First Grocery Trip of the Year 2011

Ok, I made my first Publix trip of this year. Wasn't expecting much since a vast majority of coupons expired on the 31st of December, I don't have my printer up and running yet, and without printables there just weren't many sales that were compatible for my family. Yet I did manage to do pretty good on what I bought.

First I know that you're probably looking at my photo of food bought and saying WHAT!?! at the amount of croutons I bought, but I can assure you they won't go to waste. My kids like a handful or so as a small snack, so when I find them on sale I buy as many as possible. Also, my kids and husband are Peanut Butter fanatics, and that peanut butter might last a month if I'm lucky... seriously!  So here' the breakdown of what I got today.  The (D) means that the coupon was doubled by the store.
10- New York Texas Toast Croutons - sale .99 : coupon .50/1 (D) : Final Price: FREE!
01- Crest Baking Soda/Peroxide Toothpaste - Sale 1.50 : coupon $1/1 : Final price .50
03- Ore Ida Hash Browns *3 dif kinds* - Not on sale 3.25 : Coupons $2/1 Target and $1/1 Manuf. : Final price .25 for two of them and 1.25 for one bag (only had 2 manuf. coupons) TOTAL: 1.75 for 3 bags
03- Bags Banguet Chicken (fingers, popcorn, strips) - Sale: 2.75 : Coupons None : Final : 2.75 each.
04- Birds Eye Voila' Frozen Meal - Sale 1.97 : coupon .50/2 (D) : Final 1.47 each
06- Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables (corn and green beans) - Sale .89 - Coupon .50/2 (D) - Final .39 each
08- Peter Pan Peanut Butter - Sale 1.25 : Coupon .50/1 (D) : Final .25

Price before sales and coupons : $88.36
Price after sales and coupons : $23.75!
Sales savings was $32.61
Store Coupons $17.50
Vendor Coupons $14.50
TOTAL savings of 64.61!!!

the 3 bags of Banquet Chicken Tenders, popcorn chicken, and nuggets were already put up so they aren't pictured.

Grocery Shopping - November 19, 2010

Today I only went to Winn Dixie. I still need a few things, so possibly still a Publix and/or Rite Aid (would love to finally make a RiteAid run) and I know an Aldi trip is a must for their low cost of Bread and Milk.

So here is a photo of what I got today at Winn Dixie followed by a breakdown of the prices (reg, sale, after coupon). Not a bad day if I must say so myself! Oh, and one thing. I used the $4 off a ButterBall Turkey when you buy 4 of certain products (I bought the stovetop and crescent rolls) and when she rang up my coupon instead of $4 off, I got the ENTIRE NON SALE amount of the turkey off! So my $4 coupon became 16.31 off! That was exciting :D

