Rite Aid Runs

Not much going on at Rite Aid this week. (Not from what I've seen any who . . .) I only managed to make one stop at Rite Aid before Thanksgiving last week. I REALLY wanted to go and get some of the Black Friday sales, but I worked every day of the Black Friday sales! I was going to go on Saturday, as it had been a scheduled day off. Someone at work was sick so I ended up going in that morning and then rushed off to my parents for my Thanksgiving dinner. (PUMPKIN PIE! How I adore you!!)

There was an excellent deal on Planter Nuts last week. $3.99 each with $2+up for $1.99 a piece. To make the deal sweeter there was a mystery +up of $5 printing. My dad loves cashews and mom tries to get him some for his stocking every year. I figured I could pick some up so she wouldn't have to pay for them. YEA!



4 Planters Nuts @ $3.99 each = $15.96 (two for dad, two for me!)
2 6x4inch Magnet Frame @ $1.79 (10% discount) each = $3.58
~I heard these were printing $3 +up. Maybe not this specific sku. I returned them latter.
AMO Complete Contact solution $7.99
Motrin PM 20ct $4.00
Total Before Coupons: $31.53

$5 off $25+ purchase
$2/1 Motrin
Total After Coupons: $24.53 (used $8 +up & $16.53 cash)

Received/Will Receive:
4 $2 +up Planters Nuts
$5 +up mystery (must purchase 4 Planters)
$7.99 SCR AMO Complete
$2.00 SCR Motring
Net: $1.54 cost

Refund:
$3.58
New Net: $2.04 profit

Today's transaction are gifts for some guy friends. I was happy to hear that the Gillette Fusion Shave Collection is included in the $9.00 sale with $5 +up back! Now the limit on them is two. I have three friends in mind and went ahead and used a $5 off $25 to compensate for that fact. W00T! I really love Rite Aid sometimes.



3 Gillette Fusion Shave Collection @ $9.00 each = $27.00
Total before Coupons: $27.00

$5 off $25 purchase
3 $4/1 Gillette Fusion
Total After Coupons: $10.00 (Used $8 +up from last week.)

Received:
2 $5 +up
Net: FREE! (okay I paid $.12 tax, but I'm not complaining.)

Saving Sunday - Mailbox!

Thoughts:
~A bit small this week. Something is better than nothing. ^_^

CVS - Little Trip, BIG TRIP

All the excitement this week is centered around Black Friday. (Or in the case of the drugstores Thanksgiving.) CVS started the week out with two small freebies. While these freebies were also offered with the Black Friday ad they had a different code event for the two separate ads this week. YEAH! Free twice over is nice.

I'm not going to elaborate here on the exact details of my transactions except for some minor changes as to the 'instructions' at Simply CVS has for $5 or less out of pocket scenario. (See here.) I will note the changes below.



~Transaction 1: No coupon for the Carmex Lip Balm. Darn! LOL.
~Transaction 4: Excedrin instead of the Advil. We were out when I walked in the door just before starting my shift at 2pm. (I'm told it was BUSY in the morning!)
~Transaction 7: No Excedrin. (Bought in transaction 4) Instead bought a pack of Wheat Thins for $.99 to go along with my lunch. (Not pictured.) Also skipped buying an additional $1.21 to save extra bucks for latter.

This was fun to do when it was quiet and dull for a while. My co-worker who rang me up was really impressed. He said he might have to start checking out these deal blogs I mentioned. ^_^

Saving Sunday - Mailbox!

I missed out on this last week. To much to do. *sighs* If only my schedule could be the same every week. Being in retail means that is not likely. At least it means be open on holidays and get time & a half. ^_^ YEAH!

Thoughts:

~The Eagle's shirt is from Rite Aid. They are running specials with some teams linked to specific areas where you buy $x between y and z you get a shirt. You can't pick the team, but my Dad LOVES the Eagle's. I plan on giving it to him as a X-mas gift. I have something else in mind for him, but this will be nice for him as well.

~Three samples from Target! Wisk, Moisture Rescue & a trash bag! Hoping to see many more in the future. Fingers crossed for Target coupons so I can combine with manufacture coupons.

