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.

Friday Finals 11/11/11 Kroger Mega Event

To all veterans, including my dad, THANK YOU for my freedom. Happy Veterans Day on this 11/11/11. I have heard there are a lot of marriages and other celebrations going on this landmark day. Do you have anything fun planned?

I have had sick kids all week this week. The little got the stomach bug too. AUGH! So for two days I have been cooped up in the house and have not done much shopping this week. But I plan on going out this weekend and getting a few more things from other stores. I will list them here next week.

Be sure to check out these ladies posts. They had awesome savings last week and were the top three clickiest:

Frugal Stepmom

Couponing Away Debt

Weekly Grocery Shopping

Kroger Mega Event

MEI = Mega Event Item -$0.50 off each item listed

1 Kroger Cheese - $1.99

3.69 lb Bananas @ $0.39 lb - $1.44

6 Aunt Annies Mac and Cheese $1.19 – MEI, $0.75/1 Printable Coupon Facebook

            -Final $0.56 average each

2 International Delight Creamer $2.49 – MEI

            -Final $1.99 each

4 4lbs Bags of Domino Sugar $2.49 – MEI, 4 $0.50/1 Domino Sugar RP 10/16/11

            -Final $1.49 each

1 Idaho Potatoes $1.00 – FREE All You Magazine Oct.

            -Final FREE – I love FREE

16 Campbells Condensed Soup $1.00 – MEI, 4 $0.40/4 Campbells Coupons SS 10/09/11

            -Final $0.40 each

8 Ricola Cough Drops $1.49 – MEI, 4 B1G1 Ricola Cough Drops 10/02/11, 4 $0.75/1 Ricola Cough Drops

            -Final $0.12 each

1 Hillshire Farms lunch Meat $3.49 – MEI, $0.35/1 Lunch Meat RP 10/16/11

            -Final $2.64

2 Hormel Turkey Pepperoni $2.50 – MEI

            -Final $2.00 – Printable coupon now available. PRINT NOW!

Altogether I spent $33.19 and saved $49.64 on $82.83 worth of retail grocery products. I know I don’t need 8 bags of Ricola Cough Drops, but I would like to give this as a gift along with some soup (I am picking more up next week) for friends who might be sick. There are several of us moms whose husbands travel from time to time and no matter what someone gets sick when the husband is gone. I can run this by quickly and cheer them up a bit.

CVS – FREE this week

Nov. 5^th

1 Shick Quatro Razor refill $8.99

1 Milk $3.99

Used:

$5.00 ECB

$1.00 ECB

$5.00/1 Shick Quatro Razor or refill Printable

OOP

$1.98

Recieved:

$4.00 ECBs 

I spend $1.98 and saved $11.00 on 12.98 worth of retail items at CVS this trip. I didn’t realize milk went up to $3.99. Ouch! This is really good milk and I had $5.00 ECBs that were expiring so I combined it with an extra $1.00 to get the price of Milk down.

Nov. 7

1 Illy Coffee Drink $2.00

2 Hydro 5 Razors $10.49 each

Used:

$2.00 ECB

$1.00 ECB

$4.00 ECB

$3.50 ECB

$2.49 took off - FREE Illy coffee drink printed Nov. 5^th.

2 $5.00/1 Shick Hydro razor

Received:

$10.00 ECB for Razors

$1.00 ECB for Bag Tag

I paid $0.00 for $22.98 worth of retail products at CVS this week. I LOVE FREE!


Sprouts - Farmers Market

.49 lb Peanuts - $0.98
1 lb Raisins - $1.49 - Great price on Raisins
1 Yogurt - $2.00
1 Pk Cinnamon $1.25
1 Broccoli - $1.05
1 Bell Pepper - $0.49
3 Lemons - $1.00
3 Limes - $0.50
1.74 lbs Onions - $0.85


Bag credit -$0.10


Total $9.51 on fresh produce and dairy.

All together I spent $44.68 and saved $83.72 on $128.40 worth of items this week. I think I have my groove back. I had 65% savings overall savings for this week. Unlike some couponers, I do buy fresh produce nearly every week. Fresh is better than canned or frozen. I usually budget around $10.00 for Sprouts.

How did you do this week? Link up your awesome savings below. I can't wait to see how you did this week. It is great to see how others shop to learn how to save.

Money Saving Monday - CVS

If you haven't read my other couponing 101 articles over the past weeks I suggest you start at the first post and read through. This is a lot of information. Take some time to read each section and go over it before you dive right in. 

