Thanks to your input, I’m going to try and do a better job of outlining my shopping trips each week so you can see more what we’re buying for $40 and hopefully be inspired in your own grocery savings.
Since we already had most staple items and fruit and veggies both fresh and frozen leftover from the last two weeks’ shopping trips, I mostly focused on getting a few items we needed this week (like meat, milk, and eggs) as well as stocking up on some of the sale items.
Here was our Thursday evening shopping trip:
Hy-Vee
4 boxes Kellogg’s SmartStart – on sale 4 for $9, used 2 $3/2 coupons = $0.75/box after coupons
12 packages FastFixin’ chicken products – on sale for $1 each, used 12 $1/1 coupons = Free!
2 bags Corazona Chips – used 2 free Corazona chip coupons = Free!
1 Yo-Plus Yogurt 4-pk – on sale for $2, used $1/1 coupon = $1 after coupon (We love yogurt here, so I normally buy it anytime I can get it for around $0.25-$0.30/serving.)
Total: $6.14 (savings from sales and coupons: $24.38)
Hen House
Baking Powder – $1.85
KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce – on sale $1, used $1/1 coupon = Free!
1/4 Watermelon – on sale for $0.49/lb = $1.90
Blue Bunny Ice Cream – on sale for $2.76, used $1/1 coupon = $1.76
Farm-fresh organic eggs (from a local farm) = $2.69
Half gallon farm-fresh hormone-free organic whole milk (from a local farm) = $3.19
Total: $12.36 (savings from sales and coupons: $4.46)
Price Chopper (They were having a 60th anniversary sale so that’s why some of these prices are so good!)
Peanut butter – on sale for $1.69
4 small yogurts – on sale for $0.29 each
Pace Picante sauce – on sale for $0.99
Ken’s salad dressing – on sale for $0.99, used $1/1 coupon = Free!
Sara Lee bread – on sale for $1.19
2 1/2 lbs. of 93% lean ground beef – on sale for $1.99/lb = $4.86
Fritos – on sale for $0.99
2 bags Westpac frozen veggies – on sale for $0.60 each = $1.20
Total: $12.99 (savings from sales and coupons: $14.86)
[And please rest assured that this shopping outing was rather junk-food-heavy, but I promise we won’t be eating all that junk food up this next week–especially all those chicken fingers and popcorn chicken! Stay tuned for this next week’s Menu Plan Monday post to see what we’ll be eating this week.]
On Friday, we took a field trip to a nearby free arboretum with some friends. On our way home, we hit Aldi and CVS to finish out our shopping for the week. Here’s what we got:
(Excuse the quality of the picture–my camera died today so we had to use the cell phone to take this! And don’t ask me why there is a yogurt in the picture, too. I guess three-year-old Kathrynne snuck that in when I wasn’t looking!)
Aldi
1 mozzarella cheese – $1.89
1 cheddar cheese – $1.89
1 pack of strawberries – $0.99
1 bunch of bananas – $0.91
Total: $6.11
CVS Transaction #1
5 Glade sprays – on sale for $0.97 each, used 3 $1/1 coupons and 2 B1G1 coupons
1 Colgate Sponge Bob toothbrush – $2.99, get $2 ECBs, used $0.50/1 coupon
1 Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste – $2.99, get $2 ECBs, used $1/1 coupon
1 Aquafresh Extreme Clean toothpaste – $2.99, get $2.99 ECBs
1 Colgate 360 toothbrush – $3.99, get $3.99 ECBs
1 Schick Intuition razor – on sale for $8.88, Get $6 ECBs, used $4/1 coupon
2 CVS 4-packs of toilet paper – $1.59 each
Used $3/15 CVS coupon
Used $3, $5, and $5.98 ECBs
Paid $2.30 out of pocket
Got back $6, $4, $2.99, and $3.99 in ECBs
CVS Transaction #2
2 Colgate 360 toothbrush – $3.99, get $3.99 ECBs, used 1 $1/1 coupon
1 Colgate Sponge Bob toothbrush – $2.99, get $2 ECBs
1 Colgate MaxFresh toothpaste – $2.99, get $2 ECBs, used $0.75/1 coupon
6 Bliss milk chocolate small candy packages – $0.25 each (added as fillers since my total was negative)
Used my $4, $6, and $3.99 ECBs earned from my transaction above
Paid $0.13 out-of-pocket!
Got back $7.98 and $4 in ECBs!
