Rolling Your Extra Care Bucks

I've written a lot about CVS over the last few months but I wanted to do a post to show how I roll the extra care bucks from one trip to the next.

First trip (3/6/10):



I spent: $1.69
And saved: $15.97
Along with coupons I used $8 ECB's from a previous trip.
I earned $10.99 in ECB's.

Second trip (3/13/10):



I spent: $1.31
And saved: $20.55
I didn't have coupons for this trip but I used the $10.99 ECB's from my last trip to spend so little on my 4 packs of Pepsi products. I also earned $3.00 in ECB's.

Third trip (3/17/10):



Today I took my $3 extra care bucks and headed back to CVS.

I purchased 4 boxes of Stayfree Pads with each box I can earn $2 more ECB's.

I used 2 buy 1 get 1 free boxes of Stayfree from RP 1/3
I also used 2 $1.00 off printables from HERE
I used my $3.00 ECB's from last week.

I spent: $3.12
And saved: $12.38
And earned: $8.00 in ECB's which puts me right back where I started a few weeks ago :)

In three trips I spent: $6.12
And saved: $48.90 (an 89% savings!)
And earned: $21.99 in ECB's

This is how I get a lot from CVS for a little. As you can see it's not immediate but it is worth it. I try to only go in when I can get an item free or close to it. By going weekly I can stock up some great household and even food items free.

For great weekly match-ups at CVS be sure to check out Southern Savers.

Menu Plan Monday 3/15

It's back to the grind for cooking this week :) No more slacking off! I don't mind I like cooking for the family and find it really fun to make new recipes - especially when we actually like them! I finally got around to making the ham and cheese calzones I had on my menu a few weeks ago and they were very good. I will definitely make that again! Taste of Home has the most awesome recipes.

But this week I am using a different cookbook.

This one is from Southern Living and it's titled Easy Weeknight Favorites.



I've had this cookbook for a while and have a few staple recipes in it but decided I would try and branch out this week for a few new options. Not sure if it's still sold through Southern Living but I did see it on Amazon and I highly recommend it as one of my favorites.

Monday - Meatball Hoagies w/ Homemade Mac N Cheese p. 134

Tuesday - Chicken Parmigiana w/ Egg Noodles and Broccoli p. 81

Wednesday - Creamy Chicken Casserole w/ Corn on the Cob p. 19

Thursday - Steak Stroganoff w/ Egg Noodles p. 56

Friday - McDonald's - set-up night for MOPS consignment sale

Saturday - Creamy Chicken Divan p. 90

Sunday - Leftovers

Groceries This Week 3/14

I apologize for the long gap in posting. Three consignment sales in one month are really doing a number on me. I worked every evening last week and then used Friday and Saturday to catch up on what I had gotten behind on! Mainly grocery shopping. Last week my bill was very low because I knew I wouldn't be home cooking and sure enough I wasn't. Never got to use the stove until Friday night for a quick meal in. I actually miss it when I don't get to make the family meals.

Yesterday I made up for the lesser amount from last week and spent all of my budget and then some.

Here's what I got from Harris Teeter:



I spent: $96.91
And saved: $92.51

50% isn't bad but I prefer to do better. Still, for the week after having to play a bit of catch-up it wasn't bad.

Best deals:

No Yolks Noodles
- regular price: $2.29/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 3 $1.00/2 coupons from S 2/21
- final price: $0.65/each
(Some papers the coupon is for $0.75/1 and it doubles to make it free but not in the NoVa area)

Kellogg's Mini Wheats
- regular price: $3.39/each
- sale price: none but if you buy 3 boxes you get $3.00 off your order; 4 boxes you get $4.00 off and 5 boxes you get $5.00 off your order - automatically taken off at check-out (obviously that's $1.00 off a box)
- used 2 $1.50/2 printable coupons (can be found HERE along with a great Target deal to get Mini Wheats even cheaper)
- final price: $1.64/each

For more deals at Harris Teeter check out the Grocery Game.

After my big order at Harris Teeter I headed to Safeway because they are once again having their buy 5 get $5.00 off sale and I have found this to be the best way to stock up on fruit snacks and cereal.

Here's what I picked up:



I spent: $10.95 in two transactions
And saved: $42.27

Here's what I did:

First time through I picked up:

10 Boxes of Fruit Snacks/Fruit Roll-Ups
- regular price: $2.79/each
- sale price: 2/$4.00
- used 5 $0.50/2 coupons from S 3/7
- got $10 off my order for buying 10 boxes
- final price: $0.50/each
- earned back a $3.50 Catlina coupon

(also purchased Mott's Apple Juice for $0.99/each which was a weekend special)

I spent $7.22 on my first order

Second time through I bought:

3 Boxes of Lucky Charms
- regular price: $4.29/each
- sale price: $3.00/each
- used $1.00/3 coupon from GM 2/7

2 Boxes of Fruity Pebbles
- regular price: $3.29/each
- sale price: 2/$5.00
- used $1.00/2 coupon from S 2/28

Got $5.00 off my order and used $3.50 Catalina coupons

On this order I only spent $3.73 making it just 40.75 per box of cereal! I like that price :)

For more Safeway deals and other ways to get great prices on the pick 5 deal check out Moneywise Moms.

