I was a little thrown off by doing the ad yesterday so I totally forgot to post my weekly totals 🙂
It has been a crazy morning here and right now I am so glad I am a thrifty gal!! My husband went down to work in our basement and noticed a little trickle of water…well after some investigation he determined that the supply pipe to our home had burst!! Ugghh…you know we built this house less than years ago–you wouldn’t expect it to fall apart yet 😀 Well what might have been a stressor in the past is just an annoyance today. I have been tucking extra money in our savings account and so this unplanned expense will not be such a big hit to our budget!! Of course I have yet to see the bill… but, unless the plumber spends the night here I know approximately what this will set us back!
I guess my point is…right now I can sit here at the computer and smile while I think about all the impatient sighs and grumpy folks who have been behind me at checkout. All of the times we have purposely chosen to go to a restaurant where I have a pre-purchased gift certificate. All of the times I have chosen to make a menu and a list and stuck to it. Those minutes it took me to sit here and complete and online survey. The few minutes of effort it took me to look for a coupon code to get a discount while shopping—all of the little things I do so that when a day like today comes along it isn’t a big deal!!
Ok–so back to the weekly totals….this week I did spend a bit more than usual but I needed to grab some meat and chose to go with some convenience items that were a decent deal. I would not typically buy those Deli Creation assemble yourself type things…but you know I wanted to try them! I am glad I did as I have learned that there is no need to spend the extra money! Don’t get me wrong they were convenient but honestly not any better than a sandwich I could have thrown together from what was in my pantry/refrigerator. The same with the Country Crock Sides…convenient but unnecessary!! Several things on my list were what I consider convenience foods and might be very appropriate for some but not for us. It actually made me feel a bit lazy! I had the time to whip up a batch of mashed potatoes but chose to go with a microwavable bowl. I had to be in the kitchen to cook the rest of the meal…adding 5 minutes to peel and boil potatoes really would not have made that big of a difference in my day and I would have been able to control the ingredients added. Oh well live and learn!
This week I spent $51.89 for $151.84 worth of groceries! That means I saved 62% this week…probably my lowest percentage in quite a while. But you know it is A-OK!! I have a feeling I will do better in the coming weeks 🙂
Here is what I purchased for $51.89 out of pocket:
| Product | quantity | price | minus Q | TOTAL | |
| country crock side | 4 | 1.8 | 7.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
| rice a roni | 3 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1 | 1.1 |
| bertolli | 4 | 1.35 | 5.4 | 3 | 2.4 |
| ritz muchables | 2 | 1.55 | 3.1 | 2 | 1.1 |
| lunchables | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4.5 | 1.5 |
| mac & cheese | 10 | 0.59 | 5.9 | 2 | 3.9 |
| OM Deli Creations | 4 | 3 | 12 | 7.5 | 4.5 |
| oreo cakesters | 1 | 3.39 | 3.39 | 3.29 | 0.1 |
| digiorno 200 cal | 1 | 2.99 | 2.99 | 2.99 | 0 |
| yoplait greek yogurt | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.6 | -0.6 |
| bread | 2 | 1.25 | 2.5 | 4 | -1.5 |
| kraft shredded | 2 | 1.66 | 3.32 | 2 | 1.32 |
| kraft singles | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| publix hummus | 1 | 2.79 | 2.79 | 2.79 | 0 |
| athenos hummus | 1 | 2.99 | 2.99 | 1 | 1.99 |
| tyson entrée | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| hawaiian rolls | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| chocolate cheerios | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| mahatma rice | 2 | 1.19 | 2.38 | 1.5 | 0.88 |
| steamfresh veggies | 2 | 1.19 | 2.38 | 2.4 | -0.02 |
| danonino | 2 | 1.66 | 3.32 | 2 | 1.32 |
| knox | 1 | 1.39 | 1.39 | 4 | -2.61 |
| aj pancakes | 2 | 1.35 | 2.7 | 2.7 | |
| beef | 1 | 8.32 | 8.32 | 8.32 | |
| pork | 1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | |
| chicken | 1 | 2.57 | 2.57 | 2.57 | |
| bananas | 1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | |
| squash | 1 | 2.39 | 2.39 | 2.39 | |
| strawberries | 1 | 1.67 | 1.67 | 1.67 | |
| asparagus | 1 | 0.87 | 0.87 | 0.87 | |
| tax | 1 | 2.19 | 2.19 | 2.19 | |
| 0 | 0 | ||||
| 0 | 51.89 |
So how did you all do this week? Leave a comment or link to your weekly totals.
I spent $35.01 for $157.55 worth, saved $122.54 = 78% Not my best week either, but still not too shabby. 🙂
I think your totals this week are much more realistic and sustainable in terms of what a couponer can expect to save. I really appreciate that and you still saved a lot but there wasn’t a lot of overage or winetags or all that stuff that helps but is more of a luxury than an everyday savings option for most people.
