (12/12 SS) and will get back $2 (SCR #17) = $1.21 profit *Also counts for Buy & Save promo
  • 4 Airwick Compact iMotions $9.99 each, BOGO sale, used four $3 coupons (1/2 SS) and 2 Airwick Freshmatic Ultra Spray Kits $13.99 each (lavender scent is pricier apparently), BOGO sale, used two $4 coupons (1/2 SS) and got back three $3 UP's = $4.97 *Also counts for Buy & Save promo
  • Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers $15.99 ($19.99 reg price, 20% Wellness discount), used $2 RA coupon, $3 coupon (printable, no longer available) and got back $2 UP = $8.99 *Also counts towards Buy & Save promo
  • Used $3/$20 coupon and $1 non-prescription purchase coupon, two $5 UP's and $10 UP, total was $3.54
I now have $77.38 on my card and $85.49 on DBF's card towards the $100 I need for the Resolution Rewards/Buy & Save promo. Once I hit $100, I'll get a $20 UP.
ShopRite - was so happy to find so many of the treats at this store. I left a whole bunch on the shelf even after I bought all these.
  • 12 Purina Cheweez Treats $0.95 each ($1.19 sale price) - since I bought more than four of the same variety, four were $0.95 and the rest were $1.19, used three $4/4 treats coupons (11/14 RP)
  • 18 Chef Michael's Dog Foods $0.40 each ($0.90 sale price)
  • Used $2.50 catalina, total was $7.46 and I got back $30 in cats (for spending $30 on Purina items) = $20.04 profit
I wish you all could have seen the crab-apple that was behind me in line as I bought this stuff. I knew the Purina coupons were going to beep, so I went to a regular aisle, rather than an express one. As I was putting my items on the belt, a white haired older gal barreled her cart up the aisle (managing to knock it into BOTH sides of the aisle), shouted at the cashier to put up a divider between my order and hers (I grabbed it for her) and then stood there huffing while I was rung up. She had to be in her 80's and you could tell she just didn't care anymore what people thought of her. As the cashier was entering the coupons (which took all of two minutes), the lady yells "Shouldn't you call a manager? I don't want to stand here all day!" I chuckled under my breath as the cashier replied "But why? I'm putting everything in now." The cashier stole a quick glance at me and we both smiled. Some people!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

1/9 - 1/15

As always, my deals all come from the wonderful folks at HCW, Slick Deals and iheartcvs.com, iheartriteaid.com and iheartwags.com.

CVS - sign up today or tomorrow here for CVS ExtraCare Beauty Club. You'll get a 10% off beauty shopping pass, $5 EB for every $50 you spend on qualifying beauty items and $3 EB on your birthday!
  • Lysol, Finish, Airwick Products - spend $20, get back $10 EB (Limit 1). Buy seven Finish tabs for $3 each, use seven $2.25 coupons (1/2 SS) and get back $10 = $4.75 profit
  • Gas-X, Maalox, Prevacid and Benefiber - spend $20, get back $10 EB (Limit 1). Maalox prices vary from $6-$7. Buy three and use three $5 coupons (1/9 SS) and get back $10 EB = around $4-$5 profit
  • Reese's Minis or Hersheys Drops $1.59, get back $1.59 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
  • Snickers Singles $0.89, get back $0.89 EB (Limit 1) = FREE *Lots of other candy included in this deal - Dove bars, Life Savers, Starburst, Skittles, etc.
  • Air Wick Items - spend $20, get back $10 EB (Limit 1). Buy four Freshmatic Ultra Starter Kits $6 each, use four $4 coupons (1/2 SS) and get back $10 = $2 profit or buy four Freshmatic Refills $5 each, use two BOGO coupons (1/2 SS) and get back $10 = FREE
  • Pepsi Products - spend $20, get back $10 EB (Limit 1 - there are two separate event codes in the circular for this deal so you can probably do it twice). Includes Pepsi 12 packs six for $20 or $3.33 each, Pepsi 2L bottles and Sobe $1, Amp or Starbucks Frappuccino $4.99 ($1 coupon for Starbucks or 11/21 SS), Izze $2.99 and Doritos or Lays $2.50 *Look for "50 Million Pound Challenge" book in your stores (usually near Pharmacy) - there's a coupon inside for $2 off a purchase of $10 worth of nuts, dried fruits or sugar free items

**There are sometimes rebates this time of year for soda & chips so hang on to your receipts & UPC's just in case

Rite Aid
  • Special K Cereal BOGO sale, use BOGO coupon (sign up for the plan first) and get back two $1 UP's (monthly deal) = $2 profit
  • Blink Tears (15 mL) $7.99, use $1 coupon (1/2 SS) and get back $7.99 (SCR #22) = $1 profit
  • Motrin PM (20 ct) $3, use $2 coupon (Nov. All You magazine) or $1 coupon (1/2 SS) and get back $2 UP = $1 profit or FREE or buy two and use $6/2 coupon (1/2 SS) = $4 profit
  • Tylenol Precise Heat Patch or Cream $5, buy two and use $5 off 2 coupon (12/12 RP) and get back two $3 UP's = $1 profit or buy one and use $2 coupon (12/12 RP or 1/2 RP) and get back $3 UP = FREE
  • Barilla Pasta four for $5, get back $1 UP (WYB 4) and four $1 UP's (monthly deal) = four for FREE
  • Hormel Completes $1.99, get back $1 UP and $1 UP (monthly deal) = FREE
  • Revlon Beauty Tools BOGO 50% off sale, buy two and get back $2 UP (Limit 1)
  • Finish Automatic Dishwasher Detergent BOGO sale, buy two and use two $2.25 coupons (1/2 SS)
  • Quaker Oatmeal $2.50, buy two and use two $1 coupons (1/2 RP) and get back $2 UP (WYB 2) = $1 or $0.50 each

