Weekend Shopping Summary

This weekend we had to hit the warehouse club to stock up on green beans for our dogs. Since we were there, we also stocked up on various items for us humans. We try to only hit the warehouse club once a month. It's just so much easier that way. As usual they had items there that were good deals and plenty of items that weren't. I did stock up on nuts for baking and got some more cheese from the deli. They are also the only ones that have the chicken sausage that my daughter loves. So of course we had to pick up some of that. It was a bit of an expensive trip, coming in at $130, but it is just once a month and I didn't have to go to the grocery store this week.

I've read posts at various blogs where they talk about doing a major grocery shopping trip once a month and then weekly they will just pick up things like milk and produce. In the past I've resisted this because I always felt like I would miss a good deal. Now I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't something to it.I'm very tempted to give it a try myself. If I see a deal that's that great I could always pick it up when I'm getting my small weekly items. I would love to be able to avoid trips to the store. The way I see, the fewer times I go to the store, the less money I spend.

I'm curious, how often do you grocery shop? Do you go once a month? Bi-weekly? Weekly? Several times a week? How well does your system work for you?

Shoping Summary - Safeway and Walmart

This week I actually went to Walmart for the first time in weeks. It wasn't bad since I was there during the day on a weekday. I usually don't go because I can't deal with the crowds on the weekend. Anyway, here is what I picked up using coupons

• Sani-Kids 40 ct Wipes $1.00 ($2.00 less $1.00 MQ)
• 4 Mentos Gum $1.12 (each $1.28 less $1.00 MQ)
• Franks Hot Sauce - FREE with coupon
• K-Y ($0.43) ($2.57 less $3.00 MQ)
• Carefree Liners $0.08 ($1.08 less $1.00 MQ)

I love the money making K-Y and the cheap Carefree liners. I'm not sure if we'll use the hot sauce or not. We usually don't do spicy food around here. I figured I would pick it up since it was free and give it a try. Now I'm not so sure.

I also mentioned in a previous post that I got a great deal on Post Raisin Bran. Safeway is running their buy 5 save $5 promo on various cereals this week. One of those cereals is the Post Raisin Bran which also has a catalina promo running. I was able to combine those along with coupons to get some super cheap cereal. Here is how I did it:

• 5 Post Raisin Bran Cereals $12.45 ($2.49 * 5)
• Less $5.00 on 5 instant savings
• Less $2.00 in coupons (2 $1 on 2 coupons)
• Less $4.00 catalina good on my next purchase
• Out of Pocket Cost was $5.45
• Net Cost was $1.45 or $0.29 per box

And along with my $4 catalina I got a catalina for $1.50 off 2 boxes of Post Raisin Bran. Now I think I'll head back and combine the Raisin Bran with some Cheerios for Pumpkin. Cheerios are also part of the $5.00 on 5 promo and there are $0.55 coupons out which double at my Safeway.

Grocery Shopping - Week of Febraury 28

This week I was able to hit the triple coupon weekend at Super Fresh and also take advantage of the $10 off of $50 Safeway coupon. It was a great weekend for grocery shopping for me. We are within our budget and I was able to score some great deals. Since I was off Friday I was able to plan out my shopping and hit several stores this week. I loved it. The only store that I'm listing the deals I got out for is Safeway. This is mainly because I don't want to bore you all with the details of all my shopping trips.

Without further ado, here are the details of my Saturday Safeway shopping trip:

• 2 liter Pepsi - $1.69 (was supposed to be Free with Safeway coupon)
• San Georgio Lasagna Noodles $1.99
• Raisin Bran $0.99 (forgot to use my $0.70 coupon)
• 2 Cascade Rinse - Free with Home Made Simple Coupons
• Lucerne Butter - $0.99 with Safeway coupon
• 2 Tai Pei Frozen Meals - $3.00 ($2.50 each less 2 $0.50 coupons, doubled)
• 2 Huggies Diapers $13.98 ($9.99 each less 2 $3.00 coupons)
• Suave Shampoo ($1.01) ($1.99 less free coupon they input as $3.00)
• 4 Smithfield Smoked Sausage $4.58 ($4.49 each, BOGO sale less 4 $0.55 coupons, doubled)
• Salad $1.98
• Less $10 on $50 coupon
• Less $8.00 in Ragu Catalinas

Total out of pocket was $11.61 which included $1.42 in tax. If I had noticed that they didn't scan my free Pepsi coupon and remembered to give them my Kellogg's coupon it would have only been $8.93. I will also get a $1.50 rebate for the Huggies from Caregivers Marketplace. I'm annoyed about the missing coupons, but I still didn't do bad, so I guess I should just let it go.

