• Living on a Budget: Groceries $40 for 4

    We are back from traveling this week and super excited about having guests.  Here is my weekly update on our Groceries $40 for 4.

    Groceries from Ingles, BiLo, and Walmart

    Ingles Groceries:

    • $15.80 at Ingles for 1 loaf Laura Lynn Bread, 1 container Yogurt, 1 bag of Banana’s, 2 bags fresh Spinach, 2 bags Fresh Coleslaw,   1 container fresh Lettuce, 1 package Ground Hamburger, 1 head Cauliflower, 1 container fresh Strawberries, 1 container fresh Beans, and 1 bag Shredded Lettuce (all the items were marked down on clearance for $0.50 to $0.99 or on sale plus I used a couple coupons from the yogurt boxes)

    BiLo Groceries:

    • $4.48 at BiLo for 1 gallon of Milk and 1 box of PopTarts.  (I brought a reusable bag today so I was able to get a 5 cent discount at BiLo).

    Walmart Groceries:

    • $21.11 at Walmart for 1 container Vanilla Ice Cream, 1 bag of Hashbrowns, 1 bag English Muffins, 1 bag Mozzarella String Cheese, 1 bag Cheese Twist Sticks, 1 container Sour Cream, 2 containers Whipped Topping, 1 bag Bagels, Oscar Mayer Chicken Combo, Oscar Mayer Combos, 1 box Butter, and 1 bag Potatoes (the Oscar Mayer Combos were free with coupon).

    This week I spent $41.39 on groceries.  Even though I was over on my budgeted amount for the week I was able to stock up on several items on clearance plus I had a little extra left over from last week.    I am excited to have my parents, grandparents, and brother visiting this week.  I hope that next week is an even better week and we can come under budget for the week.

    It is my goal to give you regular updates on this budget section so you can celebrate the good weeks with me and thump me on the bad weeks!  As always you are welcomed to join the journey with me.  I would love to hear your story and how you are doing too.  The purpose of our family doing this it to watch our grocery spending while allowing us to feed our family, enjoy life, share with others, and yet stay on track with our budget.

    Living on a Budget is a series of ways our family uses a budget to help keep us accountable with our finances.  Life doesn’t always go as planned.  We have used some of the ideas I will be sharing for years while others are ones we are just starting to implement as we continue finding ways to be creative and have fun with what we have been given.  Having a plan in place allows us the freedom to be smart with what we have been given, get more creative when it is a tight (week, month, year or a season) and when necessary live a much more simplified life.  A budget helps us stay on track so we have more opportunities to enjoy the many blessings we have been given as well as share what we have with others.  There is so much more to life than having all the stuff.  We may not have the newest or greatest items in our house, we drive used cars, and wear hand-me-down clothing…..however, if our family is taken care of and have love for each other and others we have more than all the riches in the world.

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of August 10 – 16, 2011

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.   Save A Lot has continued their sale so it is a  great time to stock up on several items (no coupons necessary to get the Save A Lot Today prices).    Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Oscar Mayer Wieners or Bologna (16 oz or 12 oz) – $0.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 6/19 Smart Source (Expires 8/14/11)
    $0.49 each after coupon

    Beef Eye of Round Roast – $2.99 per lb

    Eckrich Smoked or Skinless Turkey Sausage (14 oz) – $1.99
    Use $0.55/1 coupon from insert 6/26 Smart Source (Expires 8/27/11)
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 6/26 Smart Source (Expires 8/27/11)
    As low as $1.44 each after coupon

    Boneless Chicken Breast – $1.49 per lb

    Ground Beef 73% Lean (3 lb or 5 lb packages) – $1.99 per lb

    Fresh Half Boneless Pork Loin – $1.99 per lb

    Fresh Pork Tenderloin – $3.49 per lb

    Shaner’s Boneless Chicken Breast – $5.99

    Holten Quarter Pound Beef Patties (32 oz) – $3.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Coburn Farm Eggs (1 dozen)- $0.19*
    *Valid with $10 minimum purchase.
    Limit one purchase customer.  Must present coupon at time of purchase.
    Valid at local store (states the address of our local store)
    Expires August 13, 2011

    Kraft American Singles (12 oz) – $1.88
    Use $0.55/1 coupon from Kraft Food & Family Booklet (found at Bi-Lo & Food Lion)
    $1.33 each after coupon

    Ferratto’s Fully Loaded Pizza (21.5 to 24.4 oz) – $4.99

    Coburn Farms Mozarella String Cheese (10 0z) – $2.99

    Take & Bake Pepperoni & Supreme Pizza – $5.99

    Reser’s Potato and Macaroni Salad – $2.99

    Produce

    Black, Red and White Grapes – $0.99 per lb

    Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines – $0.79 per lb

    Strawberries (1 lb package) – $2.00

    Cucumbers – $0.33 each

     Peppers – $0.33 each

    Summer and Zucchini Squash – $0.49 each

    Cantaloupe – $1.49 each

    Grocery

    Ideal Bread (20 or 24 oz) – $0.19*
    *Valid with $10 minimum purchase.
    Limit one purchase customer.  Must present coupon at time of purchase.
    Valid at local store (states the address of our local store)
    Expires August 13, 2011

    General Mills Cereal (20.5 to 21.5 oz) – $2.49
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 7/10 Smart Source (Expires 8/20/11)
    $1.99 each after coupon

    Kellogg’s PopTarts (14 to 14.7 oz) – $1.66
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 7/24 Red Plum (Expires 9/18/11)
    $1.33 each after coupon

