Free $5 off your next order at Kroger
For those of you who have a Kroger nearby (or one of their family of stores), you can get a free $5 printable off your next order when you submit a recipe to the Pillsbury Bake-Off.
I combined this deal, with my $6 off meat coupons from last week, and a few more coupons to get all of these groceries for $6.50:
We don't usually eat pork, but the ham was reduced to $0.69 so I couldn't resist. Also purchased at reduced for quick sale prices (usually about 50-75% off the normal price): grain-fed beef, mushrooms, organic mixed greens, bagged salad, two big bags of spinach, and iced tea. Milk, butter, and the marinated turkey were on sale so I picked those up, too. The Cottonelle was part of the $0.50/each deal I mentioned last week. We splurged and bought two fish fillets for fun since it was free anyway with the meat coupons. Believe it or not, outside of salmon and tuna, I have never cooked fish in my life. I'm looking forward to trying my hand at it. This picture also includes the water, Revlon stuff, pads, and Kleenexes that I got at CVS for 11 cents out of pocket and will make $17 back in ECBs!
I combined this deal, with my $6 off meat coupons from last week, and a few more coupons to get all of these groceries for $6.50:
We don't usually eat pork, but the ham was reduced to $0.69 so I couldn't resist. Also purchased at reduced for quick sale prices (usually about 50-75% off the normal price): grain-fed beef, mushrooms, organic mixed greens, bagged salad, two big bags of spinach, and iced tea. Milk, butter, and the marinated turkey were on sale so I picked those up, too. The Cottonelle was part of the $0.50/each deal I mentioned last week. We splurged and bought two fish fillets for fun since it was free anyway with the meat coupons. Believe it or not, outside of salmon and tuna, I have never cooked fish in my life. I'm looking forward to trying my hand at it. This picture also includes the water, Revlon stuff, pads, and Kleenexes that I got at CVS for 11 cents out of pocket and will make $17 back in ECBs!
posted by Crystal Paine at 5:09 PM
25 Comments:
Crystal, I haven't left a comment here before, but I am one of your readers. :-) I am the 2nd oldest daughter in our big homeschooling family and help my mom with the shopping. I was wondering about the printable coupons. I thought most stores didn't accept them, so I haven't ever used them. Do most of the stores in your area take them? Maybe I should print some after all...
I have never had a problem with a store accepting a printable coupon and I have shopped at a lot of different stores in a lot of different towns. This is actually where many of my coupons come from. I would definitely recommend you try it. As long as you are not abusing the system in any way, you shouldn't have a problem. Every once in a while, a store won't take printed coupons, but that is usually because they had someone who abused the system (made copies of coupons and distributed them, cut the dates off, or used fraudulent coupons)and now they are leery of them. However, I haven't run into that in any of my experience. As long as you use legitimate coupons from legitimate websites, only use coupons you have printed out (most websites only allow you to print a maximum of two coupons), etc. you shouldn't have to worry about it unless the store expressly says you can't use them. Each individual store can make their own policies.
Wow! You did great and have some great deals there. Nice shopping!
I am so glad I found your site. I have SO much to learn. I have gotten 1/2 gallons of milk super cheap at Kroger the last couple weeks, one week it was marked down to 50 cents and the week after 25 cents!! I'm just learning the whole coupon thing. I think your site will really help. Thanks for sharing all your smart saving savvy! :o)
Wow...you've never cooked anything besides salmon or tuna? Living in the upper Midwest and the good ol' land of Friday Fish Fry, we learn quick that if it swims, chances are, you can eat it! (Except for bullheads. Nasty little buggers. Eew.) I'd say that if you've got a whitefish like cod, pollock, etc, the tastiest way I've had them besides covered in beer batter and deep fried (whoo!) is to put it in a baking pan sprayed with non stick spray, put tiny little pats of butter on top, and sprinkle with some garlic salt (just a little!), paprika, and dried parsley. Bake until flaky at 375. Usually takes about 20 minutes, but the fish WILL flake with a fork if done right. :) Let us know how you cook it and how it turns out!
Wow, great shopping!
Either the theory is true - that groceries along with everything else is just more expensive in California, or you are getting better coupons that we are!
I loved that you shared so much in the Supermarket savings series, can you please share more about the weekly nitty gritty of saving so much?
