I would very much prefer to spend the entirety of every Sunday hanging out with my family, being crafty or playing a mean game of euchre. The reality of my work/school schedule, however, means that most Sundays are spent toiling away at homework and to do lists of things I didn't feel like doing earlier in the week. There is probably a better way to organize and routine-ize these things, but I digress.
In the interest of both reminding me and holding me accountable, my Sunday 2/8 to do list is below.
[] Menu for Monday
[] MM blog post
[] Checkbook balanced
[] Finish clearing off desk
[] Package up rebates for mailbox on Monday
[] Make phone calls to finish up pending order
[] Cafe Press order
[] Bribe someone into emptying the compost transfer bin
[] Tidy bedroom and night stand
[] Read Tuesday Anthro assignment
[] Write Tuesday/Thursday Anthro reactions
[] Listen to Soc assignment
[] Write Soc paper
[] Sort out coupons/ads from paper
[] Clip and file coupons
[] Read Thursday WGS assignment
[] Check master to do list for additional tasks
[] Consider nap, since I'm still up posting to do lists at 430am.
Are you a to do list maker? Feel free to post a link to yours, and we can be accountable together!
08 February 2009
07 February 2009
Super Saving Saturday: Late Night Walgreens Edition
Why in the world do I wait to shop until Saturday night? Haha. This week, it actually worked out.
First Stop: Costco
(I put the stuff away without paying attention to the actual sizes, and they aren't on my receipt. Rest assured, they are nothing short of gigantic containers.)
Schuler's Sharp Cheddar
Hummus (mmmmmmmmmy favorite!)
Land O Lakes Butter
Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
TOTAL: $23.69
Second Stop: Meijer
(I was going to use up my wee fistful of rainchecks tonight since this week's ad was less than impressive, but then the selection of items I had rainchecks for was also less than impressive. I will endeavor to shop Monday before they expire. We shall see ...)
2.23 lbs bananas, which I did not put in my cart ... (insert eye rolling): $1.32
2 Valu Time powdered garlic: $1
3.48 lbs ground beef clearanced to $1.75/lb: 6.09
4 avacados: $4
1 tray organic white mushrooms: $1
Mrs. Dash: $1.99 - 50c/1 coupon = $1.49
5 40oz Meijer hand soap refills: $14.85 - $3 Meijer brand cat = $11.85
2 46oz V8 juice: $6 - 50c/1 coupons = $5
5 Dry Cleaner's Secret single use packets clearanced to 79c: $3.95
(we use these instead of paying for regular dry cleaning ... they work great, and are so (!!) much cheaper ...)
TOTAL: $36.65
SAVED: $19.98 + $8 OYNO catalina generated by the hand soap = $27.98
Third Stop: Walgreens
(... and now, the fun part ...)
3 Glade Wisp Candles clearanced to $5: $15 - $5/1 coupons = FREE!
2 cans of BBQ Pringles on sale for 99c: $1.98 - 20c/2 coupon = $1.78
Garnier 100% Hair Color clearanced to $4.49 - $3/1 coupon = $1.49
2 Theraflu Warming Liquid: $10 - $1.50/1 coupons = $7
(-$6 rebate, below)
2 bags of Walgreens Orange Crush Vitamin C Drops: 90c
3 tubes Silk and Shine Blistex chapstick on sale for $1.99: $5.97 - 35c/1 coupons = $4.92
Crest Weekly Care Intensive Toothpaste: $3.99 - $3.99/1 mailer coupon = FREE!
Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Shampoo: $3.99
(- $3.99 rebate, below)
4 Starbucks Truffles on special 2/$10: $20 - $6/2 Walgreens ESQ - $1/1 manufact. coupons = $4
Spiderman Activity book clearanced to 20c
Justice League Huge Activity book clearanced to $1
5 pk Ramen Noodles
(because my pre-tax subtotal was -70+ cents without them ... haha)
- $15 Walgreens OYNO catalinas from last week's deals
TOTAL: $3.01 ($2.73 of which was tax ... subtotal = 28c!!)
SAVED: $94.70 + $3.99 rebate for Garnier + $6 rebate for Theraflu = $104.69
Yes, that's right, Walgreens paid me $6.98 to take home all those lovely goods this evening. Thank you kindly, Mr. Walgreens, wherever you are. Ha.
TOTAL Spent: $63.35
TOTAL Saved: $132.67 ... huzzah!
Did you save a bundle this week? Tell me about it! I love hearing about other people's deals.
Simply,
Em.
First Stop: Costco
(I put the stuff away without paying attention to the actual sizes, and they aren't on my receipt. Rest assured, they are nothing short of gigantic containers.)
