Sunday, October 31, 2010

4 transactions at Rite Aid

Since I have a few things to do still before trick or treating, I dont have time to post.  But I had some rocky transactions at Rite Aid today.  Thankfully the cashiers love me and we got it all worked out, but 2 hours at Rite Aid on a Sunday morning is just crazy!  I will post it all tomorrow.  If you had problems with the diabetic $30 deal working please share your story! 

Friday, October 29, 2010

Rite Aid trip #2 this week

I went to get my Nivea Happy Sensations lotions.  Still none!  They delivery truck came today with no lotions!  I was not happy.  Oh well... we needed milk and tea, again.  Surely I can make a deal happen without my lotions! 

This is what i got (no picture sorry!!) 

1 gallon of milk - $2.52
1 gallon sweet tea - $2.69
NYC eye shadow - $3.99
NYC mascara - $3.99
2 NYC nail polish - BOGO free with eye make up this week - $0
2 RA brand nose spray (BOGO) - $5.49
1 can Extreme Pringles - $2.29
2 bags Wonderful Pistachios - $5.98

coupons used

BOGO NYC eye make up free
1 free can of pringles (up to $2)
2 - $1 off Wonderful Pistachios
$5 off $25
$12 + ups

paid appx $3.60 on my gift card (inc tax)
Saved $38 (ish) with wellness card, coupons and + ups.  (cant find my receipt)
spent $12 + ups
earned $5 + ups

not my best trip, but Rite Aid has the lowest prices on milk and tea in town!  we also go through lots of nose spray so I really wanted the BOGO deal!!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

another day another dollar...

my AdSense jumped again!  $7.78 hahaha ... wow.   I need to really look into getting a couple more $$$ making ideas on my blog.  But with only 57 followers now sure how profitible it will be  ;) 

Monday, October 25, 2010

WOW

My AdSense really jumped up!  I went from $4.09 to $6.62 in like less than 2 weeks!!!  That was a nice surprise this morning lol.  I want to thank Kay @ http://reapingyourharvest.wordpress.com/ for the 3 money making ideas for my blog!!  I am super excited to try these and have applied to 2 of the ideas she sent to me!  Fingers crossed I get approved and can figure out how to do it lol ... Thank you Kay!!!

9-24 Rite Aid run....

First I want to say thank you to Rite Aid for all the amazing buys I have gotten since I started couponing in August!  You have saved my family so much money its been a true blessing to us during these tough economic times.  I do understand that the $5 off $25 is not a given, but it has made my life a lot easier.  Maybe I was spoiled because I didn't coupon or shop at Rite Aid pre $5/$25 or + up days.  So I don't know any differently... but when there is a pdf out there for people to print freely and use daily then people will use it.  Now I feel like I NEED it.  Anyway, if you do completely do away with the $5 off coupon, I understand and I will still be able to get amazing deals, but my budget wont allow me to do as much.  I certainly wont be able to help you clear your shelves to move the product in the small MS town.  I need that coupon to keep the dust from settling on all this inventory down here ... so for now, I will use the one that is working and pray you allow it.  Thanks for loving us back Rite Aid!!  :) 

Ok, Yesterday's trip....  First let me say OHHH what a long nightmarish trip!  This is why I go completely prepared... but I forget we must expect the unexpected.  Transaction #1 should have been super simple.  6 boxes of Alka Seltzer to go packs.  Wam, Bam, thank you ma'am... in and out the door.  But nope that is not at all how it happened.  First I walk in as they are unlocking the door and Mr Manager musta had a rough night.  He was not in the mood for a customer that early.  But he tried to put on his happy Rite Aid smile and greet me... the thing is I had no sleep for 2 nights either so I was in a bitchy mood too.  Not a great combination. 

I go to the section with the Alka Seltzer... I look, nothing, look again... nothing walk around the store thinking there must be a special display or aisle end display.  Nope the damn store has no + up maker in stock.  CRAPPPP!!!    So I walk up to the manager, completely deflated and not happy at all, but try to keep my cool.  I asked if he knew where the Alka Seltzer To Go boxes are.  He says he hasn't seen any.  I said well its a huge special today.  You have to have some, its like the best item in the flyer this week.  He said Listen nothing in this life is guaranteed.  WHOAAAA  haha calm down cowboy!  I said um yeah I realize that, but this is a item in the flyer and the sale starts today ... you would think you might have 1 box???  Then I go look for the Nivea lotion ... wtf??  1 bottle???  Are you serious?  I went back up to him and told him I was calling corporate to complain of inventory levels.  I told him I knew he didn't control it, and it wasn't his fault, but this was ridiculous not to have the top 2 items in this weeks flyer in stock. 

