I went shopping this past Tuesday with only my two-year-old and we were able to hit three stores in two hours. It felt like a vacation to just take one child with me as I have been taking all three and it's still a bit of a juggling act–especially with a nursing baby who likes to eat on the clock every two hours for 30 minutes!
It is funny how your perspective changes as you add more children to your family; I well remember when I only had one and taking her grocery shopping seemed like quite the challenge!
At any rate, I really enjoyed shopping this week and realized that I'd forgotten how much fun shopping can be! I'm thinking perhaps I should try just shopping with one child more often in the future. 🙂
Here's what we bought (click on the picture to enlarge):
Dillons (Kroger affiliate):
Lettuce–$1.58
2 cans mandarin oranges–$1.10 each–used 2 $1/1 coupons–$0.10 each after coupons
2 Chiquita bites–used free coupon and peelie B1G1 coupon–free after coupons
Pita pockets–reduced to $0.69
4 ears of corn–on sale 4 for $1
Dole pineapple–reduced to $1
4 Sobe Lifewaters–priced at $1.59, used 2 B1G1 coupons plus I got $0.50 off each for buying 10 items in the Buy 10, Get $5 off promotion–they ended up being free plus overage since the B1G1 coupon took $1.59 off two
6 Kraft cream cheese–$1.39 each, used 3 $1/2 coupons plus I got $0.50 off each for buying 10 items in the Buy 10, Get $5 off promotion–$0.39 each after coupons and promotion
Total after coupons and sales: $6.99
Aldi
3 cartons of cherries–reduced to $1.69 each
Foam plates–$0.99 each
2 8 oz. bars of cheese–$1.29 each
Chocolate chips–$1.69 each
16 oz. Shredded cheese–$2.59
Milk–$2.30
Cherry tomatoes–$1.59
Bananas–$1.14
Bananas–$1.09
Bag of Gala apples–$2.99
4 Braeburn apples–$0.35 each
Frozen broccoli–$0.95
Frozen peas–$0.95
Frozen corn–$0.95
2 packages of tortillas–$0.99 each
2 lemons–$0.29 each
Tomatoes–$1.99
Baby carrots–$0.99
Prunes–$1.99
2 cartons strawberries–$1.69 each
Toilet paper–$0.89
3 cucumbers–$0.59 each
2 cans refried beans–$0.69 each
Total: $43.83
We also stopped in the local health food store to see if they had any can't-miss deals or reductions but I didn't find anything worth getting so I walked out empty-handed. 🙂
So altogether I spent $50.82 on groceries this week–and we're still under our $40/week budget for this month!
I'm thinking of having an Eating from the Pantry/Freezer week this next week since I have a lot of odds and ends I need to use up and there's not much we need to buy. Stay tuned for my menu on Monday to see if this is what I decide to do.
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Oops, I just read the comments and saw that you addressed that. No need to post my question. Thanks!!
I haven’t read your blog indepth, though I do keep up with it somewhat. I have a question though. I noticed that there isn’t any meat here. Do you eat meat? If so, where do you buy it and still stay within the $40 budget? Meat sucks up so much our money and I don’t know what the answer is.
Your site is wonderful – thank you for all of the hard work you do to help the rest of us to save money and live better. I am very impressed on your openness with ppd – it is a scary thing to deal with – I have one little girl who is now 2 1/2 and the first year of her life is a vague memory – I can look at pictures and remember – but other than that I don’t remember much. I have delt with Depression my entire life – and I thought for sure that I wouldn’t get ppd since I was already on medication for depression and so that would take care of that – boy was I wrong. It took me over a year to get over that and start feeling normal again – and there are still times when I’m not sure it will ever go away – but those days are becoming further and further apart – and are now only about twice a month 🙂 I agree that there isn’t enough out there to help women get through it. I always felt ashamed for being so depressed – and there wasn’t much info out there – I was able to find a great therapist and even though my med person wasn’t that great (she wanted me to do electric shock therapy) I now have a great one – and my meds are finally balanced again. I am so glad that you are starting to feel more like yourself – just remember to always take care of yourself – that is more important than anything else. Thank you for all you do – you have blessed my life a lot 🙂
Crystal, when you go to three stores in one day, what do you do about the perishable items that have to sit in the car while you go to the second and third stores? Do you have a cooler? Here in Texas, the temperatures are regularly in the 100’s in July and August, so that would just ruin my cold and frozen items, not to mention fruit! Thanks!
I too want to know where the cream cheese coupons came from….I need some! THanks! 🙂
Something you might try when your kids are older…is a clean out the fridge night. I had two boys and sometimes we would have just enough left-overs for single meals…each week, they took turns picking which “meal” they wanted ….fun and the fridge got cleaned out without wasting food.
I’ve not had good experiences with the produce at Aldi’s. Do you find it is generally good for you or do you have to be picky with it?
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Money Saving Mom here: I’ve found that you have to pick through it sometimes and sometimes it’s hit and miss. However, most of the time there are at least a few produce items which are good and many times there’s lots of great produce.
