I made a quick run into a nearby health food store this week as a friend of mine had tipped me off to the fact that their Annie's cereals were on sale for $0.99. I'm so glad I stopped when I did because I walked out with everything shown above and paid less than $20!
The Annie's cereals were on sale for $0.99 (an incredible deal considering the regular price is $5.99! Do people really pay that kind of money for a box of cereal??)! The Kashi bars were $1.99 per box and I had $1/1 coupons making them $0.99 per box. All of the veggies/fruit were reduced to $0.99 per bag/carton–even that 5.5 lb. bag of organic carrots!
Now the fun challenge has been using up all those carrots as they are nearing the end of their life (which is why the bag was so inexpensive!) We've been making carrot/apple juice–yum!–and I'm also thinking of making a whole-wheat carrot cake this coming week as we have lots of cream cheese in the freezer.
If I have any left, I think I might just whip up some homemade baby food for the freezer since Silas is almost 6 months old (sniff!) and he'll inevitably be starting solid foods before long. I've said before that I don't usually make special baby food, but if I can get organic carrots for $0.99 per five pounds, I just might change my mind on that! Or maybe I'll just chop, cook, and freeze the leftovers to use in soups. We'll see!
I spent a few dollars at both Target and Wal-Mart on deals this week as well, but I failed to get a picture of those.
All totaled, we're about $10 under our $40/week grocery budget for the month of October–and our cupboards, freezer, pantry, and refrigerators are still quite full with food.
By the way, I'm teaming up with FishMama to do a Baking/Cooking Ahead Day next week. We even got all fancy and set up a Facebook page here if you're interested in joining us. Stay tuned early next week for further details.
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Crystal, seriously, you are my hero when it comes to this stuff.
I’ve been following your blog for some time now and I STILL don’t see how you do it! I’ve been trying my best with the coupon thing and I still go over budget on a weekly basis. I’m at my wits end and ready to give it up altogether.
I made baby food for my first child- like spinach and white beans! But I hate to say it, I love the convenience of prepared foods. So it’s nice to get cheap organic cereal. Our Publix used to have Kashi cereal on sale often and I’d get them for about $1 a box.
I think carrots are the only food u should not make yourself and give to baby! There us some enzyme breakdown or something that makes them potentially dangerous to them! Just a quick FYI
Crystal , if you like those Annie’s cereals and if they are still on sale, go get this $1.00 off coupon here: http://www.healthesavers.com/HealthESavers/CouponDetail.aspx?oid=101
🙂
Hi Crystal!
I’ve never commented before (sorry!), but I LOVE your blog. Some days I check it twice a day 🙂
I do have a question for you though….about a previous post. You said you were so sick with your first pregnancy. Were your other two any easier? Did you find things that helped you?
I was in and out of the hospital (dehydration), and had IV’s at home. I have two beautiful girls, but long for more. My husband just doesn’t think he can do another pregnancy 🙂 It really is hard on him. Lots of things he has to take care of. I’m just wondering if you had any suggestions that may give some hope to the next time being easier?
Thanks again for all of your great posts!
Lee Ann
Those are great deals I wish we had one of the chain helth food stores in my area but we just have 2 small stores that are very expensive. I don’t llike carrot cake much but my mother enjoys it so could you please post the recipe for your whole wheat version thanks
I bought Spaghetti Sauce not too long ago, and yesterday, I noticed that it was 24 oz instead of 26 oz. It was the Classico Brand – I was just wondering if anyone else had noticed this, too, on anything else? (Other than ice cream where shrinking container size has been completely obvious.)
I’m also curious – would you guys rather pay slightly more on sale – say $1.09 instead of $0.99 and still get the full amount, or would you rather pay the same prices and get less?
I blogged about this at http://mamastoolbox.blogspot.com/2009/10/huh.html but I am curious what all of the amazing super shoppers here think…
THANKS!
just to let you know you can get the Kashi bars for $.25 (after coupons) if you have any more of your $1 off. They are on temporary price reduction at Target and then there are peelies on the boxes for either $1 off 1 or $3 off 2 any kashi products (they are target coupons). I bought some yesterday and am going back for cereal and crackers today as I just found my $1.50 off of cereal honey sunshine and there is another peelie with cracker coupons (manuf. q’s) on the boxes. 🙂
You got some great deals!
Every once in a while, I’m able to find Annie’s products on sale at Target for a decent price.
I found great deals at Lance’s New Markets! They triple coupons!
We live overseas and our daughter misses her Annie’s mac and cheese! Fortunately, our friends work at the US Embassy and they have access to these kinds of goodies so we can get some from time to time, which leads to a definite boost in family morale. What a great price you found! The only thing better than the insurance of getting good food is getting it even cheaper…
Jerry
i just wanted to add that carrots are not a good thing to make baby food out of b/c of nitrates. This goes for all root veggies as far as I know.