If I had it to do over again, I should have bought one 4-pack of toilet paper per transaction and then I would had paid less out-of-pocket in the first transaction and not had to add on the Bliss chocolates to get my balance above negative in the second transaction. Hindsight is 20-20, isn’t it?
All totaled, we spent $40.03 on groceries and household products this week–$0.03 over our $40 budget. I’ll take it, especially since we had $1 leftover in our grocery budget from last week. And we’ll not mention the fact that if I had done a better job of calculating at CVS, we wouldn’t have gone over in the first place… oh well!
Hi –
Recently you had a website posted to help moms work from home. I cannot find it on the new website and I was enjoying checking the jobs each day. Can you re-post the name of it, I think it was somthing moms.com?
Thanks!
Amber
Comments from old blog copied and pasted in:
Blogger Candace said…
I had a great week at CVS got tons of stuff – diapers, wipes, baby wash, cereal, milk and more for only 5.24 OOP. You can see my picture and deals here:
http://thesavingsswap.blogspot.com/search/label/CVS%20Shopping
Thank-you CVS for the 3/15 coupon!
May 16, 2008 6:48 PM
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Blogger Deal Mama Belle said…
I love how you laid it all out for us. Great!!!
May 16, 2008 6:56 PM
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Blogger nikarphar said…
I also did a zero OOP run at Walmart CVS and kroger.You can see details on my blog
http://www.living4free.blogspot.com
May 16, 2008 7:29 PM
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Blogger Shannon said…
When you say… first transaction and second transaction, do you go out and unload the first one and then go back in, or just do one and finish it and then do the second one right behind it?
May 16, 2008 7:45 PM
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Blogger Tara said…
I am new to the shopping game. I made my first trip to Walmart for under a dollar this week and wanted to say thank you money saving mom!
I wish I had a CVS nearby, I read all these killer deals with major envy, lol.
May 16, 2008 8:05 PM
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Anonymous Dawn said…
I have no blog, but still love sharing my deals. This week I got 5 boxes of General Mills Cereal, 4 bags of Chex Snack Mix & 8 Hersheys Candy Bars for $1.54 at our local ShurSave Market. At CVS I managed to get 4 packs of Pampers Diapers, 2 Adidas Deodorants & a OneTouch Monitor for $2.50 on a GC + I received all my ECB’s back except for $6. Not too shabby for needing to stock up on diapers anyways! Had a few other transactions at CVS, made out like a bandit! Checking out sites like this and using coupons wisely have really saved us!
May 16, 2008 8:21 PM
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Blogger Crystal Paine said…
Shannon: Since I went at a really slow time today and there was no one in line, I was able to do my transactions back to back.
May 16, 2008 8:33 PM
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Blogger Lisa said…
I love it when you give us all the details! It helps me figure out my deals.
By the way, what state are you in?
May 16, 2008 8:49 PM
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Blogger Valerie said…
I like the detailed listing!
May 17, 2008 2:48 AM
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Blogger Shannon said…
Thanks, I can really see how those CVS bucks are adding up. Especially when they get used right then. I was saving mine, and then they would expire before I ever got back. I had to stock up on medicine the other day, and had I used your method and done several transactions I could have saved about twenty bucks. Oh well, live and learn I guess, lol.
May 17, 2008 5:32 AM
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Blogger Living Frugal & Loving It said…
I noticed you paid 3.19 for a half gallon of organic milk. Anyone in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas check out Braum’s. Their milk is also organic and 3.99 a gallon! They also have a bargain bin that has yummy bakery items, bread, and fruits and veggies for less.The bakery items are usually less than a dollar. If you eat bread fast, this is a great deal. We have a braum’s within every 5 mles here so it’s on my home from the grocery store. HTH!
Krissy
May 17, 2008 5:35 AM
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Anonymous SAHMof2 said…
These are Rite Aid deals for this up coming week. Maybe you can post so people can start planning ahead.
Sales begin Sunday the 18th around here (Long Island). These are the Free After Rebate items:
The following 2 are Valid 5/18-5/20 only:
Got2b Styl-tini X Hold Shine Mousse, Smooth Spray or Hair Straightner (limit 1) $4.99 FAR
Got2b Magnetik Gel or Pomade (limit 1) $4.99 FAR
These should be valid all week:
Orajel Plaque Revealing Toddler Gel 1oz or Kids rinse 12oz (limit 1)
Addidas Deod 2.6-3oz, Body Spray 4oz, Body Wash 13.5 oz (limit 1) $3.99 FAR
Truetrack Blood Glucose Monitor (Rite Aid brand) (limit 1) $14.99 FAR
I only will post the Free After Rebate items. For all other sales for this up coming week check the site. Enjoy!
