Store or Market?

I was wondering that the other day, what do most people call it when they go grocery shopping?  

"I'm going to the store"  or "I'm going to the market?"  

I say store, but I'm changing over to market.  I like the sound of it better.  It sounds quaint and more homey.  Silly, but true.

In any case, I haven't done this in awhile but here is my morning haul from Smith's "market."  

I made a trip after dropping LuLu off to preschool to pick up some eggs and bread.  Then I realized I had a few coupons in my wallet and there was a sale or two that looked decent.

Pasta was $1 each, Smores ingredients had $1 off tear off by the display if you bought all items (kids have been wanting to make these for the past 3 weekends...) eggs were free, lemonade was $1 (perfect for summer family BBQ's) etc etc. 

Total came to $79.37

After coupons and sales, I paid $32.08 for 33 items

I used to have a KILLER food storage room filled to the brim.  But I don't carry around my huge coupon binder anymore - it was just too much work for this mom.  

Add that to I suddenly have two boys that are hungry morning, noon and night, and the supply has diminished.  So I've been trying to add a few extra things to my shopping trips to build it back up slowly without breaking the budget.

Just another way I'm trying to stay frugal around here!

Smith's/Kroger Trip

Do you all get sick of my weirdo grocery store shopping trip pictures?

No? 

Ok, good...here's the one from today!

 Before sale and coupons - $303.46

 Yummy Sweet Baby Ray;s BBQ Sauce for $1.00 

I stocked up for some outdoor grilling this summer.

Why would I want to go back and pay $2.99 for this later?

Stock UP friends!

You don't have to be weird about it and buy the store out to get a little pantry of savings going!

Also, powered drink mixes were .99 cents - perfect for thirsty little ones at Bear Lake and Cub Scouts!

 Cheap mommy lunches because I don't like mac n cheese and hot dogs.

Enough soap for 140 loads of laundry - that should last about a month around here.  Seems like it anyhow!

I PAID - $157.03!!
 A savings of almost 50%.  Good, not great, but I'm happy with it!

Another Smith's Kroger Trip

I made a very big mistake by going to the store late last Saturday night - uh, duh Kristen, it's the night before Mother's Day and every procrastinating male in a 20 mile radius was there picking things up.

But...I was already there - without KIDS!  

So I decided to brave the crowds and get my coupon shop on!

 How embarrassing...I had 4 or 5 guys standing around watching me at the register asking me questions about the coupons.  

I've never had an audience before!  Yikes.

Before sales and coupons the total was $254.16

I spent $104.52!

These are a few of the deals I used...

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest pasta, .49 {promo price- must buy 10 participating items}
Use $1/2 coupon here
Final price: Two for FREE

Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta, .49
Use $1/2 coupon here
Final price: Two for FREE!

Propel Fitness water, .49
Use $1/2 coupon from 2/13 SS
Final price: Two for FREE 


Quakers Quakes Rice Snacks, .79
Use .55/2 from 5/1 SS-Pepsi
Final price: .52 each

Old Spice & Gillette Body wash, $2.99
Use BOGO Old Spice body wash coupon, 5/1 PG or
Use FREE Gillette deodorant wyb Gillette body wash, 5/1 PG
Final price: $1.50 each

My guess is most of these deals will be on for another week - but I am not 100% certain.  You still have till tomorrow midnight to get these great stock up deals!

Kroger Smith's Shopping Trip

 I stopped by Smith's for their hot cereal sale - buy 4 GM cereals and receive a $5.00 Smith's gift card to use on a future shopping trip.

The only tricky part is you have to divide your transactions up into boxes of four.  It was not a big deal at all, the cashiers were really friendly about it and it hardly took any time at all.

So I used coupons for .50 cents off each box with the sale price.  Bringing my total per 4 boxes to $8.92 (or a savings of 55%) 

In total, I paid $35.68 for 20 boxes of cereal and I now have $20.00 cash to use tomorrow morning to stock up on eggs, milk and produce. 

Kroger Smith's Shopping Trip

It seems like my store is always cleaned out pretty fast on these big sales so I hit another store this morning while I was out doing my shopping.

