Over budget :(

This week has felt like it would never end. I had to work long hours at work this week, plus my sinuses have been acting up so badly and just making me feel in general like crap, so by Friday I was worn out! Usually I go grocery shopping early Saturday mornings to get it out of the way, but I have been in and out of sleep all day long. Unfortunately, we were out of many staples, so I had to make it to the grocery. My husband came with me, which is probably another reason we were over budget. I don't have a "set" amount every week, because I know it will vary based on the sales, but I didn't want to spend over $30 at Publix. Well, I forgot my shopping list at home, and I am still halfway out of it (I'm actually laying in bed right now :)), and we ended up spending $48.92, including tax. Sigh.

I also was not up to taking a picture when I got home, so I'll just give you just a few highlights:

• 2 boxes Orville Redenbacher popcorn and 2 jars Peter Pan peanut butter, $1.30-$1.50 each, had $1/2 popcorn store coupon, and $1.50/4 Conagra items
• Duncan Hines muffin mix, on sale $1.70, had $.35/1 MQ that doubled
• Pepperidge Farm milano cookies, on sale $2.50, had $1/1 MQ (usually wouldn't buy, but I convinced myself they would make me feel better)
• Arnold Oatnut bread, on sale $1.85

My husband had an idea while we were at the store to make shrimp tacos for dinner, since they are easy and we both weren't feeling great. It was either that or grab something on the way home. We already had the shrimp, but I had to buy tortillas, a tomato, sour cream, Mexican rice, cilantro, and limes at Publix. This added about $6 that I otherwise would not have spent. However, it's definitely healthier and probably cheaper than even grabbing some fast food, and since that was the alternative, I don't feel so guilty. Plus, it's nice to splurge on a favorite dish every once in awhile. Next week, I will do better with my budget!

Rite Aid is my FAVORITE!

Every time I go to Rite Aid, I love it even more! I forgot to take a picture when I got home, plus I just took a nice walk around my neighborhood so I don't feel like getting up and fooling with it now, but here are my deals:

• Complete Contact solution, $7.99 with $7.99 SCR
• 44 ct. Always pads, $6.99 with $2 SCR
• 22 ct. Always pads, $3.99 with B1G1 free coupon
• 1 dozen eggs, reg. price $1.79

I also used a $5/20 Rite Aid video values coupon, making my oop $12.80. I will be receiving $9.99 SCR back, so my total oop was only $2.79, and $2 of that amount was tax (darn 10% sales tax). The only reason I ended up buying eggs was to get my total to $20, and it saved me an immediate trip to Costco since I used the last of my eggs for breakfast this morning. I just love Rite Aid!!

Winn Dixie and Target -awesome trip!

Whew, I'm exhausted! I've gone to Publix, Winn Dixie, and Target today grabbing all the good deals. I forgot to take a picture of my Publix deals, so I just have Winn Dixie and Target to show for.

I got the lightbulbs and two Armor All products at Target. After the wheel protectant rebate (just google armor all rebate and it will pop up!), I spent $2.60, including tax at Target.

The highlights at Winn Dixie include:

• All those P&G products? Well, there was a $5 rebate wyb $20 worth of participating products. I was able to get 3 disposable razor packs, Bounty napkins, Dawn dish soap, Cascade ActionPacs, Iams dog food, and Mr. Clean multi surface liquid for about $21.71. That's basically the cost of the dog food and one razor pack.
• 1.75 lbs of green grapes, $1.99/lb ($3.48 total)
• 2 bags peeled and deveined shrimp, B1G1 for $10.99
• 2 packages London Broil, on sale B1G1 at $4.99/lb ($8.23 total)

PLUS, I bought some beer rebates on e-bay that I should be getting in the mail Monday. One of these rebates was a Bud Light $6 rebate wyb $10 fresh or frozen seafood. So, I'll actually be recovering $6 of my total cost!

Total spent at WD: $34.34 + tax ($28.34 after rebate!)
Total saved at WD: $71.88 or 72%

Impressing the husband at Winn Dixie!

So, normally, I'm not a big Winn Dixie shopper. I usually find them overpriced, even with their BOGO sales. But we had one package of chicken breasts left, and they are BOGO this week at Winn Dixie. I could have gone to Costco...but I didn't feel like dealing with all the shoppers there the day before Easter. But I'm glad I went to Winn Dixie; I ended up getting alot of stuff I needed, and my husband was VERY impressed (and nicely came along to help me!). Here's the pic of what I got:

Okay, not my best pic, but I was in a rush to get all my groceries put away so I could start cooking my yummy cream cheese ranch crock pot chicken for dinner! The breakdown of what I spent:

• 2 Ragu pasta sauces, BOGO $2.59, had $1/2 MQ
• 2 Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, BOGO $1.29, had $1/2 MQ
• 11 cans Winn Dixie (we were out!), $.60/each
  
• Kingsford charcoal briquettes, on sale $6.99, plus an extra $1 off for buying 4 Clorox brand products (didn't realize the same people who made bleach made charcoal!)
• Hidden Valley ranch salad dressing, on sale $3.29, extra $1 off for Clorox items, then had FREE coupon wyb Kingsford charcoal
• 2 Hidden Valley ranch dry ranch double packets, on clearance $1.29/each
• 2 Clorox gallon bleach, on sale $1.99, extra $2 off for Clorox items
• 4 packages boneless skinless chicken breasts, around $15 for all 4
• 1 Breakstone sour cream, on sale $1, had $.60/1 MQ
• 1 Gold Medal flour, on sale $1.49
• 1 Sara Lee Honey wheat bread, on sale $1.99
  
• Green cabbage, $1.56
• 1 Yoplait Yo-plus yogurt 4-pack, reg. price $2.50, had FREE item coupon
• 1 Vitamin Water, on sale $1, had FREE item coupon
• 1 package Dole sliced mushrooms, on sale $1.50
• 2 sweet potatoes, on sale $.49/lb (ended up being $.80)

I also had a $10/50 coupon to sweeten the deal. I made sure my pre-coupon and tax total was as close to $50 as possible ($50.20!), and then had my other coupons scanned after. My total for all this ended up being $34.23, including tax. I saved $53.75, or 61%!