Showing posts with label couponing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label couponing. Show all posts

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Meal Planning: Week 8

Hi folks! I promise I am still alive - once again, sorry for the lack of recent posts. Nausea and insomnia paired up to kick my butt this week. I did finally go purchase groceries Thursday afternoon though, so here are the results...


Stop #1: Food Lion


Pictured:

*7 Eastern Peaches
*3 lbs yellow onions
*2 broccoli crowns
*5 bananas
*1 Hass avacado
*3 plums
*1 bag tortilla chips
*1 package shredded mexican blend cheese (store brand)
*1 package Borden shredded sharp cheddar cheese
*1 package Borden singles
*1 package Knorr mexican rice
*1 8-oz container sour cream
*6 kaiser rolls
*1 dozen eggs
*4 mini bags Orville Redenbacher popcorn
*1 package smoked ham lunch meat
*1 jar Mount Olive kosher dill spears
*1 container organic baby spinach
*1 bottle lime juice

Total Value: $46.71
Total Spent: $30.43



Stop #2: Aldi


Pictured:

*1 gallon 2% milk
*8 sports drinks
*2 cans black beans
*1 box red beans and rice prepared side dish
*1 bag hot pork rinds
*1 box generic cheerios
*2 slim jims
*1 bag of chocolate chips

Total Value / Total Spent: $15.27

Obviously this trip was mostly for junk/treats. It looks a bit different than our Food Lion haul, which was very healthy for the most part! I plan on making chocolate chip cookies with the chocolate. We both love to get slim jims at the gas station (where they are ridiculously overpriced) so I thought I would try to be proactive and buy a few cheaper ones while I could.

Total Value: $61.98
Total Spent: $45.70
Total saved: $16.28 (26.3%)

I didn't save a ton of money this week, but I got all of my purchases for one dollar less than the original value of just the items from Food Lion, so that's a win in my book.

What will we be eating this week?

*Beef Stroganoff
*Grilled chicken with black beans and mexican rice
*Kielbasa with onions, peppers, and potatoes
*Hamburger with red beans and rice
*Barbeque chicken with broccoli
*Spaghetti

*Cereal, oatmeal, fruit, eggs for breakfast
*Salads, garden produce, tomato sandwiches, leftovers for lunch



I know I haven't been posting regularly, but I do have some ideas for upcoming posts, so stay tuned! In the next few weeks I plan to write about...

* The nursery (it's almost finished!)
*Our baby showers (they were fabulous)
*Getting ready to cloth diaper
*Guest post: Rambo, his perspective
*Recipes
*High Five for Friday! (It's a weekly link-up where bloggers post five pictures from their week and discuss them each Friday)

Alright folks, enjoy your weekend!






Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Meal Planning: Week 7

Before I fill you in on grocery deals for the week...pictures of our meals as promised:

Wednesday - Nick's Enchiladas

Thursday - Chicken Parmesan

Friday - Pulled Pork Barbecue
 (served on a bun with slaw and baked beans on the side)

Saturday - Leftovers

Sunday - Meatloaf with Nick's family

Monday - Red Beans and Rice

Tuesday - Chicken and Dumplings

All in all, it was a week of delicious dinners. I plan to post recipes for the barbecue and the chicken and dumplings within the week.


This Week's Groceries...

Stop #1 - Lowes Foods


Pictured:

* 14 chicken breasts (approximately 10 lbs)
*2 Hillshire Farms smoked beef sausages
*Oscar Mayer deli shaved smoked ham (9 oz)
*1 head of cabbage
*10 Eastern peaches (purchased Tuesday)

