2010 Is Coming - Learn to Save Money at the Grocery Store!

I recently met a very nice lady who told me that she spends about $1,000 a month on groceries.  She lives near me, has 2 young children like me and wanted to know how to reduce her spending.  $1,000 a month boggles my mind.  I don't think I could spend that much a month if I tried.  So I figured for the New Year, I'd write up some tips to help you save in 2010.  Sure, probably all these things have been mentioned in the hundreds of thousands of other articles posted in grocery store savings, but whatever.  Sometimes people just need a crazy redhead to tell them how things work.

Saving Money Without the Hassle of Coupons

Not everyone is motivated by coupons.  Changing some habits could help you save.  Here are some:

-  Give up brand loyalty.  Sour cream is still sour cream whether it's Daisy, Breakstone's or store-brand.  Buy what's the least expensive (and suprise, it's not always store-brand).  Obviously there are some things you personally want to stick to.  Me, I prefer Coke over Pepsi.  I won't buy generic coffee - not like Maxwell House and Folgers is high-class or anything, but I can't do the store brands. 

-  Make a list each and every time you go to the store.  And stick to it.  This year, I made a list up almost every single time I went to the store.  I really think it helps curb the impulse purchases. 

-  Do not go to the store hungry.  Do not go to the store when it's busy.  Try to go without distractions (i.e. KIDS!).  If you're hungry, you'll buy stuff just because you're hungry.  If you go when it's busy, you will get frustrated and might not be able to take the few seconds it takes to scan prices on certain items to see what is the better deal.  If you go with kids, you end up buying things like Watermelon in the middle of December (probably it's most expensive price). 

-  Use the circular as your shopping list.  The weekly circular could be your best friend.  The front and back pages usually always list the "best" deals.  Usually the front page is a great combination of meats, produce, dairy and some grocery items that are on sale.

-  Try to not do a big grocery trip one week (maybe just pick up milk, bread, eggs) - and live off of what you have in your house.  If you are spending a few hundred a week, you must have a pretty full pantry and freezer.  Not only will you purge your cabinets and refridgerator, but you'll save $100-$200 by not doing a weekly shopping trip.  You'll also get creative...

-  Save and eat leftovers.  Sounds crazy - but I think most people save their leftovers - but end up tossing them after a week because they get hidden in the refridgerator.  I recently made a lasagna.  It probably cost about $8 to make - but it provided 4 meals (9 servings).  So it was .88 cents a serving.  If we didn't eat the 6 remaining portions and just tossed it after a week of rotting in the fridge, those first 3 servings would have cost $2.66 each. 

-  If you are spending upwards of $1,000 a month and WANT to reduce it (you may be perfectly happy spending $1,000 a month), maybe you should just sit down and think about what in the heck you are buying.  Sure, if you have a baby, you might have to factor in diapers and formula.  Are you buying all organic things?  If so, you might want to check out THIS LIST of things that DON'T need to be organic. 

-  Buy your milk at Tedeschi's or BJ's.  Generic 1% gallons at Stop & Shop are $3.79.  Garelick Farms 1% gallons are $2.29 at Tedeschi's & BJ's.  That's $1.50 savings per gallon.  If you drink a gallon a week, you save $78 buy buying milk at Tedeschi's or BJ's.  If you go through 2 gallons a week, that's over $150 in savings if you just pop yourself into Tedeschi's. 

So you want to start Couponing...

-  Most grocery stores double Manufacturer's Coupons (MFCs) up to .99 cents.  So you want to pay attention to the .50s and .75s.  They could be your best friends.

-  You can use store coupons with MFCs.  Shaws.com produces weekly coupons.  Say there is a coupon for $1 off 3 Betty Crocker Brownie Mixes.  If you have 3 .50/1 MFCs, you can use all 4 coupons and save $4 off 3 boxes of brownie mixes. 

-  I subscribe to the Boston Globe.  I get just the Sunday edition delivered to me.  I think it's $13 and some change a month.  It's worth it because I get at least $13 worth of coupons that I use a month.  Plus I like to read the Sunday paper.

- The best coupon sites out there are Coupons.com, & SmartSource.com.  Redplum.com sometimes has good coupons.  Kraftfoods.com, Boxtops4Education.com & BettyCrocker.com are also good sites to score coupons on your purchases.  Set your color on your printer to "Black Only" and use a medium quality.  They do not have to be in color and if you use best quality, you are just wasting ink.

