Wednesday, March 31, 2010

March Budget Review


I'm not a regular grocery shopper. I buy stuff before I even need it, matching manufacturer coupons with store sales. This way I'm able to "shop" from my own pantry and pay a fraction of retail with items I use. No, we will not use all that cortaid this month, but we will use it this year. When I make meals for us, I menu plan around what we already have on our shelves and in the freezer. There are occasional items I have to pay full price for, but they are the exception as I build up my food storage with stuff we actually use, all for less then I used to spend just to get us by every month.

Well, I did better than I thought when I take the rebates I'm getting into account. This total is also including the "$33 weekend budget" that I made up to make myself feel better about all the last minute, full-priced stuff I had to get for the baby blessing and Sam's birthday party.

not including WIC:

Retails: $736.20
Total Spent: $171.14
Percent Off: 77%

This month I was able to stock up on tuna, diapers, wipes, pasta, salad dressing, powerade, chips, freezer pizza, peanuts, pasta sauce, cortaid, feminine products, baby wash and lotion, neosporin, bandaids, crackers, baby rash cream, shampoo, dish soap, chicken broth, butter, ice cream, strawberries, cookies, paper plates, cups, frozen veggies, fresh chicken breast, flour, make up, salsa, ground beef, corn bread mix, fruit roll ups, lunch meat, fish sticks, sour cream, and smoothie mix.


WIC Items

Retails: $86.81
Total Spent: FREE
thanks WIC!

Monday, March 29, 2010

Brag, brag, brag

It's been one of those days. The long and short of it all is that I really didn't feel like making a meal tonight.



We went to Quizno's! I used my CityDeals gift certificate that I got for less than 1/2 off and a BOGO coupon from an awesome local coupon calendar. (there's a BOGO coupon here but you have to order a drink too. Thanks utahdealdiva) We ordered off the $5 large menu.

Then we went over to McDonalds and got 2 free smoothies with coupons my sister snagged from The Daily Universe a week or so ago.

So for 2 large Quizno sandwiches and 2 McDonald's Smoothies, $15 dollars or so of food, I spent about $2! Sweet!

Thanks for letting me brag. It feels good.


Saturday, March 27, 2010

menu 3/27


Main Dish:
  • Grilled Steak Kabobs
  • Coconut Curry Chicken (this recipe is really good but we always add more curry to it- gives it more flavor)
  • Crockpot Potato Soup
  • Beef Taco Salad with homemade hard shell (can I call the shell "homemade" when I start with a store-bought tortilla?)
  • Meatball Sandwiches with homemade meatballs and bread
  • and something else that I'll figure out later... Too tired... Need sleep...
Sides: fresh/frozen/canned fruits and veggies, rolls, rice, beans, salad, whatever

Need to buy for Menu:
  • Nothing. I menu plan from what I've got on my shelves and in my freezer because I'm a cheapskate and that is the cheapskate way to be.

Wow. Can you tell how much I love menu planning?


Pork Recipe

Here's a few recipes to use up that Coke I got on sale at Smiths.


IMG_0205

Cafe Rio Sweet Shredded Pork
Thank you Sarah at AThriftyMom for posting this recipe.




Pork Carnitas
Thanks UtahDealDiva for this recipe!


Speaking of recipes, I need to post a menu...


Friday, March 26, 2010

city deals


I can not believe how fast my CityDeals gift certificates came that I told you about here. I ordered them on Wednesday and they came today! Nice.

However I thought they were going to be gift cards, but they are certificates. I got 4 different ones and one of them (Gloria's) says that it can't be used with coupons. So heads up on that!


rebate!


I got a rebate check from Rite Aid today! Whoo hoo! Too bad it was only for 2 bucks. But hey! $2 is $2, right?


Money Left for the Month: $2.58


Smiths

I ran out of eggs and took a quick trip to Smiths this afternoon.


Retails: $20.08
Total Spent: $1.35
Percent Off: 94%

How did I do it?

Smiths has a promotion going: Buy 8 participating items and get $4 off. This equals $.50 off per item. Everything I bought is on the promotion except the eggs.

