Back To The Grocery Game: Now That's Some Dollar Doubling!

I love the Grocery Game.

It's been a while but I finally got back on. Truth be told I've been on before but they have completely redone the website and I haven't had time to figure it out. Until today. Because of my oldest daughter's chicken pox our schedules have cleared up (imagine that - don't want to risk spreading it to company so they have to wait till next month to come).

I love the new site! Maybe that's a bit repetitive but seriously it's great. She has a whole new feature where you get your entire list in coupon date order making it really easy to find the coupons and I can look them all up in order. So nice :)

Anyway, that's only half the point. The rest of it is here is what I picked up tonight:



I paid: $29.19
And saved: $69.80

Since I did pick up a few needs that weren't sale items my spendings were a little higher but I did also get quite a few free items and used doubled 20 coupons this time so I'm feeling pretty good about my trip :)

My Freebies:

Barilla Plus Pasta
- regular price: $2.50/each
- sale price: $0.60/each
- used 3 $1.00/2 coupon which doubled
- final price: FREE (no overage)

Bumble Bee Premium Light Tuna Pouch
- regular price: $1.39/each
- sale price: $1.00/each
- used 3 $1.00/2 coupons
- final price: FREE

Meow Mix Market Select Cat Food
- regular price: $0.69/each
- sale price: $0.67/each (yea, not much of a sale!)
- used 3 $1.00/2 coupons
- final price: FREE

For more great deal match-ups check out The Grocery Game :)

Is May Really Over?

I hope that you all had a very blessed Memorial Day and that you remembered those who have served our country and given the ultimate sacrifice. I know we pray for our nephew every day as he fights for our country.

As for us, we had a great day with friends and sharing a meal. What's more fun than giving and sharing?! Not much :)

I did make it to Harris Teeter this week but I didn't pick much up since it's the end of the month and I will be gone for June (my hubby will be here but he'll buy his own food :) ).

Here's what I picked up:



I spent: $30.31
And saved: $35.43

A few good deals:

Edy's Dibs (yum!)
- regular price: $3.99
- sale price: 2/$5.00
- used 4 $1.00/1 coupons from S 5/2
- final price: $1.50/each

Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Microwave Popcorn
- regular price: $5.19
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used $1.00/2 coupon from S 5/16
- final price: $2.10/each

For more great deals check out the Grocery Game

As for my meal plan - it's a simple week since we'll be traveling on Saturday and I want food gone from my pantry :)

Monday - grilling out with friends
Tuesday - Pork Roast with broccoli and rice - it was on sale :)
Wednesday - Spaghetti
Thursday - Moms of Multiples Dinner/Meeting
Friday - Leftover and whatever - NOT cooking :)

I'll have to do the end of the month recap tomorrow - don't have my totals tonight!

Triples Trip #2

Took my second trip to HT this week and was actually surprised to find they weren't completely cleaned out :) There were a few things they were out of but for the most part I found what I was looking for which makes me a less cranky shopper (read: I was very frustrated to go to Safeway this weekend and find them out of everything I went there for - seriously, just another reason I don't shop there!)

Here's what I got at HT:



I spent: $33.10
And saved: $57.52

Seemed a bit high but I had to pay full price for a few things - namely the bread ($3.39 for hoagie rolls!) and I got 2 things of Crystal Light which were buy 1 get 1 free but without a coupon it was $5.29 for 2. Sometimes you pay for what you love!

Still got some good deals:

Archway Cookies
- regular price: $2.99
- sale price: 2/$5.00
- used 5 $0.55/1 coupons that tripled to $1.65 from S 4/25
- final price: $0.85/each

Jimmie Dean Breakfast Bowls
- regular price: $3.00
- sale price: $2.70
- used 4 $0.75/1 coupons that tripled to $2.25 from RP 5/2
- final price: $0.45/each

Perdue Short Cuts Chicken Strips
- regular price: $5.69/each
- sale price: 2/$7.00
- used 3 $0.75/1 coupons from RP 5/2
- final price: $1.25/each

For more great deals check out: The Grocery Game

Harris Teeter Week 4/25

I took two trips to Harris Teeter this week. Wish it were one but that is life :)