-  Don't bother cutting every coupon.  Cut the coupons for the products you use or might use if they price is right. You can score Tag cheap with sales and coupons - but if you have no desire to smell like a frat boy, just skip over that one.

-  The best way to maximize your savings is to combine coupons with sales.  Nowadays - you can use sites like WickedCoolDeals.com and Dealfindingmom.blogspot.com to help you match up sales to coupons - so you don't have to.   I try to do it from time to time - but I'm a slacker so you can't count on me.

-  Some people buy coupons off Ebay.  I have never done this, but it could be very worthwhile.  For instance, Michelle over at WickedCoolDeals.com just bought 20 .75/1 Ronzoni Smart Source Pasta coupons on Ebay for $2.  These went on sale for $1.50 at Shaw's - so her coupons doubled and she was able to get 20 boxes of pasta for free at Shaw's.  She paid $2 for the coupons - so overall - she paid 10 cents per box of pasta. 

-  Coupons can be overwhelming after some time.  I'll admit they do get a bit too much for me at times.  Sometimes I just take a breather and toss most of my stash and "start fresh".  People have different ways of organizing them.  Find what works for you.  I don't do folders.  I just have 3 small plastic bins (purchased at A.C. Moore for $1 ea)  I put all grocery ones in one, health & beauty in another, and household stuff in the 3rd.  Not the most efficient system, but it works for me.

-  Don't try to buy every single bargain out there.  Sure, there are tons of great deals to be had out there with coupons every week.  But don't try to get them all - especially if you are just starting out.  Buy what you need or what you'd eat if it was really cheap.  Baby steps is the best way to start couponing.

-  The more into coupons you are - the more you crave!  When you are psychotic like me, you'll find yourself starting to scan the isles for those little coupon machines and check packages for coupons.  Seriously - some manufacturer's put great coupons RIGHT IN FRONT of the product or even on it.  My recent good deal was the Planters Mixed Nuts at Stop & Shop.  They were on sale for "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" - at $4.79 ea.  They all had $1/1 MFCs attached to them!  Since I was buying 2, I was able to use 2 of the $1 offs.  So I got both containers of nuts for $2.79. If I bought them at regular price, it would have been  $9.58.  The sale and coupons made me save over 70%!  On the flip side - I would never have bought these nuts at regular price - so in theory - they did get me to spend $2.79 that I otherwise would not have - so that is why I say to use caution and not try to use every single coupon you have.  You may end up spending more than you really want to. 

-  I am at a loss as to what else to say.  If you have questions, comment on any of my blog posts and I'll probably answer it.

Catalina Time!

-  Some stores (Shaw's in particular) do sales from time to time called "Catalinas".  These are the sales that boast "Spend $25, get $10 off your next purchase" or "Buy 10 items, get $10 off your next purchase".  There are tricks and whatnot with these sales.  When the next one pops up at Shaw's, I'll write up how to start working it if you've never done those before. 

With that my friend, I must end this post.  Hopefully any newbies might learn how to save a few bucks at the grocery store. 

Stop & Shop and CVS Runs

Made 2 trips the past few days.  Here they are:

Stop & Shop
Total Before Savings:  $46.33
Coupons Used:  0
Stop & Shop Savings:  $20.84
Cash OOP:  $25.49

2 Stop & Shop Apple Juices - $1.50 ea
Block o Cheese - $2.99
Pepperoni - $2.50
Stuffed Clams - $3.49
Big Ol' Ham - $13.51

CVS
Total Before Savings:  $19.83
Coupons Used:  $3.00
Cash OOP:  $16.08

500 Ct. CVS Motrin - $15.99 ($2/1 CVS product) $13.99
2 Gold Emblem Candies - $1.50 ea (BOGO 50% off) $1/2 CVS Coupon - $1.25 for both

A $71 Cardboard Box?

Merry belated Christmas to Everyone!  I hope everyone had a fun and glorious day with their loved ones!  I certainly did!  My husband once again melted my bargain heart.  I asked for new pots and pans for Christmas.  He thought I was nuts - but that's what I wanted. 

So apparently he made a trip down to the outlets.  He found a bunch of sets he liked for me but they all ranged in price from $149-$229.  He thought I would hurt him if he spent upwards of $200 on some new pots & pans.  He was right.  But before leaving, he walked by the clearance section and saw a set that he just saw in the pots & pans isle.  The set was regularly $179.  This one particular set's box was all beat up but was marked at 40% off.  So the husband inspects everything - and it was all there, in fine condition, most pieces still wrapped up the way the factory did it - the box was just damaged and opened.  He thought he'd look odd giving me a beat up box of pots & pans, but then compared it to the same exact sets with "normal" boxes and decided that at a savings of $71, he'd buy the set with the beat up box.  Because in theory - the only thing wrong with the product was the cardboard box.  Thankfully my husband rationalized that no cardboard box is worth $71. 

