October 2024 Frugal Chatter Thread

[lilo0003]

I was able to take advantage of the free sock offer from Marks. This year I picked socks for me. Last year I used them as a stocking stuffer for one of the kids and they were a huge hit. I have begun the tedious task of emptying the kitchen in anticipation of the renovation. I cancelled the appliance order as the suggestion of 350.00 to deliver was so wrong. I had quotes up to 1100.00. So I decided to look at Costco as they deliver here and lo and behold the same appliances are less money and they have a sale on now so it’s going so cost about 2000.00 less. I wish I had of looked there 1st and save a trip to Halifax.
I also have the executive membership so this will be an additional 2% back on next year’s rebate cheque.

[harbie]

I stripped the bed and washed, dried , remade and even the duvet cover. Cleaned the shower and tub, sink. Cleaned the kitchen and then completely organized and cleaned my spice cabinet and all the cabinets beside the stove. Ooooh how I love organizing. It looks so purdy now

Then I went for a walk with mom to grab a coffee. Now to prep sheet pan dinner and when Dh gets home we go to the gym.

Have a great Saturday everyone

[walkonby]

I am revved to go try my new Moi reward programme. I have my list, my Moi card scannable number, which I printed and laminated, downloaded savings coupons from the stores onto that Moi card AND RBC finally confirmed we are linked up! Lets see if Metro and Food Basics come through and i earn some half decent first time shopper points.

AHEM!...what is that saying ? The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. I WAS ready, I did everything right. Went to FB early this morning, the staff were all excited about welcoming their customers to the new roll out of Moi. I had my list, needed to spend a $60.00 minimum for the RBC linked card benefits
to be rewarded. Had many specific product coupons attached to my Moi card, plus extra ones for first time spend, etc.
Well.....my laminated card ( bar code ) refused to scan! The cashier tried 2 times to enter the long number manually unsuccessfully. A Supervisor had no solutions. They insisted I needed to have one of their store cards, but I told them I had already registered ONLINE on October 22nd and I HAVE a stupid number already!! ( I said it way nicer than that ).
I left. Bought none of the items ( sorry FB, but that spend was not happening for no points ) . Drove back home, entered the number from one of their stupid Moi cards. It registered fine BUT you cannot have 2 cards on the same account so I had to delete my first one. I then linked this new number to my RBC account, it said it was " in progress " and would take 2 business days to confirm. ARGH!!!

Is there any silver lining here? I went back out but to Metro this time. Bought many of the sale and brand name items that I had in the cart at FB ( ones that earned my Moi points ) and came away with a grand total of 1137 Moi points after my spend of $82.62. ( each 500 points is equal to just $4.00 when you redeem....I'll decide after a few weeks or maybe a month if this programme is even worth it ).

I will for sure never go to either FB or Metro without some of their decent coupons loaded onto the card. happy shopping all!!

[crafter]

Wow frustrating for sure @walkonby . I too signed up online and loaded my offers before I left for Metro on Thursday. I asked for a physical Moi card and was told that it would set up a separate account. I said that I needed a physical card because there's no way that my hubby is going to scan a digital card on his phone and we'd simply miss out on points. I was told that he would have to go thru several steps to complete the process so I walked away from the booth. I only purchased items with special prices and returned the parmesean like cheese for $6 as I ended up grabbing the incorrect one. Personally, I feel that Metro is being super cheap on points especially compared to our Quebec neighbours. We're all in the same country and should have the same points program...I can speak french too!

I totally "missed" registered my MOI card with RBC and thought the spend was $40 for a statement credit so that was obviously a fail. I thought that I would try to get 4% back on a statement credit for purchasing garbage tags.

[crafter]

Wow frustrating for sure @walkonby . I too signed up online and loaded my offers before I left for Metro on Thursday. I asked for a physical Moi card and was told that it would set up a separate account. I said that I needed a physical card because there's no way that my hubby is going to scan a digital card on his phone and we'd simply miss out on points. I was told that he would have to go thru several steps to complete the process so I walked away from the booth. I only purchased items with special prices and returned the parmesean like cheese for $6 as I ended up grabbing the incorrect one. Personally, I feel that Metro is being super cheap on points especially compared to our Quebec neighbours. We're all in the same country and should have the same points program...I can speak french too!

I totally "missed" registered my MOI card with RBC and thought the spend was $40 for a statement credit so that was obviously a fail. I thought that I would try to get 4% back on a statement credit for purchasing garbage tags.

[HermanH]

Found a bag of ChipIts, dropped in the Walmart parking lot. Good for my next batch of cookies.

