Since I was AWOL most of last week on vacation and at the Savvyblogging Summit, my weekly tally shopping adventures are a little lagging. Because of my furlough – we will be taking a look at the last two weeks all together. As you recall, I strive to spend no more than $300 per month out of pocket for groceries/health/beauty/cleaning etc. Since I am part of the Hen House CSA and the retail value of that is $25 per week, I have $50 per week to spend on everything else. (Or $100 for these two weeks.) Let’s see how I did.
Costco
Week #1: I spent all of my money at Costco. (Gasp.) Pictured is Organic Milk, Organic Half & Half, Coffee, Dishwashing Detergent, Bottled Water and Ground Pepper. Everything but the bottled water was for home. I was worried about dehydration in Colorado – I knew I would get altitude sickness otherwise.
Total Spent: $41.04
Hy-Vee, Aldi, Price Chopper & Hen House
This Thursday I took the kiddos and we hit the stores. I know four seems like a lot – but I am blessed to be within 5 miles of all of these stores. I knew exactly what I was getting, so it took less than an hour and a half to hit all four stores (with kids in tow). I can’t stress how important a list is when you shop – it really minimizes the time you spend in the store.
Pictured: (2) Cascade Action Pacs, Blue Bunny Ice Cream Bars, (2) Crush 2-Liters, (2) Edy’s Ice Cream, (2) Nabisco Crackers, Q-Tips, Tombstone Frozen Pizza, Betty Crocker Brownie Mix, Hy-Vee Flour, Hy-Vee Hotdog Buns, (4) Baby Carrots, (4) Hy-Vee Apple Sauce, (2) Earth Grain Breads, Dole Lettuce, Blueberries, (3) Strawberries, Sara Lee Wheat Bread, (2) Aldi Potato Chips, Saltines, 3 lbs. Onions, 4 lbs. Apples and a Pineapple.
Great deals include the Edy’s Ice Cream, priced at $1.98 and I had some miscellaneous $2/2 that was expiring on 7/30 – so they were $.98 each. Also the 2-Liters were FREE with Price Chopper’s Kids Club and the Earth Grain Bread was $1.25 each after the Hy-Vee Buy One, Get One FREE coupon. Also, the $5 off at Hen House from their Clipless Event was awesome – it made my Cascade almost FREE.
This week was also an example that you don’t need a lot of manufacturer coupons to shop thrifty. Hy-Vee had a TON of great deals this week (and next) with their in-ad coupons.
Total Spent: $44.97
Target
Finally, after I dropped the kids off with their “kid-sitter” I hit up Target. Unfortunately, half of what I was looking for was either out of stock or not in the store. Grr.. (AKA – LaCroix Lemon Lime Water, Red Baron Singles, and Green Works Detergent.) Oh well, it will go back on the list with hopes of better results next week.
Pictured: (3) Crystal Light Pure Fitness Drink Mix, LaCroix Sparkling Water, (6) Stride Gum, (2) Biotrue and one cute C9 Blue Sweatshirt.
There were so many great deals: The Crystal Light was $1.97 and I used a $2/1 from Vocalpoint mailer, so they were FREE. The Stride Gum was $.33 a pack after Buy One, Get One Target and Manufacturer Coupons, and the La Croix was $1.25 after $1.25/1 coupon. But the best was the sweatshirt – it was $4.98 and after I used the $5/1 C9 Apparel Target Coupon it was FREE! Seriously, FREE clothes – gotta love that.
Total Spent: $1.57 (Because I still had a $5 Target Gift Card from the SoBe Lifewaters – otherwise $6.57.)
Final Total For Two Weeks: $87.58 (or $92.58 if you don’t include gift card.)
What about you – what awesome deals did you find this week? Are you staying within budget? Do you need a kick-in-the-pants to get back on track? Let us know.