So I start working another Bayer deal but nothing good is happening... cash is low, + ups are low and I really needed that Alka Seltzer deal.  I am getting really frustrated and I look across the aisle from the Bayer just for a split second, not looking for anything, just looking away to clear my head.  And what do you think I see?  Yes, about 15 boxes of Alka Seltzer COLD.  How did I miss the "COLD"  on the damn box?  So I was looking by the upset stomach area, not the flu and cold meds!  So I chuckle, grab 6 boxes and feel on top of the world again.  The manager even acts happy for me lol ... I am watching him ring it up and I said, "whoa wait a minute... Its ringing up at $4.94?  $5 isn't the sale price?  He said I don't know.  I guess your 10% discount is greater than the sale price.  So what are you saying... regular price is $5.05???   CRAP now my deal is falling apart again!  I only bought 6 papers and had no more $3 off coupons.  ughhhh Why is this happening to me??  lol  So I said "hang on let me think about this"  So I went ahead and bought a $6.29 box of Bayer AM ... there was a $3 off Q in the ad and I had $1.50 off Q.  So I spent an extra + up but the deal worked.  Transactions 2 & 3 weren't smooth either, and I was in Rite Aid for an hour and a half!  lol  I am thinking this 10% off thing is not really a blessing beyond making my milk and tea cheaper than Walmart...

Here are my deals:

I started with $9 + ups and left with $12 + ups and a $5 gift card. 

6 boxes of Alka Seltzer Cold to go packs (in the cold section lol) - $5 ($4.94 for me) = $30 ($29.64) (stop here if you don't have 10% off)
1 box Bayer AM - $6.29

total - $35.93 ($30 for you without 10% off)

coupons used

$5 off $25 (Red Plum 12/31 exp date)
6 - $3 off Alka Seltzer to go boxes - 10/24 RP
1 - $1 off Alka Seltzer - RA Oct VV
1- $3 off Bayer AM - RA flyer Q - 10/24
1 - $1.50 off Bayer AM Q - printed online
$8 + ups

total due -  -$0.57 + $2.17 tax = $1.60 OOP

used $8 in + ups
earned $22 in + ups


Transaction #2

1 Wonka/Nestle 48 oz mixed bag candy - sale $9.99
1 Wonka Mix ups 27 oz candy - sale - $4.99
4 bags Nestle fun size bags - sale 2/$5 = $10.00
1 Reeses 8 pk snack - $1.00

Total - $25.98

coupons used

$5 off $25 (red plum)
$2 off Wonka Nestle combo bag - online
$1.50 off Wonka mix up bag - online
2 - $1 off 2 Nestle snack size bags - online
$15 in + ups (previous transaction)

total due - $0.48 + $1.47 tax = $1.95 OOP

used $15 + ups
earned $10 + ups

Transaction #3  - (was supposed to be my 4 Nivea lotions but that was nixed due to low inventory, so I wandered around the store for 40 minutes trying to put together a deal around the 1 bottle they had in stock lol)

1 Nivea Happy Sensations lotion - sale- $5.99
1 - Aveeno shampoo - sale - $5.99
1 - L'Oreal Primer 890  - $11.65 (with 10% disc)
1 L'Oreal Adv Regenerist Cleasnser @ 50% off (BOGO 50%) - $2.79 (with my 10% disc) (ENTERED MANUALLY)

(with my 10% disc the L'Oreal did not reach the $15 needed for the $5 +ups but the manager gave me a $5 gift card because the 10% off should not have been taken off because the sale price is greater than 10% and the register was not ringing it up at sale price for some reason ... he was just as frustrated as me and gave me the gc  :)  I love RA)

total - $26.42

coupons used

$5 off $25 (12/31 exp)
$1 off Nivea lotion - (red plum 10/17)
2 - $2 off L'Oreal facial products (online)
$1 off Aveeno Nourish product - online
$4 off Aveeno Nourish - Oct RA VV
$13 + ups (previous transactions)

total due -   -$0.58 + $1.50 tax = $0.93 OOP

used $13 + ups
earned $11 + ups (well $6 + a $5 gc ... should have been $11)

TOTALS FOR THE DAY

TOTAL -     -$0.67 + $5.17 TAX = $4.47 OOP
walked in with $9 + ups left with $17 (i am basing that on the $5 gc as a + up) so I earned $8 + ups

Total saved - $109.45

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Please say it's not true Rite Aid?!?!