Free Ragu and Heluva Good Cheese

Sorry guys, no music post this week. Instead of staying home and working on my music post I went out and did a little more grocery shopping. I know, I know. We don't need more groceries, but I just have a hard time resisting a good deal. It isn't like we won't use the food. Pasta sauce and cheese are staples in this house.

Since Safeway had such a good deal on Ragu and it was the last night of the sale, I just had to go. Luckily I managed to get the last 3 jars in a flavor I liked. It was a great deal because it was $0.99 a jar and I got a $2.00 catalina for buying 3 jars. That made my net cost $0.32 a jar. For those that still had the $1.00 on 3 coupon you actually earned a penny profit per jar. I did that on Saturday and used up the three coupons I had.

Now that I have oodles of spaghetti sauce, I guess it's a good thing that I have the Food Network magazine pull out "50 Things to Make with a Jar of Pasta Sauce." Look for my post tomorrow on some of those uses. With spaghetti sauce this cheap I can get some VERY frugal meals.

On the way home from Safeway I decided to stop at Weis and get some of the Heluva Good cheese that was on sale. It was 2 for $4.00 and I had two coupons for $1.00 on 2. So I bought four bars for $6.00. Since I paid with a gift card we got for transferring a prescription, it was free. What better to go with the pasta sauce then free cheese? Besides, we love cheese in this house and go through a lot of it.

Finally, I am very proud of myself for resisting the siren call of Starbucks while I was out shopping tonight. Not only did I resist stopping at the Starbucks booth in Safeway, but I also drove past a Starbucks on my way to Weis and didn't stop. Believe me, it was very tempting and I was so thirsty. I just had to keep reminding myself of how expensive they are and how I have perfectly good drinks at home. Plus, my puppies and I will be hitting the Starbucks drive thru tomorrow night. Yes, my crazy dogs love having their weekly outing to Starbucks. Go figure.

Sunday Shopping - February 22

This Sunday I decided to take it wasy on the shopping. I'm still not up to running around to all the drug stores to get all the deals. I did that for so long that it burned me out. This week I hadn't even planned on doing any shopping, but we were in depserate need of more infant Tylenol. Since that is something you do not want to run out of, we decided to go ahead and hit Target this weekend. Then, on Saturday I got my $5 Gift of Savings certificate in the mail from Rite Aid. I had completely forgotten about this. Since I had it I figured we would go spend it.

The picture doesn't include verything that I picked up at Target because I had already put some of the stuff away when I thought to snap the picture and I didn't feel like getting it back out. Anyway, here are the details of what I got at Target:

• Diet Dr Pepper - free after coupon
• 3 Johnsons Buddies Soap - free after coupons
• 2 Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Scrubber Refills $4.88 after $3 on 2 coupon
• Horizon milk singles 3 pack $1.89 after $1 coupon
• 2 Horizon milk single $1.68 after 2 $0.25 coupon
• 2 Silk Soy Milk half gallons $4.88 after $1 on 2 coupon
• 3 Target Brand Infant "Tylenol" $8.97
• 2 Reynolds Foil $3.58 after 2 $1.00 coupons
• 2 Ceaser Dog Foods - Free after coupons (won in contest)
• 9 Lives Free Cat Food - Free after coupon (direct mailed)

Total spent at Target was $26.44 which includes $1.39 in sales tax. My coupon savings were $19.06. I love coupons.

My Rite Aid trip was a much simpler trip. I picked up the shampoo because it was free after rebate and the m&m's were hubby's request. Here's the details for my trip:

• Garnier Fructis Waves shampoo $1.99 after $1.00 coupon
• 2 packs Easter M&M's $3.59 (BOGO Sale)
• Used $5.00 Gift of Savings certificate
• Out of pocket $0.68 which includes $0.10 sales tax
• Rebate due of $2.99 for shampoo

My little trip to Rite Aid earned me $2.31. I love it when I can do that.

Weekend Shopping - Drugstores

I did a lot of shopping this weekend because of all the triple coupon deals. In addition to the grocery shopping I did my regular drug store and Target weekend runs. Here are the details from those trips. I will post the details from my grocery shopping in a separate post.

