Walgreen's RR Run!

Joe and I also stopped into Walgreen's today to roll my RR's, and get some money making Dove Body wash and FREE crackers & cookies...

Transaction #1:
3 Musketeer Truffle Bars 3/$2 - $1 RR = 3/$1
1 Dove Men's Body Wash $5.99 - $1.50/1 MC (from Dove mailer) - $6 RR = FREE + $1.51 MM
1 Vitamin Lip Balm $1.99 - $2 RR = FREE + $0.01
1 Shaving Mirror on Clearance (for Joe) $1.99
2 Nabisco Double Stuff Oreos $0.99 ea - $1/2 MC (back to school coupon booklet) = 2/$0.98
2 Nabisco Fig Newtons $0.99 ea - $1/2 MC (same as above) = 2/$0.98
4 Nabisco Premium Saltines $0.99 ea - $2/2 MC x 2 = 4 FREE + $0.04 MM
2 Dozen Eggs $0.99 ea = 2/$1.98
+ Tax $0.78
- $10 RR
Total OOP: $6.15 + Earned $2, $1 & $6 RR

Transaction #2:
2 Walgreen's Peroxides $0.50 ea = 2/$1
1 Joint Juice 30 ct $10
- $6 & $1 RR's
Total OOP: $4 + Earned $10 RR

Transaction # 3
2 - 2 lts 7 Up + 1 - 2 lt Dr. Pepper 3/$4 - $2 RR = 3/$2
1 Dove Men's Body Wash $5.99 - $1.50/1 MC (Mailer) - $6 RR = FREE + $1.51 MM
3 Musketeer Truffle Bars @ 3/$2 - $1 RR wyb 3 = 3/$1
+ Tax $0.72
- $10 RR
Total OOP: $1.21 + Earned $1, 2, & 6 RR for next week!

Martin's Trip this Week

Joe and I stopped into Martin's today to get some great deals and use a rain check, I think we did pretty good...
5 bags Texas Toast Croutons $1.43 ea - $0.90 (Rain check - Makes them $1.25 ea) - $0.50/1 MC doubled to $1 x 5 = $1.25/5
3 Lipton/Knorr Rice Sides $1.29 ea - $0.29 Sale - $1/3 MC = 3/$2
2 Lysol All Purpose Cleaners $2.62 ea - $0.83 ea Sale - $0.50/1 MC doubled to $1 x 2 = 2/$1.58
2 Hallmark Cards 1 @ 2.49 - 10% Bonus Savings $0.25 & 1 @ $0.99 - 10% Bonus Savings $0.10 - BOGO Free Martin's Coupon $0.89 = $2.24/2
2 lbs Smithfield Bacon $4.99 ea - BOGO Free Sale - $0.55/1 MC doubled to $1.10 x 2 = 2/$2.79
1.93lb Asparagus @ $3.99/lb - $1.88/lb Sale $4.07 = $3.63
4 pkgs Lender's Bagels $1.69 ea - $0.69 ea Sale - $1/2 MC x 2 = 4/$2
+ Tax $0.29
Total OOP: $44.18 - $28.69 Sales & Coupons = $15.78 OOP -- Saved 65%!!

Menu Plan Monday!

The menu for the week is based around what's in the freezer, which at this point isn't much, but I have decided to continue the pantry challenge as long as possible into February. We are going to visit with friends on Thursday and have dinner at their house (I just have to bring dessert)! So it should turn out to be a very nice week, especially with the new recipes I am trying...

Breakfasts: Homemade Banana Bread (Joe doesn't like nuts in it), Cream of Wheat, Cold Cereals, Juice & Fruit, Tuesday = FREE Grand Slam @ Denny's from 6am-2pm!

Lunches: Leftovers, Ham and Cheese Sandwiches on Homemade Bread, &/or Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing

Dinners:
Sunday - Buffalo Wings and Cheesy Tortilla chips with Homemade Guacamole
Monday - Leftover Buffet
Tuesday - Zuppa Tuscana Soup (recipe Here) with Homemade Bread!
Wednesday - Steak Fajitas with a Garden Salad & Homemade Ranch Dressing
Thursday - Dinner with Melinda & Joel!!!
Friday - Orange Chicken with Jasmine Rice & maybe Salad
Saturday - Homemade Pizza (Loaded for Joe and Cheese for me)

Desserts:
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies & a Confetti Cake with Vanilla Frosting

