Rite-Aid $2.70 MONEYMAKER!

Made a trip to Rite-Aid today on my lunch hour! I wanted to take advantage of the Afrin MONEYMAKER, the Spend $15 on select items receive back $5 +Up Reward (Lays, A&W, 7-Up & Dixie plates), and FREE dog treats!

Here's what I did:

2 Afrin $5.99 each

• used 2 $3/1 coupons (no longer available)


• used 1 $2 RA Video Value Coupon


• Final Price $1.99 each - Received Back 2 $4 +Up Rewards = $4.02 MONEYMAKER

3 Hartz Dog Treats $2.99

• used 3 $1/1 coupons from 1/9 SS


• Final Price $1.99 each - Received Back 5 $1 +Up rewards = like paying $0.32 each

***I knew I would receive 3 $1 +Up Rewards for purchasing these (one for each box). I had read a rumor that I might get 2 $1 for each box, which I did but only for two of the three boxes. I purchased two boxes that were the variety flavors for all dog sizes and one box of regular flavor for medium dogs, so I would say the variety box is producing the extra $1 in +Up Rewards!

The next items are all part of the Spend $15, Get Back $5 +Up Reward Promotion

8 Lays Stax $1.00 each

• Received back 8 $1 +Up Rewards = FREE

2 Dixie Plates $3.99 each

• On a Buy One Get One FREE Sale This Week


• Used $3/2 RA Video Value Coupon


• Final Price $0.49 each

Only the price of the first one counts towards the $15!

4 2-Liter Sodas $1.25 each

• Used 2 $0.30/1 peelies found on the bottles


• Final Price $1.10 each - Received Back $1 +Up Reward for buying 4 = like paying $0.85 each

2 JIF Peanut Butters $1.99 each

• Used $1/2 RA Video Value Coupon


• Final Price $1.49 each - Received Back 2 $1 +Up Rewards = like paying $0.49 each

2 Smuckers Jellies $1.99 each

• Final Price $1.99 - Received Back 1 $1 +Up Reward = like paying $1.49 each

Subtotal: $30.30

Used $2 off any purchase RA Winter Reward Video Value Coupon

Used $1 off any purchase RA Winter Reward Video Value Coupon

New Subtotal: $27.30

Used $19.95 in +Up Rewards from previous transactions

Total $7.35 - Used Rebate Card

Total Spent $0 - Total Saved $69.17 (100%) - Received Back $30 in +Up Rewards = $2.70 MONEYMAKER!

***I had enough +Up Rewards that I could have taken the total ($7.35) to under $2 but I fouled up thinking my total was over $30 and handed over too much in +Up Rewards, with a $10 +Up Rewards being at the bottom of the stack. By the time she got to the bottom, my total wasn't under $10 so I quickly exchanged it for a $1.99 +Up Reward! I would have been better off had I had her scan my two $10 +Up Rewards first then fed her the smaller ones one by one!

MONEYMAKING CALCULATION

Had I not used the $19.95 in +Up Rewards, I would have spent $27.30 out of pocket (19.95+7.35). The $30 in +Up Rewards earned less the cost of the purchase is how I determine that this is a money making transaction.

Weekly Budget Summary

This transaction didn't use any of my weekly allowance as I used a rebate card, however, I also made a quick stop at Walgreens to grab a gallon of milk for $2.49. This takes my $56.24 budget down to $53.75!

Budget Talk

I started this week with a carryforward of $24.05 from monies not spent the previous week. This in addition to my weekly allowance of $50, gave me a total of $74.05 for the week. I was excited to have this excess in my budget for the week so I could stock up on healthier food options!

After the last shopping trip I posted to Rite-Aid, I still had $31.87 remaining for the week. Then Saturday, I dropped my son off at a birthday party an in an effort to kill some time before I needed to pick him back up, I wandered around Costco.... never a good idea!

1 4-pack Laughing Cow Cheese $8.35

5 lbs 91/9 Lean Ground Beef $13.99 ($2.80 per lb)

2 dozen large eggs $3.29



Total Spent $25.63



Weekly Allowance Remaining: $6.24



So this week I have a spending allowance of $56.24!

You Don't Have to Have Friends to Save Money!

FACEBOOK is one of the best places to get coupons and usually when available, they are the best coupons to be found! If you don't already have a FACEBOOK account then you should get one!

I know of people who are hesitant to get on FACEBOOK, but even so, create an account under an alias! You don't have to have any friends to become a fan of Product Pages!

Here are the best coupons to be had at the moment!

Bath & Body Works -

Go here to join their Facebook page, click on like, then go to their wall and find their Our Gift to You post and click on the lind to download a coupon for a FREE 1.6 oz Candle! Use this coupon through January 30th!

Challenge Butter -


Go here to join their Facebook page, click on like, you should be taken directly to their coupon tab, click on the coupon picture to print a $2/1 coupon! This should make for some FREE butter! You can print this coupon twice!


Downy -

Go here to join their Facebook page, click on like, then keep an eye on it today, as they are doing some giveaways! The next giveaway will be 10,000 samples of April Fresh!


Thank you Money Saving Mom!

