Happy Halloween!

Treats I made for my kiddies...who really aren't kiddies anymore (depsite how they act, lol).

This will be the first Halloween in as far back as I can remember (from MY childhood) that we won't be going out trick-or-treating.

But my oldest and his GF, and my youngest are home tonight, so we're going to eat pizza and pop some popcorn and watch a scary movie.

I also made "Bat Splats", as we call them this time of year. AKA No Bake Cookies, or Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Oatmeal-No-Bake-Cookies.

Publix

I had a great Publix shopping day today!

(Two transactions)

I had seen the little Spongebob Halloween buckets when I was in on Thursday, but didn't have the coupons I needed for the cereal, so I was hoping they still had them when I went back today, and they did! Yay, I am such a sucker for Promo stuff...and especially when it doesn't cost me anything.

The Frosted Flakes cereal was priced $1.99 each...I'm not sure if it's an Essential Item this month, or just this one store...some of the boxes had $3.00/3 peelie coupons on them, and I was able to use $1.00/1 Kellogg's Cereal Target coupons to make the cereal free + .01 overage on each box.

Then the deal with the little buckets were Free wyb 3 Kellogg's Products.

So, 12 boxes Frosted Flakes and 4 Halloween buckets = FREE.

Another thing I was looking for was the Frankenberry cereal. I had seen it a few times before while shopping, but then it would move or disappear, and I'd end up forgetting I was wanting it.  But I saw it Thursday, a whole endcap full, marked $1.99 each, and this time I remembered. I went armed with my $1.00/2 MQ, $1.00/2 Target Q, and $4.00/4 Publix in-ad Q, prepared to pay .50 a box for 4 boxes.

But then I got there and there was no Frankenberry in sight! Oh no! I knew they hadn't sold it all in 2 days, so when I looked around and couldn't find it anywhere else, I asked someone where it went, hoping they could find me some out of the back.

Turned out they had moved it to the Discounted Rack (I had looked there but somehow hadn't seen it), and now it was marked 2/$1.99!

I had only brought enough MQ and TQs for 4 boxes, so with the PQ, I ended up getting $2.00 overage on the first four boxes.  Then I just got the other 8 boxes free using the PQ.

In case you lost count, that's 24 boxes of cereal = FREE! Woo-hoo!

I also got 8 Totino's Pizzas free using $1.00/4 MQ and $4.00/4 PQ.

$1.47 Old El Paso Refried Beans x 4

$1.07 Taco Seasoning

-.60/2 OEP IP Q

-.60/2 OEP IP Q

-1.07 Free Season wyb 2 OEP products

-1.07 " " " "

-4.00/4 PQ

= .68

$3.19 Glade 2oz Soy Candles x 6

-3.00 MQ (Better at Home?) x 3

-3.19 BOGO IP Q Right at Home x 3

=  .57

*Will submit for $5.00 SC Johnson Rebate

$5.99 Nesquik Powder (usually over $7.00, so this was a good price)

$2.59 Milk

MMs:

$1.39 Bear Naked Bars

-2.00 IP Q

.99 Schick Disposable 2pk

-2.00 MQ

Value Before Coupons: $100.03

Total Spent: $0.12 + 2.33 tax = $2.45 from Gift Card

Kroger Mega 4

The Rolaids worked out great, got me $2.00 overage, which I used to buy the 4 chocolatey milks which were on sale again for .99 each.

The bread was on Manager's Special for .39 and .49 each, and I bought the pizza sauce with more overage from the Glade refills and playtex gloves.

Got another Catalina for $1.00 off Any Playtex Gloves.

Value Before Coupons/Mega Sale $56.68

Total Spent: -1.44 + 2.12 tax = .68

I Love Zaxby's

But hate to pay the price they charge for my favorite Boneless Wings! So my husband made us practically the same thing for about $2.00.

I had some Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts that I had bought at a .99lb Ingles sale, using a $1.00 off coupon.

He cut the chicken into chunk size bites and dipped them in a batter of milk, egg, and flour, and then deep fried them in the Fry Daddy.

He mixed a bottle of Lawry's Buffalo BBQ Marinade (Free from Publix with BOGO sale and coupon) with butter in a bowl, then added the fried chicken bites and coated them well.

We dipped them in Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing & Dip (Free from Publix with BOGO sale and coupon) and they were deeeee-lish! Yum Yum!

Printer Ink Outage

No picture of printer ink, because I still don't have any!

I went to Staples this afternoon, and the only one they were out of was the Black ink for my printer!!!

What is the deal???

I asked the General Manager if there was any other "number" that might fit my printer, but there isn't.

He said, though, he could order the ink for me. I was like, nnnnah, surely I can find some before it could get delivered....

He said I would have it tomorrow. I asked would I have to drive back up there to get it, and he said I could have it delivered at my house. So then I was like, yeah but, how much would shipping be on that.

So he says, when they are out of stock on something like that, and order it, then there is no shipping charge.

Well I couldn't pass up a deal like that. I didn't have time to go anywhere else this afternoon to look for any, so it'd be tomorrow anyway before I could go out. Even better if they bring it me, rather than me having to try to chase it down somewhere.
Turly I wonder if there's any anywhere, after it being out in all the places we checked, in three different cities! And Staples!

I wonder if it will really show up tomorrow?

*Update: The ink showed up at my door before lunchtime this morning! Thanks Staples!

Walgreens

I found some more oatmeal coupons in my unorganized coupon stacks...I pretty well knew I wouldn't be able to find any in stock at this point, but who knows, maybe I could've hit the delivery truck just right...I guess not, though.

They did have another Soft Soap pump or base (I forget which one I bought the last of the other day), so used my last Softsoap RR to buy another Dulcolax, and then the Dulcolax RR to buy this other set of Softsoap.

Also found some more - well, they weren't lost, they were still in my inserts, I just wasn't going to mess with them - Dentek Floss. Then I figured, what the heck, they're a money-maker, and I'm going to be there anyway. I rolled my Glade RRs from last week on them.

The plastic cups I used as fillers were on clearance for .14 cents.

Kroger Mega 3

Small shop, I'm running out of coupons. And I didn't do the Fruit Shapes deal again because I didn't have the .40 IP coupon. I bought them yesterday without the coupon and spent .80 more than I needed to.

The Playtex gloves were bought with a $1.00 off Catalina that had printed out last time. I got another one today, too.

I had also bought another Febreeze Noticables Starter Kit, but the $3.00 P&G e-coupon didn't come off. Last time it didn't work, I let it go, but that was alot less than $3.00. I didn't want the hassle of having to fax my receipt to the people to prove I bought it or whatever, so I just returned the thing.

The refried beans and nanners were bought with overage from the Glade refills and gloves.

I spent $7.09 including tax, but got back $7.48 when I returned the Febreeze, so everything was free and a little extra.

Publix

Transaction 1:
$2.29 Krusteaz Cookies (Raincheck BOGO)
-1.00 SS 10/11

$1.89 Betty Crocker Frosting
- .50 (doubled) SS 10/25
-4.00/4 Publix in-ad Q

$2.00 Pillsbury Simply Cookies
-1.25 IP Q or
-1.00 GM 9/13
-4.00/4 Pubix in-ad Q

$ .99 Deli Sweet Tea
-1.00 Any Deli Item Publix Baby Mailer Q

$2.49 Royal Gala Apples
-1.00 Target Q

$2.50 Sorrento Chunk Cheese
-1.00 Publix Flyer Q
-2.00 Peelie Q

$1.99 Ziplock Freezer Bags
-BOGO SS 10/04
- .40 (doubled) SS 9/13

$2.00 Lay's Chips
(BOGO Sale, no Q)

$2.99 Sundown Vitamin D
-1.00 RP 10/04
-6.00 Publix Flyer Q

$2.99 Phazyme
-$7.00/2 RP 10/11

$1.85 Rolaids 3pk.
-4.00/2

$1.59 Bear Naked Bar
-2.00 IP Q

$3.00 Burritos
(No Q)

Value Before Coupons: $75.64
Total $1.35 + 2.17 tax = $3.52 Gift Card

Transaction 2:
$2.19 Krusteaz Pancake Mix (Raincheck BOGO)
- .50 (doubled)SS 10/11

$1.25 Totino's Pizza
-1.00/4 GM 9/13
-4.00/4 Publix in-ad Q

$1.89 Betty Crocker Frosting
- .50 (doubled) SS 10/25
$2.00 Pillsbury Simply Cookie
-1.00 GM 9/13
-4.00/4 Pubix in-ad Q

$2.20 Perdue Chicken Shapes
-1.00 RP 10/18
*Submit for $5 Perdue/Transformers 2 Rebate

$2.49 Royal Gala Apples
-1.00 Target Q

$2.99 Sundown Vitamin D
-1.00 RP 10/04
-6.00 Publix Flyer Q

$2.49 Maybelline Eyeliner
-1.00 RP 10/11
-2.00 Publix Flyer Q

Value Before Coupons: $35.00
Total $0.00 + 1.34 tax = $1.34 Gift Card

Rite Aid Repeat

Pretty much a repeat of this post...but without the hassle. No problem at all using the VideoPerks coupon with the Manufacturer coupon on the diapers.

Kroger Mega 2

I wanted to go shop at Publix today, but my printer ink ran out last night and I couldn't print alot of the coupons I needed to make a trip worthwhile to drive.
This morning my son had some spare time before needing to be at school so I got him to go by Walmart to get me some ink. He called and said they were out of Black, which is also the one I'm out of here.

So I said well, okay, not a biggie, I'll run up to the other Walmart, and can make another Kroger run while I'm there. Different Kroger from yesterday, but also nice people, not giving me any coupon hassles.

