Budget

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I am just CRAZY busy with my kids overlapping sports, school programs, special mommy time and helping families in need. This time off year is so busy. I do want to say next year I will keep track off all my spending and let you guys all in on my great deals. I'd be happy to share with anyone my tricks. I can totally stick to a $40 a week grocery budget. I think I will do $50 a week including diapers, toiletries and cleaning supplies. It took a couple months to get our stockpile of food and household items together but I was still saving half of our normal grocery bill. Now I will cut it back to a forth of our grocery bill. I have enjoyed lately getting free Johnson and Johnson baby products, snuggle dryer sheets, hot chocolate, $.50 desitin, cereal, nabisco crackers, Pillsbury cookie dough and I am now getting huggies and pampers jumbo diaper packs for $2.99 each. Looking forward to a new year!

This Weeks Grocery Deals 12/16-12/19

SAVE MART

Smoked Ham Portions.69 lb
Pork Butt Roast .88 lb
Navel Oranges .39
fresh green beans .67 lb
Green Giant canned veggies 2/$1
Gallo Italian dry salami 3.99
General Mills Cereal $1.49 must by 3
Cocoa Puffs, Cheerios, Chex
Fritos or Cheetos $1.99
Nabisco Crackers $1.88
7up A&W Root Beer, Sunkist .89
Daisy Sour Cream 2/$3
Kraft Cheese 2/$4

Foods Co

Farmer Johns Full half ham .77lb
Farmer John spiral sliced half ham $1.27 lb
Red Delicious or Granny Smith apples 2lbs/.98
Fresh Pineapple 2/$4
Whole Chicken twin pack .67
Western Hearth bread $1.48
White onions 5lbs/$1
Mission Tortilla chips $1.77
Nabisco crackers $1.87 (no minimum purchase)
7up & Sunkist .88
ocean spray juice 2/$4
Betty Crocker cake mix .98
Kraft cool whip .98
Farmer John sausage (roll or skinless) .98
Kraft shredded cheese 3/$5
Yams 3.lbs /.99
celery 2/.98
hass avocados 3/.99
grapes $1.48lb
navel oranges 2lbs/.98
russet baking potatoes 4lbs/$1

SAFEWAY

Hickory Smoked whole or shank half ham .97lb
whole pork shoulder blade roast .87
ranchers reserve whole tri top roast $2.77 lb (i think this is pretty good it is normally close to $6 lb)
Russet or red potatoes or yams .49 lb
kellogs fruit loops or apple jacks $1.49
whole pineapple $1.99
ocean spray juice $1.98
Johnsonville breakfast sausage links or patties 2/$5
John Morrell off the bone lunch meat 2/$5
oroweat bread, English muffins and Thomas' bagels b1b1 (not sure of the price this could be good)
frosted mini wheats $1.99
Kellogg's corn flakes .99
McCormick Spices 30% off
Dial liquid hand soap 10/$10
Lucerne Cream Cheese .99 (must buy 2)

RALEY'S

Raley's spiral sliced ham bone in whole or half $1.47 lb
Del Monte Gold Pineapple $1.97
b1g1 blackberries raspberries or blueberries
Nabisco crackers $1.79 wyb 4
Minute Maid orange juice 2/4
Kellogg's cereal $1.69
raisin bran, corn flakes, apple jacks or fruit loops

Moneysavingmom.com giveaway

Money Saving Mom is giving away a $100 gift card to the store of your choice. There are several ways to enter. (including creating a blog ost about it : ) ) It's a 24 hour giveaway so act fast!

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/12/24hour-giveaway-5-100-gift-cards-to-the-store-of-your-choice.html

Safeway Free Items with $20 purchase

http://www.safeway.com/IFL/Grocery/12Days-Save

Click on the link above to receive Safeway coupons for free items daily with a minimum $20 purchase.
Here is a list of the coupons they offer.

12/13: Fresh Express Salad
12/14: Betty Crocker Cake Mix
12/15: Dozen Lucerne Eggs
12/16: Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies
12/17: Safeway Brown & Powdered Sugar
12/18: 2-Liter 7UP
12/19: Russet Potatoes 5-lb. Bag
12/20: Breakfast Sausage Links
12/21: Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
12/22: Mini Muffins
12/23: Brown ‘n Serve Dinner Rolls
12/24: 2-liter Safeway Mixer

Safeway 12/2-12/8

new york steaks 50% $21.49
card savings $10.76
$10.73

onion $.86

carrots 2/$3
catalina $2.00 off
$.50 each

chinets plates $2.50
peely from store $1.00 off
$1.50

brownies $.89
ecoupon $.50
$.39

bread
in add coupon $1.99
$1.99

strawberries BOGO
$3.99 for 2 if your store carries driscoll you can print a $.55 off coupon here

bananas $1.64

gerber yogurt $2.69
$1.50 off catalina
$1.19

cookie mix
ecoupons from shortcuts.com and cellfire.com I think took off $2.20 for 2 and I had coupons from Sunday paper for $.80 off
-$.50 for 2

kraft cheese buy 5 save $5.
use $1.00 off 2 here
$1.98 for 2 ( I bought 6)

cream cheese buy 5 save $5
use $.55 off here
$.44 each (I bought 4)

Tyson chicken BOGO
use 2 $1.00 off from Sunday paper
$5.99 for 2

trix $1.50 when you buy 4
$1.00 off 2 from Sunday paper
$1.00 each

Total for 29 items $38.25
( I think I made money some how on the cheese deal my totals don't add up)

