Here is what I know to be true after couponing and looking for deals since April. If you are going to coupon, and look for deals, you need to get over yourself. You will be shopping in places you may never have been willing to go to before. I hear this more than anything else - I would never shop at 'so and so'. I understand. For me it was Superstore. I hate (yes I still do) what I refer to as 'Stupidstore'.
My SP is not one of the new fancy locations. It's an older store that is absolutely nuts on weekends. I avoided it at all costs. I'm lucky I can go there during the week at quieter times of the day. I used to only shop at Safeway - I liked it there. Clean, organized, and I knew my way around. But here is the thing. By being willing to shop at places you never would have seen yourself before - you will save money. Lots of it.
We are down to $125 a week this month. And with three weeks under our belt, this is a fine amount for our family. We are able to get all of our essentials, plus get other stuff to stock up on. It is crazy to me that by only shopping at SF for weekly items, and paying full price, we used to spend $1200 a month. In our third month of couponing and saving, we are now spending $500 (4 weeks in June). And you know what, we have more food and supplies than before.
Yes, I am doing all the shopping. My hubby used to do his fair share, but with me looking for deals, I now handle it all. My husband said this past weekend that he "doesn't know how I do it" and that "we never seem to go without whatever it is we want." This feels like a huge compliment.
I want to tell you that if you are willing to stretch your shopping boundaries a bit, it will do wonders for your pocket book. For me, this has meant I could buy a new dress guilt free this month, some new yarn, our family went out for a nice dinner, and Nate can splurge on extra beer. And all these extras came without worrying we were stretching our budget. How wonderful is that?
:)
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
June Good Food Box
Our Good Food Box arrived today. I've been looking forward to this since the beginning of June! There were many similar items to the box we received in May, but also some new goodies as well.
My kids quickly dove into the grapes :) (Don't mind my sons overalls - lol. He'd just woken from a nap and I hadn't done up his snaps yet!)
In the box we found:
Bag of Celery
Bag of Potatoes (I've concluded with the monthly delivery of this box I no longer have need to purchase potatoes or onions).
Bag of Onions
4 bananas
2 Mangoes
5 Granny Smith Apples
2 Grapefruits
Bag Carrots
Head Lettuce
2 Green Peppers
Butternut Squash
Lemon
Grapes
4 Oranges
3 Bunches of Broccoli
1 Zucchini
The Good Food Box is now on a break until September. Sign ups at our pick up location start September 5th.
My kids quickly dove into the grapes :) (Don't mind my sons overalls - lol. He'd just woken from a nap and I hadn't done up his snaps yet!)
Bag of Celery
Bag of Potatoes (I've concluded with the monthly delivery of this box I no longer have need to purchase potatoes or onions).
Bag of Onions
4 bananas
2 Mangoes
5 Granny Smith Apples
2 Grapefruits
Bag Carrots
Head Lettuce
2 Green Peppers
Butternut Squash
Lemon
Grapes
4 Oranges
3 Bunches of Broccoli
1 Zucchini
The Good Food Box is now on a break until September. Sign ups at our pick up location start September 5th.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Quick! Grab the Calgary Sun!
In today's Calgary Sun, is the SmartSource flyer. In it you will find coupons for:
Finish Quantum Dish Soap
Free Lysol No Touch Hand Soap System
Resolve Stain Remover (this stuff is awesome)
St Ives Lotion
Vileda Mop & Refill
Little Swimmers
Red Lobster
Pull-Ups
Toilet Duck
Fantastik/Scrubbing Bubbles
Huggies Diapers & Wipes
Zest
Raid
Off
Splenda
Shoe Company
Towne Shoes
Elastoplast
Chuck E Cheese
Sweet!
Finish Quantum Dish Soap
Free Lysol No Touch Hand Soap System
Resolve Stain Remover (this stuff is awesome)
St Ives Lotion
Vileda Mop & Refill
Little Swimmers
Red Lobster
Pull-Ups
Toilet Duck
Fantastik/Scrubbing Bubbles
Huggies Diapers & Wipes
Zest
Raid
Off
Splenda
Shoe Company
Towne Shoes
Elastoplast
Chuck E Cheese
Sweet!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Week 2 Summary
At the end of week 2, having been shopping only using cash, I have to say I am loving it. And $125 seems like the perfect amount. We are able to get our weekly essentials (milk, eggs, produce etc.) and still have plenty to use to stock up our storage. Here's how I spent the bulk portion this week:
SF:
Most of the money was spent at Safeway this week. They had some great deals, plus the additional 10% off.
I bought the 3 cereals for $12, and received a 4L of milk for free. This deal was also available at Sobey's, but the cereals were not as well priced, and not ones my family would normally eat. I picked up 2 boxes of Rice Krispies, and a box of Mini Wheats with the coupon for free Yogourt. Here's the math - $12-$4 (milk) - $4 (yogourt) = $4 for 3 boxes of cereal - awesome!