We are doing better, but feel like we have a LONG way to go.
(But I finally got my CVS going, so that should help!)
Thank you so much for all the help you have offered in this area!
Crystal, you've been inspiring me for weeks with your grocery posts. We eat way more meat than y'all *chuckle* but I have started finding other ways to cut costs. The biggest thing...not automatically hitting Costco "just because we can". We've saved a bundle just by not going there and blowing money each payday, plus having lunch or dinner there (well, the prices are so GOOD for their cafe food! Such justification. lol) I've also started doing a lot more couponing and listmaking, and Menu Plan Mondays have helped. *gasp* To think the money I could have saved over the years if my Ma's teachings had been used on this token!
I noticed the tilapia filets, and I just have to tip you off...my Chatty is a MAJOR chicken eater like your little gal is turning into, and she also loves tilapia because it is not "fishy"...reminds her of chicken. We are able to get filets at a good rate at Costco here and the first time I cooked it I'd never made anything other than canned tuna either! I took a page from my mom's chicken book from when I was a kid...I simply baked it in butter and some lemon-pepper. A major hit! I've also tried doing it in the oven with a can of mandarin oranges (with juice) poured over the top, but that didn't go over too well with my hubby. Tilapia is fast and easy, and not super high in mercury, so it's great for you during pregnancy and the whole family in general.
Hope you enjoy it!
Crystal,
We do not have a Krogers in my area. I am around St. Louis area (Illinois side). Do you know what sister stores they have?
Chrissy
Chrissy and others: If you go to the website Kroger.com and click on find stores, you can check to see if their is a store or sister store in your area. I typed in St. Louis and it said the closest store was 21 miles away in Poplar Bluff, MO.
Crystal--Do you know whether the Dollar/Tree accepts manufacturer's coupons?
Thanks,
Maryanne Helms
www.happyhelms.com
Yes, most dollar stores accept coupons. I specifically know that Dollar Tree does, or should. It might vary from store to store but usually with stores like that their coupon policy is from corporate not made on the individual store level.
And, when in doubt about any store, always remember that you can just call corporate and ask. Or better yet, email them and get it in writing to bring with you to the store in case they have any questions on it.
Hmph...I'm going to have to contact corporate Dollar Tree. We have one about 6 miles from us, and they often have GREAT items. I tried to use a coupon once, and was told "I'm sorry, it is corporate policy that NONE of our stores honor coupons." I remember thinking, "No, I just think you don't want to give me these items for less than what you want to charge. Grr."
I'm emailing tonight. :)
Oh, and as far as tilapia, you can also bread it like chicken and bake it. The other poster who commented that it isn't 'fishy' was right; made the right way, it is very tasty! I bread mine, add some chipotle spices, and bake it. Super nummy if you make a melted cheese sauce and baked potato nuggets! :)
Fish...yum!
2 of my favourite things to do with fresh fillets are:
1. Steam them on the stovetop by slowly bringing them to the boil, then replace the water & cook slowly for about 15 mins. Then serve them with homemade lemon & Dill sauce.
2. Cut the fillets into serving size.Wrap them individually in foil, along with a drop of olive oil,sliced tomato on top & sprinkled basil & parsley.Cook for about 15 mins in already boiling water.
Hope this helps start you off with a few ideas.
Claire
PS I love reading your couponing tips, but unfortunately they don't do couponing in Australia.It sounds great!
Hi Crystal,
I just started reading your blog and also have been so inspired! I have finally found someone who gives the nitty gritty advice for how to be a stay at home mom. I still have so much to learn (along with convincing my boyfriend of five years of this idea...), but especially that I need to work on making big sacrifices for this life. With your help I am adjusting to this; thank you!!
Anyway, Mrs. Pear, I agree, things just are more expensive in California! I think it would literally be impossible for us to get groceries for $35 a week here; but, blogs like this really help me to realize the little things you can do that really add up in savings. I've really gotta start working on this whole coupon and menu planning thing! Thanks!