Total Value: $50.80
Total Spent: $32.61


Stop #2: Food Lion


Pictured:
*3 jars of Prego sauce
* 1 jar Claussen dill spears
*1 box Cheez-Its
*4 sticks Blue Bonnet butter
*1 bottle mustard
*1 bottle lemon juice
*2 broccoli crowns
*2 Hass avacados
*1 yellow squash
*8 gatorades
*1 roll of aluminum foil (75 ft)
*6 kaiser buns
*1 bag tortilla chips
*1 bag Dole baby greens mix
*1 bag shredded lettuce
*1 half gallon of milk 
*10 slices swiss cheese
*1 box beef stroganoff - store brand
*1 packet Taco Bell taco seasoning
*1 box raisins
*1 box Sweet Tarts
*1 box Butterfinger minis
*Small piece of fresh ginger 
*1 jar dry roasted peanuts
*4.47 lbs 80% lean ground chuck

Total Value: $76.89
Total Spent: $58.73

Let's Tally It Up...

Total Value of This Week's Purchases: $127.69
Total Spent This Week: $91.34
Saved: $36.35 (28.5%)

Total Value of Items for This Week's Meals: $53.05

Obviously we are not going to eat 10 lbs of chicken and 4 lbs of ground beef in a week. Aside from lunch meat for Nick's sandwiches and maybe some porkchops, we shouldn't have to buy anymore meat for a month. In terms of my weekly limit ($50) I went over $3.05. I know, I know. However...in my defense... Aldi was closed due to a storm related power outage, so I had to purchase some items at Food Lion that I planned on purchasing at Aldi (gatorade, milk, taco seasoning, and tortilla chips). Had they been open, I would have met my goal of $50 or less for the week.

What will we be eating this week?

* Grilled Chicken with Side Salad
* Taco Salad (had this tonight)
* Shepherd's Pie with Steamed Cabbage (new recipe)
*Hibachi Chicken with Mixed Vegetables
(tastes just like going out for Japanese)
*Grilled Sausage with Peppers and Onions
*Easy Night: Either Mac and Cheese or Fish Sticks


Finally - Deals of the Week!

Not too many deals out there this week, but these two are especially good!
*80% lean ground beef - $1.99 / lb (Food Lion)
*Boneless, skinless, chicken breast - $1.79 / lb (Lowes Foods)


I'll leave you with tonight's dinner masterpiece...

Taco Salad - DEElish!!!





Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Meal Planning: Week 6

Hello world! I'm back from blog hibernation and ready to share with you! I have been sticking to my budget of $40-$50 per week over the past two weeks, but with tons of cookouts and gatherings I didn't adhere to a strict meal plan. While things looked the same from a budget standpoint, I have to admit our dinners at home have been quickly put together and rather lackluster lately. In efforts to change that, I will be posting pictures of all our dinners at the end of this week to hold myself accountable once again.

I scored some great deals today to start off a new week of meals, beginning at Food Lion at 7:01 this morning. After I show you the loot I will explain why getting there so early paid off (gotta build the suspense...).


Stop #1: Food Lion


Pictured:
*1 loaf of French bread
*1 loaf of white bread
* 1 package of 8" tortillas
* 8 oz shredded Mexican blend cheese
*10 mini bags of Orville Redenbacher movie butter popcorn
* 1 package of frozen dumplings
* 10 packages of reduced sugar maple and brown sugar oatmeal
* 4 bananas
*1 lb of baby carrots
* 3 lbs of green apples
* 5 lbs of white potatoes
* 1 can of pasta sauce
* 1 jar of enchilada sauce
* 1 container of sour cream
*1 jar of apple sauce
* 64 oz of apple juice
* 9.69 lbs of boston pork butt


Pictured:
* 1 roll of paper towels
* 1 bottle of dish detergent (citrus scent)
* 1 lb of thin spaghetti
* 1 box of saltine crackers
* 1 box of chocolate tasteeos (like cheerios but store brand)
* 1 bottle of ketchup
* 1 bottle of honey barbecue sauce
* 1 reusable shopping bag

Total Value: $76.14
Total Spent: $35.89  (using a gift card - so no money out of pocket!)

