Tuesday, March 31, 2009

regrouping

well i walked out of kroger without my receipt a few weeks ago, which totally thew my running total off, and now i find i don't care that much. i haven't done good with recording anything since then, but i *have* been meal planning and keeping up with that.

i've mostly lost interest in recording this stuff, for a couple reasons i think. first, i suspect my savings amounts are inflated because they're based on retail prices i never used to pay for brands i never bought. that kind of makes them irrelevant. also, i've used the info thus far to come up with a grocery budget that seems reasonable and a system to make it happen. i only started the system last week, but it was simple and worked really well.

here's the budget for now:
$75/week, $300/month
(i can use the monthly budget to give me some play in case of stock-up sales on high-dollar items like dh's voila entrees or frozen pizzas.)

unfortunately, that's pretty dang close to what i was doing before.

i'm going to practice *using my system and *having a budget,
and then i'll work on *cutting the amount back a bit.
i don't think i spend as much as lots of families i know, but i'd like to slash it.
maybe *meal planning will help with that.

and here's the system:
i'll look at my calendar and the ads, and figure how much i need each week for groceries, gas ($30/wk at $2/gal), newspapers, activities, and events. then i'll withdraw that much cash, put away my debit card, and when it's gone, it's gone. simple, right?? well, i'll want to budget a bit for last-minute activities, but that's one more thing to work on.

missing some receipts/ maybe this is all?

here's what i've got:

WEEK 11 (this is the week i think i might be missing receipts for..)
3/17 MEIJER (4 transactions, including meat)
spent 31.56
saved 17.29

WEEK 12 spent 142.10, saved 85.26
3/19 MEIJER
spent 41.77
saved 55.68

3/23 KROGER
(meat, frz vegs, eggs, cheese, shrimp/ all on sale, no q's)
spent 40.33
saved 23.31

3/25 MEIJER
spent 0.00
saved 6.27
free coffeemate, baby!! :)

sometime last week SAMS
spent $60

WEEK 13 spent 128.96, saved 191.64
3/29 KROGER
spent 33.83
saved 34.83

3/31 KROGER
(early AM run -- this was a good one -- all 4 of my pillsbury q's doubled, so i got 4 rolls of pizza dough for .80!)
spent 12.91
saved 27.08

3/31 MEIJER
(un-budgeted-for raincheck items)
spent 58.62
saved 93.09

3/31 KROGER
(PM run -- 4 transactions)
spent 5.60
saved 36.64

Thursday, March 26, 2009

have to hit all 3 this week?

MEIJER
produce is good
canteloupe, grapes, red potatoes, pears

and the voila entrees that dh likes to take in the truck are $3.50 which is the best price i've seen so far. too bad i don't have the budget to get many, but looks like his freezer is a thing of the past so he won't have the capacity for many anyway.

KROGER
frozen vegs are $1
5# bag grapefruit 2.50
if i'm going anyway i'll get some ground chuck at 1.67 to have in the freezer to make dh happy happy happy!

and possible coupon match-ups with bounty basic, hunt's, nesquik, scotchbrite, horizon milk, pillsbury, oreida, M&M mars. i don't think i'll mess w/ the pillsbury thing *except for* the pizza dough, which i *will* do.
MARSH has digiorno pizzas for 4.99 and i think there's a q. they seemed to have some other good things too.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

more shopping... tomorrow's payday

i wanted to go back to meijer when i have money, and i don't really remember why
will have to check the sales again
maybe $1.50 strawberries and $1 mushrooms.
oh, rice. i opened my last bag of white rice, and have those riceland q's, and last time i was at meijer they were price-dropped to 2.31.

i also want to pick up a can of cherry pie filling to make chocolate-cherry muffins with the betty crocker mix i have.

out of soy sauce and salad. my romaine is starting to come up!!

think there'll be a better shrimp sale this week?? we really want some.

oh! i know! i wanted eggs from kroger! we're totally out and they're .79/dozen. and the freschetta's pizzamores and the free country crock butters.

MEIJER NEXT WK: starting thursday looks like quaker granola bars, and check out the kellogs:
Purchase qualifying Kellogg's cereals 12oz or larger and get up to 3 Gallons of milk free on your next shopping trip. Good from 3/20 and 4/12. buy 3 boxes get 1 milk or buy 5 get 2 milks or buy 7 or more and get 3 gallons of milk. all free milk coupons good on any Brand, any flavor up to 4.69 per gallon.

maybe i need to buy some of those .70 kellog's q's, but gosh i just don't wanna mess w/ it.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

CVS last night

2 gallons milk
2 boxes bandaids
1 box trash bags

spent $14 ECB's that were about to expire;
.75 out of pocket
and got 3 ECB's back.

thank for the q's, tammy!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

how did i forget my receipt?