Target:

• Bottle Liners $4.29
• X-Box Game $34.98 (on clearance and on Hubby's wish list)
• 3 Jumbo packs Huggies diapers $26.97 ($9.99 * 3 - $3.00 in coupons)
• Total $70.09 (includes $3.85 tax)
• Received a $5.00 gift card for the Huggies
• Caregivers rebate due for Huggies $3.00

The decent deal at Target is the Huggies. The bottle liners were a necessity. And the game takes an item off my holiday shopping list.

CVS

• Maybelline Mineral Foundation $6.99 ($8.99 - $2.00 coupon)
• Paid with $5.00 ECB
• Total OOP $2.23
• Received $8.99 ECB for Maybelline & $5.00 for a Survey I completed for the CVS Advisor Panel

Walgreens

• 2 Bounty Basic Paper Towels $0.78 ($0.89 * 2 - $1.00 coupon)
• 3 Hershey Holidays Miniatures $6.00 ($2.50 *3 - $1.50 coupon)
• 2 Tuf Trash Bags $5.00 (sale 2 for $5)
• WAG Formula $12.99 ($15.99 - $3.00 coupon)
• Pepsi 20 oz $1.39 (for hubby)
• Gillette Venus Embrace Razor $5.49 ($9.49 - $4.00 coupon)
• 2 M&M Premium Candy $6.00 ($4.00 * 2 - $1.00 WAG Coupon - $1.00 Man Coupon)
• Paid with $20.00 in Register Rewards
• Total $19.64 (includes $1.99 in tax)
• Earned $6.00 Register Reward for Embrace Razor
• Received $3.00 off magazine purchase from M&M's

I need to buy one more pack of the holiday miniatures to get the $5.00 rebate so I will have to go back to Walgreens this week. That's ok though because I can pick up another Embrace razor. Yeah for free razors.

Sunday Shopping November 16th Edition

Today was another run around shopping Sunday. At least my shopping is now done for the week. Here are the deals that I found this week:

CVS:

This week I did four transactions as CVS so they got their own post, you can read about them here.

Walgreens:

There really wasn't much on sale at Walgreens this week that excited me. The only thing I did pick up was peanut butter. I will need it when I make peanut butter fudge next month. So to those of you reading this who missed my fudge last year, I will be making it this year as long as mini me cooperates and lets me cook. I just need to get marshmallow cream, so if you find a good deal on some, let me know.

• 4 Skippy Peanut Butter $6.00 (using a Walgreens coupon)
• 2 $1.00 off 2 Skippy coupons ($2.00)
• Total $4.00 - Paid with rebate gift card

Target:

• 2 Arm & Hammer Refrigerator Boxes $1.14
• 2 Reusable Shopping Bags $1.00 (sale price)
• 3 pack Christmas Weebles $5.99
• Arm & Hammer IP Coupon ($1.00)
• Total Out of Pocket $7.56 (includes $0.43 tax)

Rite Aid:

• St Ives Apricot Scrub $4.99
• 2 Pampers Wipes $5.00
• 2 Pampers Wipes Coupons ($0.40)
• Total $10.19 (includes $0.60 tax)
• Paid with $10 gift card from Sept. P&G Rebate and $0.19 cash
• Rebates Due: $5.99 ($4.99 for St Ives & $1 for wipes)

Rite Aid is running their Gift of Savings promotion between November 16th and December 24th. With this promotion you get cash back for your total spent at Rite Aid during the promotion period. To get the cash back you need to enter your receipts in the Single Check Rebate system on their website. The total spent is before coupons and even includes other items that are already on rebate so you can "double dip." I love promotions like this. I'm hoping to be able to combine this with other rebates and get some really good deals. Here are the dollar breakdowns for the promotion:

• Spend $25-$50 get $5
• Spend $51-$100 get $10
• Spend over $100 get $20

Safeway:

They got their own post too. There were some decent deals there this week. I was happy to get the ham on sale because I have been craving a ham.

Sunday Shopping November 2nd

Here are the details from my shopping on Sunday, November 2nd.


