I went to SuperFresh on Saturday because they were having triple coupons. Been a while since I've been to one of those. And this one didn't work out too bad. I also got some meats, as we needed to stock up.

SuperFresh

2 boxes New York bread products $3.70 - .50 q tripled = $2.20 each
1 pack steaks $4.15
1 Weight Watchers cream cheese $2.59 - .75 q's = .34
2 pks chicken thighs $2.50 and $1.59
1 Blue Bunny ice cream $2.99 - .75 q's = .74
4 Newman's Own dressing $2.50 - .75 q's = .25 each
4 Tabasco sauce $1.89 - .75 q's = Free plus overage
1 Febreeze $2.50 - .75 q's = .25
1 Marzetti cole slaw dressing $2.99 - .75 q's = .74
1 Milk Way Bar = Free with coupon
1 Mr. Clean magic eraser $2.50 - $1.50 = $1.00
1 Oscar Mayer franks = Free with coupon
1 Velveeta cup $1.39 - .55 q's = FREE
4 McCormick spices $2.29 - .75 q's = .04 each

Total spent $20.45





Off to Vercchio's, the produce market, and then to ShopRite to finish up the deals.

Vercchio's
2 bags of tomatoes
3 bags of bananas
1 bag of apples
1 bag of Romaine lettuce
1/2 lb of swiss cheese
1/2 lb of corned beef
1 loaf of rye bread

Total $20.00

ShopRite
3 Land O Lakes lite butter $1.99 - $1.00 q's = .99
1 Land O Lakes Fresh Butter Spread .99 - .55 q's = FREE
4 boxes of Carolina rice .99 - .50 q's = FREE
3 Ocean Spray juices $2.77 - .55 = $1.77

Total $9.44


Total spent $49.89.

Gayle, who has a great website call The Grocery Cart Challenge, was the original inspiration to me to try a budget with my grocery shopping. Please check out her site, to see how she does it and how some others who also have decided to try her challenge.

Decided to go out on Saturday, even though it was miserable and raining and get a few things. I needed litter so I had to stop at Acme, something I rarely do.

Acme

5 bags of Quaker rice cakes $1.00 each - $1.00 q's = Free

Total = Zero

SuperFresh was having a sale I had never seen before, they will double up to 5 $1.00 coupons per visit. So that means $2.00 off an item. I used that to get some cheap frozen veggies we needed.

SuperFresh
10 Hanover frozen vegetable bags 2 for $3.00 = $1.00 off 2 q's doubled = .50 each
3 pks of ground chicken $1.49 each (manager's special)
1 pk of 4 beef eye round steaks $3.15 (manager's special)
1 pk of beef chuck roast $2.91
1 pk of chicken legs $1.37

Total$16.90

Then I had to hit the product market. I had deprived my husband long enough of oranges. He loves them. I also got some lunchmeat, as my man started school last week and he needs something to eat for the two days he is there way past dinner.

Vercchio's
3 bags of oranges
1 bag of potatoes
1/2 lb of ham
1/2 lb of American cheese
1 bag of celery hearts

Total $12.14


Stopped at ShopRite on Sunday to use up the last of our budget.

ShopRite
4 bags of rice $1.00 each
4 cans of Spot Shot $1.99 - .55 q's = .99 each
1 Frigo string cheese $3.49
2 Taylor pork rolls $1.49 each
1 Turkey Hill ice cream $2.74 - $1.00 q = $1.74
2 boxes of pancake mix $1.49 each
1 Cascade rinse FREE with coupon in mail

Total $19.30

Total budget $48.34. Under budget is good.

Gayle, who has a great website call The Grocery Cart Challenge, was the original inspiration to me to try a budget with my grocery shopping. Please check out her site, to see how she does it and how some others who also have decided to try her challenge.

Been a long rough two weeks. I've had a tension headache for days. Been to the doctor, taking medicine. Husband has forbid me from watching tv or going on the computer today since we think it is eye strain. So I snuck on here after he left for the Flyers game to post my deals. I wasn't even going to go shopping this morning, but I asked my husband to take me since I am not wearing my glasses to give my eyes a break. We hit two different stores.