Trip #1:



I spent: $42.83
And saved: $34.83

Trip #2:



I spent: $30.11
And saved: $29.27

Best Deals:

Lunchables
- regular price: $1.99
- sale price: $1.00
- used 2 $1.00/1 coupon from S 3/21
- final price: FREE

Tidy Cat Litter
- regular price: $5.89
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used $1.00/1 coupon from RP 2/7
- final price: $1.95
(you'll notice I got 1 on each trip - I tried for 2 on my first trip but they wouldn't let me use 2 coupons on a buy 1 get 1 free items - first time they've ever said anything - so I just bought one each time - kind of a funny policy since you don't have to buy 2 and they ring up half price - I spent the same amount in the end as if I had been able to use 2 coupons the first time around - so I have no idea why the policy exists but technically it does and it's always going to depend on the cashier and the individual store)

Classico Pasta Sauce/Ground Beef
- regular price: $2.09/each (for sauce)
- sale price: buy 2 get 3 free
- used $1.00/2 printable from HERE
- final price for sauce: $0.64/each
- ground beef original price: $4.55/lb
- sale price: $2.99/lb
- used 1 $1.50 off beef when you buy 2 sauces from S 3/14
- final price for beef: $1.40 (not quite a lb)

Kellogg's Pops, Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes
- regular price: $2.79 to $3.19
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used $1.00/3 coupon from RP 4/11
- final price: $1.20/each (I bought 1 Frosted Flakes, 1 Fruit Loops and 1 Pops - averaged out to $1.20/each)

Stayfree Maxi Pads
- regular price: $3.55
- sale price: 2/$6.00
- used 2 $2.00/1 coupons from RP 3/28
- final price: $1.00

I know there are lots of other good deals including a great Kashi deal but this is what I picked up. Check out the Grocery Game and Southern Savers for other great match-ups.

And in case you haven't heard this Wednesday begins Harris Teeter TRIPLES!!! So get your coupons out and get ready to stock up :)

Harris Teeter Trip April Week 1

I started my top 50 list this week but haven't gotten around to finishing it. We headed to DC to check out the Cherry Blossoms and I've been playing catch up since. I also went to Harris Teeter without a real grocery list - I had my coupons but no real meal list.

I picked up:



I spent: $41.84
And saved: $72.36

I'm most excited about stocking up on Cream of Chicken Soup :) I go through this a lot and I love not having to pay a ton for it.
- retail price: 2/$3.00
- sale price: 3/$2.00
- used 3 $0.25 off 3 coupons (now expired) and 2 $1.00/2 printable coupons from Southern Savers
- final price: $0.17 to $0.50/each

Act II Popcorn
- retail price: $2.55
- sale price: 4/$5.00
- used 3 $0.40 off 1 coupons from S 2/28
- final price: $0.45

Sister Schubert's Frozen Dinner Rolls (love these!)
- retail price: $3.99/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 3 $0.50/1 coupons from S 3/28
- final price: $0.99/each

For tons more great deals check out the Grocery Game and/or Southern Savers.

Triples Trip #2

I know I'm over budget this month. It's been a long month, we've been busy and I'm tired and right now I'm just not going to worry about it. I guess in the course of the year I'm really not over budget but month by month I am.

Anyway, here's what I picked up tonight:



I spent: $36.56
And saved: $76.07

My big savings came because there were a lot of VIC savings this time around and not just coupons - chicken breasts are buy 1 get 2 free as are strawberries and trash bags were buy 2 get 3 free. Since these are all things we use a lot of I went ahead and got them even though it put me over budget for the month. Mostly because I feel that it will be a big savings next month so it's quite worth it.

Also, because I've signed up as an e-Vic customer I was alerted that there was a sale on Ball Park Franks for $0.99 a pack with a limit of 2. I used a $1.00/2 coupon from RP 3/14 and got each pack for $0.50.

