Comments on: Super Savings Saturday: Our $66 shopping trip

By: JessieLeigh

JessieLeigh — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:35:08 +0000

Thanks for the link to the Kroger diaper coupon!

I was just wondering… did anyone else print it and notice it looks “funny”? Mine only has one barcode and, as a result, looks suspicious even though I know the site is legit. My cashier and the manager wouldn’t accept it because of this. I was just curious if it was just my coupon or anyone else had the same issue?

By: Em.

Em. — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:53:04 +0000

You may just convince me to give Aldis another shot. We have a Save A Lot that I’m pretty in love with, but their produce is often hit and miss.

Does Aldi compare to SAL on average prices of everyday store brand goods? How about in quality?

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:40:33 +0000

First,
I have to tell you how jealous I am of all of you who live in “Kroger-land”. I have tried desperately to find a good deal for the $0.50 coupon on Cottonelle. I am not kidding – the 4 pack of Cottnelle ranges from $3.00-$4.00/pack in the mid-atlantic! Free toilet paper is just not happening here.

Second,
I gotta ask this – I’ve been following your blog for a good while now, but don’t think I’ve ever seen spices or seasonings in your shopping trips. Am I missing it? Are you using another source? I know you cook mostly from scratch, so there’s gotta be some spices there somewhere. What’s up with that?

By: The Thrifty Mama

The Thrifty Mama — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:23:06 +0000

I see the Icecream made it into the shopping cart this week. :chuckles:

By: Honey

Honey — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:25:38 +0000

Got some good deals this week at Kroger. But my big finds were 4 free large dark chocolate hershey bars from Food City. They were clearanced to .99 then I used $1 coupons=free. Just went to Target and bought yoplait yogurts, 6 boxes cereal, 4 boxes cereal bars and 6 fisrt aid kits for $6! I used 3 yoplait m/c’s and a Target coupon on those to get them for .19 each. Then the S. Beach bars were clearanceed to $1.48 and I used the $2 coupons from the internet a few weeks ago (where they printed out endlessly) to get them free plus overage. Then I used the Johnson’s coupons to get the first aid kits for free with a little overage. And then for the cereal I used a Target coupon for $3/3 boxes special K then used 3 $1/2 m/c. I don’t always make it to Target (there’s not one super-close), but when I do it’s ususally worth it.

By: KImberly

KImberly — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:00:41 +0000

I’ll post my deals here, since I didn’t blog about it today. Forgot to take pics of my bargains.

I spent $34 at Aldi, and $16 at Food Lion = $50 for the week for groceries.

We also went to a thrift store to look at clothes. I’ve never done this before, but have read about you going places like this. If you lived here in NC, you would love this place. They turned a gone-out-of-business grocery store into a HUGE thrift store. Each week they give 50% off particular colors of tags, so you save even more. I got 3 skirts (one Old Navy and one JC Penney brand), a pair of jeans (J-Crew) for my husband, and Nine West shoes for me….all for $30!! You can’t find Nine West shoes by themselves for 30 bucks.

By: Sarah S.

Sarah S. — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 14:01:06 +0000

I love Aldi’s! Their baby carrots are better than anyone’s! I had someone that strictly eats organic taste them and beg to know where I got them..I smiled and offered my Aldi secret, they couldn’t believe it! I found their baby carrots last night for $.49/bag! Thanks for sharing!

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:45:11 +0000

Hey, I’m being nosey here, but do you have any plans for all those grapes? (At least I think they’re grapes. My computer monitor doesn’t show much colors! *Another frugal sacrifice!* Husband says we need a new one, I say it works, we aren’t replacing it! )

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Money Saving Mom here: Well, I think it’s moreso the quality of my picture, but we didn’t buy any grapes. Just apples, carrots, grapefruit, strawberries, bananas, and oranges.

By: Catherine @ Frugal Homemaker Plus

Catherine @ Frugal Homemaker Plus — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:39:25 +0000

Great deals Crystal! I’ll be heading over to Dillons on Monday…hopefully there will be some good markdowns! I’m already planning on “buying” free toilet paper and getting the cereal deal. Thanks for the heads up!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:22:19 +0000

Do you happen to know if Aldi takes coupon’s? I found out this week that Save-a-lot does take coupons. They had a great deal with the Knoxx pasta packs. 5 for $5 plus a free Hillshire smoked sausage.

