Super Savings at Meijer---$93.99

Before I left to do my shopping, I had decided that I wanted to get TWO of the OM promotion deal. I kept debating if I wanted to do my shopping once through and then go back through and get my 2nd round of the OM promotion or if I wanted to try my hand at doing two transactions in a row with the same cashier. I am usually a one transaction lady because the cashier's at my store seem to get impatient with the customers quickly...so my philosophy is the quicker through the line the better. Well I went for it and did two transactions with the same cashier. I went through a line with a cashier that I wasn't familiar with and needless to say I will NOT be going back through that grouch's lane again! She did not want to talk at all to me and when she did it was very harsh. UGH! I did a small transaction first and then the bigger one as the second transaction. The first one didn't have any Mperks associated with it so I didn't punch in my numbers for that one. However, the second transaction had quite a few Mperks associated with it, so I waited until she had finished doing my paper MQs before I went to punch in my Mperks numbers. Well she had already hit the payment key when I went to punch the Mperks numbers in so the Mperks button was missing on the card reader, so I commented oh I have Mperks too and she snapped at me saying you are to do that while I am scanning your order cause once I hit the payment key I am not to go back so you can do the Mperks. I said "oh I didn't realize that, I learned something new today". She did go back and allow me to punch in my Mperks but with disdain for such. Anyway on to the transactions....

First transaction: 

12 Mars brand candy bars $9.48 - $5.16(MMB & free items)= $4.32 (36¢ each)
4 OM Lunchables $7.96 -$4.00(promo)-$2.00(MQs)= $1.96 (49¢ each)
4 pks OM Deli Fresh $9.96 - $4.00(promo) -$2.00 (MQs) = $3.96 (99¢ each)

OOP: $10.24
Savings Total: $25.96
Savings %: 71.71%!!!!
**side note: there was 24 items in this transaction, so my avg cost per item after savings was 43¢!!! Not bad!


Second transaction: 

19.08 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $33.78
3 pks Ortega seasonings and 1 jar taco sauce $3.92 -$1.00MMB - $1.00 (2-50¢ MQs) = $1.92 (48¢ each)
2 pouches Starkist tuna $2.98 -$1.00MMB - $1.00(2-50¢ MQS) = 98¢ (49¢ each)
4 conts. Daisy sour cream $7.16
4 pkgs OM Lunchables $7.96 - $4.00 promo - $2.00(MQs) = $1.96
4 pkgs OM Deli Fresh $9.96 - $4.00 promo -$2.00(MQs) = $3.96
2 pkgs Chi-Chi's tortillas $4.00 -$1.00MMB = $3.00
2 bags Tostitos $5.00 - 50¢MMB -50¢Mperks = $4.00
4 jars Planters Peanuts $10.00 - 50¢Mperks - $3.00(2-$1.50 MQs) = $6.50 ($1.63 each)
4 boxes Lipton Soup Mix $4.00 - 60¢Mperks - $1.00MMB = $2.40 (60¢ each)
5 Totinos Pizzas $6.25 -$1.00Mperks - $1.00(MQ) = $4.25 (85¢ each)
2 pkgs Hillshire Lil Smokies $5.00 - 55¢ IP - 50¢MMB = $3.95
2 bags Tyson Anytizers $11.98 -$2.00(MQs) = $9.98
2 jars Miracle Whip $6.00 - B1G1(MQ) = $3.00
20 cups Yoplait Yogurt $12.00 - 40¢Mperks = $11.60 (kicking myself b/c I forgot to pull my MQs for the yogurt!)
2 bags M&M valentine candy $5.00- $1.00(MQ) = $4.00

OOP: $102.04
Savings: $68.03 
Savings %: 40%!!!
**side note there was 73 items in this transaction so my avg cost per item after savings was $1.40!! not bad! 


The yogurt had a Catalina for $2.00 OYNO so I guess that makes up for things just a tad.  


For no doubles at my store and forgetting about $2.00 in MQs for the yogurt this turned out be to a good shopping trip even if I did have my 2 little ones with me asking every few minutes...."are we done yet!"


This post is linked to: 

• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!

Weekly Shopping Trips 9/25-9/30

This week's shopping trips was my major shopping for this pay period. Despite the sale ads not being that great I was able to get several things for cheap or free and use coupons that were going to expire.

I did two trips to Meijer this week and did very well. I got some free candy bars, cheap taco seasoning and taco sauce, along with some cheap cottage cheese and breaded fish.

Along with my Meijer trips, I went to Walgreens, Target, Family Fare, and Duthler's.

The Walgreens and Target trip were to get some non-grocery items that were on sale there that I could use a few of my expiring coupons.

Walgreens:

• 2 bottles OxiClean spray 
• 2 tubes Aspercreme 

Total OOP: $7.74

Total Savings: $13.65

Target: 

• 1 Cascade PowrPacs
• 2 bottles Clorox bleach
• 20 ct. Tide Stain Release
• 1 bottle Aussie shampoo = Free after cpn
• 1 bottle Herbal Essence shampoo = Free after cpn
• 1 tube Neosporin
• 20ct Bandaids

Total OOP: $12.63

Total Savings: $12.22

Family Fare: 

• 8pk Bounty paper towels
• 24 cups Yoplait yogurt
• 6 lbs apples
• 6.95 lbs ground beef
• 1 dz. eggs

Total OOP: $34.04

Total Savings: $30.44

Duthlers: 

• 2 half gallons Chocolate Milk

Total OOP: $2.66

Total Savings: $2.70

Grand Total OOP: $57.07

Grand Total Savings: $59.01


This post is linked to:

• Shopping Round-up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Meijer Shopping Trips (9/25-9/30)

1st trip:

• 8 candy bars
• 2 Pepsi 2 liters 
• 2 bags Chex Mix 
• 4 boxes Pizza Rolls 
• 2 boxes Eggo waffles 
• 1 jar Dole Peaches 
• 3 Warm Delight Brownies 
• 1 Juicy Juice 64 oz  

I used a $2 off next shopping order Cat that I had along with coupons that were going to expire today and MPerks.

