Track Spending With Me Through 2010! Week of 1/2/2010

Interested in tracking your spending with me? Refer to my original post. http://1faithfulsteward.blogspot.com/2010/01/keep.html

I had a baby on New Years Eve, so needless to say, I was not able to get to all the stores I would have liked. In fact, the only store I got to was Rite Aid . . . and I wasn't even able to complete all my transactions. My good friend took my coupons and completed my Rite Aid deals for me after I went into the hospital. (Thank you!) It does make my spending totals look really impressive for this year though!

Here are my totals for the first week ending on 1/2/2010. (Pictured below are most of the items I purchased from Rite Aid this week. Unfortunantly, not all the items made it into the picture - some were consumed or otherwise in use.)

Rite Aid
Spent OOP $13.63
Store Coupons $60.40
Manuf Coupons $45.77
Rebates $50.98
Total Value of Products $119.80 (I just used the sale value of the items.)
Total Saved $157.15
% Saved 131.18%
Cumulative Spending for 2010 $(37.35)

Have your totals for this week? Let me know how you did.

Rite Aid 1/3 - 1/9

A couple of notes to start with:

1. Make sure you know RiteAid'sCouponPolicy. Print out a copy to keep with you. This will be a great help when you get a cashier, or even a manager, who doesn't know the policy.
2. Go to Rite Aid AdPerks to watch videos and earn Rite Aid Video Value coupons. You will be able to earn a $5/$20 Rite Aid coupon, as well as a coupon for each product for which you watch a video.
3. Print out and take additional $5/25 coupons and $5/$20 coupons with you. Remember, the $5/$20 coupon is only available after you watch enough AdPerks videos. (Rite Aid Video Values only allows you to choose to print the coupon one time. You can not go back and choose to print it again later. That being said, when you originally choose to print the coupon a print screen will pop up. On that print screen it has a place for you to type in how many times you want the page printed. I try to print out at least 20 for the month as I average using around 5 a week. NOTE that the coupon is good for 2 months. So if I have any extra I just use them the following month.)
4. And finally, don't forget about Rite Aid's new Game of Life promotion that starts 1/3/10 and runs through 2/27/10. The point of the game is to collect game pieces to win prizes. There are also specially marked game pieces redeemable for instant prizes. You can read more about the promotion at GameofLifeRules, GameofLifeGameboard, and BonusItemsEarnBonusTickets.

All my scenarios will reflect my personal goal to either make money or at least not to have spent any - after I get my Single Check Rebate, Rite Aid gift cards, and/or MIR checks.


Purchase #1

1 Listerine (pg. 12) 500 ml $3.50/1 - $1/1 (12/6/RP; or $0.50/1 in 6/14/SS, 1/3/RP) = $2.50/1
- $3 SCR = make $0.50
 
2 Stayfree maxi pads (pg. 12) 16 to 24 ct. B1G1 (at least $4/1) - B1G1 (1/3/RP) = 2 FREE
 
2 Lysol products (pg. 10) 4 in 1 bathroom cleaner 32 oz, kitchen cleaner 22 oz, or all purpose pour cleaner 40 oz $5/2 - 2 $0.50/1 (1/3/SS) = $4/2
- $1 SCR = $3/2
 
2 Band-Aid Brand adhesive bandages (pg. 12) plastic 60 ct, flexible fabric 30 ct, sheer or tough strips 10-80 ct. B1G1 ($3.99/1) - 2 $1/1 (1/3/RP) = $1.99/2
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

2 GE Reveal light bulbs (inside ad wrap around) 40 to 100 watt 4 pks. $4/2 - 2 $1/1 (11/22/SS; Printable; better coupon $1.50/1 Printable - While this coupon does have a Target logo on it, it is a MFC and is still good at RA.) = $2/2
- $2 SCR = FREE (or make $1)
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

Total before coupons = at least $20.49
- $5/20 Rite Aid Video Values coupon
- at least $10 (in MFC coupons)
Total OOP = $5.49 + tax
- $6 SCR
Make $0.51 - tax
Get 5 Game of Life tickets

NOTE: $1/1 WellnessCoupons can also be used for any oral care item. These can be combined with the MFC coupons. If these are used then the total OOP after 1 Wellness coupons would be $3.49. This would give you a profit of $2.51 after SCR.


Purchase #2

2 Nivea lip care (pg. 4) 0.17 oz B1G1 (at least $2) - B1G1 (1/3/RP) = 2 FREE
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

2 Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner (pg. 5) $6/2 - 2 $1/1 (Printable IE; Printable FF) = $4/2
- 2 $1/1 (Rite Aid Jan. Video Value coupon) = $2/2
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets
 
2 Got 2b hair care (pg. 4) B1G1 (Update: $6.49/1) - 2 $3/1 (Rite Aid Jan. Video Value coupon) = $0.49/2
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

1 Wet & Wild cosmetic (pg. 5) 40% off (around $3.99/1) = $2.39/1
- $2 SCR = $0.39/1
Get 1 bonus Game of Life ticket

1 Dawn dishwashing liquid (pg. 10) $0.99/1 - $0.25/1 (12/27/PG) (Update: Dawn Hand Renewal is reported to be working also. $0.50/1 12/27/PG) = $0.74/1 (or $0.49)
Get 1 bonus Game of Life ticket
(NOTE: Check to see if you can use $1/1 Hand Renewal from P&G Refresh Your Nest coupon book or $0.50/1 Dawn Pure Essentials from Home Made Simple coupon book. Obviously using either of these coupons would affect OOP totals.)