Rite Aid Monthly Deals

  • Darice Craft Kits prices range from $1.99 and up, buy two and get back $5 UP (Expires 2/5 as per Slick Deals)
  • Buy & Save Resolutions Reward - spend $100 on qualifying items, get back $20 UP (Limit 1, Valid until 1/22) Full list of items here.
Walgreens
  • Go! Kids Multi-Vitamin Gummies (60 ct.) $5, get back $5 RR = FREE

Walgreens Monthly Deals

  • Valid until 3/26 Vicks Products - spend $15, get $5 RR or spend $20, get $10 RR. Includes NyQuil/Dayquil (20 ct) $5 and Sinex Vapospray (0.5 oz) $6, use $4 Sinex coupon (12/26 P&G) = $6 profit (4 at $5 each) - $3 profit (3 at $6 each and 1 at $5)
  • Valid 1/2 - 1/29 Finesse Shampoo (new line) $1.99, use $1.50 coupon (10/24 SS) and submit for TMF rebate (form found on bottle) = $1.50 profit *This rebate can be used at any store, but since its a new item and advertised in Walgreens' circular, you may have the best shot of finding it here.
  • Valid until 1/11 Revlon Top Speed Nail Color $5.99, use $1 WAG coupon (Everything Bright and Beautiful coupon book found in stores, usually at beauty counter) and get back $5 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit
  • Valid 1/2 - 1/29 Pillglide Swallowing Spray (Grape or Strawberry) $5, get back $5 RR = FREE

Printable Rebate Offers

Omega Profit

Walgreens
  • Omega Factor 3 (Soft gel 60's) $10, got back $10 RR = FREE
Then I used the $3 coupon inside the package to buy another bottle - making that transaction a $3 profit. At both stores I went to, the Omega was on an endcap near the vitamins, not with the other vitamins. I'm not sure if its an item the store normally carries, so maybe that's why. Both stores had tons in stock, hopefully yours will as well!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Time to Party!

Back for more at ShopRite
  • 20 Friskies Party Mix Cat Treats $1.27 each ($1.59 sale price), used four $2 off 2 coupons (11/14 RP) and got back $30 cats (for spending $30 on Purina items)
  • Total with tax was $19.18, paid with four $2.50 cats and $9.18 cash, overall profit $10.82

Monday, January 3, 2011

Huge Profit on Dog Food

ShopRite
  • 28 Chef Michael's Dog Food cans $0.40 each (sale price of $0.90 each) and 2 Purina Beggin Strips $2.79 each (sale price of $3.49 each), used $1 off 2 Beggin Strips coupon (10/24 or 12/12 SS) and got back six $5 catalinas (for spending $30 on any Purina items) = $14.22 profit
  • 4 Ronzoni pastas $0.40 each
  • Dole Salad $1.49
  • Used three $2.50 catalinas and two $5 catalinas, total was $2.55
The Purina cats are valid over a span of six weeks. If you do this deal, be sure to pick up different varieties of the Chef Michael's. The $0.40 price is only valid on four of each variety.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

December and 2010 Yearly Totals

December Monthly Totals
  • Merchandise Total (before coupons): $2,311.41
  • Value of Coupons/Store Sales: $909.43
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Used: $781.94
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Earned: $1,120.99
  • Rebates $514.83
  • Cost for the whole month negative $179.91
  • Number of Items 688, Number of Free Items 518
I'm so excited! Let's see how I did for the year:

2010 Year-Long Totals
  • Merchandise Total (before coupons): $22,594.10
  • Value of Coupons/Store Sales: $11,406.02
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Used: $7,870.33
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Earned: $8,366.73
  • Rebates $4,312.73
  • Cost for the whole year negative $962.90
  • Number of Items 5,359, Number of Free Items 4,043
This means that every item I purchased this year, every piece of food, every toiletry item, every household cleanser, paper towel, tissue, pack of toilet paper, mascara, lip stick, razor, battery, etc. was FREE! In fact, I earned almost $1,000 by buying them. What a lucrative part-time job this is!

Rebates Purchased
  • 2 Stella Artois $6 off $10 gourmet cheese and/or crackers Exp. 12/31/10 $2.73
  • 2 Smirnoff NBPR rebates for $20 off $20.01 of ham/turkey/deli platters Exp. 12/31 $3.13
  • 3 Heineken $15 off $20 of Christmas trees or decorations (or $20 off $80 of groceries) Exp. 1/14/11 $3.96
Rebates Received
  • $2.49 Pepperidge Farm Rolls rebate - my address
  • $2.49 Dickinson's Witch Hazel - my address & DBF's address
  • $2.99 Pepperidge Farm Rolls rebate - DBF's address
  • $3 Ronzoni Pasta rebate - my address, DBF's address & parents' address
  • $3.49 Planters Nuts rebate from Walgreens - my address
  • $3.99 Dishwasher Magic rebate - my address
  • $4.99 Humphrey's Teething Relief - DBF's address
  • $5.99 Humphrey's Teething Relief - my address
  • $6 Budweiser NBPR rebate on pizza - DBF's address & parents' address
  • $6 Budweiser NBPR rebate on pasta - DBF's address
  • $6 Shock Top NBPR on baking items - my address
  • $6.49 Humphrey's Teething Relief - parents' address
  • $11.99 Tena rebate - my address & DBF's address
  • $20 Olay rebate for $50 facial stuff - my address
  • $20 P&G rebate for $50 of various items - my address, DBF's address & parents' address
  • $26 Staples Rewards (for Duracell batteries) - DBF's address
  • $42.97 RiteAid rebate - my address
  • $52 Staples Rewards (for Duracell batteries) - my address