Mail Call

Pinch and Sleepin' Beauty,

Ok, I feel like I have been taken advantage of by Harris Teeter. A little background, our Youth Director at church sent out a plea for soda for the youth and referenced the buy 2 get 3 free sale at Harris Teeter. I also have a family reunion this weekend and soda was one of the things on my list. I looked thru the sale ad online (that ends today) and found a couple of coupons for the Ken's salad dressing. Off I went.

The sign at the soda said buy 2 get 3 (but the actual price was actually left off). If I had known that the price was $6.29 for one 12 pack, I wouldn't have made the purchase.

I ended up buying 10 cases of soda (5 for youth, 5 for reunion). The price per case worked out to be $2.52 each, so I guess that wasn't too bad. I also got the 5 for $5 Ken's salad dressing and I had two $1/2 coupons. So I got five for $3. I needed storage bags. And since I didn't have a coupon and I saw that they would ring up half price, I got one. I did find one that had a .15 coupon on it.

Overall, I spent $31.67, and I did let out a "That can't be RIGHT!!" squeal (and not in a good way) when the cashier gave me my total. My receipt does say that I saved $44.19 on this trip.

So, did I get duped?

The Rookie

Dear Rookie,

Let's take a look at 12-pack soda prices at different stores:

Rite Aid (Coke products) 3/$9.99 = $3.33/pack before +UP ($2.66 after $2 +UP)
Food Lion (Coke products) 2/$7 = $3.50/pack
Lowes Foods (Coke products) 2/$7 = $3.50/pack
Walgreens (Coke products) 4/$14 = $3.50/pack
CVS (Pepsi products) 3/$11 = $3.67/pack
Food Lion (Pepsi products) 3/$11 = $3.67/pack
Lowes Foods (Pepsi products) $4.99/pack (not on sale)

Even though $6.29 is high for a 12-pack of soda at Harris Teeter, it is still cheaper per pack considering the Buy 2 Get 3 Sale ($2.52/case). So you did good on that deal today.

At Food Lion tomorrow (Wednesday), Pepsi 12-packs will be on sale for 4/$9 (or $2.25 per case)...not that much difference between Harris Teeter Tuesday and Food Lion Wednesday.

The Ken's salad dressing was good too, although I probably wouldn't have bought that 5th dressing (but that's just me...no coupon, no sale). But even at $1, that is not a bad price.

I don't know what kind of storage bags you bought, but I am assuming they were the Hefty bags. I found a $1.00 off 2 Q...so if you found a peelie for 15 cents (30 cents if doubled), still not a bad deal. I am proud of you for finding the peelie!!

So, in closing, I think you did fine. You got a good deal on the soda.

My pet peeve with Harris Teeter is that on their Buy 2 Get 3 Free sales, I think they increase the prices. Just out of curiosity, I am going to stop by Harris Teeter Wednesday to check out their regular price for soda.

Now to change the subject, we will be sending our expired Qs off in another week if you want to donate yours.

I heard a rumor that HT might be doing triples starting September 8th. The rumor should be confirmed this coming Sunday. If the rumor turns out to be true, we (me, you and Sleeping Beauty) need to get together to strategize your triples shopping. (Strategize...is that even a word??) I look forward to shopping with you during triples!!!

**Pinch**

Late Night Update

I got a letter in the mail yesterday regarding my discussion last week with CVS customer service. Nothing special...they just want me to call yet another CS rep to make sure everything is satisfactory.

I called Monday (8/30) at 4 PM and left a message. As of today at 10 PM, no return phone call!

I also received some coupons from SC Johnson in the mail. It always pays off to call a company and compliment them on their products.

And I got my $10 rebate check from Summer Grilling!

==Sleeping Beauty==

Spaghetti Night

It's going to take more than one night to eat all this spaghetti! Thanks to Food Lion, now is the time to stockpile spaghetti noodles. Food Lion has a B1G1 Ronzoni spaghetti sale. To make this deal even better, go to coupons.com and print out some 55¢/1 coupons (use zip code 90210). You will be able to print out two coupons per computer.

Now for the really good part...there is a $3 rebate form located by the spaghetti. You have to buy six boxes of pasta in one transaction.

My transaction:
6 boxes of spaghetti = $4.14 (excluding tax)
minus 3 coupons = $1.65
Paid $2.49 (excluding tax)
(Sending in my $3.00 rebate)
Final Cost = 6 boxes of FREE spaghetti

I printed two coupons from my computer. I only printed one coupon from Mr. Pinch's computer...I tried to print another one but the computer messed up. I also tried to print two from another computer but that computer was not cooperative. If you can possibly print six coupons, your OOP cost at Food Lion would only be 84¢ plus tax.

I only bought the six boxes of spaghetti today at Food Lion, and I got 15 tickets for The Great Grocery Giveaway. My guess is my local Food Lion is trying to give away all the unused tickets since the Giveaway ends Tuesday. Has anyone actually won anything? I haven't! I wish Food Lion would double coupons or have better sales than do this lame lottery-wannabe. (Just my opinion!)

**Pinch**

Don't Go Near That Trashcan!

Stop! Don't throw those coupons away! Instead of adding more trash to the landfill, recycle your coupons.

There are a lot of coupons that expired this weekend. As you are cleaning out your binders or envelopes, consider donating your coupons to our adopted military base in Germany. Our next mailing will be September 13th.

Go Green...by saving our military families cash at the Commissary or PX. One woman's trash is another woman's treasure!

**Pinch**

==Sleeping Beauty==

Anybody Up For Air Wick?

I couldn't leave these little guys out. Here we have all of my Air Wick items. Do we feel the need for an Air Wick intervention? This does include everything except what is in use in the house.

I am so excited I got to change to a new fragrance in the Air Wick line. As you see in this picture, that one was empty. We now have in use Magnolia & Cherry Blossom. The bottom of the warmer unit was a little yucky so I trashed it and opened a new warmer unit. Note: free warmer units when you buy refills and clearance warmer units at Rite Aid a couple of weeks ago. Home Run for me!

==Sleeping Beauty==

1-800-Glade Intervention

I will have you all know that I only purchased two Glade items yesterday. Those two items were what was on sale at CVS last Sunday...remember the nightmare? I know you haven't forgotten. Well, sometimes work gets in the way so I didn't make it to CVS until yesterday on the way to work. My favorite cashier checked me out seeing as Mr. Manager wasn't there. Oh well, it was really uneventful and I sure am glad or glade, whichever you choose. Ha!

Okay, since someone sees the need for an intervention, I thought I would gather my Glade items and just show everyone what I have. That's it folks...everything in the picture...all of my worldly Glade items! Oh, besides what is already in use in the house.

I do have two more birthdays coming up in September, so here we go again!

By the way, I did no shopping today. I will pick up some diapers sometime this week, probably at Rite Aid and they do have some Glade items on sale!