On Christmas, I opened up my present - was very happy, ripped open the box to inspect my new, lovely pan set - and didn't even notice the "beat up" box.  I was just happy to have "good" pans.  Shortly there after, I broke it down and put it in my recycling bin.   So I just wanted to give a shoutout to whomever damaged that pot & pan box!  I don't know why you did it, but you saved us $71.  For that, I thank you!  

 

A Shout Out for the $1,500 Grocery Lady in NH!

A lot of my readers might not remember this - but there was a very nice lady out there in NH (Weare, I think...).  In the beginning of 2009, she started a goal to spend only $1,500 on groceries and other stuff for the house.  She was featured on Fox 25 news.  She had a blog, but ended up taking it down shortly after the newsbroadcast.  I guess a lot of people were bashing her for "making up" that goal.  I don't know why people would waste their energy commenting to her that she was lying or whatnot - but whatever. 

Although my family probably could never accomplish a goal like that - I can see how some families could.  I don't remember the lady's name, but I remember that she was very nice and used to make comments on my blog - so if you are still reading, a few of us are curious as to how you did!  Were you able to stay at $1,500?  Did you give up?  Anything you learned by it?  I'd love to hear how you did, as well as most of my readers!  Even if you decided to give up the goal - we'd love to hear how it all went down - without judging you one bit!

I did make my goal of $5,000 - I have a $25 Stop & Shop trip to record here - but I'm still around $4,800.  It was very hard to keep up with in the month of December because I felt like I was always running to the store to pick up this, that and the other thing (darn holidays!). 

If you want the chart I used in 2009 to track your spending in 2010, CLICK HERE.  Afterwards, click on File and Create a Copy.  Then name it whatever you want.  Just enter the date, the amount you spent, the amount you saved (if you wanted) - and the sheet does the rest for you.  I found this year that if I started to try to delete rows, the formula gets messed up.  So try not to delete rows.  I also didn't pay attention to the "Qtr" column.  Many, many thanks to MommySnacks for posting this last year!

A.C. Moore 20% Off for New Year's Day

Click HERE for 20% off your entire order at AC Moore on 1/1/10 from noon - 5 pm.

2 Trips

BJ's Trip

6 pack Cream Cheese - $8.99 ($2/1 BJ's coupon, 2 $1/3 MFCs) $4.99
Cracker Barrel 4 pack - $9.99 ($2/1 BJ's coupon, $1/2 MFC) $6.99
1 lbs Land O'Lakes American Cheese - $3.70 ($1/1lbs MFC) $2.70
3 pack Land O'Lakes Butter - $7.99 ($1.50/1 BJ's coupon) $5.49
60 pack Sausage - $5.99
2 pack Parmesan Cheese - $6.39
Crusty Rolls - $2.99
Dozen Bagels - $3.49
2 Half & Halfs - $1.79 ea (BOGO Free BJ's coupon)
Sargento Mozzarella Cheese - $5.29 ($2/1 BJ's coupon) $3.29
2 Dozen Eggs - $2.99
32 AAA Batteries - $4.99
48 AA Batteries - $7.99
Capri Sun Waters - $7.49

Total Before Savings:  $82.67
Total Coupons Used:  $14.15
Cash OOP:  $68.13

Stop & Shop Christmas Eve Stop
12 Finger Rolls - $2.99
2 Cabot Cheese Blocks - $2.99 ea (2 $1/1 MFCs)
1 Hood Cinnamon Egg Nog - $2.99 ($1/1 MFC)
Pepperoni - $2.49
Brigham's Ice Cream - $2.49 ($1/1 MFC)
2 Planters Nut Mix - BOGO @ $4.79 ea (2 $1/1 MFC Peelies)
Stop & Shop Bacon - $1.99
Top Round Roast - $11.87
2.65 lbs Sweet Potatoes - $1.32
1/2 lbs Shrimp - $3.77
Cocktail Sauce - $2
1 lbs Little Neck Clams - $4.57

Total Before Savings:  $69.35
Total S&S Savings:  $21.08
Coupons Used:  $6
OOP:  $42.27

Shaw's Trip

Went to Shaw's.  They wouldn't take my Jones' BOGO Free Internet coupon.  Boo.

