Sunday, December 21, 2008

What is this? Christmas budget 2008

The Christmas project for this year was to get our gifts from "the dollar store."

I got out of debt earlier this year and have been putting money in savings accounts and sinking funds. In the past few months, I've learned to better do free after rebate and deep discounts on coupon stuff.

So when this proposed, I thought, "I'm too cheap for the dollar store."

So below, you will find what I bought, the deals I got, and the total amount paid.

Of course, the total amount paid doesn't include sales tax. But then, my eyes are glazing over with the amount I've put in previous posts. I have received or will receive $79 in rebates (I've already requested them online).

I'm going to figure that I paid $9 in sales tax. I purchased around 30 items for our white elephant gift exchange. The extra in sales tax is because I got charged sales tax after the sale item price, but before coupons.

I also made some mistakes along the way, where I could have gotten a better deal. But for the first year of doing this, not bad for $3.13.

Christmas 2008 # 16 - Dollar Tree

Finally, I bought some doggie snacks that I knew would end up with Mom's dog

$1.00

Totals Christmas 2008 after sales, coupons and rebates $3.13

Christmas 2008 #15 - Rite Aid 7

Assorted deals at Rite Aid

Maybelline nail color $2.99 on sale - $2.99 SCR = 0
St. Ives Apricot Scrub on sale $4.99 - $4.99 SCR = 0
G U M Toothbrush pack on sale for $1.99 - $1.99 SCR = $0
Softlips on sale $2.99 - $2.99 SCR = 0

Totals Christmas 2008 = $2.13

Christmas 2008 # 14 - Walgreens 6

I should have done this during a four-day sale in order to get $5 RR. This is my first year trying this, so live and learn.

2 Quattro razors regularly $9.49, on sale for $6.99

Used two manu Q from Dec All You magazine $4
Used Easy Saver Q from Walgrees $3

= $0

Also bought Two Maybelline lip shiner for $4.99 B1G1
Had $4 manu c

= 99 cents

Totals Christmas 2008 = $2.13

Christmas 2008 #13 - Rite Aid 6

I bought Mabelline lip polish for $5.59

- $4 manu Q - $2 SCR = 41 cents overage

Totals Christmas 2008 = $1.14

Christmas 2008 #12 - Kmart

During the week that Kmart had double coupons, I was able to get one Gillette Body Wash. Regularly $8, on sale for $4

Then had a $4 manu Q

= $0

Totals Christmas 2008 = $1.55

Christmas 2008 # 11 - Rite Aid 4

Also in the first week in December (but at a different store), I was able to get a six-outlet powerstrip for $5, regularly $9.99

Got $5 SCR

= $0

Totals Christmas 2008 = $1.55

Christmas 2008 # 10 - Rite Aid 3

I got a pair of Philips Ear buds with hard case on sale at RA the first week of December for $4.99, regularly $9.99

Then, $4.99 SCR

= 0

Totals Christmas 2008 = $1.55

Christmas 2008 # 9 - Walgreens 5

I got two Russell Stover Luminex Boxes when they were on sale for $4.99 each.

Then, I got $10 ESR

= .02 overage

I also got four Yardley soaps for $2.58 on sale with Walgreens coupon, regularly $1.50 each.

So totals Christmas 2008 = $1.55

Christmas 2008 # 8 - Riteaid 2

Last week Rite Aid had some DVDs for $3.99 (well, they do every week). Rather, last week you could take $3.99 rebate off the $3.99 DVDs. I got a movie called "Avalanche."

$3.99
- $3.99 SCR

= 0

Totals Christmas 2008 = $1.01 overage

Christmas 2008 # 7 - Riteaid #1

I bought a Gillette Fusion Razor. It was regularly 1 $9.99, on sale for $9.

Used a $4 manu Q
- $5 SCR

= $ 0

Totals Christmas 2008 = $1.01 overage

Christmas 2008 # 6 - Walgreens Part 4

I got some Windex cleaning cloths for $2.50, marked down from $3.99

Then used $1 manu Q
Then $1.50 ESR

= $0

Totals Christmas 2008 = $1.01 overage

Christmas 2008 # 5 - Walgreens Part 3

Bought L'Oreal Age Procaclium moisturizer for $14.99 on sale
rain check ESR = $14.99
- $2 Walgreens manu Q

= $2 overage

I combined a couple of Arm & Hammer detergent to get to $25 and get holiday RR.

Total Christmas 2008

= - $1.01

Christmas 2008 # 4 - Walgreens Part 2

Got 2 Sure deodrants regularly $3 each, on sale for 2/$5
Then used 2 $1 printable coupons, plus Easy Saver $1.50 coupon

= $0

Then two Scotch 3-pack tape sale $1 each, used a $1 man Q and got $2 ESR

= $1 overage

Bought a Sesame Street book for nephew to attempt to get to $25 (I'm still a Newbie, it didn't work).

$1

Bought 1 Schick razor regularly $9.99, on sale for $6.99

- $3 Easy Saver coupon - $4 manu coupon from All You

= 0

Total Christmas 2008 = 99 cents

Christmas 2008 #3 - Walgreens Part I

I'm not doing this in particular order, but in order that I'm pulling out receipts.

1 16-pack Duracell AAA batteries were on sale last week from $12.49 to $9.99

$1 manufacturer coupon
$3 ESR rebate
$5 Holiday RR used on a previous purchase.

so

$9.99 -$1 Q - $3 rebate - $5 RR = 99 cents

Total OOP = 99 cents

On this trip, I also got color/activity books 3/$1 instead of 59 cents.

So total OOP = $1.99

Christmas 2008 #2 - Target

I bought two Luminair's by Airwick with two $5 coupons. They recently had a price adjustment down to $4.99.

Christmas 2008 totals

4.99 * 2 = 9.98
- 2 $ coupons
= $0

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Christmas 2008 deals #1

I've been doing Walgreens and Rite Aid rebates for awhile now, but got into it more earlier this year. When my family decided to just "get gifts from the dollar store" I decided to find out how much I could get for under $1 after coupons and rebates.

This is the first installment.



I got Bald Guyz for free after rebate at Walgreens. I originally bought it as a white elephant gift, then remembered that a transitional deacon friend of mine shaves his head. I packed up his package today to mail. This is why its by itself. Hope to have the others up soon.

Gross: $5.99
- FAR: $5.99
$0