[walkonby]

Wow frustrating for sure @walkonby. I too signed up online and loaded my offers before I left for Metro on Thursday. I asked for a physical Moi card and was told that it would set up a separate account. I said that I needed a physical card because there's no way that my hubby is going to scan a digital card on his phone and we'd simply miss out on points. I was told that he would have to go thru several steps to complete the process so I walked away from the booth. I only purchased items with special prices and returned the parmesean like cheese for $6 as I ended up grabbing the incorrect one. Personally, I feel that Metro is being super cheap on points especially compared to our Quebec neighbours. We're all in the same country and should have the same points program...I can speak french too!

I totally "missed" registered my MOI card with RBC and thought the spend was $40 for a statement credit so that was obviously a fail. I thought that I would try to get 4% back on a statement credit for purchasing garbage tags.

@crafter ! I'm stunned at how similar our first experiences were with this Moi rollout. I also grabbed the " wrong brand " of Padano cheese, the $6.00 one was the Irresistible brand, I had the $12.00 Splendido one in my cart. ( a quickie refund once I saw the receipt and back I went to the Deli counter, grabbed the last wedge of the right one which was buried under the others ) .
The insistence by the staff at the FB store where it was implied that " I MUST have done something incorrect " when I signed up online got my goat! As I said, going forward I will play this Moi game only with specific items with coupons attached and with any bonus offers coming from the RBC end of things.
It's a good thing I don't speak French as a few profane words may have slipped out at FB....ha ha

[Shwa Girl]

If anybody has a Costco membership or has a friend with a membership (just give them the money for your portion of the deals), they have some deals this week you may like:
https://flyers.smartcanucks.ca/canad...to-november-10
plus
Dempster's whole grain bread, 3 pack, $2 off
Dempster's ancient grain bread, 3 pack, $2 off
Mrs Dash salt free seasonings, big container, $2 off
Kirkland Signature, vitamin D3, 1000 IU, $2 off
perfect time for vitamin D since we are losing more daylight hours this time of year

Maille dijon mustard, big bottle, $2 off
Tabasco pepper sauce, big bottle, $2 off
The tabasco may ward off vampires and whatnot in time for Halloween

Ambrosia apples, bag, $3 off
Crunchmaster multigrain baked crackers, $2.50 off

to go with the crackers, Wholly Guacamole organic, 12 mini cups, $3 off

Quaker quick oats, 2.5 kg, $2.50 off
or use the oats for your weightlifting routine

Oliveri spinach and ricotta cannelloni, big tray, $3 off

Tetley orange pekoe tea, 300 bags, $3 off
that's almost one tea bag a day for an entire year

Oikos Greek yogurt, 24 pack, $4 off
but you can get yogurt cheaper using your points or whatnot

After Eight chocolate mint thins, $4 off
for holiday gifts. I don't think the kids like these for Halloween

Turtles chocolate, for holiday gifts
and more
https://sameday.costco.ca/store/costco- ... ly-savings
YMMV

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Morning! Cold damp morning. But I see sunshine and 22 later this week so that is something to look forward to!

Saturday DS had an out of town hockey game. So planned to go to the casino before game since it was near it to redeem for "Free Gift" (was sent an email about new restaurant opening) The gift was a nice jar of sauce and a coupon for a free entree at the new Noodle bar. We had that for dinner and then ordered a few things to take home for DS (wonton soup/chicken chow mein and spring rolls). While waiting I thought I would play a slot machine near the restaurant and won $1560 (A picking bonus for a progressive that was really high and the reason I picked that machine!) Love winning like that when you are heading out the door!! DS's team smoked the other team and it was a shut out for our goalie

Sunday- Did running around in the morning (a few grocery stores/banking) Then home for a bit and then went out to SDM to decide if I should redeem or not.
I did want the Aveeno lotion - bonus packs (the pump with a FREE tube of lotion) Sat/Sun special was $9.99. Finally decided to just redeem $50 for $65 so picked up the mascara gift set, the 2 x Aveeno (buy 2 get 2000 pc pts) and a $1 drink on clearance. Of course the Aveeno rang in at $13.77 (the price didn't even make sense) and they were trying to say that it wasn't the same price as the pump- I had to repeat many times that it is a bonus pack with a "Free" tube of lotion- said so right on the pack. She finally asked the supervisor and they fixed the price to $9.99. Always seems to be an issue when doing a special redemption at SDM.
Dinner- Was simple- Ceaser Salad with buttermilk chicken strips. Wasn't really hungry but knew I needed to eat.

I am starving this morning ( my tummy was growling at 1am lol) Thinking eggs/toast/bacon and a few hashbrowns. Just enjoying my coffee now.

