Aldi
1 Cauliflower – $1.69
2 Strawberries – $0.99 each
1 gallon Milk – $1.99
1 Corn Chips – $0.99
1 Blueberries – $1.69
Total with tax (7.3%) – $8.94
Dillons
Items a part of the Mega Sale (Buy 10, Get $5 off instantly):
4 Hefty Slider Bags – $0.99 each, used 2 $1/2 printable (no longer available) – $0.49 each after coupons
4 Schick Quattro Razors – $4.49 each, used 2 Buy One Get One Free coupon from the 6/30 SmartSource insert (took off $6.39 each) AND used $3/1 coupon from the 5/19 SmartSource insert AND used $2/1 coupon from the 6/23 SmartSource insert – $0.04 each after coupons
2 Town House Pita Crackers – $1.99 each, used 2 $0.70/1 printable (doubled to $1) – $0.99 each after coupons
Other Deals:
1 Kroger Frozen Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts – $6.98
2 Alexis Frozen Sauté Reds – Marked down to $1.05, used 2 $1/1 printable (no longer available) – $0.05 each after coupons
1 Rice Dream – $2.29, used $1/1 mailer coupon – $1.29 after coupon
1 Green Pepper – $0.69
1 Filippo Olive Oil – $5.89, used $1/1 printable – $4.89 after coupon (It’s hard to find a good deal on olive oil. I wish I could find it cheaper somewhere.)
1 Lance XtraFulls Peanut Butter Crackers – $2.99, used $2.78/1 printable (my cashier went ahead and took off $2.99) – Free after coupon
1 Celery – $0.99
0.68 lbs Green Beans @ $1.69/lb – $1.15
2.23 lbs Bananas @ $0.52/lb – $1.16
1 Romaine Lettuce – $0.99
0.54 lbs Roma Tomatoes @ $0.99/lb – $0.53
2 Annie Ramen Noodles – Marked down to $0.99, used 2 $1/1 printable – Free after coupons
1 Bear Valley Cereal – $2.49
1 Kroger Natural Peanut Butter – $2.57
1 Kroger Just Fruit Jelly – $2.29
Total before sales and coupons: $92.66
Total with tax (7.3%) after sales and coupons: $34.44
Total for all grocery items: $43.38
Menu Plan for this Week
Breakfasts
Oatmeal, Cereal, Toast, Bananas
Lunches
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches, Leftovers, Homemade Macaroni & Cheese, Tuna Sandwiches, Veggies & Fruit
Dinners
Chicken Tetrazzini, Tossed Salad
BBQ Meatballs (My parents gave us several pounds of grass-fed ground beef over the weekend!), Sautéed Green Beans, Biscuits, Strawberries
Baked Potato Bar, Tossed Salad, Sliced Oranges (I have a few leftover from the past 2 weeks grocery shopping trips.)
Chicken & Rice Casserole, Steamed Broccoli, 30-Minute Rolls
Haystacks, Corn Muffins, Steamed Cauliflower
Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit
Out to eat
Karla says
I was reading in Gretchen’s shopping trip to Dillon’s how she used the coupons on the Schick Quattro razors. I didn’t think Dillon’s would let us use coupons with a B1G1 coupon. I see that she used 2 B1G1 coupon’s and then 4 other coupon’s on the razors. I would love to do that and have had the chance to use them like that with a B1G1 but I didn’t because I thought it was not ok to use them.
Can someone tell me for sure if that is the correct way to use them at Dillon’s?
Thank you
Gretchen says
Some Dillons/Krogers have different policies about this. I used 2 B1G1 coupons and 2 other coupons (not 4). My Dillons will let me use coupons on top of the B1G1 coupon for the non-free item. Just like Amie said in the comment above, the B1G1 coupon attaches to the free item and the other coupon attaches to the item that is paid for. It really just depends on your own Dillons/Kroger policy.
Kim in Cali says
I wish you’d post your recipe for homemade macaroni and cheese!!! YUM!
Gretchen says
I don’t have a recipe. 🙂 I just cook the noodles (whatever we have on hand), drain them, then toss in a little butter, salt, milk (or almond milk) and enough cheese until it tastes good. I’ve always done it this way (and it always tastes great) so I don’t even have a recipe I can recommend. Sorry.
Amy says
Several ladies from my church have mentioned you can get a decent size bottle of olive oil at Dollar Tree! When I need it the next time I am going there to check it out.
Gretchen says
Seriously? Wow. Now I’m definitely going to Dollar Tree soon. 🙂
Denise @ Couponing 4 a Difference says
Thanks for sharing! I am heading to Aldi to see what milk prices are here in Jersey. My grocery store sells it for almost $4! Eeck. I wonder if the price difference is a regional thing or if Aldi will really be that cheap? We’ll see.
Emily says
I buy my olive oil at Aldi…$2.99 for a 16.9 oz. bottle!
Laura says
Thanks so much for doing these posts. It is so great to see how you pair up your deals with “regular” groceries to make your meal plan.
