HEB 3/14/2010

I have been sick as well as the rest of the family. Plus researching homeschool options.

my last trips were to HEB

HEB 3/14/2010 $62.18

$3,468.74

I need to add this passed week's since I haven't been shopping for awhile. Our totals. This passed weekend had a full cart, see what happens when mom gets kicked in the head with a serious sinus/cold/bronchitis.

Thanks Texas Weather......

HEB 3/20/2010 $178.63
$3,290.11

Sick as a dog, no grocery shopping

Hard to believe I have not grocery shopped since the 24th.  Man, I was hit hard by the flu and sinus infection.

Hubby has piece mealed, with picking up bread and milk but I need to find his reciepts to update this tally.

Going to bed.......................................

With a pillow under head

Change of Plans

 But, we will still coupon, rebate, and survey.

However, now I am focusing on building a year / two stockpile of basic neccesities.  My husband wants to move over to a contractor (same job/same pay/less hours/less drive 2 hrs a day/less over time) closer to home.  We are still paying off the mortgage as quick as possible. I am thoroughly supporting his decision because we have both been through BRAC studies before --- I was actually a manpower technician for the Air Force.  He knows the signs of a base closing or going commerical contract.

So from here on in:  I will have a budget for stockpiling added to our grocery bill.

More to come

For those that use Prevacid, there was a rebate this weekend in Parade Magazine, also there was a $4 off coupon.  A careful shopper would buy using a coupon and then send in the reciept to get said OTC for almost free.   Just a thought

Week 8 Walmart

This week, I did not want to spend my time with couponing, sales figuring, and shopping because my husband has a rare weekend off.

AND IT 'IS' Supposed to be beautiful.  (thinking fishing here with the boys)

So, I went to WalMart to shop.  Needless to say Zephyr was in love with the idea of shopping and had his allowance. Yes, I make my 5 year old work for toys. ROFL

But, since during ring out he was wanting to play with said toy and eat.  I did not watch my cashier check us as closely as I normally do --- I got the total and wrote the check but felt something was wrong.

Got home and checked my tape. YUP  I had a $16.24 over charge.  I found it right away.  My ALL detergent was supposed to ring up @ $5.97 less coupons but rang up instead @ $8.97 that is a $16+ mistake.  Then I called the manager immediately.  Miss Dehlia knew exactly what I was talking about seems they are restocking and pricing that aisle. 

Bless her heart, she said bring in your reciept with those items circled, we will refund you and as a gift a $10 gift card will be there when you make it back into town.  Thanks for being a loyal customer. WHOOOP WHOOOP

Our grocey bill with this mistake this week was: $112.96

(NO, ZEPHYR'S TOY was not included in our grocery bill.  He has an allowance remember?)

STORE SAVINGS $7.96
Coupons $42.90
Cash Register Tape Total $112.96 (with mistake)
Adjusted price/gift card $86.72


Total left for the year $3,530.92



AGAIN thank you Ms. Delihia, YOU ROCK and Wal-Mart scores an excellent ten chicken pecks for customer service.
 
(INCASE, I go over I have not added my gift cards, surveys, rebates, and other earning into my annual bill.  Total so far, is $343.91 not counting coupons and sale savings.)

Weeks 6 and 7

I have been busy with our new goat kids.  I will just list our costs for shopping the last ten days.

I am trying to spreadout our shooping trips from 7 days to 10 or 14. 

Store                  Amt        Total for year   Savings that week

HEB 2/13/2010 $69.29       $3,705.46      $14.54 (coupons or store)



HEB 2/17/2010 $87.83       $3,617.63       $34.65

Hopefully my next trip will not be until this weekend since, we still have milk and bread.  Anybody want to do my farm chores?

LOL

Week 5 HEB

While HEB does not double or triple low value coupons. 

They print out what they call INSTORE coupons which are actually manufacturer's coupons. THUS this store chain does not allow stacking.

Sometimes, this chain does have Combo Locos or Meal Deals which are very good.  For instance one time:

If you bought a Stouffers Family Size Lasagne (57 or 96 ounce) then you would get

1 bag of Fresh express salad
1 french fresh baked baquette
1 2 liter of soda
1 1/2 gallon of ice cream

So for $5.96 I got $8+ in free items.  Which I buy multiples and freeze what I can.

