Shaw's Run! $179 becomes $81!

Total Before Savings:  $179.99

Total Preferred Savings:  $62.19

Coupons Used:  $36.43

Cash OOP:  $81.27

1 Crystal Rock Salt - .99 (.50/1 MFC doubles to .99) FREE

Shaw's Apple Juice - $3.59

Shaw's Dry Milk - $4.39 (why was this crap so expensive?)

2 Domino Brown Sugars - $1.39 ($1/2 MFC) .89 ea

Melitta Coffee Filters - $2.19 ($1/1 MFC from paper) $1.19

2 Ronzoni Smart Taste - $1.69 ea (2 .75/1 MFCs from their website DOUBLE) .19 ea

3 Dole canned Pineapple - $1.19 ea ($1/3 MFC from paper) .86 ea

2 Francesco Rinaldi Tomato Sauce - $1 ea

4 Ken's Salad Dressings - $1 (2 $1/2 MFCs from paper) .50 ea

3 Capri Suns - $1.99 ea

4 Coke 12-packs - 4/$10

2 Coke 2 liters - $1.50 ea (2 FREE WYB 4 12-packs with in-ad coupon) FREE

3 Thomas English Muffins - B1G2 FREE @ $3.39 ea ($1/1 MFC from All You) .80 ea

Gold Medal Flour - $1.99

Arnold Bread - $2.49 ($1/1 MFC from paper)

Barilla Tortelini - $3.39 ($1.25/1 MFC from paper) $2.14

Crystal Light - $1.99 ($1/1 MFC from paper) .99

2 Chock Full O'Nuts Coffee - $6.99 ea ($1/2 MFC from paper) $6.49 ea

3 Steamfresh Veggies - $1 ea ($1/3 MFC from paper) .67

5 Birds Eye Veggies - $1. ea ($1/3 MFC from paper, $1/2 MFC from Coupons.com)

2 Hood Ice Creams - $2.49 ea ($1/2 MFC from paper) $1.99 ea

Weight Watchers Cream Cheese - $2.69 (.75/1 MFC from WW material DOUBLES) $1.19

Shaw's Yeast - $5.79

3 Land O'Lakes Butter - $1.99 ($1/1 MFC from paper, $1/2 MFC from Coupons.com)

2 Tropicana OJs - $2.99 ($1/2 MFC from paper)

Swiss Iced Tea - .99 (.50/1 MFC from paper DOUBLES) FREE!

6 Mighty Dogs - .79 ea (FREE MFC, $3/5 MFC from paper) Cashier messed up and I got these all for free

6 Snicker Bars - .49 ea (2 $1/3 MFCs) 12 cents ea

Used 4 Stop & Shop Doubler Coupons

Things from this Trip:

-  I kind of suck at sticking to my budget.

-  I'm going a little crazy for Easter and loving every minute of it.

-  I went to Roxie's the other day and spent $36 on produce and meat.  I can't find the picture. 

The Tale of 6 Chicken Breasts

Once upon a time, if I bought 6 breasts like I did this past Saturday (around 3 1/2 lbs worth), I would have just thrown two breasts in a bag and in the freezer.  And I would think "Woohoo!  3 meals worth!"  Then I started Weight Watchers.  

I used to always use a 1 pound (give or take - I would never actually measure) of meat per recipe.  And honestly, yeah, a lot of times for dinner I would down 6 - 8 oz of chicken by myself.  But now, I find that I'm always using either 4 oz. or 8 oz. of chicken for a meal for our family  Obviously when my boys are older or if you have a bigger family, you'll have to use more.  So instead of being able to make 3 meals with those 6 chicken breasts, I now can get upwards of 9:

 

 

Ever since the New Year I've been really good about portioning up thing correctly.  I got the Weight Watchers Food Scale about a month ago and I use it on a daily basis.  It's right there next to my coffee maker which always gets used quite frequently throughout the day.  So that picture above, I took those same 6 chicken breasts and cut them up how I like.  I can prepare 4 of my 4 oz. recipes, 4 of my 8 oz. recipes and the 6 oz - well that's just the "scraps" from cutting up the meat - which is actually, in itself it's own meal (and by scraps, I don't mean all the fat and disgust - I find that most chicken breasts are 8-10 oz.  So I cut off 2 oz. and throw it aside as I'm cutting up my 8 oz.).  

