Week 4 - Misc Trips

This was one of those weeks where we kept running out of things that we had to have. I needed some instant pudding for friendship bread, I had no flour, we ran out of diapers, etc. So, this is all those little trips, amounts estimated (and rounded up, to be fair) since I can't find all the receipts. I hate weeks like this, because it throws everything off. And it makes me realize how much money I threw away when we shopped like this every week.
Thankfully, I had some money "left" from last week to make up the difference.
Oh, also, I am not including pet care in my totals. Just FYI, as I am not sure if I said that earlier.

CVS:
Crest Pro-Health toothpaste at CVS, paid .59 cents, earned 3.49 ECBs. Receipt says I saved 4.40.

Walmart:
diapers, around 14.00

Meijer:
pudding, flour, clearance soda for Doug: about 8.00, saved 4.50 on the soda.

Weekly spending total: 67.59
Weekly savings total: 101.86
YTD spending total: 215.34
YTD savings total: 308.45

Week 4 - Shopping Trip 3 - Kmart

I had a few more coupons I wanted to use, so another short trip to KMart.

2 feminine products x 1.29 = 2.58
- 2 coupons x .75 x 2 for doubled = -3.00
= FREE

3 Secret Flawless deoderant x 4.49 = 13.47
= 3 coupons x 2.00 each x 2 for doubled = -12.00
= 1.47

2 Cascade Action Packs x 4.79 = 9.58
= 2 coupons x 1.00 each x 2 for doubled = - 4.00
= 5.58

8.24 out of pocket
saved 18.58 in coupons

Weekly spending total: 45.00
Weekly savings total: 92.96
YTD spending total: 192.75
YTD savings total: 299.55

Week 4 - Shopping Trip 2 - Aldi

After our awesome trip to KMart, Phillip and I went down to Aldi for some staples that we needed. Remember, they don't take coupons, but their prices on their own branded stuff can't hardly ever be beat.

12 oz shredded co-jack = 2.49
16 oz shredded mozz = 3.29
fruit and grain bars = 1.89
deluxe american cheese = 2.79
vegetable oil = 2.29
eggs = .99
2 gallons of milk x 1.79 = 3.58
2 bags tortilla chips x .99 = 1.98

Total 19.49

Weekly spending total: 36.76
Weekly savings total: 74.38
YTD spending total: 184.51
YTD savings total: 280.97

Week 4 - Shopping Trip 1 - KMart

Double coupons! KMart periodically runs promotions where coupons are worth double what the face value is. So, a 1 dollar coupon is worth 2 dollars. Sweet! This week, coupons with a face value of 2 dollars or less are doubled. I did well this trip, but I broke the cardinal rule of bargain shopping- I strayed from my list!! If I had just stuck to what was on my list, my out of pocket expenses would have been way less.

2 Gillette body wash x 4.49 = 8.98
- 2 coupons x 2.00 each x 2 for doubling = -8.00
= .98

1 olay quench lotion x 3.24 (on clearance down from 5.99) = 3.24
- 1 coupon x 2.00 = -4.00
= FREE!

2 colgate total toothpaste x 3.29 = 6.58
- 2 coupons x 1.50 each x 2 for doubling = -6.00
= .58

4 Secret flawless deodorant x 4.49 = 17.96
- 4 coupons x 2.00 each x 2 for doubling = -16.00
= 1.96

2 spray gel x 1.19 (on clearance down from 1.99) = 2.38
no coupons
= 2.38

Walle and Eve toothbrushes, upon insistence from the 4 year old
2 x 2.50 = 5.00
- 1 coupon buy one get one free = -2.50
= 2.50

2 Vicks's Formula 44 x 3.00 (on clearance down from 5.74) = 6.00
- 2 coupons x 1.50 each x 2 for doubling = -6.00
= FREE!

4 feminine products x 1.29 = 5.16
- 4 coupons x .75 each x 2 for doubling = 6.00
= FREE!

1 feminine product x 3.49 = 3.49
- 1 coupon x 2.00 x 2 for doubling = -4.00
= FREE!

4 glade carpet fresheners x 2.19 = 8.76
- 4 coupons x 1.00 each x 2 for doubling = -8.00
= .76

2 Hershey's snacksters x 2.50 = 5.00
- 2 coupons x .75 each x 2 for doubling = 3.00
= 2.00

1 turtles x 4.29. Yes, those were my treat for shopping so awesome.
- 1 coupon x 1.50 x 2 for doubling = -3.00
= 1.29

I paid 17.27 out of pocket. Coupon-only savings of 64.55. The items on clearance saved me 9.83. So, total savings of 74.38!!