Schuler's Sharp Cheddar
Hummus (mmmmmmmmmy favorite!)
Land O Lakes Butter
Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
TOTAL: $23.69
Second Stop: Meijer
(I was going to use up my wee fistful of rainchecks tonight since this week's ad was less than impressive, but then the selection of items I had rainchecks for was also less than impressive. I will endeavor to shop Monday before they expire. We shall see ...)
2.23 lbs bananas, which I did not put in my cart ... (insert eye rolling): $1.32
2 Valu Time powdered garlic: $1
3.48 lbs ground beef clearanced to $1.75/lb: 6.09
4 avacados: $4
1 tray organic white mushrooms: $1
Mrs. Dash: $1.99 - 50c/1 coupon = $1.49
5 40oz Meijer hand soap refills: $14.85 - $3 Meijer brand cat = $11.85
2 46oz V8 juice: $6 - 50c/1 coupons = $5
5 Dry Cleaner's Secret single use packets clearanced to 79c: $3.95
(we use these instead of paying for regular dry cleaning ... they work great, and are so (!!) much cheaper ...)
TOTAL: $36.65
SAVED: $19.98 + $8 OYNO catalina generated by the hand soap = $27.98
Third Stop: Walgreens
(... and now, the fun part ...)
3 Glade Wisp Candles clearanced to $5: $15 - $5/1 coupons = FREE!
2 cans of BBQ Pringles on sale for 99c: $1.98 - 20c/2 coupon = $1.78
Garnier 100% Hair Color clearanced to $4.49 - $3/1 coupon = $1.49
2 Theraflu Warming Liquid: $10 - $1.50/1 coupons = $7
(-$6 rebate, below)
2 bags of Walgreens Orange Crush Vitamin C Drops: 90c
3 tubes Silk and Shine Blistex chapstick on sale for $1.99: $5.97 - 35c/1 coupons = $4.92
Crest Weekly Care Intensive Toothpaste: $3.99 - $3.99/1 mailer coupon = FREE!
Garnier Fructis Wonder Waves Shampoo: $3.99
(- $3.99 rebate, below)
4 Starbucks Truffles on special 2/$10: $20 - $6/2 Walgreens ESQ - $1/1 manufact. coupons = $4
Spiderman Activity book clearanced to 20c
Justice League Huge Activity book clearanced to $1
5 pk Ramen Noodles
(because my pre-tax subtotal was -70+ cents without them ... haha)
- $15 Walgreens OYNO catalinas from last week's deals
TOTAL: $3.01 ($2.73 of which was tax ... subtotal = 28c!!)
SAVED: $94.70 + $3.99 rebate for Garnier + $6 rebate for Theraflu = $104.69
Yes, that's right, Walgreens paid me $6.98 to take home all those lovely goods this evening. Thank you kindly, Mr. Walgreens, wherever you are. Ha.
TOTAL Spent: $63.35
TOTAL Saved: $132.67 ... huzzah!
Did you save a bundle this week? Tell me about it! I love hearing about other people's deals.
Simply,
Em.
05 February 2009
... but free is fun!
In my mailbox today, a check for $15 from Beck's for the Stella Artois purchase I made on New Year's Eve. 6 packs were on sale for $7.19 that day, and I had to buy 2 to qualify for the rebate. Ah yes, that's two 6 packs for $14.38 - the $15 rebate = 62c profit. Yay!
Then, a post at MoneySavingMom reminded me that one could sign up for a free subscription to Women's Day magazine. I used to pay for this magazine ... back when we had no sense about spending money on luxuries ... and now, I will soon be getting it for free! Double yay!
Two days ago, I got 2 $10 gift cards from MyPoints. One for Starbucks, and one for Panera. Have you joined MyPoints yet? You click through emails and rack up points which you then turn in for gift cards of your choosing. If you need help, I'd be more than happy to refer you. (/shameless plug) They also threw in 2 discount cards for $15 off any order at FTD.com. They currently have 12 multi-colored roses on sale for $17.99, fyi.
That same day, I got an envelope from 1800-flowers.com that had a gift card inside for $20. I scored it through a rebate I found that I had happened to have already purchsed the items for. We had done our holiday baking shopping, and the items needed for the rebate were things we had needed. I dug out the receipt (a bonus of being woefully behind on updating one's pricebook) and sent it in. Free flowers abound this month!
I seriously love getting things for free in the mail. These are just a handful of the lovely things the mailman has brought me recently. There was also the Juicy Juice sippy cup, a veritable ton of coupons from Vocalpoint, and a ton of sample sized items. I find freebies a great way to add to my budget either by including rebate money in my grocery budget, or by supplementing the items we need with samples. Just last weekend when we travelled to Debate States, I packed shampoo sample packets instead of a full sized bottle. Keep your eyes open for freebies and rebates. They're everywhere, and they're almost always worth the couple extra minutes to do the paperwork.