~Barilla PLUS game bowl & coupon for free pasta. Also came with BOGO coupons. I'm hoping to spy a good sale within the next month. If not I'll just use the free coupon. I'm stocked up on pasta otherwise for the moment.

~Dunkin Dounuts, one last birthday freebie. No need to buy, just stop in for a free drink. I like the fact I've got longer to use it. One problem with a lot of Birthday coupons is you only have a week. As busy as I am there's not enough time. I think there is one of these on the way to my new store. Sweet!

Rite Aid

It finally happened. I was wonder when it would be asked where I worked. While I've mostly gotten over my nervousness of shopping Rite Aid and feeling almost traitorous I wasn't sure how Rite Aid employees would see it.

I try to be very organized with my coupons and like to double check as I put things up that I've got all the matching items for the coupons. (Particularly when I have a lot and end up using multiples.) The cashier was appreciative of this as I pair up BOGO deodorants of the same price with BOGO coupons. I told her it annoys me as a cashier when people don't get the right things, too many coupons or not enough coupons. (Which leads them very frustrated when the total is higher than expected. Now I leave all coupons on the counter until after the sale is completed. I'm okay with an honest mistake, but trying to tell me you can use two BOGO coupons between three items just irritates me. You need four items to use two BOGO coupons! Argh.)

"Where do you work?"

"CVS."

Laughter, "Oh my. Why are you shopping here?"

"I like to donate things. If I can get a good deal then that's where I shop."

At this point another employee and a manager start chiming in. They are also surprised. I talked a little about where exactly I work. More on why I shop Rite Aid and grinned all the way. I don't know if they'll look at me differently or not. Only time will tell. LOL. The cashier was very happy to take my coupons and seemed more excited than usual for the good deals I was getting. I hope that kind of response continues. It's refreshing. ^_^

So what exactly did I get?

4 Right Guard BOGO @ $3.29 each = $6.58
4 Dry Idea BOGO @ $4.29 each = $8.58
6 Blistex @ $1.50 each = $9.00
3 Olay Soap 2pk (BOGO 1/2 off) 2 @ $3.59, 1 @ $1.79 = $8.97
3 Trail Size Secret Deodorant @ $1.29 each = $3.87
Total Before Coupons: $37.00



4 BOGO Right Guard/Dry Idea 2 @ $3.29, 2 @ $4.29 ($15.16)
3 $1/2 Blistex ($3)
3 $5/1 Olay Soap/Body Wash wyb Secret ($15)
Total After Coupons: $3.85 (If I had thought about it I would have thrown on another Olay 4 pk and used a $5 off $25. Oh well.)

Recieved:
3 $1 +up Blistex
Net: $.85

I had expected more $1 +up as the rumor was you got two when you bought 2 Blistex. Either Rite Aid caught on & fixed it or I reached a limit. Ah well. All that for $.85 isn't bad. I just wished I thought about the $5 off $25+ sooner.

CVS

As I am trying to purchase more of my items from my 'new' store it means for the moment that these postings will be latter in the week most of the time. (More support for the store I will be working at full time beginning in January.) I usually can shop on Wednesday or Thursday. My current goal is to get these trips up late Wednesday, but no latter than Friday morning.

The vitality toothbrushes were out of stock. No surprise as it's the 'big' item so many people want to get. I had planned on getting the Skippy Peanut Butter, but we were out of the chunky. I keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow, or I'll just get a rain check.

I got lucky and grabbed the last Fiber one chocolate chewy bars from the shelf. They weren't signed, but were included in the sale. YEAH! Also picked up two cans of pumpkin. I'm hoping to make some 'pudding' or pie filling. I don't much care for pie crust, but I love the filling!

There were some good clearance finds this week. In addition to some of the cosmetics of L'Oreal individual pieces of the skin care line are on 75% clearance. One of the Go 360 Clean line is apart of it. Only that specific one though. (Pink & white in color.) As there are coupons on one of the online printable sites (coupons.com maybe?) for $1/1 Go 360 Clean I scored two for under a $1 each!

