I was taking a break from my chores yesterday and decided to check email. I had a note from All You - I am one of the finalists in the Grocery Challenge!
I couldn't believe it! I printed the email, just to make it more real. I told Little Bit all about it. She said, 'Oh, good. Now can we read my Barney book?' Now that is some enthusiasm!
I spent the rest of the day giddy and nervous. What if they accidentally sent that email to everyone? What if it was a prank? But it wasn't. I sent in my receipts, some pictures (eeeep!) and a couple of recipes that I use all the time, but never write down.
Hubby is really proud of me, and that is the best part. That, and the fact that I missed the phone call because I was out digging potatoes. New York City called my house, and I was digging potatoes. Yep, sounds about right!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Still going!
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!
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!
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.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Hail last night.
We had a pretty big hailstorm last night. I have photos on my other blog, if you want to see what can happen, rather quickly, to a lot of food.
This is why I think it's important to have several strategies - not just one. You never know when your 'plans' are going to change.
This is why I think it's important to have several strategies - not just one. You never know when your 'plans' are going to change.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Day 28
The last day - that went fast!
I ended up spending a little bit after all - $2.08 for big containers of cumin and ginger, at the ranch supply! It just goes to show that you have to be on the lookout EVERYWHERE for great prices! :)
We mostly had 'bits' to eat today - using up items in the fridge or making little creations. Supper was sausage links and blueberry pancakes. We planted blueberries this year, and we had a wee, tiny harvest from one plant. So we sprinkled those into our pancakes at suppertime.
As I was gathering items for supper I realized we were down to about a half inch of maple syrup in the bottle. Maple syrup is expensive, and the last time I was in the store, I decided I'd wait to purchase more, because I thought I might have another bottle in the pantry.
I didn't have another bottle in the pantry.
Plan B? I combined sugar, water and maple extract and made some. It's not 'real' maple syrup, but it's the same as the stuff you buy if you buy 'pancake syrup', and it has NO high fructose corn syrup. I put a little vanilla in it too, and it was delicious! (Also very affordable.)
I'm thinking of continuing this - keeping this blog running so we have a place to share tips and hints with one another. What do you think?
I ended up spending a little bit after all - $2.08 for big containers of cumin and ginger, at the ranch supply! It just goes to show that you have to be on the lookout EVERYWHERE for great prices! :)
We mostly had 'bits' to eat today - using up items in the fridge or making little creations. Supper was sausage links and blueberry pancakes. We planted blueberries this year, and we had a wee, tiny harvest from one plant. So we sprinkled those into our pancakes at suppertime.
As I was gathering items for supper I realized we were down to about a half inch of maple syrup in the bottle. Maple syrup is expensive, and the last time I was in the store, I decided I'd wait to purchase more, because I thought I might have another bottle in the pantry.
I didn't have another bottle in the pantry.
Plan B? I combined sugar, water and maple extract and made some. It's not 'real' maple syrup, but it's the same as the stuff you buy if you buy 'pancake syrup', and it has NO high fructose corn syrup. I put a little vanilla in it too, and it was delicious! (Also very affordable.)
I'm thinking of continuing this - keeping this blog running so we have a place to share tips and hints with one another. What do you think?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Day 27
I worked in town today (I sub at the library from time to time), so I made a couple quick stops for some good deals.
King Sooper
1 clementine orange - free sample :)
2 boxes of Post Honey Bunches cereal and a Snickers bar (I was starving, yo!)
Cash - 20 cents
Coupons - $4
(The cereal was on sale for $1.88, but my coupons were for $2 off - the overage wouldn't come back to me as change, so I grabbed the candy bar from the display and added it to the order. The cereal overage helped bring down the price of the candy bar (which was also on sale)
Albertsons
Back with more coupons to put more ice cream in the deep freeze. I was going to get a couple of other loss leader items, but they were out of them. I have rainchecks for later - woot! I also got 4 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast ($1.57 a pound!)
Cash - $10.36
Coupons - $8
So - $10.56 in money, $12.00 in coupons. Love it!
I had a grilled cheese sandwich and some orange juicefor breakfast this morning. The rest of the family slept in, so I'm not sure what they had for breakfast (I was already leaving for work by then), but I know they had plenty to choose from.
Lunch was chicken sandwiches on whole wheat buns with lettuce, mayo, etc., tater tots and water/juice/tea.
Supper was spaghetti w/meat sauce and wheat bread for Little Bit, homemade jalapeno poppers (try them - they are SO good!!)for hubby and I, and fresh apples for everyone.
King Sooper
1 clementine orange - free sample :)
2 boxes of Post Honey Bunches cereal and a Snickers bar (I was starving, yo!)
Cash - 20 cents
Coupons - $4
(The cereal was on sale for $1.88, but my coupons were for $2 off - the overage wouldn't come back to me as change, so I grabbed the candy bar from the display and added it to the order. The cereal overage helped bring down the price of the candy bar (which was also on sale)
Albertsons
Back with more coupons to put more ice cream in the deep freeze. I was going to get a couple of other loss leader items, but they were out of them. I have rainchecks for later - woot! I also got 4 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast ($1.57 a pound!)
Cash - $10.36
Coupons - $8
So - $10.56 in money, $12.00 in coupons. Love it!
I had a grilled cheese sandwich and some orange juicefor breakfast this morning. The rest of the family slept in, so I'm not sure what they had for breakfast (I was already leaving for work by then), but I know they had plenty to choose from.
Lunch was chicken sandwiches on whole wheat buns with lettuce, mayo, etc., tater tots and water/juice/tea.
Supper was spaghetti w/meat sauce and wheat bread for Little Bit, homemade jalapeno poppers (try them - they are SO good!!)for hubby and I, and fresh apples for everyone.
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!
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