Don't Forget to Hide your Butt

Mousse thinks he is the world's best ninja. Hmm...
I was eyeing up these totes in the circular earlier in the week, and almost forgot to check them out in the store. To my surprise, they were really nice!

• 3 storage totes $3.33 each, $10 total
• Reese's Minis or Hersheys Drops $1.59, got back $1.59 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Used $10 EB, total was $2.40
  

Never Again J&J

This is why I will never again do a rebate through Johnson & Johnson. After I received the samples they sent the other day, I emailed them AGAIN to find out where my rebate might be. (this is for the Neutrogena Clinical rebate that I mailed to them in JULY!)


Dear frugalsuz:
Thank you for contacting the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Information Center. It is always important to hear from our consumers, and we appreciate the time you have taken to contact us.

With regard to your recent inquiry, we do apologize that you haven’t received your rebate. There have been a high number of rebate submissions, please be patient with this process. We are working diligently to fulfill your promotion. We hope that this information will be helpful.

Again, thank you for your interest in our company. Should you have any comments or questions in the future, please contact us via our website www.neutrogena.com or by calling our toll-free number, 1800 582-4048. Our specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST and will be happy to assist you.

The Information Center

This is the line that really pisses me off:
"There have been a high number of rebate submissions, please be patient with this process."

I don't care how many other people submitted for this rebate! If a company puts a rebate out there, especially for such a high priced item ($35) they sure as hell better be ready to pay up. And considering this rebate has been pending for almost six months now, I think I've been pretty patient. Curse you J&J!!

Baby Its Cold Outside

We were supposed to get another foot or so of snow overnight and into this morning, so I went to bed expecting to have a snow day today. Alas, the snow had the nerve to stop early in the morning and the plow guys did their jobs much too well, so my plans were dashed. I was so looking forward to a day of lounging around in my sweats.
ShopRite

• 2 Mama Rosies Cheese Ravioli $0.99 each, used two $0.50 coupons = FREE
• Apples $1.29/lb = $2.37
• 3 Chef Michael's bags of food $2.99 each ($4.49 reg price), used three $2 coupons (1/9 SS)
• 16 Chef Michael's cans of food $0.40 each ($0.90 reg price), used four $1 off 4 coupons (1/9 SS)
• 2 Friskies treats $1.27 each ($1.59 reg price)
• Got back $30 in Purina cats (for spending $30) = $22.09 profit
• Total was $11.33 with $0.20 bag discount

At another store, I did the pet food deal again - $22.09 profit again

Rite Aid

• 2 Kellogg's Fiber Plus Cereals $4.79 each, BOGO sale, used two $0.70 coupons, got back two $1 UP's and will submit for TMF rebate (Valid up to $4.49) = $3.10 profit *Also counts towards Buy & Save promo ($1 coupon here - just found this one)
  
• Maalox $5.19 ($6.49 reg price, 20% Wellness discount), used $5 coupon (1/9 SS) and will get back $2 (SCR #10) = $1.81 profit *Also counts towards Buy & Save promo
• Used $1 UP and $2 UP, total was $0.58

Got back my $20 Resolution Reward on this account so now I'm done with both accounts. Ahhhh....

CVS - DBF's card

• Reese's Minis or Hersheys Drops $1.59, got back $1.59 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Snickers Singles $0.89, got back $0.89 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
  
• Total was $2.65
  

Staples

• 3 packages of ink for my printer - $21.14 (color) and $16.64 (black)
• Used $25 and $27 Staples Rewards (for buying Duracell batteries) and will get back $10 Visa Prepaid card for spending $40 on ink (HP, Brother, Canon, Dell, Epson, Kodak and Lexmark, Limit 10). The fine print says you can get your money as a Staples gift card or a check instead of the Visa card if you want.
  

Plus when I recycle the cartridges at Staples, I'll get back $2 Staples Rewards for each - gotta love that!

1/16 - 1/22

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

Staples - 10% off a single item coupon Exp. 1/21

• Avery 8160 White Address Labels (750/box) $9.99, use $3 coupon and get back $9.99 in Staples Rewards = $3 profit
• Staples Legal/Letter Tote $8, get back $8 in Staples Rewards = FREE
• Paper Mate Retractable Gel Pens (medium, black, four pack) $4.99, get back $4.99 in Staples Rewards = FREE
• Bankers Box (10 pk) $16.99, get back $16.99 in Staples Rewards = FREE
• M by Staples Letter Size Writing Pads (6 pk, yellow) $9.99, get back $9.99 in Staples Rewards = FREE
• Post-It 3" x 3" Notes (yellow, 12 pk) $11.99, get back $11.99 in Staples Rewards = FREE
• Staples 9" x 12" Catalog Envelopes (security tint, 25 pack) $8.49, get back $8.49 in Staples Rewards = FREE

