Walmart
3 bags of Frozen Broccoli @ $0.98 each – $2.94
1 gallon of Milk – $3.48
1 dozen Eggs (price-matched Walgreens) – $1.50
1 HUGE Cantaloupe (price-matched Aldi) – $0.99
1.91lbs Peaches @ $0.99/lb (price-matched Aldi) – $1.89
2 large heads Romaine Lettuce @ $1.67 each – $3.34
Total: $14.14 (I paid using a Walmart gift card I earned through Swagbucks – so $0.00 out-of-pocket for me!)
Walgreens
2 transactions of:
1 Colgate Total toothpaste – $3.00 plus tax – used $0.75/1 coupon from 06/15/22 insert
Total after coupons: $2.46 plus receive $2.50 register reward back – $0.04 MM after coupon and register reward
Harris Teeter
3 32-oz cartons So Delicious Coconut Milk @ $1.50 each – $4.50, used 3 $0.55/1 any So Delicious product (doubles), $0.40 each after coupons
1 3lb package Jennie-O Frozen Turkey Burgers B1G1 @ $10.99 (rings up half price) – $5.50, used $0.75/1 package of frozen Jennie-O Turkey Burgers (doubles), $4.00 after coupons
2 50-oz jugs Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent @ $1.97 each (limit 2) – used $3.00/2 Arm & Hammer detergents, $0.47 each after coupons
2 Dial Hand Soap @ $1.00 each – used $1.00/2 Dial from the 06/15/14 insert – $0.50 each after coupons
3 packages of Old El Paso Taco Shells @ $1.25 each – $4.50, used $1.00/3 Old El Paso products, plus $0.60/3 Old El Paso evic, plus $0.60/3 Old El Paso Saving Star – $0.76 each after coupons
2 packages Hormel Compleats – $2.79, used 2 $1.00/1 Hormel Compleats printable, plus $1.00/1 Hormel Compleats evic – $0.21 MM after coupons
2 packages Fiber One Bars (it would have been cheaper for me to buy 4 of these, and 4 of the Nature Valley Bars, as Harris Teeter is running a 4 for $7 deal – I thought that I could mix and match the 2 kinds for 4 total and still get the sale price, but I didn’t) – $4.58 – used 2 $0.50/1 Fiber One Bars printable (doubles), plus $0.50/1 Harris Teeter evic, plus$0.50/1 Fiber One Saving Star – $0.79 each after coupons
2 packages Nature Valley Granola Bars – $4.58 – used 2 $0.50/1 Nature Valley printable (doubles), plus $0.50/1 Nature Valley evic, plus $0.50/1 Nature Valley Saving Star – $0.79 each after coupons
used $5.00 Register Rewards from Walgreens transactions
Total after coupons and sales tax: $9.41, plus receive $1.60 back from Saving Star
CVS (Yes, I realize this cereal isn’t that great for you. But I have yet to convince my husband of that in our 9 years of marriage. 🙂 If I don’t buy it for him, he is going to go out and buy it himself and spend $3.99 a box… so when I find a decent deal, I stock up for him. Love you, Honey!!)
15 boxes of Kelloggs cereal @ $2.00 each – used 2 $1.00/2 select Kellogg’s cereal, 2 $1.00/3 any Kellogg’s cereal, 1 $1.00/2 Kellogg’s Krave cereal, 1 $1.00/2 any Kellogg’s cereal emailed to me from Kellogg’s Family Rewards – $24.00, plus receive a $10 gas card back
2 Right Guard Extreme Clear Deodorant @ $3.00 each – used 2 $2.00/1 Right Guard Extreme Clear from RP 06/15/14 insert – $2.00 plus receive $2.00 ECB back – free after coupons and ECB’s
1 Just the Basics liquid dish detergent – $0.99
1 Cheerios cereal – $2.48 – used $0.60/1 CVS coupon from the CVS coupon machine, plus $1.00/1 from cut from the back of a cereal box – $0.88 after coupons
Used $2 ECB from a previous week, plus $7.00 from a CVS gift card I earned from Swagbucks
Total after sales tax and coupons: $17.08, plus receive a $10 gas card and $2.00 ECB back (Looking at my receipt, I am not sure how I ended up at this amount. It seems the total should have been a little higher.)
Local Farmer’s Market
Large Box of Summer Squash (about 30 lbs – we will eat what we can the next week or two, and then freeze the rest)
Total: $5.00
Fresh Produce from a Friend’s Garden
Total: Free 🙂 So thankful for generous friends!!