Hello,
I've been reading some of your coupon ideas for the last few months. We do not have Kroger in our area (in the NW - we do have an affiliate but they don't double coupons or offer any great deals.) However, we do have an Albertson's and this is my favorite store. Their prices are actually terrible but they accept competitor's coupons. I can pick the best deals of local supermarkets and do most of my shopping there. They don't double coupons but other local stores do so I just pick up double coupons from Safeway and Albertson's will accept it. Also, Albertson's often runs buy one get one free deals. If another store has a coupon for a good deal on the item, you can combine the offers and get two items for the already low price. This week I spent $20 for a lot of groceries (for the week and to stock our pantry) and went home with 3 coupons for a free gallon of milk (up to 4.59 value each).
We've reduced our grocery budget to about $30/week. So, to readers who have Albertson's in the area, I highly recommend it.
Annette
Hey Crystal,
I've not left a comment on your site before, but I thought I'd say I've really enjoyed it lately. I was just wondering where you print your coupons from. We have a 1 year old and lately it has been difficult to stick to our $35 a week budget. I shop at different stores to find the lowest prices and go to food salvage stores, but I'm still having a hard time. We don't have a Kroger and I've always wished we did! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much!
Annie
I marvel at the low prices you all pay for groceries! Where I am, in Alberta, Canada, 4L of milk usually costs $2. I've never seen it anywhere near $1! I think all our prices are more expensive, and there isn't much for coupons that I have found, unless you want to buy processed, overpackaged stuff. And I have yet to find online grocery coupons for real food valid in Canada. Good on ya, though!
Andrea: Now that I think about it, I might be wrong about Dollar Tree. Anyone know? I know for certain that Family Dollar and Dollar General accept coupons, but I may have gotten them mixed up with Dollar Tree. If they don't, they should because their competitors do. :) Let me know what you find out.
Annie: I'm going to try (try being the key word!) to answer you in a blog post tomorrow as my answer would be quite lengthy and I need to get to bed. :)
Maybe I'm just blind... on the Pliisbury page you linked to, Crystal, I just don't see anything about getting a $5 coupon for submitting a recipe. Is that something they tell you after you submit the recipe?
Also, Kathleen, who mentioned that milk in Canada is 4L for $2, that sounds like a good price to me. I've never gotten milk on sale for less than $2 a gallon. Sometimes Aldi's is a little less though. When we lived in Missouri, we had one grocery store, and milk was $2.85/gallon. It went on sale a total of TWO times in the two years we lived there. :P
Crystal and others: Dollar General and Family Dollar DEFINITELY accept coupons. I like shopping both those stores immensely! I think the main reason they do this is because they often price items at loss-leader type pricing within their stores, and still turn a decent profit. Dollar Tree, on the other hand, sells everything for a dollar. So while I feel that it would be in their best interests to just let me have a pack or two of brownies that are on sale for just the 10 or so cents tax I'd pay in Wisconsin after coupons, they won't honor them, mainly because they'd lose tons of money.
However, this isn't to say that Dollar Tree isn't a great store! We've found some really cute placemants, KitchenAid kitchen utensils, and even killer deals on baking products (two 5 pound bags of flour for a dollar, anyone? YAY!), etc. Just scour your local store occasionally. The one thing I always buy there are greeting cards and wrapping paper. Why spend 7 bucks a roll when you can get pretty paper and ribbons for a dollar each?
And I still want a Kroger in the area. Pick N Save is getting better with their sales, but still aren't great.
Tammy: It doesn't say anything about it on the first page, but after you submit the recipe, it should automatically redirect you to a thank you page with it on there. At least that's how it worked for me and a few others I know who did it.
Crystal, thanks for answering my question. I know one of our local grocery stores don't accept printable coupons because they have signs posted by the cash registers saying they don't take them. But I don't know about our other stores, like Walmart. I think I'll print some and see what happens. :-)
Tammy I,
I correct myself! 4L of milk is actually $3.75ish, not $2. Oops!
I think we all should move to the Midwest where prices are cheaper! :D j/k Anyways, 4L of milk in B.C., Canada is at least $3.50, and that's the good price. $35 would probably only feed our family for a day or two. I'd love to find coupons like some of you do...*sigh*
You're very blessed!
We ove Kroger here! Clean, friendly and competitive prices.
My kids LOVE fish - especially fish nuggest and fish fingers. I also make salmon cakes from boneless, skinless canned salmon, and egg, a cup of bread crumbs and a dollop of mayo. Pat them into cakes and fry - go great with mac & cheese for a super quick and easy dinner. Mine dip all fish in ketchup :-)
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