My trip for GF items today...

The grocery ads hit on Wednesdays here, so I stopped at Hy-Vee on the way in to work this morning to pick up some things. I was lucky enough to find some coupons in the aisles of the Health Food area that saved me even more. $19.50 for everything in this picture. Not too bad, especially the gluten free baking mixes. With coupons I got those for $2.25 each.

I like to have things like that on hand, but the key to eating my healthiest, and to keep the weekly grocery costs down, is by making those treats, not meal staples. In fact, the Larabars made me feel like a "wild child"...but they were 4/$5, are a good source of Potassium and fiber, have a full serving of fruit, and are nice to keep at work for those moments when I'm starving but don't have an apple or something on hand.

By the way...please note the "extravagance" of the boxed stock. I am the poster child for making my own, but with my schedule, there are times that I'm out of my freezer stash and need stock. These are organic, have no junk in them, and I was able to get them for under $2 each with coupons. I am finding homemade soup to be a staple of my GF diet, so these will be nice to have on hand.

My Target Trip 5/17

Visit Target.com and coupons.com for some nice matchups. I had fortunately found some Kashi coupons on an end display a few weeks ago, so I was able to buy 5 Kashi products and use 5 $1 coupons. I paid less than $9 and got a $5 Target gift card.

The total was $18.71, plus I now have $5 gift card for my next trip!

Amazing deal at Fareway this week...

It was already pretty awesome. 5lbs. of potatoes for .72. 72 CENTS!!!! But it gets better. Now through Mother's Day you can print this coupon and take it to Fareway here in Omaha for 2 bags for .72. 7 cents per pound. That rocks.

Aldi Trip May 1st

This is why I LOVE Aldi. Everything in this photo- $9.45. Great produce prices this week!

pineapple- $1.99
bananas- .74
tortilla chips- .99
skim mil- $1.79
sweet potatoes- $1.59
roma tomatoes- .79
4 avocados @ .39 each
Total- $9.45

I had a great shopping week- I will share my other trips tomorrow.

Stocking back up on fresh produce...

Since we left for a few days, we made sure to eat all of the perishables, so this week a good chunk of the food budget is going to replacing those. Here's what I is on my list for shopping according to the new ads:

Fareway-
green grapes .99/lb
bananas .29/lb
green beans .99/lb
broccoli .99/lb
leaf lettuce .99/bunch
braeburn apples .69/lb (price match from Hy-Vee)
Iowa Chops $1.99/lb
Fastco Cheese 2 for $2 with coupon in ad

Bakers-
Strawberries- 4lb. flat for $1.49/lb
CoffeeMate Creamer 32oz. $2.38 (and I have .75 coupons)

Hy-Vee is having another Red Hot Weekend Sale, but that ad won't be available until tomorrow night. I will see if there's anything then. Bag n Save has some decent prices on Land o Lakes products, and I may try to get there as well.

Always check your receipts

Checkers can make mistakes. Computers can have incorrect information. Just because you watched everything ring up doesn't mean it was right. I was at Bakers today to pick up spareribs and several other of their sale items. When I got to the car I realized there was a $10 charge on my receipt. I didn't buy anything that expensive. Turns out one of the slabs of ribs didn't ring up at the sale price.

So I trudged back into the store with my receipt and the slab of ribs in question. I forgot that Bakers has a wonderful policy--if it rings up wrong, you get the item free! So I walked out with a free slab of ribs.

Since we're planning ribs as my birthday dinner this week, I feel like it was my birthday gift from Bakers! :)

Shopping this week

Well, I'm finally embarking to the stores today for the first time in a week! I am always impressed with women who can shop for 2 weeks at a time. Tough for me to do the way I shop for my stockpile. I end up needing to make several stops, even with price matching. And since I work during the week, I end up making a stop here, a stop there all across the week. Fortunately I'm very stocked and haven't been impressed with sales recently. So I should be able to get all of my weekly shopping done today and tomorrow, and I will post how I did. Hoping to be way under budget so I can put some extra money in the Christmas fund!

Great Week for Produce at Aldi

I made my weekly trek to Aldi yesterday. Wonderful week to stock up on fresh produce at GREAT prices. Here's what I got:

1 head of cauliflower- .89
2 1lb. bags of baby carrots @ .49 each
5lb. bag of Navel Oranges- .99
7 avocados @ .49 each
1 bunch of bananas- $1.09
vegetable oil- $1.99
Maple Baked Beans- $1.29

Total was $10.65. I will be blanching the cauliflower and one bag of the carrots to freeze.

