Rebate Forms Harris Teeter Shopping

Yesterday when I went to Food Lion I got a bunch of rebate forms. If anyone wants a rebate form let me know somehow (comment or tell Husband) and I can try and get it to you. I have sent in some coupons/forms with Husband and I think I got back 99% of what I sent in so I won't do that again.

I went out today and got my $30 gift card from Rite Aid. They actually have a better deal going on. You can transfer up to 4 RX to them and get a $30 gift card for EACH Rx you transfer up to 4! What a deal. I only have 2 more to transfer though, but hey $90 is $90! I can figure out a way to spend $30 at Rite Aid, or I could trade them on Hot Coupon World also, though I will most likely keep mine, do the Free after rebate items to turn mine in to cash.



So at RA I got
4 bags M&M's that were buy one get one free
used my GC to pay $6.38

Went across the street to HT
3 Lean Cuisine Pizza on sale $2.50 (used 2 $1 off prepared foods Wine Tags)
1 12 Roll Scott Tissue on sale $5.99(used $2 Catalina #3 found for me yesterday on the ground)
1.69 Lb Ground Beef on sale $1.98lb (used $1 off Beef Beer coupon)
1 Marcal TP (still on BOGO, used $1 off Q)
14 boxes of Macaroni N Cheese Snack Packs on sale 2/$1 (used $.55/2 coupons making them FREE)
1 pack Light bulbs (BOGO)
Total spent $13.48
But have a rebate form for $5 off pizzas, and I can also use that receipt towards another rebate for $15 (only need $4.24 more of deli or frozen pizza)


Last night I received an email from one of the Head Honchos over at Hot Coupon World. They were asking me if I would like to be a moderator. They were giving me my choice of Food Lion or BiLo. I am honored. Must be everyone else shot them down! I don't have that many posts on there compared to others though I am on there a lot. I went ahead and took the BiLo one simply because there is not a lot of action on it and I can ease my way in. I have never done anything like that before. I don't shop a lot at BiLo I really prefer Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods over them, though they do rate slightly above Food Lion.

Wish me LUCK!

I went ahead and took out $50 for my groceries the first half of this month.

Wags GC-$0
Rite Aid GC- $23.62
CVS GC-$16.41
change purse $36.52

NO pictures Mystery Shop

Today since the kids had dentist appointments I did a Mystery shop a few miles away. On the way I went to Food Lion to see what coupons they had and I Purchased
2 Fruit roll ups that were bogo and I have $1 off Q so they cost $.66 for 2 of them.

I went to do my mystery shop.
I got
1 5lb bag taters- 1.99
8 Kraft Mac N Cheese crackers CARRY PACKS on sale 2/$1 used my $.55/2 that doubled (FREE!)
1 Kids Cuisine for #3 (oh what a waste!)-$2.89
1 2lb chub hamburger meat $3.50 -used my $1Q
1 Mouth Wash ($2 on line Q) $.65
2 Libby Pumpkin on sale $1.29 used $1/2Q

Total came to $9.91 but will be reimbursed for it in 2-3 weeks and paid $13 for shop

I also dropped of my RX to get my $30 gift card from Rite Aid

Also found out #3 is going to need to see the orthodontist because he has an UNDER BITE-though he has only 6 adult teeth.

So
Wags GC-$0
HT GC $0
Cash
CVS GC-$16.41
change purse NEGATIVE $.54


Wednesday 10-29-08

I forgot to enter this one

I went to the store I got
1.98lbs ground beef used $2Q
2 Progresso Soup (on sale BOGO) used 2- $1.10Q
3# yellow onions on sale for $.99
Glade Plug In (free coupon)

Spent $1.01 on GF card, used $5.00 Q

Wags GC 0
HT GC $7.54
No HT coupons left
CVS $16.41
change purse $1.83

Stayed home

I didn't go anywhere today but I did see tonight that Harris Teeter is having triple coupons Nov 6-9th (Thursday - Sunday).

Double Dairy points still at Lowes Foods PLU #8197
printable coupon http://www.lowesfoods.com/FTPUpload/RewardsSheet.pdf
Also Twilight sale on Oct 30th
$3.99 Folgers (Limit 2)
$3.99 Freschetta Pizza (Limit 4)
89¢/lb Pride of the Farm frozen Turkey Breast (Limit 2)
79¢/ln Eastern Rome Apples
$1.99 12 count Cookies
$3.99/lb Kretschmar Off-the-Bone Honey Ham

Also I was reading the Rite Aid $30 RX transfer coupon, it is good for one transfer every six months PER PERSON. There were lots of good Free after rebates this past week.

CHEAP Halloween candy ZERO OUT of POCKET!

I was so itching to get my $25 gift card from CVS for getting a new prescription from them. I went out early afternoon to get it, plus they have a 2 day sale on all the fun size candy, Hershey and Mars brands, of course I only have coupons for Mars brands. I went to get my RX and of course they had hardly any candy left, just the weird ones like Baby Ruth and Almond Joy. Don't get me wrong, I have only met ONE candy bar I didn't like and I have tried A LOT (I worked 5 yrs in a convience store, so really I have tried a lot). The last thing I need is a candy bar only I like in my house. We went to 2 store and did transactions. Then went to Harris Teeter.

4 M&Ms

2 Twix

3 Peanut N&M

1 Snickers

2 Skittles

1 Starburst

1 Milky Way

1 Bic Razors (used $2 Manufacture coupon)

1 Colgate toothpaste (used $1 manufacture coupon)

1 Cookies N Cream Hershey bar ( used free candy bar coupon)

I used $1/2 coupons so for every 2 bags of candy I purchased I got $1.00 off. I also used $10.29 in ECB and a $2.00 off colgate CVS coupon.

I put $8.59 total on my CVS gift card

Then I went to Harris Teeter on the way home. I made sure to scan my items, then my coupons then my card so I could get overage on my coupons.