Total Before Savings:  $54.06
Total Preferred Savings:  $18.75
Total Coupons Used:  $11.69
Total OOP:  $23.62 (would have been under $20 if they honored the Jones' Sausage coupon.  Oh well.  I needed it anyways).


5 lbs Potatoes - $2.99 ($1/1 Shaw's coupon from Shaws.com) $1.99
1 pineapple - $2.77
1 Frozen Hash Brown Patties - $2.99
1 Jones' Sausage Links - $1.79
2 Jones' Sausage Rolls - BOGO @ $3.99
Diamond Crystal Salt - .99 (.50/1 MFC from coupons.com) Free
2 Ronzoni Smart Taste - $1.50 ea (2 .75/1 MFCs from paper) FREE
2 Ritz Crackers - $2 ($1/2 MFC from paper) $1.50 ea
1 Nature's Pride Bread - $2.50 (.75/1 MFC from Coupons.com) $1.00
Frozen Diced Green & Red Peppers - $1.34
2 Kraft Shredded Cheese - $1.99 ea ($1/2 from Kraft Family.com) $1.49 ea
1 Breakstone's Sour Cream - .99 (.55/1 MFC from Kraft Family.com) 11 cent Money Maker
2 Philly Cream Cheese Blocks - BOGO Free @ $1.99 ea (.55/2 MFC from Kraft Family.com) .45 ea
1 M&M Peanuts - $1.99 (.50/1 MFC Peelie on bag) .99

Friendly's Pulled Through!

I just wanted to give a shout out to Friendly's and their marketing group for NEXT DAY-ing the gift card and some bonus coupons to me yesterday - and I received them today so I have to give a big "thank you" to them.  I actually went to Friendly's last night with my family (after checking out Zoo Lights in Stoneham).  The food was seriously fantastic.  I grabbed a salad with a lot of fried crap on it.  All the produce was extremely fresh - and I was really surprised.  Way to go Stoneham Friendly's!

I'll be starting a Giveaway soon of 2 Free Cones at Friendly's (There will be 5 winners!).  Please don't comment on this as this is not the Giveaway.  Just giving a heads up!

Friendly's is still running their "Buy a $25 Gift Card, get a bonus $5 gift card" in their stores.  Also!!!  Check out THESE FANTABULOUS Friendly's coupons to use from now until 1/31/10 - a $5/$25 and a Free Kids Meal with Adult Meal purchase!  (Thanks Michelle at Wicked Cool Deals!).  By the way, Friendly's is also offering this really neat "Build Your Own Snowman Sundae" for the kids.  I wanted to get it for myself last night, but then my kids would have been jealous and had tantrums.  So I stuck with a basic old Happy Ending.  Boo. 

Probably Just Moving Over to Facebook...

Hello!  I just wanted to mention that for deals I find, I'm just going to start posting them on my Facebook page instead of on this blog.  I always have Facebook up (sad, but true) - and blogger is just blah for me right now.  It's just a lot easier to do a one liner and add a link to Facebook than here.  My Facebook feed also gets posted on my Twitter account (who knew I'd be so computer-savvy in my old age?).  I'll probably keep this up in case I want to continue on documenting my grocery trips, post giveaways or write other babble.

In case you care about privacy or anything like that, joining my page won't allow myself or other members to see your information - unless you have your stuff set to public (which, you probably don't). 

Thanks for understanding!  Here's the links to my Facebook Page and Twitter account:

Bargain Becky on Facebook

Bargain Becky on Twitter

Crazy Christmas Grocery Shopping!

Ahhhhh!  I have fallen victim to crazy grocery shopping!  I seem to be popping into stores all the time to grab random things.  Make my spending go up and makes my logging difficult.

Walmart
Tostitos - $2.98
Milk - $2.78
Total:  $5.76

Shaw's
1 mini Watermelon - $4.49
2.41 lbs Bananas - $1.66
.39 Plum Tomato - .78
1 box Clementines - $4.88
2 One Pie Pumpkin - $1.69 ea
2 Prince Oven Ready Pasta - $1.50 ea
4 Coke 12 packs - 4/$10
2 Coke 2 liters - FREE (with coupon from flyer)
Cool Whip - .99

Used $15 in CATS
Total:  $18.67

Walmart (again!)
1 Beef Smokies - $2.50
Baking Soda - .64
Coconut - $1.68
Sweetened Condensed Milk - $1.94
Graham Crackers - $2.50
Quick Oats - $2.36
18 eggs - $2.18

Total $13.80

No Friendly's Gift Card - Sorry to my readers!