What have you gotten for free recently?
Simply,
Em.
Then, a post at MoneySavingMom reminded me that one could sign up for a free subscription to Women's Day magazine. I used to pay for this magazine ... back when we had no sense about spending money on luxuries ... and now, I will soon be getting it for free! Double yay!
Two days ago, I got 2 $10 gift cards from MyPoints. One for Starbucks, and one for Panera. Have you joined MyPoints yet? You click through emails and rack up points which you then turn in for gift cards of your choosing. If you need help, I'd be more than happy to refer you. (/shameless plug) They also threw in 2 discount cards for $15 off any order at FTD.com. They currently have 12 multi-colored roses on sale for $17.99, fyi.
That same day, I got an envelope from 1800-flowers.com that had a gift card inside for $20. I scored it through a rebate I found that I had happened to have already purchsed the items for. We had done our holiday baking shopping, and the items needed for the rebate were things we had needed. I dug out the receipt (a bonus of being woefully behind on updating one's pricebook) and sent it in. Free flowers abound this month!
I seriously love getting things for free in the mail. These are just a handful of the lovely things the mailman has brought me recently. There was also the Juicy Juice sippy cup, a veritable ton of coupons from Vocalpoint, and a ton of sample sized items. I find freebies a great way to add to my budget either by including rebate money in my grocery budget, or by supplementing the items we need with samples. Just last weekend when we travelled to Debate States, I packed shampoo sample packets instead of a full sized bottle. Keep your eyes open for freebies and rebates. They're everywhere, and they're almost always worth the couple extra minutes to do the paperwork.
What have you gotten for free recently?
Simply,
Em.
01 February 2009
Top 'o the Month: Welcome to February!
January was an alright money month here at GSF. I actually both happened upon some extra cash for the budget AND managed to save up the rest of the required 'Dream Savings' for our secret surprise. Now we can put future snowflake sized savings toward the last part of the debt instead. Hooray!
Here are the numbers ...
EFund: $1000.
This may need to be ramped up soon. We are still doing the 'no consistent income thing' with Be, and I would be more comfortable with a more significant amount of savings in the event that we need to start paying bills with it.
Dream Savings: DONE!
We saved everything we needed to and the secret will be revealed in a very short 24 days. Yay!
Jeep: $0!
PAID OFF this month. Yay!
GP: $4511.28
C1: $87
Yes, that's right, a drop of $400.
AV: $0
PAID OFF! Yay!
VSA: $12
Will be paid off this month. He had to use the card to keep the account active because he refuses to close the stupid thing. So, really, $0 because we won't be carrying a balance for more than a couple days. It's still lame.
It was a great money month here. We still have an EFund. All the bills got paid. We finished the savings for our surprise. We found an extra $400 to pay on the C1. The Jeep is now paid off. We had extra grocery budget money. It was good times all around. I like these kinds of months the best.
Simply,
Em.
Here are the numbers ...
EFund: $1000.
This may need to be ramped up soon. We are still doing the 'no consistent income thing' with Be, and I would be more comfortable with a more significant amount of savings in the event that we need to start paying bills with it.
Dream Savings: DONE!
We saved everything we needed to and the secret will be revealed in a very short 24 days. Yay!
Jeep: $0!
PAID OFF this month. Yay!
GP: $4511.28
C1: $87
Yes, that's right, a drop of $400.
AV: $0
PAID OFF! Yay!
VSA: $12
Will be paid off this month. He had to use the card to keep the account active because he refuses to close the stupid thing. So, really, $0 because we won't be carrying a balance for more than a couple days. It's still lame.
It was a great money month here. We still have an EFund. All the bills got paid. We finished the savings for our surprise. We found an extra $400 to pay on the C1. The Jeep is now paid off. We had extra grocery budget money. It was good times all around. I like these kinds of months the best.
Simply,
Em.
Links All Around!
I could tell you that I'm posting links despite my impossible Sunday schedule, but really I simply have a giant list of great reads from an evening of sitting on my couch, feet up, trying to recover from the whirlwind sleepless reality of coaching my kids through a high school level state debate tournament. Yes, it's 7pm and I am still in my pajamas. Slacker, am I (and loving it).
Angela at Random Musings wrote what may (hopefully) become a new regular feature highlighting sweet local Michigan products. I love buying local, and feel very strongly about supporting the (absolutely horrendous) Michigan economy any way I can. I encourage you to buy local as well. Or if nothing local meets your fancy, buy Michigan instead. We could use the help.
