Deals on Amazon

• GoGo SqueeZ Apple/Strawberry 48 packs are on Manager’s Special (so act quick!). Use the Subscribe and Save option and get them for around 42 cents/each. I believe that this is a better price than buying them at Costco.

• Clip a coupon for 35% off Baby Gourmet Organic  baby food. No Subscribe and Save option needed!

• Save on Happy Baby Organic Baby Food in 16 packs which are on Manager’s Special as well. Use the Subscribe & Save option and get the each pouch for $1.05 each. The price could go up at any time.

• Save up to 35% off Kashi products again this month! Plus save even more when you use the the Subscribe & Save option!

• I am just discovering Amazon’s coupon section. There are great coupons for several organic and natural products like Ezekiel 4:9 products, stevia, chia seeds, various Glutenfreeda products as well.

Confused on the Subscribe & Save option? The Subscribe & Save option allows you to order an automatic delivery at a regular interval of your choice. The best part of the option is that you get FREE shipping  plus an additional 15% off. Don’t want another delivery? Cancel your subscription after your initial order has shipped.

Daily Deal Sites

• Save 70%  on Halo Organic Sleep Sacks over at Zulily. Each sleep sack is $8.99.  Zulily has several lines currently of organic clothes for both children and women including this adorable newsboy hat from Urban Smalls. Score FREE shipping on any orders today after you place your initial order.Try the code: ZURETAIL467 to possibly score $5 off a $50 order.

Organic & Natural Printable Coupons

• It’s a new month so be sure to print off the reset Whole Foods store coupons, Stonyfield Organic Dairy coupons and Earth’s Best Organic Baby Food Coupons.

• Over at Coupons.com, print $1.25 off one Alexia item, save $1 on two Cascadin Farms organic products and $1/off McCann’s Irish oatmeal  and more!

• At Mambo Sprouts, there are several new organic coupons as well.

Yep, that’s right…I can’t get into my kitchen. We are just weeks away from putting our house on the market, so we are now in “beautify” mode. Part of “beautifying” for our home is having the kitchen floor redone, stripping wallpaper/repainting over it, and a few other minor tweaks. So I wasn’t been able to get into the kitchen yesterday, part of today and again later in the week.

Not a huge deal, but enough to cause us to “shift our food monies” around this week.  We have moved half of our weekly grocery budget over to the restaurant envelope this week to account for the extra eating out we’re doing this week. My goal was to spend $40 on groceries (from Kroger, Aldi and CVS)…and use the other $40 for going out to eat this week. I do have a Chili’s gift card from Swagbucks that we can use, as well as a gazillion points on my Subway rewards cards. (We’ve been letting them accumulate for a while now!)

I have a strange feeling that we might be eating out more in the weeks that our house is on the market. I have these notions (which may or may not end up come true), that I’ll be getting ready to start cooking dinner and our realtor will call to say that someone wants to the see the house at about the same time I’d be putting food on the table.

That being said, we are moving into a “we must have a very flexible meal plan” phase of our lives…so for this week I have a few options from the freezer/pantry, as well as a few dining out options too. This also will mean that my grocery shopping and spending might be erratic over the coming weeks!

FREEZER – I don’t normally do this, but thought I’d offer it to you all first (before I throw it out there on Craigslist)…We have decided to sell our black Frigidaire 7.2 cu. ft. deep freezer for just $50 (reg. $250ish). It needs a new home here in Dayton. If you’re interested, please email me. (First come, first serve.)

Kroger

Blue cheese and an extra bag of tortillas…for a little something delicious I’ll be whipping up for the Super Bowl. Hoping to post a recipe before the end of the week…

Otherwise, nothing terribly exciting about this week’s shopping trip!

Manager’s Specials

• Lettuce – $1.49

Total spent at Kroger: $35.11

Aldi

Because we needed to be out of the house while they work in the kitchen, I ended up running most of my errands on Monday. So it was no trouble at all to wander around the city…

*HOT DEALS*

• $.69 grape tomatoes
• $.59 avocados
• $.49 baby carrots
• $.89 crushed tomatoes
• $1.29 pretzel bags

Total spent at Aldi: $5.53

CVS

PHOTO – none available

*HOT DEALS*

• $4.99 dishsoap
• $5.98 toilet paper

Total spent at CVS: $.74 OOP (Used $10 SaveMore Gift Card, and 2 P&G coupons)

Total for the month: $41.38

My grocery store’s ad scan and my “Shopping FAQ!”

Thanks to Andrea at Savings Lifestyle and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! Find the coupon match-ups for your grocery store at The Frugal Map!

A

So it turns out there is a Meijer not far from the gym that I frequent. What do you know?