My total out of pocket: $15.60
My total savings: $22.08

Here is one scenario from my 1st trip to Meijer:

2 Hershey Bars $1.58
2 Hershey Aerated $1.58
4 Reeses $3.16
Total $6.32
I used 2- B1G1 coupons(8-28 Smartsource insert) for the Hershey Bars/Aerated so that knocked $1.58 off or what would be equal to 2 free bars and then got 3 bars free due to the deal of Buy 5 get 3 free. So I got 8 bars of chocolate for the price of 3 bars which equals $2.37.

2nd trip(the bigger of the 2):

• 1 head of lettuce 
• 2 Ortega seasoning mixes
• 2.18lbs apples 
• 6 dozen eggs 
• 4 bags frozen corn 
• 2 loaves Texas Toast 
• 1 box onion soup mix 
• 4 cans tomato sauce 
• 2 small bottles Ortega taco sauce 
• 2 containers cottage cheese 
• 2 boxes brownies 
• 2 bags Gorton's fish fillets
• 2 bags BC cookie mix 
•  4 boxes Gogurt 
• 2 boxes pie crust 
• 2 bags Tostitos 
• 2 bags Tyson chicken nuggets 
• 4 bags Ore Ida potatoes 
• 4 boxes GM cereal 
• 4 Tombstones pizzas 

My total out of pocket: $76.97
My total savings: $74.03

Just to give you a couple of scenarios from the 2nd trip:

2 Ortega taco seasonings $1.32
2 8oz bottles Ortega taco sauce $2.82
Used 2-$1.00/2 internet printable 
Used 1-$1.00/4 Mealbox cpn 
Total: $1.14 for all 4 items! or 29 cents/item!

2 bags Gorton Fish Fillets $9.98
Promo buy 2 get $2.00 off instantly
used 2- $1.00/1 peelie Q (found on Ortega products back along the way)
Total: $5.98 for 2 bags

2-24 oz Daisy Cottage cheese $4.98
used 2-65¢/1 tearpad Qs(found those a few weeks ago)
used $1.00/2 Mealbox cpn
Total: $2.68 for 2 or $1.34 each!

Grand Total OOP: $92.57
Grand Total Savings: $96.11

I am very pleased with my results this week.

Meijer Trip

This week, Meijer is having a great 10 for $10 get 11th item free sale!!  So I decided to take some time today and go get a few things before the end of the week and before the shelves were cleared out.

Here are the items that I purchased today:

10 for $10 get 11th item free items:

6 bottles Gatorade
5 boxes Banquet Brown & Serve sausages
2 bags Chex Mix(used 50/2 cpn)
2 boxes Betty Crocker Potatoes(used $1/2 cpn)
3 boxes Betty Crocker Cake Mixes
6 tubes Grands Biscuits
6 cups Easy Mac & Cheese
6 Banquet Dinners(used 3-50/2 cpns)
3 bags Light & Fluffy Egg Noodles
4 boxes Pizza Rolls
2 10pk Snack Size Candy
2 boxes Jello Pudding(used 55/2 cpn--found as a tearpad cpn several months ago)
5 Lunchables
3 bags Jet Marshmallows(used 60/3 cpn)

Other Sale items:

3 jars Peter Pan PB (used MBox $1/3 cpn + 3-50/1 cpn)
1 bag Tyson chicken nuggets
2 boxes Snackwell snacks (used Mbox $1/2 cpn + $1/2 cpn)
2 boxes Dove Ice Cream treats (used Mbox $1/2 cpn + 2-$1/1 cpn)

**used a $2 off shopping coupon as well

Total: $56.27
Savings: $52.49 ($10.65 worth of coupons used!!)

Not bad considering, I wanted to keep my total under $60 today! I was able to get some items I needed plus do some stockpiling. Stockpiling is something I haven't been doing lately because the sales have not been very good.

Shopping Trip

This week's shopping trip was my major one for this pay period. I am actually so excited to share it with you because I got over $20 worth of groceries for FREE!  The items were either a "give me" when you bought so much of an item or free after a high value coupon.  I planned out my trip and I was actually pretty excited to be getting the free items. My free items for this trip were ketchup, baby formula, body wash, bagels and a gallon of milk.  The two ketchup bottles and baby formula were free after high value coupons.  Since I do not have any more babies, I am planning on donating the baby formula. The bagels was free with purchasing 3 lbs of I can't believe it's not butter.  The gallon of milk was free with 4 boxes of Kellogg's cereal. The body wash was free after using a buy two get one free coupon.

Along with the free items I also received a $5 off next shopping order coupon and $2 off next shopping order coupon! Those definitely will come in handy this coming up week to get milk, eggs, and produce in the house on the cheap.

