Below is all of the shopping trips that I got for the month. There is the cost, break down and the picture with the items that I got. Check out what I got and how I did against my budget.
Harris Teeter $25.63
The Kelloggs Cereal was an amazing deal that we haven't seen in a long time. Each box was on sale for $2.24 and there were coupons for $2/4 which doubled during super doubles so they were $1.24 each and there was a bonus $5 off $15 of Kelloggs Cereal. It was $17.92 for 8 boxes less $5 promotion and $8 coupons so all 8 boxes were $4.92 which is $0.62 per box.
Late July Popcorn and Maruchan Noodle Bowls were free. I also needed a head of lettuce which is $0.99 everyday at Harris Teeter. We got Cheez-Its for $1.49 per box after sale and coupon. I made a crazy decision and added Tide to my cart at $9.97 and I used a printable coupon on each to make them $5.97 and $6.97. Although we have plenty of Tide, there are few deals on detergents so I decided to get them even though we were already well stocked.
Aldi $27.72
We were in Woodbridge so I stopped at the store there to get the cheaper prices. The cheddar cheese was $1.48 per block so I got 5. The Chicken Fries were $5.37 so I got two. I got the $2.85 turkey lunch meat. The pretzels were $0.82 per bag (they are $1.29 at our store). I grabbed the margarine spread at $2.19.
Harris Teeter $9.80
I got the Kellogg's deal with Raisin Bran and Frosted Mini Wheats for $15 less $5 instant promo and $6 coupons and $2 ecoupon means that these 6 boxes cost $2 or $0.33 per box. The Kahki Chicken Egg Rolls were $0.50 per box. Children's Motrin was $1.99 after sale and coupon per bottle and the Children's Robitussin was $0.99 per bottle. I also got Ranch Skinny Pop for $0.15 and free Pasta. I earned $3 from the Robitussin and Barilla Pasta from Saving Star.
Harris Teeter $18.68
I couldn't pass up the cereal deal another time so I got 2 Froot Loops, 2 Raisin Bran and 4 Frosted Flakes for $5.44 or $0.68 per box. I got the $1.99 Motrin but they were out of the liquid so I got the chewable tablet. The Taquitos were $2.99 per box instead of the shelf price of $6.29 which are great to have on hand for weekend lunches or backup dinners. I got the Skinny Pop for $0.15 per bag and three are three bags on the receipt but it is hard to see in the picture. I got an amazing deal on bacon because these ended up being $0.49 per package (forgot to put in the picture so took a second picture). I got free Noodle Bowls, Finish and Truvia. I got back $5 from Saving Star for the Kellogg's cereal and $3.10 for the Truvia and any item.
I went a little crazy on this trip but I got an email with a coupon for $10 off $50 purchase. The electronic coupon comes off before coupons so I just needed to make sure that the price after sales was over $50. I went through and got lots of deals so that I wouldn't end up spending too much money but I got the Cottonelle for $3.87 per package. The Viva paper towels were $3.97 after coupon and sale. The Oatmeal was on sale for $1.47 per box after sale and coupon so I got 4 for my husband. I got the Gushers for $0.99 per box and I got 6 boxes. The Lysol toilet bowl cleaner was $0.67 per bottle and I got 6 bottles. The Ortega Taco seasoning was $0.29 per package and we were out so I was excited to get the coupon again. The Hormel were the most amazing deal because they were on sale for $1.25 and there was a clearance sticker for $1 off making them $0.25 but I got to use my coupon for $0.50 off that doubled so I made $0.75 on each package or $3 for all four. I added the Perdue Popcorn Chicken for $4.99 per bag less $1.50 coupon making them $4.24 per bag because I was afraid how the meat clearance was going to affect my bottom line. I ended up saving $22.70 in coupon savings and $71.46 in VIC savings so it was an amazing trip with lots purchased.
Aldi $16.36
I thought I had a good handle on my spending for the month but I didn't find this receipt or picture until February so this was a big surprise. I got chicken for $7.12, bananas for $0.42, Ice cream bars for $2.39, Cheddar Cheese for $1.69, Corn Tortillas for $1.89 and lunch meat for $2.95. We were out of everything here...except the cheese which I got because I wasn't sure and I know it won't go to waste because we love cheese.
Giant $8.57
I went to Giant to get the free Goldfish crackers with the sale price of $0.99 each and the electronic $1 off coupon. I bought two just in case I would get the full value of the coupon but it just made one bag free. The Pop Tarts cereal was $0.99 per box but we aren't big fans so probably not a great choice to get them but glad we tried them. The Ritz Crackers are one of my son's favorites and they were on sale for $1.79 per box and I got $0.75 back from Saving Star.
I sent my husband to the store which I normally don't do but I was starting dinner and we needed eggs for dinner but didn't make it to the store earlier in the day. The eggs were $0.77 per dozen limit 2. There was also a good price on lunch meat making it $1.99 after sale and coupons which is an amazing price.