It only took me a year and a half to figure out that if I take another way home, I can stop into Meijer for a few groceries and still be home in plenty of time to get my middle son on the bus for preschool. I’m usually very good with maps, but I’m not familiar with that area of town (obviously!)…and just didn’t connect how close they were to each other.

Doh.

(So now I don’t have to go too far out of my way when there’s a great sale at Meijer.)

Meijer

This week I decided to stop in because of the great coupon matchups for some of our favorite products…and because of all the great produce included in the Buy 10, Get 11th Free promotion.

*HOT DEALS*

• 4 boxes of Chex cereal for $6.50 (used 2 $1.75/2 coupons)
• 3 boxes of Green Giant veggies for $.67 each ($1 sale, used $.60/3 newspaper coupon, doubled to $1)
• $1 English muffins, whole wheat

Produce

• $1 baby carrots
• 2 $1 3-lb. bags red potatoes
• $1 lettuce
• $1 red pepper
• $1 cucumber
  

Meats

• $2.50 carving board delimeat (used 2 $1/2 coupons)

Total spent at Meijer: $25.50

Kroger

And then there’s the mega event sale at Kroger that also had some great coupon matchups on some of our favorites too!

*HOT DEALS*

• 4 boxes $.49 Mom’s Best Naturals (coupon)
• $.14 Hunt’s tomato sauce (coupon)
• $.25 Hunt’s diced tomatoes (coupon, also used newspaper coupon)
• $1.19 Garden of Eatin’ chips (this week’s newspaper coupon)
• $1.49 Trop50 orange juice (Facebook coupon)

Produce

• $1.50 strawberries
• $.99 avocados
• Bananas
• $.79/lb sweet potatoes

Meats

• 2 packages delimeat (used $1/2 coupon)

Total spent at Kroger: $44.00

Total for the week: $70.50

Total for the month: $238.21 + $70.50 = $308.71 (Yay! Finally within our $80/week budget for this month!)

My grocery store’s ad scan and my “Shopping FAQ!”

Thanks to Andrea at Savings Lifestyle and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! Find the coupon match-ups for your grocery store at The Frugal Map!

A

I apologize for not sharing last week. My mom was in town. We were running late at the store…because we kept losing each other…and calling each other…and ended up rushing home to get the middle boy onto the bus for school. Then I hit the road and

I spent $83-ish last week.

So this week…it was time to hunker down and get back on track for the month…not wanting to exceed $80/week for the month. Because I spent so much the first week, I knew I needed to spend as little as possible this week to maintain the balance!

So the kids and I went store hopping yesterday morning…

Meijer

I wanted in on the 1o for $10, get 11th free deal. Plus they had a great price on tortillas and delimeat.

Tuna cans from CVS…see below.

Total spent at Meijer: $15.73

Aldi

*HOT DEALS*

• $1.29 pretzels
• $1.29 tortilla chips x2
• $.69 grape tomatoes
• $.49 baby carrots (bought a few extra bags to freeze for Sweet Potato and Chicken Curry)
• $.25 cucumber
• $2.49 potatoes

Total spent at Aldi: $8.57

CVS

*HOT DEALS*

• 2 $.27 cans white albacore tuna (used 1 $1/2 coupon from Recyclebank)

Total spent at CVS: $.54

Kroger

*HOT DEALS*

• 2 $.50 boxes of spaghetti, whole grain
• 2 $.40 Chobani greek yogurts

Produce

• $1.50 strawberries
• $.25 pomegranates (used 2 $1 off coupons)

Total spent at Kroger: $29.64

Total spent this week: $54.48

Total for the month: $100.73 + $83 + $54.48 = $238.21 (Right at $80 for next week…yay!)

My grocery store’s ad scan and my “Shopping FAQ!”

Thanks to Andrea at Savings Lifestyle and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! Find the coupon match-ups for your grocery store at The Frugal Map!

A

Yum…paninis!  In case you’ve been looking for a great deal on them, Target.com has the Giada Gourmet Panini Maker on sale for only $29.99 (regularly $49.99)!  Get yourself one and enjoy some of my favorite panini ideas and recipes that can all be adapted from the grilled method to using an actual panini maker:

• Turkey, Mushroom, Onion and Swiss Panini

• Eggplant Paninis with Rosemary Garlic Aioli

• Several Panini ideas including Roast Beef & Swiss on Rye and Pastrami & Swiss with Sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing

• Spread Spicy Cilantro Pesto on your Paninis

• Use your Panini Maker to make Taco Quesadillas or Chicken & Spinach Quesadillas + more

What’s your favorite combination of ingredients for the perfect panini?

