I ended up getting 20 of those sale chickens last week! 19 of them are in the freezer, and we ate one. We had roasted chicken a couple of times, barbecue chicken pizza, and chicken noodle soup, all from one bird. It ended up being 4 meals, plus we still have enough chicken noodle soup for today's lunch.
This week I was able to get some $3 off coupons for Smithfield bacon, and it's on sale at Safeway for $3. Bacon adds a lot of flavor, so a little bit goes a long way. Free bacon is a good deal!
I also plan to pick up some ramen noodles for 10 cents a pack at Albertsons. I don't like them much 'alone' but you can add things to them and come up with some nice things. Since they keep forever, it's a good thing to stock.
Mostly, though, I'll be picking up various sale/coupon deals at Target. I can get some fresh apples (ours aren't ripe yet), bananas, snack foods, etc., and I have a gift card (from a recent buy this, get a gift card deal) that I can use for the money part!
Today I dug Yukon Gold and Blue Colorado potatoes. I have 3 buckets of them to cure and store. We have some summer squash that is still producing (even after all the hailstorms of late) and a few green beans as well. Soon we'll harvest turnips, rutabaga and carrots too!
Anyway, I'm still 'here', just busy! Have a great day!
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shopping. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
If only the challenge weren't over!
The way I shop is weird to some. If the great deal of the week is toilet paper, that's what I'm buying, especially if there are coupons! If it's tuna, we buy tuna, tuna, and more tuna.
During the challenge, the great deals that came our way were on fritos, ice cream and pepsi, so my receipts make it look like I don't care a whit for health or nutrition. I kept hoping the sales would cycle around to something y'all would be proud of, but, eh, no.
This week, whole chickens are 57 cents a pound, starting yesterday, ending next Tuesday. I've already got 12 of them in the freezer and more to come. Too bad that sale didn't come up during the challenge!
Are you still keeping to your budget, or did you go on a spree the day after the challenge ended? It's okay, you can talk about it here. We won't tell.
During the challenge, the great deals that came our way were on fritos, ice cream and pepsi, so my receipts make it look like I don't care a whit for health or nutrition. I kept hoping the sales would cycle around to something y'all would be proud of, but, eh, no.
This week, whole chickens are 57 cents a pound, starting yesterday, ending next Tuesday. I've already got 12 of them in the freezer and more to come. Too bad that sale didn't come up during the challenge!
Are you still keeping to your budget, or did you go on a spree the day after the challenge ended? It's okay, you can talk about it here. We won't tell.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Day 26
I did some shopping today - at Target I used a gift card that I'd gotten for buying pet food, but I also used coupons to save. Target has a coupon on their site for $1 off of 1 lb. or more of bulk apples. I got some braeburn and some jonagold apples - just over a pound of each type, to maximize my savings. The cost for the apples worked out to about 64 cents a pound. I also saw some 'kid size' ice cream cone cups, and decided to give those a try.
Cash spent: 0 - I used a gift card to pay the $3.22
Coupons spent: 2.00
At Albertson's I was able to combine a sale and coupons to get Blue Bunny ice cream for $1 a carton (1.75 quart size). That's a great price, so we put some in the deep freeze. If I can get more coupons, I may pick up more before the sale ends. I used some other coupons combined with sales to get canned tuna, nutter butter minis (hubby's lunches), oyster crackers, frozen potato rounds, a cantaloupe, organic strawberry lemonade and some sausage links.
Cash spent: $16.10
Coupons spent: $18.95
Finally, at Safeway, we picked up Little Bit's WIC items - milk, cheese, juice and whole wheat bread. We also purchased 20 pounds of sugar (sale and coupons) and a carton of organic sour cream that was marked down for quick sale. We use some sugar during canning season (for peaches, plums, jams and jellies), but we are also feeding hummingbirds, so a sale on sugar is a good time to stock up.
Cash spent: $8.24
Coupons spent: $4.25
Totals for today:
Cash spent: $24.34
Coupons spent: $28.32
MAJOR BONUS!!
