Here was this week’s shopping trip.
Sprout’s $8.82
3 Mango $.49 each
Organic Grapes $3.86
Pita Bread $1.50
Organic Tomatoes $1.99
I probably would have skipped this stop but Sprouts overcharged me last week and I wanted to get that all sorted out.
Target $16.00
Stubbs BBQ Sauce $2.38- used $1 coupon= $1.38
Panko Crumbs $1.89-used $1 coupon= $.89
3 Crackerfuls at $2.40- used (2) $1 coupons, $.75 coupon and 3 $1 Target coupons= $1.45
Newtons $3.00- these were supposed to be free but they rang up full price and I had to deal with customer service. = Free
Hefty One Zip bags $1.97- used $.15 peelie coupon and used $1 Target coupon= $.82
2 Nexcare Bandaids $1.68 with a raincheck- used 2 $1 Target coupons and (2) $.55 manufacturer coupons= $.13 each
Happy Baby puffs $2.99- used Free coupon from Recyclebank= Free
Suave Shampoo $.84- used $.75 Target coupon (no longer available)= $.09 (I use this as bubble bath for the girls)
Puff Pastry $3.69
Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns $2.54
Sandwich Thins $2.20
Organic Eggs $2.68 (not pictured)
Safeway $26.38
Seattle’s best Latte $1.79- used free item coupon =free
8 Goldfish- Free
2 Townhouse Crackers $1.99- used $1/2 coupon= $1.49 each
Kikkoman Teriyaki Sauce $2.59- used $1 coupon= $1.59
O Organics Broth $2- used $1 O organics coupon= $1
Lucerne Cheese $2.00- used $1.50 Safeway coupon from home mailer= $.50
Half and Half $1.39
7 Lucerne Yogurt $2.34
Sourdough Bread $2
Columbo Rolls $1.29*
2 Johnsonville Sausage $2.99- used (2) $1 coupons= $1.99
2 Cucumbers $.50 each
1 Red Onion $1.08
Organic Pluots $1.77
Baby Mushrooms $2.00- used $1/5 produce coupon
Fresh Express Salad $.49 with home mailer coupon from Safeway
Calamata Olives $2.25
Prostate Cancer Donation $1
I have no idea what happened with the Goldfish. My price should have been $6.60 for 8 bags with the Just for U pricing. I had $3 in coupons (4 coupons for .75 off the front of the bags) that would have made it $3.60 for 8 bags. Instead it worked out to be negative .62 for 8 bags. ย I am going to go back tomorrow for a few more bags and see if I can figure out what happened.
*The Columbo rolls are supposed to be $1.99 with in ad coupon but that came up at $1.29 for me and another reader confirmed the same price for her trip so maybe you get lucky too!
Grand total was $51.20 which is almost perfect. ย This week we didn’t need a whole lot of things since the freezer and fridge are nice and full right now. ย The organic produce and dairy is at least 2x what I would pay for non-organic items but I am really pleased that I have been able to squeeze it in without really increasing my budget.
Tiffany M. says
The goldfish were buy 2 get 2 free this weekend, that is probably why you came up with the negative number.
Rachel R. says
Nicely done! The Goldfish were a nice bonus for sure. For some reason the Johnsonville sausage wasn’t on sale at my Safeway. I had 4 coupons all ready to go today but no sale. Sometimes, I’ve noticed the sale will hit the following week here so I can hope. ๐
Tiffany T says
Not sure if this is what happened with your Target B3G1 FREE things, but I have noticed (and was told by a cashier) that the items you have to buy need to be scanned first and the freebie item last. Otherwise, you will get charged full price for your free item. Some sort of glitch in the Target computer system.
Charlene says
Maybe Tiffany. That is good to know.
Charlene says
Tiffany it should have been $1.65 x 2 = $3.30 + 2 bags free= $3.30. I should have paid for something ๐ I had (2) .75 coupons for the 2 bags that weren’t free so would have been $1.80 for 4.
Endcapps says
Goldfish at Sfwy–I experienced a similar phenomenon & my receipt is uninterpretable (why do they make it hard?). My personalized price is $1.65 like yours. When the register subtracts for the two free, it is taking off the regular price of $2.69 x 2. I have been pondering this receipt for an hour trying to figure it out.
Charlene says
Well I am going back tomorrow to try again and see. My kid’s school is always asking for little things for parties and such and I’d rather take these than candy.
Endcapps says
I feel sorry for the produce in your Sprouts photo, they seem lonely !