I am reading that the $5 off $25 is being nixed! I have 5 of them in my coupon binder waiting for tomorrows amazing deals!!  When you go click on the pdf file online it comes up blank.  I have it saved to my desktop, but if Rite Aid has discontinued using them, then it wont work anyway.  This makes me incredibly sad :(  My deals will not only be at least $25 or more a week but now I have to reconfigure my buys tomorrow.  WHY RITE AID???  Was my husband right?  Did we blog and brag too much about our Rite Aid steals and now they are losing money??  I may go do a test run later today and see if my coupon works.  I have the October and November coupons saved... fingers crossed and praying for it to go through smoothly!!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Life is so tough ...

I have been tossing and turning since 1 am.  Its going to be a very long day.  Well yesterday I FINALLY got my long overdue oil change.  I am surprised I did not do serious damage to my engine!  My husband has been on my butt to go get it done but there are always other things to spend money on first and I kept forgetting on top of always being broke.  I know no excuse for burning up an engine ... but if it helps ... when I went in they asked me "do you want a new inspection sticker?"  I said "Do I need a new inspection sticker?"  "They said this one expired in March"   me,  "WOW!  um yeah sure give me a new inspection sticker too then."   Which also means it had been way longer than I had realized since my last oil change!!!  7 months since my inspection sticker expired?!?!?!  They always check the inspection sticker before they change your oil!!  Now granted I do not drive 1000 miles a month, probably half that, but still.  Doesn't oil go bad anyway?  The reason I remembered to change the oil yesterday though was when I turned on my car it said "Change oil soon"  which it has been saying for months lol, but then it said "Oil level low"  oops... thats a new one!  I decided low oil cant be good.  I would rather pay $40 for an oil change than $4000 for a new engine lol. 

But my excuse is that my husband used to do all that for me!  He would bring the car in and change the oil, get inspection stickers, pick up my tabs etc... then it all stopped.  Now I am supposed to remember to do all these things myself??  He has been on my ass to get my tires rotated too!!  WTF?  When did everything change??  These were the things he did for me and he let me do things like get manicures and pedicures.  Not sure I really like the added responsibility of car maintenance to my list of things to remember and worry about. 

Yesterday I found out a friend has lung cancer.  I cant explain the deep sorrow and fear I am feeling.  Obviously nothing compared to what she feels.  She is 41 and has 3 teenagers.  14, 15, and 17.  My best friend is good friends with her and they work together ... that is our connection.  I haven't known her long.  Maybe 3 years.  But our 15 year olds are on dance team together at school and her son Joe (the 14 yr old) is friends and in the same grade and my son Joe.  We talk on fb and are very friendly when we see each other.  But we aren't close.  I volunteered to be one of her angels yesterday.  They have a network of friends that help her out.  She just found out that she has cancer on Tuesday.  But, she thought it was her back.  She missed 3 weeks of work visiting chiropractors, doctors, specialists etc... until finally got an answer this week.  Lung cancer ... started out as a back ache.  UGHHHHH   Based on some of the wording in her Dr report it suggests that it may have either originated in her bones in her pelvic region and has spread or started in the lungs and suspicious activity in the bones down by the pelvic area.  She doesn't meet with the oncologist for at least 10 days.  She has a business trip the first week of Nov and doesn't want to miss it.  So she is waiting until then to see the oncologist.  Oh a pulminologist is the one that ordered the PET scan after discovering something in the lung area after a CAT scan.  I don't know its too much for me to comprehend.  I just feel sick and want to help.  So she has a group of women stopping in to help her when she cant get out of bed or is just plain old too tired.  I volunteered to clean her house.  I am praying for her.  I am also praying she finds the strength and words to tell her children soon.  She is waiting to see what the oncologist says, but this is such a small town, I am not sure waiting 3 more weeks or so is such a great idea. 

Hug your kids and love them with everything you have.  You are not guaranteed tomorrow. 

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Needed milk and toilet paper...

So I went to Rite aid and paid $1.20 for all of this!!!  You have to love this store.  I feel so sorry for people that don't have Rite Aids!! 