Weekly spending total: 17.27
Weekly savings total: 74.38
YTD spending total: 147.75
YTD savings total: 280.97

Week 3 - Shopping Trip 3 - Meijer

I did two transactions at Meijer tonight. There are coupons you can print from Meijer's website, and the limit is 1 per transaction. So, I did two transactions. The definition of a transaction is being rung up and paying once. I just put my stuff on the belt with the divider between them, and told the cashier that I had two transactions. No problems.
Transaction 1:
popcorn 1 x 1.79 = 1.79
apples 1.86 pounds x .84 a pound = 1.56
bread 1 x 1.29
cheerios 3 x 2.00 = 6.00 - 3 coupons x .50 = -1.50 == 4.50 total
english muffins .99 - 1.00 coupon = FREE
And, they had a promotion where if you bought 10 certain items at $1 each, you get the 11th free.
hot dogs 1 x 1.00 = 1.00
snack pack pudding 2 x 1.00 - 1 coupon x 1.00 = -1.00 ==1.00
sour cream 1 x 1.00 = 1.00
canned fruit 3x 1.00 = 3.00
chef boyardee 3 x 1.00 = 3.00 - 1 coupon x 1.00 = -1.00 == 2.00
applesauce 1 x 1.00 = 1.00

Total was 17.34
Used the 5 dollar gift card I got in the cereal at Walmart, so paid
12.35 out of pocket


Receipt says I saved 16.33.

Weekly spending total: 23.73
Weekly savings total: 55.37
YTD spending total: 121.73
YTD savings total: 200.22


Transaction #2
bananas 1.48 pounds x .59 a pound = .87
snack pack pudding 2 x 1.00 = 2.00 - 1 coupon x 1.00 = -1.00 == 1.00
chef boyardee 2 x 1.00 = 2.00 = 1 coupon x 1.00 = -1.00 == 1.00
canned fruit 3 x 1.00 = 3.00
applesauce 1 x 1.00 = 1.00
toilet paper 2 x 1.00 = 2.00
pizza rolls 1 x 1.00 = 1.00 - 1 coupon x .35 = -.35 == .65

Paid 8.75 out of pocket for this one, and the receipt says I saved 6.37

Weekly spending total: 32.48
Weekly savings total: 61.74
YTD spending total: 130.48
YTD savings total: 206.59

I spent just over half what I am allotted for the week. Which is good, because I think I am going to need the extra next week..... Double coupon event at Kmart!

Week 3 - Shopping Trip 2 - CVS

I LOOOOOVE CVS! I can't say that enough. I went to CVS just because we needed milk (again!). I hadn't found much in the ad this week that I wanted. I've already seen next week's ad online, and there's not much for me there, either. Aaaand, I have some extra care bucks that expire early next week. So, I figure I'll just grab some stuff. This wasn't bad for a quick trip to CVS.

milk
1 x 2.49

CVS-brand candies
2 x .88
- coupon $1 off 2
= .76

right guard deoderant
3 x 2.99 = 8.97

bandaid comfort
1 x 3.29

neosporin
1 x 5.49
- coupon $1 off
= 4.49

first aid kit
1 x 1 = .99
- coupon $1 off
= FREE

Mentos gum
2 x 1.69 = 3.38
- 2 coupons x 1.00 = 2.00
= 1.38 for both

- 5 dollars off 25 dollar purchase CVS coupon
- 19.96 in extra care bucks
= 0.59 out of pocket. Yeah! According to the receipt, I saved 30.17.
And I earned 6 extra care bucks for the deoderant (2 each), and 3 for the band-aid and neosporin combo. If most of those extra bucks I paid with hadn't been expiring anyway, I would have just gotten the milk.

Weekly spending total: 11.38
Weekly savings total: 39.04
YTD spending total: 109.38
YTD savings total: 183.89

Week 3 - Shopping Trip 1 - Walmart

I went to Walmart this week just so I could show you something awesome about Walmart.
Did you know that they price match? Yep, as long as you have a current ad from any other store, they will price match for that same item in their store.
This week, I price matched Meijer's price on Fruity Cheerios. Normal price at Walmart is 2.50 a box. Meijer had them for 2.00 a box. When I went to check out, I just showed the ad to the cashier, and told her that I wanted to price match. I did the same thing with my milk- I price matched County Market's 1.99 a gallon and saved 40 cents!

