Grocery Store Angst

It all started well.  I made a list, selected my coupons and put them in a little envelope.  Made a trip back to the car to fetch my reusable bags.  I put the kids in the race car buggy, secured the bakery cookies, and began to troll the aisles.  I felt oh-so-virtuous as I placed my 10 mega deals in the reusable bag as instructed by Jenny of Southern Savers.  The lady in front of me in line was an employee and chatted with the checker, so I was able to dump everything out on the conveyor belt and get the cart empty.  And then I realized.

My coupon envelope was gone.  Let's all pause to regroup.

I frantically searched my coat pockets, my purse, my reusable bags, the store circulars in the buggy seat.  It's gone.  My carefully matched coupons.  I throw place Jeremiah in the cart because he is grabbing all the candy bars and pay up.  Once back in the car,  I proceed to have a little hissy fit about my blunder.  I lost about $12 dollars in coupons.  Maybe some nice mom needing $3 off formula or .75 cents off Almond milk will find it.

When we got home, I took a picture of the grocery store aftermath.

There's always cookies.  Which I did buy.  With a .55 cent peel off coupon. 

I feel better.

Yoo Hoo

Anyone else had their fill of George Michael's "Last Christmas" and John Lennon's "War is Over"?   Those seem like the only two songs I hear in the car. I really like the Classical  and Swingin' Christmas channels on Pandora, however.

We've pulled out the Christmas boxes and I've decorated the dining room.  We are attending the WR Christmas parade, our church musical, and a company dinner this weekend.   I've stocked up on sugar cookie mix and chocolate chips in hopes of baking for Christmas.  We are trying to start some family Christmas traditions this year.  I unpacked the Nativity scene and explained the story to Jeremiah.  He really likes the baby Jesus figure and the lamb. 

Sarah is climbing. the. STAIRS.  She's 10 1/2 months!   She is so happy and such a joy.  We had Christmas pictures taken of both kids, so be on the lookout for them to pop up in your mail.  I'll post them after the cards are out.  Wouldn't want to ruin the anticipation!

Oh, and I BOGO'd today. I seriously get this slightly frantic rush while sorting and scouring for the coupons to match the deal. You know I took an obnoxious picture. I had about $15 in coupons, and with the sales prices, saved $44 and spent about $21. Great deals on Beech Nut baby food: 17 cents per jar with BOGO and coupons. Check out Southern Savers under the Publix tab for links to the coupons and best BOGO deals.


Here's an assortment of photos:

Oh, no I di-n't

But I did.  I took a picture of my grocery store deals.  Next thing you know I'll be ironing a teddy bear applique circa 1989 onto a white sweatshirt and bringing out the jingle bell necklace.  (Anyone?  That was the cool thing to wear in 5th grade).

I am a little pumped with my deals.  They are:

2 boxes of Barilla Whole Wheat pasta, BOGO .64 cents each minus a $1 off two = .14 cents each
2 boxes of General Mills Cereal, BOGO, 1.99 each minus a $1 off two = 1.50 each
5 packages of Kraft cheese (block or shredded) on sale for $2 each minus $5 off five items plus a .75 cents off three items Target coupon= 4.25 for 5 or .85 cents each
Nature's Own 12 Grain Bread BOGO for 1.57 minus .75 cents off coupon= .82 cents
Wheat Thins for 2.50 minus $1 off= $1.50
Marie's Cole Slaw Dressing (a secret for making really good slaw), $2 minus $1 coupon= $1
Savings in Coupons: $10.50
Publix Sale Price Savings: $15.13
Grand Total Out of Pocket: $11.65 spent on 12 items

I saved more than I spent. Woot!  Now I will get the rest of my week's groceries from Kroger and hope to come in at $50 or under.  We'll see.

I printed most of the coupons off coupons.com and read up on the specials via the Coupon Savings Game for this week's Publix deals.  Publix will accept a competitor's coupon within 5 miles of the store, so I was able to use the Target coupon with another manufacturer's coupon.

Okay, here's the obnoxious picture.  I was thinking I should ask my sis to bring down her sewing machine over Christmas and give me a tutorial.  Help.  I'm becoming precious.

Workin' It

Well, I went for the gusto today.  I hit Publix for cereal, BOGO Beech Nut baby food, and Barilla Pasta Sauce.  I had two 75 cent coupons for the sauce (1.35- .75= .60 each) and $1 off 8 jars of baby food.  The baby food rang up at .28 cents each and with the coupon, I got them for about .16 cents each!  I didn't have a coupon for the BOGO Special K, but got it for $2/each. 

At Kroger, I was able to use my two Libby's canned veg. coupons (Buy 3 for .50) and each can was .50. The coupons were doubled, so I bought six cans and got them for about .17 cents each!  I was able to use some Kroger coupons we had been mailed on hot dogs, deli meat, and formula.  I also stocked up on chicken breasts at 1.99/pound.  I did all my grocerying, including baby food and formula, for  $53.93!    And I bought real food.  Produce, bread, fresh meat, frozen vegetables, cheese, milk. And it wasn't that hard!

I still have a LOT to learn about wise stewardship, but I wanted to share, blogfriends. 

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Obnoxious

I'll admit up front that this will be obnoxious and hypocritical.  Now, with this disclaimer in place, let me brag about my first foray into "saving more than you spend" CVSing.

My purchases:

Two Puffs brand tissue boxes at 99 cents each
One 12 count Charmin at 9.99 - 1.00 coupon
One 12 count Bounty Paper Towels at 12.99

Minus

7.99 rebate from prior purchase on Blink Tears
2.50 rebate from prior purchase on Glide floss
$4 off $20 purchase CVS coupon

Grand total: $10.94 out of pocket

But wait, there's more!  We earned $10 extra bucks from purchasing $25 in P&G products (the tissue, paper towels, and TP before coupons/rebates). Woot, woot. 

I get it now.  We also have another $4 off our next $20 purchase.

So... in essence we 'spent' .94 cents with the $10 extra bucks.  So we have $14 'bucks' to spend. :)   I don't mind spending $6 bucks for a whole bunch of stuff we consume.  Especially if with a rebate the item will be 'free'.  (I do realize that our level of consumption is sick compared with those people who live ANYWHERE outside the U.S., but I digress.)

I also did a BOGO on deordorant at Publix and with my $3 off 2 sticks, I paid .50 each!  I also got a free 3 pack of Pampers wipes with a value pack which I had a $3 coupon on.  I spent $17 for the 76 count Pamper pack with a 'free' 216 count wipe pack.  Yes, I do know how many wipes and dipes I'm getting.  This is serious.

Alex did this last week at CVS and got eye drops, Pampers, wipes, floss and with his CVS extra bucks and rebates he had to buy some candy because you can't be given money back!

Word.  Live and learn.  And don't knock those crazy couponers. 

I'm sorry, couponers.  I put my hand to my mouth and lower my head in penance.  I was wrong.

Coupons work for me.