==Sleeping Beauty==

Intervention

I think it is time for an intervention. Sleeping Beauty sent me this picture. I thought she was sending me a picture of Baby Beauty or the new addition to the family, Little Bitty Beauty. But noooooo...it was a picture of her latest Glade products. I am worried about her. I think she has an obsession with Glade products...especially the Sense and Spray ones.

When you walk in every room in her house, you hear Psssst...it's just scary! Small children get frightened. Don't get me wrong, her house does smell good...sort of like a basket of Clean Linen. But I need to help her before she buys every Glade product in town.

**Pinch**

Nightmare on CVS Street - The Sequel

Dateline CVS:

On Monday morning August 23, I called CVS corporate. I had a nice chat with L. She was informed of the nightmare that I had experienced on Sunday. She pulled her CVS ad and told me the Glade oil refills 1-3 count were what was on sale...just like I had tried to explain to the CVS NOT SO NICE EMPLOYEE. She also said anytime an employee isn't sure of a sale item or if something is not ringing up on sale, then the employee should call the help desk to clear things up. How simple is that? Ms. Very Nice Corporate Lady would forward my problem to the district manager. After talking with corporate, I called the manager at my local CVS. Guess who answered the phone??? You got it...Ms. CVS herself. After putting me on hold briefly, she said Mr. Manager is on a conference call and I should call back in an hour.

Waiting the hour plus some, I called Mr. Manager. Lo and behold, MS. NOT SO NICE CVS EMPLOYEE had of course already spoke to him. I was told by him that she would never scream at a customer because it just wasn't her personality. OH REALLY??? Our conversation wasn't the most pleasant after that comment by him. It seems he had been on vacation last week and just wasn't happy that I had a not so nice encounter with his employee...the employee that couldn't have screamed and yelled at me. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't on my side at all. Now, let me ask you something. I said to him...why would I spend 45 minutes on the phone with corporate, then bother to call him if I wasn't speaking the truth? Just tell me why I would waste my time. Believe me, I have better things to do. With that being said, I just felt the need to call corporate back and express my concern at how the manager had handled the situation. Again I spoke with another Very Nice Corporate Lady. I explained the situation to her and told her it was already in the computer system. She added the manager story to the first one.

Fast forward to close to 1:00 PM...I get a call from the district manager. He gives me his apology, tells me it is cleared up, and that Mr. CVS Store Manager would be calling me. Boy, things sure happen fast when heads start to roll. It wasn't two minutes after hanging up with the district manager that the store manager called. He also offered his apology and told me he would sale me the twin Glade oil refills at the price of 2/$5. How nice of him to honor his ad. My husband, Mr. Beauty, is still saying that the manager isn't even admitting they were wrong. It is like they are doing me a favor. I am wondering if there will be any follow up by the higher-ups at corporate regarding this incident. I will keep you all informed.

As of yet I have not ventured back to CVS, but I will go back. Surely I can pick a day that MS. NOT SO NICE CVS EMPLOYEE isn't working. Keep your fingers crossed.

One more follow up...I also called S.C. Johnson to compliment them on their products. There was a really good B1G1 coupon in one of the items that I had purchased at CVS on Sunday. Bummer...the coupon expired on July 31. The Very Nice S.C. Johnson Employee is mailing me more coupons! Yippee for me. Something positive does come from something negative. Would this be good KARMA Ms. Pinch??

==Sleeping Beauty==

Weekend Savings

Discount Tire: Tax free weekend and tent sale...good in North Carolina and South Carolina only. Purchase any set of four tires installed (better or best rated) or any set of four wheels, and Discount Tire will pay the taxes for you. This offer is good through Saturday, August 28.

Dixie Classic Fair: On sale until Thursday, September 30, you can purchase advance admission tickets through Ticketmaster. If you purchase the 3-day pass, you will get a 25% savings. Visit the fair website (here) for a list of businesses selling ride tickets. The annual fair is October 1-10 in Winston-Salem.

Kohls: Print Shopping Pass (here) for an extra 15% off all sale, regular and clearance merchandise. This offer is good through Saturday, August 28.

Lane Bryant: 40% off everything in-store and online (use coupon code 000408028)...Spanx products excluded. This sale ends on Monday, August 30. Also, earn $25 Real Women Dollars for every $50 spent.

**Pinch**

Nightmare on CVS Street - Part Deux

Total Paid $1.62
Hi, it's me again...the customer that gets yelled at from a CVS employee! I went home Sunday and expressed my feelings to Mr. Beauty and called Ms. Pinch to let her in on the saga. While at home, I discovered a coupon in a Glade product that I got at my local FRIENDLY Rite Aid last week or the week before. Hmmm, this coupon was for a FREE Glade plug-ins Lasting Impressions. I have not gotten one of those Qs before. So I was convinced I was going to revisit the CVS Nightmare once again Sunday night. I wanted Mr. Beauty to go also. He said he would but on the way there he tells me he isn't going in because it was an intimidation level with him being there. Okay, whatever! I just wanted a witness...but I will go in alone. Come to find out, he just wants to get dinner on the way home.

I was also thinking of making a stop at Rite Aid for the Huggies diaper deal and 7-Up. CVS and Rite Aid are within sight of each other and there is a Walgreens in between the two. Like we have told you before, easy shopping for us.

At this point, I have decided if CVS employee #3 thinks that the scented oil candle refills are scented oil refills then I have a new coupon (found in one of my prior purchases) that will give me a free warmer. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and I am on my way to see the Wizard. I didn't stop at Rite Aid (good choice). I go in CVS and get my Glade Lasting Impressions and two of the scented oil CANDLE refills, go to the front to check out, and we have Cashier #1 still on her post. I tell her I am back, that I am owed my ECB and this should be really simple. She immediately is waving her hands in the air saying NO. Well, fine then, just go ahead and call Mr. CVS Employee to check me out...I don't mind. He comes along and I tell him we have just a few things to straighten out. First one being the ECB... he gives me that...no problem. Next, I need to pay the tax on the free gum that wound up in the first transaction bag...no problem...I owed 10¢. Next, now remember you -- Mr. Employee -- told me these candle refills on my first receipt are refills so then according to this new found coupon I should get these warmers for free. Well no, Ms. Customer, you don't get those for free because you didn't pay for the refills on the first receipt because they were free. REALLY Mr. Employee, I did pay for those because I used a coupon...it wasn't green money but it was a coupon...now show me where the coupon was deducted on this first receipt. It wasn't...they did refund $5. Okay, what if I had used this coupon for free warmers when I purchased the items on the first and only transaction? What would the outcome have been? They were rung up at regular price before Qs because they were part of my $25. I did buy them. But if that is the way it is, I have no problem with that. So this is what I will do for you MR. CVS EMPLOYEE I will go and purchase two more of the candle refills and use my $3 ECB and my GET A FREE WARMER Q. Okay?? How does that suit you? I don't blame this employee for him not feeling comfortable with my plan.

