I usually post my trips as I go, but I am going to try and do one post a week so you can see where my budget goes. As you know, I have a $50 weekly budget for 4 people and a very big dog. I do monthly stock ups on diapers through diapers.com through a separate budget otherwise if I can get a Jumbo pack for $4 or less I will buy it with the grocery money. Everything else from cleaning to dog food is included in my budget!
So here was this week’s trip. Remember I live in a very high cost of living area, with expensive stores and we do not have doubles- so if I can do it- you can too!
CVS: $14.24 and got $20.48 back in ECB
Eggs .99 each- used BOGO coupon (no longer available)
Chocolate Bars x2- Free after ECB
Herbal Essences 2.99- used FREE item coupon
Herbal Essences 2.99- used Buy One Get One coupon from 10/11 P&G
Schick Razor $9.99- used $2 coupon
Colgate Toothbrush $2.99- used .75 printable
St Ives Body Wash $3.99
All of these were ECB items and I used a $5/20 coupon.
WALGREENS $1.99
I finally found the Activity Book!!! It was located near the photo counter in a little clear display bin. (I have been looking for 2 years for it!)
Bought Activity Book .99
Bought 2 Toblerone $3.00- used $1/2 Wags coupon and (1) $1/1 MQ
Alice.com .14
The total was $5.14- I used my Swagbucks and bought a $5 Alice gift card- so the net after gift card was .14 and it was shipped right to my door for free!!
Farmers Market $8
I normally don’t hit this Farmer’s Market because it is a little grubby. I am on a mission to find good, cheap produce so stay tuned to the following weeks to see what I find.
WALMART $3.15
I grabbed these while Black Friday shopping and the bananas were mostly eaten for shopping sustainence! I used a $1 off coupon for the Cranberries that I found on my bottles of Ocean Spray juice.
That was basically it so about $28. I didn’t cook Thanksgiving which meant we didn’t need a lot this week. I will be doing a big stock up next week on meat thanks to the great sale at Safeway!
Kat says
If you’re ever in the East Bay, stop by the Newark Farmer’s Market! It’s at the Newpark Mall on Sunday mornings – it’s huge and they have nice variety of vendors there, including cooked food, baked goods, fish, fruits, veggies and the usual Kettle Corn guys! 🙂
Nicole@BugaboosCreations says
I am horrible horrible horrible at this! I don’t go to the grocery store with a list and if I do I don’t go by it. Also I never menu plan, I get a bunch of what’s on sale at the store and always end up short of things I need for each meal. I need to work on this as we have a tight grocery budget and never stick with it and doing so would help us so much.
I don’t know where to begin, I don’t have a stocked pantry or freezer. It’s always ok I am making this tonight got to run and get this, then you know how that goes. You run to the store to get ingredient A to make such and such and come home with more, do that 3 or 4 times a week and your budget is out the window. Actually you probably don’t know how that is as your awesome at this lol but you know what I mean.
Any tips on where I can begin so that I am eventually able to pick up a few things a week and stay under budget?
admin says
Goodness girl get it together! Kidding. I am trying to get more organized too- did you watch my menu planning vlog? I used to be super organized and lately things are falling between the cracks. I will be working on getting my act together in the coming weeks. Better to tighten the belt now than deal with it all in Jan.
Nicole@BugaboosCreations says
Yes I did watch that video, loved it! It was definitely helpful! My main thing is deciding what I am going to make each night, making a list, then sticking with it. That alone would help me so much! When my husband goes to the store he goes strictly by the list, in and out so I send him alot to do the shopping LOL! Those weeks he goes we save money, haha. However I hate sending him as he is not good with the coupons, or what to do when they don’t have something, like when Krogers does the mega events I have to go as he would come home with 9 things if they didn’t have something and miss out on the $5 bucks off, then I wouldn’t sleep for a week, haha.
It’s hard to stick with it, especially this time of year but I am really going to try and do good in December.
admin says
Oh lucky!! That is a little out of the way for my regular shopping but I will think of you on Sunday morning!
Elisabeth says
Great post! So happy to have found your blog site…my family and I will be moving to the Woodland area in a few weeks…I pride myself on being a savy shopper…but was getting quite nervous when everyones immeditate reacation to our move (from VA) is “OMG the coast of living is so high, you’ll never be able to get your deals there” Glad to here it will be doable and fun!!!