3 Softpac Toilet Paper -$1Q

1.4 lbs Ground beef-$1Q

1 HT Queso dip

1 Tostitos flour Tortilla chips

I used one $5 ONYO coupon and $3.15 on my gift card.

Totals-

Wags $0 GC

CVS $16.41 GC

HT $8.55 GC

HT OYNO Q $5

Change Purse $1.83

Why do I take them with me?

We had gotten some coupon for Brooklyn South Pizzeria yesterday and we NEVER get coupons for there so we decided to splurge and get pizza today. We did a bake sale and we made $10, though had I been prepared we could have done a lot better (I had to go to the Doctor yesterday evening and that really threw me off!). We decided to take that $10 and put it towards dinner since we are going all cash. Dinner was $20.20 including tip for the 5 of us. We got a Large pizza, 1 baked Ziti and 6 garlic knots.

On the way home I figured since I dropped off my RX at CVS we would pick it up and get my $25 gift card. First we stopped by Lowes Foods since they had Broccoli the cheapest and also have double dairy green points with the monthly flier. My first mistake was taking the ENTIRE family in the store with me. I get there they have no monthly fliers at the front door. I go to the customer service desk figuring I can get it from there. Of course it takes a few MINUTES to actually wait on me. This store is NEVER busy yet it takes FOREVER for someone to wait on you when you go to customer service. I get the girl to give me the PLU since they only had the flier at the store. Finally I get to go buy my few items. I have no idea where the other parts of my family are. I then go to buy the STORE BRAND ginger ale, of course the don't carry store brand. My youngest is "sick" and for some reason when he gets sick not matter what kind he thinks he needs ginger ale. I was given ginger ale when my stomach was sick so I guess I started it. Oh well. So they don't carry store brand! It would have cost me only $.29 if they did. At least they had Canada Dry on sale for $.99.

I did two orders but I won't break them up for this...
7 Ice Breakers Gum ($.50Q)
1 Gallon Milk ($.50 store coupon)
1 Qt half and Half ($.50 store coupon)
1 bunch broccoli (bogo)
Total $8.12

Of course there is something wrong with the register and I now have ALL of my boys at the end of the aisle waiting for me. "Why are you taking so long?" they ask. Of course the cashier needs to come over and suspend my transaction and of course it takes them forever to notice my light flashing, not like they are BUSY though. I can't find my key ring that holds all my store card either, including my CVS one. So I am all antsy about that too. Finally when we go to leave I was asked my Husband why it took me 25 minutes to get FOUR things (gum being one thing since it was right at the check out anyway). They walk like turtles leaving the store. What was I thinking?

Then we get in the car and I realize since I don't have my store card key ring I can't pick up my RX that are across the street because I can't use my CVS card to get my $25 gift card (I need the store card the coupon is tied too).

We get home and want do I find has fallen behind my seat in the mini van? My key ring with my store cards on it. Do you think ONE of the kids could bend over to look for it?

WAGS GC $0
HT GC $11.70
HT OYNO coupons $10
Change Purse $1.83
Total $31.65

Woo Hoo! Money Maker!

Beleive it or not I have not been shopping since TUESDAY (my last shopping post). HT has a few things that I wanted plus I have a rebate that I wanted to use before it expired.

HT's Evic Special is

Save $1.50 on Classico Pasta sauce and $1 on Smart Taste Pasta.

I happen to have a Catalina for Classico $1.50 off 1 Jar of Classico and $1.00 coupon for Smart Taste Pasta. I also have a rebate form for $5 rebate when you buy $10 worth of Pasta and/or Pasta Sauce.

Here is what I did I did this at UScan

5 Smart Taste Pasta on sale 3/$5($1.00 coupons)

1 Classico Sauce ($1.50 coupon)

1 Mrs T Perogie on sale BOGO ($1.00 coupon)

1 New England Coffee on sale Bogo ($1.50 coupon)

1.4 lbs Ground Beef on sale $1.98lb ($1 coupon)

I handed her my coupons

Then I scanned my vic card

Than I scanned
2 Keebler Cookies on sale Bogo ($.55/2 coupon)
Gave her my keebler coupon and my $5 OYNO cat
Total came to $.90! ANd I put that on my gift card that I got for FREE for RX last month.
Came home and filled out my Rebate for for $5 back...

Totals
WAGS GC $0
HT GC $11.70
HT OYNO coupons $10
Change Purse $9.95
Total $31.65
However, I am going to the Dr this afternoon and I will be getting a CVS Gift card for $25 when I give them my new RX!

Whats for dinner tonight Mom?

Tonight we are having Taco Casserole and Mexican Rice. I had purchased this taco casserole kit a few months back on clearance and I had a coupon, though I don't remember how much it was I am pretty sure is was close to free (otherwise I would not have purchased it). My family is not big on Mexican food (I like it though!) but really, if I let them dictate what we ate, it would be BEYOND boring consisting of Poached Chicken, Chicken Nuggets, Spagetti and Mac N Cheese. My rule is, I make dinner, eat it if you want, or don't I don't care BUT I will not make a seperate dinner. If you want to make a sandwich, eat cereal, warm something from the frige fine, but I am NOT MAKING IT!

Taco Casserole Kit (tortillas, seasoning, cheese sauce)-$.50
Sour Cream $.49
1 lb ground beef $2.00 (wish I had a meat coupon!)
1 Cup Montery Jack Cheese-$.50

Mexican Rice
1 can Muir Glen tomatoes -FREE
1 can Muir Glen tomato Sauce -FREE
1 Ortega Taco Seasoning -FREE
Matahma Rice-FREE

Huumm, the side dish was TOTALLY Free!

Dinner was $3.49!

Since I was out....

Since I had to go out to Mooresville to pick up a piece of paper I figured I would swing by a few other stores too since I have to pass them on the way anyway.

