End Of The Month Truth To Tell

I have spent 178.03 so far this month. I really blew it. I bought that sirloin tip. Killed my budget. My yearly total is $1,121.50. I have left to spend $78.50. I've joined a group on HCW to spend no more than $50 for the month of November. I really think I can do it. There won't be any more purchases in October. I'm going with my dad to a football game tomorrow. No time to go to the grocery. I CAN do this. I can really clamp down next month. No problem. I won't fall for the Glade promotions, I won't fall for any goofy deals. I'm going to make it in November with $50. Please pull for me. I want to make this goal.

I'm Really Glad I Splurged On The Sirloin Tip

I had that sirloin tip ground and when I got home, cooked most of it up and put it in approximately 1 lb. portions in the freezer. Last night, I wanted something warm to eat while watching the baseball game and I thought about that. So, with a pouch of meat, an envelope of taco mix, and some jar cheese and Tostitos, I had a fabulous plate of nachos. I liked it so much I did it again for lunch today. The jar of Tostitos queso was free when I bought 2 bags of chips. I still had sour cream from the last taco merry-go-round. I'm flush with taco seasoning envelopes (at least 2 dozen, I guess)and jars of salsa. I think when I was accumulating so many envies of taco sauce, I made it a rule to never spend more than a dime for each one. Tacos! Nachos! Hablo espanol!

Well, I've Really Got My Butt In A Bind Now

Over at HCW, I joined the November challenge. I said I could do it with $50. What?! I must be crazy. I do have a 16 lb. bag of cat food laid back, but, I need litter. Other than milk, bread, coffee cream, and a few fruits and veggies, I think I can make do with what I have. Seriously, though, how am I and 10 cats going to make it on $50 for the month? According to the rules, that includes eating out, too. I have a fair amount of restaurant GC to use, but, I do have a habit of driving through Mickey D's for a cup of coffee. I have Starbucks GC, but, their coffee tastes like swill! I guess I'll burn those GC next month when I'm out and about.

I think I have enough Cokes to make it through November. That's my weakness, I admit. I may have to make more iced tea and drink fewer Cokes. That's O.K. I have PLENTY of tea and enough sugar and the no-calorie sweetener (why can't I remember the name?) to make do. Oh, Splenda. That's it. I have several (maybe a dozen) boxes of Splenda for practically nothing.

I have to do a lot of traveling in November for business. Most places I'll be staying have a microwave available and I have a dozen free Qs for Michael Angelo's entrees. Guess I'll be eating in most of the time. One place I have to visit allows me $50 in room service. I'm loving that! Also, I think every place I'll be staying has a free breakfast. I think I can make it.

Cheer me on. I'm looking for any support.

Oh, yeah, has anyone joined the Eight O'Clock Accumul8 Rewards program? It ends, as it currently stands, on Dec. 31. I think they are rolling out a new program next year. Let's see if it's worth fooling with. Another rewards program, Stouffer's, is also ending Dec. 31. Maybe they'll roll out another program next year. I've gotten a few free Qs for food from that program.

Great SC Johnson Deal

http://www.scjohnson.com/en/products/coupons.aspx

Go here to download a rebate form for SC Johnson products. Those include Glade, Ziploc, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Pledge, Shout, Fantastik, Drano, Raid, Off, Saran, Nature's Source. Buy 3, send in your receipt dated no earlier than 10/1/09 (yeah, kick yourself like I did for buying a bunch of them on 9/30) with the UPC written on the form. You can send up to 3 of these $5 rebates per household, separate envelopes. Since I save all my receipts from everything, I found this morning that I already had enough for $10 in rebates. Went to Target and did the Glade deal today. Got enough for another $5 rebate, received a $5 Target GC, and pretty much just did a great deal on Glade, especially the Christmas fragrances.

The Target deal, in case you're just getting up to speed like I am, is buy 5 of the Christmas fragrances, get a $5 Target GC free. You can do several of these. You can also use all those great Glade Qs you're holding onto.

So, yeah, I spent some of my precious money that I have left on the Glade stuff today, although, in my defense, I also had to have cat litter. I didn't really spend too much on the Glade and I'm getting $15 back. I hope I get that back before the end of the year to help my totals.

There are, according to my fingers, exactly 10 weeks left in this year. I have $105 left to spend on groceries. I know I'll have to have more cat litter, so, I'll actively be looking for a good deal on that. I may have to buy one more large bag of cat food before the end of the year. Otherwise, milk, bread, coffee cream, and a few fruits and veggies. I'm gonna make it.