I’m also jealous of your finds! We don’t have stores like that in my area, or at least I sure haven’t found them! Our grocery stores want to charge full price for bananas with brown spots!
I just posted this recipe for Grated Baked Carrots that will make you wish you had bought more carrots!
http://www.anoregoncottage.com/2009/10/baked-grated-carrots.html
Great deals btw!
We have a tiny health food store where I live and that same cereal was on sale for $2.99. Yikes! I was wondering…..does anybody ever order organic snacks and cereals online? And if so, where from? Those are the two things I have a hard time finding where I live. Occasionally, I find great organic snacks at the Grocery Outlet. For example, yesterday, I found boxes of Annie’s chocolate bunnies for $1.49. I would love to have some online resources if anybody has any!!
I freeze bags of diced carrots, celery & onion (together in 1 bag) so I have it on hand when I want to make home made soup. With winter looming I will be making plenty of soup!
Annie’s cereal for $.99?!?! Wow, what a score. And no coupons needed. I only wish we had those kinds of bargains here in NJ.
I love carrot cake so I’d would love to see a whole wheat version. Have fun on your baking day.
Great buys on the cereal! I always think the same as you — who pays $6 for this stuff?
I remember hearing the same thing that Wendi said about using carrots to make baby food. I chop ours and freeze them to use in soups. This year, I’m going to try just cutting them into chunks and freezing those to use in my slow cooker when I make a roast or stew. Yum!
Wow! You did very well. I have never found the Annie’s cereals for .99! In terms of carrots – you could make a big pot of stew & freeze it in smaller batches.
We raise carrots and they are huge and wonderful this year. We’ve been eating carrot and raisin salad, and it’s a big hit with hubby and child. Carrot cake, glazed carrots, carrot bread, carrot soup…there are lots of yummy ways to eat them!
I remember reading that it is inadvisable to make homemade baby food from carrots unless you know what kind of soil they were grown in? Something about some parts of the country have much higher nitrate concentration. Sorry I cannot remember more. If anyone has more info I’d like to know more as I have been afraid to feed baby straight cooked carrots since; I just mix them with other veggies.
you really hit a goldmine with the organic/all naturals! Wish I had a store around here with markdowns like that!!
I agree, I’d freeze it and use the carrots later. You could use them for veggie dips as snack or entertainment, soups, roast, roasted chickens, chicken salads, anything!!
Our health food store doesnt sell veggies or fruit, and the farmers markets can be $$$. I bought a small handle bag (SMALL) of apples and it was $5.76 at the store!!! I told them to put it back since I got 2 bags of satsumas for $3.99!!
Sad when a pack of apples cost as much as a big package of family pork chops! 🙁
Curious which health food store you shop at? Those are AMAZING deals!!!
I made all of my own baby food, but I was told by my pedi (and I read it in tons of places) that you shouldn’t make carrot baby food because some carrots contain too many nitrates. Other veggies do as well–spinach, collard greens, and a few others. Baby food manufacturers know which areas of the country produce carrots with too many nitrates (because of the soil) and they don’t use them. An excess of nitrates in a baby’s body can cause a rare form of anemia that can lead to death.
On another note, thanks for all you do!
Squash soup
WW POINTS® Value: 1
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1 pound(s) carrot(s)
2 medium onion(s)
6 medium stalk(s) celery
6 cup(s) water, (or chicken stock, but that adds points)
1 Tbsp olive oil
20 oz butternut squash
Instructions
Dice all vegetables (not too small). Heat oil in a large soup pot, add onions, carrots and celery, salt and pepper and briefly saute. Add squash and water (more salt if necessary). Cover, let come to a boil and then simmer until all vegetables are very soft. Blend to make a creamy soup.
Way too go!
I had to laugh at myself the other day b/c I needed to make cookies (just the pull and stick on a pan-I’m not a baker) and I figured that’s easy, right. Well, my wild two year old son tried to help me which turn into a disaster! I really have NO IDEA how you can cook all day with three kids! That is more then impressive!
What is your secret?
Crystal,
I’ve never been a big fan of carrot salad (the kind with mayo and raisins), but I found a new carrot salad that we just love, and you might want to try. I usually grate one carrot per person, and dress it with extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar and either a little fresh garlic or garlic powder–all to taste. It’s best served about an hour after it’s been made, while the carrots are still crunchy. If you like those ingredients, you’ll probably love it!
Great bargains by the way!
Love,
Merrilee
I would love to know which health store you found these great bargains at!
Great buys! My friend just told me she shreds carrots and then freezes them. They freeze great and then you can use them whenever you want to throw in some veggies!
$0.99 is amazing for Annie’s – WOW. I knew you had a huge score this week. This is great. 🙂
Here’s the BEST carrot cake ever: http://www.lifeasmom.com/2009/04/urs-easter-dessert.html