I'll admit, when it comes to Weight Watchers, I'm not the best tracker.  I'm not the best water drinker.  I'm not the most scheduled person when it comes to working out (1 time some weeks, 6 times other weeks).  But one thing that I found that I do really good is measure and weigh.  I measure or weigh everything.  It's actually very easy once you get into the swing of it.  When I first started WW, I was at Ikea and grabbed an extra set of measuring spoons.  I took the ring off - so if I wanted the Tablespoon, I wouldn't have to wash every other spoon.  The Ikea ones are nice because even the 1/4 tsp. is kind of chunky and big so you don't lose it in your drawer.  I also have 2 sets of measuring cups (you can get these at the Dollar Tree).  I popped that ring off too - so that way I'm only using and dirtying the cups I actually need.  I actually leave the measuring spoons in with my silverware. 

That is my Weight Watchers rant of the week.

Trader Joe's Stop Turned Apple Picking

I stopped at Trader Joe's since I was at the mall near my local one.  I was going to grab slider rolls (they didn't have them but they had mini bagels which would work for what I needed).  We also grabbed some apples unexpectedly.

1 pack of mini bagels - $3.39
13 Apples - .59 ea

Total:  $9.96

Current Shaw's Catalinas

 Shaw's always has some "hidden" catalina deals - little ones that will pop out anything from .75-$4.  These typically aren't advertised all that much, but sometimes come out in the form of a coupon at the register.  Money Saving Maine-iac listed the current ones she knows of.  She's Shawstastic!

Current Shaw's "Hidden" Catalinas - Thanks Money Saving Maine-iac

Recipe of the Week: Cumin-Spiced Oven Fries

Cumin-Spiced Oven Fries
Taken from WeightWatchers.com  (original recipe calls for sweet potatoes and yukon gold - but I just make this with sweet potatoes).

Points Value:  3
Servings:  4









Ingredients
Cooking Spray
4 Medium Sweet Potatoes, cut into about 12 wedges each (sale at Shaw's this week for .69/lbs)
1 1/2 TBSP Olive Oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp cumin (I use more)

Directions
Preheat oven to 450.  Spray baking pan with cooking spray.

In bowl, combine potatoes, oil, salt, pepper & cumin.  Spread on pan in even layer.  Cook 10 minutes then flip.  Cook 10 more minutes then flip again.  Cook an additional 5-10 minutes.  Serving size is about 12 - or one potato per serving.

Shaw's Healthy Deals 3/26 -4/1

 Here's a list of stuff that's a pretty good deal at Shaw's if you're watching your waistline & budget.  Go to Shaws.com for Shaw's coupons.

Del Monte Pineapple - $1.99

Thomas' English Muffins - Buy 1, Get 2 Free!

8 lbs Navel Oranges - $5.99

No Yolks Egg Noodles - $1.49 ($1/2 MFC from paper)

Ken's Dressing - $1 ($1/2 MFC from paper)

Snicker Bars (yeah, not diet friendly - but my husband is skinny) - .49 ea ($1/3 MFC from paper) 12.5 cents ea!

Land O'Lakes Butter - $1.99 (.50/1 MFC from paper and .50/2 printable at SmartSource.com)

Hebrew National Hot Dogs (love the reduced fat ones) - BOGO Free ($1/2 MFC from paper)

Hood Ice Cream - $2.49 ($1/2 at Hood.com)

Bird's Eye Frozen Vegetables (and Steamfresh) - $1 ($1/3 MFCs from paper for both Bird's Eye & Steamfresh) .67 ea

I didn't spot all that much - but it's early and I'll be going to Shaw's today or tomorrow so maybe I'll spot some other deals.

BJ's Run!

I WAS OVERCHARGED $5.37 AND I'M GOING BACK TO GET MY MONEY BACK!  I ONLY GOT 4 HALF & HALVES AND WAS CHARGED FOR 7!  BOOO!

Total Before Savings: $75.64

Coupons Used:  $13.25

Total After Savings:  $62.00

3 lbs Grapes - $5.99 ($1.25/1 at door) $4.74

Baby Wipes (Needed!) - $15.99

Meow Mix - $12.99 ($3/1 BJ's coupon)  $9.99

Danimals Crush Cups - $8.99 ($2/1 BJ's coupon, $1/1 MFC) $5.99 for 24

Arnold Sandwich Thins - $4.29 ($4/1 MFC from Houseparty.com) .29

1 True Moo - $3.19 ($1/1 MFC) $2.19

1 1$ Milk - $2.22

4 Land O'Lakes Half & Half - $1.79 ea ($1/2 MFC)

3 lbs Bananas - $1.44

2 pack Wonder Whole Grain White - $3.39

10 pack Mott's Apple Slices (son wanted them) - $4.99 (I didn't use it - but there is a $1/1 BJ's coupon at the website)

2 dozen eggs - $3.19

Things from this trip:

-  Reminder that you can couple MFCs with BJ's coupons.

