A mix of things

Well, I know I haven't posted any theological discussions for a while. Part of that (a very tiny part) is that my personal computer was fried during a recent storm and my online access is somewhat limited. I've been trying to stay off-line when the kids are up and about.

The other part is that I've been slowly reading a book by Michael Horton on the covenantal relationship between God and his people. It's a fascinating book that has made me really think, so it has been a slow go for me. I want to really take the time to digest it. I have lots of notes, though, so once I'm finished you'll get quite the flood.

I'm still struggling with keeping faithful to my personal biblical study. I'm considering leaving the coffee pot plugged in and setting it to brew on it's own in the early AM... hopefully that will get me up early enough! My prayer life is a lot more on track. God is really helping me in that area.

Some other neat things that are happening is that Rhebekka is getting some new friends in the neighborhood. There have been some fascinating thelological discussions that I've been privy to overhearing, and it is so wonderful to know that God is using Rhebekka as a light in the world. It seems that our prayer list grows and grows as she adds new friends! One of her friends has even been coming to church with us regularly for a few weeks now. I wish we had a van and could take all the neighborhood kids and parents! I'm going to try hard to get out of my hermit-like shell and become friendlier with the moms and dads in the neighborhood. Rhebekka has such an easy time of it, and I've always been so shy! I guess it's my turn to grow! :)

Now for the shopping deals...

This week at Walgreens isn't looking that great for me, but here are some ideas.

8.99 Gillette Fusion Gamer
-4.00 manufacturer coupon from 2/8 newspaper
4.99 + tax oop, get back a 6.00 RR

.99 Colgate toothpaste
-1.00 manufacturer coupon from paper
-.01 + tax oop

20.00 2 Revlon Creme lipstick
-10.00 bogo sale
-4.00 2x2.00 manufacturer coupon from paper
6.00 + tax oop. Get back 10.00 + 10% on Walgreens rebate gift card.

Next week, I'm going for the free foil. It is .89 with the in-ad coupon, so after the 1.00 coupon it'll be .11 overage each. I only have a few of these coupons - just not willing to pay a ton through eBay for them - but there's tons listed if you are willing! It's really not a bad deal to pay what they are going for on eBay - I am just trying to keep my costs down right now.

*March all month deals*

MM!!
Colgate Total Advanced – 4.0 oz
There is a 2.50 ESR coupon in the March booklet, and a 1.50 printable coupon. These are regularly 3.49 each according to the website, so it works out to be:
3.49 (plus tax)
-1.50 IPQ
-2.50 ESQ
-.51 overage! You’ll need stuff in your order to soak up the extra. J

MM
Sambucol 30 ct. – 12.99 according to the website
10.00 ESQ, 4.00 IPQ (came in an email from Sambucol)
-1.01 overage!

Possible good deals on candy – lots of ESQ’s for these.

Monthly rebate freebies – Limit 1 of each per household

Memory Formula 45 Softgels – 19.99, free after rebate

Axe Shampoo, conditioner, or stylers – up to 6.99 – free after rebate (may get a mq to make it a decent deal)

Walgreen’s extra strength Quick gels 20 ct. – 2.99, free after rebate

* Wal-zyr is rumored to potentially be on Mega Saver all next month, which would make it free after rebate also. The rebate is for 3.99 for a 24 hr. 10 mg 5pack. I believe these are listed at about $5.99 normally.

*Energizer may be a decent deal also. There is a rebate of buy 3, get $15 rebate back. There are some 5.00 and 3.00 tearpad coupons out, and there is a mail-in form for a $10.00 McDonald’s gift certificate when you buy $35.00 of batteries. (maybe a good place to apply that overage…) Submit online for your $15.00 Walgreen’s gift card, then mail in your receipts with the form for the McDonald’s gift card.