Bumblebee Tuna, reg. $1.99
- on sale $.99/$.49 as part of the promotion
- used $.55 coupon from 2/21 SS newspaper
- FREE!

Lunchables, reg. $2.39
- on sale $1.49/$.99
- used $1 coupon from 3/21 SS newspaper
- FREE!

Eggs, reg. 1.29


see my other Smiths trips with this sale here and here.

this sale goes through Tuesday night.

compiled list from pinchingyourpennies


Money Left for the Month: $.58



Thursday, March 25, 2010

Toy Story Killer Deal


Sorry, this isn't a grocery deal but everyone needs to know about this.

If you're wanting Toy Story 1 and 2, this is the time to buy them.

Hip2save tells you how to get DVD/Blueray for both of the movies for $13.98 plus tax. Not apiece. Total. Plus each movie comes with a free movie ticket for Toy Story 3.

Check out hip2save for details on how to swing this. Make sure you call your Toys R Us before heading out to make sure they've got some in stock.


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Going Out to Eat


Do you like to go out to eat? I sure do. If I had my way we'd be going out to dinner every night. Utahdealdiva talks about CityDeals here. They have gift cards for restaurants at a discount. I just bought a $20 gift card for Quizno's for $8! Plus, when I use the card I can use any coupons I have on top of it. Sweet! They have free shipping this week too.


wic

Not pictured: another thing of blueberries, a thing of apple juice, and a gallon of milk. Oops.


Retails: $21.22
Total Spent: FREE
Thanks WIC!


Monday, March 22, 2010

maceys

Thanks to Carrie for picking this up for me today! It was so nice to have it delivered right to my door.


Retails: $4.15
Total Spent: $1.05
Percent Off: 75%

This graham cracker price goes through next week so no hurry to pick them up.


Money Left for the Month: $1.93


another huggies coupon!


In addition to the 2 coupons I told you about the other day, another $3 coupon has appeared!
Hooray!
Remember you can print it twice.


rite aid


Retails: $39.94
Total Spent: $11.17
Percent Off: 72%
plus I'm applying for $1 rebate online so
Adjusted Total Spent: $10.17
Adjusted Percent Off: 75%

How did I do it?

I first used a $5/$25 Rite Aid coupon, making all the deals below even better!

Huggies Diapers, jumbo pack, reg. $11.99
- on sale $8.99
- used 2 $3 coupons here or here (become a facebook fan)
- used a $2 coupon from Rite Aid AdPerks. (have to watch a 30 second commercial and then can print off coupon. It says manufacturer's coupon on it but you can use it on top of the $3 coupon)
- $10 for both diapers
- plus you can apply for $1 rebate on RiteAid. It's super easy and you just need your receipt to enter in info. I've already done this rebate this month.
- $9 for both packs of diapers!

Huggies Wipes, reg. $3.49
- on sale $2.50
- used $.50 coupon from 3/21 SS newpaper and $.75 coupon from mail
- apply for $1 when you buy 2 rebate on Rite Aid
- $2.75 for both packs!

Johnson & Johnson baby wash, reg. $4.69
- on sale $2.99
- used $1 in-ad coupon
- used $1 manufacturer's coupon from 3/7 RP newspaper or here
- $.99

Reeses Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, reg. $.88
- on sale $.50
- used $.55 coupon from 3/14 SS newspaper
- FREE!
Oh, and there might have been 2 of these when we got home today...


compiled list from hip2save and utahdealdiva (she has a scenario using swim diapers)


Money Left for the Month: $2.98


Friday, March 19, 2010

huggies coupon


Ok, so I don't usually blog about coupons to print, but if you use Huggies, you need to know about the $3 coupon out right now at coupons.com and on facebook.

You can print each one twice, meaning $12 off diapers! Sweet. I'm sure we'll hit a good sale to use them on soon!

thanks hip2save!


Smiths. Again.

I just can't keep away from this sale at Smiths. So what if my budget is an absolute train wreck this month. Budgets are over-rated, right? Oh brother. I've got issues.


Retails: $42.95
Total Spent: $4.35
Percent Off: 90%

How did I do it?

