Rite-Aid Trip 01/13/2010

Joe is home from the hospital as of 9 pm last night and is doing wonderful! He is feeling much better and everything seems to be fixed, so we shall see. I had to run out to pick up a prescription for myself, so I shopped the deals at Rite-Aid while I was there...
2 rolls Viva Paper Towels $2.99 ea - $1 ea Sale - $0.50/1 in-ad C x 2 - $1/1 MC x 2 = $0.98/2
2 - 6 pks Coke Zero $3.59 ea - $0.50 ea Sale - $1/2 in-ad C = 2/$4.98
1 - 2 pk GE Soft Light Bulbs $4.99 - $2.99 Sale - SCR $2 = FREE
1 Theraflu $4.99 - $1.50 Sale - SCR $3 - $1.50/1 MC = $0.49
1 Contac $8.49 - $3.50 Sale - SCR $4.99 = FREE
1 box RA Trash Bags $5.49 - $2.49 Sale = $3
2 pks RA Cotton Rounds $2.15 ea - $1.15 ea Sale = $2/2
+ Tax $0.12
- $5/25 Purchase RA C
- $10 Gift of Savings Certificate
Total OOP: $5.95 on Free gift card from prescription + $0.61 Cash = $6.56 - Expected SCR $9.99 = 3.43 Profit!!!!!!!

Menu Plan Monday!!!

This week we are still eating from our pantry as the 'Eat from the Pantry challenge' is still on!!! This is how this week goes...
Breakfasts: Cereal, bagels with Cream cheese, Yogurt, &/or Fruit

Lunch: Leftovers, PB&J, or Chicken Salad (that my mommy made for us) Sandwiches

Dinner:
Sunday - Chicken, broccoli, tomato Alfredo with salad and garlic bread
Monday - We were suppose to have pancakes and chipped-beef gravy with homemade applesauce for dinner, but Joe got sick and has been admitted to the hospital, because there seems to be a larger problem then we thought :-( So we'll just add this in for breakfast or lunch later in the week when he feels better.
Tuesday - Tacos (Maybe...) with Mexican Rice
Wednesday - Left over Buffet
Thursday - Pork & Sauerkraut with Dumplings and homemade mashed potatoes
Friday - Homemade Pizza (sausage, pepperoni, bell pepper and onion for Joe and Cheese for me)
Saturday - BK -- $0.99 Double Cheeseburgers & FF's

Now, this is what I call left-overs!!!

I know what you are thinking, 'eewww, leftovers.' My husband was the same way when I first met him. However, it isn't leftovers that are gross, it is usually how they are prepared, and I prepare GREAT leftovers, or at least that's what I'm told! :-) Using up leftovers is one of the key principles of being frugal; wasted food you got really cheap or free is still wasted food. I always try to plan my meals around what's in the pantry, freezer, etc, but I also try to keep the fridge cleaned out as well. Tonight I took leftover pasta (Joe and I never eat a whole box, so I just keep it in a jar until we need it), leftover steamed broccoli, and then I added some Alfredo sauce, cooked chicken from the freezer, and a can of diced tomatoes, and I got this pasta creation -- very DELICIOUS!!! Add some leftover salad and garlic bread from the other night, and you have dinner.

Sign-up to Become a Buzz Agent

There is this wonderful organization that allows you to try full size products and sometimes provides you with high-value coupons, all in exchange for promoting the way you feel about the product, good or bad. You earn points to add to your MyPoints account* when you complete the end of the campaign survey.
This campaign I received two full size mascaras to try out. They are suppose to lengthen and boost your lashes. I have to take pictures of the before, through the process, and after, for 4 weeks. I will be posted the progress on here as well, so you all can give me your input too!
To sign up, go to:
http://www.bzzagent.com/signup/Sign.do?pid=signup_frontpage_greenwell_20090401
* I'll explain MyPoints in a whole separate post!

Always sign up for FREEBIES!!!!

This is just a reminder that you should ALWAYS sign up for Freebies if it is something that you can use, or you know someone who can, because they DO come...
Friday I got these FULL size FREE bottle of Suave shampoo. I have no idea where I signed up for it, or when, but it has arrived.

