I was really happy with this week’s shopping trip. As you may recall, I didn’t go shopping last week, so I had quite a bit of extra grocery money to spend. But I decided to challenge myself to try to stay quite a bit below the budgeted amount I had available to spend (we budget $60 each week for groceries right now and since we only spent $10 last week plus I had some left over from January, I had quite a bit I could have spent).
I went to both Aldi and Dillons and spent a total of $66!
My best bargains were the three bags of Gala apples on sale for $1.19 each at Aldi, and free Suave lotion (priced at $0.99, used $1/1 coupon), toilet paper (priced at $0.99, used $1/1 coupon), Johnsons’ Buddies (priced at $0.99, used $1/1 coupons), and Yoplait (marked down to $0.99, used $1/1 coupon) at Dillons.
I was also very excited to get more diapers for $3.99 (used the $3/1 coupon on Kroger.com), toothpaste for $0.07 (marked down to $1.07, used $1/1 coupon), toothbrushes for $0.44 (marked down to $1.44, used $1/1 coupons), and Honey Cheerios and Multi-Grain Cheerios for $0.67/box (on sale for $1.67, used $1/1 coupons).
All in all, it was a great trip and our refrigerator is now well stocked again!
How’d you do this week? Post about the deals and bargains you
were able to snag this week or other ways you saved money on your blog
(with pictures, if possible!) and then come back here and leave your
link below. **To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through
the links, your link must link directly to your Super Savings Saturday
post.**
JessieLeigh says
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?
Em. says
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?
Sharon says
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?
The Thrifty Mama says
I see the Icecream made it into the shopping cart this week. 😉 :chuckles:
Honey says
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.
KImberly says
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.
Sarah S. says
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!
Rochelle says
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.
Catherine @ Frugal Homemaker Plus says
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!
Jennifer says
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.
Beth says
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 :o)
becomingfrugal says
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: https://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.
becomingfrugal says
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: https://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.
Chris from St. Mary's says
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!
Amy says
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.
Bethany says
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.
Nydia says
Thanks a bunch for the diaper coupon!
Janet says
Great trip. Lots of bargains.
Constance says
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?
Katie says
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
Margaret says
*How* do you get Aldi to mark down produce like that????
I spent $125 last week, planning to spend about $30 this today, for the rest of the week. Sticking with Aldis this week ’cause there’s no great deals anywhere else.
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Money Saving Mom here: Aldi doesn’t usually mark down produce (though they’ve done it for me before when I’ve found some that was on its last leg and asked) but the apples were actually on sale for $1.19 a bag! I couldn’t believe that there were lots of bags there! This is about the best price I’ve ever seen–especially for Gala apples!
becomingfrugal says
Always remember to use the magic scanner! I got some great coupons this week, $4 off any futuro brace (on clearance for 3.75 making it free) and $1 off any excedrin (used this on the 2.40 ecb deal to make it a $1 money maker!)
Becky says
I was wondering where you found your $3 off Kroger diapers coupon. I searched kroger.com and had no luck. Thanks.
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Money Saving Mom here:
Becky, sorry for not giving a direct link! Here you go:
http://print.coupons.com/Couponweb/Offers.aspx?nid=10&pid=13223&zid=he00&cid=14504188~14504189~14504190~14504193~14504194
Carrie Kirby says
I added $30 to my budget this week with a prescription transfer to Dominick’s. Love that! Am also love, love, loving having Trader Joe’s in town because I am now able to afford to buy organic for all the produce that really matters.