As for other coupon savings:

Daisy Sour Cream
- regular price: $2.19/each
- sale price: 3/$5.00 or $1.67
- used 3 $0.60 off 1 coupons from S 3/28
- final price: FREE

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner (hey, you gotta do it!)
- regular price: $2.69
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free (though it was NOT displayed on the shelf)
- used 2 $0.75/1 coupons
- final price: FREE

Mini Wheats Little Bites
- regular price: $3.39
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used $1.00/1 coupon from RP 3/28
- final price: $0.70

For lots more match-ups check out the Grocery Game - she includes match-ups from this Sunday's paper which was very helpful for my trip today.

I'll post my week's menu tomorrow when I actually make one :) But I know this whatever I make I will use what I have in the pantry - I'm done grocery shopping for the week.

Harris Teeter This Week and Giant Trip #2

I don't intend to bore you with all my shopping trips but like to share the best deals I find and show you how I do it. Which is pretty much the purpose of the blog :) I figure if I can do it anyone can do it!

Like I said yesterday, Harris Teeter wasn't too exciting but I did manage a few good basics.



I spent: $42.25
And saved: $40.14

I used very few coupons this time - literally just 5 and 4 of them were the same - Mission Tortilla coupons from S 3/7.

My favorite deal this week was the ground beef. It was on sale for $1.47 a pound which is a great deal for me so I stocked up and bought the limit of 4 (2 I purchased earlier in the week).

But even better was the coupon from last week's paper (S 3/14) - it was a coupon for $1.50 off ground beef if you bought 2 Classico Spaghetti sauces. And since Classico was on sale buy 1 get 1 free this week I was able to buy 2 jars for $2.09 and get $1.50 off my ground beef! Can't beat that. Unfortunately I only had 1 copy - this was one of those coupons that were only in the Washington Post. I'm finding more and more of those so I'm going out of my way to get extra copies :)

I also headed back to Giant tonight for round 2 of their Catalina promotion. I stick to just 2 transactions a day for my sanity as well as for the cashiers :) For some reason the $10 coupons print just fine but they are not scanning and the cashier then has to take them and over ride them and put them in as cash. It's all weird and I hate to make them do it over and over. My cashier did it twice tonight and she was very pleasant and I thanked her for her help but I felt bad that it was so complicated for all of us.

Here's what I got tonight:

Transaction 1:


I spent: $2.61
And saved: $20.79
And earned: $10

Transaction 2:


I spent: $1.79
And saved: $19.75
And earned: $10

In both transactions I bought 1 extra item to be sure that my total was over $10. The Washington Post is my extra Sunday copy and in the second transaction I bought some paper baking cups so that I can actually make all the muffins I'm buying!

Almost all of the coupons I used were printable coupons from Coupons.com other than the $0.50/2 Green Giant Frozen Vegetables and they were from S 2/7 (only in the Washington Post though so I only had 2 of those).

Again, thanks to Moneywise Moms and the Grocery Game for my coupon match-ups this week.

Groceries This Week 3/14

I apologize for the long gap in posting. Three consignment sales in one month are really doing a number on me. I worked every evening last week and then used Friday and Saturday to catch up on what I had gotten behind on! Mainly grocery shopping. Last week my bill was very low because I knew I wouldn't be home cooking and sure enough I wasn't. Never got to use the stove until Friday night for a quick meal in. I actually miss it when I don't get to make the family meals.

Yesterday I made up for the lesser amount from last week and spent all of my budget and then some.

Here's what I got from Harris Teeter:



I spent: $96.91
And saved: $92.51

50% isn't bad but I prefer to do better. Still, for the week after having to play a bit of catch-up it wasn't bad.

Best deals:

No Yolks Noodles
- regular price: $2.29/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 3 $1.00/2 coupons from S 2/21
- final price: $0.65/each
(Some papers the coupon is for $0.75/1 and it doubles to make it free but not in the NoVa area)

Kellogg's Mini Wheats
- regular price: $3.39/each
- sale price: none but if you buy 3 boxes you get $3.00 off your order; 4 boxes you get $4.00 off and 5 boxes you get $5.00 off your order - automatically taken off at check-out (obviously that's $1.00 off a box)
- used 2 $1.50/2 printable coupons (can be found HERE along with a great Target deal to get Mini Wheats even cheaper)
- final price: $1.64/each

For more deals at Harris Teeter check out the Grocery Game.

