Friday Finals - 01-20-12

I am still recovering this week from my nasty cold and trying to get caught up on the loads of housework that needs to be done. But I feel so much better. Did more shopping this week and more savings. I scored FREE theraflu this week at CVS see below. I could have used this last week. 


Here are the links that were the clickiest from last week. Stop by to see their awesome savings and say Hi:

My Road To Savings

Couponaholic

Saving Myself Silly 

Kroger

10 Bush Beans $0.57 each average (they were $0.54 & $0.59 each)

1Gallon Milk $2.38

4 Libby’s Veggies $0.62 each - $1/4 Libby canned Vegetables RP 11/13/11

            -Final $0.37 each

1 Package 12 K cup coffee $7.69 - $2/1 Millstone K-Cup RP 10/23/11

            -Final $5.69

Total spent $15.25 and saved $12.23 on $27.48 worth of groceries this week. I bought more beans for pantry stock up items. This was mainly a pantry stock up trip.

Tom Thumb 1^st trip 01/15/12

1 Fritos Scoops $1.99 sale – We had Fritos pies for dinner. YUM

2 18 Count Eggs $1.99 each

1 Sweet Potato fries $2.19

1 Potatoes O’Brian $2.19

1 Milk $2.38

2 Hormel Lunch Meat $2.49 – 2 $0.50/1 (One doubled) Hormel Lunchmeat SS 01/08/12

            -Final $1.74 each average

3 Hunts Snack Packs $0.99 sale – $0.45/3 doubled Hunts Snack Pack SS 01/01/12

            -Final $0.69 each

2 Quaker Oatmeal instant $3.39 B1G1

            -Final $1.70 each

1 Pillsbury Brownie Mix $0.99 sale - $0.35/1 tripled Pillsbury Brownie or Frosting RP 11/06/11

            -Final FREE – I LOVE FREE

4 Chef Boyardee $0.89 sale - $0.50/4 doubled Chef Boyardee SS 01/01/12

            -Final $0.64 each

I used $2.00 off my next purchase and a $1.00 off my next purchase catalinas that printed last time. So I basically got my milk for free this week.

I spent $20.92 and saved $22.88 on $43.80 worth of groceries this trip. I have been going to Tom Thumb more, since I can use double and triple coupons. I have been finding better deals at Tom Thumb vs. Kroger.

Tom Thumb 2^nd Trip 01/17/12

3 Sliced cheese $2.00 each

1 Imperial Margarine $0.69

1 Hormel Lunch meat $2.49 - $0.50/1 doubled Hormel Lunchmeat SS 01/08/12

            -Final $1.49

1 Pillsbury Brownie mix $0.99 sale - $0.35/1 tripled Pillsbury Brownie Mix or Frosting RP 11/06/11

            -Final FREE – I LOVE FREE and I got two boxes

I paid $8.19 and saved $7.19 on $15.38 worth of food retail this trip. I went back mainly for the lunch meat and brownie mix.

SPROUTS

2 Bell Peppers @ $0.49 each

5.23 lbs Onions @ $0.49 lb.

            -Final $2.56

I spent $3.54 on produce this week.

CVS

5 Theraflu 8count $1.99 each

1 Pediacare Fever reducer $4.99

1 CVS Double Pack Womens Multi-Vitamin -$8.99

Used:

5 $2/1 Any Theraflu product SS 12/04/11

1 $1/1 Pediacare Product Printable

1 $2 ECB

1 $1 ECB

20% off my order $1.91

Received $2 ECB

OOP:

I spent $8.02 and saved $15.91 on drug store products this week. I got 5 packages of Theraflu for FREE this week. A total of 40 pills for free!

Altogether I spent $55.92 for the week and saved $58.21 for the week on $114.31 worth of food and health care needs. I am little over budget, but I didn’t get out much last week due to being sick. So it will all work out in the end. I still had more saving than half this week.

I feel my pantry is pretty stocked right now. In February it will be a year since I have started extreme couponing and my pantry is stocked more now than it ever has been. I like that I have food to cook at any time. I can also make just about any meal or snack, since I already have most of the ingredients for anything I may want to cook. Even if the kids suggest something I usually have the ingredients to make whatever they want. This has allowed me to stay at home and still cook nutritious meals and snacks for the kids.

Stay connected with Pounds4Pennies on Facebook or join me at Pounds4Pennies on BlogFrog community for more great savings.  

How did you do this week? The best way to learn is to visit others sites to see how they save. Please leave a comment if you don’t have a blog to share or just leave a comment. I love to hear from you.

