Homeland
2 Ragu Pasta Sauce – $1.50 each, used $0.75/2 coupon from the 8/23 RedPlum insert (doubled) – $0.75 each after coupon
Mt Olive Sweet Relish – $1.19, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free plus overage after coupon
2 Yoplait Yogurts – $0.50 each, used $0.40/2 printable (doubled) – $0.10 each after coupon
2 Herbal Essence Bodywash – $2.50 each, used $0.75/1 printable (doubled) and $1/1 coupon from the 8/23 RedPlum insert (doubled) – $0.75 each after coupons
2 Planters Peanuts – $1.69 each, used $1/2 printable (doubled) – $0.69 each after coupon
4 cans Libby’s Green Beans – $0.75 each, used $1/4 coupon from the 8/23 RedPlum insert – $0.25 each after coupon
1 Wishbone Salad Dressing – $2.19, used $0.75/1 coupon from the 8/23 RedPlum insert (doubled) – $0.69 after coupon
Buy 4 General Mills items, Get Free gallon of milk:
1 Golden Grahams Cereal – $2, used $1/1 printable (doubled) – Free after coupon
1 Honey Nut Cheerios – $2, used $0.50/1 printable (doubled) – $1 after coupon
1 Cheerios – $2, used $0.75/1 printable (no longer available) (doubled) – $0.50 after coupon
1 Go-Gurt – $1.99
1 gallon Milk ($3.75) – Free after sale
Total with tax ($1.69) after coupons and sales: $11.43
Dillons
1 pkg Grapes – $1.85
1 pkg Kroger Tortillas – $1.50
1 loaf Nature’s Harvest Bread – $2.50, used $1.05/1 e-coupon – $1.45 after coupon
2 Kroger Cottage Cheese – $1 each
5 Muller Yogurts – $1 each, used $1/5 e-coupon – $0.80 each after coupon
1 Kroger Tortilla Chips – $1.25, used $0.40/1 mailer coupon – $0.85 after coupon
1 Green Leaf Lettuce – $0.99, received $0.25 Checkout 51 rebate – $0.74 after rebate
1 Cascadian Farms Granola – Marked down to $0.99
1 Hormel Turkey – $3.99, used $0.50/1 e-coupon – $3.49 after coupon
1 Kroger Cream Cheese – $1
1 bag Apples/Peaches – Marked down to $0.99
1.60 lbs Tomatoes – $1.58
1 bag Kroger Brown Rice – $0.89
1.76 lbs Bananas – $1.04, received $0.20 Ibotta rebate – $0.84 after rebate
2 Cucumbers – $0.50 each
Total with tax ($2.05) after sales, coupons and rebates: $25.22
Total for all grocery items: $36.65
Menu Plan for This Week
Breakfasts
Eggs & Toast
Oatmeal
Cereal x 2
Egg & Cheese Quiche
Lunches
Baked Potatoes, Broccoli
Vegetable Soup, Crackers
Tossed Salad x 2
Apples, Cheese, Crackers, Veggies
Turkey Sandwiches, Fruit
Lunch with my family
Dinners
Brown Bag Burritos (from the freezer), Steamed Cauliflower, Chips and Salsa
Easy Baked Ziti, Tossed Salad, Homemade Bread
Chicken Pockets, Green Beans, Fruit Salad
Grilled Chicken, Tossed Salad, Mashed Potatoes
Chicken & Rice Casserole, Steamed Carrots
Homemade Pizza, Veggies
Leftovers
Liz says
Glad to see this post back. I love looking at your meal plans when I am making my family’s menu for the week to get ideas of what to cook! I love that you link to recipes. It is an easy way for me to incorporate new meals into my family’s menu.
Diane says
Gretchen, I wondered if you’ve ever experimented with grocery shopping frequency and if you’ve figured out what is the best for your family? I’ve done weekly, 3x/mo and just this month working at 2x/month and we do have produce that will hang around that long. We don’t have double coupons and actually mostly use Aldi and I’m fine with that. I’m just trying to figure out if twice/month really does help us and if you have any insights. I’ve read posts on monthly and many times a week (which is absolutely not practical for my family and small children). Thanks! Love your posts.
Jenna says
Love these posts! Awesome milk/cereal deal!
Lesa says
Thank you for sharing, Gretchen. I find your posts motivating! I also appreciate the links you provide for the recipes in your meal plan. I too enjoy making frugal & healthy meals for my family. Thank you for sharing, I look forward to your posts! 🙂
Rachel says
So glad to see these back! I really look forward to them to see her deals.
Sara says
First off, I love your blog and kudos To Gretchen for being able to feed her family for a week and only spend $36. I, however, feel like this is unrealistic for me and maybe others. I think it is a good example for some but I see it and find it discouraging, not motivating. I liked when you shared how you doubled your grocery budget and a few of those grocery trips. I don’t have the opportunity to get a freezer full of meat from someone that hunts so that adds a lot to my budget. A lot of stores don’t double coupons and there aren’t any Aldi’s in AZ. Would it be possible to maybe share trips from people that have a variety of grocery budgets? Maybe a low, medium and high? I think if I saw one that was in range with what my budget is I would be more interested in their coupon match-ups and sale finds. Just a thought – please take this as a suggestion and not a criticism! 🙂
Heather Zamora says
I am in the same situation as you, Sara. I live in Northern CA and no stores here double. I used to be a heavy couponer but once I had kids, that changed…I just don’t have the time or patience anymore for it. Luckily I have a few stores in my area that I shop to on a regular basis for certain items because their prices are low everyday (when compared to some of the bigger chains). I’m not familiar with the stores in AZ, but I enjoy shopping at the Grocery Outlet and FoodMaxx for my regular grocery items. Sometimes I will venture out further to smaller specialty stores like Sprouts (similar to a Whole Foods) if they have items on ad that are a great deal.
SmartShoppingMom says
I am in the same situation as you, Sara. I live in Northern CA and no stores here double. I used to be a heavy couponer but once I had kids, that changed…I just don’t have the time or patience anymore for it. Luckily I have a few stores in my area that I shop at on a regular basis for certain items because their prices are low everyday (when compared to some of the bigger chains). I’m not familiar with the stores in AZ, but I enjoy shopping at the Grocery Outlet and FoodMaxx for my regular grocery items. Sometimes I will venture out further to smaller specialty stores like Sprouts (similar to a Whole Foods) if they have items on ad that are a great deal. My grocery budget is less than most people because I am careful with my spending. I would recommend you start looking at the ads of stores in your area and start off that way to compare who has the lowest prices on items you buy 🙂
Sara says
I do compare ads and only buy things when they are on sale. I use coupons (but not to an extreme level because I have 3 kids 5 and under). I also meal plan. I shop at the day old bread store for all my bread products. I generally stick to fry’s (Kroger) as they have the cheapest prices here but will swing by another store to grab a loss leader if I have time. I just would love to see shopping trips that include some meat purchases or maybe see Crystal’s now that Jesse has changed some of the way they eat.
Ashton says
Yes I would also like to see Crystal and Jesse’s meal plans. I do like to see all the other ones. I get idea’s from all of them.
motherlovin3 says
I follow this blog for general ideas. I love the meal plans and recipes, makes me feel like a domestic goddess to make a meal from scratch. To get a better idea of what is on sale in my area, I follow a few blogs that are done by folks in my area. Maybe there are couponers in your area who have blogs you could follow.
Chris says
I have missed these posts the past few weeks and am glad to see them again.