It's been a while since I've posted about a deposit to the cruise fund. Not because I haven't been saving though! I'm so excited about the deposit today because it's the biggest one yet.

My previous company offered a referral bonus if you referred someone who was hired and stayed with the company for at least 6 months. After taxes I was left with $1,100 from that to add to the fund.

I traveled to Georgia last week. I drove up to give my cousin my older car (I got a new one), and flew back. To make a long story short, I was bumped from two flights but offered $400 for each flight as an airline credit, so that's $800 found!

Another large portion of today's deposit is a payout of unused vacation time I had- $850.

In the past couple of weeks, I saved the following amounts at various stores:

Publix: $108.18

CVS: $83.84

Old Navy: $52.38

Kroger (during my trip to GA): $8.44

That brings the total for today to $3,002.84, $271.01 OVER what I needed!! :)

Amount needed: $ 3,238.00
Amount "found"
Deposit #1: $ 183.33
Deposit #2: $112.00
Deposit #3:$59.36
Deposit #4: $47.75
Deposit #5: $163.09
Today's Deposit: $3,002.84
Remaining: None!!

We cruise on September 3, so any amounts found / saved between now and then will go straight into savings, just in case we go over budget.

For this week only, you can get a FREE P’Zone from Pizza Hut when you like them on Facebook. Just click on the “Get You P’Zone” tab, you will have to place your order online to get the FREE P’Zone.

Yes, you read that right. I'm planning a meal plan from now through the end of the month. I really need to clear out my pantry and freezer, so this is based on what I have on hand and what I'll be stocking up on this week at Publix.

I'm not going to assign specific days to the meals, so I have the flexibility to make what I feel like having that day.

As a bonus, this will also help save a ton of cash for our upcoming cruise!!

Here's what's on my list:

Tacos
Chicken stir fry, rice, salad
Chicken sausage, pierogies, veggie
Black beans and yellow rice x 2
Chili /cornbread
Steak, mashed potatoes, veggie
Burgers / Fries
Tuna Casserole
Frozen lasagna x 2, salad
Fettuccine Alfredo, salad
Pot Roast
Breakfast for dinner (Pancakes, eggs, & smoothies)
Enchiladas, Mexican rice
Couscous Salad
Tomato Bisque, grilled cheese sandwiches
Meatball sandwiches
BBQ Chicken, baked beans, collard greens
Baked Halibut, rice, veggie
Sweet & Sour Chicken, rice

I plan on spending bout $10 a week on incidentals like fresh produce. This should use up a large portion of what I have on hand.

I'll be honest- I haven't seen a really enticing CVS ad for a while now. As I was having my coffee and flipping through my Sunday paper, I picked up the CVS ad for this week not expecting too much. Let's just say my heart started racing when I realized how sweet this ad is.

I'm starting with 6 ECB from last week. If you don't have any ECB, you can start with $6 OOP. If you haven't gotten a paper yet go get one- NOW! :)

Also, before shopping, be sure to go by the Magic Coupon Machine to get your mystery beauty coupon.

Transaction #1:

Any L'Oreal Skin Care Products, psa $6.99
Get $10 ECBs wyb $25 (Limit 1)

Scenario:

Buy 5 skin care products @ $6.99 (for a list see HERE)

= $34.95

- 2 x $3/2 L’Oreal Skincare Products 8/7/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/2/2011)
- $1/1 L’Oreal Skincare Product 8/7/2011 RP Insert (exp 10/2/2011)

- $6 ECB

= $21.95

Earn 10 ECB

That's $2.39 per product after Q's and ECB's!


Transaction #2:

John Frieda Hair Care Products
Get $5 ECBs wyb $15 (Limit 1)

--John Frieda Collection Shampoo, Conditioner (8-10 o.) or Styler (3-12 oz.), $5
--John Frieda Collection Hair Treatments (0.5-6.5 oz.), $8
--John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Colour, $12


Scenario:

Buy (1) John Frieda Precision Foam Hair Colour at $12- LOVE THIS STUFF!
Buy (1) John Frieda Frizz Ease Styler Product at $5

= $17.00

Use -$5/1 John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Product 6/30/2011 John Frieda (exp 8/31/2011)
Use $1/1 John Frieda Frizz-Ease, exp. 9/30/11 (ALL YOU Aug '11)
- 10 ECB

= $1.00 OOP

Earn 5 ECB

Transaction #3:

Skintimate Shave Gel or Cream, $1.99

Schick Hydro 3 or 5 Razor or Cartridge (4 ct.), $8.49
Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)

= $10.48

- $2/1 Schick Hydro Razor, exp. 9/18/11 (SS 08/07/11)
- $1.50/1 Skintimate Cream Shave printable

- 5 ECB

= $1.98 OOP

Earn 5 ECB

Transaction #4:

Softsoap Products, 3/$9
Softsoap Body Wash (15-18 oz.), Liquid or Foaming Hand Soap (8-8.5 oz.)
Get $3 ECBs wyb 3 (Limit 1)

Scenario:

Buy 3 Body Washes- $9.00

Use the following Q's (if you only had one insert that week like me):

-$0.75/1 Softsoap Body Wash, exp. 8/13/11 (SS 07/24/11 R)
-$0.50/1 Softsoap Body Wash, exp. 9/4/11 (SS 07/24/11 R)
-$1/1 Softsoap Body Wash, exp. 8/13/11 (SS 07/24/11)

- 5 ECB

= $1.75 OOP

Earn 3 ECB

That's it for now! I'll likely be posting another scenario this week after I see what the magical coupon machine gives me! :)

I'm starting out with $2.50 ECB's this week.