Friday Finals 01-13-12

I still have this nasty cold, I think maybe it has turned into a sinus infection. I am very stuffy at times and other times I can breathe fine. Everyone had been really good, since I have been sick. I have had to let quite a few mommy duties go this week. The clothes are washed, but they are in a big pile in my room. So if anyone needs anything they can rummage through the pile to get it. I hope to get that done today. I went to pick something up for dinner on Wednesday night. I didn’t even feel like making a freezer meal and the hubby was out of town. We made it cheap and ate at a Taco place. The kids loved it. I got my favorite thing, but I could not taste it. With me being sick I am way under budget this week. I went shopping twice and that’s it.

Top Three Clickest last week. Stop by and say hi to these fabulous shoppers:

Savings is Free

Homemaking Mom

Shopaholic Savers

Walmart 01/07/12

1 White Frosting Mix $1.28

1 Cilantro $0.44

2 Great Value Chick Peas $0.68 each

1 Lime Juice $0.88

1 Golden Butter Cake Mix $1.25

2 Hillshire Farms Cocktail Sausage $2.50 each - $1/2 Hillshire Farms Cocktails Sag. Printable NLA

            -Final $2.00 each

I spent $9.21 and saved $1.00 for $10.21 worth of groceries here. Doesn’t sound like much, but I forgot to get a few things I wanted. I was trying to make it a quick trip.

Tom Thumb 01/10/12

3 Boxes Rice a Roni $0.89 each

1 Fiber One Granola Bars $1.99 - $0.40/1 doubled Fiber One Granola Bars Printable

            -Final $1.19

1Fiber One 90 Cal Bars $1.99 - $0.40/1 doubled Fiber One Chewy Bars Printable

            -Final $1.19

4 Nature Valley Granola Bars $1.79 each – 1 $0.75/2 GM 01/08/12

1 Frosted Toast Crunch $1.99 - $0.50/1 doubled Cinnamon Toast Crunch Printable

            -Final $0.99

3 Kikkoman Soy Sauce $1.89 each - $1/1 Kikkoman Soy Sauce Found under Product

            -Final $0.89 each

4 Cans Chef Boyardee $1 each - $0.50/4 doubled Chef Boyardee

            -Final $0.75 each (ON SALE $0.89 Fri, Sat, Sun, at TOM THUMB)

1 Pie crust $2.99

2 International Delight Creamers marked 50% off $3.28 - $0.55/1 Int’l Delight Creamer 12/11/11

            -Final $0.27 each (The receipt took off an additional $0.82, I don’t know why)

6 Yoplait Yogurts $0.60 each - $0.40/6 doubled Yoplait Yogurt Printable

            -Final $0.47 each

I spent $24.85 and saved 25.02 on $49.87 worth of groceries at Tom Thumb. The receipt printed differently than it normally does and some coupons were hard to find on the receipt. It seems every time I go to that Tom Thumb I get a different type of receipt and it is difficult to decipher.

Well I spent $34.06 and saved $26.02 on $60.08 worth of groceries this week. I am way under budget due to my cold.

Stay connected with Pounds4Pennies on Facebook or join me at Pounds4Pennies on BlogFrog community for more great savings.  

How did you do this week? Share your savings trips below. It is great to see how others save, so you can learn how to save too. Stop by and leave a comment if you visit someone shopping trip.

Whatever Wednesday - Meatball Soup

I have been sick since Sunday. Thank goodness I picked up the Theraflu from CVS last week. I have been drinking it to relieve my stuffy head. I can’t taste or smell a thing. So last night when I was cooking dinner, I added a few spices here and there, but I didn’t know if it had the right flavor or even if it smelled good. I made meatball soup.  My husband and kids thought it tasted good, but it was fail in my book.

I will post the recipe how it is supposed to be done and not the way I did it last night. This is a great meal to pull from your stockpile.  I didn’t take a picture because, it looked awful. I put the noodles in the slow cooker and cooked them in there instead of cooking them separately and throwing them in at the last minute. They fell apart and were very mushy. It looked like a meat ball mess, instead of meatball soup. It still tasted ok, from what I am told, but it didn’t look so good. We all ate it and little face even had some today for lunch and he ate it all. So he must have liked it. I ate for lunch too, but I couldn’t taste it today either

Soup:

1 Cup pasta 

1 Small Onion

2 Cloves Garlic

1 28oz Can Whole Tomatoes & Juice

2 Small Carrots

3 Cups Chicken Broth or (1 chicken cube with 3 cups water) 

2 Table spoons Italian herb seasoning

Meatballs:

Or you could use frozen meatballs, print $1/2 Armour Meatballs coupon now!
1 lb Ground Meat

2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese

1 Egg

½ Cup Bread Crumbs (I used Italian for more flavor)

½ teaspoon Paprika

Salt and Pepper to taste

Meatballs:

Add bread crumbs, egg, and parmesan cheese, paprika and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl and let set for a couple of minutes. Then add the ground meat. Roll into small ½ inch meatballs. Cook the meatballs in the oven at 350 for 30 min and then throw them in your pot. I like to bake mine before. They come out much firmer.

