Rite Aid October Video Values

I knew I was forgetting something.  The October Video Values are up.  Looks like some really good coupons this month!

Walgreens & Rite Aid Trip 08/31

Yes, you read that right.  My trip back to Walgreens was successful (though they still need to throw out their cash registers and start again, and they need a better labeling system).  Since I felt slightly embarrassed about my passive aggressive e-mail to corporate and didn't know how much of it the manager had seen, I felt I should throw a few more things in the buggy.  See, I'm not as rought around the edges as you'd think based on my post about Walgreens!

To let you know what happened, apparently the Celsius energy drinks are on sale B1G1 50% off (of course this was not marked and is STILL NOT marked, but let's not talk about that), so they ring up as 7.99 + 3.99 = 12.00 (approx), less $3 September coupon book x 2 = $6.00.  My two $3 manufacturer's coupons were making it equal $0 which you know the Walgreens cash registers hate.  The manager did adjust them both so I only paid 2 cents, due to my issue the other day.  I have heard Walgreens corporate is not very customer friendly, but I was very pleased with the response and them fixing the situation.  I wrote them back to let them know the situation had been taken care of, but that their cash registers leave a lot to be desired.  I also apologized to the manager and told her the cash registers suck, which she said to trust her, they knew.

Anyway, here's my $12 trip (and I got $2 RR for the Carmex)

Then I went over to Rite Aid where I love, love, love the employees.  One of the managers opened up a line for me as I'd put two people in front of me because I had so many coupons.  I don't like being the person holding up the line when there's only one open register.

Another reason my store rocks is because they have great clearance.  Maybe every location does, but I love browsing theirs.  Even if some of the same things have been on clearance for like 3 months now.  Seriously, I have seen the same Gillette shampoo for $2.99 at least since June.  Maybe longer.

Today's great finds were: the Perfect 10 hair color.  I was going to buy some anyway as my highlights have grown out, so $5.99 less a $2 coupon is much better than $80 at the salon.  Or $11.99 full price. ;)

Then the Symphony bars!!  They were just marked clearance, so I was fine if they were even 50% off which would have made then .44 cents each.  But they were .22 cents each.  So I bought 12.  Don't worry, they're not going straight to my hips, they're going in gifts.  By the way, there were a ton of them left, so 12 didn't even begin to deplete their stock.

In total, after my $5/25 Video Values coupon and the other coupons (including $5 in Up Rewards), I spent $5.16 before tax.  I got back $1 Up Reward for the cereal.

By the way, the sales ad states 40 count Dixie plates, but the picture is of the 45 count.  All the Dixie and Vanity Fair products were marked as $1.99 at my store.  Anyway, in the coupon book at the front of the store there is a $1 off any Dixie product coupon which makes your 45 count plates .99 cents!

Rite Aid Trip and a Trip to Walgreens

I know what I said, no more Walgreens, but I'm going back one last time to get cheap Celsius.  After writing that letter I had a message on my answering machine from that manager I dealt with Sunday to please contact the store so they could resolve my issue.  So I'm hiking my fanny back to the store tonight with my coupons and a copy of the corporate coupon policy in hand.  And maybe I'll take Jimmy in case he needs to pull me out of the store.  Kidding on the last part.
Mostly.

So I was organizing my paper clutter yesterday so I could find my RA receipt.  It was in my purse the whole time.  I had a doctor's appointment today so had time to clean out the black hole that is my purse.  I also found a whole bunch more coupons today that were stuffed into the "bill basket."  That got cleaned out, too.

That Target giftcard?  $25 FREE from using MyPoints.  MyPoints is one of those get points web deals like Swagbucks, except MyPoints has surveys and sends you e-mail offers also.  I rarely sign up for the e-mail offers, but you get 5 points even if you just click on the e-mail.  Pretty awesome for a few seconds every day.  The one advantage over Swagbucks is that you get a physical giftcard whereas Swagbucks gives you an online code.  So the giftcard is going into my giftcard pile to save for Black Friday.  Last year I want to say you got a $10 giftcard when you spent $100 that day, so my mom and I combined our orders to get up to $100.  Much easier to spend $100 out of pocket when you already have $25 free to use towards it.