My total was $7.35 and then I paid with the $3 catalina that I got from buying the California Pizza Kitchen pizzas on Wednesday.

Smiths has a promotion going: Buy 8 participating items and get $4 off. This equals $.50 off per item. Everything I bought is on the promotion except the wipes. We're going through those bad boys like candy these day.


Ken's Salad Dressing, reg. $3.59
- on sale $1.99/$1.49 with promotion
- used $1 coupon from 3/7 SS newspaper
- $.49 each

Lays All Natural Chips, reg. $3.21
- on sale $2.75/$2.25
- used $1 coupon from 3/14 SS newspaper
- $1.25

Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta, reg. $1.99
- on sale $1.25/$.75
- used $.75 coupon here and here (print each one twice- 4 boxes for free!)
- FREE!

Healthy Harvest Pasta, reg. $1.99
- on sale $1.25/$.75
- used $1/2 coupon (print twice)
- $.25 each

Powerade, reg. $1.19
- on sale $.75/$.25
- Provo Smiths is out of these today. They said they'd get in more tomorrow. I got some of the last ones.
- I buy these for when we're sick

Pampers Wipes, reg. $3.20?
- on clearance $2.20
- used $.50 coupon from 2/7 PG newspaper
- $1.70


Money Left for the Month: $14.15

Thursday, March 18, 2010

menu 3/18

I just got a few cookbooks from Taste of Home that were only $5 each. Five of these meals are from the Best of Quick Cooking. We'll see how I like them.


Main Course:
  • Steak and Rice Chimichangas (using the steak I bought on clearance yesterday)
  • Chicken in Lime Butter, p.213
  • Chicken Cordon Bleu, p.218
  • Beef Burgundy, p. 148 (using the stew meat I bought on clearance yesterday) over egg noodles
  • Chicken Fried Steak, p. 227
  • Orange Sichuan Chicken (from Baking Bites, a killer web site my sister just introduced me to. She has TONS of treats recipes.)
  • Tasty Reuben Soup, p. 101
Sides: homemade rolls (in the freezer), fresh/canned/frozen fruits and veggies including colcannon, salad, rice, whatever...

Need to Buy for Menu: Nothing
I will buy fruits and veggies soon, but beyond that, I menu plan around what we already have in the freezer and on the shelves. In that way I'm able to afford to stock up on what is on sale.


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

bonus $20!


My mom left this morning and left me a $20 to be added to my budget this month. She is so sweet! Thanks Mom. I went a little crazy this month and this will help me get to the end of the month in style.

That being said,

Money Left for the Month: $18.50


smiths

There are some good deals to be had at Smiths (our local Kroger) this week.


Retails: $78.86
Total Spent: $7.76
Percent Off: 91%
plus I have a $3 catalina (like a gift card) I can use on anything in the store in the next 2 weeks.

How did I do it?

Smiths has a promotion going: Buy 8 participating items and get $4 off. This equals $.50 off per item. Everything I bought is on the promotion except the clearanced beef.

Also, I paid with a $20 credit I got from filling a prescription at their pharmacy. I've got one more $20 credit left.

Powerade, reg. $1.19
- on sale $.75/$.25 (after the promotion)

Bumblebee Tuna, reg. $1.99
- on sale $.99/$.49
- used $.55 coupon from 2/21 SS newspaper
- FREE (I got the last one at Provo Smiths this morning. I heard they should be getting more Friday morning)

American Beauty Pasta, reg. $1.59
- on sale $.99/$.49

Coke, reg. $1.49 (great for shredded beef/pork recipes)
- on sale $1.25/$.75

Planters Peanuts, reg. $3.99
- on sale $2.49/$1.99
- used $1.50 coupon (have to become fan of Mr. Peanut on facebook, print twice)
- $.49

California Pizza Kitchen pizzas, reg. $6.99
- on sale $4.47/$3.97
- prints a catalina (like a gift card): buy 2, get $1. buy 3, get $2. buy 4, get $3
- factoring in the catalina, $3.22 each

Classico Pasta Sauce, reg. $3.29
- on sale $1.99/$1.49
- used $1/2 coupon (print twice) AND
- used $1.50 off beef when you buy 2 classico sauce coupon from 3/14 SS newspaper
- $2 for 2 bottles of pasta sauce and $1.50 off beef

Clearanced Beef, reg. $2.83 and $3.76
- on clearance $1.98 and $2.62
- with $1.50 coupon from above:
- $.48 and $1.12


compiled list from pinchingyourpennies and utahdealdiva


Money Left for the Month: -$1.50




wic


Retails: $8.84
Total Spent: FREE
thanks WIC!