1 Scott tissue - $7.49
3 TreSemme shampoo/conditioner - $3.99 each
2 Febreze products  - 2/$5
1 gallon of milk - $2.69 (with 10% off discount)

used

1 $1 off Scott RA video value coupon
1 $2.50 off Scott tissue coupon
1 $5 off 3 bottles of TreSemme RA VV coupon
1 $3 off Febreze Noticeables Warmer coupon
1 $1 off Febreze air freshener
$5 off $25 coupon
$10 + ups

total due  -$.35 + $1.55 tax = $1.20 OOP

earned $6 + ups. 

Sunday, October 17, 2010

My Rite Aid Steals today!

I saved $192.37 today. Spent $0.61 on merchandise + $7.60 tax = $8.21 OOP. Started with $15 + ups and have $13 + ups left (I think a $2 + up didnt print on one receipt... I should have $15 - oh well that happens, I will take my $13 and be happy!!)  I did this in 5 transactions!


behind the Pez is a gallon of milk we needed :) those things laying down at the front are Febreze Noticeables air fresheners ... on top of the Advil is Revlon lipstick.


My haul for today: 

5 Mens Nivea Body wash
4 Ladies Nivea Body wash
2 Nivea Body lotion
10 Old Spice Body Wash
3 Old Spice Body Spray
3 Old Spice deodorant
1 box of Advil
1 Revlon lipstick
4 boxes of Ziplock bags
4 FebrezeNoticeables air fresheners
2 Pez candies
2 airheads
1 Mentos Gum
1 gallon of milk
 
if anyone wants to know which coupons I used just leave me a message and I will let you know.  So much work to type all this out and not even know if anyone is actually reading this lol ... I am beat and had a hard night and morning so this is all I am doing for now.  Hope you all enjoy your Sunday!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Last Rite Aid trip this week...

ok, I wanted to do another deal today because I printed up some coupons for Playtex ... used $15 +ups today and earned $9 + ups!  I have $15 + ups left to use for next week and I am hoping I can turn that into $30 + ups again!!  :)

Here is my loot ... I spent $1.74 OOP on all of this ... it was all tax ... The tax should have been $1.94 but I somehow had  -$0.20 due which was subtracted from my tax.  I don't think I will ever bring Pooh back to Rite Aid with me again.  I do not know how you moms out there do it!  She was screaming for this stupid $10 piggy bank the entire trip and I couldn't get her to calm down.  I bought the Pepsi and gum to try to calm her down since those were 2 out of the 4 things she was screaming and crying for, but that didn't work...

she is now sound asleep .... guess someone needed a nap. 

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Insomnia sucks

ok, not really insomnia... my stomach is very upset.  Damn candy!!  I have been stocking up on all these free candy deals lately at Rite Aid and I couldn't stop eating it yesterday!  ughhh  My body doesn't process candy or fast food well so I am in pain and have been up since 2 am.   Too much Swedish fish!!

Yesterday my husband runs in with our 4 year old bleeding profusely from her face (nose and mouth).  It completely freaked me out at first.  I am not a calm person.  He laid her on our bed and she was screaming.  I looked at him and said "is anything missing"  all that blood around her mouth I thought maybe she knocked out or broke off some teeth.  But, he said no I don't think so.  So I ran and grabbed a wet towel and tried to wipe some of it away. 

She is screaming and crying of course, and my husband is trying to stay calm, but I can see the fear and guilt all over his face.  This is the man who has 9 lives, and has used up about 5 or 6 I am sure.  A few years ago a nail went through his thumb and I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off screaming to get in the car and go to the ER.  He pulled it out, took some duct tape, wrapped it up and kept on working. 

But this is his baby... so I took over.  Calmly to my own surprise.  I cant even pull out a tooth!!  I used to drive my kids to grandmas house when they were about to lose a tooth and have her pull it!  haha I just cant do blood!  But, I cradled her in my arms, got the bleeding under control, iced down her poor swollen face and talked to her.  It worked.  Within an hour she was jumping on the bed being her normal 4 year old self. 

Her face is bruised up and I know she will be feeling the pain more today, swollen lip, bruised nose, scraped and swollen chin  (she flew off a swing and hit an exposed tree root face first on the ground)  but she is tough... she will be ok.  Daddy though is not doing as well.  He kept talking about how loud it was when her face hit that wood.  He couldn't get the sound out of his head. 

