Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Middle of the Month Budget Update for Grocery and Eating Out

I think that last month seemed to go quickly and slowly at the same time.  I am starting to feeling that this month is the same.  I thought we were almost to the halfway point of the month but there was only week gone from the month!!!  I think that means that I have been in the grocery store too much!  The great thing is that I have gotten some great deals.  I also turned in a bunch of rebates so I am working hard to get the most for the budget this month for sure!

Aldi $40.78

I went to the store at the beginning of the month like the first day because we had a long list of things that we were already out of or getting close so I decided that I would make an effort to get everything so that I wouldn't have to turn around and go right back.  Here is hoping that these last me through the whole month but my boys finished two bags of chips in a week so it isn't looking good.



Harris Teeter $17.06

There was a deal where you got toilet paper for $9.99 each less $1 coupon which doubled during super doubles.  If you bought $15 of Cottonelle then you got a $3 catalina.  It wasn't the worst price but it wasn't the best price but I thought it was a good deal.  I put in for an Ibotta rebate for $0.50 off Cottonelle and $0.25 any item.


Harris Teeter $0.70

I ended up getting something messed up something in the transaction and it ended up negative which I hate because I am much better planning before for getting things for added money.   I added the Trident gum and held on to four coupons which should have been added in.  I hate wasting overage on things that aren't really food but there was a line and not my regular store or cashier so I didn't want to cause them to change their mind on the transaction.  I really should have bought a candy bar for myself instead of more gum for my husband.

I got lots for free including the rice, Plum fruit pouches, Imagine broth, crescent rolls,  ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt, Oui French yogurt, and Crest toothpaste.  The potatoes were $0.99 each five lbs bag.  The pizza dough was $0.19 each. The Mr. Sketch markers were $0.99.  The Rev wrap was $0.50.  The trident gum was my last addition at $1.00 to make it positive because they rang up the meat wrong again so I made a profit!!

I put in a rebate for Checkout 51 for $0.75 for the Hormel REV Wrap so I ended up making money on everything.  I am going to get $1 back from Saving Star for the crescent rolls.


Harris Teeter $0.06

There was a deal on the new Healthy Soap for free after coupon and electronic coupon so I thought that it would make a good teacher gift with the other things that I got.  I also grabbed the Mr. Sketch skinny markers which were free after coupons.  I only had to pay tax and nothing else which is my favorite.




Harris Teeter $6.34

I got a bunch of things in this transaction and I don't really know how the price got so high because lots of things were free including the broth, ricotta, Crest, Greek Yogurt, Plum pouches, and the Ortega Taco Seasoning.  The pizza crust was $0.19 each which I didn't actually pay attention too because they were $2.99 last time and the price just went up.  My expensive purchases were the Kernel Popcorn seasoning for $1.24 each and the Centrum vitamins $2.49.  I used my $3 catalina to pay for part of the transaction.

I paid $0.50 each for the kids toothpaste and toothbrush and got back the $2.00 from Ibotta.  I paid $0.67 for the Puffs and put in $0.75 back from Checkout 51.  I will get $2 back from Saving Star for the Centrum Vitamins if the card is recognized because there is some other card number at the top of the receipt :(  I am getting really bummed because last time there was another card number on the screen and I made her cancel the transaction but I didn't see it this time which might cost me $2!




Harris Teeter $1.73

This was the weirdest transaction that I have done in a long time and I had to shop with my son so I couldn't really concentrate so I gave up and left before I had everything.  I got the free Tetley tea, Crest toothpaste, Splenda Naturals, Turkey Hill All Natural Ice Cream, Northland juice, So Delicous yogurt, and cresent rolls.  I paid $0.19 for the pizza dough and $0.99 for the lettuce.  The coffee was something that I got because it was a money maker and it turns out that I couldn't even find it on the receipt!!!

The cereal was supposed to be $1.97 limit 4 but I couldn't figure out which ones were on sale.  I brought four up to customer service to check to see which ones were on sale.  Two of the ones that I picked weren't on sale and so I went back to try again.  I got two Raisin Bran and two Special K but they didn't ring up correctly and the cashier rang up the wrong number.  I went to customer service they gave me $5.54 back for the extra cereal charged and the corrected pricing.

I turned in a Ibotta rebate for the Splenda Naturals for $1.25 each limit 2 but they said that they couldn't find it on the receipt!!  There is a Saving Star promo for Splenda so if I buy three more then I will get $5 back through Saving Star for buying $20.00 worth so I am on the hunt!!



Harris Teeter $3.15

I found one more box of Splenda but the store that I went to didn't have any more but said that the a truck was coming in later in the day.  I turned in this for the Ibotta $1.25 rebate so that I didn't loose it altogether.  It started to make me feel like I was planning a bank heist but I knew that I couldn't make it back with all the things that I had planned.  I got the rice and Crest free.  I grabbed the Annie's cereal for $0.50 and there will be a $1 Saving Star rebate so it a money maker and tasty treat.  I got the Annie's crackers and after sale, coupon and $0.50 Saving Star rebate it was a moneymaker.  The Eight O'Clock Coffee was a money maker after sale, coupon and $1.50 Checkout 51 rebate so I got it for a present for my in-laws because we don't drink.  The Old El Paso seasoning was $3.45 for the 3 of them less $2 for the doubled coupon so $1.45 OOP and there was a $1 Saving Star rebate.  I thought they were a little cheaper so I might have messed that one up and should have passed on the seasoning because that is way above what I normally pay for taco seasoning.