Walmart trip total:
Bread 1.13
butter 2.28
shredded cheese 1.78
Fruity Cheerios 2 x 2.00 = 4.00
- 2 coupons x .50 = -1.00
= 3.00 total for the Cheerios
gallon milk 1.99
mascara (not pictured) 6.47
- coupon for FREE mascara - 6.47

Total: 10.79
Oh! And one of the Fruity Cheerios had a 5 dollar gift card inside! Sweet! It's some promotion they've got going right now, 1 out of every 10 boxes has a gift card in it.

Weekly spending total: 10.79
Weekly savings total: 8.87
YTD spending total: 108.79
YTD savings total: 153.72

Week 2 - Shopping Trip 4 - County Market

County Market is one of those places where the staff just don't know the policies of the store. It drives me insane! So, I emailed corporate about a few of the questions I get a LOT of their staff, and I now carry the email response with me, so I can educate the cashiers.
For example, this trip, there was a store coupon that made Band-Aids 99 cents. I had a manufacturer coupon for a dollar off Band-Aids. You and I know that means free Band-Aids. The cashier did not want to ring them up that way. She said, "But then you'll be getting these for free!" I said, "I know! That's why I'm getting them." I whipped out my little email, she read it, the customer service person read it, and finally they rang them through. Geez! I guess there are people out there who want to buck the system, but still. I am following THEIR rules and get second-guessed. That drives me nuts!
Anyway, it was a pretty good trip.

2 bags frozen chicken, 2.5 pounds each
2 x 3.99 = 7.98 (comes out to about 1.60 a pound. not great, but we were out of chicken)

4-pound bag of sugar, on sale at .99, down from 2.99
1 x .99 = .99

2 containers of Healthy Ones lunch meat
2 x 3.19 = 6.38
- 2 coupons x .75 = 1.50
- 2 store coupon x 1.20 = 2.40
= 2.48

2 del monte fruit cups
2 x .99 = 1.98

4 Band-Aids
4 x 1.69 = 6.76
- 4 coupons x 1.00 = 4.00
- 4 store coupons x .70 = 2.80
= FREE

total out of pocket for this trip: 15.03. total saved: 22.06

Weekly spending total: 44.19
Weekly savings total: 92.44
YTD spending total: 98.00
YTD savings total: 144.85

Amount left out of my $60 this week.... 15.81!

Week 2 - Shopping Trip 3 - Walgreen's

Walgreen's AGAIN?! When I went in the other night, they had a flyer for a "freaky friday" sale. Rock bottom prices on a few things that we will use- mostly donut type stuff for Saturday morning breakfasts. Doug got a similar flyer from another Wags the other day, so it looks like whatever they have an overabundance of stock in, they do an in-store sale.

This Friday, I got:
7 packages of donut holes:
7 x .39 = 2.73

3 cinnamon rolls and 2 danishes
5 x .39 = 1.95

3 starbucks chocolates
3 x .59 = 1.77

1 gallon of milk
1 x 2.00 = 2.00

Total out of pocket: 8.62. Saved 30.49

Weekly spending total: 29.16
Weekly savings total: 70.38
YTD spending total: 82.97
YTD savings total: 122.79

Week 2 - Shopping Trip 2 - Walgrees

Walgreen's doesn't really do a lot for me, most of the time. I find an odd deal here or there that makes me go gaga, but most of the time, I can get better deals at CVS.
Not this week.

This week, Garnier Fructis shampoo/conditioner/stylers are on sale for 2.99. Yikes, that's way expensive! But- there is a coupon in their Easy Saver booklet for 2.00 off Garnier Fructis. And I had dollar off coupons from the paper a few weeks ago. Yes, 2.99 - 2.00 - 1.00 = FREE SHAMPOO! I only got 4 because I only had 4 of the dollar-off coupons.

They also had Orbit gum on sale 3 for 1.99. And there is a coupon in their Easy Saver booklet for 1.00 off if you buy 3. So, basically, 3 for 99 cents. I got 6.

And, Walgreen's brand headache medicine was on sale for 2.99 with a 2.99 rebate offer in the Easy Saver book.

SO....
4 shampoo x 2.99 = 11.96
4 coupons x 2.00 = 8.00
4 coupons x 1.00 = 4.00
= -.04

6 gum x .66 = 3.96
2 coupons x 1.00 = 2.00
= 1.96

1 headache medicine x 2.99
no coupons
=2.99

Grand total of 5.93. I paid 5.50 from a gift card, and the remaining 43 cents out of the bottom of my purse.

My savings was a whopping 23.76!!