My first stop was Walgreens. That $7.30 was just burning a hole in my pocket. I wanted to see what the FAR (Free After Rebate) items were. I was only interested in one. So I got
Loreal Cleanser -used a $2 Walgreens Q
2 Candy Corn (Those pigs have eaten almost ALL of what I bought the other day!) -$1/2 Wags Q
Total on Gift card $7.30
Total out of pocket $1.48
Will get $7.99 rebate

Next stop was Lowes Foods I did a total of 3 orders since I can only multiply 4Q in one transaction, plus it allows me to buy a LF item with each order and I get $.50 off each one item too. Also I returned 2 cans of Progresso Soup that someone said they hated and the sausage that was a different price on line. I got back $10.88

#1
4 Kellogg's Blueberry Muffin Mini Wheats ($1Q)
8 Yoplait Yogurts ($.40/2Q)
5 Muir Glen Tomatoes ($.75Q)
1 LF Texas biscuits ($.50 LFQ)
4 Ice Breaker Gum ($.50Q)
Used 1000 Green points for $1 off
Total out of pocket $4.27, but I got a $3 Off your next order Catalina from buying the Cereals (though you need to only buy 3 to get that cat)

#2
8 Yoplait Yogurt ($.40/2Q)
4 Ice Breakers Gum ($.50Q)
5 Muir Glen tomatoes ($.75Q)
1 Gallon LF Milk ($.60 off dairy, $.50 off LF item)
Used $3 OYNO cat
Total out of pocket $1.80

#3
8 Yopliat Yogurts ($.40/2)
1 Ice Breakers gum ($.50Q)
1 LF sour cream ($.50Q)
Used 1000 Greenpoints for $1.00 off
total OOP $.43

Total sum up of Lowes Foods...I got back $10.88 for returns, I paid $6.50 out of pocket (after using coupons including the catalina I earned) and I have a rebate if you buy 4 Kellogg's Shredded wheat you get a $10 coupon to use at that store.

Went across the street to Harris Teeter, last day of the Buy $15 worth of Klondike, Lipton, Knorr...sale get $5 coupon OYNO.
Transaction #1
Zyrtec and put it on my health care account got $10 off my next purchase.

#2
3 Klondike
1 Lipton side dish
1 Cabot DHA omega cheese ($2 off evic special)
2.15lbs Mc Intosh Apples
Used my $10 off vic card, $5 oyno coupon from prior purchase
Put $1.65 of my gift card and got another $5 coupon. I think that is it for the Health Care account until my kids come back from the dentist the end of the month.

Went next door to CVS
1 candy Corn
Paid with $1.29 ECB, it was free.
No OOP!

Totals
WAGS GC $0
HT GC $12.60
HT OYNO coupons $15
Change Purse $9.95
Total $37.55 (though will get $7.99 put on my Wags card in a few weeks and I will get a $10 coupon too for Lowes Foods)

My buddy in South Charlotte sent me some good rebate forms too I look forward to doing those soon too.

Getting bored

I fell behind on laundry last week. Woke up this morning at 3:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. I was all gun ho about going shopping but I think this is getting old now. I had to order new eye glasses because #3 threw his on the floor and they broke (little turd). Of course it is right next to HT so I figured since I was there why not shop. So I went and got my money back for the candy (scan right policy)-$1.10 Figured since I was there I would go ahead and get more Klondike, glad tomorrow is the last day of that.
SOOO

Transactoin #1
3 Tylenol allergy rapid release ($2 Q)
1 Tylenol rapid release ($2 Q)

Paid with healthcare benefits got $10 oyno

Transaction #2
3 Klondike
1 Lipton Tea ($.50 Q)
Total $.79 put on my gift card received $5 OYNO coupon.

Totals
WAGs GC $7.30
HT GC $14.00
HT On your next order Coupons $15.00
ECBs $7.58
Change Purse $7.05

Total $50.93

CVS and Harris Teeter

At CVS they are having a 2 day sale. Brach's Candy Corn, Pumpkin Pail and Glow Sticks are free after ECB -Now through Monday. So I got the 2 kids that wanted to go with me and we left. Sometimes they run out of this stuff sometimes they don't. Of course these are cheapie candies which is all I really wanted and they had lots of that.
I started out with $2 in ECB on one card only.Husband loves this candy corn (me not so much) so I knew I needed to get more than just one bag since they were free. Limit was 2 ecb on the candy (Meaning if you buy 2 and each one will generate $1.29 worth of store credit to spend when ever on store merchandise). I did find a deal on meds so I could use my Healthcare benefits card. I did a total of 5 transactions, 2 on one card 3 on the other.
Transaction#1
1 Motrin (1.00 Q)
1 Tylenol ($1.00 Q)
Total $11.88 and I used my health care benefits card and got $5 in ecb for meds and I also got $.50 end of quarter bonus ECB (Plus some other coupons).

Transaction #2
2 Hershey Candy Bars (BOGO Q) #1 son wanted these, so he was paying for them
1 Listerine Agent Blue rinse mouth wash ($.50Q)
1 Brach's Candy Corn
Total $.37 that #1 son paid for because it was his candy bars that put me over-though it saved him money to buy this other stuff too.
I received 2 ECBs, one for $1.29 for Candy Corn and one for $3.00 for Listerine

Transaction #3
1 Brach's Candy corn
Paid with ECB so out of pocket was ZERO and I got back $1.29 ECB.

