I <3 Reward Programs!

[spanishpoet]

After hosting a family Christmasdinner, my partner and I apparently didn't learn our lesson, and arehosting a family New Years Eve dinner! One thing we did learn, wasto make less and easier to prepare foods (I love pinterest, but man,does it result in some complicated attempts at simplicity!)


Due to various food restrictions(dairy-free, glutan-free, sugar-free, nut-free, vegetarian) wedecided to keep things simple with chili, soup, lasagna, sheppard'spie and various desserts – just so there is variety and somethingfor everyone!


First Stop: Sobeys
6xstrawberries @1.99
1xblueberries @1.99
Grapes @6.74
Buitoni @3.99 - $1 coupon - $1cartsmart
Excel mints @2.29 (just bought to goover $25 dollar mark to use my points...and because I'm addicted)


Total: $26.25
-$25 Sobeys points
= $1.25
-$1 cartsmart
= $.25
Paid with prepaid mastercard= FREE!!!


Second Stop: Fortinos
2xVegetarian lasagna @6.99
1xmeatballs @8.99


Total: $22.97
-$20 Pcpoints
= $2.97
Paid with prepaid mastercard= FREE!!!


Final Stop: Metro
Campbells soup @$2.19
carrots @$3.49
potatoes @$4.99
lemon juice @$3.19 + 5airmiles
4xHunt's Tomato Sauce @4/$5
Rolled Oats @2.99 + 15airmiles
3xkidney beans @.99
soup stock @3.99
Bananas @$1.99
Cauliflower @$3.99
Cucumber @$1.79
2xCelery @$2.49
Leeks @$2.99 (just realizedthe guy typed it in as kale, which was $2 cheaper than leeks)
Pepperidge farm cookies@$3.99
Red pepper @$1.35
Orange pepper @$1.61
Yellow pepper @$1.78
Tofu @$2.49 (forgot mycoupon, darn!)
Sour Cream @$1.99 - $1coupon - $0.50 snapsaves
Buitoni pizza @$3.99 -$1coupon - $1 cartsmart
Grape Tomatoes@ $2.50


Total = $62.54
-$40 airmiles cash
= $22.54
- $1 cartsmart
-$0.50 snapsaves


=$20.04!!!
+23 airmiles!


I know I shopped at 3 of themost expensive grocery stores and could have gotten things muchcheaper at No Frills and/or Food Basics, but I wanted to use pointsto make my oop as low as possible.


So after reward programs, mytotal came to $23.26 and after using my prepaid mastercard balances,my total oop was $20.04! Definitely makes hosting holiday meals alittle easier!

[Shirnette]

Wow!!!U certainly made those reward programs to work. Certainly an awesome shop..Good luck with New Years Eve dinner.

[coupon girl]

wow enjoy new years eve-you really rocked those points programs -way to go

[bargain_hunter_lola]

Wtg!

[ColleenMGorecki]

so they can bring the refreshment and you can all have a very inexpensive evening what a way to close out the year. wtg

[Natalka]

Well done; have fun!

[klimber]

Great job! Definitely did your homework before going out to shop.

[avoncallingu]

Well planned! Well Done!

[oscarandme]

Wow, very brave of you, gone are the good old days that you made what you wanted as a host and people ate.... and so expensive too.

You did awesome with your shops and using points. Well done and hope you had a lovely New Years Eve!!! Thanks for sharing.

[spanishpoet]

Thank you all! It was a complicated, yet delicious affair! The points certainly helped make expensive dietary needs much more affordable!

Happy New Years to all of you too :D