The bank inside Safeway has an offer - open a checking account and get up to $75 in a rebate on money spent in Safeway. You can even purchase gift cards or prescriptions with it, just as long as they are on a Safeway receipt. The accounts are one per person. I opened one, and hubby opened one, so that is $150 we will save on groceries (or possibly gift cards or gasoline) very soon. We have to wait until the debit cards arrive (about a week), but look around for offers like this!! We do something like this a few times a year, and the extra money can really come in handy. Just make sure you read and understand the offer!
Cash spent: 0 - I used a gift card to pay the $3.22
Coupons spent: 2.00
At Albertson's I was able to combine a sale and coupons to get Blue Bunny ice cream for $1 a carton (1.75 quart size). That's a great price, so we put some in the deep freeze. If I can get more coupons, I may pick up more before the sale ends. I used some other coupons combined with sales to get canned tuna, nutter butter minis (hubby's lunches), oyster crackers, frozen potato rounds, a cantaloupe, organic strawberry lemonade and some sausage links.
Cash spent: $16.10
Coupons spent: $18.95
Finally, at Safeway, we picked up Little Bit's WIC items - milk, cheese, juice and whole wheat bread. We also purchased 20 pounds of sugar (sale and coupons) and a carton of organic sour cream that was marked down for quick sale. We use some sugar during canning season (for peaches, plums, jams and jellies), but we are also feeding hummingbirds, so a sale on sugar is a good time to stock up.
Cash spent: $8.24
Coupons spent: $4.25
Totals for today:
Cash spent: $24.34
Coupons spent: $28.32
MAJOR BONUS!!
The bank inside Safeway has an offer - open a checking account and get up to $75 in a rebate on money spent in Safeway. You can even purchase gift cards or prescriptions with it, just as long as they are on a Safeway receipt. The accounts are one per person. I opened one, and hubby opened one, so that is $150 we will save on groceries (or possibly gift cards or gasoline) very soon. We have to wait until the debit cards arrive (about a week), but look around for offers like this!! We do something like this a few times a year, and the extra money can really come in handy. Just make sure you read and understand the offer!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Day 24
While we were out and about late this afternoon, we picked up a few bargains, spending $6.26 in cash and $6.00 in coupons. I picked green beans and zucchini today as well. I don't have enough green beans to can quarts, so I may run a canner of pints instead - we shall see. I'm going to dry zucchini 'chips' tomorrow, lightly sprinkled with seasoned salt.
Our meals today:
B - my version of migas (an egg scramble with peppers, onions, corn tortillas and cheese), cinnamon toast, milk.
L - homemade tomato soup (tomatoes canned from last year's garden), grilled cheese on homemade whole grain bread, veggie sticks (mostly from the garden), milk for Little Bit and pepsi for the grownups.
S - Hubby is taking leftovers from last night. We are having pulled pork sandwiches, leftover vegetables (blue potatoes, veggie sticks, green beans) and frozen pineapple tidbits. And - out of the blue - Little Bit asked for an egg, over easy. She has never wanted to try eggs, so this was a surprise. She ate a couple bites, but wasn't wild about it. It's a start, though! :)
Snacks - Ice cream cones, applesauce with graham crackers.
Our meals today:
B - my version of migas (an egg scramble with peppers, onions, corn tortillas and cheese), cinnamon toast, milk.
L - homemade tomato soup (tomatoes canned from last year's garden), grilled cheese on homemade whole grain bread, veggie sticks (mostly from the garden), milk for Little Bit and pepsi for the grownups.
S - Hubby is taking leftovers from last night. We are having pulled pork sandwiches, leftover vegetables (blue potatoes, veggie sticks, green beans) and frozen pineapple tidbits. And - out of the blue - Little Bit asked for an egg, over easy. She has never wanted to try eggs, so this was a surprise. She ate a couple bites, but wasn't wild about it. It's a start, though! :)
Snacks - Ice cream cones, applesauce with graham crackers.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Day 21
We had a busy day today, so this afternoon we took a little break and went to the store. We picked up our daughter's WIC items (milk, beans, juice, cereal) and we spent $1.88 for a package of tortillas and 2 cans of ravioli (free plus overage after coupons). I used $2 in coupons as well.