I stocked up on Old Dutch Salsa - $1.99 each
Pampers - I bought the 2 Megapacks (92 diapers in my sons size) for $25. I had two, $2 coupons, and applied those to the purchase. I got the diapers for $21 before the 10% was taken off. This worked out to about $0.18 cents per diaper. Great deal!
Unico Tomatoes - These were $1.33 for 6.
SP:
Unico Beans - these were on for 4/$5. I picked up 4 cans.
Tostitos - I picked up two bags at $2 each, plus used a coupon from the storefront tear pad for a free salsa!
Five cans of Tuna at $1 each
Co-op:
I had a $10 gift card from a deal back in April and used it to pick up three boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios for $6.99.
Overall, I spent $92 at SF, and saved $65. I also saved $5 at SP by paying attention to in-store promotions.
Coming Up:
I usually look at upcoming flyers online, but today picked up a Calgary Herald to see if I prefer them in paper format. The verdict is still out. BUT, it looks like Co-op is having some great $10 deals this week, and Sobey's is having their dollar days! Deals start tomorrow. Happy shopping everyone!
SF:
Most of the money was spent at Safeway this week. They had some great deals, plus the additional 10% off.
I bought the 3 cereals for $12, and received a 4L of milk for free. This deal was also available at Sobey's, but the cereals were not as well priced, and not ones my family would normally eat. I picked up 2 boxes of Rice Krispies, and a box of Mini Wheats with the coupon for free Yogourt. Here's the math - $12-$4 (milk) - $4 (yogourt) = $4 for 3 boxes of cereal - awesome!
I stocked up on Old Dutch Salsa - $1.99 each
Pampers - I bought the 2 Megapacks (92 diapers in my sons size) for $25. I had two, $2 coupons, and applied those to the purchase. I got the diapers for $21 before the 10% was taken off. This worked out to about $0.18 cents per diaper. Great deal!
Unico Tomatoes - These were $1.33 for 6.
SP:
Unico Beans - these were on for 4/$5. I picked up 4 cans.
Tostitos - I picked up two bags at $2 each, plus used a coupon from the storefront tear pad for a free salsa!
Five cans of Tuna at $1 each
Co-op:
I had a $10 gift card from a deal back in April and used it to pick up three boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios for $6.99.
Overall, I spent $92 at SF, and saved $65. I also saved $5 at SP by paying attention to in-store promotions.
Coming Up:
I usually look at upcoming flyers online, but today picked up a Calgary Herald to see if I prefer them in paper format. The verdict is still out. BUT, it looks like Co-op is having some great $10 deals this week, and Sobey's is having their dollar days! Deals start tomorrow. Happy shopping everyone!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Deals of the week!
Here are the deals to be found this week (& don't forget 10% Tuesday today!):
SF:
Pampers Mega Pack - Baby Dry, Swaddlers or Cruisers 2/$25. Now, this normally isn't a deal as you can get the same at SP for $12.50 each if you buy at least 2. BUT, with 10% off today, it does make it cheaper. There were also Pampers coupons in this weekends P&G Brandsaver. I picked up the pampers today for 2/$21 + 10% off (2 coupons for $2 off).
Salsa - buy more than 2 and get them for $1.99 each
Unico Tomatoes - buy at least 6 and get them each for $1.33
Buy 3 Kelloggs cereals, and get a free 4L milk.
Kellogg cereal - 3/$12
Sunlight Laundry - B0G0
Breton Crackers - B0G0
Co-op:
Cheerios Honey Nut - 3/$6.99
SB:
Cornflakes - 2/$7
Buy 3 Kellogs & get a fre 4L milk
SP:
Unico Beans - 4/$5
Tuna - $1 each
Tostitos - $2 each (there is also a coupon at the front of the store for buy 2 and get a free salsa!)
Wal-Mart:
Thanks to an anonymous tip on a previous post, Ragu is on sale for $1.25 and pasta is on sale for $1.50. Sweet!
What deals have you found?
SF:
Pampers Mega Pack - Baby Dry, Swaddlers or Cruisers 2/$25. Now, this normally isn't a deal as you can get the same at SP for $12.50 each if you buy at least 2. BUT, with 10% off today, it does make it cheaper. There were also Pampers coupons in this weekends P&G Brandsaver. I picked up the pampers today for 2/$21 + 10% off (2 coupons for $2 off).
Salsa - buy more than 2 and get them for $1.99 each
Unico Tomatoes - buy at least 6 and get them each for $1.33
Buy 3 Kelloggs cereals, and get a free 4L milk.
