Yummy Saves

I'm grumpy irritable and not every comfortable.

Two courses of antibiotics back to back have lead to the necessity to buy something else at that drug store.

Once upon a time that something was prescription and I'd have paid $10 - now thanks to them delisting it I get to pay just under $20.

Ain't life grand.

Oh and friday I bought some "premium" milk at the grocery store. Open it friday night and put it in my tea and the tea tastes weird.. no separating or floaties or anything but .. oooooo-weeeeeeeee does the milk smell sour.

Second time in a month same brand name milk from same store goes bad quickly or immediately.

I'm volunteering with a cat rescue group that is trying to get a grant from an insurance company (finally an insurance company giving away money). Its one of those insane get folks to vote deals... Pain in the butt and leads to posts like this one.

If you can vote (daily or once, all help is appreciated), it would be very much appreciated.

http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf3427

A picture of two of my foster kitties

Went to home depot and used the self service kiosk tonight. Said (silly of me to I admit) to the cashier that is there for the self service folks on the way out "thanks" - her response - "no problem" my answer "i should think so".

she did squat - glad it didn't inconvenience her or cause her any problem.. like really.

Customer service - a lost art

So why if tide is a premium laundry product do they need to make a stain release in wash booster?

Are they saying it isn't so good anymore?

the creepy little "have a free bag of cookies" if you sign up for mastercard guy at my local supermarket. A chain that William Shatner used to do ads for.

I avoided eye contact. I avoided looking in his direction. Still he entered my space and asked if I had a PC Mastercard. I muttered I'm not interested and kept moving. He followed me. Creep. Asked again if I had a card whereupon i said yes (i don't but i wanted him to f- off) Did he? no .. he instead said "oh everyone says that but mostly they are lying". Nice eh? After a short discussion when I asked him if he was trying to be rude and where he insisted he wasn't i went on with my shopping. I noticed him a few times giving me the evil eye before harrassing others.

The poor assistant manager got an earful from me when I checked out and promised to do something .. who knows.. the vent felt good.

I'm not getting another credit card .. well maybe if it came with a new car (for free) or a complete set of medium green fiesta (every shape made in that colour) in mint condition...

I just booked a hotel room in London, Ontario and got this message:

Now that you've booked your stay at Econo Lodge®, don't forget to pack your laptop. Because now Econo Lodge® hotels in the U.S. offer free wireless Internet hotspots.

So when did we become the 51st state? Did I miss something?

One of the fun parts about being careful with my money is being able to enjoy things I really like.

Here are some of my new fiesta pieces.Thift stores, and antique stores are where I found these beauties



And here are some more treasures



Who says you can't mix old and new, antique and vintage.

Why pay someone to make biscuit mix for you when its this easy:




Homemade Bisquick
10 cup flour
1/3 cup baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups shortening

Mix together til crumbly. Store in a a covered container.

Use in any recipe that calls for bisquick.


Notes:
*To increase healthiness swap out some flour for wholewheat - do not recommend that you do more than 50/50 mix

*I've found baking powder cheapest at a bulk store.

*if this seems like too to make - halve the recipe (half of a 1/3 of a cup is equal to 2TBSP plus 2tsp)

*contains no milk so good for anyone who can't handle lactose or who is vegan

If you buy minute rice (or other instant rice) - learn how to cook it yourself from regular rice. You'll save money and it will still be pretty convenient - and you can do what I do and make twice as much rice as you need. Rice freezes nicely. So freeze the extra rice and have some that is ready in about a minute the next time. To heat up put with lid ajar in the microwave for a minute or two.

http://startcooking.com/blog/72/How-to-Cook-White-Rice

Monday I tried to pricematch and use coupons at walmart. The "cashier police" stopped me from doing that as that's one deal on top of another .. and once can't do that. Since I've done this many times at Walmart I let them reverse the items (all 9 boxes of cling wrap) and just bought the other items I wanted.

I didn't feel like waiting around for a manager and the supervisor (err.. other employee?) had backed up the cashier's statement.

So when I came home I sent walmart an email asking for clarification of policy.

Today ... manager at walmart called. Assured me the cashier was wrong and i was right .. and that they have been SPOKEN TO (uh huh). One can use coupons on price matched items.

So I asked if I could come by tonight and do it with no problem - he assured me I could and I have the name of the manager and the assistant working tonight.

My guess is that emails to head office get logged and the manager gets a black mark for them and a really big black mark if I have to write another email tonight. He assured me that I should phone him if I run into any other issues and he'll handle it "quicker than head office".

Still he was very nice and I did get his phone number.. just in case. I'm keeping that number.

So on the way home I go there and get my cling wrap.