1. Part 1 How and Where to get Coupons 

2. Part 2 Go Shopping

3. Part 3 How to Save Big on Your Grocery Bill

Part 4 Drug Store Shopping

Shopping at the drug store is different than shopping at the grocery store. Most drug stores print their own money at the register. They want you to use this money at their store. Walgreens has Rapid Rewards RR, CVS has Extra Care Bucks ECB’s and Rite Aid has Single Check Rebate Program SCR’s. I am going to be mostly informing you on CVS today.

With the money they print for you at the stores, you can roll this each time you check out and not pay a lot of your money out of pocket, OOP.

HOW IT WORKS for CVS

First of all you want to make sure you get a CVS card. Ask for one when you enter the store before your first purchase. To register your card complete the form on line. You will receive additional coupons and sometimes ECBs through email. You can load these onto your card so next time you enter the store you can use your savings and not worry about finding a piece of paper.

Now you will need to scan your circular to see if there are any items you want or need that print ECB’s. Now look to see if you have a coupon to matchup with this item to bring your total OOP down even further. Please keep in mind the ECB prints at the end of the transaction. At first it is difficult to get started. Please check out Simply CVS for beginner $5 & $10 OOP scenerios she posts each week. Once you have checked out you will have ECB’s you can use towards your next transaction. Please be considerate of others

I roll my ECB’s a little differently than other people. I like to have ECB’s left over at the end, so I can get my items for the advertised price or free. I try to do all my purchases in one transaction with all my ECB’s and coupons at one time. This way I don’t have to worry if they are out of an item in order for all my transactions to work. I also know what I am going to spend before I get there. My budget is $5.00 on toiletries and $5.00 on diapers when I can get it.

THE LITTLE RED BOX

There is a little magic red box when you walk into CVS. This is a coupon dispensing machine. It spits out extra CVS coupons. You can stack or combine these with any additional coupons you may have to get items for free or really cheap. It frequently gives away free items. You just need to make sure you print it out. This is the first thing I always do when I walk into the store and see if it gives me anything good. This is a must in my book.

BAG TAG

CVS has a bag tag program. You can purchase this little tag or sometimes it gives you a free one at the magic red box. Every four times this is scanned it will print you a $1 extra buck. Yup that is FREE money just for visiting the store. You can only use it once each day and it only will scan after an item is scanned.

BEAUTY CLUB

On more program CVS has is the Beauty Club. This is free to sign up. To sign up look near the register to see the Beauty Club tear pad. Just hand this to the cashier when your make your first purchase. For every $50.00 you spend you will receive $5.00 back.

QUARTERLY EARNINGS

CVS will add up all your purchases before ECB’s and Coupons and give you 2% back at the end of every quarter. You can receive this at the little red box or it will print at the register. Again free money you can use to purchase additional items at the store.

Things you need to do when you go to CVS:

1. Get a CVS card – Sign Up on line

2. Get a Bag Tag – You may need to pay $1.00

3. Sign up for the Beauty Club – FREE tear pad at registar

4. Scan the red box when you go to the store.

Items I often get at CVS:

Razors – FREE

Make up – FREE or $1

Nail Polish – FREE or $1

Food – FREE or CHEAP

Milk – CHEAP when on sale

Hair Care – CHEAP

Diapers – CHEAP

Friday Finals 10-28-11

Wow what a night. First my daughter had a soccer game after the cold front blew in while it was raining. The sign of a true athlete will play in the freezing rain. The sign of true love is the parents who sit there and cheer them on.  It was very cold and it took me a long time to warm up. Then to come home and stay up late to watch the Rangers loose last night makes for a very slow day today. Lots of caffeine has been consumed to write this post. Since I normally prepare my shopping post on Thursday evenings, I just didn’t have time last night. I will post what I spent and how much I saved. Then maybe later tonight I can update this post.

I still would like to see how everyone else did this week, so LINK UP below! Here are the entries with the most links:

Saved by the SALE

Grocery Shop for FREE

Weekly Grocery Shopping

Frugal Stepmom

Walmart

I spend $31.27 and saved $17.10 plus more, since I did several price matches, on $48.37 retail.

Sprouts

$2.28 on fresh produce

Tom Thumb

I spent $12.43 and saved $22.80 on $34.72 worth of retail.

CVS

I spend around $10.00 Saved $6.00 on $16.00 retail at CVS.

I spent around $56.00 and saved $45.90 on $101.90 retail.