Kellogg cereal - 3/$12
Sunlight Laundry - B0G0
Breton Crackers - B0G0
Co-op:
Cheerios Honey Nut - 3/$6.99
SB:
Cornflakes - 2/$7
Buy 3 Kellogs & get a fre 4L milk
SP:
Unico Beans - 4/$5
Tuna - $1 each
Tostitos - $2 each (there is also a coupon at the front of the store for buy 2 and get a free salsa!)
Wal-Mart:
Thanks to an anonymous tip on a previous post, Ragu is on sale for $1.25 and pasta is on sale for $1.50. Sweet!
What deals have you found?
10% Tuesday!
Today is 10% off at Sobey's & at Safeway (or 10X your airmiles at SF). Great time to get your groceries! I'll be back around lunch hour with the deals of the week - enough time to check the list AND get your 10% off :)
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Red Plum & P&G Brandsaver!
These two awesome coupon books can be found in today's Calgary Herald. Make sure you look through the paper before purchasing - I found mine at Safeway, but my local 7-11 didn't have them.
Tide
Pampers
Duracell
Dove
Iams
Voortman Cookies
Charmin
Puffs
Bounty
Swiffer
Dawn
Mr Clean
Cascade
Venus
Clairol
Covergirl
Crest products
Gillette
Bounce
Downy
Go get yours soon!
Tide
Pampers
Duracell
Dove
Iams
Voortman Cookies
Charmin
Puffs
Bounty
Swiffer
Dawn
Mr Clean
Cascade
Venus
Clairol
Covergirl
Crest products
Gillette
Bounce
Downy
Go get yours soon!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Week 1 Summary
It's Thursday - which means today is the last day of week 1 of my adventure with shopping with a cash budget for groceries. I'm excited to see that I did it!
Here was my plan:
$85 of 1 my $125 budget went to weekly expenses. I broke this into five categories. Milk, Meat (deli meat for my hubs), Eggs, Produce & my hubs Monster Drinks. The remaining $40 was allocated to purchasing bulk items.
I took a look through the flyers last week and wrote down all the deals. Previously I would have gone and tried to stock up on them all. This week, I decided which ones were the most needed for us, and/or which ones were the best deals. Items that were deals that I scratched off my purchase list were Pop & Tylenol at SF, Tomatoes & Yogourt at Co-op, and Kleenex at SB's.
Here is what I did get:
2 choc bars on sale at SF for $0.50 each. (Hey, a girl needs her chocolate!)
4 Toilet Duck Toilet bowl cleaners
4 6pack of Monster (on sale at Co-op - this fell into both weekly amounts & bulk amounts).
2 Finish laundry detergents @ SP
2 Lil Ones Yogourts at SP
2 Quaker Rice Cakes
1 30 pack of Breathe Right Nasal Strips
Total savings from the receipts were $38. This doesn't take into account items I purchased at SP that are already cheaper than buying at the other grocery chains. Of that $38, $6.5 were coupons - either in-store pad coupons, or ones that were mailed to me. These were for the Lil Ones Yogourt, Finish laundry detergent & breathe right strips. We spent around $15 on fresh produce.
Heading into next week I have $14.74 carried over from this week!
Does anyone want/need diaper coupons? I have some that expire June 10th for Huggies & Lil Swimmers. Please leave me a note here if this interests you!
Here was my plan:
$85 of 1 my $125 budget went to weekly expenses. I broke this into five categories. Milk, Meat (deli meat for my hubs), Eggs, Produce & my hubs Monster Drinks. The remaining $40 was allocated to purchasing bulk items.
I took a look through the flyers last week and wrote down all the deals. Previously I would have gone and tried to stock up on them all. This week, I decided which ones were the most needed for us, and/or which ones were the best deals. Items that were deals that I scratched off my purchase list were Pop & Tylenol at SF, Tomatoes & Yogourt at Co-op, and Kleenex at SB's.
Here is what I did get:
2 choc bars on sale at SF for $0.50 each. (Hey, a girl needs her chocolate!)
4 Toilet Duck Toilet bowl cleaners
4 6pack of Monster (on sale at Co-op - this fell into both weekly amounts & bulk amounts).
2 Finish laundry detergents @ SP
2 Lil Ones Yogourts at SP
2 Quaker Rice Cakes
1 30 pack of Breathe Right Nasal Strips
Total savings from the receipts were $38. This doesn't take into account items I purchased at SP that are already cheaper than buying at the other grocery chains. Of that $38, $6.5 were coupons - either in-store pad coupons, or ones that were mailed to me. These were for the Lil Ones Yogourt, Finish laundry detergent & breathe right strips. We spent around $15 on fresh produce.
Heading into next week I have $14.74 carried over from this week!
Does anyone want/need diaper coupons? I have some that expire June 10th for Huggies & Lil Swimmers. Please leave me a note here if this interests you!
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