Now, Walgreen's Easy Saver booklet has instant value coupons, as well as mail-in rebate offers. I got an offer last month, and had the rebate money put onto a gift card instead of being mailed to me as a check (that was the 5.50 I paid with above). The headache medicine up there is a rebate offer for this month. By paying with my rebate from last month, to purchase something that will get a rebate this month... I am "rolling" my money!

Weekly spending total: 20.54
Weekly savings total: 39.89
YTD spending total: 74.35
YTD savings total: 92.30

Week 2- Shopping Trip 1 - Meijer

20.11 at Meijer today.

4 boxes of gogurt, on sale for 2 dollars a box, had coupons for 75 cents off every 2 boxes.
4 x $2 = 8
2 coupons x .75 = 1.5
= $6.50 for 4 boxes. That makes the tubes of yogurt about 21 cents each.

5 budget gourmets on sale for .69, and had a coupon to save $1 if I bought 5.
5 x .69 = 3.45
1 coupon x 1.00 = 1.00
= 2.45 for 5 budget gourmets. That's 49 cents each.

2 50-count ziploc sandwich size bags, on sale for $1, and had a coupon for 1.50 off any 2 ziploc bags.
2 x 1.00 = 2.00
1 coupon x 1.50 = 1.50
= .50 for 2 boxes of bags. Yeah, I know, crazy cheap!

All detergent 3.49, with a $1.00 off coupon = 2.49

A delicious-looking flank steak that was 20% off because it's date was near- 5.62.

4 bananas, @ 59 cents a pound = .86

And coffee creamer for work. We're out, and black coffee is just too much for me some mornings.

I also had a coupon for $2 off any $20 order (thank you, Sharon!).

My total out of pocket was 20.11, and I saved 16.13.

Weekly spending total: 20.11
Weekly savings total: 16.13
YTD spending total: 73.92
YTD savings total: 68.54

Week 1- Shopping Trip 4

Yes, trip number 4 for this week. Most weeks, I only do 2- CVS and whichever grocery store has the best sales.
But, we were out of "staples" this week, so I also made an Aldi run.
For those of you unfamiliar with Aldi- it rocks! Excellent foods, the cheapest "regular" prices in town, and quick cashiers.

My trip this week:
2 gallons of milk= 1.80 x 2 = 3.60 (YES! Gallons of milk for ONE-EIGHTY!)
spaghetti sauce = 1.00
fruit cocktail = .85 x 2 = 1.70
cooking spray = 1.29
REAL vanilla extract = 1.99
frozen meatballs = 1.99
eggs = 1.089
tots = 1.59
bread = .79
corn flakes = 1.15
fruit and grain bars = 1.89
garlic bread = 1.64
Cars movie pasta = 1.29 (gotta have an impulse buy every now and then)
spent 21.21.
Just LOOK at all I got for 21 bucks. Awesome!
They don't accept coupons, and most of what they have is their own brands, anyway. Don't let it fool you- they are just as good or better than name brand! I swear!
I can't count any "savings" when I shop at Aldi, but I know I am 98% of the time saving compared to retail of the name brands at any other store.

Weekly spending total: 53.81
Weekly savings total: 52.41
YTD spending total: 53.81
YTD savings total: 52.41

So, I spent 6.19 less than my budget this week. Awesome! I should come up with something to save the money towards.

Week 1- Shopping Trip 3

I just recently realized that Schnucks will double manufacturer coupons that have a face value of 40 cents or less. That means if I have a 35 cent coupon, it's worth 70 cents at Schnucks. Yeah! If I can find a good sale to work this with, it works very well. I didn't have any coupons double at my trip this week, but I still got some great deals! I even have a picture!


8 cans Progresso soup 1.00 x 8 = 8.00. - (.50c x 4) = 6.00. I had coupons for 50 cents when 2 cans were purchased. It made my soup come out to 75 cents a can.
4 bags Birdseye frozen veggies 1.00 x 4 = 4.00 - (1.00c x 2) = 2.00
New York croutons 1.00 - .55c = .45
Gorton's Fish Tenders 4.99 + 4.99 - 4.99 (they were buy one get one free) - (1.00c) = 3.99 for 2.
Chex Mix 1.00 x 2 = 2.00 - (.60c x 2) = .80
= 13.44. Saved 6.75 in coupons.

Weekly spending total: 32.60
Weekly savings total: 52.41
YTD spending total: 32.60
YTD savings total: 52.41

Week 1- Shopping Trip 2

County Market

Thank you, County Market! The mailer you sent out with those Penny Pincher coupons has some great deals! Using those coupons, I was able to save a lot of money at your store. You rock! You were out of some of the items, but I will come back later in the week to get them!