Pasta:

Cook your pasta in water in a separate pot. VERY Important step!

Soup:

Cook onions and garlic in oil over medium heat until translucent. You can puree the tomatoes and carrots in a blender or pour them in the pot with onions and garlic and use an emulsion blender to puree the mixture. I like doing it all in one pot. Less clean up. Now pour in the chicken broth. Let simmer covered for 10-15 Minutes.  Then add the pasta and the meat and let simmer for a few more minutes.

I hope you will try this soup. It really is delicious, just don’t try to cut the steps like did. I also tried to make this in the slow cooker, instead of on the stove. I wanted something to be ready when we got home. On the stove it turns out great. Tuesdays are our long days and we don’t get home until 5:00. Dinner pretty much needs to be ready when I walk in the door. I got a slow cooker cook book for Christmas, I should have gotten a recipe from there instead.

Stay connected with Pounds4Pennies on Facebook or join me at Pounds4Pennies on BlogFrog community for more great savings.  

Friday Finals 01-06-12

Friday Finals are here again! I am looking forward to all of your savings this week. Be sure to visit other site so you can learn of other great deals out there. If you are new to Extreme Couponing, one of the best ways to learn how to save money on your grocery bill every week is to look at how others do it.


I went to Tom Thumb right when we got back home New Years Eve to get some milk and a couple of other items. I spent around $11. But I can’t find the receipt. I know I got Martha White Muffin Mix FREE using $0.35/1 tripled RP 11/13/11.

Walmart 01/02/12

1 10 lbs bag of Potatoes $3.77

1 1lb Great Value Mozzarella Cheese - $3.22 – WOW! Great deal with no coupons

1 Baking Soda $0.58

2 Minute Maid Berry Juice Box $2.98 – 2 $1/1 Minute Maid Juice Boxes Printable, NLA

            -Final $1.98 each

2 Carmex Lip Balm $0.98 – 2 $1/2 Carmex, RP 10/30/11

            -Final $0.48 Each

2 Eight O’Clock Coffee $4.88 – 2 $1/1 Eight O’Clock Coffee Campbells Booklet

            -Final $3.88

1 Ovaltine Malt $3.48 - $1/1 Ovaltine printable- Little face loves this

            -Final $2.48

12 Cans Allen’s Trappey’s Beans $0.78 each – 4 $0.50/3 Allen’s products SS 12/11/11

            -Final $0.61 each – Cheaper than GV brand

4 Cans Libby’s Corn $0.75 each - $1/4 Libby’s vegetables RP 11/13/11

            -Final $0.50 each

I spent $35.54 and saved $9.00 on $44.54 worth of groceries this trip. Little face loves warm Ovaltine in the morning. He drinks the Ovaltine Malt with no chocolate. Poor guy is allergic to chocolate just like I was when I was little. I grew out of it, thank goodness. Walmart is the only one who carries it around here.

Tom Thumb 01/03/12

2 Clorox Wipes 35 count $3.79 – B1G1, and $1/2 Clorox Wipes

            -Final $1.40 each

1 Oscar Mayer lunch meat $4.99 – Store Coupon $2.49

            -Final $2.49

I spent $5.51 and saved $7.30 using coupons and store discount on $12.81 worth of products. Just found out you can print the Scotch Bright B1G1 coupons for Walmart. They are $1.60 at Walmart. That makes them $0.80 each. Great deal Print to stock up now!

CVS 01/03/12

1^st Transaction

2 Oral B Powered Toothbrushes $5.99 each

2 Oral B Satin Floss $2.99 each

1 Theraflu Warming $6.49

1 Ribbon ½ price $1.49

Used:

2 $3/1 Oral B Toothbrush

1 $3/1 Theraflu Warming Liquid

1 $5/$20 purchase

2 $3 ECBs

1 $2 ECB

1 $2.50 ECB

1 $1 ECB

Received:

$4.00 – For Oral B Toothbrushes

$2.00 – For Oral B Floss

$1.00 – Bag Tag

OOP:

$0.63

2^nd Transaction:

4 Nivea Lip balm $2.50 each

Used:

2 $3/2 Nivea Lip care

$4 ECB from previous transaction

Received:

$5 ECB for $10 Nivea Purchase

OOP:

$0.00 + $1.00 Money Maker

I went to my regular CVS and they did not have any Nivea lip balm anywhere. They had several displays completely picked clean. I had to take my son to the dr. later in the week and stopped by a different CVS on our way home to pick up his medicine (not listed since it was a prescription.) I noticed they had the Nivea luckily I brought my coupons with me and my CVS bucks from the previous transaction.  So altogether I spent $0.63 for all the items pictured above. This could have been all free if the first CVS had the Nivea to begin with. The two older kids were excited I gave them the Nivea to put in their backpacks to take to school.