Weekly Total for all Groceries: $36.45 out-of-pocket (plus receive a $10 gas card, $2 ECB, and $1.60 back from Saving Star)
Weekly Menu Plan
Breakfasts
Oatmeal x2, Smoothies (using frozen fruit), Eggs and Toast x2, Homemade Granola, Cereal
Lunches
PB&J Sandwiches/Cucumbers/Homemade Applesauce; Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese/Tomato slices/Peaches; Turkey Sandwiches/Crispy Baked Zucchini Fries; Leftovers x2; Baked Potatoes with Broccoli and Cheese; Build-Your-Own Tossed Salad
Dinners
Tacos, Fresh Pico de Gallo, Green Beans, Cantaloupe
Venison Roast in the Crockpot, Baked Potatoes, Carrots, Butterhorns
Venison Gravy over Brown Rice (using leftover venison from last night’s dinner), Broccoli, Tomato Slices
Breakfast for Dinner (meatless) – Pancakes, Eggs, Hash browns
Turkey Burgers on the Grill, Cucumber Tomato Salad, Grilled Zucchini
Lasagna Casserole (I have cottage cheese I need to use up – I am going to make this with only 1/2lb of meat), Dill Bread, Sauteed Summer Squash
Classic Grilled Chicken, Italian Garlic Bread, Broccoli, Tomato Slices
Snacks
Zucchini Bread, Fruit, Granola Bars, Cucumber slices, Smoothies, Fruit
Heidi says
In your husband’s defense, Brigette, I’m pretty sure I see Raisin Bran there, and that’s not TOO bad!! 🙂 (I just closed my eyes for the rest of the boxes 😉 )
Hahaha.
Definitely could be worse!
From a woman who’s husband is a semi-reformed cereal lover 🙂 (he eats a LOT less now than we married over 12 yrs ago–you never know what the future holds!)
Julie says
You did a fantastic job! My hubby and one of my kids are cereal people too. I try to stock up when it’s under $1 per box but it’s getting harder and harder to do.
Amie says
I love your shopping trips and menus! This is similar to what my trips look like… a lot of produce and some cheap coupon deals. Although, not THAT much produce. lol. My kids and husband love cereal, and Pop Tarts, and donuts, and all breakfast junk. My husband’s family LOVE sweets for breakfast and it is how he was raised. I buy junkie stuff for them with coupons and sales; it isn’t the majority of what they eat, but gets mixed in here and there. For example, today we had cinnamon rolls from the tube ($0.25 after sales and coupons), scrambled eggs, and fruit. They were thrilled. No, it isn’t healthy, but I am okay with it. I just have a purchase price for my junk… usually $0.50-$1 depending on what it is and they (the kids) cannot have it every day.
Brigette says
It sounds like we are soul sisters – ha! 😉 I could have almost written this myself!
Erin says
I’m usually not a big fan of shopping trip posts, but I really love these because there is so much healthy food (cereal aside, LOL!). It’s always interesting to hear what you’ll do with a big lot of produce. And judging by your shopping habits, it seems you are more of a minimalist and buy only what you need rather than running to every drugstore for multiple free deodorants each week.
Brigette says
I AM a minimalist, even more so than it looks. 🙂 All of these stores are within a few miles (2or 3) of each other/my house so I can justify the gas money going to multiples stores, as long as I hit them all in the same outing. 🙂 The only reason I went to Walgreens this week is because we were squeezing out the last of our last tube of toothpaste (which should NEVER happen to any couponer!!! But I’ve taken time off with having a baby, moving, surgery, all in the last 3 months), and it is right next to all the other stores. And you are so sweet to say you like reading these posts!!
Janell says
Thanks for the cereal deal. I’m heading back to CVS. My husband is the same way!!!
Brigette says
Oh good! The only thing that makes a good deal better, is when other people can score too!
Julie says
Your cereal deal is AWESOME !! and you get all of the KFR points too !
Brigette says
I know – yay for more points, so I can have more coupons to buy more sugary cereal for cheap!!!
laura says
Thanks for answering my question about the cereal. That is awesome! I am saving the gas cards for my 21 yr old… part of Christmas. He is such a good and responsible young man; I love including gas cards that can help with his costs for the school commute.
C Webb says
I’m jealous — our local Wal-Mart will not price match Aldi (something about warehouse stores). In fact, they will only price match brand name items, so they wouldn’t do eggs either. It’s nice to hear that some stores still do it.
