CVS, Walgreens & Target Purchases Week of 7/10/11

So, I did a little bit better on my second week of Walgreens shopping !! :D

Transaction #1

* 58-count box of Pampers Diapers for $21.99 - $1.50 coupon = $20.49 & I got a $5 Register Rewards (RR), making it like I paid $15.49.  

* 2-pack of G-U-M Micro Tip Soft Toothbrushes on sale for $2.  I got a $2 RR, making them FREE.  I paid $24.17, saved $4.49 in Walgreens Advertised Savings & Manufacturers coupons PLUS got $7 in RR.  

Total Paid : $24.17 but it was like I paid $17.17 after RR towards my next purchases.

Transaction #2

Airwick Freshmatic Ultra $7.99 - $4.00 Coupon = $3.99, plus received a $3 RR, making it like I paid .99.

Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste $1.00 - .75 coupon = .25.

FINISH Electrasol 20-pack $3.49 - $1.00 coupon = $2.49, plus received $1 RR, making it like I paid $1.49.

Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons 18 ct $3.99 - $1.00 coupon = $2.99, plus received a $1 RR, making it like I paid $1.99.

Infusium 8 oz. Leave-In Spray $5.99 - $1.00 coupon = $4.99, plus received a $4 RR, making it like I paid .99.

Charleston Chews $1.00

Twizzlers $1.00

Purchase Total : $11.37

Saved $27.05 in Walgreens Advertised Savings & Manufacturers Coupons & got $9 in RR plus a $2/2 Playtex Gentle Glide Tampon Walgreens Coupon.

So, I paid $11.37 but it was like I paid $2.37 after RR towards my next purchases.

Transaction #3

* Finesse Pure & Simple Conditioner $3.99 - $1.00 coupon = $2.99

* Finesse Pure & Simple Shampoo $3.99 - $1.00 coupon = $2.99

(FINESSE PURE & SIMPLE SHAMPOO ALSO RANG UP WITH A FREE CREDIT ON MY RECEIPT OF $3.99)

(I also have a Try Me Free MAIL-IN REBATE up to $3.99 that was on the outside of the bottle, and you have to put the price you paid after discounts/coupons which was $2.99 for me for the conditioner, making BOTH THE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER FREE)

* Dove Hairspray $4.49 - .75 coupon = $3.74

* Dove Deodorant for Men $4.49 - $2.00 coupon = $2.49

* Dove Body Wash for Men $4.49 - B1G1F coupon = $4.49/2 or $2.25 each

Plus got a $5 RR, making it like I spent  $5.72 for all 4 products.

* * 2-pack of G-U-M Micro Tip Soft Toothbrushes on sale for $2.  I got a $2 RR, making them FREE.

* 2 X M&M's @ $1.00 each = $2.00

* 1 AirHead (NOT PICTURED CAUSE NICKI ATE IT LOL) $1.00

TOTAL PAID : $11.39

SAVED : $33.79 in Walgreens Advertised Savings & Manufacturers Coupons

So, I paid $11.39 but it was like I paid $1.40 after RR towards my next purchases and the TRY ME FREE REBATE.

Transaction #4

* 3 X 50 LOAD XCEL 2XL Laundry Detergent $1.99 with in-store coupon

* FINISH Jet Dry $3.49 - .55 coupon = $2.94, plus $1 RR, making it like I paid $1.94

* Playtex Sport 18 CT $3.99 - $1.00 coupon = $2.99, plus $1 RR, making it like I paid $1.99

* Airwick Freshmatic Kit $7.99 - $4.00 coupon = $3.99, plus $3 RR, making it like I paid .99

TOTAL PAID : $10.39

SAVED : $12.55 Walgreens Advertised Savings & Manufacturer's Coupons

So, I paid $10.39 but it was like I paid $5.39 after RR towards my next purchases.

Transaction #5

*1* TUF Paper Towel Roll .99
*1* EOS Shave Cream $3.49 - $1.00 coupon = $2.49
*1* EOS Shave Cream $2.51 - $1.00 coupon = $1.51, plus $4 RR, making it like these were FREE
* W Bar Soap .58

TOTAL PAID : $2.10
SAVINGS : $7.31

I paid $2.10 but it was like I made $1.90 after RR towards my next purchase.