Tina F. says
Wow Charlene , great job. Im recently on the path to a healtier lifestyle, and it’s definately challenging when you have 3 boys that love to snack. I always thought buying healthier meant spending more money ,but after reading your blog and seeing all your wonderful shopping trips I know it can be done. Now if I can just stick to it. ๐ Thanks for the inspiration.
Lisa G. says
I have the same personalized price on the Goldfish. On my receipt, 2 rang up at -$2.08, and the other 2 rang up at $4.34. So I got 4 for $2.26. And I didn’t have any peelie coupons. I, too, can’t figure the receipt out.
Charlene says
You know Tina. What I am finding is that when you don’t have the junk you don’t eat the junk ๐ I am the WORST because I never make time for my own meals. I will sort out fresh berries and granola and greek yogurt for my girls and race upstairs for a shower while they eat, then 2 hours later I am starved and I grab 2 Oreos for my lunch ๐ I am trying hard to buy less and less of it (save the crackers this week) and just tonight I got home starved from shopping and ate a bowl of watermelon because that was all chopped up and convenient to grab.
I also find when I shop at better stores I make better choices. If I got to Walmart I always come home with junk food but when I shop at Sprouts I tend to buy a lot more produce.
Tina F. says
Good tip on shopping at better stores, I too end up getting more junk food at Walmart and tend to spend more there too. I know by having better food in the house will also help but kicking old habits is hard. Thanks again.
sel says
man i tried to get the some of the same deal, but my vons is so difficult w printed coupons. they claimed the salad had to be the “blend” variety as it stated ‘fresh express blends.’ though i let them know it meant any salad blend variety… they didnt allow it. i tried to get gold fishbut they claimed couldnt use a coupon on a safeway bogo deal. also wouldnt do the anthonys pasta. well good job, but u should have gotten the kikkoman at target or walmart for 1.42, just slightly less.
Karen says
Not to beat a dead horse here, but…your Goldfish deal sounds just like what happened with the strawberries a while back. BOG2, a lot of people getting 3 for $.99. The disount that made my personalized price was coming off of the free items as well as the one I bought. Maybe the Goldfish too.
I think i’ll be on the look out for more of these types of deals, maybe a trend here.
Charlene says
Sel- I bought the Kikkoman at the store most convenient to me which makes it a better deal in my mind regardless of the price ๐
mythi swami says
Were to find Seattleโs best Latte $1.79- used free item coupon =free
—–which isle or place @ safeway/target.I shop mostly at these two places…tried to find but could spot only the 4 packs.
Charlene says
Your store might not have them. Mine has them next to the 4pks. You might check the cooler as well.
justine says
I also have the personalized price of $1.65 for the Goldfish I purchased eight of them and used four .75/1 coupons. My total came to $1.52 for all eight bags. I did the transaction again and the same thing happened. I didn’t purchase anything else. I seems to be doing different things for different people.
Jesse says
Charlene, I was wondering where you got the coupon to use on organic food? Was it at Safeway or somewhere else? Have any readers found these in store too? Thanks in advance.
Charlene says
Jesse, here is the post:
http://myfrugaladventures.com/2011/06/new-safeway-coupon-booklet-4/
So far I got the fresh herbs for .79 after coupon and the broth. You can get yogurt free, croutons for cheap, iced tea free… there is a TON of stuff once you start looking around. Beans are .25 after coupon this week.
It was in a basket in the pharmacy sit down area for me. Tucked behind a bunch of junky flyers. They must have had a million. You might show that pic to the pharmacy staff and see if they have any clue ๐
cathy says
i went to safeway today in san jose, CA and bought 4 goldfish. there were no coupon on the bags (why did yours have coupons? i looked at ALL of the displays). i paid $3.88 total. not bad. this is a treat for my family.
Charlene says
Cathy the coupons were only on the chocolate and vanilla cupcake ones for me ๐ I would much rather have the whole grain but someone could have come through and stolen all your coupons ๐
Adrianna says
I also got paid for my goldfish (I purchased 12 bags and got paid $.84 to do so!!) the safeway computer is still *glitchy* with the JUST4U prices. FINALLY, a glitch in our favor?!
just like you, charlene, i plan to give them away (to sunday school classes and to my mom for my boys to snack on at her house!) i am tired of *fighting* with safeway to get my “easy to use” electronic coupons to actually work, so it was nice to finally have a transaction work in my favor!
sheila says
Re the goldfish: I think it’s taking the full price off for the free one, e.g. $1.69 * 2 (if you have the JFU price) is charged, but the free item is subtracting $2.69 or whatever.
Happened to me too.