CVS

• HIDDEN DEAL - Boiron Chestal Honey Cough Syrup (4.2 oz) $5, use $1 coupon and get back $5 EB (Limit 1) = $1 profit
• Vicks Sinex Dayquil/Nyquil $4.99, use $4 coupon (12/26 P&G) and get back $1 EB (Limit 1) = FREE/$0.01 profit
• Crest or Oral B Pro-Health, 3C White Vivid or Crest with Scope Outlast toothpaste (4-4.2 oz) $2.99, use $1 coupon (12/26 or 1/16 P&G) and get back $2 EB (Limit 2) = FREE/$0.01 profit
• Pepsi Deal is back - spend $20, get back $10 EB (Limit 1) - different event code than last week so you can do it again. Includes Pepsi 12 packs three for $10 or $3.33 each, Pepsi 2L bottles, Thirst Quencher Gatorade (32 oz.) or Sobe Lifewater (20 oz) $1, Amp or Starbucks Frappuccino $4.99 ($1 coupon for Starbucks or 11/21 SS), Aquafina Pure Water (12-16.9 oz. 12 pk. or 24 oz. 6 pk.) or Lipton Tea (128 oz.) $3 and 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
• Tom's of Maine Deodorant (2.25 oz), Toothpaste (4-6 oz) or Mouthwash (16 oz.) $3.99, get back $3 EB (Limit 2) = $0.99 - there are tearpad coupons floating around at various stores for these

Rite Aid

• Hormel Chili four for $5, use $1.50 off 3 coupon (Feb. All You magazine) and get back four $1 UP's = $1.50 profit
• TGIF Snacks $0.97, get back $1 UP (monthly deal) = $0.03 profit
• Rite Aid Facial Tissue, Bath Tissue or Simplify Bath Tissue $1, get back $1 UP (LIMIT ONE!) = FREE *Monthly deal on the facial tissues - $3 UP WYB 10
• Viactiv $6, use $3 coupon (Sunday's paper) and get back $3 UP = FREE

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

• Joint Juice Glucosamine Chondroitin (20 oz) $10, use $1 coupon and get back $10 RR = $1 profit
• ThermaCare Pain Relief Neck, Shoulder & Wrist HeatWrap (trial size) $2.50, use $1 coupon and get back $2.50 RR = $1 profit
• Full Fast Appetite Control Spray (2 oz) $10, get back $10 RR = FREE
• Gillette Fusion Proglide Manual or Power Razor System $9.99, use $4 coupon (12/26 P&G) and get back $5 RR = $0.99
• Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese three for $5, buy two and use two $1 coupons (1/16 SS) and $1 off 2 WAG coupon (coupon booklet found in stores) = $0.33 or $0.17 each

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
• Valid 1/2 - 1/29 Pillglide Swallowing Spray (Grape or Strawberry) $5, get back $5 RR = FREE

Printable Rebate Offers

• Brawny Paper Towels Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 60 days after purchase
• Caregiver's Marketplace - many rebates for a variety of items
• Clorox Toiletwand System $5 rebate Exp. 2/1/11
• Dawn Plus Vinger Alternative Satisfaction Guarantee Exp. 3/14/11
• Febreze Noticeables "Trade Up" Valid up to $3.50 Exp. 6/30/12 (Starts 1/1/11)
• Hill's Science Diet Pet Foods 3 Bag Challenge - get $5 and coupons
• Kellogg's Fiber Plus Cereal TMF (Up to $4.49) Exp. 11/30/11
• Olay Facial Moisturizers, Facial Treatments and/or Facial Cleansers spend $50, get $20 Exp. 1/31/11
• Pantene ProV Satisfaction Guarantee - 2x your purchase price (up to $12) Exp. 6/30/11
• Physician's Formula 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum TMF Valid up to $10.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Exp. 12/31/11
  
• Physician's Formula Talc-Free Mineral Correcting Primers TMF Valid up to $10.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Exp. 12/31/11
• Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Mascara TMF Valid up to $9.95 Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Exp. 12/31/11
• Toy Story 3 Blu-Ray Combo Pack or DVD and 3 Campbell's Condensed Kids Soups and/or Spaghettio's Exp. 1/31/11
• Wheatables TMF Exp. 3/30/11

Is there anything as disconcerting...

...as walking into a CVS intent on buying cases of soda, only to find there are no carts available? Sigh.

CVS - my new card. This finished out a deal I started yesterday on soda:

• 3 cases Diet Pepsi $10, used $2/$10 purchase of fruit, nuts or sugar free items (CVS coupon found in 50 Million Pound Challenge Book)
• Kellogg's Smart Start Cereal $4.99, will submit for TMF rebate found on box = FREE
• Used $10 EB, total was $3.69
  

Got back $10 EB for spending $20 on Pepsi (Limit 2). Since I broke my purchases into two trips so I could use two $2 coupons (one per customer), I only spent $6 after EB's for six cases of soda - $1 a case! (not including tax) Ain't bad at all!

