So I haven't done a major stock up trip like this in a while, and certainly not posted about it. Of course, I shop for my family of 6 (if you count my dog) 2 times a month and I buy most things enough to last. I have been, (with the rising cost of food plus us trying to eat much less processed stuff and healthier foods it costs more) paying around $175-$200 on average for two weeks. That typically includes baby stuff, replenishing stock up items and fresh fruits veggies, bread, etc. Everything pretty much that I'm going to need accept TP and diapers, which I buy on amazon now. But since Jonah is getting older, we are starting to introduce the potty, and so I will occasionally buy pullups ever so often and see if he is ready again. If not, when they run out, I go back to buying diapers on amazon. Also, sometimes I buy paper towels on amazon, sometimes at the drug store, it just depends. Today I bought them at CVS. Before I go into the details of my haul today, I want you to be thinking in your head, how much you would estimate all this food and stuff to cost. Got a number in your head? I'll give you a hint, I paid WAY less, of course-using coupons, stocking up on super low sale prices, and using rewards bucks. So here's a rough breakdown. I went to 3 stores: CVS, Kroger, and Aldi. I used lots of coupons, mostly at Kroger since they double.
At CVS: In the ad, they have a deal on P&G products. So the paper towels are sparkle, but they should have been bounty, I'll get to that in a minute.
They had a deal where if you buy $30 of select P&G products, you get $10 back! I had $10 from last week that I hadn't used, so I knew I could expect to pay about $20 before coupons, and get $10 back.
Here's what I bought: (and No, I did not shelf clear, there were probably 40 bottles of soap on the shelf and she said there was more in the back. :) )
14 bottles of Dawn Dish soap $.99
6 boxes 100 ct. Puffs tissues
2- 6 pack Bounty paper towels -- *My store did not even get any Bounty IN stock in the first place, so she substituted Sparkle for me instead. But most stores will probably have a display of it since it's on the back of the ad advertised.
Then I used 2 $.50/1 dawn hand renewal and 2 $.25/1 any dawn, and I used 2 $.25/3 puffs singles. Not much but it took $2 off, Then I used my $10 previous Extra bucks and after tax I paid $20, and got $10 back. So I got all that for $10!!!!
At Kroger:
They have a HUGE mega sale going on right now with LOTS of freebies and very cheap things. Definitely worth a couple trips. (Since you can only use 2 like printable coupons in one transaction/per visit.)
The deal with the mega sale this time around is you have to buy in groups of 5 mega items, you may mix and match. So you can buy any 5 mega items, and then at the end of your total, it will take off $5 for each group of 5 items (basically a discount of $1 each, but you have to buy in 5's!!)
So here's what I bought.
I do not have the links to the coupons I used but if you want to know, send me a FB message or leave a comment and I will let ya know.
Prices listed are assuming you buy 5 to get the deal, so I already take the $1 off per item.
Mega:
2 Minute Rice (select varieties, I bought 2 brown boil in bag) $1.99 ea
2 Pampers Baby wipes, 72 count $1.99 ea
2 Cascadian Farms Organic Cereal, $2.29 ea
2 General Mills Cereal large box, $2.99 ea
2 pkgs Pullups, $9.49 ea
1 International Delight 1 qt $2.99 ea
1 Pedigree select dog food, $10.99 ea
1 Kraft cheese $2.99
2 Crest toothpaste $2.69
---------------->3 sets of 5 will take off 3 $5 discounts at the end!!!
Other great prices:
6oz Blueberries $1.50 (blackberries are this price too FYI)
16 oz Strawberries $1.50
2 gallons Skim milk, Kroger brand $3.19 ea
1 Kroger Sugar $2.39 ea
Always feminine pads, select varieties $5.69 each (advertised printing a $3 back coupon wyb 2, $1.50 savings each)
Coupons I used:
1 International delight $.55/1
2 $.50/1 Pampers wipes coupon from coupons.com, both double to $1 off
2 $.50/1 Minute Rice printable coupon from Minute rice website, both double to $1 off
$1/1 Pullups Kroger E coupon
$2/1 Printable pullups coupon
$1/1 Crest E coupon
$1/1 Crest from PG insert
2 $.50/1 Cascadian Farms coupon, doubles to $1
2 $1/1 Always coupons from PG insert
$5/$50 Kroger card purchased from boy scouts.** If you want one of these let me know. I have several friends whose kids are in scouts, and there are 2 of those Kroger cards as well as other discounts on them. They are wonderful!!
Total after coupons: $65.13
Total Savings: $52.48!!! (46%)
Along with my receipt also came a $3 off (as mentioned above) for purchasing 2 Always. These are called Catalina coupons because you get them AFTER you buy the item.
I also got a $1.50 off 3 and a $2/5 General Mills coupons. These are great to pair with the sale this week as the boxes on sale for $1.99 are the extra large 1lb boxes!
At Aldi, I also did awesome!
They do not accept coupons because they don't carry many name brands, and when they do, coupons are not accepted for those either. But the prices on the regular items that I buy week to week are typically 25-50% less than at kroger, even Kroger's name brand.
Here's what I bought at Aldi.
1 bag pretzels
1 bag baked bbq chips
1 box graham crackers
1 pkg oreo type cookies
2 cases bottles water (these are $2.29 for a 24 pack, every day price! Can't be beat!!)
6 bags frozen steamer broccoli
1 bag frozen peaches
1 bag frozen peaches, strawberries and mangos
2 Fit and Active brand pizza pockets
1 lb lean Ham lunch meat
2 loaves whole wheat bread (think Nature's own brand) $1.29 every day price!!
2- 6 pk English muffins, $.99
1 bag onions
1 package hot dogs, ( I know, I know...horrible for me, lol)
1 pkg hot dog buns,
1 pkg hamburger buns
1 package 3 large tomatoes $1.99
2 packages green bell peppers $1.49 each
4 cups Fit and active fat free yogurt $.39 each
1 bag Spinach mix $.99 (on sale this week GREAT PRICE)
1 head living lettuce, Bibb $1.99 (this is comparable to Kroger price, not really cheaper)
1 bag baby carrots, $.99 every day price
2 pkgs 1 lb each, fresh 93% lean ground beef $3.99/lb (MUCH cheaper than kroger)
1 100 ct sandwich baggies, sealable $2? (lost the aldi reciept sorry, that's why I don't have all the prices. But if you don't have a super deal on name brand baggies, Aldi is the place to buy them. They charge about the same as the generic kroger brand, BUT they have double the amount in the pkg.)
1 pkg paper plates
1 pkg plastic cups_________________
ALL THAT, for $63!!!!
So I got all this food and products for $143 and got $10 back at CVS, and $3 back at Kroger,
so total of $130!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope this helps encourage you to stock up and shop around. You really can save a ton when shopping for your family by making a few different trips.
