Rite Aid

So, you all know I've taken to shopping at Walgreens for all of our household items and toiletries. I've spent the about same amount that I've always had in my budget which is $70/month but I've stockpiled and have at least 3 month's worth of stuff. In fact, I'm not even stepping foot in there the next 3 weeks as we just don't need anything! (And I've seen the ad scans on Hot Coupon World, nothing that makes my skirt fly up.)
But, I have found a new store that I'll have to keep my eye on. Rite Aid. As far as I know they are in the Northwestern states but I haven't checked. Anyways, they had a sale last week containing a bunch of "Free after Rebate" items. Of course I had to go. Here's how it went down.

Bic Comfort 3 Razors $2.99Used $2 MC$.99
Lizard Lips chapstick $.99FAR
Triaminic $3.99FAR
NeilMed Neti Pot $10.99Used $3 MC$3.00 overage after rebate
Softlips $2.99FAR
Little Colds Little Noses $3.99FAR
Lypsyl Lip Moisturizer $1.99FAR
Sucrets $2.99FAR+ $1.50 MIR$1.50 Overage
Bee MD cough drops $2.49FAR
Excedrin Express Gels $3.99FAR
Total oop after all rebates: $.46
99% Savings!
I meant to post this earlier in the week so ya'll could do this if you wanted to but I was sick. There were a ton more FAR items, I showed restraint:) I should have bought some more medicine though, seeing as how we could have used it this week!

Frugal Friday...Super Cheap Laundry Soap

I've been sitting on this post for about 2 months now. I originally got the idea from De'Etta's blog a few months ago. But, I wanted to give this a try before I started recommending this to everyone.

I'm a believer now, and I whole-heartedly recommend that you do this!

Recipe:

1 Cup Borax

1 Cup Washing Soda

1 Cup grated Ivory soap

1 Cup Baking Soda (optional)

Now, don't just go and make the 3 or 4 cups. These are just proportions. Make a bunch since you've got everything out already:)

Mix equal amounts of the ingredients above and whirl them in a blender or large cuisenart. If you don't have one of those appliances (like me), use a pastry cutter to "cut" in the Ivory soap and mix well.

Use 1-3 TB in each washload, depending on how soiled they are.

Really. 1-3 TB, that's it. I know it's tempting to get out your measuring CUPS and not your spoons....just trust me.

You will end up with clean-smelling, not perfume-smelling laundry, that doesn't even NEED a fabric softener. I still use the 'ol sheets in the dryer, but you don't HAVE to. We have really hard water in the SW, so it's just habit to use them.

Don't be alarmed when you don't see any sudzing-action going on. Suds don't clean your clothes.

Repeat after me, "Suds don't clean my clothes..."

Thank you. Now, don't you feel better?

This is also virtually allergy free so it is perfect for sensitive skin too!

Cost Breakdown:

Borax (aprox. $3.29 at Walmart)

Washing Soda (aprox. $3.79 at the grocery store)

Ivory soap (3 bars for $1 at the Dollar Store, buy 6 bars)

The cost should be around $.02-$.03 per load, depending on how much the supplies cost in your area, and how much you use per load. Store-bought detergent can cost anywhere from $.12 a load for a lower-end brand like Fab to almost $.23 a load for a high-end brand like Tide X2.

Talk about major savings!

Fels Naptha or Zote soapbars are also commonly used and can be found in the laundry-care aisle at the store. I'm also seeing online that people use almost any kind of bar soap. I'd caution against using one with moisturizers in it like a Caress bar. I make soap from "scratch" and those "moisturizers" are really unsapponified oils. You don't want to be putting oils on your clothes!

Try it and let me know what you think!
Blessings!

P.s. For those of you with HE washing machines, this should be safe for you to use. This detergent is non-sudzing so you shouldn't end up with a laundry room full of suds:)

Frugal Friday....early

So, I've plotted and planned my shopping trip for this weekend. I've got $225 to spend on groceries/toiletries/household. This is one stop that I've got planned...

Walgreens: Diaper Deal this week

Diapers are on sale for $5.99 again. If I'm able to find the Prescription Savings booklet coupons, I should be able to get them super cheap!

Here's how it'll work:

I'll buy 3 packages of Walgreens diapers at $5.99 each = $17.97
Use $2/1 coupon from the Prescription Savings booklet (should take $2 off each pack)
Use $5/2 coupon from EasySaver July booklet (should take $2.50 off each pack)
Spend $4.47 plus tax out of pocket

Get $5 Register Reward (this is advertised in the July EasySaver booklet so if for some reason it doesn't print, be sure to politely ask them to re-ring your order or give you the $5 on a gift card)

I'll be doing this 3 times (hopefully) to get 9 packages of diapers for approximately $15.00 out of pocket!

BUT

I will have earned $15 worth of Register Rewards which I'll use towards this stuff:

2 Walgreen's brand fabric softener sheets, B1G1 Free $2.99

1 box Walgreens ziploc bags $.99

3 pkgs Papermate mechanical pencils $.15

1 pkg notebook paper $.29

4 rolls toilet paper $2.00

3 rolls paper towels $1.80

1 Dawn dishsoap $.99

1 pkg Bic razors $2.99

3 Orbit chewing gums $2.00

2 bags Chex mix $3.00

2 Blue Diamond Almonds $3.29

________________________________

Total: $20.49

Minus MF coupons $2.50

Minus $15.oo Register Rewards

Out of pocket aprox. $3.18

$15.00+$3.18 = $18.18 total out of pocket !

Blessings!

The "diaper deal" I snagged from Money Saving Mom, changing it to fit my situation.

Frugal Friday

I set off yesterday with $11 left of my grocery budget and a whole bunch of coupons to see what I could do at Walmart....

Here's what I got:

4 lb. bag of Purina Puppy Chow $4.48 - $4.00 coupon= $0.48 (this coupon is good on any purina dogfood)

Pert Plus shampoo $2.68 - $2.00 coupon= $0.68

Balmex diaper rash cream $2.98 - $1.00 coupon= $1.98 (not great but I needed it!)

Travel size Tylenol $1.98 - $1.00 coupon= $.98

Travel size lotion $.98 - $1.00 coupon= $.02 overage!

2 boxes of Kashi granola bars $5.96 - $2.00 coupon= $3.96 (cashier wouldn't let me use a coupon on each box. If I'd known I would have only gotten 1.)

2 cans Muir Glen organic tomatoes $3.52 - $2.00 coupons= $1.52

Planter's peanuts $2.68 - $3.00 coupon= $0.32 overage (but I had to buy Koolaid to get the $3 off so the peanuts ended up truly costing me $0.28. SNORT)

3 pkgs Koolaid $.60

2 Johnson's Buddies soaps $1.88 - $2.00 coupons= $0.12 overage

2 pkgs Bic pens $1.76 - $1.00 coupon= $o.76

Nerds $.88 (for the boys putting up with mommy's shopping spree)

Now I can't give you exact numbers because I bought something that rang up REALLY wrong and I had to return it, but roughly I spent $13.00

Now, I wouldn't have gone over if the cashier had let me use the other coupon....I worked retail for over 5 years but I'm just not going on my soapbox tonight:)

Blessings!