Grocery Deals 12/2-12-8

Foods Co
3 mangos/.99
White Onions 5lbs/$1
Kroger corn .39
kroger sugar 1.69

Safeway
$10 reward when your purchases reach $250 with your Safeway Club Card thru 12/13
excludes club card savings and store coupons
Navel Oranges .49 lb
Trix 1.5
Buy 5 and Save $5 Kraft shredded or chunk cheese 1.49 wyb 5,Philadelphia cream cheese .99 wyb 5, Kraft singles 2.99 wyb 5, knudsen cottage cheese 4pk 1.29 wyb 5
Mission Tortilla chips 1.88
Lucerne Large eggs 1.49 with super price coupon
Clorox Bleach 1.69 with super price coupon
Betty Crocker brownie mix .89
Gold Medal Flour 5lb 2/$4
Skippy 2/$4
Quaker Oatmeal 2/$4
Saturday Only Sale
Doritos $1.69
7up or Pepsi 2 liter .69
Fruity Pebbles or Honey bunches of Oats 1.47 limit 3

Save Mart
Beef Backribs .77lb
Pork Butt roast .87 lb
Mangos 3/.99
Post Cereal 1.33 wyb 6 limit 12
Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Pebbles, Waffle Crisp, Honey Comb, Golden Crisp

Raleys
Honey Bunches of Oats, Shredded Wheat, Grape nuts, Bran Flakes $1.5 wyb4
12 pack 7 up variety soda buy 2 get 3 free
Bulk Walnuts or Almonds 3.99 lb
Colgate Toothpaste b1g1 free single price 2.79
Pistachios 2.99 use $1 off coupon from bee=1.99
Green Line Green Beans 12 oz bag 2/$4
Fresh Express salad .99

Victoria's Sweaters 3/$30 free shipping and free scarf

On the Victoria's Secret website click on clothing (link at top) then look for the link for th 3/$30 sweaters
select three sweaters to add to your bag. Add the scarf - I searched for item number EG-257630 (that's the one that is free) then check the items in your bag-click on the box to use an offer code
Enter three codes
vssave20
scarf09
3for30

don't forget to shop through EBATES or you other groups like that

Target Sweepstakes

Target is having a sweepstakes you can enter once daily from Nov. 22 - 26. Leave a comment and let us know what you won. I played last night and won a free soda on Black Friday
2daysweepstakes.target.com

Safeway

FREE! 4 day sale 3 for$1.00 use $1.00 off 2 from Sunday paper.

Walmart

Cream of chicken and mushroom soup $.58 each. My Target was out of the $.49 yesterday so I ran to walmart. I used the $1.00 off 4 from Campbells.com making them $.28 each. They also had other great baking things on sale for cheaper than target.

Target

Up baby wipes $1.89
Target printable $1.00 off
Total $.89

Up dish soap $2.89
Target mailer 1.00 off
Total $1.89

Popcorn $2.29 each
Target printable $1.00 off 2
stack with Sunday paper coupon $1.00 off 2
Total $1.29 each

Dawn foam $2.24
Coupon from mailer $1.50 off
Total $.74

Up band aid $.97
Target mailer $.75 off
Total $.22

Del Monte veggies $.45 each
Target printable $1.00 off 6
stack with Sunday paper coupon $1.00 off 8
$.20 each

Grand Total $7.92

Grocery Deals 11/18-11/26

I never talk about these stores because they never have any good deals, but I have to add them this week for their prices on turkeys

Food Source

Whole Turkey .39 lb limit 1
5lb bag of russet potatoes .69
Mazola Oil 2/$4
cool whip .99
sarah lee pie 2.89

Smart and Final (we like to call it Fart and Smile)

First Street Frozen Turkey .35 Limit 1 minimum $25 purchase
Farmer John spiral cut half ham $1.99 lb
10 lb bag russet potatoes .99

SAFEWAY
Safeway is pricematching frozen turkeys
6.77 ea up to 16 lb turkey limit 2 with $20 purchase
8.77 over 16.00lbs
Honey Suckle Turkey 7.77 ea up to 16 lbs
9.77 over 16lbs
Safeway Fresh Turkey .88 lb
Red grapes .99lb
Cross Rib Roast 1.87 lb
Spiral sliced ham 1.99 lb
5lb box clementine or satsuma mandarin 4.99
4 days only 11/18-11/21 2 liter 7-up varieties 3/$1 must buy 3
Nabisco Snack Crackers $1.88
B1G1 jimmy dean or hormel bacon, johnsonville links or jimmy dean sausage roll

FOODSCO
Zacky Farms Turkey .87
Celery 2/.98
Fresh Green beans .78 lb
pineapple 2/$4
Rome or Granny Smith apples .58
Red yams .lbs .99
farmer johns spiral sliced ham 1.78 lb
mazola oil 1.98
betty crocker cake mix .88 ea
Dole Pineapple .88
ore ida potatoes 2.48

Raley's
Raley's Turkey .89 lb limit 1
Star Olive Oil 4.99

SAVE MART

Free Turkey with single purchase of 99.99
jumbo scarlotta red seedless grapes
celery .47 ea
nabisco crackers 1.68

Target

Today I went to another Target to get cream of chicken soup (when I went yesterday they only had cream of mushroom) Well when I looked they had a sign posted that they were out but you could substitute their Market Pantry brand for .34! I took it. I bought 10 for $3.40

