oh, the things you can do with coupons + sneak peek of goodies for stevie!

When I ventured out on my bloggy dreams,  I was a new couponer and a new baker.  The blog has opened up many avenues for creativity, but I don't forget where it all started: coupons!  Afterall, coupons have allowed me to save money to do things I wanna do and to cut my working hours in half!  YAH!  I am a serious believer.

I still get excited when I go to the grocery or CVS with coupons in hand.  For coupon nay-sayers, I just want to put out there that not all 'couponers' are like the ones on TLC's Extreme Couponing.  We don't all:

-spend 40 hours a week clipping coupons - that would sorta defeat the purpose of working part time.

- get free things just because they're free - if I don't use it, I don't buy it.  I'm lookin' at you, giant bag of maxi pads...

- save 90% each trip.  not sure where these stores are that allow you to use 342989 coupons in one transaction, but mine don't.  50% is fine with me.

- have a stock pile that has taken over our home - my house is small, so I stick with the designated pantry/kitchen areas.  My son doesn't need toilet paper stored under his crib, TYVM.

Having said that, I think it's awesome that coupons have become so mainstream.  It's a great way to live on a small budget and, perhaps my favorite part, it's a great way to stick it to the man.  Harris Teeter (my fav. store) had Super Doubles, so I took advantage and ended up with this:

Total OOP: $81.93

Total Saved: $179.55

BOOM!

The moral to the story is: use coupons.

And Stevie has been enjoying these for his birthweekend:

Cake pop recipe/tutorial coming this weekend!

Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trip #2

What You See:

6 jars Ragu Pasta Sauce

2 jars Classico Alfredo Sauce

4 boxes Special K

4 Totinos Pizza

2 Nutrigrain Antioxidant Bars

2 Palmolive Dish Soap

1 Old Spice Deodorant

2 boxes Tampax (20 ct)

2 Pillsbury Egg Scrambles

2 Cliff Bars

2 Boboli Pizza Sauce (3 pizzas per box)

1 Mrs. T Pierogies

5 Chef Boyardee

3 lbs Pork Shoulder

1 packet McCormicks Mix

2 packs Hamburger Buns

1 can Folgers Coffee

Total OOP: $59.98

Total Saved: $69.14

Total VIC Savings: $25.37

Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trip 1!



backwards, upside down visor + a spoon in each hand = ready for shopping!

 I am not spending much money this week on Super Doubles because I don't have much to spend, so I'm focusing on the best deals and stuff we really need for the pantry.

 
What You See:

4 boxes Special K cereal
2 boxes Eggo Waffles
2 boxes Good Earth Spicy Citrus Glaze
9 Activia Yogurt Smoothies
1 Excedrin w/ free 8 ct Excedrin PM
2 Old El Paso Tortilla Stuffers
2 Land 'O Lakes Butter
2 Ziplock Bags
3 Wisp 4ct
4 Bora Bora Granola Bars
1 Book for Stevie :)

Total OOP: $31.16
Total Saved: $43.24
VIC card Savings: $17.98

I went around 9 this morning and they were out of some stuff I really wanted already.  The couponers around here have taken over and the sweet cashier said that they were insanely busy at 7 am - which is when Super Doubles starts.  Happy people discovered ways to save, sad that they've hijacked my fav store!

Happy saving, friends!

FINALLY Made It to Harris Teeter!

I have been gone this week and even missed The Thursday Push!  Horrible.  I was 'training' at work for a few days,  but I was able to make a trip to Harris Teeter today and fully intend on returning tomorrow.

Here are the goods:

I managed to somehow order the wrong battery charger for my camera - not once, but twice.  SO, here I am with another crappy picture that is making me want to cry.

What You Would See If I Had a Smartphone:

4 Athenos Greek Yogurt

1 Sabra Hummus

1 4pk Breakstone Cottage Cheese

4 HT Shredded Cheese (various)

1 Pampers Wipes To Go

2 HT Hot Dog Buns

2 HT Hamburger Buns

2 Lunchables

1 Celentano Frozen Ravioli

2 Voila! Frozen Meals

2 HT Frozen Chopped Broccoli

1 HT Frozen Chopped Spinach

1 Birds Eye Frozen Mixed Veggies (Large Pack)

1 Birds Eye Frozen Cut Corn (Large Pack)

5 Pictsweet Frozen Edamame

2 Kraft Singles

1 Nature's Own Honey Wheat Bread

1 Pepperidge Farm Whole Wheat Cinnamon Swirl Bread

4 packs (1.25lb ea) Ground Beef

2 Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs

1 HT Bread Crumbs

3 HT Spaghetti Sauce

2 Classico Alfredo Sauce

2 Dreamfields Rotini Pasta

1 Mueller's Shell Pasta

1 HT Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches

3.12 lbs Bananas

1 pack Strawberries

1 pack Blueberries

1 .74 lb Grapes

Total OOP: $87.76

Total Saved: $77.16

Today was more a mix of coupons and buying store brand that I considered a good deal.  We're having a cook out tomorrow and last Summer, I would spend at least $200 on cook out grub alone.  Even when I make a trip tomorrow (after I do some planning), I will fall under that total and come away with a lot of food for future meals.

Could I ever make it on the Extreme Couponing show?  No.  But I still save lots of money for someone who limits her 'coupon time' to make room for family time.

Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trip 5!

Yes, I did it again.  Yes, I went over what I'd planned.  Yes, my budget always allows for my wiggle room because I know myself REALLY well.

