quick run to RA ... saved $35.82 cash OOP $0.85

we were just about out of tea and eggs so I ran up to Rite Aid to get some... no picture but here is what I got

1 gallon of Red Diamond sweet tea
1 gallon milk
1 doz eggs
2 Quantumatic dishwasher detergent dispensers
2 funnels
4 king size Reeses peanut butter cups (the kids were yelling out the window when I was driving off "GET CANDY GET CANDY" hahaha)

I used $11 + ups and paid $0.21 + $0.64 tax = $0.85 cash OOP
got $2 + ups back for the funnels
I saved $35.82

I now have $71 + ups to use tomorrow after the delivery truck brings more chips and ice cream lol


with q's the quantumatics were free and no other coupons were used. 

I LOVE being able to use my ups for everyday things I used to run to Walmart for.  Had I gone to Walmart I would have just bought the milk tea eggs and candy... It would have cost me about $12.50 ish... + tax. 
Of course I would much rather use my UPS to generate more UPS, but how nice that I dont have to use real money to buy some of the things I have to buy all the time!!!  I will easily make up those lost UPS because RA is da bomb!  :) 

AMAZING WEEK TO SHOP AT RITE AID!

Such a great week to shop at RA... if you know how ;)   If I can get my hands on more Afrin coupons I will be going back.  Unfortunately my inserts didnt have them a couple weeks ago.  All I had were the IP ones ...


I may go back anyway to get some more food items...

Here's my first trip this week  :)
Spent $4.30 + $7.30 tax = $11.60 OOP
Saved $230.70
started with $36 in + ups and left with $80 in + ups!


** not pictured - 1 Snuggie for my sweet friend & 3 cadbury candy coated chocolate egg packets - consumed :)   not by me though **

10 Lays potato chips
8 Edy's ice cream
4 Jif peanut butter
2 Smuckers jelly
2 New York Bagel crisps
2 bottles of V8 juice
3 Afrin nose spray
2 Coricidin cold/flu medicine
2 Viactiv
17 Colgate toothpaste (1 not pictured)
1 Hartz Crunch & Clean dog treats

.

Saved 90% at Rite Aid today ... again. spent $0.81 (+ tax) SAVED $81.64

This was more or less just a quick money maker trip ... but after I bought the vitamins I thought maybe it wouldnt hurt to actually start taking some of these vitamins I keep buying... I am not getting any younger.


ok, so I have planning all week to go do this deal to build back a little of my + UPS and yesterday (1/29) was the last day to do it. Here's my trip...



2 bottles of Fish Oil capsuls - $15.99 each - (with Gold member disc) $12.79 each
2 bottles of CoQ10 - $23.99 each - (w/ disc) - $19.19 each
1 bag of gummy candy hearts (consumed and not pictured) lol - $1.79


total - $0.81 + $4.60 tax = $5.41 cash OOP
total saved - $81.64

Started with $15.94 in + UPS and left with $36 in + UPS
Thank you Rite Aid for once again paying me to shop at your store. I will be back

Rite Aid and WAGS runs ...

I actually went out Sunday morning to get those stupid light bulbs.  I know ... why??  idk really except that getting up at 5 am getting the papers and planning my trip to the stores for 8 am has been my thing since August.  So I did it even though I am sick as a freaking dog!!  I felt it creeping up on me Friday.  When I finished cleaning I thought I was getting sick, but then chalked it up to too many cleaning supply fumes.  My throat felt on fire, but I had just finished cleaning my 4th house in as many days and really just thought I inhaled one too many fumes. 

Not so... by 2 am Sat morning I thought I was dying lol ... I am not one of those sick people either.  I usually shake it off but Sat I did NOTHING.  I laid in bed all day.  So Sunday I got up and decided I would not be taken down by this bug.  I went golfing.  Yeah shouldn't have done that.  Monday and Tuesday this crud has hit me hard.  My nose feels on fire now from blowing so much on this free RA facial tissue.  Sucking on one free Hall after another and popping my free Advil Congestion ... hahaha just wish I could get my free Afrin today!!!  My nose spray is running low. 