Now while I am at CVS for the second trip, a customer comes in and wants to know what happened at Rite Aid. We, of course, have no idea what she is talking about. It seems that Rite Aid may have gotten robbed. There were police cars there and she was told the store was closed. I sure hope our nice Rite Aid employee Leland is OKAY, and I am glad that I didn't stop at Rite Aid for the diaper deal.

If I have coupons and a customer comes up with one or two items, as a courtesy I let that customer go ahead of me. I can see it now...I could have easily let the robber go in front of me (if there was a robbery). I don't know any other reason why the store would be closed before 6 PM with the police there.

I do hope that I haven't bored everyone to death, but I believe the point would be to stand your ground. All that I wanted was for a CVS employee to show or tell me what is on sale and what isn't. It shouldn't be a matter of their opinion. I DO want to play well with others!

Stay tuned, the story continues...

Paid tax only for this transaction
==Sleeping Beauty==

Last Minute Shopping

I realized this morning that I had $4.99 in ECBs and $2 in RR expiring today. Oh No, Mr. Bill, I can't have pseudo-money expire on me...I must go shopping! It's not that I wanted to go shopping...I HAD to go shopping.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to CVS I go. There really wasn't anything I needed, so I only planned to buy two Glade Sense & Sprays, a cheap filler item, spend almost nothing, and get a $3 ECB. But then the magic machine spit out a $4 off $20 Q, so I adjusted my plans. I ended up buying the two Sense and Sprays, Crest toothpaste, and the Blink eye drops. It's a good thing I printed the Blink Q, just in case.

Total before Qs and tax: $21.48
Minus Qs: $12.25
Minus ECBs: $4.99
Total: $4.24 + $1.35 = $5.59

I spent a little more than I originally planned, but I got $13.49 in ECBs...and a very nice cashier. It's good to know that there still are nice and friendly employees at CVS (even though this is a different CVS than the one Sleeping Beauty shopped at on Sunday).

Next, off to Walgreens. Nothing exciting to report here. I used my RR to pay for pictures.

I'm in a posting mood tonight, but my writing skills will have to wait until later...I'm off to do kindergarten homework. Tonight we count the number of toes in our family...last night we counted light switches in our house.

**Pinch**

Coupon Exchange Club

Now that summer is about over and the kids are starting back to school, the Coupon Exchange Club will be meeting again. The first get-together will be Tuesday, September 7 at 10:00 AM. If you are interested in joining us, send us an email and we will give you the details.

We know some of you are working and 10:00 in the morning is not a good time...so we may start another Club that meets on a weeknight. If you are interested in meeting around 7:00 PM, let us know which day is best for you.

The Coupon Exchange Club is just a group of women (men are also welcome) who clip and trade coupons. This is also a good time to get your coupons organized and work on your "wish" list. All we ask is that you bring your sense of humor...we tend to laugh a lot!

**Pinch**

==Sleeping Beauty==

I'm Back

I've been away from the computer lately. I wasn't on vacation...just on a cleaning spree! The kids are back in school, so I took a few days to really clean my house. I cleaned out closets, cleaned the hardwood floors, steam cleaned the carpet, and basically washed everything that could possibly be washed. On Sunday, I got a good deal on a rental Rug Doctor steam cleaner at Harris Teeter. The steam cleaner is regularly $24.99, less $8 VIC and a $5 printable coupon. This sale is good until Tuesday night in case anyone wants to clean their carpets.

I cleaned out a file cabinet and found papers that needed to be shredded. I have a small paper shredder and it would have taken days to shred all those papers. So I took advantage of a coupon from Office Depot last week for free paper shredding.

I have been going to the gym every morning after I drop the kids off at school. What has made me so energetic and productive? Vitamins!! While cleaning out my stockpile, I found some vitamins that I got at Walgreens several weeks ago.

Alive! Women's Energy Vitamins
These were on sale for $10 and you got a $10 RR back. So naturally I bought them, and I'm glad I did. I'm not Chatty Cathy and I don't feel like I have taken Speed, but one pill a day has given me an energy boost. I hope they go on sale again, but even if they aren't on sale I am buying more...even at full retail price. That's how much I like them...I'm willing to pay full price!

So, ladies and gentlemen, I am back! I have lots of good things to tell you about in the next few days. I'm caught up on my housework, my coupons are cut and filed, and I have time during the day that doesn't include Dora the Explorer, Phineas and Ferb, and iCarly!

It's good to be back...

**Pinch**

Nightmare On CVS Street

Oh my, all I can say is I will try my best to make this short. Lessen the torture I might say, leave out some of the gory details if possible, hope everyone gets my meaning.

It was an ordinary Sunday trip to CVS...so I thought. I had my plan all figured out, it wasn't complicated at all. Did I say that? Okay I know, get on with it.

Page 5 of the CVS ad had everything I was going after. No big deal, nothing I have to have, nothing I need. But I am addicted to the Glade products. To make it simple, just go for the $5 off $25 ECB with Glade products and get $3 ECB when you spend $10 on certain products (listed right in the middle of the ad). All products were in multiples of $5. Really can it get any easier than that??

I had three different plans of action just in case CVS was out of certain things. Okay, got it so far? No they were not out of anything, whew...now this is really a no-brainer. Again, so I thought!

We have our products all pictured above. I had figured on spending $7 plus tax. Well that isn't what the cashier came up with, so I told her nicely that wasn't right. She took the $5/$25 ECB and my other coupons. The problem was with one of my coupons...it was a buy one candle holder get the candle refill for free. I was buying two of the refills and only using one coupon for the free item. Moral is in short form, the cashier didn't deduct for the free candle refills. Okay we can fix that.

My next transaction is where it turned into a real nightmare...just three little items. A pack of gum that would be free with a Q from the magic Q machine and two packs of the scented oil refills. So simple...NOT!

The ad plainly states 2/$5 scented oil refills 1-3 count or holder plus shows a picture of the 1-count box of GLADE PLUG-INS SCENTED OIL REFILLS. I had two boxes of the double plug-ins scented oil refills. Remember the gum? Don't forget about it, it will come into play in a minute. There is a CVS worker standing to the side with her purse ready to go home...already stated she worked an hour over. Okay fine, GO HOME! But she didn't. She had to ask what the problem was (keep in mind she is off the clock and not waiting on me anyway). I told her the first transaction was wrong (which was in a bag on the counter) and this one wasn't going well either. She begins to tell me that the refills are not on sale if there isn't a sale tag on the shelf with them. Then she asked me if there was a sale tag. I told her I didn't think there was but the ad in the paper is pretty clear to me, so I think. If I am wrong then tell me so and we can correct the problem. Not in this lifetime at NIGHTMARE ON CVS STREET! Really, if I picked up the wrong item then I will get the right one. Okay, she sends CVS employee #3 to check the shelf. He comes back with almost every Glade product made and they both tell me the scented oil candle refills are on sale. I already know that because I have already purchased two. But my coupon is for buy the twin refill get one free, which is what I was trying so hard to do. Well I would say I was treated very nasty and SCREAMED at more than once by MS. NOT SO NICE CVS EMPLOYEE (remember she is the one not on the clock). The original cashier was hanging out listening to everything. By this time, there is a long line behind me. Don't you think one of them would have had the sense to open another register? Not today, ladies and gents, not today.

