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Category : Hen House

Delegating

April 2nd 2011 Posted at Budget, Cleaning supplies, Costco, Coupons, CVS, Groceries, Hen House, Personal care, Price Chopper, Walgreens, Walmart
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I was busy this past week, so I delegated the grocery shopping. All in all, it wasn’t too bad, although a few small mistakes were made. I’m such a control freak, and this was a good experience in letting go and learning to be appreciative.

Walmart
Ken’s salad dressing, 16 oz: $2.24 – $1.00 coupon = $1.24 (this is what happens when you delegate)
Yakisoba noodles: $0.62 – $0.50 coupon = $0.12
Degree travel size deodorant: $0.97 (coupon didn’t scan. grrr!!)
Spent: $2.67


Walgreens
Walgreens aluminum foil, 20 sq ft: $0.69 – 20% off coupon = $0.55
2 bottles Renuzit, 13 oz each: $2.99 – 15% off coupon – two $1.00 coupons = $0.54
Spent: $1.37
Saved: $5.44


Hen House
Post Honey Bunches of Oats Raisin Medley, 17 oz: $2.00 – $1.00 coupon = $1.00
Lipton tea, 29 ct: $3.99 – $0.60 coupon = $3.39 (messed up)
Spent: $4.87
Saved: $3.29


CVS
5 Pepsi bottles, 2 liters each: $4.40
Skintimate shaving gel, 7 oz: $3.49 – $0.55 coupon = $2.94 (generated $2.50 ECB)
2 Clean & Clear shower gels, 16 oz each: (2 x $2.99) – BOGO coupon – $2.00 coupon = $0.99
Used $7.99 ECB from a previous transaction
Spent: $2.06
Saved: $24.69


Price Chopper
2 Tony’s four cheese pizzas: ($1.69 x 2) – $1.00 = $2.38
2 mangoes: 2 x $0.69 = $1.38
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers: $$0.69
2 Yoplait Greek yogurts: (2 x $0.99) – $0.60 = $1.38
4 lbs oranges: $1.69
0.77 lbs green beans: $0.77
1.06 lbs asparagus: $1.05
Spent: $10.24
Saved: $10.16


Costco
36 flour tortillas, 63 oz: $3.99
Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches, 20 ct: $9.45 – $2.75 coupon = $6.70
Organic baby spring mix, 1 lb: $4.29
Kirkland Signature Parmigiano Reggiano, 1 lb: $14.99
Kirkland Signature wheat bread, 4 lbs: $3.79
Spent: $37.01

GRAND TOTAL: $58.22
TOTAL SAVED: $43.58

Groceries 3/27/11 and weekly recap

March 27th 2011 Posted at Budget, Costco, Coupons, CVS, Groceries, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Personal care, Price Chopper, Walgreens
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Hy-Vee
Peter Pan peanut butter, 3 pack, 48.9 oz total: $2.98
Spent: $3.25

Hen House
2 lbs strawberries: $1.38
Green Giant honey glazed carrots, 10 oz: $1.25 – $0.50 coupon (doubled) = $0.25
Roberts sour cream, 16 oz: $1.29 – $0.30 coupon (doubled) = $0.69
Spent: $2.60
Saved: $9.63

TOTAL: $5.85

All I really needed at Hy-Vee this week was the 3-pack of peanut butter, but I made up for it with a quick trip to Hen House. I love shopping at Hen House, and I get some of my best deals there. I should make more of an effort to pay attention to the sales they’re having because I don’t shop there nearly enough.

I also got a couple of things at CVS and Walgreens earlier this week.

CVS
Head & Shoulders shampoo, 14.2 oz: $4.99 – $1.00 coupon = $3.99 (generated $2.50 ECB)
Spent: 3.44
Saved: $2.89

Walgreens
2 Dove chocolates, 1.3 oz each: $0.98 – $0.75 coupon = $0.23
Spent: $0.32

TOTAL: $3.76

GRAND TOTAL FOR THE WEEK: $18.81 (including my earlier trip to Price Chopper and Costco)

That’s a pretty low total. I’ll gladly pocket the difference or use it to stock up next week.

Week ending on 3/20/11

March 20th 2011 Posted at ALDI, Budget, Cleaning supplies, Costco, Coupons, CVS, Groceries, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Pinching penies, Price Chopper, Walgreens
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This past week I shopped at SEVEN stores on two different days. I’m crazy, I know.

First, I ran to Walgreens and CVS last Sunday, and those were by far my most impressive shopping trips of the week. I’m pretty well stocked up, and I don’t need lots of things from the drugstores anymore, so I’d forgotten just how great it can be to walk out of there with a cart full of things for which you paid only a couple of dollars. It’s even better when the cashier can’t believe you’re getting such a good deal, and she asks to see the flyer before she lets you walk out of there with all those things.