Meals today:
B - Cereal and milk
L - Assorted leftovers for hubby and I - Little Bit had PBJ on whole wheat and a carrot from the garden.
S - Thin crust pizzas made with tortillas for crust (easy and tasty!), fresh vegetable sticks and dip.
Snacks - pretzels, graham crackers, juice, vegetable sticks
Meals today:
B - Cereal and milk
L - Assorted leftovers for hubby and I - Little Bit had PBJ on whole wheat and a carrot from the garden.
S - Thin crust pizzas made with tortillas for crust (easy and tasty!), fresh vegetable sticks and dip.
Snacks - pretzels, graham crackers, juice, vegetable sticks
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Day 18
We did some shopping today while we were out doing other errands. Here's what we got:
2 cans chef boyardee ravioli (free, plus 22 cent overage after coupon)
2 packages tyson chicken
1 package jack links chicken pieces
3 packages hormel pepperoni (price matched)
almost 1 lb. fresh jalapenos
Cash Spent: 14.34
Coupons Spent: 11.67
Meals today:
B - Oatmeal with peanut butter, raisins and apples, milk.
L - Leftover lo mein with whole wheat noodles and vegetables, brownies.
S - Hot dogs on homemade buns, homemade baked beans, carrot and raisin salad.
Snacks - popcorn and hot cocoa (pepsi for me)
Tomorrow we'll pick up a few things when we're in town - I'll report them then. :)
I picked green beans, and I have almost enough to can 7 more quarts. I'll prep these tonight, pick a few more tomorrow and can them in the afternoon or evening. It has been cool this week, but we're still getting plenty of things from our garden.
2 cans chef boyardee ravioli (free, plus 22 cent overage after coupon)
2 packages tyson chicken
1 package jack links chicken pieces
3 packages hormel pepperoni (price matched)
almost 1 lb. fresh jalapenos
Cash Spent: 14.34
Coupons Spent: 11.67
Meals today:
B - Oatmeal with peanut butter, raisins and apples, milk.
L - Leftover lo mein with whole wheat noodles and vegetables, brownies.
S - Hot dogs on homemade buns, homemade baked beans, carrot and raisin salad.
Snacks - popcorn and hot cocoa (pepsi for me)
Tomorrow we'll pick up a few things when we're in town - I'll report them then. :)
I picked green beans, and I have almost enough to can 7 more quarts. I'll prep these tonight, pick a few more tomorrow and can them in the afternoon or evening. It has been cool this week, but we're still getting plenty of things from our garden.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Day 16
Not a lot of excitement to report, but we did buy carrots and celery today. I also picked up some Jack Links chicken nugget-y things that were free with the coupon from All You Magazine. They are buffalo style, nice and spicy and slightly addictive.
Anyroo, we spent $1.82 for the head of celery and the pound of carrots.
In the "I can't believe we got yet another Freebie from Chick-Fil-A" department, well, yeah, it was free breakfast Tuesday. Hubby had some lab work to get done, so after that we took our hungry selves over to Chick-Fil-A for free chicken minis. It's a chicken nugget inside some super-soft bread that's brushed with honey or syrup or something. As odd as it sounds, it's tasty, and you get three of them. We got them via the drive thru, and spent exactly zero.
So, that was breakfast, which Little Bit supplemented with some dried fruit and strawberry mini wheats.
For lunch, Little Bit had peanut butter raisin oatmeal, one of her favorite foods in the whole wide world. Hubby and I had veggie burgers on homemade buns, some tortilla chips and cucumber pickles.
Supper was meatballs in sweet/sour plum sauce, brown rice, zucchini and onions and a pear crisp. The meatballs were homemade, the plum sauce home-canned, the brown rice from the pantry (bought at the co-op). The zucchini and onions (OK, it was shallots, actually) were from the garden, and the pears were home canned from last year. It was an easy meal to put together and tasted good too!