Transaction #6

* FINISH 20-pack $3.49 - $1.00 coupon = $2.49 plus $1 RR, making it like I paid $1.49
* EOS Shave Cream $3.49 - $1 coupon = $2.49
*EOS Shave Cream $2.51 - $1 coupon = $1.51, plus $4 RR making it like these were FREE
* TUF Paper Towel Roll .99

Total Paid : $7.21
Savings : $7.30

I paid $7.21 but it was like I paid $2.21 after RR towards my next purchases.

Transaction #7

* EOS Lip Balm $3.49
* EOS Lip Balm $2.51 - $1 RR, plus $4 RR making it like I paid $.50 EACH.

Total Paid : $5.42
Savings : $1.98

I paid $5.42 but it was like I paid .71 EACH with tax after RR towards next purchase

TARGET SHOPPING

Transaction #1

Sharpie Permanent Marker 2-pack $1.00 - $1.00 coupon = FREE

Papermate Pens 10-pack $1.00 - $1.00 coupon = FREE

*2* Bic Pen 10-packs $1.00 each X 2 = $2.00 - $1.00 coupon = $1.00 or .50 each

Scotch Tape $1.00 - .50 coupon = .50

*3* Kellogg's Poptarts @ $1.67 each X 3 = $5.01 - $1/3 Target Coupon - $2/3 Manufacturer Coupon = $2.01 or .67 each

TOTAL PAID : $2.69

TOTAL SAVINGS : $9.47

Transaction #2

Papermate Pens 10-pack $1.00 - $1.00 coupon = FREE

Sharpie Markers 2-pack $1.00 - $1.00 coupon = FREE

Scotch Tape $1.00 - .50 coupon = .50

TOTAL PAID : $.53

TOTAL SAVINGS : $3.34

CVS SHOPPING

Buy 3 COKE Product 12-packs for $10, Get 1 FREE

Bought 3 COKE ZERO 12-packs & 1 SPRITE ZERO 12-pack

TOTAL : $10.69

SAVINGS : $9.97

My Very First Walgreens Trip ...

Okay, so I am SO not an EXTREME COUPONER !! LOL  BUT I think I did pretty well for my first time ...

Here is what I got ...

Transaction #1 ----->

Gillette Fusion ProGlide Shave Set (1 Razor w/ 1 Blade, Cooling Gel, Body Wash & Face Scrub)

$5 RR WYB Gillette Fusion ProGlide or Venus Razor System at $9.99
$9.99 - $4.00 Coupon from PG 6/05
Paid $6.69 with tax and got a $5 RR, so it was like getting it for 1.69 with tax.

Transaction #2 ----->

* Joy, 12.6 oz, or Gain, 11 oz, Dish Liquid, 89¢ w/in-ad coupon (I got the max you could get, 3)
* Jif Peanut Butter 18 oz or Smucker’s Strawberry Jelly, 20 oz, $2 each w/in-ad coupon
-.55/1 Smucker’s jam, jelly, preserves or fruit spread, RP 5/22(I used *2* .55/1, making it $1.45 each, which is cheaper than the Wal-Mart brand at the same size that is about .40 more & yes, I checked LOL)
* NOW ... I screwed up & got the wrong size of the Crest Pro-Health Mouth Wash that was supposed to get me another $1 RR, but I did use a $2 off Crest Rinse, 946 mL+, PG 6/05 so I only paid $2.99 for that ... **SIGH** I really have GOT to pay more attention, but it was my first time & I was FLUSTERED ...
* Arm & Hammer 2X Laundry Detergent, 25-32 loads, $2.99 (-$1/2 Arm & Hammer Laundry detergent or 100 ct + Fabric Softener sheets PRINTABLE) ~ Makes them $2.49 each 
* 1 pack of hair clippies for $3.99


So, I used my $5 RR from the first transaction & paid a grand total of : $13.84 for all of the stuff pictured above including tax.  I saved $22.78.


