Week 13

Hello everyone. Trying a new format this week. I am going to put all my trips in the same entry, so they may make more sense chronologically.

CVS

2 gallons milk x 1.99 = 3.98
- 1 coupon x 2.00 = 1.98

1 colgate advanced toothpaste x 2.99 = 2.99
- 1 coupon x 1.00 = 1.99 (and earn 2.00 ECB)

2 speedstick deodorant x 3.99 = 7.98 (and earn 7.98 ECBs)

1 feminine item x 3.99 = 3.99
- 1 coupon x 1.00 = 2.99 (earn 3 ECBs)

Paid with 12 ECBs and
Out of Pocket = 3.08
Savings = 18.20
Earned = 12.98 ECBs

County Market

non-coupon stuff
4 mac n cheese x .50 = 2.00
4 cans fruit x .99 = 3.96
1 applesauce x 1.49 = 1.49
1 orange juice x 1.69 = 1.69

coupon stuff
Many of their store coupons are good on multiple items. The coupons say "limit 1" or "limit 3" etc. I usually get the limit that the coupon is good for, if it's a good price.
1 apple juice = 1.99
- 1 store coupon x 1.00 = -1.00
= .99

2 county market 3.5 lb frozen chicken breasts x 6.49 = 12.98
- 1 store coupon x 3.00 x limit 2 = -6.00
= 6.98

1 bag potatoes x 3.49 = 3.49
- store coupon x 2.50 = -2.50
= .99

2 bags carrots x 1.79 = 3.58
- 1 store coupon x 1.02 x limit 2 = -2.04
= 1.54

2 birds eye steam fresh veggies x 1.89 = 3.78
- 1 store coupon x 1.20 x limit 2 = -2.40
- 1 manufacturer coupon x 1.00 = -1.00
= 0.38

3 frozen pizza x 2.75 = 8.25
- 1 store coupon x .96 x limit 3 = -2.88
= 5.37

1 blue bunny ice cream = 4.59
- 1 store coupon x 2.60 = -2.60
- 1 manu coupon x .75 = -.75
= 1.24

1 borden singles x 2.19 = 2.00
- 1 store coupon x 1.01 = -1.01
= 0.99

Out of pocket = 25.09
Savings = 24.45

Meijer

1 lettuce = .99
1 bread = .98
1 milk = 1.98
1 rainbow salad = 1.25
1 bag of licorice snaps for my grandpa = .95

1 hot dog buns = .99
- 1 coupon x .35 = -.35
= 0.64

2 chi-chi's salsa x 1.00 = 2.00
- 2 coupons x .55 = -1.10
= 0.95

2 air wick motion sensor things x 2.99 = 5.98
- 2 coupons x 2.99 = -5.98
= FREE (when I saw I would get these for free, I said, "Yay! Free stuff!" Libby kept saying "Yay!" all through the store. Excellent. She also likes free stuff.)

2 farm rich mozzarella cheese sticks x 1.54 = 3.08
- 2 coupons x 1.00 = -2.00
= 1.08

Out of pocket = 9.35
Savings= 24.46

Walmart
Diapers, roughly 14.00

Weekly spending total: 51.52
Weekly savings total: 67.11
YTD spending total: 692.58
YTD savings total: 813.88

3 month averages

YTD spending total: 641.06 / 12 weeks = 53.42
YTD savings total: 746.77 / 12 weeks = 62.23

Week 12 - Aldi

puffed popcorn 1.19
2 fruit and grain bars x 1.859 = 3.78
ice cream = 1.98
saltines = .89
eggs = .79
tortilla chips = .99
ketchup = 1.15
cottage cheese = 1.99
milk = 1.78

out of pocket = 14.70
savings = 4.90

Weekly spending total: 61.16
Weekly savings total: 54.59
YTD spending total: 641.06
YTD savings total: 746.77

Week 12 - County Market

9.93 pounds of ground beef x 1.59 a pound = 15.79
(With that, I made 5 small meatloaves, 3 dinners worth of meatballs, and a ton of ground beef for lasagna, tacos, etc. yay for the freezer!)