Monday, March 15, 2010

Rite Aid


Retails: $127.96
Total Spent: $30.63
Percent Off:76%
plus, I will apply for a $26 rebate
Adjusted Total Spent: $4.63
Adjusted Percent Off: 96%

How did I do it?

Rite Aid has a rebate going through the end of the month where when you spend $50 before coupons on certain Johnson and Johnson products, you get a $25 rebate. Nice. The complete list of qualifying items are here, scan down to rebate #24. The items I bought that are on that deal are in green.

In addition, the out of pocket for all of these items is actually cheaper then the final price I've listed because I bought them in 3 transactions so I could use 3 $5 off a $25 purchase coupons. There's also a $3/$15 here.


Cortaid, reg. $5.99
- on sale $3.99
- used 3 $2 coupon from 1/3 RP newspaper and 3 $1 coupon from 3/14 RP newspaper
- $1.99-$2.99 each

Johnsons Head to Toe Baby Lotion, reg. $3.69
- used $1 in ad store coupon
- used $1 coupon
- $1.69 each

Bandaids, reg. $4.19
- on sale $1.99
- used $3/2 bandaid AND neosporin from 2/21 SS newspaper
- $.49

Neosporin Plus, reg. $5.99
- on sale $3.99
- used $3/2 bandaid AND neosporin 2/21 SS newspaper
- $2.49

Desitin, reg. $4.99
- used $1 coupon from doctor's office
- $3.99 (I thought this was on sale, but I guess not)

o.b. tampons, reg. $4.99
- on sale, Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off
- used 2 $1 coupon from 1/3 RP newspaper
- $2.74 each

Stayfree liners, reg. $3.99
- on sale, Buy One Get One 1/2 Off
- used BOGO Free coupon 1/3 RP newspaper
- used $1 coupon for the other one
- $1.50 each

Calendar, reg. $11.99
- on clearance $1.19

Lance Crackers, reg. $2.49
- on sale 2/$3
- used 2 $1 coupons
- $.50 each

Joy Dish soap, reg. $1.99
- on sale $.79
- used $.30 coupon from 2/7 P&G newspaper
- $.49

Herbal Essence, reg. $4.59
- on sale $2.99
- used BOGO Free coupon from 2/7 P&G newspaper
- used $1 coupon from 3/14 SS newspaper
- $.99 each

Rite Aid wipes, reg. $3.29
were marked on sale but didn't ring up and I just noticed

Huggies diapers, reg. $11.99
- used free diaper coupon I got from a previous rebate, but only covered up to $11.49
- apply for $1 Huggies rebate
- $.51 Moneymaker


compiled list from hip2save and utahdealdiva!
both of these blogs have scenerios to give you ideas.


Money Left for the Month: $6.26



Maceys


Retails: $40.28
Total Spent: $15.28
Percent Off: 62%

How did I do it?

Dreyers Ice Cream, reg. $4.99
- on sale $2.49
- used $1 coupon from 1/31 SS newspaper
- $1.49 each

Western Family Butter, reg. $2.35
- on sale $1.58 each

Swanson Chicken Broth, reg. $1.19
- Friday Only Facebook Special: 3/$1


Money Left for the Month: $36.86

Buy Low

I hit Buy Low on Friday to get the strawberries and apples that they didn't have when I went Wednesday. I really needed them for my weekend meals and was annoyed to have to make another trip. The berries ended up being $.99 instead of the $1.50 they were supposed to be on Wednesday. Sweet!


Retails: $35.33
Total Spent: $9.09
Percent Off: 74%

How did I do it?

