My CVS and Walgreens Deals

Last night, my friend, Tiffany, and I headed out to find some deals. Our first stop was Rite-Aid. Much to our disappointment, the location nearest to my house is going out of business and was already closed when we arrived. So, we cheered up and headed to CVS. Here's what I got:

• 4 Soy Joy Bars: $5.16 on sale for $1 = $4.00 + earned $4.00 ECBs = FREE
• 2 Maybelline Colossa Mascara: $13.98 on sale for 11.98 + earned $5 ECBs = $6.98
  
• 2 Palmolive Dish Detergent: $1.59 on sale for $1.39 + BOGO - $0.25 MC = $1.14
• 2 Bags Hershey's Candy Corn Kisses: definitely not on sale, but these were the last two bags, so I had to get them: $6.98

Regular Price: $29.30
Subtotal after sales / coupons: $24.10
Paid Using ECBs: $9.68
Earned ECBs: $9.00
Total: $5.42 (82 % savings)

We made one last stop at Walgreens. Here's what I got at Walgreens:

• L'oreal Age Perfect Moisturizer: $19.99 - $19.99 ESR = FREE
• Campbell's Tomato Soup: $1.39 - $0.80 store coupon = $0.59
• Almay One Coat Mascara: $6.99 - $6.99 ESR = FREE

Regular Price: $28.37
Subtotal after sales: $27.57
Earned ESR: $26.98 + 10% = $29.68
Total: FREE + earned $1.31 (105%)

Cheesy Chicken Pot Biscuit Cups

Here's my version of this recipe. I made it Monday night, and it was delicious.

Cheesy Chicken Pot Biscuit Cups

• 1 can of refrigerated biscuits (I used Merico's Butter-Me-Nots)
• 1 can of chicken (9 oz.)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
  
• 2/3 cup of shredded cheddar
• 1/2 tbsp of Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 400. Flatten each biscuit and place in the cup of an ungreased muffin pan, making sure to press the biscuit up the sides of the cup. Combine other ingredients in a bowl and spoon into the biscuits. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Instead of steamed carrots, I made carrots au gratin. It was a new recipe also, and delicious!

Carrots Au Gratin

• 2 cups fresh carrots, diced
• 2 tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
  
• 1 tsp. onion salt
• 8 round butter crackers
  
• 1/2 cups of shredded cheese
• dash of black pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Boil carrots in 1/2" of water for about 10 minutes. Pour into baking dish. Combine butter, onion salt, crackers, and pepper. Pour over carrots. Cover with cheese. Bake for 15 minutes.



Cost of Chicken Cups: $3.72, made 10 cups (5 servings) = $0.74 per serving
Cost of Carrots: $0.68, made 4 servings = $0.17 per serving.

That comes out to $0.91 per serving total. Not a bad dinner for under a buck!


*** Note: This is my plate. DH had double this amount, so his actually cost $1.82! He eats two servings...

Spongebob!

I promised pictures of Jaxson's costume, so here ya go!
I thought it looked pretty cute, but then again, I'm his mommy!

Menu Plan Monday

Each week Laura at I'm an Organizing Junkie hosts Menu Plan Monday. Here's what we're eating this week:

Sunday: Fall Festival at our Church
Monday: Cheesy Chicken Pot Biscuit Cups with baked carrots
Tuesday: Pizza casserole with garlic bread
Wednesday: Salmon patties with buffalo fries
Thursday: Chicken Casserole
Friday: Neighborhood Halloween Party
Saturday: ??? Surprise Night

I've had the ingredients for the pizza casserole for several weeks now but haven't made it. I'm anxious to see how it turns out!

The problem with addictions is...

The problem with addictions is you always have to get your fix!

Medically speaking, addiction is a state of the body which causes a person to rely on a substance in order to function normally. Every addictive substance induces pleasant feelings or relieves distress. Addiction was originally a term used to for alcohol and drug abuse. In recent years, the term has spread to cover non-substance related dependencies. The term is then referring to recurring compulsive behavior by an individual to engage in a specific activity.

Does this describe me? Yes...
I am addicted to bargains. And I suppose if you're going to have an addiction, it's a pretty good one to have. And no, I'm not some miser who wants to hoard it all for myself. I love saving, so I can give more to others, and save for Jaxson's college of course.

Anyway, as I was headed back from my trip for costume stuff, I realized I had my CVS coupons and list in my car. So I had to stop. I didn't need anything, but when something is free, I can't pass it up. Besides, I had to pass right by CVS on my way home.

Here's what I got:

• 2 pack of GUM brand toothbrushes: $3.99 - $3.99 earned ECBs = FREE
• 1-32oz. Powerade: $1.69 - $1.69 earned ECBs = FREE
• 3-20 count Excedrin: $5.49, on sale for $1.99 - 3 coupons for $2.00 off each, + MIR to try this for free = FREE + earned $2.02
  

Subtotal: $6.43
Less $ 3 ECBs
Total OOP: $3.43

I earned $5.68 ECBs, so I actually made $2.25 + MIR for $2.02 = $4.27 just for shopping at CVS!

I felt like I had my "fix" for the night! I was on cloud nine!

Costume Designers!

So, DH sent me out to look for the remaining things we needed for Jaxson's costume. Here's what I've spent thus far on the homemade Spongebob costume:

• Foam Squares 2 @ $2.99 = $5.98
• Chenille Pipe Cleaner = $0.62
• Pack of Styrofoam balls = $3.48
• White opaque paint = $1.67
• Black paint = $.97
• Blue paint = $.97
• 6 sheets of felt @ $.32 = 1.92
• black shoes = $2.48

grand total = $18.09

Things we already had at home: yellow spray paint, elastic, green craft paint, craft glue, Sharpie marker, black ribbon, brown pants, a white shirt, and socks

Also, Jaxson will now have a pair of black dress shoes, so that was $2.48 well spent. We also have a bag of Styrofoam balls and a pack of black pipe cleaner left since we only needed one of each. If anyone has any good ideas for their use, please let me know! I didn't get a chance to take any pictures yet, but I promise I'll post some soon!

Bacon-Cheese Swirled Potatoes

On Tuesday nights, DH and I are both at church until around 8:00. I don't usually get home in time to cook something before we leave, so when we get home I have to make something quick. Last night, I threw some pork chops on the George Foreman and whipped up some bacon-cheese swirled potatoes as a side dish. They were quick and delicious.

Just as a side note, I had never bought, or even thought about buying, boxed (aka instant) potatoes until a few weeks ago. DH loves mashed potatoes, but I would rather cook potatoes in a different manner (Italian style, baked, etc). Well, I got a pretty good deal on some Betty Crocker potatoes a few weeks ago, so I figured I would try out a new recipe. Mmm... These were delicious. Our dinner was $1.60 per person. Oh yeah, plus electricity :)

The cost breakdown is:
1-1/2 cups of water = $0.08
1 cup of milk = $0.15
1 pack of Betty Crocker potatoes = $0.22
1/4 cup of ranch dressing = $0.12
2 tbsp of bacon pieces = $0.16
2 tbsp of margarine = $0.04
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese = $0.25
Total cost = $1.38 for 4 servings or $0.35 per serving

Bacon-Cheese Swirled Potatoes
Combine 1-1/2 cups water, 1 cup milk, and 2 tbsp butter in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Then, remove from heat and stir in potato flakes. Next, add 1/4 cup of ranch dressing, 2 tbsp of bacon pieces, and 1/4 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
Enjoy!