But on to Rite Aid.  I know, it seemed like I'd never get here!

There were also Orange Slices that my mom threw in the buggy, along with her Tide that she took home so didn't make it in the picture.  Again, we combined our purchase to get up to $20 so I could use my $4/20 Video Values coupon.

The Febreze Noticeables refill was clearanced to $2.79 (reg $5.59) and I used a $1 off coupon

Tide was on sale for $5.99 (reg $9.99) and I used a $1 off coupon and got back a $1 Up Reward

I'll also get back $1.99 Single Rebate Check for the Nivea lip gloss, and I got a $1 Up Reward

The Nivea body wash was $3 less a $1 coupon, and I got a $2 Up Reward

I used a $4/20 Video Values coupon bringing my out of pocket to $10.38 before tax.

After SRC and Up Rewards, I spent approximately $4.38

I'm headed back in a little while to get some cheap cereal and perhaps some Nexxus shampoo.  I like my staff at Rite Aid, so I'll keep taking my business there... ahem, Walgreens.

Headaches and More Fun

Ugh.  My migraine has subsided, so I'll try to update now. :)

I'm not going to recap my Target trip from Saturday morning because it's not really that exciting, it was mainly things we needed (carpet cleaner, Band-Aids, fruit, bread, etc), no fabulous deals.

I will show you the cute things I got at Hallmark, though.  My local store has their clearance marked down to 75% off, and I was in desperate need of gift coverings of some sort that weren't for Valentine's Day.

Isn't that elephant gift box so cute?  Luckily I have somewhere to store all this, as I have no one in particular to give a gift to in that box until our friends' baby's first birthday next year.  What can I say?  I like to be prepared!  I've had some of this years' Christmas presents since Dec 26 of last year.  Where to store them?  Pack them up with your Christmas decorations.  They'll be ready and out of the way.

I have the perfect friend to give this bag to!  The ribbon and shred paper will be used with my wonderful cupcakes and cookies that I apparently plan to make up.  Oh, I'm such an optimist!  I probably should start baking now so I can have it down by Christmas.  Haha.

In total, I spent about $7 on my whole Hallmark purchase.

 

Speaking of Christmas, Jimmy has informed me he thinks he broke our Christmas tree putting it in storage last year.  I told him that was fine, I'll let him know where the best deal on the prettiest tree is for him to get up at the crack of dawn on Black Friday!  Let me tell you about the nightmare of buying it in the first place.  Sears had a pretty tree on sale a few years ago for $99 on Black Friday.  They had a $10 off coupon, too, so I was all set to buy an $89 tree.  I want to say they were opening at 4 am, but I believe when I was discussing what time to get up with my right hand man, er Mom, her exact words were, "4 am?  How many people do you really think are going to be up buying a Christmas tree at 4 am?"  Apparently, a lot.  We did compromise and go at 5 am.  I got the little tear card, paid for my tree, and we went and got in the pickup line.  We were about 6 people from the front (after about an hour in line), and they informed the people who had purchased the exact same tree that they had no more.  Whomever was in charge did not put out only enough slips for the trees they had, and Sears' inventory system apparently leaves a lot to be desired.  By then there were 4 or 5 of us who had purchased non-existent trees.  After a lot of back and forth, one manager said they would give the same discount percentage off any other tree, and another said they'd sell any other tree for the same amount.  So I ended up with a gorgeous 8 foot tall prelit tree for $89.  (It was originally around $350.)

I say Jimmy gets to go this time mainly because we didn't consider how we were getting this thing home.  A kind man in the Sears parking lot offered to load it into our car.  Then we barely got it into the house, and then it stayed downstairs until my Dad (Jimmy was in the military at the time so out of town) carried it upstairs.  I say we barely got it into the house because my mom kept laughing at my dog Daisy, who was poking her head out of the bedroom blinds.  And we may have been a little delirious from being up that early and spending almost 2 hours in Sears. :)  Anyway, even with both of us, it took a few minutes to get a huge 80 pound box in from the car to the foyer.

