Goodbye sunshine, hello rain.
The burn ban was lifted over the weekend so now I can have a cracking fire burning in the fireplace when the Handsome Husband comes home from work {just like a true Pilgrim woman}. I LOVE this time of year. Mostly because I don’t look like a total nut when I run errands around town in my favorite long sleeved t-shirts and sweaters.
People stare at me when it’s 80 degrees, but not when it’s like 50 degrees out. Ahhh, the little things.
Anyway, I did quite a bit of grocery shopping last week, it wasn’t all free, but now my refrigerator is stocked and ready for another week.
*If you are a real Washingtonian, you are too cool to use an umbrella. I just used it so you knew it was raining out. Ha!
Here is what I purchased last week.
Costco Shopping Trip $14.38
The kids were whining we didn’t have any lunch meat for the sandwiches so I broke down and stopped by Costco and picked some up. While I was there I grabbed some crappy Costco milk containers as well.
Local Produce Stand $5.33
Last week I made stuffed bell peppers in the crock pot, caramel apple dip, and Baba Ganoush and needed a few extra ingredients to make it all happen.
Costco Shopping Trip $ 0
The day after I purchased ham and milk my annual Costco rebate check came in the mail. Instead of cashing in the check like I’ve done in years past, I decided to take a break from coupon shopping and spend all but $.74 of it at Costco on goodies.
Bartering with Mrs. Hillbilly $0
I batered a 25 pound bag of whole wheat bread flour I didn’t want with Mrs. Hillbilly.
Albertsons Shopping Trip $2.39
While I was in Atlanta, Georgia last week I met a rep from International Delight and she gave me a bunch of free product coupons.
Reclaimed Produce $0
Free chicken scraps are awesome!
Albertsons Double Shopping Trip $.24
Who says you need money to buy groceries? All you need is enough to cover the tax and you’re good!
I spent a lot last week, but I was also able to pick up some really good stuff. I think I’m going to have to take a break from shopping though this week if I want to stay on track. We’ll see.
So how did you do this past week?
Did you do any couponing or splurge on anything good?
~Mavis
Total Spent This Week $23.34
Total Spent This Year $1,028.17
Total Spent This Year on Garden Seeds/Supplies $516.21
Total “Seed Money” donations received $51.00
Go HERE to read more Shopping Trip Stories.
Step2 Little Helper’s Grocery Cart
jamie says
Mavis, I don’t think you should count the .24 cents from your Albies trip yesterday since it was tax on toothpaste. You may own the fact that you have “crappy British teeth,” but you still should not be eating toothpaste!!! Ummmmm…. Unless you find it in a great new jam recipe =D
Heidi says
Hi Mavis,
I can’t stand the Costco milk jugs either. Last night I watched a documentary on Costco and they have facilities that test all of their Kirkland products over and over again for quality. Who is testing the milk jugs???? A monkey? They are terrible.
Bit of trivia~ Did you know Costco sells enough bathroom tissue every year to wrap around the earth 1200 time? Amazing!
Julie says
How quickly do you go through milk? Or do you have a way to keep it before it spoils? Please share.
LaToya says
I’m not Mavis (obviously) – but we freeze our milk. When Fred Meyer has the cheap 1/2 gallon sales and I have coupons (we get .75-cent off coupons here in Idaho for milk), I stock up. And freeze them. I was adverse to it when I first heard about it on coupon blogs. But tried it. No issues at all. No funky taste or texture or ice pieces. It’s a breeze.
Mavis says
About 2 gallons a week. I have a lot of recipes I’m working on right now so I needed lots of milk.
Katie says
Mavis,
I’m totally inspired by your blog. Would you consider sharing you pre-planting plans so people can follow along? As in, Week 1, we’re all putting X seeds to start?
Yes, yes, I know a true “plant along” is impossible because everyone faces different seasons/conditions/budgets but it would be handy planning tool ripe for conversation/education. (Ripe! Ha!)
If you do, sign me up! I’m so inspired by your 2,000 lbs goal.
P.S. Calling someone “hillbilly” is still a serious, slanderous curse word in some parts of the U.S. of A.! For real! I learned the hard way.
Mavis says
You bet Katie, I’ll start posting more about planting seeds. 🙂 I’m glad you are here.
Marcy says
Wish we had an Albertson’s here, no stores here do double coupons and only take manufacturer coupons or their own store ones.
My mom lives in Spokane and she pillages Albertson’s on a regular basis. LOL!
D'Anna says
I splurged on TP on Saturday so Sunday I doubled for free tortillas, some All gel things and cheap Garnier shampoo. The shampoo I like, and the stockpile of Pantene products from a few weeks ago needed a splash of green to liven it up.
Totally un-Albie’s related but at Target I scored a bag of Matchlight briquets and Kingsford fluid = 6.98 – 3.00 Target coupon for buying both = 3.98 then used a $2 off meat coupon for buying both Kingsford items = $1 for 1lb of ground round. It wasn’t a deal I knew about, I just happened around that corner and had my coupon box with me so it worked out for an unexpected surprise.