Just a little background info on how I used to shop. My husband and I would go to Walmart weekly and drop at least $200. I would rarely use coupons, I would do price comparison some, but mostly was a "brand snob". Had to have Charmin toilet paper, Huggies diapers, Tide clothes detergent, etc. Then my friend Karen Allen told me she shopped for her family, of then 4, for $400 a month at Publix. I thought she was crazy (sorry Karen, you know I love you). How could anyone possible spend just $400/month at Publix when I couldn't even do that at Walmart for 2 weeks. But then I tried it using coupons and BOGO's and still had a hard time. I would usually come in budget but then would have to end up spending more before next grocery day........ And then I found Money Saving Mom and coupon mom and a few other sites. Now our goal is $60/week and we have been very good and sticking pretty close. I normally pull $60 cash out a week and that is my limit. This week though I decided to go ahead and pull out $120 b/c of the great deals at Publix and Ingles and go ahead and shop for 2 weeks (b/c I was late shopping, I will actually get to pull out another $120 at the end of next week, so it won't be a full 2 weeks.)
And here is what I got for $124.64!! Over budget $4.64 but I will take it.
Picture #1 is Publix, where I spent 26.72.
At publix if something is BOGO(buy one get one free) then you actually could only buy 1 and pay half price, you don't have to get 2 to get the sale. Also if you get 2 items at BOGO you can use a coupon on each item(so you can use 2 coupons on BOGO). Also Publix doubles coupons up to .50 and takes all competitor's coupons, such as CVS, Ingles, Target, etc..
2 Mayfield Icecreams- 2/$6, used 2$1 coupons= $2 a piece
4 Betty Crocker brownie mixes- BOGO @ 2.69/box, 4/.50 coupons(doubled)=.35 a box
2 Chips Ahoys - BOGO= $1.70 a piece
3 Dole fruit bowl packs-BOGO @2.65 each, 3/.50 coupons(doubled)=.33 a pack
3 Dole fruit parfait packs-BOGO @2.65 each,3/.75 coupons=.58 a pack
6 boxes Quaker granola bars-BOGO @2.79 each, 3/$1 off 2coupons=.90 a piece
2 Pop Tarts-BOGO @ 2.19 each=$1.10 each
4 Barilla pastas-BOGO @ 1.45 each, 2/.50 off 2boxes coupon(doubled)=.23 a box
2 Kraft mac-n-cheese-BOGO @ 1.97 each=.99 a box
2.70 lbs grapes @ .99/lb=2.67
1 reusable shopping bag = .99
Using advertised sales and coupons I saved $56.30. So the full total of my groceries would have been $83.02.
Picture #2 is Ingles where I spent $97.92.
This week at Ingles they were tripling .50 coupons, they normally double as Publix does.
1 box of Luvs diapers 80 count - $18.98, I had a coupon for $5.00 I had sent for on-line=13.98
1 bag Underjams for Syd- on sale for $9.98, I had a $2 coupon=$7.98
2 boxes Pampers wipes- on sale for $2.78 each, I had 2 $.50 coupons(tripled)=$1.28 each
2 Suave body washes- $2.98 each, I had 1 bogo coupon and 1 $.50 coupon=$.74 each
1 6-roll Angel Soft- $3.68, I had a $.50 coupon(tripled)=$2.18
2 Suave deodorants- $1.98 each, I had 2 $.50 cent coupons(tripled)=$.48 each
6 3-gallon Deer Park waters- On sale for $1 each, I had 3 $1/2 coupons= $.50 each
6 cans of Pringles- on sale $1 each, I had 2 $.30 off 3 coupons(tripled)=$.70 each
6 Kellogs fruit snacks- 3/$5, I had 3 coupons for $.50 off 2(tripled)= $1.17 each
2 gallons Milk= $3.48/gallon!!!! Almost a whole dollar less than Publix
1 Cheerios snack mix- $2.00, I had a $.50 coupon tripled = $.50
1 Chex Mix- $2.38, I had a $.50 tripled= $.88
5 Pillsbury cinnamon rolls-5/$5, I had 5 $.30 coupons tripled =$.10 each
1 Pills bury French loaf- BOGO @ $2.27 each, $.35 coupon tripled=$.09 each
1 box Jellos singles- $1.50, $.50 coupon tripled=FREE
1 Duke mayo- $1.68
1 PB-$1.98
1 Jelly-$1.50
1 jar pickles-$1.88
1 container Crystal Light- $3.28, I had a $.50 coupon I requested on-line(tripled)=$1.78
1 Betty Crocker Warm Delights- on sale for $1.67, I had a $.50 coupon tripled- so it was only$.17
3 Bumble Bee Tuna-$.83 each
Over 5 lbs Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breast- on sale @ $1.98/lb, bought 2 packages, 2 $.55 coupons
2 Domino sugars(dark and light brown)-$.98 a piece, 2/$.30 coupons tripled- so they were $.08 a box
3 boxes Curves bars-3/$7, I had 3 $.50 coupons(tripled)= $.83 each
1 loaf of bread-$1.11
1 package hamburger buns-$.55
1 package hotdog buns-$.56
2 packages ball park franks- 2/$5, I had a $1/2 coupon=$2 each
3 lbs apples-$4.98
4 lbs oranges-$3.98
1 onion-$.76
2 squash- $1.07
4 peaches- $3.29(I just realized I was actually overcharged for this, they were on sale for$.88lb and I was charged $1.28/lb) Oh well.
3 tomatoes- $1.72
1 can resolve- $4.64, I had $1 coupon= $3.64
1 spray-n-wash- $2.68, I had a $.50 coupon(tripled)=$1.18
1 coffee-mate- this was free from a coupon I registered for on-line
2 nature's way rice-a-ronis- these were free plus I made $1 off of them b/c they were on sale for $1 each and I had 2 .50 coupons which were tripled.
1 box Austin crackers- on sale for $1
I think that is everything, if anyone has any questions let me know.
I had the check out girl total everything up before she scanned my Ingles card and the total was
$199, then after she scanned my card it was
$164, after coupons the grand total was
$97.92!!
I also am stocked up on cereals, toiletries, cleaners, cheese, beef, canned and frozen veges, and breakfast items to last probably 3-4 weeks or more from previous shopping trips.
Hope this helps.