I Think It Was A Smart Buy

I went to Food Lion this morning to get in on the great deal on sirloin. What I found was that it was priced at $1.77 per pound, but, you had to buy a whole one. I found a 9 lb. + size for $16.XX. They also had boneless, skinless chicken breast for $1.99 per pound. I picked up a couple of packages of that, as well. In all, I spent $24.36 and saved $29.97 with my store card. Now, I just have to spend the rest of the day portioning, frying, packaging, and finding space in my freezer for all of this!

I also did well at CVS today. They had 12-pack cokes for $13/4. That's not a great buy, but, I had 3 free Qs and I got $3 ECB back. I also used a $3.50 Q on the Glade candle which was $6.99 and got $6.99 back in ECB.

My favorite CVS does not yet have the bag tags to receive ECB credits. Th assistant manager told me that she was expecting them any day and had already made an empty space on the front counter for them.

Sirloin Tip Roast

I thought I got a great deal on sirloin tip roast @ $2.99 per lb. Food Lion has it for $1.87 per lb. this week. Wow! I'm going to have to dip into my remaining $155 for the year and buy some and have it ground. Who can walk past this deal?

Just An Update

I went a little crazy on some BOGOF stuff this week at my local grocery. They had All laundry detergent BOGOF and there are $1 and also .40 coupons out there. I ended up buying 6 bottles (32 load size) at a cost of $2.16 ea. I probably could have talked myself out of doing it if I'd just gone into the pantry room and looked at all the bottles and boxes of detergent I already had! Anyway, I'm admitting to some stockpiling. I know, some days I fall off the wagon on this challenge.

I only have $155 left to spend for the rest of the year. Of course, there's only about 11 weeks left in the year. If I completely ignore the Walgreens and CVS ads, I think I can do it. Of course, I have about $35-40 in CVS GC right now. I still have about $5 in Rite Aid GC. Other than those GC, I'm having to actually pay for stuff. Doesn't that bite?

I'm pleased to tell you that I've used $2,722 in Qs, store cards, and non-purchased GC so far this year. That looks pretty good next to the $1,045 I've actually spent.

I'm still able to refer a few people for the "GC for junk mail" program. If you would like to get in on this, please email me at vickiburtonlives@bigfoot.com, giving me your name, address, and email address.

Oh, yeah, I was able to redeem my Accumul8 Rewards points for a coffee free coupon. I guess that's all I'm going to get out of the program before it shuts down Dec. 31.

Walgreens: Good Deal Alert

With an in-ad coupon from the Walgreens sales flyer this week, you can get Campbell's cream of mushroom or chicken, buy one at $1.59, get one free. There is a printable Q out there somewhere (I am so bad about not remembering where I get my printables) $1/2. This makes them an excellent buy this week. Even without the $1/2 Q, .80 per can is pretty good.

Enrollment Open Again

I was able to wrangle a few more referrals for the GC for junk mail program. If you are interested in joining, email me at vickiburtonlives@bigfoot.com with your name, address, and email address and I will get you signed up. I just redeemed my September points for a $20 O'Charley's GC yesterday. When I went on vacation earlier this year, I don't think I spent any money at restaurants. I was flush with Olive Garden, TGI Fridays, and Chili's GC.

I mentioned that I'd been holding onto all my free Qs for the turkey promotion. Since my store is not doing the turkey thing this year, I had to get busy redeeming these Qs. A lost of them expire Oct. 31. I shopped yesterday, spent $5 and used $29 in Qs. The $5 was mostly tax. The cats got a whole lot of treats! I'v been flooded with trades and I guess I have about a dozen of the free Friskies treats.

Just for laughs, I'll tell you that I'm back on the taco merry-go-round again. You know how it goes. You open a box of tacos, and the meat you've prepared doesn't fill all the taco shells. So, you make more taco meat. This time, you have to open another box of taco shells to use up the rest of the meat. Now, you've got leftover taco shells again. You have to keep the merry-go-round going because you are still trying to use up the sour cream and diced tomatoes before they go bad. By the time I can ever get all of it to work out and use up the last of all the ingredients, I should be able to converse in Spanish!

I have a question for someone out there. I found a sirloin tip roast for $2.99 lb. last week. Now, I don't buy that too much, but, I knew in my heart that $2.99 was a sweet deal. You can't even get hamburger meat for $2.99 lb. anymore, can you? Anyway, just wondered if I should take the roast to the meat market at my store and get them to grind it. Ground sirloin is certainly usually more expensive than that. I use ground beef a lot more than roasts because of my esophageal spasms. I usually get choked on meat, that is, dense meats like roast or pork chops, those kinds of things. So, grind it or take my chances with a crock pot roast with veggies?