 Total came to $73.52 before sale prices and coupons.

I paid $18.13

I used two of my free Freschetta Pizza coupons (for a savings of $13.38)

I used one of my $3.00 catalinas from my last Kroger shopping trip

The sausage was .58 cents each when buying 10 for the Daytona Event

I used (4) $1.00 off coupons for the pasta that was on sale for $1.29 - making them .29 cents each

As well as various cereal coupons I had!

I also recieved another $3.00 catalina for my next trip to use - I'm going to my store later to stock up on peanut butter, so I should get 10 jars of peanut butter for $7.00  - not bad!

Smith's/Kroger Trip

Tomorrow is the last day to hit the sale going on at Smith's.  They have some great deals with $3.00 catalina's that you can role over to your next transaction.

The above items came to $148.56 total

With sales and coupons 

I PAID: $76.24

Not my best deals but I'll take a 55% savings any day over paying full price!

Some of the coupons I used on this trip (and another trip not pictured) were:

Great deals, no coupon needed for these items:

• Banquet Entrees or Brown N Serve sausage, .58 after promo, .28 after catalina
• Kraft BBQ sauce, ..69 after promo, .39 after catalina

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 5-pack, $3.19

• Use $1/1 coupon here
• Final price: $2.19 {$1.89 after catalina- .38 per box!}

Orville Redenbachers pop corn, $1.69

• Use $1/2 from 1/23 SS- SLC only
• Final price: $1.19 each, wyb 2 {.89 after catalina}

Ragu pasta sauce, $1.45

• Use .30/1 coupon from 1/30 RP
• Final price: $1.15 {.85 after catalina}

General Mills cereals, $1.99

• Use $1/2 coupon here or from 1/9 SS
• Final price: .$1.14-$1.49 {.84- $1.19 after catalina}

Oreo cookies, $2.67

• Use $1/2 coupon here
• Final price: $2.17 {$1.87 after catalina}

Ritz Crackers, $2.19

• Use $1/2 coupon here
• Final price: $1.69 {$1.39 after catalina}

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, $1.69

• Use .50/2 coupon from 1/2 or 2/13 GM insert
• Final price: $1.44 each, wyb 2 {$1.14 after catalina}

Kelloggs Pop-Tarts, $2.39

• Use $1/2 coupon from 2/6 RP
• Final price: $1.89 each, wyb 2 {$1.59 after catalina}

Smith's/Kroger Trip

Smith's is rounding up all their coupons to a dollar again through tomorrow!  All low value coupons are being rounded up to $1!

Dan was a saint, I got everything ready and he went out in the cold and did the shopping for me since I'm trying to get better.  Too much going on around here to be sick!

First I will tell you...

Before Sale and Coupons 

Total Cost $132.74

After Sale and Coupons.....

I PAID $42.68!!

A savings of 76% percent! 

What I did:

Tic Tacs, $1.00
Use .75/1 from 10/3 RP
Final price: FREE
 
Banquet Fruit Pie, .89
Use .35/1 from 10/24 SS
Final price: FREE
 
Carmex Lip Balm, $1.00
Use .30/1 from 11/7 SS
Final price: FREE
 
Suave Deodorant, .88
Use .75/1 from 11/14 RP
Final price: FREE
 
Hormel Pepperoni $1.00
Use the .55¢/1 coupon from the 11/7 SS (round-up)
FREE Item!

Krusteaz Cookie Mix .99¢
Use the $1.00/1 coupon from the 10/10 SS
FREE Item (10 item event)
 
 Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta $1.00
Use the .75¢/1 coupon LINK (round-up)
FREE Item

American Beauty Quick Cook $1.00
Use the .55¢/1 coupon from the 10/3 SS or .50¢/1 coupon LINK (round-up)
FREE Item

Idahoan product, any 4 oz or larger $.94
Use the .40¢/1 coupon LINK (round-up)
FREE Item
 
Chex Mix $1.49
Use the .50¢/1 coupon LINK (round-up)
Pay .49¢
 
Barilla Plus Pasta $1.49
Use the $1.00/1 coupon LINK or LINK
Pay .49¢ (10 item event)
 
Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn 3 pk $1.49
Use the $1.00/2 coupon from the 11/14 SS
Pay $1.00 each (10 item event)
Carmel is included!
 