Thank you so much for your site. I had post partum depression with my first two. I considered not having more children because of it. When I was about to give birth to number three, I was nervous for the baby to come because I dreaded the depression after. Luckily, it never came. I felt great physically and emotionally and have really just been able to enjoy my baby. With the first two, I couldn’t wait for them to turn one year, because I was beginning to feel more myself by then. With baby number two, my memories of her infancy are actually very vague. I went through the motions of caring for her, but was not an active participant. Luckily none of my children will be able to remember that time in our lives. Hang in there. Talking about it with others was the best medicine for me. So sharing it with your readers and hearing their stories will hopefully help you. You are doing a great job!
I have been reading for awhile and wonder why you do your big shopping trip on Saturday. Do you find that you get better deals? I just started staying home and was really excited to try days that might not be as crowded.
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Money Saving Mom here: I actually rarely shop on Saturdays, I just post my shopping trips on Saturdays for Super Savings Saturday. 🙂 Recently, I’ve been shopping early in the week, mid-morning as that’s what works for our schedule right now.
Hey, it’s so great to see that you bought produce and other goodies…presumably without coupons! It’s good for us to know that it’s “OK” to shop for food items we need, and not make our list off of this week’s coupon insert.
Thanks for all of your hard work. It’s made a difference in our lives. I can make my $100 weekly food budget for the 7 of us go much further with your help!
Mmm I love cream cheese, just curious what you’re going to do with it….recipes, sweets or savories? Just curious 🙂
Amy R
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Money Saving Mom here: I’m freezing it and will likely use it in our family’s favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake. Yum!
I prefer taking one child or going alone. That started when I had three children, and it is still my preferred method with 5. I will go early in the morning before my husband leaves, or in the evening after the children are in bed. We have one car, so we have to work around my husband’s schedule.
The child loves the one on one time, and it gives me a chance to teach at the store–teach unusual fruits (even if I don’t buy them), show price comparisons to an older child, and point out numbers to a middle child.
I find it easier to leave the nursing baby at home with Daddy (usually napping). It makes it easier for me to go quickly. Having one hild in a car seat instead of five is also much faster.
I’m glad you posted your prices this time for each item. When you start buying meat again I’d like to see the price you get; I’ve looked at the markdowns like you’ve mentioned, but they’re usually on really expensive cuts, and are marked down to $4/lb. My limit is $2/lb for meat. The sale prices are always better than the markdown prices.
Were those sale prices on produce at Aldi’s, or are those regular prices? We don’t have Aldi’s here. Lemons are never less than .69 each, baby carrots go on sale for $2 (a pound), strawberries go on sale for $1.99 here or
$2.50 a pound, cucumbers are .90 each and go on sale for .75, and refried beans are .89 or .99. Frozen vegetables go on sale for $1 a bag. I have heard that Aldi’s is cheaper.
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Money Saving Mom here: Most of the Aldi prices were close to their regular prices as they didn’t have any great sales this week. The prices fluctuate a little and sometimes the produce sales are quite a bit better than what I got this week. I am very thankful that everywhere we’ve lived so far has had Aldi. It’s a huge help to our grocery budget!
Crystal, I find that shopping with one child is a great time for one on one time. I have rotated through the children for my weekly shopping trips for a while now. I am glad it is working for you, too.
I remember shopping for the first time with 3 kids, I agree, it’s quite the juggling act.
Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
Hello!! just wonder where do you get the coupons for the philadelphia cheese??
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Money Saving Mom here: Unfortunately, those coupons were part of the Kraft coupon promo which is now over with. 🙁
Hi – i’m new! Love this site!
I have always wondered when do you buy meat? I’ve been following you for almost a year and dont remember seeing you buy ground beef or chicken. But I know I’ve read them in your recipes. Which I love by the way. I’m expecting in 5 weeks and have been stocking my freezer with meals. Keep up the good work.
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Money Saving Mom here: Amy, I’ve not bought much meat the last few months because we were eating meals brought to us from our church or meals I’d already made up from the freezer, but when we’re not in “post-baby mode”, I usually buy at least a few pounds of meat per week and more if there’s a good sale. Stay tuned and you’ll start seeing it show up more now that our freezer’s getting empty! 🙂
where to find Kraft Cream Cheese $1/2 coupon?
i just been to our new target store and spent $14.50 for $2.18 some of the coupons wouldnt work but she put she added them anyway.
I think taking one child out with you is a wonderful idea. When mine were smaller we started doing this occasionally. Even if you’re just running a few errands, it makes the child feel like they have some of your attention. With our two sets of twins, though, when I would take just one they spent the ENTIRE time asking where the other child was! It was as if they did not know what to do without their other half. So I started taking one set at a time or taking my son, who is a singleton. Since I had 5 toddlers at one time, it was an important way to make them feel special. I always get them a small treat, too when we’re out.