Playing catch-up

Look very carefully.  No, you are not seeing things....it says April 2011 and today is July 31, 2011.  That picture was taken today...

To say it's been a rough summer is putting it mildly.  This was our first summer with me working from home.  It has been a struggle.  I like my job. I am thankful to have it. I love my kids. But, trying to do both jobs at the same time is HARD!

There was whole lot that didn't happen this summer but we made it, safe and sound. Somehow.  And, my two oldest are now riding bikes without training wheels.  That's one thing we accomplished.  Well, they did it, not me.  They taught themselves.  Pretty cool.  I am proud of them. 

I shopped a little when I could.  I missed a lot of great deals on things we use all the time but I also managed to pick up a few great deals here and there.  We didn't make it to the library and I didn't make it to the beach (the kids did, thankfully).  We didn't read enough books or do enough summer work but, somehow, we made it without killing each other. 

I like schedules and plans.  Summer doesn't have very many schedules and the things I planned didn't quite go the way I, well, planned. 

But, the school schedule is right around the corner.  School starts Thursday.  Open house for my sons' school is Wednesday night.  All that work we didn't quite finish is due then.  If anyone from our school is reading this, please know that I did the best I could but, clearly, next summer I will have to hire someone to help us get everything done. There is no way I can do it by myself.  That's the lesson I learned this summer!

But, since there is nothing much I can do about it now, I am going to finish the 4th load of laundry for the day and then set my sights on that calendar from above. 

My feet hurt. 

I am exhausted. 

But, I know it will get better....eventually.

Maybe I'll write it in on the calendar. 

Surely that will make it happen.

Kroger 7/18/11

Since I rarely get to shop anymore, just getting to the store is a huge accomplishment.  But, I do still love a good deal - always will!  I won't give the details on this one only because I am just way too tired but I bought:

6 Ronzoni Garden Delight pasta:  FREE after sale and coupons!!

6 Deer Park water 3L:  $.49 - These are for my hubby's, er, our emergency water stash.  He wants me to go back and get more.  While I think it seems silly now, we'll use them one day I'm sure.  He's right...sometimes ;)  No worries, he doesn't read this.

3 Propel zero waters:  My son drank one as soon as I walked in the door, so only 2 made it in the picture but they were $.49.  A great filler item if you need one or three.

3 Sunny D:  These were $.49 after the sale and coupons.

2 Pepperidge Farm garlic bread:  $1.44 after coupons. More than I usually pay but we have been out for a couple weeks so it was better than nothing.

2 Pop Secret Popcorn:  $.35 per box after coupons.  I only had one coupon or I would have picked up more of these. 

12 Classico pasta sauces:  $1.29 each after sale and coupons.  Plus- there is a catalina on these and I got $3 back after my purchase so it was like getting them for $1.04 each.  WooHoo!  Now I just need a great pasta sale so I can get some fettucini b/c all I have at home is angel hair.

White Lilly Cornmeal:  $3.45  The reason I went to the store in the first place...so full price, grrr!

2 Triaminic cough and sore throat:  These were on Closeout for $2.63 so after my $1off coupon only $1.63!!!

Northwoods syrup:  This should tell you how much my shopping is off.  I paid *almost* full price for this.  I picked this brand b/c it had a $.55 hang tag coupon on it and it was already priced lower than the others.  I paid $2.14 after the coupon.  Sad.

6 Kroger chicken broth:  This has been on my board forever and I finally remembered to actually look for it.  I had run out of my stock from Thanksgiving sales but kept forgetting to pick it up.  I was delighted to find it on sale for $.59 instead of the normal $.89 price. I will buy a few more while it is on sale to get me through to Thanksgiving.

Kroger marshmallows:  $1.00

2 Chi Chi's salsas:  $.49 after sale and coupons!!!

14 Top Flight spiral notebooks:  $.15 each!!  Some wide-ruled for the kids and some college-ruled for me.  I had bought some extras last year during back to school sales but we ran out a couple months ago.  I bought more this time and probably will pick up some more too. 

I spent $43.49  Saved:  $75.33 (64%)   Also received $3 back in catalinas for buying the Classico sauces.  That's a big deal for a Kroger trip for me. 

I use Southern Savers and I Heart Kroger to put my trips together.

Publix 6/28/11

Powerade, anyone?  HA!  Well, I so enjoyed this trip - for a few reasons. 

-I actually made it inside a Publix store.

-Great stock up price on the Powerade (It is almost football season, ya know!)

-Got to use my Gillette rain check before the coupons expired - woohoo!

-They actually had everything I wanted on the last day of the sale!!!

Alright, I am feeling "Listy" tonight so here's the rest of my trip.  Yes, I know that's not a word :)...

-Rosetto pasta, BOGO $3.99:  I bought 8 and used (4) $1.50/2 making each bag $1.25!!!

-Powerade, 32 oz., BOGO $1.25:  I bought 20 and used (4) $1/5 making each bottle only $.43!!!

-Wet Ones, 48ct, BOGO $2.59:  I bought 6 and used (3) $1/2 making each one only $.80!!!