1-Edy's Butterfinger Ice Cream
 1-Edy's Fudge Tracks Ice Cream
    Reg. 5.89 - Sale BOGO= 2.95 each
    Coupons - $1/2 = Total 4.90 (2.45 each)
 4-Hungry Man Meals
     Reg. 4.39 each - Sale BOGO = 2.19 each
     Coupons - (4) $2/1 = Total .19c each
10-Totino's Pizza Rolls 15ct box
      Reg. 2.00 each - Sale 10 for $10
      Coupons (1) .40/2 & (2) .50/4 = 2 @ .60c each & 8 @ .75c each
 4-Buitoni Pasta
     Reg. 4.99 - Manager Markdown - 1.75 each
10-Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers
      Reg - 2.44 - Sale 10 for $10
      Coupons - (5) .50/2 = .50c each
 2-John Morell Off the Bone Lunch meat
     Reg. 3.99 each - Markdown $3 off = .99c each
 3- Betty Crocker Pouch Cookie Mix
     Reg. 2.79 each - Sale 3/$5 (1.66 each)
     Coupons - (3) .40/1 = .86c each
 1-Winn Dixie Sweet Tea
     Reg. 2.50 - Sale 1.79
 4-Kraft Shredded Cheese
     Reg. 3.69 - Sale BOGO= 1.84 each
 1-Butter Ball Frozen Turkey (10.26lbs)
     Reg. 16.31 (1.59lb )  = Sale 10.16 (.99lb)
 2-StoveTop
     Reg. 1.99 - SALE BOGO = $1 each
     Coupons - $1/2 =.50c each
 2-Welch's Grape Jam
     Reg. 2.69 - Sale 2/$4.00
 2-Reynold's Slow Cooker Liners
     Reg. 2.39
     Coupons - $1 off = 1.39 each
 2-French's Fried Onions
     Reg. 3.99 - Sale 2.99
     Coupons - (2) .50/1 = 1.99 each
 3-Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
     Reg. 2.29 - Sale 3/$5.00
     Coupon .50/2 = 1.33 each
 6-SeaBest Shrimp Box
     Reg. 5.99 - Sale BOGO = 3.00each
     Coupon - (6) 1.00 off = 2.00 each
 6-Glide Floss
     Reg. 3.99 - Sale .99
     Coupon - .75/1 = .24 each
 1-Martha White Yellow Corn Meal
     Reg. 2.99  Sale 2.50
 1-Kraft Hickory BBQ
     Reg. 1.99
     Coupon .50/1 = .99c
 6-Carnation Evaporated Milk
     Reg. 1.25 - Sale 1.00
     Coupon .50/2 = .50 each
 2-Eagle Brand Condensed Milk
     Reg. 2.49  Sale - 2.00
     Coupon (2) .55/1 = 1.45 each
 2-French's Worsterchire Sauce
     Reg. 1.69
     Coupon (2) .50/1 - .69c each
 2-Peter Pan Peanut Butter
     Reg. 2.39
     Coupon (2) .50/1 = 1.39 each
 2- Carnation 1.5 lb Fudge Making Kits
      Reg. 4.99
      Coupons (2) $1off or .50/1 (either way it was a $1 off) = 3.99 each
 1-Pumpkin Bread Kit
     Reg. 4.99
     Coupons (same as above) = 3.99each

Ok, my total BEFORE sales and coupons was 262.45! Here are 2 photos of my receipt.
This one is what I paid - $100.87!!!

This one shows my savings broken down.

 So not a bad shopping experience I'd think :) I'm proud of it anyway. Not being able to work, saving my family money like this makes me feel like I've contributed something. So, that's it for today. I do know one thing. Saving money is great, but it does take effort. It takes me a couple days to just sort and clip the coupons, then sometimes another day just to get them in their correct section in my binder. And then it's already time to get online and check out SouthernSavers website and others for the best deals and to pull those coupons and get everything ready so that on Friday I'll be ready to go to the store and point Eric in the right direction. I honestly couldn't do any of this without Eric. He's a great help so some of the credit for these savings goes to him. Without his help, all I'd be able to do is clip a coupon! LOL I'm not able to drive, so he gets to play chauffeur. I can't do hardly any of the bending and grabbing items from the shelves, so he's pointed here and there to get this or that, checking labels, brands, sizes, etc. I can't push the cart after the first few things are added, so he gets to push the cart with my giant coupon binder sitting in the baby seat of it...lol And he gets to carry an envelope so he can scout for tear-pads, blinkies, and recipes...lol So if you read this, give Eric a congrats on a job well done too :)  Happy Shopping!

Mid-Week Grocery Trip

Today was an out of the norm shopping trip for me. Usually we go on the weekend, typically a Fri., but I needed milk and cheese. Not sure how I didn't plan for enough cheese when I made my 2 week list of needed stuff, but oh well. So we run to town and stop at Publix on the way home. I got my milk at ALDI since it's cheaper there. 2 gallons for about 5 bucks. So I didn't get all the sales this week because like I said, Friday's our day, but I did get what I pretty much knew might be wiped out before I go on Friday as well as a few other things I had good buys on. So here's what we got.