Altogether this week I spent $52.68 for food and necessary items and saved $48.80 on $101.48 worth of groceries and necessary items for my family. Please note I chronicle all food purchases, toiletries and cleaning products I purchase for my family. This goes to show you how to still buy great food and household items on a small budget and save a ton of money.

Stay connected with Pounds4Pennies on Facebook or join me at Pounds4Pennies on BlogFrog community for more great savings. 

How did you do this week? Did you have any fabulous shopping trips you would like to share? LINK UP your savings here. The best way to learn how to save is to see how others do it. I get a lot of tips by visiting my followers who link up here.

Friday Final 12-16-11

I see the sun! I see the sun! It has been nearly a week here in Texas with no sun and raining for three days. While we need the rain due the drought, we are all going a little stir crazy. I have been trying to find some creative things for me and little face to do. I think he is more than ready to get outside today.

I am trying to still stay within my grocery budget while shopping for additional food Christmas gifts. This has been an amazing challenge. As I have said before, I love challenges. I am still under budget again this week. Can I get a woot woot!

I also wanted to say I document all my food and family necessity purchases here. I have noticed some coupon sites only document what they spend at a certain store or just what they bought with coupons. I document all my fruit and produce, milk, eggs, diapers, vitamins and ect… I want to show you how to buy real food for your family for a small budget and how to save money while using coupons to save even more money. I want to share my tips with you to stay connected join Pounds4Pennies on Facebook.

A quick click below for a vote at TOP Mommy Blogs would be an easy and nice gift for me.

KROGER 12/15/11

3 Chex Cereal $2.00 each - $1/2 eCoupon from Kroger – I want to make some Chex Mix

            -Final average $1.66

1 MillStone Coffee $7.69 - $2/1 K-cup RP 10/23/11

            -Final $5.69

1 Carnation Instant Dry Milk $2.00 - $0.50/1 Carnation Dry Milk RP 09/25/11

            -Final $1.50

1 Butterscotch Chips Kroger $1.79 - Needed these for some cookies I want to make

1 Whole Wheat Artisan Bread $1.00 Managers Special

1 Huggies Diapers $4.89 Managers Special!

2 18 count Eggs $1.88 each

I spent $24.03 and saved $8.62 on $32.65 worth of groceries. It is more around $16.00 in savings since the diapers and bread were managers special they do not reflect in the savings.

WALMART 12/10/11

2 Wolf Brand Chili $2.00

8 Cans Libby’s Veggies $0.75 – 2 $1/4 Libby’s Canned Veggies 08/28/11

            -Final $0.50 each

1 Carmex Lip Balm $0.98 - $1/1 Carmex RP 10/30/11

            -Final FREE + $0.02 overage

4 Johnson RED + First aid Kits $0.97 each - $1/1 Johnson Red + item SS 11/06/11

            -Final FREE + $0.21 Total Overage

2 Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa $1.28 each - $0.50/2 Swiss miss Hot CoCoa SS 11/13/11

            -Final $1.03 each

1 Can GV Tomato Paste - $0.44 – For yummy chili

1Benadryl Itch Pen $2.28 - $2/1 Benedryl Product RP 06/19/11

            -Final $0.28

2 Arm and Hammer Washing Powder $3.24 each - $1/2 A&H Washing product

            -Final $2.74 each

I spent $15.20 and $9.50 coupon saving on $24.70 of household items. I am planning on making my own clothes washing soap soon.

SPROUTS 12/10/11 

Picture with Walmart Items above.

.91 Lbs Rolled Oats @ $0.74/lb - $0.67

2 Stoneyfield Yogurt $2.79 – 2 $1/1 Stoneyfield Yogurt coupons Sprouts Magazine

            -Final $1.79 each

I spent $4.25 and saved $2.00 plus more, since there was a sale on all bulk items.

TOM THUMB 12/10/11

8 Progresso Soups $1.11 – 2 $1/4 Coupons

            -Final $0.86 each

I spent $6.88 and saved $12.24 from sale and coupons on $19.12 worth of soup.

I spent $50.36 this week and saved $32.36 on $82.72 worth of family necessities this week.

Stay connected to Pounds4Pennies on Facebook.

Money Saving Monday - How to Save With a Kroger Plus Card

How to Save More With a Kroger Plus Card

Even though Kroger has taken away the double and triple couponing you can still save at Kroger using your Kroger Plus Card. Some people have even decided to give up on couponing altogether. Let’s face it we no longer really shop, we are shopping to save. I want to show you how to get the most savings from shopping for groceries and things you need even without using coupons. First go to Kroger and get your Kroger Plus card. You need to make one small purchase to take advantage of the online e-Coupons. Buy a gift card.