I agree, Amy. My best week since I started in October has been 64%! I get frustrated when I see people’s weekly totals being 90-something % savings. I hardly ever find good peelies, winetags, tearpads, etc. I really don’t know how people get them. I was excited today to finally find a blinkie for Kraft cheese!
My post this week is about the trials and tribulations of couponing haha
http://quidquidquidquid.blogspot.com/2010/03/when-couponing-gets-real.html
I agree with you Michelle! Our car overheated last week. Instead of freaking out like we would have a few zero-savings years ago, it was ok because we had some emergency money tucked away. It turned out to only be a $5 fix which was such a blessing!
You are right, all the sarifices we make couponing and cooking at home, all the little money saving deals really do help out a lot!
Thanks for all your hard work. I would be lost in Publix without your blog!
My husband recieved notice that his job will end on May 31 this week. As I look around at my stockpile and how much I’ve been able to put into savings I know that we will be able to weather the coming job loss. It feels good to be able to take care of my family this way even though I have not worked outside my home for over 30 years.
That is so odd that you had problems with a water leak we did too. We had a leak outside and got a huge water bill $200 dollars when it is normally $70. But we are lucky since we budget our money it was not that big of a deal. And we are thankful that we found the cause fast.
You know I am so glad you posted this…I have been wondering about those Deli Creations. I have not priced them out a my Publix…my prices are alittle higher than yours and we DONT double 🙁 so I am not even going to bother to pick them up. Thanks you for all you do!!!
I was very disappointed with the Deli Creations too. I picked a couple up for dh to take to work but made one for myself yesterday. We are NOT picky eaters and I would give them a 65% or a D..both in flavor and texture. I don’t know who’s going to eat the 2nd one I bought. I surely won’t be sending it to work for hubby. I would never buy them again.
For any of you who have yet to use the Free Dannon Greek yogurt coupons, this is one of those times I am sure glad I got a freebie. I couldn’t stand them….:( I was really kind of excited about them, but I couldn’t get past the “grittiness.” Oh well.
I had a good run at CVS this week. $4.53 on $26.20 worth; so 83% saved. Publix was a bit high this week…I don’t have my numbers handy but I think I only saved 50% or so. I can’t wait for the gas card deal next week, we’ll be making a trip to Fort Lauderdale that should cost about $50 in gas round trip, so this is just fantastic 😀
hehe…glad I wasn’t the only one who didn’t care much for the Greek yogurt, free or not!
“Grittiness”? Ew. Sounds like you got a bad cup! Mine was super smooth and thick, but somewhat tart. I didn’t care for it either.
Oh I hope so lol, I have one more so we’ll see how that turns out 🙂
This week my Publix run cost me $8.37 for $73.64 worth of groceries, or 89% savings. I’m in the land of no doubles, ghetto stores with no tear pads and scant peelies (because they get stolen/taken en mass immediately), and I have still managed to do well with a good stockpile and only buying the stuff we need/use regularly. Today I stopped to get gas in my car and when I got back in it wouldn’t start. I finally got it going but I know a trip to the mechanic is in order, but I’m not panicking. I know I’ve got enough money saved to cover it and then some… plus the place I go is reasonably priced and has coupons online for most services 😉
Michelle! Hugs about the plumbing issue. I’m so sorry that happened. I’m glad it wasn’t such a big deal. Weekly totals really don’t matter when you’re saving so much over time. Great info about the deli creations and crock sides too. I’ll have to boil potatoes sometime (haven’t tried that yet!)
=)
Lynne
I loved your reflections, Michelle. I totally agree!! My husband has been out of a job since August. I just work part-time. Using coupons, we aren’t really at a point to be saving much now, but it is helping us do things for the kids and have the money to get the stuff that life throws at us occasionally. You are a huge blessing to me and my family and I am thrilled when I am able to share the “coupon love” and explain how to do it and give them your web site. Thank you so much!! Yes, it is all worth it!!
cheryl
I love weeks when we are more human than superhuman! It makes me feel good to know that other people have “off” weeks too. I hope your basement is fixed asap!
So sorry to hear about the pipe. Uggh indeed. I still have not tried the deli creations yet. Maybe I won’t bother now. Also, I agree on the nuked potatoes. Not worth it for my family, especially when I make mashed with f/f sour cream, soy milk, and just a bit of butter. I hope the basement come “in budget”.
1,300 tax bill! whoops. So much for planning what to do with our return! We adjusted witholding to avoid the issue next year, but felt lucky we could cover it becuase there was no getting out of it!
I felt exact same about the country crock sides. sooooo unnecessary. Glad I could try them but have no idea who in the world would ever buy some of these convenience foods they come up with at full price! The advantage of all these prepackaged foods is it makes it really easy to track calories becuase its already prepared and listed on the package! Also, they are usually preportioned in amounts far smaller than what I would usually dish. Still makes me feel unheathly though, all that sodium and preprocessed-ness…
I love “try me free” becuase sometimes I do and I hate it!! and am so happy I didn’t spend money on it other than for the stamp.