1 bag of marshmallows 1.76
- store coupon - 1.09
= .67

Ritz crackers 2.50
Wheat thins 1.88
- coupon for free wheat thins when you buy ritz = -1.88
= 2.50

cream cheese 1.66
- store coupon - .89
= .77

out of pocket = 19.95
saved = 14.61

Weekly spending total: 46.46
Weekly savings total: 49.69
YTD spending total: 626.36
YTD savings total: 741.87

Week 12 - Meijer

I don't know why the kids insist on being in the pictures. But I think they're cute so I'll let them get away with it.
They are now so used to me unloading everything to take a picture of it, that they helped unload the bags and set everything up for pictures tonight. I bet when they get older, they'll find out that not everyone takes pictures of their groceries, and they'll realize what a weird house they grew up in. I bought the juice and sunflower seeds even though they weren't on my list because Phillip had been so good in the store, and that's what he wanted as a treat. I was hoping for brownies.

non-coupon items:
bananas 1.12
2 bags of lettuce x .98 = 1.96
2 frozen juice x .99 = 1.98
sunflower seeds 1.99
2 pasta = 2.10
milk 1.98
hot dog buns .79

coupon items:
4 eckrich hot dogs x 1.25 = 5.00
- 2 coupons for 1.00 off when you buy 2 = -2.00
= 3.00

2 aunt millie's bread x 1.19 = 2.38
- 2 coupons x .35 = -.70
= 1.68

2 Kraft singles x 1.59 = 3.18
- 1 coupon for 1.00 = 2.18

2 Eggo waffles x 1.59 = 3.18
- 2 coupons x .75 = 1.50
= 1.68

4 Sweet Baby Ray's sauce x .99 = 3.96
- 4 coupons x 1.00 = -1.00
= 0.00

2 Kraft dressing x 1.58 = 3.16
- 2 coupons x 1.00 = -2.00
= 1.16

5 Kellogg's cereals x 2.50 = 12.50
- 3 Meijer promotion, if you bought 5 you got $3 off
- 5 coupons x 1.00 = -5.00
= 4.50

Out of pocket = 26.51
Savings = 35.08

Weekly spending total: 26.51
Weekly savings total: 35.08
YTD spending total: 606.41
YTD savings total: 727.26

Week 11 - CVS

1 crest mouthwash x 3.49
- 1 coupon x 1.00 = -1.00
= 2.49 (and earn 2.00 ECB)

4 CVS brand candies x .99 = 3.96 (not all pictured)
= 2 coupons x 1.00 = -2.00
= 1.96

2 CVS brand batteries x 6.49 = 12.98
- 6.49 buy one get one free
= 6.49

CVS brand crackers (to feed the ducks, so not pictured) = 1.99

Wow... I had lots of store coupons I know I used a 3 dollars off a 10 dollar purchase, and a few others... I think I missed one up there... and I used some ECBs that were close to expiration... so...

out of pocket = 0.98
saved = 23.39, and earned another 2 ECBs


Weekly spending total: 54.39
Weekly savings total: 102.51
YTD spending total: 579.90
YTD savings total: 692.18

Yay! A week where I did not go over my limit! And just look at the savings!! I paid 54.39 for 156.90 of merchandise, a savings of 102.51. That's awesome!

Week 11 - Shop N Save

Hello, Shop n Save. It's been a while.

We went to SNS 3 different times this week. I sent Doug early in the week, I went on Coupon Thursday, and we stopped by again on Saturday. They had some good deals that had limits of 2.
Also, I am thrilled that SNS has a new scanner system. Their new checkouts print the "suggested retail price" on the receipt now, so I get a better picture of how much I am saving.

So... trip 1:
1 24-pack double rolls cottonelle x 4.88
- 1 coupon x 1.00 = -1.00
= 3.88 (that made these 32 cents per double roll. that is a GREAT price on TP!)

2 SNS brand shred cheese x .88 = 1.76

Out of Pocket = 5.90
Saved = 10.19


This is a picture just of the 2nd trip.
Trip 2:
Coupon Thursday at SNS is when they will automatically take $10 off any order $50 or over.
5 Quaker rice snacks x 1.00 = 5.00
- 5 coupons x 1.00 = -5.00
=0.00!!