GIFT CARDS

Right now is a great time to buy gift cards at Kroger. You can receive 4 times fuel points you spend on gift cards towards gas purchases. If you buy one $25.00 gift card, that is 100 point or $0.10 off per gallon of gas. Kroger has a wide selection of gift cards you can purchase. I do all my gift card shopping at Kroger in order to save big on gas.

GAS

I usually fill up our SUV at Kroger, since I get such a great savings on gas. Gas is one area that is very difficult to save in a budget. We all use gas and it is not going away or going down in cost real soon. I might as well get as much savings as possible whenever I can on gas. I do this buy shopping at Kroger.

e-COUPONS

Not only does Kroger have e-coupons online, but they also have and app you can download to load coupons directly onto your Kroger card. Each week Kroger adds new coupons you can add to your card, so check back often. They have coupons for store brand items too. You can’t go wrong with adding coupons to your card. This applies to all Kroger affiliate companies too. I traveled to Arizona this summer where they have Fry’s stores and my e-coupons worked there too. This is great especially for someone who doesn’t want to clip and use coupons. However, Kroger will not allow you to use a digital coupon and a paper coupon together. If you have a better paper coupons, just remove that ecoupon from your card.

There are other e-coupon sites where you can load coupons to your cards too. Take a moment to sign up for UPromise and  Savings Star and easily load digital coupons to your card. Come back here after you finish.

Savings Star is great site, since these coupons are tied to your card, but they are not loaded to your card. You can load as many coupons as you want. You register your Kroger Plus card  and when you use it the savings will sit in an account until you reach the limit to redeem a FREE gift card. I LOVE FREE!


BUYING NECESSITIES

I like to purchase things like milk, eggs and my papers at Kroger. I need to buy these things nearly every week why not get the benefit of extra saving on purchasing them here. Milk is the same price at Walmart, Kroger and Tom Thumb. There may be a sale here and there and I will take advantage of those, but for the most part milk is the same price. Kroger usually has a better price on eggs than Tom Thumb, so I buy my eggs at Kroger. I spend around $10.00 to purchase 4 papers every week. So I will get 10 Kroger fuel points for just purchasing my papers there.

CREDIT CARD SAVINGS

Credit Cards are a good way to get additional savings. This sounds crazy right. How can you get savings from a credit card? This will only work if your credit card is paid in full at the end of every month by not carrying over a balance that will earn you additional interest. However, some credit cards offer a percentage cash back for all purchases made on that card or you could have a card that accumulates airline miles for each purchase you make with that card. Therefore you are making money by purchasing things you already need. This is a good way to replace your debit card for making purchases. This does take a little getting used to using your card this way, but you have to remember you are going to pay this off at the end of the month this is not a loan.

RECAP

Let’s have a little recap of way to get the most out of using your Kroger Plus Card:

1. Gift Cards - 4 Times Dollar Amount for fuel Points right now

2. Gas – savings from Fuel Points

3. e-Coupons – Just click and load

4. Buy Necessities – Milk, Eggs, Papers, ect…

5. Credit Cards - + 2% or more additional savings on Cash Back Credit Cards or FREE miles

Now go out there and start saving! 

Friday Finals 12-09-11

I did quite a bit of shopping this week. Since I did so much shopping when it was freezing outside, my cold got worse. I was on the couch all day Wednesday and went to bed early that night. I drank a lot of hot tea with lemon and honey, since I had laryngitis for three days this week. Good thing this is not a video blog, no one could hear me. I am still sick, but feeling much better. If you would like to find more deals be sure to like Pounds4Pennies on FACEBOOK or join me in my Blog Frog Community. If you want to show a little love vote for Pounds4Pennies at TOP MOMMY BLOGS.

Visit last weeks most viewed for more inspiration:


Homemaking Mom
Blessings Multiplied
My Road to Savings

Kroger – 12/06/11

4 Barrilla Pasta $1 each - $1/2 Barrilla coupons Printable emailed coupon

            -Final $0.50 each

I spent $2.00 and saved $3.52 on $5.52 worth of Pasta. The savings reflects the stores normal price of $1.38.