2 packs Kraft Shredded Cheese - Sale - BOGO. Saved - 2.78 = total spent 4.00 (no coupons)
4 Macaroni Grill Frozen Entrees - Reg. 7.99. Coupons - Publix BOGO and 4 Manufacturer 1.50 off each one. Total saved 21.98 - Cost per bag - 2.50 !! And they are very good meals, perfect for me and hubby! Not bad for an item not on sale!
2 Jars Ragu Sauce - Sale BOGO - 1.50 each. No coupon :/
3 Bags Birds Eye frozen Corn. - Reg. 1.79. Sale 50% off = .89 a bag. Coupon - 1.00/3  = Total 0.56  per bag
6 Jars Mount Olive Pickles (variety of different kinds) - Reg 2.79 - Sale BOGO - Coupons .50/1 (doubled) = Cost per jar - .39 and .40!!!
2 3pk Ziplock Twist and Lock Bowls - Reg 5.00 - Sale BOGO - Coupons - Manuf. 1.50/2 and Publix (2) 1.00/1 - Price before coupons for 2 - 5.00 - After coupons - 2 for 1.50 or .75 each pk.
2 Birds Eye SteamFresh  Veggies  Reg. 2.27  Sale BOGO no coupons so 1.13 each.
2 Breakstone Sour Cream - Reg. 2.15  Sale 2 for 2.00 Coupons .55 off each. - paid .45 c each
4 Boxes Betty Crocker 3cheese Potatoes - Reg. 1.69  - Sale BOGO - coupons .50/2 doubled - Paid .35 and .34 c per box
2 Gen Mills Cheerios with Berries - Reg 4.29. Sale 50% = 2.15 Coupon 1.00/2 - = 1.65 per box
7 Bic Lighters  Reg. 3.49  Sale BOGO Coupons 1.50/1  - Cost for each lighter .25 each!!!
2 Nestle Refridgerated Cookie Doughs - Reg. 3.29 - Sale BOGO - Coupons .75/1 = 90c each

TOTAL for everything Before sales and coupons = 133.88
Total Savings (Store coupons, Store sales, and Manuf. coupons) - 92.96
Total Spent - 40.92!!!
Now I think that's a pretty good day!

Grocery Shopping - November 5, 2010

My first stop was Dollar General. Not necessarily any good deals, but I got some things I needed so it wasn't a bust. Mostly I wanted to check out how shopping with coupons felt there... here's my opinion- Unless I can get items pennies on the dollar or free, I most likely won't go back. For one thing, I had 2 coupons for Nivea products. One of the coupons was for 2 Nivea body wash, and the other was for 1 bottle. So I had 3 bottles, all the same but my 1 bottle coupon wouldn't scan. Which sucks, and now that I've thought about it, I should have just did a separate transaction to get the good deal on it. And the register tape at this store doesn't print out the 5 off 25 coupons either. But anyway. So here's what I got and what I spent along with what I saved at Dollar General.

2- Kellogg's Cinnabon Cereal  - Price 2.00 each - Coupon $1/2 = $3.00 for both boxes.
1- pack DG Brand 8.5oz Styrofoam cups 60ct - no coupon - 1.00
1-32oz Gatorade - reg price _ $1.10 Sale 1.00
2- 32oz White Vinegar - .85 each
2- Bags Brown Sugar - 1.50 each = 3.00
2- Jars Garlic Powder - .50 each = 1.00
1- box Electrasol Powerball - 2.85 - Coupon for 1.50 = 1.35
1- 10oz Soy Sauce - 1.35
2- Nivea Body Wash - 2.75each - coupon 3.00 off 2 = 1.25 each
1- White Rain Citrus Shampoo - 1.00
1- White Rain Citrus Conditioner - 1.00
1- Bic Comfort 3pk razors - 3.25 - Coupon 2.00 = 1.25
2- Dollar General Toilet Tissue - 1.00 each = 2.00
1- 5lb Bag Gold Medal All Purpose Flour - 2.35 - Sale - 1.50
1 - 16lb bag Pedigree Dry Dog Food - 10.00 - Coupon 2.00 off = 8.00
3- 3.5lb 9lives complete Cat Food - 3.75 each Coupon 1.00 off each - 2.75/bag
1- 20oz Dr Pepper - 1.35 (20oz drinks are such a rip-off!)
1- 3pk Dollar General paper towels 1.75
TOTAL SPENT = 48.00
TOTAL SAVED w/ COUPONS = 12.50