well i did my second mega-deal,
remembered to use my fund-raising card,
and got a bunch of cheap meat.

but i was so flummoxed about the pork
(i'll get to that in a sec)
that i walked out without my receipt!

the good news is, they can print a duplicate
tomorrow, when the head cashier is in.
i just need to tell them what register and the approx time.
yay!
(it was the first self-check you come to, when walking toward freezer wall. and i got into my car at 4:17. lest i forget!)

i put $60 on my card and spent $44:
about $25 on meat and $10 on pizzas; the rest was fritos, laundry soap & nature valley.
saved $7.70 on the chicken and $6 on the stew meat
no idea about the pork
miss my receipt :`(

oh i forgot about the pork loin!
still laughing about the difference btwn a butcher and a teacher :D
i asked him to slice half of it and ... well, i *meant* to cut the rest into cubes.
so i told him to cube it.
you know what it looks like now, don't you?

i almost didn't get it, but then i thought
i can find a recipe for stuffed pork chops
and kinda roll it up with the stuff inside
and bake it?
and it'll probably be really good
and quite different

i'm always up for different!

but now when i'm at meijer tonight
i need to get some cut into cubes
what do butchers call that?

Sunday, March 15, 2009

One Kroger Mega Trip & Plan for the next

the toothbrush q's were about to expire
and i swear the kids hand 'em out at the corner when i'm gone!

4 colgate toothbrushes
1 box kellogs
2 box nature valley
2 dole fruit bowls
1 freschetta pizza

spent 9.21
saved 24.43

That leaves me with
2 purex
2 nature valley
1 dole fruit bowls
3 freschetta pizzas
and i suppose i can round it out w/ 2 bags of fritos!

Meijer Preview: starts 3/19 in indy

Love Bargain Brianna!

Lots of good match-ups upcoming; here are the highlights:

Sargento shreds will be $1.50/bag after q

Coffeemates will be FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (you know i'll be there at 6am thursday...)

Lysol wipes will be $1 but i'm pretty stocked up so might skip it

Pizza Rolls -- i can use the q's that marsh wouldn't double haha

El Monterey Taquitos will be .50 after mgf AND mealbox q's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(i repeat: 6am baybeeee)

strawberries $1.50#
Meijer mushrooms $1

Oh Awesome!! My ethics have been rewarded!! :)

There's been a change to the wording on the mealbox coupons that now lets even my picky self stack them with mgf q's !!!!! YAY i am so happy!!! i think i'll get taquitos for .50 on thursday!! 6am, baybay!! LOL

Saturday, March 7, 2009

printable cascadian farm & muir glen q's

sign up at www.eatbetteramerica.com
and you'll be able to print $1 q's for muir glen and cascadian farm
and a .50 on 8 yoplait (which works out to better than the standard newspaper q)

you can print each one twice! i had to start over from the home page, but it worked.

and i got some in the mail too when i signed up. i don't see that now but it might happen.

preview

the only coupons i'm thrilled about are

$2 goodlife recipe cat food -- that'll be free when k-mart doubles again

Hot Coupon World has a meijer preview -- starting sunday everywhere else and thursday here -- these are the things i'll put on my list

Sobe Life Water Money Maker 1.00
SALE: 10/10 get 11th Free
Coupons: .50/1 Tearpad

Ziploc Sandwich Bags 1.20/11
SALE: 10/10 get 11th free
Coupons: .40/1 1/11 SS
WHY DON'T I HAVE THESE? grrrr!

Taco Bell Dinner Kit .66
SALE: 1.66
Coupons: $1/1 Peelie
$1/4 mealbox

Fiber One bars.
2/$4. (price not in ad, so unsure...)
Buy 4 ($8)and get $5 back.
i think our q's are .50/1, which will double to $1 off, which will be $4 off of $3,
which is a money-maker! if i'm right... i have 4 coupons.

Wish we'd get free South Beach bars like The Coupon Goddess did this week!

Kahiki entrees are $2, we have a coupon for some amount, and there's a mealbox for $1/2.
Jose Ole is 20% off, we have q's, and there's a $2/2 mealbox.
Ore Ida is $2.50 and there's a $1/3 mealbox.. not so hot.
Also a $1/2 Voila mealbox.
Betty Crocker brownies are on sale again YUM
and it's a definitely springtime in meijer's produce section!