My manager ('new' store, the 'old' store still has these at full price) wants to clear out of the sample size Vaseline lotion fast. It was put on our clearance end cap for $.25 each! $1/1 no size restrictions in the paper this past week that meant four for each coupon. Sweet! If you don't seem them on clearance you'll still be able to score one for free.



Fiber One Bars $3.99
12 1oz Vaseline lotion @ $.25 each = $3.00
2 L'Oreal Go 360 Clean @ $1.87 each = $3.74 (Regular price $7.49 to give you an idea)
2 Libby's Pumpkin 15oz @ $1.29 = $2.58
Total Before Coupons: $13.31

$.50/1 Fiber One Bars (redplum.com? Some where on the internet)
3 $1/1 Vaseline lotion (no size restriction!, $3)
2 $1/1 L'Oreal go 360 Clean ($2)
Total After Coupons: $7.81

Received:
$3 EB Fiber One Bars
Net: $4.81 (Go Clearance!)

101 Posts!

I just noticed that my previous post was my 100th post! It amazes me how much I enjoy doing all this shopping for deals & posting them along with my debt climb. Now if only I could be a bit more consistent with the posting. Hopefully I can make myself out a schedule soon.

I missed my normal Sunday post rushing to get to work and then over night at my parents so I could see my mom in the hospital. She had a breast reduction (choice: breast reduction or more fusions in her neck) and there were some minor complications. That's actually really good for her, because usually she ends up with major complications and ends up there for almost a week.

In one of our conversations she was telling me how wonderful it was to breath while lying on her back. Can you image suffocating because your body made your breast to big? Makes me wonder how much I take for granted. (Such as my health in general.)

So congrats to Mutti on her breast reduction and yea for me & my blog!

Drugstore Shopping: CVS & Rite Aid

I was planning on doing this much sooner, but as I was called in to pick up extra hours at the store further away I ran out of time. That's okay because Rite Aid got the men's Nivea body wash back in stock. I hate it when the run out of stock and it's only Monday! ARGH! Any who . . .

CVS was a bit lack luster this week in general. I was happy to see the coke back on sale at a descent price again. 4 for $13 and $3 extra bucks back is nice. We've been out of coke for two or three weeks and Sweetheart has been thirsty for his. I was happy to finally see the Gain dish soap on sale at CVS. More often than not when the new product comes out I see it on sale at CVS before I see it other places. Rite Aid beat out CVS big time. (It was on sale two or three times before CVS had their sales!) The other thing I picked up this week was the multi-pack of mesh sponges. I'm going to break this apart into gift baskets.



4 Coke 12pk @ $3.25 each = $13.00
Gain Dish Soap $.89
Mesh sponge multi-pack $4.99
Total Before Coupons: $18.88

$.89/1 Gain Dish Soap
Total After Coupons: $17.99

Recieved:
$3 EB Coke
Net: $14.99 (Not the best week, but it's Coke and I had EB to spend.)

After a break from Rite Aid due to the uninteresting sales I've ventured back again. First disapointment when the body wash was out of stock to only slight frustration because the other kind of toothpaste on sale was out of stock. Geerrr . . . Rite Aid Trip:



3 Men's Nivea Body Wash @ $3.99 each = $11.97
3 Women's Nivea Body wash @ $3.99 each = $11.97
Crest Scope Toothpaste $2.99
Total Before coupons: $26.93

$5 off $25 purchase RA (only one from Redplum printable)
3 $3/1 Men's Nivea Body Wash ($9)
$2/1 Nivea Body Wash (Form an All You Magazine, I forget which issue)
$3/2 Women's Nivea Body Wash (I love you Nivea, but why do the men get better coupons?)
$1/1 Crest 4.0oz+
Total After Coupons: $6.93

Received:
6 $1 +up
$2.99 +up Crest
Net: $2.06 profit




In other news I spotted these signs at CVS with the L'Oreal cosmetics. Some lines are being discontinued. Better hurry if it's something you really like, it's going to be gone, gone gone!

