Clean out the Pantry Challenge!

Well, I have been reading about the challenge that Money Saving Mom is doing and I have decided to participate as well. Part of the reason is that January is such a busy month for me that not shopping much will free up some much needed time. Not to mention that I do have quite a few things from my recent shopping in December!

Here are my guidelines:

1. Make a list of what is already in my pantry and freezer.

2. I will purchase milk, produce, eggs, bread as needed during the month. I think the challenge is for 3 shopping trips in the month of January, but I will quite honestly probably go more often as I take my Dad shopping once a week anyway.

3. I will still purchase good deals as they crop up (and there are some coming up). But we are a family of 8 (4 boys, 2 girls, DH and myself plus 2 cats and a dog) and it takes a lot of shopping to keep up a stockpile anyway. I'm not going to pass up good deals because we will need the food later. I have coupons already that I had previously intended on using in January, so I will use them; but they are for frozen food, and we need to eat what has been hanging around for awhile to make room for the new.

4. Make more efficient shopping trips. I tend to not plan the trips so well and end up spending more than I should be spending. I would like to work on being a bit more efficient in that respect. Plus, just getting what I go in for and not justifying other things with "I'm saving so much money on what we need - it's OK if I get this too."

5. My budget is $200 every two weeks, so any money I save, I will keep it in my grocery envelope for a good meat sale so I can stock up on meat - especially since we will be eating what is in the freezer and will definitely need to replenish it!

6. Instead of a weekly menu plan, I would like to try a monthly menu plan or a biweekly plan. Maybe not down to the exact meal, but at least a general idea. I used to do a 2-week plan and it was so nice to not have to plan each week. It helped so much. I just quit doing it and we have suffered by eating alot of pizza lately (although it was free w/coupons) and other pre-packaged food. I don't mind doing that occassionally, but every night is not good.

7. I want to utilize my crockpot more during the month of January. I need to find/try more recipes, maybe one new one a week. I like Crockpot365. Of course, using what I already have in my pantry!!

More Shopping Trips!

Ingles:
3 Jello pudding .48ea (no coupon)
5 Rayovac batteries 1.00ea - (5) 1/1 = Free
4 Marcal napkins 1.98ea - (4) Free coupons = Free
2 Marcal paper towels 3.68ea - (2)Free = -.64 (cashier put through for full $4)
3 Hefty Easy Grip cups 1.58ea - (3) .50/1 = .58ea
6 Tony's pizza 1.00ea - (6) .50/1 = Free

Total OOP: 4.33
Total Saved: 51.57
Percent Saved: 92%

These pictures are from December, the Ingles trip above and the others below. I am just now getting a chance to post these pictures:

Publix:
8 BC potatos 1.59/2 - (8) .35/1 = .19/2
4 Wesson oil 3.69/2 - (4) .25/1 = 2.69/2
6 Evaporated milk .99/2 - (3) .50/2 = -.01/2
3 Sister Shubert's rolls 2.50ea - (3) .50/1 = 1.50ea
4 Publix 2l drinks .79ea - no coupons
1 pepto bismal tablets 1.89ea - (1).50/1 = .89
1 box candy canes .85ea
5 Bird's eye veggies .89ea - (5) .50/1 = -.11ea
5 bird's Eye veggies .83ea - (5) .50/1 = -.17ea
10 Steamfresh veggies .89ea - (10) .50/1 = -.11ea
1 Pillsbury cookbook magazine 4.99 (used $5/$50)

Total OOP: 14.55
Total Saved: 77.45
Percent Savings: 84%

Publix:
1 half gal egg nog 3.49
1 gal milk 1.99
3 Minute rice 1.59 - (3) .50/1 = .59ea
6 BE frzn veggies .83 - (6) .50/1 = -.17ea
10 BE frzn veggies .89 - (10) .50/1 = -.11ea
5 BE frzn veggies .50 - (5) .50/1 = -.50ea
2 Schick razors .99 - (2) 2/1 = -1.01ea
2 cool whip 1.49/2 no coupon
2 bubble mailers .59ea - (1) 1/2 = .09ea
6 muellers whole wheat pasta 1.29/2 - (3) 1/2 = .29/2
1 jet dry 3.99
2 campbells turkey gravy 1.19/2
1 salt .50
4 dm can veggies 1.29/2 - 1/4 = .40ea
10 evap milk .99/2 - (5) .50/2 = -.01/2
2 swiss miss hot cocoa 1.99/2 - .50/2 - 1/1Target coupon = - .01/2
8 bc potato 1.59/2 - (8) .35/1 = .29/2
3 buitini fresh pasta 2.19/2 - (3) 1/1 = .19/2
Used $5/50

