Wonderful Morning

Its a bright, sunny day here in NY and a great morning to do some driving.  First I hit up CVS to buy 6 papers ($2 each).  I sat in the car, clipping the $7 Centrum coupons and then hit up Rite Aid -  

Rite Aid

• 6 Centrum ProNutrients Fruit & Veggies Vitamins $9.59 each ($11.99 reg price, 20% discount), used six $7 coupons (12/11 SS *These beeped), got back two $10 UP's (WYB 3, Limit 2), $10 UP for Season of Savings promo (WYB $50 of qualifying items, new items each week), $10 Wellness + Diabetes promo (WYB $50 of qualifying items, sign-up required) and will get back two $2 SCR's (Limit 2, #19) = $28.46 profit
• 6 more papers $1.60 each ($2 reg price, 20% discount) = $9.60
• Used two $10 UP's, total was $5.14

The RA's in NJ never carried papers (in my area anyway) so I was very happy to see papers in the store, and then to get the discount on top of that!  Unfortunately, two of the papers didn't have the SS coupon insert in them.  You should always check before leaving the store, but its such a hassle and I was in a rush.


I went to two more RA's that were wiped out of the vitamins.  Finally at a third store, I hit the jackpot again!

•  6 Centrum ProNutrients Fruit & Veggies Vitamins $9.59 each ($11.99 reg price, 20% discount), used four $7 coupons (12/11 SS *These beeped) and two $5 coupons (11/13 RP *These beeped too), got back two $10 UP's (WYB 3, Limit 2), $10 UP for Season of Savings promo (WYB $50 of qualifying items, new items each week), $10 Wellness + Diabetes promo (WYB $50 of qualifying items, sign-up required) and will get back two $2 SCR's (Limit 2, #19) = $24.46 profit
• Hershey's candy bar $0.97 - bought so I could use a second $10 UP to pay
• Used two $10 UP's, total was $0.55

With this being such a huge moneymaker, I didn't want to waste any time with my shopping this week.  I'm so glad I was able to find these!


Does anyone know how the Wellness points track?  I'm trying to get to 1,000 points on DBF's card and it seems like its not counting all my purchases.  Does it only count the out of pocket cost or something? 

Then off to Price Chopper -

• 8 PC pizza doughs $0.88 each, B1G3 FREE! so $1.76 for all eight or $0.22 each
• 4 Triscuits $2 each, used two $1 off 2 coupons (from a tearpad) and doubler coupons from circular (double one $1 coupon, two coupons were in this circular) = $4 or $1 each
• New York Garlic Knots $2, used $0.50 coupon (Dec. All You magazine) = $1
• 2 New York Texas Toasts $2 each
• Dole Celery $1.88 
• Weaver Chicken Patties $4
• 12 pack PC rolls $1 
• McCormick Ground Cloves $6.99
• PC Crispy Rice Cereal (aka Rice Krispies) $3 - need these for a batch of peanut butter balls I'm going to make next weekend
• Total was $26.75

12/11 - 12/17

CVS

• American Greeting Cards buy three $0.99 cards, use $2 off 3 coupon and get back $3 EB (Limit 1) = $2.03 profit *American Greeting Cards are a regional item
• Centrum ProNutrients (50 ct) $9.99, buy three, use three $7 coupons (12/11 SS) and get back $10 gift card (for spending $30 on qualifying items) = $1.03 profit
• Combos (7 oz) $2, get back $2 EB (Limit 1) = FREE

Rite Aid

• Centrum ProNutrients Fruit & Veggie $11.99, buy six, use six $7 coupons (12/11 SS) or  $5 coupons (11/13 RP), get back two $10 UP's (WYB 3, Limit 2), $10 UP for Season of Savings promo (WYB $50 of qualifying items, new items each week), $10 Wellness + Diabetes promo (WYB $50 of qualifying items, sign-up required) and two $2 SCR's (Limit 2, #19) = $12.06 - $2.06 profit depending on coupons

With 10% discount = $21.26 - $9.26 profit, with 20% discount = $28.44 - $16.44 profit

• Visine $4.99 ($3.99 with 20% discount), use $1 in-circular coupon, $3 coupon and get back $2 UP (Limit 2) = $1.01 - $2.01 profit depending on discount
• Dasani Bottled Water (1 L) $1, use $1 RA coupon (Dec Video Values) = FREE *Advertised in the circular as five for $5 and must buy five for that price, but individual bottles are ringing up as $1
• Revlon Beauty Tools 40% off sale - buy cheapest ones you can find (less than $3.50 each), use two $1 coupons (10/30 SS), get back $3 UP (Limit 1) and submit for $2 ($1 each, SCR #34, Limit 2) = FREE *Also count towards Season of Savings promo for the week
• Ricola Cough Drops (19-24 ct) $1.50, buy two and use $1 coupons (Like them, then click on Get Well tab to send friends a coupon - send it to yourself) and get back two $1 UP's (Limit 4) = FREE