How did your shopping trip go this week? Link UP below

Money Saving Monday

Step 3: Big Savings on your Grocery Bill

If you have been following my couponing series the past couple of weeks, you should have accumulated tons of coupons by now. You can read my previous two posts:


1. How to start couponing. Coupoing 101
2. Go Shopping


If you do not have a lot of coupons you can PRINT COUPONS for free. If you have started trying to acquire coupons, you have probably printed a ton off the internet in order to create a nice coupon stash. I know I did when I first started. I had stacks and stacks of coupons to cut. I had the whole family cutting them out for me for a while. Now it is under control.

Now that you have quite a few coupons and you have made your first trip to the store, you are ready to take it up a notch. How did you feel the first time you scored saving 60-70%? It felt great, right? I know it was great for me, since we needed food and we needed food fast.

Maximizing Grocery Savings
Let's talk about your next trip to the store where you are going to do a larger shopping trip and make a larger list. Go to a matchup website such as Saving Well Spending Less or Southern Savers and pick the items where you can save 60-70% on items. Now that you have more coupons you should find more items to matchup. You will want to find items at the lowest price, then purchase as many of them as you have coupons for. This way you will save the most on that particular item until it goes on sale again.  The major grocery stores have sales that are discounted below Walmart price to entice you to go there and do your normal shopping buying items on sale and items that are not on sale.

Make a Grocery List
Now it is a good idea to gather your coupons from the matchup sites and make or print your list. Keep your coupons in a separate folder or envelope. Before you check out, check your coupons to see if they match according to brand size and type. Count the number of items in your cart and make sure you have the same number of corresponding items to match the coupons you have clipped. Then proceed to the check out. Be nice to your cashier as you check out. Find out if they would like coupons as they scan the items or after they scan.

When you are checking out pay close attention to the scanned price of an item and also make sure all your coupons are scanned. This is much easier to do if you don't have your kids with you, but if you are like me, most times that is not an option. If not try to review your receipt before you leave the store. I saved over four dollars on a trip because something didn’t ring up correctly and went to customer service for my refund.  Always be courteous, especially if you can calmly explain the error they will give a refund.

My standard price to buy an item is below Walmart price or 50% or higher. It is a good idea to know your prices when you are shopping for an item. Walmart claims to have the best price. What that really means is they have the better than the stores normal price. I will share a price list with you in a later post. It is not quite complete, since many rock bottom prices are going up. The only thing I normally buy that is not on sale is milk.

If you can also take a moment to vote for me at Rate My Blog @ Top Mommy Blogs

1. How to Start Couponing. Couponing 101


2. Step Two Shopping


4.  Step Four Drug Store Shopping - CVS

Have you tried the first two steps in my series? Do you have any questions? I will do my best to help answer any questions you may have.

Friday Finals 10/21/11

Wowee wow wow! I have such exciting news to share today. First, I am a guest blogger at Grocery Cart Challenge. I am very excited and honored to be chosen. I came across Gayle’s site and notice she was feeding a family of six with $60.00 a week. I knew I could do this too! A few years back I was trying to feed a family of three on $30.00 a week. It was difficult, but I was able to do it. The most important thing I learned was how to cook from very few ingredients and make great meals.

The second piece of exciting new I have to share is I was accepted to the Top Mommy Blogs. In order to vote for my blog and check out other exciting blogs just click the brown button located on the left or the link provided. I just received the email last night. It would be very exciting to get at least one vote.

Now on to shopping! I didn’t stick to my budget very well this week. I was kind of winging it again. I didn’t have a great plan. We were out of some items I have been searching for the past couple of weeks and needed to purchase this week. I was able to get cheese and oil on sale, but purchasing both was a bit expensive. My husband and I were dying for some wings since it has been cold and it is football season. So I splurged for wings. I have been looking for weeks and just couldn’t find any on sale. In case you were wondering, yes, they were so delicious. Still cheaper than going out and buying wings at a restaurant.

I went to Kroger twice without much savings.

Kroger 10/16/11

2 Capri sun Juice $1.29 each – I need to buy juice for my daughters soccer game

4 Kettle Chips $2.50 each – 4 $1/1 Kettle Chips RP 09/25/11

            -Final $1.50 each

1 Kroger Tortilla chips $1.00

1 Pilgrims Wings $10.49 – Shelf price said $8.19 $2/1 Pilgrims Pride Chicken

            -Final $8.49 – Should have been $6.19

2 Mission Tortillas $1.00

1 Zapps Chips $2.19 – Splurge item for my hubby

I spent $22.47 and saved $11.14 on $33.61 worth of retail. I had two major splurge items this trip the wings and the Zapps chips. This change in weather has gotten me a little off my game. I am still looking for cheap snacks for soccer. If anyone know of any great sales, please share in the comments.