Hope everyone is doing well with the challenge!
Anyroo, we spent $1.82 for the head of celery and the pound of carrots.
In the "I can't believe we got yet another Freebie from Chick-Fil-A" department, well, yeah, it was free breakfast Tuesday. Hubby had some lab work to get done, so after that we took our hungry selves over to Chick-Fil-A for free chicken minis. It's a chicken nugget inside some super-soft bread that's brushed with honey or syrup or something. As odd as it sounds, it's tasty, and you get three of them. We got them via the drive thru, and spent exactly zero.
So, that was breakfast, which Little Bit supplemented with some dried fruit and strawberry mini wheats.
For lunch, Little Bit had peanut butter raisin oatmeal, one of her favorite foods in the whole wide world. Hubby and I had veggie burgers on homemade buns, some tortilla chips and cucumber pickles.
Supper was meatballs in sweet/sour plum sauce, brown rice, zucchini and onions and a pear crisp. The meatballs were homemade, the plum sauce home-canned, the brown rice from the pantry (bought at the co-op). The zucchini and onions (OK, it was shallots, actually) were from the garden, and the pears were home canned from last year. It was an easy meal to put together and tasted good too!
Hope everyone is doing well with the challenge!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Day 14
We started our day with homemade buttermilk pecan pancakes with maple syrup and home-grown nectarines (from our freezer). It was a yummy Sunday breakfast with a tall glass of milk!
For lunch we had leftover lo-mein noodles (whole wheat noodles, vegetables and pork).
Supper was petite sirloin with horseradish cream, baked potatoes with sour cream and butter, garlicky green beans and water to drink.
We snacked today on graham crackers, snickers, fresh cherries, raw zucchini and dried zucchini chips.
I did more canning and food preservation today, which will help us spend less on groceries through the winter. I put up 7 quarts of green beans, 8 half pints of cherry jelly and 3 half pints of cherry syrup. I also finished dehydrating glace' cherries and started some thin-sliced and shredded zucchini. The jelly and syrup are a by-product of the glace' cherries that I didn't want to waste. The thin sliced zucchini is sprinkled with a little seasoned salt, and we can use it for chips. The shreds are to add to zucchini bread once zucchini is out of season. By doing a little extra work now, our garden helps feed us year-round.
Today was the last day of a sale on 2 liter pepsi products - I stocked up to have them on hand for times when the price is high. Spent $2.36.
For lunch we had leftover lo-mein noodles (whole wheat noodles, vegetables and pork).
Supper was petite sirloin with horseradish cream, baked potatoes with sour cream and butter, garlicky green beans and water to drink.
We snacked today on graham crackers, snickers, fresh cherries, raw zucchini and dried zucchini chips.
I did more canning and food preservation today, which will help us spend less on groceries through the winter. I put up 7 quarts of green beans, 8 half pints of cherry jelly and 3 half pints of cherry syrup. I also finished dehydrating glace' cherries and started some thin-sliced and shredded zucchini. The jelly and syrup are a by-product of the glace' cherries that I didn't want to waste. The thin sliced zucchini is sprinkled with a little seasoned salt, and we can use it for chips. The shreds are to add to zucchini bread once zucchini is out of season. By doing a little extra work now, our garden helps feed us year-round.
Today was the last day of a sale on 2 liter pepsi products - I stocked up to have them on hand for times when the price is high. Spent $2.36.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Day 11
We did a little shopping today, but the only food we picked up was a box of ice cream cones, a bottle of liquid smoke, a 2 liter pepsi and a 2lb. bag of popcorn kernels. The total was 3.87. I used coupons today, but not on any of the food items. Tomorrow I'll be using a coupon to get milk, and I may pick up a few other items, but we don't really need anything, and the sales this week are not exactly stellar.
