Publix - finally!

My DD had fun arranging and taking a picture of this trip.  My first shopping in several weeks that  involved more than milk, bread, fruit and eggs!

4 Hunt's ketchup  1.69/2    -20/1 dbl  =  .44ea
6 Crest toothpaste   2.69/2  -1/1  = .35ea
2 Pepperidge Farm cookies  2.50ea - .50/1 dbl  =  1.50ea
2 gal milk   1.99  -  1/1 wyb Pep Farm cookies  = .99ea
4 Scrubbing Bubbles   3.29/2  - .75/1  = .90ea
4 Kellogg's Mini Wheats little bites   3.89/2 - 2/2 =  .95ea
6 Dentyne 60ct gum  3.29/2  - 1.50/1  =  .15ea
1 Angel Soft tp  5.49
2 Gorton's fish sticks  5.49/2
2 Mueller's spagetti  1.29/2  - .55/2 =   .37ea
7 Navel oranges (4.5lbs)   .79lb  =   3.56
1 3lb bag apples  2.50
1lb box Matzos bread  1.99  clearance-not sure of reg price
2 candles  .34ea  not sure of reg price


Total before coupons & sales:  $118.39
Total OOP:  $40.08

Rubik's Cube Cake

Here is a picture of the Rubik's cube cake I made for my oldest DS.  We had all of the ingredients necessary for the cake in the pantry.  But I don't usually keep black licorace in my pantry, so that was an item I had to purchase and could only find it at Walmart.  I also found that I needed eggs, since all I had was hard-boiled.

I know that the cake is not quite square or even, but it is 4 layers as it is and to keep from having to make another 1 or 2 layers, I tried to 'prop up' the corners with extra icing, but didn't quite get it.  I know how and what I am supposed to do to make it even, I just didn't want to make more cake!  Even for a family of 8, that is a lot of cake!

Plus, I took the picture before I cleaned up the tray.  I was planning on using a cardboard cake tray 'thingy', but I had to store it temporarily overnight on this while I was making it and it stuck quite nicely on this, so I just left it on the round cake keeper thingy.

It is alternating 2 layers of chocolate and 2 layers of yellow cake with chocolate icing.  The licorace and colored buttercream are on top of the chocolate.  I knew we would throw away the licorace - no one here likes it.

Here is the cake in the process of being made.

 

Coupon organization - does the system work for you?

After pondering my hiatus from shopping, I have come to the conclusion that not only was I extremely busy with other things, but also was not excited or interested in shopping because my system was not working.  That is, my system of how I was organizing my coupons.  It just didn't work for me.

I kind of think that since my binder broke, I just didn't want to shop or use coupons.  I know that may sound funny, but it just shows how important it is to use/find an organizational system that you like.

For me, it is a single binder, meaning just one set of rings and the coupons are stored in baseball card inserts so that I can see the coupons at a glance.  I am a visual person and as I am flipping through the pages I can remember seeing a coupon. 

I sort them in alphabetical order - all the A's together, b's, c's, etc. by product name.  One page is for A's food and the next page is for A's non-food, and then the b's food, b's non-food, etc.  But I don't get hung up on alphabetizing within each letter.

When I had to use the binder with 2 sets of rings, it was too much flipping from one set of rings to the other - I really didn't like it at all.  I tried food in one set of rings, non-food in the other - too much flipping from one side to the other.  It required an extra step in the thought process - 'is this item food or non-food? Oh it's non-food... I need to flip to the other side!'

So, since the rings weren't big enough to hold all the pages, I tried A-N in one set, M-Z in the other set.  That way didn't work either.  Thought process - 'this starts with a T and that is on the other side so I need to flip sides!'  Not efficient either!

One of my best friends uses a file box and divides them up by category and she totally loves it!  I tried that too, but I couldn't see the coupons, would forget I had them, and, for me, seemed harder to flip through the coupons.  But my friend loves the file box...and it works extremely well for her!


So, my DS repaired my binder (back in March) and it took up until a few days ago (almost half-way through April) for me to take the time (all of 30 min) to switch back to my fixed binder, pull out the expired coupons, and file all the new ones I had accumulated. 


Point of all of this?  If one system doesn't work for you, or using your coupons seems like too much trouble, then maybe all that is the trouble is that you need to change your system or tweak it just a little bit. A year ago, I tweaked the binder by organizing by alphabet rather than product category.  Works much better for me now.

It takes 'work' to save money using coupons.  Each system requires 'work' to use it.  Using a system that makes sense to you means that you are getting paid (by not spending) the most for the time you 'work'.

I am still around - just not shopping much

I thought I had better post at least 'something' here. Since this is a place to record shopping, I have tried to only post results of shopping here. Problem is, I haven't done a lot of shopping lately. Well, maybe it isn't a problem, but up til now, I haven't had much to post about.

I did go a couple times for bread, milk, fruit, and eggs and I will post those in the monthly totals on the sidebar; but I haven't done much shopping other than that. We have been eating from the pantry stockpile for about 3 weeks now. We are down to about a week's worth of meat left in the freezer (maybe 1.5 weeks), so I will definitely be getting out a bit more.