Harris Teeter $2.97

I finally found the Dole Mixations that I had been carrying the coupons around for at the 4th different Harris Teeter I went to.  I got my three and picked up the Pringles for $1.49 after sale and coupon and electronic coupon.  My son was excited but wanted to get more but I told him there was only one.  The Advil was a money maker after all was done but with a shelf price of $5.29, I hesitated on buying it.  I used a $2 coupon which doubled so I paid $1.29 OOP.  There was a Saving Star rebate for $2 and $1.50 Ibotta rebate.




Harris Teeter $0.27

I went to another store and got two more toothpaste and the last Dole Mixation that I had a coupon for and only paid tax.



Harris Teeter $4.22

I got free Crest and So Delicious Yogurt.  The Annie's had a new electronic coupon that I didn't catch at the last store so I grabbed it and it was a money maker.  I found the popcorn on sale for half off so I grabbed 8 lbs of popcorn.  It doesn't go to waste here because we go through a lot.



Harris Teeter $3.58

I was hitting rock bottom and already on my third store of this day and to a Harris Teeter that I have literally never even seen.  I went in search of the Splenda which I didn't find.  I got another set of markers for $0.99, two Crest for free, Kid's Crest for $0.50 (turned in rebate for $0.50), and Fairlife Milk for $1.50 (turned in $0.75 rebate).



Harris Teeter $0.24

Decided that I would go to yet another Harris Teeter even though it was getting close to the end of super doubles.  There was no Splenda here either but I got two Crest and headed home exhausted and totally full on toothpaste for a long time.


Harris Teeter -$5.22

How is it even fair that they post a great week with coupons the week after super doubles but they did.  I got the Hamburger Helper, Freezer to Plate, Old El Paso Taco Shells and Colgate free after sale and coupons.  The Scalloped Potatoes were $0.50 each but I need one more item to get the $1 Saving Star rebate with the Hamburger helper so it will be paid back with that rebate.  The Annie's Cereal was $0.50 but I thought the other box was tasty so I decided to go for it.  The Cinnamon Toast Crunch was $2.50 less $0.50 coupon that doubled for each and the $1/2 electronic coupon so they were $1 each and I will get $1/2 back from Saving Star.  It also happens to be my son's favorite cereal so it was a little more then I would pay but he hasn't had it in awhile.


Aldi $0.81

I got a container for the store brand cool whip for my son because he likes it on pancakes instead of syrup and we were totally out.  I don't know if it is any healthier but he likes it.

Harris Teeter $0.05

I stopped back at the store on our way from other errands and I got two boxes of scalloped potatoes and two bags of candy.  I forgot to look for the noodles that were on sale.  Oops!!  It was a busy day for sure so grocery shopping was the last thing on my mind.



I went to lots of super doubles events and there is usually a few things that they have to get for free but I really feel like I got so many more things this time even though I was a little unorganized.  I was really happy that I worked really hard to get the deals and made the time to go to lots of stores and check for stock. I might have over done the shopping because I was wiped out after it and there was no cupboard space left for some of my stuff.  The bad thing is that I hit the beginning of the month pretty hard to get the deals.  I spent $67 in the first week which is way more then a 1/4 of my $160 monthly budget.  I am hoping that it all works out well and I just spend the rest of the month in the kitchen instead of the grocery store.

Total Retail $520.27
Total Savings $443.53
Total OOP $76.74

Hope you are having a good month too!

 

Eating Out


This month has been pretty good with eating out.  We had friends over and we bought pizza for $16.29.  That was the only expense for eating out.  My mother came into town and took us out for a lunch which was at my son's favorite restaurant and we all ate a ton even though we only ordered a salad, chicken and pizza which we the four of us split.  We all left over stuffed!! 

2 comments:

  1. Way to go Alison, but I'm tired just reading this! That was ONE week of shopping?! Dang. It makes me nostalgic for when I could still redeem lots of rebates! I need to get to $20 with Checkout 51 so I can cash out but there's never anything that I need when I need it and I'm trying not to stockpile anymore since we have so much stuff already that we need to eat/use.

    I laughed at your bank heist comment, LOL. It's so true, LOL.

    Have a great rest of your month, you're doing great! Do you count the toothpaste and vitamins as part of your groceries? I only include the food in mine. I might have already asked you this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is for the first half of the month but most of it was in a three day period with super doubles. It was a lot of shopping but some great deals. I haven't done a lot of rebates but I finally got up to $20 for Checkout 51 so I can get my money out. Super excited about that as well. I moved my Saving Star and Ibotta money over to my pay pal so it felt like I was getting paid to shop.

      I count all of our household goods into the budget so groceries, paper products, and personal care goods. The only thing that doesn't really go into the budget is clothes or presents. It practically covers all of our spending.

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