Giant 1/22/09

Not many deals to be had at Giant this week...

My total bill was 60.39 before savings and 36.10 AFTER savings.
I saved 14.04 with my bonus card and used 10.25 in coupons.

Kellogg's cereals were 2/5. I got 3 boxes of Rice Krispies and used 3 $1 coupons. I paid 4.50 for 3 boxes.

Strawberries were BOGO at 4.49. I picked up 2 of those and some bananas. I had an internet coupon for $2 off a $5 produce purchase, so I got all produce for about 3 bucks.

Skippy peanut butter was 3/5. I had 2 $1/2 coupons, so I picked up 4 for just over a dollar each. I was running low on peanut butter, so I was glad to replenish the stockpile.

Eggo Muffin Tops were 2/4. I had a catalina (The coupons that the register spits out) for 1.25/1 - making them .75.

Daisy sour cream was 3/5. I picked up one for 1.67 and used a .50/1 coupon which doubled and got me my sour cream for .67.

Coffeemate liquid creamer was 3/5. I had a catalina for $1/2. AND the register spit out another one at the end of my order.

Sunmaid raisins were 1.59. I used a coupon for $1/2 and got them for just over a buck each. My twins just discovered raisins so these were a pleaser.

The rest of my order included staples: milk, bread, eggs and OJ.

Not a bad week, but I can do better.

Giant 1/15/09

Today at Giant, my bill came to $87.39.

minus Bonus Card Savings: 18.21
minus Manuf. coupons: 25.64
minus Doubled coupons: .45
Total Savings: 44.30

When all was said and done I spent $43.32 for 42 items.

I got a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a box of Kashi Cereal Bars for FREE with coupons.

Also, 2 bottles of Endust that were marked down to 1.87. I had a coupon for $2, and got them for FREE also.

Last week, I got a rain check for Smuckers Grape Jam which was $10/10. I purchased 3 jars and used a $1/3 coupon and got all three jars for $2.00 - That's .67/each. We eat a lot of PB&J around here, so that was a steal.

I purchased 6 boxes of Life Cereal and 4 bottles of Aunt Jemima syrup which gave me an additional .20 off each gallon of gas I purchase. The cereal was 2/4 and I used 3 $1/2 coupons and the syrup was 2/5 - I used 2 1/2 coupons.

Yoplait yogurt was .60 each. I bought 12 and had 2 coupons for a free cup when you buy 4. I was unable to use my $1/8 coupon with that deal. oh well.

Lean Cuisine meals were 5/10. I bought just one. I had a coupons for $1 off 1, so I got it for a buck.

Nabisco 100 calorie packs are 2/4. I got 2 and had a coupon for $1 off milk when you buy 2. I needed milk anyway, so this was a good deal.

Have you tried the new Truvia sweetener? I gt a sample of it in the mail with a .55/off coupon. I liked it when I tried it, so I went ahead and made the purchase. The 40 packet box was 2.50. My coupon was doubled, so I got it for $1.50.

Over all, a good day. I stuck to my list and came out on top - I always like it when I SAVE more than I SPEND!

New Grocery Shopping Plan

I have this great idea! I am going to purchase gift cards to the Grocery Stores that I shop at to help me budget my groceries even better!

I average about $30-$50 on groceries each week. I plan to purchase $150 in gift cards from Giant and $50 from Wegmans at the beginning of each month. (this won't get me very far at Wegman's - it will be a very good test, tho!)
The important part is that we will still earn miles on our credit card with the purchase of the giftcards, but we will be held to a strict budget by using the giftcards Once the gift cards are gone, I can't shop any more. I'll have to make them stretch.

This will replace my old method - cash. Cash for groceries worked for us, but this new plan will cut out a trip to ATM each week and will save me from the frivolous purchases I'd make just because I had cash in my wallet.

CVS 1/4-1/10

Got everything above for under $3 oop at CVS this past weekend. I tripled my extra bucks on my secondary card and made about 10 bucks on my main card.
Thanks to CVS for the 5/25 coupon in my email and the 3/15 coupon they put out recently. Both were a huge help!

I plan to go back tomorrow to scoop up whatever items I haven't exceeded my limit on.

I'm back!

I have been so lax about posting my deals! But, I'm back!

I want to start off this year by announcing that I saved $1445.46 in 2008 using my Giant Bonus Card. In 2009, I will tally up how much I have saved using coupons, as well.

My End of Year savings from CVS was $2153.50 on my main card and $676.11 on my secondary card. This year I will use my secondary card more consistently. I am already off to a good start in '09. The CVS deals this week were pretty sweet. In my next post, I will picture everything I got this week for under 3 bucks!