-  I didn't even realize that I was charged for 7 half & halves until I wrote up this post.  Blah.  Never really fought something like this before - but I'll bring back my receipt and try to get my $5.37 back.  I'm just that cheap. 

$98 becomes $30 at Shaw's Today

Started with $13 in CATs

Total Before Savings:  $98.21

Total Preferred Savings:  $29.03

Total Coupons Used:  $38.97

Cash OOP:  $30.21

2 Fresh Express Salads - $2.49 ea ($1.50/2 MFC) $1.74 ea

1 lbs Strawberries - $1.99

1 big Shaw's Apple Juice - $3.59

2 Ideal Sweeteners - $2.69 ea (2 FREE MFCs from paper this week) FREE!

1 Mission Tortillas - $2.49 ($1/1 from paper) $1.49

2 Quaker Quakes - $1.29 ea (2 .75/1 MFCs DOUBLE from paper) Money Maker of .21 ea

2 Pebbles - $1.77 ea ($1/2 MFC from paper) $1.27 ea

5 Bumble Bee Tunas - .99 ea ($1/5 MFC from website) .79 ea

2 Barilla Whole Grain Pasta - .99 ea ($1/2 MFC from paper) .49 ea

2 Barilla Piccollini - .99 ea ($1/2 MFC from paper) .49 ea

1 Dreamfield's Pasta - $1.99 ($1/1 MFC from paper) .99

2 CapriSuns - $1.99 ea

1 Oreo Cakesters - $2.49 ($1/1 MFC from website) $1.49 

1 gallon Shaw's milk - $3.29

2 Hood Cottage Cheeses - $2.49 ea ($1/2 MFC from paper)

2 Land O'Frost Meat - BOGO @ $5.29 ea (.60/1 MFC DOUBLES from inside) $4.09 or $2.04 ea

2 Satin Care Shaving Creams - $1.99 ea (2 $1/1 MFCs from paper) $.99 ea

1 Marcel Napkins - $2.50 ($1/1 MFC from paper) $1.50

1 Scott 6 roll Paper Towels - $5.99 ($2/1 MFC from register spit out) $3.99

1 Reece's Dark Chocolate Cups - .89 (.55/1 MFC DOUBLED to .89 from paper this week) FREE!

Things from this trip:

-  Overall great times.  No coupon hang ups.  My Shaw's was out of that Ideal Sweetener last week but they are fully stocked.  So nice of them. 

Random Trips

We had a family emergency last week and I had to do a few quick grocery runs. 


Stop & Shop - $45.55


Stop & Shop - $37.89


Roxie's $15.77

Hoping to get back into the swing of things with real grocery shopping savings and all that other jazz.  But a good reminder - sometimes life is too hectic or busy to care about coupons and savings.  If that happens, you just have to shrug your shoulders and say "oh well!"  Sometimes life takes precedence over CATs and coupons!

Shaw's Healthy Deals - 3/19-3/25

There's a few good deals at Shaw's this week if you're trying to lose some junk in your trunk.  You can check out Shaw's coupons at Shaws.com. 

- The Buy 10 Frozen Foods, get $10 back deal is still going on.  Not exactly sure of all the frozen foods in that deal.  The WW deals were spitting out a bonus $3 this past week - but they went up from $1.99 to $2.49. 

-  Skinny Cow products are $2.50. Normally these are $3.99 so that's a good deal. 

-  Perdue Split Chicken Breast - BOGO Free (bone-in - yuck!)

-  1 lbs Strawberries - $1.99 (these are $1.69 at Roxie's this week)

-  Sargento Shredded Cheese - $1.88

-  Bumble Bee Tuna - .99 (sign up HERE to get a $1/5 MFC)

-  Post Cereals - $1.77 ($1/2 MFCs from paper)

-  Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent - BOGO Free

-  Edy's Ice Cream - Buy 1, Get 2 Free!  Look for low-fat varieties.  ($1/1 MFCs from paper)

-  Hood Cottage Cheese - $2.49 ($1/2 MFCs from paper or .50/1 (will DOUBLE) printed HERE)

-  Buy 4 Cereals (Chocolate Cereals, Total Blueberry Pomegranate, Reese's Puffs, Honey Nut Cheerios), Get a coupon for Free Milk (coupons can be printed at Coupons.com and SmartSource.com)

-  Fresh Express Salad - $2.49 ($1.50/2 MFC from paper)

-  Land O'Frost Deli Meat - BOGO Free ($5.49 ea).  $2/1 MFCs from Landomoms.com a few weeks ago.  Right now, there is a "BOGO Free Bistro Favorites" on the webpage. 

