March Savings

This will adjust "some" since I know I will be hitting the stores Wed for a few things we need for dinner this week but overall should be about the same!! I only started keeping track of my receipts this month. I found a great spreadsheet to use here and have been entering all my receipts...here is March breakdown: Before coupons: Weekly Budget: $75 (realistically was prob way more) Monthly Spending: $325.93 After coupons: Weekly Budget: $61.09 (actual since I have been entering receipts) Monthly Spending: $265.49 Monthly savings OFF OF BUDGET of $60.44 or $725 a year...I like!! Actual March: Spent: $235.64 Saved: $495.77 or 68% So basically I bought $730 worth of groceries for $235.64...if I repeated this monthly I will save roughly $6000 in ONE year!! :) I am getting to the point where I am 1) Running out of room...LOL and 2) Really have almost everything stocked up I need (except paper towels)...to last awhile!! :) Not too bad for a beginner...not too bad at all!

61%....not bad at all!!

This weekend I went and hit Albertsons, Tom Thumb, Kroger, Target, and Walmart!! :) Its much easier going shopping without a child, thank goodness the hubby can watch her!! I also found out that Walmart will take competitors Catalina coupons (and possible Walgreens RR, but not sure on this one) AND they allow overage (any extra amount from the coupon over the sales price) so SCORE!! Here's a quick break down:

Albertsons:

20 Suave Deodorants (not shown): $1 ea with $.50 coupons that doubled = FREE!!

4 Planters Trail Mix: On sale for $1.38 ea with $1/2 coupons = $3.52

2 PB Twix and 6 PB Snickers: On sale for B1G1 Free and I had two B2G1 Free at $.99 ea means I paid for 2 and got 6 free =$1.98

Peanut Pan PB: on sale for $.99

2 boxes of Lucky Charms: Part of the buy 4 get $4 off promo making them $1.50 each then used $.55 off coupons = $1.90 total and got a $1.50/3 catalina

2 GoGurts: Part of the buy 4 get $4 off promo making them $1.50 each then used $.75/2 coupon = $2.25 total

Nail clippers and nail files: $1.99 ea used $2 off coupons = FREE AND got another $2 off Revlon tool coupon printed.

Tom Thumb:

Shallots, Garlic, and Cilantro (No coupons)

2 DiGiorna Pizza w wings/cookies: $7.49 and $8.49 with $2 off tear pad in freezer case and $5/$15 Tom Thumb coupon = $11.26 TT Total

Target:

2 Circo Socks: $1 ea with $1 coupons = FREE

Soft Scrub: $2.49 with $1 Target and $1 manuf coupons = $.49

Up Tissues = $1.04

Up Allergy Meds = $1.97 with $1/$3 up purchase

Clipper and Tweezers: $1.59 and $2.34 with $2 off coupons = FREE AND got 2 $5/2 Revlon tools and 2 $2/1 Revlon tools!! :)

Excedrin: $3.59 with $3 Target coupon and $.75 manuf coupon = FREE

Kroger:

Buy 10 get $5 off:

-Chips Ahoy: $2.48

-Danimals: $2.29 with $1 off coupon: $1.29

-Activia yogurt: $1.99 with $1 off coupon: $.99

-4 Capri Suns: $1.90ea

-2 Sunny D: $1.39ea with $.25 coupon tripled: $.64 ($.14 after $.50 savings ....CRAZY)

-Powerade: $1

Take off $5 or $.50 for each item!!

Kelloggs Promo: Buy 4 at $2.69 get 2 FREE gallons of Milk

-Honey Smacks: $2.69

-Raisin Bran: $3.79 (didn't pay attention and grabbed the bigger more expensive box)

- 2 Nutri Grain: $2.69 each used the $.75/2 coupon

-1 Gal of Whole Milk and 1 Gal of 1% Milk= FREE

I also used the $1/2 Kelloggs Cereal coupon

Tortillas: $.89

2 Yakisoba Noodles: $.89 ea used $.50 coupon that doubled = FREE

Walmart:

No Coupons: Bananas, Organic Celery, Carrots, Onions, Avocados, Limes, tomatoes, Green chilles, Mexican Sour Cream, Fajita Seasoning, Tortilla Chips

15 Kool Aid packs: $.16 ea with 2 $.50 off 5 and Buy 10 get 5 Free = $.15 each since the cashier gave me credit for the whole $1.25 allowed max!!

Lunchmeat: $3.98 used the $1 off coupon from the Joy of Football book = $2.98

3 Nail files, 3 Tweezers, and 1 nail clippers: $1.87 for the file and tweezers and $1.96 for the clippers used 2 $5/2 and 3 $2/1 Revlon Tools = FREE with $2.82 overage

Totals:

Albertsons: $19.83 saved $58.02, 75%

Tom Thumb: $11.26 saved $7.16, 39%

Target: $2.17 saved $13.75, 86%

Kroger: 21.04 saved $21.87, 51%

Walmart: $24.02 saved $19.25, 44%

Total: $78.32 saved $120.05, 61%

:)

Completely FREE!!