Got to the cash, not a bad line up.. only two in front of me though dyno-boy on cash is straightening the baby clothes on the hangers before he takes them off of the hangers (it was interesting to watch...). Anyways the customer service manager - hey it said so on her tag- came over and took over cash. She assured me no problem about the price matching and coupons. Totally not an issue.

I smile and hand her over the 9 coupons I had - I bought nine boxes of cling wrap (price match for $1 and $1 off coupon .. the sort of deal one gets to like).

And of course you know what happened then don't you?

Yup she tried to tell me that it is one per purchase (you KNEW that was coming didn't you??). So I tell her yup, 9 coupons, I'm purchasing 9 items what's the problem. She looked dubious and she paged someone. I said, well if you want you can do it in 9 transactions. She didn't like that answer much. (and yes I'd have used my debit card for each transaction *grins*). Finally she gets an answer but not before she suspends my transaction and has dyno boy start on the next order.

Luckily for her she didn't end up up having to do 9 transactions for me as someone on the other end of the phone authorized her doing them on one bill. She took me to the cash at customer service so I'd not have to wait any longer. She was very pleasant but .. come on .. shouldn't a customer service manager know policy?

Never mind .. that last question was rhetorical

Gawd saving money is hard work.

Yvonne

Went to walmart today and did a whole bunch of price matching and couponing.

Hard to know what exactly I saved with price matching but here are the highlights.

Royale TP - $8.57 each or so .. pricematched with shoppers $4.88 and used 2 $1 off coupons

Ritz crackers with the free cheese - $2.67 or so at Walmart - pm'd to shoppers and got them for $1.79 X 6 plus whatever the free cheese is worth..

Lipton Sidekicks - $1 something at walmart.. pm'd to Superstore $0.99 cents each - bought ten then used 5 of the buy 2 get $2 off coupons - ALL FREE

KD -$1 something.. pm'd to Zellers 49c sale..

Coffee Mate - $3.50 X 3 - 2 $5 off TMF coupons = 50cents for all three

Bic Soliel - 7.88 minus $5 off coupon x 4

Used a free pledge coupon $3.27 - so free

In the end I used $45 in coupons, spent $106.62

I think with price matching I saved at least as much as in coupons or very close... my guess is I got very close to $200 in groceries for $100

And the cashier was sweet about it all! Personable, friendly and didn't need to scrutinize every coupon.. woo hoo

And to think some say couponing isn't worth it.
Y

I know sellers on ebay quite often sell low and do high shipping to maximize profits.

However this takes the cake.

http://stores.ebay.ca/bahawaters

She ships to the US for $25 and she ships internationally to Canada for $50.. however she's canadian..

I'm ashamed. And not buying from her.

The cashier I had at Dominion last night was funny. I think she was Polish or some such - she had an accent that made me think Europe. She was likely in her 60's.

She was very approving of my choice of strawberries and commented that the ones I found looked excellent. I lapped up the praise and felt virtuous for nearly destroying the strawberry display in the store in my quest for perfection (or more like as few over ripe berries as possible).

She pulls off a stick on coupon off of one of my purchases. Goes to read it and blurts out "what language is this"? It was a bilingual coupon that was a bit more french than english. I pointed it I had the right product and it was a "try me coupon" - pointed to the words. She was fine with that and put it though

Had one more coupon and she had no issues with that.

Then she looks and realises I have another of the item that had the sticky on it (I could only find one on any of that product in all the various varieties). So she asks "how come you don't have another of those coupons. Gees after the initial fuss I'm surprised she even thought of my having another coupon. I looked at her, did a mental WTF and said that's the only one I could find. She looked puzzled but was okay with that.

I'm still amused.

I got to say she was fast and efficient about it all and it came across as more surreal than annoying.

... of earth day that is. Future Shop (one of the Best Buy companies) mailed me a flyer with "earth day savings".

Um.. how about including it in your regular weekly flyer or emailing it rather than killing more trees by sending out paper flyers....

The Wendy's on my route home had a sign up tonight "this friday, free breakast 6am to 10:30am.

To bad I saw the sign at 7pm tonight.

The route I take to work is different than the route I take home. Didn't go past it this morning - turned off that road one measily (but long) block before.

Did some gender bending at the shoe store when I bought a pair of mens dockers for me. I wanted flat black comfie lace up shoes that weren't runners.

*note to self - hard to find in March in ladies*

Found nothing in ladies I liked. Tried two pairs on in mens and OMG these dockers are comfie. Gel insoles.

I pass oned on the lousy buy one get 1 20% off.. that works out to 10% off on each if you buy two (sorta). Blech, that's not exactly the sale of the decade. I passed on spending more so I could save almost nothing.

Nestle want me to fill out a survey for Coffee Mate.

I read what the prize is:


The Grand Prize consists of a one (1) year supply of Coffee-Mate (provided in the form of 12 coupons, one (1) per month) valued at $60.00CAD.