2 Neosporin (pg. 12) B1G1 ($5.49/1) - 2 $1/1 (1/3/RP) = $3.49/2
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

Total before coupons = at least $22.86
- $5/20 Rite Aid Video Values coupon
- at least $14.25 (in MFC and Rite Aid Video Values coupons)
Total OOP = $3.61 + tax (After updates: $1.86)
- $2 SCR
Cost $1.61 + tax (make $0.14 - tax)
Get 11 Game of Life tickets

NOTE: The $2/1 WellnessCoupon can also be used for the cosmetic item. This would make the total OOP after 1 Wellness coupon $1.61 (after updates, you would need to ad one filler item to your order to bring the OOP cost above $0). This would give you a profit of $0.39  (just under $2) after SCR.


Purchase #3
1 EPT pregnancy test (pg. 3) around $10/1 - $5/1 (Printable) = $5/1
- $4/1 in ad coupon = $0.99/1

2 Nutra nail treatment (pg. 4) B1G1 (about $3/1) - 2 $1/1 (Printable) = $1/2
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

1 Tylenol adult cold, sinus & allergy (pg. 12) 20-24 ct. or liquid 8 oz. $5.99 - $2 (Printable - look for coupon offers on right) = $3.99/1
- $3 SCR = $0.99/1
Get 1 bonus Game of Life ticket

2 Chex Mix (pg. 12) B1G1 (around $1.50/1) - 2 $0.50/1 (Printable; $1/2 12/13/SS) = $0.50/1
- $1/2 (Rite Aid Jan. Video Value coupon) = make $0.50

Total before coupons = at least $20.49
- $5/20 Rite Aid Video Values coupon
- $15 (in MFC and Rite Aid Video Values coupons)
Total OOP = $0.49 + tax
- $3 SCR
Make $2.51 - tax
Get 4 Game of Life tickets

NOTE: The $0.50/1 WellnessCoupon can also be used for the Chex Mix instead of the Rite Aid Video Values coupon. Remeber you can only use 1 Rite Aid coupon on an item; these can not be combined with the Video Values coupons. Therefore, using these won't change your OOP cost or make you any more money.


Purchase #4

1 Revlon ColorBurst lipstick or Color Stay ultimate lipstick (pg. 4) B1G1 nail enamel (not less than $5) - $2/1 (12/13/SS; Printable - email a friend, or yourself) = $3/1
1 Revlon nail enamel FREE - $2/1 (12/13/SS or Printable - above) = make $2
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

1 Airwick imotion (pg. 10) 50% off $4.99/1 - $4/1 (Printable; Printable) = $0.99/1
- $1/1 (Rite Aid Jan. Video Value coupon) = make $0.01

1 M5 Magnum razor or refill cartridge (pg. 8) $5/1 - $3/1 (Printable from coupons.com - no longer available; also found in razor pk if you have one at home from previous purchase) = $2/1
- $1/1 in ad coupon = $1/1

2 Carefree Ultra (pg. 12) B1G1 (Update: $3.99/1) - $1/2 (1/3/RP) = $4/2
- 2 $2/1 (Rite Aid Jan. Video Values coupons) = Update: make $1.01

1 Carmex (inside ad wrap around) 0.35 oz. tube, 0.25 oz. jar, or 0.15 oz. stick $0.99/1
Get 1 bonus Game of Life ticket

1 Maalox (pg. 2) $4.99/1 - $1.50/1 (12/6/SS) = $3.49/1
- $2 SCR = $1.49

Total before coupons = at least $24.96
- $5/20 Rite Aid Video Values coupon
- $19.50 (in MFC and Rite Aid Video Values coupons)
Total OOP = $0.46 + tax
- $2 SCR
Make $1.54 - tax
Get 4 Game of Life tickets


Purchase #5

2 Tostitos (pg. 11) $6/2 - $1/1 (All You Jan. '10) = $5/2
- 2 $1/1 (Rite Aid Dec. Video Values) = $3/2

1 Cortaid (pg. 2) $5.99/1 - $2/1 (1/3/RP) = $3.99/1
- $2/1 in ad coupon = $1.99/1

1 Nivea body wash (pg. 4) $4.99/1 - $2/1 (1/3/RP) = $2.99/1
Get 1 bonus Game of Life ticket

2 L’Oreal makeup products (inside ad wrap around) 40% Off (Also, there is a lot of L'Oreal makeup on clearance, you could get that instead. Just remember that you will not get 40% off of the clearance makeup.) look for makeup that is $3.99 to $5.99/1 = $2.39 to $3.59/1 (after 40% off)
- 2 of the following coupons ($2/1 foundation or $1/1 eye makeup Printable; $2/1 Loreal makeup, powder, blush, or concealer 10/18/RP, 11/1/RP, 11/15/RP; $1/1 L'Oreal mascara, eyeliner, or eye shadow 1/3/RP; $1/1 L'Oreal lip product 11/8/RP) = around $1.39 to $2.59 each
Get 2 bonus Game of Life tickets