-  Van De Kamps Seafood - 50% off

-  Quakes Rice Snacks - $1.29 (.75/1 MFC from paper a few weeks back)  Money Maker of .21

-  Spice Island Spices - 50% off (I'm a Christmas Tree Shop spice shopper - but if you are running low on some of your essentials, you might think of replenishing your stash)

-  Satin Care Shaving Cream - $2 ($1/1 MFC from paper)

-  Old Spice Deordorant - $2.49 ($1/2 MFC from paper)

-  Doritos are "Buy 1, Get 2 Free" with in-ad coupon.  Doritos are a weakness.  Eating just 1 oz. is laughable.  I could down 7 oz. in a sitting with no questions asked. 

I'm part of the BeCentsable Grocery Gathering Community!  Check them out to find bloggers who blog about grocery stores in your area!

Ronzoni Smart Taste Coupon - .75/1 which DOUBLES at Shaw's!

Many, many, many thanks to that Crazy Maine-iac, Teresa for posting a link for this fabulous coupon!  I love Ronzoni Smart Taste because it's white pasta that has a bunch of fiber in it - which means you can eat 2 oz. dry for only 3 points on Weight Watchers vs. 4 points for regular pasta. 

CLICK HERE to see Teresa's fabulous blog and print your .75/1 Ronzoni Smart Taste Coupon.  Remember you can print this coupon two times.  If these go on sale at Shaw's for $1.50, you get them for FREE!!!

Recipe of the Week - Shrimp Lo Mein

This recipe is kind of my own creation - taken from a Weight Watcher leader recommendation and combining with a few recipes I found that were more elaborate.  I don't like elaborate so I try to keep it simple.  Red writing is Shaw's pricing babble.

Shrimp Lo Mein (Serves 1)
Points:  6

1 tsp Olive Oil - should be in your cabinet.
1 1/2 cups Shredded Cole Slaw (unpreppared) - $1.99 at Shaw's - or buy a head of cabbage and shred it yourself at only .25 cents a pound
4 oz Shrimp - $4.99/lbs at Shaw's - or $1.25 per serving
2 oz dry high fiber pasta - $1.29 for a box of Shaw's Wheat Pasta this week. 
Soy Sauce & Red Pepper Flakes to taste

Cook your pasta.  While cooking that, heat the oil in a wok or large skillet.  Add Shredded Cabbage and cook (at this step, I usually add some sliced mushrooms and grated carrots which don't change the point value).  Add shrimp.  You'll see the cabbage shrink and get limp and all that other stuff.  Add the cooked pasta and throw on some dashes of soy sauce.  Cook in the skillet for a minute or two. I add the red pepper flakes at this stage too. 

I've also substituted chicken for the shrimp.  I love this recipe.  Just note that this is a "Serve 1" recipe. 

A Surprisingly Great Shaw's Run!

Started with $20 in CATs

Total Before Savings:  $114.50

Total Preferred Savings:  $29.35

Total Coupons Used:  $48.84

Total Recycling Return:  $3.85

Cash OOP:  $32.46

CATS Earned:  $13.00

Great Savings

10 Weight Watcher SmartOnes - $1.99 ea ($4/10 Peelie from a package - had a $3/10 MFC from the paper with me, but obviously the $4 is better) $1.59 ea (this earned me a $10 CAT)

1 Weight Watcher Flatbread - $3.49 (FREE MFC WYB 5 Smart Ones from paper) FREE

1 Weight Watcher Breakfast - $3.49 (FREE MFC WYB 3 Smart Ones from paper) FREE

2 Lunchables - .99 ea (2 .75/1 MFCs printed from Coupons.com a while ago DOUBLED) Money Maker of .51 cents each!

Weight Watchers Cream Cheese - $2.69 (.75/1 MFC from Weight Watchers Weekly DOUBLED) $1.19 

2 Ziploc Containers (time to refresh the stash) - $2.49 ea ($1.50/2 MFC from paper) $1.74 ea

Jolly Time Popcorn - $1.79 (.75/1 MFC from a Weight Watchers thingy DOUBLED) .29 cents for a big bag of kernels!