Come on Nestle.. its pretty sad when a contest is put on where the least expensive thing is the prize. The web page and concept likely cost hundreds of times that. Not to mention the cost of administering the contest.


The true cost of the prize to Nestle after they take out the wholesale and retail mark up is likely $6 - and that assumes the person actually uses all 12 coupons.

Went to the Brick for a quick look at sofa's. Walked in. Smiled to a few people - they let me alone!!!!

Then this one sales guy sees me approaches me and talks to me. After the pleasantries I say no I don't need any help and keep walking. Well he starts following me about 15 feet back. Totally creepy.

Finally turned around and said something to him "excuse me Sir, but being followed is extremely disconcerting. Trust me if I need help I'll let you know but please stop following me". My tone and face showed my lack of appreciation of his close supervision.

For me that was pretty polite. I walked around a bit more but I was mega creeped out. I think its because as a woman I'm aware of my surroundings and safety..esp when I'm on my own. A man following me I don't know is just a bad thing.

I'll be checking out other furniture stores in the future.

Went to a pot luck on Sunday. Ended up with the pillsbury premade cookie dough. already cut up for me.

An extravagence at about $3.50 - but I had no butter (and normally don't use it)and , no chocolate chips - and cookie makings in my house are dangerous - they get eaten.

I figured I spent more than making from scratch but less than buying at a bakery -so not too upset about how it worked out financially.

Weird potluck - ended up with a couple of dishes with chickpeas, ham, basmati rice, roasted potatoes and carrots and dahl for the main course.

Still great company and a nice afternoon and evening.

Got a notice to pick up a letter at the post office. Not the one near me but one about a mile away - makes no sense.. but that's the post office for you...

Also got my staples $30 rebate and a free product coupon for coffee mate!

A nice mail day

Last I checked my name wasn't
Dear Beneficiary... I can only guess I got this by mistake.

If you feel special feel free to respond -no need to mention my name!


Dear Beneficiary,

How are you today? Hope all is well with you and your family? I hope this
mail meets you in a perfect condition. This is the United Nations Organization (COMPENSATION DEPARTMENT), this program is organized by the Board of Trustees and Directors for the end of the Year “POVERTY REDUCTION AND ERADICATION”. We are using our reputable and well known organization to let you know that you are one of our chosen beneficiaries for this program of “POVERTY REDUCTION AND ERADICATION” in your country’s e-mail directory.


We hereby inform you that you have successfully being chosen and
Compensated for an International Bank Draft written out in your name in
the amount of $500,000.00usd (Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) in our United Kingdom regional Annex. Now, for the compensated price, you will have to contact the Finance House and the Compensation Department for your perusals and claims of your compensated price.

My dear beneficiary, below is the contact of the Finance House and
Compensation Department (FHCD) for the collection and claims of your
International certificated bank draft:

COMPENSATION HEAD OFFICE AND FINACIAL DEPARTMENT
CONTACT Officer: Barrister Mohammed Alsaud.
EMAIL: ( alsaud.mohammed@live.com )
CELL PHONE: + 447024020660

Below is our Chief Organizer’s contact information in the United Kingdom
should you have any questions and verifications to make for proper
enlightenment and explanation. If you want to verify or get any
confirmations from me but I want you to be rest assured that your bank
draft will be cashed at you nominated Bank.

CHIEF ORGANISER/C.E.O UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION DEPARTMENT
NAME: Prof. Larry Keyl
ADDRESS: 26 CH-8001, Zurich, Switzerland
Tel/Fax:41-445804922.

Finally, remember that we have forwarded instruction to the Finance House
and Compensation Department (FHCD) on your behalf to send the bank draft to you as soon as you contact them without delay. Please be informed that you should treat this as confidential as ever and in good faith from the Board and Management of the Organization.

Thanks. God Loves and Bless you and your family.
Hope to contact the F.H.C.D soon.

Yours Faithfully,

Prof. Larry Keyl
C.E.O / CHIEF ORGANISER


Hey if you really think this is real and not spam please turn off your comuputer immediately and remove it and your microwave from your home as they have been possessed by aiens.

I regularly tell folks about FPC (free product coupons at work) Today at lunch they were teasing me about them. About how they don't always come quickly and crude jokes about cheese.

When I give them the products they love it. When they have to fill out an entire web form with their name and addy they tend not to be bothered. Too much work for the poor delicate dears.

Since the new year they've had the opportunity for free kashi granola bars, free kraft cheese and free coffee mate.

I don't get people.

Well, I got the kitchen cleaned out.

The pancake syrup had not gone under the crisper but into the crisper where it was making nice with the onions. After the dishes and crisper got washed the onions got washed. They are now sitting on the counter drying. I may slice them up and make super easy carmalized onions in the crock pot.