(That was just an example and sometimes their instore deals are not a good deal)

BUYER BEWARE

Below is our groceries from earlier this passed week.  Its been a busy time here with sick boys, dealing with forms for our Flexible Spending Acct and life. LOL

But, we are still on track..............

Proctor & Gamble buy $50 get $100 coupon booklet

Since, it is time to stock pile my hair care and beauty products.  I thought I would share the rebate form.  This should also be in the Sunday paper on the 21st of Febuary.

In case you can not read this;

go here

http://www.thankyoumom.com/pdf/pg_couponbookform_general.pdf

Basically, I just needed to know the dates of when to shop.  So yeah, also have you ever heard of ALICE.com?  Its a good place to shop when you want big items delivered to your home.

Before I found the marcal coupons, I would buy paper towel and toilet paper from their website.

Rebates/Survey Tally for 2010

Here is what I have earned back so far this year.  It take 6 to 8 weeks for rebates to comeback so I have a tally sheet now to keep track of my meager earnings.

Hubby likes freebies too, thankfully he supports my couponing.  He found out how blessed we were to have a stock pile built up.  It happened over the holidays last year.  His older children live in San Antonio with their BIO MOM and share an apartment and bills.  When two of the three were out of work; we packed up a trunk load of food from our pantry and deep freezer plus a ton of personal hygiene items to see them through the holidays.

Stock piling is necessary in this economy. One never knows when work will be unavailable.  With careful planning for shopping and meals, I have reduced our spending greatly while still attaining quality items for home.  I like to think of myself as an 'ant' preparing for a long hard winter. LOL

Rebates deposited


$10  (2 from SC Johnson $5)
$20 from Kraft for back to school,
$10 Kellogg's Jingle in your pocket,
$10 Holiday Cash
$10 Amazon gift card for snack survey (zephyr)
$ 2.50 Rebate from Sure
$ 3.24 Rebate Wal-Mart over payment
$ 5 SC Johnson rebate
$20 Nabisco BTS 2009 Rebate buy 20 products get $20
$12.56 Oil Of Olay
$4.00 Ronzoni and Up
Total so far: $107.30

PENDING:
$50      Snack survey
$27.37 INBOX dollars
$10      Jingle in Your Pocket
$  7      DOLE
$50      INBOX dollars
$20      My Points Gift Card
$50      UPROMISE
TOTAL: $214.27

Marcal Tissue or Paper Towels

I found a seller on eBay that had Marcal Toilet paper coupons from Sunday Smartsource on the 31st of January inserts.


So I purchased 40 yes That many coupons because not only did I get $2.00 coupons but the companion coupon get $1.00 off a single roll of TP or Paper Towel coupon.  Now, I was lucky to get all 80 coupons for less than $6.00 with shipping so here is how I will parlay the cost of coupons into toilet paper and paper towels for our stockpile.


The 40 free or 1.00 off coupons will purchase 40 single rolls of paper towels. 


Here is the cost savings, $34.00 just for paper towels no out of pocket (OOP)


For TP normal cost is $3.57 for a 4 pack (triple rolls) less $2 (40) coupon
equals = $154.59 (tax remember) less (40 $2 mqs and tax) = $64.60

OOP is $64.60 + coupon cost  for 160 triple rolls of TP and 40 paper towel rolls

Now you can see this savings on toilet paper to be = $89.99 or triple that amount since the packs are over 400 sq feet vice regular packs being just over 75 sq feet.

But for sakes of argument lets keep it simple...

Savings below:
$34.00
$89.99
Total $123.99 less price of coupons or $117.99 into mortgage account.

MY eBay Find is seller: 
http://myworld.ebay.com/scootinbye247/

SO, now my family is set for toilet paper for at least a year.  Don't know about paper towels since my hubby is a towel hog.

Off to find my next savings on hair care.  Proctor & Gamble will be running a special after their insert is printed in the 21st of Feb newspapers.  So be watching for rebates. 

Next, I will list my year to date list of rebates I have gotten back so far this year.

HUGS All you savers..............

Week 4 Walmart

We stocked up on Digorno this week since there was a sale and I had coupons.  Plus filling up the space in our deep freezer reduces the amount of energy it uses to keep our foods frozen.

Total spent $68.69
Left for the year $3836.47

Next post I will tell you about my stockpiling of TP and Paper Towels.

