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Archive for October, 2008

October spending

October 31st, 2008 at 08:15 pm

Mom and I went to Old Colorado City yesterday to look around. We went to Fargo's for lunch - Victorian style pizza parlor. We split a small pizza and both had salads. $7.00 each.

I didn't buy anything in Old Colorado, just looked. I did get 2 books for my niece at Border's both 20% off. Spent $16.30 and at Bed, Bath and Beyond I spent $20 on an Entertainment book. Had a coupons for $10 off a $30 purchase. The book has 4 $5 off $50 Safeway coupons that I can use at King Soopers so anything else I use from the book is profit.

Went to Walgreens and spent $1 on groceries today.

1.99 - 1/2 gal milk
4.00 - 2 bags Lays potato chips
----
5.99
-5.00 RR from St Ives deal
----
.99 told them to keep the penny Smile

For the month of October I spent $1,162.15. My monthly retirement budget is $1,500.00 I put aside about $200.00 a month for insurance and property taxes. So I'm under budget by almost $150 this month. I expect I'll go over in some other month.

Here are my totals

Groceries - 138.90
Eat-out - 120.00
Household - 70.24
Books - 61.87
Utilities - 159.77
Gas - 25.00
HOA - 165.00
Xmas - 158.06
Misc - 51.57
Health - 211.74

Eat-out includes the $60 I bought in Gift cards for Texas Road House. So those are meals that won't count in future months.

I also have a bunch of rebates coming which will lower groceries/household in the coming months.

I track all that comes out of pocket during the month.

Finished reading my book Island by Richard Laymon. Mystery. OK kind of wierd.

this weeks groceries - no profit but cheap

October 28th, 2008 at 07:10 pm

Started out at Safeway today and got the following.

FREE - 2 Tide trial size .89 cents each had 2 $1.00 coupons but cashier adjusted them to .89
5 cans Progresso soup - Buy 2 get 3 free. They really jacked the prices of these up $3.29/can. But I had 2 $1.10 coupons so my cost was 4.38 for 5 cans plus I have a rebate for a free can which will give me $3.29 back. Final price will be 5 cans for 1.09 or .22 cents /can
-----
4.50 oop with 3.29 coming from rebate

Walmart was next

2.24 - All You magazine - lots of good coupons in this magazine

.50 - 2 10 ct boxes Nestle hot chocolate. Cost was $1.00/box and I had 2 .75 cent coupons. Goes to my brother for xmas

.50 - 2 SeaPak Shrimp Poppers. Cost was $1.25/box and I had 2 $1.00 coupons

FREE - 2 packages Green Giant Steamers $1.00 each - 2 $1.00 coupons

2.74 - Arm and Hammer essentials. Had a 1.00 coupon and a free after purchase rebate so will get 2.74 back. Goes to brother for xmas

2.39 - Walmart brand antacid
-----
8.37 oop with 2.74 coming from rebate

Last stop was King Soopers

FREE - Cottonelle TP 4 pack .99 cents - .25 coupon doubled plus shortcuts e-coupon for .50

FREE - Green Giant veggies 1.00 - .25 coupon doubled plus shortcuts e-coupon for .50

1.99 - 1/2 gal milk

4.67 - 6 pack Ensure - 3.00 coupon this has a rebate so will get 7.67 back. I use this in place of milk on my oatmeal when it's free

1.50 - 6 cans Hunts tomato paste. .75 each minus $3 in coupons = .25 cents each

1.23 - 7 bananas

.60 - taxes
------
9.99 oop plus will get 7.64 back in rebates

Total spent 22.86
Total back in rebates - 13.70
Total after rebates - 11.16

I sent off for 69.54 in rebates today

50.57 Walgreens October rebates
5.27 Lawry's
3.29 Progresso soup
2.74 Arm and Hammer Essentials
7.67 Ensure
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69.54

I still have $8 in Catalina coupons to use at King Soopers and $13 in RRs to use at Walgreens, but since I don't need much this week and I didn't see any great deals at Walgreens I decided to save them till next week.

Finished reading the library book A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo. Sci/Fi. OK

last weeks menu

October 26th, 2008 at 06:02 pm

I have been waiting all month for Staples to come out with their customer appreciation coupon so I could buy some printer ink and I almost missed it. I saw it yesterday and it expired yesterday. 10$ off your purchase. They usually have one of these about every 3 months, but they used to be for 12% off the purchase. Got all 4 ink colors for $59.36 - 10% - 10.20 from reward rebate from last time I bought ink. Total 46.57 plus 10% back from reward program towards next purchase.