Back to the discussion at hand...Ms. Not So Nice is putting the box of candle refills in my face telling me this is the item on sale....right we know that. I am telling her the ad states scented oil refills AND shows a picture of the single refill. I ask what is the 1-to-3 count refill. She said it is the oil candle refills. Really??? I have never seen a 1-count refill on the oil candles, but of course she has. She tells me that the 4-in-a-pack is a bonus. Really? I see 4-in-a-pack at every store in town. To make this story short...now I tell them I don't want any of the items in question but that I would make some phone calls tomorrow. I ask if she was the manager or if CVS employee #3 was. I didn't get an answer to that other than she told me the manager would be there in the morning at 7 AM. Okay, I can't wait to talk to him.

One more point here that will come in to play in my next saga...the gum that was free was in my first transaction bag. I at least owed tax on that and they didn't give me back my $3 ECB that I was using to pay for my second transaction that was voided. I felt the need to leave the nightmare and deal with it later. At this point I needed a drink and I DON'T DRINK!

To be continued...

==Sleeping Beauty==

"You Say It's Your Birthday"

"It's my birthday too - yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you"

Birthday presents from my stockpile:

For my Sister-in-Law (or SIL as I like to call her)
For my youngest Daughter (aka Baby Beauty's Momma)
==Sleeping Beauty==

"Money, It's A Gas"

"Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash."
Seriously, that is just what I did. These are rebate checks that I received this week. I'm not going to get rich quick but it sure gives me money to spend on Sunday if there are any good deals out there.

The $4.50 Pilot check was for ink pens, of course. They came from Walgreens back in April. The deal was buy three packs of pens and receive a rebate for $4.50. I paid 85¢ (including tax) for the 3 packs of pens.

The Staples check was for paper. The two packs were $9.98 and I got back $9.96. That rebate didn't even cost a stamp...it was done online. So basically almost FREE paper!

The $10 check was from Zegerid. Yippee for the sale at Rite Aid a few weeks ago! With coupons from the newspaper and Rite Aid, it was FREE! Word has it there is a Mr. that uses it so no more heartburn for him!

My total in rebates this week = $24.46.

"I'm walking on Sunshine!"

==Sleeping Beauty==

"Try To Get Yourself A Bargain Son"

I have to stay out of the stores. I have to stay out of the stores! I have to stay out of the stores!!

Today's trip to Rite Aid netted me $37.97 worth of merchandise for $3.95. Add the dang tax to it and you get $5.73 spent.

You wonder why I go to some of these stores every day? Well I am here to tell you...my Aunt and one of my SIL's give me the coupons they no longer want. My Aunt dropped her coupons off today and we just had to go and use the ones for the clearance items that were left at Rite Aid from yesterday. Now dear SIL is at the beach so I will not get her coupons until later. What fun once again!

Ladies and gentlemen, I will leave you with this:

My Momma told me you better shop around!

And how my Mom did love to shop. Love you Mom and I know you are watching over all of us!

Thanks to Auntie and SIL for the Qs.

==Sleeping Beauty==

"When The Moon Is In The Seventh House"

"And Jupiter Aligns With Mars"
Today's CVS visit was much better than yesterday's. I was determined that I would do the Right Guard deal and it was going to work. Well lo and behold, it did. That deal didn't work for me yesterday. The planets must have been out of line...or the cashier was...one or the other.

Total spent: 39¢!
Subtotal was negative 59¢
tax was 98¢

There you have it...98¢ minus the negative 59¢ = 39¢

You gotta love it!

==Sleeping Beauty==

"It's A Wonderful Day In The Neighborhood"

I had a very good day shopping on Sunday.

My first stop was CVS. The retail price was $41.87 and I paid $7.21 (including tax). I got a special treat for my dad, who loves the pretzel M&Ms.

Today was the day for clearance sales at Rite Aid. I did two transactions so I could use my $5 off $25 coupon and get some +UP rewards. The total retail for everything was $118.33. I paid $26.16 (including tax).

There were clearance sales at Target...just what I needed!

I can't tell you the retail value because I don't know the prices before the clearance. The receipt has that I saved $20.65. I paid $5.69 (including tax) for everything.

I paid $3.61 for honey buns and milk, and $2.08 for the rest of the stuff!

My total retail for everything today was $186.54. I spent $39.06...not bad for all that I got.

I'm just crazy...I know they have places for people like me! Now I'm off to make three birthday baskets.

==Sleeping Beauty==

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry

Sunday is the last day to purchase products for a rebate sponsored by ConAgra and All You Magazine (print rebate form). Just purchase $10 in qualifying products and get $25 in coupons. The $10 qualifying purchase is on the shelf price of your products, not what you actually pay after coupons. The participating brands are:

Healthy Choice
Kids Cuisine
Egg Beaters
Hunt's Manwich
Chef Boyardee
Peter Pan
Snack Pack
Marie Callendar's
PAM
Fleischmann's
Van Camp's
Hunt's Tomato Ketchup
Hebrew National
Reddi-Wip

Multiple receipts are allowed. Purchases must be made between May 6, 2010 and August 15, 2010. The rebate form along with cash register receipts must be postmarked by August 30, 2010. The offer is limited to one rebate request per household or address.

**Pinch**

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

To all our loyal viewers:

My latest trip to Harris Teeter
First of all, let me say that I thought this Super Doubles event wasn't going to be all that spectacular. Well...I was wrong! Imagine that, ME being wrong!

Okay, I will get to the facts. I bought everything in the picture for $3.45. That's right, you heard me correctly. Tax included! How did I do it, you ask? By rolling, rolling, rolling those catalinas and, of course, keeping "them doggies (coupons) movin." Yippie! My true love will be waiting, waiting at the end of my ride. True love for this week is HT!

Shopping was done at our most favorite Harris Teeter! Thanks guys!

I will leave you with one thought...Save a horse, ride a cowboy!

==Sleeping Beauty==

Double Vision

I wasn't impressed with the HT ad this week. But everything worked out in the end. It was the worth the trip. And I am going tomorrow with the Pinches and play bumper cars with the kids!

This is transaction #1:

I paid $6.71 (tax was .41).