So, what have I been doing in all my spare time from shopping?
Since March 19 was my last 'real' shopping post, I have had: a birthday, 2 out of town trips, quarter break where I teach math-which translates to no students, but get ready for a new quarter by organizing, planning and finding things to do in class hence a break from students but not work. I have had an out of town meeting, Passover sedar with family, beginning of new quarter (new students), Easter, another birthday, and homeschooling the six.

Only entered one store this week!

I didn't do much shopping this week - no time for it, plus after all that shopping a few weeks ago, we didn't need much.  No time to shop, so no time for pictures :(  In fact, as excited as I was about my binder being fixed, I still have not transferred everything back over to it.  Maybe this week...

However, I did send DH for dog food and milk (actually I didn't even notice we were low on them and he just did the shopping this week).
Oops - we went through a lot of milk!  I just found the receipts - DH bought 6 gallons this week!  But we still have over 3 1/2, so that is good.    Spent $24.80  ($15.19 in March, $9.61 in April)
One evening I was looking for a quick meal and remembered we had lots of hot dogs, so I sent DS and DD to the store for buns and chips - gave them $13 (all the cash I had) and told them to give me back the change.  No change - they spent $14 something! 

I went to Dollar General and got a few items for Easter baskets and for a classroom demonstration (I teach math in the evenings) about fractions.  Spent $25'ish for all of that.  Some of what I bought comes out of a different budget (gifts).  I don't have my receipt handy, so I am estimating that $5 was grocery money.

So, this week we have spent $44.30

My Binder is Back!!

I am SO HAPPY!  My binder is back!  DH saw how sad I was about my binder breaking and asked my oldest DS to see if he could fix it.  I'm not sure if DH told him what to do to fix it or if DS figured this out on his own, but I owe them a GREAT BIG THANK YOU!!

I had already transfered my pages to the new old binder, and it just isn't as easy for me to use.  It has 2 sets of rings, and back when I used it regularly, I had food on one side and non-food on the other.  Seems like it would work great, but I just prefer it to be altogether just one page for food and one page for non-food for each letter of the alphabet.  Works for me better than having to flip back and forth from side to side.

I don't think the fix looks too bad, but I am now noticing how dirty my binder is.  Oh well.  I guess I'll have to keep my eyes open for another new one.  It will be fun to see if I can find one for close to what I paid for this binder, $2.48.

Kroger - Saved 80%

I only went shopping once last week - to Kroger. I only needed milk, bread, eggs, bananas and sugar. But I found a few deals that I couldn't pass up.

Here is what I ended up getting:

8 3pks Irish Spring 1.00 - .50/2 dbl = .50ea
4 lbs bananas .39lb
8 pkg Sargento parmesan cheese .99ea wyb 8 - .50/2 dbl = .49ea
1 gal milk   2.18
4 SunnyD   1.00 - .25/1 dbl  =  .50ea
2 loaves bread  .78ea
8 pkg Mozerella cheese  .99 wyb 8 - 2/2 = -.01ea
7 pkg cheddar cheese shredded .99 wyb 8 - (3) $2/2 and (1) $1/1 = -.01ea
1 block cheddar cheese .99 - 1/1 = -.01ea
1 head lettuce  .69
1 18 ct eggs  1.99
3 pkg Bridgeford 10 pk hamburger patties  4.99ea (store spec - reg 9.99ea)
1 4lb bag Dixie Crystals sugar  2.69 - .50/1 dbl =  1.69ea

Total before card, sales, coupons:  $154.66
Total OOP:   $31.26

Linked to:  Wednesday Weekly Shopping at Frugal Follies
Linked to:  Couponing to Disney
Linked to:  Coupon SUPER Savers at Coupon Saving Game
Linked to:  Weekly Totals at I Heart Publix  
Linked to:  Super Savings Saturday @ Money Saving Mom

Publix - Laundry Detergent & pizza!

Ran by Publix to use the rest of my All coupons and stock up on Tombstone pizza. Also bought a few of the V-Fusion - my kids LOVE this! And I will only buy it on sale w/ a coupon. So I will most likely go back and get some more, so you will probably see a few more later on.

And I decided to go ahead and use my RainCheck for Goodlife Cat food.

6 Tombstone pizzas   2.90ea  used  $3/2  =  1.40ea
5 All laundry detergent  2.99ea  used  $2/1  =  .99ea
3 V-Fusion juice   1.99ea  used  .75/1  =  1.24ea
6 bags Goodlife cat food  used RC  2.25ea  used $2/1  =  .25ea

Total before coupons & sales:  103.31
Total OOP:  $29.80

Went over budget for these two weeks!

This week I did a lot of shopping for our stockpile and stocked up on some meat too. I ended up spending more than usual – $208.99!            But I saved $326.25.

I bought 40 lbs of chicken (picture of 1 of 2 transactions) and several steaks and a roast; that was $62.50 of the $208.