But I digress.  I then went to Rite Aid.  Not a good idea to go shopping when not 100% as I've mentioned before, and today was another example of this.  My RA Video Values coupon was for $5 off $25, my total was $19.  How I was that far off is beyond me, but I threw some things in the buggy.  I needed chips, of course, and I needed a Gatorade.  Note the caramels are for another cooking project I have on my to-do list.  Oh but that will be an interesting post once I step in the kitchen.

 Sorry for the reflection off the stove, it must be too clean.  Haha!  In total, after all my coupons and Up Rewards, I spent $12 out of pocket.  Not fabulous, but considering the normal RA price alone on 8 roll Viva is $12.99, it's not too bad.  I'm just too spoiled and expect to pay pennies on the dollar for everything all the time.  I have to realize that regardless it's a $30 savings, so I did do really well.  Plus, I truly did need paper towels and I don't think you can ever have too much tp!

Until next time... :)

Free Lunch

I had some yummy free lunch today with my mom, sister, and a friend at Abuelo's at Peninsula Town Center.  They are opening Thursday so were doing test runs with customers, during which they give out free meals.  It was good.  They were inviting people walking by on the mall street, too, if you're interested.  You might take a stroll by this evening and inquire.

Then I headed to Rite Aid because we're getting dangerously low on toilet paper.  At Rite Aid, I failed to use my brain.  It happens.

My total before tax was $11.47.  It should have been $10, but I didn't think to use the Charmin coupon in the free coupon book at the front of the store.  I got $3 back in Up Rewards from the Pantene, so I'm going to go back to get more Charmin tomorrow.  It's on sale for $6.49 less $1.50 less $3 Up Reward and then I'll get $1 Up Reward back, so approx $1 after all that.

Then I headed over to TJ Maxx with a giftcard.  I love both TJ Maxx and giftcards, so it was a happy trip. :)  I spent $17.71 and have .13 cents left on my giftcard.  Yay!

The DuraBone was $2.99

Biodegradable poop bags were $5.99

Tazo Tea was $3.99

I also bought a Christmas present for my sister which is not pictured because she would have peeked even if I told her not to.

I could have spent much, much more, but I was trying to stay within the gift card balance.  I can't go to TJ Maxx too often.  I have no self control in stores like that.

I'm headed back to Kroger again tonight.  I'm getting a little obsessed with that, too.  The savings have been so good, though!  I'm also going to Kohl's.  This may not be good.  Uh-oh.

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.)

CVS and RA trips 06/12

Just a quick roundup of my shopping yesterday.

At CVS, I had a $5/30 coupon from an email from them so added in a few extra things (see chips) to get that high.

3 Sobe Lifewaters $1 each
2 Lays Chips 2/1.98 (received $1 ECB for buying 2)
2 John Freida Root Awakening products on sale $5 each
- used two $3 off coupons from last week's paper
1 Off Clip on refill pack 2.99
- used $3 off coupon from CVS.com
3 Stride Gums 1.29 each, B2G1 free
- used buy 1 Stride, Get 1 Stride Shift free
2 Gold Emblem Candies .99 each
- used $1/2 from the CVS coupon machine in store
2 Nivea chapsticks 2.99 each
- used B1G1 free from All You magazine

Total Before Tax (including $1 ALS donation) 7.55
Total Savings 30.20

At Rite Aid, I didn't get all I was looking for as I left most of my coupons at home.  But I was in a hurry, so it had to do.

I used a $5/$25 RA Video Values coupon

2 Sobe Lifewaters .99 each

Act II Butter popcorn .99

2 Shredded Wheats 2/$5

- used $1/2 coupon

Lubriderm Lotion 7.99

- used $3 off from insert, used $2 off printable (don't remember where it came from)

2 Pampers Wipes 2/$5

- used two $2 off coupons from last week's paper

Erasers clearanced to .74

8 Ramen Noodles clearanced to .12 each

1 York Peppermint Pattie .88 cents (to get over $25, of course ;))

Total Before Tax 10.76

Total Savings 33.44

June Rite Aid Video Values

A reminder that the June videos are up for the Rite Aid Video Values.  The videos are pretty tedious to watch, but the reward is some great coupons that you can stack with manufacturer's coupons for the best deal!