With this winter being so cold and snowy, I have just been craving nice fresh fruits and veggies like mad. Nice to be able to get them at such affordable prices!

Walgreens and Hy-Vee Trips 1/24

I didn't take pictures, because, honestly, I had a TON of stuff, and it all needed to go down to storage, so it seemed silly to take it all out of bags, just to take a picture and then put it all back in bags to carry it downstairs. But it was picture worthy, for sure!

Stop 1 was Walgreens. I took advantage of the Pepsi/Frito deal, buying $20 of stuff, get a $10 register reward. Got 3 bags of Tostitos, 1 Tostitos salsa, 2 Stacy's Pita Chips, and 4 bottles of soda. Plus, 4 bottles of CoffeeMate creamer, B1G1, using coupons. Used cashed and RR to pay. Total was $3.48 OOP, and I got a $10 RR. Total savings was $35.40.

Next stop- Hy-Vee's 12 hour sale. 2 bags of chicken breasts, 2 jars of peanut butter, 2 cans of nonstick spray, and 2 gallons of Land o Lake's milk, which I had free coupons for. I also stumbled upon a display where they were obviously trying to move an excess of Ziploc bags...they had the easy zips marked down to 50 cent each! I bought 7. Total for everything here- $16.35. A savings of $30.00

Total for the day- $19.83, and saved $65.40, or 77%!!! And I have a $10RR for another time.


This post is linked to the Grocery Cart Challenge. See how other people did with their shopping this week!

Hy-Vee 12-hour Sale Coupon Matchups

Hy-Vee is having a 12 hour sale on Sunday, with some pretty good prices. There are some coupon matchups that make it even better!

• 40 oz bag Country Pride Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts- $3.88 limit 2. Use .55 off coupon here--- print twice. Final price: $3.33 each


• Skippy Peanut Butter- .98 each, limit 2. I have a .75/2 coupon that I think came from a Red Plum insert but I can't find the date in the coupon database. Final price: 2 jars for .62 each.


• Tostitos 9oz bag- $1.88. There is a $1 coupon from the 1/17 Smartsource if you buy any 1 Tostitos 9oz or larger AND any Tostitos brand dip 11oz. or larger.

Fresh Sweet Corn at Hy-Vee this week

It seems the longer I have a nice garden in the summer, the more I long for good fresh produce in the winter. I get so spoiled. So imagine my pleasant surprise to see nice fresh sweet corn on sale at Hy-Vee this week at a great price-- 4 for $1. I have corn chowder on the menu this week, so this will be wonderful to use!!

BTW....it's not online, but the flyer in the paper is advertising a 12 hour sale on Sunday that looks like it has some pretty good deals. I will update you on those later this week- looks like there are some coupon matchups.

Fareway Bargain Meal of the Week

Your Shopping List:

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts= $1.97
1 package Rotella's buns @ .99- use 4= .50
1 package Hormel Black Label Bacon @ $2.50- use half= $1.25
4 ears of corn= $1.00
1 container Fastco Cottage Cheese @ .99- use half= .50
1lb. fresh strawberries= .99
1 container Cool Whip= .99

Total Cost for meal= $7.20, including dessert! ( $5.22 if you choose to omit)


Your Menu:

Grilled Chicken Club Sandwiches- use chicken, bacon and bun along your desired condiments
Corn on the Cob
Cottage Cheese
Sliced Strawberries w/ Cool Whip

My Hy-Vee Trip today

Hy-Vee is having some special 3-day pricing that matched up with some of my coupons, so I went and grabbed some things today. I did well!

Hy-Vee Eggs= .88
2 Roberts 1/2 gallon lemonades- 2/.99- BOGO coupon= .50 for 2!
2 Roberts sour creams- .99 minus 2 .35/1 coupons= .64 each
1 Roberts Onion dip- .99 minus .55/1 coupon= .44
2 cans Dole Pineapple- $1.18 minus 2 .50/1 coupons= .68 each
4 cans Van Camps Pork & Beans- 4/.99 minus .30/3 coupon= .69 for 4!
Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese= .99
1 large whole cantaloupe= $1.38
1.62 lbs. Nectarines @ $1.48/lb= $2.40

Grand Total- $9.73!