Total OOP: 11.85
Total Saved: 96.11
Percent Saved: 89%

Ingles:
3 Hefty Easy Grip 1.58ea - (3) .50/1 = .58ea
4 Marcal paper towels 3.68 - (4) free paper towels = Free
2 Reynold baking cups .85ea - (1) .25/1 = .60ea
5 Hefty One Zip (used BOGO RC) 1.24ea - (5) 1/1 = .24ea
7 Rayovac batteries 1.00ea - (7) 1/1 = Free
6 Tony's pizza 1.00ea - (6) .50/1 = Free

Total OOP: $6.51
Total Saved: 59.57
percent Savings: 90%

Dollar General

I happened to be in Dollar General and found this:

4 Snuggle dryer sheets 2.00 $2/1
1 Snuggle fabric softener 3.00 $2/1
1 flashlight $1

Total before coupons: $12.50
Total after coupons: $2.50
Percent Savings: 80%

Publix

Publix - 1st Trip (had to do this one with no refrigerated or frozen items as I was out Christmas shopping too)

2 Goodlife cat food 4.49ea used only 1 $1.50/1 - forgot to give cashier the other one :(
6 BC potato 1.69/2 .35/1 dbl
2 Domino sugar 2.49 .30/1 dbl
8 Carnation evap milk .99/2 .50/1 dbl
2 Sundown vitamin D 2.99 $6/2
1 Glade soy candle 5.99 $4/1 and $2/1
2 Scotch mini lint rollar 1.59 $1/1
2 Goody bobby pins .99 $1/1 cashier only scanned 1 coupon and I didn't catch it
4 Scotch magic tape 1.99/2 $1/1
2 Schick razors .99 $2/1 cashier adjusted coupon amt to .99
2 Phazyme 3.49 $7/2 and $2/1
2 Rolaids 1.85 $4/2
4 Yakisoba .79 .50/1
Plus I used a $5/50

Total Spent: $6.00
If I hadn't forgotten those other two coupons it would have been $4.50
Total w/o coupons or sale: $79.50
Percent Savings: 92.5%






2nd Publix trip (yep, 2 Publix's in one day! Hey, I was driving by it anyway!)

3 Publix white bread .79
8 Birds Eye Steamfresh veg .89 dbl
1 Birds Eye spinach .50 .50/1 dbl
4 Barbar stuffed chicken 4.99/2 $1/1 Publix and $1/1 Manuf
3 Nesquik choc milk 1.00 .50/1 dbl
4 hotwheel cars 1.00 $1/1
2 Rolaids 1.85 $4/2
1 Glade soy candle 5.99 $4/1 and $2/1
1 bag tortilla chips 2.00
1 Goodlife cat food 4.49 $1.50
Plus, I used another $5/50 (remember I bought 4 papers!)

Total spent: $4.50
Total before sales and coupons: $82.03
Percent Savings: 94.5%

Publix - 88%

Here's a breakdown of this trip:

2 AJC double sets 2.36 ea.
5.4 lb sweet potatos 1.57
1 pomegranate 1.50
1 Hungryman 1.80
1.49 lb zucchini 1.18
1 cantaloupe 1.47
1 Sara Lee cheesecake bites 1.99 $1/1 used
4 bubble mailers .59 ea $1/2
4 Wesson oil 1.85 .25/1
10 Carnation evap milk .99/2 .50/2 dbl
6 Hot wheels 1.00 $1/1
6 Bird's Eye Spinach .50 .50/1 dbl
1 Glade candle 5.99 $4/1 and $2/1
6 BC potato .80 .35/1 dbl
1 Goody elastic 4.39 $1/1
2 Phazyme 3.49 $7/2 and $2/1
1 Finger bowling 1.99 $1/1
2 Rolaids 1.85 $4/2
2 Revlon nail polish 4.79 $2.50/1 and $2/1
1 Revlon tweezer 2.49 $2.50/1
6 Yakisoba .79 .50/1 dbl
Plus, I used a $5/50

Total OOP: $13.67
Total Savings: $103.33
Percent Savings: 88%

Publix -

This was a fun trip!
If I could have been patient and not bought the ham... I had planned to wait until the paper came out to see if there was a $5/50 which would have gone toward the ham. But 2 of the kids are sick and I'm not quite positive I'll get back there.