Now...what was the point of two separate pictures? Everything in the second picture was ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! Wednesday - Saturday the first 50 shoppers at each local Food Lion get a free reusable shopping bag filled with store brand products. Food Lion opens at 7:00 am and you know I was there to take full advantage of this awesome deal (and I plan on going back for the next three days). 

Because I am a complete and total dork, I proceeded to walk the aisles and price all of the free items so I could let you know that if you participate in this offer, you will be receiving $10.99 of products for free (not including the price of the bag)!!!

Food Lion has undergone some marketing changes recently, including rearranging their stores and adding over 600 items to their MVP sales schedule. That means 600 items that were previously never part of MVP deals will now be in the regular sales rotation. Of the seventeen items in the first picture, eleven were on MVP special this week. I was already fond of Food Lion because of the chance to purchase local produce and support a business based in North Carolina, but these new deals have my heart singing. I hate buying groceries at Walmart and Target even though they have great prices, because their deals come at the expense of poorly treated employees and a majority of products made overseas. Being able to drive 1.3 miles to my local Food Lion (that happens to be an exact calculation - don't judge), buy produce and meat grown nearby (hence supporting local farms), and save money at the same time sounds like a fabulous plan to me.


Stop #2: Lowes Foods


Pictured:
* 1.03 lbs of fresh green beans
* 2.30 lbs of southern yellow peaches
* 8 oz blocks of cheese (pepperjack, sharp cheddar, and colby jack)
* 1 jar of Claussen pickles

Total Value: $18.40
Total Spent: $10.60

The cheeses were BOGO, and the produce prices were spectacular as well ( I'll list them at the end under "Deals of the Week"). The pickles were full price, but the heart wants what the heart wants.


Stop #3: Aldi


Pictured:
*1 bag of barbecue potato chips
*1 bag of pork rinds
* 1 bag of tortilla chips
*1 jar of crunchy peanut butter
*1 dozen eggs
*1 bottle of French dressing

Total Value / Total Spent: $8.36

Eggs and peanut butter are pretty much essential every week in this household. Tortilla chips and salsa are a definite craving as of recent, and the barbecue chips and pork rinds fulfill Nick's snack needs for the week. I try to get him 2 or 3 snacks each week, and they usually are not on sale because he is spoiled like that :). Pregnant snacks = carrots and ranch dressing. Man snacks = yummy junk.
 In the words of Veda Sultenfuss, "It's not fair, nothing ever happens to boys."


Now let's tally everything up...

Total Value: $102.90
Total Spent: $54.85
Saved: $48.05

The pork butt was my one big ticket item this week. I am going to cook half of it tomorrow and freeze the rest for next week. The total expense for what we will be consuming this week was $48.12. Also, I bought all of the groceries at Food Lion using a gift card (Nick paid for my phone when I had an upgrade and let me keep the rebate card - he's a sweetie!), so when all was said and done I only paid $18.96 for everything pictured above! Not too shabby. 


What will we be eating this week?

My husband has mad cooking skills - yum!

Dinners shall include...
* Nick's Enchiladas ( pictured above, so delicious)
*Chicken and Dumplings (will last at least two days)
*Pulled pork barbecue sandwiches (new recipe - will probably last two days)
* Mac and Cheese with Ground Beef (one night of light cooking)
*Chicken Parmesan (new recipe)

I will also be attempting some new breakfast recipes this week, including French Toast and Baked Oatmeal.


Last but not least....Deals of the Week!!!

Here is the scoop on what I consider to be the best priced items from the pictures above, in case you want to get on board with saving some money!

Food Lion
* Pork butt - $1.39 / lb (usually $2.89)
* 3 lb bags of granny smith apples - $2.50 (if you buy them individually they are around $1.79 / lb)
* 5 lb bags of white potatoes - $2.50
* 64 oz apple juice - $1.00
* white bread - 50 cents
* Orville Redenbacher popcorn - BOGO
* Obviously the free bag of groceries is a GREAT deal

Lowes Foods
* Peaches - 77 cents / lb (usually $1.79 / lb)
* Green Beans - 99 cents / lb (usually $1.99 / lb)
* 8 oz blocks of cheese BOGO

There are plenty of other great deals at these stores - these are just the items I personally bought this week.

