My Last CVSTrip Before Going to Ohio

Jonathan and I leave for Ohio tomorrow!! By 10:30 Eastern time we will be there! I am so excited!

So I had to go to CVS one last time before leaving! After I used some of the L'Oreal alchohol free hair styler I LOVED it, so I decided for less than $.25 each, I should stock up. So I did! :)

Here is what I got:

6 L'Oreal Stylers: $6.99 each: $41.94
Clearance: $1.74
Minus (3) $3/2 Q
Total: $.24 each: $1.44

4 Herbal Essences: $4.49 each: $17.96
Clearance: $1.12 each: $4.48
Minus: (4) $1/1 Q
Total: $.12 each: $.48

Total Worth: $59.90
Total Spent: $1.92

So happy! I used POCKET CHANGE to buy $60 worth of hair care!

My Day Chasing Shampoo

Happy New Year!!!!

I spent my morning scoping out every nearby CVS and checking their hair care clearance.
The P&G that was in the papers on Sunday have several coupons that make shampoo only CENTS at CVS.

Since I only had one P&G (until mine come in the mail, hopefully tomorrow) I didn't get too much today, but rest assured that I definitely intend to pick up some more hair care! Even if my coupons don't come in tomorrow I have some printable coupons that I can use!

Here is what I got, at 3 different stores:

Herbal Essences: $4.49
Clearance: $1.12
Minus $1/1 Q
Total: $.12

2 L'Oreal Stylers: $6.99 each: $13.98
Clearance: $1.74 each: $3.48
Minus $3/2 Q
Minus $.50 ECB
Total: FREE

4 Dove Shampoo: $4.99 each: $19.96
Clearance: $1.24 each: $4.96
Minus (2) $2/2 Q
Total: $.96

Total Worth: $38.43
Total Spent: $1.08

I am super excited about the L'Oreal stylers because they are alcohol free, meaning they won't dry out hair! I got those with the printable Qs so I have 3 more of them that I definitely plan on using!

I just MADE $40 at Walgreens!

Well, that was the EASIEST $40 I have ever made....and I got $160 worth of stuff while doing it!

This week Walgreens has 2 GREAT sales. One is on a weight loss supplement and the other is on prenatal vitamins. (No I'm not pregnant, but I take prenatals because they don't make me sick like regular vitamins do).

The Simply Slim and Brainstrong Prenatal vitamins are both on sale for $10 with $10 RR!! So they are already FREE. But...the Simply Slim has a $10 Peelie Q on top of them, making them a $10 MONEYMAKER! So exciting.

This was the first time that I got up early enough on a Sunday morning to be at the store when they opened, but I REALLY wanted to get in on these deals. And trust me, I'm not done yet! I hope to score some more before the weeks end.

Here is what I did.

Transaction 1:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 2:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 3:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 4:
Simply Slim: $29
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 Q
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 5:
Brainstrong: $20
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 RR (from Simply Slim)
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Transaction 6:
Brainstrong: $20
Sale: $10
Minus: $10 RR (from Simply Slim)
Total: FREE
Received: $10 RR

Total Worth: $156
Total Spent: NOTHING
Total Received: $40 RR!!!!

I am so excited about this trip and so thankful that it went smoothly!

I am going to try the diet pills, just to see what they are about. But even if I decide not to use them, they made me $40!! :)

I'm back! And so is the End of the Year Hair Care Clearance at CVS!

I am SO excited! I have been waiting for this ALL YEAR!
CVS is having their end of the year hair care CLEARANCE!!!!
They have tons of hair care up to 75% off!
I took advantage of this sale last year, and I have only just begun to take advantage of it this year!!!

Also, I found out that my CVS takes EXPIRED ECBs!!! This made me super excited! Especially since I had $5 ECBs in my purse that expired at the beginning of the month!

I went to CVS today, but didn't get much because the big money Qs that will make this sale even sweeter will be in this weeks paper!