The Happy Housewife had a paper control problem, and posts about remedying it with a binder system. I think everyone on the planet may have a paper control problem, and this post may actually be the solution. We had a near meltdown over not being able to find a certain stack of paper at this very house earlier today, and I may have to consider switching my 2 file crates smashed full of too many folders hidden under a table system over to something else. Binders ... now that would prevent me from having to buy an evil (and super ugly) filing cabinet.
There is also a Hot Breakfast Challenge going on at the HH. We are those people with a ton of basically free cereal on our shelves, and since I'm not the throwing things away for no reason kind, it would be difficult for us to abandon our mass storage of fiber-laden goodness in favor of buying other (new) things. In the future, I absolutely agree with the merits of eating a hot and healthy breakfast. In the present, we need to get through the rows of cold cereal first. So, in the name of at least being healthy by eating breakfast in the first place (something we often skip around here), we will be doing a Not Hot Breakfast Challenge of our own this month. Join in! Breakfast all around, hot or cold, in February.
You know those commercials on TV about how 'cool' HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) is? Yea, the ones put on and paid for by the 'Corn Council' or some equally entertaining and alliterative lobby group paid to find research to meet ideals rather than changing ideals based on research. Well, if you were at all compelled by them (the commercials), check out the recent article at The Good Human about mercury in HFCS. Eeeeeew, gross.
I love Sara and her fabulous blogging. I also love this snappy little number that she was doing a giveaway for last week. She is one snappy mama with wonderful taste in art and absolutely divine ideals. I *heart* her blog. You should too.
Sooooo, that's just the highlight of the sweet things I read this afternoon. There are tons more great posts in my reader I have yet to get through. Oh how I love having a blog reader so I don't miss all the great stuff when I'm not online. I hope you had a fab weekend, all.
Simply,
Em.
Angela at Random Musings wrote what may (hopefully) become a new regular feature highlighting sweet local Michigan products. I love buying local, and feel very strongly about supporting the (absolutely horrendous) Michigan economy any way I can. I encourage you to buy local as well. Or if nothing local meets your fancy, buy Michigan instead. We could use the help.
The Happy Housewife had a paper control problem, and posts about remedying it with a binder system. I think everyone on the planet may have a paper control problem, and this post may actually be the solution. We had a near meltdown over not being able to find a certain stack of paper at this very house earlier today, and I may have to consider switching my 2 file crates smashed full of too many folders hidden under a table system over to something else. Binders ... now that would prevent me from having to buy an evil (and super ugly) filing cabinet.
There is also a Hot Breakfast Challenge going on at the HH. We are those people with a ton of basically free cereal on our shelves, and since I'm not the throwing things away for no reason kind, it would be difficult for us to abandon our mass storage of fiber-laden goodness in favor of buying other (new) things. In the future, I absolutely agree with the merits of eating a hot and healthy breakfast. In the present, we need to get through the rows of cold cereal first. So, in the name of at least being healthy by eating breakfast in the first place (something we often skip around here), we will be doing a Not Hot Breakfast Challenge of our own this month. Join in! Breakfast all around, hot or cold, in February.
You know those commercials on TV about how 'cool' HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) is? Yea, the ones put on and paid for by the 'Corn Council' or some equally entertaining and alliterative lobby group paid to find research to meet ideals rather than changing ideals based on research. Well, if you were at all compelled by them (the commercials), check out the recent article at The Good Human about mercury in HFCS. Eeeeeew, gross.
I love Sara and her fabulous blogging. I also love this snappy little number that she was doing a giveaway for last week. She is one snappy mama with wonderful taste in art and absolutely divine ideals. I *heart* her blog. You should too.
Sooooo, that's just the highlight of the sweet things I read this afternoon. There are tons more great posts in my reader I have yet to get through. Oh how I love having a blog reader so I don't miss all the great stuff when I'm not online. I hope you had a fab weekend, all.
Simply,
Em.
27 January 2009
$1/2 Quaker Coupon!
You should be able to go here and print $1/2 Quaker Instant Oatmeal coupons. We LOVE oatmeal in this house, so I get my hands on as many coupons for instant as I can. Then, when it's on sale (like last week at Meijer), we haul it all home. Enjoy!
Simply,
Em.
Simply,
Em.
Gratituesday!
The hardest part about striving to live gratefully is writing about it on days when you don't really want to be grateful for anything. Normally, if I happen upon one of those days, I can just continue on and no one is the wiser. I am not accountable for my lack of grateful behavior on a Wednesday or a Saturday, but when those 'not feeling so great ... ful' days happen on Tuesdays now, I find an even greater challenge. Today is for sure one of those Tuesdays.