Wal Mart grocery deals

Today I went to Wal Mart and finally found the Sara Lee lunch meat which has a printable coupon I've had for forever because I couldn't find it. Actually I didn't find it I saw a man with some in his cart and had to ask him! At the super walmart it is found in the deli section! I never thought to look there because it isn't fresh deli meat. Anyways they were priced at 3.98 and I had a $3 off coupon making them .98. I also saw on one of our coupon sites a coupon for Chef's Requested meat that had a $3 off coupon and found that at my local Super Wal Mart as well. And finally my baking product deals - Wal Mart had 5lbs of Gold Medal flour for $1.5 and Nestle Chocolate Chips for $1.78

Coupon stories

I have of course been sharing my coupon deals with fam and friends lately. Last night I got a call from one of my clients who has his phd and a great job. He was so excited about the good deals I had told him about at Walmart and he got. I don't care what your job is everyone is being affected by this horrible economy and coupons seems to be the way to go and it makes us happy. Jake came home from school and told me his teacher was printing coupons and a girl in his class said Mrs. B saves so much money with her coupons. Jake told her my Mom is the coupon queen she can get $100 worth of groceries for $20. I thought that was so cute. These stories are so fun.

Diapers at safeway

Another great deal on diapers at Safeway.
Huggies overnites use the $7.99 sc stack with $2.00 off from coupons.com and upload ecoupon. making them $4.99.
Pampers extra protection use the $7.99 sc stack with $2.00 off from ss, rp of p&g making them $5.99. A catalina printed out for $3.00 off so my next trip I will stack this with the rest getting them for $2.99. Cade is just about ready to move up to a size 4 diaper. I was a little worried as 2 out of our 3 kids potty trained out of a size 3 diaper.

Safeway

I was going to add this as a comment to Kelly's post about the super coupons, but thought it was releavant enough to add a separate post.
I went to Safeway today and got some of the stuff Kelly talked about on her post after I checked I received a catalina for $2 off your next order from the oscar mayer bacon (I bought 2 packages) also I got a $1 off/2 nature valley granola bars (I'm assuming I got them from buying the quaker granola bars)

I got 4 of the Chex cereal 3/$5 used $1/2 coupon plus had 2 more $1 off e coupons paid .66 ea
Betty Crocker frosting bought 2 at 1.69 ea had 2 .50/1 coupons from 11/15 bee plus 2 .50 ecoupon paid .69 ea
bought 4 quaker granola bars at .99 I already used my red plum coupon but still thought it was worth the price
bought the scotch bright sponges for 1.99
oranges .79 lb
john morrell lunch meat 2/$5
oscar mayer bacon 2.99 with safeway coupon plus used .75 coupon from the 11/15 bee
popsicles 2.99

paid $28 out of pocket saved 47.9 63%

sorry no pictures I still have all my cans on the table and haven't figured out where to put them yet.

Awesome Target Trip

I was super impressed with my Target trip today if I do say so myself.

I bought 10 boxes Stove Top Stuffing they were .79 ea and I had a peelie coupon buy 4 get one free making them .63 ea

Heinz Gravy .79 I got 6 and used 2 - $1/3 coupon=.46 ea printable from Heinz gravy site

Swanson Chicken Broth .49 ea x 11-.90 in coupons=4.49 making them .40 ea

Del Monte Vegetables bought 16 cans @.45 used 2 $1/8 coupons=.33 ea coupon 11/ sunday paper

Campbell's condensed bought 16 cans at .49 ea used 4 $1/4 coupons=.24 ea-printable from Campbell's soup website

Kraft cheese 1.66 each used 2 $1/2 coupons=1.16 ea coupon from 11/15 sunday paper

UP and UP bandaids paid .72 using .75 coupon

up wipes .57 used $1 off coupon

4 bags Jet Puff Marshmallows paid 3.36 for all used 2 target printable coupons

puffs plus 3 pack 4.99 used $1 off coupon

Meghan messed up my percentage by wanting a kangagroo figurine that she has been wanting for awhile so I also got that for her it was $5.69

Games

Guesstures used $5 target printable or toy book coupon with a $5 Hasbro printable paid $10

Pictureka Flipper paid $10 used $5 target printable and Hasbro printable

Clue secrets and spies paid $10 (same coupons)

connect 4x4 used target printable pd $1

My total before coupons was $147 I walked out of there paying 87.40 saved $126 including sales prices
I also received a $5 off $75 coupon which will come in handy for Christmas shopping

Safeway 11/15-11/21

Super price coupons (sc) in today's paper.
Oscar mayer bacon $2.24 after sc stacked with $.75 off 11/15 ss
Quaker granola bars $.50 after sc stacked with $1.00 off 2 from redplum.com
Tide $4.99 after sc stacked with $1.00 off from p&g
King's hawaiian dinner rolls $1.00 each after sc stacked with $1.00 off 2 from 11/15 rp
Huggies overnites or pampers extra protection $5.99 each after sc stacked with eaither $2.00 off huggies from coupons.com or pampers from rp, ss or p&g
These are just the super coupons you can stack.
Also this week until Wednesday was the green giant veggies for $.49 each. I stocked up and bought 40 there is no limit. Also chex 3 for $4.00 uploaded my ecoupons from cellfire.com or shortcuts.com and used the $1.00 off 2 from ss or rp. I bought 4 and they were $.86 each.