Next Store was Aldi. Can't use coupons there but they have the best prices on milk, chicken breast, and tilapia as well as other products. Here's what I got.
24pk - Cola - 3.89
12pk- RootBeer - 1.99
2 loaves Bread - .79 each
2 boxes Chicken flavored Rice - .69 each
4 cans Italian Diced Tomatoes - .49 each
2 Boxes Penne Rigate Pasta - .89 each
1-8 individually wrapped pks of 4 - Peanut Butter and Cheese Crackers - .99
1-box Graham Crackers - 1.25
2- bags of Wavy Potato Chips - 1.29 each
1- Large jar of Lemon Juice - 1.89
1- Bag 11qty Tilapia Filets - 5.99
1- Bag Boneless Chicken Breast - 5.99
5- Cheese Pizzas - .99 each
2- Gal 2% milk - 2.59 each
2- Jars Pasta Sauce (1meat and 1 Traditional) - 1.19 each
1- Bananas - 1.40
1- Bag Sweet Onions - 1.99
1- 3pk Green Bell Peppers - 1.49
1- Bag Granny Smith Apples - 2.49
2- Doz large Eggs - 1.09 each
4- Paper Bags- .24
TOTAL 60.45

Trip to Publix was the most rewarding. I had my list, coupons, and everything all ready to go so I knew for the most part what I was going to buy and how many of each to get. So here's my list for Publix.

4- 64oz V8 Splash (2 Tropical - 2 Fruit Medley) - Reg. 3.39, Sale BOGO, Coupon $1/2 = .92c each
4- Green Giant Cut Green Beans - Reg. 1.29, Sale BOGO, Coupons .50/2 = .14c each
4- 4pk of Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt - Reg. 2.50, Sale BOGO, Coupons .50/1 = .25 each
6- 64oz Welch's Essential Juice (assorted flavors) - Reg.3.25, Sale BOGO, Coupons 1.00/1 = .63 each
2- cans Bush's Grillin' Beans (Ranchero) - Sale 3 for 5.00 or 1.67 each, Coupons $1/1 = .67 each
4- 15oz Tubs Country Crock Butter - Reg. 1.99, Sale BOGO, Coupons .50/1 = ALL FREE!
2- 44ct Solo Paper Plates - Reg. 2.89, Sale 2.19, Coupons 2 - .75/1 and 1 Target for $1/2 = .94 each
2 - NewYork Texas Toast Breadsticks - Reg. 2.39, Sale 50% off (1.19) , Coupons .50/1 = 19c each
3- New York DipNStick with sauce - Reg 3.29, Sale 50%off (1.64), Coupons .40/1 = 84c each
2- New York Texas Toast (cheese) - Reg. 3.29, Sale 50% off (1.64), Coupons .50/1 = .64c each
4- Quaker Rice Cakes (2 Caramel Corn, 1 Cheddar, 1 Ranch) Reg. 2.99, Sale BOGO, Coupons 1.00/2=  $1 each
4- Kraft Homestyle Deluxe - 1.99 each, Coupons BOGO and $2/2 from Target - .50each
4- Athenos Crumbled Feta Cheese (3 dif kinds) 4.59, Coupons BOGO =  2.29 each
2- Kraft Marshmallows - 2.39 each - coupons .50/2 = 1.89 each
2- 44ct Glad Drawstring Tall Kitchen Bags - Reg 4.89, Sale 3.99, Coupons - 2 Target- $1/1 and 2 Manuf. - .75/1 = 2.24 each
2- TGI Friday Skillet Meals 5.99 each, Coupons - $2/1 and Target $4/2 =  3.00 each
1- Kraft Honey Hickory BBQ - Reg 1.65, Sale BOGO - Coupons  (worked with product below) = 71c
1- Kraft Ranch - Reg 3.19, Sale BOGO, Coupon  $1/2 and .50/1 = 71c
1- 32 Load Wisk Liquid Laundry - Reg 6.49, Sale 4.49, Coupon Manuf $2/1 (thought I had a Target coupon, but it only had the symbol for target on it, will know next time! still a good deal though! ) = 2.49
6- Boxes Pillsbury Strawberry Toaster Strudel - Reg 2.45, Sale BOGO, Coupon .50.2 = .75 each
8- Bags Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers - Reg. 2.39, Sale BOGO, Coupon .50/2 = .70 each
2- Argo Baking Powder 12oz - Reg. 1.49, sale 1.33 - Coupons 50/1 = 33c Each
1- Argo Corn Starch - Reg 1.49, sale 1.33 - coupons .30/1 = .73 c
2- New York Seasoned Croutons - Reg. 1.59, Sale 10 for 10, = 1.00 each
2- Bags Publix Shredded Cheese (cheddar and Colby/Jack) Reg. 2.89, sale, 2/4.00 =  2.00 each
1- 4pk Colgate Wisp - 2.39 (thought these were 1.39,  or either I had a 2.00 off coupon, not sure - either 1.39 or .39c...lol (last minute decision lol)
1- Large bag Publix Scented Cat litter - Reg. 2.79 - Sale 2.49
4- Shick Quattro Electric Trimmers - Reg. 8.99, sale BOGO - Coupons $3/1 = 1.50 EACH!
1- Publix Sandwich Bags - 1.59
1- Jar Sauer's Mayo (wouldn't buy it for sandwich's but using it for a meal next week) 2.69
1- Bag Hertz Hamster Food - this just kills me but oh well, 6.99
2 - Large Boxes of Ronzoni Manicotti shells - 1.99 each
1 - head of lettuce - 1.69, coupon Target $1 off any produce = .69c
1 lb of tomatoes (2 tomatoes...lol) 2.19 a lb (should have gotten these at aldi, but forgot) = 2.19

