Back in the saddle with couponing.

So I've taken some time off from couponing, because I had enough stuff. We were pleased to have a stockpile large enough to share with all of our out of town guests for our wedding last year. And I LOVE being able to give things away to someone who needs it. Or just blessing someone by offering to let them take a few things while they are over visiting. Currently, I am wanting to start doing college care packages. So, needless to say, all of that dips into our stockpile. I noticed the other day that hubby is down to about 3 deodorants in the deodorant container. Uh oh. So I've been back in the swing of it, and probably spending too much out of excitement as I build up my stores again. :) Below I've shared a few transactions that I did last week. I'm pretty proud of them! *Note- I didn't list out which deals gave me back Balance Reward points or Extra Bucks, just listed the amount I received after the total.


Walgreens:

(2) Softsoap body wash- $3 each (reg. $4.79)
used (2) .50/1
and (2) $1/1 Wags coupon booklet
FP= $1.50 each

(2) Oreo small packs- .99 each (reg. $2.49)
used $1/2
FP= .49 each

(3) Optic White toothpaste- $2.99 each (reg. $4.89)
used (3) .75/1
and $3/3 Wags coupon booklet
FP= $1.24 each

(3) Optic White mouthwash- $2.99 each (reg. $4.99)
used (3) $1/1
and $3/3 Wags coupon booklet
FP= $.99 each

(2) Hefty zipper storage bags- $2.00 each (reg. $3.49)
used $1/2
FP= $1.50 each

(2) Scott Naturals paper towels 6 pks.- $5.00 each
used (2) .50/1
and (2) $1/1Wags coupon booklet
FP= $3.50 each

Total before sales and coupons- $61.18 + tax

After sales, coupons, and $4 of Register Rewards- $16.67 + tax

That's a savings of 73%! Plus, I earned 250 Balance Rewards Points through Walgreens new program.

CVS:

(1) Softsoap body wash- $3.50 (reg. $3.89)
used .50/1
FP= $3 each

(1) Softsoap hand soap- $3.50 (reg. 4.99)
used .35/1
FP= $3.15 each

(2) 2L Pepsi- $1.00 each (reg.$1.99)

(2) Dawn dish soap- .96 each (reg. $1.87)
used (1) .75/1
and (1) .50/1
FP= .21 and .46

(1) Swiffer refill- $7.49 (reg. $11.49)

(1) Olay bodywash- $5.50 (reg. $7.99)

(1) Covergirl concealer- $12.99
(1) Covergirl eyeshadow- $2.99 (reg. $5.99- B1G1 50% off deal)
used (1) $3/1
and (1) $1/1
and $4/ $12 cosmetics purchase CVS coupon
FP= $7.98 for both items

(2) Old Spice deodorants- $5.49 and $2.74 (B1G1 50% off deal)
used $1/2
FP= $7.23 for both items

(2) Newspapers- $2.00 each

(2) Travel sized Tresseme shampoos- .99 each
used $2/2 CVS coupon
FP= free

Total before sales and coupons- $72.02 + tax

After sales, coupons, $10/$50 purchase CVS coupon, and $7 EB's- $24.02 + tax

That's a savings of 67%! Plus, I earned $16 back in EB's!


Giant Eagle:

(4) Northland Juice- $4.24 each
Buy one get one free sale
FP= 4 @ $2.12 each

(1) Scope mouthwash- $2.50
used .75/1
FP= $1.00

(2) DeLallo Pasta- $2.48 each
Buy one get one free sale
FP= $1.24 each

(1) Fresh Express salad- $1.00

1/2 lb. Deli Turkey- $5.99/lb.
FP= $3.17

1 lb. Deli Ham- $4.99/lb.
FP= $5.04

Beef Stew Meat- $6.13

(2) Reynold's foil- $3.00 each (reg. $4.39 each)
used (2) .55/1
FP= $1.90 each

(6) Tampax Pearl/Radiant tampons- $3.00 each (reg. $4.99)
used (3) $2.50/2
and (3) $1/2 GE coupons
FP= $1.50 each