Walmart 11/12

Simply cookies $1.23 each after $1.00 off coupon from inserts in bee
Yoplus $1.00 each after $1.00 off coupon from bee
Trident layer gum $.64 each after BOGO from bee
Welch's sparkling cider $.97 each after $2.00 off coupon from welchs.com

Target 11/12

Ocean spray $.98 each after target printable coupon
Marshmallows $.52 each after target printable coupon
Up and up baby wipes purple $.39 each after target printable coupon
Up and up baby wipes blue $.89 each after target printable coupon

Walgreens

Huggies diapers $5.50 a pack. Use $2.00 off coupons from coupons.com and use the $5. off $25. I also had one $3.00 off coupon from the mail. If your Walgreen's has the children's activity book it has a $1.00 off each pack you can use also making them cheaper than I paid. Ace broke the price down per diaper for me. Costco huggies size 4 diapers are $.25 per diaper. Sam's club $.22 per diaper. At Walgreen's I paid $.18 per diaper so it is cheaper than buying in bulk. If you can get a jumbo pack for $8.00 it's the same per diaper as Costco. If you don't need diapers it would be a great time to stock up on other items such as kleenex, juice and baking items and stack the walgeens coupons with manufacturer coupons and use the $5. off $25. in the weekly add.

Target

Today I had to run to Target to get my hubby the new call of duty. I was also hoping to get the up and up baby wipes. I printed the target $1.00 off printable which would have made them $.27 each. They were all out. Here's what I got. I wanted to wait for them to go on sale but I am almost done Christmas shopping so I just wanted to cross them off my list. We love to play new games with the fam on Christmas eve and morning.
Mr. potato head $.99 after $5.00 off coupon from coupons.com
Connect 4 $10.00 after $5.00 off from coupons.com
Pictureka $13.99 after $5.00 off from coupons.com stacked with $5.00 off from Target toy book.

Piccata Chicken

Here is Michael and I's favorite new dish: Piccata Chicken and it makes delicious left overs.

(and since I don't know why my pics uploaded backwards, I am not changing it)

The sauce! yummy
Browning the chicken

Piccata Chicken -- prep time 30 minutes --cooking 30 min -- 4 servings

Ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

2 Tblsp. vegetable oil

1/2 cup chicken broth

2 tsp. worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp. dried marjoram leaves

2 Tblsp. lemon juice

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Okay, so you pound out your chicken between plastic wrap til they are about 1/4 inch thick. In a shallow bowl mix together the flour, salt and pepper. Heat your oil in a 10 inch skillet over medium heat til hot. Coat your chicken on both sides in the flour mixture and cook chicken in the hot oil approx. 3 to 5 minutes. Cook til golden brown and no pink inside.

Remove chicken and cover to keep warm while you make the yummy sauce. Do not clean out pan, you want all the oil and chicken taste. Add broth, worcestershire and marjoram to skillet, cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes, then stir in lemon juice and parsley. Then dish it up and serve the sauce over the chicken.

We eat our piccata with some kind of pasta, so you'll want to start the water boiling before you begin the chicken so they are done about the same time (at least with my stovetop this is how I do it). We also do a side of asparagus or salad.

Grocery Deals 11/11-11/17

SAFEWAY

Rancher's Reserve London Broil Extreme Value Pack 1.79 lb
Whole Boneless center pork loin 1.69 lb (in the bag)
Safeway Turkey 6.77
Blackberries or Blueberries BOGO
Locally grown navel oranges .79 lb
Pepsi or 7-up .88
Green Giant canned vegetalbes .49
Cottonelle and Thirsty paper towles 4.99
Pork Shoulder Blade 1.29
John Morrell off the bone lunch meat 2/$5
Betty CrockerCake Mix .89
Soft Soap hand soap 10/$10
Energizer or Duracell batteries $2 off coupon

Saturday and Sunday only sale
1.69 Tostitos chips
2/$3 Quaker Instant Oatmeal
.79 Gala Apples
Soups $1 ea, progresso vegetable classics, campbell's soup at hand, campbells condensed soup, campbell's red and white bowls

FOODSCO

White Onions 6lbs/.96
Haas Avocados 3/$1
Radishes 4 bunches/$1
Cilantro 5/$1
5lb C&H sugar 1.98
Quaker Life or Cap'n Crunch 1.98
Pork Shoulder picnic roast .98
Red or Green Leaf Lettuce .68 ea
red potatoes .58
fresh cranberries 1.98
Campbell's cream of mushroom or chicken soups .78
Fresh baked french bread .98
mentos 10/$10

SAVEMART
Pork Butt Roast .97
Fresh Express Salad .97
Free Turkey or Turkey breast with $99 purchase
Large Navel Oranges .47 lb
Kellogg's Cereal $1.25 wyb 4
Froot Loops
Apple jacks
Corn Pops
Cocoa Krispies
Corn Flakes

RALEY's
Lean ground beef or ground chuck $1.99
Filippo Berio Extra Virgin or 100% pure olive oil 3.99
Cross Rib Roast 1.87
Chex Cereal 1.5 each wyb 3
Cheez-it, Wheatables and All Bran Crackers 1.69
Digiorno Pizza 3.99
Skippy Peanut Butter 1.59

kmart

Picked up these Halloween tablecloths yesterday at kmart for $.87 each. (Rach you can have 1 if you need it.) They still had quite a bit of Halloween stuff on clearance. This is the first time I have ever gotten anything to save for the next holiday on clearance. YEAH!

