Coupons are fun.

Passing on a trick I've learned this last month.... COUPONING!!!! I've recently gotten ADDICTED to finding food deals! Two hours of planning for the week and I spent a total of 114.00 on all of my groceries. Here are the highlights of my trip. In total I saved 73.00, which is half as much as last week! But, I didn't take pics of my finds then. ;)






I got all THIS (70.21 worth of food)

for just 27.14!

That's a savings of 61%!

I also got two "catalina" coupons for my next shopping trip totaling 16.00 off my next order, so it is like I paid just 11.14 and saved 59.07! (that's a savings of 84%!)



The breakdown!

I got 13 easy mac cups (1.00 ea)
2 packs (12 cups) of Dannon Light N Fit Yogurt (3.29 ea)
3 boxes of Carnation Instant Breakfast (6.29 ea)
2 jars of Classico Alfredo Sauce (3.59)
5 packets of chunk light tuna (1.59 ea)
1 32 oz Kraft Mayo (4.29 ea)
5 Vitamin waters (1.89)
1 Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce (2.89)

EVERYDAY TOTAL: 70.21

So, Albertson's was having this great mix and match sale - for every ten of the items in the ad you bought you got 5.00 back instantly at the register. So, I got a savings of

-15.00

INSTANTLY!

Then, some of the items were on sale already.

Tuna -.34 (1.70)
Vitamin Water -.89 (4.45)
Easy Mac Cups -.19 (2.47)
Mayo -.30 (.30)
Inst. Breakfast -2.30 (6.90)
Yogurt -1.30 (2.60)
BBQ sauce - .90 (.90)
So, the total in-store sale savings was 19.32!

Then, I wasn't done yet!

I had the following coupons:

1.00 off 2 easy mac cups
.55 off 2 easy mac cups x 5
1.00 off 5 packs of tuna
1.00 off 2 packs of dannon yogurt
1.00 off 5 vitamin waters
and 2 1.00 doubler coupons

TOTALING: 8.75 in coupons!




Sooooooooo..... my grand total in SAVINGS was 43.07! Niiiiice! :)



MEAL PLANNING

And, if you're wondering how I prepare these foods for the boys and myself.... I supplement their milk EVERY day with 1/3 of a packet of instant breakfast. It isn't too sweet and it gives them a few extra calories and vitamins. They feel like they're getting a treat, and I know it's good nutrition!

I use the tuna in pasta dishes, to make tuna cakes or just for good 'ol fashioned tuna sandwiches. A great source of low fat protein!

With the easy mac, I prepare two cups for the three kiddos, and add some kind of meat to the mix as well as steamed mixed veggies. They devour it!

I make chicken or turkey tettrazini with the alfredo sauce, and puree a bit of broccoli and cauliflower to add to the sauce for the veggie factor.

I have the vitamin waters as a "treat" when I work out, and I have a cup of yogurt with cereal as "granola" every morning for breakfast. :-)

I also use 4 chicken breasts with one bottle of bbq sauce in the crock pot for 4 hours on high to make pulled bbq chicken. It's phenomenal! You can even add snipped apricots and apricot preserve to make a sweeter version. :) Lasts a couple of days and I get some amazing meals out of it!


So, for all you single mamas out there - I issue you a challenge. Re-evaluate your couponing "skillz" and maybe you could save a bundle on your next grocery run! Watch for things you use all the time to go on sale (or use a site like frugalchicliving.blogspot.com to do the work for you!) and watch those savings ADD UP!


Good luck!
~Erin