After my big order at Harris Teeter I headed to Safeway because they are once again having their buy 5 get $5.00 off sale and I have found this to be the best way to stock up on fruit snacks and cereal.

Here's what I picked up:



I spent: $10.95 in two transactions
And saved: $42.27

Here's what I did:

First time through I picked up:

10 Boxes of Fruit Snacks/Fruit Roll-Ups
- regular price: $2.79/each
- sale price: 2/$4.00
- used 5 $0.50/2 coupons from S 3/7
- got $10 off my order for buying 10 boxes
- final price: $0.50/each
- earned back a $3.50 Catlina coupon

(also purchased Mott's Apple Juice for $0.99/each which was a weekend special)

I spent $7.22 on my first order

Second time through I bought:

3 Boxes of Lucky Charms
- regular price: $4.29/each
- sale price: $3.00/each
- used $1.00/3 coupon from GM 2/7

2 Boxes of Fruity Pebbles
- regular price: $3.29/each
- sale price: 2/$5.00
- used $1.00/2 coupon from S 2/28

Got $5.00 off my order and used $3.50 Catalina coupons

On this order I only spent $3.73 making it just 40.75 per box of cereal! I like that price :)

For more Safeway deals and other ways to get great prices on the pick 5 deal check out Moneywise Moms.

Total weekly groceries: $107.86 ($7.86 over budget)
But I saved: $134.78

Harris Teeter Trip 3/7

I am still recovering from our fabulous moms of multiples sale this past weekend and gearing up to work all week at Classy Kids - the large thrice annual consignment sale I work at - but I did manage to make it to the grocery store last night for some pretty good deals. I didn't have a lot to buy because I won't be cooking all week - made the trip easier and cheaper :) Should have a week like this every month!

Here's what I got:



I spent: $33.83
And saved: $56.64

Quaker Deal: Buy 7 products get $3.00 off your order

I purchased:

2 Boxes Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
- retail price: $2.99/each
- sale price: 2/$4.00
- used $1.00/2 coupon from RP 2/14
- additional $0.43 off each
- final price: $1.07 each

2 Boxes Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix
- retail price: $2.89/each
- sale price: $2.49/each
- used $1.00/2 coupon from RP 1/3
- additional $0.43 off each
- final price: $1.56/each

3 Boxes of Cap'n Crunch Cereal
- retail price: $2.50
- sale price: 2/$4.00
- additional $0.43 off each
- final price: $1.57/each

Because these are products we use every day this was a great deal for me. Enough of which I may go back (if I can after working) for another go around to stock up on some more pancake mix and grab some syrup :)

Other deals:

Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables
- retail price: $2.35/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 2 $1.00/2 coupons from S 2/7
- final price: $0.68/each

Kellogg's Apple Jacks/Fruit Loop Cereal
- retail price: $3.45/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 2 $1.00/2 coupons from RP 3/7
- final price: $1.23/each

For more great deals this week check out The Grocery Game.

Trip #3 Harris Teeter Doubles

I meant to post this days ago but we have been hit by the stomach bug here and it hit me hard all weekend long. But I wanted to get this posted tonight and postpone the week's menu in case you want to run out tomorrow and grab up some of the good deals :)

On Friday I went to the store using the Grocery Game which I still believe is the most comprehensive list and if you're pressed for time I highly recommend just using the Grocery Game and forgoing the other sites.

Here's what I got on Friday's trip:


(Not pictured: green pepper; 2 lb carrots; HT shredded lettuce)

I paid: $40.62
And saved: $79.67

I will say I bought a few things I didn't end up needing. I was supposed to have a party on Saturday and I needed food for it but since I had to cancel due to illness I didn't need the food. Oh well, I will use it.

Best deals:

Edy's Ice Cream
- regular price: $4.49
- sale price: $2.97
- used 6 $1.00/1 coupons from S 1/31
- final price: $0.97/each

Grande Tortilla Chips
- regular price: $3.49
- sale price: 2/$6.00
- used 3 $1.00/1 coupons from S 1/10
- final price: $1.00/each

Welch's 100% Grape Juice
- regular price: $3.69
- sale price: 2/$6.00
- used 1 $1.00/1 coupon from S 2/7
- final price: $1.00

Uncle Ben's Boil in Bag Rice
- regular price: $2.29
- sale price: none
- used 2 $1.00/1 coupon from S 1/24
- final price: $0.29/each

For more great deals check out the Grocery Game - she has updated using this week's brand new coupons and there are a few more good deals that I will try and pick up tomorrow!