Walgreens

• Goody Hair Accessories (12 pack Mini Claw Clips or 6 pack Bobby Slides) $2, get back $2 RR = FREE  
• SalonPas Pain Patch $1, get back $1 RR = FREE
• Playtex Baby Sippy Cup Valves $2.49, BOGO 50% off sale so $3.24, use two $1 coupons (unlimited prints) and $2 off 2 WAG coupon (Infant Care booklet found in stores) = $0.23 for two  *The 50% discount price is calculated AFTER the $2/2 WAG coupon.  So $4.98 for two minus $2 coupon = $2.98 divided by two valves = $1.49.  50% of that is $0.75 so that's the discount.  Walgreens math, gotta love it.

Printable Rebate Offers

• Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Neti Pot TMF up to $14.99 Exp. 7/13/13 (Email me at frugalsuz at hotmail.com and I'll forward you the form)
• Bissell Stomp & Go TMF up to $5.99 Exp. 4/15/12
• Caregiver's Marketplace - many rebates for a variety of items
• Carmex Moisture Plus - specially marked packages, must purchase at CVS Exp. 12/31/11
• Cascade Complete Pacs or Action Pacs Satisfaction Guarantee - send within 30 days of purchase (starts 6/8)
• Febreze Noticeables "Trade Up" Valid up to $3.50 Exp. 6/30/12 (Starts 1/1/11)
• Finesse - Any product $2 rebate Exp. 12/31/11 (or 5/8 SS)
• Kellogg's Cereals - purchase 10 participating brands and get back $10 MasterCard Gas Card (Limit 5, one submission per envelope) Exp. 12/31/11 or while supplies last
• Olay Items - spend $30, get back $10 Exp. 12/31/11
• Organix Skincare Items - individual rebates for many items (click on shopping list to see them all), up to $50 total. Purchases must all be made within 30 days Exp. 1/1/12
• Pantene Satisfaction Guarantee - up to 2X your purchase price Exp. 6/30/12
• NEW! Physician's Formula Organic Wear Lash Boosting Mascara TMF Up to $9.95  Must include "Try Me Free" label from product to qualify Valid 11/1/11 - 10/13/12
• 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
• Progresso Rich & Hearty Soup TMF Exp. 1/31/12
• Senoket Tablets 20s or Senoket-S Tablets 10s $7 rebate Exp. 12/31/11
• Woolite Oxy Deep TMF Exp. 1/15/12
• Woolite Pet Urine Eliminator TMF up to $5.99 Exp. 12/15/11

Hangtag/Peelie/Tearpad Rebates to Look For - please let me know what you find as well!

• Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Hangtag TMF Exp. 3/1/12 
• Kedem Sparkling Juices Hangtag $1.50 rebate per bottle, up to 6 bottles/$9 per 12 month period, no expiration date - found at Acme  
• Nexcare Bandages - Active Waterproof, Soft n’ Flex and Waterproof. Peelie TMF for one, two or all three varieties, up to $3.99 per box. Exp. 12/31/11

Go Meat!

Price Chopper

• 2 Ore Ida Fries $3 each, used two $1 coupons and got back catalina for FREE bag = three for $4 or $1.33 each

ShopRite - I have four $20 semi-catalinas to use from last week's gift card promo.  They didn't print like catalinas normally do, the $20 comes off automatically when you buy stuff and use your card.  Armed with a shopping list from my hunny, I went a shoppin'!


Trip #1 - 

• 4 Pierogies $0.99 each
• 2 Ball Park Hot Dogs $2.50 each
• 10 La Yogurts $4.50 
• 2 Tropicana OJ's $1.97 each
• 3 Friendship Sour Creams $1.34 each
• After $20 discount, total was around $1 - cannot find this receipt.  I've got to be off a smidge on one of the prices since this doesn't add up to $20.  I remember paying around $1 at the store though.  I hate being so disorganized!  The office will get cleaned up this weekend.  I have receipts everywhere!  