Anyway, that Walmart had neither the Black nor Color ink for my printer. Very strange, because when I worked at WM, we always had an abundance of printer ink, too much to fit on the rack. We'd try to put it in a box in the Back, and our Manager was always harrassing us to get it out, get it out. Make room for it...don't care how.

So, goes on, son gets out of school for the day and stops at another Walmart in another town. They are out of the Black ink for my printer!!!!!!!!

So either someone/thing is trying to tell me something :wwwooooo: Stay out of the bad Publix :wwwwooooo: (those were supposed to be ghostly sounds, lol), or ?
I hope they aren't discontinuing the ink for my printer!

$.49 Carnation Evaporated Milk
-.50/2 (doubles to 1.00) SS 9/27
= Free/2 (.02 overage)

$.99 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
-1.00 ICBINB Sticks Blinkie q/Parade magazine 8/09
= Free (.01 overage)

$.99 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
-1.00 Parade 10/11
= Free (.01 overage)
*Got $1.00 OYNO wyb 6

$.50 Hall's Drops
- .35 (doubled to .70) SS 9/27
= Free (.20 overage)

$.50 Ricola Natural Mixed Berry w/ Vitamin C)
-1.00/2 BOGO
= Free/2

$1.49 Chocolatey Chex Mix
-.50 Cellfire eq
-.50 (doubles to 1.00) IP Q
= Free

$.99 Whiskas Cat Treats
- .50 (doubles to $1.00) RP 10/25
= Free (.01 overage)

$.79 Hormel Chili w/ Beans (3)
-2.00/3 SS 10/18
= .13 each (.37/3)

$1.49 Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes (5)
-.40 Shortcuts eq
-.50/2 (doubled to 1.00) 9/13 GM (2)
= 5.05/5 (1.01 each)
*Got back $3.50 OYNO Catalina wyb 5
Final Cost 1.55/5 (.31 each)

$1.99 Pillsbury Rolled Pie Crusts (4)
-.50/2 Cellfire eq
-.50/2 Shortcuts eq
-1.00/2 Blinkie q (2)
= 4.96/4 (1.24 each)
*Got back $2.00 OYNO Catalina wyb 4
Final Cost 2.96/4 (.74 each)

$6.99 Febreeze Noticables Starter Kit (Not Mega Sale)
-3.00 P&G eq
-4.00 PG 9/27
=Free (.01 overage)

$2.76 Bic Bella Soliel Razors (BOGO 5.52, but rang up half price)
-3.00 SS 9/20 (possibly .24 overage)

$2.75 Bic Twilight Soliel Razors (BOGO 5.49, but rang up half price)
-3.00 SS 9/20 (possibly .25 overage)

Value Before Coupons and Mega Sale: $91.11
Total Spent including tax: $4.04
*Got $3.50 OYNO, $2.00 OYNO, and $1.00 OYNO
Final Total: $2.46 Profit

Mega Kroger Deals

Great sale at Kroger this/next week for building your stockpile!
(Prices are AFTER Mega Sale)

$.49 Carnation Evaporated Milk
-.50/2 (doubles to 1.00) SS 9/27
= Free/2 (.02 overage)

$.99 I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
-1.00 ICBINB Sticks Blinkie q/Parade magazine 8/09
= Free (.01 overage)

$.99 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
-1.00 Parade 10/11
= Free (.01 overage)

$.50 Hall's Drops
- .35 (doubled to .70) SS 9/27
= Free (.20 overage)

$.50 Ricola Natural Mixed Berry w/ Vitamin C)
-1.00/2 BOGO
= Free/2

$1.49 Chex Mix
-.50 Cellfire eq
-.50 (doubles to 1.00) IP Q
= Free

$.50 Playtex Gloves
-1.00 SS 10/04
= Free (.50 overage)

$.99 Whiskas Cat Treats
- .50 (doubles to $1.00) RP 10/25
= Free (.01 overage)

$.79 Hormel Chili w/ Beans (3)
-2.00/3 SS 10/18
= .13 each (.37/3)

$.99 Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies (2)
-1.50/2 IP Q
= .24 each (.48/2)

$1.49 Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes (5)
-.40 Shortcuts eq
-.40 (doubled to .80) IP Q
-.50/2 (doubled to 1.00) 9/13 GM (2)
= 4.25/5 (.85 each)
*Got back $3.50 OYNO Catalina wyb 5
Final Cost .75/5 (.15 each)

$1.99 Pillsbury Rolled Pie Crusts (4)
-.50/2 Cellfire eq
-.50/2 Shortcuts eq
-1.00/2 Blinkie q (2)
= 4.96/4 (1.24 each)
*Got back $2.00 OYNO Catalina wyb 4
Final Cost 2.96/4 (.74 each)

$2.99 Glade Candle Holder (Not part of Mega Sale)
-3.00 Peelie q
= Free (Possible .01 overage if Cashier pushes it through)

$2.79 Glade Candle Refills (Part of Mega Sale)
-2.79 Free wyb Holder Blinkie q
= Free plus .50 overage after Mega Sale comes off

$1.00 Starkist Tuna (Not part of Mega Sale)
-.50 (doubled to $1.00) IP Q
= Free

$6.99 Febreeze Noticables Starter Kit
-3.00 P&G eq
-4.00 PG 9/27
=Free (.01 overage)

$2.76 Bic Bella Soliel Razors (BOGO 5.52, but rang up half price)
-3.00 SS 9/20 (possibly .24 overage)

*Today was Moonlight Madness sale and I got a large thing of Apple Juice and Half-Gallons of Kroger Chocolatey milk for .99 each.

Value Before Coupons and Mega Sale: $216.46
Total Spent including tax: $12.29
*Got $3.50 OYNO and $2.00 OYNO
Final OOP: $6.79

Walgreens

I usually don't buy the Free After RR items if they aren't money-makers, but in this case I wanted and will use the SoftSoap Ensembles, and the best way to buy them for me was to roll the deal with the Dulcolax.

Softsoap Sale:
$5.99 Pump
$3.99 Base
Get $4.00 RR wyb both

Use coupons:
$2.00 off Pump or Base tearpad q found at Walgreens
$3.99 Free Base wyb Pump SS 10/25

= Free after RR

Dulcolax Sale:
$7.00
Get $4.00 RR

Use coupon:
$3.00 Hangtag q

= Free after RR
(Also a $5 mail-in-rebate on the hangtag, Bonus)

Since every item has a coupon to it, you have to buy a filler item to be able to use the RR to pay for each deal.

I needed a couple more of the goblets, and they were on clearance at this Wags for .84 each also so I got those as my fillers. There is alot of other Halloween items on clearance, too.

You can also get items like the Royal Gelatin, Act 2 popcorn, or any of the other items that have in-ad coupons. The Wags coupons aren't supposed to count against the item count.

I say they aren't supposed to, but I believe they have counted against me before. But after I started making sure to give the in-ad coupons last, after my manufacturer coupons and RRs, I haven't had any trouble using them as fillers.

Best Blog Award

Thanks to The Leonards for awarding me a Best Blog Award!



The Best Blog Award rules are:

1) To accept the award, post it on your blog
together with the name of the person who has granted
the award and his/her blog link.

2) Pass the award to up to 15 other blogs that you have
recently discovered and think are great!
Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know
they have been chosen for this award.

Other blogs I'd like to pass this on to are...

The Leonards

I Prefer Publix

Hip2Save

I Heart Publix

Southern Savers

Southern Plate

Lucky Find

I saw an idea at Kroger the other day for bouquets of the fun size candy bars arranged in Halloween Goblets. I knew Walgreens had some pretty cheap Halloween plastic cups and figured I could make similar. But when I went to the Halloween section to look for the cups for my fillers, I found these goblets on clearance for .84 each.

I cut a chunk of floral foam to fit in the goblet and anchored it with Rolos on each side. I taped the candy to bamboo skewers broke in half, and poked the skewers into the foam in varying depths. Then filled in any blank spaces with Rolos and Kisses.

Walgreens

At Walgreens this week I was looking for cheap garbage bags. I luckily stumbled onto a couple of deals for free SoftSoap Ensembles and Free with Overage Oatmeal.

Transaction #1:
$6.99 Vaseline Sheer Fusion Lotion
$5.99 Glad Trash Bags
$5.99 Softsoap Ensembles Pump
$3.99 Softsoap Ensembles Base
$2.00 Dentek Floss
$2.00 Poligrip
$2.99 Quaker Oats
$2.01 Quaker Oats
$2.50 Quaker Oats
$2.50 Quaker Oats
$1.00 Hall's
$ .84 Halloween Goblet
$ .84 Halloween Goblet
$ .59 Popcorn
= $40.23

Used:
$1.50 Vaseline IP q
$1.00 Glad Forceflex IP q
$2.00 SoftSoap Pump or Base Tearpad q found at Wags
$3.99 Free Base wyb Pump MQ
$1.00 Dentek Floss MQ
$1.50 Poligrip Booklet received in mail after I emailed and asked for coupon
$1.25/2 Quaker Oats MQ
$1.25/2 Quaker Oats MQ
$ .75 Hall's MQ
$3.62 Quaker Oats BOGO in-ad q
$ .34 Popcorn in-ad q

$8.00 RR
$8.00 RR
$6.00 RR

Total $.03 + 2.27 tax = $2.30 oop

RRs Received: $22.00

Final Total $2.30 oop

Transaction #2:
$4.99 Glad Trash Bags
$5.99 Softsoap Ensembles Pump
$3.99 Softsoap Ensembles Base
$2.00 Dentek Floss
$2.99 Quaker Oats
$2.01 Quaker Oats
$2.50 Quaker Oats
$2.50 Quaker Oats
$4.99 Dove Conditioner
$0.00 Dove Conditioner
$4.99 Dove Conditioner
$0.00 Dove Conditioner
$4.99 Dove Conditioner
$0.00 Dove Conditioner
$4.99 Dove Conditioner
$0.00 Dove Conditioner
$0.84 Halloween Goblet
$1.29 Trident
$0.71 Trident
$0.59 Pencil bag
$0.69 Lime Jello
= $54.04

Used:
$1.00 Glad Forceflex IP q
$2.00 SoftSoap Pump or Base Tearpad q found at Wags
$3.99 Free Base wyb Pump MQ
$1.00 Dentek Floss MQ
$1.25/2 Quaker Oats MQ
$1.25/2 Quaker Oats MQ
$1.00 Dove Hair Care
$1.50 Dove Conditioner
$1.50 Dove Conditioner
$1.50 Dove Conditioner
$1.50 Dove Conditioner
$1.50 Dove Conditioner
$1.50 Dove Conditioner
$1.50 Dove Conditioner
$0.75 Trident
$0.75 Trident
$3.62 Quaker Oats BOGO in-ad q
$0.49 Jello in-ad q

$8.00 RR
$8.00 RR
$8.00 RR

Total -0.55 + 2.95 tax = $2.40
(How'd I go in the negative??)