Transaction #1:

Bic Soleil Shimmer Razor Starter Kit or Cartridge (4 ct.), $5.99
Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1)
- $3/1 Bic Soleil Disposable or Soleil System Razor, exp. 8/21/11 (SS 07/10/11)
- $2.50 ECB
= $.49 oop

Earn 3 ECB

Transaction # 2:

Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste (4 oz.), $4.99
Get $3 ECBs (Limit 2)
$1.50/1 Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief Toothpaste, exp. 8/31/11 (SS 07/31/11)
- $3 ECB
= $.49 oop

Earn 3 ECB

Transaction # 3:

Skinny Cow Singles, $0.99
Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 1) x 2

Revlon Super Lustrous ColorBurst Lip Product, $5.79
Get $3 in ECBs wyb 1 (Limit 6) x 2

= $12.57

- 3 ECB

-$1/1 Revlon Color Cosmetic Product, exp. 8/28/11 (SS 07/17/11 R)
-$3/$10 CVS Purchase CRT
-B1G1 Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters or Heavenly Crisp printable

= $3.58 oop

Earn 3 and .99 ECB

I'm very excited about this one- I love Activia! To get this coupon “like” Activia on Facebook and then click on the “Activia Selects” tab. You will then need to fill out the form for the coupon and the coupon will be sent to your email.

**Fine Print: Free coupon offer good 08/03/11 – 08/15/11, up to 1 million coupons, on any Activia Selects Single Serve, up to $3.00. One coupon per household. Offer valid in the U.S. only. VOID IN LA, NJ, AND CA. Coupon Valid until 08/15/11.

Ruby Tuesday has been totally awesome with all of the freebies lately!! You can get a coupon for 2 Free Ruby minis with fries with the purchase of 2 non-alcoholic drinks when you “like” them on Facebook HERE. The are giving away 100,000 coupons in total, and it will be sent to you via email. Mine is valid August 4-9th.

From the Publix ad that begins 8/4:

Quaker Life Cereal, Squares, or Cap’N Crunch, 15.4 to 20 oz, BOGO $4.89
-$0.75/1 Quaker Life Cereal 6/19/2011 RP Insert (exp 8/31/2011)
-$1/2 Quaker Life Cereal Boxes 6/19/2011 RP Insert (exp 8/31/2011)

Batter Blaster Pancake & Waffle Batter, Original or Organic, or Ready to Cook Buttermilk or Double Chocolate, 18 oz, BOGO $4.19
-$1/1 Batter Blaster Product

Dove Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant, 2.6 oz (excluding Ultimate), BOGO $2.99
-$1.50/1 Dove Body Wash AND Deodorant or Body Mist Rolling
-$1/1 Dove Go Sleeveless Deodorant Rolling

Michael Angelo’s Meat Lasagna, 20 to 32 oz, 2/$11
-B1G1 Michael Angelo’s Entree printable (must register)

(this makes these $2.25 each- great for a cheap, quick dinner!)

Classico Pasta Sauce, 8.1 to 24 oz jar, 2/$4
-$1/2 Classico Pasta Sauces 5/15/2011 SS Insert (exp 9/10/2011)

Perdue Fit & Easy Chicken Breast, $2.99/lb

Bottom Round Roast, $3.69/lb

Eat Smart Vegetables, 10 or 12 oz pkg, 3/$5

Green Advantage Buy Flyer “Sail into Savings,” which is effective 8/6 to 8/26.

$6/2 Sundown Naturals vitamins, Osteo Bi-Flex, Flex-a-min, Ester-C, or Marvel Heroes gummies
-$1/1 Sundown Naturals Vitamin Product (IE) Rolling Printable (FF)


$5/2 Advil or Advil PM 32 ct+ or Children’s Advil or Thermacare 2 ct or 3 ct
-$5/2 Advil and Thermacare Rolling
Advil (my price 4.29) and thermacare(my price 6.99) together.
4.29+6.99=11.28 11.28-10(MQ and Publix combined)=1.28 for both

$2/1 John Frieda Precision foam colour
-$5/1 John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Product (exp 8/31/2011)
-$3/1 John Frieda Precision Foam Colour Product 6/5/2011 SS Insert (exp 8/27/2011)

$3/1 Tylenol Precise 2.5 oz cream or heat patch 3 ct
-$3/1 Tylenol Precise Heat Patch 7/31/2011 SS Insert (exp 10/31/2011)
-$2/1 Tylenol Precise Product Rolling

$1/ 2 Hillshire Farm Lunch Meats 8 to 9 oz
-$1/2 Hillshire Farm Lunch Meat 7/10/2011 RP Insert (exp 8/13/2011)

$1/1 Dean’s Dip 12 to 15 oz
-$1/2 Dean’s Dips (IE) Rolling Printable (FF)
-$1/1 Dean’s Pretzel Dip Rolling

Fruit2day, 6.75 oz, 3/$3

-$0.45/1 Fruit2Day Product Rolling