I plan on posting a pregnancy update tomorrow, and I will also be reporting back soon about our upcoming baby shower Saturday (I'm so excited!!!). Enjoy your week and come back soon!

Disclaimer: If you think I am a crazy person, you are not alone. In fact, I agree with you completely. I would just like to point out that I saved over 80% on my groceries this week - ain't no shame in my game :)




Thursday, June 28, 2012

Fourth of July Grocery Deals!

Hello friends!



While I enjoyed this refreshing lunch of tomatoes and cucumbers, I compiled a list of all the best current deals at Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Food Lion, and ALDI for you. These sales started yesterday and run through Tuesday, July 3rd. I included items that you may be planning to purchase for a fourth of July cookout or party, such as

-condiments and grilling seasonings
-side items (pasta salad, baked beans, etc.)
-plates,cups,napkins
-produce
-snack items (chips, crackers, etc.)
-sodas, drinks
-steaks, ribs, chicken breasts
-hotdogs, brats, buns
-icecream and frozen desserts

*You do NOT have to be a couponer to take advantage of these deals! Most of the items listed are currently Buy One Get One Free or just on sale at a great price. I did include info for a few printable coupons and coupons from last week's paper if you still have it available.


HARRIS TEETER

*Buy 3, Get 2 Free - Coke Products, 12 pk. cans, $6.39 (makes it $3.83 ea.)
*Buy 2, Get 3 Free - Oscar Mayer Wieners, 16 oz, $3.99 (makes it $1.59 ea.)
  (might be a regional deal)


Buy One Get One Free Items (or get 1 at ½ price listed in parentheses)
*Fresh Express Salad, 12 oz, at $2.99 ($1.49)
*Smithfield Pork baby Back Ribs, at $6.29 ($3.14)
*Oscar Mayer Beef or Cheese Franks, 16 oz, at $5.29 ($2.64)
*Split Chicken Breast, at $2.69 ($1.34)
*Hellmann’s Mayo, 30 oz, at $5.15 ($2.57)
 (if you still have Sunday’s paper, use the $1 coupon from the Smart Source Insert, get it for $1.57)
*Ken’s Marinade or Dressing, 16 oz, at $3.25 ($1.62)
 ($1 copuon from the 5/06.12 Smart Source insert will make it 62 cents)
*McCormick Grill Mates Seasoning, at $2.75 ($1.37)

*McCormick Grill Mates Rub, 3.78 oz, at $4.39 ($2.19)
*McCormick Grill Mates Marinades, at $1.49 (74¢)
*Chex Mix Products, 8.75 oz, at $2.79 ($1.39)
 (50 cents off 2 coupon from the 6/3/12 Smart Source insert, makes them 89 cents each)

*Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, 18 oz, at $2.45 ($1.22)
 (various coupons were available in the 5/20/12 Smart source insert for additional savings)

*Utz Tortilla Chips, 11.5-12.5 oz, at $3.49 ($1.74)
*Vlasic Pickles, 16-32 oz, at $3.49 ($1.74)
*Lawry’s 30 Minute Marinade, 12 oz, at $3.39 ($1.69)
 (follow the link to print a 50 cent off coupon (enter zip 44240) PRINTABLE (makes it 69¢))

*Harris Teeter Chocolate & Vanilla Swirl Ice Cream Cake, 60 oz, at $18.99 ($9.49)
*Utz Party Mix, 12 oz, at $3.49 ($1.74)
*Hefty Plates or Party Cups, 30-40 ct., at $3.29 ($1.64)
*Chinet Plates, 32-36 ct., at $3.79 ($1.89)
 (if you still have Sunday’s paper, use the $1 coupon from the Smart Source insert, get it for 89 cents)