Friday was my regular shopping day, and I went to Hen House, Hy-Vee, Price Chopper, Aldi, and Costco. I could’ve skipped Hen House and Aldi since I only went to each of them for a single item. Sometimes it makes sense to go a little out of your way if the savings are worth your time and money, but not always. Even when the savings justify it, make sure you grab the right item so that you don’t wipe your savings by overpaying.

All in all it was a great week. I was only slightly over my initial budget of $50/week, which I have actually upgraded to a more realistic $75/week. I figured that $50 was much too restrictive, especially since I use that money not only for groceries but also for cleaning supplies and personal care items. Moreover, even the thrifty USDA food plan for a family of 2 is $82.60/week as of January 2011. More often than not, I hover around $50/week anyway, but I no longer feel like I’m constantly failing whenever I go above.

Walgreens

Spent: $0.40
Saved: $8.98

CVS

Spent: $3.93
Saved: $42.42

Costco

Spent: $26.03
Saved: $3.00

Price Chopper

Spent: $12.98
Saved: $16.40

Hy-Vee, Hen House, and Aldi

Spent: $10.08
Saved: $9.36

GRAND TOTAL: $53.42
TOTAL SAVINGS: $80.16

Hen House, Hy-Vee, and Aldi 3/18/11

March 18th 2011 Posted at ALDI, Coupons, Groceries, Hen House, Hy-Vee
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Hen House
Eggland’s Best large eggs, 1 dozen:  $1.49 – $0.35 coupon (doubled) = $0.79
Total: $0.83
Saved: $4.37

Hy-Vee
Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers, 12 oz: $1.50 – $0.50 coupon = $1.00
4 boxes Hy-Vee mac and cheese @ $0.25 each: $1.00
2 containers Hy-Vee sour cream, 8 oz each (BOGO): $0.89
2 bags Kraft Natural Shredded Mozzarella: $3.00 – $1.00 coupon = $2.00
1.01 lbs asparagus: $1.49
1 bunch of radishes: $0.50
Total: $7.63
Saved: $4.99

Aldi
2 lbs sweet onion: $1.49
Total: $1.62

GRAND TOTAL: $10.08

Here are a couple of things I noticed while shopping today:

  • I had a ridiculously hard time finding a box of Eggland’s Best eggs without any cracked eggs. Maybe that’s why they were on sale.
  • I went out of my way to buy onion at Aldi because the savings justified it. Unfortunately, I grabbed the wrong bag, which ended up wiping a good chunk of the savings.
  • Not that it matters to me (because I go wherever the best deals are), but there’s a noticeable difference in the people shopping at Hen House, Hy-Vee, Price Chopper, and Aldi. That made me a little sad.

Week ending on 7/18/10

July 17th 2010 Posted at Budget, Costco, Coupons, CVS, Groceries, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Personal care, Target, Walgreens, Walmart
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I was slightly under budget this week. I would’ve been quite a big under budget had I not shopped at Walmart yesterday. I had bought some steak at Hy-Vee and I was all set for my birthday, but then Walmart came around with a deal I couldn’t pass: $0.98 bacon wrapped beef filets. Naturally, I picked up some more stuff while I was there, and that brought my total for the week up to $48.07. Not bad at all. Here’s where the money went:

Costco
I only got some Romaine hearts.
Spent: $3.91

Walmart

Spent: $5.65

Hy-Vee

Spent: $25.66

Walgreens

Spent: $1.84
Saved: $8.38

Hen House

Spent: $3.17
Saved: $6.14

CVS

Spent: $3.96
Saved: $17.37

Target

Spent: $3.88
Saved: $4.48

TOTAL SPENT: $48.07

Hen House 7/14/10

July 17th 2010 Posted at Coupons, Groceries, Hen House
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Dannon natural plain yogurt, 32 oz – $1.13 after $0.75 coupon
2 x Bird’s Eye Steamfresh mixed veggies – $0.56 after $1.00 coupon
Steam of the Crop sugar snap peas – $1.04 after $0.35 coupon
TOTAL: $3.17
SAVED: $6.14

Week ending on 7/11/10

July 11th 2010 Posted at Budget, Cleaning supplies, Costco, Coupons, CVS, Groceries, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Personal care, Target, Walgreens
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I ALMOST stayed under budget this pas week. Almost. I spent a total of $52.19 and shopped at Target, Hy-Vee, Hen House, Walgreens, CVS, and Costco. I know that sounds like a lot, but four of them are lined up on the same street, fairly close to each other. In fact, CVS is right next to Hy-Vee and Walgreens is across the Street from Hen House. The only reason I mention this is because it’s not as big of a hassle as it sounds. The only store that was out of the way is Target, and I may or may not continue to shop there in the future. In any case, it was a pretty good week. Here’s a breakdown of where my money went.

