| What $18 Can Buy You at the Grocery Store
by Crystal Paine
Kathrynne and I went shopping yesterday and I thought I'd share what we bought so you can see how planning ahead, shopping sales, and using some coupons really does save money.
I spent about 45 minutes last week clipping coupons, looking at the store fliers online, and planning a menu. We went to 4 stores (I usually only go to 2-3, but added in the additional store so that I could get 11 toothbrushes for free. All the stores are within a few minutes of each other and I drive about 10 minutes to the nicer grocery store first and then the rest of the stores are on my way home so I'm not wasting any gas $ to go to more than one store.) and from start to finish, the shopping took us about 1 hr and 45 minutes. Here's what we bought:
First Store (Nicer Grocery Store):
1 Malt-O- Me al Cinnamon Twister's Cereal - on sale for $0.99
1 Gallon Jug of Apple Juice - reduced to $0.50
1 Half Gallon Milk - reduced to $0.50
2 Bars Cheddar Cheese - on sale for $1.25/each
4 Land-O-Lake's Spreadable Butter - on sale for $1.00/each - $0.50/each with coupon
1 Quart of Chocolate Milk - reduced to $0.50
2 cans Healthy Choice Hearty Soup - on sale for $1.00/each -$0.50/each with coupon
1 can crushed tomatoes - on sale for $0.39
1 can tomato sauce - on sale for $0.23
Total: $9.37 (saved around $13 off regular prices)
Second store (Nicer Grocery Store):
11 Oral-B Toothbrushes -on sale for $1.00/each - $0.00/each with $1.00 of each coupons
Total: $0.82 (saved $30.69 off regular prices)
Third Store (Discount Store - Aldi):
Flour - $0.79
Bread- $0.89
Frozen Broccoli - $0.89
Cream Cheese - $0.89
Peanut Butter Wafers - $0.99
Two Cucumbers - $0.29/each
Eggs - $0.59
Total: $6.04
Fourth Store (Discount Grocery Store):
2 Taco Seasoning packets - on sale for $0.69/each - with coupon $0.19/each
4 packages sliced meat - on sale for $0.50/each - with coupon $0.25/each
Total: $1.63 (saved $3.48)
Total Spent: $17.86
Total Saved: Approx. $50
For those wondering why there are not many fruits and vegetables or meats -- I had stocked up on two bags of apples (at $0.99 each), a bag of oranges ($1.99), and three bunches of lettuce the last week and we still had quite a bit left. I also had bought a bag of chicken ($5.99) the week before which usually lasts us for two weeks (I cook it up and freeze in 7-8 meal-size portions which lasts us about two weeks.
Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!
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