Week 3, from 1/24/2010

Shopping List
Sliced bread               1.00
Bake shop bread       1.39
Cucumbers                 1.00
4lb oranges                 3.87
3 Cantaloupe                3.00
2 5lb grapefruit             2.94
1 G milk                         2.39
1 can diced tomato          .89
2 loaves fresh bread     1.98
1 ground turkey            1.49
2 Sunday papers         3.00
6 top ramen                 1.08
Luzianne tea                3.19
3 dole fruit bowl           5.37
1 pk paper plate          1.98
3 dole mix bowl            5.37
1 dole dice pear           1.79
1 dole pineapple          1.79
4 lb sugar                     1.98
12 pk pop tarts            2.79
Sliced ham                   2.99
Sliced cheese               2.28
Creamer                      2.38
5 – 2tr diet coke          4.00
Chicken wings             6.30


TOTAL $64.47

I managed a savings here of $13.06 not bad.  I plan to do better next time.  I will get a rebate back of $7.16 for the dole bowls (actually four 4pks free) but I also got 6 $1 off four coupons inside the dowl packages. So, I will be rolling those into later savings. 

Now I am off to find Nabisco cracker coupons, trying to lower my cracker costs to qualify for a $10 cach back rebate which the shopping ends tomorrow for that one.  Cool think is, Kraft owes me a $20 for fuel for school.  I also recieved a $5 back from SC Johnson. YEAHHHHHHHHH

Total for the year $3905.16

Week 2, Did much better this time.

Total spent:

Milk 2 gallons @ 2.69 plus free 1/2 gal @2.99     $ 5.38
2 pks egg rolls @ 2.50 less 2($1 store q)             $ 3.00
3 lb grannie smiths                                            $ 3.47
2 ltr diet soda                                                   $ 1.00
hazelnut qt creamer                                          $ 2.38
2 dish sponge pk (Buy 1 get 1 free $1.47 ea)      $ 1.47
80 Store baby wipes                                          $ 1.25
2 diamond tea (menfolk with me)                       $ 1.50
2 (1 lb) fresh bread                                            $ 1.98
cilantro                                                             $ 0.38
2 (1 lb) sliced store bread                                   $ 1.98
2 pks sliced store cheese                                    $ 2.58
dental floss                                                        $ 1.20
dish soap                                                           $ 1.29
spare ribs .99 a lb                                              $10.30
                                                            TOTAL $39.16

Dole 30 day Challenge or ($10 Rebate kinda)

Buy 8 (4 packs) ---- perfect for the park or in the truck for zephyr's snack

send in rebate form with UPCs
original receipts (better if you only have one)
Dole will send you back vouchers for 4 more 4 pack.

There are .75 cent coupons off 2 gel packs, HEB price is 1.75 (2) = 3.50 - .75

or 2.75 (times 4)

For a total of $14 less 3 in MQs or $11 dollars for 48 fruit cups or .23 c for ea serving.

Your choice ladies and gentlemen, just a gentle reminder children will be out of school for spring break soon.

http://www.dolechallenge.com/public/fulfillment/rebate.pdf

Well I blew my first week's budget! LOL

But, I bought a ton of produce, found a ham for soups and such.  But if you look at what I bought, you would go. HUMMMMMMMMMMM since the items will not go bad in my pantry.

As you can see, no paper products, soda, drug, pet food, hygiene or cleaning supplies.

(6) Maxwell House 11 oz coffee regularly 3.19 on sale for 2.98 less store coupon or 1.48 ea = $8.88
(1) 6 lbs (4 meals minimum) Spiral Honey Cooked Ham $4.33 or $25.98 less store coupon = $15.98
(8 lbs) Fresh Turkey Necks on clearance $8.02 (4 meals) = $4.01
(10) Healthy Choice Frozen Meals sale (2.25 each)  3 for $5
           normally these would have cost us $22.59 without the sale
           with the sale, these came out to $1.67 each
           or $16.70 less MQ 2 $5 off 5 or $6.70 
           or these work out to .67 cents per meal 
           NOT BAD, and nice break for hubby from sandwhichs during this cold snap.