Weekly great deals:

3/1-3/8:

Act Mouth wash
2.99
2.00 mq
1.00 esq
freebie

Blink Tears Stuff
7.99
possible coupons between now & then, or use 4.00 IPQ if you printed it…
get back 7.99 RR oyno

Colgate max
3.29
1.50 IPQ or 1.00 IPQ
1.79 oop (or 2.79 with 1.00 IPQ)
get back 3.29 RR

Carmex – use as filler maybe??
2.99
2.99 oop
2.00 RR

Vaseline lotions – 25% off, 1.50/1 coupons
2.69 (cheapest one – other’s available)
-1.50 mq
1.19 oop, get back 2.00 RR

Other deals:
Cheap Dove soap - .99 a bar
Free Reach floss or brush - .99 with in-ad coupon – use 1.00 mq to make it free!
1.00 RR wyb Sunsilk @2.99 – there are some 1.00 coupons out that may work.
Bunch of P&G items on sale – may be okay deals with the P&G coupons (i.e. free Gillette wyb Fusion Razor Cartridge refills)
Splenda 80-100 ct pkts is 2.99 – good deal if you use it
Wags diapers are 2/9.00 – decent deal on diapers
3/10.00 Kellogg’s/Kashi cereals, get back a 3.00 RR – may have some coupons by then.
.99 for dawn dish liquid – good deal if a q comes out

3/8-3/15
Good week for overage again. Not only can you still do the monthly overage deals, but there is major overage with the Glade Sense & Spray or Glade Lasting Impressions.

7.99 Glade S&S
7.99 Glade S&S
-7.99 Bogo glade mq
-4.00 glade mq
-8.00 glade ESQ (automatically takes off 4.00 for each one)
-4.02 oop overage! You’ll need 4.02 worth of stuff to soak up the overage.

Possible good deal with the Huggies diapers/wipes too – and if you combine the Glade deal with this, then it’ll be very awesome/cheap diapers! If you have RR’s left from the week before – you’ll be golden!

Huggies diapers/pullups are 10.00 per pack and the 164 or 232 ct. wipes are 6.00. If you spend 25.00, you get back a 10.00 RR. There are manufacturer coupons that make this deal sweet, and I believe Huggies also qualify for the caregiver’s rebate program. Also with this same deal, Kotex pads or tampons are included and there are some mq’s for those also (1.00 or .75)

My scenario:

31.96 4 glade items
6.00 – 2 kotex
20.00 – 2 huggies
61.84 after tax
-15.98 2 bogo glade coupons
-8.00 2x4.00 glade coupons
-1.50 2x.75 kotex coupons (I think I have 1.00 coupons, but I’m not totally sure)
-3.00 2x1.50 huggies mq (if the soft and dry huggies are included, there’s also a Wag’s q for 1.00 off each, but I don’t know if that one is included yet…)
-16.00 Glade ESQ
17.36 for 2 diapers, 2 kotex, 4 glade AND you get 10.00 RR for your next order!

Or, if you do the wipes at 6.00 instead and use the .50 mq, it’ll cost you about 1.00 more.

Also, Kleenex is 3/4.00 and included in the deal. You could do 15 kleenex and 2 kotex with the glade deal.
31.96 4 glade
26.00 – kotex/kleenex
61.84 after tax
-2.50 5x.50/3 kleenex q’s (there’s also some buy3get1 tearpad q’s out, but they are hard to come by)
-1.50 2x.75 kotex q’s
-15.98 bogo glade
-8.00 glade q’s
-16.00 glade esq’s
17.86 oop, get back 10.00 RR – not too bad for 15 kleenex and 2 kotex.

Other stuff:

.79 Ajax dish liquid – sometimes there’s a .20 coupon available so look for it…
4.49 Advil PM 20 ct. There are IPQ’s for 2.00 off. 2.49 out of pocket, get back a 2.00 RR.
Fusion Gamer razor is 8.99 with 4.00 RR back. I think the 4.00 mq will still be good, so 4.99 oop, 4.00 RR back.
Irish spring Body Wash is 4.49 – may have .50/1 q’s out. Get RR for a free one on your next order.
Right Guard/Dri Idea deodorant is 2.99, get 2.00 RR. May have a good mq come out to make it close to free.
Smart Balance Butter Spread – 2/2.99. 1.00/1 coupons out makes it .99 for 2.
Coke is 4/13.00, get back a 3.00 RR. If you have 1.00/1 coke rewards coupons – it may be worth it.
Xcel laundry detergent – 1.99 each (not sure if this is “good” detergent or not…)
Blue Diamond almonds are 2/3.49. 6 oz each. I think I saw some coupons for these recently.
Garnier shampoo is 2.99 – use 1.00 tearpad q’s, 2.00 ESQ – free shampoo!