The garden, on the other hand, is giving us a lot of food. I picked a bucket of green beans this morning, picked 5 squash, and there are plenty of onions, potatoes, carrots, etc. should we want or need them.
Our meals:
B - Muffins, cherries, milk
L - Bean and cheese quesedillas, carrot sticks, fruit juice (pepsi for me)
S - We had a minor crisis - our washing machine broke down - so instead of the planne LoMein dinner we had sandwiches - Hubby and I had breaded chicken, Little Bit opted for PBJ, all on homemade wheat bread. For sides we had broccoli salad, carrot sticks, apple wedges, and water or juice to drink. Dessert was ice cream cones.
Snacks - sliced cheese, fresh cherries, mini wheats, water.
The garden, on the other hand, is giving us a lot of food. I picked a bucket of green beans this morning, picked 5 squash, and there are plenty of onions, potatoes, carrots, etc. should we want or need them.
Our meals:
B - Muffins, cherries, milk
L - Bean and cheese quesedillas, carrot sticks, fruit juice (pepsi for me)
S - We had a minor crisis - our washing machine broke down - so instead of the planne LoMein dinner we had sandwiches - Hubby and I had breaded chicken, Little Bit opted for PBJ, all on homemade wheat bread. For sides we had broccoli salad, carrot sticks, apple wedges, and water or juice to drink. Dessert was ice cream cones.
Snacks - sliced cheese, fresh cherries, mini wheats, water.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Day 6
Today I put in some hours subbing at the library, and while I was in town I picked up a gallon of organic milk and 4 broccoli crowns (on sale for 88 cents a pound). Also, while I was at the library, I bought a Pepsi from the vending machine for 50 cents. I had taken a soda with me, which I had a lunch, but I was feeling drowsy in the afternoon (it was really slow, quiet and warm in the library). The Pepsi just made me feel oogy and I ended up pouring half of it out, so it was a bad choice. Next time I'll make sure I take my water bottle (which I forgot at home today).
Total spent today was $2.77 and a $4.50 milk coupon.
*Adjustment* Hubby and I were talking about it today and I put the apples and oranges (the ones I bought for the TOPS meeting- see yesterday's post) into the fridge. They'll both keep just fine until next Friday, and I'll get 2 bananas before then. So, I'm adjusting my cash spent to reflect the cost of only the bananas. Just FYI (I'm sure you were worried about this, yes? no? I didn't think so either.)
Meals for today:
B: Little Bit had cereal, fruit, milk. I was craving barbecue, so I made a half sandwich and had it with some juice. Not normal breakfast food, but it hit the spot. Hubby hadn't eaten when I left for work, but I know they stayed home all day, so he might have had cereal, eggs, leftovers - not sure.
L: I took some of the leftovers from last night's supper for my lunch, along with some dry cereal (the chocolate frosted mini mini wheats, which are a great health-ish alternative to cookies!) and a banana. The family, at home, found something...again, I'm not sure. :)
S: I had gotten out some chicken enchilada soup this morning so it could thaw. I make it in big batches and then freeze portions for easy lunches or suppers. We had salad alongside and garnished the soup with sour cream, homemade salsa and crunched up tortilla chips. Yum!
Hope you're doing well with the challenge! What are the hard parts for you? What parts are easy? I'd love to know.
Total spent today was $2.77 and a $4.50 milk coupon.
*Adjustment* Hubby and I were talking about it today and I put the apples and oranges (the ones I bought for the TOPS meeting- see yesterday's post) into the fridge. They'll both keep just fine until next Friday, and I'll get 2 bananas before then. So, I'm adjusting my cash spent to reflect the cost of only the bananas. Just FYI (I'm sure you were worried about this, yes? no? I didn't think so either.)
Meals for today:
B: Little Bit had cereal, fruit, milk. I was craving barbecue, so I made a half sandwich and had it with some juice. Not normal breakfast food, but it hit the spot. Hubby hadn't eaten when I left for work, but I know they stayed home all day, so he might have had cereal, eggs, leftovers - not sure.
