Yes, I went to the grocery today and did another 3 of the Planters nuts deals. As predicted, I have .42 left of my available money. It's not a large sum, but, I will roll it over in September.
I went to Walgreens this morning to take advantage of the Excedrin moneymaker. They also have Haagen-Daaz (how do you spell that?) 2 for $6 and I had a $2/2 Q. My total was 4.64, but, I had a free GC to cover that, so, no oop there. I also received a $1 RR.
Here's what's available to spend for September:
$50.00 oop
.42 carry over from August
49.24 Rite Aid GC
31.36 Walgreens GC
18.31 CVS GC
1.00 Walgreens RR
I also have some free coupons to redeem. Among them are cat treats, yogurt, toothbrush, toothpaste, Michael Angelo's single serve entrees, Fast Fixin's chicken (I've never tried that), so, I think that I will do fine for September.
Hang on for the ride! Let's see if I can keep it up!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
I'm doing a little better.
Well, today is the last mail day in August and I received a $2 rebate. That means I have $3.06 for the rest of the month. I believe that I will be able to take advantage of a couple of those $3 Planters wyb 3 Kraft items. I can do 3 deals and still have about .42 left. The cocktail peanuts are on sale this week for $3 a can. I can use Kool-Aid for the fillers.
There is a uniquely southern word or phrase that many of you may not be aware of. When you go out to the garden and pick just enough vegetables for tonight's dinner, that's called a "mess of okra" or a "mess of squash." I paid a visit to my parents' house today and came away with a "mess of okra" and too many tomatoes. Tomorrow, I will pan fry that okra, make a potato dish to go with it, find some frozen niblets corn in the freezer, and thaw an Edwards Key Lime Cheesecake. That's going to be some serious eating. I'm thrilled that I was able to make it through August and only spend $50 oop. I don't know about you, but, I think it's a pretty mean feat.
On Monday, I will give a recap of available balances on my various gift cards that will be in play for September. Again, I will budget only $50 oop for the month. Let's see if I can do it again.
There is a uniquely southern word or phrase that many of you may not be aware of. When you go out to the garden and pick just enough vegetables for tonight's dinner, that's called a "mess of okra" or a "mess of squash." I paid a visit to my parents' house today and came away with a "mess of okra" and too many tomatoes. Tomorrow, I will pan fry that okra, make a potato dish to go with it, find some frozen niblets corn in the freezer, and thaw an Edwards Key Lime Cheesecake. That's going to be some serious eating. I'm thrilled that I was able to make it through August and only spend $50 oop. I don't know about you, but, I think it's a pretty mean feat.
On Monday, I will give a recap of available balances on my various gift cards that will be in play for September. Again, I will budget only $50 oop for the month. Let's see if I can do it again.
Friday, August 29, 2008
I got out of the hole!
I reported a day or two ago that I had gone over budget by 37 cents. I received a $1.43 rebate today, so, I officially have $1.06 left. Yippee!
Dinner turned out well last night.
The crock pot method of cooking a whole chicken worked out really well last night. My neighbor made out like a bandit. I took him a dinner of chicken (I gave him 1/2 of the whole chicken), a potato side dish, peas, cream corn, sliced tomatoes, Sister Schubert's rolls, rice pudding, and I even took him a bottle of Gold Peak tea to top it off. From the looks of the leftovers, it seems I will be eating chicken sandwiches until I start to cluck!
Besides groceries, be it edible foods or non-food consumables, HBA, paper products, and such, I also stockpile Christmas gifts. I have 3 nieces, 4 nephews, and 3 great-nieces. The 3 neices are getting a good supply of make-up this year. There have been so many great deals this year on make-up at CVS and Walgreens that I made that the centerpiece of their gifts this year. Instead of individual gifts, I am going to get some of those file storage boxes at Office Depot and make up a big box for each family. It will include HBA for men and women, make-up, men's cologne or aftershave, toys for the small ones, various things from my stockpile. In our family, we would rather give and receive very practical gifts, so, they are going to get personal toiletries, cleaning supplies, and probably candy and a few food items in their boxes. Except for one nephew in high school, all the others are married. You know that when a young couple is just starting out in life, cash is always short and I think my practical gifts will be remembered long after some doo-dad I might buy. The one still in high school wears contacts so I guess he'll be the recipient of the dozen or so trial size bottles of ReNu. Who can resist buying them at .99 each when you have $1 Qs for them?