See other Great Menu Plans Here

Superfresh Stop

We decided that we would stop into Super Fresh since we were right next door at CVS. I actually didn't buy most of what I went in for, their meat prices, although BOGO Free this week are still massively OUTRAGEOUS!!!! So this is what we ended up with...
2 Breakstone Sour creams $0.99 ea on Sale - $1/2 MC (past newspaper) = $0.98/2
3 Keebler Cookies $3.79 ea - B1G2 Free Sale ($7.58) = $3.79/3
Total OOP: $4.77 -- Saved $9.58

CVS Trip for the Week

Joe and I got out this morning (after we were plowed out by the awesome maintenance men we have here) and drove to CVS of course! I did get a few good deals while we were there, however, I just found the coupon booklets, so I am gonna have to go back and get the cotton face pads, Hershey's Pieces candy and Wonka gummies...
2 Saturday Baltimore Sun Newspapers (the wonderful manager at CVS held them back for me!) $2 ea = 2/$4
1 Combo pkg Cottonelle Wipes $5.98 - $0.50/1 MC from Here - $3 ECB (Limit is definitely higher than 4, because my receipt says I can do it again!) = $2.48
1 - 20 oz Coke Zero $1.69 - $0.50/1 MC = $1.19
1 Gillette Fusion Razor $8.99 - $4/1 MC (this weeks {P&G insert) - $4 ECB = $0.99 (Lmt 1)
+ Tax $1.18
- $12.50 ECB's used to Pay
Total OOP: $3.34, paid with FREE gift card + Earned $9 ECB's for next time!

We have some SERIOUS snow here in MD!

As you can see, we were covered in snow here at the museum! I LOVE IT!!!!

Martin's Deals this Week

Martin's has some awesome deals going on this week, quite a few that I am going to take advantage of myself tomorrow :-) Without further ado...

Seasonal:
Hallmark Cards BOGO Free in-ad Coupon
1 Dozen Long-stemmed Red Rose Bouquet $19.88 ea + Earn a Code at Check-out for a FREE Red Box Movie

Produce:
Asparagus $1.88/lb (this is a really good price, I've never seen it drop below $2.99/lb. FYI, asparagus blanches and freezes really well!)
Nature's Promise 16 oz Bag Organic Peeled Baby Carrots $1.50 ea
Giant Kiwis 3/$1
Giant Tote Bag Apples (Gala, McIntosh, Red or Golden Delicious) $0.98/lb

Meat & Dairy Items:
Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt 6 pk cups 2/$4 - $1/2 MC (past newspaper) = 2/$3
Sargento Shredded Cheeses 3/$5 (Must buy 3) - $1/2 MC (past newspaper) = 3/$4 or $1.25 ea
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls 5 ct 4/$5 - $0.40/2 MC from Here doubled to $0.80 ea - $2 Catalina Promo wyb 4, $3 wyb 5 or $4 wyb 6 = 4/$1.40, 5/$1.65, or 6/$1.10 -- Buying 6 in one Transaction is the best bargain!!! (the Catalina will print when you check out and is good on your next purchase)
Giant Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.99/lb
Giant Eye Round Roast BOGO Free ($5.49/lb)
Giant Fresh Pork Tenderloin BOGO Free ($6.99/lb)
Giant Fresh Center Cut Bone-in Pork chops $1.99/lb
Giant Ground Turkey 85% Lean $1.99/lb
Smithfield Bacon BOGO Free = $4.99/2 - $0.55/1 MC (past newspaper) doubled up to $1.10 x 2 = $2.79/2!
Banquet Brown 'n Serve Sausage Links and Patties $1 ea - $0.35/1 MC (Banquet TV Dinner Box) doubled to $0.70 = $0.30 ea

Bread:
Stroehmann Family White Bread 20 oz Loaf BOGO Free = $1.99/2
Stroehmann Split Top Wheat Bread 22 oz Loaf 2/$3 or $1.50 ea
Giant Harvest 100% Wheat Bread 24 oz Loaf $1.79 ea
Thomas' Hearty Grains English Muffins 6 ct BOGO Free = ?