Quick Trip To Gaint

I normally don't post to many of my grocery store trips. I usually go about once a week or once every two weeks depending on how well stocked up we are. Just picking up some basics this week: bread, cottage cheese, bananas. I ended up with more produce because Gaint has a $1 off $5 produce purchase. While there I looked for Wholly Guacamole as they are offering a $4/1 coupon which makes for a really cheap product or free. The Wholly Queso was BOGO @ $4.99 and I found $1/1 peelies on them. FREE! W00T! so lunch is consisting of veggies dipped in the queso and an egg.

I don't buy Tropicana, but Gaint sent out coupons in the mail for a free one if you make a $15 purchase this week. I'll take free. There was also a coupon for free Eggo Waffles, however I'm still working on the last batch. (See here.) If you were lucky Gaint had double coupons in their flier inside the Sunday paper. That means $4 to me! Also I picked up the Pilsbury bisckets that are $.53 each. Gaint is participating in the Catalina when you buy 6 you get a $3 off you next order. Sweet! Six small cans for $.18!

The reason I'm posting is I was surprised when I rang up at the self checkout for $38.xx before coupons. I am almost never that high, ever! Turns out if there are special deals were you must buy in bulk to get $ off it will not show up until your done with coupons at the self checkout. Same goes for BOGO. After all was said and done my total came down to $13.81. ($13.81 - $3.00 cat = $10.81!) *dances* I love couponing.

Saving Sunday - Mailbox!

Thoughts:

~ My P&G quarterly samples/coupons came in on Saturday. YEAH! More tampons & some pads. Not all bad though. P&G has great coupons and is the company I most often get free or close to free products on all the time between sales & coupons.

~ Night Food, my mother told me these are fantastic! I'm going to try one on a day I don't have to get up and then I think I will let her have the other one. She has trouble sleeping sometimes.

~ Florida's Natural wasn't actually a sample, but did have a $1 coupon. I already used it. ^_^ This is one of two brands that I buy. I LOVE this orange juice.

~ Tide, actually this one is from Target. My first Target mail freebie! I hope there will be lots more to come.

~ Radio Survey, anyone remember when I got a mailer with $3 cash about TV? Well I gave it to my Sweetheart and he filled it on out. (With an additional $5 after.) He was invited to fill out a radio survey and could enlist other household members. Another $2 each and a bonus after completing the survey. Awesome!

Cheap Date

Sometimes it's fun to have a really cheap date. McDonald's recently had their traditional Monopoly game going one. Sweetheart & I ventured over once a week to take a chance. In the process we won some 'free' items. We decided to use up some fry & McFlurry coupons. There was also a coupon for a free sandwich from KFC when you buy a 30oz drink. Normally I don't want something that large but it made for a cheap meal. Sweetheart instead on getting some biscuits, but $.99 for two isn't that bad.


Total cost $5.07.
A yummy dinner with my Sweetheart = priceless. ^_^
(Too many commercials I tell you!)

CVS - Late Post

When I use any vacation time I try and stay far away from CVS as possible. Why on earth would I want to go anywhere near the place that I spend almost a third of life at? ~ Think about it 5 days a week about 8 hours a day. 8 hours is one third of a day! Yikes! We spend almost as much time sleeping as we do working. ~ With that being said I didn't make my sale purchases until latter this week. (Like Thursday & yesterday?) So it's a bit belated: here we go!

Transaction 1 (At my 'new' store):
Dawn dish soap $.97
2 M&M @ $.89 each = $1.78
M&M $0.00 (Buy 2 get 1 free)
Schick Hydro 5 $8.97
Schick Shaving Cream $4.29 (this is a higher priced store)
Total Before Coupons: $16.01

$1/1 Dawn Hand Renewal ('Organize In Style' Mailed coupon, card scanned in the middle of the transaction so it took this off a a 'full' priced item)
2 $.89/1 M&M ($1.78, mailed to me from a game a while back)
$4/1 Schick Hydro 5
$4.29/1 Schick Hydro Shaving Cream (I'll remember to remind cashier to look for maximum allowed value next time. Pay Attention! Although I should have as well.)
Total After Coupons: $4.94

Received:
$4 EB Schick Hydro 5
Net: $.94 cost (- $.25 Green Bag Tag)