May 17, 2008 6:28 AM
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Anonymous Anonymous said…
I am working on getting a budget ready for 3 people on less than $20 a week courtesy of your blog thanks!
My Blog:
http://www.living4free.blogspot.com
May 17, 2008 7:22 AM
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Blogger Living~Laughing~Loving said…
You will LOVE that intuition razor. Its been a life saver for me, since I have a tiny little shower, and have to turn off the water when I shave, fall over, wedge myself against walls, etc. With the intuition, I can keep the water running and not worry about gel or soap or anything! Course, its easier to miss spots with it, but its well worth it!
May 17, 2008 9:33 AM
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Anonymous Hannah said…
I’m new at couponing, but this blog sure has inspired me!
May 17, 2008 3:18 PM
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Blogger Ronell said…
The Aldi buy us had milk for 1.99/gallon each kind of milk too. Not sure if that is nation wide or not, but wanted to let your readers know!!
May 17, 2008 4:31 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said…
i wouldn’t consider it too bad to get the little bliss packets, especially since they have $1 coupons inside. mine did at least!
May 17, 2008 5:57 PM
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Blogger Rachel said…
Thanks for the detailed post! That is very helpful.
May 17, 2008 6:03 PM
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Blogger Abigail said…
Can you please explain the glade transaction. How do you use BOGO and get so many items? I am trying to learn how this all works. Thanks!!
May 17, 2008 7:46 PM
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Blogger CappuccinoLife said…
Those are awesome grocery deals. I wish we had so many store options!
I just posted. Because of the amount I spent, I actually feel like a total spendthrift, but the items I got were worth many times what I paid for, and most were much needed and will be well used.
May 17, 2008 8:59 PM
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Anonymous Anonymous said…
Crystal,
Would you be so kind to share where you find the weekly Hen House, HYvee and Price chopper deals for us KC folks! Thanks.
May 18, 2008 1:15 PM
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Anonymous Michelle said…
Crystal,
Are those the Fast Fixin products in the yellow trays? I have only seen those packaged in bags in the freezer section. Give us the details please! I must be missing those somewhere in the store!!!
May 18, 2008 4:34 PM
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Blogger Gina said…
I made too many trips to CVS this week (5 times!) but I got a month’s worth of diapers for my twins, so it was worth it.
May 18, 2008 5:10 PM
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Blogger Hyperchondriac said…
hi! i have a quick question. can you use a 3/15 coupon AND a 4/20 coupon at the same time?
May 18, 2008 6:27 PM
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Anonymous Andrea said…
unfortuantely, we (in PA) cannot buy milk “on sale” as there is a state minimun price – right now it’s about $2.79 a gallon. Gotta love the CVS deals.
Does anyone have experience with the RiteAid rebates? We just had one built in town. I know they send you a check instead of the ECB’s.
May 19, 2008 4:50 AM
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Anonymous ModestforHim said…
I had a comment did not get a chance to leave it. I was wondering if perhaps you could have two sections one for deals and one for how to’s. Some ladies have been at it a while and only have time to check deals. While others need the how to section. Thank you for what you are doing.
I am one who does not have time for how to’s right now with a large homeschooling family. Thanks!
May 19, 2008 7:12 AM
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Anonymous Anonymous said…
Ack! Blogger did that to me once too- so ANNOYING!!! Hope your daughter is better and don’t worry about your blog- take a break!!!
May 19, 2008 7:36 AM
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Blogger Faerie Mom said…
Are those fresh fast fixins products?? Wow. Never seen that before.
I was getting worried about you and then saw the text box. Hope your daughter is better soon. And hope blogger lets you post again soon!
May 19, 2008 7:42 AM
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Blogger Jeanne said…
Hope your daughter is feeling better soon. Take care!
I live in OP and even though we haven’t met, if there is anything I can get for you, shoot me an email. I’d be happy to help.
May 19, 2008 8:01 AM
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Blogger Heather said…
Hey Crystal
We’re praying for you and your daughter…sorry to hear about Blogger…what a bummer! But, that gives you the much needed time off to care for her, eh? Enjoy the break…
Heather
May 19, 2008 8:02 AM
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Blogger Kristie said…
I was going through my coupons from this weekend and there are $1 off coupons for Tums Quickpak which are $4.69 and giving back $4.69 in ECB’s. Also there is a rebate form to try them free. So that makes the Tums Quickpak a double dip money maker!