OK I THINK that's all!
TOTAL -------------------293.55
Special Price Savings ------ 91.40
Store Coupons------------  29.80
Vendor Coupons---------- 56.96
TOTAL SAVINGS -------178.16
TOTAL PAID ------------115.39!!!  
So that's my grocery shopping for today. Stockpiled quite a bit this week and got great deals. What more could a girl want? lol OH yeah, I know the answer to that... S'MORES!  Had Hershey's candy bars, so with those marshmallows and graham crackers, we're gonna use the S'MORES Maker and have those for desert later! Have a good day!
1- Publix Heavy Duty Foil - 2.99

Coupon Shopping is becoming addictive!

Well today I went back to Publix for the second time doing a quick coupon run. If I tally up my before sales/coupons totals for 2 trips it comes to 322.76. After sales/coupons I only paid 164.80! That's a total of 51% savings! Still not the greatest of the coupon world, but it's only my 3rd trip! If I add my one Winn Dixie trip in the total before sales and coupons was 157.43 and I paid only 82.57. So the three trips combined before sales/coupons would have been 480.19! Saying that I only paid 247.37 makes me feel a pretty doggone good! I'm still learning the ropes, today was the first day I actually stacked any coupons and roughly half of what I bought today I didn't have a coupon for but needed the items. Things like milk, hamburger meat, gatorade (necessity!), etc. Plus some of the items I bought today, I didn't have great coupons for like my dog food, but still was a necessity. But I think I'm doing great so far. Eric is really loving watching the totals drop as each coupon is deducted! I'm finally getting our pantry looking good since the move-in to our new place. And I'm not stuck settling for generic this or that. In fact I think the only few things that have been generic were 2 bags of rice (winn dixie), 2 bottles of salad dressing (publix), kitty litter (publix), and the milk we've bought (publix). I might be wrong but I do think those are the only generic brands I've bought. I'm even getting lower prices on some of the name brand stuff than I'd ever find on the generics! I'm not stuck buying just the bare necessities, but we're able to splurge on things we ordinarily wouldn't buy, but since the deal with coupons is free or close to it, we go ahead and get them! It's really great to know that I've been able to save my family 232.82 in the last 2 weeks of groceries! I'm looking at it as a "job". I'm not able to work and bring in money, but I can save money on groceries and household items that we can put to good use elsewhere. So yeah, I call it my job :D It takes time to get organized, clip the coupons, search for coupons to stack with, and to find the best deals around. Eric has definitely begun to appreciate the art of clipping coupons after only 3 times shopping with them. He stands by quietly and watches the totals drop dollar by dollar and I watch as his mouth drops more and more in amazement as the totals go down...lol Anyway, that's pretty much what I've been doing in my spare time lately. So if you live around here and see a woman on a mission with a giant binder containing baseball card sleeves of coupons followed by a man dragging his feet really hating the time it takes to look and be sure they are getting the best deal possible, then that might be me...lol And if you see me in line, but you're in a hurry, it might be best if you don't get behind me. I usually have at a minimum of 20-25 coupons! I think I've had right at 60 coupons on one shopping trip and I'm just getting started!  Maybe my next trip I'll remember to tell Eric not to shelve the groceries and I'll get everything together on my table and take a photo! See ya soon!

COOL WEBSITE! SUPER COUPON GIRL DOT COM