On my other card I had $2 ECB.
Transaction #1
1 Brach's Candy Corn
1 Colgate tooth Past ($1 Manufacturer Colgate Q and $1 CVS Colgate Q)
Used $2.00 ECB
OOP was $.37
Received a $2.00 ECB for the Colgate and $1.29 for candy Corn

Transaction #2
1 Brachs candy
Paid with ECB
ZERO oop.
Received another $1.29 ECB from candy corn


Went down to Harris Teeter.
Transaction #1
3 Excedrine ($1Q+$2Q)
3 Alevert ($2 Q)
Total 29.86 Put on Health Care Benefits card, Received $10 off my next purchase

Transaction #2
3 Klondike
1 Lipton
3 Fleshmans Yeast ($.45Q)
1 Wise Pop corn ($2 Q)
1 Hot dog Bun ($1 Q)
1 Cabot Cheese ($.30Q and Evic special $2.00 off)
2 Sweet Tarts
Used $10 OYNO Vic, and $5 OYNO Q
Total $.79 put on my vic card received $5Q off my next order

I just noticed the sweet tarts were priced wrong on the shelf, so now I will get MONEY BACK!

Totals
WAGs GC $7.30
HT GC $14.79
HT On your next order Coupons $10.00
ECBs $7.58
Change Purse $5.95

How Long Can I Keep This Up????

My goal is to NOT have to take the $200 that I am used to taking the last half of this month. I still have the Harris Teeter gift card, a Walgreens Gift Card OYNO cats, my little grannie change purse and a Health Care account (that can ONLY be used to pay for dr visitis, dentists, eye dr/eye glasses and meds) and see how long I can carry this on for. I do have a rockin stock pile- and Thanksgiving is at my house this year! Right now I am trying to make it until the end of the month. But I want to see how long I can carry this on for.

I have
$7.30 on my Walgreens Gift card
$2 ECB for CVS
$15.76 Harris Teeter Gift Card
$10 Off Your next order Coupons for Harris Teeter
$6.32in actual Cash

Total $41.38

And my actual Stock Pile

Plus my coupons

I need serious help!

So I had read that Muir Glen tomatoes are Free after coupon at Harris Teeter. I think Lowes Foods is having a problem getting them, so I figured free at HT is fine with me. But, since I have problems- I got more stuff.
MY first stop was my local Food Lion to see if they had any new rebate forms. No new MIR but I did find 2 good coupons from beer companies
Found-
$1 off the purchase of Buns or Beef
$2 on ANY wise snack food

Then I went across the street to Harris Teeter
Transaction #1
2 Alvert ($2 Q)
which gave me $10 to spend on my next transaction and I used my Healthcare benefits card to pay.

Transaction #2
3 Klondike
12 Muir Glen Tomatoes ($.75Q that doubled)
1 Wise White Cheddar Popcorn ($2 Q)
1 Pack hamburger buns ($1 Q)
1 Lipton side
1 Loft House Cookies
Used my $10 off with Vic Card from HBC offer and my $5 coupon from buying Klondike and Lipton yesterday. Total spent on gift card $2.13 BUT they charged me full price for the cookies so I got back $4.02 (so yes I just made $1.89!) also I received a $5 OYNO cat for Lipton/Klondike purchase

My second stop was Lowes Foods. They are STILL out of tomatoes.
I did 3 trips total-
24 Yoplait Yogurts ($.40/2)
1 Johnsonville Italian Sausage ($1.00)
3 LF Biscuits ($.50 store coupon)
Used 2000 green points to get $2.00 off my order
total spent $4.97

Went to another HT
1st Transaction
1 Zytrex ($4 Q)
Used my Health Benefits card to pay, got my $10 off my next purchase.

2nd Transaction
12 Cans Muir Glen Tomatoes ($.75Q)
3 Klondike
1 Lipton side dish
1.23lbs hamburger meat ($1 Q)
1 Loft House cookies (DRATS they rang up half price!)
Used $5 coupon from Klondike/Lipton purchase above
Total on gift card $1.06-got $5 oyno cat

Went to HT on the way home to get my refund for the cookies they overcharged me for the day prior. Got back $4.02
Transaction #1
1 Zyrtex ($4Q)
Got my $10 HBC and put the charge on my health benefits card

Transaction #2
4 Muir Glen Tomatoes ($.75Q)
3 Klondike
1 Lipton
Used my $10 HBC and put $1.16 on my gift card.

So to sum it up. I got all the above pictured for $4.97 actual cash spent.
However I received $8.02 for 2 refunds for the cookie overcharge and I also got 2 $5 off your next order coupon.... I came home with as much money as I left with.

THREE INGREDIENT Pumpkin Muffins/Cupcakes

Talk about an EASY recipe. I whipped these up after dinner. It is a whoping THREE ingredients.

1 yellow cake mix

1- 14 oz can Pumpkin (or about 2 cups)

2 teaspoons Pumpkin Pie spice

Mix all 3 ingredients (it will seem dry at first, but keep mixing). I use mini muffins for one bite muffins. Bake mini muffins for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

The Yellow Cake mix I pulled from my stock pile and the can of pumpkin I actually got for free from Harris Teeter, they had no price for it (it was a 28oz can) and told me to just take it. So this was a nearly free dessert!

Also this is actually from Weight Watchers I think, if you take 2180 and divide it by how many cupcakes you made you get the calories. I made 41 mini cup cakes so each one is about 53 calories (not that I keep track).

My son loves these. Not sure what made him try them, but he loves them and asked me to make them yesterday. You could also use the reduced sugar cake mix also.

Dinner from the Stock Pile

Sorry I am not a "Food Stylist".

Even though I went shopping today, I am trying to pull from my stock pile. My shopping trips have been rather small lately anyway.
Tonight we are having Salisbury Steak Mashed taters and green beans. Hamburger from the Freezer, 3 cans of soup from my stockpile and INSTANT mashed taters that are from the stockpile too.

Salisbury Steak
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 can cream of Mushroom soup (I used cambells healthy choice)
1 Can French onion soup (not condensed-I used Progresso)
2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon mustard powder

Mix Meat, 1/3c condensed soup, bread crumbs and egg make into patties. Brown patties in pan. Put patties into a square baking dish. Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl including leftover condensed soup. Pour mixture over patties. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes.

I can't beleive how cheap this was!

