Hmmm...this might work at Walmart

Money Saving Mom found this coupon for $2.00 off of $5.00 Produce Purchase from the Giant Food Stores.

Giant Food Stores are popular super markets based in Pennsylvania, I did a bit of research to see if they had a parent corporation that possibly owned any of our local stores. Unfortunately, they are primarily east coast/mid west based and do not have any stores or affiliates on the west coast. But, I did see that Walmart is their primary competitor so here is what I am thinking.

Walmart accepts competitor coupons and will price match. I am not aware of any "local" restrictions to this policy, so in theory, Super Walmarts around the country should accept this coupon, right?

Doesn't hurt to print it out anyway... :)~

Thanks Money Saving Mom :)

Favs of the week 1/6 - 1/12

My coupon binder is in a horrible state right now :( I have been lazy, not clipping my coupons or removing the expired ones. Bad Leah! Bad bad Leah!

I just kind of glanced at the sale papers this week - due to the condition of my binder and also trying not to shop as part of our commitment to the Eat from the Pantry Challenge. So far, we are on track and doing well, we spent $15.15 so far this week on our fresh items. Some of those will get us through next week as well, like the 10 lbs. of potatoes and 5 dozen eggs I picked up at Winco on Saturday.

Anyway, here are some things that did catch my eye. If you see something I missed (and I'm sure, that is probably everything this week) or find something hot then please leave a comment and share with us :)

Albertsons -

Not even going to try! There are so many clever posts on what to do with this weeks doublers like here and here.

Thanks Fabulessly Frugal and Frugal Chic Living

Rosauers - 13 hour produce sale on 1/7

Onions, 5 lb. bag, $1.47 (.29 cents/lb)

Fresh Express 24 oz. Garden Salad, .97 cents each

Litehouse Dressing, $2.00 each
- $1.00 MFR (12/13 SS, exp. 3/31/10)
= $1.00 each

All Week
Wonderful Pistachios, 16 oz., $4.99 each
- $1.00 MFR (11/15 SS, exp. 5/31/10 or tearpads exp. 3/31/10)
= $3.99 each - not bad for a pound!

Angel Soft Bath Tissue, 9 ct. 24 ct. $5.00
- $1.00 Printable
=$4.99

Safeway -

Frugal Chic Living has the scoop!

Yokes - Fresh Friday, Breakfast and Beyond

Chiquita Bananas, .27 cents/lb.

Yokes Eggs, .78 cents/dozen

Various General Mills, Nature Path, Kellogg's and Quaker Cereals, $1.78
- $1.00 Cocoa Puffs, Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Lucky Charms Printable or
FF
= .78 cents/box (or free if you have a couple extra doublers)
or $1.00/2 Cheerios Printable
= $1.28/box or .28 cents per box w/doubler

Luna Bars, .88 cents each
B2G1 Free Printable
= 3 for $1.76

All Week

Broccoli or Cauliflower, .78 cents/lb.

Smucker's Grape Jelly, 32 oz., .99 cents each
Look for $1.00/2 hangtags
= .98 cents for 2

Make sure to clip the in-ad Manufacturers coupon for $3.00 off Milk when you buy 5 Quaker Products, exp. 3/31/10. Combine that with the Fresh Friday deals, other Quaker sale items and a few doublers and get some super cheap Quaker stuff and free milk :)

Menu Plan Monday: Week 1 of the Eat from your Pantry Challenge!

Happy 2010!!

Many thanks to the Orgjunkie for hosting the MPM event. This week is also the first week that we are participating in the January 2010 Eat from the Pantry Challenge hosted by Money Saving Mom as well.

I don't know if it is because it is a new year or because we have been having some un-usually warm weather around here. It has been over 40 degrees on some days, which is considerably different then last year at this time when we had over 5 feet of snow on the ground! But, if feels like spring time and I feel like getting stuff organized. I know I am not the only one, I have been talking to friends and neighbors that are saying the same thing. It's weird....so in addition to planning this week's menu, I have also scheduled out some chores and projects that I want to get done as well.

This week's Organization goal: Sort out Christmas decorations and wrappings, put away.

Additional Goal: Cook 2 meals in the crock pot this week.

Breakfasts this week will be cereal, eggs, toast, bacon/sausage.

Lunches this week will be extra leftovers, soups and sandwiches. Colby has lunch at preschool Monday - Thursday.

Snacks and treats this week are this weird Raisin Cream Pie that Mom made for Dad to keep him out of the Franz bread outlet, and Rice crispy treats for Colby. We also have alot of cheese, sausage and crackers left over from the holidays to finish.

Sunday Recap from last week:
Crockpot Rotisserie roasted Chicken
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes, Gravy
Update: It was delicious!

Monday - Vacuum and dust
Baked Spaghetti with meatballs (they are left over from the New Year's Eve Appetizer night)
Green Salad
Garlic Muffins (new recipe found surfing the MPM event from last week!)

Tuesday - Clean the oven
Chicken Stew (made from Sunday's leftovers)

Wednesday - Polish appliances, mop
Leftovers

Thursday - Grocery shopping
Pork Sirloin Chops (in the crockpot)
Baked Potatoes
Green Salad or Green Beans

Friday - Household laundry
Beef Noodle Bake (Pantry dish, will try to post a recipe when I come up with one)
Baked Squash

Saturday - Wash work and school clothes
Leftovers

Sunday - Clean out fridge, get garbage out
Hamburger Helper
Corn
Garlic toast

Go check out I am an organizing Junkie for recipes, menu plans and dinner ideas from around the world. I like looking at the ones from the U.K. - Some of the ingredient combinations are....interesting.

Happy Birthday to my Favorite Girl!

Happy Birthday Ginger!

20 years ago today my baby girl was born:)

I'm thinking....19 hours of back labor was worth it, right Dan?

With Love,

Mom :)

Some numbers from the past year

Well...

Half of a year anyway. I didn't start keeping track of our grocery store spending and savings until May 2009 and lost track in November and December due to an ongoing health issue and 2 sugeries to resolve it during October and November.

I was not in any condition to do the most of the shopping or keep track of the spending for November and December so I only have numbers for May through October. I am sure I will do better this year :)This month, while we participate in the Eat from your pantry challenge, I am going to try out this neat Savings Tracker created by The Coupon Project.

Here are the numbers:

Total money spent for groceries from 5/1/09 through 10/31/09 = $1555.94

Total money saved from 5/1/09 through 10/31/09 = $2176.75

Of that, the total amount saved by shopping the weekly sales = $1545.36 and total amount saved by using coupons with those sales = $631.69

On average, I saved more then I spent during the months I kept track. I feel pretty good about that! I don't think that it really was much different in the months that I did not keep track because of the shopping habits that I have developed over many years anyway, I just can't prove it.

So, did you keep track of your spending vs. savings this year ? Please share how you did with us :)

Yokes Fresh Board, 1/1/10 - 1/7/10

Boring.....
I think the best deal on the board this week is the True Cod Fillets at $3.49/lb.
or
the Bottom Round Flat Roast at $2.49/lb. It's a nice crock pot cut.
Yokes has Coke products, 24 ct. on sale for $3.99 through 1/5/10.