Since my food plan is basically to stock up whenever I get good prices and then fill in with fresh stuff as needed I mostly eat out of my pantry/freezer. I don't really plan meals for the week, just for a day or two ahead of time.

This is what I had last week. Right now I have a lot of cheap cereal .50/1.50 box so breakfast is cereal, milk and fruit

Lunch is either a hot dog or a peanut butter sandwich, with raw veggies and a piece of fruit.

Sunday - pasta and garlic bread. I made a big pot of my chunky spagetti sauce and took some to my mom's to have with rigatoni pasta. Froze about 9 more meals worth of sauce. The stuff I took to mom's made enough for the 3 of us, plus enough for all 3 to eat another day. Mom also supplied garlic bread with pasta.

Monday - baked potato with light honey mustard salad dressing. green beans with garlic and walnuts sauteed in butter.

Tuesday - leftover pasta and garlic bread

Wednesday - roasted chicken breast, Uncle Ben's wild rice with celery and carrots chopped up into it, steamed frozen veggies marinated in a light honey mustard salad dressing. Veggies were green beans, cauliflower, carrots and zucchini.

Thursday - ham and beans - leftover from the freezer and leftover rice from Wednesday

Friday - Village Inn breakfast, eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, pancakes.

Saturday - chicken salad and bread. I had fixed two roast chicken breasts on Wednesday and I made the salad then, Chicken, celery, grapes, and walnuts in mayonaise. The cold chicken 3 days later was better than the warm chicken on the day it was cooked.

Finished reading my book Wild Card by Lora Leigh. Romance. Very good.

$9 profit

October 25th, 2008 at 05:32 am

Walgreens had their $5/$20 coupons out again this week. I used 2 today

First transaction

Free - I picked up the L'oreal eye cream I had a raincheck for from Wednesday.
19.99 - L'oreal Age Perfect moisturizer
6.49 - Bendryl - 48 ct
1.00 - 2 cans mushrooms
5.00 - 2 boxes Kellogs cereal
1.70 - taxes
-----
34.18
-5.00 RR from last week
-5.00 Walgreens 5/20 coupon
-2.00 L'oreal manufacture coupon
-1.00 Benedryl coupon
-2.00 Kellogs coupon
-----
19.18 out of pocket

I get 21.99 back in Walgreens Nov rebates on the L'oreal moisturizer, so profit of $2.81

Transaction #2

1.99 - 1/2 gal milk
5.99 - Excedrin 100 ct
5.99 - Excedrin 100 ct
5.99 - Excedrin 100 ct
6.99 - Almay mascara
5.00 - 2 boxes Kellogs cereal
1.58 - taxes
-----
33.53
-3.00 - RR from last week
-5.00 - 5/20 Walgreens coupon
-2.00 - Almay coupon
-2.00 - Kellogs coupons
-6.00 - Excedrin coupons
-----
15.53

I got $8 in RRs at the register for the Excedrin and will get $7.69 back for the Walgreens Nov rebates on the mascara. (the mascara goes to my neice for xmas)

Total get back 15.69 giving me a profit of .16 cents

Next stop King Soopers.

1.99 - 18 eggs
1.59 - Generic egg noodles
1.00 - Green Giant frozen corn
1.00 - Green Giant frozen corn
.49 - day old french bread
4.99 - Glade warmer
4.99 - Glade warmer
.79 - taxes
------
16.84
-4.99 - BOGO Glade coupon
-1.00 - .50/doubled Green Giant - FREE
-1.00 - .50/doubled Green Giant - FREE
-8.00 - 2/4.00 Catalinas for buying the Glade last week
-----
1.85 oop

I got another $8 in catalina coupons to use next week. Profit $6.15

Total spent today $36.56
Total get back $45.68
Total profit $9.12

Finished reading the library book Heat Lightening by John Sandford. Mystery. Very good.


11 dollars profit shopping

October 23rd, 2008 at 04:38 am

I went to the Drs this morning and blood pressure is still up 160/96 better than yesterday but not good. Will get checked again tomorrow.