I was able to stock up on cereal, and it is one of our favorite kinds too, so I bought a bunch.  (1 of several transactions)

Here’s where I went and how much I spent:

Store                          Total Spent                             Total Saved

CVS                              $9.53                                            $18.55                   

Target                         $66.92                                          $52.34            (click on each store 

Walmart                     $15.65                                          $16.00               to see what I bought)    

Kroger                         $88.24                                         $135.58

Publix                          $28.65                                         $113.78

                   

Total                           $208.99                                         $336.25

And if you're interested, 

here's a list of what I purchased for my $208

CVS

7 bottles Dawn .97ea

1 Nivea lip care 2.99
1 2L bottle Coke 1.34
1 Charmin TP 5.97

Target

12 boxes Mini-Wheats  2.50ea  
 4 box Raisin bran    2.54
6 Grape Nuts cereal   2.61ea  

3pk Wrigley's 5 gum  2.50
1 bag Cadbury mini eggs  2.66
1 Tide fresheners    3.48

12 cans Alpo            .64ea  
1 box Up trash bags  6.78

1 Band-Aids              1.54   

3 rolls tape    .55 ea 
1 60ct Dentyne ice   2.08 

4 12ct Pop Tarts  2.50ea

Kroger

3 pkgs shredded Mozzarella cheese   .99 ea  
 3 pkgs cheddar cheese    .99ea  
6 pkgs parmesan cheese  .99 ea   
16 Snickers   2/$1  
6 pkgs Irish Spring soap   1.00 ea  
6 PowerAde  .49 ea 
3  SunnyD    1.00ea 
4 lbs bananas  .39 lb
2 Yakisoba   .79ea 
1 Bottom Round Roast  8.24 

39.6 lbs chicken

2 pkgs steak 
1 pkg hot dog buns    .49  
2 lb bag mini cut carrots   1.49  
4 gal milk  1.99 ea
1.85 lbs sirloin steak   5.53 
1 wheat bread   .79 
1 can green beans  .39
1 can beets      .29
1 can hominy    .39
1 can corn       .39  
1 small bottle Odwalla juice    .79 

Publix

6 Tombstone pizzas   2.90ea

3 All detergent   2.99ea 

10 pkgs Hebrew National hotdogs  2.50ea 

8 YoPlus yogurt  1.25ea 

6 bags Goodlife cat food  4.49 ea 

2 Fruit chillers  1.67ea 

5 Land O Lakes butter  .95ea 

2 Yakisoba  .79  

 

Wal-Mart

30 cans Alpo   .67ea 

6 boxes  Seapak shrimp poppers   1.58ea 

Linked to:  Wednesday Weekly Shopping 
Linked to:  Couponing to Disney
Linked to:  Coupon Saving Game
Linked to:  Weekly Totals at I Heart Publix

I'm Sad...may my coupon binder rest in peace.

So, I use a binder with baseball card pages to organize my coupons. I have them alphabetized by product name. I have one page for food items and one page for non-food items for each letter of the alphabet.  I found that I have gradually changed to shopping by product name rather than type.  I no longer think "Hey, I need shampoo - let's see what shampoo coupons I have."  Now I think, "Powerade is on sale, do I have a coupon for Powerade?"

I also have one page for Publix, Kroger, and a page for the remaining stores I will shop at during the current week) in which I put my coupons that I will need for that shopping trip.  So I have all that I need in front of the binder and the others too.

When I open the binder I should see something like this...


Instead, I see something like this...

Time to toss this wonderful binder and get a new one.  Actually, I have one that I used and then found this one that I liked better.  So I guess I will go back to the 'old' one until I can find another like this.  I think I am more worried about finding one at the great price I got this red one - $2.48 at Target about 2 and a half years ago.

Kroger - Stock up on chicken

It is time to stock up on chicken again.  The last time I bought chicken was Feb. 19 and I had intended to stock up more then, but ran out of time to prepare it for the freezer.  I have a little more time now and plan on stocking up a bit.

I like to buy a bunch when it is this price and cut my own to make boneless, skinless chicken breasts and then I freeze them in serving size portions.  But I have to admit that I totally despise cutting it and while I cut and hack at the chicken, I am contantly saying to myself "I'm saving over $1 a pound, I'm saving over $1 a pound!"  When I'm done hacking at the chicken (can you tell I SO love doing this job and am SO good at it too!...HaHa!) I boil the leftover meat and bones and then take off the cooked meat and freeze it for chicken salad or to use in recipes that need cooked chicken.  Sometimes I will even be very efficient and use the stock for soup or to make a white sauce (well I guess it's not quite a white sauce when you use chicken stock - I think it is called some other kind of sauce).  There is an added benefit of being able to store more in the freezer as well.

Here's what I got:
19.6 lbs chicken breast   .99 lb
1 sirloin steak (can't remember the size)  5.53  Mgr Special
1 wheat bread   .79  Mgr Spec
1 can green beans  .39
1 can beets      .29
1 can hominy    .39
1 can corn       .39   (all cans were mgr spec)
1 small bottle Odwalla juice    .79  mgr spec  (DS7 was thirsty and I am trying to get him to eat more fruit)

Total OOP:  28.89
Didn't use a bit of coupons this time but saved:   16.39

Trip #2
No picture because the Snickers are for Easter baskets and I didn't want to lay them all out for the kids to see.
ETA:  Guess I took a picture of some of it.  And I totally forgot about the beef I found too:

20 lbs chicken
8 Snickers bars   2/1.00  used  .50/2 dbl  =  FREE
1 pkg hot dog buns    .49   mgr spec
2 lb bag mini cut carrots   1.49   mgr spec

Total OOP:  31.50 ?  can't remember exactly


Wanted to add a forgotten Kroger run for milk last week.
4 gal milk  1.99 ea

Total OOP:  8.20

Third Kroger trip:
I was right next to Kroger, so decided I would stop in and shop the $4 off 8 products March into Savings sale.