L: I took some of the leftovers from last night's supper for my lunch, along with some dry cereal (the chocolate frosted mini mini wheats, which are a great health-ish alternative to cookies!) and a banana. The family, at home, found something...again, I'm not sure. :)
S: I had gotten out some chicken enchilada soup this morning so it could thaw. I make it in big batches and then freeze portions for easy lunches or suppers. We had salad alongside and garnished the soup with sour cream, homemade salsa and crunched up tortilla chips. Yum!
Hope you're doing well with the challenge! What are the hard parts for you? What parts are easy? I'd love to know.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Day 5
Today was a lot of shopping and a lot of saving. Before I get to that, this is what we were eating:
B: cereal and milk w/fruit for hubby, trail mix and apples for Little Bit and me.
L: chicken sandwich, slaw, carrots, fritos, fresh cherries, tea for hubby. Little Bit and I went to Burger King and shared a Whopper (no onion, no mayo) and small fries. $1 size drink for me, water for her.
S: whole wheat spaghetti, homemade meatballs in Prego, 100% whole grain garlic/cheese toast, home-canned green beans
Snacks: graham cracker and milk, raw peas, green beans and carrots right out of the garden (literally!)
OK. On to the shopping!
This first one kinda happened by accident. I belong to a weight loss group called TOPS - take off pounds sensibly. My job in our chapter is to buy fruit for everyone who has a birthday. There were two ladies with birthdays this week, so I got them each a banana, an apple and an orange. That is what I'm supposed to get, no matter what. Anyway, when we got to the church where we meet, no one was there. Turns out there was a funeral today and we couldn't meet, but no one contacted me. So...I can't let the fruit go to waste and it won't keep a whole week (at least, not the bananas), so it becomes part of our groceries, I guess. Total spent for the fruit - $2.66.
Next is Albertson's. They had Honey Nut Cheerios on sale for $1.50 a box. If you buy 3, you get a catalina for a free gallon of milk (up to $4.50). I had six coupons for Honey Nut Cheerios, each for $1 off, so I did two separate transactions. I spent $3 and got six boxes of cereal plus coupons for 2 free gallons of milk. Woot!
At Super Target we picked up some veggie burgers. I was able to use a Target coupon for $2 off 2 packages, plus I used two $1 off manufacturer coupons. Total: $2.28.
Then, King Soopers. This is where it gets REALLY fun! Hubby found this coupon in an ad at his work last week.
So, last Friday I dropped of a prescription to transfer. It usually takes some time, so I picked it up today, and they added a $20 credit to my King Sooper loyalty card. Twenty bucks, and all I did was drop off a bottle that was last filled at a different pharmacy. Now and again they have these offers at various pharmacies in our area. I have moved this prescription any time it has worked out for me to do so, and it's gotten us a LOT of groceries for free.
So, I'm starting with a free $20. I did two transactions at King Sooper. Here is the first one:
The gentleman who was running the register took the total off my Sooper Card before I gave him my coupons, so it used $17.90.
Me: Wait - I have coupons.
Him: I already took it off the credit on your Sooper Card.
Me: But...I have coupons!!
Him: Oh. Well, let's try something and see if it works.
He scanned the coupons as part of the transaction - $7 worth of them! Then he gave me $7 cash. See, coupons ARE money! I knew it!
So...if this had gone through 'correctly', the total would have been $10.90 after the coupons. Instead of using money, I used the 'free money' from the prescription. But wait! There's MORE! These ten items are all part of a rebate that Kelloggs has right now. I send in my receipt, the UPC's and a form, and I get....$10!! So I got that stuff for ninety cents. Go ME!!
Next transaction was this stuff:
This one didn't go quite as low as I'd hoped - a few of my coupons didn't double - and it cost me $2.90 more than I was expecting. Then again, some coupons don't double, and that's how it goes sometimes. Anyway...after the sale prices, after the remaining credit on my loyalty card, after the coupons, I was left spending $10.60. He just gave me $7 cash, so really, I only spent $3.60 out of pocket.