Weekly Shopping June 6th

I apologize that the pictures aren't great-I just wanted to take them quickly and grabbed my phone. This is my Baker's Trip:

2 Knorr Pasta sides= .87 each - .50/2 coupon and .75 cellfire = .25 each!
2 Ramen Noodles= .17
2 Maxwell House Coffees= 5.99 each- $2/2
2 Hormel Pork Tenderloins= $8.99 each BOGO- $1/1 coupon= $4.00 each...not too shabby!
4 ears corn= .80
3 bottles Ken's Dressing= $1.66 each minus 3 $1/1 coupons
1 Tabasco Chipotle Sauce= $3.29- $1/1 coupon
2 Oscar Mayer Lite Hogs = $1.25 each minus $1/2 coupon =.75 each!
4 tomatoes on the vine= $1.37
1 dozen Dillons eggs= .69
1 Country Crock tub= $1.99 minus .55/1 coupon

Total Before Coupons and Baker's Card Savings= $67.60
Total store savings= $27.61
Total MF savings= $9.80

OOP= $30.19 (55% savings)



Hy-Vee Trip-

6 Blue Bunny Yogurts= .50 each minus $1/6 coupon
3 Kelloggs Frosted Mini Wheats= $1.68 each minus 3 $1/1 coupons= .68 each!
2 Natures Pride 100% Whole Wheat Double Fiber Bread= $2.99 each BOGO- $1.10/2 coupon= .95 each!!
2 Ragu Sauces= $1.67 each minus .75/2 coupon
1 Slimfast 6pack= $4.99- $1.40/1 coupon
4 bags Kraft Shredded Cheese= $1.50 each minus 2 $1/2 coupons
Bananas @.39/lb= $1.35
1 Del Monte Pineapple= $1.99 (forgot coupons.com coupon on printer-drats!)
Red grapes @ .99/lb.= $2.14
Green cabbage @ .69/lb= $1.14

Total OOP= $22.81 (est. at 58% savings...Hy-Vee doesn't show original prices on receipt)


Target-

2 boxes Quaker Fiber Bars2 2/$5- 2 $1/1 coupons
1 Crystal Light 6 ct = $2.67 minus $1/1 coupon
2 Ziploc bags minus $1/2 coupon
2 Coffee Mates= $3.00
1 gallon skim milk = $2.39

Total $16.29 minus $15.00 in gift cards that I've gotten for prescriptions and purchases

OOP= $1.71

Total for the week= $54.71!

Double Coupons in Omaha!

For a day anyway. LOL Hy-Vee is doing a week of specials this week, with different specials each day. Tuesday June 2nd, if you take the coupon from their insert in the Sunday paper you can double up to 10 coupons up to 50 cents!

I will be going through my coupons to highlight the biggest matchups for you. The biggest one that sticks out is Hy-Vee's current Kool-Aid Drink mixes at 10 for $1. If you grabbed the 50cents off 10 printable from coupons.com, they double it, and you get 10 mixes for free!

Other deals I see-

Monday- Hot dog buns for .88

Tuesday- Roberts Orange Juice half gallon for .69- if you have the Roberts Fundraising booklet you can use the bogo oj coupon to get 2 orange juices for .69!

Wednesday- Bakery Italian loaf for .99. Use coupon for Dr. Pepper, 7Up and others for $1.99/12 pack

Friday- bananas .39/lb.

Saturday- dozen large eggs for .49. Kellogg's cerals for $1.68. If you still have Vocal Point coupons for $1 off Frosted Mini Wheats, then you can grab those for .68 per box!

This Week's Shopping Totals

Well, I guess working 13 hour days has one perk---no time to shop!! :) I did send hubby to Hy-Vee yesterday, lil pumpkin followed my list to the T, no extra spending.

Today I made it to Bakers and Aldi.