Produce
*Blueberries, 1 Pint, $3
*Farmers Market Watermelon Chunks, 32 oz, $4.99
*Sweet Corn, 25¢ ea.
*Watermelon, $3.97 ea

Other Deals
*Harris Teeter French Onion Dip, 8 oz, 87¢
*Carvel M&M Ice Cream Cake, 40 oz, $9.99
*Mrs. Smith’s or Edwards Pie, 25-35 oz, $4.99
 (follow the link to print a $1.50 off coupon PRINTABLE, makes it $3.49)
 (or use the 75 cents off coupon from the 6.17.12 Smart Source insert, get it for $3.49)

*Cool Whip Products, 8 oz, 99¢
*Jell-O Gelatin, 3.3 oz, 75¢
*French’s Spicy Brown Mustard, 12 oz, $1
 (if you still have Sunday’s paper, use the $0.30 off coupon from the Smart Source insert, get it for 40 cents)

*Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Mix, $1
 (follow the link for a $0.50 off of 2 coupon PRINTABLE, get them for 50 cents each)
*Nature’s Own Bread or Buns, $1.67

*Suddenly Pasta Salad Pasta Salad Mix, 7.25-7.75 oz, $1
*Merita Autum Grain Natural or Whole Wheat Bread, 20 oz, $1.99
*Nature’s Own Whole Wheat Bread, 20 oz, $1.99
*Powerade Drinks, 32 oz, 79¢
*Arizona Tea, 128 oz, $2.50


LOWES FOODS

Buy One Get One Free Items (or get 1 at ½ price listed in parentheses)
*Oscar Mayer All Meat Bologna, 16 oz, at $3.59 ($1.79)
*Old Oak BBQ Pork or Star’s Hot Dog Chili, 12 oz, at $3.19 ($1.59)
*Land O’ Frost Bistro Sliced Meats, 6 oz, at $3.29 ($1.64)
 (if you have Sunday’s paper, use the $1 off 2 coupon from the Red Plum insert, get them for $1.14 each)

*Oscar Mayer Beef Franks, 15-16 oz, at $3.99 ($1.99)
*Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns or Sub Rolls, 4-8 ct., at $2.89 ($1.44)
*Utz Tortilla Chips, 9.5-11.5 oz, at $3.49 ($1.74)
*Lowes Foods Vanilla Wafers, 12 oz, at $2.99 ($1.49)
*Kraft Barbecue Sauce, 17.5-18 oz, at $1.59 (79¢)
*Heinz Mustard, 17.5-17.85, at $1.89 (94¢)
*Heinz Ketchup, 40 oz, at $3.49 ($1.74)
*Merita or Wonder Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns, 8 ct., at $2.49 ($1.24)
*Lowes Foods Foam Plates, 50 ct., at $2.39 ($1.19)
*Lowes Foods Cutlery, 48 ct., at $1.79 (89¢)

Produce
* Yellow Peaches, 97¢ lb
* Bing Cherries, $3.97 lb
* Fresh Express Cole Slaw, Garden Salad, or Shredded Lettuce, 8-16 oz, $1.50

Other Deals
* Bratwurst or Italian Sausage Links, $2.99 lb
* Boston Butt Pork Roast, $2.79 lb
* Boneless Sirloin Tip Steak, $3.99 lb
* T-Bone Steaks, $7.99 lb
* Breyers Ice Cream, 48 oz, $2.50
* Kraft Cool Whip Topping, 8 oz, 99¢
* Kraft American Singles, 12 oz, $2
* Claussen Pickles, 20-32 oz, $2.97
* Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad, 7.25-7.5 oz, $1
 (use the printable coupon listed under the Harris Teeter deal for this product)
* Pepsi Cans, 12 pk., $3 (use the following printable coupons for additional savings)
  ($1 off Pepsi Max beverage, 12 oz 12 pk. PRINTABLE)
  ($1 off Pepsi Next 12 oz 12 pk. PRINTABLE)
* Powerade Sports Drink, 32 oz, 79¢




