Monday evening shopping trip 4-18

Maureen & I did our usual Monday night shopping (CVS, Walgreens as usual and Target!) and this week I saved $97 AND got $5RR (Walgreens $ to use next time) AND $12ECB (CVS $ to use next time).

I am at the point that I have a years stock of Men & Women's body wash, deodorant, face wash, tooth paste, mouth rinse, pretty much at least a 6m supply of every personal care item we need!!! I didn't spend more than $20 TOTAL out of pocket for it ALL either :)

I have a huge stock of snack items, all for $1.25 or less each, an 8m supply of cereal all $1.33 (and that was my special K) or less a box, most were .90 or less. Pop Tarts, I have a TON of those! Pasta, pasta sauce, condiments, paper goods, laundry detergent, bleach. I could go 3-4m with ONLY buying produce and be just fine!

However, I decided to pass my savings on. There are so many people that I feel God has sent my way...so 1 by 1 here I go!

Don't forget Friday night at 7:30pm my friend and I are hosting a "how to coupon right" meeting at my house. Please come, I really want to share with you how to do this. No matter how much you make, you CAN benefit from this! Extra money is always nice, saving on these products is a no brainer...just let me show you how and you can figure out what to do with YOUR SAVINGS!!!!

My first month I used my regular grocery budget, but started "stocking". I got 3-4 times the amount of stuff with the same budget. It was easier to stock on personal care items first. Then, the next month I moved on to grocery items. "Stocking" shelf or freezer items was my next step. Here I sit, 2 months after starting this journey and I have learned SO MUCH! I will NEVER pay regular price for anything again! My $450 grocery budget (when I say grocery, this means EVERYTHING, pets, household, food) is now down to $300...I didn't cut it more yet b.c I was still "Stocking".  I will probably keep $150 for produce/perishable items a month and $100 for coupon money a month in the end. So my $450 just got reduced to $200 a month. What can your family do with $200 a month?????????

My Monday shopping trip was to CVS, Walgreens & Target:

$21.53 total (after $5RR & $12ECB)

Target: Nivea Body Wash (I grabbed the last one and no rain checks, so hopefully they restock!!!)
            SALE $3.04 - $3 coupon (Sunday paper), use a reusable bag - .05...she handed me a penny!!!

Walgreens: Ocello Sponges B1G1 FREE ($3.99 each) - [2] $1 off coupons, I paid $1 per 3 pk!
                   Chocolate Covered Peeps 2/$1 - [1] $1 off 2 peeps coupon, FREE
                   3M Magic Tape B1G2 FREE ($1.99 each) - [1] $1 off coupons, I got them .33 each!
                   Nivea Body Wash $4.99 - $1.20 Instant Reward - [1] $3 off coupon, .79 each!!!!
                   Schick Items B1G1 FREE (Shave gel $3.79) - [2] .75 off each coupons, $1.15 each.
                   Scott Natural 6pk paper towels ($5) - $1 Walgreens coupon - [1] $1.50 Scott coupon
                                                                      $2.50 for the pack!
                   Gilette Fusion Razor $10.99 - $1 Instant Reward - [1] $4 off coupon - [1] $4 RR,
                                                     I got this for $1.99!!!

CVS:   Bertoli Alfredo Sauce 3/$5 (purchased 4) - [2] $1.50 off 2 coupons, only .91 Each!!
            Head & Shoulders $4.99 - $2 ECB - [1] $2 off coupon, .99 is all I paid!
            John Freda Products (sale $5, buy $10 worth get $5 ECB), I bought 2 hair sprays - [2] .75 off any JF product - $5 ECBs,  only $1.50 each!
            GE Energy Star Light bulb $2.99 - $2 ECB, only .99!
            Nature Valley Granola Thins B1G1 ($3.69 each) - [2] .75 off each, $1.09 a box!!!
            Paas Classic Easter Egg Decorating Kit $1.99 - $1.99 ECB, FREE
            Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer, coupon for a FREE full size one!

Target's Buys 4-17

Really good deals today! Stocked up on stove top stuffing (normally $1.78 a box everywhere, but they had it on sale for .99!) and some snacks on sale for $2 (which is  AT LEAST .50 savings a box!)...



$20.08 that includes tax!

 Stove Top stuffing .99 each (5) - Buy 3 get 1 FREE coupon - .55 off 1 coupon (if you can find more of these it would be an EVEN BETTER deal!),       .68 a box - still an awesome deal! 62% savings!