Besides groceries, be it edible foods or non-food consumables, HBA, paper products, and such, I also stockpile Christmas gifts. I have 3 nieces, 4 nephews, and 3 great-nieces. The 3 neices are getting a good supply of make-up this year. There have been so many great deals this year on make-up at CVS and Walgreens that I made that the centerpiece of their gifts this year. Instead of individual gifts, I am going to get some of those file storage boxes at Office Depot and make up a big box for each family. It will include HBA for men and women, make-up, men's cologne or aftershave, toys for the small ones, various things from my stockpile. In our family, we would rather give and receive very practical gifts, so, they are going to get personal toiletries, cleaning supplies, and probably candy and a few food items in their boxes. Except for one nephew in high school, all the others are married. You know that when a young couple is just starting out in life, cash is always short and I think my practical gifts will be remembered long after some doo-dad I might buy. The one still in high school wears contacts so I guess he'll be the recipient of the dozen or so trial size bottles of ReNu. Who can resist buying them at .99 each when you have $1 Qs for them?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
I blew it!
I had $10.85 left yesterday and wanted to use some really hot coupons. I've gone over budget by 37 cents. The item that pushed me over wasn't even a necessity; I had a $2 Q on Downy and since when is fabric softener a necessary item? On the other hand, when's the last time I had a $2 Q on Downy? Never.
I'm making a bit of progress in the kitchen. The chicken is in the crock pot and will be ready for supper. I have boxed potatoes by the dozens, so, that will be one side dish tonight. I have some frozen veggies and I'll add one of those to the dinner plate. Maybe this time I will remember the Sister Schubert's rolls in the toaster oven and have those, too. Remember when I heated some for dinner one night and forgot all about them?
I'm also using a new item for the first time today; the Reynolds Slow Cooker liner. When they first came out, there were some really great Qs and I bought a few boxes. I dressed my chicken with McCormick's chicken rub. That was one of those purchases in the past that occurred just because I had a great Q for it and it was BOGOF. So, finally, I am using it!
Oh, yes, I almost forgot. There will be sliced tomatoes on the menu, courtesy of my dad. The tomato season is coming to an end, but, there is still okra in the garden. Hmm, maybe I need to go visit my parents in a day or two. I'll even offer to help harvest the okra. If you've never had pan-fried okra, you are definitely not from the south. You cut the okra into bite-size pieces, coat them in cornmeal and flour, and fry in oil. I'm not saying it's a healthy dish, but, it's a mighty darn good tasting one!
I'm making a bit of progress in the kitchen. The chicken is in the crock pot and will be ready for supper. I have boxed potatoes by the dozens, so, that will be one side dish tonight. I have some frozen veggies and I'll add one of those to the dinner plate. Maybe this time I will remember the Sister Schubert's rolls in the toaster oven and have those, too. Remember when I heated some for dinner one night and forgot all about them?
I'm also using a new item for the first time today; the Reynolds Slow Cooker liner. When they first came out, there were some really great Qs and I bought a few boxes. I dressed my chicken with McCormick's chicken rub. That was one of those purchases in the past that occurred just because I had a great Q for it and it was BOGOF. So, finally, I am using it!
Oh, yes, I almost forgot. There will be sliced tomatoes on the menu, courtesy of my dad. The tomato season is coming to an end, but, there is still okra in the garden. Hmm, maybe I need to go visit my parents in a day or two. I'll even offer to help harvest the okra. If you've never had pan-fried okra, you are definitely not from the south. You cut the okra into bite-size pieces, coat them in cornmeal and flour, and fry in oil. I'm not saying it's a healthy dish, but, it's a mighty darn good tasting one!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
More money!