RRs received: $22.00

Final Total $4.40 oop

Transaction #3:
$2.99 Quaker Oats
$2.01 Quaker Oats
$2.50 Quaker Oats
$2.50 Quaker Oats
$5.99 Softsoap Ensembles Pump
$3.99 Softsoap Ensembles Base
$1.00 Hall's
$ .19 Halloween cup
$1.79 Loafa bread
= $22.96

Used:
$2.00 SoftSoap Pump or Base Tearpad q found at Wags
$3.99 Free Base wyb Pump MQ
$1.25/2 Quaker Oats MQ
$1.25/2 Quaker Oats MQ
$0.75 Hall's MQ

$8.00 RR

Total $2.10 + .83 tax = $2.93 oop

RRs Received: $10.00 = .93 oop

*This last transaction was at a different Wags from the first two. It was here that I first noticed the Quaker Oats ringing up at $2.99, $2.01, and $2.50, rather than the $3.19 I was expecting. I asked the cashier had I gotten the wrong oatmeal, but I hadn't. I said well, I need something that costs $3.19, and BOGO.
She told me that the oatmeal was on sale for 2/$5.00, and they'd all ring up to $10.00, and the coupon would take off $5.00.
I feared that was going to mess up my plan, and I wouldn't have the amount needed to use my $8.00RR. So I grabbed a loaf of bread to bring my total up to over $8.00.

Turned out, the Wags didn't take off $5.00, but $3.62, and somehow, the final total comes up to $3.19 for 2 of the oatmeals.
So I bought a loaf of bread I didn't really need to. But oh well, we'll eat it.

Rite Aid #%^*&!

Today I did Earthy Mama's scenario at Rite Aid. It was a straight forward deal, no questionable coupons - or so I thought!

$9.99 Huggies P&N Jumbo Diapers
$4.99 Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion
$3.99 St. Ives Elements Cleanser
$2.99 Kotex Tampons 18ct.
$2.44 Nestle Butterfinger
$1.00 Lightbulbs
$1.00 Lightbulbs
= $26.40

Used:
$5/$25 RAQ
$3.00 Huggies P&N MQ
$2.00 Huggies RQ VideoPerks Q
$1.00 Vaseline Lotion MQ
$1.00 St. Ives Facial MQ
$1.00 Kotex MQ
$1.00 Nestle MQ

Total $12.40 + 1.40 tax = $13.80 oop

SCR: $4.00 Vaseline, $2.00 Lightbulbs, $3.00 St. Ives, $2.00 Kotex, $3.00 Huggies = $14.00
= .20 profit, and will sell the diapers

Awhile back, doing the Zytrec deal the first time, this same Store Manager told me I couldn't use a Rite Aid coupon stacked with a Manufacturer coupon, because the Rite Aid coupon said Manufacturer Coupon at the top, even though it had an "RC" number barcode. So I took my coupons and went to another Rite Aid and did the deal.
After that I just didn't take any coupons I was stacking, or on BOGO sales, to that Rite Aid.

Then, a couple weeks back, I was at this Rite Aid and the same Store Manager was checking out and said she thought she owed me an apology. I said Oh? And she admitted that she'd been wrong about telling me I couldn't use the Rite Aid coupon with a Manufacturer coupon.

Sooooo, the last I expected today was, this same Store Manager telling me I couldn't use the Rite Aid VideoPerks coupon with a Manufacturer coupon because the Video coupon says Manufacturer Coupon, even though the barcode number starts with "RC".

I told her that I thought we'd already had this discussion, with the Zyrtec deal. So she said "Well I won't credit for it but..." and she took the coupon. But made me feel bad and like I was doing something wrong. I asked her why she says she wouldn't get credit for it, when this was the same coupons like the Zyrtec coupons...She said no, it was different, the coupons in the paper say like Value coupons, not Manufacturer.

If that's so, then why did she refuse my Zyrtec coupons, and have to apologize to me about it later?!?!

After I got home I called Rite Aid Customer Service and spoke to "Bob". Explained to Bob that I had already contacted Customer Service a couple of times before regarding this same situation, and told him what the Store Manager had said, and he said "That's right". What's right? He said their policy was you can't use the coupons together. I said, is this a new policy, because you could them together before. Bob says, that's the policy. I said well, did this policy start this week? He didn't know when it started, but that's their policy.

So flippin' irritating!

Kroger

There seemed to be a couple of good deals at Kroger I would have liked to get in on, and then some other deals, so I managed to put together enough to make the trip.

One good deal was the Ziploc Catalina; buy 3, get $2.00 OYNO. I had B1G1 MQs and .40/1 MQs. But the deal called for baggies priced between $1.84 and $2.19, and the cheapest my Kroger had was $2.29.

There is also a Pillsbury Catalina deal, buy 4, get $2.00 OYNO; 5, get $3.00; 6, get $4.00 (I think?). I didn't know the prices of the items going in, but took all my coupons with me and hoped to make a deal on the fly. You know that didn't happen.
The deal is good thru Nov. 7th (I think?) so I wrote down the prices and will try to work on some deals at home.

I did get the Buy 4, get $4.00 instantly Post Cereal and Nature Valley deals.
I had $1.00 coupons off the Nut Clusters, along with $1.00 Shortcuts, $1.00 Cellfire ecoupons, and also a .40 Granola Bar Shortcuts ecoupon I wasn't expecting. Made the Nut Clusters a .40 MM.
I had $2.00 coupons for the Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, so after the $4.00 off, made $2.00 overage.

The Aquafresh was 10 for $10.00, or $1.00 each, and I had .50 coupons that doubled.
The Fruit2O waters were also 10 for $10.00, and I had $1.00 coupons. So all those were free.

The Tabasco Sauce was $1.39, and I used a .50 coupon doubled to $1.00, plus a .50 Shortcuts ecoupon, givng me .11 overage.

I had two .50 off ground beef coupons...they had $1.79 lb. ground beef, but only the 5 lb. packs. The next smallest packages were $2.43 and $2.44. With my coupon, doubled, it should have been $1.43 and $1.44 a package, not a bad price for GB.
Turned out my coupons didn't scan, and as the boy was manually putting them in, he saw that it said Do Not Double at the top, so he didn't.

I said that I understood that Kroger's policy was to double coupons, and he said it is...the ones that they let them. I said WHO doesn't let you? He said the coupons. I said that makes no sense because it's Kroger losing the money on doubling, not the coupon.

He didn't know how to answer that, and I didn't push it with him. He was just doing what he was supposed to. But I plan to email Corp and complain that Kroger is reneging on their coupon policy by not doubling the coupons even if they say Do Not Double.
I still don't understand why the Manufacturer's put that on coupons, when it shouldn't matter a hill of beans to them if a store doubles or not. The Manufacturer is only going to pay face value of the coupon, like it says in the fine print, so what do they care if stores double or not?

I also got 3 bags of French Fried Taters, on sale for $1.88 each. Near as I can recall, that's about the cheapest price on fries/tots I've seen. I don't recall them going BOGO at Publix, and it's still cheaper than $1.50/2 Ore-Ida taters. (Yes, I could have gotten taters cheaper at Publix using Overage/RRs, but I was here and decided to just get them.)

Same with the Sam Adams beer for the hubby. He'd mentioned yesterday I hadn't gotten him any beer in a long time, so I figured, well, I've been saving so much on my other shopping, I guess we can splurge for some beer.

Total before coupons: $57.89
Total Spent: $21.10 + 1.72 tax = $22.82

Got a $3.00 OYNO Catalina for buying 4 boxes of cereal.

*Of course, the very next day Ore-Ida taters are included in the Buy 10 Get $5 Off sale.
$1.99 (.50 off wyb 10 price)
$1.99
-1.50/2 IP Q
= $2.48, or $1.24 each

Walgreens

Still had $8.00 of the RRs I was trying to blow left, and they expired today, so I wanted to go ahead and get rid of them before I had to worry about possibly not being able to use them later. I remembered there was a Wags not too far from my Aunt's house, where I had to go today anyway, so I went there. Never shopped there before and didn't know what to expect, but it turned out okay for me. Not so much for the guy in line in front of me.

First I got my 4 Starbucks drinks @ $1.29 each with in-ad coupon = $5.16. Paid with $3.00 RR and $2.00 RR.

I saw a coupon tearpad for $1.00 off milk wyb Smooth & Sexy bread (not really Sexy, but I can't remember what it really said), which I didn't really think was a great deal, the milkwas over $3.00 a gallon. But it did occur to me that I could use a loaf of bread.
The bread was $1.79, so I would be spending .79 cash if I bought it with $1.00 RR.
The milk coupon pictured a gallon of milk, but the wording didn't specify a certain size, so I debated as to whether I should try it with a smaller milk. They had pint size bottles of milk and chocolate milk for $1.39, so minus $1.00 coupon would leave .38, added to the 1.79 bread, was just over $2.00. So I could spend two $1.00 RRs and little cash.