The Two Co's

I went to WinCo (ps I learned that it stands for Washington Idaho Nevada California Oregon) and FoodsCo today. I spent a total of 79.7 It's only Monday and I'm already slightly over budget. I will not be shopping anymore this week except to go to Kohl's to use my $10 coupon.

I first went to FoodsCo

DanActive and Activa were both 1.96 used $1 off coupon

Green Giant vegetables were .58 a can (was cheaper than the store brand there but same as store brand at winco)

Kraft easy mac (I just bought this to fulfill the items needed for the $20 rebate

Mountain High vanilla yogurt 32 oz 2.5 and used a .50 coupon got it for $2

Oranges.49 lb

bosc pears .49lb

store brand cream cheese .97 ea no coupon

Those are the highlights I really just needed some produce and the cream cheese

Winco highlights

Sara Lee Pie on sale 2.68 plus $1 off coupon=1.68

2 lbs sugar 1.54 used .50/1 coupon paid 1.04

gytop milk 2.28 plus .50/1 coupon=$1.78

C&H brown sugar 1.48 used .35 coupon-$1.13

Star olive oil 5.52 used 2 $4 off coupons paid 1.52 each

Raleys 11/6

It was birthday week at our home this week. By the time we had the family party, friend party, class party, dinners it turned into a weeks long event that kept me crazy busy. This time of year is also crazy busy at work for me. So all I did this week was score diapers and fruits and veggies at the farmers market. This diaper deal is the best one for me yet.
$3.79 or $4.79 per pack after store coupon from weekly add stacked with a $3.00 off coupon I had from in the mail and $2.00 off coupons from coupons.com and pullups.com
Total $31.10
Ace told me I couldn't buy anymore diapers if Cade potty trains when Jake and Josh did I'll have too many so I am starting to stock up on pull ups. I just told Ace I'll use them when I watch Bobby and Liz's kids or Kristy and Matt's. I am gonna head to Safeway bright and early before work tomorrow to score those crazy deals at Safeway. Happy shopping.

Hooked by Safeway this week

I was definitely hooked by Safeway this week. I really wanted the Kohl's $10 off coupon for every$50 you spend. Today I spent 42.5 and still got the gift coupon. How? The $50 balance is before scanned mfg coupons (but after club card prices and excludes milk).

I bought 8 boxes of cereal 5 honey nut cheerios, 1 honey smacks, 1 rice crispies, 1 Quaker life used printable Kellogg's cereal coupons and had several .55 off honey nut cheerios and also a $1/1 coupon

Progresso soup was 1.25 ea I got 5 and had 2-$1/1 High Fiber soup coupns plus 1.10 off 3 and 3 .50 ecoupons as well making them .33 ea

the marshmallows weren't a great price just wanted some to make krispy treats

soy sauce had a b1g1 coupon

Arm n Hammer toothpaste in ad coupon for 1.49 plus $1 off printable coupon

Deli Creations sandwiches were on sale for $1.99 I had a $1/2 coupon

bogo pomegranates

pork roast .99 lb pd $4.88

Asparagus $1.49

Lucerne sliced cheese was $2.99 which wasn't a deal we just were out

I also got Progresso broth which was b1g1 and I used two .50 coupons (priced at 3.49) paid 1.25 ea

I spent $42.63 and saved 62.57 with club card and coupons ($14.24 with coupons)

I suggest waiting until Saturday to shop if you are going. I just noticed that the free breakfast coupons (in this weeks ad) were for a minimum purchase of $50 so I will miss out on those. I didn't check that before I went. Plus I'm not sure if I would have even made it to Safeway on Saturday.

I also checked out the Keebler cookies and they were bogo at $4.69 which is a total rip off.

Wal Mart grocery deals

I was looking over my ads again this morning. I noticed a few good deals at Wal Mart.

Campbell's Cream of Chicken or Cream of Mushroom Soup .58
Carnation Evaporated Milk (not sure how great a deal this is but there is a coupon for .50 off)
Stove Top Stuffing .78
Betty Crocker Potatoes .78
Betty Crocker Cake Mix and Frosting .78
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers 1.5

Target Deals

Went to Target todayto get some things I needed but ended up hanging out at the Halloween isle far too long. (Sorry Red, I still beat Leah there!) I took longer than I thought to work some magic.

Campbells cream of mushroom soup .66

kellogg's Cereal 2.66 b2g1 used 4$1 Target coupons for Kellogg's cereal and 2 -$1 off peelie coupons (that's all I had so if you had them you could use them and they were off of fruit loops or apple jacks still ended up paying about .50 each box

Also General Mills Franken Berry and Boo Berry cereal was on clearance for .98 I had a $1/3 mfg coupon and $1/2 Target coupon so I ended up buying 4 boxes so I could use that other coupon and walked away spending .23 ea I think those are the best deals on cereal I've had.

Halloween Hefty one zip bags were on clearance for .74 I had 2 mfg coupon for $.55/2 so I bought 4 for .48 ea

Something that might interest Kelly's kids was Pokemon deck box that was a special halloween treat with all the halloween stuff when I scanned it in the store it was still at the regular price of 2.99 but I just told the lady at the register and she adjusted it for me to .75 It is a deck box, pack of 2 pokemon cards and 18 stickers.

Clearance halloween candy .75 I didnt' have a coupon and some other halloween prizes and games for the kids around $1-1.5

The cashier said you did a really good job and looked at my receipt and I had saved over $58 and was so impressed that she told the next person behind me! I spent less that $30 took off around $10 with copons.