SuperFresh
4 Eggo's .99 each - .75 q's = Free plus overage
1 box Barilla piccollini pasta .89 - .50 q's = Free with overage
2 pks of seasoned chicken breasts $2.93 and $3.98
1 pk of hot Italian sausage $3.62
1 pork tenderloin $5.83
1 big package of chicken breasts $7.32

Total $21.53

Over to ShopRite. I usually get there around 8am. But today didn't get there until 11:30. And I couldn't believe how empty it was. Guess everyone was out celebrating Easter. Since the man was with me I let him pick out the fruit and the bagels. I didn't want to drag him over to the produce market. He was nice enough to drag my blind butt around.

ShopRite
2 Turkey Hill ice creams $1.79 - $1.00 q's = .79 each!!
12 Breyers yogurts 3 for .99 - .50 off 4 q = .96 for 12!!!
2 Tropicana OJ's $2.47 - $1.00 q's = $1.47 each
4 Ziploc bags 2 for $3.00 - .55 q's = .50 each
2 Kotex tampons 2 for $5.00 - .75 q's = $1.50 each
1 Perdue flavor bites $2.99 - $1.00 q = $1.99
1 bag of oranges $2.99
1 bag of grapes $4.38
1 loaf of white bread .99
1 loaf of wheat bread $1.49
1 bag of bagels $2.50

Total $26.20

Total spent $47.53. Under budget and still got lots of great stuff. Now time to get off the computer, grab my cold compress, take my meds and take a nap. Pray for better head feelings this week. Its an important week.

Gayle, who has a great website call The Grocery Cart Challenge, was the original inspiration to me to try a budget with my grocery shopping. Please check out her site, to see how she does it and how some others who also have decided to try her challenge

I hit SuperFresh on Saturday as I read up there was cheap to free pasta, almost free salad dressing and a sale on ground meat, which we were completely out of.

SuperFresh
4 boxes Barilla Piccolini .89 - .50 q's = .11 overage on each one!!
4 boxes Barilla whole grain pasta .89 - $1.00 off 2 = .39 each
3 Kraft salad dressings 3 for $5.00 - (3) $1.50 q's = .16 each
A little over 6 lbs of ground meat = $11.60

Total = $13.22



ShopRite
1 Kashi entree = FREE with coupon I got in mail
4 Ban deodorants .99 each - .75 q's = FREE
5 Vitamin waters $1.00 each - $1.00 q's = FREE
2 Breyers ice creams $1.99 each
2 Land O'Lakes butters $1.88 each - .55 q's = .88 each
2 pks of strawberries $1.49 each
2 Pretzelfils $1.84 - .75 q's = .84 each
2 Pepperidge Farm granola cookies $1.79 - $1.00 q's = .79 each
1 Spot Shot carpet cleaner $2.49 - $2.00 q = .49
1 18 inch pizza $5.99 and you get a free Canada dry 2 liter with it
4 Hefty one zips $1.88 each - $1.00 off 2 q's = $1.38 each
1 soy sauce $2.69

Total $27.09

Vercchio's Produce Market
1 bag of oranges
1 bag of spinach
1 bag of green peppers
2 heads of lettuce
1 bag of tomatoes

Total $8.75

Total spent for week $49.06. Finally, back under budget. Now I'm off to wash my car.

Gayle, who has a great website call The Grocery Cart Challenge, was the original inspiration to me to try a budget with my grocery shopping. Please check out her site, to see how she does it and how some others who also have decided to try her challenge

First I hit SuperFresh as we needed to start stocking back up on meats. I hadn't been there in a few weeks, so it was nice to get back there to see what they had.

SuperFresh
1 chicken thighs $1.87
1 chicken split breasts $2.65
2 pks of thin sandwich steaks $1.89 and $2.19
2 whole chickens $3.51 and $3.62

Total $15.72

Dollar Tree (I go there to get my newspapers)
2 pks of hamburger rolls $1.00 each

Total $2.00

My local ShopRite was having their customer appreciation sale. You get great coupons in the circular for some awesome product. They used to do this more often. So now when it comes out it is more of a big deal.