Total weekly groceries: $107.86 ($7.86 over budget)
But I saved: $134.78

Consignment Sale Goodies

Today was shopping day at Classy Kids. Three times a year I get 2 hours to myself to shop for the next season's clothes along with a bunch of other goodies. Some sales I find a lot of great stuff and other times I don't do as well.

Today I did okay according to me. According to Kaitlyn and Caleb I did fabulous! They were thrilled with the few little things I picked up for them:



I was most excited about some beautiful dresses I picked up for the girls.



They were too - they've already worn them even though I thought they were nice enough for Easter! At least they looked cute.

Total consignment cost of purchase: $177.83
Total out-of-pocket: $31.83

Because I volunteer I get reimbursed for my hours which allowed me to take $96 off my purchase plus I had a $50 gift card that I won for volunteering at the last sale.

I guess I can't complain after only spending $30 on everything :)

And the sale last Saturday was very successful - I was able to get rid of more than $350 worth of items! I get 80% of that so more than enough to cover my purchases today. Of course, some of it had to go to expenses like babysitting and eating out but still, so very worth it.

Still have 2 more shifts at this week's sale and another sale next week but for both purchasing and getting rid of consignment sales are a great idea so be sure to look for some in your area.

Harris Teeter Trip 3/7

I am still recovering from our fabulous moms of multiples sale this past weekend and gearing up to work all week at Classy Kids - the large thrice annual consignment sale I work at - but I did manage to make it to the grocery store last night for some pretty good deals. I didn't have a lot to buy because I won't be cooking all week - made the trip easier and cheaper :) Should have a week like this every month!

Here's what I got:



I spent: $33.83
And saved: $56.64

Quaker Deal: Buy 7 products get $3.00 off your order

I purchased:

2 Boxes Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
- retail price: $2.99/each
- sale price: 2/$4.00
- used $1.00/2 coupon from RP 2/14
- additional $0.43 off each
- final price: $1.07 each

2 Boxes Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix
- retail price: $2.89/each
- sale price: $2.49/each
- used $1.00/2 coupon from RP 1/3
- additional $0.43 off each
- final price: $1.56/each

3 Boxes of Cap'n Crunch Cereal
- retail price: $2.50
- sale price: 2/$4.00
- additional $0.43 off each
- final price: $1.57/each

Because these are products we use every day this was a great deal for me. Enough of which I may go back (if I can after working) for another go around to stock up on some more pancake mix and grab some syrup :)

Other deals:

Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables
- retail price: $2.35/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 2 $1.00/2 coupons from S 2/7
- final price: $0.68/each

Kellogg's Apple Jacks/Fruit Loop Cereal
- retail price: $3.45/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 2 $1.00/2 coupons from RP 3/7
- final price: $1.23/each

For more great deals this week check out The Grocery Game.

Back To CVS

I really didn't make it to CVS in February. With the weather and being sick I didn't hit the stores but this week CVS gave me reason to head back in :)

What's that?

A diaper sale of course!! Yes, I know my girls are potty training but still at this point it's just Julianna so I still have two in diapers and believe me we're still going through plenty.

I picked up:



I spent: $15.20 ($2.00 was for a needed item and not a pictured item above)
And saved: $15.99 (used $10.49 in ECB's from a previous trip)
And earned: $8 in extra care bucks

Huggies Diapers
- sale price: $19.99
- used $2.00 off printable coupon (links can be found at Southern Savers) - but there is also a $1 off coupon from S 2/28
- earned back $4.00 ECB's
- final price for large box of diapers $13.99

No coupons for the body wash but it was priced at $4.49 and I got $4 ECB's back so it was only $0.49 which I think is a pretty good deal :)

Hoping for some even better ones next week to make my $8 ECB's to go farther.

Menu Planning 3/1

Two themes this week: Ham and Taste of Home cookbook :)

Ham was on sale this week at HT. I maybe could have spent less on meat but I have been dying to have this soup with ham that I made over Christmas so when I saw a huge ham at half off I decided that would be our meat for the week. It was still $15 of my week's budget but it will be worth it as it will be the meat for the next week. Next week I'll pretty much have no meal plan since I will be working a local consignment sale all week and won't be home to cook.

This week I found recipes from 2 Taste of Home cookbooks but this was the main one and is brand new:



I'll let you know how I like the recipes from it next week.

Monday: Pork Loin with baked beans and corn (no recipe)

Tuesday: Ham with potatoes and carrots (no recipe just baking the ham)

Wednesday: Cheddar Ham Soup (TOH Simple & Delicious p. 124)

Thursday: Moms of Multiples Club Meeting

Friday: Set of for yard sale - fast food

Saturday: Quick Calzones (TOH Mom's Best p. 77)

Sunday: Ham 'n' Cheese Pasta (TOH Mom's Best p. 74)

In order to have all the ingredients for this week's meal and Friendship bread (I had no idea the darn thing required so much stuff and I never bake except from a box so I had to get everything!!) I took a trip to Safeway. I thought I would use some coupons and do well but I came home disappointed.

No picture because I didn't even feel like I got any good deals to pass along.

I spent: $51.15
And saved: $22.06

Sad right? And because of a trip to CVS I am already $150 into my monthly budget! Yikes! Thankfully next week will be light since I won't be cooking :)