Another good week for shopping. Just added to my stockpile! I didn’t need much at the supermarket so most of what I got was just because it was on sale and I had coupons! I definitely stayed within my $85 a week budget.
Grocery Stores:
Stop & Shop: Just stopped her to grab some half & half and cheerios………… two things we ran out of. I can’t believe I had to pay full price for Cheerios. I completely miscalculated and thought I had more. Well it’s not the end of the world. Sorry no picture for this one, I think you can picture these 2 items. lol
Total: $6.18
Total Saved: NOTHING –> Can you believe it??? lol
Total OOP: $6.18
Shaws: They had a few things on sale I wanted to pick up and I also wanted to use the A&P triple coupons again this week.
Here’s what I got:
(1) Maine Potatoes, On Sale $1.99
Used $1.00 cpn from Back To School booklet
Final Cost: $.99
(4) Perdue Chicken Nuggets, On Sale BOGO FREE $3.49
Final Cost: $1.75 each
(1) Bisquick, $2.69
Used FREE Coupon
Final Cost: FREE
Total Whole Grain, $3.79
Used $.75 cpn tripled to $2.25
Final Cost: $1.54
Quaker Choc Mini Cakes, $1.99
Used $.50 cpn tripled to $1.50
Final Cost: $.49
(2) Barilla Pasta, $1.49
Used $1.00/2 cpn
Used $1.00/2 cpn from Back To School booklet
Final Cost: $.98 for 2
(3) Hamburger Helper, On Sale $1.00
Used $1.00/3 cpn
(1) Teddy Grahams, $2.50
Used $.50 cpn tripled to $1.50
Final Cost: $1.00
(2) BC Fruit Snacks, On Sale $2.50
Used $1.00/2 cpn
(1) Honey Nut cheerios, $2.50
Used $1.00 cpn
(1) fiber One Bars, On Sale $2.50
Used $.50 cpn tripled to $1.50
Used $4.00 off 4 General Mills items
Final Cost for above 4 items = $2.50
(2) Success rice, $1.89
Used (2) $.50 cpns –>Tripled to $1.50 each
Used $1.00/2 cpn from Back To School Booklet
Final Cost: FREE after cpns
Peter Pan Peanut Butter, $2.39
Used $.50 cpn
Final Cost: $1.39
(6) Beechnut Stage 3, $1.07
Used (6) FREE cpns
Final Cost: FREE
Marcal Napkins, $2.50
Used $1.00 cpn
Final Cost: $1.50
Total Groceries: $93.54
Total Saved: $54.54
Total OOP: $39.00
Total Savings of 58%
Grand Total Groceries: $99.72
Grand Total Saved: $54.54
Grand Total OOP: $45.18
Total Savings of 54%
My weekly grocery budget is $85.00 so I am under budget by $39.82. A Great way to end the month.
Drug Stores:
I had a GREAT week! I can’t believe the deals that were to be had at all the drug stores this week. I hit all 3 and snagged a lot of product for little out of pocket.
Rite Aid: I bought some items that had SCR (Single Check Rebates) and when I do this I actually subtract the amount I expect back in SCR’s from my total out of pocket because when the check comes I just cash it, I don’t roll it into the next transaction like I would with Register Rewards (Walgreen’s) or Extra Care Bucks (CVS).
(1) Hannah Montana Lunch Box, On Clearance $1.99 regular price $7.99
(1) Huggies Pure & Natural, $11.99
Used $2.00 Rite Aid Coupon I received for watching some Rite Aid Videos.
(2) Scotchbrite Sponges, On Sale $.99 each
Used $1.00/2 cpn
(1) Reese’s 8 pack, On Sale $.88
(1) Gillette Fusion, On Sale $9.00
Used $4.00 cpn
(1) Crest with Scope, On Sale $2.69
Used $1.00 cpn
Used $5 off $25 coupon I received for signing up for the Rite Aid Weightloss Program.
Used $3.00 cpn
Total (before sales and coupons): $42.77
Total Saved: $29.08
Total Expected in Rebates: $9.69 –> New total saved $38.77
Total OOP (after rebates): $4.00 (including tax)
Plus this transaction will give me a $5.00 Rake in the Savings check so really I’m ahead $1.00!!! You can read about the Gift of Savings Program HERE –> But basically the more you spend the more you earn back.
Walgreen’s: They had a bunch of products that were giving Register Rewards this week plus they issued a $5 off $25 purchase coupon that was good Tuesday and Wednesday only. I made my list very carefully because the total has to be $25 after all other coupons. I went to my local store and they were out of a LOT of the items I wanted so I added a few things I wanted, but wasn’t planning on buying. Then I got to the register only to find out that NONE of the Register Rewards were printing so they were just deducting the total of the register reward from the price of the product. Because of this, I went below the $25 but they gave me the $5 off anyways because of the system error. So in the end I made out pretty good.