Hy-Vee was for a lot of fresh produce: mushrooms, apples, kiwi, plus salad dressing, tomato soup and a 10lb. bag of potatoes. Total at Hy-Vee: $7.30

Bakers today included ham, cotto salami, 3 24oz blocks of cheese for $3 apiece ($1 per 8oz is a GREAT price), turkey hot dogs, bag salads, several bags of fries for .99 each, applesauce, and several other things for a total of $28.36 (I saved $25.78)

Last stop was Aldi, for 2 gallons of skim milk, 2 1lb. packages of asparagus for .99 each, 1 bag of frozen chicken nuggets, and a bag of fresh spinach. Total- $10.84

So the total for the week is $46.50. I may still hit Fareway on this week's budget for .69/dozen eggs, $1.99/lb bratwurst patties and a couple other goodies I want. Overall, though, I should still be well under my $60 mark. 2 weeks in a row for being way under. Sure helps to have freezers to stock up stuff with sales. Really makes it easy on weeks like this!

Looking forward to a peaceful shopping week

I am very unimpressed by what I see this week at Walgreens, Target, et al. What's great about couponing and stockpiling is that I don't have many immediate "needs" on a weekly basis any more. Fresh produce, eggs and milk. That's really it. I have a pantry and shelves downstairs full of pantry items that we use frequently. I have 2 refrigerators and 1 deep freeze to house the meats and other items I've purchased at great prices.

So for me, there's no urgent need to shop. While I do enjoy shopping, I don't view it like some do, as a "sport" or challenge. Don't get me wrong...I love love love finding great deals and playing the game. Today though, I feel very relieved, actually, that the only thing I need to do is pick up my milk, eggs and produce. I'll see what Wednesday's grocery ads bring. If there are deals worth getting, I'll be there. Otherwise, really looking forward to using that time for other things.

More time for the garden. Maybe I can even get lucky and do a page for my scrapbook!

Here's to a peaceful week.

Weekly Shopping Total

Great week! No pictures, as it was so crazy this week I had to do my shopping in small bursts across the week. Lunch here, before work there. Wherever I had a few minutes.

Aldi was my first stop this week for 3 gallons of milk, eggs and lots of produce, along with some fresh mozzarella. The total was $16.39

Next was Hy-Vee. Grabbed 4 Ragu sauces for .69 cents each after coupons. Some pasta, applesauce, 4 bags of shredded cheese at .99 each and various other things for a grand total of $11.72.

Last stop was No Frills. Couple bags of pretzels, 2 packages of sandwich rolls, fiber plus bars, and ziploc bags for $8.98.

Also had 1 Walgreens trip- can't find the receipt. $9.27 for the total, and I got $8 back in RR.

Total spending for the week: $46.36. Hurrah!

The Red Plum Insert is your friend this week for Walgreens deals

Do NOT go to Walgreens this week without going through your Red Plum insert first.

There are several coupons that make some of the RR deals even more attractive.

Band-Aid, Neosporin, and Benadryl Cream all have $1 coupons this week. Works out great for the deal this week which says buy $10 worth of these items and get $4 RR. Band aids are $3. The creams are $4. Buy 2 Band-Aids and one cream. $10. Minus $3 in MQs, is $7. You get $4 in RR, so it's like getting all 3 for $3. Not bad!

There's a "buy 2 participating cold or allergy relief products" offer this week that gives you $3 in RR. Sudafed PE, Tylenol Allergy, Tylenol Cold, and Children's Tylenol are all in the offer. These are $4.99 each. Use the $1 coupons on the Tylenol Allergy or SudafedPE to make them $8 before the $3 RR...like getting them both for $5. Zyrtec is also in this deal at $18.99. So if you are a Zyrtec user, you can combine deal with one other product, and the $4 Zyrtec coupon. If you like Zyrtec D you might consider buying the Zyrtec 24hr without sudafed, and then buying the sudafed on the side. You'll save a LOT of money this way!

Get 2 of the $1/1 Whitening Listerine Rinse coupons, buy 2 for $8, $6 after coupons, and then get $4 in RR. Like paying $1 for each one!

All in your Red Plum insert. If you need more, hit the store to stock up today! :)

Baker's Bargain Meal of the Week

I'm luke warm about this week's ad at Baker's. Some good cereal prices and a few good coupon matchups, but I didn't go too crazy there this week, only spending $14. But there are opportunities for good meals, including this week's meal.

Your shopping list:
1lb. Sterling Silver Fresh Ground Chuck $1.77
1 Bird's Eye Steamfresh corn- $1.00
1 Pasta Roni- $1.00
1lb. grapes- .88

Total: $4.65

Your Menu:
Mini Meatloaves
Corn
Pasta Roni
grapes