Week 1 - Frugal February

Okay, I didn't do badly last month in groceries but compared to many who used January as their pantry challenge month I didn't do well at all. I was definitely not prepared to eat through my pantry in January. Well, it wasn't the pantry as much as lack of meat in the freezer.

So, since I wasn't able to cut back in January I'm going to try for February. After all February is a much shorter month - what better time to try?!

Here's what I got for this week:


(Not pictured: 4 gallons of milk)

I spent: $46.06
And saved: $59.75

My goal had been $40 so I went a tiny bit over but still not bad. I will have to go back tonight for a few more things because I am bringing food to a brunch tomorrow but I'm hoping to make up for that later in the month.

I also headed to CVS last night because of the great diaper deal and picked this up:



I spent: $3.74 (using my $19 ECB's from last week)
And saved: $27.48
And earned: $10.49 in extra care bucks

Best deals this week at Harris Teeter:

Ragu Pasta Sauce
- orginal price: $1.79/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 1 $1.25 off 3 coupon from RP 1/31
- final price: $0.47/each

Quaker Quakes Mini Rice Cakes
- original price: $2.19/each
- sale price: 4/$5.00
- used 3 $0.75/1 coupons from RP 1/10
- final price: FREE

Birds Eye Steamfresh Frozen Vegetables
- original price: $1.49/each
- sale price: 5/$5.00
- used 4 $1.00/2 coupons from S 1/10
- final price: $0.50/each

Kellogg's Mini Wheats
- original price: $3.39
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used printable $1.50 off 2 coupon from HERE
- final price: $0.95/each

For more great deals at Harris Teeter check out the Grocery Game - all deals are from there except for the Mini Wheats. I did fail to mention that another advantage of the Grocery Game is that she updates on Sunday mornings with the brand new coupons giving you a few extra deals each week - very worth the subscription!

For CVS deals check out Southern Savers

Week 1 grocery totals: $49.82
Total savings: $87.23

Grocery Game and Southern Savers

For a month I've shopped with both and I've come up with a list of pros and cons for each which I'm hoping you will find helpful as you figure out what helps your coupon clip. I know starting couponing can often be so overwhelming and it takes a while to figure out what everything means. But fortunately there are tons of services and people out there who are willing to help you save money.

Using both Southern Savers and the Grocery Game this is what I picked up this week:


(Not pictured: 4 gallons of milk; 2 boxes of Toaster Strudels)

I spent: $51.98
And saved: $51.60

The deals weren't that great this week (except for the yogurt since it was part of the Kraft buy 15 get $5.00 back deal which meant each pack was $0.87 and we go through yogurt like crazy around here!) so I only saved about 50%. I needed "a lot" of items for meals for this week so it was more of a needs run than a sales run.

I'd say for this week both lists led me to pretty much the same deals.

But here are my thoughts on each "service":

Southern Savers:

Pros: FREE; up early; printable list; coupon match-ups including printables to coupons not in the paper; great information about rebates; really good resource for coupons

Cons: it's sometimes hard to tell if items are a good price that's worth stocking up on - yes, if it's free then it's pretty easy but I often need some extra help figuring out the final price and the final price of items isn't always listed; because it's a blog there are lots of different things posted - while it is easy to find the store I'm looking for the site has plenty of distractions; the site isn't local - meaning match-ups aren't based in VA and Harris Teeter is actually the only local grocery store listed (CVS and Target are nationwide - I'm talking about actual grocery stores).