In the end I went for it. I'd been fairly lucky in the past with cashiers scanning coupons without really looking at them too closely as long as they didn't beep, so I hoped my luck today.

I had one $1.00 RR left, so I bought 2 Heath bars for 2/$1.00 with Hershey's in-ad coupon.

The cashier did closely read the milk/bread coupon, and mumbled something about having to buy milk, so I pointed to the bottle of chocolate milk and said "Milk". She scanned the coupon without any problem. I commented that it didn't say a certain size of milk and she said no, it sure didn't.

Strictly technically the $1.00 was off the bread anyway. The first 5 numbers of the bar code on the coupon matched the first 5 numbers of the bread. They, the manufacturer, really just wanted you to buy the bread.

Total before coupons: $9.34
Total after Q's and RRs: $.34 + .19 tax = $0.53 oop

Food Lion

I could have gotten all this (but name brand) for free using overage and RRs at Publix, but, strange as it may sound, it's kindly taken the fun out it. Taken the challenge out of finding good deals.

I spent more at Food Lion than I generally would have at Publix, but I still have to say I feel pretty good about my deals today.

$1.43 18-doz eggs
$ .69 Hamb Buns
$ .69 Hotdog Buns
$2.00 Tostito chips
$2.59 Sweetner
$2.59 Sweetner
= $9.99

Used:
$1.00 Food Lion eggs FLip
$1.00/2 Food Lion Buns FLip
$1.00 Food Lion Tostitos FLip
$2.59 Free Ideal Sweetner MQ
$2.59 Free Ideal Sweetner MQ
= $1.81 + .21 tax = $2.02 oop

Office Max

I tried to order the paper online but it would only let me order 1 box, so I went to the Office Max store and was able to buy 3.$50.97 = 3 @ $16.99
$3.57 tax
=$54.54

Get back $51.00 MaxPerks Rewards rebate

Also cashed in 9 printer ink cartiridges for a total of $27.00 Rewards.

Publix

Wasn't an exciting shopping week at Publix for me. Mainly I wanted the Ritz Crackers/free Crackerfuls deal. I got 6 boxes of each. I'll take the Ritz to Mom's to go with her Cheez-balls she makes for the Holiday gatherings. And I tasted a Crackerfuls free sample at Target and they were very good, so I hid those on the backside of a shelf for myself, hehe!

Also got 5 Sun Crystals sweeteners. They have been out most everytime I've looked for them so I wanted to spend the coupons while the spending was good before they expired.

Igot two gallons of milk, and two packages of sliced beef and turkey sandwich meat. We still have a load of ham sandwich meat from the Food Lion deal I did back in the summer, but I think we're getting kindly tired of only it.

For overage I got 10 Bear Naked bars, a box of Knox Gelatine, and Maybelline Eye Liner.

I also spent a $7.00 Walgreens Register Reward off the total.

$1.99 Sun Crystals x 5
$2.49 Eye Liner
$1.39 Knox Gelatin
$1.59 Bear Naked x 10
$3.25 Crackerfuls x 6
$3.49 Ritz BOGO x 3 (total 6 boxes)
$2.59 milk x 2
$ .60 sandwich meat x 2
= $66.08

Used:
$2.00 Maybelline Publix Q
$7.00 Walgreens RR Competitor Q
$1.00 Maybelline MQ
$1.00/2 Nabisco Crackers MQ x 3
$3.25 Free Crackerfuls MQ x 6
$4.00 Knox MQ
$2.00 Sun Crystals MQ x 5
$2.00 Bear Naked MQ x 10

Total -$0.42 + 1.28 tax = $0.86 oop (Kraft Gift Card)

Oh, and I can use this receipt towards the Nabisco rebate...whatever it is, I have forgotten...

Walgreens

So, I thought my plan was to spend the other RRs I had before all those I earned on Monday, and use the ones I earned Monday for any new deals, but apparently I forgot what I was doing and rolled an old $6.00 RR on a Theraflu deal.

$4.99 Theraflu
$4.99 Theraflu
$4.99 Theraflu
$1.00 Hall's
$1.99 Starbucks
= $17.96

Used:
$1.50 Theraflu
$3.00/2 Theraflu
$6.00 Wags Q
$ .75 Hall's
$ .70 Starbucks Wags Q
$6.00 Gillette RR

Total $.01 + 1.16 tax = $1.17

Got $8.00 & $1.00 RR = $1.83 profit

After that I blew a $2 and $3 RR on (4) Starbucks drinks.

The next Wags had the Glade tins, which I didn't really want, but got anyway, rolling an old $1 RR. And (4) more Starbucks.
$2.50 Glade Tin
$2.50 Glade Candle Refills
$2.50 Glade Tin
$2.50 Glade Candle Refills
$7.96 (4) Starbucks
= $17.96

Used:
-1.50 Glade Candle Holder
-1.50 Glade Candle Holder
-2.50 B1G1 Candle Refill
-2.50 B1G1 Candle Refill
-2.80 Starbucks Wags Q
-1.00 Hall's RR
-2.00 Dentek RR
-3.00 Chapstick RR

Total $1.16 + .70 tax = $1.86

Got $1.00 RR = $.86 oop

Lastly I did the same deal as above, but as I'd been leaving the refridgerator section walking to the checkouts, I saw Fruit Loops Cereal on an end cap on sale for $1.75. It occured to me I had some $1.00/1 Kelloggs Fruit Loops or Apple Jacks Blinkie Q's in the car, so I went and got those and bought (4) boxes of cereal at .75 each = 3.00, paid with $3.00 RR = Free. And two of the boxes had the $5.00 worth of coupons in them.

$2.50 Glade Tin
$2.50 Glade Candle Refills
$2.50 Glade Tin
$2.50 Glade Candle Refills
$1.75 Fruit Loops
$1.75 Fruit Loops
$1.75 Fruit Loops
$1.75 Fruit Loops
$7.96 (4) Starbucks
= $24.96

Used:
-1.50 Glade Candle Holder
-1.50 Glade Candle Holder
-2.50 B1G1 Candle Refill
-2.50 B1G1 Candle Refill
-1.00 Fruit Loops
-1.00 Fruit Loops
-1.00 Fruit Loops
-1.00 Fruit Loops
-2.80 Starbucks Wags Q
-1.00 Hall's RR
-2.00 Dentek RR
-3.00 Chapstick RR
-3.00 Chapstick RR

Total $1.16 + .84 tax = $2.00

Got $1.00 RR = $1.00 oop

*I seem to have miscounted on Monday, I have $58.00 RRs from Mondays deals rather than $57.00.
In addition, I now have $11.00 more new RRs.

*Spent a $7.00 RR at Publix; still have $8.00 more worth RRs to spend by Saturday, their expiration date.

CVS

Or..."Burning ECBs With A Vengeance"I didn't know if it would work, or really understand how it would work, but I had plenty of ECBs to experiment with, so I gave it a spin.

I had went to CVS on Monday and bought $25.00 worth of P&G items, and got a coupon for $10.00 off the Transformers movie.
Today I went back and bought $25.00 more worth of P&G items, and the movie. It took $10.00 off the price of the movie, and then I was able to use my $10.00 coupon from Monday. So I got the movie free.

Of course I spent more on the P&G products than I could have just bought the movie for, but that wasn't the point of it. Mostly I just wanted to see how it worked.
I really, really wish I had did it last time with the Aliens Vs. Monsters movie/Cokes/Candy deal.

I spent more on the P&G products today than Monday, but this time I got stuff we will actually use. Not that we don't use shampoo, but I am already stocked up on so much shampoo I'll end up giving it away.

I also bought $20.00 worth of candy. I have so much chocolate, I thought we needed the Wonkas for some variety.

They didn't have any Glade Sense&Spray or Lasting Impressions.

$8.00 Old Spice deod.
$8.00 Old Spice deod.
$2.50 Dawn
$2.50 Dawn
$1.00 Puff's
$1.00 Puff's
$1.00 Puff's
$1.00 Puff's
$9.99 Transformers DVD (rang up at $9.99)
$5.99 Wonka Candy
$5.99 Wonka Candy
$2.50 Butterfinger
$2.50 Butterfinger
$1.50 Lifesavers
$1.50 Lifesavers
= $54.97

Used:
.25/3 Puffs
.50 Dawn
.50 Dawn
4.00 Old Spice
1.00 Lifesavers
1.00 Lifesavers
2.00 Wonka
2.00 Wonka
2.00 Nestle
2.00 Nestle
10.00 Transformer ECB
.50 ECB
2.00 ECB
3.00 ECB
5.00 ECB
5.00 ECB
5.00 ECB
10.00 ECB

Total Spent $0.62 cents *Including tax. I'm not positive, but I think the Butterfingers were cheaper than I was expecting and I ended up overpaying in ECBs and it was somehow allowed.

Got $5.00 ECB for Candy

*Started week with $46.48 ECBs; End with $11.99 ECBs

Publix

This is two different Publix store shops combined.

The first Publix had Blueberry and Chocolate chip Krusteaz Pancake Mix, so I got two each of those, and a raincheck for the rest. They carried the cookie mix, but were out, so got a raincheck for those, too. They were also out of toothpaste so I got a raincheck, but ended up finding the toothpaste at the next store.