Today I clean a house and then I may pick up a few things at Walgreens.  Not my favorite store and definitely not the deals I get at Rite Aid, but there are a couple things I could use. 

Can anyone tell me WHY don't the manufacturers put out the coupons for women's deodorant like they do men's?  I mean my son and husband are stocked up on the deodorant... me and my girls are struggling to make it til the next good Secret coupon comes out!  I may end up having to switch to men's deodorant lol

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

LOVE my Pooh!!!

ok I have to say I just absolutely love some of the things my little 4 yr old says! 

Yesterday I was checking on my blog and I said out loud not really thinking  "I wish someone would write on my wall"  Pooh says "OH MAMA you are so silly!  You don't want someone to write on the wall!  You silly mama!!!"  It took me a second to get what she was saying ... then I chuckled and thought to myself "oh crap I hope she doesn't write all over the walls!"  So I said "No mama was just teasing I don't want anyone to write on the walls!  Mama is just being silly!!" 

Later she was BEGGING nonstop for candy.  She had already had candy and ice cream but would not stop!  After about 3 minutes of "PLEASE PLEASE MAMA I WANT CANDY PLEASE MAMA PLEASE"  without really thinking I said "No Pooh you are going to get fat if you keep eating all that junk.  I know stupid... but she is 4 I really don't think she will remember that one comment which will lead to an eating disorder at 11.   But thinking back I should have said something about cavities and a drill at the dentist lol ... anyway ... I said it and it was hanging in the air ... too late to take it back.  She looked at me and said, "But I want to be fat just like you mama" 

Oh Lord, help me... I have my hands full with her!  hahaha I love the things that come out of her mouth! 

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Freebies Galore!!

Pooh loves to check the mail!  There is often small sample boxes in there and she loves to pull them out!  Today it was full of great samples and coupons! 

Kashi TLC snack crackers and a $1.00 off coupon
Wisk Laundry detergent sample with a $1 off coupon
True Lemon water flavoring packets - (2 lemon, a lime and an orange) + $1 off coupon
sample pack of feminine products from Kotex + a $1 off coupon
Clarins lipstick sample pack - 4 colors and a brush
RepHresh feminine products coupon for a free box and 2 $2 off coupons
and 1 coupon for a free box of Advil tablets or liquid gels (24 or 20 ct box)

WOW what a haul!! 

I scream, you scream

we all scream for some almost free Rite Aid ice cream!  My son is at home sick and he really wanted mint chocolate chip ice cream.  Well I didn't know what Rite Aid would have in stock.  I knew the Edys was on sale for $2.99 a half gallon with a $1 up reward though!  I also knew I didn't have any Edys coupons in my coupon book, so I pulled out my most recent All You that I haven't gone through yet and thanks to their coupon index I was able to find a $1 off 2 coupon for Edys!!  YES!!

Here's my deal:

2 half gallons Edy's - $5.98

coupons used
$1 off 2 Edy's
$4.50 + ups

total due - $0.48 + $0.42 tax = $0.90 OOP

used $4.50 + ups
earned $2.00 + ups
saved - $10.50




(I can always tell when my pooh gets ahold of my camera ... if you look in the upper left part of the picture you will see a blur... that would be her finger print on the lens... a common occurrence)

details of Rite Aid trip yesterday!!

Ok, I just couldnt get my head on straight enough to post all this last night, so I will try to get through it this morning. 

Transaction #1 (trip #2) (had to change a few things around bc the registered beeped and wouldnt let me buy 4 meds at one time.  It let me this morning, but the cashier thought maybe because the manager was ringing me up and she pushed it through)


1 DayQuil tablets - sale $4.99
2 NyQuil tablets - sale $4.99 each = $9.98
2 Playtex tampons - sale - 2/$8
2 bags of chocolate halloween candy - sale 2/$4


total - $26.97

coupons used -

$5 off $25
3 - $4 off Sinex product
2 - $1 Playtex manufacturer coupons
$2 off 2 Playtex RA V V coupon
$5.50  + ups
Total due - $0.47 + $1.54 tax = $2.01

used $5.50 + up
earned $7.50 + up
saved $40.56



Transaction #2


1 DayQuil tablets - sale $4.99
2 NyQuil tablets - sale $4.99 each = $9.98
2 Gain Dish detergent - sale $.89 each - $1.78
2 Garnier facial wash (BOGO 50% off sale) $6.29 + $3.14= $9.43

total -  $28.18

coupons used -

$5 off $25
3 - $4 off Sinex product
2 - $1 off Gain dish soap (which they didnt mark down to $0.89 ???  weird)
2 - $1 off Garnier facial cleanser
$6 + ups

