When I was younger I would have to walk 20 miles to school, uphill, in the snow, both ways

Let’s see, I was 15 years old, yeah, I am going waaaaayyyyyy back. Some 23 years to be exact. Holy Crap! That is a long time ago! But, I digress. I am not a morning person. My mom would come in and very nicely try to wake me up for school. I would begrudgingly get out of bed and shuffle into the bathroom. Not too far of a walk for me as it was just across the hall from my bedroom. Every morning I would brace my behind for the shocking reality that awaited it. {brr}

Somehow I would manage to get ready for school and rush out the door to the bus stop. There I would grouse about my morning and how I wished I had a cushioned toilet seat so my butt would not be so cold in the morning.

Cold Butt, Warm Heart

As is wont to happen, the holidays came around. My friend Laura came over to give me a Christmas present. And I must say I do not recall what I gave her, ever. I am horrible, I know. But I will never forget what she gave me. She was almost giddy with excitement as I picked up the somewhat square package. It felt heavy and she told me it was something I really wanted. I did not have a clue. Seriously, I forget almost everything soon after thinking or saying it. That can’t be a good thing.

Someone was at the ready with a camera, because I know there is a picture around somewhere. I will have to look around, but I feel it may be packed away. I carefully unwrapped the package. I must stop here and explain something. I am a horrible gift receiver. I love to give, but always feel awkward when I receive a gift. I never know how to react and show proper appreciation. I always smile and say thank you, but I am not one of those overly emotional gift receivers. Well, except for this one time.

I opened the package and laughed so hard. I did not know I could smile so big! To this day I think back on this and smile. It was the best gift I ever received ~ my very own cushioned toilet seat! I took it out of its packaging and made quick work of getting it in place. Boy, I sure wish I had one of those now. I still don’t like a cold butt first thing in the morning.

Twitter Moms & Target

This post answers the question: What was the most surprising gift you’ve ever received? Now it’s your turn. Was it funny or silly? Maybe it was sweet and sappy. It could be sad and soul-wrenching, too. Share your most surprising gift and you could win a Target $100 gift card. The sweepstakes ends December 27, 2009, so you have plenty of time to get your post up. Then be sure to come back and leave a link below so I can read all about it.

Butts image courtesy of Cody Pomeroy

Answer: Because I Don't Like A Cold Butt First Thing In The Morning #TargetGiftGiving is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Did you send off for your free Kashi cereal sample? I blogged about it here. I received mine today and there was a $2.00 off any Kashi cereal coupon inside. Why is this so great? Can you say really cheap, almost free, Kashi [after gift card] at Target this week?!

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So, here is the deal:

1. Buy 5 Kashi products (cereal, trail mix bars, frozen dinners) – $2.88 each
2. Get $5 Target gift card

There are several coupons out:

• FREE box of Honey Sunshine (Vocalpoint mailer)
• $2.00/1 any cereal (Kashi sample request)
• $1.50/1 Honey Sunshine (Vocalpoint mailer)
• $1.50/1 Honey Sunshine printable
• $1.50/1 cereal or trail mix bars printable
• $1.00/1 GoLean Crunch printable

Possible Deal Scenario:

5 Kashi products – $14.40
1 FREE ($2.88) Honey Sunshine MQ
1 $2.00 any cereal MQ
3 $1.50 MQ or IP
= $5.02 OOP
Get $5.00 Gift Card
Net cost – 2¢

**Thanks to Mommy Snacks for the coupon match-ups and links. Find more great deals like this in Andrea’s weekly Target Snack.

Did You Get Your Free Kashi Cereal Sample? is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

I have never had a problem with Target honoring my coupons (IPs, Target printables, number per transaction, etc.).  Last week when I had a bazillion coupons my cashier was super sweet even though her line was ever-growing.  Today my cashier did not hesitate or grumble when I noticed two of my MQs did not come off my total.  I was refunded the $2 in cash (I offered my gift card since I paid with it).

Transaction #1

Ice cream was seriously melting so this was a quick picture. There are 10 1/2 gallons just not the best placement.

4 Joint Juice 99¢ each (only charged for 3)
2 BOGO Free IPs (emailed to me)
Final cost- 99¢ for 4 (25¢ each)

5 Chef Michael Dry Dog Food $4.26 each
5 $3/1 MQ (8/23 RP)
4 $1.50/1 Target Q (1 was missed)
Final cost- 30¢ for 5

5 Edy’s Ice Cream $2.50 each ($5 Target GC wyb 5)
5 $1/1 MQ (8/23 RP)
5 $1/1 Target Q
Final cost- $2.50 for 5 (50¢ each)

1 Skittles Crazy Cores $2.29
1 $1/1 Target Q – expired 9/5
Final cost- $1.29

1 Black Belt $12.99

$52.05 Before Coupons
$21.98 MQs Used
$12.00 Target Qs Used
$18.07 OOP (w/ tax $19.62)
$5.00 Gift Card Earned
** 65% Savings **

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Transaction #2

5 Edy’s Ice Cream $2.50 each ($5 Target GC wyb 5)
5 $1/1 MQ (8/23 RP)
5 $1/1 Target Q
Final cost- $2.50 for 5 (50¢ each)

$12.50 Before Coupons
$5.00 MQs Used
$5.00 Target Qs Used
$2.50 OOP (w/ tax $2.56)
(paid with GC – Special K Deal)
$5.00 Gift Card Earned
** 80% Savings **

I must say, to stay on budget do NOT bring your kids.  Last time it was a hair straightener for Megan.  This time Amanda needed a belt.  Not a problem, but it does not make my total as pretty as I would like.  If you remove the belt, then I only paid $5.08 (should have been $4.56) plus received a $5 GC.  Not too shabby either way for what I purchased!