I just wanted to mention that I haven't received the gift card for the Friendly's Gift Card giveaway - so I apologize to the winner, Patty and everyone else who took time to enter the contest.  I was approached with the giveaway November 18th.  Launched it the 23rd and announced the winner on the 28th.  I contacted them about not getting it on 12/7 and was told it would be mailed out the next day (December 8th).  Still nothing.  I just don't have the time or energy to keep pushing the issue.  So here I am, just complaining on my blog.

Just wanted to mention that my other giveaways were a success (P&G, Nature's Path and the BMC Halloween Town tickets).  For that, I thank those companies for following through.  Giveaways are kind of time consuming in their own way - for both myself and the people who comment to enter.  So my deepest apologies.  I'm not really a big "giveaway" blogger as this is just a random blog that I do for fun - but at least now I know that I'll be more cautious in the future.  Thought Friendly's would have pulled through.  My mistake.  Sorry again Patty and whoever may be reading this!

Chateau Restaurant - 15% off your entire check!

The Boston area is home to a great mini-chain restaurant - The Chateau!  Even though I used to live near one for over a year, I never hit one up until last night!  The Chateau just opened up in Braintree and they also have locations in Waltham, Andover, Norwood, Norton, Westboro, & Stoughton.  If you go to their website HERE, sign up for their Email Club.  Why?  Immediately following your enrollment, they email you a 15% off Your Entire Check coupon!  Woohoot! 

I was very impressed when I went with a few friends last night!  I will definitely take the husband one of these days. 

Pottery Barn Kids - 20% off a Single Item!

Click on this picture and print to score yourself 20% off any one item at Pottery Barn Kids from 12/19-12/20!  Thanks Lori for the forward!  There wasn't an actual "coupon" - just this "certificate". 

Jones' Sausage Deal (if you have 2 of those MFCs from the paper)

Okay.  There was recently a coupon in the paper for "Buy any Jones' Natural Link Sausage, Get a Sausage Roll for Free (max. value $3.00)".  If you have 2 of these coupons, it's your week at Shaw's!

2 Coupons = 2 boxes of links, 2 rolls

Box of Jones' Sausage Links This week:  $1.79 (x 2) = $3.58
Sausage Rolls this week:  BOGO @ $3.99

The coupon should take off 2 $3s.  So $6 (unless you get a cashier like I did last week and took off 2 $3.99s).  3.58 + 3.99 = $7.57 - $6 = $1.57 for $12.56 worth of Sausage!  Becomes a Money Maker if the cashier takes off $3.99 per roll!

2 Weeks Left of the Year!

We have 2 weeks left of the year!  At the beginning of the year I set a goal to not spend more than $5,000 on my groceries (household stuff, beauty products, baby crap, cat stuff was also included in this total).  As of today, I'm at $4,555.  So unless I go crazy and spend $445 in the next 2 weeks (doubtful, as I'm not hosting any big holiday celebration or anything), I would have met my goal. 

Which brings me to my next point - now is a good time to start thinking about whether you want to start some sort of spending goal for 2010.  I was able to get my grocery chart off of MommySnacks.com. 

Blogging and charting my spending really made me disciplined in my grocery spending.  I had very few "quick trips" to grab this, that or the other thing.  Well I still had some of those, but nothing like in the past.  My friend Kara recently made a comment about "Sausage, Bacon, Molasses, & Fluff - what a shopping list!"  But it made me think - yeah, that day, I did in fact go to Stop & Shop with those 4 items on my list.  I only bought those four.  Making a list each and every time I went to the grocery store really made me stick to my guns.  Obviously I had "splurgies" throughout the year - but nothing like in the past.  For instance, once I grabbed a bag of Terra Chips that weren't on my list.  Ooh.  Such a rebel I was spending that $3!  But before 2009, we'd do crazy stuff like buy a big box of Mozzarella Sticks and Jalapeno Poppers at BJ's at least once a month.  I don't think I bought those at all this year.  Since both boxes are $9.99 - that's a $20 savings a month.  Honestly, we didn't miss having "naughty" snacks that much.  We also haven't been drinking as much soda this year - which is def. a good thing.

I'm not sure if I'm going to set a goal for 2010 yet.  I probably will of some sort.  I think what I want to do is set a "grocery day" and shop once a week (but those darn Catalina sales will mess that up!).  There is also a new place called "The Fresh Market" that is set to open in spring.  This place is right up the street from me.  Apparently it's like Whole Foods but "more affordable".  I have the next 2 weeks to dwell on my 2010 goal.  $5,000 is a challenging, yet comfortable level for us.  We could go lower if we didn't eat so much meat, but that's what we like to eat. 