I’m often surprised to see how few items you buy at Aldi’s. Is this on purpose? Since Aldi’s prices are so great, I often buy all of my staples and produce there and then only buy specialty items and items with coupons/sales at my Kroger store.
Gretchen says
Yes, I don’t buy very many things at Aldi besides their produce. I personally can get a lot better prices on staple items/cereal/snacks, etc if I wait for a sale and pair it with coupons. Also, Aldi doesn’t offer as many selections as Dillons/Kroger on staple items so that’s why I often buy them at Dillons (for example, my Aldi only offers bleached, enriched flour but we prefer it unbleached).
heather says
I get a huge bottle at Sams or Costco for around 12. It lasts forever and is good quality olive oil.
Lisa says
You mention that your dinner include Haystack. Could you please tell me what this is? I have heard of it in the Amish community but still have no idea what it is.
Mary C says
We call it taco salad in our home. Chips, taco meat, and the fixin’s 🙂
Alicia Pearson says
this is what we call haystacks http://realmomkitchen.com/15306/homemade-hawaiian-haystacks/
Jenna says
Your Aldi doesn’t carry olive oil? Its usually 2.99/3.29… Somewhere around there for a 17 oz. bottle at our Aldi. If not, that’s a major bummer!
Gretchen says
I’ve never looked! I guess I should now that several people have mentioned it. 🙂 Do they sell extra virgin?
Jenna says
Yes! It’s by all the baking stuff.
Marty B says
They also have an organic EVOO this week. It was $3.99 at my Aldi store.
Kelly D says
How are you able to use a BOGO coupon and a $ off coupon on the razors? If they are all manufacturer coupons, isn’t that piggy-backing? I’m not trying to be rude, I’m just wondering because I’ve seen this a few times but have been told it’s not totally legit?
Amie says
I think it totally legit to use both coupons unless the store has a policy that prohibits doing it (which some do) or the coupons state that it cannot be done (I’ve never seen that). The BOGO coupon attaches to the free item and the X/XX attaches to the item that is paid for.
ClareC. says
Gretchen,
I enjoy reading your menu/shopping posts and your CVS deal this week was amazing. Keep up the great work!
Gretchen says
Thanks! You’re very kind.
Shelly says
We will be having breakfast for dinner twice this week. I got a great deal on eggs at our local discount grocery store just $.50 a dozen. They also had vegan cream cheese which my kids love for $.50 each and Soy Dream ice cream for $.50 so I purchases 5 pints. It was a good week for dairy free items to be on sale.
Kim says
I get cold pressed olive oil at Sam’s during their non-membership required days. it’s much cheaper than the grocers or WalMart here. You can get your local Sam’s Club price by going to their website, then entering your zip code & clicking on a specific item. You can find the items your store has in stock & I’ve found that price to be the exact price when I go to my local warehouse (minus tax of course).
Dana says
Awesome trip! I love seeing how you shop and get good deals. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods (if you have one near) have really good olive oil for $6ish and the bottle is huge. I use it everyday and only have to buy more every 3 or so months.
Jennifer says
I appreciate seeing these posts. It’s nice to see how others plan meals and save on groceries. One suggestion on olive oil: I usually get Filippo Olive Oil at CVS. It goes on sale for 2.99 or 3.99 every month or so. With the $1 off brick coupon that is often available, I can get it at a good price for a nicer olive oil.
Abigail says
I’m enjoying reading about your shopping trips, Gretchen – it’s inspiring! How much are you budgeting for groceries per month? We’re currently spending around $150/mo, and still eat quite healthy. It’s easier than most people think!
We go to Sam’s Club when they have their free admission day once a year (since we don’t have a membership), and stock up on olive oil for the year. I don’t remember off the top of my head how much it works out to per ounce, but the big gallon jugs they sell are the best price on olive oil that we’ve found. We refill a small bottle to use from, since the big jug is rather unwieldy. 🙂
Crystal says
I know you wrote this to Gretchen, but since I’m not on Facebook anymore, I just had to pop on here and comment and let you know that Kathrynne is *loving* reading Joe’s series, The Truth Chronicles. His co-author’s wife gave us the first one at a conference and Kathrynne got hooked and I bought the rest of series for her as a special reward.
Tell him thanks so much for writing them; we’ve had some great discussions spring-boarding from things she read in the books!
Abigail says
Awww, thanks! I passed your comments on to my husband. 🙂 He’s always glad to get feedback on the books. They have book 6 in the works now!
Diane says
Do you have a Trader Joes? They have the best priced olive oil I’ve found.
Kim says
Thank you for sharing your shopping trips and menus.
I have found CVS to have the best price on olive oil. It goes on sale there a few times a year and can usually be paired with a printable coupon. Best price I have found so far. I can usually get it for $2.99 a bottle.
Cris says
I was just coming over to post the same! besides I can use my extra bucks and pay nothing OOP.