Anyway I feel like SHEEEETTTTT ... thats why I am up at 3 am catching up with my post.  I am coughing like crazy and I dont want to wake up my husband.  He NEEDS his 8 hrs.  His job can be very dangerous and he needs to be alert.  so here I am AGAIN up earlier than bedtime for some about to update my shopping trip (which was sucky btw...)

ok here it is...

I went to Walgreens and Rite Aid ... there was nothing jumping out at me and I just felt like buying something lol ... I didnt do all that great, but I have been getting some seriously amazing deals on makeup and fingernail polish lately!!



Walgreens - spent $7.17 + $1.20 tax = $8.37 OOP
saved $31.45


2 Almay translucent powders with a bonus eye shadow - (last chance sale) $3.59 each
used 2 $2 Q's = $3.18 and I got a $7 RR back
1 Nivea Aftershave - $3.99 - $1 Q = $2.99 and got back $3 RR

total $6.17 + 0.43 tax = $6.60 - and got $10 RR back

then transaction #2 I got

4 packs of Keebler cookies 2/$5 = $10 - used 2 WAGS Q $2/2 and 2 $1/2 manu Q's = $4
1 - 12 pack of candy hearts - $3
2 bags of chips 2/$5 - $1/2 WAGS Q - $4
total $11.00 + $0.77 tax = $11.77 - $10 RR = $1.77 OOP


now to a very boring week at Rite Aid ... next week will more than make up for it, but I guess even RA needs a break sometimes...


spent $1.36 + $3.50 tax = $4.86
saved $120.32
used $29.50 in + ups and earned $19.94 in + ups = -$9.56 in ups used



2 bottles of Purex Laundry detergent - $1.99 = $3.98 (no Q's just really needed it... buying 1 here and there til a good stock up comes along.)
2 packs of Sustenex - $9.99 each = $19.98 - $10 IP Q = $9.98 (got $8 ups back)
6 boxes of GE soft light light bulbs - $1.99 = $11.94 (got $11.94 ups back)
1 PF bronzer (75% off) - $3.73 - $3 Q = $0.73
1 PF powder (75% off) - $2.83 - $3 Q = $-0.27
3 Borghese fingernail polish (75% off) = $2 & $2.25 = $6.25 - 3 $1 Q = $3.25
1 Spic n Span scrubbie - (50% off) $0.50
1 Cadbury Cream Egg - $0.50
Like I said   YAWN   boring week at Rite Aid.  but so super excited for next week!!! 

RA trip Thursday... no picture

ok so my 4 year old loves to use my digital camera.  She walks around taking pictures of the most random things ... here take a look at her work:

ceiling fan in room

best friend's feet

our dog Coco cleaning herself (nice....)

best friend

 So you see what I deal with ... half the time I go to use my camera it's dead and there are 400 pictures of her favorite cartoon stored on it.  So no picture of my RA run today. 

I got lots of 75% off stuff... everything but the Pilot pens were 75% off.  I was out near the Long Beach store so I thought I may as well pop in.  I got the following:

4 pks of Pilot pens  - $1.83 each

3 Sally Hansen nail polish remover - $0.74 each

2 Borghese fingernail polish - $2 each  ( used 2 - $1 off Q found in the store) - $1 each

1 toenail clipper (cant remember brand) - $0.74

2 fingernail clippers - $0.48 each

$0.23 + $1.07 tax = $1.30 cash OOP

used $12 in + ups and got $8 in + ups back for the pens! 

I saved $40.75

I am very happy with this.  I may go back and get a few more of those fingernail polishes... I will check my local RA first... but if they don't have them marked down yet I may just take a drive out there, It's almost flip flop season again and I need some funky colors for my toes!!   I noticed a few boxes of pasta on their shelves and tomorrow is the last day for free pasta, so yes, I will probably take another drive to Long Beach!! 

sadness in our home.

I wish I could take her pain away... Taylor and Cory have not worked things out.  I love her so much and this was her first boyfriend so I know the awful pain she is feeling.  I am happy she is getting up and functioning.  I told her the other night, "Its ok to be sad for a couple days, but you have to get up and get going Tay.  You cant let yourself slip into a depression.  Force yourself to do something to make yourself happy every single day."  That night she came home with this ceramic plaque to hang on her wall from walmart that says something like this :    Do one thing everyday to make you HAPPY  ... kids listen ... they really do.