Here is what I purchased this week:

Big Top Market(local store)

• 16lbs potatoes
• 2 lbs bacon
• 15.65 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts
• 7.80 lbs 85% ground beef

Total OOP: $56.62

Savings: $37.29

Duthler's Family Foods(local store)

• 2 bags wavy potato chips
• 2 bags Rold Gold pretzels
• 3-2 liters Faygo pop

Total OOP: $10.46

Savings: $5.25

Family Fare: 

• 3 bags frozen hash browns
• 3 boxes 9ct Bagel Bites
• 2-40 oz bottles Heinz Ketchup = FREE
• 3 lbs margarine sticks
• 3 pkgs Motts applesauce cups
• 2 lbs Land O Lakes Butter
• 2 bottles Miracle Whip
• 2 bottles Kraft Ranch Dressing
• 2 rolls Bob Evans Sausage
• 4 lbs strawberries
• 2.53 lbs bananas
• 1 bottle St. Ives body wash
• 1 Secret Deodorant (was $4.99 bought for $1.49!)
• 2 Speed Stick Deodorants

Total OOP: $51.70

Savings: $38.03

Meijer

• 3 bottles Suave body wash (1 bottle FREE)
• 1 pkg Lender's bagels = FREE
• 1 gallon Meijer milk = FREE
• 1/2 Hormel Ham
• 7.48 lbs turkey breast
• 2 pkgs Freshlike frozen corn
• 1 lb. shredded Kraft cheese
• 2 pks. Kraft Swiss 2% Singles
• 2 boxes Eggo Waffles
• 2 cans Reddi Whip
• 2 boxes Duncan Hines brownie Mix
• 4 lbs I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
• 2 pkgs Warm Delight Brownies
• 2 bags Tyson chicken nuggets
• 4 bags Nestle chocolate chips
• 1 bag Pepperidge goldfish grahams
• 6 tubes Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
• 6 tubes Pillsbury crescent rolls
• 4 boxes Kellogg's cereal
• 2 bags Easter M&Ms
• 2 bottles Similac Formula = FREE

Total OOP: $85.42

Savings: $75.37

Summary of the trip: 

Grand Total OOP: $204.20

Grand Total Savings: $155.94

Grand Total if using no coupons or sales: $360.14

This post is linked at: 

• Week-End Finales at The Frugal Freeloader!
• Shopping Brags Friday at Frugal Xchange!
• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingsMom!

Shopping Trip

Lately, I have been working at just shopping the sales at the grocery stores. If there is not much in the sales worth getting I do not make a trip to all the stores. However, I will run into my corner grocery store, which happens to be Aldi's for milk.   Doing this kind of shopping is keeping my overall total per day for feeding my family of seven under $19/day!

Meijer: 

• 4 pks Danimal smoothies
• 4 containers Breakstone sour cream
• 20 cartons Yoplait single serve yogurt
• 2 bags Doritos
• 18 oz. Hillshire Farms deli meat

Total after sales & coupons: $22.63

Total Savings: $20.25

Family Fare: 

• 5 qt. vanilla ice cream
• 2 boxes Life Cinnamon cereal
• 2 bags Cheetos
• 2 bags Fritos
• 3-12 pks wild cherry Pepsi
• 6-2 liters Pepsi products
• 2 cans pizza sauce
• 2 heads lettuce

Total after coupons & bottle deposit: $43.02

Total Savings: $18.50

Duthler's

• 6.58 lbs ground beef from chuck
• 2.02 lbs beef cube steak
• 6 dozen eggs

Total: $28.97

Total Savings: $13.40

Aldi's

• 3 gallons milk

Total: $6.27

Total Savings with buying milk here rather than at another store : $3.60

Grand Total: $100.89

Grand Total Savings: $55.75

This post linked at: 

• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
• Week-End Finales at The Frugal Freeloader!
• Shopping Brags Friday at Frugal Xchange!
• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

My Shopping Trip!

Last week, Meijer had a 10 for $10 get 11th item free sale, so I took advantage of it and bought the following items:

• 2 bottles Suave shampoo
• 2 boxes 150 ct. sandwich bags
• 6 boxes brown n serve sausage
• 2 boxes Betty crocker cake mix
• 4 tubes Grands biscuits
• 5 cups Easy Mac 
• 9 containers frozen Old Orchard juice
• 2 bottles Sunny Delight
• 1 can Meijer chocolate frosting
• 2 lbs baby carrots
• 5 Totinos frozen pizzas
• 5 Armour LunchMakers

After free items and coupons with tax for non-food items, my total for 45 items was: $36.78

Meijer also has a few other things on sale. I also picked up:

• 1 lb Argo cornstarch
• 3 bags Ore Ida frozen potatoes
• 4 boxes Gogurt
• 2 boxes Gortons frozen fish
• 4.37 lbs ground beef from round on Manager's markdown
• 2 pkgs Reese's peanut butter eggs (splurge item!)

Total for these items: $34.64

Grand Total at Meijer: $71.42

Total Savings at Meijer: $50.29

I also took the time to run into Family Fare so that I could use my coupon for a free gallon of milk along with a few other sale items.

• 2 boxes Post cereal 
• 2 boxes Banquet chicken nuggets
• 3-12pks Pepsi products
• 1 gallon of chocolate milk

Total with bottle deposit: $23.58

Total savings at Family Fare: $10.84

My trip into Aldi's was a quick one for some pantry basics that were out or low on my shelves.

