Cheap Groceries at CVS!

So I messed up my transactions a little this week, and "wasted" $1 in ExtraBucks, but I got some groceries for a great price, so I'm satisfied with my trip (though I'm still kicking myself over it...).  Here's what I got:

Transaction #1

(4) Snickers Eggs $2
-$1/2 Mars Easter Candy (I only had one)
-(2) $0.25/2 Mars Easter singles CVS CRTs
(1) Revlon Nail polish $1.57 (clearance)
-$1/1 Revlon color product
(1) Revlon eyeshadow $1.24 ("gold"--not the prettiest, but a big mm)
-$3/1 (off total order wyb product) Revlon eye or lip product CVS CRT
-$1/1 Revlon color product
(1) CVS Jelly beans $0.99 (these were gone within an hour of getting home...uhhh... =D)
(2) Cheezit crackers $3.98 (6 week low price here)
-$1/2 Cheezit crackers
(2) Colgate toothbrushes $5.98
-(2) $1/1 Colgate toothbrush
(1) Reinventing Beauty Magazine $0.99 ($3 q in there for Huggies--that coupon alone makes it a good buy!)
-8 ECBs--I'd only needed 7 =(
+tax
=$0.54

ECBs received: 1 Green Bag Tag, 2 Snickers eggs, 0.99 Jelly Beans, 4 Colgate


Transaction #2

(3) Dole Pineapple $2.64 (fresh produce is still dying in my house)
-$1/3 Dole Pineapple
(2) Cheezit crackers $3.98 (it's killing me to buy groceries at CVS b/c I can't get them 95% off ;D)
-$1/2 Cheezit crackers
-4 ECBs
=$0.62


So, including the 4 ECBs I burned, I spent $5.17 on $47.73 worth of groceries, make-up and candy.  All total, I saved 89%.  I blame it on the Cheezits. =D

My newest Paintings!

I don't know if I've blogged about my paintings yet.  But, I really enjoy painting when I get a chance.  It's also a great way to be frugal--you can give a priceless gift to someone while only having spent $10 or so (as long at you don't frame it--then it gets pricey).  That's actually one of the reasons I got into arts and crafts--there were things that I wanted that I couldn't afford, so I made them instead! 

I've been on a sort of painting binge lately (two in a month is a lot for me) because they had a great sale on canvases at AC Moore over Memorial Day weekend.  I finally got around to painting a photograph I had seen in a tractor supply ad.  I clipped it a few months ago because it reminded me of my little brother.  He's kinda a loner, but really loves animals; the lonesome cowboy and his dogs just reminded me of him.  I'm never completely satisfied with my work, but I can look at this painting and not cringe, so it gets my seal of approval.  =)

The second painting is for two of my best friends' (Laurie and Chris) wedding.  I was so tickled when they got together because I felt like I somehow played a part in it (though, really, I didn't).  I had this crazy idea for her: give her a "painting day" that included a lesson and fun girl time with me, Laurie, and our dear friend, Becky (she's gonna hate me for that =D).  At the end of the day, Laurie would get to bring home all of the paintings and hang them as a triptych.  We each chose a flower to represent us--I chose the iris because it's always been my favorite.  Plus, I figured since I'd drawn it so much, it would turn out pretty okay.  While Laurie and Becky finished their paintings by the end of the day, I was only half done (actually a third done if you count how much I re-painted).  But, I was able to get it done after three more days, and I ended up pretty happy with it.  Here's how the three paintings look together:

My CVS trip!

I had a good trip to CVS this week.  I got a few things I wanted for a great price!  In and out, it took maybe 20 minutes!  Here's what I got:

(3) Garnier haircare (shampoo, conditioner, hairspray) $10

-(3) $1/1 Garnier manu q's

-$2/2 Garnier shampoo and styler (otherwise I would've just gotten more shampoo--do you know how often I style my hair? Almost never.)

(1) Biore Strip $7.99 (I've been wanting to try these for a while, so I was excited about the sale and coupons matching up!)

(1) Biore Cleanser $8.29

-FREE cleanser wyb strips (7.99--should have been $8.29, but I didn't feel like fighting for $0.30)

-$4/$20 Beauty purchase (from last week, but it was still good until Monday)

-5 ECBs from last week

+tax

=$5.63

Got back : 3 ECBs for Garnier, 5 ECBs for Biore, 2.63 in Beauty Bucks (I have 5 ECBs waiting for me now)

So, including the extrabucks I gained, everything I got was exactly FREE!!!  Wow, I didn't realize I had done so well!  Yeah!  I'm awesome!

No coupons at Weis

I'm always saying that sales save you the most money and here's a prime example.  I went into Weis to get something easy for dinner, some juice and bread.  I decided to make a real trip out of it when I saw a number of my favorites on a good sale.  A good sale, remember, is 40-50% off, or BOGO, or whatever.  Just compare the shelf price with the sale price.  If it's about half, buy enough for 8 weeks/as much as you have space for/as much as will keep (remember you can freeze many refrigerated products).  So, I got everything I needed and more and ended up saving 42% without any coupons!!

I bought:
(4) Ocean Spray 100% juice BOGO @ $3.99
(3) Thomas English muffins Buy one, get TWO @ $3.99
(I always take advantage of this deal when it comes around, I freeze two and use them instead of bread for the following weeks)
(2) Keebler crackers $1.99 ea (even though this is 33% off, it's a best price for sandwich crackers)
(1) Lance crackers $2.49 (b/c I need Nekot cookies for survival)
(4) Stouffers large size TV dinners $2.50 ea.
(each of these feed the three of us comfortably, so it's a steal at $1/serving)
(1) Baby carrots $1.50 (the best price is $1, but I'm making a pot roast)
(1) Rold Gold pretzel twists $2.50
(1) Newspaper $2
(3) Fruit cups $1 ea. (okay price, but better than $3 for grapes that ended up rotting on my counter)

Total: $37.57
Savings: $27.49

Now Jesse says that stores just jack up their prices, so they can entice you with sales.  Very true, but I'd rather pay the low sale price for the foods I regularly eat, than the full "jacked up" prices any day.