The first Publix had alot of the Log Cabin syrup, so I figured the next one would, too...but they didn't...and I forgot to ask for a raincheck :-(

Value of items before coupons: $85.99
Total Spent: $1.37

*I went into "The Bad Publix" to 'look into the future'...that stores' sales begin on Wednesday (yep, if I was skilled enough - and that store wasn't such a terrible place to shop - I could do two weeks' shopping on one day, at Publix stores less than 10 miles from each other).

Anyway, the microwavable bowls aren't included in the BOGO sale, it's the cans only. So no great deal for me. 75cents a can is cheaper than I used to pay for it, so I'd probably buy it anyway if I needed it.

So really the only thing I'm looking at buying this week is maybe the Ritz/Crackerfuls.

Nabisco Ritz Crackers, Assorted Varieties, 7.5 to 16-oz box, BOGO $3.49 **Keep The Jingle In Your Holidays Rebate Eligible!
-$1/2 Keep the Jingle in your Holidays
-$1/2 “Traditional Family Recipes with a Twist”
-Free Crackerfuls wyb Ritz from 08-23-09 SS
-$1/2 Sunset, October 2009
-$1/2 Nabisco Calendar Booklet

I couldn't find any of the "Jingle" booklets today. I asked and was told they are probably still in the back, that there is ALOT of Christmas stuff back there, and they are just trying to get it all sorted out.
So be on the lookout for ALOT of Christmas booklets and promotions, I guess.

Rite Aid

Ok, I did better today.

$9.99 Nasal Mist
$8.99 Zantac
$7.99 Blink Tear drops
$4.49 Chloroseptic Throat Strips
= $31.46

Used:
$5/$25 RAQ
$2.00 Nasal Mist
$3.00 Blink
$1.00 Zantac
= $11.00

= $20.46
- $20.00 Gift of Savings Certificate
= .46 + .69 tax = $1.15 oop

SCRs due: $7.99 Blink, 9.99 Nasal Mist, 8.99 Zantac, $4.49 Chloroseptic = $31.46

Total $30.31 Profit

Rite Aid

Apparently in the midst of all my re-considerings of drug store shopping this week, my feeble brain failed to comprehend that Rite Aid is a whole different ballgame. When you "roll-up" at Rite Aid, you get cash back, as opposed to "store money".

But I guess my mind was still stuck on the theories: (1) free-after-rebate items lose you money on the tax and (2) it's really okay to spend (waste) "free" money on whatever items.

I had a $20.00 certificate for "spending" $100.00, which of course I didn't spend anything using coupons and money-makers rebates. So this $20.00 was FREE money.

So, when I planned my Rite Aid shop this week, I went for the money-maker rebate items, and decided to spend whatever was left of my $20 Rite Aid Rewards Certificate on whatever.

However, the better thing to have done here would have been to spent it all on free-after-rebate items. I would have lost a little of it on the taxes, but the rest of it I would have gotten back in the form of a rebate check I could have taken to my bank and cashed!

I bought the Nasogel, Coldcalm Pellets, and Little Allergies money-maker rebate items. Total before coupons $23.97, plus $4.49 for the cost of a box of Rice Krispies. Rice Krispies are on sale BOGO this week...1 box rings up at full price and the other 0.00, so won't be included in a $25.00 total for using the $5/$25 coupon.
After all the coupons, my mm-far items totalled $12.97.

I had a Vocalpoint coupon for a free box of Rice Krispies, so both my RKs were free in the end.

That left me with $7.03 left to spend out of my $20 certificate.
The Halloween costumes were on sale for 50% off, and there was a $3.00 coupon in the store, so I got a Pirate costume, originally priced at $24.99, for 9.99 after coupons. Or, about $3.00 oop after using the certificate.

I'm due $23.97 in SCRs for the mm-far items I bought, so still made about a $20 profit when all said and done.

Walmart

Thought I'd pop into Wally-World and see what kind of deals they had for me; particularly any air freshener deals I had read about.

They had one of the I-Motion Ultra things priced at $6.00...free after coupon. The Fragrance Collection candles were $3.00...free after coupons.
I used the rest of my Natural Sensations for cat food...free after coupons.

I had also found the trial Clean & Clear face wash at .97 each...thought my coupons were expiring today, so tried to get 5 of them. I figured at the worst I'd just have them take them off, whatever.

I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get the overage on the C&C so I got a bag of worms just in case.
Turned out, the coupons beeped asking "Valid Coupon Amount?" and the girl pushed the button to put them through, and I would have gotten the items and the overage, until she says "Today is the 19th. These expired yesterday".
I really didn't know it was the wrong day, I wasn't trying to sneak these past a Walmart Cashier...have a hard enough time using valid coupons with them!
But I asked her if one day really made a difference, because coupons are redeemable by the stores for up to six months. So she asked one of the CS Supervisors standing there if she could still take it and the CSS said no and made up some story about "they system" wouldn't accept it. BS!

I really just don't understand why Walmart is so against accepting coupons, and will find any reason to not to.

In the end, my total came up to .97 for the bag of candy, and 1.99 tax. Total $2.96.

Publix

Shopping at Publix wasn't much of a pleasure for me today.
To start with there wasn't much on sale that I wanted to buy. Mainly syrup and Birdseye. It's not worth the drive for me to go for so few deals, so I plodded through until I found a few other deals. Figured I could get the Krusteaz Panckae mix for my Dad to take to huntcamp and I had some coupons for the Nestle hot chocolate and A&H toothpaste. I forget what else I had. Had I not had to go to Walgreens anyway, I probably would have just skipped this week altogether.

I got to the first Publix to find everything I was looking for sold out. My fault for waiting so late to go shopping.

This Publix considers Walgreens a competitor, and I had talked to the Manager about it before, but since I hadn't tried using any in a long time, I wanted to see if they still would accept RRs. This is the Publix that has a $12 daily max on Competitor coupons. I had asked the Manager about a limit on the RR, and he told me I could use up to the $12 limit.

The girl today told me yes they take them, limit of one per transaction. Ok, I thought, I guess the rules had changed, and went about my shopping.
They didn't have anything I was looking for in stock...I didn't check for the frozen stuff because I still had alot of other places to go before I went home and I hadn't brought my cooler.

The Halloween bag was the Penny item here today.

Otherwise I got bread, refried beans, pinto beans, chili seasoning, and Idaho potatoes. I had also gotten a Maybelline Mascara, but dummy me...what does "Excludes Great Lash mean? Means you don't buy it, silly!

I spent a $7.00 RR, plus $2.46 on my gift card, which I knew was like $2.46 too much, so I figured out what I'd done, and went to the Service Desk for a refund.
The girl refunded my money, minus the coupons I'd used. She handed me the money and the receipt and said Thank you, Come back and see us, and I was like, Ok, but I need my coupons back. She looked at me like I'd grown another head and asked What?
I explained that she'd deducted the amount of my coupons from my refund, so she needed to return my coupons, too.

She still thought I was bamming her, and had a quiet discussion with the Manager about it. He told her to give them back to me.

So. Given that she didn't know she was supposed to return the coupons if she deducts them, I'm not sure if she knew what she was talking about when she told me there was a Limit 1 per Transaction on the RRs. She didn't mention the $12 per day limit at all.

Next I went even farther away to what was my all-time favorite Publix. I've always had good luck and good times there, and I usually don't have any trouble finding what I'm looking for at any of the stores down there, so I assumed there wasn't that many couponers in the area.

I asked at the Service Desk about using RRs there, they also consider Wags a competitor. The girl - not any of the ones that are usually there when I go - took it and looked at it and read it like she had never seen such a thing before, then told me "No, we can't take those". Which of course I'm skeptical of, considering she obviously didn't even know what the thing was, so how can she know if they take them or not?

They were also out of the Krusteaz pancake mix and syrup, and I guess none of the Publix around here stocks the Krusteaz cookie mix. I got the last 2 boxes of Hot Chocolate w/ marshmellows, and they were really low on the Birdseye items. They had vegetables I knew we wouldn't eat, so I got 10 bags of white rice. We like rice.
I found my $1.00/2 Old El Paso coupons, with the peelie for free seasoning, so got all three packets for .07 cents. They had Snuggle in stock, surprisingly. Everyone must have already used up all their coupons last week at FL.
I had $1.00 coupons for the Toaster Strudels my kids like, and got 2 Greenworks for overage to pay for the extra cost of them.
The Sun Crystals I got the last one box of, just trying to spend my coupons before the price goes up.

I had 6 boxes of toothpaste to start with. When I got to the register and started checking out, the man rang up a couple of bags of rice then informed me there was a limit of 2 deals on the buy one get one deals. I said those aren't buy-one-get-one, they're on sale for 50% off. He said well that's the same thing, but rang them up anyway. But then he only let me get 2 of the toothpaste deals.

He 'confided' to me that "convenience store owners" were coming in and loading up cartfulls of stuff at a time, was why they had to do that.
Okay, I get that, but obviously I don't look like my last name is Patel or he wouldn't have told me such a thing, and 3 toothpaste deals instead of 2 is hardly a "cartfull".

But the thing that really, really gets at me with all these stores is how they let you come in, spend your time doing your shopping, then wait until you're at the registers trying to check out before springing new rules on you. That ticks me off worse than anything!
I have shopped at Publix stores before that, when there's a change in policy, for instance requiring the Coupon for the Penny item, they make a note and post it on the front doors as you enter, so you're likely to see it, and know going in what to expect. So I know it's not against the rules to post such information. It can't be that much trouble to do, either.

As much as I love(d) that Publix, and they accepted all competitor coupons, there's no use in me driving an hour down there if I can only get 2 BOGO deals at a time. It makes me so sad :-(

CVS

I was playing the same game at CVS as Walgreens, rolling my Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) into more ECBs. But CVS isn't my favorite store, and I think I just don't put much effort into finding deals to roll my ECBs on every week. At any rate, I have a terrible time with my ECBs expiring, and the stores giving me such a hard time about accepting them even a day or two later. I've heard "Well, they're reeeeally cracking down on us" until I could puke. I tell them to ask their Manager, and the Manager always says it's okay, so I don't know what's with the big ordeal every.single.time.