Little Steven needed some juice and the only juice that had an okay deal were LOADED with sugar.  Even though I basically put about a drop of juice and seriously dillute it with water, I just couldn't go for the good deals.  So, the Motts for Tots was at full price for me this trip :(.

What You See:
4 pks Tenderized Cubed Steak (about 3/4 lb each)
1 Motts for Tots Apple Juice
3 Dannon Greek Yogurt
1 Pillsbury Frosting
1 Pillsbury Devils Food Cake
1 Destin 4oz
2 Hidden Valley Salad Kits

Total OOP: $17.69
Total Saved: $16.84

Sadly, my Pillsbury coupon expired yesterday, so I couldn't use it.  BOO HOO!  But, I have plans to make Cake Pops for Mother's Day and needed it.  I have no idea what to cook with Tenderized Cubed Steak as I have never used it, but it was really cheap, so I figured I'd buy it and come up with something fancy at a later date.

I'm done with Harris Teeter Super Doubles this go 'round because I have already exceeded my super low goal budget for May by $25 and it's just now May 1st.  LOL!  However, I am still hoping to only step foot in Harris Teeter for Milk and Bananas for the entire month...

This should be fun!

Harris Teeter Super Double Totals:
Total OOP: $125.38
Total Saved: $251.51

Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trip 4!

PS.com: I know that making the picture super big makes it look all funky on my page, but I think it helps you see more!

I was very happy to see that the Kraft Homestyle was restocked!  That was awesome!

What You See:

6 Steamfresh Frozen Veggies
2 pks Pork Chops (1.25 lbs each)
2 Wacky Mac Veggie Spirals
2 Buittoni Pasta
2 Maurchan Yakisoba
4 Hillshire Farm Sausage
2 Fuze Drinks
2 Deer Park 1L H2O
1 Secret Clinical Strength
1 De Wafflebaker's Frozen Blueberry Pancakes
3 Hidden Valley Salad Kits
3 Homestyle Kraft Mac & Cheese
1 HT Italian Dressing
2 Crab Classics Crab Meat

Total OOP: $33.29
Total Saved: $64.54

I have TOTALED at $107.69 for Super Doubles.  I have SAVED $234.67.

Because I'd planned to only spend $100 for the month of May, I will not go grocery shopping for the month of May, with the exception of Milk (for Stevie) and Bananas.  If I can get free stuff at CVS, I will, but otherwise - no moolah OOP for groceries in the month of May.  This is going to be a real test for me!  I love grocery shopping!  I may make another trip tonight or tomorrow to use my last coupon for Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese and my Hidden Valley Salad Kit coupons (they are FREE with coupon).  I will keep you all posted on what else I spend.  I am pretty happy about how stocked up I am on meat, veggies, & sides - I have 5 pks of sausage, 4 pks Ground Beef, 2 pks Cubed Steak, 2 pks Pork Chops, 4  pks Crab Meat, Frozen Fish, and lots of Chicken (from the last deals I got); I also have a crap-ton of Frozen Birds Eye Veggies and Steven has our Veggie Garden growwwwwwwin' out there!

Happy Super Doubles!  I would love to see the deals you all got!

Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trips 2 + 3!

What you see (sort of - I must have been too tired to realize how terrible this picture is!):

2 Crab Classics Lump Crab Meat (FREE WITH THIS COUPON!)
1 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
2 HT Shredded Cheese
2 pks Cubed Steak
4 Cream of Chicken
1 Smart Balance Milk (FREE if you have the $1.50/1 Coupon)
1 HT Yeast Rolls
9 Dannon Greek Yogurt
10 Light and Fit Yogurt
3 Aunt Jemima Frozen French Toast
2 Aunt Jemima Frozen Confetti Pancakes (B2G3 FREE this week - go here, watch the video and print the coupon.  Use 2 of them to get 5 boxes for only $1.70!)

Total OOP: $19.56
Total Saved: $46.55

What You See:

2 DanActive 4pk (FREE with $1/1 coupon)
4 Power Bars
2 Buitoni Refrigerated Pasta (FREE WITH THIS COUPON!)
4 pks Ground Beef (1.25 lbs each)
2 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
2 Simply Potatoes
6 Maurchan Yakisoba (FREE with $1/3 coupon)
1 Tysons Mini Chicken Sandwiches
2 McCains Frozen Potato Products

Total OOP: $22.07
Total Saved: $36.71

Harris Teeter Super Doubles - Trip 4 and My Bottom Line

Best.Week.Ever!

What you see:

3 Hidden Valley Salad Kits

1 Smart Balance Milk

2 Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1 Lysol 2-pk Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner

1.5 lbs Ground Beef

3 SteamFresh Veggies

2 McCormick Meal Inspirations

1 McCormick Parsley

1 Wafflebaker Blueberry Waffles

1 12-pk Cottonelle Toilet Paper

2 Tropicana Orange Juice

1 Jimmy Dean 4-pk Breakfast Sandwiches

1 Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowl

Total OOP: $37.79

Total Saved: $44.18

The Bottom Line:
(refer back to Trip #1, Trip #2, and Trip#3)

Grand Total OOP: $186.28

Grand Total Savings: $280.78

So, you can look at it multiple ways:

1. I got $280.78 worth of FREE groceries

b. I paid around $0.77 per item I got this week

The best part is that I still have $13.72 leftover from the amount I budgeted for the Super Doubles this go-round.  UNBELIEVEABLE!