• 3 gallons milk 
• 2 dozen eggs
• 6 cans beef broth
• 1 jar honey
• 4 cans cream of chicken soup

Total: $19.85

Grand Total: $114.85

Grand Total of Savings: $61.13 plus Aldi's!

Not bad considering that it was a shopping trip for 2 weeks worth of groceries since I skipped a shopping trip around the 1st of the month due to being on vacation (I shop around the 1st and 15th of the month due to hubby's pay).  I didn't need much in the way of meats this go around because of buying ahead and making menus from what I have in my stockpile before shopping.   This week's menu is totally working out of the pantry and freezer stockpile. Next week's grocery trip will be a bigger trip due to needing more meats.  Sorry no pictures this week, everything got put away so fast by my kids that I didn't have a chance to take them. 

This post is linked at: 

• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Weekly Shopping Trip---Savings $31.01

I am really enjoying this shopping habit/routine that I am making for myself. Payday week is a big shopping trip which usually means at least three grocery stores and spend several hours getting it completed. Non-payday week is just a basic food staples run with maybe a couple of deals that I just can't pass up.  It basically averages out to every other week is a big shopping trip as hubby gets paid twice each month. The advantage to this routine is that I am not getting burned out doing the grocery shopping. I can get my shopping trip prepared now in about a half hour or less depending on the week and I can get my shopping done in 3 hours on big weeks and under an hour on staples run.  I also am finding with this routine that I am spending less because I am not buying extra convenience items. Last year there came a point where I was just worn out and didn't have the motivation to do any shopping so I did it half heartedly and found that I was actually spending more because I was caving to convenience.

With my new routine, I am spending on average about $24 per day to keep my household going, that is food for meals & snacks, shampoo, soap, laundry detergent, and paper products.  I would love to get back to the $20 per day that I was doing before I was burned out with shopping, however, I will take baby steps to get there rather than big steps so as not to upset the family too much.

This week was a non-payday week so I did a basic food staples run and spent less than $60 for everything.  I hopefully will be able to make it until next Friday(payday) before doing any more shopping.

Here is the breakdown of my purchases this week:

Meijer: 

• 45 ct Meijer brand Zyrtec $17.97(my allergies are awful!)
• 1/2 gallon buttermilk $2.39
• 4 cans Old Orchard juice $4.00
• 1 Degree deodorant $1.47
• 2 Right Guard deodorant $2.00
• 4 gallons milk $7.52
• 6 tubes cinnamon rolls $5.00
• 3 tubes crescent rolls $2.65

Total OOP(with 6% sales tax for non-food): $44.44

Total Savings: $21.80

Total without sales & coupons: $66.24

Family Fare: 

• 2 heads lettuce $1.76
• 1 box Honeycomb cereal $1.77
• 2 boxes Raisin Bran $2.54
• 4.12 lbs ground chuck $8.20

Total OOP: $14.27

Total Savings: $9.21

Total without sales & coupons: $23.48

Grand Total OOP: $58.68

Grand Total Savings: $31.01

Grand Total without sales & coupons: $89.72

This post is linked to: 

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Savers Bungelow at Saving a Bundle!
• Week-Ending Finales at The Frugal Free Loader!
  
• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $108.65

This week I managed to only go grocery shopping twice, unlike last week were I was in the stores shopping almost every day!  I went at the beginning of the week for a milk and lettuce run to Aldi and then waited until Friday to do major grocery shopping at three different stores.  Just a reminder, that where I live I can go to all the different stores because they are in a 5 mile radius from my house.

Can I just say that I do not like shopping on Friday??!!  The stores are busy, there does not seem to be as many markdowns, and shelves are empty and no store stockers are around stocking to ask for an item that is gone on the shelves!  So I walked out of Meijer this week with TWO rainchecks for items rather than the actual item! The two items were stockpile items so I can get those when I do my next big shopping trip in two weeks.

Anyway, I managed to stock my shelves for the next two weeks. I should be able to just worry about shopping for my parents next week along with picking up a few staples, like milk for us.

Here is the breakdown of what was purchased this week: (sorry forgot to take pictures again this week--my kids are great helpers in getting the food put away so no chance on getting any pictures).


Aldi: 

• 2 heads lettuce $1.18(59¢ each)
• 2 gallons milk $3.50 ($1.75/gallon)

Total OOP: $4.68

Save A Lot: (I took advantage of using some coupons at Save A Lot this trip!)

• 1 bag breaded chicken tenders $3.24
• 3 tubes biscuits $1.00
• 2 bags frozen corn $1.98
• 4 cans cream of chicken soup $1.86 (normally 59¢ each used a 50¢/4 coupon)
• 2 pkgs reg. cream cheese 40¢ (on special for 2/$1 used a 60¢/2 coupon)
• 1 can kidney beans 65¢
• 4 cans evaporated milk $2.16 (normally 79¢ each used 2-50¢/2 coupon)
• 2 cans sweentened condensed milk $2.98
• 6 Totino Party Pizzas $6.00
• 2 jars pizza sauce $1.98
• 1 Ortega taco kit $1.99 (found a $1/1 any Ortega peelie coupon on the shelf with the kits!)
• 2 cans tomato sauce $1.18

Used a $5 off $20 purchase coupon that I received via their mailer flyer ad.