Ok so day 3 of Cash only...no using the credit cards...this is hard for me believe it or not. I actually didn't take my grocery money because I REALLY want to wait until I NEED it...
I took a $20 from a secret stash and figured just in case, but I really only wanted to spend less than $10 and only if I had too.
My first stop was Harris Teeter. I had a $5 cat and $23.52 on my gift card. I decided to go ahead and get my $30 in HBC items so I can spend $10. I had to have flour, I have hardly none, and I will say that is something that I do keep my eye out for I haven't seen a coupon in months and haven't seen a good price for it either.

I got the
2 NyQuil
1 Motrin
1 Tylenol
first which was $26.45 on my health care benefits card. Giving me $10 off my next order.

Then I got the
3 Klondike
4 Lipton side dishes ($.75/2Q)
1 Duncan Hines Cake mix ($.75/2Q)
1 DH Frosting
1 Lofthouse cookies
1 Dole Fruit cup ($.55Q)
Used my $5 cat from the other day and it took off my $10 leaving me $3.41 to put on my card. At the time it seemed like it should have been a little bit less but I was so worried about my ice cream melting I forgot that quickly.

I still had to go to Lowes Foods next door. Muir Glen Tomatoes are still free after coupon (I have 40+Q) and I want my free tomatoes! Of course they are STILL out.

I split my order into 2. I had to get a gallon of milk for my neighbor (she is SLOWLY getting in the swing of savings...SLOWLY). I was going to get an item that has been giving me $.17 overage and I know it sounds silly but every little bit helps, I couldn't find it. So I knew I had ice cream in the car so I just went to check out. When scanning my milk it dawned on me that the Milk is Lowes Food Brand! WHOPPIEE!!!
First order
1 Gallon Milk (used $.60 off dairy store coupon and $.50 off lowes food item)
8 Yoplait Yogurt ($.40/2Q)
1 Johnsonville Italian sausage ($1Q)
2 Ice Breakers Gum ($.50)
I used 4000 GREEN points and got an additional $4 off my total order so I paid $3.93.

My second order was my neighbors milk, I added free gum and the yogurts since I was using my $.50Q.
1 gallon milk ($.60+$.50Q)
4 yogurts ($.40/2)
2 Gum ($.50Q)
Used 2000 points and got $2.00 off so I paid $1.11.

So my total spent was $5.04 BUT WAIT! I also got a $5 off your next order coupon. BUT when I got home I looked at my Harris Teeter receipt and found 2 things.
1. Harris Teeter no longer gives overage on their coupons, though free is still good, but this will make Triple coupons less exciting and harder to work for cheap stuff (free will still be free though). No big deal.
2. They didn't charge me half price for those Loft House cookies (#2 favorite), so I will be going back and getting my full $3.99 that I paid! I might just get another box or two since I am out too.

So really in the "net" of things I guess I actually MADE money on that trip! ($5.04-$3.99-$5.00)

Lowes Food and Green Points

Lowes Foods rewards program is Green Points. For every dollar you SPEND, meaning AFTER coupons and specials you get a point for every dollar. So for me it can be hard to get points UNLESS you know all the "deals" when it comes to green points. This is one of those times where it pays to read the information on the website or have knowledgeable cashiers.

For every bag you bring in to reuse you get 50 green points. If they didn't do this then it would take me FOREVER to accumulate green points to use.

Every so many weeks they will run specials where you get double green points for certain general items, like HBA might give double green points.

Every so many weeks they will have incentives to use the green points, like this week for every 1000 points you spend you get $1 off your total order.

They also have items that can be reduce price or free if you use your green points towards them. Sometimes they will have a "Spend 750 points and get grapes at $.50 cheaper per pound" or something similar.

You can do a lot of this at shelf checkout. I can't tell you the last time I have had a cashier wait on me. I always go to self check out. I can do as many orders as I want, I can scan my own coupons, I can take my time and I can enter my own code (8111) to put in the credit for the bags. And best of all I won't be JUDGED by the cashier.

Holy Kellogg's Coupons!

Yesterday I found out there is a catalina deal going on at several stores for Kelloggs Mini Wheats cereal. Honestly I have atleast 20 boxes mini wheats left from March's kelloggs deal (buy 4 get $10 cat at Lowes Foods). This catalina deal is buy 2 Mini Wheats get $1 oyno and Buy 3 get $3 oyno. Well come to find out there is FIVE $1 off coupons for ANY kelloggs cereal (10oz or larger) on coupons.com and THREE for $1 off any ONE box of Mini Wheats! Wow Kellogg's THANKS!
http://print.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=13306&zid=iq37&nid=10
and this one from Kelloggs that you can print twice-
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=rjnefah1098550&bt=wi&o=54148&c=KC&p=uU1wzMHO

AND the expiration dates on the Mini Wheats are JULY 2009!

The ultimate compliment!

So this past weekend we were in Florida for my sisters wedding reception. It was a cool reception with a hot air balloon theme. I had a great time. My family is such losers NONE of them would get up to speak about my sister. How hard is it to get up there and say something nice about your sister/daughter/niece/Sister in Law...Apparently really difficult. So me being the decent sister that I am, FORCED my brother to go stand up there with me, with the understanding I would do ALL the talking and he would just stand there and look stupid. So I did it, I got up there and told some things about my sister, and ended on a positive note. LOSER FAMILY!



OK, so the ultimate compliment-

My sister had invited a lot of friends to her wedding, most of which I didn't know at all, except for one of them, Orlando. And what makes it even better is he seem genuinely interested in my couponing and saving money skills. I mean when people hear me go on (and on and on) it will spark some interest, BUT it usually ends with "So how did you learn all this" and the answer is uumm duh "The Internet" not like I was born knowing this stuff. Anyway Orlando asked me all sorts of questions and he even went to the store with us. On the way to the store I showed him my coupon box.