By: Beth

Beth — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:10:40 +0000

I made my way to Kroger last night. I got 2 French’s mustard, 9 boxes of Multi Grain Cherrios, 1 box of Honey nut, 2 cans of Progresso, 8 1/2 gallons of milk (on sale for $1.25 each), 1 Simply orange, 1 5lb potatoes, 6 Hillshire sliced meat (on sale 10 for $10), 3 buddy bars, 3 chef boyardee. My total was $87 and OOP was $32. They were out of Cottonnelle (I have 6 coupons for those ;o). As I was leaving the cashier was too, and she basically begged me to share with her my “secrets”. I was there a long time. BTW a recent paper had Ocean spray juice for $1 off and The target coupons are still on til 2/14. I will go get 3 more free ones )

By: becomingfrugal

becomingfrugal — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:31:34 +0000

Oh sorry Chris, haha. I’ve heard others call it the “magic scanner” or “Magic coupon machine” and thought it was cute. yes, the cvs coupon/price scanner.

Constance, I think you should look into CVS’ing for personal needs, and any non grocery items. Crystal has a great post on CVS 101 here: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2008/03/cvs-101.html

I also work full time and so I don’t always have a lot of time to go searching for the deals, but I found that if I read a few blogs on tips and sales during the week, and go first thing sunday morning for the best deals, (with maybe another run on a lunch break during the week,) I’m staying fully stocked on free and nearly free items such as shampoos/conditioners, soap, razors, shaving cream, band aids, floss, toothbrushes, toothpaste, makeup, cold medicines, vitamins, pain relievers, candles, cleaners and more. Most of my weekly budget now goes to food items now.

The key for me is to make sure to stock up while the items are free or nearly free, even if I have several already. this way I won’t find myself having to pay full price in a pinch. (which I did a few times before I realized how useful stockpiling is!) Stockpiling on pantry items when they’re a great deal is also a great money saver. Recently there was a printable for 1.10 off progresso soup, and on sale it was I think 1.40, so I got soup for .30 a can, a great item to stock up on if you can! Read the blogs daily if you can for great printable coupons and tips.

By: becomingfrugal

becomingfrugal — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:31:31 +0000

Oh sorry Chris, haha. I’ve heard others call it the “magic scanner” or “Magic coupon machine” and thought it was cute. yes, the cvs coupon/price scanner.

By: Chris from St. Mary's

Chris from St. Mary's — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:49:56 +0000

Magic scanner? I had to go to the blog! CVS scanner … yes. Sometimes I go to CVS just to see the coupons I get that day, then leave!

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 08:21:54 +0000

Crystal, I was wondering how you find discounted produce at Aldi, like the apples you got this week. I shop at Aldi once a week and have never seen any produce reduced. Do you ask about it or is it already marked down? Thanks for all of the great frugal tips. You are my favorite frugal blogger!!

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Money Saving Mom here: The apples weren’t marked down, actually. They were on sale for $1.19 a bag–which I was very excited about! I have asked at Aldi before, though, if I find produce going bad (such as over-ripe bananas, etc.). I’ve never had them tell me “no” when I ask if I can get it discounted so its definitely worth a shot.

By: Bethany

Bethany — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:52:51 +0000

I am amazed at your sales! I am all over cereal when it comes down to $1.99 on sale. We basically never see it any lower than that and it is usually quite a bit more.

By: Nydia

Nydia — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:51:10 +0000

Thanks a bunch for the diaper coupon!

By: Janet

Janet — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:42:39 +0000

Great trip. Lots of bargains.

By: Constance

Constance — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:39:02 +0000

I am fairly new at the coupon game and planning the menus and finding all of the good deals. We live on a very low income. My husband is in school full time to become a teacher. He is almost done, but has about 1-1/2 left. Because of his full-time schedule, he can only work 15 hrs. a week. I work 36 hrs. a week. Our total income is around $424/ week. We don’t have the luxury of going out to eat all the time or buying alot of things that really isn’t needed, but we make it and are very happy. But because of the income that we have, I try to spend no more than$60/week on our grocery’s and necessities. What I want to be able to do is spend nomore than $40/week in groceries and no more than $10/week in necessities (includes- deoderant, diapers,laundry supplies, etc.) I am not sure how to do it? We have a Wal-mart, Aldi, Save-A-Lot, CVS. Could you help me?

By: Katie

Katie — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:36:30 +0000

Wow you did good! One day I hope to be as good as you, untill then I shall envy. Have a great day!

Katie Lane