Total due -   -$0.82 + $1.48 tax = $0.66  (not really sure how this happened??? $0.22 for the Gain but what about the other $.60?  I am at a loss and shocked it allowed me to deduct from the tax owed)

used $6 + up
earned $7.50 + up
saved $38.85

Transaction #3   (was supposed to use the candy to make it an even $25 but because the register wouldnt allow 4 meds in the same transaction I had to move things around.  The register still allowed me to use the $5 off $25 even though I was a penny short)

4 - Cheer/Gain laundry detergent - sale 2/$10 = $20
1 - DayQuil - sale - $4.99
 
total $24.99
 
coupons used -

$5 off $25
1 $4 off Sinex
3 - $2 off Cheer
1 - $1 off Gain (bought the last 3 Cheers at my store, so I had to swap out a Cheer q for a Gain q)
$8 +ups (could have used $8.50 to make less OOP ... oops)
 
total due - $0.99 + $1.40 tax = $2.39 OOP
 
used $8 + ups
earned $5.50 + ups
saved - $36.46
 
TOTAL SAVINGS - $115.87
 
Started the day with $24 in +ups  and ended it with $28 + ups!! 
 
Great day at Rite Aid!! 

SO TODAY I HAD A TOTAL SAVINGS OF $157.55 AND ONLY SPENT $1.05 + $4.89 TAX = $5.94 TOTAL OOP!!!!
 

Monday, October 11, 2010

Just saved another $115.87 at Rite Aid today!

WOWOWOWOWOW

what a great day at Rite Aid!  I can not believe I wasnt excited about this weeks deals!  I will post everything later because dinner is about ready but including the earlier post today I saved $157.55 today at Rite Aid!!!

I spent $1.05 + $4.89 tax = $5.94 OOP

Started the day with $24 in + ups and ended the day with $28 in + ups!!!  So really I only spent like $1.94 ... Rite Aid you amaze me!  I hope this never ends!   Here is all my loot for the entire day.  I will post transactions later tonight!!



Profitable Rite Aid Run

So I wasn't seeing any great deals this week with the + ups.  Only SCR and when you have little cash on hand that isn't always your best bet for the week.  So after seeing someone else blog about the Nyquil deal with the $1.50 + up back and using the  Sinex $4 off coupon on it I decided to give it a try!  I have 11 of the $4 off Sinex products!!  I got to my Rite Aid and they didn't have the Sinex pills just the nose spray and that wasn't on sale for $4.99.  So I asked the cashier to do a test on the DayQuil to see if the Sinex coupon would work on those since they are made by the same manufacturer and IT DID!!  So here is my Rite Aid trip this morning! 


I had $24 in + ups but you can do this deal too for under $3 OOP if you don't have any!! 

Transaction #1

2 DayQuil tablets - sale $4.99 each = $9.98
2 NyQuil tablets - sale $4.99 each = $9.98
1 Crest Pro Health toothpaste - sale - $2.49

total - $22.45

coupons used -

$4 off $20
4 - $4 off Sinex product
$1 off Crest pro health
$1 + up  (if you don't have this just add $1 to your total OOP)

Total due - $0.45 + $1.01 tax = $1.46   ($2.46 if no + ups available)

used $1 + up
earned $7 + up

saved $33.30



Transaction #2 (I could have done it in the first .... it was an after thought.  The kids are off school today and I decided to get them some free candy!!)

1 bag of Hersheys & 1 bag of Reeses PB cups - sale - 2/$4

used $4 in + ups (can use from previous transaction)

total due - $0 + $0.28 tax = $0.28 OOP

earned $1 + up
used $4 + up

saved $7.98


So I saved $41.28 and made $3 in + ups!!  Rite Aid paid me $1.26 to take all this out of their store today!! (if you didn't have any + ups to start out with you will make $4 in + ups!)

spur of the moment money maker...