Brigette says
I am sorry! That’s sad. 🙁 I never did Wal-Mart until we moved to SC last year and literally live 1/2 mile away from one. They have been AWESOME about matching any prices – most of the time they don’t even want to see the ads I have pulled up on my iPad!!
laura says
I was curious about the cereal deal. The CVS circular has them 2/4$ but only one deal per household…. Cereal is definitely something we stock up on in our home for the kiddos so getting as many boxes as you did would be awesome!
Brigette says
You can buy as many as you want @$2 a box (lower with coupons). To get the $10 gas card back, you need to buy 15 boxes. The “one deal per household” is referring to the gas card. However, the cashier at CVS was telling the lady in front of me it WASN’T a limit of one gas card per household. I can’t tell you whether or not that is accurate, though.
KG says
Good deals and good meals! 🙂 Yum!
My husband loves cereal, too.
Brigette, have your children always eaten brown rice? Just asking because I’ve recently ( for the past few months or so) switched to serving brown rice opposed to white rice – it’s healthier. Two of my children don’t really care for it, even though they will eat it.
I serve it w/ beans (beans and rice) in order to enhance the flavor and to provide a “gravy” of sorts in order mask or maybe even enhance the flavor and texture.
To be honest, I even had to get use to eating brown rice. I’ve tried a couple of things that have seemed to really help with getting use to the flavor/texture w/out taking away from the health benefits. I think a biggest part of it was just retraining my palate.
Developing healthier eating habits for myself and establishing healthier eating habits for my children has definitely been a work in progress. 🙂 I also try to encourage my husband, of course. With him, I find that concentrating on the healthy stuff that he WILL eat opposed to being frustrated about the healthy stuff that he WILL NOT eat, has really helped. 🙂
Jen says
I haven’t personally tried this particular recipe, but I’ve seen a baked brown rice recipe at Mel’s Kitchen Cafe .com. It’s gotten a lot of great comments from readers.
(I have made MANY of her recipes and only found one so far that we didn’t care for.)
KG says
Thanks!!! I’ll definitely be checking it out!
Brigette says
My kids don’t mind brown rice (except one, but he minds everything so he doesn’t count!;)) I add more water than than you are supposed to, and cook it a little longer until it absorbs the water – which makes it softer and fluffier than regular brown rice.
KG says
Thanks! I’ll give a try!
Brigette says
Oh, and I LOVE that you focus on the healthy things your husband WiLL eat, vs all the healthy things he won’t eat. Great advice for a happy marriage! 🙂
KG says
🙂
Amie says
Last year, my son was put on a high fiber diet. We had already made the switch to whole wheat pasta just because it is cheaper after sales and coupons, but hadn’t bothered with trying rice. A coworker offered my several bags of brown rice that her daughter had gotten for free from WIC, but wouldn’t eat. I happily accepted, unfortunately no one liked it. We learned to cook it longer and with more water. I still mix with white rice if we are having it as a plain side and everyone eats it. As long as it is cooked longer, it is great as is in casseroles and with sauces (enchiladas, etc.).
Monica says
Lol! The cereal and husband craves are the same here too! Although, my husband willl eat anything I put in front of him. But I always purchase his favorite cereals when they are on sale that is. I refuse to pay no more than $2 for cereal. I’ts been about 9 years and I have no reason to pay over $2 for it. Clip, shop and save! =)
Brigette says
I hear ya! 🙂 I figure if I *have* to buy junk! I might as well get it cheap. 🙂
Denise says
I know what you mean about husbands and “junk food” cereal! Thankfully mine is willing to eat the Aldi versions 🙂
Lisa says
Wow, you can use your Walgreen’s register rewards at Harris Teeter? How cool is that? 🙂
Brigette says
I KNOW!!! Coolest thing ever! Mine also takes ECBs from CVS and Up rewards from Rite Aid. 🙂
Jen says
I have made a very yummy summer squash bread! I don’t know off hand where I got the recipe though, sorry!
Also, I hear you on the cereal thing! It has taken him seeing a little belly starting to form to give up his nightly bowl. He still eats it in the morning…. But if I keep homemade granola stocked, he’ll eat that instead! I buy it mostly for an occasional treat now.
Brigette says
My husband says homemade granola is “too rich.” Not sure what that means exactly, but it’s a no-go at our house. 🙁 I’m guessing that might work for a lot of guys, though!