5 lbs Gold Medal Flour - $2.79 (.75/1 MFC printed from Coupons.com a while ago DOUBLED) $1.29

4 Pepsi 12 packs - $3 ea (Buy 3, Get a Sierra Mist Free from ad - Coupon took off $3.76) $2.04 per 12 pack!

Other Stuff

1 lbs Carrots - .89

2 lbs Onions - .99

1.83 lbs Cabbage - .46

2 lbs Confectioner's Sugar - $1.89

2 Pepperridge Farms Deli Flats - $2.49 ea ($1/2 MFC) $1.99 ea

Shaw's White Bread - $1

Kernel Seasonings - $3.29 (.55/1 MFC from All You DOUBLES) $2.19

2 Kashi Frozen Meals - $3.49 ea (2 .75/1 MFCs I snagged off a peelie pad a few weeks ago DOUBLED) $1.99 ea

2 dozen eggs - $1.99 ea

1 Garelick 1/2 & 1/2 - $2.65 (too lazy to go to BJ's)

1 Fat Free Garelick 1/2 & 1/2 - $2.65

Things From This Trip:

-  I scored myself a $10 CAT (frozen food one) and a $3 CAT from Heinz.  I have no idea how I earned that.  Are WW meals Heinz??  I can't figure out what I bought that was Heinz.  I kind of suck sometimes like that.

-  I'm really not a big WW frozen meal fan - but I'm just at a point this week where I really don't feel like cooking all that much.  So I figured I'd stock up on some meals.  All the regular priced WW meals had the little "C.H.I.L.L. $10 CAT" tag on them - but the sales ones did not.  Didn't matter - they apparently count towards the CAT!  GREAT deal if you like WW meals and whatnot.  

-  Sometimes you just have to purge your plastic leftover ware.  I LOVE the Ziploc twisty ones that I bought today.  They are much better than the snap on lid ones.  If you have that $1.50/2 MFC, take advantage of it!  

-  If you printed out that Lunchables coupon from Coupons.com a while back, it makes these .99 cent little suckers a money maker of .51 ea.  They are pretty weak though - but how can I complain when a store pays me to take merchandise? 

-  The price of eggs has gone up a lot!  They were just $1.79 at Shaw's last week.  Yeah yeah yeah - that's only a .20 cent increase per dozen - but that's more than a 10% hike!  I hope the chickens don't go on strike - I've been downing 3 eggs a day (well, 1 whole one and 2 whites). Bak Bak!

-  This is honestly a miracle - my husband and kids went grocery shopping with me and I still managed to save over 71%.  This has never happened and will never happen again in my life (being able to get through the store without deviating from my list while the entire family is with me...)

Cheese & Tomatoes at Shaw's! Woop!

Went to Shaw's to hit up two of the CATs fairly easily.  This sale is good until this coming Thursday.

Started with $14 in CATs

Total Before Savings:  $55.67

Preferred Savings:  $24.90

Coupons Used:  $22.00

Cash OOP:  $8.77

CATs Earned:  $20.00

P&G CAT

8 Kraft Shredded Cheeses - PSP $3.79, Sale $1.99 (4 $1/2 MFCs in machine by cheese, 4 Stop & Shop Doublers) 

Total:  $7.94 for all 8 and it generates a $10 CAT.

ConAgra CAT

15 Hunts Diced Tomatoes - PSP $1.69, Sale .99

Total:  $14.85 for 15 and it generates a $10 CAT.

Things from this trip:

-  These are two very easy scenarios to maximize this CAT without doing much work.  We go through canned tomatoes like no other (especially on Weight Watchers).  I got all but 1 2% Reduced Fat cheese. 

-  You can freeze shredded cheese.  It tastes a little funky if you eat it straight afterwards, but cooks just fine (who, besides my kids, actually "eats" shredded cheese?)

-  Crazy bargain ladies all over are reporting their Shaw's all have the $1/2 MFCs in front of the Kraft Cheese display.  Too good to pass up!

Roxie's Run!

Total:  $27.86

2 lbs Shrimp - $7.99
3.99 lbs Perdue Perfect Portions - $7.94
1 lbs Strawberries - $2.50
Hash Browns - $2.19
8 oz Mushrooms - $1.39
Coleslaw Mix - $1.99
1.07 lbs Red Peppers - $1.06
2.53 lbs Yams - $2.50

Things From This Trip:

-  I think Roxie's is what is going to make or break my budget by eating healthy.  Great deal on the shrimp this week as well as chicken. 

