5/31 Buy-Low, CVS and Schnucks

Ran out to Buy-Low since they were closed last night at 10 pm. Did not have the free deodorant I was hoping to get, had to settle for hot dogs and some buns!
2 pkg on sale $1.00 each and free Sara Lee Hot Dog buns wyb 2 Ball Park Franks.

Total spent $2.00

CVS - Thanks to Susan B. I decided to run out and catch a last minute May deal. Two Ellin Lavar Hair products on sale $10/2, used $5 coupon, earned 2 ecb for each one.
1 bottle Viactiv Multivitamin glides $8.99 - $4.00 cvs coupon - $2 MQ, earned 3 ecb. CVS back pack buddies free with coupon CVS emailed me, 2 nail polishes that were requested by DD and to be paid for with her money... yeah, okay.

Total cost $22.56 - $5/$15 - $10.59 CVS Q - $2 MQ= $4.97 Used 5 ecb (lost .03) paid $.14 cash and earned 7 ecb. After all calculations, they paid me $2.03 to take the stuff home! I love those deals!

Schnuck's had some great deals and I wanted to get a few more cheap Band-Aids to add to stock pile. Paid $.50 for those, $1.09 for the Lysol cleaner, $1.25 each for the 1L bottles of Scope and $1.99 for Lysol wipes. I messed that one up. I was supposed to buy the 40 count instead of the 35 count. I didn't find the ones that were on sale but I was intending to only pay $1.24 but who is complaining! I got some great products for a little money... $8.03 in all.

All 3 trips, I brought home $40.43 in stuff but only paid $8.17 after getting ECB back to use another day (tomorrow)! Savings of 79%

Tree in trampoline...

... kind of reminds me of pigs in a blanket....

All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

I had a nice surprise waiting for me yesterday (5/29) after having to deal with the latest fiasco to happen on the home front. Well to tell the truth, I only got notice that a surprise might be in the making when I was informed that a note was left on my door detailing that a local floral company had tried to deliver something to me. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get in touch with the shop before they closed so I had to wait until today (okay it would now be yesterday but only because I have stayed up too, too late due to MickeyD tea...) Anyway, I thought I might know who sent me something but when I went today to pick them up, the card was only signed... A friend. Hmmmmm. I love mysteries! And flowers!! And shiny metallic objects, that float!!! (Sorry for the Art Bell reference) And balloons!!!!

Here are a few pictures of the gorgeous flowers. Angie... they definitely beat the ones I planted that were transplanted from Mt. Vernon, at the moment, but yours are growing on me!

My absolute favorite is the Red Gerber Daisy but they are all so pretty!


Thank you friend! I like watchin' the puddles gather rain.

5/30/08 Walgreens 2nd trip

Had one more $10 off $30 coupon to be used only today 5/30/08. Went to local WAGs and got a very unfriendly cashier. Earlier in the day on the first trip, the cashier was handing out the coupons, encouraging everyone and had no attitude when I had to go back in to get my missing RR.

2 Herbal Essence hair products $3.99 each, used 2 $1.00 MQ ($5.98) Again, will earn free manicure or pedicure from Clairol. Can only do that promo twice, so I am done but overall definitely a good deal.
1 pkg Dixie Ultra paper plates. On sale at Wags for $1.99 - $.50 MQ. ($1.49)
2 Bic Soleil razors on sale for $4.99 each. Had 2 MQ for free refills wyb razor, also had $2.00 MQ off razor. Refills on sale for $4.99 as well. ($7.98 for razors, 2 refills free)
2 bottles Maalox. On sale for $3.99. Easy Saver Rebate for May and June is overlapping 5/30 and 5/31. Used ESR coupon $2.00 for each month and also had 2 $1.50 MQ. Math is as follows for each bottle:
$3.99 - 2.00 - 2.00 - 1.50.... = $-1.51 In other words I had overage!! They paid ME to take it home and use it.

Grand total
$39.71 - 9.80 wags savings - 17.48 in MQ = 12.43 + tax. I paid $15... which was a LOT more than I had expected. I went intending to spend $2.00 or so OOP but they didn't have any more chex mix and I didn't figure the math on the spot to cover that deal. The 10 off 30 didn't work... I questioned cashier and she told me that the MQ disables the coupon, which I knew wasn't true.
She waited to take the $10 off after taking off MQ, even though I handed the stack to her in the correct order... Anyway, it was late in the evening and not many other customers so I asked to speak with a manager. He looked at the receipt and quickly added up the Q's and said it looked like I got it off since the total was $25 in savings... I added the receipt for him and showed him where he was missing the two razor blade coupons... He quickly refunded $10.70 to me. When it was all said and done, I paid $4.38 oop - a savings of almost 89%!!!


The total for my day wasn't too bad.
I spent $53.07 and brought home $159.83 worth of merchandise, I got back $11.00 to use on my next purchase, will get $2.20 back in a rebate and will have 2 manicures or pedicures to look forward to.
$53.07 - $11.00 (ecb/rr) - $2.20 rebate - $40 mani/pedi = $-0.13.

