Rebates, Rebates Rebates!

In the mail the other day my husband received a "Come by for a Test Drive and receive a $50 Gift card by mail" Well, a year ago I wouldn't have done it. But since I was already considering a new vehicle I figured why not. So I went to the website and looked at how much a new mini van would cost. I was pleasantly surprised it was actually cheaper than what we paid for our current vehicle, 3.5 years ago. I then found a Internet coupon for $500 for this dealership. This was a Toyota dealership and I was looking at the Sienna. I go to the dealership without my kids. I figure at the very least I will get a $50 gift card. Well, it worked, I fell in love with this vehicle. Wow it is so much nicer than my Saturn Relay. No it didn't have the DVD, but we have 2 laptops and a portable DVD player anyway that we can use on that rare occasion. It doesn't have a power sliding door like mine has, but honestly that isn't a big deal since these ones slide easier than what I currently have. I tried it 20 times and figured my 8 yr old should have no problem. The test drive was nice, it has more get up and go than mine too. Prettier color, nicer second row seats, stow n go seating in the back (that is very important to me, we are always removing a seat in the back). It all boiled down to my trade in. Long story short, they are willing to offer me $1000 less than the Saturn dealer. I totally expected it to be less. A car is always worth less if you aren't trading it in at the brand in which you originally bought.
One thing I liked about this dealer is they were willing to let me walk out the door. Unlike the "no haggle" Saturn dealer. They wanted me to sign a paper stating if they met my payment request I would BUY a vehicle. The Toyota dealer, they didn't even look at my ID! I have to say I was rather impressed that they were willing to let me walk out the door rather than try and talk me into a vehicle. Or make me sit there while they dick me around for 2 hours.
On my way home I hit a few Food Lions. They have 2 deals I wanted to take advantage of, and there were 3 of them I passed on my way home. At the second one I found some wine tags for $2 off seafood and also a MIR for Land O Lakes half sticks Butter, which is different from the printable one on line so I grabbed a few. Then I went to my last one near my house. I knew they had some rebate forms that I needed a few more of and I had one more set of coupons left to use. I walk in the front door and I see a long receipt laying in a cart, so I grab it. I look at it, it is full of seafood and fresh meat purchases. I just hit the jack pot. At home I have a rebate form for $10 off a seafood purchase of $15 or more and another rebate form for $15 off a $35 Fresh meat purchase, and the receipt can be copied if it is needed for another rebate.
So to sum it up-I did a test drive that earned me $50, then I went to Food Lion and got a receipt worth $25. That absolutely made my day!