Quesadillas!

Bobby has been wantin to blog about his delish quesadillas. Ever since Bill made us those yummy ones we haven't stopped eating them!!! Here's what we do:
On a fryin pan spray some Pam or oil

Get some beans(Refried or Black)
Two Tortillas
Chicken if you want
Put all the goods on one tortilla, put it in the pan and let it warm up for a few.
Place second tortilla on top then carefully flip and let the other side cook.
Enjoy with Salsa, sour cream, guac or whatever you like!!!

Save Mart

I've been trying to contact Save Mart for their coupon policy because they wouldn't let me stack coupon at their store. I emailed them first and they didn't send me their coupon policy so I emailed them back. I got a message today telling me that they don't give out their coupon policy to customers! And they consider stacking coupons doubling coupons and you can't do that. My situation was that I had a catalina coupon and a manufacturer coupon for Danactive yogurt and the computer system would not accept both coupons.
Too bad! I guess I'll have to be careful with my coupons there. I need to make sure that I can't get a better deal by stacking somewhere else.

Great Deal on Wii games at Target

Target is having a sale on their Wii Games all games 14.99-49.99 are b2g1 free which is not super great until you add in a $10 off 2 coupon!! Get 6 games for under $40 (if you buy 14.99 games) Click here to print the coupons.
http://sites.target.com/images/2009HolidayCoupons/holiday_coupons_print.html

Print 3 of the $10/2 Wii games coupons (also available in the coupon book found at Target stores by the toys)

Budget

Ok I am going to try to stick to a $75 a week budget. I am already saving way more than half of what we use to spend on groceries so for now no biggy if I go over. I have never been one to have a budget and stick to it. I'm still trying to figure out what is a good price for meat and stuff per pound. So eventually I'll lock my budget down. I will always buy fruits and veggies. I am going to try to only buy what's on sale and have coupons for. It just takes a lot of planning ahead, I'm noticing and a lot of freezing. I also have been using menus lately and we hardly ever go out to eat now. I have my game plan down and that's what we eat. No more 3 o'clock coming round and the kids ask whats for dinner and I begin to look at take out menus as I don't know what to cook. The key for us so far is planning ahead. I have in the past grabbed something at the grocery store and payed double what I would pay at Target because we were out and needed it. That won't happen now.

Target 11/2

pampers $5.99 after coupon from bee and target coupon
huggies $5.49 after printable coupon from coupons.com and target coupon
wipes $.99 after target coupon
Johnson and johnson baby wash $.24 after coupon from bee and target coupon. ( this is something I can't believe I ever paid for since couponing I haven't paid more than $.50 for it)
oxy clean $1.79 after taget coupon
Total $16.15
I have been waiting for a sale on diapers to use my coupons I am so well stocked up even buying next size 4 because I am new to this couponing and not sure if coupons are always so available. A thinks we have our year supply already.

This Weeks Grocery Deals 11/4-11/10

Safeway
Four Days Only 11/4-11/8 Every $50 you spend at Safeway you get $10 Kohl's Rewards

Whole Boneless Top Sirloin 1.99 lb
Pork Shoulder Blade Roast .99lb
BOGO Jumbo Pomegranates
Vine Ripe Tomatoes .99 lb
Safeway Turkey up to 16 lbs frozen 6.77 with $20 purchase over 16 lbs 8.77
Honeysuckle Turkey up to 16 lbs frozen with $20 purchase 7.77 over 16lbs 9.77
Foster Farms whole chicken .99 lb
BOGO Foster arms Ground Turkey
Oscar Mayer Deli Shaved Lunchmeat 2.99 match up with coupon
Oscar Mayer Deli Creations 1.99 match up with coupon
Thomas" English muffins or bagels mix n match sale 1.99 with ad coupon
BOGO Cheese it and Keebler (you can use two coupons one for each package)
Betty Crocker Cake Mix or Frosting Buy 2 get 3 free
BOGO Progresso Broth
Chicken of the Sea Tuna .69
Arm and Hammer toothpaste 1.49 with ad coupon there are printable arm and hammer coupons
Buy 4 and Save $4 mix and match sale Honey Nut Cheerios and Rice Krispies Treats bars $1.5 each wyb 4
Life cereal and Frosted Mini Wheats $2 ea wyb 4, Kashi Heart to Heart honey toasted oats cereal and Go Lean crunch $2.5 wyb 4
Kleenex tissue $2 off ad coupon wyb 4 and Energizer batteries $1 off ad coupon stack coupon with manufacturer coupon

Free Items Saturday and Sunday with in ad coupon Free Lucerne Large Eggs, Free Safeway 100% orange juice, Free Safeway Select Bacon, Free Safeway Raisin Bread or English Muffins all with ad coupon
WOW Safeway is really going the distance this week!