Total OOP: $21.21

Total Savings using coupons: $8.85

Total without coupons: $30.06

Meijer: 

• 1.07lbs honey roasted deli turkey $6.41
• .70 lbs oven roasted deli turkey $4.19
• 1 jar grape jam $2.59
• 13.68 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $24.49
• 8 cans veggies $5.52
• 2.34 lbs green grapes $3.49
• 10 lbs potatoes $2.98
• 2 bottles apple juice $3.78
• 2 boxes snack crackers $1.98
• 1 box chocolate graham crackers $1.99
• 20 packs Kool-aid $2.00
• 5 lbs red potatoes $2.99
• 1 gallon chocolate milk $3.00
• 4 bottles Juicy Juice $4.00
• 1 cantaloupe $2.50
• 3 boxes 12 ct. poptarts $6.25
• 2 bottles Lysol toilet cleaner $2.28
• 1 bottle Lysol all purpose trigger cleaner $1.09

Used a $2 off next shopping order coupons!

Total OOP (with 6% sales tax for non-food items): $79.79

Total Savings: $43.22

Total without sales & coupons: $123.01

Family Fare: 

• 3 bottles Gatorade $3.00
• 1 pkg blueberry bagels $1.69
• 3 boxes Simply Go-gurt $2.70
• 1 pk Danonino yogurt 99¢
• 1.72 lbs eye of round thin cut steaks $6.01(manager's markdown)
• 3.40 lbs ground beef $8.31 (manager's markdown)
• 2.03 lbs beef stew meat $5.05
• 4 dozen eggs $3.52
• 2 bottles Tropicana OJ $4.00
• 3 big boxes Kellogg's cereal $5.00
• 1 pkg whole wheat bagels $1.99
• 24 oz block mild cheddar cheese $3.99
• 1 pkg 6 ct. applesauce 79¢
• 2 bottles apple juice $1.98
• 2 bottles Ortega taco sauce $3.13
• 2 lbs bacon $5.00
• 1 pk Apple & Eve fruit & veggie box drinks $1.99
• 1 pk bacon/cheddar deli deluxe cheese $1.00
• 18 oz smoked deli turkey $3.98
• 3-12 pks Pepsi products $12.60 (with bottle deposit)

Total OOP: $76.48

Total Savings: $56.58

Total without sales & coupons: $133.06

Grand Total OOP: $182.16

Grand Total Savings: $108.65 (does not include the savings from shopping at Aldi)

Grand Total without sales & coupons: $290.81

This post is linked to:

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Savers Bungelow at Saving a Bundle!
• Week-Ending Finales at The Frugal Free Loader!
• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Weekly Shopping Trip---Savings $74.89 plus!

Except for Thursday, I was in a grocery store every day this week shopping for groceries! I guess you could say that I made up for not spending or doing much in  grocery shopping last week. I am not sure how I managed to be in the stores every day but I was there getting something either for dinner that night or deals that needed to be gotten or we were out of something that was needed that I forgot about the day before.  It didn't help that I made my menu plans and then had my hubby say that what I had planned would be better done on a different day. It didn't help that I forgot to take meat out of the freezer to thaw in advance. It didn't help that I forgot to print coupons before going to the store so I either went ahead and made the purchase without the coupons or got the item on another trip. It didn't help that my parents' cupboards were getting bare and they asked me to do shopping for them. I am sure I could give more excuses but the bottom line is going to the grocery store every day did nothing for my budget!

At any rate, here is what I purchased this week:

Save A Lot: (2 trips)

• 2 cans beef broth $1.26
• 9 cans cream of chicken soup $5.31
• 4 pks cream cheese $2.00
• 1 bottle Worchestershire sauce $1.49
• 2.14 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $4.02 

Total OOP: $14.08

Total Savings: lots with shopping here!

Meijer: (2 trips)

• 4 pints Snickers icecream $4.00
• 8lbs boneless/skinless chicken tenders $15.98
• 2.33 lbs bananas $1.14
• 1 box Planters granola bars $2.50
• 2 dozen eggs $2.83
• 18 oz. deli smoked turkey breast $4.00
• 3 boxes fruit snacks $3.55
• 1 jar applesauce $1.79
• 2 bags Cheetos $3.38
• 2 gallons milk $3.54
• 1 cantaloupe $1.50
• 1 bag breaded chicken nuggets $2.99
• 3 boxes Nature Valley granola bars $4.58
• 2 pkgs ready to bake cookie dough $4.00
• 1 bag chicken cordon bleu $4.69
• 2 boxes Betty Crocker muffin mix $2.84
• 6 Totinos Party pizzas $6.50
• 1 bottle Ranch dressing $2.50
• 3-12pks 7 up Products $10.10 (with bottle deposit)
• 1 bottle Act mouthwash $2.50
• 1 pair water beach shoes $7.99

Total OOP(with 6% sales tax on non-food items): $88.54

Total Savings: $46.89

Total without sales & coupons: $135.43

Aunt Millie's Bakery Outlet: 

• 1 pkg 12 ct dinner rolls 49¢
• 2 bags mini donuts 98¢
• 2 loaves Texas Toast $4.18
• 3 loaves Butter Top sandwich bread $2.67
• 3 loaves Multi-Grain sandwich bread $2.67
• 3 pkgs 8 ct hamburger buns $2.07
• 1 pkg 8 ct hot dog buns 69¢

Total OOP: $13.75

Total Savings: $28.00

Total without outlet store prices: $41.75

Grand Total OOP: $116.37

Grand Total Savings: $74.89 plus shopping at Save A Lot!