ShopRite
1 Daisy sour cream $1.29
2 Pace salsas $2.99 - 2 coupons for free Pace Product (won this on their site) = FREE
1 Gold's horseradish .99
8 San Giorgio pastas .88 each = $7.04
4 Chex Mix 4 for $5.00 - .50 q's = .25 each
1 Melitta coffee $2.99 - $1.00 q = $1.99
3 ShopRite elbow macaroni = $2.00
1 ShopRite 5 lb bag of flour = $1.88
1 ShopRite 5 lb bag of sugar $2.49 - SR appreciation q = $1.49
6 Meow Mix cat treats $1.00 each - $1.00 q's = FREE
1 Friendly's ice cream $2.50 - SR appreciation q = $1.49
1 3lb pack of center cut porkchops $7.06 - SR appreciation q = $5.28
1 pk of strawberries $1.99 - SR appreciation q = .99
1 ShopRite dozen of eggs $1.99 - SR appreciation q = .99
1 rotisserie chicken $4.99

Total $31.02

Total spent for week $48.02

Under budget again. Not bad. Still on the hunt for Dollar Tree's chicken and beef broth. I have been to two different ones and still no broth. I have one more to check next week, if not, I guess then they aren't having it anymore. And I will have to get it at the regular store like everyone else.

Gayle, who has a great website call The Grocery Cart Challenge, was the original inspiration to me to try a budget with my grocery shopping. Please check out her site, to see how she does it and how some others who also have decided to try her challenge.

SuperFresh had triples again this weekend and I really wasn't going to go until I saw a deal on Green Giant veggies and I can't pass up a chance to stock up on vegetables. So I checked out a few other deals there. Did pretty well.

SuperFresh

2 Frigo string cheese = $1.49 each after q's
2 pks of chicken thighs and wingettes = $1.82 and $1.70
3 Pillsbury Savorings = .75 each after q's
1 Wrigley's gum = Free with coupon in last week's paper
4 Kellogg's Raisin Bran/Crunch = .40 each after q's
10 Green Giant boxed veggies = .25 each after q's

Total before q's = $38.27
Total after q's = $7.37




My husband requested fruit and anytime he wants something healthy, I'm gonna encourage it. So I hit the produce market with my mom and brother today.

Vercchio's

2 bags of carrots
1 bag of red potatoes
1 bag of mushrooms
2 bags of bananas
2 bags of oranges
1 bag of apples
1 bag of lemons (his request, for lemon water)
1 bunch of grapes
and a loaf of bread on sale for .90

Total $17.00

Last but not least of course, ShopRite. I got there a little later due to being sick and knocked out cold from a dose of NyQuil. SR was a little crowded because we are supposed to get snow later today and anytime NJ gets snow people act like they are never going to be allowed out of the house for days. They love to overreact here.

ShopRite

4 pks of gum = Free with coupon from 2/22 paper
2 Tree Ripe OJ = $1.69 each
3 SR cheese singles = .99 each
2 pks shredded SR cheese = $1.25 each
2 Breyers ice cream = $1.99 each
1 Over The Moon FF chocolate milk = $1.89
1 shaving cream = $1.99 - .50 q's = .99
2 Glucerna cereals = $4.99 - $5.00 coupon = FREE
1 Perdue turkey meatballs = $2.21
2 Perdue Flavor Bites = $2.54 = $1.00 q's = $1.54
3 jalapeno peppers (husbands request) = .78
1 rotisserie chicken = $4.72

Total $26.85

Total spent for week $51.22, just a pinch over. That is because I grabbed one more bag of shredded cheese than originally planned. I know my husband and he will go through it this morning making his breakfast burritos.

Gayle, who has a great website call The Grocery Cart Challenge, was the original inspiration to me to try a budget with my grocery shopping. Please check out her site, to see how she does it and how some others who also have decided to try her challenge.

I wish I could put all the groceries I buy with my $50 budget in one big impressive picture. However my stores don't start their sales on the same day.