"GC For Junk Mail" referral is closed.

I have referred all that I am allowed in the "GC for junk mail" deal. If there is an open enrollment again, I will post it for you. I've made $240 in GC in the past year. I'm kind of partial to restaurant GC, although I think I have gotten Macy's and CVS as well.

Sorry to all of you who thought about it but didn't submit your information. Hopefully, you will get another chance.

No Free Turkey This Year!

I was outside looking for my newspaper before 6:00am to see the grocery ads. RATS!! It looks like my store is not doing the turkey promotion this year. In the past, it has run for 7 or 8 weeks before Thanksgiving so that you would have the opportunity to earn a turkey point every week with a $35 minimum purchase. Well, it's 7 weeks before T Day and there's a big nothing going on.

I think Food Lion is doing one, but, their minimum purchase to get a point is $45, or so I've heard. I don't really like FL anyway. I guess I'll just have to get over not getting a free turkey this year. Don't you hate it when you get all worked up over the possibility of receiving something and then you don't get it? I'm trying to be a "grown up" about this, but, really, I wanted my turkey!

My "Free" Turkey Strategy

Bi-Lo, where I do the majority of my shopping, has a promo every fall for a free turkey for Thanksgiving. In the past, it has required $35 minimum purchases 7 times during the promo period. I'm hoping those details don't change this year.

Here's my strategy; I'm holding onto $112 in free Qs. I will use them $35 at a time to get a turkey "point." That's 3 points without spending anything except tax. I have to buy 2 large bags of cat food soon. Combine that with the balance of the free Qs, that's another point. I do actually have to pay for groceries every now and then, so, only 3 more $35 purchases and I will have a free turkey.

What does your store do during this holiday period? Are there any special promos for you? Would you spend $35 a week for 7 weeks to get a free turkey? Am I too hung up on the "free" part of this deal that I don't see the downside?

Oh, I heard a helpful hint lately. As you know, the directions on the turkey always say to roast the turkey breast side up. I was told to turn it over. The juices drip down into the breast and keep it nice and juicy. You know, usually by the time the rest of the turkey is done, the breast is all dried out. I'm going to try it next time I roast a turkey. Along the same line, when cooking a chicken in a crock pot, put it breast side down in the pot. Also, make 4 or 5 little aluminum balls, place in the bottom of the pot, and your chicken won't be mushy from cooking in the accumulated juices. I've tried that. Worked great.

A Smokin' Promotion

I am a member of a program in which they collect junk mail and email relating to auto, home, medical, and life insurance, in addition to solicitations to buy mutual funds, credit card offers, etc. You just forward your junk email to them or send your snail mail junk in one of their postage paid envies. You earn points for your submissions and can redeem your points for GC to such places as TGI Fridays, Olive Garden, and Chili's. I think CVS is also in the list.

Anyway, I can sign up 6 people to join in on the goodies. If you would like to join, please email me at vickiburtonlives@bigfoot.com and give me your name and email address.

I have been a member for over a year and have had no negative experiences with this company. They have not raided my bank account, or scammed my credit card, or any other bad thing you could think of. I have spoken to the coordinator on several occasions. They really exist in Chicago and I usually earn a $20 GC every month for the junk I send them.

September End-Of-Month Accounting

I spent a total of $87.64 for the month of September. That leaves me to spend for the next 3 months, $85 per month to make goal this year.

I have used $2,550 in coupons, store card savings, and non-purchased gift cards so far this year. My Q use is 73% of my grocery bill. I really hadn't expected to do that well this year. I remember being in the grocery store in January and a woman struck up a conversation with me when she saw my coupon binder. I told her that I wanted to hit 68% coupon use this year, but, that I wouldn't be too disappointed if it were a bit less than that.

I've mentioned the Eight O'Clock Accumul8 program here in the past. I just received an email to inform me that the program is ending on 12/31 and that a "new" program will be rolled out in 2010. They are no longer taking referrals, but, if you are an existing member, you can still enter codes through the end of the year and redeem for whatever is left in their catalog. I consider myself lucky that I had enough to get the $25 Visa GC earlier this year. When I redeemed for it, it cost 2,500 points. Now, a $25 check costs 3,500 points.

There was a recent Michael Angelo's promo; buy 4 single-serve, get 4 Qs in return. I jumped on that. I love the convenience of those entrees, especially when I'm tired or just not wanting to cook. They mistakenly sent me 2 sets of 4 Qs. What a lovely surprise!