Wanting to kick the year off as best I could on the grocery front. Because my husband was home on Monday, I decided to “shop around.” I went to Meijer and Aldi on Monday. Then to Kroger on Tuesday.

My grocery goal for the year will be $80-$90 per week. Some weeks it will be more, depending the meat sales and stock-up times.  Other weeks, it will be less…for pantry challenges, clearing out the freezer, etc. But on average, I’m going for $80ish per week.

Meijer

*HOT DEALS*

• FREE Toothpaste – $1 sale with
• FREE Tomatoes – $1 sale with this coupon
• $1 lettuce, $1 carrots (3 lbs), $1 cucumber (Cheap salad lunches for me this week!)
• $.50 blackberries
• $.67 frozen spinach – $.99 sale, used $.60/3 newspaper coupon that double
• $.94 Red Gold crushed tomatoes (28 oz.), to use for homemade spaghetti sauce or chili
• $1.05 Thai coconut milk cans – On sale for $1.55 each, used $1/2 manufacturers coupon

Meats

• $3.99 for 1 lb tilapia fillets

Total spent at Meijer: $22.52

Aldi

*HOT DEALS*

• $.39 yogurt
• $.29 t0mato sauce
• $.99 canned pumpkin (because I’m out!)
• $1.19 corn tortillas, pack of 30
• $1.99 pineapple
• $1.29 cabbage
• $3.29 string cheese (for my husband’s lunches!)

Total spent at Aldi: $10.79

Kroger

*HOT DEALS*

• $1.99 Kashi cereals -> free gallon of milk ($1 coupons here)
• $1.50 berries, $2 sale, used 2 $1/2 store issued coupons

Produce

• $.99 avocados
• $1.50 cantaloupe
• $3.29 oranges (my kids eat these like candy!)
  

Meats

• $2.99/lb chuck roast
• 2 $2.50 BE sausage – $3 sale with $1/2 coupon

Manager’s Specials

• $1.25 veggie tray…snacks and lunches!

Total spent at Kroger: $67.42

Total for this week: $100.73ght

My grocery store’s ad scan and my “Shopping FAQ!”

Thanks to Andrea at Savings Lifestyle and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! Find the coupon match-ups for your grocery store at The Frugal Map!

A

January is a great month for snagging deals on organic and natural foods due to the classic New Years Resolutions. Make sure to print off all the great coupons and stock up on the shelf stable organic goods!

Deals on Amazon

• Save up to 30% off Annie’s Natural Snacks when you use the  use the Subscribe & Save option.

• Save on Rolands products such as quinoa and Irish Oatmeal. They are up to 30% off when you use the Subscribe & Save option.

• Save up to 35% off Kashi products when you use the the Subscribe & Save option!

• Save up to 30% off  Peeled Snacks with the Subscribe & Save option

• Save up to 60% off Naked Coconut Water.

Confused on the Subscribe & Save option? The Subscribe & Save option allows you to order an automatic delivery at a regular interval of your choice. The best part of the option is that you get FREE shipping  plus an additional 15% off. Don’t want another delivery? Cancel your subscription after your initial order has shipped.

Daily Deal Sites

• Save up to 80%  on Work Out clothes for women over at Zulily. Deal ends 1/6. Also save up to 80% off ( deal ends 1/5), on MBT shoes (that mimic barefoot walking or running) . Save over 40% off on Bum Cheeks cloth diapers. This diapers look super silky! They are $15.99 each.  Score FREE shipping on any orders today after you place your initial order.Try the code: GA4152 to possibly score $5 off a $50 order.

• Score a 6 month subscription to Jillian Micheals Weight Loss and Exercise program over at  Mamapedia. I am going to be honest; as a registered dietitian, I don’t love her diet plan. But I do love her workouts! Deal expires 1/8.

• Check out Groupon for deals on local gyms.

Organic & Natural Printable Coupons

• It’s a new month so be sure to print off the reset Whole Foods store coupons, Stonyfield Organic Dairy coupons and Earth’s Best Organic Baby Food Coupons.

• Over at Coupons.com, print $1.00 off any Flintstones™ Multivitamin Product,  $3.00 off any The BIGGEST LOSER Workout DVD,$1.00 off ANY OREGON CHAI PRODUCT, $0.55 off any OFF any LaCroix® Sparkling Water 8 pack flavors at Target,  $1.00 off off any ONE Kashi® GOLEAN® Cereal,  $1.00 any ONE Bear Naked® Product, 75 cents off Muir Glen and more!

• At Mambo Sprouts, there are several new organic coupons as well including $1/off 3 Clif Bars, $1/off CrunchMaster crackers, $1/off Earth’s Balance Coconut Spread.

