As I’m still very limited in coupon inserts, I was only able to run the Barilla sauce deal three more times.  Since I already had the $2, I used one paper towel as filler (on sale for a buck).  Other stuff was from the clearance cart; since I’m out of everything, I’ll pay a buck for tea.  Saved my receipts in case a Lipton coupon appears.

Dropped off some stuff at the food pantry and was heading over to Walgreens when the phone rang and FirstBorn said “The hhgregg delivery guys are here.”  So I raced back, pissed, to find out that the only number they had was our landline, which I TOLD THE SALESCLERK has been spotty and went dead two days ago (being repaired tomorrow).  Naturally there were no cell numbers on the form.  Since we hadn’t known to disconnect the he machines in advance, they left the new washer and dryer and will return tomorrow for the he ones.  More drama. And since DH and asst are down there hooking everything up, it looks like Walgreens will be pushed back until tomorrow.  I’ll miss the 15% sale, but you learn to go with the flow.  and sit back and enjoy a nice hot cup of tea…

Through tomorrow (8th) Jewel has Barilla pasta sauce for 2/$3. There’s a $1 coupon in the 4/7 S, which makes it 50¢, which might work for some shoppers, but not for us.  There is a catalina promotion running where you get $2 when you buy 3 or more (#1 for buying 2, so  it’s not that good a deal).  Buy three for $4.50, use the $3 in coupons and pay $1.50 on your first transaction.  Out pops a $2 cat which you then use on subsequent transactions.  Since you are earning 50¢ in overage for each run, throw in some bananas, an avocado…anything really.  Hey, I forgot to check out the clearance racks!  crud…

credit to MUM

Sunday’s Osco ad shows Zyrtec on sale (through Wednesday) for $15.99.  This works out even better with the $5 store and $7 mfr coupons, since you’re limited to one store coupon per purchase.  Each pack will run you $4.18 after coupons plus tax.

Buying the EE scrubbing sponge and a 1/2 gallon of EE bleach ended up costing me 44¢ after the $2.50 store coupon.  When I ran this with the 24-pk of water (using that $1.50 coupon), the total was 92¢.  Each bleach generated a 50¢ store OYNO cat, which is better because it reduces the tax!  Since the total was so low for each transaction, I collected the cats and used them to pay for the pack of cheese ($2).  And actually they paid for it completely – no tax!   I picked up a gallon of Shoppers Value whole milk for $2.22 to see if anyone in the house complains.

Stopped and picked up a few more Bayer EZ Contour glucose meters to boost my points total (over 50,000 now).  I was reading the official Rewards rules and found out that points can only be redeemed up to a maximum of 40,000 at one time ($50) and they don’t expire for three years from the date they were earned (the store mgr who told me 10 months was obviously insane).

Luckily it’s only a short drive to the food pantry ’cause my vision was rather obstructed. and it’s hard to drive with PITA going “oof” every time I made a turn…

I was actually only going in for the Allergy booklet, but I happened to pass both the Osco and Jewel clearance carts – readers will recognize all the Danger, Will Robinson! signs in that statement…

The Poligrip was 62¢, so used the $2.50 coupon from 4/7 rp2 for overage.

Clairol root touch-ups were $2 – used three $3 cats for more overage.

Twenty-three of the McCormick Recipe Inspirations at 30¢ each and I’ll return with the 75¢ from 3/3 rp.

Splenda essentials were $1.  I misread the coupon database and thought the $2 coupon was in the Chicago Trib – it wasn’t.  My choices are to return the ten boxes, order 10 coupons or wait and see what shows up insert-wise.  I’ll wait at least a few days on this one.

All those Monistat1 boxes were clearanced at $5.49 and $4.99 – shelf tags were around $20 – these were pretty much paid for with all the overage.

Oh, and I bought myself a chicken sandwich for $1.99 – - ’cause couponing is friggin’ hard work!!!