Trip #2 - 

• 80% Lean Ground Beef (3+ lb packages only, limit 1) 3.51 lbs at $1.99/lb = $6.98
• Hormel Pepperoni $2.99
• ShopRite Bacon $3.99
• 2 Oscar Mayer Ham Cold Cuts $3.50 each
• Total after $20 discount was $0.96

Trip #3 -

• Porkchops 3.51 lbs at $1.49/lb = $5.23
• 80% Lean Ground Beef (3+ lb packages only, limit 1) 3.34 lbs at $1.99/lb = $6.64
• SR Boneless Chicken Breast 3.35 lbs at $1.99/lb = $6.71
• 2 Furlani Garlic Bread $1.50 each (for the lasagna I made for dinner)
• Iceburg Lettuce $0.99
• 4 Packages Pizza Dough $1.69 each
• Total after $20 discount was $9.35 

By this point I was pretty tired and my guesstimate was way off in my head.  Oh well, getting almost seven pounds of ground beef, three pounds of chicken, three pounds of porkchops, bacon, pepperoni, lunch meat and all the other stuff for around $12 is pretty awesome in my book.  Thank goodness the house came with a full freezer in the basement!  

Rite Aid 

• Brita Classic Pitcher $14.99, used $4 coupon (12/4 SS or Oct. All You magazine), will get back $5 (SCR #42, Limit 3) and will submit for $10 rebate = $4.01 profit
• 2 Domino Sugars (4 lbs) $3, used $0.75 off 2 coupon (12/4 RP), got back $3 UP (WYB $12, Limit 2) *Had bought two other sugars yesterday
• 4 Ruffles Chips $3 each, got back two $1 UP's (WYB 2, Limit 2) = $10 or $2.50 each
• Used $10 UP, total was $19.46

Then at another store, I picked up two more $50 Home Improvement gift cards and used the $20 UP's I got back to buy:

• Conair Infiniti Spin Air Brush $47.99 ($59.99 reg price, 20% discount), used $12 RA coupon (facebook printable from the other day), $5 coupon and got back $10 UP (WYB $30 of Conair) AND a second $10 UP! = $10.99
• Brita Classic Pitcher $14.99, used $4 coupon (12/4 SS or Oct. All You magazine), will get back $5 (SCR #42, Limit 3) and will submit for $10 rebate = $4.01 profit
• Used two $10 UP's, two $1 UP's and $3 UP, total was $22.10

Now before you run out and buy this, thinking you'll get back $20, here's what I think happened.  I bought a couple of Conair hair dryers on Black Friday.  I got back a $10 then, but was around $6 or so away from qualifying for a second $10 UP.  I suspect this deal is a holdover from then, and this purchase pushed me over for a second and third UP.  You never really can tell with RA what's going to happen!

More Wellness Points

Rite Aid

• 2 $50 Home Improvement Gift Cards, got back two $10 UP's (Limit 2) = $20 profit

Then I used those UP's towards - 

• Brita Classic Pitcher $14.99, used $4 coupon (12/4 SS or Oct. All You magazine), will get back $5 (SCR #42, Limit 3) and will submit for $10 rebate = $4.01 profit
• 2 Domino Sugars (4 lbs) $3, used $0.75 off 2 coupon (12/4 RP) - count towards a spend $12, get $3 UP promo this week
• 4 M&M's $2 each, used two $1 off 2 coupons (12/4 RP) and got back two $1 UP's (WYB 2, Limit 2 offers) = $4 or $1 each
• Used two $5 UP's and $10 UP, total was $3.85

Then at another RA, I picked this up on a non-discount card

• Tim McGraw Southern Blend Cologne (0.5 oz) $10.99, used $5 coupon (printable from coupons.com, only valid on sets $10.99+) and will get back $5.49 (SCR #28, 50% of purchase price) = $0.49
• Used two $1 UP's, total was $4.76

Walgreens - picked up four packages of Banquet sausages for $0.99 each.  Forgot these yesterday

CVS

• 2 Cheez It Snack Mixes $3 each - count towards the spend $30, get $10 gift card deal this week (I'm now at $20.87)
• Gold Emblem Pure Vanilla Extract $0.88
• Used $2 EB, total was $1.88

Problematic Perfume

Rite Aid

• Halle Berry Pure Orchid Fragrance Set $12.79 ($15.99 reg price, 20% Wellness discount), used $5 coupon (from coupons.com, don't see it anymore) and got back $5 UP (Limit 2) = $2.79
• Celion Dion Sensational Fragrance Set $12.79 ($15.99 reg price, 20% Wellness discount), used $5 coupon (from coupons.com, don't see it anymore) and got back $5 UP (Limit 2) = $2.79
• Used four $1 UP's, $1.99 UP, $2 UP and $5 UP, total was $3.54

FYI - these coupons beeped.  The first store I went to refused to honor them because they said "redeemable at Walmart" (as opposed to "redeemable only at Walmart").  I chatted with Customer Service when I got back and they said they'd give the store a call to let them know that was ok.  In the meantime, I picked these up at another store.


This should bring my Wellness points to a smidge over 800.  I'm getting there!