Counting the $20 credit as a coupon (that's how I've always figured it) I used $55.10 in coupons. If I add up all the stores I went to today, I spent $11.54 in actual money. I'll be getting $10 of that back as a rebate from Kelloggs, and I have coupons for 2 free gallons of milk. That's really good!
Wow. Not bad for a coupon puppy!
Finally, we went out for lunch as a treat. On the back of any Burger King receipt, there is info you can use to take a phone survey. It takes a couple minutes, talking to 'Jennifer', the computer-generated-super-nice lady. At the end, she gives you a code. With that code, you can get a free Whopper or Chicken sandwich if you purchase any size fried and any size drink. It looks like this:
I had one of those, with a code from taking the survey. A Whopper is a BIG sandwich, so Little Bit and I shared. We got a Whopper (no mayo, no onion) a small fries and a $1 value size drink. Total: $2.78. You could do this for even less with a value size fries ($1), but for the two of us, the small, and sharing the burger works out just right. I have the soda, she drinks water, then we go to the playland for a while.
So, that was our day. We got a lot of stuff! I shop this way whenever I can. Some weeks (like this one) it's cereal week. Some weeks I get frozen veggies or toilet paper or shampoo for nothing or next to nothing. Sometimes they pay me to take stuff! When you shop like this over time, the pantry gets well-rounded, and there is a good selection of healthy foods, staple items, treats, snacks, etc.
I hope this was helpful. Got questions? Ask 'em! I'll do my very best to answer them for you!
B: cereal and milk w/fruit for hubby, trail mix and apples for Little Bit and me.
L: chicken sandwich, slaw, carrots, fritos, fresh cherries, tea for hubby. Little Bit and I went to Burger King and shared a Whopper (no onion, no mayo) and small fries. $1 size drink for me, water for her.
S: whole wheat spaghetti, homemade meatballs in Prego, 100% whole grain garlic/cheese toast, home-canned green beans
Snacks: graham cracker and milk, raw peas, green beans and carrots right out of the garden (literally!)
OK. On to the shopping!
This first one kinda happened by accident. I belong to a weight loss group called TOPS - take off pounds sensibly. My job in our chapter is to buy fruit for everyone who has a birthday. There were two ladies with birthdays this week, so I got them each a banana, an apple and an orange. That is what I'm supposed to get, no matter what. Anyway, when we got to the church where we meet, no one was there. Turns out there was a funeral today and we couldn't meet, but no one contacted me. So...I can't let the fruit go to waste and it won't keep a whole week (at least, not the bananas), so it becomes part of our groceries, I guess. Total spent for the fruit - $2.66.
Next is Albertson's. They had Honey Nut Cheerios on sale for $1.50 a box. If you buy 3, you get a catalina for a free gallon of milk (up to $4.50). I had six coupons for Honey Nut Cheerios, each for $1 off, so I did two separate transactions. I spent $3 and got six boxes of cereal plus coupons for 2 free gallons of milk. Woot!
At Super Target we picked up some veggie burgers. I was able to use a Target coupon for $2 off 2 packages, plus I used two $1 off manufacturer coupons. Total: $2.28.
Then, King Soopers. This is where it gets REALLY fun! Hubby found this coupon in an ad at his work last week.
So, last Friday I dropped of a prescription to transfer. It usually takes some time, so I picked it up today, and they added a $20 credit to my King Sooper loyalty card. Twenty bucks, and all I did was drop off a bottle that was last filled at a different pharmacy. Now and again they have these offers at various pharmacies in our area. I have moved this prescription any time it has worked out for me to do so, and it's gotten us a LOT of groceries for free.
So, I'm starting with a free $20. I did two transactions at King Sooper. Here is the first one:
The gentleman who was running the register took the total off my Sooper Card before I gave him my coupons, so it used $17.90.
Me: Wait - I have coupons.
Him: I already took it off the credit on your Sooper Card.
Me: But...I have coupons!!
Him: Oh. Well, let's try something and see if it works.