Lastly, for those of you reading this, I do get probably 95% of my coupons from the Boston Globe or the grocery flyers that come on Thursdays.  Unless there is a great coupon out there or I'm trying to work a Catalina, I don't do much coupon printing from the internet.  I guess I'm kind of old school. 

Random Trips in the Past Week

Walmart
1 Vanilla Wafers - $2.38
1 4 c. bag of Walnuts - $5.24
1 Hershey's Cocoa - $2.50
Total:  $10.12

Tedeschi's
2 Gallons of 1% Milk - $2.29 ea
Total:  $4.58

CVS
2 Boxes Nilla Wafers - $2.50 ea
Total:  $5.00

BJ's
1 qt Half & Half - $1.79
1 TruMoo - $3.19 ($1/1 MFC) $2.19
1 gallon Milk - $2.25
1 lbs Land O'Lakes Cheese - $3.84 ($1/1lbs MFC) $2.84
1 Folgers - $8.99 ($2/1 BJ's coupon) $6.99
1 Wonder Bread Pack - $3.39
1 Luvs - $29.99 ($5/1 BJ's Coupon, $2.50/1 MFC) $22.49

Total Before Savings:  $53.44
Total After Coupons:  $43.94

Will have to update my spreadsheet later on today.  I don't know why I've been so bad!  Probably because of the holidays.  At least that's my excuse. 

Shaw's Trip Extravaganza!

Total Before Savings:  $212.50

Total Preferred Savings:  $60.01

Total Coupons:  $53.03

Cash OOP:  $99.46

CATS Earned:  $15.00

Pillsbury CAT (Did it 3 times & 3 $5 CATS printed.)

2 Old El Paso Taco Kits - PSP $2.99, Sale $2.49

1 Old El Paso Salsa - PSP $2.59, Sale $1.99

1 Old El Paso Refried Beans - PSP $1.39, Sale $1.29

1 Progresso Bread Crumbs - PSP $2.29, Sale .99 (.50/1 MFC from paper) Earned 1 cent!

6 Pillsbury Cookie Rolls - PSP $3.59, Sale $2.49 (3 $1/2 MFCs) $1.99 ea

6 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls - PSP $2.99, Sale $1.69 (3 $1/2 MFCs) $1.19 ea

1 Simply Cookies - PSP $3.99, Sale $2.49 ($1/1 MFC from paper) $1.49

PSP:  $55.72

Cash OOP:  $28.82

CATS Earned:  $15.00

Net:  $13.82

I kind of went overboard with the CAT.  I only needed $45 PSP and I hit $55 - oh well.  The husband has been wanting Taco stuff lately so I gave in to that.  So in case you haven't realized it, you can triple this CAT that is on the back page of the Shaw's flyer this week (meaning, get $45 in Pre-Sale Price items and score yourself $15 off your next purchase).

SCENARIO TIME

If you took what I did (assuming you have the same coupons as I do), but minused the Old El Paso Products,  you would spend $20.56, but get $15 OYNP back.  So you'd net $5.56 for 6 Cookie Doughs, 6 Crescents, 1 Bread Crumbs, & 1 Simply Cookies. 

Freebie Stuff

2 Jones Sausage Links - $2.79 ea ($1/2 Peelie on packages)

2 Jones Sausage Rolls - $3.99 ea (2 Buy Links, Get a Roll free Coupons) $4.58 for the 4 products

2 No Yolks Egg Noodles - $1.49 (2 .75/1 MFCs from Deal Finding Mom's blog) FREE!

1 Idahoan Potatoes - $1.39 (FREE MFC from paper - cashier took off $1.50) 11 cent money maker!

1 International Delight Coffee Creamer - $2 (FREE MFC from Fanning them on Facebook) FREE!

1 180 ct Marcel Napkins - $2.50 (FREE MFC from paper) FREE!