This is transaction #2. Really I did this one first so it is #1, the other is #2. Now who's on first?? Just kidding! But this was the first.

The total of this one was $4.03.

Not too bad...$10.74 for everything in both pictures. I saved $67.29.

I'm off to see the Wizard! Tune in tomorrow, same place, same time...for more adventures of the Harris Teeter Housewives.

==Sleeping Beauty==

Double Talk

Today is the big day...Harris Teeter Super Doubles starts today and runs through next Tuesday. So dig out all your coupons valued at $1.98 or less.

I'm not complaining, but I have never seen a $1.98 coupon! The highest value I have ever seen is $1.75. Too bad HT couldn't up the value to $2. Now, that would be over the rainbow!!

Sleeping Beauty and I didn't shop together, although we did see each other there. And NO, we are not mad at each other. I still adore her. Mr. and Mrs. Beauty shopped together. I had the two little Pinches with me, and I needed to have my car in case I had to make a quick exit if they started playing bumper cars with the little buggies again. I do love those two little people but shopping with them is NOT fun!

Anyway, I did give in and buy the two munchkins some fruit snacks. They think I am wonderful...and I am! But I had an ulterior motive. If you buy four fruit snacks, you get a catalina for $2 off your next order. So with coupons, the fruit snacks were only $1 each. That's a small price to pay for my sanity.

I have an issue with the milk. In the HT email, the ad lists the milk at $2.47 but there is a disclaimer that says the "price may vary by market." Yeah, it varies alright...it is $3.49. I needed milk anyway. So beware, milk is NOT on sale here.

And I know there is a lot of the Breyers YoCrunch yogurt, but that stuff is good, especially the cheesecake! Yummy!!

Now for the FREEBIES...Lysol wipes ($1 hangtag), Lysol cleaner ($1 hangtag), Danimals and Dan-o-nino yogurt. HT has a lot of other freebies, but they will have to wait another day to come home with me. I used my Peter Pan coupons last week...little did I know that Peter Pan would be free today with the eVIC special. Oh well!

Shelf Price: $87.41
minus VIC and eVIC: $29.34
minus Coupons: $33.98
minus Catalina: $2 (from the fruit snacks)
minus Catalina: $10 (from yesterday's Kellogg's deal)

I paid $12.09 (which includes the overpriced milk).

I'll be back at HT tomorrow "to confer, converse and otherwise hob-nob with my brother wizards."

**Pinch**

Eenie-Meenie-Miny-Moe

For our July donation, we picked an individual who is going through some tough times and needed to know that somebody cared. We love you, J.

We are still taking nominations for the month of August. Email us before August 18th with your nomination.

==Sleeping Beauty==

**Pinch**

And They're Off...

...to our adopted Army base in Germany. We mailed $3,206.66 worth of coupons today. We send a big thank you to everybody that contributed.

Our next mailing will be September 13th. The military bases overseas can redeem expired coupons at their commissary or PX. If you are interested in sending your coupons to the military, please send us an email.

Thanks again for helping our military families overseas.

==Sleeping Beauty==

**Pinch**

Didst Thou Ever Want To Be A Pirate?

Aargh! Looks like this Seadog needs a shave!!

Ahoy! Another trip to Rite Aid. I spent $1.14 total for Schick Hydro razor, shave gel and a candy bar.

==Sleeping Beauty==

"I Do Believe In Fairies, I Do! I Do!"

Run to Harris Teeter and get the peanut butter...tomorrow at Harris Teeter! It will be FREE with coupons and eVIC.

Super Doubles starts Wednesday.

==Sleeping Beauty==

Lying Scum

Well, I finally tried this product that I got months ago at Target. I was told by Ms. Pinch that it was wonderful. She didn't lie. It did a terrific job on my bathtub. Most of the scum slid right off. I will admit that I sprayed a couple of places two times.

Get in touch with your inner maid
Moral of the story: don't be slack like me...clean your tub more often. By the way, I did use coupons and if memory serves me correctly it was less than $1. Watch for sales and coupons for this product!

==Sleeping Beauty==

"Once Upon A Time"

I am a Mom to two beautiful grown daughters who are both recent Moms themselves. So that makes me a Grandmom to two also beautiful granddaughters, one almost 11 months and one almost 4 months. Such fun! I have been blessed with these babies and my daughters.

Now to tell you all about how I became involved in couponing. I have a wonderful friend (Ms. Pinch) that has been so gracious to tell me all of her secrets about couponing. As she has told all of you, she has been cutting Q's for four years I believe it was, so in my book that makes her an expert. I have to learn from the best! We started a coupon club back in January. We would get together to cut out our coupons once a week, which was also quite entertaining. Well, Ms. Pinch would tell interesting stories about couponing and how much money she saved. Of course I was the person that said, "They don't have coupons for things that I use." I also said, "I will never have a stockpile." How could I when they don't have coupons for what I use? Hmm...was I wrong? Of course I was. Remember, I have learned from the best. I have paid as little as 99¢ for Huggies diapers, 39¢ for Pampers wipes and 53¢ total for three rolls of Reynolds Wrap, three dental flosses and three hot & spicy mayo's. My husband loves that new mayo. So yes, they do have coupons for things that I use. I have a stockpile of gifts for upcoming birthdays and have already started a stockpile of Christmas gifts. I have purchased things that I don't use for the simple reason of creating a stockpile...just because I don't use it doesn't mean that someone else won't. Purchased is probably not the right word to use when you can get things for free or just by paying the tax, which is almost free. Ms. Pinch and I purposely used our coupons a few weeks ago (with store sales) for things that neither of us use. Why? So that we could donate them to a local church food pantry. I can't save the world but I do believe that every little bit helps. I would not have been able to donate had it not been for the coupons.

There are a few words that I can use to describe what I have learned from Ms. Pinch about couponing. One is AMAZING. Another is UNBELIEVABLE. We leave a grocery store, drug store or Target, and immediately are asking each other, "So how much did you spend?" We laugh all the way to the car. So thank you Ms. Pinch from the bottom of my fridge, cabinets and bathroom closet...just to name a few places where I have things stashed.

Remember my few words to describe couponing? Now I will tell you something, it is amazing and unbelievable that everyone isn't running out to see just how they can save money by using coupons.

==Sleeping Beauty==

Oh Schick, Oh Schick

Remember this picture?
Remember this teaser? (Click here) Even though I didn't get 10 comments, I can't hold it in any longer. I'm going to sing like a canary.

All three drug stores have this razor in their ad this week. There was a $5 coupon in the August 8th Smart Source (SS) insert.

CVS: $8.97 minus $5 Q = $3.97 OOP, get $4 ECB (Limit 1)
Rite Aid: $5.99 minus $5 Q = .99 OOP
Walgreens: $7.99 minus $5 Q = $2.99 OOP, get $2 RR

Some razor packages have a peelie for a FREE Schick Hydro Shave Gel. Now, here comes the best part...wait for it...wait for it.

