My new project

I've been looking for ways to save money on our grocery/shopping trips. I have been meaning to post about this for a couple months now. I actually have receipts saved up to share. I think it's working out well. It's like a game/challenge. I am getting better at it as I go along. It's a mix of shopping the sales ads, knowing prices, clipping coupons & a bit of stock piling when the price is right. I have also started creating a monthly menu of meals. We may not follow the menu day by day but I only shop for those meals & they get eaten at some point in time during that month. Or if we have an event to go to any extra meals go to the following month. I chose to do monthly menus because I only make a trip to the commissary (military grocery store) once a month to 6 weeks. I do my ad shopping in between. The stores we have here (in order of preference because of the best deals) are Ralphs, Stater Bros, Fresh & Easy, Albertsons & Vons. I occasionally venture to Walmart (*GASP*), could move into Target & have befriended CVS (LOVE me some ECB's!!!).

Today I went to CVS ( 2 transactions), Target twice (wasn't coupon prepared), the commissary & Fresh & Easy. I find that the only meat I can find cheaper off base is Chicken. I picked up fresh (vs. frozen bag) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (family packs) for $1.99lb, cherries for $1.99/bag (2bs) & shredded parmesan cheese (took 3 stores to find it!!) at Fresh & Easy.

Here are some of the other deals I got today.

1) CVS:
- Pampers Cruisers Jumbo pack, $12.49*
- Pampers Swaddlers Jumbo pack, $12.99*
sale/coupons: -$3.50*, - $4*, - $1 coupon x's 2 (saved $9.50)
oop pre-tax: $15.98
ECB: $5, $5

- Tide Simple Pleasures 40oz., $8.99*
- Softsoap body wash, $5.49
- Softsoap Ensemble refill, $3.99**
- Huggies wipes tub 72ct, $3.49
sale/coupons: -$4*, -0.35 q, -0.75 q, -$1 q, -$1 q, -$1 ECB, $2 CVS q, -$10 ECB (saved $19.10)
oop pre-tax: $1.86
ECB ** I should have received $4 in ECB's, but the refill wasn't registering. You had to by 2 Softsoaps (body wash or ensemble or refill ensemble) or Irish Spring body wash & you get $4ECB's back. There is an issue with the Ensemble collection. I'm printing off the add page to take back to the manager.

2) Target: I went to look for that coffee on clearance. Mine didn't have any left. I never really noticed teh clearance end caps before. It was all the stuff from when they had the bulk isle. I made 2 trips because I did not have my coupons with me, but happened to have a few random ones in my bag. I had a TON of deodorant coupons, but not any for some of the other items. We will not be a stinky family for a very loooooong time. I won't bore you all with the none clearance items I bought, lol (but I did have coupons for those!!).

- 2 boxes of Goldfish, was $5, now $4.24
- Quaker Chewy pb granola bars, was $2.29, now $1.94 (bought 2)
- 2 boxes of Kelloggs Berries cereal, was $5.49, now $4.66
- 3 pack plus bonus purse size Secret deodorant, was $5, now $3.50 (-$1 q)
- 3 pack Old Spice deodorant (x2), was $5, now $3.50 (-$1/2 q)
saved: $6.79 (mark down), $2 q. (total saved: $8.79)

- 2 large & 1 small bottle pack of Palmolive (plus $10 coupon book), was $??, now $4.24 (-0.25 q)
- Pepperidge Farm Baked Wisps, was $5, now $4.25 (-0.75 q)
- 3 pack plus bonus purse size Secret deodorant (x2), was $5, now $3.50 (-$1/2 q)
- 3 pack Old Spice deodorant, was $5, now $3.50 (-$1 q)
- 2 pack Dove Ultimate Go Fresh deodorant (x2), was $5, now $3.50 (-$1.50/2 q)
- Tampax 60ct, was $7.99,now $6.78 (-0.50 q)
- 3 pack Always Infinity Ultra Thin 14ct (x2), was $7.99, now $5.58 (-$1, -$4 - could have sworn it was a $1 q... weiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrd!!)
saved: $14.28+ (mark down), $10 q. (total saved:$24.28)

3) Commissary: Total savings with deals/coupons - $47.08
- 2 pack Mustard 30oz (x2), was $3.49 each, sale 0.49 each (-0.35 q)
- 60 count Electrisol Gel pacs (x2), was $7.99 each, sale 0.99 each (-0.55 q? - I used a coupon just can't remember which one it was.)
- Lysol Cleaner bottle & large refill (x2), was $7.99 each, sale $1.99 each
- 4 pack Suave Kids shampoo, sale $3.99
- Hefty tall kitchen bags 85 ct (x2), $8.35 (-$2 q x2)
- Alpo wet dog food - buy 3 get 1 free (x2)
- Purina wet dog food - BOGO (x4)


OOP - Out of Pocket
ECB - Extra Care Buck (basically free money)
Q - Coupons

If I get a chance I will go through my reciepts & post some of the other great deals I have scored.