However, even so, I can still be grateful for love today. I haven't felt well for the last few days, the gory details of which I will spare you. This means that I don't want to cook things or clean up things or get out of my bed (although I've had to go to work and school both ... boooooo). Last night, after coming home from work exhausted and icky feeling, I casually asked Be what he was making for dinner (in hopes that he'd say something amazing like, "Oh, psh, don't worry, I'll whip up a 4 course gourmet meal AND clean the kitchen while you rest" ... ok, not really). Be is not an "I cook dinner every night" kind of guy. He can cook. He just doesn't usually want to. Last night, though, without blinking, even on the brink of exhaustion after an all nighter, he almost immediately started dinner while I collapsed on the couch in front of Jeopardy.
I know he didn't feel like it. I know he could have just as easily said, "Screw it, I'll go get take out". I know that he was just as tired as I was. None of that stopped him. None of it stops him on an average day. For all his funny face making, I know he would do anything for me. Today, (and everyday) I am most grateful for that. I love you, doll.
Simply,
Em.
However, even so, I can still be grateful for love today. I haven't felt well for the last few days, the gory details of which I will spare you. This means that I don't want to cook things or clean up things or get out of my bed (although I've had to go to work and school both ... boooooo). Last night, after coming home from work exhausted and icky feeling, I casually asked Be what he was making for dinner (in hopes that he'd say something amazing like, "Oh, psh, don't worry, I'll whip up a 4 course gourmet meal AND clean the kitchen while you rest" ... ok, not really). Be is not an "I cook dinner every night" kind of guy. He can cook. He just doesn't usually want to. Last night, though, without blinking, even on the brink of exhaustion after an all nighter, he almost immediately started dinner while I collapsed on the couch in front of Jeopardy.
I know he didn't feel like it. I know he could have just as easily said, "Screw it, I'll go get take out". I know that he was just as tired as I was. None of that stopped him. None of it stops him on an average day. For all his funny face making, I know he would do anything for me. Today, (and everyday) I am most grateful for that. I love you, doll.
Simply,
Em.
26 January 2009
Difficulties Indeed.
I'm back!
What was supposedly a broken monitor or graphics card turned into a burned out power supply and a totally trashed motherboard. Of course, it took Be a couple days to figure this out, and then took me another couple days to decide what I was going to do about it. I mean, what's a frugal (read: mostly broke) girl to do? My options included buying a new motherboard and power supply (and graphics card ... because the motherboard killed the original one) or to buy a whole new CPU. I spent a lot of time weighing the options, looking at the long term impacts of each, checking out features, and complaining a LOT about not having my PC to work with. I not only blog from it, but also run another home business, teach high school kids, and go to school (still ...). All of those things require personal computing capabilities, and while I concur with those frugal headshakers out there that I could survive without my own operational computer by hitting up the school library or a public one, I knew that I at least had files I needed to retrieve from my (hopefully) OK hard drive.
So I thought.
And I thought some more.
(I need a lot of time to make decisions about spending money ... you should see me grocery shop ... takes for-ev-er)
And then all my thinking was for naught when Be walked in the house with a new CPU, gifted to us by a lovely someone whom I already adored. A huge huge huge huge thank you to them!
So, I'm back. I'm blogging with Vista now ... which isn't as weird as I thought it would be (the Vista, not the blogging). Just in time for me to get back, however, is an upcoming holiday from feeling bad for not posting (read: vacay-ish). I will be leaving Wednesday afternoon (-ish) for a state finals tournament with the kids I teach/coach that goes until late Saturday (hopefully, late means we did well). I will endeavor to blog, but more likely will be busy preparing my kids between rounds and the like. Know that I'm thinking of you, and of a ton of things I want to write about (including shoppping last weekend .... Me: 1, Walgreens, 0!) for you.
I will return ... I promise. As for Menu Monday, we have a menu but it's unlikely that anyone in this house will follow it while I'm gone. Pizza Rolls and freezer food for them, I guess.
Simply,
Em.
PS, while I'm gone head over to The Grocery Cart Challenge and check out the Keurig giveaway. I've used those machines before and they are rockin' cool. Now, to figure out how to fill your own pod thing and escape having to buy expensive refills ....
What was supposedly a broken monitor or graphics card turned into a burned out power supply and a totally trashed motherboard. Of course, it took Be a couple days to figure this out, and then took me another couple days to decide what I was going to do about it. I mean, what's a frugal (read: mostly broke) girl to do? My options included buying a new motherboard and power supply (and graphics card ... because the motherboard killed the original one) or to buy a whole new CPU. I spent a lot of time weighing the options, looking at the long term impacts of each, checking out features, and complaining a LOT about not having my PC to work with. I not only blog from it, but also run another home business, teach high school kids, and go to school (still ...). All of those things require personal computing capabilities, and while I concur with those frugal headshakers out there that I could survive without my own operational computer by hitting up the school library or a public one, I knew that I at least had files I needed to retrieve from my (hopefully) OK hard drive.