It's been awhile since I updated anything...really its been slow shopping and slow coupons!! I have also been out of town for the most part of the last two weeks and just haven't had time to do much!!



I did manage to come across some GREAT deals on pasta and a few other things I got rainchecks on!!





Kroger and Tom Thumb:
40 Yakisoba Noodles $1 at TT and $.99 at Kroger w 40 $.50 coupons doubled = FREE lunches for Lee for a long, long, time!! :)


Walgreens:

4 Motrin PM normally $5.29 rainchecked to $3ea w two $6/2 coupons = FREE Motrin
2 Right Guard Deodorants B1G1 Free Walgreens promo w a B1G1 Free coupon = 2 FREE deodorants


Walmart:
10 Ronzini Pasta price matched with Albertsons 2/$1 sale with 5 $1/2 coupon = FREE pasta


Not Pictured:
Albertsons is special ordering me 50 boxes of Pasta for the 2/$1 promo. Normal price is $2.08-$2.80 depending on the type, after my 25 coupons they will all be completely FREE


Walgreens is rainchecking me for 20 Right Guard Deodorants with the B1G1 Free promo and with my 10 coupons will make them completely FREE


CVS 2 Dove Deodorants on sale 2/$4 with two $2 coupons = FREE

Total Savings:
39.60 Yakisoba+10.80 Walmart Ronzini+140 Albertsons Ronzini+109.78 Right Guard+21.16 Motrin+11 Dove= $332.34.....All completely FREE!!

Thank you....

Thank you Krazy Coupon Lady I really would have never even tried to use coupons, had it not been for you!!

:)

Totally Stocked up

I had originally said I wasn't going to "Stock Pile"...well....I've changed my mind!! I still can't see stock piling things like salad dressing, or pasta sauce (we don't eat it anyway) but things I KNOW we will use and won't go bad for a very long time, if ever. I can see getting a bunch when there is a good sale. We are getting new shelves for our closet and garage. I am planning on putting cleaners and personal care stuff in our closet and paper goods, drinks, and anything that wont be affected by the heat in our garage.

So what's in my stockpile?

Here is what I have a year+ supply in:
Toothpaste (all FREE)
Toothbrushes (all FREE)
Floss (all FREE)
Advil (children's and adult)
Maalox (all FREE)
Tums
Dayquil/NyQuil
Mascara (all FREE)
Body Wash
Shampoo
Lotion
Hair Dye
Deodorant
Laundry Detergent (more like a few years)
Dryer Sheets (all FREE)
Household Cleaners (All in ones, toilet, kitchen, wipes)
Bleach (all FREE)
Waters (all FREE)
Hand Soap (more like a few years)
Fruit Chews (most FREE)
Candy (all FREE)
Lightbulbs (all FREE)
Room Sprays

Here is what I have 6mth+ Supply in:
Noodle Lunches for my Hubby (all FREE)
Dishwasher Detergent
Toilet Paper
Dog Food
Apple Juice
Canned Veggies
Shredded Cheese

I also have a good amount of cereal, pasta, tomato sauce, rice sides,

It's kind of nice to ONLY have to buy meats, fresh produce, and things like Milk and Bread every two weeks. It actually throws me off when my bi-weekly trip comes in under $40 instead of $100-$150. :)

What can I say, I'm hooked!!

Just Saved 77%

This was over a few stops (and over a few days)
Walgreens:
1st transaction: 1 Lysol No Touch Soap dispenser and 1 Edge Shaving gel $3 mf for Lysol $12.43 OOP and $8 in RR
2nd transaction: 1 Lysol No Touch Soap dispenser $3 mf coupon $9.73 OOP and $7 in RR
3rd Transaction: 4 Lysol wipes, 4 Lysol Toilet bowl cleaner, 2 Lysol 4in1 sprays, 2 Lysol 4in1 Concentrates, 1 Valentines peppermint patty (filler). $1 off coupons for every 2 lysol cleaners. B1G1 Free on all of them and used $15 in RR $2.28 OOP.
Total Retail Value: $72.60, oop $24.44, Savings of 67%

Kroger:
1st Transaction: Buy 10 get $3 off now and $3 off later promo.
2 Totino's pizzas, Aluminum Foil, 2 Kraft Mac & Cheese 5 box sets, Windex, Dial body wash, and 3 Ravioli's. Used two $1 off Kraft, $.75/2 Totinos, $.75 off aluminum foil, $1 off windex, $.35/3 Ravioli (tripled) and got $3 off. $13 OOP and $3 for later.
2nd Transaction: Colgate Toothpaste, 2 Ziplock food storages, 4 Knorr Rice, 2 Dove Men body wash, 3 Skittles, 3 Starburst, 26 Propel Waters (not shown). Got the skittles, starbust, colgate, and all waters FREE with coupons. Also used $1.50/2 Ziploc, two $1 off Dove, two $.50/2 Knorr (doubled), and the $3 off from previous transaction, $11.69 OOP
Also bought 88 Propels and got them all FREE with the Buy 10 get $5 off promo and $1/2 peelies on all of them.
Total Retail: $171.42, OOP $26.48, Savings of 85%