Since it was such a great deal, I did it again on DBF's card (at another store):

• 4 cases Diet Pepsi CHERRY!!! $13.33, used $2/$10 purchase of fruit, nuts or sugar free items (CVS coupon found in 50 Million Pound Challenge Book) - since this store had four cases of cherry, I bought four at once. I LOVE this flavor and CVS hardly ever carries it
• Used $10 EB, total was $2.13
  

At another store:

• 2 cases Diet Pepsi $6.66
• 4 bags CVS brand dried fruit
• Used $2/$10 purchase of fruit, nuts or sugar free items (CVS coupon found in 50 Million Pound Challenge Book), total was $9.28
  

Got back $10 EB for buying $20 of Pepsi

Rite Aid

• 6 Motrin PM's (20 ct) $3 each, used three $6/2 coupons (1/2 SS) and got back six $2 UP's = $12 profit
• 4 Special K Cereals $4.79 each, BOGO sale, used two BOGO coupons (sign up for the plan first) and got back four $1 UP's (monthly deal) = $4 profit *Count toward Buy & Save promo
• 4 Barilla Pastas $5, got back $1 UP (WYB 4) and four $1 UP's (monthly deal) = FREE
• Used $2 UP and $3 UP, total was zero
  

Befuddled by RiteAid

Rite Aid

• 4 Tylenol Precise Heat Patch or Cream $5 each, used two $5 off 2 coupons (12/12 RP) and got back four $3 UP's = $2 profit
• Gain Detergent $0.89, used $1 coupon (P&G coupon booklet received via rebate) = $0.11 profit
• 4 Campbell's Chunky Soups $5, got back $1 UP
• 4 Special K Cereals $4.79 each, BOGO sale, used two BOGO coupons (sign up for the plan first) = FREE *Got back four $1 monthly UP's (expire 2/5) but I have no idea if they're from the soup or the cereal
  
• Used four $3 UP's and two $1 UP's, total was $0.95
  

At this point, I was pretty sure the soup was producing the UP's and since it was free after UP and also counting towards the $20 Buy & Save promo, I picked up some more after work:

• 8 Campbell's Chunky Soups $5, got back two $1 UP's (too lazy to drag all these upstairs from the car - soup is heavy!)
• Kellogg's Smart Start Cereal $4.99, will submit for TMF rebate (on box) = FREE, Special K cereal $4.79 - FREE with BOGO sale, got back $1 UP
• Used three $3 UP's and five $1 UP's, total was $0.99. Since I only got three $1 UP's here, I'm thinking the UP's from earlier were from the Kelloggs, not the Campbells.
  

Got back my $20 Resolution Reward on my account

CVS

• 3 cases Diet Pepsi $10, used $2 off $10 coupon (for fruit, nuts or sugar free items, found inside 50 Million Pound Challenge booklet found in stores) - once I spend another $10, I'll get back $10 EB for spending $20 on Pepsi
  
• Milk $2.29
• Used $10 EB, total was $0.99
  

Got my Finish Done all in one Store!

CVS

• 7 Finish Dishwashing Tabs $3 each, used seven $2.25 coupons (1/2 SS) and got back $10 EB (Limit 1) = $4.75 profit
• Reese's Minis or Hersheys Drops $1.59, got back $1.59 EB (Limit 1) = FREE
• Snickers Peanut Butter $0.89, got back $0.89 EB (Limit 1) = FREE *DBF and I ate this before the picture, very tasty!
• Total was $9.37
  

Rite Aid - my card

• 6 Tylenol Precise Heat Patches $5 each, used three $5 off 2 coupons (12/12 RP) and got back six $3 UP's = $3 profit
• Blink Tears (15 mL) $7.99, used $1 coupon (1/2 SS) and will get back $7.99 (SCR #22) = $1 profit
• 4 Gain Detergents $0.89 each, used four $1 coupons (P&G coupon booklet received via rebate) = $0.44 profit
• 4 Barilla Pastas $5, got back $1 UP (WYB 4) and four $1 UP's (monthly deal) = FREE
• American cheese slices $3.03 ($3.79 reg price, 20% Wellness discount)
• Used $10 UP, two $5 UP's, two $3 UP's and three $1 UP's, total was $0.83, overall profit $1.16
  

DBF's card

• 6 Tylenol Precise Heat Patches $5 each, used three $5 off 2 coupons (12/12 RP) and got back six $3 UP's = $3 profit
• Blink Tears (15 mL) $7.99, used $1 coupon (1/2 SS) and will get back $7.99 (SCR #22) = $1 profit
• 4 Gain Detergents $0.89 each, used four $1 coupons (P&G coupon booklet received via rebate) = $0.44 profit
• Used $5 UP, three $3 UP's and seven $1 UP's, total was $0.80, overall profit $4.19
  

DBF got this package in the mail the other day from Neutrogena. Would you believe we still have not received the money back for the Neutrogena Clinical Kit? I sent away for that rebate on 7/13/10 and have contacted them several times about the rebate. So instead of sending money, they send free items? I don't think so! I want the $35 we're owed! Guess they'll be hearing from me again. I have had such issues with this rebate and a couple from Aveeno that I will never again do a rebate through Johnson & Johnson. Never.