Brought in my portable table from the garage and will set up in my office. Will start sorting and wrapping Christmas gifts this week

Today- Get laundry rolling. Set up portable table and move Christmas gifts to my office. Tidy bedroom.
I took out a large tray of Bone in skinless chicken breasts from the freezer. I may just put in fridge overnight and then put in crockpot or oven in the morning.
Option B is Pasta with homemade sauce from the freezer. Will see what we feel like later.

Have a wonderful day!

[coupon girl]

Morning ,yesterday i went to sobeys ,loving the 5.47 cereal cherrios where i get back 3.00 on checkout 51 ,will save one box for my daughter as its Sebastians favourite cereal .

My son has the flu bug and little miss Cara ,i would have gone over to help so he could lie down .I have my implant dentist appt on tuesday so i cant get sick as i cancelled once before when i got the cold from Cara.

Gonna have a bbq today with strip loin steak ,potatoes and steamed carrots .As i am sure i wont be eating the next few days ,only soft foods.

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
Yesterday did not go as planned as I did not sleep Saturday night. I ended up going to bed late and couldn't fall asleep, did not help that one of my neighbours had their grandkids who decided to play outside at 10:45. Just as I was falling asleep they started yelling at each other and sounded like they were bouncing a ball off one of the houses.

Yesterday the lack of sleep and the change of weather hit the sinuses so I did not get a lot done, got the garbage out that was about it.

To keep it simple I make Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma as we had Rice and Garlic Sauce to use up.

Today also is not going to plan, I planned to be up early take shower, make baked oatmeal, nope. Good news is I slept, but because I did sleep so well last night my body said yes, I'd like some more and I slept in. The plan became I would shower after work but then realized I have an online meeting and cameras will be required so well I waiting for some responses I took a quick shower. Oatmeal will have to wait.

Tonight's dinner, no ideas yet, Mom mentioned something about a Pork Tenderloin recipe she wants to try so maybe we will have that tonight.

Happy Monday Everyone.

[Frugalbigmama]

Laundry is on the go! And found the missing laundry....in the dryer! It's all put away now and trying to keep on top of it once the washer stops. It is all sorted and then next bin will be washed once oldest adds his stuff. (He has been away a few days)

Also- our garbage is usually picked up around 7am....they still haven't been by so I have bin adding things to the bin.

Cleaned one bathroom. I will wash the bath mat one day this week at the laundromat (it is too big and rough on the machine so I like to do it at the laundromat) Will do it one day when I can pop it in and then go for a walk downtown for 30 mins.
I would also like to wash king bedding so will do it the same day. Aiming for Thursday so I can get bedroom cleaned/organized before that.

I have put away DS's shorts (in a drawer so easy to grab if needed) I have a pile of boxers to ask him it they are to be tossed (too small/old) (they are clean so will use as a rag to clean bathroom then toss) Feels good to to get stuff organized/tossed!!

Took 2 containers of pasta sauce from freezer (one had lots of meat) Thawing in the sink now and then will put on the the stove to simmer on low around 4.

A very productive Monday! (which usually never happens)

[Ciel21]

Last week of Daylight Saving Time for many of us! In Ontario, Time of Use rates change to Winter rates/hours on Nov. 1. Find your poppy pins too.

Mom got sick two weekends ago. I got a milder version without the weepy eyes. Stayed home through Saturday. Still feeling off at top of nose and tonsils. Yesterday, I needed a few things: to get printer paper, three grocery items and items at Value Village to be able to use the $15 off $40 purchase coupon by club members. Scored a matte package of letter size Canon Pixma photo paper ($9.99; remember in June I had wanted the glossy version selling at The Source for same price?), a cotton Chaps knit top, extra-long Gap pants(only realizing they were men's when I put them on at home; 2nd time buying incorrectly tagged pants in women's section), and a coppery card wallet purse. I do not know when VV converted two self checkout machines to include cash but I felt like I was at Target again! The coupon basically paid for the pants, which I will re-hem after laundering them. Bought a hot chocolate to go with the free apple pie. Worthy treat time.

The butternut squash was turned into half batch of my favourite casserole. I seem to be stuck eating it alone, despite how many times my mother rants that I never cook.
So glad I bought a package of blueberry scones. They were perfect for breakfast after reheating.

Tapering off on yardwork very soon. Realized raking is getting hard to do when I cannot get enough breath in at same time. Not getting any acknowledgement at home but I will take care of myself regardless.

[Ciel21]

@crafter and @walkonby My friend had issues with Moi card at Food Basics over two days. She said the helpline hung up on her. Program rollout seems turbulent. Think Metro Ontario had its Moi card as of April 2024 or June? Just chance I heard about experience as she wants that first purchase points offer and she might care to keep using card. I have not acquired a card yet.

[Ciel21]

@Angela273 Nice score on free socks.