Anyways, dishes are done (in drainer to be put away in AM). Stove top is clean, counters are wiped down and cleaan. Onions are clean. Garbage including the pancake syrup, has been put down the garbage
shoot. Floor mopped. Kitchen looks decent again. Thank goodness.

Some of the disaster on the couch was taken care of and i moved the
stuff in the laundry basket and reappropriated it for clothes - so I
have a non covered floor in the bedroom. While in there I made the
bed so I will be able to crawl on in..

Moral of the story: Buy real maple syrup and not crappy pancake syrup. At least wit the real stuff the containers are better made.

Part 1:

Well my house is a disaster and I only have myself to blame.

Last night I was getting a new bag of milk (its a weird canadian thing milk in bags

http://nothingheavy.blogspot.com/2006/04/milk-bag.html

Realised that the outer milk bag was stuck to the fridge shelf. Then discovered a bottle of pancake syrup had tipped over and was leaking even though it was closed. Took out shelf to whip off the syrup and
managed to knock a salt shaker off the cluttered counter and break it. Washed the tray, put it back. Did not look under crisper to see if some leaked there (will tonight). Put syrup in fridge door, but did not wipe it down, so tonight I have to deal with that before more syrup spreads.

Of course I was in socks. Carefully went the long way and got broom to
broom up glass. Got most of it off the floor but floor is now sticky
anad icky and has to be mopped if just to get the last bits of glass.
The counter is full of dishes and the odds are I got syrup on the clean dishes in the drainer when I washed the fridge shelf.

My laundry basket is being used for bathroom stuff while I am painting
my bathroom. So clothes artisticly cover the bedroom floor. Yuck.

There is stuff on the couch in the living room. Has enough room to sit so I keep glowering at said stuff and doing nothing about it.

The bathroom has been emptied for painting - so far have only done the
ceiling. Haven't had the energy after work to deal with putting the first coat on the walls - it will take two coats as i'm going with cream over dark green. Have to use oil paint as my ex decided to paint
it with tremclad (why i have no idea).

Last week I went to the bank because of a user error. This user couldn't find her card. Wasn't really worried about it having been stolen. More good old fashioned user error like misplaced.

Checked. No one had used my card. Issued a new card for me. All the paperwork gods seemed happy and appeased. They gave me $100 that they, yes, did debit from my account (hey this is a bank).

Cut to Friday. Drive up to instant bank machine. Find out my pin doesn't work. I've used the pin for along time so its not like I forgot it all of a sudden. Park, walk in bank. Go to teller they check. No uses. They reprogrammed the card for me. I weent and got my new pin. Go to take money out of chequing.

ERROR - account not hooked up? WTF .. what's the point of a debit/bank card (here we don't use visa for our debit card but rather our bank cards though a system called Interac)if its not hooked up to your bank account.

Back to tellers. Get more programming done. All fixed. They try to convince me to open a new account. I get card and say in March (neglected to mention which March .. oh dear. oh dear).

Go back to machine. It allows me to have money. Suddenly I feel like a functioning adult again.

I went to my bank for the second time in a week today. Again no line up. Weird. Twice in one week I'm either first in line for a teller or a wicket is open and they are waiting for me.

Banks are going to lose their reputation as large uncaring, unfriendly institutions if they keep this up.

Okay .. so the bank machine decided not to recognize my pin.. and then when i got that reset I found they forgot to hook up my checking account to the bank card. So there is no worry they are efficient and provide top notch service.. its just they are friendly and have less line ups.

I got a gift of LUSH stuff for Christmas - a sweet gift - and the bubble bath seemed not to upset me =-I'm scent sensitive due to migraines so It would be something I'd never by for me. Nor is it a store I'd ever go in way too stinky poo for my head however whole some the scents are (though Yankee Candle is way more torturouse.


So what's in the convenient ready packed it but the soap and bubble bath stuff and of course another gift for me a code for 15% off my next purchase.

Great marketing strategy and I admire it from a marketing perspective. .. but its sort of sad too that the gift includes an incentive for the giftee to buy stuff.


Thanks to some gift basket wins I have a nice selection of high priced "make yummy feel pretty" products.

While stabbing my knife viciously into the Parmesan cheese container on the side that doesn't have holes but is for pouring.. I pondered the question... has anyone ever used that side for pouring or you all do what I do and just to poke in a knife to break up the clumps so you don't waste any of the way too pricey pre-grated cheese?

A classic example of too much information is the management of my building announcing a few minutes ago that there is no fire emergency and to stay in our apartments.

Had they kept quiet i'd have slept through it and not had to know that I didn't need to worry.

The added announcment about the blue van was just confusing (they said the fire department was going to tow it)

Haven't heard from that company again about the nasty cheese they sold me.

The rep came over to get it all the while being quite distainful that I called the company and didnt' bring it back to the store...

Hmm. I'll give it til Monday to follow up.