Triples at SuperFresh this weekend. As I have said before this is always a little work, pulling all q's under $1.00, making a list of all of them. Having four columns of stuff to check out and only getting maybe a column at most. But when you get to the counter and you see your total after all the q's its always worth it.

My SuperFresh is always great and I got lots of overage this time. So I will take it.

SuperFresh

2 bags of Stacy's pita chips $2.99 - $1.50 q's = $1.49 each
4 Minute Rice brown rice 4 pks $1.79 - .50q's tripled = .29 each
2 boxes of Domino sugar $2.09 each - .65 off 2 tripled = $1.12 each
4 Fiber one yogurt 4pks $1.64 (clearance) - .50 q's tripled = .14 each!!
8 Lipton teas $2.00 - .60 q's tripled = .20 each
4 Celestial Seasoning teas $1.67 - .55 q's tripled = .02 each!!!
4 Blistex lip balms $1.39 - .35 q's tripled = .30 each
4 French's spicy mustards $1.69 - .75 q's tripled = FREE with overage
1 Suave shampoo $2.79 - Free Suave product Q in mail = FREE
1 Cascade rinse $3.59 - free Cascade rinse Q in mail = FREE
3 Heathly one lunchmeats $1.67 each - .75 q's tripled = FREE with overage
4 Mentos gum $1.49 each - .55 q's tripled = FREE
3 Betty Crocker Frostings $1.67 - .50q's tripled = .17 each
2 Suave deodorants $1.69 - .75 q's tripled = FREE
1 bag of NY croutons $1.59 - .55 q's tripled = FREE with overage
2 Ortega tortilla packs $1.99 - .75 q's off two tripled = .87 each
1 NY garlic breadsticks $3.49 - .50 q's tripled = $1.99
1 NY cheese ciabatta bread $3.19 - .50 q's tripled = $1.69
1 can of Del Monte no salt tomatoes $1.69 - free Del Monte can coupon = FREE

Total before q's $98.35

Total after q's $19.80

Couldn't resist, went back one more time Saturday morning.

SuperFresh

2 Fiber One yogurts
3 Celestial Seasoning teas
4 Mentos
2 Minute Rice
1 pk of reduced broccoli $1.50
4 bags of chex mix $1.25 each - .50 q's tripled = FREE
4 pouches of Ortega seasoning $1.49 - .75 q's off 2 tripled = .37 each
4 Viva paper towels $2.69 - .75 q's tripled = .44 each

Total before q's $56.91

Total after q's $10.17

On Sunday, to ShopRite for just a few things we needed. Would have been nice if I could have just gotten this stuff while I was SuperFresh, but outside of their triple coupons and some meats, ShopRite is just cheaper on everything else. And they had a sweet sale on Over The Moon milk. I said before that we don't need alot of milk in our house because my husband doesn't like it and we don't have kids, so I will freeze these 1/2 gallons. And they will last me quite a while.

ShopRite

2 Friendly's ice cream $1.99 each

2 Over The Moon 1/2 gallon milks $1.89 each - $1.50 off two q's = $1.14!!!

6 Campbell's tomato soups .69 each - .40 off three q's = .43 each

1 St. Ives body wash $1.99 - .75 q = .99

1 soy sauce $2.29

1 recyclable bag .88 - coupon for free bag = FREE

1 turkey breast = $3.14

Plus the last time I went to SR I earned $4.00 in coupons off my next order.

Total after q's $12.92

And earned another $1.50 off my next order

Total spent on budget $42.89. Under budget baby and got lots of stuff!!

We needed bread and meat. The ShopRite deals are not looking that great this week. So I headed over to my favorite place for meats, SuperFresh and they did not disappoint. So I also checked out the bread there and took a few q's. I did pretty good with the brand names. I probably could have gotten the buns cheaper but again you live and learn.