    Hi-C Juice Drink Boxes (10 Count) – $1.79

    Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks (4.5 to 5.4 oz) – $1.88
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from 7/17 Smart Source (Expires 9/10/11)
    Use $0.50/2 printable coupon from Betty Crocker
    As low as $1.55 each after coupon

    Splash Out Juice Drink Pouches Fruit Punch (10 pack) – $1.79

    Mantia’s Tri Color Rotini – $0.89

    Tipton Grove Apple Juice – $1.69

    Panner Peanut Butter – $1.59

    Bramley’s Concord Grape Jelly (32 oz) – $1.8

    Fairfield Farms Mini Raisin Boxes – $1.49

    Nature Trails Chewy Granola Bars – $1.99

    J Higg’s Potato Chips – $1.19

    J Higg’s Cheezie Puffs or Crunchy – $1.39

    Portmann’s Salad Dressings – $1.39

    Crisp Lemonade – $0.99

    Summerset Green Citrus Tea (6 pack) – $2.89

    Albany Bakery Creme Sandwich Cookies – $1.99

    Vitner Multi Pack Snacks – $4.99

    Mrs Freshley’s Buddy Bars or Oatmeal Creme – $1.00

    Chef’s Finest Croutons – $0.99

    Tree Ripe Lemonade – $1.99

     Bakery

    Fresh Apple or Cherry Pie – $2.99

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.

  • Save A Lot: Deals for the week of August 3 – 9, 2011

    The Save A Lot weekly ad deals are listed below for your convenience.   Save A Lot continued their sale on “Save A Lot Today” brand products.    Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!

    Meats and Seafood

    Oscar Mayer Wieners or Bologna (16 oz or 12 oz) – $0.99
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 6/19 Smart Source (Expires 8/14/11)
    $0.49 each after coupon

    Beef Eye of Round Roast – $2.99 per lb

    Eckrich Smoked or Skinless Turkey Sausage (14 oz) – $1.99
    Use $0.55/1 coupon from insert 6/26 Smart Source (Expires 8/27/11)
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 6/26 Smart Source (Expires 8/27/11)
    As low as $1.44 each after coupon

    Boneless Chicken Breast – $1.49 per lb

    Ground Beef 73% Lean (3 lb or 5 lb packages) – $1.99 per lb

    Fresh Half Boneless Pork Loin – $1.99 per lb

    Fresh Pork Tenderloin – $3.49 per lb

    Shaner’s Boneless Chicken Breast – $5.99

    Holten Quarter Pound Beef Patties (32 oz) – $3.99

    Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).

    Fridge and Freezer

    Coburn Farm Eggs (1 dozen)- $0.19*
    *Valid with $10 minumum purchase.
    Limit one purchase customer.  Must present coupon at time of purchase.
    Valid at local store (states the address of our local store)
    Expires August 13, 2011

    Kraft American Singles (12 oz) – $1.88
    Use $0.55/1 coupon from Kraft Food & Family Booklet (found at Bi-Lo & Food Lion)
    $1.33 each after coupon

    Ferratto’s Fully Loaded Pizza (21.5 to 24.4 oz) – $4.99

    Coburn Farms Mozarella String Cheese (10 0z) – $2.99

    Take & Bake Pepperoni & Supreme Pizza – $5.99

    Reser’s Potato and Macaroni Salad – $2.99

    Produce

    Black, Red and White Grapes – $0.99 per lb

    Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines – $0.79 per lb

    Strawberries (1 lb package) – $2.00

    Cucumbers – $0.33 each

     Peppers – $0.33 each

    Summer and Zucchini Squash – $0.49 each

    Cantaloupe – $1.49 each

    Grocery

    Ideal Bread (20 or 24 oz) – $0.19*
    *Valid with $10 minumum purchase.
    Limit one purchase customer.  Must present coupon at time of purchase.
    Valid at local store (states the address of our local store)
    Expires August 13, 2011

    General Mills Cereal (20.5 to 21.5 oz) – $2.49
    Use $1.00/2 coupon from insert 7/10 Smart Source (Expires 8/20/11)
    $1.99 each after coupon

    Kellogg’s PopTarts (14 to 14.7 oz) – $1.66
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from insert 7/24 Red Plum (Expires 9/18/11)
    $1.33 each after coupon

    Hi-C Juice Drink Boxes (10 Count) – $1.79

    Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks (4.5 to 5.4 oz) – $1.88
    Use $1.00/3 coupon from 7/17 Smart Source (Expires 9/10/11)
    Use $0.50/2 printable coupon from Betty Crocker
    As low as $1.55 each after coupon

    Splash Out Juice Drink Pouches Fruit Punch (10 pack) – $1.79

    Mantia’s Tri Color Rotini – $0.89

    Tipton Grove Apple Juice – $1.69

    Panner Peanut Butter – $1.59

    Bramley’s Concord Grape Jelly (32 oz) – $1.8

    Fairfield Farms Mini Raisin Boxes – $1.49

    Nature Trails Chewy Granola Bars – $1.99

    J Higg’s Potato Chips – $1.19

    J Higg’s Cheezie Puffs or Crunchy – $1.39

    Portmann’s Salad Dressings – $1.39

    Crisp Lemonade – $0.99

    Summerset Green Citrus Tea (6 pack) – $2.89

    Albany Bakery Creme Sandwich Cookies – $1.99

    Vitner Multi Pack Snacks – $4.99

    Mrs Freshley’s Buddy Bars or Oatmeal Creme – $1.00

    Chef’s Finest Croutons – $0.99

    Tree Ripe Lemonade – $1.99

     Bakery

    Fresh Apple or Cherry Pie – $2.99

    Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals!  Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.

    For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here.  If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.