3 pkgs shredded Mozarella cheese   .99 ea   used   3   $2/2  =  free
 3 pkgs cheddar cheese    .99ea   =  free w/ above coupons
6 pkgs parmesan cheese  .99 ea    used  3   .50/2 dbl   =  .49 ea
8 Snickers   2/$1   used  4  .50/2 dbl  =  free
6 pkgs Irish Spring soap (for my dad)  1.00 ea   used  3  $ .50/2 dbl  =  .50 ea
6 Powerade  .49 ea  used $1/2 catalina and .55/2 Kroger coupon
3  SunnyD    1.00ea  used  3  .25/1 dbl  =  .50ea
4 lbs bananas  .39 lb
2 Yakisoba   .79ea  used 2  .50/1  =  free (no overage)
1 Bottom Round Roast  8.24  Mgr Spec   (originally was 13.54)

1.49 ecoupon came off total (from playing game)
So my total before coupons & sales:  93.46
Total OOP:   $19.51 

At least some of the cheese will qualify for the Kraft buy $20, get $2 OYNO coupon.  The coupon will print out in about a week. 

Haven't been to Target in awhile either!

Here is another store I haven't shopped at for a long time...Target.  But the cereal deal was too good to pass up.  Especially since Mini-Wheats is an absolute favorite in our house and the kids haven't had them in forever it seems like.

While there, I found a few other things we could use too.  Didn't save a whole lot, but it was stuff we could use.
4 boxes Kelloggs cereal   2.50ea  used  2  $1/2
2 boxes Grapenuts     3.17ea   used $1/2
1 Tide fresheners    3.48 clearance (not sure if good price, but thought I would put them in closets - especially the boys' closets!)
6 cans Alpo            .64ea   2  $1/3
1 box Up trash bags  6.78 clearance
1 Bandaids              1.54    used 1/1
3 rolls tape    .55 ea  clearance
1 60ct Dentyne ice   2.08  clearance

Total OOP:  31.32

I got back a GC for $5 (Kelloggs cereal)  and if I had even looked at my coupons I could have used the 1.50/1 Dentyne and then they would have been .58!  Oh well...

ETA:  Went back and got some more cereal and even some PopTarts!  Sshhhh!  Kids don't know that we have them yet!  Trying to keep them as a surprise!  We'll see how long we can keep that secret...HaHaHa!
That was 5.29

ETA: Went  back and got more cereal and splurged on my favorite Easter candy (didn't get any last year at all)
3pk Wrigley's 5 gum  2.50 (for DS17 - who consumer judged and single packs were 2.25ish)
1 bag Cadbury mini eggs  2.66 (on sale)
4 boxes cereal   2.50ea

Used $5 GC and 2 $1/2 coupons:  Total OOP:  8.46

Went once again to let the 4 youngest kids buy a scooter (they had saved enough money so that each of them could buy their own)  Thanks to the wonderful cashier that patiently checked each one out and helped the two youngest to count their money!  
Anyway, while there, I checked the Kelloggs cereal and they had plenty on the shelf, so I bought 4 more boxes.  And then I turned the corner and found Grape Nuts at even a lower price; DH had loved the 2 boxes I found earlier this week (still have one of the original two), so I got 4 more boxes.

  3 boxes Mini-Wheats  2.50ea   used 2 $1/2
 1 box Raisin bran    2.54
6 cans Alpo  .64ea   used  $1/3
4 Grape Nuts cereal   2.61ea   used 2  $1/2

Used my $5 GC from previous purchase, so my Total OOP was $14.05 and I have another $5 GC.

Finally went to CVS!

I have not been to any CVS in a very long time...why?  A very silly reason, but I can't park my 15-passeger van in my local CVS's parking lot!  Since DH and I 'traded' vehicles with each other, I can't go to CVS!  Not that I was too upset about it.  CVS (for me) takes too long to figure out and I would never find the items in stock and I was not too good at getting things for the same low prices as other people could do.  So it ended up not being worth my time.

But now, CVS has opened a new store very close to my house...and I can park my van there too!  So I visited the new store.  I didn't do great, but considering I waited until late Saturday night to go (and the only reason I went then was I found out that we were down to 1 roll of toilet paper in a house with 8 people and 3 bathrooms!)  Yikes!  So, I dug out my coupons and 'got back into CVS'ing.

Here is what I ended up with:

7 bottles Dawn .97ea (no coupons)
1 Nivea lip care 2.99 1/1 any Nivea product
1 2L bottle Coke 1.34
1 Charmin TP 5.97

used $5/15 Rec'd in mail for Grand Opening
1.99/1 Free 2L coke for Grand Opening (not sure why it took off 1.99?)
1/1 any Nivea product Manuf coupon
.25/1 Charmin

Paid OOP w/tax: 9.53
Rec'd: 1 ECB (Charmin) and 2.99 ECB (Nivea)

Not the greatest, but I was happy that for basically what I would have paid for the TP, I also got Dawn and Nivea.