DH says we may need to invest in a secondhand refrigerator (needed for all the eggs we are getting) AND another upright freezer.  One thing is for certain, we are not going to starve any time soon, or lack for dessert!

Target – I Think I Love You is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

But first, a moment of silence for the $5 Walgreens RR that expired on 8/31 never to be used.  It was a valiant effort on my part, but alas, it was not meant to be.

Okay, back to the happier stuff.  I noticed all of my Walgreens RR were set to expire on 9/2.  Let’s see, I had a $10, 2- $4, & 2- $2 RRs and did not see the point in going to Walgreens.  So, I took the advice of other bloggers, who know about such things, and asked if I could use them at Target (I used the balance at Kroger).  I am grateful for not having to buy stuff I did not want just to not lose money.  Did that even make sense?

3 Chef Michael dry dog food $4.26 each
3 $3/1 MQ (8/23 RP)
3 $1.50/1 Target Q
Final cost- 72¢ profit

2 Gerber bottles 99¢ each
2 $1/1 Target Q
Final cost- 2¢ profit

4 Special K bars $2.39 each (buy 4 get $5 gift card)
2 $1/2 IP (see Coupons.com in my sidebar)
4 50¢/1 Target Q
Final cost- $5.56 (56¢ after gift card)

1 Stereo Cable $9.99 (for Amanda)

$34.31 Before Coupons
$11.00 Coupons Used
$8.50 Target Coupons Used
$14.00 RRs Used (woo hoo!)
81¢ OOP (w/ tax $1.78)
** 98% Savings **

More Free Dog Food @ Target is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

4 Johnson’s Buddies soaps 97¢ each
4 $1/1 Target Q (adjusted to 97¢)
Final cost- FREE

4 Gerber baby bottles 99¢ each
4 $1/1 Target Q
Final cost- 4¢ profit

4 Glade Scented Oil tins $1.66 each
4 FREE refill with holder purchase
Final cost- FREE
*note- this should have been $2.50 off the refills, but with so many coupons I didn’t push it

4 Glade Scented Oil Refills $2.50 each
4 $1.50/1 MQ (found inside of tin)
Final cost- $4 for 4 ($1 each)

2 Bounce Dryer Bar $3.79 each
1 $2.50/1 MQ & 1 $1.50/1 MQ (vocalpoint mailer)
Final cost- $3.58 for 2 ($1.79 each)

5 Tide travel size 97¢ each
5 $1/1 MQ
Final cost- 15¢ profit

1 Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant $3.29
1 $2/1 MQ (won from HPFP)
1 $1/1 Target Q
Final cost- 29¢

8 Kellogg’s Pop Tarts $1.94 each
4 $1/2 MQ
8 75¢/1 Target Q
Final cost- $5.52 for 8 (69¢ each)

2 Kellogg’s Nutrigrain Bars $2.39 each
1 $1/1 MQ
2 50¢/1 Target Q
Final cost- $2.78 for 2 ($1.39 each)

4 Joint Juice 99¢ each
2 BOGO FREE IP
Final cost- $1.98 for 4 (50¢ each)

8 Easy Mac cups 82¢ each
2 BOGO FREE IP
2 $1/2 IP
Final cost- $2.92 for 8 (37¢ each)

5 General Mills cereal cups $1.00 each
5 $1/1 Target Q
Final cost- FREE

1 Chef Michael dry dog food $4.49 each
1 $3/1 MQ
1 $1.50/1 Target Q
Final cost- 1¢ profit

8 Chef Michael canine creations 89¢ each
4 BOGO Free MQ
4 BOGO Free Target Q
Final cost- FREE

2 BIC pens $1.00 each
1 $1/2 IP
1 $1/2 Target Q
Final cost- FREE

1 Bed Head 1″ Straightener $49.99 (for Megan) not pictured

$139.62 Before Coupons
$41.82 Manufacturer Coupons Used
$26.94 Target Coupons Used
$70.86 OOP (w/ tax $75.77)
Used $30 gift card & $45.77 cash

Notes:

1- Megan is reimbursing me for her straightener $49.99 – leaving my portion of the transaction at $20.87
2- Will submit for $10 Fuel for School Rebate = $1.70 profit on Pop Tarts & Nutrigrain Bars (thanks to Queen at My Brain is Inside Out for posting that there are actually four different Fuel for School Rebates)

For my family, who may be checking this out.. the baby stuff is for Juliann’s new baby.