Albertsons:
2 Clorox Bleach, Smuckers preserves, Jiff PB, Peter Pan PB. Used two $1off Clorox for FREE bleach, Peter pan was $.88 w in store coupon, $.50 off Smuckers and $.50 off Jiff from Monopoly.
Total Retail: $13.14, OOP $5.33, Savings 60%

Target:
6 Finish Gelpacs, 2 Always liners, 6 Reese PB cups, 2 Vaseline lotions with Qtips bonus pack, 2 Aquafresh travel, and J&J No more tangles. Used six $2.25 off finish, 3B1G1 Free Reese, two $1 off Aquafresh making them free, $1 off J&J, and $1 Target and $1 mf coupon off each lotion.
Total Retail Value: $35.79, OOP $13.49 Savings 63%

(not shown)
Walmart:
7 Gain Fabric Sheets, 1 card, Misc Stuff, Bread, bananas, Desitin. Used seven $3 off Gain, $5 off Misc Stuff, $1 off Desitin
Total Retail: $33.62, OOP $6.62, Savings of 81%

Dollar General:
4 Gain Fabric Sheets and 1 Finish detergent. Used four $3 off Gain and $1 off Finish
Total Retail: $13.85, OOP $.92, Savings of 94%

So thats a Total Retail Value of $340.42 with an OOP of $77.28 or a Savings of 77% :)

Bi-Weekly Trip

I go grocery shopping about every two weeks!! I also go randomly when we ran out of something like bread or need something last minute for dinner!! I buy meat in bulk at Sams unless someone has a good sale, which someone usually does weekly, so I buy in bulk and freeze in individual portions!! I am also a brand-name whore on certain things...others, I just dont care!! Basically there is ALOT I buy that I wont have a coupon for, but I try to price shop so I can get it at the best possible price!!

I finally left my house today after being iced/snowed in for four days!! We went to Tom Thumb, Target, Kroger, and Walmart...tomorrow I am going to Walgreens and Albertsons, and maybe back to Kroger to stock up on veggies!! :)

This is todays trip...

Tom Thumb:

(not pictured) 2 12pk 7up and 2 12pk coke 4/$11, on sale for 4/$9 with two $.75 coupons = 2/$7.50

Wholly Queso $4.99 ea, on sale for B1G1 Free with a $.50 coupon doubled = $3.99 for both

Red Seedless Grapes $3.99 lb, on sale for $.99 lb = $1.37

Two Wheat Thins $2, on sale for $.99 with a $1/2 coupon = $.98 for both

Total Retail Value: $44.41 Total OOP: $14.79, Savings of 67%

Target:

Archer Farms Chips $2.49 FREE with coupon

Two Tostitos $2.50, Tostitos Salsa $2.50, Buy 2 chips get salsa free, used Target coupon get $1 off salsa, used $.55 off chips and $.55 off salsa coupons = $2.90

Reynolds Slow Cooker wraps $1.69 with a $1 off coupon = $.69

Total Retail Value: $14.29 Total OOP: $3.59, Savings of 75%

Kroger:

Four Reach Toothbrushes $1.50 ea, used two $2/2 coupons = $2

Four Philadelphia Cream Cheese $1.49 each, used two $.50 coupons doubled = $3.96

Two Dial body wash $2.99ea

All detergent $3.49 used a $1 off coupon = $2.49

Kraft Cheese $1.49 used a $1 off coupon = $.49

Nestle Tollhouse Cookies $2.79 used $1 off coupon = $1.79

I can't believe its not butter $1.79 used $.75 off coupon = $1.04

Two Knorr Rice dishes $1 each, used $.50 off coupon doubled = $1 for both

Six Hunts Tomato Sauce $.95 each, used two $.45/3 coupons doubled = $3.96

Buy 1o get $5 off promo x 2

Total Retail Value: $47.33 Total OOP: $12.69, Savings of 73%

Walmart:

No Coupons: Bananas, 2 Gal of Milk, Organic Romaine Hearts, Green Olives, Black Olives, Bread Crumbs, Cornbread Mix, McCormick Seasonings, Butter, and Bread.

Two Brownie Mixes: $2.24 with two $1 off coupons = $1.24ea

Two Pizza's $1.25ea with a $.75 off coupon = $1.75 for both

Jello $.52ea with a $.55/3 coupon = $1.01

Two Vlasic Dill Pickles $2.08ea with $.55 off coupon = $1.53 ea

Eight Pasta $1.08 ea with four $1/2 coupons = $4.64

String Cheese $2.98 with $1 off coupon = $1.98

Worcestershire Sauce $1.26 with a $.75 off coupon = $.51

Two Floss $.97 ea with two $1 off coupons = $.06 money maker

Total Retail Value: $50.64 Total OOP: $38.49, Savings of 24%

Total Retail Value for all Stores: $156.67 Total OOP: $69.56, Total Savings of 56%