Look what else I found at Publix!

While shopping yesterday for Dole fruit cups for my Dad yesterday, I spotted a few deals for me (and the cat!)  You can see Marmalade appreciated the food we got for her; and that is as far as she got on the table - thank goodness for all that Lysol spray I stocked up on way last year!

4 bags Goodlife cat food  (used Raincheck) 2.25ea - 2/1  =  .25ea
4 bottles Aunt Jemima syrup  1.90ea  - 1/2  =  1.40ea  (Thank you! to a friend for reminding me about this one!)
1 Ovaltine  4.29  - 1/1 Target printable coupon  (we haven't had this in YEARS!)
5 Bertolli pasta sauce  1.35 - .60/1  =  .84ea
8 Dole fruit cups for Dad  2.65/2 - .50/2 dbl  =  .82ea
2 Quaker granola bars 1.49ea - 1/2 Kroger coupon = .99ea
2 Captain crunch cereal  1.99ea - 1/2 Kroger coupon =  1.49ea
3 1lb strawberries  3/$5 sale price
6 Yakisoba  .79ea  -  .50/1 dbl =  -.21ea
Ruffles chips  Free (grandpa bought them for the kids!)

Total before coupons and sale:  96.20
Total OOP:   $31.50

Check out my other shopping trip:  Publix (24.60) Bertolli and Dole fruit cups!

Publix time!

We got back from our busy weekend and I wanted to stock up on the Dole fruit bowls while they were BOGO at Publix.  I wanted to get them for my Dad since he loves them and always buys them regardless of price.  My plan is to stock up and when he wants them I will 'shop at my house unbeknownst to him' and save him some money.  He will use coupons, but does not understand the stockpile principle.  Plus when I shop with or for him, he will pay $5.76 for just 2 packages of these things!  Without blinking an eyelash!  Yikes! His response: "Yeah, but they're good!"

Here we go:
2 Ruffles 3.99/2 (yeah, more chips...we've had sick folks in our house and chips for whatever reason is what we crave when we are sick...)
12 pkgs Dole fruit cups  1.32ea - .50/2  =  .82ea (vs. 2.65ea!)
2 hot dog buns  1.17ea
2 pkgs hot dogs 2.99 and 3.99ea   -3.99 Q (Kroger Q for free OM hot dogs) cashier took off higher priced ones!  Thank you!  I wasn't planning on that one!)
6 Bertolli pasta sauce  1.35ea - .60/1  = .75ea

Total OOP:  24.60
Total before Q and sales:  66.05

I went back the next day and... Look what else I found at Publix! (31.50)

Linked to: Weekly Wednesday Shopping
Linked to: Coupon Saving Game
Linked to: I Heart Publix

I wanted Homemade Chili - stopped at Kroger

Well, it was cold and I wanted chili over baked potatoes (hence the 20 lbs of potatoes)  plus we were out of coffee! (I know I still have another coffee 'somewhere', but can't seem to find it!  So I bought another one and (hiding my face...) I didn't even look at the price!  Eeek!

While there, I took a quick look at the mark-down meat and found a roast.  I got some hamburger meat for the chili basically just to save time so I wouldn't have to thaw frozen meat. 

And then I found those cute little 'steak thingies wrapped in bacon' for .99.  Don't know what they are, never had them before, but we're going to try them for .99.  One problem though...2 steak thingies - 8 people.  How's this going to work?

I was getting a few things for my dad since he couldn't get out.  Those things are not pictured as I took them to my dad.  He will pay me for his stuff.

Ground beef  6.76
Chuck steak  4.90
Eggs        1.39
trash bags  2.99
2 'steak thingies'  .99ea  orig 2.50ea
3 Hershey morsels  1.39ea  orig ? (they were mgr special)
Kroger tea bags   2.79
Odwalla juice  .79  mgr spec  orig ?  (not pictured)
5 Kroger kidney beans  .69ea (for chili)
2 Kroger bread  1.00ea
2 10lb potatoes  3.99ea (could have saved money going somewhere else, but...I didn't)
2 big Hershey candy bars  .90ea (mgr special - not pictured, gave them to my dad)
1 Kroger peanut butter  2.49  (for dad)
2 Kroger wheat bread  .78ea (for dad)
2 boxes cookies  1.09ea (for dad)

Total OOP:  $61.21 (my part was $43.87)
Not sure how much I saved:  reciept says  a whopping  $3.48

Busy Week Last Week!

I missed posting on time this week...I have been sick and then I shared with some of the kids.  Plus we were getting ready for 4-H Project Achievement which met over the weekend.  Whew!  We're done with that now (til next year)  I'll post my shopping trips for last week after I get caught up on some other things this week.  I did shop last week but didn't really try to get the best possible prices - I was going for the 'get in and get out quick' shopping trip, which I did, but didn't save much money...

One more Ingles trip for Bertolli and butter!