Grand Total without sales & coupons: $191.26 plus not shopping at Save A Lot!

This post is linked to: 

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Savers Bungelow at Saving a Bundle!
• Week-Ending Finales at The Frugal Free Loader!
• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
• Grocery Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $53.25

This week before I went grocery shopping, I took the time to throughly go through my pantry and check the dates on the boxes, cans, and bottles. I found that I had several items that were dated with best by dates in 2009!!  I took those items off my shelves and dumped them in the trash. I realized that a couple of bottles were big bottles from a 2 pack that I had purchased at Sam's Club so I made a note of it in my price book not to get those items at Sam's again but rather at the grocery store in smaller quantities. I ended up throwing away a full plastic grocery sack of past dated items that I would not have felt comfortable in using with my family.  It made me sad wasting that money but it was a valuable lesson in staying aware of the items that we could get in smaller quantities despite being a large family.

It was suppose to be a big shopping trip this week but there has been some unexpected debts(like 5 new windows because 3 of them were broken) that we needed to pay off so I decided to keep the grocery bill to the minimum and not do much in the way of stocking up right now. So despite Meijer having a decent 10 for $10 get 11th item free sale this week, I just purchased those sale items that we needed rather than going too hog wild getting items for the church food pantry or stockpiling my own pantry just because it was on sale.

I also kept things simple by only shopping at two grocery stores: Meijer, Family Fare.  I also took the time to do my monthly Sam's Club run this week as well. I figure that I have enough meals to get us through the next 14 days and aside from my Sam's run I spent less than $95 to make it.

Here is what I purchased this week at the grocery stores:

Meijer: 

• 30ct pack clothes hangers $4.76(with sales tax)
• 1 bottle lemon juice $2.49
• 1 jar grape jam $2.49
• 2 lbs strawberries $2.00
• 2-2 liters Pop $2.20(with bottle deposit)
• 2 cans Grands Biscuits $1.70
• 2 cartons Lemonade $1.00
• 3 tubs Country Crock margarine $1.90
• 5 boxes Brown & Serve sausage links $4.00
• 6 Lunchables $6.00
• 2 pkgs pepperoni $2.00
• 2 bottles Sunny Delight $1.50
• 1 pkg. Dole salad blend FREE
• 8 cans Old Orchard frozen juice $6.00
• 2 boxes Honey Nut Cheerios $2.88
• 2 boxes General Mills cereal $2.98
• 1 bag Fast Fixin' chicken strips $3.99
• 3 boxes Little Debbie snacks $3.00

Total OOP: $53.85

Total Savings: $36.39

Total without sales & coupons: $90.24

Family Fare: 

• 8.41 lbs ground beef $15.89
• 5 qt. pail vanilla ice cream $4.99
• 1 bottle strawberry spread $2.99
• 3 gallons milk $5.97
• 4 boxes Kleenex $5.00
• 2 boxes Life cereal $2.59

Total OOP: $37.73

Total Savings: $16.86

Total without sales & coupons: $54.59

Grand Total OOP: $91.58

Grand Total Savings: $53.25

Grand Total without sales & coupons: $144.83

This post is linked to:

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Savers Bungelow at Saving a Bundle!
• Week-Ending Finales at The Frugal Free Loader!
• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
  
  
• The Cha-Ching Challenge at Cha-Ching on a Shoestring!
• Grocery Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $62.53

This week I did not need much from the store, however, I took the time to get a few of the deals along with getting milk in the house.  Hubby had done some computer work for a friend of ours and they paid him in cash, so he gave me some of that cash to do grocery shopping this week. I had $65 cash to use so I decided I would do a weekly shopping with cash experiment.  I was able to get everything that I had on my list and I still had money leftover!

The items are purchased this week were to add to the items that I still have stockpiled in my freezer and pantry.  I only got a couple of packs of chicken breasts this week so that I can make it through this next week without having to go to the store until payday(15th).

Here is what I purchased this week:

Meijer:

• 4 gallons milk $7.08 
• 5 pkgs Warm Delights $2.70 
used 75/1 cpn from 3/28 Smartsource and 2-75/2 cpns from previous pkgs 

• 2 boxes Teddy Grahams $2.00
used $1/2 Meijer Mealbox cpn and $1/2 April only cpn from Nabisco 2009 rebate booklet 

• 2 bags Tostitos tortilla chips $3.58
used $1/2 Meijer Mealbox cpn and 2-$1/1 peelie cpn from bags

• 8 bars clearanced candy  $4.52
marked 50% off

Used $6.00 on next shopping order Catalina coupons from my last trip to Meijer.

Total OOP: $13.88
Total Savings: $29.45
Total without sales & coupons: $43.33

Family Fare: 

• 2-2 liters Pepsi products $1.74(including bottle deposit)
• 32 oz bottle apple cider vinegar $1.75
• 2 bottles Gatorade $1.50
• 2 bottles(64oz) apple juice $1.98
• 2 bottles(64oz) Juicy Juice $5.00
• 1 bottle Hidden Valley Ranch dressing $2.50
• 5.95 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts $10.53
• 1 bag Tostitos scoops chips $3.50
• 1 bag Doritos $1.97
• 6 single serve dark choc. peanut M&Ms $2.34(50% off)
• 1 pkg mini Cadbury eggs $1.89 (50% off)
• 2 pkgs Hersheys bagged candy $3.50 (50% off)
• 1 bag plain spring mix M&Ms $1.64 (50% off)

Total OOP: $39.84

Total Savings: $33.08

Total without sales & coupons: $72.92

Grand Total OOP: $53.72, which means I have $11.28 to use until payday, if needed!!