Rite-Aid Trip For Last Week

Stopped into Rite-Aid to drop off a prescription with a FREE $25 gift card coupon & picked up some deals while I was there...
4 pks Stay-Free 3.99 ea - BOGO Free Sale x 2 - BOGO Free MC x 2 = 4 FREE
6 Nivea Lip Balms $2.99 ea - BOGO Free Sale x 3 - BOGO Free MC x 3 = 6 FREE
1 Listerine $3.50 - $1/1 MC - $3 SCR = FREE + $0.50 MM
1 Wet & Wild Face Powder $2.99 - 40% off Sale - $1.79
1 pair Sunglasses for Joe on Clearance for $9.99 (Originally $39.99 -- I mean come on!)
+ Tax $0.77
- $5/25 Purchase RA Coupon
Total OOP: $10.05 (Paid with Gift card so no OOP to me) - Expected SCR $3 = $7.05!!!!
Plus I earned 8 'The Game of Life' tickets, a sweepstakes that Rite-Aid is running now. One for making a purchase, 1 for the Listerine (Bonus ticket), & 6 for the Nivea Lip balms. Each ticket has 4 game pieces, a sweepstakes piece to win a cruise, and a coupon to be used at Rite-Aid -- Pretty SWEET deal, don't ya think?!

Eating from the Pantry Update #1

Joe and I have done a VERY good job of eating at home this week, eating our planned menu, and cleaning out our pantry & freezer!
Spending Update:
Food: $23.57
Health & Beauty: $2.05
Household: $24.51
Total Spent for Week #1 of the Challenge: $50.13
I know that is pretty much 1/2 of our budget for this month and it's only the first week, however, we shouldn't have to buy litter any more this month, and maybe only 1 more $7 bag of cat food. Plus, I CAN'T find FL Navel oranges any where, so I can't spend $ on those if I can't find them. Looks like it's going to be lots of apples and bananas this month :-s
How is everyone else doing on their challenge?

Short CVS Prescription Pick-up Shopping Trip

Stopped into CVS to pick-up a prescription and used a coupon for a FREE $25 gift card. While I was there, I decided to grab a few other deals, and Joe insisted I buy him the Butterfinger Bells, but at $0.87, that's okay with me :-)
1 pkg Butterfinger Bells $3.49 - $2.62 Clearance Sale = $0.87
1 - 6 ct pkg Soy Joy Bars (to Donate!) $6 - $6 ECB = FREE
1 Glade Soy Candle $3.29 - $2/1 MC = $1.29
+ Tax $0.25
Total OOP: $8.41 on Gift card + Received $6 ECB for next time!

Small Food Lion Run 01/05/2010

Joe and I stopped into Food Lion yesterday evening after a Dr's appointment for some FREE Hot Cocoa!!!!
4 boxes FL Hot Chocolate 10 ct $1.39 ea - $0.50 ea Sale - $2/2 FL C x 2 = 4 FREE + $0.44 MM
1 box Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate 10 ct $1.87 - $0.87 Sale - $1/1 FL C = FREE
2 boxes Quaker Instant Oatmeal $3.44 ea - $0.45 ea Sale - $1/1 FL C x 2 = $1.99 ea = $3.98/2
Total OOP, no Tax: $3.54 -- Saved $10.77 or 75%

Walgreen's RR's Trip for the Week!

This weeks Walgreen's trip went very well, except for a very selfish gentleman who clear the shelves of the $0.99 Nabisco treats* story to follow...
4 boxes Chips Ahoy Cookies $0.99 ea on Sale - $1/2 MC x 2 - $2 RR wyb 2 x 2 = 4 FREE + $2.04 MM
2 boxes Quaker Chewy Granola Bars $2 ea on Sale - $1/2 MC = $3/2
4 Cans Geisha Peaches/Pears $1.99 ea - $4.40 in-ad C ($1.10 x 4) = $0.89 ea or $3.56/4
2 pkgs Neosporin Lip Care 2/$8 on Sale - $3/1 MC x 2 - $3 RR wyb 2 = 2 FREE + $1 MM
2 Reach Toothbrushes $3.99 ea - $4 in-ad C ($2 x 2) - $2/1 MC x 2 = 2 FREE + $0.02 MM
2 Revlon Eye shadows $4.99 ea - $6 in-ad C ($3 x 2) - $2/1 MC x 2 = 2 FREE + $0.02 MM
2 pkgs Vanity Fair paper Bowls $1.50 ea on Sale - $1/1 MC x 2 = $1/2
2 Jiffy Muffin Mixes $0.89 ea = $1.78/2
+ Tax $0.66
- $10 RR's used to Pay
Total OOP: $3.92 + Received $7 RR for Next Time = Net OOP: All FREE + $3.08 MM!!!!!