Send in for a rebate for the purchase price. Yes, Schick will pay you the price BEFORE your coupon. Click here for the rebate.

I did it! I bought mine June 14th at Walgreens for $7.99. I spent $2.99 after a $5 coupon. And I received a $4 RR. I sent my rebate in June 15th.

On July 26th, I received a check from Schick for $7.99. A moneymaker!!!

Buy your razor at one of the drug stores this week before the sale ends. The rebate ends August 18th.

"Monday, Monday
So good to me.
Monday, Monday
It was all I hoped it would be."

**Pinch**

School Fundraisers

There are several ways to help schools raise money without the calories of a candy bar or bake sale.

Box Tops 4 Education: Clip Box Tops coupons from hundreds of participating products and send them to your school. Your school earns 10¢ for each redeemed Box Tops. There are also other ways to help your school through the Box Tops Marketplace, Reading Room, My Class Essentials and other bonus opportunities found on the Box Tops website (click here).

Labels For Education: Clip labels off Campbell Soup products and send them to your school. Each label is worth points and your school can redeem these points for Arts, Athletics or Academics merchandise. Click here for more information.

Together In Education (TIE): By linking your Harris Teeter VIC card to your school, HT contributes a percentage of the purchase price on select HT brand products to your school. For more information, click here.

Check with your preschool, private, charter or public school office to see if your school participates. Every little bit helps!

**Pinch**

"Cereal Killer"

Edible School Supplies
Harris Teeter has Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars, cereal and poptarts on sale for 50% off. AND there is a $10 OYNO catalina printing when you buy 10 Kellogg's, Keebler, Sunshine, Eggo and Morningstar products. You can mix and match your products as long as they are 3.8 ounces or larger and purchased in the same transaction (limit one per transaction). And to make it even better, there are lots of coupons for these products. You can do back-to-back transactions...buy 10, use coupons, get $10 catalina...next transaction buy 10, use coupons, use $10 catalina, get $10 catalina...and so on. I didn't do that this time.

In my first transaction, I bought 6 cereals and 4 poptarts. Shelf price was $26.41 (excluding tax). VIC savings and coupons totaled $18.05. Final price (excluding tax) was $8.36 and I got a $10 catalina good on my next order.

In the next transaction, I bought 2 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter, a 12-roll pack of Charmin and Bertolli Olive Oil. The peanut butter, after VIC and coupons, was 47¢ each. The Charmin was an eVIC special for $5.77 and I used a 25¢ coupon (doubled). The olive oil was also on eVIC for $3.99. You may or may not have this as an eVIC special. This was not listed in the HT ad but it was listed on my receipt. The shelf price for these items was $21.76 (excluding tax). I paid 20¢ after VIC/eVIC savings, coupons and my $10 catalina.

For a post-game recap, I spent $8.56 OOP (excluding tax) for $48.17 worth of groceries. It pays to use your VIC card, eVIC specials, coupons and catalina deals.

The catalina runs through August 14. The Kellogg's sale ends tomorrow. HT SUPER DOUBLES starts on Wednesday.

That's right...you heard me...SUPER DOUBLES STARTS WEDNESDAY. Sleeping Beauty and I will be having an additional HT class this weekend...time and date to be announced. If you are interested, email us to reserve your spot.

**Pinch**

"Just The Facts, Ma'am"

Today's shopping adventure was profitable, but that isn't new news for anyone. I'm listing the retail totals, that is before any store sales or coupon deductions.

First Stop Rite Aid: $53.93 retail
Second Stop Walgreens: $65.86 retail
Third Stop CVS: $65.94 retail

Grand total in merchandise: $185.73

Before tax total: $12.89
Tax total: $7.09
Grand total: $19.98 OOP (out-of-pocket)

At Walgreens I had to purchase 4 filler items, that would be the folders in the left hand corner of the picture. They were 9¢ each. That beats the heck out of a 50¢ candy bar to keep your total down.

At Rite Aid I had to buy the Mr. Goodbar to get my total up when I purchased one of the shave gels. Total bill for shave gel & candy bar = 68¢.

The other shave gel at Rite Aid was free with coupon.

I had negative 38¢ subtotal at CVS for the 2 Air Wick I-motions and the 2 Bic Soleil razors. My tax on that one was $1.57 so the grand total was $1.19. That is 2 Air Wicks and 2 packs of razors with 4 razors in each pack. Not bad if I say so myself!

This is a list of everything that I purchased today:
20 roll pack of Cottonelle toilet paper (retail $17.99, sale price $10.99)
2 packs of Kotex pads
2 Lysol hand soap dispensers
2 Air Wicks
2 packs Bic razors
2 Old Spice body sprays
2 Schick hydro razors
2 Schick shave gels
2 Dial body washes
3 Nivea body washes
2 Glade Sense and Sprays
4 two-pocket folders as fillers
1 candy bar

I started the day with $8 in ECB from CVS and $2 in +UP rewards from Rite Aid. I used my RRs from Walgreens that I got today in 5 transactions. I came home with $5 ECB from CVS and $2 +UP from RA (used a $1 from RA today).

If you so choose to take my $7 in rewards left from today into consideration from my grand total of $19.98 that would mean that I spent $12.98.

A lot of these things I have bought will be donated and I am making gift baskets for 4 upcoming birthdays.

Now I only have one question for all of you out there...if you read this far...

ARE WE HAVING FUN YET?????????????

OR

ARE WE DAZED AND CONFUSED?????????????

If the latter is the answer, then we have the solution for you!

==Sleeping Beauty==

Hands Up

I love this product! I keep one in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. I have given a few away...one in a Bridal Shower Gift Basket and one in a Housewarming Gift Basket. The retail price is $9.99 to $14.99, depending on the store. Even though I love it, I wouldn't pay that for it! I have never spent more than $1.99 for one. Although if the stars are aligned perfectly (and they usually are), you can get one for FREE. I confess that I haven't bought refills because I can get a new one for less than the refills.

The Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System comes in three scents: Green Tea & Ginger, Cucumber Splash, and Grapefruit (although I have never seen this scent in the stores).

This is on sale starting next Sunday at one of the drug stores AND there are coupons out there for them! Looks like I'll be getting a few more.