Grand Total Savings: $62.53

Grand Total without sales & coupons: $116.25


This post is linked to:

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Savers Bungelow at Saving a Bundle!
• Week-Ending Finales at The Frugal Free Loader!
• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
• The Cha-Ching Challenge at Cha-Ching on a Shoestring!
• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Weekly Shopping Trip---Savings $119.32

With my pantry and freezer still relatively full and really trying to empty out my freezer, I kept this week's shopping trip to just the items I knew I needed in order to make it the next two weeks without having to run to the store to finish meals. I also picked up a few health & beauty items along with finding some 30 ct Bayer aspirin 81 mg for hubby on clearance for $1.79 and I had a TWO $1/1 coupons that were set to expire so I got 60 tabs for $1.58!!

Here is what I purchased this week:

Meijer: 

• 1 jar grape jam $2.49
• 1 bottle Snuggle fabric softener 88¢
• 16.75 lbs boneless/skinless chicken $29.98
• 3 bags frozen corn $2.31
• 3 dozen eggs $2.64
• 20 lbs potatoes $2.98
• 2 boxes Wheat Thins $1.34
• 1 bottle hair gel 50¢
• 1 bottle acne wash $3.59
• 2 bags chicken nuggets $7.98
• 1 ladies Speed stick deodorant $1.50 
• 3 tubes cinnamon rolls $3.20
• 2 boxes pie crust $5.00
• 1 lb cheese $2.34
• 4-64 oz Tropicana orange juice $5.00
• 1 lb turkey lunchmeat $2.50
• 2 bottles Suave body wash $2.58
• 2 bottles Suave men's body wash $3.33
• 2 bottles Suave kids' shampoo $2.34
• 2 bottles Suave shampoo $2.84
• 1 tube kids' Crest toothpaste $1.17
• 2 bottles Bayer aspirin $1.58
• 12 double rolls Northern TP $5.49

Total OOP(with 6% sales tax): $93.72  (I received $6 off my next shopping order from Suave and Pillsbury via Catalina coupons!!)

Total Savings: $66.99

Total without sales and coupons: $160.71

Family Fare: 

• 2 pkgs Keebler cookies $3.43
• 1 pkg Keebler cheesecake cookies $1.44
• 1 box 12 ct poptarts $1.88
• 1 bag Gorton's fish fillets $5.59
• 3 bags Ore-Ida frozen pototoes $2.50
• 1 Keebler ready graham crust $1.44
• 2 pkgs smoky links $4.00
• 1 pk. Danimals smoothies $1.00
• 1 lb. strawberries $1.49
• 3-64 oz apple juice $5.00
• 3 lbs I can't believe its not butter sticks $1.62
• 2 gallons milk $3.76
• 2 containers ice cream $3.76
• 7.46 lbs ground beef $14.03
• .87 lbs top round steak $3.16
• 1.70 lbs chuck steak $4.30
• 3.94 lbs stew meat $9.63
• 1 bottle All detergent $1.99

Total OOP with 6% sales tax: $70.26

Total Savings: $52.33

Total without sales and coupons: $122.59

Grand Total OOP(with 6% sales tax): $163.98

Grand Total Savings: $119.32

Grand Total without sales and coupons: $283.30

This post is linked to: 

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Savers Bungelow at Saving a Bundle!
• Week-Ending Finales at The Frugal Free Loader!
• Shopping Round Up at The Grocery Cart Challenge!

Weekly Shopping Trip--Savings $28.26

I am working at emptying my freezer per my hubby's motivation! So this week's shopping trip consisted of getting some necessities and few sale items.  I was able to keep my total under $35 mostly because of doing a major shopping day last week!  


I just went to two stores this week and it only took me about an hour to do my coupon clipping, reading the ads, and shopping. 


Here is the breakdown of what I purchased: 


Family Fare: 

• 24 lbs russet potatoes $5.07
• 2 lbs bacon $3.98
• 2 lbs unsalted butter $2.78
• 3 lbs stick margarine $1.77
• 1 pkg 100 calorie Kraft cheese snacks 79¢
• 16 oz. cream cheese $2.50
• 2 cans Chef Boyardee canned pasta $1.50
• 3 dozen eggs $2.64 (88¢/dozen!!)

Used $4.20 bottle deposit refund!

Total OOP: $16.83

Total Savings: $15.19

Total without sales & coupons: $32.02

Meijer: 

• 1 set of shoelaces $1.59 (had to replace laces in ds#1's new shoes!)
• 4 boxes Ziploc bags $4.66 (I also got $2 off next shopping order Catalina cpn!)
• 1 bottle Clean N Clear face cleanser $1.19
• 3 gallons milk $6.00

Total OOP with 6% sales tax: $14.18

Total Savings: $13.07

Total without sales & coupons: $27.25


Grand Total OOP: $31.01
Grand Total Savings: $28.26
Grand Total without sales and coupons: $59.27


This post is linked to:

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Savers Bungelow at Saving a Bundle!
• Super Savings Saturday at MoneySavingMom!
• Week-Ending Finales at The Frugal Free Loader!