****************
KROGER --
**update on the kroger peek**
when i was at a kroger today, there was a cart full of tomorrow's circulars
and i asked for one
and the lady said yes!
so.... our sales are totally different.

boneless half pork loin $1.77 lb
mike sells 1.89 before q
box of mandarins is 4.99, might be cuties?
turkey hot dogs -- but the pic is oscar mayer & text says louis rich.. ?


the mega sale has
  • 2 purex 2.49 which will be @ 1.80 after q's
  • fritos 1.49
  • nature valley will be $1 after my q's
  • 4 colgate wave or total toothbrush @ .25 after my qs which expire 3/14
  • 4 freschetta pizzas @ 2.99 after q
  • 1 dole fruit bowls @ .89 after my cat q
  • kellogs cereal @ 1.49 before q's: i have (2) $1 off 2 frosted flakes, which would be $1 each.
  • and/or i have (1) .70 off any kellogs, which would be .80

i don't have much $$ but i bet i could plan one mega sale before payday and still have enough to see slumdog millionaire with my $5Club card and have a free roastburger w/ drink purchase at arby's! let's see...

4 toothbrushes $1

1 dole fruit bowls 1.89

2 nature valley: 7 items, 4.89

3 boxes cereal : 10 items, 7.69. that leaves me $12! yeah!

********************

oh yeah and MARSH will have Red Barons BOGO; we have a $1/2 q.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

10: Done for the week! Some computer hiccups..

hit 3 stores:
kroger for folgers, gorton's and butter.
meijer for bertolli pasta, free frosting, rice, milk, couple other things.
marsh for pizza rolls, walnuts and rubbermaids.
spent 49. something
saved 62. something

the damn computer wiped out all my notes
so i'm done now.

3/11/09 OK we went back to meijer for more spaghetti (.55 each)
spent 6.54, saved 8.94

and kroger for more coffee (4.49 each)
spent 8.98 x 2
saved 8.08 and 6.38

went to MARSH for more pizza rolls and
THEY WOULDN'T DOUBLE MY COUPONS
and the MANAGER WOULDN'T TELL ME WHY NOT
so i told them "that's ok, they'll be on sale somewhere else
and all the other stores double"
so i took my coupons and left.

Along the same lines, both times i was at meijer
and tried to use multiple, identical mealbox q's
the cashier was fine with it
but the computer scanned the additional ones at $0.00.
luckily the cashier likes me and fixed it, but i don't want to put her in that position all the time, so i'll be sure to stick w/ one per order from now on.

total spent: 73.50
total saved: 85.40

my lists for the week

kroger

folgers $4.99
kroger butter 1.99
gorton's 2.99 (i am NOT participating in the fiasco that is Mega Event)

marsh

pizza rolls
rubbermaid take-alongs
walnut meats
zone perfect bars

meijer

aunt millie's buns $1
2-liter coke
smart balance
milk $2
barilla pasta .88 and a coupon
grapes, plums, nectarines

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Spent $130, Saved $2100 !!!!!!!!!!!!

sound fun? check this out!

http://www.kitchengardeners.org/

i've been pouncing on the mailman every day,
but my seeds still haven't arrived yet!
maybe i'll go get some dirt today and get the little planting thingies ready :)
i read about starting peas inside
then transplanting them into a piece of guttering,
so they can be dragged into the sun during the day
and back under shelter at night
then slid right into a trench in the garden bed
once they're hardened off
and i even have the gutter
but i think it's late enough that i can put them right into the ground.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

budgeting bulk buys? ***updated

i did set back the $ for the beef;
we're not hitting the maple festival so i'll do that later;
i did spend $45 at penzey's;
and $70 on seeds in lieu of joining a CSA for $450 annually.
i'm gonna try things like rainbow chard & bok choy this year!
3 different kinds of lettuce, red carrots, daikon radishes. can't wait!

*****************
planning to buy a gallon of maple syrup
(not sure exact price but under $50)
and a quarter beef $460 from skillington
and some chickens, approx $10 each
with our tax check.
i'd also like to buy a quart of local honey in the late summer or fall, but that should be under $20.
so that's $530, plus however many chickens.

and maybe a mushroom-growing kit or two? i even found a mushroom-of-the-month club online that's about $360, and they could sure be dried. but honestly, maybe i could allow $70-ish (the cot of 2 kits) for mushrooms. that's another thing -- i think a dehydrator would pay for itself in the first year. if i could just keep from blowing the damn thing up!

that's $600, plus chickens, plus dehydrator. the rest of the check will pay down ugly debt -- big sigh of relief! hopefully it'll get low enough that i can see how to finish it off, then start a car fund, because my magical mystery car probably won't last forEVer.

but in future years we may not *have* a tax check, because we're increasing the deductions we take during the year. so i need to start figuring this cost into my grocery budget -- ok i need to make a grocery budget -- or, more accurately i guess, divide the amount by 50 and put aside that much each week, huh?