Cuties Clementines $3.99 (Produce Section)
Use the .35¢/1 coupon from the 12/5 SS  (round-up)
Pay $2.99
 
Shedd’s Country Crock $2.45
Use the .50¢/1 coupon from the 11/14 SS or LINK
Pay $1.45

I combined my lists from Utah Deal Diva and Coupons4Utah.  Both great sites!

Happy Shopping!

Another Smith's Kroger Trip

I did this one really quickly while Lauren was at Joy School.  I was completely out of Cream of Chicken soup, which I use quite a bit for Chicken Enchiladas, casseroles and crock pot recipes.  

Smiths' had their Great for Cooking Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom soup marked down from $1.09 each to .49 cents each when you bought 10.

I had two of the $1.00 off 4 cans from here.

I also had several .40 cents off of 4 (not as great but still good)

Total with a few other items came to $63.22

I bought 48 cans and paid $ 24(ish) for that and my five extra items.  I love that I am stocked up for some yummy fall and winter cooking.  No running to the store in the snow with three little ones!

Sale is continuing on for the next week!  Now is a great time to stock up on these items if you haven't done so already. 

Smith's/Kroger Trip

It was such a quick trip I forgot to take pictures!!!  And it was my best savings yet!

I got:

Six Krusteaz Bakery Style Cookie Mixes, $1.49 after promo

• Use $1/1 coupon from 10/10 SS
• Final price: .49!

Six Campbell's Chunky or Select Harvest soups, .99 after promo

• Use $1/2 Campbell's Select Harvest or chunky coupon here
• Final price: .49 each

Eight 7-Up, A&W Rootbeer and Sunkist soda, .79 after promo

• Use BOGO coupon from 9/19 SS
• Final price: .40 each

 Two pkgs Ricola cough drops, .50 after promo

• Use $1/2 coupon from 10/17 SS
• Final price: FREE

Six Swanson chicken broth, .49 after promo

• Use .75/5 coupon from 9/26 SS
• Final price: .34 each

  Nine bottles of Langer's apple juice 

($1.25 for 4 with $1.00 coupon, so .25 cents each)

A carton of eggs

Price before sale and coupons - $55 something

I PAID...

$12.34!!!!

Savings of 87%

Sale goes on for one more day!  I will be heading back tomorrow for some Cream of Chicken Soup (.49 cents per can after the buy 10 promo - that is a great deal for Campbell's!)

Kroger Smith's Shopping Trip

My total for today $196.51

After Smith's sale and coupons:

I PAID $86.79!!!
 
I was happy to get several freezer meals that Dan can grab for his lunch on busy days at work.   We were also getting low on cereal and it felt good to stock up my shelves again.  

 

I really need to start keeping a written budget.  I know *about* how much I spend and how my spending has been drastically reduced using coupons, but it would be fun to see some more concrete numbers.

I think I might shoot for trying that in the New Year.

Smith's/Kroger Trip

Are you disappointed that there is no picture?  I went to the store late and I came home TIRED.  To tired to take pics...I just wanted to put things away and get into jammies!!

I am still getting over feeling like a total and absolute nerd walking into a store with my coupon binder.

My total for tonight $289.26

After Smith's sale and coupons:

I PAID $133.28

I walked out feeling not so nerdy after all. 

Smith's/Kroger Trip

Total before sales and coupons  - $138.52

I PAID - $60.11

Woot!

Smiths/Kroger Case Lot Sale

I used to be a huge case lot sale fan.  Dan and I would go and spend $400-500 on who knows what but a lot of the same stuff and then get some with what felt like....not very much. 

Since I've started couponing I've noticed that the case lot prices are not that hot.  You have to pay attention and be careful.

I did go to Smith's today and stocked up on green beans and corn.  

I was almost out of both in my stockpile.

The sale price was $3.96

I had two $1.00/3 cans coupons for each case.

So I paid $1.96 for each case or .16 cents per can!

It felt great to get a bargain and add to our food storage without going broke over it. 