I started feeling better and we decided to make one more trip to see if we could get a few more Bertolli sauces and butter.  While I was there, I remembered that I had a Rain Check for Pillsbury cinnamon rolls that was going to expire today, so I used it.  Plus a few more good deals that we could use. (I notice that the date on my camera needs to be adjusted!)

 

2 Boxes Raisin Bran  3.48 - 1/2  = 1.24ea

10 Bertolli pasta sauce  1.44 - .60/1 = .84ea

2 Blue Plate mayo 2.68 - 1/1  =  1.68ea

6 Land O'Lakes butter 1.07 - .50/1  = .07ea (not pictured)

10 Pillsbury cinn rolls 1.00 - .40/2  =  .60ea (not pictured)

From Mgr Spec buggy:

12 cans Chef Boy .91 - .35/3  =  .68ea 

(the ONLY flavor that my kids like and we only buy it occassionally)

2 boxes True Lime  .99ea

3 2L bottles soda  .88ea

 Total OOP:  $34.08

My other shopping trips this week:  Ingles (39.55), Kroger(60.10), Kroger(20.67).

Ingles 2/27

I stopped by Ingles on my way home from Kroger, because they had our preferred brand of spagetti sauce on sale.  I wanted to stock up on that as well as the Land O'Lakes butter.  I bought some for us as well as for my dad.  I keep some of his stuff in my freezer and when he needs it I just take it to him.  So I kind of buy for 2 families.  I was also still in the mindset of needing to buy appropriate food to feed 6 kids in the car for 2 meals and a snack.  It shows in the choices I made; not to mention that I was sick and not thinking clearly.  And in our defense, we haven't had ice cream in at least 5 months...

Items in blue were for Saturday's road trip:
8 Bertolli pasta sauce  1.44  - .60/1  =  .84ea
5 Land O'Lakes butter  1.07  - .50/1  = .07ea
2 Lay's chips  1.99 - 1/1  =  .99ea

2 loaves french bread  .94ea

2 Nabisco Multipak 6.17/2 - 1/2 = 2.60ea

2 Dixie Crystal sugar 2.28 - .50/2 = 1.78ea

2 Crystal Light   1.64ea

2 bags carrots  .99ea

1 box of 6 pks individual sliced apples 1.49 Mgr Spec

2.5 lbs grapes  3.15

1 box Laura Lynn aluminum foil  2.28
4 Edy's ice cream  2.48 - 1/1  =  1.48ea

Total before sales/coupons:  111.32
Total OOP:  $39.55

My other shopping trips this week:  Ingles (34.08), Kroger(60.10), Kroger(20.67).

More Free Milk at Kroger!

I have noticed that I haven't bought much meat and produce lately, but I assure you that we do eat lots of it!  I usually buy meat less often but in large quantities when it is on sale and then I buy produce along the way.  This Kroger trip I found lots of meat on manager special!  Yeah!  We were almost out of beef!
I have been sick this week and I am glad that I had made my shopping list earlier in the week.  All I had to do was go down the list and then scan through the mark-down produce and meat.  
At the time I was shopping, I was planning on taking all 6 kids on a road trip Saturday and was planning on feeding them breakfast and lunch in the car.  Some of this was meant to be appropriate for meals/snacks in the car. Especially what I bought at Ingles right after I left Kroger!

Here's what I ended up getting:
2 Fruit Loops  2.50 - 1/2  =  2.00ea
2 Corn Pops   2.50 - 1/2  =  2.00ea
2 Flipsides pretzels  2.50  - 1/2  = 2.00ea
4 Keebler choc chip cookies  2.50- 1/2  =  2.00ea
4 gal milk  2.28 - 2.28 promo  = all 4 for Free!
4 Pepperidge Farm cookies  2.00- .50/1  =  1.00ea
2 donuts  .79 Mgr Spec
1 lb Oscar Mayer turkey   3.99 - 3.99 = free (coupon for free OM lunch meat)
1 canteloupe  1.38
10 apples  $1/lb  =  5.00
1 blueberries  1.79 Mgr Spec
1 Round roast  9.09
2 stew beef   7.61
2 Chuck steak  7.61

Total before sales/coupons:  106.47
Total OOP:  $60.10

And this will qualify for the Kelloggs/Keebler $10 Rebate as well!

My other shopping trips this week:  Ingles (39.55), Ingles(34.08), Kroger(20.67).

Linked to: I Heart Publix
Linked to: Coupon Saving Game
Linked to: Super Savings Saturday at Money Saving Mom
Linked to: Friday Finals at Southern Savers

I had so much FUN at Kroger last night!

On my way home, I called my DS and asked if we needed anything.  He said YES! Bring Milk!!  So, off I went to Kroger and look what I got!