Always products buy 3 get $5 gift card, Well, I had $2 off each infinity products, so I bought 3 @ $5.54 each, after coupons and $5 gift card they were     $1.87 a box! 70% savings a box!

Ritz's Muchables SALE $2 - $1 off each coupon. STOCK UP for $1!!!!!!

Ritz's Cracker Sandwiches SALE $2 - $1 off each coupon. STOCK UP for $1!!!!!

Knorr Rice Sale .83 a pkg - .50 off 2 target coupon, that's only .58 a pkg!

Aveeno Lotion $2.99 - $3 off 2 Aveeno products - Target $1 off 1 Aveeno product, ended up being $1 each! Even better deal is if my 2nd $1 off Target coupon wasn't expired :/

Gathering Coupons

We all know that purchasing a Sunday paper (at least one, 3 for me this week!) is worth your $2. Don't forget there are SO MANY more ways to get coupons! They are on displays throughout stores, in magazines (ALL YOU is my fav) and websites:
(http://www.couponnetwork.com/
http://www.coupons.com/
http://www.smartsource.com/
http://www.redplum.com/
http://www.afullcup.com/)

BUT did you know you can get mobile coupons???? Target is a GREAT example! Here is a link: http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp?title=text_alerts, I also get mobile coupons and on-line only ads (meaning special pricing you get in store, but get the ad on your phone, prices aren't posted anywhere in store on product) from Hyvee & Costco.

Don't miss out! Get signed up!

Great Mustard Buy :)

I was out for a doctor appt. this morning and Walmart was right there, so I decided to stop in for some deals I found posted on http://www.pennypinchingmom.com/ (you can find links to some of the coupons I used there too). Well, like I always say NEVER GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT YOUR COUPON BINDER, because you never know what great deals you'll run into! Toaster Strudels and French's Mustard was 2!

$11 for everything you see!

Great sales on mustard!!!! Most were already reduced .50-$1

Frenchs Dijon 12oz $1.97- $1 coupon
Classic mustard 20oz 40% more one, $1.37 -.30 coupon
Frenchs spicy brown mustard 18oz 50% more one, $1.37 -.30 coupon

Toaster Strudels $1.98 -$1 off each coupon

Idahoan original instant potatoes, .42 -$1 off 3 coupon

Vinegar (I bought Apple cider one so a little more) $1.36 -.50 coupon (STILL .20 cheaper than the cheapest brand)

Also, Country Mart was having a great sale on Land O Lakes butter 2/$6, go to http://www.mycountrymart.com/ to print a $1 off 2 coupon and also use your .50 off 2 coupon - end price only $2.25 each!!!


***********For anyone interested my friend and I are hosting a "how to coupon right" meeting next Friday 4/22 at 7pm. Send me a message if you want to come!****************************

Today's Deals 4/14

Price Chopper is having 10/$10! Oh, how I love those sales coupled with coupons!!!

$16.07 is what I spent, $21.67 is what I saved (sales & coupons!) - 26 items.

Texas Toast Crutons $1 (sale from $1.55) - .50 coupons
Little Debbie Snacks $1 (sale from $1.59)  no coupon, but still a great deal to stock up on
Pilsbury Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits $1 (sale from $1.39) - .75 off 3 coupon
Act II popcorn 3ct pk $1 (sale from $2.19!) - .50 coupon
Birdseye Frozen Veggies (large bags!) $1 (sale from $1.39) - $1 off 3 coupon
Buddig pk of sliced deli meat 2/$1 (sale from .89 each!) - .50 off 4

Here we go...another week of AWESOME DEALS!!!

OK, I will try my very best to remember what the prices were and the coupons. Double check before you go! My coupons this time came from the sunday paper inserts, the 'spring essentials' coupon paper (see previous coupon post to get link), isle coupon tags and printables.

Price Chopper: (yes, 2 trips today! A friend and I shop together and she needed to go anyways, plus I found more coupons lying around product...so how could I not buy????)



$30.09 (tax included!)

 Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, Pops & Apple Jacks all on sale $1.49 (norm $3.69!) - $1.50 off 3 coupon.
Edy's Icecream $1.99 ($4.89-$5.29 each!)
Farmland Sausage Links $2.19 (norm $2.50) - $1 off each
Laughing Cow Cheese $2.99 (norm $3.99) - $1 off two
Smart Balance Butter sale 2/$4 - $1 off two
Freschetta Pizza $4.99 sale (norm $6.89) - $1 off each




$26.64

 Pop Tarts $1.49 a box - $1 off two
American Beauty Pasta (Quick Cook) sale $1.29 - $.55 off a box
Arm & Hammer Softener Sheets (100ct each) Sale $2.50 - $3.00 off two
French's Worchester Sauce $1.45 - $.50 off one
Nerds Bumpy Jelly Beans $2.49 - $.55 coupon
Butterfinger Nestle Eggs $2.48 - $.55 coupon
Animal shaped Ring pops sale $.29 (purchased 2, 1 not pictured)



Hyvee (by FAR the best buy of the entire night!!!)

