September Budget Review

I was bad this month at posting pictures because my camera broke.  I normally take the pictures and download right away but I am using my husband's fancy camera and you have to take the memory card out and load it in a special thing and put it in the computer.  I seem to be really challenged on finding the things necessary to do this because they are always in a different place around the house.  Since my camera is not going to be fixed anytime soon, I am hoping to get a better handle of the new camera.

I did post the first half of the month spending here.  Check it out for more details.  I thought that I started off the month a little too strong but then I found out about triples at Harris Teeter and it seemed like the budget was going to go out the window.  Luckily, I saved a lot and controlled myself a little.  I used a bunch of rain checks and coupons to get some great deals including free Annie's mac and cheese, Kraft Fresh Take, Kosher Salt, Ultimate Hamburger Helper, Progresso Soup, McCormick Gourmet Seasonings, Duncan Hines Frosting Creations, Magic Shell, Angel Soft Tissues, Tetley Tea bags, Lindt Chocolate Bar, Plum Baby food, Foil Muffin Liners, Granulated Sugar, Mustard and Honey Nut Cheerios.  Check out all these pictures:

Aldi's $14.41 

My husband said that he really wanted to get some chips so we bought two bags because last time the bag was gone before he got anything.  They also had their seasonal baking goods out so I grabbed a container of baking powder.  I also stocked up on some margarine for baking and eating.

Aldi's $5.70

I went out to the car and realized that I didn't grab flour so we went back into the store for a few bags and I decided to go with 4 since I didn't really know what I had left at home.  I can't wait for winter baking sales to begin because I am going to buy a ton when it is on sale for $0.99!!!  I am going to have to come up with a way to better storage solution and find one of those big plastic barrels to put them all in.

Harris Teeter $8.25

First trip for triples and I used a rain check on the Dixie Crystals, Angel Soft Tissues, French's Brown Mustard and the Nestle Chocolate Chips.  I didn't see a lot deals that were great for me so I grabbed a few things that I knew we could use with rain checks that I have had for a long time.

Harris Teeter $2.02 

 Quick trip to another Harris Teeter to see if they had better stock and the answer was no but they had lower pricing on the Pop Tarts and the Old El Paso seasoning so I grabbed them and I also saw the Perfect portions which is my husband's favorite.  I grabbed a package of the Fresh Take because it seems to not getting refilled at any Harris Teeter.  It isn't the flavor that we like to have but I figured that it was worth a try (ended up using the cheese side for tacos one night and saved the bread crumbs for another meal)!  It saved me from shredding cheese that night.

Harris Teeter $6.86

I went to exercise class and then straight to the grocery store to get a few more deals at a different Harris Teeter which was better stocked (because they get mostly work traffic during the day and not shoppers).  I grabbed the Annie's pasta with an old coupon that had which made them free.  I also grabbed the Pop Tarts which when you bought three, I got the additional $1 off evic zvr coupon so they all ended up being $0.17 total or $0.06 per box (almost free).  I found the Kraft Fresh Take that we like so I was excited about that because these are good on chicken or pork but also good to mix with pasta and it was free!  I also got the Marini cranberries which weren't at my store but ended up being $0.15 each after coupon.  

Great trip and the highest cost item was the Pampers but they were normally $11.59 but they were on sale for $8.99 less $1.50 coupon and $1.50 evic zvr so it was $5.99... almost my whole total.

Harris Teeter $7.02

A little bit smaller trip but I got a bunch of interesting things that I hadn't gotten in awhile like tea bags, jelly and sliced cheese.  I am working on some interesting uses for all of that in my plan for next month :)

Harris Teeter $6.14

This was my son's shopping trip.  It makes it easier if he gets to pick out his own things and check out without me because he likes the whole process.  Sadly, I am still paying for it all but he picks out what he wants and I give him the coupon.  He puts them all up on the shelf and watches them get rung up.  Then, he gives them the coupons.  Sometimes if it is only a few things, he pays in cash but normally, I let him run the credit card.  He loves it almost as much as he loves the cookies at Harris Teeter.  Just a note that we are using those pop tarts as dessert instead of breakfast....just seems wrong!

Harris Teeter $16.64

I am not sure how my total got to be so high but I had a last minute trip to the store and I think that I was freaking out that the deals were ending!  I used a rain check for the ketchup, Honey Nut Cheerios, and salt.  We are brand specific on ketchup and love our Heinz and there are very few coupons so when I saw the $0.25 coupon, I knew it was time to pull out the rain check and triple that coupon so they ended up being $1.14 each for something that is normally closer to $3.  

I know that the Pampers were $5.49 after coupons because I got a $2 catalina coupon when I bought them before.  The rest of the groceries were about $10.  I splurged and got fries and smiles because we really wanted them for dinner and they were $0.80 each.  It figured that it was better then going out to eat and it was a nice treat for us but not the best end to a great shopping run at Harris Teeter triples.

CVS $0.07

I got a $3 ECB in my inbox.  I am not sure why they keep doing this but it is bringing me back in the store...not nearly as much as I CVS shopped in the last few years but there are often some great deals.  I looked a few different ones and decided to go with the easiest one.  Three boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios on sale for $2 each less the $1 printable coupon were $1 each so I got three and used my ECB so that it was only $0.07 tax OOP.  You gotta love stocking the cereal cupboard for that cheap!!

Harris Teeter $1.81

I got excited because there was a deal on Eggland's best eggs and there was a coupon so I got two dozen extra large eggs and there is still a $0.50 Ibotta that I scanned...my first one so I am super excited to see how it goes.

Target $14.89 

I needed to get some milk and lunch meat so I decided to take advantage of the Advil moneymaker at Target.  I was super excited to see that the shelf was fully stocked and I could have gotten all that I wanted.  I didn't pull out the rebate before heading to the store so I bought 6 because that is what I thought that I needed for rebate but I really only needed 3.  Of well, it was still a money maker so it is all going to be used.

 

Giant $6.59

I decided since there was money left in the budget that I would go and use the Gerber coupons that were going to expire at the end of the month.  I grabbed the 10 to get the $1 catalina off my next visit and I got the $2 for the ungoing promo for buying the Gerber food so I was ready to go to the other Giant and try my luck again.

 

Giant $0.69

I paid $3.69 at the cashier and then two blank catalinas printed out and they were supposed to be a $2 one and a $1 one.  I was a little upset and worried but I went to customer service and they gave me my cash back right there so I guess that was good enough.  I thought that they were going to make me ring up everything again and my son wasn't going to be interested in standing around to check out a second time but I should have known that it was not my store but one with much better customer service.

The next day, I went back to my Giant to try to return or exchange the two incorrect banana items to get the right ones and they only had one on the shelf.  The lady decided to return me the price of one and give me the other even though she was confused by the coupons at the bottom of the receipt.  Good enough!  I have $1.18 back in my purse and budget so this was actually a money maker with the catalinas and refund but I didn't take a picture of the 9 Gerber foods that I ended up with but use the picture above and put your finger over one :)

Total Retail Cost $590.65

Total Savings $426.00+ $14.34 refunds= $440.34

Total OOP $150.31

How did your month go??  I ended up very happy and stocked the cupboards and the freezer.  I can't wait to start the plan for next month.  I know that some of the stuff is going to last us a few months while some of it is already gone (okay, chips don't last long in this house).  My husband has been pointing out that his cranberry juice supply is dwindling so that is the main thing on the list next month which I hope to find on sale.  Not sure about what else we need but I think that I am going to have to add snack food to the list too!!

Wish List for October

Ham lunch meat

Cranberry Grape Juice