We got our first snow storm yesterday - about 2 inches

Went to Walgreens where I purchased the following for $2.84

Loreal Revitalift Wrinkle cream 16.49 - $1.00 coupon. If you ask at the beauty counter there is a full rebate on this item this month. So I will get $16.49 back in rebates. Plus when you buy this product you get a free Loreal eye cream product worth $16.49. They didn't have this in stock so I got a rain check for that

4 full size bottles of Pert Shampoo. On sale for $3.49. Used one Walgreens coupon which deducted $2.50 each and used 4 $2.00 manufactur's coupons which made them free and gave me $1.01 overage for each bottle.

Bought one bottle of St Ives Elements on sale for $4.99. Used a $2.00 coupon and got a $5.00 RR on the purchase to use next time I go in.

2 4 oz can's mushrooms. Used WAGS coupon making them .50 cents each.

I recieved a $5.00 RR and will get $16.49 back in rebates. I used $15 in RRs from purchases made last week and $11.00 in manufacturer coupons.

Next stop was King Soopers where I spent $7.11 for the following

7 bananas
6 apples
2 potatoes
1 bunch of garlic
3 carrots
1 bunch celery
1 bunch green onions
2 Glade scented oil - I had a BOGO coupon and these produce $4.00 catalina coupons. Price was $4.99 each so made $3+
1 bottle Lawry's marinade - FAR plus I had a $1.00 coupon so made money here too.

I used $12 in catalina coupons from last week for the Glade products
I had $5.99 in manufacturer's coupons

I got $8 back in catalina coupons to use on my next order and I will get #3.29 back from the Lawry's rebate.

Last stop was Walmart where I spent $13.73

I got a book for $6
4 boxes Uncle Ben's long grain rice - $2 off in coupons plus a BOGO coupon.
3 packages Grean Giant Steamers. $1.27 each - 3 $1.00 coupons making them .27 each.
1 bottle Lawry's Garlic pepper - 1.98 this will be FAR
1 package Star Kist Tuna Lemon Pepper. $1.74 - $1 coupon = .74

I used 7.92 in coupons and will get $1.98 back in rebates

Total spent was $23.68
I got $5 RR back from Walgreens
I got $8 Catalina's back from King Soopers
I will get $16.49 back from Walgreens rebates
I will get $5.27 back from Lawry's rebates

Total back = $34.76 or a profit of $11.08 plus all the stuff.

I also got a $10 rebate check in the mail today and a free sample of Tide Total Care and Always Affinity.

I found a new blog I like about someone uses coupons very well - Super Coupon Girl

Text is http://wontbesoonbeforelong.blogspot.com/ and Link is
http://wontbesoonbeforelong.blogspot.com/

I finished reading my book Remember When by Judith McNaught. Romance. Very good.

Health news

October 22nd, 2008 at 05:14 am

One of my goals for when I retired was to improve my health. I went to the Dr today and had good news/bad news. The good news is my cholesterol is 108 and my triglycerides are 129. Perfect! I was able to get off one of my medicines saving me $20/month.

I've lost 10 lbs since I retired and while my diabetes is still not completely controlled it's the best it's ever been and is obviously improving. I hope to lose about 5 lbs a month and eventually have this area under control.

The bad news is my blood pressure was sky-high, in fact the Dr wouldn't let me leave until we brought it down. I have no idea why it was so high. 190/120 I've been so relaxed since I quit working. I have to go in tomorrow and get it rechecked. She may need to increase the medication. We'll see. One of my main goals is to get off all the medications - hopefully by the end of next year.

It's a good thing I don't have to take one of the medications any more because I got a notice that my COBRA premium is going up in January by 20% - $30/month. Boo hiss....

Finished reading my book Dark Light by Jayne Castle. Sci/Fi Romance. Very good.

$5/$25 coupons at Walgreens

October 17th, 2008 at 07:54 pm

Walgreens has a $5 off $25 purchase coupon out that's good for today and tomorrow. Went to Walgreens and spent $24.89 oop. I got $13 in register rewards back. I will get $1 back from Walgreens rebates and I will get $9.49 back from a rebate on Centrum Cardio vitamins. Total will get back is $23.49 which means I only spent $1.40 for $42.27 worth of stuff.