Are you a fan of case lot sales?  What do you try to stock up on?

Smith's/Kroger Trip

Proof that my life is getting pathetic - I was excited to go to the gym and grocery store last night.  It meant TWO WHOLE HOURS without children. 

Since Smith's is rounding their coupons up to $1.00 until tomorrow, I picked up a few things we needed.  

Total amount before Smith's card and coupons

$138.92

I paid:

$67.23

Dan was laughing at me - I usually call him a computer nerd and then here I am taking pictures of groceries.  What does that make me? I have to admit that I always feel a tad silly showing off what I bought. But it's fun too so I'll just go with that!

Kroger Shopping Trip

 

I wanted to post a picture from my Kroger/Smith's trip today!  They are doubling coupons up to a dollar for three days and I was thinking of skipping out at first.  

I realized I had a lot of the coupons for the P&G promo that were expiring and now would be a good time to stockpile on some things we use. 

Total after sale and coupons...$101. 67

For a savings of 62 percent!

Saturday Smith's Trip

Smith's/Kroger has some great deals going on right now.  General Mills cereals are $6.00 off when you buy 4 boxes, making them $1.49 each.  I had 4 CTC coupons, one for $1.00 and three for 60 cents off...making my total for 4 boxes of cereal only $3.16 or .79 cents each!

I did this yesterday also when I ran in there in the morning for milk and stocked up on Cheerios (with added coupons as well for those!)

I just don't want anyone thinking I feed my kids junk cereal only! 

American Beauty pasta is .50 cents a bag 

(Cheap!  Usually the lowest pasta goes is .88 cents!)

The apple juice was marked down from $2.99 each to .99 cents a bottle  I don't let my kids drink juice a lot but this is great to have on hand for a special breakfast once in a while.

I picked up a few other odds and ends - total came to $66

After sales and coupons I paid OOP $24.44

Savings of 65%!  Not bad!  

My Score at Smith's

 Cost before sale, tax and coupons...$161.82

After sale and coupons...

$63.84

For a savings of 66%!!

I love that by combining the sale and coupons I got the croutons for .29 cents, the cheese was 69 cents a bag (it freezes great!) the pasta, toothpaste and toothbrushes were all free. I love that! 

I was pretty unorganized on this trip and I had both Greg and Lauren with me.  All in all, I was pretty pleased with this shopping trip!

There is still time...sale is still on through today and all coupons are rounded up to $1.00!

Get Ready for Smith's Mega Sale!

  Rumor on the street (or blog) is that Smith's will be having a Mega Savings event next week...and they'll be rounding coupons up to $1 for the entire week!  

Whoo-HOO!  Start planning your shopping trips ladies!

Thanks Utah Deal Diva!

Smith's Trip

Ohhh...yeah.  I took advantage of the great sale at Smith's where they rounded up all manufacturers coupons to $1.00

Sweet.

 All this for $48.85

Savings: 63%!

And I did this with two kids, one screaming since she hates shopping carts. 

Exhibit A

The other one with one of those horrible, horrible mini shopping carts.  

That fact alone should give me another 10% off. 

Rounded Up Coupons at Smiths!

Ever wonder what to do with some of those low value coupons you have?  

Well Smith's is running a AWESOME promotion where we can finally use them!

Starting on Sunday, May 16, all manufacturer coupons under $1 will be equal to $1. Is that crazy or what?

For example:

* 25¢ coupon = $1

* 35¢ coupon equals $1

* 75¢ coupon = $1

 Manufacturers coupons of $1 or more will be taken at face value. The promotion lasts three days only!

May 16th, 17th, and 18th.

A few scenarios:

EggLands Best Eggs, Dozen large, $2.00

Use .35/1 coupon from 5/2 SS {rounds up to $1}

 Final price: $1!

Yoplait yogurt cups, .44 each

Use .40/6 from 4/25 SS- Salt Lake papers only {round to $1}

Final price: .27 each, when you buy six

Betty Crocker box or pouch potatoes, $1.00

 Use .25/1 from 3/28 SS - Salt Lake papers only {rounds to $1}

 Final price: FREE

Thanks Utah Deal Diva!