What is a monkeybox?

When I was a little girl, we had a pet monkey named Amanda. My Dad worked in the produce business, so each night he brought home that days culls in a big box - spotty cucumbers, pithy apples, limp celery, moldy oranges and the like. We called it a monkeybox. It was really just trash, but my Mom would take each piece of fruit and trim it, pare it and cut it up to make a beautiful fruit platter for Amanda. Even though it was deemed trash by one, it still had life left in it and was good for the purpose we needed it. That's how I live my life - thrifting, yard saling, looking for another's trash to be my treasure.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Midnight in Paris

I said I would leave the guessing open on my contest until midnight tonight. Well, it's gotta be midnight somewhere, right?

My Mom read the contest entry and some of the guesses. She said, "These people aren't taking you very seriously, are they? One person said only $2.00!" Well, those people know me pretty well, because $2.00 is exactly what all those items cost me. I don't figure tax into my bargains, because you gotta pay the tax if it cost $10.00 or $1.00.

So, JEN, please email me or leave a commennt here with you email and I will get these goodies right out to you! I was surprised that the second guess was to the penny!

A brief rundown of the goods:

The cereal was $1.00 a box in local grocery store ad. I have $1.00/2 boxes so all four boxes cost $2.00. (We've bought four more since that post!)

The Jane Lip Balm is on sale Buy One Get One Free at Walgreen's. They are usually $4.99, so they ring up $2.50 each. I had coupons for $2.00 off one Jane item, so that dropped the price to 50¢ each. Grand total for the Lip Balm was $2.00.

Total so far...$4.00.

The Granola Bars are on sale at Walgreen's 4/$10.00. I had $1.00/2 boxes, so that brought the total down to $8.00. Plus when I paid, a Register Reward off my next shopping trip printed out for $4.00. So, in my way of thinking - $10.00-$2.00=$8.00-$4.00 Register Reward=$4.00

Total so far.....$8.00.

When I paid for everything, I used a $6.00 off Register Reward that I had earned last week for a grand total of....$2.00!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today the family headed out for another round of "Find That Bargain!" (It's America's fastest growing quiz sensation!)

I had gotten a $15.00 Budweiser Rebate in the mail yesterday. What's that? You didn't know I liked to kick back a few Buds at the end of the day? Well, I don't. Law here in the good old state of Arkansas (and a few other states) says that you don't have to buy any beer to reap the rewards of the beer company rebates. Cha-ching. This particular form was for $15.00 back from the purchase of frozen pizza and deli items. We decided to see how far that $15.00 would s-t-r-e-t-c-h.

I checked all my boards Fishing for Deals being my favorite as of late, printed out a few coupons and off we went.

First stop Office Depot. I used my last $3.00 coupon for turning in an old printer cartridge and got a pack of Printer Paper - Grand total $1.29.

Total so far....$1.29.

Second stop - Office Max. In their in-store ad, they have a coupon for Sharpie's Retractable Markers - 12 ct. package in a rainbow of colors. These babies were priced $22.97 (can you imagine??), but with the coupon, you can get a package for $2.00. Yes, my friends, Two Dollars. Oh, and you can get two! So, I spent $4.00 and for $46.00 worth of Sharpies!Here's the coupon! Rumor had it that it was a mistake (ya think?) and they might be pulling it soon. But, they will still honor it if you have it printed. So PRINT ONE ALREADY!

I want to lay on the floor with my tongue hanging out and draw with my new colors all night!

Total so far.......$5.29.

Third stop: Barnes & Noble which happens to be right next door to Office Max in the same shopping center. Rumor had it that they had a table of various games with a monstorous green dot on them for $1.00. We looked high and low, but didn't find them. As we were leaving, I looked towards Starbucks inside and spotted the big bee-u-tiful green dot table. I got two Cocktail Shaker Drinkin' Games (gifts?) that were $19.95 each for $1.00 and a nice $9.95 card game in a tin for The Bean for $1.00. $50.00 worth of games for $3.00.

Total......$8.29.

Fourth stop: Target.

Managed to find a few deals there that I didn't count as part of my $15.00 spending - the Market Place items seem to be discontinued, so the prices on the shelf are very low. We found 4 pk. microwave popcorn that compares to Orville Whatshisname (you think I am going to try to spell that?) for 88¢, large bags of tortilla chips for $1.02 and boxes of juice boxes for $1.50. I didn't count those because they didn't have a retail value to compare them and besides, we need groceries, right?

I did get the cats some fancy catnip ladden toys that were $1.98 for 48¢ each.

Grand total for today.........$9.25. And I brought home $104.50 worth of merchandise.


And, I still have $5.75 to "invest"!

******Don't forget to email me JEN, as I don't know who you are.......;o)******

9 comments:

  1. Your thriftiness amazes me! Ever think about writing a book?

    Thanks for the Sharpie coupon link. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. LOL! You kill me! Way to go! I so need you as my shopping guru. And can I come over and play "Shaken Up?" LOL

    ReplyDelete
  3. My husband would probably pay you to come teach me all your tricks! I tip my hat to you (or would, if I wore one).

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love deals. I've been remiss in keeping up with my couponing and now you've inspired me! Take care!

    Jan

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous4:45 PM

    I wanted to THANK YOU so much for sharing your finds. Fishing for deals is a favorite! I got my sharpies today!! And I really enjoy your blog. Many blessings to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh those Sharpies! I printed off two coupons. Sent one with hubby to work with specific instructions on buying two. And I'm off myself this morning. What a great deal!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You are definitely a woman after my own heart. Gotta love bargain shopping! Target clearance is one of my favorites. I got a few awesome deals at Dillards Wednesday with their extra 40% off clearance. My favorites being a really nice jacket (reg price $179) for $26 and a huge rolling suitcase (reg price $180) for $27. Dh didn't *think* I needed another jacket (what does he know) but I'd been looking for a suitcase. I also found some fantastic buys on clothes for my dd.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous1:08 PM

    Wow! I thought I was doing well when I got some 5 packs of Temptations cat treats at Target for 90% off last week. 49 cents for each! I bought 3 boxes, so my already pudgy kitties got 15 bogs of treats for $1.47. If I had thought about it, I would have got some for the local shelter too...

    But I am an amature compared to you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous4:27 PM

    You did great! I love doing deals too. It makes my whole day. Most of my friends/family just smile and nod at me like I am so ecentric when I tell them about my deals, but I don't care.

    Libby

    ReplyDelete

I love my comments. I'd love to respond to everyone, but if you don't have an email address tied to your ID, please sign your name so I will know who you are! It makes it nice to know who is saying what. Now, leave a comment! Please? ;o)

I Can See You!



Look at my Visitors!

Fellow Junk Followers