But here is what I got:

3 Herbal Essences: $4.49 each: $13.47
CLEARANCE: $1.12 each
Minus $1/2 Q

Tresemee Split End Cream: $5.49
Clearance: $2.74

5 Clairol Hair Dye: $8.99 each: $44.95
Clearance: $2.24 each
Minus (5) $2/1 Q

Minus $5 ECB

Total Before: $63.91
Total After: $1.30

That's about $.14 per item! Whoo hoo!!

Below is a picture of all the shampoo I scored last year during this sale, all for under $5!
I hope to get as good of a deal this year too! :)

Dinner on a Dime: Cider Glazed Chicken and Spicy Brown Sugar Carrots!

Tonight's dinner on a dime was finger kicking good! I'm serious....I liked my fingers it was so delicious. And it only cost us $5!!!!

The recipe we used is actually ,east for a thanksgiving turkey, but we had a chicken so used it instead, and it turned out great! You can get the original recipes HERE and HERE.

It was like our own mini Thanksgiving dinner. I was worried that Jonathan wouldn't like it since he doesn't like apple cider, but he loved it! And of course we had a ton leftover so we will definitely get a second meal out of this!

For the chicken:
Apple cider
Whole chicken
Thyme
Savory seasoning
Poultry seasoning
Rosemary
Brown sugar
Salt & pepper
Canola oil
Ice
Water
(I just sprinkled the seasonings on until I thought it was good enough, didn't use measurements)

What to do:
Brine:

In a large pot with a lid that is big enough to fit the chicken, add all but 2 cups apple cider and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the salt, thyme, rosemary, and Savory and stir to dissolve the salt. Remove from the heat, add 5 cups of ice, 6 cups water and stir. Put the turkey in the pot with the brine and hold it down so that the cavity fills with the brine. If the chicken is not completely submerged in the brine, add another 2 to 3 cups of water to the pot until covered. Cover the pot with a lid and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Remove the chicken from the brine, rinse and pat dry. Arrange it, breast side up, in a roasting pan.

In a small bowl combine the canola oil, poultry seasoning and pepper. Brush the turkey liberally until completely coated. Put in the oven and roast until cooked (about 20 min per pound). About 10 minutes before the chicken is done, liberally baste the bird with the cider glaze.

Glaze:

In a small saucepan combine the reserved 2 cups of apple cider and 1/4 cup of brown sugar. Simmer until reduced to about 1/2 cup.

Now for the carrots:

2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut on the bias into 2 1/2-inch pieces (I used baby carrots)
1/4 cup apple cider
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

What to do:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat and add the carrots. Cook for 2 minutes, then drain in a colander and set aside.

In a medium-size pot combine all the remaining ingredients, except the parsley, and bring to a simmer over low heat. Add the drained carrots and toss to combine. Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes to incorporate flavors.

My Cost:
Apple Cider: $4
Carrots: $1

Total cost for this meal: $5!!!!

(Someone gave us the chicken, so we didn't have to buy one)

1st CVS Trip in a While!

It feels like it has been forever since I made a trip to CVS and I couldn't stay away any longer! I always love shopping their Black Friday sales, but this weeks sales are BETTER (I think) than their Black Friday sales this year! So I was super excited to go shopping today!

I have to give Addicted to Saving credit for my transactions today since they were modeled after her weekly scenarios that you can find HERE
Just a warning, when you have such a detailed (and big) shopping list like I had, and Addicted to Savings gives, sometimes you may not be able to find everything on your list, so you will need to adjust your transactions or go to multiple stores.
This happened to me today, I was unable to get 3 of the items I planned on, but just rearranged my transactions to make due and everything worked out!

Now for my 6, YES SIX transactions. (The items may be free/cheap, but you sure do work for it! At least it's fun!)

I had $10 ECB burning a hole in my wallet so I decided to spend it on something that would give me $10 ECB back. So I did. (Well, close enough) check it out!