How's that for couponing?!

05/30/08 Schnucks

I signed up for the trial of The Grocery Game in hopes that it will help me even more. I love HCW but I spend a lot of time reading through all of the posts looking for great deals. TGG organizes it and basically it seems to be coupon shopping for dummies or those who need to do other things besides read!

So far, I think it has potential but it has a small subscription cost. I'll have to wait and see if it is worth it.

6 boxes Orville Redenbacher's Natural popcorn on sale 2/$3.00. I had 6 $1.00 MQ - paid $.50 per box.
2 boxes Band-Aid on sale 2/$3.00. I used 2 $1.00 MQ - paid $.50 per box. I have 3 more coupons and will go back and get more before sale is over.
2 Lysol 32 oz all purpose cleaners. These were supposed to be $1.86 but were $2.09. I used $1.00 MQ and paid $1.09 each. Much better than dollar store!
2 jars Bertolli pasta sauce on sale 5/$10. I had 2 $.75 MQ - paid $1.25 per jar. Sale also includes the new pouch Bertolli sauces which I have $1.00 MQ so I will be going back and getting some of those for $1.00. Again, as cheap if not cheaper than Hunt's (although Hunt's is good... )
2 Shake 'n Pour Bisquick Pancake mixes. Makes 10 pancakes I think. On sale 10/$10. I had $1.00 MQ wyb 2 products. Cost is $.50 each.
2 Comet bathroom cleaners, on sale 2/$3.00. Used 2 $.35 MQ. Paid $1.15 for each.
1 pound ground chuck $3.39. Had $1.50 oyno Catalina. Paid $1.89

Total $28.27 - 14.70 MQ = $14.58, paid cash. Saved 43% on grocery bill.

Pictures of stockpile

My batteries were charged fully from tree in trampoline fiasco, so I decided to take a few pictures of the stockpile. I need to organize the closet and make more room in kitchen for the overflow but perhaps that will happen when there isn't so many bargains to find!

Closeup of non perishable stuff in garage:



Better view:



12 rolls of free tin foil, cheap Hefty bags and toothpaste overflow from closet...




Inside the closet... this is only the stuff that remains. I have moved some of it into clear shoeboxes in order to organize it better...? I'm still working on it...!

5/30/08 Walgreens 1st trip

I didn't do as well as I had hoped but I really needed toilet paper. Of course the kind I was planning on purchasing apparently isn't being stocked by WAGS anymore...

3 Mountain Dew 12pks on sale 3/$10 earn $2 Register Rewards (RR) good on your next order (OYNO) Of course this didn't work and I had to go back inside and hunt down same product and manager to get the RR. ($8.00 )
2 Cottonelle Toilet Paper 12 double rolls $8.99 each - $1.00 MQ and $.75 MQ. I will also get
$2.20 back for the June Rebate. ($14.03)
2 Chex Mix - daughters favorite snack $.99 each - $1.00/2 MQ. ($.98)
1 gummy worm requested specifically ($.99)
2 Oreo cakesters $6.00/2. Totally overpriced but earns $3.00 RR wyb 2 boxes. ($3.00)
2 Sunsilk hair stylers on clearance for $2.29 each - $1.50 MQ. ($1.58)
2 Herbal Essence hair products $3.99 each - $1.00 MQ. ($5.98) Will get a free manicure or
pedicure by purchasing these two items. Not sure of the value but at least
$20.00, I would think.
1 L'oreal Vive Pro conditioner on clearance for $2.59 - $1.00 MQ. ($1.59)
Grand total $52.12 - $8.75 MQ - WAGS $10/$30 = 33.37 + 2.39 =$35.76
Used gift cards to pay all but $2.50 which I paid cash.

5/30/08 CVS

Here is my CVS transaction:
2 Amp beverages 2 for $3.00 - B1G1 = $1.50
3 CVS brand Tampons Buy 2 ($4.99) get 1 free = $9.98
1 bag CVS cheese puffs $1.49
1 Johnson and Johnson Softwash $5.99 - $1 MQ = $4.99 (earn 2 ecb)
4 Sobe Life Water $4.00 - B1G1 - B1G1 = $2.00 (earn 2 ecb)
2 Betty Crocker Warm Delights = $3.98 - $1.00 MQ = $2.98 (earn 1 ecb)
1 Crest Sensitivity toothpaste = $2.99 - $1.00 MQ = $1.99 (earn 1 ecb)
2 Russel Stover 24oz boxes chocolate (original price $15.99 clearance $4.00)
$8.00 - $4.00 MQ = $4.00

Total value $39.43 - $10.50 MQ - $5/$25 cvs coupon - $2.50/$10 cvs brand = $21.43 + .61 tax
Used $21.69 ecb and paid $.35. Earned 6 ecb for next shopping trip!!

Ms. Daisy Mae checking out the goods...