6 Yakisoba .79 .50/1 dbl
2 Swiss Miss hot cocoa .99 .50/2 dbl and $1/1
3 Buitoni pasta 1.10 $1/1
2 Sara Lee poundcake 1.89 $1/1
2 Friskies party mix 1.25 $2/2
4 Scotch bubble mailers .59 $1/2
2 Goody's bobby pins .99 $1/1
1 AJC 1.87
2 Schick travel razors .99 $2/1
2 Sara Lee Cheesecake bites 1.99 $1/1
4 Mt Olive pickles 1.40 .50/1 dbl
2 Birds Eye green beans w/ almonds .83 .50/1 dbl
3 Birds Eye spinach .50 .50/1 dbl
6 Dole pineapple .79 (no coupon)
4 Carnation Evap milk .50 .50/2 dbl
1 ham 8.72 no coupon
1 Goodlife indoor cat food 4.49 $1.50/1
4 BC potato .80 .35/1
2 Wesson oil 1.85 .50/1 dbl

Total paid OOP: $23.88
Receipt says: Saved $89.26
Percent Savings: 79.9%

Ingles -

Here's a quick trip to Ingles while taking my 9yo to do his Christmas shopping:

3 Jello choc pudding $2/3 $1.25/3
1 Mt. Olive pickles 1.46 .50/1 dbl
1 Vlasic hot peppers 1.04 .50/1 dbl
3 Kraft singles 1.67 .50/1 dbl
3 Philadelphia crm cheese 1.25 $1/1
3 Chinet dessert napkins 1.09 $1/1
4 Rayovac batteries 1.00 $1/1
4 Tony's pizza 1.00 .50/1 dbl
4 Hefty one zip storage RC 1.24 $1/1
4 Hefty one zip freezer RC 1.24 $1/1

Total before coupons: $34.58 (approx)
Total paid: $8.02
Total savings including sale prices: 84%

Ingles - 61% Savings

Here is a quick trip to Ingles:
First number is price and then I listed the coupon used

3 Kraft cheese singles 3/$5 used .50/1 doubled
3 Tony's pizza 1.00 used .50/1 doubled
3 Philadelphia cream cheese 1.25 used $1/1
4 Hefty one zip RC for BOGO (1.24 ea) used $1/1
3 Rayovac batteries 1.00 used $1/1
1 Goodnites 8.88 used $2/1
1 bag bananas 1.49 no coupon

Total before coupons: $34.79 (can't remember if this is the exact number, but it's close)
Total after coupons: $13.57
Savings: 61%

No Inserts this Weekend

Just a reminder that there are no inserts this week or next week due to the holidays. Good time to sort, organize, and catch up what we already have or to order from a clipping service or ebay if you need to get a jumpstart with couponing.

Save your energy for Jan. 3, 2010 because there will be 2 Redplum, 2 SmartSource and I think 1 General Mills insert that weekend! Count them...5 inserts!!

I am thankfully almost caught up, so I should have a few days off from clipping, etc.

Kroger Today

Took my Dad shopping today and I found a few things:

2 cans tomatos .29
2 cans green beans .29
8 cans kidney beans .29
1 pkg english muffins .49
2 loaves bread .89
(also bought 1 box of kitchen trash bags that didn't make it into the picture) 2.48

You can see they are mgr specials, so before markdown:
Total would have been: $16.99
Total paid: $8.58
Total savings: 50.5%

Publix - My Best Savings!! 97.75%

I was so excited! This is my best savings so far!!
Here's what I got:

Sale price
6 Carnation evaporated milk .99/2 .50/2
1 Sara Lee cheesecake bites 1.99 1.00/1
2 Birds Eye green beans w/almonds .83 .50/1
2 Birds Eye chopped spinach .50 .50/1
2 Birds Eye creamed spinach .83 .50/1
2 Buitoni fresh linguini 2.19/2 1.00/1
2 Schick razors - travel size .99 2.00/1
6 BC potatos 1.69/2 .35/1
6 Bush's black beans .87/2 no coupon
1 Bush's chick peas .44 no coupon
2 Nesquik chocolate milk 1.00 .50/1

Total before coupons: $52.80
Total after coupons $1.19
Total savings: 97.75%

Long Time - No Post

Boy, it has been almost SEVEN months since I've posted! I haven't used coupons much until the past few weeks. We've just been eating what we've had and added milk, eggs, produce, etc. We finally were to the end of what we had and it is now time to stock up again. So, I reorganized my coupons back into my smaller binder, and away we go!

Since May I have been taking out $100 cash each week and did not go over. In fact, I quite often had $20-$40 left at the end of the week. Then there were a few good meat sales and I was able to take advantage of those.

I've had two good weeks of stockpiling some things and will post details later this weekend. I might even try to figure out how to post pictures on here too. It would be fun to go back and look at them later.