So I thought.
And I thought some more.
(I need a lot of time to make decisions about spending money ... you should see me grocery shop ... takes for-ev-er)
And then all my thinking was for naught when Be walked in the house with a new CPU, gifted to us by a lovely someone whom I already adored. A huge huge huge huge thank you to them!
So, I'm back. I'm blogging with Vista now ... which isn't as weird as I thought it would be (the Vista, not the blogging). Just in time for me to get back, however, is an upcoming holiday from feeling bad for not posting (read: vacay-ish). I will be leaving Wednesday afternoon (-ish) for a state finals tournament with the kids I teach/coach that goes until late Saturday (hopefully, late means we did well). I will endeavor to blog, but more likely will be busy preparing my kids between rounds and the like. Know that I'm thinking of you, and of a ton of things I want to write about (including shoppping last weekend .... Me: 1, Walgreens, 0!) for you.
I will return ... I promise. As for Menu Monday, we have a menu but it's unlikely that anyone in this house will follow it while I'm gone. Pizza Rolls and freezer food for them, I guess.
Simply,
Em.
PS, while I'm gone head over to The Grocery Cart Challenge and check out the Keurig giveaway. I've used those machines before and they are rockin' cool. Now, to figure out how to fill your own pod thing and escape having to buy expensive refills ....
20 January 2009
Technical Difficulties
My computer is mad at me. It started it's angry protest over the weekend. It turns on perfectly, but then the screen goes batty and it refuses to work correctly. Either the monitor is screwed, in which case it should be fixed sometime this evening or the graphics card has kicked it and it won't be fixed for another couple days. I apologize for the lag in posting in the interim, and hope to be back in the game just as soon as my personal computer repair man (read: Be) gets everything back in working order. Let's hope it's sooner rather than later ... I miss instant access to my own PC.
Simply,
Em.
Simply,
Em.
17 January 2009
Super Saving Saturday
Ok, really, I went shopping yesterday and today. I know, I know, craziness. Why must Meijer have these special weekend sales that persuade me to come back to their store again, but are not amazing enough to convince me to wait until the day of zoo-crazy people to do all of my grocery shopping? Ah, because they are brillant, that's why. Way to go marketing gurus, 1 point for you.
So this past fall, I didn't go grocery shopping for more than 2 months. I think I've mentioned that before. I got caught up in life, we have a giant stockpile of goods to cover the bases during the hiatus, and I was trying to save some serious money in the process. We did hit up the grocery for food for the holidays, but until this week I had not done any real grocery shopping/deal finding in F-O-R-Ever. There are a veritable ton of things we are out of because of it, and although we've been making due pretty well, it was time for some real shopping.
Now, before I post what I picked up, let me preface. I know I said at the beginning of the year that we'd be going to a $120/month grocery budget (for my family of 5). This first month, though, since I happened to come upon some much needed cash after all the other bills were paid, and since we haven't really grocery shopped in a million years, I'm cutting in some extra cash. Yea. That might make me a slacker or a cheater or something, but the point of a challenge is to improve each month. Last year we spent an average of $300/month on groceries (remember, for 5 adults ... not so shabby), so working toward anything less than that is progress enough for me. /preface, haha.
I should have taken some pictures when we hauled everything in (but I don't think of these things after hauling an entire car full of groceries through the blizzarding tundra). Next time, maybe? Here's what I got ... beware, I'm exclamation point happy today ...
2 Regular Lay's chips ... 1/2 price, now $1.99.
2 BBQ Lay's chips ... 1/2 price, now $1.99.
4 40oz Bisquick ... sale $1.99 - $1/1 coupons = 99c!
3 Kellogg's Mini-Wheats ... sale $1.99 - $1/1 coupons = 99c!
4 Eckrich Sausages ... sale, $2 - $1/2 coupons = $1.50!
(these are regular $3.89 at my store)
4 Crescent Rolls tubes ... sale, $1.50 - 25c/1 coupons - $1/4 Meijer store coupon = $1.
2 Betty Crocker frostings ... sale, $1.33 - 50c/1 coupons = 83c!
1 4pk DanActive yogurt ... sale, $2 - $1/1 coupon = $1!
4 boxes New York garlic toast ... sale, $2 - 55c/1 peel offs on box = $1.45.