CVS 12/06/11

2 Garnier Fructis Hair Gel $3.99 each

1 Listerine Mouthwash $3.69

1 Luvs Diapers $6.99

2 CVS MultiViatmins B1G1 $7.29 each

1 Candy Canes $1.27

3 Cards $10.27 – these are not in my grocery budget

USED:

2 $1/1 Garnier Fructis Hair item RP 10/30/11

1 $1/3 American Greeting Cards – RED BOX Coupon

1 $1/1 Listerine MouthWash RP 01/09/11

$1 ECB

$10 ECB

Received ECBs:

$3.00 for Garnier Fructis items

$3.00 for Cards

$1.27 for Candy Canes

$2.00 Diapers

$1.00 Listerine mouthwash

I paid $22.49 and saved $15.00 on $37.49 worth of items at CVS this week. I got one jar of vitamins, 1 card and 1box of candy canes for free this week.

SPROUTS 12/06/11

0.94 lbs Dried Cranberries @ $2.99 lb

            -Final $2.81

1 Jar Sunbutter $5.99

1 Jar Texas Honey $3.99 – Used up the rest drinking honey and lemon for my throat.

I spent $12.79 at Sprouts this week. I have two children that cannot eat peanut butter. I buy them sunbutter made from sunflower seeds. So far this one tastes the best. My daughter didn’t like the soybutter and I like that the sunbutter is more natural and tastes better. It is expensive, so I use it sparingly to try to stay within budget.

Tom Thumb 12/06/11

2 Nature Valley Granola Bars $2.99 each – Store Coupon $1.11

            -Final $1.88 each

4 Krusteaz Cookie Mixes $2.69 -  B1G1, 2 $1/2 peelie coupon right below box!

            -Final $0.85 each

2 Gallons of Milk $2.99 – On Sale $1.99 each

I paid $11.12 and saved $11.61 on $22.73 worth of groceries. This is pretty good, since I also bought milk this trip.

Walmart – Can’t find receipt

1 Package Walmart Pull ups $8.49 – Not feeling well, forgot coupons

1 Dishwashing gel $2.49 – I think

I spent around $10.98 this shopping trip.

Overall I spent $59.38 minus cards $53.11 for family budget this week. I saved $28.61. Still under budget and bought diapers twice this week. I didn’t buy a lot of food, but did get some pantry staples for my house. How did you do? I love seeing how all my readers did. Sometimes I find great deals too! Looking at how others shop helps others learn how to use coupons.

Money Saving Monday - Stockpiling

I wanted to write about stockpiling today, since we are in another season where it is good to stockpile items. If you have noticed all the baking supplies in the stores have gone on sale. It is baking season and it is time to stockpile on all your baking supplies. Each season has different items you want to stockpile.

Here are a few items that are on sale right now at most stores and have great coupons to match:

Yeast

Sugar

Canned Soup

French Fried Onions

Corn Starch

Flour

Chocolate chips

The time you want to stockpile and item is when it is FREE or 70% off retail price. I will be making a list and publish it soon of what I found to be my rock bottom or stockpile price for an item. I started my extreme couponing hobby in Feb. of this year and I have now seen all four seasons and I am more familiar when to stockpile an item and when to wait. I used coupons before, but I would only clip the ones I was going to use and when I went to the store the next time I would buy that item. I shopped at Walmart so the prices didn’t change. Or so I thought. Walmart does change their pricing and they do have sales on items. Especially this time of year. Walmart will change prices about once a month or once a quarter depending on the season and the item.

At first this is difficult creating a stockpile. You need to manage having enough food for your family to eat each week and create a stockpile. You may wind up spending more in the first month, but once you acquire a lot of coupons and a lot of variety of items and learn the sales cycles, you will be a pro in no time. If I can learn how to do this, so can you. After the second and third month you should start to see a significant savings in your grocery budget. You will find your list of items you need will decrease, and you spend more money on less expensive items. Saving you money all around.

In order to stockpile you will need a large number of coupons to combine them with the sales. The more coupons you have the easier it is to match up with the items on sale. The general rule of thumb is to purchase as many papers as there are members in your family. I purchase 4 papers and clip the coupons from those in order to match them with the sales when they come along. I print additional coupons on items I really think my family will eat. But normally four papers will do it for us. I can then purchase four of the sale item and create my stockpile when that item is at its rockbottom price and this will be enough to last me through the next time this item will go on sale. You don’t need to clear a shelf of an item. That item will go on sale again and it will have a coupon to match.

I am now at a point where I have a great variety of food to where I can buy at the rockbottom price and still have enough to eat. This takes around four to six months before you have a wide variety of food in order to do this. Stockpiling takes time. If you are like me trying to stockpile and are on a very strict budget it is difficult to accomplish both, but I like a challenge.

Here is what my stockpile looks like.

My pantry

Canned and Baking goods

Boxed items, cereal, breakfast items, Boxes meals, Pasta

My laundry room shelf with juice, Paper towels, a few other items

A shelf in my closet with my bathroom items

Friday Finals Kroger- Mega Event, Tom Thumb, Walmart 11/18/11

It has been a busy week for me. I have done two weeks worth of shopping this week. I will not be shopping next week, but I will still have a shopping linky. I might have two, one for grocery deals and any Black Friday deals you want to share. Let me know if you would like to see two to see other deals people have gotten.