Rite Aid Trip 05/15 & Video Values

Sorry this is late and won't really benefit you unless you run to the store in the next few hours, but I mainly want to highlight the great program that is "Rite Aid Video Values."  It's pretty tedious, but can save you a lot of money.  Every month they put up new videos with product coupons.  You basically watch a commercial and then get credit with a coupon.  Once you get 20 credit points you get a $5 off $20 coupon.  These coupons can be stacked with manufacturer coupons getting you the best out of pocket savings.  This month you can also get a bonus $5 off $25 coupon from the video values, also.

I have no picture because of my demon posessed camera.  It took the picture but now it won't load.  I'll try again later.

2 Ozone Swagger Body Wash sale 2.99 each
- less B1G1 free coupon (Proctor & Gamble 05/02)
Infusium 23 shampoo sale 3.99 (regularly 7.99! are you kidding me?!)
- less $3 off coupon (All You magazine May 2010)
Kotex products sale 2/$7
- less $1 off Video Values coupon
- less two $1 off manufacturer's coupons (from samples and packages)
Orbitz Gum clearanced to .64
2 Eclipse Gum clearanced to .64 each
2 lip glosses clearanced to .64 each

Less $5 off $20 coupon from Video Values
Total Before Tax 6.38
My Wellness Savings (their new program) was 15.03
Then my coupon savings was 13.99

Total Savings $29.02

THEN, I will get back a $3 Single Rebate Check for buying 2 Kotex products and a $1 Single Rebate Check for the Old Spice.  So essentially I only spent 2.38!

Rite Aid is expensive but if you go at the right time and use those video values coupons, you can save a ton!

Aveeno lotion

This is a great week to stock up on Aveeno lotion!  First, go here to print coupons, then starting tomorrow both Rite Aid and Walgreens will have the products on sale.

Walgreens will have all their Aveeno products 25% off, then you get a free travel essentials kit ($9.99 value) when you buy 3 or more products.

At Rite Aid, buy three Aveeno Lotion 2.5oz $3.49 each
Use three $2/1 Aveeno in ad coupons
Use three $1/1 Aveeno Daily Lotion or from 4/24 SS insert
Pay $1.47 after coupons
Get $5 back via Single Rebate Check when you buy 3 Aveeno products.

This is a great price on Aveeno!

Thanks, Common Sense with Money!

Pictures!

Yay, my wonderful sister did good!  She revived my camera! :)

So here are my exciting shopping trips from this week!

First, my Rite Aid trip that worked out much better than I planned!
Cottonelle 20 pack double roll $10.99 (receive $2 single rebate check) less $1 RA Video Values coupon, less $1 Coupons.com coupon (now only .50 cents)
Pert Plus for Men on clearance for 1.99 less 1.50 off manufacturer's coupon
Johnson's Baby Lotion 2.99 less 1.00 off in-ad coupon less 1.00 off manufacturer's coupon
Reese's Dark Chocolate Cups 2/$1 less two .55 cents off manufacturer's coupons
Less $3 off $15 coupon attached to my last Single Rebate Check email update (you can get a $5 off $20 from earning 20 RA Video Value "points" by watching videos).
Grand total after tax $8.05 and I will get the $2 rebate check from RA, so $6.05!

At Target I stocked up on Sobe Lifewater for my husband:
10 Sobe Lifewaters at 10/$10, used 2 B1G1 free coupons (there are also .50 cent off coupons available on Target.com), got back a $5 giftcard for buying 10.
Sugar Free Kool-Aid mixes 2.69
Jennie O ground turkey on sale for 2.25 (down from 4.49)
2 Lean Cuisines clearanced to 1.44 each
Lactaid milk 3.29
Dannon yogurt was on sale 10/$4.50 and I used $1 off 10 manufacturer's coupon
Kraft Fat Free cream cheese clearanced to 1.42
2 Tattoos for .67 cents each (to donate)
4 Glitter stickers for .74 cents each (to donate)
Also I bought birthday plates not pictured for 1.99
Less .05 cent credit for taking my own bag
Grand total was $31.26 and I used $5 Target giftcard from last week's Kellogg's deal, bringing my out of pocket to $26.26 and I got the $5 giftcard to use next time.