(we use these for garlic bread pizzas ... soooooo yummy)
5 Betty Crocker muffin mixes ... sale, $1.67 - $1/2 coupons = $1.17.
4 Toaster Streudels ... sale, $2 - $1/1 coupons = $1!
2 big bags Green Giant veggies ... sale, $2.50 - $1/1 peel off on the bag - $1/2 Meijer store coupon = $1!
1 Premium saltines ... sale, $2.50.
16 Yoplait yogurt ... sale, 50c - $1/8 coupon = 38c!
6 boxes Fiber One granola bars ... sale, $2 - $1/2 coupons = $1.50.
2 boxes Fiber One toaster pastries ... sale, $1.67 - peel off coupons from granola bars = FREE!
In the 10 for $10 (11th FREE!)
4 Avocados
6 Hamburger Helper ... - $1/3 coupons = 66c.
2 bags Bugles snacks
3 Betty Crocker boxed potatoes ... -40c/1 coupons = 60c.
2 Betty Crocker cake mixes
4 Grands biscuits ... -$1/1 coupons = FREE!
8 boxes Green Giant veggies ... -$1/1 and $1/2 coupons = 50c or FREE!
1 bag Green Giant Steamers ... -60c/1 coupon = 40c!
5 Banquet microwave dinners
1 Hormel deli pepperoni ... -55c/1 coupon = 45c!
6 big cans Meijer diced tomatoes
6 bags Combos snacks
14 boxes Totinos Pizza Rolls ... -40c/1 and $1/2 coupons = 60c or 50c!
2 trays popcorn chicken
(we toss these in big giant dinner salads for 'fried chicken salad' ... yum.)
6 trays chicken nuggets
1 Aunt Millie's english muffins ... -35c/1 = 65c!
4 Dole salad mix
5 Michelina's microwave dinners ... -$1/5 coupon = 80c.
5 Lean Gourmet microwave dinners ... -$1/5 coupon = 80c.
(if that doesn't total 88 items, I missed something on my receipt ... it's possible.)
Plus, 8 of the above items were absolutely FREE because of the 10/$10 + 11th free promo. Yay!
My TOTAL would have been ... $297.64.
It was instead, ... $102.35.
(and would have only been $93.05 if my Meijer doubled up to 50c like the rest of the state ... non-doubling meanies)
That's a savings of $195.29! Yay!
Then, today we went back for the 3 day sale (and another couple 10/10 items), including ...
5 6pks of Diet Dr. Pepper ... sale, $7.96 total (Buy 2, Get 3 FREE!).
3 2 liters Coke ... $1.49 (Yea, not on sale ... picky Be)
1 Airwick Luminaire ... clearanced to $4.99 - $5/1 coupon = FREE!
4 Crescent Rolls ... sale, $1.50 - $25c/1 coupons - $1/4 Meijer store coupon = $1.
3 loaves Aunt Millie's bread ... $3.19 total (Buy 1, Get 2 FREE!).
3 Banquet microwave dinners
15 big cans Meijer diced and stewed tomatoes ... - $3/$15 Meijer brand catalina I got yesterday = 80c.
4 boxes Totinos Pizza Rolls ... -$1/2 coupons = 50c!
- $2 for FREE items from the 10/$10
- $1 for FREE Totinos catalina I got yesterday
My TOTAL would have been ... $84.77
It was instead ... $35.62.
(+60c for bottle deposit)
That's a savings of $49.15!
TOTAL Spent: $137.97
TOTAL Saved: $244.44!
Did you go shopping this weekend? Crystal at MoneySavingMom did, and from the looks of her ever-growing Mr. Linky, so did a whole bunch of other people. You can check them all out here if you like.
Simply,
Em.
So this past fall, I didn't go grocery shopping for more than 2 months. I think I've mentioned that before. I got caught up in life, we have a giant stockpile of goods to cover the bases during the hiatus, and I was trying to save some serious money in the process. We did hit up the grocery for food for the holidays, but until this week I had not done any real grocery shopping/deal finding in F-O-R-Ever. There are a veritable ton of things we are out of because of it, and although we've been making due pretty well, it was time for some real shopping.
Now, before I post what I picked up, let me preface. I know I said at the beginning of the year that we'd be going to a $120/month grocery budget (for my family of 5). This first month, though, since I happened to come upon some much needed cash after all the other bills were paid, and since we haven't really grocery shopped in a million years, I'm cutting in some extra cash. Yea. That might make me a slacker or a cheater or something, but the point of a challenge is to improve each month. Last year we spent an average of $300/month on groceries (remember, for 5 adults ... not so shabby), so working toward anything less than that is progress enough for me. /preface, haha.
I should have taken some pictures when we hauled everything in (but I don't think of these things after hauling an entire car full of groceries through the blizzarding tundra). Next time, maybe? Here's what I got ... beware, I'm exclamation point happy today ...