2 Quilted Northern 24-pack regular rolls x 6.47 = 12.94
- 2 coupons x 1.00 = -2.00
= 10.94 (that's about 23 cents for a single roll of the TP that I like. good deal!)

1 Banquet homestyle bake = 3.50
- 1 coupon x 0.50 = -.50
= 3.00

Pizza kit = 2.23
Bananas = 1.08
Carrots = 1.88
butter = 2.00
2 bread x .86 = 1.72
2 SNS brand corn flakes x .88 = 1.76
SNS black olives = 1.46
2 Kraft singles x 1.88 = 3.76
2 SNS shred cheese x .88 = 1.76
Gallon milk = 1.98
Pepperoni = 1.79
1 Juice Juice = 1.98

3 Eggo waffles x 2.17 = 6.51
- 3 coupons x .75 = -2.25
= 4.26

Out of pocket = 33.87
Saved = 43.84

Trip 3:
Pizza kit = 2.23
2 SNS shred cheese x .88 = 1.76
2 SNS cereal x .88 = 1.76
Gallon milk = 1.98

Out of pocket = 7.81
Saved = 11.20

Weekly spending total: 53.41
Weekly savings total: 79.12
YTD spending total: 578.92
YTD savings total: 668.79

Week 11 - Walgreens

Walgreen's has their brand of diapers on sale buy one get one free. They aren't the best diapers, but for as cheap as it made them, I am happy to use them.
A pack of their size 4 diapers has 34 diapers, for 9.49.
So, I got 68 diapers for 9.49. That's a pretty good deal. (14 cents a diaper, roughly, and that's pretty darn cheap. My standard diapers at Walmart is 10.74 for 48 size 4 diapers, or 22 cents a diaper.)
I paid 4.40 on a gift card from my rebates from last month, so I spent 5.83 out of pocket, and saved 9.49 + 4.40 = 13.89.

Weekly spending total: 5.83
Weekly savings total: 13.89
YTD spending total: 531.34
YTD savings total: 603.56

Week 10 - Aldi

Already over for the week, and had some things we needed at Aldi. Some weeks, it doesn't matter how I plan, I am going to go over. It's just one of those weeks. ALso, if I had not messed up at CVS on Sunday, we would have been fine. Oh well. That's why I don't spend all 60 on weeks that I don't need to. So there's a little buffer room.

At Aldi, spent 21.64 on peanut butter, eggs, breakfast bars, bread, oatmeal, etc. With the standard being that they are 25% cheaper than other stores, that's a savings of 5.41.

Weekly spending total: 80.13
Weekly savings total: 58.60
YTD spending total: 525.51
YTD savings total: 589.67

Week 10 - County Market

I actually made 2 trips to County Market this week. I am starting to love County Market.

3 x Store brand au gratin potatoes 1.39 =4.17
- store coupon making them .77 = -2.31
= 1.87

4 packages dirty cookies x 2.25 = 9.00
- store coupon making them .99 = -5.04
= 3.96

1 load bread = 1.29

bananas = 1.47

deli ham = 7.69
- 3.85 (buy 1/2 pound, get 1/2 pound free promotion)
= 3.84

10 banquet microwave dinners x .77 = 7.70

2 dozen eggs x 1.19 = 2.38
= store coupon making them .69 = -1.00
= 1.38

cream cheese = 1.66
- store coupon making it .88 = - .78
= .88

cottage cheese = 3.29
- store coupon making it 1.39 = -1.90
= 1.39

= 24.41 paid, saved 20.71

second trip (can't find the receipt, of course):
more ham, bananas, stuff for mother's day, etc. foodstuffs came to approx 8 dollars, saved 3.50 on the ham.

Weekly spending total: 58.49
Weekly savings total: 53.19
YTD spending total: 503.87
YTD savings total: 584.26

Week 10 - CVS

I messed up at CVS!
I had meant to buy, using ECBs, the items that earned ECBs. Then turn around and use my new ECBs for the diapers. I forgot. So, my out of pocket is WAY more than I intended. Oh well, at least I have lots of ECBs for next week! And we HAD to go out to get toilet paper and diapers tonight, or I'd have to hunt down the cloth diapers that are around here somewhere and wash them up tonight. So, no matter where I went, I was looking at 18-20 dollars, anyway.