Saturday morning my husband walks in and says, Mrs Sharron is having a yard sale and wants to know if you want to set up a table and make a few bucks."  Well of course I want to make a few bucks, but the sale starts in 15 minutes.  How do you get together stuff that quick?  So my son has been growing like CRAZY the past couple of months.  I grab a few polos, button downs, shorts and pants I know didnt fit him forsure.  Then a few of Poohs clothes I knew she outgrew over the summer.  Not a ton of stuff but some of the things I could grab quick.  I hit up my closet since I have lost 20 lbs over the past 4 months and happily said goodbye to some of my size 14 and 12 clothes lol

We parted with a couple of toys, stuffed animals and older dress up items that have seen their better days...

In about 3 hours I made $50.  Sold everything for $1 ... stuffed animals $0.50.  I didnt have time to think about prices and mark it, so even though there were many items I could have gotten for more it was a nice way to clean out some of the clutter and make a few bucks.  I have never had a garage sale before.  I just donate or toss out the things I have finished using or no longer need, fit into etc...  I may do this again lol

My candy deal at Rite Aid

Here is the candy deal I did at Rite Aid Friday.  Definitely not my first choice in candy, but a nice little money maker!!


First transaction I bought the blow pops to see if it would even work since it wasn't an advertised + ups reward.  The candy was 2/$5 - no coupons used.  I did use $4.69 in + ups towards the payment and the rest on my gift card (oral care) to pay the balance, so no OOP was spent.  So after tax it was $5.35 and I got back $5 in + ups!!  Ok, that is awesome!  I then went and grabbed 10 more bags.  I chose the Swedish Fish and Sour Gummy Patch Kids because I had 4 coupons to burn up ($4 off 6 bags)  Unfortunately, my store didn't have enough bags.  So I bought 4 Swedish Fish and 2 Sour Patch.  Oh well... I am probably going to go buy 12 bags of Halls Cough drops with the other 2 coupons since they are $0.99 this week. 

Transaction #10 Bags of candy - sale 2/$5 -$25

used

$5 off $25
$4 off 6 bags coupon

Total due - $16.00
used $11.40 in +ups

total OOP $4.60 + tax

I used the remaining $1 something left on my oral gift card (wow that lasted me like 2 weeks!!!) and paid the rest OOP (less than $5.)  AND earned $24 in +ups for next purchase!  That was the best part!!!

I walked out of the door with 12 bags of candy and $24 in + ups!  love it! 

Sunday, October 10, 2010

I am still Alive!

It's been one of those weeks!!  Hopefully next week will be better!!  I did get in on that mistake + up candy deal at Rite Aid!  That was awesome!  Now I almost feel bad for Rite Aid knowing it was a mistake.  Oh well... I made some good + ups on those 12 bags!  I aso went to the grocery store tonight for the first time in 2 weeks and we werent even clost to being out of everything!!  That was nice! 

Hoping to catch up tomorrow on all of this!  Here is a picture that will make you wonder... for your viewing amusement... 



try to guess what happened...

Monday, October 4, 2010

Uneventful Rite Aid... my head is just not in it this week

Ok, I needed toilet paper and Rite Aid was a good buy on the Cottonelle.  Here is my scenario:

1 12 pk Cottonelle toilet paper - $6.99
2 snack packs candy -  2/$5
1 Trident gum - $1
5 Crest w/ Scope

TOTAL - $26.44

coupons used

$5 off $25
1 - $0.50 off Cottonelle
1 - $1 off Reeses or Kit Kat RA V V coupon (sept)
3 - $1 off Crest toothpaste
2 - $0.50 off Crest toothpaste
1 - $0.50 off Trident gum - RA V V
$12.50 in + ups

total due - $2.94 + $1.15 tax = $4.09
paid for with my Oral Care rebate gift card = ZERO OOP
earned $16.45 in + ups for next visit.

Really I was happy with the outcome, but nothing has really gotten me excited about shopping this week at Rite Aid, or anywhere else for that matter.  I am sure it's just me... not my wonderful Rite Aid!  :)  they are great and I am fortunate to have gotten everything for free today and made money going in for 5 minutes!  Thank you Rite Aid for caring about your customers!  You have just spoiled me this past month ... I have gotten too used to spending $4 and saving $95!! 




Sunday, October 3, 2010

No Rite Aid today... ran into Wags

I ran into Wags for literally 3 minutes this morning.  Grabbed 5 Nivea lip moisturizers and 2 chocolate marshmallows for Pooh  :)  Less than $1 OOP ... I am thinking maybe of taking a little break this week from all this couponing.  I have been at it full force for 2 months and I seriously think I am burning out.  I almost had a nervous breakdown when I didn't get the Schick razor and Nivea coupons in my inserts this week!  hahaha



Disappointing Rite Aid week?