2 Regular Lay's chips ... 1/2 price, now $1.99.
2 BBQ Lay's chips ... 1/2 price, now $1.99.
4 40oz Bisquick ... sale $1.99 - $1/1 coupons = 99c!
3 Kellogg's Mini-Wheats ... sale $1.99 - $1/1 coupons = 99c!
4 Eckrich Sausages ... sale, $2 - $1/2 coupons = $1.50!
(these are regular $3.89 at my store)
4 Crescent Rolls tubes ... sale, $1.50 - 25c/1 coupons - $1/4 Meijer store coupon = $1.
2 Betty Crocker frostings ... sale, $1.33 - 50c/1 coupons = 83c!
1 4pk DanActive yogurt ... sale, $2 - $1/1 coupon = $1!
4 boxes New York garlic toast ... sale, $2 - 55c/1 peel offs on box = $1.45.
(we use these for garlic bread pizzas ... soooooo yummy)
5 Betty Crocker muffin mixes ... sale, $1.67 - $1/2 coupons = $1.17.
4 Toaster Streudels ... sale, $2 - $1/1 coupons = $1!
2 big bags Green Giant veggies ... sale, $2.50 - $1/1 peel off on the bag - $1/2 Meijer store coupon = $1!
1 Premium saltines ... sale, $2.50.
16 Yoplait yogurt ... sale, 50c - $1/8 coupon = 38c!
6 boxes Fiber One granola bars ... sale, $2 - $1/2 coupons = $1.50.
2 boxes Fiber One toaster pastries ... sale, $1.67 - peel off coupons from granola bars = FREE!
In the 10 for $10 (11th FREE!)
4 Avocados
6 Hamburger Helper ... - $1/3 coupons = 66c.
2 bags Bugles snacks
3 Betty Crocker boxed potatoes ... -40c/1 coupons = 60c.
2 Betty Crocker cake mixes
4 Grands biscuits ... -$1/1 coupons = FREE!
8 boxes Green Giant veggies ... -$1/1 and $1/2 coupons = 50c or FREE!
1 bag Green Giant Steamers ... -60c/1 coupon = 40c!
5 Banquet microwave dinners
1 Hormel deli pepperoni ... -55c/1 coupon = 45c!
6 big cans Meijer diced tomatoes
6 bags Combos snacks
14 boxes Totinos Pizza Rolls ... -40c/1 and $1/2 coupons = 60c or 50c!
2 trays popcorn chicken
(we toss these in big giant dinner salads for 'fried chicken salad' ... yum.)
6 trays chicken nuggets
1 Aunt Millie's english muffins ... -35c/1 = 65c!
4 Dole salad mix
5 Michelina's microwave dinners ... -$1/5 coupon = 80c.
5 Lean Gourmet microwave dinners ... -$1/5 coupon = 80c.
(if that doesn't total 88 items, I missed something on my receipt ... it's possible.)
Plus, 8 of the above items were absolutely FREE because of the 10/$10 + 11th free promo. Yay!
My TOTAL would have been ... $297.64.
It was instead, ... $102.35.
(and would have only been $93.05 if my Meijer doubled up to 50c like the rest of the state ... non-doubling meanies)
That's a savings of $195.29! Yay!
Then, today we went back for the 3 day sale (and another couple 10/10 items), including ...
5 6pks of Diet Dr. Pepper ... sale, $7.96 total (Buy 2, Get 3 FREE!).
3 2 liters Coke ... $1.49 (Yea, not on sale ... picky Be)
1 Airwick Luminaire ... clearanced to $4.99 - $5/1 coupon = FREE!
4 Crescent Rolls ... sale, $1.50 - $25c/1 coupons - $1/4 Meijer store coupon = $1.
3 loaves Aunt Millie's bread ... $3.19 total (Buy 1, Get 2 FREE!).
3 Banquet microwave dinners
15 big cans Meijer diced and stewed tomatoes ... - $3/$15 Meijer brand catalina I got yesterday = 80c.
4 boxes Totinos Pizza Rolls ... -$1/2 coupons = 50c!
- $2 for FREE items from the 10/$10
- $1 for FREE Totinos catalina I got yesterday
My TOTAL would have been ... $84.77
It was instead ... $35.62.
(+60c for bottle deposit)
That's a savings of $49.15!
TOTAL Spent: $137.97
TOTAL Saved: $244.44!
Did you go shopping this weekend? Crystal at MoneySavingMom did, and from the looks of her ever-growing Mr. Linky, so did a whole bunch of other people. You can check them all out here if you like.
Simply,
Em.
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