Kroger 10/18/10

2 Gallons Milk $2.49

2 lbs Cheese $6.99 – Best price I have found. Cheaper than Wal-Mart

4 Progresso Soups $1.25 - $1/4 Progresso Soup Coupon GM 09/11/11

            -Final $1.00 each

1 Huggies Slip on Diapers $9.85 - $2/1 Blinkie in Store Slip on Diapers

            -Final $7.85

2 Bertolli Olive Oil B1G1 store deal $10.49 I was nearly out of oil

            -Final $5.24 each

3 Kroger Sweet Corn $0.88 each – I had an eQ for $0.60/3 that did not scan. Not Happy

            -Final $0.88 each

1 Kroger Oatmeal $1.39 on sale – Daughter wanted Oatmeal for the cooler weather.

4 Dr. Pepper 10 $1.00 each – 4 FREE coupons for Dr. Pepper 10 SS 10/09/11

            -Final FREE

I spent $40.39 and saved $24.44 on $64.83 retail. Milk went up again $0.10 a gallon. I have to say I loved it when milk was a $1.00 a gallon. I would buy four gallons a week and we would drink it all. Now I have to ration it a little at the house. I need to make sure little Face gets his share every day.

Sprouts

4.18 lbs Gala Apples @ $0.69/lbs - $2.88

3.88 lbs Golden Delicious @ $0.69/lbs. - $2.68

3.47 lbs Onions @ $0.49/lbs - $1.70

Bag Credit -$0.10

I spent $7.16 and saved $0.10 on $7.26 worth of produce. I plan on making homemade applesauce and maybe some apple butter today. I have seen these on others sites and I am itching to try it. If I do, I will share on Wednesday. I didn't take a picture.

Overall I spent $70.02 and saved $35.68 on $105.70 worth of retail food and diapers. Not the best, but there were not very many good deals this week.  I needed to buy cheese and there have not been very good sales for the past couple of months and very few coupons. I had two splurge items that really put me over this week. But these will last a while for us. I can make it stretch.

If you are just starting out I am posting a series on how to coupon every Monday. You can read my first article here and my second post here. Looking to print coupons you can go to Coupons.com.

How did you do this week? Please share your shopping trips below with the linky. If you don't have a blog please share your shopping trips in the comments area. You can share more than one trip; however, I do ask to keep the trips current. The best way to learn to save money is to share so others can learn from you experience.

Whatever Wednesday

I have exciting news. I am going to be featured as a guest blogger at Grocery CartChallenge  on Friday. Stop back by to see what I purchased this week and see my article posted there.

 I always like to find something different to fix the family. I usually try to travel around the globe for dinner ideas for the week so no one gets tired of any dish. My daughter is just like me. She asked the other night why we don’t have Mexican food every night. Both of us could eat Mexican food every night. We both love it. Especially if it involves queso of some kind. However, my husband like a variety of food.

This week we traveled to India for a different flavor with ground beef called Keema. I found this recipe on Allrecipes.com App on my phone when I was looking for recipes with cardamom. I purchased this on major sale at Sprouts. See my shopping trip here. I love that I can have my phone in the kitchen with me while I cook and view the recipe without having to print it out and waste toner and paper. Plus I have my recipes with me where ever I go.

According to some of the reviews this is not a traditional way to make this dish and I did a few things different too to make it my own recipe. This made enough to feed all five of us with small leftovers.

Ingredients:

1 lbs. Ground Beef

1 onion Finely chopped

2 cloves minced garlic

½ table spoon Cardamom

¼ table spoon cinnamon

¼ table spoon cloves

A pinch of nutmeg

1 cup or 8 oz of tomato sauce

¾ cup beef broth (I used chicken because that is what I had. Still very tasty)

1. In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, cook onions and garlic until onions are soft and translucent around 5mon.

2. Then add the beef and cook until evenly brown breaking apart with spoon until crumbled. Drain excess fat.

3. Stir in Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. (I measured it all so it fit in one table spoon)

4. Stir in tomato sauce and broth. Continue to cook on a lower heat until most of the liquid had evaporated reducing the sauce.

This can be served over rice or noodles. Depends what you have the most of in your pantry. This is fabulous burst of flavor from the traditional foods we are used to eating. The husband and the kids loved it. The Cardamom can be expensive. But if you viewed my post, I purchased just a little while it was on sale and that will make four to five dishes. Supper yummy and something different from what you might normally eat.  I just love it. This meal in now in our meal rotation. 

Hopefully I won't have as many problems as I did with my Friday Linky. Do you have any recipes you would like to share? Link up below. Hopefully I won't have as many problems as I did with my Friday Linky.