Here’s what I got:
(2) Pampers, On Sale 2/$20.00 –> Get $2.50 RR so I paid, $17.50
Used $3.00 swaddlers cpn I received in the mail
Used $2.00 cpn
(1) Robitussion to go 2 pk, On Sale $2.49 –> Get $2.49 RR so I paid, $.01 (they had to put something in, I was ok with this)
Used $1.00 cpn
(2) Walgreen’s Juice, On Sale $1.67
(2) Dixie Plates, On Sale 2/$4.00
Used $1.00/2 cpn
(2) Reese’s, On Sale $.49
Used BOGO Free cpn
(1) Walgreen’s Rubbing Alcohol, On Sale $1.00
(1) Duracell Batteries, On Sale $2.99
Used $1.00 cpn
(1) Herbal Essence Shampoo, On Sale $2.99 –> Get $2.00 RR so I paid $.99
Used $1.00 cpn
(1) Walgreen’s Sliced Cheese, On Sale $1.50
Total before Sales & Coupons: $45.41
Total Saved: $32.37
Total OOP: $13.04
My original transaction would of cost me less than $7.00 OOP but I had to change it up last minute but I still got a lot for very little.
CVS: I made 2 trips this week and used a raincheck I had for the Carefree Ultra Protection. They were on sale for $3.69 and you get $3.69 Extra Care Bucks so ultimately free, however when they ring up a rain check ECB the system rounds up so I received $4.00 ECB’s instead. Sweet!
Here’s what I got:
1st Transaction:
(1) Tide Stain Release, On Sale $4.00
Used $1.50 cpn
(4) Bounce Bar, On Sale $4.00 each
Used $2.50 cpn from Vocal Point
Used (3) $1.50 cpns from Vocal Point
(5) Dawn, On Sale $1.00
Used (2) $.50 cpns from home mailer
Used (2) $.20 cpns
(3) School Supplies on Clearance, $.09 each
(5) Permanent Makers, On Clearance $.05 each
(1) Dry Erase Pens, On Clearance $.15
(1) Pins/Clips, ON Clearance $.19
Used $9.99 in ECB’s from previous week
Used $5 off $25 purchase CVS Coupon I received in Store
Total Before Coupons and Sales: $47.19
Total Saved: $43.41
Total OOP: $3.78 (including tax)
I received $10.00 ECB’s for my next transaction.
Transaction #2
(4) Carefree Ultra Protection, Used Rain Check, On Sale $3.79
Used (4) $1.00 cpns
Used $10.00 ECB’s from previous transaction
Total before Sale and Coupons: $19.80
Total Saved: $17.60
Total OOP: $2.20 (including tax)
I received (4) $4.00 ECB’s for purchasing the carefree = $16.00 in ECB’s for next week
Grand Total Drug Store (before sales & coupons) : $155.17
Grand Total Saved: $122.46
Total Out Of Pocket: $23.02
Total Drug Store savings of: 79%
I bought $155 worth of products for only $23.02!!!! Like I said I had a good week! That being said my weekly drug store budget is $20 so I was over budget by $3.02 but had I been able to buy the products I wanted to at Walgreen’s I would of been under budget.
I’ve received several emails about how I spend so little out of pocket so I will be writing up a post on how I roll my ECB’s or RR from week to week and explain it in a little more detail. Keep your eyes out for that post.
Samantha Martin says
You did great at the drugstores!
I did not know you could get a raincheck at CVS. They run out of sale items quickly here. Do you just ask a cashier to give you one? Also, does Walgreens issue rainchecks too?
Thanks
FrugalRIMama says
Hi Samantha – there are very few times that they will not issue a rain check and when that happens it usually will state it in the ad. All you need to do is ask them for one at the register and if there are extra care bucks then they will put a number (you can find it in the ad below the item) that they will use to issue the extra care bucks when you get the item at another time.
Yes Walgreen’s does issue rain checks as well BUT I don’t know how they work it with the RR’s because I’ve never had one with an RR.
Michelle says
“I can’t believe I had to pay full price for Cheerios. I completely miscalculated and thought I had more. Well it’s not the end of the world.”
LOL!! I can’t believe you bought them! I’d have the kids or hubby eat something else! 🙂
FrugalRIMama says
I know it’s sad Michelle, but my 2 year old won’t eat anything else, they are her favorite snack, besides chocolate so I’d rather give her full price cheerios! LOL