The Grocery Game

Pros: very easy to use; list is very easy to read as is printing; site is specific for its intentions and there are no distractions; stores are local and more specific options locally - more than just Harris Teeter; list makes it easy to know what is free, what to stock up on and what's on sale if you need it but not at the greatest price; lists original price, sale price, coupon match-up, final price after both and percentage saved; very extensive list of sales - more than any other list I have come across thus far including SS

Cons: cost - the fact that you have to pay for each store makes it cost prohibitive to get more than one or two stores; not up until Friday at noon - which is better than it was but still means you miss 2 1/2 days of shopping and may find the store empty of the best deals; doesn't match-up printables for the most part

My simple assessment is use both :) If you must choose and find the cost acceptable I would still go with the Grocery Game for ease of use, extensiveness of the list and the fact that she uses a 12-week stock-up rule making it easy to know when the sales are at their best. However, there's no downside to checking Southern Savers since it's free so you can bet I'll be checking in weekly!

Next month I will use the Coupon Mom and the Grocery Game (I'm sure I'll check Southern Savers tomorrow too but I'm out of shopping money for the month!)

Harris Teeter Twice

I took two trips to Harris Teeter this week. Once with Southern Savers and once with the Grocery Game.

Using Southern Savers on Wednesday:


(Not pictured: 1 gallon milk)

I spent: $28.50
And saved: $45.51 (I also earned $5.00 back from the Kraft cheese promotion)

Using the Grocery Game on Saturday:


(Not pictured: 3 gallons of milk)

I spent: $31.81
And saved: $47.98

Almost identical spending and savings. This week, for the most part, both places had the same deals - I just bought different deals on different days. And I needed a LOT of staples on my second trip. Believe it or not I was almost out of cereal!

Best deals:

Quaker Quakes Mini Rice Cakes
- retail price: $2.19/each
- sale price: 4/$5.00 ($1.25/each)
- used 8 $0.75/1 coupons from RP 1/10
- final price: FREE

Crystal Light Drink Mix/Nabisco 100 Calorie Packes (combo coupon)
- Crystal Light original price: $3.99/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 4 $2.00 off Crystal Light and 100 Calorie Packs from S 1/3
- final price for Crystal Light: $1.00/each

- Nabisco original price: $3.35
- sale price: 2/$5.00
- used 4 coupons
- final price for Nabisco Packs: $1.50/each

Smart Balance Sour Cream
- original price: $1.79/each
- sale price: $0.99/each
- used 2 $1.00 off 1 coupons from RP 1/10
- final price: FREE

For more great deals check out Southern Savers and/or the Grocery Game. Next week I will share my thoughts on the pros and cons of each.

Two Trips More

As of today my weekly budget is officially gone :) But I certainly stretched it a great deal! If it weren't for fresh produce, milk and meat I could live without the grocery store for a good month at this point. I may try that someday - as soon as I learn to tear myself away from the deals...

Okay, enough with the sad obsession. Because believe me when I spend half of my dinner out with other moms discussing coupons and the best prices AND can remember exactly what those prices are everywhere I can certainly say I'm a little obsessed.

I made a second trip Thursday night and even though I snapped a picture of what I got I managed to erase it before I could post. Oops! Shame too since I got a great deal on coffee creamer - 3 free after using internet coupons found HERE. Because some of the holiday creamer was on sale for $1.49 I was able to get those free by doubling my $1.50/2 coupon - the third free one came from doubling the $1.00/1 coupon.

Thursday's trip:

I spent: $27.28
And saved: $52.17

- I got the Special K bars promotion again and bought 5 things of Kraft cheese to get a $5.00 off my next purchase at the register.

Today's (Saturday) trip:


(Not pictured: 3 gallons of milk)

I spent: $52.18
And saved: $114.88

For this trip I used the Grocery Game to prepare and for this week I saw a lot of the same deals as Southern Savers with a few exceptions.

Best deals:

Electrasol Tabs
- regular price: $5.99/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free: $2.99/each
- used 3 $2.50/1 coupons from S 1/3
- final price: $.049/each
(yes, I know they're free at Walgreens but only have a register reward which means I have to go back to use it and I haven't really begun shopping there so I'm not worrying about the $0.49 at HT)

Nyquil Tablets (Liquid on sale too)
- regular price: $5.79
- sale price: $3.99
- used 2 $1.50/1 coupons from PG 12/27
- final price: $0.99/each
- also used Buy 2 Vicks Products Get Puffs Free PG 12/27 - there was no maximum price on this so I think you can buy a bigger box then I did but I just bought the square box for $1.00 and got that FREE

Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Containers
- regular price: $3.99/each
- sale price: $3.19/each
- used 3 $1.00/1 coupons from S 1/3
- final price: $1.19/each
- there were other containers - real small ones would be just $0.63 each but I preferred these because they're big enough to hold sandwiches and for around $1.00 I still felt it was a great price!