Cookies, reg. $3.99
- on clearance $.99

Strawberries, reg. $3.99
- on sale $.99

Jonagold Apples, reg. $1.29/lb
- on sale 3 lb/$1


Money Left for the Month: $52.14

A Lot of Talk aka: Cop-Out

This weekend was CRAZY. Fun, but crazy. We had Sam's birthday party with 10 people on Saturday and Sunday had 36 people crammed into this tiny, postage-stamp house after we blessed the baby. Any time there is that many people getting together there is going to be some serious amounts of food.

I had quite a bit of stuff already: tons of chicken, hamburger, hot dogs, chips, pasta salad, ingredients for the homemade mac and cheese and birthday cake, some paper products.

However, I decided that I would give myself a one time weekend budget to help with some of the random stuff that I wasn't prepared with. (can i give myself the excuse of just having a baby?) This is called a cop-out. Sorry, but that's what I'm doing.


This is a trip to Walmart I made last week. Everything on here was for this weekend except the mascara that was free with the $3 Rimmel coupon from All You magazine. Oh, and the gas relief drops for the baby (they didn't help at all. I love sleep deprivation, by the way.)


We also bought $10.61 worth of rolls from Sam's Club. Totally worth not having to make that many rolls. Yikes.

Also, I didn't get a picture of a trip to Fresh Market I made Matt do late Saturday when I realized that when you make 4 batches of chicken salad you need 4x the eggs and celery. Oops. While he was there I had him pick up the free salad dressing and mac & cheese that Good Things Utah had coupons for on their site (they also had free tuna but they were all out) These seem to be a new weekly thing they are doing where they add a new coupon a day. They expired Saturday.

Ok, enough talk. Here's the numbers:

Weekend Expenses: $33.69


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Buy Low


Retails: $39.74
Total Spent: $18.91
Percent Off: 52%

How did I do it?

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast, fresh, reg. $2.69/lb
- on sale $1.28/lb
(this chicken needs to be trimmed up a bit, but is a killer deal and it lasts all week, along with everything else I got)

DaVinci pasta, 16 oz, reg. $1.99
- on sale $.69

Western Family veggies, 16 oz, reg. $1.49
- on sale $.78

Gabrielles Syrup, $.98

Haileys Steak Fries, $.39

potatoes, 10 lb, $1.28
(there is a coupon for these in the mailer that came with the ads yesterday, separate from the Buy Low ad. It makes them $.58! I'm mad because I left it in the car. Oh well)

Also, if you were interested in the strawberries ($1.50 for a pound) or the apples (3lb/$1) that are on sale today only, their truck is late and won't be getting in until like 5 pm tonight. I got a raincheck for both of these but it means I'm going to have to go back. Boo.


Money Left for the Month: $61.23

wic


Retails: $32.75
Total Spent: FREE
thanks WIC!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

3/10 menu


We're having a party this weekend with lots of family in town. We are so excited!

Main Dish:
  • Chicken Salad Sandwich
  • BBQ hamburgers and hotdogs, homemade mac & cheese
  • Ham, turkey and cheese sandwiches on rolls
  • Corned beef and cabbage with Magnificent Mustard Sauce
  • Tacos
  • Egg McMuffins
Need for the Menu:
rolls, corned beef and cabbage

I really try to create my menus almost solely from what I already have on my shelves and in my freezer. This week I fail. But corned beef and cabbage sounds great, does it? We're going to have it early. If we're lucky, we'll have it again on St. Patrick's Day.

Oh, heavenly bliss


Don't these look delicious? I'm totally making them right now. Mmm...


smiths


I ran to Smiths yesterday to get a Rug Doctor. Smiths has an $8 off coupon in their ad (ends today). They are normally $24.99 + $3.19 for the attachment.

While I was there I grabbed a few things.


Retails: $9.68
Total Spent: $1.59
Percent Off: 84%

How did I do it?

Gold Medal Flour, 5 lbs, reg. $2.69
- on sale $1.50
- used 2 $.75 coupons
- $.75 each

Kraft Cheese, reg. $3.69
- used credit for free cheese from playing March to Savings
- FREE


Money Left for the Month: $80.14

Monday, March 8, 2010

rite aid

Oh my. I'm not sure I can ever go back to my Rite Aid again. I just had the most embarrassing trip I think I've ever had.