2 boxes Frosted Flakes on sale for 2.50 ea  - 1.50/2 = 3.50/2
2 boxes Rice Crispies   on sale for 2.50ea  - 1/2 = 2.00ea
2 boxes Apple Jacks  sale for 2.50ea  - 1/2 = 2.00ea
2 boxes Corn Pops  sale for 2.50  - 1/2 = 2.00ea
2 boxes Keebler cookies  sale for 2.50  - 1/2 = 2.00ea
2 loaves white bread  mgr spec  .39ea
2 loaves wheat bread  mgr spec  .39ea
4 gallons milk  2.28ea = Free due to sale *see below
1 bottle Odwalla strawberry juice  mgr spec  .79 (not pictured)

Here is the current deal at Kroger:
   *When you buy 4 Kelloggs or Keebler items (selected items marked on shelf tags), then you get 2 gallons of milk for free.  Limit 2 deals per transaction.  This made all 4 gallons of milk FREE!

I also used my last $2/1 coupon from all the cheese I bought a few weeks ago during the Mega Sale.

My total OOP was:  $20.67  AND  since I bought 10 Kelloggs/Keebler items in one transaction it qualifies for the Kelloggs rebate, so I will get $10 back!!

After the rebate it will have cost only $10.67 for all of that!!

My other shopping trips this week:  Ingles (39.55), Kroger(60.10), Ingles (34.08).

February Meal Plan - updated

I just wanted to see how I was doing with our mealplan since I did not print it out.  I usually keep it on my refrigerator so I know what to take out of the large freezer for the week.  Well, considering I don't have a printed copy to look at, I don't think we did too bad.  We have had some of the meals twice though this month, so this week maybe I can do some different meals.  I have alot of cooked chicken in the refrigerator, so I will definitely be doing some chicken dishes.  Also, it's time to think about getting March's mealplan started.

 

February Mealplan

1. Homemade pizza, salad

2. Chicken & broccoli & rice bake w/cheese topping

3. Hamburger steak, boiled potato, veggie

4. Meatloaf, mashed potato, veggie

5. Meatballs, julienne potato, veggie

6. Chicken pot pie

7. Spagetti (use buitoni), salad

8. Broiled/baked chicken breast, rice, veggie

9. Taco soup, chips

10. Chicken & rice bake (from can of evap milk)

11. Soup w/leftovers

12. Roast turkey, Stuffing, veggie

13. Lasagna (need to use noodles) buy ricotta/cottage cheese

14. Chicken alfredo (HH), veggie

15. Chili w/ baked potato

16. Fish? Or fishsticks?

17. Grilled cheese and soup

18. Sausage and rice casserole (use gr.turkey w/ old bay seasoning)

19. Waffles, sausage, scrambled eggs

20. Macaroni and cheese w/beef, veggie, salad

21. Tacos, (buy tortillas), Mexican rice

22. Soup w/ leftovers

23. Turkey tetrazzini, veggies

24. Shrimp poppers, rice, veggie

25. Philly cheesesteak HH, veggie

26. Chicken alfredo HH, veggie

27. Chicken and dressing (stovetop), sweet potato (frozen or boxed),veggie

28. Taco casserole w/chips (buy chips)

29. BBQ pulled pork (crockpot),veggies, potato/rice/pasta

Reminders:

Use up 10 grapefruit

Need to make pumpkin pie (use canned pumpkin)

Use whole wheat pasta in soups

Use up instant grits for breakfasts

Packets of Yakisoba in soups-continue to use

Use oatmeal in meatloaf, muffins, breads

I plan on making extra of these to put into the freezer for next month:

Waffles (probably won’t last til next month!)  Nope - they didn't!!

Chili

Turkey tetrazzini

Chicken pot pie

Meatloaf (already cooked)

Freeze leftover BBQ pork

This will be more than one day for me. Probably I’ll do this as time permits during the month.

Ingles Deals week of 2/21-2/27

Today's mail brought the sale ad for next week! Looks like some BOGO possibilities!

Lots of other good sales too!

All of the following are BOGO:

Buy One Get One Free – prices indicate the ‘savings on two’, so if you buy just one it would be half price.

Barilla Dry Pasta 1.38

Lays Potato Chips 10.5-11oz 3.99

Kelloggs cereal 3.78

Crystal Springs 12ct water 4.38

Bertolli Past sauce 2.88

Nabisco Cookie or cracker multipack 6.17

Dukes Mayo 3.28

Crystal Light drink mix 3.28

Krusteaz baking mixes 2.50

Post kids cereals 3.26

Post Raisen Bran 3.47

Kelloggs Fiber Plus 2.98

White House apple sauce 6pk 1.98

Earth’s Best Baby food .78

Burleson’s Clover Honey Bear 3.38

Land O’Lakes Fresh Buttery Taste bowl 2.14

Kraft Dunk’Ems crackers 6.17

Pillsbury refrigerated crusty French loaf or pizza crust 2.47

Mueller’s noodles 12-16oz 2.00

4C drink mix sticks or powder 4.98

Langer’s carrot juices 2.48

Laura Lynn 8.5oz foam cups 51 ct 1.58

Laura Lynn snap/seal sandwich bags 100ct 2.58

Hefty cinch sak trash bags XL, lawn/leaf bags or select tall kitchen bags 4.48

Glass Plus 32oz 2.44

Laura Lynn glass cleaner or all purpose cleaner w/bleach 32oz 1.98

Steak-Umms steaks 4.58

Edy’s Dibs 3.98

Deli French Bread 16oz 1.88

Louis Kemp imitation seafood 2.98

Eckrich Links or bologna 2.48

Oscar Mayer meat bologna 3.38

Gwaltney Big 8’s meat franks 2.28

Steak-Umms burgers 8.98

Bagged collard greens 1lb 2.48

Green Giant baby peeled carrots 1lb 1.98

I’ll post other sale items as time permits….