Foods Co
Bosc Pears 2lbs for .98
Navel Oranges 2 lbs .98
Foster Farms whole chicken twin pack .67 lb Great Deal!!
Gatorade 32 oz bottles .79
Green Giant Vegetables .58
Oscar Mayer Lunchables 10/$10
Charmin Tissue 12 Big Roll or 24 regular roll and Bounty Paper Towels 6-8 rolls 5.98
Family Size Kellogg's Cereals 3/$9 plus free milk with purchase (so its like paying closer to $2 a box
Tangelos .78lb
Fresh Green Beans .98lb
Barilla Pasta .88
Premium Saltine crackers 3/$5

Save Mart
New York Steak max Pack (4 steaks or more) 2.99 lb
Free Turkey or Turkey Breast with single purchase of 99.99 or more (purchase requirement seems high)
Large Russet baking potatoes .19 lb
Earth Grain Bread 1.99
Thomas' English Muffins or Bagels 1.99
Buy 4 Quaker Products get Trop50 OJ free
Navel Oranges .69 lb
Driscoll raspberries, or blueberries 2/$5
Ocean Spray cranberries 2/$5

Raley's
Not a whole lot at Raley's this week
One thing was a $3 off ad coupon Huggies jumbo Pack Diapers Pull Ups overnights or Youth Pants final price $6.88 with coupon

Happy Shopping!! Add any good deals you see?

Safeway Deals 11/2

Safeway's Sunday Ad was pretty good this week. I couldn't pass up the 4/$6 Kellogs cereal and the .99 for a 10# bag of potatoes. I got 2 and I plan on making some hashbrowns and such and freezing them.
I paid about .90 for each box of cereal. I only didn't have a coupon for the Raisin Bran but I needed another box to get the deal.
I also got the lucerne cream cheese for .99 and a package of butter for $1.49 with in ad coupon
Pineapple was on sale for $1.99 and there was a del monte printable for .75 off making it $1.25
I also bought Pam cooking spray for $2.49
Foster Farms Lunch meat was 2.5 - $1 off coupon and a .75 ecoupon all in all a great day. I am going to raise my goal to $75 a week.

Target 10/28

I ran into target today to get ink for my printer and here's what I found. They were having 75% off lots of small kitchen appliance. I have been wanting a waffle makers for a while and I got a deal today. We also go back and forth with the toaster oven we get rid of them then we want one again so we're trying one again. They also have microwaves, blenders, George Foreman things and much more.

Pureed Pumpkin

Safeway had their Saturday and Sunday sale last week and I got 2 pumpkins for $4.99. I made pumpkin puree today, I had to call my friend Hannah for some tips since I was doing a huge pumpkin and not pie pumpkins like on thriftymom.com. Thanks Hannah!

First off we have our medium sized pumpkin.

Cut the pumpkin in half lengthwise.


clean out all the seeds and guts.

I enlisted the kids to help. Lennon helped too he just had to leave before I got the camera out. Because the pumpkin was so big I had to cut it into quarters. I baked half of the pumpkin at a time.


Place skin up in a 9x13 pan. Add a little water and cover with foil. Bake at 375 degrees for about 1 1/2 hours.

The skin will still be firm but soft on the inside when it is done. I like how Hannah described it - she said "it's like a potato after it has baked" it will smoosh.

Let the pumpkin cool so you can handle it. Then you peel off the skin and put it in the food processor or blender. (Since Hannah told me about the potato thing it made me think of how you can squish the potato out of the peel after it has baked. So I kind of smooshed the pumpkin in the pan to help release it from the skin a bit) Then I used my hands and sometimes a paring knife to get the skin off. It was like peeling sunburned skin! well not that thin of skin but you get the picture. Sorry if that was gross!

Finally I poured premeasured pumpkin puree into plastic containers and plastic Ziploc bags. All of the bags are 1 cup and the plastic containers (except 2) are 2 cups. I ended up with 18 1/2 cups of pureed pumpkin and still have another one to do! Yeah I'm getting out those pumpkin recipes.

Chicken pot pie

We do chicken pot pie many ways around our house. It is one of my kids favorites. Sometimes I use already made crust, other times i make the crust. Sometimes I only crust on top other times I put in on top and bottom. Sometimes I use frozen, canned or fresh vegetables. Anyway we do it the kids love it. For this pie here's what I did.
I made the crust.
Chicken however much you like. I used 2 big breast here.
Vegetables however and whatever you like. I steamed fresh broccoli and baby carrots and used canned corn here.
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
Here's what it looked like before I put the top on and cooked it.

After baking at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Here's what it looked like.

Zucchini chocolate chip muffins

I got this recipe from allrecipes.com
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups flour I used (half wheat half white)
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup milk
1 tbl. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup shredded zucchini I also peeled mine
1/2 cup chocolate chips (you don't have to put them in but I love them)

In a bowl combine flour, sugar, soda, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl combine egg, oil, apple sauce, milk, lemon juice and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients. Stir in zucchini and chocolate chips. Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes for mini muffins.

Walgreens 10/28

Every time I go to Walgreen's they are out of the deals I want. Here is what they had. I am still trying to learn drugstore shopping.
refresh $.25 after coupon from bee and I got $1.00 RR
quaker oats $.97 each after Walgreen's coupon and coupon from bee
mentos $.45 each after Walgreen's coupon and coupon from bee
total $3.15 out of pocket plus $1.00 in RR

Cheesy Sausage Potatoes

Last week Safeway had all their sausages on sale and there was a great coupon because it's Oktoberfest. I bought two Hillshire Farms Beef Polska Kielbasa. Today I used one of them to make dinner. I had my two helper chefs, Meghan and Abby.






First the girls helped me peel 6-8 potatoes and I cubed them.


We boiled them for about 7 minutes.


Meanwhile I sliced the sausage and chopped onions and bell pepper and sauteed until the sausage was brown.

We drained the potatoes and placed them at the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish. Then we placed the sausage mixture on top of the potatoes and then put cheese on top of that and sprinkled a little pepper. We baked at 350 degrees for 25 minutes and here is our final result.