1 Airwick Freshmatic - $5.99 ($5/1 MFC from paper) .99 cents (not free -but at a reg. price of $13, very noteworthy!)

Other Stuff

1.22 lbs Green Peppers - $2.18

3 pk Tomatoes - $1.99

2.82 lbs Oranges - $3.64

1 Fresh Express Shreads - $1.50

1 Fresh Express Salad - $2.50 ($1/2 Fresh Express items) $1 for Shreds, $2 for Salad

2 cans Campbell's Tomato Soup - $1 ea

2 Arnold Soft & Natural White Bread - Reg. $3.29, Sale $2.29 ea (.35/1 Peelies on both DOUBLE) $1.59 per loaf

2 Apple & Eve Juices - $1.99 ($1/2 MFC from paper) $1.49 ea

1 Farm Rich Appetizer - $5.99 (.75/1 MFC from paper) $4.49

1 Velveeta - $4.49 ($1/1 MFC from paper) $3.49 (husband needed it for recipe)

2 Twix bars - .89 ea (BOGO Free MFC from paper) .45 cents ea

2 Pounce Cat Treats - $1.59 (BOGO Free MFC from paper) .79 ea (For the cats' Christmas stockings)

1 Simply Smart Milk - $3.59 ($1.50/1 MFC from Shaw's Register) $2.09

2 Sargento Shredded Cheese - $1.99 ea ($1/2 MFC from paper) $1.49 ea

1 Sorrento Ricotta Cheese - $3.49 ($1/1 MFC from paper) $2.49

20 Dannon Yogurts - .40 ea (2 $1/10 MFCs from paper) .30 cents ea

1 Daisy Sour Cream - $1.79 (.50/1 MFC from Shaw's mailer - DOUBLED) .79

Shaw's Half & Half - $1.99

Shaw's Pick 4 Meats
1.29 lbs Tenderloin - $5.79
1.35 lbs Boneless Ribs - $5.66
2.1 lbs Ground Beef - $6.28
2.1 lbs Ground Beef - $6.28
Total:  $24.11
Coupon Took Off:  $5.17
Cost:  $18.84

**Forgot to mention - I found a $1 CAT on the ground.  It was all dirty and stomped on.  I dusted it off and gave it some love.  It in turn gave me some love by giving me an extra $1 off my order. **

Random Stop & Shop Trip

I'm getting so lazy as the holidays are approaching!

1 Banquet Sausage pack - $5.99
2 Hormel Black Label Bacon - BOGO @ $5.29
1 organic molasses (they were out of Grandma's) - $3.99
1 tub of Fluff - $2.00

Total - $17.27

I have a BJ's trip to record too.  It was $36.29.  I am looking for the receipt but can't seem to find it.

Swatch Giveaway on Twitter

Swatch has reached 2,500 followers on Twitter and now is ready for this great giveaway:


Swatch US on Twitter is randomly giving away a Swatch a day until 12/31!

Rochey Deals starting Friday

Roche Bros has some good deals going on starting Friday:

Philly Cream Cheese - $1 ea (use $1/3 MFC from paper) .66 ea

Dunkin' Donuts Coffee - $4.99 ea ($1.50/2 MFC from paper) $4.24 ea

Brigham's Ice Cream - $2.50 ($1/1 MFC from paper)

Pillsbury Quick Breads - $1.50 ($1/2 MFC from paper) $1 ea

Ristorante Pizza - $3.99 ($2/1 MFC from paper) $1.99 ea

Sorrento Ricotta - $2.99 ($1/1 MFC from paper) $1.99 ea

All Laundry Detergent - $5 ($2/1 MFC from paper) $3

$15 off Peapod!

Get $15 off your first Peapod order with code SSVP15B. This expires 1/31/10. Minimum order is $60 (with a $9.95 delivery charge). Orders over $100 have a $6.95 delivery charge.

2 Free Movies from Blockbuster Express

Here are two codes to score you a free movie at one of those new Blockbuster kiosks.

GV9TA3 - valid 12/06-12/24
GV9TA4 - valid 1/4/10 - 1/22/10
GV9TB2 - Rent 1, Get on Free! 12/06/09-1/7/10

Happy Movie Viewing!

Pangea Organics Gift Pack (normally $167) for only $49!

Looking for a $50 gift for someone?  Check out this nifty little deal for your organic and beauty product lover! 

Pangea Organics is based out of Boulder, CO.  Read more about them HERE. 

Get This Gift Pack HERE for only $49.95 with FREE SHIPPING.  Enter code THEPATH at checkout!

Thanks to Nature's Path Organics for spreading this offer on their Facebook page. 

Papa Gino's Reward Program - Free Pizza & Sandwich for Joining!

Register for the Papa Gino's/D'angelo's Reward Program (CLICK HERE) and you'll automatically get 25 points credited to your account, a FREE small cheese pizza and a FREE small sandwich!  Woohooo!

Unemployment = Death?