I had a total of $88.47 ECBs I needed to get down to a manageable amount. I blew some on Cokes, and otherwise did the "Buy $25 P&G Products and get $10.00 off Transformers DVD" deal. Later I will go back and spend $9.99 for the rest of the movie.

For the P&G deal I bought (3) Herbal Essence shampoo at $3.00 each, and used $1.00 MQs on each. Then I bought (3) HE Stylers: mousse/gel/hairspray at $3.00 each, and used the "Buy Shampoo and Get Styler Free" MQ on each. And then the 8-roll Bounty for $7.00, and used a .25 MQ. Total=$15.25

Not a great deal, but using my "rolled up" ECBs, it only cost me tax, and I have a Christmas gift for my oldest son.

Walgreens

When I first learned about deal-shopping at Walgreens earlier this year I was terribly excited about all the free stuff you could get, and of course, got all the free stuff I could get.
Eventually, though, I got plenty of free stuff, and too, it occured to me the stuff wasn't really free because I was paying tax on it. Paying only tax for something you want/need/use is great, but when it's not something you want/need/use, not so much.
So then I turned my efforts to buying only money-making (MM) items (unless it was something we would want/need/use).

Of course I wasn't really "buying" the items, but 'rolling' my Register Rewards (RRs) into them. For instance, say a Widget costs $8.00, and I have a $4.00 coupon off the widget, and then I get back a $6.00 RR for purchasing the widget. With the coupon, the widget only cost me $4.00, which I paid with an RR from a previous deal. After getting the $6.00 RR, I've 'rolled' my $4.00 RR to a $6.00 RR. In other words, a $2.00 profit for me.

Problem being, I've ended up rolling more RR's than I can control. My RRs expire and I fnd myself rushing to the store and rolling them over on whatever just to keep from losing them.
So, I decided to change my game again. I plan to keep X amount of RRs per week, and then do like Jenny suggests and spend the rest on something we can use.

I usually hate to buy anything not on sale or I don't have a coupon for, and especially not at drug store prices, but I'm having to change my mindset to realize that I'm not spending my money on the stuff, it's "profit" earned from using coupons: free money to spend on items we use.

Last night I had a total of $82.00 in Register Rewards. $22.00 worth of them were 5 days expired.
I decided I was going to work with only those expired RRs, and the rest I would spend.

Beginning with $22.00 RRs, I worked out a 7-transaction-plan to spend what coupons I had while keeping as low an out-of-pocket expense as possible.
Most of my plans went well, I ran into items being out as I went on and had to skip some things and readjust, and not do the last plan at all, but it wasn't a big deal.

Started with $22.00 RRs
Value of items before coupons: $190.58
Out-of-pocket spent incl. Tax: $12.18
RRs Remaining: $57.00*
Final Total $22.82 profit

*These remaining RRs are from today only, originating with the $22.00 RRs.

I still had $60.00 other RRs which I planned to try to use at Publix if I could, or come back to Wags later and spend them on things we'd use, but in the meantime I thought I'd just blow some, for the heck of it.Value of Items: $14.27
-1.29 B1G1 Trident coupon
=$12.98
Spent $12.00 RR
+ $1.42 cash
Received $1.00 RR for Trident (Couldn't help it, lol)

Friday Roaming

It finally quit raining...well, mostly anyway...so I got out roaming the roads today.

I went to Cartersville to find some cheaper gas. It had been running about a dime a gallon cheaper than here. Last night hubby put $5 in the car so I could get up there. (No, I wasn't driving that far just to try to save on gas, LOL)

First thing I pass Ingles and they are at $2.25/gal. I thought, Oh dear. But that was okay. If Walmart was cheaper than Ingles - like they usually are by a cent or so - then I would still at least be paying the same that gas cost here.

So I get out there and turn into Walmart Road and round the curve - and nearly fell outta my car! $2.39 a gallon! What are they smoking?? I turned myself right around and got out of there. Whew!

Stopped at the Rite Aid there and they had what I was looking for, so that was good. Stopped and put in $15 of gas at $2.25 at the Kangaroo. Too far to go back to Ingles to save .03/gal.

The Rite Aid 2 miles down the road didn't have what I was looking for. The Rite Aid 9 miles down the road (Cobb County) from there did, as did the next Rite Aid (New Hope), about another 9 miles.

I was apparently distracted and was in the wrong lane going past the next Rite Aid (Hiram). No matter, I went on to my bank and cashed some Staples Rebates checks, then went back up the road to the Rite Aid. As I was sitting in the turning lane waiting for my green arrow, I looked over on the other side of the road and saw the big, new Goodwill store I had wanted to go in and check out. Oh well.

Rite Aid didn't have anything, and next I went browsing Thrift Stores (but not back down to the Goodwill, too hard to get around in the traffic down there).

I did VERY well at the thrift stores today. This is what I got:








That's right, I got nothing! I did good!

The first Thrift Store I visited used to have a .50 clothing sale the middle weekend of each month. Apparently this has changed, and now they are having it one day next Friday.

I haven't been Thrift Store shopping in several months. I've managed to avoid yard sales over the summer, too...not easily, I might add! But I've been working on trying to clean out alot of the stuff I have around here, so I don't want to be out buying more stuff, good deal or not!

Anyway, I was blog-surfing the other night, and ran across a blog where the Author had shopped a Thrift Store and had bought several articles of clothing that she could mix and match and get several different outfits out of, and spent less than $12 for all of it.

Later I was out in the laundryroom folding laundry and wondered why I haven't been to the .50 clothing sale in so long.
As I was putting clothes away, it occured to me - Oh yeah, beause I don't need any clothes!!

But I thought, well, couldn't hurt to go check it out and see if I can find me some britches or shirts. I've bought a few shirts from there that I just love and wear over and over all the time. And I could use some new (different) jeans because I've lost about 13 pounds over the past few months. Don't know how or why, but I'm back down to the size I was before I quit smoking about 9/10 years ago. I still had some of my old jeans packed away here from back then (because I never got rid of anything...hence my problem of needing to avoid yard sales and to clean out around here), but I don't like them anymore. They don't fit like I like.
Since I plan to get around to going through my clothes and toss out clothes I don't like or haven't worn, then it should be okay if I find a couple new (different) things to wear.

Last night I ran across another blog where the Author decorates her home from Dept. stores and Thrift stores, and her home was gorgeous!

I don't know about thrift stores where other people live, but none of the ones around here have as nice or matching stuff as I've seen on people's blogs.

I was scouting for something to hang on the wall in front of my Sweetheart Cabinet. I don't know what I'm looking for, but I figure I'll know when I see it.

After the Thrift Store, I went to the Endless Yardsale in the same shop center. Then I went on up the road and stopped at The Been.
After there I went into a little thrift store I had seen advertised on a local message board. Here I almost fell off the wagon.

They had a set of the Publix Pilgrim S&P Shakers and a napkinholder.
I have some of the Publix S&P shakers, I just can't remember which ones, but I know I don't have the napkin holder.
Just recently I have been worrying over the fact that Publix will be coming out with something this year I already know I'm going to have to buy...so I might as well have bought those things in there today and add to my collection.

No, I told myself. I didn't need them. And furthermore, I'm not going to need whatever Publix comes out with this year. (Yeah right! HAHA!)
I thanked the lady and left and went and got my car...and got my change bag out and started counting out how much I had.
I came thisclose to going back in and getting the things. I finally managed to talk myself out of it and leave before it was too late.

I passed a new thrift store in the same building where the Thrift Store used to be because the back of the building faces the direction I was coming from and there was nosign at the street. I went on up the road to a place called...um, Classy Closet? I can't remember.
After there I decided to go back down and see what it was in that other place. Forgot the name of it, too. I want to say Twisted Lives, but surely that's not right?

That was a nice store. Whoever set it up did a really, really good job. They actually made worthless, cheap junk look good. They also have some candy on a table at the front door and I think I heard the girl say they were planning to sell candy, more candy, something.

Almost back home, I see a bright pink "Estate Sale" sign on the corner of a road. Before I even know what happened my car turned in!
I went mostly to see the house. I love looking in other people's houses.
Anyway, no way I could have afforded anything. They had silverware priced at $900.00 and some big colorful painting that looked to me like a kindergartner painted for $2000.00. Apparently it was Something because it had a SOLD sign on it. I wouldn't have paid $2.00 for it.

It was a nice little trip around the way...but I am soooo tired of hearing "And the Jay-Z song was on, and the Jay-Z song was on, and the Jay-Z song was ON" every five minutes!!!