Midweek trip to Rite Aid!

ok, I decided to get some Clearasil since I promised myself I would stock up on it when they have sales. And I grabbed a few more things while I was there...  (all prices except clearance prices include my 20% discount)


11 rolls of wrapping paper on the 90% off clearance table (ranging from $0.19 - $0.59 a roll)
1 Clearasil face wash - $4.49   ($2 manu IP Q  & $2 RA ad Q)
1 Clearasil face cleansing pads - $4.49  ($2 manu IP Q & $2 RA ad Q)
2 bags of rice - $1.19 each
3 Barilla pasta - $1.43 each
1 Physicians Formula bronzer - (75% off clearance) $3.73 ($5.00 manu Q)
1 Physicians Formula powder - (75% off clearance) $3.48 ($3.00 manu Q)
1 Physicians Formula blush -  (75% off clearance) $2.98    ($3.00 manu Q)
4 pks Pilot pens  - $1.83 each pack
1 Cadbury cream egg (mine) $0.50
4 Valentines chocolates (kids) (BOGO 50% off) - $1 for 2 and $0.50 for 2 = $3.00

total cash OOP $0.51 + $1.37 tax = $1.88

I used my $20 +ups that I earned for the January rewards deal and I got $15 + ups back.
($8 for Pilot pens, $5 for the pasta and rice, and $2 for the Clearasil)

so after ups it was like spending $5.51 + $1.37 tax = $6.88 for all that!
I saved $103.80

Toilet paper and chips ... RA 1/16

Not much at Rite Aid this week that I wanted, but we use toilet paper like crazy. This isnt the brand I would normally buy but when you coupon, beggars cant be choosers... its not a bad toilet paper either, feels like Angel Soft so we are good. :) I stopped at Walgreens to get the Homestyle Mac & Cheese (Margaret's favorite) usually on sale at Walmart for $2 a bag. After coupons I got 6 bags for $1 plus tax. The chips will go fast since I dont buy many snacks. Taylor already grabbed a bag to hide hahaha ... and the chili is for making dips.


the breakdown ...

Rite Aid - started with $34 in UPS and left with $41 in UPS - so I earned $7 in ups.
spent $3.89 + $2.59 tax = $6.48 total OOP (which means everything was free)

7 - 4 packs of Simplify bathroom tissue
5 single rolls of RA toilet paper
6 boxes of RA facial tissue
11 bags of TGIF potato chips
8 cans of Hormel chili  (2 - $0.55/2 q IP)


and at Walgreens

spent $1.00 + $0.70 tax = $1.70 total OOP

6 bags of Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese (6 - $1 off q from ss 1/16 & 3- $1/2 wags q)


so total today I spent including tax $8.18 and earned $7 for future purchases... all this for $1.18 ... not bad, considering I bought 2 bags of the Mac & Cheese last week at Walmart for $4.28!!


Saved $17 at Walgreens and $61.01 at Rite Aid. total saved $78.01.

Not my best week, but not too bad I guess. Maybe I will look closer at the ad for some good buys later in the week. We were down to our last pack of toilet paper and had no kleenex in the house so I needed this today and it was all free after ups .. how can you pass up free??

  (ps - I dont think the blue boxes of facial tissues were included in the deal, and they rang up at $1.19 I think??  My cashier gave me the $3 in ups off my next transaction... just be careful you grab the right boxes)

WHERE IS MY P&G INSERT??

I went out to get my newspapers at the ungodly hour of 5 am so I have time to clip any coupons I may need for my 8 am shopping trips...

and there was not a single P&G insert in any of my papers.   I have come across an insert missing in my paper before, but never out of every single paper I buy!  Did we get excluded from the insert? 

ughhh this is so unfair.  If anyone in the Times Picayune reading area sees this please let me know if I should invest in going out and buying your paper.  blahhhhhh  not happy at all.

Break up?

ok weird ... i just did the post about my 15 yr old and her boyfriend.... meanwhile I found out my 20 yr old and her boyfriend, Cory, just broke up.  They have been together for over a year and I am a little shocked.  Personally, I thought they wouldn't make it long term because he is in the service and I really don't think she is cut out to be the wife of a serviceman, but I did not see this coming.  She is with a friend right now, but I wish she would come home and talk to me.  I know she has got to be hurting and I want to be here for her.  But I also know that at this age friends are the ones they turn to.  Tay and Cory were supposed to leave for Orlando Monday to go to the Harry Potter studios ... she has been wanting to do this since they opened in June.  It was her Christmas present from Cory.  This makes me so sad for her.  I hope she is doing ok and doesn't do anything stupid.  20 year olds don't make the best decisions and down here drinking is a big thing for her age... we are so close to New Orleans and it is definitely a party atmosphere down here. 

saying a little prayer for my baby girl.  I love her so much. 