Kim says
How does the Kelloggs rewards work ? I really need to get back in the swing if things , even with swagbucks
Monica says
Every Kelloggs brand box has a code printed inside the box. Sign up for the program and start entering the codes, that’s it. When you have enough points you can redeem them for coupons among other things. Hope this helps.
Kim says
Thank you
Tina says
Also once you are signed up they send you emails which sometimes have codes and/or coupons.
Kim says
Great , thank you !
Kim says
That Dill Bread sounds scrumptious!! I’m eager to try it! I so appreciate seeing all the shopping trips. They give me great money saving ideas! 🙂
Brigette says
You are welcome!!
Kelly C. says
Can anyone tell me how they freeze summer squash or zucchini? I tried grating our zucchini last year and it didn’t freeze well for recipes.
Tina says
I was wondering the same! Would love some tips 🙂
Teresa says
I have also found that freezing grated squash isn’t great. If you have a dehydrator or can borrow one I would recommend that.
Janet says
I have a friend that freezes it whole and grates it while it is still frozen.
Lana says
I have seen a post on Little House Living about slicing it and then bagging and filling the bag with water. To use you thaw it and drain the water. It is supposed to be very much like fresh that way. I have not tried it so I can only take the word of the blogger.
Emilie says
I grate mine, put it in a freezer bag and then thaw it to use in recipes but have only used it in breads so it didn’t matter that it was soggy.
April says
Would love to know as well b/c our zucchini and squash are also coming off the vine and I can only eat so much and give so much away…would love to know how to prep it for the freezer.
Amy Degler says
I slice my squash , not too thick not too thin, blanch it in boiling water for about 2 minutes, then cold shock it in ice water. Drain well and pack in freezer bags or containers. Works great for side dish recipes or casseroles this way. This how my mother packed her freezer with squash when I was a kid also. Hope this helps some of you.
Lana says
Same here on the cereal. Thirty-six years and no changing that.
Brigette says
🙂
Bobbi says
My husband is the same way about cereal. I don’t even like it, but he has to have it. We have a shelf stocked w/ various boxes of cereal. Good thing he is not picky so I buy whatever I can get cheapest. The only problem is that then our 2 yr. old ends up eating it too. :o( So I love it when we can get the organic cereal for cheaper, it usually has a lot less sugar.
Brigette says
My husband eats breakfast/leaves for work during the school year really early – before the kids wake up. So they eat breakfast without him, and their breakfast does NOT include Daddy’s cereal. 🙂 it might be a little harder to implement that rule if we all ate breakfast together!
Abigail says
I have a cereal loving man too! The children call it “Papa Cereal”, because they know Papa is the only one who eats/serves it. They all love to stay home on a Saturday morning for this special treat. Me, I take my healthy smoothie & go garage sale hunting!
Meredith says
My husband HAS to have cereal too. He told me when we changed to the cash budget that the only stipulation is that I make sure we have cold cereal and milk on hand. He’ll eat the healthy stuff but prefers the others. He would eat it for all three meals if I would let him! I keep it there to make him happy!
jennifer says
Mines the same way! I think it’s cause he grew up on it.
Brigette says
What is it with guys and cereal??? 🙂
Erin says
Have you tried just not buying it but keeping something healthier and just as easy on hand? I ask because there’s a motivation factor to consider. My husband might crave something in the moment but 99 percent of the time, he’s not going to bother running out to get it. And with some things, he might pay full price one or twice a year, which ends up cheaper than stocking up year round. Sticker shock may work to your benefit. Cereal’s tough, though. It can be cheap and it’s nice to have on hand. My husband eats it primarily because it’s easy, I think. My daughter LOVES it. I don’t find it filling so I’d rather eat nothing, and my son prefers smoothies or yogurt.
Meredith says
I’ve thought about it. However, I am a stay at home mom/wife and I don’t have any income. He works 60 hours a week and helps out so much around the house. The only thing he’s ever asked for is cereal so I don’t complain!
Brigette says
Your idea totally makes sense to me…and I have tried it multiple times. My husband doesn’t even wait until he gets a craving. Once we are down to the last box or two of sugary cereal, he goes into panic mode and stops on his way home from work and stocks up. I can’t even bring myself to look at the receipt. I am SO not kidding. We rarely argue, but buying junk food has been THE reoccurring source of tension at our house over the years, and I finally just figured – it’s not worth it! 🙂
Erin L says
My hubby too – he has to hide it from our boys otherwise they won’t eat the healthy stuff I buy for me and them.