He scanned the coupons as part of the transaction - $7 worth of them! Then he gave me $7 cash. See, coupons ARE money! I knew it!
So...if this had gone through 'correctly', the total would have been $10.90 after the coupons. Instead of using money, I used the 'free money' from the prescription. But wait! There's MORE! These ten items are all part of a rebate that Kelloggs has right now. I send in my receipt, the UPC's and a form, and I get....$10!! So I got that stuff for ninety cents. Go ME!!
Next transaction was this stuff:
This one didn't go quite as low as I'd hoped - a few of my coupons didn't double - and it cost me $2.90 more than I was expecting. Then again, some coupons don't double, and that's how it goes sometimes. Anyway...after the sale prices, after the remaining credit on my loyalty card, after the coupons, I was left spending $10.60. He just gave me $7 cash, so really, I only spent $3.60 out of pocket.
Counting the $20 credit as a coupon (that's how I've always figured it) I used $55.10 in coupons. If I add up all the stores I went to today, I spent $11.54 in actual money. I'll be getting $10 of that back as a rebate from Kelloggs, and I have coupons for 2 free gallons of milk. That's really good!
Wow. Not bad for a coupon puppy!
Finally, we went out for lunch as a treat. On the back of any Burger King receipt, there is info you can use to take a phone survey. It takes a couple minutes, talking to 'Jennifer', the computer-generated-super-nice lady. At the end, she gives you a code. With that code, you can get a free Whopper or Chicken sandwich if you purchase any size fried and any size drink. It looks like this:
I had one of those, with a code from taking the survey. A Whopper is a BIG sandwich, so Little Bit and I shared. We got a Whopper (no mayo, no onion) a small fries and a $1 value size drink. Total: $2.78. You could do this for even less with a value size fries ($1), but for the two of us, the small, and sharing the burger works out just right. I have the soda, she drinks water, then we go to the playland for a while.
So, that was our day. We got a lot of stuff! I shop this way whenever I can. Some weeks (like this one) it's cereal week. Some weeks I get frozen veggies or toilet paper or shampoo for nothing or next to nothing. Sometimes they pay me to take stuff! When you shop like this over time, the pantry gets well-rounded, and there is a good selection of healthy foods, staple items, treats, snacks, etc.
I hope this was helpful. Got questions? Ask 'em! I'll do my very best to answer them for you!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Day 4
On Thursday, we went to Safeway and got these items for $7.15. The Fritos were 1.29 each, the potato chips 1.49, and the Dr. Pepper was .49. That totals $7.14, but somehow I ended up paying an extra penny. Sigh...
I know! It seems like in the summertime, our cart always looks like we eat nothing but junk. Meanwhile, we are getting peas, lettuces, greens, zucchini, onions, potatoes and sweet cherries from the garden/orchard at home. We purchase very little produce in the summer, but we eat it like crazy!
So, our food for Thursday was as follows:
B: cereal and milk, peanut butter toast, fresh plums
L: homemade fried rice (click here for recipe) fresh sweet cherries, milk/tea, the last of the birthday cake
S: homemade barbecue on 100% whole wheat buns, homemade slaw, corn chips, frozen pineapple chunks, Dr.Pepper/juice
Snacks: raw peas, sliced cheese, apple wedges, graham crackers
I know! It seems like in the summertime, our cart always looks like we eat nothing but junk. Meanwhile, we are getting peas, lettuces, greens, zucchini, onions, potatoes and sweet cherries from the garden/orchard at home. We purchase very little produce in the summer, but we eat it like crazy!
So, our food for Thursday was as follows:
B: cereal and milk, peanut butter toast, fresh plums
L: homemade fried rice (click here for recipe) fresh sweet cherries, milk/tea, the last of the birthday cake
S: homemade barbecue on 100% whole wheat buns, homemade slaw, corn chips, frozen pineapple chunks, Dr.Pepper/juice
Snacks: raw peas, sliced cheese, apple wedges, graham crackers
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