CVS

• Pampers Jumbo Packs $20.00
• 3 Dawn Dish Soap $2.97
• 2 Gillette Shave Gel $3.98
• Crest Pro Health Toothpaste $3.49
• CVS Coupon for $5 on $30 ($5.00)
• Pampers coupons ($3.00)
• Dawn Coupons ($0.60)
• Gillette Coupons ($2.00)
• Crest Coupon ($1.00)
• ECB Used ($18.00)
• Total Out of Pocket $2.04
• ECB Earned $8.49 ($5.00 for Pampers & $3.49 for Crest)

Target

• 2 Frosted Mini Wheat $5.50
• 2 Cocoa Krispies $5.48
• Kellogg's Smart Start $2.75
• 5 Kellogg's Coupons ($5.00)
• Gift Card From Sat ($5.00)
• Total Out of Pocket $3.73

The register didn’t give me a gift card so they gave me $6.00 in apology coupons.

Walmart

• Gerber Graduates Splashers Juice $2.50
• Gerber Graduates Yogurt Melts $1.83
• 2 Wet Ones Trial Pack Wipes $1.96
• 2 Kotex Liners $2.00
• Wet Ones Coupon ($1.50)
• Kotex Coupons ($1.75)
• Total Out of Pocket $5.04

Note: I had to guess at some of these prices because the cashier didn’t give me my receipt. I remembered how much I spent and some of the prices so I backed in to the others. The total for the coupons and out of pocket is correct though.

Walgreens Trip #1

• 2 Walgreen Brand Formula $23.98
• Register Rewards ($13.00)
• Total $10.98 – Paid with gift card

Walgreens Trip #2

• Fountain Soda $0.99
• 2 Almay Mascara $6.99 (BOGO Sale)
• 2 Gallons Milk $5.98
• 2 Almay coupons ($2.00)
• Register Reward ($4.00)
• Total $8.44 (includes tax) – Paid with gift card
• Rebate due $6.99 for Almay

Note: I also got a catalina for $1.00 off a 20 oz bottle of soda. I'm guessing this is from buying a fountain soda.

Weis

• 3 Kellogg's Raisin Bran $6.00
• 1 Kellogg's Special K $2.00
• 2 M&Ms $1.58 (my hubbie threw them in)
• 4 Kellogg's Coupons ($4.00)
• Total Out of Pocket $5.68 (includes tax of $0.10)

Wow, I did a lot of shopping last weekend. We are pretty set for cereal for awhile though. Hopefully my daughter doesn’t grow tired of Cheerios.

Shopping Saturday November 1st

Weis

• 3 Wisp Flameless Candles $14.97
• 2 California Pizzas $14.78
• 3 Peelies for Wisp ($15.00)
• Total Out of Pocket $15.65 (includes $0.90 tax)

Target

• 4 Glade Scented Oil Candles $10.00
• Scented Oil Coupon ($2.00)
• 2 BOGO Coupons ($5.00)
• Total Out of Pocket $3.30 (includes $0.30 tax)
  Received $5.00 gift card

Staples

• Envelopes $6.99
• Mini Notebooks $2.99
• Total $9.98 – Paid with Reward $$
  Turned in 1 ink cartridge for a $3.00 coupon I will receive next month

Safeway

• Diet Pepsi $1.49
• 5 Cheerios (18 oz size) $14.95
• 2 Progresso Soup $2.00
• Sunday Paper $1.88
• 5 Cheerios Coupons ($5.00)
• Progresso Coupon ($1.10)
• Total Out of Pocket $9.42 (includes $0.20 tax)
  Earned a $0.10 pump credit for gas

JC Penney

• Scarf, mitten and hat set $8.49
• Top for my daughter $4.99
• Coupon ($10.00)
• Total Out of Pocket $3.69 (includes $0.21 tax)
  Paid with my Pennys card to get points for reward coupons

Baby Food Savings

I prefer to make my baby's food, but there is something to be said for the convenience of jar baby food. So my daughter gets a combination of both. This week I was very happy to be able to combine a sale and coupon to stock up on food for my daughter. I wound up getting 61 jars of food, 3 small bottles of juice and 5 boxes of cereal for $13.02. The great part is that I still have more coupons and the sale is on at Weis through Wednesday.

We did pretty well with our general grocery shopping today too. It cost us $68.27 after I saved $47.58 in coupons and $29.72 in "club savings." It was enough of a savings that they had to come over with a key to finish my order. I love it when that happens. I definitely feel that it's worth it to stock up when items are on sale. The only things we got at the grocery store that weren't on sale were the milk and Yo Baby yogurt.

Right now my pantry, cabinets and storage closet are pretty much all stuffed full. There are a few things we are low on, but I should be able to get them at a good price soon. Do you think it's worth it to stock up on your family's regularly used items?