Pantry Items:
Coke Product 2 lts $1 ea (think Superbowl party...)
Kool-Aid packets Buy 10 Get 10 FREE
Lipton/Knorr Rice & Pasta Sides $1 ea - $1/3 MC (past newspaper) = 3/$2
Progresso Vegetable Classic Soups $1 ea - $1/3 MC from Here = 3/$2
Giant Festingos Tortilla Chips $2 ea
Giant Salsa $1.25 ea
Giant Pretzelwerks Pretzels $1.79 ea
Chips Ahoy! Cookies All varieties 10.2-16 oz 2/$5 - $2/2 MC from Here or $1/1 MC (past newspaper) = 2/$3 or $1.50 ea
Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding & Juicy Gels 4 pks $1 ea
Idahoan Mashed Potatoes Pouches $1 ea - $0.75/3 MC from Here doubled to $1.50 = $1.50/3
Success Boil-in-bag Rice 14 oz $1.69 - $0.50/1 MC (past newspaper) doubled to $1 = $0.69 ea

Frozen Items:
Giant Steam Ready Vegetables (broccoli cuts, green peas, sweet yellow corn, & Mixed Vegetables 12 oz bags) $1 ea

Household Items:
Lysol All Purpose Trigger Cleaner $1.79 ea - $0.50/1 MC from Here doubled to $1 = $0.79 ea

**There is a variety of items for sale on pg 15 of the ad Here that when purchased, with a coupon of course :-) will earn you up to $0.60 off per gallon of gas with you fill up at a Martin's gas station.

Weekly Totals Update

Well, it's that time again, weekly budget totals. I'm going to do a separate category for our stock-up trip because we used money that we specifically saved for that purpose. Joe and I have decided that we are going to try for $80 this month for food, health and beauty, and household items. That's $20 less than last month, but I think we can do it...

Stock-up Trips: $50.36
Food: $23.97
Health & Beauty/Household: $3.56 (Walgreen's trip)
Total OOP: $27.53
Eating out, different budget: about $25 (It appears that we have lost some of the receipts) = 2 trips to the golden arches & some soft pretzels at the Hanover Super Wal-mart

Amount left for the month: $52.47

Quick CVS Stop

Joe and I stopped into Super Fresh today to grab some bread flour and yeast so that I can play with my NEW bread maker this weekend while we are snowed in :-) We went next door to CVS to get the Power Bar Bites that were FREE after ECB's, and lo and behold they had the Oust back in stock -- YAY!!
2 cans Oust Surface and Air Spray $3.99 ea - BOGO Free MC $3.99 - $3 ECB x 2 (I should have only gotten 1, so I guess the limit is higher than 3!) = 2 FREE + $2.01 MM!
1 pkg Power Bar Gel Blasts $1.50 - $1.50 ECB = FREE (Joe is now addicted to these...)
+ Tax 0.48
- $3 ECB used to Pay
Total OOP: $2.97, paid with FREE gift card + Earned $7.50 in ECB's for next time!!!!

Rite-Aid Trip this Week

Stopped into Rite-Aid to transfer a prescription and get a FREE $25 gift card, but while I was there, you know I had to shop for some deals... Here's what I ended up with... (this was done in 2 transactions)
2 Colgate Advanced Whitening Toothpastes $3.99 ea - $1 ea Sale - $2 SCR x 2 - $1/1 MC x 2 = 2 FREE + $0.02 MM*
2 Advil 40 ct Liquid-gels $6.99 ea - $2.50 ea Sale - $2/1 MC x 1 (had 2 but forgot to use 1 - ugh!) - $1 SCR x 2 - $4.49 Mail-in Rebate (MIR) x 2 = 2 FREE + $4 MM!
2 Blink Gel Tears $11.99 - $4 ea Sale - $7.99 SCR x 2 - $2/1 MC x 2 = 2 FREE + $4 MM
4 Kleenex Tissues 75 ct $2.49 ea - BOGO Free Sale x 2 - $1/2 Rite-Aid Values C (RAVC) x 2 = 4/$2.98 + I earned 4 Bonus Tickets for their Game of Life!
4 Chex Mixes $0.99 ea - $1/2 RAVC x 2 - $0.50/2 MC x 2 = 4/$0.96
1 Right Guard Sport Gel Deodorant $3.29 but clearanced to $1.64 - Free item coupon for RA's Game of Life Tickets = FREE
+ Tax $0.16
- $5/$20 Purchase RA coupon
Total OOP: $17.04 - Expected SCR $21.98 - Expected MIR $4.49 x 2 = Net OOP: ALL FREE + $13.92 MONEY MAKER!!!!
*These items were donated