Walmart

Stopped at Walmart to check out the clearence stuff.  My oldest DS needed a graphing calculator and we were prepared to pay $100 for it.  (Now you know where all my grocery savings went!)  But when he got there our Walmart was clearing out tons of stuff to reset displays and, you guessed it, all the calculators were on sale for 50% off!  So he was able to get one for $45!  And we found a few other things too:  folders, calendars, some bright orange storage cubes thingies (orange isn't our color, but they will hold stockpile stuff or toys no matter what color they are) for 50% off!

By the way, I went only needing milk and bread and a calculator!
Here are the grocery items we got:

1 gal milk   2.28
2 loaves white bread   1.18ea
2 loaves wheat bread  1.50ea (yes those are peelies on the bread!  I am kind of glad the cashier left them on the pkg so I can price that bread at some of the other stores - it will be .70 off!)
2 Knox geletin  1.28ea  - 4/1

So, OOP for groceries:  2.20

Other stuff brought my total up to $50

I also shopped at Kroger and Publix.

Linked to:  Coupon Saving Game
Linked to I Heart Publix

Quick Publix Run

Oops! I needed to get a Valentine's card for someone, so I made a quick run by Publix since we were driving by that day.  Here is what I got:

1 gal milk   2.28
1 Knox geletin  1.38  -  4/1  =  -2.62
2 Fiber One yogurt   1.25 - .50/1 dbl  =  .25ea
2 Rolaids  1.50 - 4/2  =  -1.00
2 Goodlife cat food 2.25ea - 2/1  =  .25ea
1 card  3.99?  (I don't remember price & can't find receipt)

Total OOP:  3.70

I also shopped at Walmart and Kroger.

Kroger this week

I didn't do alot of shopping this week, but I did make a quick stop one evening at Kroger to get some of the .99lb chicken breast.  I didn't take a picture of yucky raw chicken, but I bought 6 pkgs.

I like to buy a bunch when it is this price and cut my own to make boneless, skinless chicken breasts and then I freeze them in serving size portions.  But I have to admit that I totally despise cutting it and while I cut and hack at the chicken, I am contantly saying to myself "I'm saving over $1 a pound, I'm saving over $1 a pound!"  When I'm done hacking at the chicken (can you tell I SO love doing this job...HaHa!) I boil the leftover meat and bones and then take off the cooked meat and freeze it for chicken salad or to use in recipes that need cooked chicken.  Sometimes I will even be very efficient and use the stock for soup or to make a white sauce (well I guess it's not quite a white sauce when you use chicken stock - I think it is called some other kind of sauce).

I will probably go back and get some more at this price.  My freezer is low on chicken breasts (and other meat too, much to my dismay)  I guess I will be spending more soon to restock my freezer with meat!

Total OOP:  20.23

Almost forgot!  I did go one other time this week to Kroger - no picture :(  I had two rainchecks that were going to expire on the 16th...

2 Purex    2.49
6 Banquet meals  1.00  - .60/6 from inside pkg
1 pkg Kroger Swiss cheese slices  1.49
1 can Chef Boy ravioli  1.00
(-3.00 for Daytona sale)
12 Kroger peanut butter 1.00ea (used raincheck)
10 Pillsbury brownie mix 1.00 - 1/2 (used raincheck & coupons from a friend!  Thank you so much friend!!)

Total OOP:  27.92


I also shopped at Publix and Walmart.
 

Walmart - this was embarassing!

I was excited to get Alpo for our sweet, old (12 1/2yrs) black lab.  She has recently broken two of her teeth, so she much prefers soft food.  We were completely out of canned food and there were coupons this past weekend for Alpo.  So needless to say I was excited to be getting it for 1/2 price (.34 can).  So off I go to Walmart, last trip of the day and by this time it was snowing quite nicely.

Here is what I got minus the one can that is still in the car:

So I got 12 cans of one flavor and 18 of another.  However, apparently the snow affects my counting abilities and I put 1 of each flavor on the counter and told the very nice cashier "I have 12 of this one and 15 of this one, and one shoelace (for DH)"
I handed her the 10 coupons for $1/3 and for some reason the last one beeped.  I recognized that there was a problem, and I knew that I had 30 cans in my cart and that 10 coupons would match.  I told her I had made a mistake but I didn't know what it was, and took my 1 coupon back and paid 12.50.  As I was leaving I finally realized that 12 + 15 = 27 not 30.  So I made my way back to the busy cashier and paid for the other 3 cans...no coupon cause I stuck it in my purse and wasn't going to spend time looking for it.  So that total was $2.15.

Time to go home and crawl under the bed!

Here's the result of my other shopping prior to the Walmart episode: Kroger (2.77), Publix (4.68), Ingles (17.10).
Grand Total: 39.20

Linked to:  Coupon Saving Game
Linked to I Heart Publix