Total before coupons = at least $21.76
- $5/20 Rite Aid Video Values coupon
- around $12 (in MFC, Rite Aid Video Values coupons, and in ad coupons)
Total OOP = $4.76 + tax (must be able to use Wellness coupons to make this one profitable)
Get 4 Game of Life tickets

A New Month: Don't Forget To . . .

It's the beginning of a new month, and a new year, and there are so many things to do!

1. Coupon sites have just released a fresh batch of new coupons (and reset others). Check out Coupons.com, RedPlum.com, and Smartsource.com to view the new coupons. Go ahead and print the ones that you know you will use to make sure you get the coupon before the overall print limit is reached.
2. Upromise.com has released its new set of e-coupons. Make sure that you go add all of them to your account so that if at any time during the month you happen to purchase that item (the item has to be purchased at a store that Upromise tracks, ie. one with a store card), you will be able to earn extra college savings.
3. RiteAidVideoValues has a new set of ads that you can watch to earn a $5/20 coupon plus coupons on individual products.

Track Spending With Me Through 2010!

Wouldn't it be nice to see exactly how much we save (and spend) using coupons. I came across a spreadsheet originally found (Thanks to Southern Savers) on a coupon site that is no longer maintained. I have made changes to the original spreadsheet to better meet our needs. Below is a link to my version of the Grocery Spending and Savings Tracker spreadsheet.

GrocerySpendingSavingTracker
Update: I have text boxes with instructions on my document that are not showing up in the link. I'm working on getting this corrected. Anyone who would like me to email the doc. directly to them can request it at 1faithfulsteward@gmail.com

All you have to do is add up how much you spend each week and how much you save (most of the time, this is found at the bottom of your receipts).

You can choose to save multiple copies of this spreadsheet to your computer and use them to track your spending at each individual store, or you can lump all your grocery/drugstore spending together and track everything on just one spreadsheet. (I'll be using more than one spreadsheet. One for all my grocery/drugstore/household supplies spending since the money for all this comes from my grocery budget. Then, I'll track a couple of stores - Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc. - on their own spreadsheets so that I can see exactly how I'm doing at individual stores.)

Every week I'll post my totals and invite you to post your totals also. Let's track our spending together through 2010!

This Week's Noteworthy FREEBIES 1/2/10

1. GalaxyGranola Receive a FREE bag (not sure how big the bag is) of "Not Sweet Vanilla" or "Vanilla Almond" Galaxy granola.
2. BecomeBeauty Receive a FREE Weekender sampler kit. I could not find any information on what is in this kit, so be surprised. Obviously, there will be some kind of beauty products.
3. FacebookAdvertising MySpaceAdvertising Receive $50 worth of FREE advertising on Facebook and MySpace. The MySpace offer does not specify how long it will be going on; the Facebook offer expires 3/2010. This could be used to advertise websites, small businesses, churches, or just to promote special projects or things of interest.
4. PuffsCoupon Receive a $1/1 Puffs Ultra Soft Strong tissue coupon by mail. Given the right sale this could equal free (or at least very cheap) tissues.

5. PreNexa Receive a FREE pregnancy journal and create customized address labels. The address labels you can print from your computer. The pregnancy journal is mailed to you (shown above). 
6. Save-A-Lot Receive a FREE P&G coupon booklet. The last time Save-A-Lot (grocery store chain) offered a P&G coupon booklet it was filled with manufacturer’s coupons which of course can be used anywhere (The coupons did not have Save-A-Lot's logo on them.)
7. NaturalNibbles Receive a FREE sample of Natural Nibbles dog treats.
8. WalmartTripleFlexOffer Walmart.com is offering a FREE sample of Nature Made TripleFlex liquid softgels. They are supposed to improve joint comfort.
9. LiftOff Try a FREE sample of LiftOff, a no sugar, no calorie, 1 carb energy drink. You can choose from two flavors, 'Ignite Me Orange' or 'Lemon Lime Blast.'
10. ConAgraCouponBooklet Receive a FREE coupon booklet from ConAgra Foods with coupons totaling $17.

Rite Aid's New Promotion: The Game of Life

Rite Aid has a new promotion that starts 1/3/10 and runs through 2/27/10. The point of the game is to collect game pieces to win prizes. There are also specially marked game pieces redeemable for instant prizes.

You can read more about the promotion below:

GameofLifeRules

BonusItemsEarnBonusTickets

GameofLifeGameboard

We Welcomed a New Addition to Our Family!

My third son, Nathanael, was born on New Year's Eve at 2:13 pm. He was 21 inches long and weighed 8 lbs 3 oz. Both of us are now at home and doing well.   : )