Publix Roundup 8/30 - 86% Savings

I haven't quite got my groove with grocery shopping since school started. Many things in my weekly routine have been switched around with many new commitments. However, I did manage a Publix run today, and it was quite fun to shop without kids for a change. Here's my big, big list of free and ultra-cheap this week.

Publix Free and Ultra - Cheap

Rotisserie Chicken, $7.39 - Free rotisserie chicken Whole Foods coupon. (My Publix accepts

Whole Foods coupons as competitor coupons.) = FREE

10 x Yakisoba noodle bowls, 89c - 50c Q, doubled = Free plus overage

Coke Zero, $1.39 - FREE with coupon from My Coke Rewards

2 x Aunt Jemima Pancakes, $1.35 - 1 x $1/2 MQ - 2 x $1/1 Publix Q = Free plus overage

Dole Pineapple Mango Juice, 90c - 50c MQ, doubled = FREE

6 x Easy Mac Cups, 99c ea - 3 x BOGO coupons = 50c each, average * Qualifies for $20 Kraft rebate

Ritz Crackers, $1.75 - $1 MQ tearpad = 75c

Ritz Crackerfuls, $3.25 - FREE wyb Ritz crackers = FREE

3 x Nabisco Toasted Chips, $1.70 - $1 MQ = 70c each

2 x Hillshire Lunchmeats, $3 - $1 Target Q - 55c MQ = $1.45 each

Scotch Bubble Mailer, 69c - 50c Q, doubled = FREE plus overage

2 x Glad Sandwich bags = $1.79 - $1 Food Lion Q - 25c MQ, peelie, doubled = 24c each

Barilla pasta, 79c - 50c MQ, doubled = FREE plus overage

Glade mini candle, $3.19 - FREE product MQ = FREE

Lipton Family Size Decaf Tea, $3.99 - FREE product coupon from home mailer = FREE

8 x Lipton 16-ct black tea, $1.09 - $1/1 MQs from "Raise Your Hand for Savings" Unilever booklet at Publix = 9c each

2 x South Beach granola bars, $1.75 - $1 MQs = 75c each

2 lbs bananas @ 69c lb - 50c/lb Target Qs = 19c/ lb

Greenwise TP, $2.39 - Penny item coupon = 1c

McCormick Peppercorn Medley Grinder, $1 - $1 MQ = FREE (These are soooo good!)

Other Stuff:

Mahatma brown rice, $1.79 - 75c MQ = $1.09

2 x Sargento Cheese, $3.99 each - $1/2 MQ from Kroger home mailer

5 x Capri Sun, $1.99 each *Qualifies for $20 Kraft Rebate

apples, parmesan cheese, milk

I used a Publix $5/$30 and a Kroger $6/$60 Purchase

I will send my receipt in together with the receipt from this purchase

for the $20 Kraft rebate, so let's say the percentage of the rebate from this purchase is half or $10.

Total Value of Groceries = $127.98

Total Spent Before Tax = $28.34

Amount Saved from Sales and Coupons = $99.64

Amount earned on Rebate = $10

Total Savings = $109.64 or 86%

Free Yakisoba Noodle Bowls at Publix

Did you receive a 50c/1 Yakisoba coupon in last Sunday's insert (8/23)? If your Publix store doubles, you can get these for free with possible overage. The regular price of these babies is 89c at Publix. You can probably get them for free at Kroger, too, but I haven't checked the price lately. (Kroger registers do not allow for overage and will adjust down the "doubled" value of the coupon.)

My son likes to take these to school for lunch. They make a nice change from sandwiches.

Blessings.

Another Publix Trip & More Target Finds

My girls and I were out doing errands. I stopped at a different Publix than my usual. They were in stock on the items I've been having trouble finding!

5 x Tidy Cats 14 lb, $6.99 BOGO ($3.50 each) - $2 peelies = $1.50 each

5 x Chinet Lunch Plates, $2.50 Advantage Buy - $2 MQ = 50c each

(We don't use many paper plates, but these are great for camping, birthday parties, and other parties! It's nice to have them in stock!)

6 x Glade 2-oz. Fragrance Collection candles, $3.19 - FREE item coupon = FREE

4 x I Can't Believe It's Not Butter sticks, BOGO $2.49 ($1.25 each) - $1 blinkie coupon (right there on the shelf by the sticks!) = 25c each

Kashi Reusable Bag - FREE

There was a lady giving out samples and coupons. When I told her how much we like Kashi products, she gave us this reusable bag. How nice.

I've misplaced my receipt, but here's how I work out the savings, excluding the Advantage Buy savings.

Total value of groceries: $76.55

Total spent: $11 before tax

Total saved: $65.55 pr 86%

Here are some more Target fun finds. Seems like I frequently need to go to Target for something. Today it was desk lamps. I try to pick up the great deals while I am there.

2 x Tide travel packs, 97c - $1 MQ (no size limit) = FREE

6 x General Mills cereal cups, $1 - $1 Target Q (no size limit) = FREE

10 x Skippy Natural Peanut Butter (Yes, we are crazy for this brand and for PB!), $1.79 - 9 x 55c Q and 1 x 60c Q = $1.24 each x 9 and $1.19 each x 1

3.3 lbs Gala apples, in three 1.1 lb. bags, $1.49 lb - 3 x $1/1 lb. Target Qs = $2

(I can hardly keep apples in the house!)