Jewel plays notoriously close to the vest about sales – which is why you never see people posting things for May (wish, wish, wish).  Until we see how the new management operates, next week is the best I can give you and I apologize in advance because my notes are hurried and lean more towards the hieroglyphs side.  Here are some deals that appeal to me:

They’re having one of those four-day sales 11th through the 14th.
The 24 packs of Jewel water will be 2/$5 – use the $1.50 store coupon from the Allergy book for seriously cheap water – limit two.
2L Coke is .97 – limit four. There is a $1.50 coupon in 4/7 S when you buy two 2L Coke products and two Mission tortilla products. Could be a winner.
Post cereals are $1.88 – limit 4. They show Honey Bunches of Oats and Pebbles in the ad). I can’t see a size, but if they’re 13 oz or larger, use the $1/2 3/10 S coupon. More $$ than I’d like to spend on cereal, but…
Glaceau Fruitwater, Powerade and Powerade Zero are 68¢.
Hunts sauce and EE pasta are also 68¢ – limit 6

Classico pasta sauce is 2/$4. Not part of the 4-day.
McCormick Recipe Inspirations (those little card packs of spices – Chicken Tikka Masala totally rocks!) are $1. Use the 75¢ coupon from 3/03 rp.  They were clearancing lots of these last week at my Jewel.  Maybe they’re bringing out new varieties!
Ken’s dressing is 2/$3. $1 coupons in 3/10 S. Seriously? You wanna pay for this, come shop my basement. I make you good price…

If you like produce, bananas are even cheaper: 39¢!
strawberries are $1.99 for a one-pound pack.
They are running the Buy ten produce items get two free promotion again. These are all $1:

Farm Stand baby carrots
Wonderful Pistachios
Wild Harvest organic herbs
green onions (the packaged ones)
mangos
Del Monte fruit natruals
Sundia fruit cups
Dippin stix
I think I read a four-pack of little cukes.

Shopper’s Value gallon of milk is $2.22.  I have completely avoided this brand, thinking anything this cheap had to be made out of chalk and spit, but I’ve been told that it’s produced by Dean’s, so I’ll pick up a gallon to try it – - right now I kinda have enough Smart Balance mlk for awhile…

Now for the biggie – the Spring Cleaning Sale!

As I posted earlier, the EE half-gallons of bleach will drop .20 to $1.69.  Buy one and get a 50¢ cat!  Buy a roll of paper towels or a sponge and use that $2.50 store coupon for some very, very cheap cleaning products.  Which is only right, since we shouldn’t have to pay to clean, right? They have the EE heavy-duty sponges for 2/$5 with a .50 OYNO when you buy two, so you could pair this, too.

¢Lysol disinfecting spray is $3.99, with a $1 OYNO.
Lysol toilet or other cleaners are 2/$5 with a $1 OYNO when you buy two.
Sparkle 8-pack of paper towels are $5.99 with a $1 OYNO.
Pledge multi-surface cleaner is $4 with a $1 OYNO when you buy two.
Scrubbing Bubbles are $3 with a $1 OYNO when you buy two. Check the 3/17 S for the various Scrubbing Bubble coupons.
Glad trash bags (the 20-22 ct size) are $4.99 with $1 OYNO when you buy one.

Usually I can’t say what’s coming up, but I will tell you that starting Thursday, Jewel will be having a big Spring Cleaning Sale and lots of the items are generating cats!  For example, the EE 1/2 gallon bleach that I’ve been buying for $1.89 will drop to $1.69!  Not that big a deal, but if you pair it with a roll of paper towels or a single sponge, you’ll only pay about a quarter – - and you’ll get back a 50¢ cat for buying that one bleach!

Lots of other products but I have to decipher my scrawled pages and will post later…

Jewel/Osco has 25 ct liquid gels and 30 ct tablet Zyrtec on B2G1 sale at $19.99 each. There is a $7 coupon in the 4/7 rp2 plus a $5 store coupon in the Allergy booklet we’ve been using for All. By the way, the computer glitch has been fixed and when you buy two All and use the store coupon, $1.50 comes off from each bottle, so no need for cashier intervention.

But I digress – - Buy three Zyrtec and pay $39.98 less the three $7 mfr coupons. At this point you are at $18.98 and here is where you should STOP!  The $5 store coupon attaches to the FREE pack, bringing the cost down to $14.99, but since it’s FREE, who the hell cares what the cost is? My advice is to run the deal without the $5 coupon and then return to customer service with the receipt and store coupon and get your money back the old-fashioned way!  Ashley posted (under deals) that you will receive a $3 store cat, but, unfortunately, it’s a mfr cat.  I ran this two times and you see the result.  Can’t really see swapping out a $7 for a lowly $3…  You are only paying $5 for a $20 item, so still a fantastic deal – THANKS, ASHLEY!

If you plan on ordering at Lisle, make sure that order is placed before 1 pm Sunday. This coupon has a 7-day expiration, so don’t put it off.

And I ran another 120 Chips Ahoy transactions today – went very, very quickly.  Creepy how we’re all turning into machines with this one (cashier keeps card and 1 cup and we place a pile of change in front, then let him/her have at it).