2 pks seasoned chicken thighs $1.48 and $1.65
1 pk of steaks $3.44
1 pk of 8 boneless chicken breasts $8.66
2 pks of Shadybrook turkey burgers $1.49 each
2 Cornish hens $3.44
1 Gorton's popcorn shrimp $2.24 - $1.00 q = $1.24
1 pk hamburger buns $1.59
1 pk hot dog buns $1.59
1 12pk of King's Hawaiian sweet rolls $2.49 - $1.00 q = $1.49
1 Arnold 12 grain bread $1.99 - $1.00 q = .99
1 pk Thomas' english muffins $1.99 - $1.00 q = .99
1 large loaf of white bread $1.59

Total after q's $27.32

Over to ShopRite for a few remaining things to wrap up my budget for the week. We were out of vegetable oil again. My man is a fryer, let me tell you. They had a good deal on the Hunt's pasta sauce and if you bought 10 you got a $3.00 coupon for your next order. The box of dog biscuits was free from a coupon I found in Entertainment Weekly. Its the one with the cast of Twilight on it, if you happen to have one. And I got a coupon in the mail for a free 2 liter of Dr. Pepper. I did buy 3 boxes of Lean Pockets for the man, but he ate one as soon as I got home before I could take a picture.

I also had planned to get Hefty Gripper bags at $1.49 after coupons, but they were wiped out of them at 10am, yikes.

10 Hunts pasta sauce 10 for $8.00 - $1.00 off 4 q's = $6.00 or .60 each
1 Dr. Pepper .99 - Free coupon = FREE
1 container of vegetable oil $2.79
3 Lean pockets $2.00 each
4 Mrs. P's frozen pizza's .49 each
1 aluminum foil $1.99
1 box Milkbone biscuits $2.79 - Free coupon = FREE
2 packs of American cheese $1.99 each
2 packs of ravioli = $1.39 each
2 packs of gnocchi = $1.39 each

Total $26.70

Total spent $54.02. Which happened because I was unable to get the Hefty bags and improvised on the spot to get other things to take its place. But still not bad for all of that stuff.

I get up for work every morning at 4:30am, yes, that early. I take the dog out, feed the pets, exercise for 45 minutes, eat my breakfast, get shower, get ready, drop the dog off at my mom's house and drive 25 minutes to work. Every day. Five days a week. Yes, I'm very grateful to have a good job, but it still gets tiring, I don't go to bed early enough and I don't get alot of sleep.

On the weekends I haven't been getting too much extra sleep due to wanting to be up early to go to SuperFresh on Saturday's and get some deals and the newspapers at the dollar store. Then getting up early on Sunday's to go to ShopRite before the crowds get there.

This weekend I have had it. I needed some sleep. So I've decided to skip SuperFresh and sleep in late. I got up at 9:30am. Which is late for me and I loved it. Then I got to exercise, make breakfast and hang out with the family. I am just going to get my whole $50 of my budget at ShopRite tomorrow morning like I used to. Sometimes you just have to cut a few of the bargain things down. Time is just as valuable as money, and rest is even more important.

I would love to do this every week, but SuperFresh just has too many good meat deals. So I've decided that when we need meat to just add them to my Sunday trip. Go to CVS first, then ShopRite, and then SF to keep my Saturdays open.

I also sent two big payments to card #4, so its slowly coming down. I hope to have it gone by the end of February or mid-March with our tax returns, plus some of that will go to card #5 too.

In March it will be a year since I started couponing and I have learned so many lessons. I have learned what goes on sale at what times of the year and that you need to stock up on it then. Sugar for instance goes on sale between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I bought it on sale, but not alot of it. Now I am completely out, needed more right away, and had to pay full price as the coupons I had didn't even make it cheaper than the store brand. Now I know to buy a bunch of it at the holidays. You live and learn.

I decided this week to load up Mr. Freeze as much meat as I could, and then take a break from meat shopping in the next few weeks, and focus on other categories, fruits and vegs, non-perishable goods (rice, beans, pasta).

So that is what I did at SuperFresh today with that thought in mind.