He flip it open and said "WOW YOU ARE HARD CORE!"

I wanted to cry! I have never been called hard core other than by myself. What a compliment! That totally made my day.

Tonights cheap dinner

Swiss steak w/rice, and green beans

Sweet Tea

I used my Cube Steak I got BOGO
2 cans of Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes-FREE

Rice-FREE

1 can of broth to make the rice, I paid $.10

Also some carrotts I got on sale ($1 a lb), celery I used a coupon and onion that I used a coupon
Oh and green beans that I got for free when I purchased the Chicken back a month or two ago....
For beverage we had Sweet tea, I got the tea on sale and had a coupon making it $.50 for the entire box of 26 family size ice tea bags and the sugar I got for free.

Here is the recipe I used

INGREDIENTS
1 pound cubed steak
1/4 c flour, divided
1 teaspoon season salt
1/4c vegetable oil
2 (14.5 ounce) can tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped celery
2 tablespoon chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

DIRECTIONS
Combine 1 tablespoon flour and salt; coat meat on both sides. In a skillet, brown meat in oil, set aside.
To pan drippings, add tomatoes, carrot, celery, onion, Worcestershire sauce and remaining flour. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes, add meat, Cover and cook 1-1/2 hours or until the meat is tender.

LOVE THE TEETER!!!!

So I decided I needed to go shopping. The last I had gone was Wednesday and I had the ITCH! We are going STRICTLY to cash only for a while and I had less than $10 on me, but that didn't stop me!

I actually went to 3 stores, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Lowes Foods and CVS.
First stop was CVS-I really needed the blush. Revlon is bogo this week.
2 Revlon Blush used 2-$2Q
1 Colgate Tooth Paste (BECAUSE I NEED MORE!)used $1Q
Paid with coupons and CVS ECB for $7 total left for me to pay was $1.41 I then got $2 ECB back (plus a $1 off colgate coupon which will make my next tube FREE, coupon for $25 gift card for new RX or Transfer, and 2 other ones I don't really care about)

Next stop was Food Lion, I had heard they may have a coupon I am looking for no such luck!
1 Home 360 Business Envelopes $1.00 flip
2 Food Lion Gum $1/2 flip
total spent $.67

Next was Lowes Foods. I went there looking for the Tomatoes that are free after coupon and I have about 40 coupons left but OUT OF TOMATOES!
So I still got a few things since I was there. The apples I like are $.50lb cheaper there.
They double coupons up to $.99
10 Meow Mix cat treats $.75 Q
2 LF gravy Mix $.50 store Q
6 apples
8 ice breakers gum $.50Q
Meow Mix can cat food (free item Q)
Total spent $4.13

My next trip was from HARRIS TEETER! Man I love that place! They have the greatest deals.
They have a few deals going no right now. They have the buy $30 worth of HBC items get $10 off your next order (hair care, pain relief, cold/cough, oral hygiene) They also have a Unilever deal going where you buy $10 worth of certain products you get a coupon for $3 off you next order or $15 and get $5...I was going to do the $10 order because I had a hard time coming up with cheap enough stuff. But then it occurred to me that DOVE is haircare and that is covered under the first deal....
My first order was
1 Zyrtex $4Q
1 Tylenol Cold $1
1 Tylenol Allergy $1
My total came to $25.07 after coupons and I used my health care benefits card (we have a LOT to use before the end of the year or we LOOSE it.) I then got my $10 credit on my vic card so I bought
1 Minute Maid OJ
4 Knorr Side dishes $.75/2
2 Lipton Tea $.50Q
1 Dove shampoo $1.50Q
1 TUB Hellman's Mayo $.50Q
1 Klondike bars $1 Q
1 Reese Peanut Butter Cup
Used my $10 off, and after my coupons my total was $1.01! Then I used my gift card from when we got a RX there and got a free $25 gift card (I still have $23 on that too!) Then I got a coupon for $5 off my next order of anything!

So total money out of my pocket was $6.21 But I got back $7 in coupons to use at the stores!

I will admit I take great pleasure in doing these deals. It is fun to do this. How low can it go! I actually panicked and bought the Reese I didn't need to buy that and I guess I could have had her take it off, but it is my REWARD for doing so well. I read about these deals on line, but I rarely go in the store knowing exactly what I will buy. For instance I knew at HT they had the Knorr sides for nearly free and that they have those 2 deals running so I was trying to make that one work. I am the type that needs to physically see what I am doing and run the numbers that way. Also I went to Lowes Foods to get the tomatoes, but they were COMPLETELY out, so I improvised since I wanted the apples, they were cheaper there than HT.

Proud of myself! Triples at Lowes Foods

I am actually proud of the fact that I stayed pretty reserved. I really wanted the canned tomatoes (which were free). I only got 2 things that I didn't have coupons for, the apples and Kraft Cheese...and THEY WERE EXPENSIVE!

I did 6 trips total all at one store. I was going to go to a second store after 2 trips at the first but the traffic was INSANE! So I just decided to go back to the first store. It was young men working, they don't care. FAC=Free After Coupon

4 Betty Crocker Frosting (FAC)

24 Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes (FAC)

1 French's Onions (FAC)

2 Progresso Soup

7 Betty Crocker Potatoes (FAC)

2 Lowes Foods beef Broth

1 Merita Sweet Sixteen Donuts

2 Pop Secret Popcorn

2 Pepsi

1 Splenda

4 Comet Rice (FAC)

1 Argo Corn Starch (FAC)

3 Clorox Toilet Cleaner (FAC)

1 Kraft Parmesan Cheese

2 Jiff Peanut Butter

1.84 lbs Honeycrisp Apples (MY FAVORITE!)

