I'm back... with Groceries

I know it has been a while... to say the least!  I was planning to post some pictures of our new apartment last week... the only snag, we could not find where we packed the camera cord.  Alas, we found it recently, so a new apartment tour coming shortly.

But first, I wanted to share my Publix shopping trip today.  I am no where near a pro at playing the coupon game, however, I have so much fun doing what I can to save our little family money.  So here is my trip from today.  It was a good sale, so I was able to stock up on some things that we use all the time.

2 Whole Fruit Sorbets: Normally $2.99 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $.50/1 coupons (which doubled) - Total $1 for both


1 Philly Cooking Creme: Normally $2.99; On sale for $2, had a $1.50/1 coupon - Total $.50


1 Watermelon (quarter): Normally $.69lb; On sale for $.59lb - Total $2.48


2 Ghirardelli brownie mixes: Normally $2.79; On sale B1G1 free - Total $2.79 for both


2 Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Ceareals: Normally $3.99; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $.70/1 - Total $2.59 for both


1 Box Glad trash bags: Normally $7.29; On sale for $5.49, had a $1/1 coupon - $4.49 total


2 Smart Ones frozen dinners: Normally $2.17 - $4.34


2 Eggo Waffles: Normally $2.55 each; On sale 2/$4, had a $.75/2 coupon - Total $3.25 for both


1 Salad mix: Normally $3.99; On sale B1G1 free - Total $1.99


1 Package frozen dinner rolls: Normally $3; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/1 coupon - Total $.50


4 Bags 8 O'Clock Coffee: Normally $7.89 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $2/2 coupons - Total $11.78 for all four


1 Yoplait Smoothie Kit: Normally $3.19; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/1 coupon - Total $.60


1 Package Kraft Cheese: Normally $2.99; Had a $1/1 coupon - Total $1.99


2 Bottles Pop Secret popping corn: Normally $4.69 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/2 coupon - Total $3.69 for both


1 Six Pack Diet Coke: Normally $3.99; On sale B1G1 free - Total $2.00


1 Bottle Olive Oil: Normally $10.99; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/1 coupon - Total $4.50


1 Edward's pie for two: Normally $2.95; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/1 coupon - Total $.48


2 Zatarain's frozen dinners: Normally $2.99; Had a coupon for $1/2 - Total  $4.98


2 Jars Kraft Mayo: Normally $4.39 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/2 - Total $3.39 for both


1 $50 American Express Gift Card: Normally $50+$4.95 activation fee; Had a Publix coupon for $10 off - Total $44.95 for a $50 gift card!!


1 $50 BP Gas Card: Normally $50; Had a $10 off coupon with a $25 grocery purchase - Total $40 for a $50 gas card!!!


Plus $10 donation to Tornado Relief

So for $243.64 in groceries/cards I paid $151.09 (pre-tax) that is a 62% savings

Bless Others

We were taught from a young age that we should use the blessings God gave us to bless others.  So, each week when I am looking at my coupons and sales I keep a special eye out for items that I can buy and give to a local food pantry.  These may be items I have extra coupons for, or items that we don't like or won't use in our house (macaroni and cheese, boxed potatoes, etc.)

This week's sale at Publix is the perfect time to help stock the food pantry with good quality canned goods... for a very good price!!  Here is what I got today to donate to the Lawrenceville Co-op... a ministry that is special to our family.  All the coupons are found in the store, so it is super simple for anyone to do!!

10 Cans Green Giant Veggies: Normally $1.29 each; On sale B1G1 free, had $1/4 coupon - Total $5.45 for all 10 cans

6 Cans Hunts Tomato Sauce: Normally $.59 each; On sale $2/6 - Total $2

4 Cans Progresso Beans (2 Black Beans, 2 Cannellini Beans): Normally $.99 (Black Beans) $1.29 (Canellini Beans); On sale $2/3, had a $1/4 coupon - Total $1.67 for all 4 cans

1 Baguette: Normally $1.79; On sale for $1.49, had a $1.50/1 Publix Bakery Bread when you buy 6 cans of tomato sauce - Total FREE (a bonus for you!)

**All of these items qualified for the $5/20 coupon in the Viva Italia sale this week.  So, I got an extra $5 off the total price.**

So the Grand Total for the 20 items I will donate to the food pantry...

$4.12 (for $21 worth of food)

That is about $.21 per can!!!

I am so excited about these good buys!!  I would encourage everyone to try it this week... Like I said all the coupons are already in the store... they can be found on a tear pad on the Viva Italia display at the front.  Let me know if you try it... I would love to hear what you get!

Groceries 2/22

Here are my grocery buys for this week.  I am starting to get the hang of it... and I'm really enjoying all the money I have been saving.  I use the shopping list on Southernsavers.com for all my match-ups.

2 Bottles WishBone Salad Dressing: Normally $2.65 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $1/1 coupons - Total $.66 for both

2 Boxes Finish dishwashing tablets: Normally $6.99 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $2.25/1 coupons - Total $2.49 for both

2 Bottles CoffeeMate creamer: Normally $2; On sale 3/$5, had 2 $1/1 coupons - Total $1.34 for both

2 Bags WanChai Ferry frozen dinner: Normally $7.99 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 2 $1.50/1 coupons - Total $4.99 for both

1 Box Deluxe Brownie Mix: Normally $2.65; On sale for $1.99, had a $1/1 Publix coupon and a $1/1 manufactor's coupon - Total FREE

2 Bags Sargento shredded cheese: Normally $3.99 and $4.19 (I had two different kinds); On sale 2/$4, had 2 $1.50/1 Publix coupons and a $.40/2 coupon (which doubled) - Total $.20 for both