FOOD LION

Buy One Get One Free Items (or get 1 at ½ price listed in parenthesis)
* Oscar Mayer Meat or Beef Weiners, 16 oz, (price not listed), limit 4
* Breyer’s Ice Cream, 48 oz, (price not listed), limit 4
* Kraft American Singles, 12 oz, at $2.99 ($1.49), limit 4
* Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, 16 oz, at $4.99 ($2.49)
* Kraft Shredded Cheese, 8 oz, at $3.23 ($1.61)
* Lay’s Potato chips, 10-10.5 oz, (price not listed), limit 4
  (follow the link for a $0.55 off 1 bag coupon PRINTABLE)

* Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, 18 oz, at $2.19 ($1.09), limit 4
* Mt. Olive Pickle Spears, 24 oz, at $2.99 ($1.49), limit 4
  (use the $0.55 coupon from last Sunday’s paper, get it for 94 cents)
* Cutter Insect Repellant, 6-7.5 oz, (price not listed), limit 4

Produce
* Raspberries, 4.4 oz, $2.50
* Hass Avocados, 89¢
* Grape Tomatoes, 12 oz, $1.99
* Yellow Onions, 3 lb, $1.99
* White Potatoes, 5 lb bag, $2.99

Other Deals
* New York Strip Steaks, $5.99 lb
* Klondike Ice Cream Bars, 4-6 ct., (price not listed) limit 4
* Birds Eye Corn on the Cob, 12 ct., $2
* Nature’s Own Whitewheat Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns, 8 ct., $2
* Bush’s Best Baked Beans or Grillin’ Beans, 21-28 oz, $1.66
* Heinz Ketchup, 40 oz, $2
* Pepsi Products, 12 oz 12 pk., $2.40, limit 5 (use the following printable coupons for additional savings)
  ($1 off Pepsi Max beverage, 12 oz 12 pk. PRINTABLE)
 ($1 off Pepsi Next 12 oz 12 pk. PRINTABLE)

*7UP or Diet Rite Products, 2 L, 99¢
* Hefty Easy Grip Cups, 30 ct., $1.99
*Hefty Foam Plates or Bowls, 24-50 ct., $1.99



ALDI

* Honeydew Melon, $1.49 ea.
* Tyson Split Chicken Breast, 99¢ lb
* Parkview Brats, 14 oz, $1.99
* Roseland Baby Back Ribs, $3.59 lb
* Parkview Jumbo Franks, 16 oz, 99¢
* Oscar Mayer Classic Wieners, 16 oz, $1.49
* Sundae Nut Cones, 6 ct., $1.99
* Ice Cream Bars, Sandwiches, or Sorbet Swirl Stix, 12 pk., $1.99
* Ice Cream, 5 quarts, $4.99
* Burman’s BBQ Sauces, 18 oz, 89¢
* L’oven Fresh Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns, 12 oz, 79¢
* L’oven Fresh Wheat Kaiser or Corn Dusted Buns, 20 oz, $1.49
* Burman’s Yellow Mustard, 14 oz, 69¢
* Burman’s Regular Mayonnaise, 30 oz, $1.99
* Tuscan Garden Ranch Dressing, 16 oz, $1.29
* Clancy’s Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips, 11 oz, $1.19
* Clancy’s Tortilla Chips, 12 oz, $1.69
* Benton’s Graham Crackers, 14.4 oz, $1.49
* Baker’s Corner Regular Marshmallows, 10 oz, 99¢
* Nature’s Nectar All Natural Lemonade, 59 oz, $1.99
* Party Cups, 50 ct., $2.39
* One-Ply Napkins, 250 ct., $1.49  



***This list was compiled using www.southernsavers.com)***

I hope this helps you enjoy the upcoming holiday while keeping a little extra cash in your pocket! 
I plan to do a follow-up post this weekend adding the deals that begin Sunday at Walmart and Target, so stay tuned...