3 lbs ground beef $5.06
1 pack of thin steaks $2.63
1 pk seasoned chicken thighs $1.34
1 pk seasoned chicken thighs $1.01
1 top round steak $5.31
3 Healthyones lunch meat $1.67 each - .75 q's = .17 each
1 pk granulated sugar $2.99

Total $18.84


Over to ShopRite. It was crowded due to the 3pm Eagles game today (I will keep my opinions on that game to myself).

2 Turkey Hill ice creams $2.49 each
2 Kraft cheeses $1.99 (I had .50 q's but they were for wrong store, oops)
3 Ragu pasta sauces $1.14 - $1.00 off 3 q's = .81 each
4 cans Goya beans $2.00
3 Sucrets Ice pops $1.49 - $1.50 q's = FREE
4 Hefty boxes of trash bags $1.49 - $1.00 q's = .49 each
1 Goya olive oil $2.99
1 vegetable oil $1.99
1 rotisserie chicken $4.99

Total $26.40

Then I hit our local produce market because they have the cheapest lunch meat around. And my poor husband needs something besides leftovers for lunch. I found out while in there that it was a $10.00 minimum to use your debit card there and since I had no cash, I had to get a few things to bring me up to the $10.00. The bananas are for my mom, who asked me to grab them for her.

1 bag broccoli rabe
1 bag bananas
1 bag spinach
1 lb domestic ham
1 lb American cheese

Total $11.26

Final total $56.50

Okay, a little over. But the $10.00 minimum at the product place threw me off. Next time I will learn to take cash there.

Well, I might have to retitle my post this week. Grocery Shopping slightly off your budget cause of stinkin SuperFresh.

SuperFresh is having triples this week. Which is a curse and blessing at the same time. Its a pain to have to pull ever q you have under a dollar, and you make like a two page list of what you have to find half of them aren't good deals. But you still do get alot of stuff for cheap. So I will stop complaining now. Plus how many times have I said, that my SuperFresh has the nicest cashiers in the world. I had a 10 minute conversation with my cashier tonight about saving money, coupons, credit card debt. We bonded, it was lovely. And I got to buy Mr. Freeze a few new friends.

I went at night on Friday so the picture isn't as bright as it usually is.

2 containers Edy's = $2.99 each
1 Kozy Shack Ready Grains = FREE (got coupon in mail for Free one)
4 packages of turkey sausage (manager's special) = $1.59 each
1 package of ground chicken (manager's special) = $1.49
4 Green Giant Valley Steamers 4 for $5.00 - .50 q's = FREE with .25 overage each
1 Lean Pocket $1.74 - .40 q = .54
4 Sobe Water $1.49 - .50 q's on the bottle = FREE
5 Betty Crocker mashed potatoes 5 for $5.00 - .40q's = FREE maybe overage
2 Blue Diamond almonds $1.99 - .75 off 2 = .86 each
4 Muir Glen canned tomatoes $2.19 - .75 q's = FREE
6 Whiskas Temptations cat treats $1.89 - .50q's = .39 each
3 Pounce cat treats $1.59 - .75 q's = FREE maybe overage
3 Lipton tea bags $1.29 - .60 q's = FREE
1 aluminum foil = $2.99
1 bag of hot dog rolls $1.99 (not pictured, we were hungry)

Total price before q's $74.14, after q's $22.70

And then I went again the next morning. I wasn't going to, but the deals were fantastic and I had a few more q's to use up.

4 Green Giant Steamers
3 Temptations cat treats
2 Muir Glenn Tomatoes
2 Blue Diamond Almonds
4 Sobe Lifewater
2 boxes mashed sweet potatoes
2 Helluva good cheese blocks
1 Bridgford Ready Dough

Total after q's $10.34.

So my last trip this morning was ShopRite, I had contemplated knocking off quite a bit on my list to keep it in budget. But SR was having so many good deals, so I took it as a chance to really stock up and have a lighter week next week. I know I got the Green Giant steamers at SuperFresh, but SR had a larger variety of just the plain veggies without sauce on them. And I like those better. So I got a few there too.