Rite-Aid Spent $1, Saved $65 (99%)

This week at Rite-Aid, there is awesome money making potential on Nature Made Fish Oil! Earlier this month, there was a $5/1 internet coupon available for Nature Made vitamins and had you printed them, you could potentially make $16 on purchasing Fish Oil! I of course never got around to printing them but I was still able to make some money. Here is what I did:

3 Nature Made Fish Oil 60-ct $11.49 each

1 GE Extra Soft Lightbulbs 4-pack $1.99



Subtotal: $36.46



Used $4/$20 Rite-Aid Purchase Video Value Beauty Bonus Coupon

Used 1 $4/1 Nature Made Fish Oil coupon from February All You Magazinge

Used 2 $2/1 Nature Made Fish Oil coupon fromm 1/2 SS

Used 1 $3/1 Nature Made Rite-Aid February Video Value Coupon



New Subtotal: $21.46, Plus I earned $27.99 in +Up Rewards, which makes this transaction a $6.53 MONEYMAKER



Used $21 of +Up Rewards from previous transaction



Total: $0.46, Used Rebate Card



Total Spent $0, Total Saved $38.46 (100%)

My son was invited to a birthday party this weekend for a girl in his class. I have a couple of gifts stashed away for boys but none for girls. Rather than going to Walmart and spending cash on a present, I decided to see what I could find at Rite-Aid. I have an abundance of +Up Rewards so this is a much pleasing option over cash! I also was in need of a calendar! Can you believe I got no calendars this year for Christmas! Last year I had more than I could use!!!

1 Wall Calendar $7.99

1 Color Explosion $11.99

2 GE Extra Soft Lightbulbs $1.99 each

Subtotal: $23.96, Plus I earned back $3.98, Which Makes this like paying $19.98

Used $23 in +Up Rewards Earned in Previous Transactions

Total Spent $0.96, Total Saved $27 (97%) - For some reason I forgot to use my Rebate Card! This should have been 100% Savings ;-)

Weekly Allowance Summary

After my trips to Safeway and my trip to Costco, I had $31.87 remaining in my weekly allowance, so after the $0.96 out of pocket on the above transactions, I still have $30.91 remaining!

Costco Spent $41.30

I use to be a regular Costco shopper but once I started using coupons, I probably only go there once every month to two months! I do like going there for produce, meat and bread products. I have found that its not the best buy when you compare it to a great sale stacked with coupons at a grocery store, however, sometimes you just don't have a coupon for something you need and you can't wait around for the next big sale. In these instances, I do think you can get the best deal at Costco.

To help me start off on the right foot with my commitment to eating healthy, I made a run this week to stock up on some of my favorite essentials:

1 Meza Traditional Hummus $4.85

1 Bag Mini Sweet Peppers $4.49

1 Pace Picante 2-pack $4.99

1 Folgers $9.99

1 Bag String Cheese $8.99

1 Bag of Edamame $7.99

Total Spent $41.30

Weekly Allowance Summary

After my Safeway runs, I had $73.17 remaining in my weekly allowance. After spending $41.30 at Costco, I still have $31.87!

This was a perfect week for a trip to Costco and to start eating healthy as I had plenty of room in my budget to stock up on healthy options! One struggle I still have with coupons is how to get great buys on healthier food options, so I just try to save enough on other foods to allow using a larger portion of my budget to cover healthier items.

Safeway Shopping - Spent $1, Saved $42 (98%)

Last weekend I received one of my big rebate gift cards I had been expecting. This card plus coming in under budget on last weeks spending of $24.05, gives me lots to work with this week and hopefully future weeks!

Transaction #1

I did this transaction on Sunday so these were last week's prices. Just gonna give a quick and dirty run down with no coupon info:

2 7-Up 2-liters $0.62 each

2 A&W 2-liters $0.77 each

3 Lucerne Ice Creams $1.79 each

1 Coffee-Mate Creamer 32-oz $2.49

1 Lucerne Sour Cream $1.50

2 Horizon Milk Singles FREE

1 Value Red Hot Dog Buns $0.89

1 Franz Whole Grain Bread $2.00

1 Gallon of Milk $1.99

Subtotal: $17.02

Used Rebate Card

Total Spent $0, Total Saved $30.78 (100%)

Transaction #2

When I check out with transaction #1, I received a $1/1 Danimals yogurt coupon, which was on sale for only $1.88 so I went back and purchased one, used the coupon and paid $0.88 out of pocket.

Spent $0.88, Saved $2.11 (71%)

Transaction #3

My carbless week was giving me a killer headache and I really needed something sweet but with no carbs to take the edge off so I made an emergency run for Crystal Light!

1 Safeway Lite Iced Tea $3.29

2 Nissin Top Ramen 6-packs $1.39 each

1 Romain Hearts 3-pack $2.99

Subtotal $9.06

Used Rebate Card

Total Spent $0, Total Saved $9.06 (100%)

Weekly Allowance Summary

I started the week with my weekly allowance of $50, plus $24.05 of overage from the week before. I spent $0.88 in the above transactions, leaving me with $73.17 to spend!

Lets Just Call It Reprogramming!

I have been a little absent on here this week because I started to "reprogram" the way I eat. In an effort to establish better eating habits, which will hopefully lead to weight loss, I am in the process of reprogramming my tastes and cravings!

This week I am trying to eliminate carbs as much as possible. I am hoping this will suppress my sweet tooth and cravings for sweet and salty foods. My focus this week is to eat mainly vegetables, lean meats, and a couple of dairy servings each day. So far so good! I did have a veggie salad from a local resteraunt yesterday, which did have carbs (rice), but it was still a healthy lunch option, so I have been pleased with my progress. Plus I have been drinking water likes there's no tomorrow! All those trips from my office to the bathrooom equates to exercise, right?

The downside to all of this is that I have had a three day headache! I take that as a sign my body knows I am depriving it of something so its retaliating. The headache has left me pretty blah in the evenings which has led to the lack of posting. The good news is, I no longer have a headache! Which to me is a good sign my body will start responding positively to the changes in my eating habits and now that I am feeling a little more frisky, I can start to incorporate some exercise into my Day to Day World!

I have been doing some shopping this week. I did a Safeway trip on Sunday, a trip to Costco and had a nice money making trip to Rite-Aid. I will try to get the details of these up shortly!