-Gillette Body Wash, $3.00 (rain check):  I bought 6, used (3) $2/1 and (3) BOGO coupons making each bottle only $.50!!!

-Crystal Light, BOGO $2.99:  I bought 7 and used (7) $1/1 making each box only $.50!!!

-Blue Plate Mayo, $2.99:  My hubby needed this for his potato salad. Not a stock up price, lol.

-Del Monte tomato sauce, 8oz., BOGO $.65:  I bought 6, used no coupons making each one $.33!!!

-Thomas' Bagel Thins, BOGO $3.69:  I bought 4, used no coupons making each one $1.84!!!

Total Spent:  $45.36    Saved:  $91.67 (67%)

I use I Heart Publix and Southern Savers to put my shopping trips together!

Publix 5/18/11

I always laugh when I check out with orders like this one.  The people have to be wondering what in the world we actually eat, lol.  But, remember that the purpose of shopping this way is not to buy what you need only when you need it (and pay full price *gasp*) but to buy the things you use when they are at their lowest price and stock up.  That way, when you need it, you already have it and you didn't have to pay anywhere near full price.  So, now that I've rambled on about that, here is what I stocked up on today:

Chinet napkins, BOGO $2.15:  I bought 8 and used (5) $.75/1 Qs and (3) $1/1 Qs making my total for all 8 packs $1.85 ~ TOTAL!!  That's $.23/pack and with 90 napkins in each pack, each napkin costs only $.0025!!  Seriously?! 

Lipton Tea Bags, BOGO $3.99:  No coupons for these but at this price still worth stocking up!!!

Cole's bread sticks, BOGO $2.89:  I bought 2 and used (2) $.50/1 Qs (double) making each box only $.45!!!

Weber seasonings, $1.69:  I bought 2 and used (2) $1/1 Qs making each one only $.69!!!

Publix pasta sauce, $1.37:  I bought it and used my Penny Item coupon which deducted $1.36 making it only $.01!!!

Pedigree Dentastix, BOGO $3.59:  I bought 9 and used (9) $1/1 MQs and (9) $1/1 Publix store Qs making them all FREE and gave me $1.84 in overage!!!  Basically, buying these paid for the Chinet napkins above - Love it! 

Total Spent:  $14.46 (Includes $2.19 tax)  Saved:  $68.21 (83%!!!)



I use I Heart Publix and Southern Savers to put my shopping trips together!

Publix 5/12/11



I am LOVING this sale!!  I only wish I had some more coupons for the mac and cheese.  We use 2 bags at a time usually so this will go fast.  I may have to work on that...

I purchased:

Kraft Homestyle mac 'n cheese, BOGO $2.59:  I bought 12 and used (12) $1/1 coupons making each bag only $.29!!!

Yakisoba noodles, BOGO $.89:  I bought 8 and used (8) $.50/1 (doubles) making them all FREE + $4.40 Overage!!!

Hunt's ketchup, 35oz, BOGO $2.15:  I bought 6 and used (6) $.35/1 (doubles) making each bottle only $.38!!!

Sara Lee honey wheat bread, BOGO $2.85:  I bought 4 and used no coupons, making each loaf only $1.42!!!  Great price and it freezes very well for me!

Spent $9.02  Saved $54.10 (86%!!!)

I use Southern Savers and I Heart Publix to put my shopping trips together!





Publix 5/10/11

This was a crazy trip.  I like to be all organized before I even think about hitting the store.  I thought I was but I once I got inside all that changed.  I was only going to run in quickly while I was close by the store running another errand.  Well, I got in there and found some great coupons to use for the Knorr sides and got all flustered.  I used my rain check for the Tombstone pizzas, too.  I was excited about that!! 

I split my purchase into two transactions so that I could use two $5/$30 coupons.  All in all, I spent $25.09 and saved $74.77 (75%!!!).  It was a good trip - my best in a while but I won't detail each deal because the new sale is already going. 

Heading back tomorrow for the new deals, although I have a feeling I will be getting more rain checks than deals...we'll see. Happy Shopping and Saving!!!

Walgreens 5/7/11

No, no worries, I'm not going to be rolling your house!  But, I will move t.p. off of my list of things we might run out of anytime soon!  Walgreens has offered up some pretty good deals lately.  They are still famously inconsistent from store to store and even within the same store from week to week.  But, I'll take a great deal when and where I can get it.

Walgreens has these Cottonelle 12 pks priced at $5 each.  They also have a $1/1 coupon in their May coupon booklet (found in the store).  You can use that store coupon along with a manufacturer coupon for each pack.  Well, the store coupon is Limit 3 per coupon so you will have to purchase in separate transactions in order to get more than three packs.  Here's the deal:

I did the following transaction twice:

(3) 12 pks. Cottonelle:  $15.00
- $3.00 (Wags coupon)
-$1.50 (3 - $.50/1 MQ)

= $11.55 (incl. tax)

Get back $4 RR making each pack only $2.52!!!  That's $.21/roll!!!