3 containers of OJ $5.00
2 Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream $3.99 each - $3.00q's = .99 each
10 Dannon yogurts 10 for $2.99 - $1.00 q = 10 for $1.99 (awesome deal)
5 Green Giant Valley Steamers $1.33 - .50 q = .33 each
2 Farmland hot dogs .99 - .55 q's = FREE
2 packages of cube steaks = $1.52 and $1.50
12 pk of Nissan ramen noodles (hubby's lunch ) = $1.99
1 Robitussin Cough med $1.99 - $1 q' = .99
6 boxes Ronzoni pasta .59 each
1 Rotisserie chicken $5.92

Total $25.05.

Total overall $58.09

So I would have stayed in my budget had I not gone to SuperFresh that second time. But I was only $8.00 over my budget and I got a ton of stuff. Lets just say that Mr. Freeze is quite happy with his new collection of veggies that should last us quite a while. I am even going to try and subtract that $8.00 from my next week's budget and see if I can do it for only $42.00.

My Saturday started off at Acme. I know, I have said before I try not to go there. But that darn Acme had two good cereal deals in two weeks. And I take dry cereal with me every day to work as my 3pm snack. So stocking up on this cheap makes my lunch packing really easy. This time they had selected Kellogg's cereals 6 for $1.50 each. There are Kellogg's coupons for $1.00 off selected cereals.

3 Crispix cereals
3 Frosted Mini Wheats

Total after Acme deal and coupons $3.00

Off to SuperFresh, which I have to say has the nicest cashiers on the planet. Had to throw that in. This week, cheap ham, and cheap Eggo's.

3 boxes of Eggos = $5.00 - .75 q's (SuperFresh really doubles) = .50 for 3 boxes
1 ham = $4.49
2 Ronzoni pastas = .79 each

Total $5.78

Oh I wish my freezer was in already, I would have stocked up big time on the ham's and Eggo's. Oh well, no room for now.

I thought my shopping for Saturday was done. But then I went out with my father to help him get some of his holiday gifts and he had to stop by Aldi to get my mom milk. So I couldn't resist grabbing a few things we needed.

2 dozen eggs $2.70
11 canned items (baked beans, corn, peas, carrots, tomatoes with chilies)

Total $8.39

Needed the canned veggies to make a good soup tonight.

Woke up Sunday morning early to find everything outside was coated with sheet of ice on it. Fun. My husband went shopping with me this morning as we also had to get our ingredients for our Christmas dinner. We are having 5 people over, so I gave him his own separate budget just to make his fancy dinner he likes to make. He loves to cook and didn't find my normal food I get to be good enough for the holidays (you pick and choose your battles in marriage). So what you see above is our normal food budget for the week minus the Xmas dinner and the nights of eating that for leftovers, so that is why I didn't buy much meat or dinner stuff. Just got a few things we needed.

After we scraped off the car and got to the store, this is what I got.

1 bag of 9 Lives cat food = $4.69 but FREE for me with a Free coupon I got in the mail.
2 Glade oil candles = $2.49 - $2.50 Q's in paper so FREE
2 OJ's = $3.54
1 container of beef bouillon cubes $1.39
1 container of chicken bouillon cubes $1.39
2 Martinson's coffee $1.99 - $1.00 q's = $1.98 for both
2 Edy's = $2.74 - $1.00 off 2 q's = $4.48 for both
1 Rotisserie chicken $5.71 ( I get this for my dog, long story)
5 Ramen noodle packs $1.00 (my husband insisted on these for his lunch)
2 cans green chilli's $1.29 each = $2.58
1 Reynold's aluminum foil $3.19 - $1.00 q' = $2.19

Total $24.26


Final total $41.43. So under my budget. But again keep in mind we had a separate budget for our Christmas dinner food this week. So that is why I took it easy on the regular food.

This is the first of my weekly "Grocery Shopping In Budget" segment. I decided to post each of my weekly shopping trips to show you what I get for my budget.

Since we started our more frugal living we have cut our grocery budget to $50 a week, this is for two adults. We could possibly do it even lower but this is enough for us to build up a nice stock so maybe some weeks in the future I may not even need that much. And considering we don't really go out to eat anymore, we needs lots of snacks and stuff for lunches at work and dinner.