CVS

• 2 Smuckers Jellies $2.50 each, used $1 off 2 coupon (11/6 RP) - got back a $3 EB because I had a raincheck from several weeks ago for these
• 2 Popcorn Indiana Kettlecorns $2.50 each, used two $1 coupons (9/25 SS) = $1.50 each
• Rice Chex $2.87, got back $2 EB (raincheck price & EB deal from Black Friday) = $0.87
• Scotch Masking Tape $4.79 - horrible price but we needed it
• Used $2 EB, $3 EB, $3.99 EB (adjusted down to $3.66) and $6 EB, total was $0.13 

All of the food items count towards the spend $30, get a $10 giftcard promo this week.  I'm up to $17.87 now.  I also picked up a raincheck for Gold Emblem (CVS brand) vanilla extract for $0.88.  Spices are on sale this week and the sale includes the pure vanilla extract!  That's a steal of a price.


Walgreens

• 2 Dozen Eggs $0.99 each
• 2 Morton Salts $0.50 each with in-circular coupon
• Used $2 RR, total was $0.98

Getting back in the Groove

CVS 

• Candy Canes (10 ct, cherry or original flavor) $1.27 *The EB's for these didn't print.  After verifying I'd bought the right kind, the cashier manually printed them.  Since the system rounds up on manual prints, I got a $2 EB = $0.73 profit  

Anyone else have the same problem with these?  I haven't had a chance yet to get caught up on Slick Deals for the week.

• 2 Smuckers Jellies $2.50 each, used $1 off 2 coupon (11/6 RP) - got back a $3 EB because I had a raincheck from several weeks ago for these.  They'll also count towards the spend $30, get a $10 giftcard promo this week.
• 6 newspapers $2 each 
• Used $2 EB, $2.49 EB, $2.99 EB, $3.99 EB and $5.74 EB, total was $0.16

Feels nice to be able to buy papers again!  The paper where I used to live had stopped carrying the RP, so I was buying my inserts online.  There's something so nice about having the inserts in hand.

I swear Shadow thinks she's a cat.  Gigi has been camped out on this armchair all weekend and Shadow couldn't wait to see what all the fuss was about. 

We had a really nice weekend.  My parents came up for a visit and took DBF and I out to dinner for my birthday.  The last time they were at the house, we'd just about moved in so it was great to show them some of the improvements we've made.  They bought me a slow cooker - that's going to come in handy!  My mom is sending me a recipe she has for apple butter in the slow cooker.  Can't wait to try that out.


Some random money happenings - I was invited for a CVS Advisor Panel survey for the first time in ages - got a $10 EB for completing that.  I've been finding beer rebates in the stores in the area (awesome!) but I am still signed up to get daily emails from ebay with any new auctions.  I saw one over the weekend for a $25 Coors rebate (103322) when you spend $100 on gift cards.  Its not valid in New York, only NJ so I went ahead and bought it.  I figured the chances of me physically finding that form up here are pretty slim.  I got two, one for my parents' address and one for DBF's mom's address.  I spent $1.60 including shipping on the forms, so that's a $48.40 profit!  

Another Gift Card Promo

Its nice to know people!  One of da boyfriend's friends is a plumber and he was nice enough to come over today and help out with a bunch of projects.  DBF picked up the supplies at Lowes and his friend did all the work!  So very kind of him.  Since we knew we'd be spending money at Lowes (will it ever end?) I picked up two $100 gift cards at ShopRite this morning.  For each $100 I bought, I should get a $20 reward valid for next week.  I say "should" because nothing printed like a catalina would, the money is supposed to come off your order automatically next week.  The circular said limit one, so I bought one on my card and one DBF's card.  That money will really come in handy.  Knowing that we'd be moving soon, I hadn't been buying many perishable groceries and I only have two bags of chicken breasts in the freezer.  SR has ground beef for $1.99/lb next week so I'll be picking up some plus whatever else we need.  I may pick up another $100 gift card tomorrow morning (I have a couple of extra Price Plus cards lying around somewhere) so that would be another $20 of free groceries.  We've been spending so much money lately, now we're going to buckle down and build up our savings again.  Bring on the rebates baby!  


Here's what I got at ShopRite this afternoon:

• Bananas $0.49/lb
• Potatoes (5 lbs) $1.49
• 2 Freihofer Country Breads $1.99 each
• Thomas English Muffins $1.99
• ICBINB $3.29 - was running low, normally wouldn't pay this price
• Used $10 catalina (from Pantene), total was $1.79

I meant to also pick up Marcal napkins ($1.34, $1 coupon in the 11/6 RP) but last night, for whatever reason I threw away my shopping list!  I was really tired and I guess I thought I was done shopping.  So even though I had my Marcal coupons with me, I totally forgot to pick these up.  I'm going to do my first Price Chopper trip tomorrow so I'll swing into SR too.