Weekly Shopping Trip---Savings $143.97

This week was a "payday week" so Tuesday I headed out of the house at 8:15 in the morning with my game plan that included my shopping lists for 3 grocery stores, a bakery outlet, and Sam's Club.  My game plan on Tuesday looked like this:

1. Drop ds#1 off at his biology lab class(8:30-11:30am) at the local home school building.
2. While J is at his lab, stop at Meijer, and Aunt Millie's bread outlet.
3. On the way home from Meijer and Aunt Millie's stop at the library and drop off a book and pick up 2 books off of hold. 
4. Stop at Family Fare to pick up items on list.
5. Stop at Save A Lot to pick up items on list.
6. Go home with groceries, pick up other 4 kids to go shoe shopping.
7. Stop at MC Sports to look at their shoe clearance racks. Results: Nothing!
8. Go pick up ds#1 from his biology lab class.
9. Go to Target to look for shoes. Results: found a pair for ds#3
10. Go to Meijer(across the street from Target) to look for shoes. Results: found a pair for ds#1 & ds#2!!
11. Go to Aunt Millie's cause in the rush of things earlier I forgot to make the stop!
12. Go home and eat lunch, get dinner in the crockpot/roaster, get ds#4 down for a nap and leave ds#1 in charge! 
13. Go to Sam's to pick up items on list.
14. Come home with Sam's groceries. 
15. Finish dinner, eat dinner and head to Woman's bible study at church!

Talk about a full day on Tuesday!!  I felt like I had accomplished tons on Tuesday! The shopping that I did on Tuesday stocked my freezer and pantry for at least a couple of weeks. I will need to get milk and eggs but I have plenty of fresh and canned fruits and veggies along with meat and snacks to make due until after spring break!  

One would think that after a full Tuesday that I would not have been glutton for punishment and headed out on Wednesday morning just as early as Tuesday to repeat the shopping portion for my parents, but I did!!  On Wednesday, I did a stop at Family Fare and Meijer for my parents.  While I was at Meijer for my parents, I remember one thing that I forgotten the day before so I picked that along with finding a couple of boxes of discounted donuts from the bakery for my kids and hubby to enjoy for breakfast with some scrambled eggs. 

So here is the results of my shopping this week: 

Meijer:

• 2 boxes Pizza rolls $2.00
• 3-2 liters Pepsi Products $3.30 (plus deposit)
• 4 tubes Grands Biscuits $3.40
• 5 boxes Brown & Serve Sausage links $4.00
• 3 containers sour cream $3.00
• 9 Totinos party pizzas $8.00
• 6 Lunchables $5.00
• 4 boxes Bagel Bites FREE
• 20 lbs potatoes $4.00
• 2 boxes General Mills cereal $2.98
• 2 boxes Kellogg's Mini Wheats $2.48
• 4 pkgs Smoky links $10.76
• 2 boxes Fruit Stickers $2.83
• 4 pks John Morrell lunchmeat $6.00
• 12 containers yogurt $4.00
• 2 bottles Old Orchard apple juice $2.34
• 2 pks goldfish crackers $2.00
• 4 bags Chex Mix $2.00
• 1 can refried beans $1.00
• 2 pkgs English muffins $1.00
• 3-12pks Dr Pepper $10.83 (with bottle deposit)

I used a $3 off your next shopping order...

Total OOP: $77.92

Total Savings: $71.90

Total without sales and coupons: $149.82

Meijer(2nd trip):

• 2 boxes 8ct bakery donuts $5.78
• 2 pks Kotox pads $7.00

Total OOP(with sales tax): $13.32

Total Savings: $8.00

Total without sales & coupons: $21.32

Family Fare: 

• 3 lbs stick margarine $1.77
• 2 lbs bacon $5.00
• 5 qt pail vanilla ice cream $4.99
• 8 cans Freshlike veggies $5.52
• 3 gallons milk FREE (used my $6 off milk catalina coupon from last week's cereal deal)
• 2 bags potato chips $3.94
• 4 boxes Capri Sun $7.52
• 3-64 oz Tropicana Orange juice $5.97
• 3 cans Campbell's chunky soup $1.47 (49¢ each!!)

Total OOP: $36.77

Total Savings: $29.23

Total without sales & coupons: $66.00

Save A Lot: 

• 8 cans cream of chicken soup $3.72
• 2.29 lbs bananas 76¢
• 24 oz honey $4.49

Total OOP:  $8.97

Total Savings: $1.00 (I used a couple of coupons for the soup, however I know I saved more than that by shopping at SAL)

Total without coupons: $9.97

Aunt Millie's Bakery Outlet: 

• 5 loaves Multi-Grain sandwich bread $4.00
• 4 pkgs 8ct. Hamburger buns $2.76
• 4 bags cookies $2.00 (these were individual bags and I splurged for the kids to share on the way home from shopping before lunch!)

Total OOP: $8.76

Total Savings: $18.35

Total without the outlet prices: $27.11

Butternut Bakery Outlet: (went on Monday night due to needing hamburger buns for dinner)

• 2 pkgs 12 ct Honey Hamburger Buns $3.69
• 2 pkgs 12 ct plain donuts $4.15
• 3 boxes mini donuts $3.00

Total OOP: $12.84

Total Savings: $15.49

Total without the outlet prices: $28.33

Grand Total OOP: $158.58

Grand Total Savings: $143.97

Grand Total without sales, outlets, & coupons: $302.55

This post is linked to:

• Coupon Super Savers at Coupon Saving Game!
• Super Saturday Savings at MoneySavingMom!