My grocery shopping schedule is mostly done on the weekends. I would love to go on a nice quiet Wednesday at 10am when no one is there. But I can't. I work Monday through Friday, getting up at 4:30am to exercise before going to work and not getting home until 6pm at night. So when I do go on the weekends I try to go as early in the morning as I can to avoid the crowds. Every week on Sunday morning I go to ShopRite for some staples and if they have any good sales. I find that ShopRite is the cheapest grocery store in our area. So I make them the main stop on my schedule.

Saturday morning I pick what other store I feel would fill in the gaps in my stockpile for that week. Sometimes its Dollar Tree for its cheap rice, jars of peppers, and cake mix, sometimes its SuperFresh if they are having triple coupons or if I need to stock up on meat. Superfresh has the greatest manager's meat specials. Sometimes it is the produce market to stock up on cheap veggies and fruits. Every once in a while I may go to Aldi's if I need canned goods or cheap Mexican food components, and also every once in a blue moon its Acme, if they have a good deal, but I don't go there too often, too expensive.

You all hit me on an unusual week. I actually stopped by Acme on Friday night because I read there was a great deal on frosting and Chex mix.


6 tubs Betty Crocker frosting 6 for $6.00 - .50 q's doubled = FREE
5 bags of Chex Mix 5 for $5.00 - .50 q's doubled = FREE

Total cost of trip = $0.00 (can't get better than that)

Saturday morning I went to SuperFresh first, as I actually had a pinch bit of room in my tiny freezer and decided to fill it with a few meats. Some okay deals.

3 lbs ground beef $5.09
1 package of 14 chicken drumsticks $3.38
1 packages of Chorizo sausage (manager's special) $1.99 each = $3.98

Total = $12.45

After SuperFresh I ran over to Aldi's. Its about a 10 minute trip but I think it was worth it today.
I hadn't been there in a while, and surprisingly on a Saturday it wasn't busy at all. My husband and I are huge Mexican food fans. So I was very happy with the Mexican staples they had and the prices they were at.

Cannot find my receipt. Its in my box somewhere but I can list what I got and the total.

1 bag of Tater Tots (found lots of good recipes for this, and I just like them, so nah nah nah)
1 bag of pinto beans
2 frozen Mexican dinners (good for lunches for the man)
1 dozen eggs (the cheapest I have seen them)
1 jar of honey (we were completely out of it)
2 cans of chili beans
3 cans refried beans
2 cans corn
1 can peas (I absolutely HATE peas, but I have a few recipes that ask for them, so I gave in)
2 boxes of corn dogs (more treats for the husband)
6 boxes of cornbread

Total $24.70

And then lastly on Sunday I hit ShopRite as usual. In the last few weeks I have spent under $20.00 at ShopRite, just getting a few things to wrap up our meals. But this week they had a few things I couldn't pass up.

Milk $2.19
2 gallons Turkey Hill Ice Cream $2.74 - $1.00 off 2 q = $2.24 each
4 packages Farmland Bacon $1.69 each (no q's for this boo hoo, but still the cheapest in a long time and we had no bacon on stock)
Lemon juice .99
2 containers of Daisy sour cream $1.29 each - .50 q's doubled = .29 each
1 Dole salad = FREE with coupon I won on a game on the Dole website
2 bags of Utz cheese curls (my husband's addiction) = .89 each
2 bags of Domini brown sugar $1.59 - .50 q's doubled = .59 each
4 GUM toothbrushes .99 each = .75 q's doubled = FREE
1 Rotisserie chicken $4.99

Total = $23.99


Total spent for this week = $61.14

Of course the first time I put my whole shopping budget on the blog, I go over my budget. Last week I was $10.00 under, but did I post that, of course not. Oh well. That means I have to behave myself a little next week. But I did get alot of stuff to stock up on. And this is a world of a difference compared to what I used to spend on groceries for just two people.

Also we do have a alot of fresh veggies and fruits frozen in our freezer that we eat all the time, so I don't want you all to think we eat just junk all the time. But I did notice we needed some snacks to keep hubby happy.