Transaction 2 ('old' store):
Cold Buster $8.99
Olay Body Wash $7.00
Secret Deodorant $1.49 (Trail Size!)
2 Oral-B Pulsar @ $4.99 each = $9.98
Total Before Coupons: $27.46

$5/1 Olay Body Wash wyb Secret Deodorant
2 $3/1 Oral-B ($6.00)
Total After Coupons: $16.46

Received:
$8.99 EB Cold Buster
$3.00 EB Olay Body wash
$4.00 EB Oral-B ($2.00 from each)
Net: $.47 cost (- $.25 Green Bag Tag)

Not a bad week over all. ^_^

Donation Box

While my Sweetheart was sick on my birthday I decided to pull out the items I had set aside for donation and catalog them. I don't really need to do this, but I like having the records on hand for when I feel down about being unable to give my time or my money. (No regular schedule and a little tight on funds to give as much as I would like.) After writing it all down I counted 70 items! These are all form the month of September and October. It's slowed down a good bit lately, but I'm hoping it will pick up again soon. Now if I can just get a semi-normal/regular schedule I can actually try and plan things out.

November Budget & Climbing

Today didn't go quiet as planned. I was going to try and drum up some shopping scenarios for Rite aid & CVS this morning, but there was water pouring from the tub faucet non-stop! So instead of shopping I ended up sleeping as Sweetheart waited for a repairman to show up. (I would have been up if I had taken him into work) Apparently this little rubber washer that holds the water back snapped off. Oh joy . . . At least we live in an apartment so we don't need to worry about paying a plumber or something.


It was running like this. (Pardon the grim.)


Budget:
Bills (Electric) $103
Bunnies $40
Car Insurance $42
Cellphone $30
Free Money $60 *Varies slightly depending on second job
Gas $180
Groceries $100
Rent $280
Savings $40
Student Loans $497

Grand Total: $1372/month (Take home pay.)

As I have two CVS stores to coordinate with I have made some adjustments in case I don't get all the hours I need to make budget. I don't think I'll be off by more than an hour or two, but I don't want to be left with my head spinning if for some reason I end up with a five hour defecate or something. So I selected 3 categories I could hold off on putting in extra money if I had to. There are other places to cut back such as Free Money (trying to go with less will throw me over budget and then I might think 'forget it!') or Savings (which I plan on using to fill in gaps if I need to on the following categories), but they are not plausible for me.

1. Car repairs/upkeep $60 ~ I have extra in an account right now for the car. I can readily justify using emergency money toward this category if I need to.
2. Health $28 ~ Honestly not really worried, but you never know.
3. Clothing $40 ~ I think I got my absolute essentials for the time being. I want to ask for Gift Cards so I can buy clothing after the holidays.
4. Pay Off Loans! ~ Anything over and beyond will go towards paying off student loans.

Grand Total + 'extras' = $1500/month (Take Home Pay)

Mozart was always getting herself into high spaces. It always amazed me how far she could jump straight up. Then she would turn around and do something so klutzy I knew she was my cat. Mozart, I still miss you


Monthly Climb!
Grand Total Last Month: $44,560.87
New Grand Total: $44,304.82
Amount Paid Off: $256.05


What a SLOW month! Notice it's $497/month and I've only paid off $256.05? Where the heck does it all go?! One dreaded word when it's your debt . . . Interest. I didn't have much in extra funds at all this month. No holidays, no extra pay checks going to monthly expenses from the month prior, no over time and hardly any extra cash in (less than $1 each week) in the normal pay checks. Ouch!

Next time should be a lot better.
1. October had an extra pay period. Just need to wait for everything to clear.
2. There are two paid holidays in November and I'm working both of them. I'm not taking off an extra day for one of the weeks. (Although one of the pay checks won't show up until December.)
3. I got my tax refund from the county finally! I thought it would never come. I'm using some for birthday and holidays gifts. $200 straight to loan payment!
4. I hoping to 'rebalance' my main bank account again as it appears to be to much extra money in it. I'm not sure how it happened so I need to retrace my steps. Might have missed a few extra dollars here and there. Also I didn't use gas money up to the penny or grocery money. Now that groceries are in cash I just need to figure out the gas money.