$38.09 for 69 items!!!



close up 1



close up 2

close up 3

Clorox bleach on sale $1.69 each, coupon $2 off 3 (spring essential coupon book)
Dole Salad 2/$3 -$.75 off coupon (each)
Sargento Natural Cheese Blend Sticks sale $3.98 (already reduced $1.00) - $.75 off each coupon
Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta 10/$10 - $1 off two coupon (.50 a box!!!)
Purina One Cat Food $2.48 - $3.00 off one! (I got 10lbs for FREE!!!!!!!!!)
Jolly Time Popcorn 10/$10 (3 or 4 ct) - $1 off two coupons & .$55 off one
Krunchers 2/$6 (after I used my coupon I found out Price Chopper has them 2/$5 :(  ) - $1 off each coupon
Candy Bars (in a center aisle just before personal care products) 2/$1 - $1 off 2 coupon (20 candy bars FREE!!!!)



CVS



$8.58 after ECBs (rain check for the Right Guard from last week used here)

Lysol Neutra Air 2/$5 - $1.50 off each coupon
Finish Products & Jet Dry sale $3 each (3 - $.75 off coupons & 2 - $.50 off coupons)
BUY $20 in the product above get $10 ECBs

Right Guard (rain check) $3.88 - $3 ECB - buy one get one FREE coupon (.44 each!)
Pretzel M&Ms $1.97 - $1 off coupon
Marshmallow Egg .74 - .74 ECB
Miracle Bubbles $1.99 - $1.99 ECB
Special K Crackers & Chips $1.99 each - $.50 off each
Raisin Bran $1.66 a box - $1 off two coupon

(Kibbles & Bits pictured was WALGREENS!!!! sale $3.99 - $2.50 coupon)


Walgreens




$9.43 includes the 2 bags of dog food pictured above!

 Resolve Stain Spray $1.99 - $.75 off one coupon (I had to use a $.50 off one as well)
Lysol Neutra Air (rain check from last week!) 2/$6 - $1 Walgreens coupon - $1.50 off each coupons
Bic Comfort 3 4pk razors (CLEARANCE!) $4.19 each, Sale of buy one get one half off - $3 off each coupons...........$.14 per pack!!!!!!
Mars candy filled Eggs .75 each - $1 off 2 Mars candies coupons
Bandaids with ointment CLEARANCE .75 (save over $2!)



Seriously stocked up this week!!!!!



************************ADDITION APRIL 12TH*******************************************

COUNTRY MART: $34 in product for $17

Bananas on Tuesday are only .39 cents a lb! This is where I'm going to start buying mine. That's .30 a lb cheaper than sale prices anywhere else!!!

Kraft Cheese with a touch of philly $1.89 sale - $1 off coupons (Price Chopper had the coupons in their cheese section)

Philly Cooking Cremes $2.19 sale - $1.50 coupon (.69 each!) again price chopper had these during my last shopping trip.

Miracle Whip, 1pt jars, sale 2/$6 (norm around $4 and change) - $1 off 2, $2.50 a jar!
(AND for the ladies in the CRAVE bible study with me, the calorie option on the fat free is actually quite decent!)

In one of those "stocking up the freezer & pantry" moods.

I randomly get in these moods every few months, where I bake and cook a few things every day (in bulk) and stock up my freezer and pantry. I find that if I have already prepared meals that I can take out and bake we don't eat out as often. It saves us money and is a better alternative to fast food. Which we all pay for later ;)

It really doesn't take any more time than preparing one meal, you just do it in an assembly line and use foil pans to freeze in. I write all the baking instructions on the top of the foil with a permanent marker, that way I don't have to look anything up and it's idiot proof, LOL! I really like doing this b.c when I've had a busy day of 10 loads of laundry, floors to clean, a kid to run back and forth to preschool, baths to give, a house to clean and breakfast and lunch to make and clean up from....sometimes by dinner I'm just wiped out! At least I know I can grab a GOOD meal from the freezer, steam some veggies and throw crescent rolls in and the family will be happy.