I received $6.99 in rebates yesterday, so, I now have $10.85 to spend this month. I am going to the grocery today and use some hot Qs. I would just kick myself if I didn't take advantage of them.
At the end of the month, when you clean out your Q binder, does it bother you that you have to throw away so many Qs? I cleaned mine out last night and all I could see was a big stack of money going into the trash. Of course, it's not possible to use every single Q you ever get, but, doesn't it just feel "wrong" to throw them away? Most of the time, I don't actually throw them away; I send them to military families around the world. Their commissaries accept Qs up to 6 months past the expiration date. If you hate throwing Qs away as much as I do, that is a great way to give them a 2nd life.
I'm thinking that the challenge is going to be harder in September. I don't have very many rebates outstanding right now. I received a $20 beer rebate in July and August. Those were very big, considering how rigid my spending was during that time. I don't have that to look forward to for September, but, I am still going to go for it; $50 oop plus all free GC and any rebates received.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, the crock pot chicken has been pushed back a couple of days. I am going to get it done in the next day or two and I'll report on how well the hints I received work out for me.
At the end of the month, when you clean out your Q binder, does it bother you that you have to throw away so many Qs? I cleaned mine out last night and all I could see was a big stack of money going into the trash. Of course, it's not possible to use every single Q you ever get, but, doesn't it just feel "wrong" to throw them away? Most of the time, I don't actually throw them away; I send them to military families around the world. Their commissaries accept Qs up to 6 months past the expiration date. If you hate throwing Qs away as much as I do, that is a great way to give them a 2nd life.
I'm thinking that the challenge is going to be harder in September. I don't have very many rebates outstanding right now. I received a $20 beer rebate in July and August. Those were very big, considering how rigid my spending was during that time. I don't have that to look forward to for September, but, I am still going to go for it; $50 oop plus all free GC and any rebates received.
Due to circumstances beyond my control, the crock pot chicken has been pushed back a couple of days. I am going to get it done in the next day or two and I'll report on how well the hints I received work out for me.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
I received a tiny boost yesterday.
I received a $2 rebate in the mail yesterday. That gives me $5.86 to last through Sunday. I have a few "oh, I have to use them" Qs, especially the Crystal Light free wyb 3. I never did get around to using any of the Planters nuts $3 wyb 3 items with it. Well, as we all know, the deals roll around on a schedule; they're will be more Qs and more deals later.
I'm glad I had all those Tai Pei and Michael Angelo's single serve frozen entrees. First of all, they were cheap, cheap, which is always welcome, and they are easy to prepare and just right for one person. I am glad to report that Sonny, my cat, got a piece of shrimp last night out of my shrimp fried rice dish. He loves shrimp so much that he will even eat just the tails if that's all I give him of it.
I'm not sure if I'm right about this because I have given up chasing the deals at CVS and Walgreens since I started my challenge, but, I've glanced through their weekly flyers and the rebate books and I just haven't seen anything that would motivate me to put my shoes on and go to the store. Of course, my challenge was not only spending much less each month on groceries, it was also about not bringing in more for the stockpile. I guess if they were giving it away, I'd break down and get it, :) but I don't think the deals have been nearly as good for the past 6 weeks or so. Am I missing something here?
I'm glad I had all those Tai Pei and Michael Angelo's single serve frozen entrees. First of all, they were cheap, cheap, which is always welcome, and they are easy to prepare and just right for one person. I am glad to report that Sonny, my cat, got a piece of shrimp last night out of my shrimp fried rice dish. He loves shrimp so much that he will even eat just the tails if that's all I give him of it.
I'm not sure if I'm right about this because I have given up chasing the deals at CVS and Walgreens since I started my challenge, but, I've glanced through their weekly flyers and the rebate books and I just haven't seen anything that would motivate me to put my shoes on and go to the store. Of course, my challenge was not only spending much less each month on groceries, it was also about not bringing in more for the stockpile. I guess if they were giving it away, I'd break down and get it, :) but I don't think the deals have been nearly as good for the past 6 weeks or so. Am I missing something here?
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