bread & paper products for week 9

4 frank's red hot FREE
3 breakstone cottage cheese 4-pks, $1 after q
8 yoplait $3 after q
3 Smart Start .88 each after q's !!!
11 bounty .36 each after q's (i had a store q for $1 off paper towels)
11 puff's .45 each after q's
1 english muffin that was supposed to be $1 but rang up for $3.59 and i just noticed it GRRR!
and 1 loaf aunt millie's bread .30 after q

spent $21.16,
saved $55.62

i'll be going to marsh for .19 aunt millie's

kroger trip #1, 4 orders

8 4-pk cottonelle
12 boxes tennessee pride gravy
9, 4-pk crescent rolls
4, 5-pk grands biscuits
2, 10-pk grands jr. biscuits

total spent $4.84
saved $46.47

kroger trip #2, 2 orders

8 cinnamon rolls
1 grands jr.
1 crescent roll

pd 4.80 **and got $6 back for my next order!!
saved 13.20

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

ugh i spent a lot! week 8

meijer trip #1

8 bird's eye frozen dinners $3 on sale
(dh takes them in the truck, so each replaces a probably $7 truckstop or fastfood "meal")
8 freschetta pizzas, 2/$6.75.
2 rice & sauce .50 each
18 pizza rolls .60 each
3 broccoli "FREE" because i bought 30 $10 for 10 items
2# asparagus $1 each
4# organic baby carrots $1 each
4 pks baby bella mushrooms $1 each
2 case water $2.99 each
2 box meijer snack baggies $1 each
6 foil loaf pans $2.69
gallon milk $3.47??? should have been $2... must have grabbed wrong brand?? grrr!!!
1 coffeemate creamer .88 after q

i also splurged (sort of)
on a 7-qt oval crock pot that was on sale for $25, allowing me to cook a whole chicken i hope,
and a very nice nonstick cookie sheet on clearance for $10
(i had none! this will reduce my foil bill!)

total after q's was $123.08, which means groceries were $86.
saved $103.51 altogether. $18 was for the hardware which i won't count,
so saved $85.

meijer trip #2

so then dh left, taking most of the birds-eye dinners, so i went back.
4 dinners @ $3
8 pizza rolls @.60 after q Thank God those q's are done!
4 breakstone sour cream @ .29 after price drop & q's THANKS SHELLEY!
1 coffeemate .88 after q
1 fizzy water .84

spent $19.53
saved $20.88

TOTAL Spent: 105.53
TOTAL SAVED: 105.88
hmph.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

oh i had to go to kmart

double q's up to $2

the only things i actually paid money for
were .49 for a box of bandaids,
.89 for 10# tidy cat,
and $1 apiece for 4 boxes of pringles stix.

for free i got 8 oral-b (wth does that mean anyway?) toothbrushes
(thank goodness! because i think my kids give them away on the street corner when i'm not home! we're always out!)
and 4 goodlife cat treats.

the bic razors were all gone,
and everything else was so danged expensive!
can you believe people pay $8 ON SALE for trash bags???
a 3-pack of brawny paper towels was $5 !!!! good grief!

anyway, i spent $6.46
saved $34.76 in coupons
my receipt says 19.8 and i don't know why

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

week 7

$30 from sam's early in the week

tonight we hit marsh for tidy cat
$2.50 for 20# after sale & q's / got 80# and a raincheck :)
also got 6 free cans of purina one for the neighbor's dog.
paid $11.55
saved $17.46

i don't even know what happened at CVS;
it's all so confusing to me.
i went in with $6 ECB.
came out with
2 neutrogena face bars, (they paid me $4)
2 colgate somethings that i'm gonna donate (they paid me $2)
1 chewable aspirin, ditto (free after ECB)
1 gilette gamer razor (ditto)
1 pack of premoistened lens cleaning wipes (free w/ q at door)
1 gallon of milk ($2.50 on sale, we were completely out.)
and $14 in ECB's.
i spent $5 oop.
receipts say i saved a total of $27.66
should i count that?

then we ditched the kids and hit meijer.
i'm a little more clear on what happened there.
i started with $5 in dollar-off-your-next-purchase q's, thanks to french's.
my first order was 5 chex mix bars, sale total $10. q's took it to $5 and i used my store q's making them all free!
then i got a catalina for $3.50!

my next order was 5 fiber one bars (same deal as above)
2 dozen eggs (we were just out)
crisco EVOO (ditto and had a Q)
1 bag fritos (ok i was hungry and they were $2)
2 boxes aunt millie's muffins, 1.30 each after q's
4 betty crocker frosting, free after q's
$16.12 after q's and catalina from prev order,
AND i got another $3.50 to use on my NEXT order.

spent $16.12, saved $38.24.

total spent for the week $62.67
saved $83.36

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

list

milk might be $2 at meijer this coming week!

out of spaghetti, looks like healthy harvest pasta will be $1 at meijer this week!!

also looks like lipton pasta & sauce on sale,
and maybe pizza rolls
which we're less than thrilled about right now
but we'll just take a break from 'em for a while.