Aldi $3.37
We were out of vegetable shortening so my husband again stopped at the store when he was out because I was home ordering the pizza for my son's birthday party and starting the party. We needed the shortening to fry the chicken that we were making to go with the pizza.
This might be my favorite deal in a long time. I got Turkey Hill Ice Cream for $0.97 per container and Wewalka Pizza Crusts for $0.84 each. Then I found the sausage clearance and they were a money maker because they were on sale for $3.50 and there was a sticker for $4 on each one. I came right home and cooked up all the sausage and make sausage spaghetti sauce which we love and I got $2 off my total.
I went to the store to get the free candy bar and the $0.77 Quaker Oatmeal. It was hard to pass up that deal even though I just got oatmeal that we hadn't finished.
Aldi $3.16
I stopped at Aldi on the way home from Harris Teeter and got milk at $1.40 and two stick margarine at $0.84 each because we were out of both. I decided to go with the half gallon because my son hadn't been finishing the milk that we had been getting and he finished this in three days!!
I went back to the store and got the next round of deals with Super Doubles starting. I was also pretty excited because my neighbor gave me a coupon for $5 off $25 so I decided to use it in this transaction. I got the Tater Tots for $0.50 per bag. The Super Pretzels were $0.09 each and I got back $0.75 for 5 bags making it a money maker. The Wewalka Pizza Dough was $0.50 each. The Cacique cheese was $1 each. The Perdue Chicken was $1.09 each. The Hormel was on sale for $3 and there was a $0.50 coupon off each that doubled making it $2.00 per package and there was an Ibotta rebate for $0.75 per package making them $1.25 each. In addition, there is also a $3 Saving Star when you buy $12 of Hormel Natural Choice. I added three bottles of Cran Grape at $2.14 each to make the total over $25 after coupons to get the Giant coupon off my total.
I got two boxes of Super Pretzels for $0.09 each. I got the Pretzel Pop Tarts for $0.80 each box. I got the Cheez Its for $0.49 per box. I got the Tater Tots for $0.50 per bag. The Aveeno Wipes were $0.49 per package. I got free Texas Pete Hot sauce and Wewalka Pie Crust. The Icy Hot and Rolaids were free after coupons and adjustment at customer service and I made $3 on the promo off the rest of my groceries.
Aldi $2.40
I had to go back to the store and get the gallon of milk because my son finished the half gallon in three days. This milk sat untouched for a few days but is now getting a little more attention so fingers crossed we finish it before it goes bad.
I took stock on where I was with my spending for the month and I knew that getting the soda was going to put us over with all the other super double deals but they had all the kinds we wanted so I didn't want to put it off until next month. The soda was on sale for Buy Two, Get Three Free so it was $14.98 for five cases. I got free rice, pie crusts, and pretzels. I got the Sweet Baby Rays marinate for $0.09. The Tater Tots were $0.50 each. I got the Kids Vitamins for $4.49 instead of the $16.99 shelf price. The Rolaids were $0.49 each after coupons. After buying three, I got $3 instant rebate so I made $1.50 on the groceries.
I got free Maruchan Noodles, Texas Pete Hot Sauce, and Fruit Parfait. I got the Prego sauce for the taste and tell and it didn't come off so I went back and returned it later and took the money off the total. I got the Rice Krispie Treats for my son's Valentines at school. They were $1 per box but some other coupon came off so I saved an additional $1.50 off the total.
I got three boxes or Super Pretzels and three bags of Super Pretzels for $0.09 each. I got three bags of Tater Tots for $0.50 each. The Perdue Chicken was $1.09 each. The Pie Crust and Texas Pete Hot Sauce for free. The Hidden Valley Bacon Ranch Dip for $0.14 each and then I turned each one in for $0.75 rebate on Ibotta. The Ken's Dressing was $4.78 for all or $0.96 each.
Total Retail $1,066.72
Total Savings $850.42
Total Spent $216.30
less Total Rebates $32.85
Total OOP $183.45
Although I went over budget, I hope that this shows you that you can get a lot for very little money. It is possible to make lots of wonderful meals for your family by just shopping a little differently. I only get the lowest priced items to stock up the fridge, freezer and pantry so that I can pull out things to make the meals on the calendar with the lowest priced items. I was $23.45 over my grocery budget but I used my $8.66 left in my take out budget so I was only over $14.79 my total $200 budget. Got a bonus Saving Star rebate and one of the Ibotta ones didn't go through!! I actually lost a receipt in my bag that I didn't realize until I was putting together this post because it wasn't in my spreadsheet at all which was my $16.36 Aldi's receipt. I thought I was really on target for making a great number until I found a picture with no receipt!! If I did a little better cleaning out my bag, I might have figured it out... or not!!
Eating Out and Take Out
This month was a little crazy but we had my son's birthday party. Our only take out was Pizza Hut for all the kids. We had a gift card so we only spent $31.34. Our budget was $40 so we still had $8.66 left in the budget which we spent on groceries.
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