The last 2 weeks, we’ve been doing a really good job of eating out of the freezer and finishing off the produce that I snagged at the 50% off store closing sale. I bopped in last week to get a few things for our Gingerbread Nativity Scene making party. I let the kids push the new kid carts at the new Kroger Marketplace and boy oh boy, did that get a reaction!

While I can see why they could be annoying, it’s all about your perspective and attitude. It takes some extra patience and careful vigilance. It takes some instruction and reminders as you go through the store, but I promise you that it’s possible to get the kids through the store with the carts and not hit anything or anyone. It also helps that we were there early before there were crowds. And it also helps that the aisles are HUGE and there’s plenty of room for them to get through.

I love that they can provide a positive and fun experience for the kids!

This morning I ran in to get some ingredients to make a couple of pans of Creamy Spinach Enchiladas (recipe coming soon) for a guy’s night that my husband is hosting tonight.

I also grabbed a couple packages of boneless chicken thighs that were on sale for $1.74/lb. I’ll be making up some slow cooker freezer bags (this is my favorite recipe for freezing) for my mom to make when I’m traveling in a few weeks. I also got some 85% ground meat on sale…I’m thinking minimeatloaves?! We’ll see!

Kroger

Spent $17 last week and $43 this week. And I should be set for the rest of the year! Maybe one more milk and bananas trip…

My grocery store’s ad scan and my “Shopping FAQ!”

Thanks to Andrea at Savings Lifestyle and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! Find the coupon match-ups for your grocery store at The Frugal Map!

There are some digital coupons available on Amazon for Tide and Charmin…makes for really great deals!

• Tide Free and Gentle, 50-Ounce, Pack of 2 - $11.97, or $10.17 after Subscribe & Save. And then $9.67 after the $.50 instant coupon. (You must click it for it to credit to your cart.)
• Charmin Ultra Strong, Mega Rolls, 24 rolls -$25.94, or $22.05 after Subscribe & Save. And then $19.05 after the $3 instant coupon. (You must click it for it to credit to your cart.)

Remember to cancel or change your Subscribe & Save deliveries from “My Account” -> “Manage Subscribe and Save Items”.

We interrupt this “Edible Holiday Gifts” week for a quick shopping update…

So, my shopping trips have been as sporadic as my shopping updates lately. I’ve not settled back into my normal “Monday noon” shopping routine. Variety of reasons, but I’m craving the routine again…but I won’t be back in it anytime soon.

And here’s why…

My Kroger store closed yesterday. And a new Kroger marketplace is opening just down the way. To be honest, I’m not really thrilled about the whole concept. And I wish there were another grocery store close by…but the nearest ones are 10-15-20 minutes drive. Why am I not thrilled? The new store is the largest Marketplace they have built yet (a Kroger Marketplace is like a Super Walmart…it sells furniture, towels, everything really.) and I don’t want to have to fish through all the extra stuff to get from one side of the store (produce) to the other (pharmacy needs). I imagine my shopping time will increase by quite a bit as well…but on the bright side, a little more exercise?!?

And I’m craving routine…and having to get used to a new store will take at least 8-12 weeks…learning where are my favorite products are, writing my grocery list in the order the products can be found in the store, etc. (Yes, I am “that Type A!”)

I don’t mean to come across as complaining…just not looking forward to the little extra stress this change will bring to my normally pleasant and simple shopping adventures.

The other reason I won’t be getting back into my regular shopping routine is…

I bought just about all I need for the rest of the month (minus milk and bananas!) yesterday. The closing store had a 50% off ALL perishable foods…produce, cheese, frozen food, etc. So I hit it hard and stocked up!

Kroger

Charlie saying “hi,” in his goofy, silly way!

*HOT DEALS*

• 5 $2.49 Daiya mozzarella cheese (dairy-free, soy-free cheese for the kid’s pizza!)
• 2 $1.49 sliced vegan cheese (for the boy’s grilled cheese sandwiches!)
• 2 pints $2.49 coconut milk ice cream (special treat for the boys!)
• LOTS of $.50 bags frozen vegetables
• $.50 avocadoes

Produce

• I intentionally chose fruits and veggies that were not quite ripe so they would last a few weeks in the fridge.
• And the berries we don’t eat this week, I will freeze for smoothies.

Meats

• Summer sausage, ham, shrimp, lunchmeat (all of the beef, pork and chicken was gone by the time I got there…40 minutes after the sale started!)

Total spent at Kroger this week: $121…with only needing a few more $$ to spend each week on milk!

My grocery store’s ad scan and my “Shopping FAQ!”

Thanks to Andrea at Savings Lifestyle and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! Find the coupon match-ups for your grocery store at The Frugal Map!

A