Shaw's Run Yesterday!

These deals won't work today or this week since I did it yesterday.  I had to run to Shaw's to get flour and sugar - so I had to do another CAT run! 

Started with $9.50 in CATS

Total Before Savings:  $47.22

Preferred Savings:  $14.69

Coupons Used:  $19.59

Cash OOP:  $12.94

2 dozen Eggs - $1.79 ea (BOGO MFC from Incredible Edible Egg's Facebook Promo)

1 pack of Straws - .99

Green Sprinkles - $1.49

Softsoap - $1.00 (.50/1 MFC DOUBLES from All You Magazine) FREE!

Gold Medal Flour - $2.79 (.75/1 MFC from Coupons.com DOUBLED) $1.29

Shaw's Sugar - $2.79

3 Gordon's Grilled Fillet Fish - Reg. $3.99, Sale $1.99 ea (2 .40/1 MFCs & 1 .60/1 MFCs all Double)  $1.06 ea

CAT

6 Progresso Soups - $1.49 ea (1 $1/4 MFC, 1 .50/2 MFC DOUBLED) $1.15 ea

2 Chex Mix Bars - $2.49 ea ($1/2 MFC) $1.99 ea

Total to Earn $7 CAT:   $10.88

CATs Rolled:  $9.50

Cash OOP:  $1.38

CATs Earned:  $7.00

Things From This Trip:

-  Successful run for me.  Some people are reporting their Shaw's aren't taking internet BOGO coupons, but I've had luck with the egg coupons. 

-  I had a cashier I never had before and she cheered me on with the coupons.  That always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  She told me that I should grocery shop professionally with how good I did.  I don't think there is such a thing, but if Couponing ever becomes an Olympic sport I'll see if I can try out to represent Team USA.

-  I'm trying to take a few deep breaths before I attempt this week's Catalina Extravaganza.

-  Stop & Shop had $1 doublers in their flyer this week - use them at Shaw's!  If the cashier looks at you dumbfounded and says "Ahhhh....we can't take these."  Just say "Yes you can, it's PLU 611".  Okay, I'll have to double check that number later, but I'm pretty sure it's 611.  It's somewhere on my blog.

The Grocery Cart Challenge: How To Start A Compost Pile

I just wanted to pass along this great write up on how to start a Compost Pile from Gayle over at The Grocery Cart Challenge. If I can compost - anyone can compost!

The Grocery Cart Challenge: How To Start A Compost Pile

Shaw's Healthy Deals 3/5-3/11

Yo Peeps!  What are you going to be eating from Shaw's this week?  Good week to stock up on lots of useless crap and lots of healthy junk.  Catalina central with the Frozen Foods (Buy 10, get $10 back), Conagra's Spend $25 Get $10 OYNP, & P&G's Spend $30 Get $10 OYNP.  It's also a great week to see the power of the Catalina if you're sitting on any of the $7s from this week's General Mills CAT. 

Go to Shaws.com to print off Shaw's coupons.

Bank on the Frozen Foods one...Select Healthy Choice Frozen Dinners are $1.99.  There's a coupon for $1/2 HERE.  You can print this coupon off 2 times per computer.  If you can get 5 of these coupons, you spend $14.90 out of pocket but get a coupon for $10 off your next purchase.  You net .49 cents per frozen meal. 

ConAgra Cat (Spend $25 PSP, Get $10 OYNP)
I might actually do this and just buy enough canned tomatoes to get me to $25.

Pam Cooking Spray - $2.99
Hunt's Pasta Sauce - .99
Hunt's  BBQ Sauce - $1.39
Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers or Marie Callender's Home Creations - $3.59
Hunt's or Rotel Canned Tomatoes - .99
Wesson Cooking Oil - (PSP $4.99) $2.99
Manwich Sloppy Joe Mix - $1.69
Gulden's Mustard - $1.09
Hunt's Ketchup - .79 (think summer!)