Visit these ladies sites to see other great savings trips. TOP Three Visited Sites Last Week:

Family Fun on a Small Budget

Grocery Shop for FREE at the MART

HomeMaking Mom

If you are still new to couponing, now is the time to stock up on all your baking needs for the year. This is when you will find your lowest prices and great coupon matchups on items like sugar, corn starch, baking powder, yeast and more. Be sure to check expiration dates when stocking up for a long time. There is no sense in buying something to last a year even if you have a coupon, only find the expiration date is 6 months out. However, items like sugar never expire, so grab what you can to stock up now. I was so excited when I saw Tom Thumb had really great store coupons for the month of November that matched with a lot of regular coupons I had for baking items making them FREE or really cheap. Remember Tom Thumb will double or triple one coupon. So I had to make a couple of trips. This store is on my way to take my son to school, so I didn’t feel like I was wasting any gas making the extra trips. I am trying to stock up for the rest of the year for all my baking needs now and stay within budget. This is challenging.

I have decided I am not going shopping in the grocery stores next week. It will be way too crowded, so I doubled my budget for this week to make up for it. Since I am still working on growing my stockpile, I am a tinsy bit over budget. But I did a lot of shopping this week. Here are the results:

SPROUTS 11/15/11

1.71 lbs Whole Wheat Flour @ $0.69 lb - $1.18

1.11 lbs Broccoli @ $0.77 lb - $0.85

1 32 oz Stonyfield Yogurt $2.50 - $1/1 Sprouts magazine

            -Final $1.50

1 32oz Stonyfield Yogurt Vanilla $2.50 - $1/1 Sprouts magazine

I spent $4.98 and saved $2.05 on $7.03 worth of produce and yogurt this week. If you use your own bags at Sprouts you get a $0.05 credit for each bag you use.

Tom Thumb 11/14/11

1 Safeway Mac and Beef $0.99 – Catalina Print FREE Safeway MAC and BEEF

            -Final FREE – I LOVE FREE

1 Wesson Best Blend oil $3.99 – Store Q $0.75/1, $0.30/1 tripled

            -Final $2.34

2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese $1.99 – B1G1 Store coupon

            -Final $0.99 each

1 Wheat Bread $1.50

I spent $5.83 and saved $6.74 on $12.57 worth of food. I went because the mac and beef coupon was about to expire. I will probably donate this when my daughter has a canned food drive this Feb. at school. We have enough Chef already at our house.

Tom Thumb 11/15/11

1 Crisco Shortening Sticks $3.39 – Store Q $0.50/1, $0.50/1 Doubled

            -Final $1.89

1 Betty Crocker Cake Mix $1.79 – Store Q $.50/1, $0.75/ Cake and Frosting purchase

            -Final $0.92

1 Betty Crocker Frosting $1.69 - $0.75/ Cake and Frosting purchase

            -Final $1.32

2 Kraft Parmesan Cheese Tubs $2.50 – 2 $1/1 Peelies found at store

            -Final $1.50 each

2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese $1.99 – B1G1 Store Coupon

            -Final $0.99 each

1 Mission Tortillas $2.19 – Store Q $1/1

            -Final $1.19

2 Dole Tropical Fruit $1.25 – Store Q $0.99 each, $0.50/2 Doubled

            -Final $0.49 each

1 Argo Corn Starch $1.39 – Store Q $0.50/1, $0.30/1 tripled

            -Final FREE – I LOVE FREE

1 Safeway Marshmallows $1.09 – Store Q $0.50/1

            -Final $0.59

1 Fleischman’s Yeast $1.79 – Store Q $0.50/1, $0.30/1 Tripled

            -Final $0.39

2 Bisquick 40oz $2.99 – Store Q $1.00/2, 2 $0.50/1 Printable 1^st Doubled

            -Final $1.99 each

1 McCormick Vanilla 1oz. $3.39 – Store Q $1.50/1

            -Final $1.89

I spent $19.46 and saved $25.97 on $45.43 worth of retail groceries this week. The receipt printed all weird and different on this transaction, so I did my best trying to make it all match up. The regular price for the item printed all at once, then the Reward Card savings printed, then the Store Q, then the Manufacturer Q’s. It was hard to read, but it looked like every transaction took. I went back to the same Tom Thumb later in the week and it printed fine.