Plentiful Publix (73% savings)

Super Publix Finds

2 x Starbucks Ice Cream, $1.79 - $2 MQ (regional) = FREE plus overage

Scotch Bubble mailing envelope = 69c - 50c MQ, doubled = FREE plus overage

2 x Cheerios Big Box, $2.50 - $1/2 MQ - 2 x $1 Target Q = $1/box

1 x Multigrain Cheerios Big Box, $2.50 - 75c MQ - $1 Target Q = 75c

3 x Back to Nature Granola, $1.80 - $1 MQs = 80c each

2 x Cascadian Farm Granola, $2.50 - $1 MQ = $1.50 each

2 x Kashi Honey Sunshine, $2.50 - $1.50 MQs = $1 each

(Our family really enjoys natural and organic breakfast cereals. My target price for regular cereal is $1/box. For natural or organic cereal, my target price is $1.50/box. Note to self: We do not need any more cereal for a few months!)

Luzianne Decaf Tea, $1.85 - 60c MQ = $1.25 (I'm so happy the decaf was included in the BOGO sale!)

Back To Nature Cookies, $1.44 - $1 MQs = 44c each. (These are soooo delicious.)

Glad Sandwich Bags, $1.79 - $1 Target Q - 25c MQ peelie, doubled = 29c

Skippy Natural Peanut Butter, $2 in-store special - 60c Q = $1.40 each

Bananas, 1.28 lb, 88c - 50c Target Q = 38c

Cameo apples, $1.48 - $1 Target Q = 48 c

Jazz apples, $1.79 - $1 Target Q = 79c (I think this rang up at the wrong price per lb. I will take back my receipt to check next time, just in case.)

More Super Publix Finds

11 YoPlus Yogurts, $1.25 each - $1 Qs, - $2/$10 Dairy Purchase (excluding cheese and milk) Kroger competitor coupon = 75c for 11 or 7 c each! - We love this brand!

2 Fiber One Yogurts, $1.15 each - $1.25 MQ = FREE

Reddi Whip, $1.50 - 50c Q, doubled = 50c

Tidy Cats Litter, BOGO $3.50 each - $2 MQ peelies = $1.50 each

(I'm so thankful when I can find inexpensive pet care products. I had $1 MQs from the newspaper, but when I got to the store, there were the $2 peelies! WHOO HOO!)

Publix Shopping Bag, 99c - Peelie Q FREE WYB 2 General Mills products

2 x Sargento Shredded Cheese, $2 each - $1/2 MQ = $1.50 each

3 x Sargento Sunbursts, $2 each - 40c MQ, doubled = $1.20 each

Hillshire Farm Turkey (not pictured), $3.99 - $1 Target Q = $2.99

(There are MQs out for this, but I didn't have them with me.)

Not pictured: Bread, eggs, wet ones, salad mix, milk, carrots, OJ

My store has been out of the $2.50 Chinet lunch plates ($2 Qs) and finally took down the shelf tags. I also haven't been able to get any of the free Glade Fragrance Collection soy candles. Maybe I will look at another store.

I used a $5/$25 Rite Aid competitor coupon.

Total value of groceries: $168.61

Total spent before tax: $44.69

Total Savings: $123.92 or 73%

Whew! It's the Start of a New School Year

I've been quite frazzled with the start of the new school year. In my house that means two kids off to private school and one child homeschooled: two different release times, carpools, five meetings in the past few days, and no school lunches!

Packing lunches five days per week can be a daunting task. How do yo make it healthy for a growing body, packable, and interesting enough for a kid to eat? Add to that each person's eating likes and dislikes. How do you avoid the endless string of sandwiches.

Here are some ideas that I throw into the mix (along with the ever-present sandwiches.)

* Crackers with PB, cheese, or hummus. See this wonderful post on "snacky lunch"

* Something microwavable, like Easy Mac cups or Yakisoba noodles

* Pizza bagels

* Tortilla wraps (w/ homemade tortillas)

(Spicy mustard, honey ham, cheese, lettuce)

(All rolled up, and ready to go.)

My husband will also pack a simple tossed salad with a tiny container of dressing. This way, he can add it to the salad just before eating so that it doesn't get soggy. My kids will eat salad at home, but we haven't been adventuresome enough to try it at school.

I'd love to hear your creative school lunch ideas, too!

Produce Coupons

I just wanted to mention that there are some nice fresh produce Target printable coupons. Be sure to print some if you are heading to a Super Target or a Publix that accepts Target coupons.

$1/1 lb. or more bulk apples

$1/1 whole pineapple

$1/5-lb bag of Green Giant Potatoes

50c / 1-lb or more bananas.

I'm so happy to see these, as I'm always looking for ways to save money on produce.

Here's a tip to maximize your savings. If the coupon is for 1-lb or more, break your purchase up into 1-lb bags and make multiple transactions if necessary. Fortunatley, my Publix and my Target do not require me to do this.

See my post about printing Target coupons for more tips!

Blessings and good health to you.

Cake Mix Cookies

When I make cookies for home, I do like to make them from scratch. When I need to bring a dessert to a school or church function, I am not always so motivated. Here's a little recipe that is sure to please. It makes it even nicer if you have a few boxes of cake mix in your stockpile that you purchased for pennies! These make a nice soft sugar cookie.

Cake Mix Cookies

1 boxed yellow cake mix

1/2 c. vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Roll into balls and drop onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes. Cool on pan briefly before transferring to a baking rack. Allow cookies to cool completely.

Cookie Frosting: Mix about 1/2 c. or so of powdered sugar with a tiny bit of water until the sugar reaches spreadable consistency. Add a drop or two of food coloring and mix well. Spread onto cooled cookies.