P&G CAT (Spend $30 PSP, Get $10 OYNP)

100 oz Tide - $10.99
Bounty 8 pack - $9.99
Charmin 18 pack - $9.99
Capri Sun - $1.99
Maxwell House - $1.99
Kraft Shredded Cheese - $1.99 (I stole some $1/2 MFCs from the machine a few weeks back - but check your store for that little contraption)
Oreo - $2.99 (I have a $1/1 Oreo Cakesters printed from some site last week)
Ritz - $2.49
Kraft Singles - $2.49
Baker's Chocolate - $2.99
Easy Mac Cups - .99
Starbuck's Coffee - $8.79
Pringles - $1.49
Planters - $3.99
Oscar Mayer Bologna - $1.99
Lunchables - $2.99
Deli Creations - $2.99
Bounce - $5.99
Downy - $5.99
Puffs tissues - .99
Cascade - $3.99
Dawn - $1.99
Mr. Clean - $2.49
Wiffer Mopping or Sweeping Cloths - $6.99
Febreze Air Effects - $2.49
Prilosec - $24.99
NyQuil or DayQuil - $5.49
Crest ProHealth toothbrushes & toothpastes - $2.29
Pantene - $2.99
Duracell Batteries - $4.99
Iams Dog Food - $17.99
Pampers Big Pack (60-96) - $19.99

Pick 4 Veggie Deal (with in ad coupon).  Pick 4 of the following for only $7.99

Cantaloupe
Pineapple
3 lbs Bag Mac Apples
5 lbs bag Russet Potatoes
Nature Sweet Cherub Tomatoes
Fresh Express Baby Blends
12 oz. Baby Carrots
Fresh Express Salad Blends ($1.50/2 MFC from paper)
Nasoya Tofu
Farm Stand Romaine Hearts
Bossa Nova Acai Juice
Farm Stand Cauliflower
Eat Smart Cut Vegetables
Dole Baby Portabella Mushrooms
8 oz. Minced Garlic
5 lbs Yellow Onions
Dole Organic Whole White Mushrooms
2 lbs Organic Carrots
Eat Smart Organic Vegetable Medley
Wholly Salsa or Guacamole ($1/1 MFC from paper)
Fresh Express Spinach
Hass Avacados

And if that wasn't enough...here's other stuff on sale that's good for you and all that other crap

Yoplait Yogurts - .50 (MFCs from paper)

Cheerios, Cocoa Puffs, Trix & Cinnamon Toast Crunch - $1.99 (random coupons out there)

8 lbs Navel Oranges - $4.99

Louis Kemp Seafood Delights - BOGO Free

Tropicana OJ - $2.99 ($1/2 MFCs from paper)

Danimals - $2.29 ($1/1 Danonino from paper)

Frigo Cheese Head String Cheese - $3.29 ($1/2 MFC from paper)

Ray's Bagels Plain - BOGO Free (these are actually 6 points ea....)

Ellio's Pizza - $2.49 ($1/2 MFC from paper - okay, not healthy, but good to have if you have kids or
husbands)

Uncle Ben's Country Inn Rice Mix - .99 ($1/2 MFC from paper)

SoftSoap - $1 (.50/1 MFC from this month's All You - DOUBLES, which makes this free)

Weight Watchers Fans - Great Deal on 2 pt. Fiber One Bars!

Okay...are you on Weight Watchers?  Need some CHEAP 2 point snacks?  Weight Watchers charges $3.50 for a box of their snack bars.  But don't pay that - get Fiber One Bars for "FREE"! Stock up at Shaw's until Thursday (tomorrow) with this:

Buy 6 boxes of Fiber One bars (the PB flavor is 3 points).  Print out coupons for them at Coupons.com, BettyCrocker.com (you have to register here - but it's so worth it), & SmartSource.com.  You can print 2 coupons at each site.  They are all for .40/1 box - which doubles at Shaw's. 

This week the boxes are $2.49 ea.  With having 6 .40/1 coupons that all double, it brings the boxes down to $1.69 ea.  You pay $10.14 out of pocket, BUT....you'll get $10.50 off your next purchase (a $7 CAT and $3.50 CAT will spit out at you at the register for you to use on your next trip).  Essentially, you "make" 36 cents by doing this.  Have any questions?  Ask away! 

Giveaway Winners!

I mentioned it on Facebook, but never blogged about it.  My two giveaways ended on Monday...here are the winners!

Bitches on a Budget Book - Amanda @ Babies & Bargains

$25 worth of product from Cover Your Hair - Dawn

Congrats to the winners!  I've gotten in touch with Amanda, but Dawn, if you are reading this, shoot me an email with your address and I'll forward it to the people at Cover Your Hair.  I'll try emailing you as well. 

Many thanks to all that entered! 

February Grocery Spending Recap....

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.  I put in all my totals for February - and I spent $520 on groceries.  Over $100 more than I plan for.  Oops.  I suck.  That's all I can say. 