Young Jedi Pinch..."Small Beautiful Hands"
**Pinch**

Weekend Shopping

UPDATED

The ads for our tax-free weekend are filling up my email in-box. Here are a few:

Aveda (Hanes Mall): Friday-Sunday, Skin Care Event, receive FREE skin care consultation, customized mini-facial, and deluxe body creme sample

Borders: Friday-Sunday, 25% off most items for Rewards members, print coupon, free glitter ball, print coupon

Express (Hanes Mall): Friday-Sunday, Friends and Family Event, $15 off $30 purchase or $30 off $75 purchase

JC Penney (Hanes Mall): Sunday 11-8, Friends and Family Event, extra 20% off, print coupon

Journeys & Journeys Kidz (Hanes Mall): Through August 22, $10 off $75 purchase, $15 off $100 purchase or $25 off $100 purchase (Footwear only, excludes Ugg and Frye Footwear)

Kohls: Friday-Sunday, take extra 15% off one item or spend $100 and take 20% off everything, plus get Kohls cash, print coupon

Lane Bryant: Through August 16, take 15% off $50 purchase, print coupon

Maurices (Hanes Mall): Through August 20, bring in 3 school supplies (pencils, crayons, etc.) and receive 20% coupon

Soccer Unlimited: Saturday 10-3, Sidewalk Sale, Optimist soccer registration, hot dogs, drinks, prizes

Walgreens: Through Saturday, 30 prints for $3, coupon code

These offers were emailed to me and I haven't verified any of these deals. For more information on the stores at Hanes Mall, click here.

**Pinch**

Send More Coupons

We will be sending coupons to the Army base in Germany on Monday. If you would like to participate, send an email to qponswithclass@aol.com by Friday noon. We need to have your coupons ASAP. Does anyone have a guess as to the value of our coupon package? (Yes, we have to add them up. It is not as hard or time-consuming as we thought it would be.)

**Pinch**

==Sleeping Beauty==

Product Potpourri

This is a collection of my Sunday shopping at Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS and Target. (Not pictured is a loaf of bread, 1 package of wipes and 1 package of Pampers diapers.)

Merchandise total $109.44

OOP $39.90

Saved $69.54

Have $8 in ECB and $2 in +UP rewards

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to work I go!

==Sleeping Beauty==

Store Sales

Don't forget tax-free weekend starts Friday in North Carolina. Most of these deals are good through Saturday, August 7th.

Discount Tire: Purchase any set of four tires installed (better or best rated) or any set of four wheels, and Discount Tire will pay the taxes for you. (NC and SC only)

Gymboree: Everything for kids up to 40% off. Get $25 worth of Gymbucks for every $50 spent.

Office Depot: Free backpack with $10 purchase

Office Max: Make a purchase at Office Max and receive $5 off $25 purchase at Payless Shoes

Staples: Multipurpose copy paper (500 sheets) free after rebate (Limit 2)

Office Depot, Office Max and Staples all have sales on various school supplies.

**Pinch**

Walgreens Is Hot

This is the last day to use the 15% off Friends and Family Coupon good on your entire purchase (print coupon). Be sure to give this coupon to your cashier BEFORE your purchases are rung up.

Some of the good deals:

Huggies Wipes (72 ct) $2.99 each
Use $2.50/3 IP (ask me how to get this)
Use $1/1 Q August Coupon Booklet ($3 taken off)
Final Cost - .71 each

Veet Hair Removal Cream $6.99 each
Use $3/1 IP (ask me how to get this)
Use $3/1 Q August Coupon Booklet
Final Cost - FREE

Crayola Classic Washable Markers $3
Rebate form will print out at register (Limit 1)

**Pinch**

"I'm So Lonesome...

...I Could Cry!" Mr. Pinch is at work, Princess Pinch is at Camp, Young Jedi Pinch is busy with his Wii Star Wars game and Puppy Pinch is at the spa getting her nails done. I just called Sleeping Beauty and she is unavailable. No...she's not sleeping! I forgot, she has a J-O-B this week. She is helping a friend out at his store. (I wonder if she gets a discount!!) Mr. Beauty is changing Baby Beauty's diapers today. Maybe I should go over to the Beauty house and have a cup of coffee with Mr. Beauty. Maybe not, the thought of a dirty diaper suddenly makes me want to gag.

So what's a girl to do! I could be organizing the stockpile of dirty laundry in the hamper. Nah, I'm not that bored! Nobody really needs clean underwear, do they?? I know what I'll do. I'll tell you a little bit about myself and how I started this whole coupon thing.

About four years ago, I was looking for ways to save money. I came across a coupon message board that made me curious...did these people really save that much money using coupons or were they exaggerating? I had used coupons before...feeling good if I saved $2 off my weekly grocery bill. Most of the time I would forget to take my coupons to the store or, if I did remember, the coupons were expired. I usually shopped every day for that day’s meal. You know the drill, go in the store for a few things but end up spending way too much money. But this message board got me inspired. I became on-line friends with one of the members. And she became my mentor. (We actually met in real life several months later...she is a really nice woman.)

Anyway, I started getting deals and shopping like they were shopping. Before this, I was spending over $150 a week for groceries for two people. And we were still eating out several times a week. Since I wanted to save money, I cut my grocery budget down to $100 a week and we only went out to eat once a week. Then I started major, heavy-duty couponing. The difference between the $100 and what I actually spent I put in a savings account. At first I was saving small amounts. Then I went full-steam. Soon I was saving $50 a week at the grocery stores and drug stores. I had sooooo much food and my stockpile of non-food things grew. Mr. Pinch and I decided we needed to buy a freezer for all the extra food I was getting with coupons. We never had so much food! And we had more money at the end of the month. We loved it.

This went on until the Spring of 2009. Then the bottom fell...Mr. Pinch’s job was almost nonexistent. No money coming in, but bills still needed to be paid. And we still had to eat.

We paid our bills with the money I had saved from coupons. Except for bread and milk, I didn’t even shop at the grocery store. Drug stores were out, too. I stopped buying newspapers for a while. We lived off our stockpile. I was grateful that I had saved the money and I was doubly grateful that I had stockpiled food.

Things are better now. Work has picked up. In November, I started buying the newspaper again to get the coupons and began to build my non-existent stockpile back up. In January, my good friend Sleeping Beauty started couponing with me. It is sooooo much more fun to shop with a friend. (SB was hesitant at first, but she has turned into a first-rate couponer and money-saving machine. She has made me proud.)

Here is another example of how couponing has helped the Pinch household...A couple of months ago, one of the kids got married. My in-laws, my oldest son and my grandchild arrived from out of town and stayed with Mr. Pinch, the two oldest Pinch grandchildren, my daughter and me. My sister-in-law, niece and nephew also came from out of town, but did not stay with us. My mom and my daughter’s friend were here a lot also. With that many people around, someone was always hungry. It felt good to not have to worry about feeding that many people for almost a week. I had everything here. I did make one special trip to the store to buy potatoes but that was it. One person forgot their shampoo...no problem, they shopped in my stockpile. My son forgot his razor and shaving cream...no problem. The youngest grandchild got a cold...I had something for him also.

The point I want to make is that if you are looking to save money, you should be using coupons. I have saved money...not just saved it at the grocery store, but physically saved the money. I have averaged a savings of 80% at the grocery stores and drug stores. That is amazing! We have more food than ever before. We have stopped eating out. Not only is it was too expensive, there is no need to eat out. We have what we need to eat right here at home.