Taylor and my mom on Christmas day.  Yes she is wearing 3 inch heels lol ... her 13 year old brother is just about to pass her up!!  My baby ... my heart.  I love my kids so much, its so hard to watch them go through the crap life throws at us. 

take a week off?

I am thinking of taking a week off Rite Aid.  I might go see what they have on the shelves for the tissue that will be a small MM with my 20% off, but there is nothing grabbing my eye.  Am I missing something??  I need to take a closer, harder look before I make up my mind for sure, but I might run up grab the tissue and maybe some toilet paper.  My family hated the Scott tissue and we are finally on out last roll but not sure I want to invest in so much rough paper lol

I am having mixed emotions on this... Jordan (15 yr olds boyfriend) has decided to stay closer to home and play football for the junior college about 45 minutes away.  He is hoping it will lead to a better option for him his junior and senior years for football.  Moo and Jordan are really getting too close for my liking.  She is only 15 and I hate to see her be so serious about one boy so early ... he will be off at school and since he will be playing ball he wont be able to come home for homecoming and of course she wouldn't go with anyone else so she will miss out.  I remember many girls back in high school that did the same thing and they really regret it now.  He is a great boy and I am not saying I want them to break up, but I wouldn't be too terribly upset if things sort of dwindled after he left for school.  I guess I was hoping it would be a little further away.  Pearl River is just so close....

well what happens will happen I suppose.  I really do like him and I think he is good for Margaret, but I want her to really enjoy high school!  You are only young once!!

She is 5'9" so you can see what a big boy he is lol.  They are sweet... I hate that I have these mixed feelings.  He makes her happy and I do want her to be happy, I just don't want any regrets I guess.  ??????????

dance or soccer?

So the Steppers (high school dance team my daughter is on) are having a dance clinic today for a fundraiser for NYC in March.  Pooh, the baby (4), plays soccer.  Today is the clinic and its 38 out there right now with a high of 58 today.  Dance clinic is inside, soccer is outside.  DANCE CLINIC IT IS!!  :) 

I HATE THE COLD WEATHER!! 

Anyone need a Sharpie??

I am consolidating my 2 RA runs into this one picture and blog... I did already write one so really this is everything for today ... forget about the post below lol


Ok I am crazy, but I love Sharpies and I got them free so I stocked up. They had double bonus packs for the same price as the 8 pks... so 16 sharpies for the price of 8.


4 bonus 16 ct packs of color sharpies  (+26 ups  ... all sharpies)
3 Ultra fine retractable Sharpies
4 cans of white bumble bee tuna  ($1 up - read somewhere it was producing $5 ups ... it did not)
3 Hersheys chocolate syrups  (+ $3 ups)
1 red Diamond tea

AND I EARNED MY RESOLUTION REWARD OF $20 + UPS TODAY WITH ALL THESE SHARPIES!!  :)  THATS HOW I GOT IT ALL BASICALLY FREE


so now what am I going to do with 67 Sharpies... I DID DECIDE TO MAKE TUNA CASSEROLE TONIGHT FOR DINNER WITH ALL MY FREE PASTA i GOT THIS WEEK!


Spent $3.73 + $3.13 tax = $6.86 cash OOP

I earned $6 in + ups too ... so everything cost me $0.86 today :)

$0.10 Sharpies at Rite Aid!

I just did a Sharpie deal at Rite Aid ... got the bonus packs (total of 34 Sharpie markers!!)


2 16 packs of color sharpies - $8.99 + $4.49 = $13.48 (BOGO 50%)
2 Ultra fine black sharpies - $1.99 + $0.99 = $2.98  (BOGO 50%)

total = $16.46 + $1.15 tax = $17.61
used $16 UPS = paid $1.61 cash OOP
earned $13 + UPS

comes to about $0.10 per marker! not too bad.
It also brought me up to $87.19 on my resolution Reward! I may go do it one more time and get $33 UPS!