Produce:

Lemons (3lbs), Limes (2 lbs), Carrots (1lb), Avacado, Oranges (8lbs), Kale, Tomatoes,
Cabbage (2.5 lbs), Garlic, Potato (5lbs), Onions (2lbs), Kale, Mushrooms,
Organic Spring Mix = $24.98

Milk, Soy Milk,  yogurt and creamer $19.50 less store coupons  = $15.60

Snack food:
     chips (2--12 pk hubby lunch), 2 nutri grain, 2 Quaker Oats bars, 4 Kellog's bars,
     $27.61 less store coupons = $14.60

(3) Progesso Lite Soup $4.50 less MQ = 3.40

Sliced Bread, Cheese & Deli Meat $7.39 less store & MQ = $4.99

Fajita seasoning $3.63

(6) oscar thick cut bacon $12 less MQ = $9
      (we use the bacon grease in soups, rice dishes (think rice a roni), and other dishes)

(2) Capri Suns (have to have these for the park) 3.94

4 lb bag of sugar 2.46 (tea and koolaide)

Total OOP $116.65 with a coupon or store saving of $71.58 or 61%

I over shot my budget by $75 however,........................

I will not need items to fill my husband's lunch bag --- 14 hour days to my chagrin.

I will not need coffee for awhile so, in reality; I can make it all back in a few weeks.

BUDGET left: $4008.79

(expecting $65 in rebates, $50 for a snack survey, $30 from INBOX Dollars, Vindale Research $50, Panda Research $50, Mypoints is much slower but soon I will qualify for an $25 gift card.)

Naked Juice Rebate Offer

I am seriously considering buying a Juicer.  My sons adore fruit and juices.  A blender will just make uneven chucks of fruit junk --- seeds, peels and all.  We can usually get mangos and papayas here dirt cheap plus the regular standby's apples, oranges, and bananas. LOL

While Nake Juice is awesome, has coupons in store plus offers a rebate which lowers the cost by 1/3.
http://www.nakedjuice.com/assets/rebateOffer/NJ_Rebate.pdf

Unless you are willing to pay $3 a bottle. (YES, HEB price sometimes the store has peelies or blinkies)
The Rebate will help lower your OOP (out of pocket) and still give your family an excellent product. 

IF you sign up on Naked Juice's site then they will send you a dollar off printable.  My goal is to buy the boys ten of the product in store, find 8 coupons in house, then add my two from the signing up process then send in the rebate.  This should tie them over until I convince my husband that a juicer is becoming a kitchen necessity.  Going to go to Consumer Reports online to see which model they recommend.

REMEMBER:

When buying items for rebating just keep those items in a separate transaction.  That way if you buy a big screen at Wally World then you will not have to make a choice to send in your original for juice or  the television. LOL

1st Shopping Trip of the Year

WOOOOO HOOOO My food total is: $4125.54

 to start $4174.29  (less) Walmart trip cost us $65.16 - less coupons 6.41 and $10 gift card from a survey $48.75

This day was a snack food run for lunches since my men folk cleaned out the house during the holidays.

ITEMS purchased were: 

2% gallon of milk, 32 oz creamer, 4 loaves bread, 3 boxes capri sun, 3 frozen pizzas, 4 boxes snack cakes store brand, 4 boxes Quaker Oats breakfast bars, 1 box fruit roll ups, 2 Healthy Choice Steamers, 2 boxes of cereal, 2 boxes fruit snacks, 5 Velveeta cups, 1 mini 6pk chips

--- (I NEED TO GET MY FELLOWS off pre-package items --- these are a killer to budgets.  I combat this by picking items that are fiber loaded.  If they are going to eat this stuff at least I can pick the healthiest choices.  psssssssssssssssssssst don't tell them.) LOL


While this is good the total does not reflect the sales at Wal-Mart for instance.  The Quaker Oat bars are normally 2.38, the milk was reduced .30 cents, the bread was 1/2 price, the pizzas (3 Fire Baked, Digorno) were on sale from $16.98 to $12.33  so waiting to mid saved us an additional $15.67......


Now I get to add $32.08 towards our mortgage pay off.

SPECIAL NOTE TO READERS:  Shop early morning or late night to get the reduce prices on fresh meat, deli, and bakery items.  These savings really add up especially if your family does not really like standard white bread or are really into specialty loaves like foccacia.......

Tomorrow, I have to pick up a prescription for Saenz at Wal-Greens so, I will hit their reduction sales to pick up any paper, cleaning products.  Progresso soup is on special 4 cans for $5 so print out a coupon (2) from coupons.com  (buy 3 get $1.10 off).  I will pick up 8 cans for $10 less $2.20 or $7.80 not bad.  ((((WE like these soups better than standard Campbells brand.)))))  Soup is perfect eats for this time of year in my opinion and will go with the bread I picked up today.

See ya tomorrow........