3 Kellogg's cereals x 3.34 = 10.00
- 1 coupons x 1.00 = -3.00
= 7.00, earn 5 ECBs

3 Adidas deoderant x 3.99 = 11.97 (I cannot believe people actually pay this much for deoderant)
- 3 coupons x 1.00 = -3.00
= 8.97, earn 9 ECBs

1 Colgate Max White x 2.99 = 2.99
- 1 coupon x 1.00 = -1.00
= 1.99, earn 2 ECBs

1 Charmin x 5.88 = 5.88
= 5.88, earn 1.00 ECB

CVS brand diapers 13.49
- 1 coupon for 2 dollars off CVS product = -2.00
= 11.49

- 11 ECBs
= 26.08 out of pocket. Receipt says I saved 28.98. And I earned 17 ECBs.

Weekly spending total: 26.08
Weekly savings total: 28.98
YTD spending total: 471.46
YTD savings total: 560.05

Week 9 - CVS

Sometimes, when I leave CVS, I have the urge to let out a huge maniacal cackle in the parking lot. I feel like I'm stealing from them sometimes. I know they're going to get reimbursed for the coupon face value PLUS 8 cents, but I just feel like I am ripping them off sometimes.

This trip, for instance.

2 Dean's Milk @ 2.49 = 4.98
- 1 coupons x 1.00 off two = -1.00
=3.98
4 CVS-brand nut snack pouches x 0.99 = 3.96
- 2 coupons x 2.00 off any 2 CVS-brand nut purchase = -4.00
1 Garnier conditioner x 2.99 = 2.99
2 TresSemme shampoo/conditioner x 5.49 = 10.98

-10.00 off 20.00 purchase that the mailed me for the new store's grand opening.
-7.88 in ECBs.

= 0.12 out of pocket, 24.18 saved.
Yes. TWELVE CENTS.
And I earned 5.00 ECB for the TresSemme, and 2.00 for the Garnier.

Weekly spending total: 56.88
Weekly savings total: 59.05
YTD spending total: 445.38
YTD savings total: 531.07

Week 9 - County Market

County Market has been working hard to get my money recently! They've been having pretty good sales, and when combined with coupons, really good! They have "penny pincher" coupons in their papers, passed a booklet of them out in-store a couple of weeks ago, mail them out... etc. They're usually really good sales, but limits of 1 or 2. That's OK! I love those coupons. You can combine them with manufacturer coupons for REALLY good deals, sometimes.

We got a lot of staple items (baking powder, bananas, etc)- I am only going to spell out the good deals.
10 pounds of split chicken breast for 1.00 a pound.
2 bags frozen french fries for 1.29 each (on sale for 1.99, plus their penny pincher coupon for another .75 off)
frozen tater tots for .99 a bag
texas toast croutons for 1.00 a bag, minus 50 cent coupons. (these things are great in tomato soup!)
cottage cheese for 1.29 for a 24 ounce carton
cheese for 1.88 each.

overall, spent 41.76 out of pocket, saved 29.37 according to receipt.

Weekly spending total: 56.76
Weekly savings total: 34.87
YTD spending total: 445.26
YTD savings total: 506.89

Week 9 - Misc Trips

There were a couple of trips this week that were to get ingredients for a dish that I was done with and realized I didn't have the final piece (like, cheese for tacos), etc. It just wasn't a well-planned week.
So... the misc trips this week were to Walgreens for cheese and ice cream, it was around 11.00, and I had 4 dollars in Register Rewards that we paid with. So, about 7 out of pocket, and 4 saved.
Shop n Save to get a few staples- around 6.00, and we saved 1.50 on the cheese that was on sale. More cheese! This time, it was for snack day at Phillip's preschool.
Milk at Meijer. 2.00.

So.... so far this week:

Weekly spending total: 15.00
Weekly savings total: 5.50
YTD spending total: 403.50
YTD savings total: 477.52