Transaction 1:
Snapple: $.79
Youtherapy Collagen: $12
Sale: $9.49
Minus $10 ECB (from previous trip)
Total: $.28
Received: $9.49 ECB

Transaction 2:
Starbucks Refresher: $1.99
Sale: $1.50
Children's Advil: $2.37
Minus $1/1 Q
Carmex: $1.67
Sale: $1
Minus $.30/1 Q
Glade Plug In: $2.27
Sale: $1.25
Minus: $1/1 Q
Total: $3.82
Received: $1.50 ECB, $2.37 ECB, $1 ECB, $1.25 ECB ($6.12 ECB)

Transaction 3:
Nips Candy: $1.27
Sale: $.88
Powerade: $1.49
Sale: $1
ThermaCare Wrap: $3.99
Sale: $3.49
Charmin Single: $1.49
Sale: $.99
Minus $.25/1 Q
Play Dough: $1.69
Sale: $1
MINUS $6.12 ECB (from transaction 2)
Total: $.99
Received: $.99 ECB, $1 ECB, $1 ECB, $3.49 ECB, $.88 ECB. ($7.36)


Transaction 4:
Mac & Cheese: $1.77
Sale: $.99
Advil 10 ct: $3.19
Sale: $2.99
Coke: $.99
Sparkle Towels: $1.49
Sale: $1
MINUS $5.35 ECB (from transaction 3)
Total: $.61
Receive: $.99 ECB, $.99 ECB, $1 ECB, $2.99 ECB ($5.97)


Transaction 5:
Air wick Warmer: $1.49
Sale: $.99
Phillips Universal Remote: $12.49
Sale: $6.99
MINUS: $7.97 ECB (from previous transactions)
Total: $.01
Received: $6.99 ECB, $.99 ECB ($7.98)

Transaction 6:
Starbucks Doubleshot: $2.27
Sale: $1.99
SK Energy Shots: $5.49
Sale: $3.99
Scooby Doo Fruit Snack: $2.99
Sale: $2
MINUS: $7.98 ECB (from transaction 5)
Total: NOTHING!!
Receive: $1.99 ECB, $3.99 ECB, $2 ECB ($7.98)

Total Worth: $63.19
Total Spent: $5.71
I saved $57.48!!!
Received: $17.47 in ECBs!!!

And I was surprised when I scanned my card at the red machine and ANOTHER $5 ECB from Beauty Club printed!!
Now I have a total of $22.47 ECB for next time!

I was kind of bummed that they didn't have some of the things I wanted, especially since it would have lowered my OOP cost, but I am still satisfied! :)

And if you didn't catch on....everything that I bought ended up being FREE after ECB. Everything came with an ECB in the exact amount that I paid for it! So go out and get your free stuff at CVS! :)

Dinner on a Dime: Prosciutto, Spinach, and Pasta Casserole

So it's been a while since I have posted a dinner on a dime because we have been making normal (but cheap) meals and didn't see the need to post how to make red beans and rice. :)

But tonight we made Prosciutto, Spinach, and Pasta Casserole and it was AMAZING!--but only if you like onions, spinach and tomatoes.

Yu can find the original recipe HERE

Before I get into the ingredients let me say that if you don't like prosciutto (or have no idea what it is) I think this meal would be great with cooked chicken, bacon, or even ham!

Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups dried bow ties, penne, or ziti (8 ounces)
2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges, or 5 medium leeks, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon anise seeds, crushed---I didn't have any so I used fennel
1 3/4 cups milk
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus some for serving
1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
2 ounces prosciutto, cut into thin bite-size strips
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

I also added some other seasonings from my spice rack!

Now here is what you do:
1. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain; rinse pasta with cold water. Drain again.

2. In a large saucepan cook onion and garlic I added a Roma tomato as well, in hot butter about 5 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and anise seeds and any other seasonings. Add the milk and chicken broth all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Stir in the cooked pasta, spinach, and prosciutto. Spoon the mixture into a 2-quart casserole.

3. Bake, covered, in a 350 degrees F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Let stand about 5 minutes. To serve, stir gently and top with chopped tomato and Parmesan cheese.
We served it with salad and garlic bread (that we already had)

My Cost:
Prosciutto: $3.50
Pasta: $.50
Spinach: $1.08
Milk: $.45

Total: $5.53

And it definitely made enough for us to have leftovers Friday night and lunch for me on Friday!

So a total of around $5 for 2 nights of good meals! :)