(1) Icy Hot- $2.99 (reg. $3.99)
used $1/1
and $2/1 GE coupon
FP= free

(1) 3 pk. disposable foil pans- $1.00 (reg. $2.39 each)

(3) Bounty napkins- $1.00 each (reg. $1.29 each)
used  (3) .25/1
FP= .50 each

(4) Bounty single roll paper towels- $1.00 each (reg. $1.69 each)
used (4) .25/1
FP= .50 each

Total before sales and coupons (according to my receipt- not all the regular prices are listed on there!)- $95.49 + tax

Total after sales and coupons- $44.60 + tax

That's a savings of 53%!

Creating a Home Management Binder- Part 3: Grocery Shopping

I use coupons to shop. I LOVE coupon shopping. I stock up when I can on what I know I will use, and I fill in the rest every week when I grocery shop.

When I am creating my weekly menu plan, I rely heavily on what I know I need to use up. Some things, like pasta (that will keep forever) won’t go on my plan more than once or twice. More perishable items like salad will be on the menu for several days so that we can try to eat it before it goes bad. (A bag of salad can take too long to consume with just the two of us!) I also rely on the grocery sales for that week to determine what I will focus on cooking.

After my menu plan is in place, I pull together my grocery list. In order to make sure that I’m not running to the store all week, I gather my grocery store matchups, my list from the fridge where I jot down items that are running low or gone, and my menu plan for the upcoming week. I start to condense all of this onto the shopping list printable that I like to use. (I do usually take my list of grocery store matchups shopping with me, because I don’t want to write down all of my little coupon notes on my grocery list- it takes up too much space!) Once I have everything written down, I evaluate whether or not anything can be removed. Do I really need everything on here? Did I forget that I already have some of these items in my stockpile? Sometimes I need more than I had realized, and I reevaluate my menu plan to use up something that I already have or make something that costs a little less. Just a note here: in my binder, I have my menu plan and grocery shopping combined. I like to alternate the pages in this section, placing a grocery shopping list behind each menu plan. At the beginning of each week, I do post the menu plan on our fridge so the husband can see what he is in for each day! :) I usually toss the grocery list when I’m done shopping, but I like to hang onto my old menu plans for inspiration when I can’t think of meals to make!

Something I feel is important to note here is that you can’t buy everything with coupons. I think that sometimes people are discouraged from shopping frugally when they have a certain way they want or need to eat. For example, I strive to cook with whole foods. This isn’t always easy, or feasible, or even affordable, but every small choice makes a difference. I struggle with food allergies, and a lot of what I can’t have is processed food. This has been a blessing in disguise! I have to cook real, actual food, as we all should! Yes, it increases the grocery bill when I choose a smaller whole grain loaf of bread over a loaf of processed white bread that costs 70 cents, but it is worth it to me. And take heart! You can build things into your stockpile that will help you out as you try to be frugal and healthy. There are even coupons out there for organic products! Natural food stores and distributors have to stay competitive just like everyone else. For example, I get Muir Glen organic canned tomatoes for cheap or free all the time! I am steadily building up my stock of these whenever they go on sale, and they are a staple in many recipes. Every little bit of bad food that you eliminate is a good step for your family. Don’t feel like you have to get everything on your list at Trader Joe’s, especially when you are on a budget. Slowly replace your staples, and you will see your grocery bill decreasing, like every other couponer!

Like I have talked about before, lowering my grocery budget is a goal that I have this year. So is increasing the health factor in our food, although we do pretty well right now! I’ll keep sharing some of the good deals I find on products that are good for you! You don’t have to eat boxed macaroni and cheese to be an extreme couponer! Yay!

How do you complete your grocery shopping each week? I hope you enjoyed these tips, and got some encouragement to be frugal and still eat well!