Rite Aid Money Making Trip

Real quick, I forgot to mention what that adorable dog (in post below) did yesterday.  He ate an entire loaf of the bread I had just purchased!  Daggone, it's a good thing I only paid 79 cents for it.  I'm not going to say his sister didn't help, but Highway is definitely the instigator.

I finally had time to go to Rite Aid and had a successful trip at that!  I, of course, used my $5 off $25 purchase from watching those Video Value clips, and actually made money when all was said and done.

(Of course it involved more drinks!)

I'm not going into all the details as most of the coupons I used expired today and were printed a while back on Coupons.com, but my total out of pocket was 8.47 (before tax).

Then I got $6 back in +Up Rewards

And will submit for the 8.00 Dulcolax rebate

(The Dulcolax will be donated to the free clinic.  Not that anyone was asking, but still.)

But It Was Starting Out So Well...

So my dog Highway (the cutie on the left, showing his teeth)

decided that he needed attention from Mommy at 6:30 am today.  Doesn't he know it's Saturday?!  Why is he dead to the world when I try to wake him up on weekday mornings at 7:45 am to go out, but he can be up at 6:30 am on a Saturday?  Of course, he just gave me a few kisses and went back to sleep, but I was wide awake.  Darn.

So I took advantage of being up early, checked out some blogs, printed some coupons, and headed out.  To the store that once I got up there, I remembered didn't open until 10 am.  It was 9:20 am.  So I browsed Kohl's and found a lot of things I didn't need and didn't feel like hiding (since my husband told me I can't buy anything else until we move because he is not moving one more things--I'm already going to have to wear a lot of clothes on moving day to keep them out of boxes!), so I resisted.  After killing time, I went to intended store, then to the post office, then I went to gather my coupons to realize I had left the ones I printed at home.

I went to Walgreens anyway to grab a few things (and deal with a cashier with an attitude--why is only 1 out of 5 cashiers at Walgreens friendly?!) and made it out spending 6.20 and getting back a 3.00 RR.  I'm home now to regroup and head back out.  I have some $4 off Gillette Fusion razor coupons expiring today and the $5 RR at Wags ends today, too.  Jimmy went in to work this morning so I'll wait for him to get home and chauffeur me (it'll give him an excuse to drive that new truck, he shouldn't complain too much).

Target Trip 07/30

I did good today.  I had my blinders on, and I didn't buy too much I didn't need.  Well, I didn't need any snacks, but let's not talk about that.

Yes, there is a lot of sugar in that picture, but I'm just buying for two adults so I don't feel so bad. ;)

I ended up spending $54.  Not wonderful, but we're going on a trip soon so I needed some drinks and snacks.  You know, needed.

I May Float Away

It is wet outside!  We're having flash flood warnings here in Hampton Roads.  Yipee.

I had just sat down to finish reading the paper (from last Sunday) and organize my coupons when it started raining.  It was raining too hard to run out to the car to grab my coupon binder, and my female dog decided to come sit by me, on top of all my coupons and sales flyers.  My husband had to come grab them out from under her before they slid in between the couch cushions into the great unknown.

At least it's cooling things off.  My husband cleaned out his car and brought this in the other day:

A melted cd case.  This had only been in his car for 2 weeks at the most.  No wonder I look like a sweaty mess everytime I get home--it is hot!

I did go to the grocery store the other day when I wasn't at car dealerships (more on that in a minute).  I went Tuesday to Farm Fresh, they were doubling coupons up to $1.  I didn't use a whole lot of my $1 coupons, I mainly stocked up on things I needed that they don't sell at Target: canned black-eyed peas, more flavors of Dannon Light & Fit yogurt, and crab legs.  I'm also happy to report we've eaten at home all week.

Okay, so it looks like we mainly survive on fluids and yogurt, but we do have real fruits and veggies in our cabinets and meat in the freezer.  Our fruit and veggies are in the cabinet because my male dog has decided he now gets up on the counters and eats whatever is up there.  Sigh.

So my husband finally decided his two door, two seat convertible is impractical.  Okay, so he still won't say it, but it wouldn't fit fishing poles and he decided this was hindering him.  So he decided to trade in his car and get another truck.  We went back to Carmax where we've had great success in the past, and instead, had a horrible experience.  We listed the car for two days on Craigslist and my work and then my husband decided he didn't want to deal with selling private party so we'd go to another dealership.  And there was where we found out what a great bargainer I am.  My husband said I'd be awesome overseas where you haggle over everything.  We finally worked out a deal we're happy with, and I'm happy to say we now have two practical vehicles.  Next step is moving on to a larger house.  That's another adventure in itself.  Anyway, between Carmax, RK, back to Carmax, I feel like I've spent all my time when I've not been at work this week at car dealerships.

Tomorrow I'm going to stock up at Target following The Coupon High's list.  I also have a lot of coupons expiring Saturday so am going to use some of those.  I went to CVS this week but I'll be darned if I remember what I bought!  That was Monday, you know, years ago!

Back to Shopping!

This is looking like a great week at the drugstores.  I may hit all 3 today.  I haven't been in a few weeks so don't feel so obsessive going to 3 in one day, or even one week.  So I will FINALLY have some pictures and a peek into the projects I've been doing around my house.  Maybe I'll get them done before Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, I don't know why, but I'm already psyched about Black Friday.  Yes, I get annoyed with the crowds, but yes, I come home with a bunch of fun things!  I already have most of my list made so I'm just going to watch Amazon and then see what goodies I can pick up Black Friday in stores.  If nothing else, can we be excited about it because it will finally be cooler weather?