But enough about February - time to move forward and think of March.  This is a good time to remember a couple things:

-  I told myself that eating healthy is more important than a budget. This is just a yearly goal - and if I fail, I fail.  I'd like to stick to around $5K this year just to say "yeah, I did it" - but if it doesn't happen, it doesn't.  But with that said, I'm still sticking to a goal of $5K.

-  I think that stupid BJ's rebate really put me over - but hoping the $40 gift card will soothe my pain.

-  I've lost 12.8 lbs since January 1st.  Who cares what I'm spending!  Woohoo! 

Shaw's Run

Total Before Savings:  $78.91

Preferred Savings:  $26.49

Coupons Used:  $18

Cash OOP:  $34.42

CATs Earned:  $16.50

Non Cat Stuff

2 packs of Mushrooms - $1 ea

1 pack of Strawberries - $3.88

6 Shaw's Yogurts - .49 ea

CAT (Tried To Triple, but didn't work for me - but has for others)

4 Fiber One Bars - PSP $3.79, Sale $2.49 (4 .40/1 MFCs DOUBLE from Coupons.com and Bettycrocker.com) $1.69 ea

2 Chex Mix Bars - PSP $3.39, Sale $2.49 (.40/1 & .60/1 MFCs DOUBLE from Coupons.com and Bettycrocker.com)

2 Betty Crocker Cake Mixes - PSP $2.19, Sale .99 (2 .50/cake & frosting MFC DOUBLES) .49 ea

4 Frostings - PSP $2.19, Sale $1.49 (2 .50/1 MFCs DOUBLE from bettycrocker.com, 2 from cake coupon)

4 Trix Yogurts - PSP $3.29, Sale $2.60 (2 .80/2 MFC DOUBLE from coupons.com)

2 Wheaties Fuel - PSP $4.29, Sale $2.49 (2 .75/1 MFCs DOUBLE from Coupons.com) .99 ea

2 Reese's Puffs - PSP $4.49, Sale $2.49 (2 .55/1 MFCs DOUBLE from Coupons.com) $1.39 ea

PRE-Sale Price:  $65.80

Cash OOP:  $25.60

CATs Earned:  $16.50 (2 $7s and a $2.50 - planned on $21, but it's all good)

Net:  $9.10

Things From This Trip:

- I don't have the drive in me to make multiple trips this CAT.  I really just wanted the Fiber One bars.  Had I known and done my research about the extra CAT with them, I would have bought 5 boxes. 

-  Every single one of my coupons was printed at Coupons.com or BettyCrocker.com TODAY. 

-  My store was completely in stock with EVERYTHING CAT.  People!  Take advantage of this outstanding sales!

-  I wanted to try the 90 Calorie Fiber One bars but they are not part of the sale (at least they didn't have the little tag hanging from them at my store). 

-  If you buy the Reese's Puffs, you might get addicted to them.  But remember:  Better to eat the cereal than the candy, right? 

-  I forgot my recycling return yet again.  I'm going to have an entire cart load of bottles and cans to return when I finally get my butt in gear with that. 

Recipe of the Week - Moroccan-Style Ziti with Chicken

My husband made this for us yesterday and I realized that a lot of the ingredients are on sale at Shaw's this week.  It was fantastic!  Red lettering is Shaw's pricing babble. 

Moroccan-Style Ziti with Chicken  (From the "Take 5" Weight Watchers cookbook)
Serves 4
Points:  8

1 lbs boneless, skinless Chicken breast cut in pieces ($1.99/lbs this week at Shaw's)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 medium onion (probably .40 cents)
1/2 teaspoon curry powder (should be in your cabinet?  Only .89 at the Christmas Tree Shop! ;)  )
1 14 1/2 oz. can of diced tomatoes ($1 for a 28 oz can.  Use half and it's .50)
1/2 pound of ziti or penne, cooked (We have pasta stocked in our home, but Barilla Plus is $1.89 a box or you could get Shaw's brand for around $1.25)

Sprinkle the chicken with the salt & pepper.  Heat a skillet and set on high heat.  Spray with cooking spray.  Add chicken and cook turning until pieces are brown.  Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

Reduce the heat, add onion and cook until lightly browned.  Stir in the curry poder and cook until fragrant.  Return the chicken to the skillet and add tomatoes and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the flavors blend and the chicken is cooked (about 20 minutes).

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions.  Mix pasta in the pan with the chicken and sauce.  Makes four servings.