It was good. Bill said it was a hit.

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Grocery Deals 10/28-11/3

Safeway
4 day sale
12 pack soda Coke, Pepsi or 7-UP 3 for 6.99 must buy 3
Digiorno frozen pizza 3.99 with in ad coupon should be a $1 off coupon out there
Safeway Apple Juice .88 in ad coupon
Cheetos or Fritos .88 in ad coupon

Regular weekly sales
Fresh Express salad b1g1 (not sure of the regular price don't buy it if you dont get them 2/ $2 they are $1 all the time)
Claim Jumper or Edwards frozen pies 3.99 with ad coupon
Goldfish crackers 5/$5
Pineapple if del monte print $.75 off coupon from coupons.com making it $1.25
Gogurts $2.49 upload your e coupons and use printable from coupons.com making them $1.69 each ( this is the only kind of yogurt my picky eater Jace will eat so these are staples in our home)
Hillshire farm sausage 2 for $4.00 after printable $1.00 off2 from gomeat.com
Honey bunches of oats $1.99 each if you buy 3 print $2.00 off at honeybunchesofoats.com it's for the pecan kind.
FoodsCo
Yellow onions 5lbs/$1
Red tomatoes 2lbs .98
Pork Spareribs 1.17lb
Fresh chicken split breast with ribs, drumsticks or thighs .97lb
7-UP, Diet 7-UP Sunkist .79 mentioning for holiday parties
oscar mayer wieners .98
Religious Candles .98 (just through that one in for a laugh I'm looking at the ad right now and they actually have these giant Jesus and Mary candles it's just kinda silly to ad at a grocery store)
Celery 2/$0.98
Large Kiwi 4/$1
ore ida potatoes, 2.48

Raley's
Raley's was pretty much a bust this week. The only thing I saw was that they had the best ad price for apples @ .67lb

Save Mart
Foster Farms Corn Dogs bogo
Fresh ground chuck or lean ground beef 1.59lb
Roma Tomatoes .47 lb
2-12 pack soda get 2 free must purchase 4 w/ ad coupon
Tombstone Pizza 2.49
Doritos b1g1
Gallo Salami 3.99 which is a good price for this much plus there is a $2 off coupon from the bee out there can't remember if it is $2/1 or $2/2
Spinach Salad .99

Plus they had a cute recipe for breakfast bagel bites!

Target 10/27

6 Keebler cookies $.50 each after using printable $1.50 off 2 coupon and $1.00 off 2 coupon on sale $2.00 each buy 2 get 1 free. ( am still new to this couponing thing. I guess you can use coupons on the free ones also making it $.50 for the 6)
Ocean spray juice $.98 after using $1.00 off coupon
Bread $1.95 each after coupon from bee (10/25)
Vitamin water buy 10 for $1.00 each get powerade for free
Total $18.86

Beet Lover Recipe-Beetroot Salsa

Bill actually likes beets. I think they taste like dirt. He is always looking at recipes that are good for runners and we test them out. You can eat the root and the leaves of beets. They only have 36 calories and have 300 mg of nitrates per 4 ounces which is supposed to improve endurance. Anyways enough of the science lesson.
We made Aussie-Style hamburgers with Beetroot Salsa however we didn't care too much for the burgers I think it had too much mint. I think they would be good with less or no mint. Anyways I'll give the beetroot salsa recipe and then the burger after in case you want to go for the full effect.

Beetroot Salsa
1 15 oz can of small beets drained and chopped ( I guess in Australia they call them beetroots instead of just beets)

1 small red onion finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped cherry tomatoes quartered
1/4 cup chopped coriander
2 tablespoons finely shredded mint
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
mix all of the ingredients together. We put the salsa on our hamburgers (just Bill and I) and everyone else tried with Doritos chips.
Hamburger Recipe
1 lb of ground sirloin
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped mint
1 tablespoon paprika
4 slices reduced fat Swiss cheese
Combine the beef, breadcrumbs, mint and paprika in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until well combined. shape into four patties (I made 5 just fine). Cover with plastic wrap and put in fridge for 30 minutes to rest. Grill until cooked to liking. Put a slice of cheese on each patty just before removing from grill.

Nutrition per hamburger: 566 calories, 52 grams carbohydrates (5 grams fiber), 44 grams protein, 20 grams of fat. Exchanges 4 protein, 3 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 dairy

Quick Safeway Trip

Bzzzzzzz! I went over as well this week. I ran to Safeway tonight to get the last few things I wanted from their Sat/Sun sale and spent 21.88 making my grand total just over $55 still pretty good though. Here is what I purchased.

2 Gallons of Milk just because 4.78

2 Pumpkins on bogo sale 4.99

2 Wheat Thins 1.94

2 Triscuits 1.94 (on sale 1.47 ea and had $1/2 coupon for both crackers)

2 Lunchables with water 2.19 for both (on bogo sale 4.19 plus 2-$1 coupons)

4 boxes of golden grain pasta 2.06 (on sale .79ea plus 2-55cents off 2 coupons)

2 Orowheat whole grain english muffins 3.98 (My coupon wouldn't go through on this one so I should have only bought 1 at 1.99 but I didn't) These came with $1 off coupon when you buy Safeway eggs or butter so at least I got that much out of this deal.

I'm going to bake and puree the pumpkins for pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, pumpkin smoothies and whatever else pumpkin I might want to have this fall.