Can I confess something?  (Mom, you might not want to read this--this is not how you raised me! ;))  I don't read directions on recipes all the way through at the beginning like you're supposed to.  I'm glad I never had one of those teachers who's last question on the test was instructions to not fill in the rest of it, to see if you were paying attention.  I would have got a 0 on that one, for sure!  I'm taking pink lemonade pie to lunch today.  I had thawed out my frozen whipped cream and had everything else ready, and then I noticed the lemonade was supposed to be thawed.  Of course, thinking about it now, this makes sense.  Well, I can't stick the metal can in the microwave on defrost (my mom is cringing because I know she's still reading this), but it is 88 degrees outside...(don't worry, it's going to get up in the 100s today, we're suffering, too) so the lemonade can set outside for a little while and I'm happy to report, is thawed.  This also means I am staying inside today as much as possible!

Uneventful Target trip

I headed out to Target today.  I haven't really browsed there in a while.  I didn't find a whole bunch of wonderful things, though.  Well, that I could bring home anyway.  We're moving soon so I've been packing up our house.  My husband told me the other day to not bring anything else in this house we're not consuming because he is not moving one more thing.

My sister and I were there to buy a baby shower gift and then she left me on my own.  I mainly bought drinks as my husband is golfing tomorrow in the 103 degree weather and I figured I'd try to help him not dehydrate or die.  I also had to buy him some more Crystal Light as I had to clarify the other day what "almost out of" means.  You need more Crystal Light if you only have enough left for 1 week and Target is having a sale and I have a coupon.  You don't need any more if you're stocked up for a couple of months and can wait until a good sale comes along again.  My math and his is much different.

AMC Theaters Deal

What is a movie without movie theater popcorn?  Okay, besides 1,000 calories healthier!  Like AMC Theaters on Facebook and get a coupon for a $1 popcorn and $1 drink (any size!) good ONLY this Sunday, July 25.

They did this promo on July 4th also, but I believe the coupon came through e-mail to Movie Watcher cardholders.  When you sign up for their email you'll also get a coupon for free popcorn Mon-Thursday each month.

I'm excited about Ramona and Beezus but am going to see that with some friends on Monday so may see Grown Ups with my husband on Sunday.  Nothing better than 2,000 calorie popcorn! ;-)

Purging and Cleaning and Cleaning and Purging

So my husband and I have been arguing lately about our housing situation.  As in, we have outgrown our townhouse, but he's too lazy to move.  Okay, he doesn't think it's necessary, but I think it's just because he's lazy.  I finally brought him over to my side, and have started packing.  Hey, it's easier to do it slowly and when you can get boxes than to race at the last minute to pack up a whole house!

We have a floor to ceiling bookcase in our loft which has accumulated a lot of stuff.  That stuff has turned into a $100 profit on Amazon.  Yipee!

That is good we have an extra $100 since my drywall project isn't going as smoothly as planned.  Stupid DIY Network makes everything look so easy.  I haven't even got to the part of putting in new drywall and taping and patching and what not.  I'm still trying to finish cutting out the two bad sections.  I'm thinking the area above my front door is more LSEDI (Let Someone Else Do It).  So I guess that $100 will go towards those repairs.  Too bad, I was excited about that money!

However, I have to give it a little more time and sweat as I told my husband there was no need to hire anyone; I can handle it.  I can't be wrong! :-)

Febreze Coupons

Be sure to check your mail for a new Febreze coupon booklet.  I received one today, it's a P&G product, I assume I received it because I'm on their e-mail list.  There are four $1 off coupons, with expiration dates ranging from this September to June 2011.

This will come in handy to spray after my dog vomits on the carpet (as happened while I was typing this up.  Sigh).  I swear I've never seen dogs who vomit so much!

A Confession

My confession is that I have not been frugal as of late.  Seriously.  My freezer and cabinets are crammed full of food, yet we've been eating out about 5 meals a week the last couple of weeks.  I guess the only good thing is that I can still put of grocery shopping a while longer? :)

Life has just been happening, and I'm fine with it.  I also haven't been shopping lately, so there are no pictures.  We did pick up milk, cereal, deodorant (because apparently the 3 sticks my husband already has sitting on the sink aren't good enough.  I'm not sure if he's trying to find his favorite brand or what), and underwear.  You know how the dryer eats socks?  Mine's been eating my underwear.

It's okay to miss deals.  I don't think I stepped foot into any drugstores or Target last week.  A while ago that would have made me hyperventilate, but right now, it's fine.  I didn't have the time or energy, and those sales will roll back around!

I am back on board now, though.  I don't know that I'll catch all the sales this week, it's going to be another busy week, but I'll at least find time to get my free McCafe smoothie or frappe' courtesy of the McDonald's coupon in Parade magazine yesterday. ;)

I'm Back!

Hi, long lost friends!  What a whirlwind of a few weeks it has been!  Company, unexpected (but welcome) company, extra work, training at work, sick dogs, holiday, etc.  Whew.

My budget has been doing well, though.  As in, I've been working more, therefore making more money, and too tired to shop, so saving more money. :)

I am currently up in Hershey, PA, on vacation with my sister.  It's a much needed break.  We're hitting the park today, then headed down to Baltimore tomorrow.

I finally have my computer back (let's not even talk about it), so will be back to posting deals and shopping trips soon.  For now, though, there is chocolate calling my name...