I LOVE http://www.stolenmomentscooking.com/, not only is everything made from scratch (SO EASY), you usually have everything on hand! I found 3 desserts/snacks I'm going to make today and I have all the ingredients already in the house. So far, I have found that we like every recipe we tried! Seriously, my kids have NOT turned their little noses up to anything!

Yesterday, I made Pizza Stuffed Meatloaf (http://stolenmomentscooking.com/pizza-stuffed-meatloaf/). Just double (about 2 1/2lbs of beef) the recipe and you can get 3 full size loaf pans of this meal made. What I like about this particular recipe is I make my stuffing supreme! I add a TON of veggies and my kiddos eat it up like it's going out of style. On a busy day I can just grab one out of the freezer that morning to thaw and toss it in the oven for an hour. I just make some bread & butter with this and we are good to go.

I also made breakfast burritos. We are not a cereal family. My kids think cereal is a snack, then ask for breakfast, LOL! I guess that's really my fault! I love making breakfast items and freezing them. It's cheaper, super easy and always something yummy a step away. I use whole wheat burrito shells, I try to pick better items if I can, plus they were on sale for .99 a couple weeks ago...I have a FULL stock! I just cook up some breakfast sausage, use the peppers & onions I sauteed from my above meal, and scramble up some eggs. I just stuff them with whatever ingredients I have on hand and toss some cheese in there, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze. Just toss in the microwave from the freezer and you have an instant hot breakfast.

That day, I was in the mood for blueberry pancakes...yummy!!! Make whatever recipe you desire. I use packaged blueberry muffin mixes and convert them to pancakes (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090221085601AAlwRKH). I had blueberries that I had to use, so I smashed those up and tossed them in. I find they freeze better not whole. Anyways, I made a TON of pancakes (a few dozen). Just let them cool (warm to touch so you seal in the freshness when you freeze them) stack them in a Ziploc bag and freeze. I put about 6 or so per bag, since it's just the kiddos and I at breakfast during the week, nothing goes to waste when I thaw. I do this same technique for waffles. If you want those crispy put in the toaster. Oh, and french toast freezes very nicely too!

So, on my agenda today is Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti (http://stolenmomentscooking.com/buffalo-chicken-spaghetti/), so so good!!! I use a Chicken leg quarter put it in the crockpot frozen with some water and cook all day until it's falling off the bone. I also save my juice in containers for chicken broth for cooking! I love my own and stock up when I do this. You can just cook a chicken breast like the recipe calls for, however, I find dark meat is so much tastier in this recipe, plus I like my chicken stock :). To stock up on this sometimes I'll cook 2 quarters and make my sauce, add my chicken and freeze in large storage containers. Then when we decide to have this I can just cook some noodles, bake french bread and warm this up in the microwave. Simple!

I'm also going to make Ranch Cheesy Potatoes with Ham (http://stolenmomentscooking.com/ranch-cheesy-potatoes-ham/). I find this freezes well. For the ham you can buy already diced ham for $3 a container. I buy 2 and just make a few 9x9 foil containers of this recipe. Again, an easy recipe to pull out with and bake! It's also a nice change from always having beef or chicken!

If I make it this far, then I'm baking some items and freezing some cookie dough. On my list of wants:

Doughs to freeze, so I can make homemade cookies anytime, without a mess everytime!

Apple Jacks Cereal Cookies - you can use any cookies really! Great way to use a box before it goes stale - http://stolenmomentscooking.com/apple-jacks-cereal-cookies/

Snickerdoodles - http://stolenmomentscooking.com/snickerdoodles/

I'm going to make and freeze these (most likely over the next few days - a week):

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Brownie cups - http://stolenmomentscooking.com/chocolate-chip-cheesecake-brownie-cups/ 
I have brownie mix (bought in bulk when I got it cheap) so I'll use a box on that part, vs. the homemade recipe.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles (basically, no bake cookies) - http://stolenmomentscooking.com/chocolate-peanut-butter-oat-truffles/

Dreamy Jam Bars - http://stolenmomentscooking.com/dreamy-jam-bars/


Honestly, it really won't take much time to prepare the very first 2 meals. I just make more and freeze it. It will be like making my families dinner early tonight, but I will have 4 extra meals on hand! The cookie dough is a matter of mixing, which we all know doesn't take long. It's the baking and waiting to cool off part that does!

If you don't freeze meals, you should try it! I bet it will cut down the cost of you dining out and the frustration on dinner when you have been running all day, don't have any food in the house, or just need a night off!