Couponing @ Target is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

2 Glade Scented Oil Refills $2.99 each
2 $1.50/1 MQ (found inside scented oil tin)
Final cost- $2.98 for 2 ($1.49 each)

2 Glade Scented Oil Glass Candle Holders $3.49 each
2 Free with refill purchase MQ (8/2 SS)
Final cost- FREE

4 Glade 2 oz. Soy Candle $3.19 each
4 FREE MQ (8/9 SS)
Final cost- FREE

4 Dove Visibly Smooth deodorant $3.29 each
4 $1/1 Target Q (get yours here)
4 $2/1 MQ (won from HPFP) get yours here
Final cost- $1.16 for 4 (29¢ each)

4 General Mills Cereal Cups $1.00 each
4 $1/1 Target Q (get yours here)
Final cost- FREE

2 Alexia crunchy snacks $2.78 each
2 $1/1 MQ (8/9 SS)
Final cost- $3.56 for 2 ($1.78 each)

1 Up Napkins $2.69

$51.13 Before Coupons
$8.00 Target Coupons Used
$32.74 Coupons Used
$10.39 OOP (w/ tax $12.36)
** 80% Savings **

Target – Free Cereal & Candles is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

2 Chef Michael’s Dog Food $4.49 each
2 $1.50/1 Target Q (I thought this was $1)
2 $3.50/1 IP
Final cost- $1.02 profit

2 Nexcare bandages 8-ct 99¢ each
2 $1/1 IP
Final cost- 2¢ profit

2 Kashi TLC dark chocolate oatmeal cookies $2.74 each
2 $1.50/1 IP
Final cost- $2.48 for 2 ($1.24 each)

$16.44 Before Coupons
$15.00 Coupons Used
$1.44 OOP (w/ tax $2.13)
** 91% Savings **

Free Dog Food & Bandages @ Target is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Next we headed back home and stopped in at Walmart, which does not carry the dog biscuits and will not adjust the coupon amount so I can buy the cans (says package means bag, sigh).  No biggie, less of my shopping for Walmart, more for everyone else.  Megan was going to be near Target yesterday, so I gave her my last two $3 MQs and asked her to pick up two more bags.  Oh, and I gave her some money, too.

So, Megan goes to Target and gets two bags of dog biscuits and is in line to pay when she spots a one-dollar bill near the register.  She asks the lady ahead of her and the cashier and the cashier tells her to keep it.  What’s more, as she is leaving she finds another dollar in the parking lot!

2 Purina ONE dog biscuits $3.58 each
2 $3/1 MQ
Final cost- $1.16 for 2 (58¢ each)

$7.16 Before Coupons
$6.00 Coupons Used
$1.16 OOP (w/ tax $1.52)
$2.00 Found Money
48¢ Money Maker!!!! (counting tax paid)

Free Dog Biscuits @ Target – Woo Hoo! is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Staples

1 Business card holder $1.50 clearance
1 Avery labels 50¢ clearance
2 2-pocket folders 15¢ each
3 folders 89¢ each
4 Crayola crayons 24-count 59¢ each
2 Staples cap erasers 25¢ each
2 Slider pencil cases 25¢ each
2 Elmer school glue 25¢ each

2 Canon Pro photo paper $9.99 each
$7.99 Easy Rebate, limit 2

2 Hammermill copy paper $3.99 each
$2.99 East Rebate, limit 2

$36.79 Before Deals
$5.00 Staples Coupon ($5 off $30)
$31.79 OOP (w/ tax $33.38)
$21.96 Easy Rebates to be submitted
$9.83 After All Deals

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Target

1 Jack Links chicken nuggets $3.99
1 FREE MQ (August All You)
Final cost FREE

2 Degree mist $3.29 each
2 $2/1 Target IP
2 $1.25/1 MQ
Final cost- 8¢ for 2 (4¢ each)
**note- these were paid in two separate transactions per the Target Q requirements**

1 Purina ONE dog biscuits $3.58
1 $3/1 MQ
Final cost- 58¢

2 BIC pens $1.00 each
1 $1/2 Target Coupon
1 $1/2 IP
Final cost- FREE

1 Franklin Covey organizer $24.99
1 Conair brush $5.04

$46.18 Before Coupons
$15.49 Coupons Used
$30.69 OOP (w/ tax $32.61)

If you remove the organizer and brush I only spent 66¢ OOP. The organizer should take Megan all the way through college and possibly beyond. The brush should have a long life as well. =)

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Walgreens (no picture)

2 Arizona ice tea 99¢ each
1 2/$1 Wags IVC
Final cost – $1.00 for two (50¢ each)

4 Starbucks frappachino $1.99 each
1 4/$5 Wags IVC
4 $1/1 MQ
Final cost- $1.00 for 4 (25¢ each)

1 Revlon nail polish $1.50 clearance
1 $1/1 MQ
Final cost- 50¢

2 Dome pencil sharpener 39¢ each

$12.02 Before Coupons
$8.74 Coupons Used
$1.00 RR Used
$2.28 OOP (w/ tax $2.54)
** 81% Savings **

Staples, Target, & Walgreens – Oh, My! is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Cute 99¢ Bags at Target is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010