So my husband got laid off Thanksgiving week.  He was told last November that 11/20/09 would be his last day. (He helped put up that new building in downtown Boston by the Children's Museum).  So now what?  We just sit around and wait for his union to put him back to work.  I'm finding though, when I tell people he's laid off, most act as if someone died in my family or something.  Most common response is "oh, I'm so sorry Becky!"  Why are people sorry?  Both my husband and I are happy as pie, it's not unexpected, and as long as he stays in this line of work until he dies, periods of unemployment is inevitable. 

I figure unemployment and savings can float us for a while as long as we're not stupid.  I don't work - well I work.  I'm a domestic engineer but I don't get paid.  I guess if we get desperate, I could go back to work.  But that would suck.  I like sitting around with the kids all day and goofing off.  Oh, I mean cleaning and cooking.  I guess I just don't see the big deal in this unemployment business.  Maybe I'm naive.  Or just in denial.  Maybe panic will settle in when I have to get my oil tank filled next month...

So my challenge this month is not to laugh when people get all sympathetic on me when I tell them the husband is laid off.  Sensitivity isn't my strong suit.  Being cheap is.  So here are some tips that I'm trying to live by during this time:

-  I don't use credit cards.  I have hidden them in my wallet.  If we need to buy something, we debit card it.  If it gets denied - we're out of luck.

-  FREE FUN IS ALL AROUND!  We're trying to take advantage of a lot free fun around.  The library, the local family network, playgrounds, our zoo pass, etc.  I'm being a lot more stern in packing a lunch and snacks for my kids. 

-  Trying to stay home.  We have a lot of home improvements that we need to finish up.  We have the materials for a bunch of them so we're trying to knock them out. 

-  I guess my final tip is just not to worry.  We know what we have to pay on time (mortgage, car payment).  We know what payments can float a little if we can't swing them.  Things work out.  They always do. 

 

Spontaneous? See a Show in Boston for Cheap!

The Mayor's Holiday Special is back!  See Christmas shows and all that other hooplah by buying tickets last-minute and whatnot HERE!  You can also find cheap holiday events in Boston there too. 

Many thanks to Mr. Menino.  We don't live in Boston, but we like to freeload off the city folk at times. 

A.C. Moore - 20% off your ENTIRE Purchase Coupon!

A.C. Moore will give you 20% off your entire purchase (sale & reg. priced items).  Coupon good Sunday 12/6 from 7 pm - 10 pm only.  Click HERE for it!

Pier 1 $10 of $50 Coupon

Pier 1 has a $10 off $50 coupon good until 12/24.  Click HERE for it!

Random BJ's Trip

I can't find my reciept. I spent $41.39 and saved $11.50 in coupons though...

Christmas Tree Shop Coupon!

Click HERE to print off a $10 off $50 purchase at The Christmas Tree Shop!  Coupon good from now until 12/16!  Don't you just love a bargain?

JoS A. Bank "Buy 1, Get 4 Free Sale" Ends Today

If you need mens clothing, here's a sale for you.  Buy any sportscoat or leather jacket at JoS A. Bank, and get 2 pants and 2 sportshirts for FREE!  This sale ends today.  Go through Cashbaq, and get 5% back on your purchase!

Yankee Candle - 30% off Coupon

Click HERE to print off a 30% off your entire purchase at Yankee Candle.  Coupon valid 12/3-12/6.  Thanks for the email Lori!

Creative, Cheap, Advent Calendar!

Yo!  Hope you guys are all doing great out there, scoring yourselves some great bargains.  We, on the other hand, are just hanging out, trying to not spend money.  I've sort of banned myself from all stores other than Shaw's and BJ's until the husband goes back to work.  I just don't want to be tempted by the wonderful bargains out there. 

Well here I am.  Sharing something that I just thought of yesterday.  A "do-it-yourself" advent calendar if you will.  I have to say, I'm very inspired my Mama Smiles (well, she will forever be known as Thrifty Craft Mama in my book).  Last night, I went to THIS WEBSITE and printed out 24 coloring sheets.  Then I went to THIS WEBSITE and printed out the letters for "Merry Christmas" and proceeded to cut them out of construction paper and tape them to my wall.  Everyday, my 3 year-old colors a coloring page, then we write the number of the day on it, and hang it on our kitchen wall.  He knows that when we have 24 pictures on the wall, Santa will come!  It's kind of good for him, because he sort of only knows up to 20 for numbers.  Maybe this will boost him into the 20s. 

I'll try to throw up another picture of our advent wall around the 14th and after Christmas.  My 3 year-old is very excited about coloring his picture everyday.