AND on July 3rd, I scored *4* of the 88¢ each Pepsi Product 2 Liters (3 Mountain Dews & 1 Pepsi) AND got a raincheck for the maximum number of $1.99 24-packs of water (3).  My store is still out of the water & I went to two other Walgreens & they were also out of the water, but I was told that the raincheck doesn't expire.  The total for my *4* 2-Liters was $3.77 with tax & I saved $4.04 on that trip.

So, I spent a total of $24.30 for over $54 worth of stuff.  Not too shabby for my first try.


Anyway, I am going to be very strict about only buying stuff we use & need and not go crazy just because it's a "good deal."  I am also going to set a budget aside each week for this type of shopping & stick to it.  I was pretty bummed I didn't get any of the FREE Oral-B Indicator Toothbrushes ... All 3 stores I went to was out of them ... 


Also, I am not sure how much CVS shopping I will be doing ... I checked out their sales this week & just didn't see anything that caught my eye or that I thought was even a good deal on some of the things that we use ... We shall see about the coming week of 7/10 ... But so far, I like Walgreens MUCH better ...

Red, White & Blue ... Strawberry Shortcake

The Fourth of July is one of my FAVORITE holidays & I decided to make a YUMMY dessert to share with my family this year !! It was super easy & didn't take much time AT ALL !!  It was also really good, if I do say so myself !! ;)

The recipe is here :

Red, White & Blue Strawberry Shortcake

And this is what it looked like before we gobbled it up :

The Judahs In Our Lives ...

This afternoon at church, the pastor spoke on the Judahs in our lives & it really hit home for me (we're studying the Bad Boys of the Bible).  If you don't know the story of Judah, you should read it in the book of Genesis.  He sold his brother, Joseph, into slavery, he had sex with his daughter-in-law, Tamar, who was disguised as a prostitute & then became pregnant with twins .. Judah should have had the worst of the worst things happen to him, but they didn't ... Why ?  Well, I will explain to you in a moment.

Amazingly, Judah turned his life around & he changed his life ! Why ? Because of GRACE !!! Joseph showed him grace, even though Judah had sold him into slavery.  He forgave him & took the family back into his good graces.  Tamar could have exposed Judah for his sins, but instead showed him grace by quietly letting him know he was the one who had gotten her pregnant ... Jacob's (Judah's father's) blessing of Judah, in Genesis 49:8-12, includes a passage that is traditionally understood by Christians to mean that Judah's descendants would rule over the land of Israel, culminating with Jesus.  And Judah was GRATEFUL for all of this grace shown to him !! He appreciated it & learned from it !!

So, what exactly did Judah ever do to deserve all this grace ? Absolutely nothing ! He didn't have to.  Jesus died for all of us & we all deserve God's grace & blessing upon our life. We all have Judah's in our lives.  We know people who may not be living the best life in our eyes or are the meanest, most hateful person to ever walk the Earth yet things always seem to go right for them.  If we just change the way we look at each & every person as deserving of God's grace & love, just as we are, and show grace to each & every person we come into contact with, just imagine how the world would begin to change !! 

This message really made me think about my life & what I can do differently and how I can treat people differently in the future.  I hope maybe some of you will get at least a little something out of it as well.

The Altar

I'm at the end of myself, I just dropped out of the running
I don't recall when I last pulled the shades and said "here comes the sun, here comes the new day"
Someone remind me again that joy might show up on occasion
I'm sitting here with my hands on my head, and my eyes on the ground, wondering if I'll be found by You

Will you make me new? Will you take what's left of me?
I guarantee that it won't be a fair trade.
Will you set me free from what's keeping me afraid?
I know I've prayed it all before, but I'm back on the altar

I don't believe what they say about one foot in front of the other
If my life was a map, you'd see every last step just circling around, still lost, never found by You

So will you make me new? Will you take what's left of me?
I guarantee that it won't be a fair trade.
Will you set me free from what's keeping me afraid?
I know I've prayed it all before, but I'm back on the altar

Maybe last year I'd have made empty promises
Maybe last month I'd have tried to pull strings
But I don't have one single chip left to bargain with
The only thing left is me needing You to make me new

Will you take what's left of me?
I guarantee that it won't be a fair trade
Will you set me free from what's keeping me afraid?
I know I've prayed it all before
But I'm back
On the altar