If you are not using coupons, Sleeping Beauty and I can help you get started. Don’t be afraid of coupons...coupons are your friend and will put money back in your pocket. Just think of what you can do with the extra money...pay off bills, save for a vacation or just survive in this crummy economy. You have two choices with your money...give it to the store or give it to yourself. If you want to keep giving it to the store, so be it. If you want to keep your money, let us help you. After you take our classes, you will have the knowledge that you need to help you save by using coupons.

Okay, enough about me. Tell me about your first time...using coupons. I'm still bored and I DO NOT want to do laundry!

**Pinch**

"Who's On First"

I have added a new feature on the right side called Followers. Our first follower is Me...but it's not ME. Is it You? Because if it's You then it definitely isn't Me. But it is Me and not You.

Hi Me...Whoever you are!!

**Pinch**

Target Adventure

This is an email we received from a student at Saturday's Target class.


Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoyed the class on Saturday. When a friend invited me along to a coupon class about Target I was excited. I have used coupons some but really wanted to know how to save more. I didn't even know that Target had store coupons or the different ways to get their coupons.

I'm glad you let me meet up with you at Target on Sunday. It is one thing to learn something in a class but more fun to actually experience it. Thanks for sharing some of your coupons with me because I don't have many. Thanks for the Air Wick coupon. I normally would not buy air fresheners but at 49 cents I couldn't resist.

I did my homework and got the Target coupons for the pens, socks, and Benadryl sticks. My whole bill was a little over $4 and I saved almost $13.

I'm glad you were there with me because the things you talked about on Saturday did happen. I'm glad I was prepared.

MK

Dear MK:

Thanks for emailing us a picture. I'm glad you enjoyed the class. When you are ready for another class, give us a call.

**Pinch**

==Sleeping Beauty==

"The Big Wish"

Sometimes wishes can come true. Do you ever wish that you had a certain coupon? Maybe we can help. All you have to do is leave a comment with your coupon wish. If we have the coupon, we will let you know. Then we can make arrangements to send it to you.

Please do not post any addresses or telephone numbers in your comment. If we can fulfil your wish, we will leave a comment. Then you can email us your address.

**Pinch**

==Sleeping Beauty==

Third Time's A Charm

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines. Week 3 of The Challenge is about to begin.

I am starting the week with $50 cash, $4.99 ECB from CVS, zero RR from Walgreens and $9 +UP rewards from Rite Aid. I received my $2 +UP rewards Saturday from Rite Aid Customer Service. What great service!!

The first stop today was Walgreens. The only thing I needed was newspapers. Since I have no RR, I was going to buy the newspapers with cash. But then I saw that $1 RR were printing if you bought crayons at $1. Considering all the area sales for school supplies, $1 for crayons is very expensive. But since I was going to spend the money anyway for newspapers, I decided to get the RR from three packs of crayons. (Crayons are used a lot in my house.) I also bought a pack of six highlighters for .19 (again something used a lot). I ended up doing four transactions for three packs of crayons, highlighters and three newspapers. I know, it's not very exciting...no picture is needed.

Shelf Price and Tax: $8.29
Coupons Used: 0
RR Spent: $3
Cash Spent: $5.29
Rewards Received: 0
Rebates To Be Mailed: 0

After Walgreens, Sleeping Beauty and I crossed the street and went to CVS. I am going to spare you the picture, but I bought three 12-packs of Pepsi, three 12-packs of Mountain Dew and a bag of Doritos (which were a free perk from Pepsi). Bor-ring!!

Shelf Price and Tax: $20.38
Coupons Used: $4
RR Spent: $4.99
Cash Spent: $11.39
Rewards Received: 0
Rebates To Be Mailed: 0

Sleeping Beauty and I then went to Rite Aid (which is on the other side of Walgreens). Rite Aid is turning into one of THE places to shop. The cashier today was super nice. I didn't get his name, but I will remember next time to read his name tag. I was going to introduce myself to the manager and thank him for his phone call last week, but he was busy. He is always nice, courteous and very helpful.

Anywho, this is what I bought at Rite Aid today:


Everything that I bought will be used. It wasn't bought just to sit on a shelf...Pampers and Johnson's shampoo (part of a baby gift), wipes (can never have too many wipes), Crest toothpaste (my favorite brand), Herbal Essence shampoo & conditioner (my DD's favorite brand) and a Mr. Goodbar (my 2nd favorite candy bar).

Shelf Price and Tax: $27.30
Coupons Used: $18.24
+UP Spent: $9.00
Cash Spent: $.06
Rewards Received: $7.50
Rebates To Be Mailed: $2

You read that right...six cents! I spent six pennies!! And I get $2 in rebates and have $7.50 in +UP rewards. Whoo-Hoo!!! (Sleeping Beauty, are you taking notes!!)

Now, it was time to go to Target. Sleeping Beauty and I taught a Target class yesterday. We met a couple of students there today for a field trip. Tomorrow we will let you know how they did. Here's a hint...one did a cartwheel in the parking lot and another couldn't stop singing "Oh Happy Day". It was a very good day!!

I bought milk and hamburger buns (not worth taking a picture).

Shelf Price and Tax: $3.21
Coupons Used: 0
Rewards Spent: 0
Cash Spent: $3.21
Rewards Received: 0
Rebates To Be Mailed: 0

It was a dull trip for me. But my excitement came from watching others get so excited.

Sunday's Totals -
Shelf Price and Tax: $59.18
Coupons Used: $22.24
Rewards Spent: $16.99
Cash Spent: $19.95

Cash Left To Spend This Week: $30.05
Rewards: $7.50 +UP (Rite Aid)
Rebates To Be Mailed: $2

Just a few parting words...Sleeping Beauty and I were gone around two hours. We probably could have cut that time down but we spent a great deal of time waiting for a prescription at CVS and looking around at Target. With two young elementary-age children in the house, Sunday shopping is something I look forward to every week...getting out of the house without the kids. If you don't want to spend that much time shopping, you don't have to. If you have a list and know what you want, you can be in and out of a store in 15 minutes (depending on how fast check-out is). And we don't "run all over town"...Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS are about one mile from our neighborhood and they are right beside each other. It's kind of a no-brainer to go to each of these stores. We enjoy getting out and shopping is fun to us. Oh yes, paying 6 cents for $27 worth of merchandise is lots of fun! And speaking of shopping fun, wait until we tell you how much fun our students had!!

I have had some comments about the lack of food in my purchases. I have two freezers full of food as well as a closet full of non-perishable foods. I am at the point of cherry-picking at the grocery store. It is such a relief to not have to grocery shop several times a week for dinner. I have been stockpiling for a while and I am now reaping the rewards. And I confess...I am a Mountain Dew-a-holic!

**Pinch**