Target
Spent: $5.13
Saved: $10.75

CVS
Spent: $2.31
Saved: $16.74

Hy-Vee
Spent: $13.30

Hen House
Spent: $17.01
Saved: $25.10

Walgreens
Spent: $4.48
Saved: $24.56

Costco
Spent: $9.96

TOTAL SPENT: $52.19
TOTAL SAVED: $77.15 (does not include savings at Costco and Hy-Vee)

Hen House deals on 7/8/10

July 10th 2010 Posted at Cleaning supplies, Coupons, Groceries, Hen House, Personal care
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Charmin Basic 12 big rolls (not pictured) – $4.33 after doubled $0.25 coupon
Bounty Basic 8 big rolls (not pictured) – $4.33 after doubled $0.25 coupon
Roberts 1% fat cottage cheese – $0.67 after doubled $0.50 coupon
2 Palermo’s Classics pizzas – $2.34 after $1.00 coupon
2 Breyers ice creams (extra dark chocolate and coffee) – $3.21 after $0.75 coupon
0.72 lbs beef round steak – $5.25
TOTAL: $17.01 after coupons and after a $5.00 Hen House reward
SAVED: $25.10

Week ending on 7/4/10

July 3rd 2010 Posted at ALDI, Budget, Costco, Coupons, Groceries, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Walgreens
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I did my shopping early again this week and that leaves me a lot more time this weekend. As much as I love saving money, I also love having a weekend free from shopping. I only spent a little over $35 so far, but I plan on going to Costco later today and getting a huge bottle of olive oil, which I’m sure will take care of my budget for the week.

Hy-Vee

2 x fat free Cool Whip – $1.76 after $0.20 coupon
3 x 2 liter Diet Dr Pepper – $2.31
Hy-Vee hamburger buns – $0.77
Hy-Vee hot dog buns – $0.77
1.75 quart Hy-Vee light Dutch chocolate ice cream (Go Netherlands! :) ) – $1.48
2 x Bar-S jumbo franks – $0.18 after $1.00 coupon (will probably donate these)
2 x Oscar Mayer light  wieners – $0.98 after $1.00 coupon
1 cantaloupe – $0.99
2 mangos – $1.18
2.18 lbs red seedless grapes – $2.07
1 bunch organic green onions – $0.79 (should’ve been $0.59, but I wasn’t about to hold up the line for 20 cents)
4 lbs 85% lean ground beef – $7.16
Total: $22.43
Saved: $26.49

Hen House

16 oz Roberts fat free sour cream – $0.19 after $0.40 coupon, doubled
Kraft light cucumber ranch salad dressing – $0.48 after $1.00 coupon
Total: $0.84
Saved: $3.91

Walgreens

Crest Extra White plus Scope Outlast toothpaste – $2.25 after $0.75 coupon (generated $3.00 register rewards)
Total: $2.52
Saved: $1.74
This has to be one of my most disappointing Walgreens trips. They were out of the other 2 things I wanted (the moisturizing socks and the smoothie lip balm set) so I walked out of there with a sad little toothpaste. Better than nothing, right?

I also stopped by Walgreens last Sunday, but I’ll count that shopping trip as part of this week.

1 Reach floss -  FREE after $1.00 coupon
4 12-pack of Pepsi – $13.00 (generated $5.00 register rewards)
1 set of chip clips – $2.00
Total: $7.77 after using $8.50 register rewards
Saved: $15.50

Aldi

This was a quick trip last Sunday, but I’m counting it as part of this week.
1 pound of bing cherries – $1.49
Total: $1.61

GRAND TOTAL: $35.17
TOTAL SAVED: $47.64

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Week ending on 6/6/10

June 6th 2010 Posted at ALDI, Budget, Costco, CVS, Groceries, Hen House, Hy-Vee, Walgreens
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I’d say I did OK this week, but there’s plenty of room for improvement. I think I’m reaching saturation right about now and I’m having an easier time saying no to deals. I’m trying to make room in my budget for a giant 25 pound bag of pinto beans at Costco next week.

Aldi

Read more about the deals I got at Aldi this week. Not too bad, considering I treated myself to some flowers.
TOTAL: $9.41
SAVED: $0.97 compared to grocery stores.

Walgreens

Read more about the deals I got at Walgreens this week.
TOTAL: $6.33
SAVED: $21.27

Hen House

Read more about the deals I got at Hen House this week.
TOTAL: $3.54
SAVED: $8.45

CVS

Read more about the deals I got at CVS this week.
TOTAL: $6.58
SAVED: $14.19

Hy-Vee

Read more about the deals I got at Hy-Vee this week.
TOTAL: $30.14
SAVED: $19.70

Costco

1 gallon of skim milk – $2.45
2 bags of whole wheat bread (64 oz) – $3.55
TOTAL: $6.48
SAVED:$0.39

Wow! When did the price of skim milk go up at Costco? It was $2.12 last time I bought it and now it’s $2.45/gallon. Ouch! That’ll teach me not to buy something without double-checking the price. I can’t even say I enjoyed the samples, as they only had 3 stands yesterday.

GRAND TOTAL: $62.48
TOTAL SAVED: $64.97

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