I was running into the store to do this diapers and wipes scenario here (thanks UtahDealDiva) that didn't work since they were out of wipes. Since those Rite Aid carts are so small, Sam was walking and not in the cart. Well, to make a long, painful story short, Sam found another high energy 2 year old who happened to be loose too. As a bonus this kid had about 15 marbles that, at the highlight of my trip, the two of them threw and chased, screaming and yelling with glee as the marbles bounced everywhere down the aisles of the store as a cashier was explaining a deal to me. The trip concluded with a 10 minute checkout as the cashier struggled to ring things up as Sam and Isaac were competing for the Loudest Cry Award. It really could be a great scene in a movie.

All Matt can say is, "I wish I could have been there." Funny man.


Retails: $98.19
Total Spent: $27.80
Percent Off: 72%
plus, I'm getting a $10 rebate, so factoring that in
Adjusted Total Spent: $17.80
Adjusted Percent Off: 82%

How did I do it?

Pampers Diapers, jumbo pack, reg. $11.99
- on sale $9.99
- used 2 $1.50 from 2/7 PG newspaper and 2 $2 coupons from mail
- $7.99 each (better deal than this, see below)

Covergirl Makeup, reg. $5.59-$8.19
- on sale, Buy One Get One Free (BOGO)
- used BOGO coupons from 2/7 PG newspaper
- FREE!

Cadbury Cream Egg, $.88 (not pictured)
Sam helped himself to this off the shelf during our long check out. Just another example of my great parenting.


I paid for this in 2 transactions, using 2 different $5/$25 purchase Rite Aid coupons first before any other coupons. Also, by purchasing $30 of participating P&G products I get a $10 rebate.

Also, I've now bought over $50 of P&G stuff, so I'm sending in my receipts for the P&G Year of Savings Coupon Book!

compiled list from utahdealdiva and hip2save


Money Left for the Month: $81.73

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Buy Low


Retails: $69.54
Total Spent: $22.16
Percent Off: 68%

How did I do it?

Pringles, reg. $1.99
- on sale $1 Saturday only
- used $.50/2 coupon from mail
- used $.50/4 from 2/21 PG newspaper
- $.50-$.88 each

Betty Crocker Corn Bread and Muffin Mix, reg. $.49
- on sale $.29

La Victoria 24oz salsa, reg. $4.89
- on sale $1.98
- used $4/2 from La Victoria website (have to enter codes to get this coupon)
- FREE

Ground Beef 85% lean, reg. $3.69
- on sale $1.69 lb

Western Family Mac & Cheese, reg. $.49?
- on sale $.25

Maxlite Bulb, $.98


Money Left for the Month: $109.53

Friday, March 5, 2010

free smiths stuff


Go here and win yourself some free stuff from Smiths (or your local Kroger store).

This Kroger instant win game takes about 2 seconds to play (you type in your Smiths card number and then click on a basketball). You can enter once per day for the month of March and the odds of winning are seeming really high. I played 3 days and have won 2 times. The first day I won $5 that was credited to my card. When I went shopping today it automatically came off. Today I won a free thing of Kraft cheese. The sad thing is that you can only win 2 times. Darn it all.

Have fun!

Smiths


Retails: $35.20
Total Spent: $5.73
Percent Off: 84%

How did I do it?

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, reg. $2.99
- on sale $1.79
- used $.50/2 cellfire.com and shortcuts.com coupons
- used $.40/1 shortcuts.com coupon previously available
- used 2 $.50/2 coupons
- $1.31 per box PLUS
- printed a $3.50 catalina (like a gift card). Factoring the catalina into the price,
- $.61 per box

Freezer Bags, reg. $.86

Green Giant Steamfresh veggies, reg. $2.79
- on sale $1.28
- used 2 $.50/1 coupons
- $.78 each