More Rite Aid

*Addendum to Transaction #1:
$1.99 Poligrip
$2.29 Carmex Moist Plus
$1.99 Carmex 3-pk
$4.99 simply Saline Cold
$2.49 Bee MD drops
$6.99 M5 Razor
$0.00 M5 Razor Refills Reg. $7.99
=20.74

Used:
$5/$20 RAQ
-1.00 Simply Saline
-1.99 Poligrip
-3.00 M5 Razor
-3.00 M5 Refills

=6.75 + 1.10 tax = $7.85

SCRs: $15.75 = 7.90 Profit + 26.11 previous profit +
*Also qualify for $20.00 Gift of Savings Certificate, so $54.01 Total Profit

*Addendum to Transaction #2:
$28.96 previous Profit + *Qualify for $20.00 Gift of Savings Certificate = $48.96 Total Profit

Transaction #3:
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$9.99 Allergen Block
$3.99 Simply Saline Child
$3.99 Comtrex
$2.99 Throat Cooler
$4.99 Simply Saline Cold
=$33.47

Used:
$5/$20 RAQ
-1.00/2 Candy
-1.00/2 Candy
-3.00 Allergen Block
-1.00 Simply Saline
-1.00 Simply Saline
-1.00 Comtrex
-1.00 Throat Cooler

=$19.47 + 1.70 tax = $21.17 oop

SCRs: $25.95 = $4.78 profit

Transaction #4:
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.99 Poligrip
$9.99 Allergen Block
$3.99 Simply Saline Child
$2.99 Throat Cooler
$4.99 Simply Saline Cold
$2.99 Bodiheat
=$34.46

Used:
$5/$20 RAQ
-1.00/2 Candy
-1.00/2 Candy
-3.00 Allergen Block
-1.00 Simply Saline
-1.00 Simply Saline
-1.00 Bodiheat
-1.00 Throat Cooler
-1.99 Poligrip

=$18.47 + 1.77 tax = $20.24 oop

SCRs: $26.94 = $6.70 profit

Transaction #5, 6, 7, 8:
$3.33 12-pk Coke
$3.33 12-pk Coke
$3.33 12-pk Coke
$3.33 12-pk Coke
$3.33 12-pk Coke
$3.33 12-pk Coke
$6.99 M5 Razor
$0.00 M5 Refills Reg. 7.99
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$9.99 Allergen Block
$2.29 Carmex Moisture
$1.99 Carmex 3-pk
$3.99 Simply Saline Child
$2.49 Bee MD drops
$1.99 Poligrip
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$3.99 Comtrex
$2.99 Throat Cooler
$7.99 Breathe Again
$4.99 Simply Saline Cold
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$1.88 Candy
$3.99 Cold Wars
$8.99 Allergy Buster
$2.99 Sucrets
$2.99 Bodiheat
=$111.19

Used:
$5/$20 RAQ (4)
-1.00 Coke in-ad q (2)
-3.00 M5 Razor
-3.00 M5 Refills
-3.00 Allergen Block
-1.00/2 Candy (6)
-1.00 Simply Saline (2)
-1.99 Poligrip
-1.00 Comtrex
-1.00 Throat Cooler
-1.00 Bodiheat

=$67.20 + 4.44 tax = $71.64 oop

SCRs: $63.66 + $20.00 Gift of Savings Rewards = $83.66 = $12.02 Profit

Final Total Profit this week: $126.47
+ $20.00 another GoS Certificate

Rite Aid = $55.07 Profit

Transaction #1$1.88 Snickers
$1.88 Snickers
$1.88 M&M's
$1.88 M&M's
$9.99 Chloraseptic Allergen Block
$3.99 Simply Saline Children's
$3.99 Comtrex 20ct.
$2.99 Children's Throat Cooler
$2.99 Bodiheat
$2.99 Sucrets Ice
= $34.46

Used:
$5/$25 RAQ
$1.00/2 Candy MQ
$1.00/2 Candy MQ
$3.00 Chloroseptic
$1.00 Simply Saline MQ
$1.00 Comtrex Blinkie MQ
$1.00 Childs Throat Cooler IP MQ
$1.00 Bodiheat Peelie MQ
= $14.00

Total Due: $20.46
Paid with $20.00 Gift of Savings Certificate
Total Spent: $0.46 + .37 tax = $0.83 oop

SCRs: $26.94 = $26.11 Profit

Transaction #2$1.88 M&M's
$1.88 M&M's
$1.88 Starburst
$1.88 Skittles
$1.99 Super Poligrip
$9.99 Chloraseptic Allergen Block
$3.99 Simply Saline Children's
$4.99 Simply Saline
$3.99 Comtrex 20ct.
$2.99 Children's Throat Cooler
$2.99 Bodiheat
= $38.45

Used:
$5/$25 RAQ
$1.00/2 Candy MQ
$1.00/2 Candy MQ
$3.00 Chloroseptic
$1.99 Super Poligrip
$1.00 Simply Saline MQ
$1.00 Simply Saline MQ
$1.00 Comtrex Blinkie MQ
$1.00 Childs Throat Cooler IP MQ
$1.00 Bodiheat Peelie MQ
= $16.99

Total Due: $21.46
Paid with $20.00 Gift of Savings Certificate
Total Spent: $1.46 + .51 tax = $1.97 oop

SCRs: $30.93 = $28.96 Profit

Publix

One last big Publix shop for this week...last P&G Deal before the Publix coupons expired...used my last $5/$50 Publix coupon.

Value of Items Before Coupons: $108.64
Total Spent: $2.30 + 4.72 tax + $7.02*

*Total came out $2.00 more than my tally. I see now I apparently grabbed a wrong box of cereal; one that cost $3.99 instead of $1.99. Oh well.

Saturday Shopping

Went for my papers, a couple of Publix shops, and my big main thing was to roll ECBs and RRs. I'm so tired of trying to keep up with these things before they expire.
I'm ready to spend them all in and just not mess with those anymore. I don't need most of the stuff I get using them, and most of the time they end up costing me more anyway having to pay tax and buying fillers.
CVS = $1.98 oopThe first CVS I visited had what I was looking for, which wasn't much, just a bottle of nail polish and toothpaste.
$3.99 Revlon Nail Polish
$2.99 Colgate TP
$6.98
-1.00 Revlon Cosmetic
-1.00 Colgate Total
=4.98
Paid with $5.00 ECB (lost .02) & .49 tax
Got $3.00 & $2.00 ECB
Total Cost .49 oop

The next CVS I visited was out of both Colgate and Tone soap. Also I hadn't looked at the sale paper myself, and was going by a scenario I got off the internet somewhere, counting on the bags of candy being $2.50 each. Some of them were, but not the ones that I had the coupons for. Those were marked 2/$7.00, but rang up $3.00 each.
I had $13.99 ECBs I HAD to spend, so I had no choice but to buy 6 nail polish. Which would have given me back an $18.00 ECB, had I not got lucky and the register messed up my receipt. The cashier had to manually print the ECB, so I was able to get six $3.00 ECBs instead.
$23.94 (6) Revlon Nail Polish
$ 6.00 (2) bags Candy
=29.94
- 5.00/25.00 Flu Q
- 6.00 (6) 1.00 Revlon Cosmetics
- 1.00/2 bags Candy
=17.94
Paid with $13.99 ECBs and $3.95 cash and $1.55 tax (paid w/ Staples Rebate card)
Got $18.00 ECB
Total Cost $1.49 oop

Walgreens = $6.06 oopI'm not mathematically gifted, but near as I can figure, it cost me $6.06 to turn over my RRs today...tax and the single candy bars ("fillers") add up I reckon.

Value of Items before Coupons: $92.85
Total Amount Coupons Used: $39.25
RRs Spent: $48.00
Cash: $5.60
Tax: $5.46
RRs Received: $53.00
Total Cost $6.06

Rite Aid = $14.76 ProfitTransaction #1:
$26.00 (13) Bandaids
$ 4.00 (4) Hershey Bars
$ .88 Reeses
$ .00 Reeses BOGO
$ .88 Reeses
$ .00 Reeses BOGO
=$33.52
- 5/$25 RAQ
-18.00 (6) $3/2 J&J Blinkie Qs
- 1.00 Bandaid MQ
- 4.00 (4) $1.00 Hershey MQ
- .88 BOGO Reeses MQ
- .88 BOGO Reeses MQ
=$2.00 + 1.38 tax = $3.38 (Paid with Gift Card from Dist. Manager so actually Free)

SCR #75 $10.00 J&J
Total: $10.00 Profit

Transaction #2:
$18.99 Zyrtec 30ct.
$14.99 Zyrtec Eye Drops
$ 3.52 (4) Reeses
=$37.50
-5/$25 RAQ
-8.00 in-ad Q
-4.00 Zyrtec MQ
-4.00 Zyrtec Eye drops MQ
- .88 Reeses BOGO Sale
- .88 Reeses BOGO Sale
- .79 Reeses BOGO MQ
- .79 Reeses BOGO MQ
=$13.16 + 2.08 tax = $15.24 (paid with $10.00 Zyrtec Rewards Certificate)
Total Spent: $5.24 (paid with Staples Rebate card)

SCR #75 $10.00 J&J
Total $4.76 Profit
and $33.98 towards another Zyrtec Rewards Certificate

PublixTotal Value before Coupons: $53.75
Tax: $2.06
Total After Coupons: $0.16 (paid from Kraft Rebate Gift Card)

Total Value before Coupons: $57.52
Tax: $2.37
Total After Coupons: $1.74 (paid from Kraft Rebate Gift Card)

Walmart

I was in this Walmart on Sunday and saw a few things I wanted that were out, or that I needed to go home and get coupons for. I had to make a return for my hubby, so figured I'd go back to this WM and see what I could get.

They had restocked the Crunch'N'Munch and Natural Sensations cat treats.
The Crunch was $1.86, and my coupons were $2.00, so I wasn't sure how that was going to work out. But they were expiring soon, and I didn't want to just waste them without even trying. In for a penny, in for a pound, I had eight coupons so that's how many packs I got.
The coupons beeped and the register asked "Valid Coupon Amount?" and the girl just hit the button putting them through. So I got .16 overage. I wasn't caring as much about the overage as just being able to get them free, so this was a bonus.

The Natural Sensations were also $1.86; the coupons were for "Free" so I wasn't concerned about them not working. But there's no place on the face of the coupon where it tells the cashier to write the amount, so I was hoping it'd give me the whole $2.25 amount, like the Mighty Dog food coupons did. (They didn't.)

I didn't find any $1.50 BenGay patches or .97 trial size Clean&Clear.