Angel Soft toilet paper .77 x 1 = .77
Dutch Farms shredded cheese 1.19 x 3 = 3.57
Green giant baby carrots .88 x 2 = 1.76
Duncan Hines brownies 1.00 x 6 = 6.00. - .35 x 6 = 3.90
I had a rain check for the brownies. They were on sale a few weeks ago for $1. Yes! Good brownie mix for less than I can get brownie mix from Aldi. Of course they were out. So, I got a rain check. For 6 of them. Do I need 6 boxes of brownie mix? Nope. But I had 6 coupons for 35 cents off any Duncan Hines brownie mix... which means that I got it for 65 cents a box! I can't pass up brownies for that price!
Total 10.something. I can't find my receipt!! I know I saved roughly 16 dollars and spent just a little more than 16. So, I am going with those numbers.

Weekly spending total: 19.16
Weekly savings total: 45.66
YTD spending total: 19.16
YTD savings total: 45.66

Week 1- Shopping Trip 1

I started the week off right with a pretty good trip to CVS. They had an offer that if you spent $20 on certain baby products, you got $5 extra care bucks (ECBs) back. One of those items was diapers, at a decent price, no less! I need diapers even if they aren't on sale anywhere. So when they are on sale AND give ECBs back, I get downright giddy.
And CVS is awesome about giving out coupons at the end of your receipts. Some stores even have coupon printers in the store! You swipe your card, and it spits out coupons for you. The best ones are the ones that give you x dollars of a purchase of xx. For example, I've been getting a lot of $5 off $25 purchase recently. If I have 25 worth of merchandise, I automatically save 5. Awesome.
Now, the CVS extra care bucks program is a God-send to those of you who are trying to watch your spending. I'll do a post in the next couple of weeks to explain it to you.
So, CVS this week....
2 packs of Playskool diapers 11 x 2 = 22. (this earned me 5 ECBs)
Carnation instant breakfast 4.99 (this items gave back 4.99 ECBs!)
Vitamin D capsules 2.99 (this item also gives back 2.99 ECBs! I probably won't use these myself, but if I can get something for free, I can always donate it to someplace. You should spread the good deal wealth as much as you can.)
= 29.98
- 5/25 coupon from a receipt last week
- 15.98 ECBs that I have been saving (I'll explain this in that other CVS post)
= 9.16 out of pocket costs. That's less than 1 pack of our regular diapers would cost us at WalMart.
AND- I got 12.98 back in ECBs to use on a future purchase.

This wasn't a very good CVS trip for me, actually. I've had trips to CVS where I've spent less than a dollar out of pocket for about $40 worth of merchandise, and gotten 20 or so ECBs back. I hope they have some good sales in the next few weeks, so I can show you how awesome working the system can be!

I am going to put the 4 below pieces of information on each of my shopping trip posts, to keep track of my spending and savings. Now, some stores print right on the receipt how much you saved off of full retail price. CVS, County Market and Meijer do that. Some stores only print the amount you saved in coupons. Shop n Save and Schnuck's do it that way. I just use whatever is on the receipt as my savings. I figure that it's close enough, and any savings is good!
Weekly spending total: 9.16
Weekly savings total: 29.66
YTD spending total: 9.16
YTD savings total: 29.66

Introduction

Hello there.

Welcome to my experiment.

You'll see that the name of my new blog is 60 bucks a week.

I have a budget of 60 bucks a week. For groceries, deodorant, shampoo, diapers, soap, household cleaners, toilet paper, etc. Basically anything that isn't a clothing/shoe purchase must fit in those 60 dollars.

Can I do it?

I know I can. In the last 6 months, I have saved over $1300 shopping frugally. I gave myself a year to see if I could save $1500. Heck, I'll meet that by next week, a full 6 months before my deadline. It's gotten kinda boring keeping track of it, honestly. And I've gotten to the point that the only thing I will pay full price for is milk and eggs. Sometimes bread. And even paying full price for those things we need makes me feel ashamed that I wasn't able to find a good deal!

However, over the last 6 months, I haven't kept track of how much I've spent. Just what I've been saving. I want to change that. I want to keep track of my 60 dollars a week. Exactly where each cent went, and how much is left over!

I'll share my deal breakdowns with you in the hopes that you can get some good deals, too!

So, this week, I have my $60 in cash.... stay tuned to find out all I can get for that!