*Kristie*
http://www.savingdollarsandsense.com
May 19, 2008 8:15 AM
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Blogger Carrie said…
Hugs to you and your baby, Crystal. I went through the same thing this winter with both my girls. Sounds like you are avoiding having to stay overnight in the hospital which is a good thing!
Take it easy and don’t worry about us — we will all still be here when the baby’s better!
http://www.shopliftingwithpermission.com
May 19, 2008 8:27 AM
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Anonymous Anonymous said…
I’ve certainly missed you. I was afraid someone was sick. I’ll pray your little girl gets well QUICKLY and that a real person takes care of your blog issue soon!
May 19, 2008 8:28 AM
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Anonymous Anonymous said…
Crystal – I would like to ask that you continue to post your menus and maybe start adding your recipes or links to them. That way, we can see what you bought to supplement what you already have in the pantry. I would love to attempt to feed my family for a week or two like you do to see for myself that it is possible.
Thanks,
Dawn S.
May 19, 2008 8:48 AM
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Anonymous Kim said…
I hope your daughter gets better soon. 🙁 It’s so hard when kids are sick.
May 19, 2008 10:52 AM
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Blogger Krystyn said…
Oh, no! I hope your daughter gets to feeling better ASAP! We’ll be patiently waiting for an update.
May 19, 2008 11:40 AM
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Blogger Stephanie@AHighandNobleCalling said…
Hope Blogger resolves this soon. We all miss you! It looks as though you need a break…
I pray your girls are better soon and you be given much strength and grace during their recovery!
May 19, 2008 1:17 PM
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Blogger Melessa said…
This is unrelated to saving money, I just hope you and your little one is feeling better today.
May 19, 2008 2:25 PM
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Blogger Ronell said…
I’m still pretty new to the game, but so far I have had two weeks where I paid less than a dollar out of pocket AND MADE money (not much) in extra care bucks!!
May 19, 2008 3:43 PM
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OpenID amyandlance said…
Where did you get your $1/1 coupons for the fast fixin chicken?
May 19, 2008 7:56 PM
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Blogger Leaving Excess said…
I am loving CVS!! Here is how I did: http://leavingexcess.blogspot.com/2008/05/cvs-results-this-week.html
I am still wrapping my head around your budget of $40 a week. I am really trying, but I just can’t see how to get there! I will keep following, though! We have 6 in our family, the kids are 12, 10, 5, 2, so more to feed, but still – you are doing an awesome job!
May 20, 2008 1:03 PM
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Blogger Theresa said…
Had to share a great deal I got yesterday! Giant has Purdue Perfect Portions chicken on sale for $7.99 this week. There’s $2.00 off coupons at coupons.com, you can print 2. So I got two for $5.99 each, and then there’s $1.50 off coupons in each package, so I opened it after I checked out, and went back an got two more for $6.50 each. Not *super* cheap, but still a good deal!
May 21, 2008 6:00 AM
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Blogger LoveandSalt said…
Hi — I have a question and I so hope you can help me or point me in the right direction. Reading your site I got very inspired and then I clicked on some coupon sites you had linked. I have now downloaded the coupon printer about six times and I still can’t print coupons. I have a Mac and I’m using Safari. Any ideas how to make this work with a Mac?
Many thanks!
Cynthia
May 21, 2008 6:08 PM
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Anonymous ModestforHim said…
Crystal,
I have a question for you. Are you very disciplined at not spending as a result of your training as a child or is something else that helps you not to overspend? Thanks
May 21, 2008 9:21 PM
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Blogger Jenny of Many said…
These seem like great savings. But I am wondering how much money in gas you just burned away driving to all of these different places…I’d guess about $20 considering all of the different places you went. So you have to take that off of your savings I’m afraid.
May 22, 2008 11:46 AM
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Blogger Paige said…
Wow. I have none of those stores around here.
May 22, 2008 11:58 AM
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Blogger Crystal Paine said…
Jenny: All told, maybe it cost us a few dollars in gas. We only go to stores that are within a few minutes of our home or that are right on our way to some other location. I’m a big proponent of including your gas $$ into factoring whether your savings are truly savings or not. Because spending $15 in gas to save $20 is certainly not savings.
We live on a strict budget for everything, including gas, so this helps us to make sure we are making our money go as far as possible.
May 22, 2008 12:09 PM
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Blogger AD said…
WOW. I’ve posted your site on my personal blog @ http://arpitdave.com.
I hope to learn more about CVSing to share with my medical school classmates trying to penny-pinch their way through medical school.
Do you know of any CVS-ers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas who would be willing to speak on the topic?