Just saved another $60.24 at RA ... trip #2 today

can you say ADDICT?

ok my kids devoured the beef jerky and I really wanted a couple to save for ME while they are in school.  Unfortunatly there was only 1 with a $1 peelie sooo I paid $1 for 2 lol ... I am getting spoiled.  My other 4 this morning made me $1 lol ... so I guess I got 6 for free if you look at it that way ... ok I feel better now :)

here's trip #2

8 boxes of Barilla pasta (no coupons)
6 boxes of Motrin PM  - 3  $6/2 coupons
2 beef jerky - $1 coupon

used $14 UPS and got $25 UPS back
ZERO OOP ... spent tax only which was $2.30

walked in with $22 UPS and left with $33 UPS.

Have I ever mentioned I love Rite Aid haha

A great morning at Rite Aid! - saved $179.00 today!

ok, at Walgreens I got some more Cover Girl tinted moisturizer and a transluscent powder -

$0.48 + $0.21 tax = $0.69 OOP (used $2.50 off 2 CG Q - it was $1.99 each and 50% off 2nd)
$1.99+ $0.99 = $2.98 - $2.50 Q = $0.48
saved - $20.50

and on to Rite Aid (no + ups really needed to do this if you start with the FREE cereal & Motrin you will make $8 + ups and only pay tax!!)

I started with $8 + ups and left with $22 + ups!! That makes me happy :)
I spent $0.84 + $6.75 tax = $7.59 total OOP
Total saved - $158.50


4 bottles of Motrin PM - 2 $6/2 coupons
2 Spic & Span lint rollers - $1/2 coupon
1 Spic & Span dish scrubber $1/2 coupon (with duster)
1 Spic & Span duster
6 Tylenol Precise pain cream - 3  $6/2 coupons
4 bags of Oh Boy Oberto Beef Jerky  4 $1 coupons & 2 $0.50 RA VV coupons
4 bags of Wonderful Pistacios  4 $1 coupons
4 Clean & Clear face wash  - 4 $2 coupons & 4 $1 in ad coupons
2 Clean & Clear face astringent - 2 $2 coupons & 1 $1 in ad coupons
2 boxes of Special K cereal - BOGO coupon

Walgreens run...

So I discovered this new fun way to shop at Walgreens.  It's called "Last Chance"!  Thursday I went to have my ink cartridges filled and saw all these stickers that said "last chance" on them.  I didnt have any coupons that matched up to the few things I bought, but I thought to myself  hmmm if I can hit these last chance deals and matchup some coupons with them that would be awesome!!  So I headed over to the nearest Walgreens tonight to see if I could do some damage! 

heres my trip

1 - 25 oz Pantene shampoo - $1.79

Pantene hairspray - $1.19

Garnier hair gel - $1.09

2 Cover Girl tinted moisturizers BOGO 50% off - $1.99 + $0.99 = $2.98

coupons used

$2.50 off 2 Covergirl

$3.00 off 2 Pantene (adjusted to $2.98)

$1 off Garnier

$0.49 + $0.57 tax = $1.06 OOP

saved $30.48

At Walgreens ... wow. I found a new way to shop at Walgreens! :) I am pretty excited ... now to find out when they change their deals up??  I just hate using their RR.  I get all flustered when I find out I have broken their rules lol ... I suppose I could go in buy something get a RR and turn around and use it on my last chance deals lol

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Ok so I typed up this whole long blog entry and lost it on Sunday.  I was so upset I seriously was thinking of quitting the blogging lol.  But tonight on another BIG blog this lady tells me she ENJOYS my blog!!  OMG someone actually reads it???  ok, so maybe I will start up again... but its past my bedtime, so not tonight! 

BUT... for Debby and anyone else wondering ....

BHS STEPPERS WON STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN JAZZ AND KICK!!!!  AND TOOK OVERALL GRAND CHAMPIONS FOR 4A! 

it was an amazing night!  over 3500 dancers there and I can say I enjoyed almost every single dance.  I am so happy I was there to share it with my daughter!  Then we went to Taco Bell Drive thru and got $13 worth of garbage food and sat in the hotel room pigging out.  It was priceless!!