Kroger Fish Sticks, reg. $1.50?
- on clearance $.59

Foster Farms Lunchmeat, reg. $4.29
- on clearance $1.99

I did this in 2 transactions, using the $3.50 catalina that printed from the fruit snacks to help pay for the rest of the stuff. I also had a $5 credit from Smith's March to Savings that just about paid for the fruit snacks. Sweet. They were all out of the flour I wanted (5lb for $.75 with coupon), but I may go back tomorrow to get a Rug Doctor (there's an $8 coupon in their ad).

compiled list from pinchingyourpennies.com

Money Left for the Month: $131.69

Thursday, March 4, 2010

3/04 menu


Main Courses
Need to Buy for Menu: Nothing
I will buy fruits and veggies soon, but beyond that, I menu plan around what we already have in the freezer and on the shelves. In that way I'm able to afford to stock up on what is on sale.


Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Johnson & Johnson Rebate

I got another rebate check in the mail today! Hooray! Another $5 to spend!

adjusted
Money Left for the Month: $137.42

Maceys

Apparently, I didn't get enough of shopping this morning. We went out this afternoon too. How did it go? Thanks for asking.
- Sam had a poopy diaper. And then another one.
- I locked the keys in the car and had to have a tow guy come
- Isaac had a poopy diaper
- I broke 2 nails.
- Isaac SCREAMED all the way home because we took WAY too long
- I didn't get as many great deals as I was hoping for.
So, all in all, a great trip. Super fun. Can I go again tomorrow?


Retails: $53.61
Total Spent: $16.56
Percent Off: 69%

How did I do it?

Doritos, reg. $3.99
- on sale $1.88

Western Family Sour Cream, reg. $1.39
- on sale $.88
- used Budget Buster store coupon (cheapy newspaper looking coupon book that came in the mail yesterday. I heard the stores have some extra copies if you didn't get one. Ask at customer service.) Buy One, Get One Free
- $.44 each

Yoplait Frozen Smoothies, reg. $2.99
- used $1/2 store coupon from the ad
- used 2 $1.25 coupons previously available online
- $1.24 each

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, reg. $2.49 lb
- on sale $1.48/lb
- used $3 off a super saver pack of meat from the Budget Buster coupon book
- $.65/lb for one pack, $.59/lb for the other

Excedrin, reg. $4.19
- on sale $3.89
- used FREE coupon previously available online

Mini Babybel, reg. $3.99
- used $1 coupon from Budget Buster coupon book
- used $.55 coupon from 1/10 SS newspaper
- $2.44


Money Left for the Month: $132.42

Really?

Wow. I went out grocery shopping for the first time with 2 kids. The baby was great, the toddler was typical (crazy). The actual trip wasn't too bad. I had it timed pretty well. But I was exhausted before we even left the house. Does it really take that much more time to get ready to go anywhere? I was already late for everything before. Shoot. By the time we were driving to the store I wanted a nap. How do you people with 4 kids get anything done?

Oh, and I didn't go to Fresh Market just for this clearanced ham. I had to get more milk with WIC (see previous post).


Retails: $3?
Total Spent: $1.02
Percent Off: 66%

I got this in the Provo Center Street Fresh Market and there was probably 8 more packages of this stuff if you're close and interested. The expiration date is Friday but lunch meat freezes pretty good. It's in the clearance meat section.


Money Left for the Month: $148.98

wic


Retails: about $24.00
Total Spent: FREE
thanks WIC!

Monday, March 1, 2010

Snickers Salad


Mmmm. That picture makes me hungry...


Mandi's Snickers Salad

5 large apples, chopped (not peeled)
1 tub of Cool Whip
1 bag of Snickers, fun sized

Freeze the Snickers and then smash them into small little pieces. I hate this part. It's a pain. You can leave the snickers in their packages and whack em with a hammer or meat tenderizer. Whatever. You just want them small.

Mix everything all together and eat right away, not that you'll have leftovers.


FYI: I went to make this the other night and found mold in my Cool Whip. Mold? I was in the process of laughing at how the poll date was a year away when I opened it and saw it. Gross. The point of this disgusting story is that I made this without Cool Whip and I found out that chopped apples and smashed up Snickers are still pretty delicious. I also didn't measure out the quantities at all. I just looked at the bowl and saw entirely too many apples so I smashed up another Snickers bar. Delicious.