Just noticed they charged me twice for the milk so I need to take my receipt back and get 1.99 back. Meaning I made a profit of .59 cents on the order

I bought the following items

Scrubbing Bubbles foam cleaner $2.50 - $2.00 coupon = .50 - $1.00 rebate from Walgreens = .50 profit
4 Hersheys candy bars @.39 each. Had 2 BOGO coupons so .78 after coupons
80 Walgreens paper plates sale .99
3 Bounty paper towels on sale .89 each - 3 .25 cent coupons = 1.92 - .64 each
2 Reeses PB cup candy bars @.39 each = .78
1/2 gal milk 1.99
3 packages Kotex 3/$9 - 3 $1 coupons - $3 Register Reward = $3.00 for 3 packages
2 Dimetapp cough syrups @3.99 each = 7.98 - $4.00 coupons = $3.98
Centrum Cardio vitamins 9.49 - 3.00 coupons = 6.49
The Centrum vitamins plus the Dimetapp give a $10 register reward so .47 after the reward but I have a rebate on the vitamins for the full price so made $9
1 bag Lays potato chips $2.29

I saved $3.85 in Walgreens coupons
1 saved $5.47 in sales
I saved $13.53 in manufacture coupons

I stopped at Walmart on the way home and purchased 3 bags of the Green Giant Steamers @1.27 each. I had 3 $1 coupons so .81 cents total. The cashier said that makes them almost free, that's ridiculous. I said no that's nice Smile

Finished reading the library book Duchess by Night by Eloisa James. Romance Very good.

Texas Road House

October 17th, 2008 at 02:05 am

I went to Texas Road House with my parents for dinner. I usually order the 6 oz sirloin for dinner. They have a new early bird special if you order two of these dinners you get a dollar off each. So mom and I both ordered that saving $2. They also have a deal right now if you buy a $30 GC you get a $5 gift certificate. I bought 4 of them. I will give 2 to my dad for xmas. I put it on my Discover card where I am getting 5% back on groceries and restaurants this quarter making another $6. We eat at Texas Road House 2 or 3 times a month so since I would spend the money anyways I might as well get a little extra.

I finished reading my book Noah by Jacquelyn Frank, Supernatural Romance. Excellent.

Good shopping day

October 15th, 2008 at 12:38 am

Went to Walmart today. Last time I went they said they weren't taking internet coupons so I had to take several items off my order. I researched and their corporate policy says they do take internet coupons so when I went in today I asked the CSR before I started shopping and he said yes they do take them. So I got all the things on my list and get to the register where the cashier says they don't take them. Sigh!!!! So I had him call over the rep and he said yes we do. Bottom line I got to use my coupons Smile I spent 14.89 and saved $14.89 exactly 50%. My best deal was on Uncle Ben's wild rice. I had 2 coupons for $1.00 off 1 box and 2 BOGO coupons. They were 1.92 each so 2 boxes for .92 cents or .46 each. I got 4 boxes. for less than the price of 1 box.

Next stop was Walgreens. I had a $10 register reward coupon left from Sunday's trip. This can be used like cash. I purchased 9 jars of the Skippy peanut butter on sale 3/$5. Total $15 - $4.80 in coupons = $10.20 I added a .39 cent candy bar since you can't have the same number of coupons if you want to use your register reward coupon. Total 10.59 for the 9 jars of PB and candy bar. After the $10 register reward I spent .59 cents out of pocket plus because I bought $15 worth of the Unilever product I got another $5 register reward to use on my next order.

I did another transaction at Walgreens for 3 bottles of Robitussin cough medicine. Same deal as Sunday. I added another .39 cent candy bar so I could use the $5 register reward coupon from the previous transaction.

11.97 cough medicine
.39 candy bar
.95 tax
-------
13.31
-6.00 coupons
-5.00 register reward
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2.31 oop and I got another $10 register reward to use on my next transaction

Last stop was King Soopers

Currently Glade has a promotion if you buy a Glade scented oil warmer you get a $4.00 catalina coupon to use as cash on your next grocery order. The Glade warmers are $4.99 but I have BOGO coupons meaning I spend 4.99 x 2 = 9.98 + .79 taxes for a total of 10.77 - 4.99 for the BOGO coupon = 5.78 and I get back 2 $4.00 coupons to use on my next order. I make $2.22. I had 4 of these from last week.

I bought 6 bananas, a potato, Sure Max deodorant and 2 more of the Glade warmers.