1 Bag Macaroni Grill dinner: Normally $7.99; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1.50/1 coupon - Total $2.50

1lb Publix butter: Total $3.19

1 Package Publix Cream Cheese: Total $.99

1 Carton Publix Eggs: Total $1.69

1 Package Oreo Cookies (Can you tell I am made Oreo Balls this weekend?): Total $2.99

*4 Cans Pillsbury Rolls: Normally $2.49 each; On sale 3/$5, had 2 $.40/2 coupons (which doubled) - Total $5.07 for all four

*1 Box Green Giant veggies: Normally $1.66; On sale 10/$10, had a $.50/1 coupon (which doubled) - Total FREE

*4 Cans Green Giant Veggies: Normally $1.29 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/4 Publix coupon - Total $1.58 for all four

*3 Boxes Progresso Chicken Broth: Normally $2.59 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/4 Progresso Publix coupon - Total $3.14 for all three

*1 Can Progresso bread crumbs: Normally $1.97 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/4 Progresso Publix coupon (combined with the item above) - Total $.74

*4 Large Cans Hunts tomatoes: Normally $1.89 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/3 Publix coupon, had a $.45/3 manufactor's coupon (which doubled) - Total $1.88 for all four

*3 Totinos Party Pizzas: Normally $1.25; had a $.40/2 coupon (which doubled) - Total $2.95 for all three

*These items are part of the Viva Italia sale at Publix.  During this sale, there is a coupon at the front of the store for $5 off when you buy any 20 of the selected products.  So, I got 20 and got $5 off on top of my other coupons!*

TOTAL: $104.76 (before sales and coupons)

MY TOTAL: $33.51 (with tax)

That is a 68% savings!

Coupon totals...

Did you guess?  Here are the totals for this week...

2 Boxes Mueller Spaghetti: Normally $1.29 each; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/2 coupon - Total $.29 for both boxes

2 Packages Ziploc containers: Normally $3 each; On sale 2 for $5, had a Publix coupon $1/2, had a manufacturer's coupon $1.50/2 - Total $2.50 for both

2 Boxes Nabisco crackers- Triscuits normally $2.99, Pretzel Crisp normally $3.09; On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/2 coupon - Total $2.05 for both

5 Boxes Betty Crocker muffin mix: Normally $2.59 each; On sale B1G1 free, had 5 $.50/1 coupons (which all doubled!) - Total $1.50 for all 5 (that's $.30 per box!!)

1 Bag Fresh Express Salad: Normally $3.99; On sale B1G1 free, had a $.55/1 coupon - Total $1.45

1 Bag Sister Shubert's Rolls: Normally $3.45; On sale 2 for $5, had a $.75/1 coupon - Total $1.75

6 Cans Rotel (YES... we eat of lot of Rotel!): Normally $1.39 each; On sale B1G1 free, had two $1/3 coupons - Total $2.17 for all 6 (that's $.36 per can!!)

1 Package Nestle Tollhouse cookies: Normally $2.95, On sale B1G1 free, had a $1/1 coupon - Total $.48

1 Can cranberry sauce: Normally $1.55; On sale for $.89 - Total $.89

2 Bottles vitamins (one Vitamin D, one Vitamin C): Normally $4.99 (for Vit. D) and $4.49 (for Vit. C); had a $6/2 Publix coupon, had a $3/2 manufacturer's coupon - Total $.48 for both

Total... without tax... $13.74 (this is what I was charged... although when I add it up I somehow get $13.54, close enough) for $57.35 worth of groceries for a total savings of 76%

Still a GREAT week!  I'm excited that I think I am getting the hang of this whole coupon thing...

Savings!

Just last week I was thinking... I really need to update my blog more... then last week happened, I missed my wedding post and Foodie Friday... so needless to say I feel behind!  This week I am going to do my very best to post each day.  It may just be a picture post... but I feel like I need to get into a better grove.

I decided that I was going to try the "coupon game" this week.  I always see these girls that save so much money with them... so I was intrigued.  I have been saving the coupons from the paper, so today I took the plunge!  I went to both Publix and CVS... but I did much better at Publix.  This is by no means all the groceries we will need all week, but all of the things I bought we will use at some point in the next few weeks.

Here is what I got...

-2 packages Eight O'Clock Coffee -Normally $5.69 each, On Sale B1G1 Free, had a $2/2 coupon -Total $3.69 for both

-1 box Cheerios Crunch -Normally $3.99, On sale B1G1 Free, had a $.75 coupon -Total $1.25

-2 cans Chuncky Soup- Normally $2.39 each, On sale for $1.29, had a $.50 coupon (which doubled) -Total $1.58 for both

-1 bag Chex Mix- Normally $2.50, On sale 3 for $5, had a $.50 coupon -Total $1.17

-1 can Pillsbury Pizza Crust- Normally $2.50, On sale 3 for $5, had a $.50 coupon -Total $1.17 (the cashier charged me twice... I didn't notice until I got home)

-1 Coffeemate Creamer (the big one) -Normally $3.39, On sale 2 for $5, had $1.50 coupon -Total $1

-3 boxes Kleenex -Normally $1.97, On sale 4 for $5, had $.50 off 3 coupon Total- $3.25 for all three

-1 Marie Callender frozen dinner -Normally $3.49, On sale B1G1, had a $1 coupon -Total $.75

So for $37.51 worth of groceries... I paid, $13.87 for a savings of 63%... even with being charged twice for the crust.

Not too shabby for a first timer... hopefully I will improve as the weeks go on... do you have any secrets?  I would love to hear them!