Tom Thumb 11/17/11

1 Marshmallows $1.09 – Store  Q $0.50/1

            -Final $0.59

2 Cans Pineapple $1.25 – Store Q $0.52/2, $0.50/2 Dole Pineapple

            -Final $0.49 each

1 Fleischman’s Yeast $1.79 – Store Q $0.50/1, She missed my coupon here $0.40

            -Final $1.29

1 Crisco Stick Shortening $3.39 – Store Q $0.50/1, $0.50/1 Crisco Product Doubled

            -Final $1.89

1 McCormick Vanilla 1oz $3.39 – Store Q $1.50/1

            -Final $1.89

1 Argo Corn Starch $1.39 – Store Q $0.50/1, $0.30/1 Argo corn Starch tripled

            -Final FREE

I spent $6.63 and saved $8.76 on $15.39 worth of groceries. I am stocking up for the holidays and on baking items for the rest of the year. I may do one more small trip to Tom Thumb this week to get the free or close to free items.

Kroger 11/15/11 MEGA EVENT

MEI = Mega Event Item $0.50 off of item

2 Gallons Milk $1.99 each

2 18count Eggs $1.88 each

1 Turkey Bacon $2.00

1 Bananas $1.18

10 Del Monte canned Veggies $1.00 – MEI

            -Final $0.50 each

3 International Delight Creamer 32oz $2.49 – MEI, 1 $0.75/1 Kroger E-Q, $1/2 Int’l Delight creamer

            -Final average $1.40 each

2 I Can’t Believe it’s not Butter $2.49 – MEI, 2 $1/1 ICBNB Q

            -Final $0.99 each

4 Hormel Turkey Pepperoni $2.99 – MEI, $0.55/2 Hormel Pepperoni Products

            -Final $2.22 each

4 Pringles Cans $1.49 – MEI, $1/4 Pringles Q

            -Final $0.74 each

1 Cool Whip $1.49 – MEI

            -Final $0.99

1 Hillshire Farms Lunch Meat $3.49 – MEI, $0.35/1 Hillshire Lunch Meat

            -Final $2.64

3 Kleenex Tissue $1.49 – MEI, $0.50/3 Kleenex boxes

            -Final $0.82 each

2 Honey Grahams $2.97 – MEI, $1/2 Nabisco Products

            -Final $1.97 each

2 Ritz Crakers $2.00 - $1/2 Nabisco Products

            -Final $1.50 each

2 Kroger Tuna $0.69 - $0.40/2 Kroger E-Q

            -Final $0.49 each

1 Heluva Dips $1.50 - $0.75/1 Heluva Dips

            -Final $0.75 each

1 Carnation Dry Milk $2.00 - $0.50/1 Carnation Dry Milk

            -Final $1.50

2 Nutri Grain Bread B1G1 $4.09

            -Final $2.05 each

I spent $55.50 and Saved $48.45 on $103.95 worth of groceries retail. This should have been more.  As I was reviewing my receipt I noticed a few price discrepancies that should have made it more like 50% savings. I am now stocked up for the winter on baking and canned goods, which is something my pantry was lacking. I can’t wait until the frozen veggies go on sale in a few months. I really would rather buy frozen, but canned it good when you need something fast.

Walmart 11/17/11

2 Huggies Slip on diapers $9.47 – 2 $3/1 Slip on diapers

            -Final $6.47 each

1 Millstone coffee $11.88 - $2/1 Millstone K-cup

            -Final $9.88 each

1 Celestial seasonings Chai Tea $2.28 - $1/1 Celestial Seasonings Tea

            -Final $1.28

1 Eight o Clock Coffee $4.88 - $0.75/1 All You

            -Final $4.13

1 White Chicken Chili Pack $1.08

2 Minute Maid Juice $2.98 – 2 $2/1 Minute Maid Boxes Printable

            -Final $0.98 each

2 lbs Sweet Potatoes $0.65 - $0.33 lb. TIME TO STOCK UP. You can cook these and freeze them

1 Marzetti Pepperocini $1.72 - $0.50/1 ALL You

            -Final $1.22

1 Ovaltine Malt $3.48 - $1/1 Ovaltine

            -Final $2.48

4 Libby’s Veggies $0.75 - $1/4 Libby’s Veggies

            -Final $0.50 each

2 Nestle Cocoa 6 pack $1.00 - $0.55/1 Printable

            -Final $0.45 each

I spent $40.02 and saved $17.35 with coupons for $57.37 items at Walmart. There were a few coupons on items that I wanted and didn’t want to wait to try to fit them into the budget, so I just got them without having to keep coming back and work them into the budget each week. Some of the coupons were close to expiring, so I used them instead of wasting that coupon.

GRAND Totals for the week. I spent $132.42 and saved $109.32 on $241.74 worth of grocery and household items this week for two weeks worth of shopping. I am a little over, but I can make that up in the next weeks.

How did you do this week? Did you stock up on baking items? Share your results below, so others can learn from your savings trips.