I used one BOGO coupon on the Glade and a $2.50 coupon on the Sure deodorant. I used 3 of the $4.00 Glade catalina coupons from last week. Total oop = .15 cents. Plus I got 2 more $4.00 coupons and There is a rebate for the Sure Deodorant so I will get another $5.99 back from that.

Overall I spent $17.94 cash today. I got 16 food items at Walmart. 11 food items at Walgreens. 2 at King Soopers. 3 bottles of cough syrup, 2 glade warmers and the Sure deodorant for that. Plus I have a $10 register reward to use at Walgreens. I have $8 catalina coupons to use at King Soopers and I will get $5.99 back in a rebate. I spent $17.94 and have $23.99 to use for other purchases.

Finished reading my book Turbulent Seas by Christine Feehan. Romance. Excellent

Great coupon article about why you might buy something you don't need

October 13th, 2008 at 08:47 pm

This is a great article from the Centisable Saving blog

Text is http://www.centsiblesavings.com/2008/10/why-i-buy-things-i-dont-need.html and Link is
http://www.centsiblesavings.com/2008/10/why-i-buy-things-i-d...

Finished reading my book Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught. Romance. Very good.

Free cough syrup + extra money

October 12th, 2008 at 07:15 pm

Went to Walgreens this morning and made a profit of $3.08 to use on my next trip

Here's how

buy 3 Dimetapp cough medicine $3.99 each
3.99 x 3 = 11.97
+ .95 tax
----------
12.92
- 6.00 manufacture coupons
------
6.92
get $10 Register Reward for next purchase
--------
$3.08 profit

$2.00 coupons off the Dimetapp are here:

https://j.ovm1.net/wch1/universalreg/Registration.aspx?reg=true&product=di&c=1490&s=01&p=DIM06002

after you register you can print the coupons. I plan to go again later this week and get more. I haven't had a cold in years but will give the supplies to my sister/brother or donate them to a charity. I will use the overage to fund other purchases of things I want/need.

Finished reading my book The Third Magic by Molly Cochran. Sci/Fi King Arthur. Very good.

Free cleaning supplies

October 11th, 2008 at 09:03 pm

I haven't blogged in awhile since I don't feel I'm doing anything that interesting. Since I retired I spend a lot of time reading, gardening, cooking, excercizing, cleaning, doing jigsaw puzzles, meeting friends. While I enjoy it it's nothing that exciting. I am spending more time reading blogs and shopping. I'm not spending more money, in fact I'm spending less, but the shopping for deals takes more time. I'm not sure sharing my shopping experiences once or twice a week is all that interesting, but I'm going to do it anyways Smile

Yesterday I went to an estate sale and hit the jackpot of minature doll furniture. That's my hobby. I got a beautiful handmade dresser for $2.50, original price $40. I got a bed for $2, original price $20. I had just put wallets on my list of things to start looking for since mine was in danger of falling apart. I found a brand new one for .50 cents. Score Smile

I went to Walgreens and got the following deals:

2 bars Lindt chocolate - 2.29 each

2.29 @ 2 = 4.58
- .75 manufacture coupon
- 2.00 Walgreen coupon
- 2.29 BOGO manufacture coupon
-------
.46 cents overage. This gave me .46 cents to use towards my other purchases plus the 2 candy bars free, which will go to my nieces for xmas.

Scrubbing bubbles automatic shower cleaner - 19.99
2 bottles Windex 2/$5
1 bottle Scrubbing bubbles foam cleaner -2.50
1 bottle fantastik cleaner - 2.50

29.99 - Total cleaners
+ 2.37 taxes
-------
32.36
- 10.00 coupon for automatic cleaner
- 4.00 2/$2 coupons on windex
- 2.00 coupon for scrubbing bubbles
- 1.50 coupon for fantastik
-.46 overage from candy bars
-------
$14.90 oop (out of pocket)

However Walgreens has rebates on all the cleaning stuff

$10 Automatic cleaner
$4 on the other cleaning supplies $1 each
------
$14.00
+ 1.40 - 10% bonus for putting the rebates on the Walgreens gift card
--------
$15.40 returned in rebates so I get all the cleaning stuff plus the 2 candy bars plus 50 cents to use on something else.

Finished reading my book Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens. Romance. Excellent.