When I was there Sunday, they had the Edwards pie singles for $1.12 each. I had only been carrying 1 coupon around, to remind me to look at prices when I'm in a Walmart. At other Walmarts the pie pieces were like $2.00.
So I got the rest of my coupons and went back to get my .12 pie slices - and they were gone. Not out...completely gone. Not even an empty space.

The Ore-Ida french fried taters used to be .88, but have gone up .93 each. Two were $1.86, minus my $1.00/2 coupon made them .43 a box.

Rite Aids

I visited some new-to-me Rite Aid stores today. The first one, across the road from the Publix I shopped today, I had been in before, but can't quite remember my experience there. It either went well, or they didn't have what I was looking for.
Whichever, it went well today. They had the items I needed for my plan, and the cashier and Manager were both very nice and helpful.

I did the Scott deal:
$4.49 Scalpicin Medicated Wipes
$1.99 SuperPoligrip .075oz
$7.49 Scott Paper Towels
$7.49 Scott Toilet Paper
$1.00 Hershey candy bar x 2
$ .88 M&M Peanut
$ .00 M&M Peanut (BOGO)
$ .88 Three Musketeers
$ .00 Three Musketeers (BOGO)
$ .88 Snickers
$ .00 Snickers (BOGO)
= $26.10

Coupons:
-5.00/$20 RAQ
-1.00 Scalpicin
-1.99 Poligrip Free MQ
-1.00 Hershey MQ
-1.00 Hershey MQ
-1.00 Scott MQ
-2.00 Scott RAQ
-1.00 Scott MQ
-2.00 Scott RAQ
- .88 Free Chocolate Friday MQ
- .88 Free Chocolate Friday MQ
- .88 Free Chocolate Friday MQ

$7.47 + 1.08 tax = $8.55 (Paid w/Staples Rebate card)

SCR: $4.49 Scalpicin, $2.00 Scott
Rebate: Scott $2.00

Final Total: $0.06

The next Rite Aid I visited I hadn't been in before and didn't know what to expect. I wanted to do the Bandaid deal here, but didn't know if the store was couponer-friendly.
As I was standing there looking at the bandaids, considering, a couple of store employees were on the same aisle doing some stocking. One was kindly fussing, not hatefully, about something having been changed. The other employee went off to do something else and the one was kneeled by the shelves organizing stock. So I asked, kind of wondering aloud, if she thought I'd have trouble buying 13 boxes of Bandaids.
She asked what I meant, and I said, Will they holler at me?
NO! she hollered, standing up. She said to buy all I wanted, she had plenty. (Yet there was only 2-3 boxes of each on the shelves, which I thought proved my point about the Synovium last week).
She asked was I looking for Rite Aid brand, and I said no, I had coupons for Band Aid. She said as long as it didn't go less than free it was okay. I said no, it's not less than free. I said, it's $2.00, though. She said that's fine.
And then she turned, or I looked, or something, but it was only then I saw her name tag and realized she was the Store Manager.

OMG! A Store Manager that actually wanted to make sales! Do-Do-Do-Do...You Are Now Entering The Twilight Zone....

$2.00 Bandaids x 13
$1.00 Hershey candy bar x 2
$0.88 Reese's x2
$0.00 Reese's x2 (BOGO)
= $29.76

Coupons:
-5.00/$20 RAQ
-3.00/2 J&J 1st Aid MQ x 6
-1.00 J&J MQ
-1.00 Hershey MQ x 2
- .88 Reese's BOGO MQ x 2

$2.00 + 1.58 tax = $3.58 (Paid with Rite Aid Gift Card Dist. Manager sent me)

SCR: $10.00 J&J

Final Total: $6.42 profit

The last Rite Aid I visited was allright. Cashier wasn't overly friendly and used a magnifier to read the coupons. But she didn't give me any trouble about using them, even the RAQ's and MQ's together.
I did the Scott deal again.
$24.34 Before coupons

$7.56 + 1.24 tax = $8.80 (Paid with Staples Rebate Card and Rite Aid Gift Card)

SCR: $4.49 Scalpicin, $2.00 Scott
Rebate: Scott $2.00

Final Total: $0.31

Publix

Value of Items Before Coupons: $88.34
Total Spent: $1.15 + 3.01 tax + $4.16 pd w/ gift card

Publix

Went back to my Fav Publix today...quite a drive, but worth it!

I don't know how long the J&J Baby items are on sale for $2.19, but I used a $1.00 MQ with a $1.50 Wags Q from this weeks' sale paper and got Baby Wash and Lotion free with overage.

Value of items Before Coupons: $85.71
Total Spent: $0.67 + 3.05 tax = $3.72

Free Snuggle

Well, nearly...just had to pay sales tax of $1.26.

Actually, I paid that out of the $10.00 Kellogg's rebate check I received this week. I know I didn't spend $10.00 on the Kellogg's stuff, so, yeah, I guess it was free afterall.

Publix, Publix, Publix

Today I'd planned to visit 4 Publix, whether I actually shopped at them or not, because I was on a coupon hunt. My regular stores didn't have the coupons I needed...I'm not sure why I thought these others would, but the driving distance is more or less the same, so it didn't hurt to try.

Before I left this morning I checked my usual blogs/sites and saw that the Penny item today was bread. Yay! I needed bread.

The day didn't start off with a bang. First I stopped in at CVS and asked for the $100 coupon book. The Phamcist said they only give those with the Flu shot, and they aren't giving those until Oct. 14th. I said, oh? Because this book (hold up October 2009 Clipless coupon booklet) says "No puchase Neccessary".
He came over and looked at it, and through it, and "hm'ed", and nearly gave me one, but then decided he still couldn't give it out before October 14th.
I just said okay and went on my way. Too early on a Sunday morning to fuss.

Next I went to Walmart. I needed gas, and figured I could get my Sunday papers here, even though they are a little more for the bundle pack than I usually pay $1.00 each for from the roadside sellers, it was worth the .50 to not have to drive to Hiram to buy them. Plus, I was hoping to be able to use overage from the Adams flea collar coupons.
But they didn't have any of the .97 collars anyway.
I was going to get 3 bundles, but decided to only get 1 bundle, mainly for the Publix Penny Item coupon.
But then I got in the store and found out they had the flyers with the penny coupon on them anyway. Seems like my regular stores don't put those out, you have to get the coupon from the newspaper, or you don't get a penny item.

The first Publix I visited was my "Bad" one. I didn't want to go and my tummy started hurting when I turned into the parking lot. I don't know why I was so upset, I was mainly only looking for coupons and at least $10 worth of something to be able to get my penny bread.

I stopped by the CS desk and asked about their coupon policy...I hadn't been there in so long I figured it had changed. It had really only changed in that they no longer take the $5/$25 Rite Aid coupons...no surprise there, I don't even carry those in my Publix envelope anymore.
They still took Food Lion, Target, and the Drug Stores if it is a product they carry...in other words, no RRs either. But Wags sometimes has good coupons out that can be stacked with MQs for good deals at Publix, so that's good.

I decided to go ahead and try to do a $50 deal, because I still have a few $5/$50 Publix coupons I need to use up before Oct. 31st. Even though I didn't even try to use any of my maybe somewhat questionable coupons, I was still very wary heading to the registers.
There was a multitude of Couponers in the store this morning, so I stopped one nice lady and asked her what I could expect trying to use my coupons there. She said they were really good about coupons, and very nice. I told her it hadn't always been that way, but I felt better, maybe they had gotten better since I was last there....it was pretty obvious they now had ALOT of coupon shoppers.

And everything mostly went fine, except I couldn't get two of my free shopping bags because they said Pillsbury and Progresso soup weren't General Mills items, because they didn't have the "G" on the label. I had not looked at the soup can label at that point to see that it did say General Mills on the can, and it was just a free bag, no big loss. I said okay, sorry, I didn't know.

And then I don't know what happened with the totals. I kept a running tally as I shopped, and I watched as she scanned the coupons and didn't think she scanned too many or anything, but at the end the balance was already below $1.00, and there was still a $1.00 Chex coupon. My tally was that I went $1.37 into the negative to cover tax, and the tax was $1.58, so I don't know how the balance went below a dollar and there was still a coupon left.
The cashier was worrying about it and trying to figure out what happened. I told the CS Associate there what my final total was supposed to have been, but that I apparently misfigured somewhere, and did they just want to give me the last coupon back. So they did that.

Total before Coupons: $54.65
Total Spent: -.56 + .51 regular tax + .92 food tax = $0.87 Paid w/ Kraft Rebate Gift Card

I found about 3 of the P&G pink coupon sheets at the next Publix. Better than none I reckon! And I got the Cookware mail-in forms, they had plenty of those.
Also found some of the pink Live Well coupons, with the Covergirl coupons...after I went and ordered some off Ebay the other day. Way it goes.
This store also had pretty Pink shopping bags.

Again, one or the other of us messed up on the final total of the order. My tally was like .18 plus tax (not being familiar with this store, I wasn't sure about running into the negative even to cover tax). However, it not only ran into the negative, covered the tax, and then some!
I was going to offer to take some of the coupons back, but she kept scanning, and the CS Associate told her to give me cash back.
I don't think the Cashier much liked it, though. She made a comment about them paying me, that was a first.
I did not mean for that to happen!

Total before Coupons: $50.87
Total Spent They paid Me: $1.93

I will also submit this one for the $5 wyb 3 SC Johnson Rebate.

Publix shop number three was pleasant, and the final total finally matched my tally total.

Total Before Coupons: $54.36
Total Spent: $0.17 + .77 Reg Tax + .89 Food Tax = $1.83 Paid with Cash overage from last shop.

Final Final Total:
Value of Items Before Coupons: $159.88
Total Spent: $0.77 from Gift Card
Earned $5.00 Rebate

*It was getting late and I was too tired to make it to 4th Publix.