Let's Save Some Money...Grocery Edition

Before I hit the gym Monday evening, I hit up the grocery. I ALWAYS dread this task for many reasons, but especially because I hate spending the moo-lahhhhh. And I hate trying to read labels to find what has ten less calories than the generic product, and why the "light" or "fat free" option of a product is often worse for you than the regular, already-artery-clogging version. Can't I just eat Easter candy and pizza from Mellow Mushroom for the rest of my life? With some BoJangles thrown in?? No? Well, damn.

I have made no secret of the fact that I try to save money and work a job and a half to pay the bills and still have any leftover to do things in and around my house and to have any sort of social life. So, when I was fortunate enough to buy my house, I slowly began couponing. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm nothing like those people from Extreme Couponing on TLC. Hell to the naw.

Source

But, saving money is always good for the bottom line and allows me to buy a present of some sort for myself every now and then. I have slowly taught myself how to save the most money while making the least amount to the least amount of stores. I have red blogs and other posts about how to save money and always pull a wealth of information from a lady who works for our local TV station, WRAL. Faye is their SmartShopper and lists all the best deals, freebies, and coupons around town.

I do keep a coupon accordion file that is organized by categories, but didn't even use that for this trip to grab a few items. Monday, my plan was to combine the weekly sale prices with just two coupons I had to get some great deals on sale. Most of my coupons come from either the Sunday newspaper or the SmartShopper link, above.

Monday, I knew several great deals I wanted to take advantage of:

• Green, yellow, red, orange bell peppers - 99 cents each (usually 3 in a bag for 4.99)
• Yellow squash and zucchini - 99 cents per pound
• Lean Cuisine - 5 for $10
• Lettuce - 99 cents each
• Buy 4, save $4
• Kraft Cheese Blocks (bought two)
• Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing (bought 1)
• Cheez-It Baked Crackers (bought 1)
• Barilla Whole Grain Pasta - 4 for $5
• all of these deals are with your Kroger Card

PLUS, I had a $1 off 2 Kraft Natural Cheese blocks coupon and a $1 off 2 boxes of Barilla whole grain pasta coupon. That's IMMEDIATELY $2 more off the purchase, and can be combined with regular sales. (Unfortunately, Kroger doesn't automatically double coupons like some stores do because their prices are already MUCH lower than some other stores.)

So....here are my totals:

• Total before Kroger card, with all original prices - $44.86
• Total after Kroger card, with all discounts - $32.26
• Grand total after Kroger card and only two coupons, including tax - $30.26

My friends, to me, that makes it worth taking 10 minutes to look at the weekly ad and print off and cut out TWO coupons. I saved myself $14.60 just from not even 10 minutes worth of work. 

Here's my haul from the store... and this doesn't include the gallon of milk I bought at regular price or another box of the pasta that was on the stove cooking when I took this picture.

All of these produce are looking mighty tasty!

And a picture of my receipt so you know I'm not lying...

I hope this post is at least a little helpful to some of you to show you exactly how EASY it is to save on your weekly bill just by checking the ads for your local grocer and with just a couple coupons. Please let me know if you have any questions and if you, yourself, coupon! I'd love to hear your stories!

xoxo!