3 Kotex panty liners (FAC)

4 Betty Crocker Cookie Mix (FAC)

5 LF packet Brown Gravy (FAC)

2 Tic Tacs (FAC)

1 Trident Extra Care (FAC)

1 Russell Stovers carmel Pumpkin

Total store specials+coupons saved-$126.97

Total OOP $17.13

I should have saved a wee bit more, but I messed upon one order and didn't hit a total before I entered coupons. Oh well, I still did really well.

We had to have the Parmesan cheese ($4.39) And those apples aren't cheap ($5.50). The Russell Stovers pumpkin I grabbed because I was $.10 negative it was right there and the cheapest.

Come to find out the Muir Glen Tomatoes, which is really the thing I wanted AND Needed, they are free during double coupons! They are on sale, but in the store they are not marked for less than my coupon is worth double. I will be going back in a few days to get more. That was the last of them.

Harris Teeter $10 reward for buying $30 in meds/haircare

I went out today. Not sure why but I did. I really am trying to keep my grocery spending down. I went and cashed my $50 check for triples tomorrow at Lowes Foods (I hope not to spend it all!).

Went to Bank of America where I was rudely given my money. She just sent them money through the tube, no "thanks" or "Have a nice Day" or "KISS MY BUTT" nothing!
I went to Food Lion first. Debated if I should bother but since it is across the street I figured why not.
Food Lion I purchased:
1 Business Envelopes ($1 off home 360 items flip)
1 dental Floss ($1 off Healthy accents flip)
2 Food Lion Gum ($1/2 Food Lion candy/gum Flip)
1 dozen eggs ($1 off 1 dozen eggs flip)
Spent $1.87 OOP

Went across the street to Harris Teeter
2 Benedryl (used $1 off Q)
2 Excederin (used 1 $2 off MigraineQ)
1 Motrin (used $1 off Q)
I used my health care benefits card which has a lot of money we have to spend before the end of the year or we LOOSE it.
That gave me my 30 points needed for my $10 off your next purchase
Then I got
10 Yoplait Yogurt ($.40Q that doubled)
2 Munch Packs ($.55Q that doubled) -#3 had a baseball game tonight we have snack
1 M&M (my total was negative that was right there so I grabbed it)
Total came to $.41 and I used my Gift card.

So out of pocket today for all that pictured is actually $1.87!

I did get some bad news today. Harris Teeter is only accepting competitors coupons for money off your total order...I guess it is better it happened AFTER they had there BTFE specials because I really RAKED in the STUFF with those coupons from Lowes Foods at Harris Teeter!

Black Kitty

This has nothing to do with saving money. I am just so happy right now!
This is Black Kitty.


He came to us about 2 years ago now. He showed up around Thanksgiving 2006 and has stayed ever since. He is the coolest cat I know. He could careless about the other cats in the house (or outside). He allows them to sniff his butt (which cats do) and I have never heard him hiss, not ever including the times he is getting hissed at by Queen Bette Lou (that cat that was here first). He knows his place in the kitty cat hierarchy. He knows when The Queen is eating he is not allowed to and when she hisses everyone better snap to attention and steer clear of her. He is declawed and fixed (OF COURSE!) and we decided to allow him to stay in the house since I wouldn't have to pay to get these things done to him.

Also it should be noted that although the cat is declawed he does go outside. For anyone that is reading this saying "You shouldn't let a declawed cat outside" while I agree with that statement, Black Kitty disagrees. BK (that is what we call him) disagrees so strongly that he will do whatever it takes for me to LET him outside (no he doesn't sneak out, I let him out). We tried for several MONTHS to keep this animal in the house. He was so against it that he decided he would not use the litter box at times. And let me add that his poop REALLY stinks (like vomit). Of course he decided to state his case by going on our most expensive piece of furniture-which was also my place to lay and watch tv. He has also marked some of my clothing, like my BRA and our bed. He is nice enough to ring some bells that have been hanging on the front door when he wants to go out. So no, you can't FORCE a cat to do what they don't want to do. We tried several times over a year to keep him in. I got extra litter boxes, I put them on both floors, I tried different litter boxes, sprays, everything.

Husband loves this cat like none of the other cats. He has NEVER said a bad word about this cat (like he will tell my cat she is fat!). He sticks up for Black Kitty because well, he is just the coolest cat! Black Kitty feels as though he was put on this earth to do 2 things. Sleep and catch rodents. Rodents being, squirels, small bunnies, birds, RATS, moles, baby snakes, skinks and the occasional bug. He loves to give gifts of moles and rats in particular. He loves to be outside hunting when he isn't inside sleeping.

Next door to us they are "nature lovers" so they have umpteen million bird houses, bird feeders, squirel feeders and squirel houses, plus a "natural area" where who knows what else is living there. They have no children but do have 4 or 5 INDOOR cats. We share a lot line, and incase you didn't know our lots are about 1/3 of an acre, so it isn't like we are in the woods out here with huge lots. We are in a subdivision that has a Home Owners Association. One of the rules of this HOA is pets must be on your propery at all times or on a leash if they are not. Black Kitty can't read and although I have tried to explain to him that he isn't allowed out he doesn't care. He says he was put on this earth to hunt rodents!

One day when we were speaking to these neighbors I made the mistake of saying how BK just showed up one day and that we have taken him in. About 3 months after that it started. First the neighbor, you know the one who's front door is 50 ft from mine, called and proceeded to tell me that I was not allowed to let my cat out. Well, that was it. I had had it with them. They are the type that wants the rules they like followed but the other ones they don't agree with, they don't have to follow them. So I told him in a not nice way that they could basically kiss my butt (I used words that I shouldn't have), I was so angry. Things in the past that I brought up was how they would go on our property but we couldn't set a foot on theirs and most importantly, they had a cat that went all over (she died eariler that year) and that was ok, but this was not.

From there they complained to the HOA that our cat was a "nuissance" on thier property. Now while I will admit that this cat does go on thier property (hello it is like a cat buffet over there!) he doesn't do anything except catch these WILD animals, ones that most people would consider a nuissance. There are several cats that are running a muck around our houses we seem to be the only ones that are getting targeted. I tried at that point to keep him in the house since we got a second letter saying for every day we were not in compliance we would be fined $125 and we had a hearing too at which point we said that the cat was not ours.