Am I missing something or am I going to take a hiatus from Rite Aid this week?  Please let me know if I am missing something in the short ad this week.  I am just not feeling it.  The only thing jumping out at me is the Kellogg cereal deal.  Unfortunately, my Rite Aid seems to skimp out on their choice of cereals on special.  I will probably go ahead and get the 5 boxes, which will be gone in about 5 days in my house :)  So, 5/$10 with coupons would be 5 for $4.90 with a $2 + up back making it like 5 boxes for $2.90 which is really awesome.  I am going to skip the Nivea lip care because Walgreens has it onsale for $0.99 and with my $1 off coupons I have on stock I can get 5 for free without paying the cash OOP to earn the free ones at Rite Aid after + up is applied.  I prefer to keep my cash in my purse.  The Cottonelle toilet paper is a good buy too I just hate trading in all my + ups and getting so few back.  I looked through my coupons and I am thinking my $1 off cottonelle coupon must have expired because its not in there!   ughhh  I will search a little more.  I will also see if I can find some high $$$ Neutrogena coupons since they are BOGO 50% off and if you buy 4 you get a $5 + up, but without some really great coupons it may be an average deal.  I am just not running out the door this morning like I usually do.  Oh well even Rite Aid needs a break from giving away so much free stuff the past month!! 

Homecoming 2010

I have to say I really enjoyed taking pictures of the great group of kids that went to homecoming together as a group with my Moo last night!  I got over 100 great pictures.  And, so far no news is good news.  News travels fast in this town and with facebook its even faster.  We can find things out now at lightening speed, where pre Facebook days it may have taken 10 minutes!  lol So no posts about any accidents and problems with the beautiful children of our community last night!  We had 2 homecomings last night here in town (both the private and public high schools) so lots of after parties, and we all remember and know all too well that teenagers don't always make the wisest choices, heck, adults don't always make the wisest choices.  So, I am relieved to have woken up to a quiet facebook status update page. 

I am all for saving and cutting coupons, but yesterday was a day of spending $$$.  No coupons involved.  I sat with my beautiful Moo and watched her get her nails and hair done for homecoming.  $120 later, she looked like a princess.  You just can't put a pricetag on times like these.  They are priceless.  Time passes us by so fast, and we are not guaranteed a tomorrow, so make those times special.  3 hours of watching my daughter being pampered and making her feel special really is priceless.  I love my children so much and it's important to do what you can to help make special memories! 


The kids all looked beautiful and had a wonderful dinner hosted by a great family in town.  We served the kids and helped them make some awesome memories!


These 2 beautiful girls have been best friends for ever and I love them so much!


Love my Moos boyfriend too, first time for everything I guess haha\









Friday, October 1, 2010

A quick Rite Aid trip!

Yesterday I was so depressed because I missed the Secret deodorant deal!!  I could have gotten 3 deodorants and 3 Secret Expressions body sprays but I missed out because I forgot to go to Rite Aid and the coupons expired yesterday!  So I substituted the Secret for Old Spice.  There was a new coupon out for the same deal.  Still I really needed women's deodorant not more men's!! 

Oh well here is my deal!

3 Old Spice deodorant - $12.00
3 Old Spice Body Spray - $12.00
2 Olay Foaming face wash $4.79 + $2.39 (BOGO 50% off) = $7.18

TOTAL - $31.18

coupons used

3 wyb Old Spice deodorant get a free body spray coupon -  -$12.00
2 $2 off coupons for Olay face wash
1 $5 off $25
$10 + ups

Total due - $0.18 + $1.83 tax = $2.01
saved - $41.34
earned $10 + ups

Transaction #2  - no coupon items

I had to get Moo some false eyelashes for dance tonight because she lost hers.  I also always need water bottles so I grabbed 2 @ 75% off!

1 NYC False Eyelashes - $2.99
2 Sub Zero water bottles - $1.49 each (after 75% off) - $2.98

TOTAL - $5.97

used $4.50 in + ups

Total due - $1.47 + $0.21 tax = $1.68
saved $13.50
earned 0 + ups

Spent $3.69 on my $10 Rite Aid gift card I earned from an Oral care rebate!  So nothing out of pocket! 
And still earned another $10 in + ups! 

I am going to see if I can put together 1 more good deal before this ends tomorrow!  I have earned the P&G $10 + up 3 times this week!