For lots more deals check out the Grocery Game.

First HT Trip Of The Year

I actually went last night. I was so excited to be able to make it out on a Saturday evening. Made my Sunday more free which was great. Not sure if I'll make it out every Saturday but it's a start :)

I used both the Grocery Game and Southern Savers. Using both was great. SS had a lot of printable coupons that GG didn't have.


(Not pictured: 3 gallons of milk; cat litter)

Using both resources I spent: $57.66
And saved: $55.42

Not quite 50% - losing my game already :)

Still that is all I spent on groceries for the week - under budget enough to allow us to eat fast food after church this morning. And using cash meant I was much more aware of the deals I picked up and what I actually needed. I left behind a number of "good" sales that I may have otherwise picked up. But it felt good to spend less and still get a large number of items that I needed and have food at home to make dinners this week.

If you have the time I highly recommend using as many resources as you can to get the best deals. Southern Savers includes a link to Mission tortillas that make the tortillas just $0.40 for a package!

If there are other sites that you love for coupon match-ups please pass them on. I plan to combine SS and GG all month and see what the pros and cons are at the end of the month.

This month check out the Grocery Game and Southern Savers for HT deals!

Last Minute Stocking Stuffers At CVS

This week was a good one for free or cheap items at CVS. I use all kinds of grocery items as stocking gifts - make-up (for me really - I'm just helping Kirk); toothbrushes; shaving needs so CVS is a great place to pick these items up.



I spent: $12.32
And saved: $34.92 (I believe that includes my ECB's though)
And used: $18 ECB's from last week
And earned: $18 new ECB's

Best deals:

Listerine
- regular price: $4.19
- sale price: $3.99
- earns $3.00 ECB's
- used 1 $1.00 off 1 coupon from R 12/6
- final price: FREE

Oral-B Satinfloss
- regular price: $3.99
- sale price: $2.88
- earns $2.00 ECB's
- used 1 $1.00 off 1 coupon from PG 11/29
- final price: better than FREE

Nivea Body Wash for Women
- regular price: $5.99
- earns $5.00 ECB's
- used 1 $2.00 off coupon from coupons.com
- final price: better than FREE

Revlon Moon Drop or Super Lustrous Lipstick
- regular price: $8.99
- sale price: $6.99
- earns $5.00 ECB's
- used 1 $2.00 off coupon from S 12/13
- final price: FREE

For more great deals check out the Grocery Game.

Shopping After The Snow

Well, Kirk managed to dig us out of the snow enough that we were able to actually leave the house for the first time in a few days! Not sure what the final total was but it had to be close to two feet. Incredible - it was beautiful. Now it's just piled up everywhere which isn't nearly as pretty but at least we'll still have some come Christmas.

Here's what I got when I went to HT today:



Not pictured: a lot - I left a bag at the store (Kirk went back for it) - Velveeta cheese, Pop Tarts, pack of cookies, 2 boxes of mac n cheese, Crystal Light and 3 gallons of milk (the milk I didn't leave but it's still not in the picture)

I spent: $76.01
And saved: $94.75

Seems like there are a lot of deals on crackers and cheese this week!

Best deals:

Breakstone Sour Cream
- regular price: $1.99 each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 2 $1.00/2 coupons from RP 11/15
- final price: $0.50 each

Kraft Shredded Cheese
- regular price: $3.29 each
- sale price: 3 for $5.00
- used 2 $1.00/2 coupons from S 11/22
- final price: $1.17 each

Hellmann's Mayonaise
- regular price: $3.49 each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 1 $1.00/2 coupons from RP 11/15
- final price: $1.25 each

Sunshine Cheez-It Crackers
- regular price: $4.29 each (seriously expensive!)
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 2 $1.00/2 coupons from RP 12/13
- final price: $1.65 each

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix
- regular price: $1.99 each
- sale price: 3/$5.00
- used 3 $0.40 off from G 12/13 and G 11/15
- final price: $0.87 each

For more great deals head to the Grocery Game.