Six months went by and we got yet another letter, stating the same as the first one. Then 3 months later we got yet another, this time they had PICTURES of the cat going from our property to thiers! Husband told me to take the cat to the vet to see what the vet said to try and keep him in the house. First they tested his urine and of course it was fine. Then the vet proceeded to tell me NOT to take the cat to the ASPCA that he would not be adopted and be put to sleep. Then told me some things to try but he has yet to find anything that works 100% of the time AND that he was having the same problem with his female cat, AND if I found something that works to PLEASE let him know so he can try it! I went home and got really upset. I mean REALLY upset. I cried for the next 3 days. Finally Husband couldn't take it anymore and went to talk to one of the board members of the HOA. He told us not to worry about it and that there is other things that were more important. Husband called the HOA managment company and told them this is harrassment and that we do not have a black cat, we even sent them pictures of the cats we do have. The HOA finally went to this neighbor and told them to stop complaining about this cat their is nothing they can do. If the cat bothers them so much then get a trap and take it to the pound. That was 8 months ago.

Why am I so happy? I just found out that this neighbor that only 2 families "tolerate" on the street are MOVING! They are putting their house up for sale and will be moving to the mountains. YIPEE!!!!! Who puts their house for sale in this market? IRRATIONAL PEOPLE! There are 13 houses on my street, 3 of which are currently for sale, 2 are rented because they were listed for 1 year each and they didn't sell. So of the 3 houses that are for sale have been for sale OVER A YEAR, one of them has been for sale for over two years! I also know that another one of my neighbors would like to list thier house but are smart enough to know NOT to do it, it won't sell right now.

A proud day for a coupon-money saving mom!

Today I took #3 with me to Food Lion. He likes to go and help me look for coupons and deals. He is only 8 but he really has a good grasp on things and his teacher told me he totally kicks butt in math in his class.

I printed out my Flips using the Flip organizer at HCW http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/food-lion/139118-flip-organizer.html

I used the $2/$5 produce and Deli/bakery item, $1 360, $1 Healthy Accents, $1/2 FL gum/candy, $1 coffee mate, and $1 breyers. I gave #3 $1 off 360 coupon and $1/2 Food Lion candy/gum coupon.

#3 did pretty good. He got 2 candies that were 2/$.88, 1 pack of food lion gum ($.50) and 1 bag of FL candy corn ($1.25) and a box of tissues that were $1 and spent $1.76 total (and it was his own money).

When we got home he was giving his brothers their candy. Then he proceeds to get all excited and has the box of tissues in his hand and proudly proclaimed "I GOT THIS BOX OF TISSUES FOR FREE!" What a proud day it was for me. Although #3 is typical and when he gets money it burns a hole in his pocket until he spends it, he does TRY and get the most for his money. I felt so proud of him.

I then went over to Harris Teeter. They have a special going on until November 30th for every $30 you spend in HBA items (meds and personal) you get $10 to use the next time you are at the store (it goes on your vic card). Well, they have Excedrine 24cts on sale for $1.99 a bottle. I had 6 coupons for $2 off any PM Excedrine product, so I got 6 bottles of that, and one bottle of Migraine using a $2 IP. I also got 5 yoplait yogurts and somehow only managed to spend $.06 total! And I used my $25 gift card to pay it.

Here is a link to $2 coupon for Excedrine Migraine http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=rjekdkl99322329&bt=wi&o=51835&c=EX&p=0SZ5JtO8

Triple Couopns at Lowes Food Oct 8-10th+Ebates

I just found out that Lowes Foods will have Triple coupons October 8th through the 10th.

Ebates...
I guess I didn't point out that with ebates I get a referral of $5-$15 depending on the promotion, and you get $5-$10 for signing up HOWEVER you do need to make a purchase to get this money, and for me to get my money. They have hundreds of stores on the list too. Gap, Old Navy, Target, HSN, Overstock, Best Buy, JcPenneys, even Hotels and vacation booking places like Travelocity and Priceline, just so many that it is hard not to find a store you can buy from. And with Xmas coming what better way to get some money back from the Christmas presents you will be buying?
For me the hardest part is remembering to check to see if it is Available at Ebates. So far I think only one company that I have purchased from was not on there. For the specific size item I needed, none of the stores at Ebate had it so I didn't get a rebate for that one purchase. I have also forgotten to go through them once for one of my Kohls purchases and boy was I kicking myself.
So if you do ANY Business on the Internet you are wasting money by not signing up!

Saving for my kids college-UPROMISE

I think Husband signed us up for Upromise a while back. He loaded all our store savings cards onto the website for Upromise.

Well I just got an email from Coupon Mom and it has a link for Upromise in it.

eCoupon offers average up to $25 a month.
Every month Upromise offers a selection of eCoupons on everyday items such as toilet paper or light bulbs. And using them is as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Select the eCoupons you want and click to activate them.
2. Join Upromise for free and register your grocery and drugstore cards.
3.Shop for your products. At check-out, scan your registered store card the way you normally do and your college savings will be automatically credited to your Upromise account.

http://www.upromise.com/partner/acqLanding.do?partnerName=ecoupon&ax=affpartner-couponmom&cm_mmc=eCoupon-_-eCoupon-_-Web-_-eCoupon

I put in my Zipcode and it has CVS, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, BiLo, Ingles and NetGrocer listed as participating companies.

The "coupons" are more if you buy the item then $1 gets put into your Upromise account. So sign up for the Upromise if you haven't already. There isn't much to do other than set up your account and put in your store card numbers, they do the rest. Except with the "coupons" once a month you go in and "load" the coupons on your your cards.

This months "coupons" are worth over $30.