And if you're noticing that I have yet more cereal - so help me I do :) We go through a few boxes of cereal a week so the stockpile I have will last a while but still I buy another box or two a week even when I don't need it! I think my addiction to couponing has gone too far...

Christmas Shopping At CVS

Hey, why not? What a great way to pick up some stocking stuffers and some extra care bucks! I'd use coupons for everything if I could :)

Here's what I got:



I spent: $50.39
And saved: $40.83
And earned: $18.00 Extra Care Bucks

Best deals:

Listerine Total Care Mouthwash
- retail price $4.49
- used 1 $2.00 off coupon from S 3/15 or R 4/26 (yes, I still had the coupon!)
- earned $2.00 in extra care bucks
- final price $0.49

Suave Body Wash
- retail price: $2.79/each
- sale price: 3/$6.00
- used 1 $1.00/3 coupon from R 10/25
- earned $2.00 in extra care bucks
- final price: $1.00/each

Bic Soleil or Comfort 3 Shavers
- retail price: $6.69
- sale price: $4.99
- no coupon
- earned $4.00 in extra care bucks
- final price: $0.99

Check out the Grocery Game for more great deals at CVS.

Harris Teeter Trip 12/13

And it was my list week to qualify for gift cards and I did. Very excited! I got a $25 gift card to Regal cinemas and a $25 gift card to Best Buy. All free - well, after spending $75/week for 16 weeks at the grocery store. But still a bonus gift for buying groceries!

This week I got:


(Not pictured: 3 gallons of milk)

I spent: $88.32
And saved: $118.36

- still a bit over what I'd like especially since I went earlier this week for a few things and spent $16 (saved $9 I think) - the good news is that with the promotion at HT over I no longer have to spend $75/week and can use the rest of the month to spend less and make up for my overage.

Best Deals:

Chex Cereal
- retail price: $3.59/each
- sale price: $2.50/each
- HT promotion - $3.00 off purchase of 3 boxes
- used 1 $1.00/2 coupon from G 12/13; G 11/15
- final price: $1.17/each (65% off)

Sister Schubert's Dinner Rolls
- retail price: $3.99/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 4 $0.50/1 coupons from S 11/15
- final price: $1.00/each (75% off)

Daisy Sour cream
- retail price: $2.19/each
- sale price: 3/$5.00 or $1.67/each
- used 3 $0.60 off 1 coupons from S 11/15
- final price: $0.47/each (80% off)

Newman's Own Organic Salsa (see there is organic stuff on the list!)
- retail price: $3.49/each
- sale price: $1.94/each
- used 4 $0.50 off 1 coupons from RP 10/25
- final price: $0.94/each (73% off)

For more great deals check out the Grocery Game.

Couponing Again

It feels good to get out to the store with coupons again! I did shop last week but because it was the holiday weekend there weren't many sales. I spend around $80 but only saved $40 - not a great week for me but what do you expect when you have to spend $75/week for the gift cards AND we just came back from two weeks gone AND the store has no sales :)

Oh well, this week was much better.

This is what I got:



Not pictured: 5 gallons of milk and I believe the hot chocolate I bought didn't get in the photo :)

I spent: $105.83
And saved: $129.92

Best Deals:

White House Apple Sauce
- retail price: $2.00/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 4 $1.00/2 coupons from S 11/15
- final price: $0.50 each

Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats Cereal
- retail price: $3.39/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used 2 $1.00/3 coupons from RP 11/8
- final price: $1.31 each

Sunkist Orange Soda (mom points!)
- retail price: $1.99/each
- sale price: 2/$2.00
- used 4 $1.00/2 coupons from S 11/15
- final price: $0.50 each

Sargento Natural Shredded Cheese
- retail price: $2.79/each
- sale price: buy 1 get 1 free
- used $1.00/2 coupon from S 11/15
- final price: $0.90 each

For more great deals check out the Grocery Game.