ALL YOU Grocery Challenge Totals

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

Ok, the ALL YOU Grocery challenge is over! Here are my totals:

Week 4

Grocery: $68.29

My total included stocking up on 1 1/2 bushels of peaches that I froze, pureed for baby food, made pies, and made freezer jam.

Check out Week 1, Week 2, and Week 3 of the ALL YOU Grocery Challenge.

My grand total for all 4 weeks of the ALL YOU Grocery Challenge is

$227.28

The budget for our family of 4 eaters was $100/ week. We were under our budget by $172.72!

I have learned so much over the last four weeks. Thank you ALL YOU!

This post is linked to Friday Finals!

-Robin

Couponing with Kids

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

A few months ago, I dreaded to even go to the grocery store with a 3 year old, 2 year old, and then 3 month old girls. The task of grocery shopping with 3 littles made me exhausted at the thought of it. Then, I started couponing. Of course, my first thought was, how am I going to coupon if just going to the grocery store seems like a challenge?

Knowing that the task at hand would not be easy, I clipped some coupons and headed to the grocery store. It was a rough first few trips, but after we got into a routine, our trips have been easy. I'll share a few tips with you.

Tips for Couponing While Shopping with Kids

1. Organize your coupons and list in the order of the store.

2. Take only the coupons that you know you are going to use

3. Go by the bakery to get the kids a free cookie... most grocery stores give them away. I tell my girls that they only give cookies to good little girls.

4. As you put an item in your shopping cart, put the coupon in a place that you will remember to use it!

5. Give the kids a small list and let them find the items and put them in the shopping cart.

6. You keep the coupons. Do not let the kids hold them... the coupons might disappear.

7. Stick to the list. If the kids ask for items that are not on sale, tell them that you will get them that item when it goes on sale. As the kids grow up, it becomes a good lesson in life.

8. Tell them that you need them to be quiet while checking out. It is very important that you watch all the prices and make sure that all of your coupons are given and come off the order.

9. Don't use the kids as an excuse not to coupon. As a mom, when faced with a challenge, you can do it!

As a mom that has 2 toddlers in her BIG heavy shopping cart (the huge one that looks like a car and seats two kids) and has a now 5 month old strapped on, I feel your pain. But, believe me, the kids get used to your new techniques. We actually shop quicker now that I am more organized and I often get complements on how well my kids behave!

I hope that you are encouraged that you can juggle your kids and your coupons!

-Robin

"Free" Coupons

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

Over the last few months, I have been able to obtain a number of great "free" coupons. "Free" coupons come in handy for a few different purposes. The first purpose for a free coupon is the obvious.... getting an item for free! I also, use "free" coupons to increase my order so that I can use a money off coupon. For example, I have a coupon for "free" Suave shampoo. I'm saving this coupon to use at Rite Aid. There is a number of available $5 off a $25 order for Rite Aid, but some weeks I don't see enough items that we use on sale. If I use my "free" Suave coupon when I have say $22 worth of sale items, then I can increase my order to $25 by purchasing a Suave shampoo. Then, I will use my $5 off $25 and my "free" Suave coupon. With all sales, coupons, free coupons, and money off coupon, I am sure to get a great deal.

I have also used "free" coupons at Piggly Wiggly. Piggly Wiggly often runs a special where you can get a greenbax for using a manufacturers coupon. This is a great deal! There are not a lot of coupon match- ups usually, but since the "free" coupons are manufacturers coupons, then you can get a greenbax for them. There are a few things that you can do with greenbaxes, like buy food, purchase movie tickets, or get park passes for parks in your town. A greenbax can be worth up to $1.50. So, not only do you get the free product, but you get a greenbax!

The question is... Where do you get "free" coupons? I have obtained several free coupons from Kraft. There website is Kraft First Taste. You need to register and check back to participate in surveys and activities. Every so often (I don't know how often) you will have "offers" for "free" coupons that they will send to you in the mail.

I have received free coupons from manufacturers after I "like" them on facebook, when they are running a free promotion.

Sometimes, Rite Aid will have rebates to get a free bag of Huggies after you have purchased a few bags of huggies.

Of note, any coupon that says "free" on it is only good if it comes directly from the manufacturer on their printed paper.

If you get "free" coupons on items that you do not use, I encourage you to pick up the item and donate it. I'm sure some would be happy to have the item.

I hope you find some "free" coupons!

Free coupons Work for Me!

-Robin

"Serial Meals"

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

A great tip for saving money is using the food you have and not wasting it! One of the ways that I do this is by making "serial meals." Serial meals are meals that I make in a row that use the same ingredients. For example, last week, I had a bag of hamburger buns in the freezer that I had bought on sale for $.89, so I waited until hamburger was on sale and made hamburgers. Knowing that my family would not use all 8 buns, the next night, I unthawed some shredded chicken and made barbecue chicken sandwhiches. The 3rd night, we had one bun left and some chicken, so I made chicken salad. We used the one remaining bun and some bread to finish off the chicken salad.

Even though I am able to make food for really cheap by buying at the lowest price and using coupons.... I still can not stand to waste food. Making "serial meals" is a good way to make meals and leave no waste!

-Robin

Fresh Tomato Salsa with Banana Peppers

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

As our garden tomatoes start to come in, I'm trying to think of some new ways to use our produce. I had never made salsa before, so I've been excited to try. I picked a banana pepper, cilantro, and tomatoes from our garden and got started. Here is what I came up with after using a few recipes as guides.

Fresh Tomato Salsa with Banana Peppers

4 beefsteak tomatoes

1 small vidalia onion

1 banana pepper (I took most of the seeds out)

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon lime concentrate (you could use lemon concentrate)

Pinch of oregano

Pinch of cumin

Add all ingredients to blender. Pulse until desired consistency.

Serve with your favorite chips and guacamole.

The salsa was yummy! I used whole tomatoes. For a thicker consistency, you could deseed the tomatoes (freeze the insides to throw into soup later).

For more great recipes go to Menu Plan Monday!

-Robin

Week Three ALL YOU Grocery Challenge Totals

After week 3 of the ALL YOU Grocery Challenge, I still seem to be on track! This week, we had the joy of sharing our food with some visitors from out-of-town. Let's see how we did during week three.

Our family budget is $100/ week.

Grocery: $68.84

3 Week Grocery Total: $158.99

This post is linked to Friday Finals!

-Robin

Free!

ALL YOU Grocery Challenge

I'll have to admit that I was a skeptic about couponing.... but, I have seen the light. My family and I have saved lots of money on couponing. I have been super suprised at how many items that you can get for free and sometimes make overage! I thought that some of you, who might also be couponing skeptics, would like to see a list of items that I have been able to get free over the past few months. Some of these items I have picked up to make overage! Making overage helps to decrease your over all bill. I would suggest picking up anything that gives you overage. If you do not use the item.... donate it! I'm sure many people can use free stuff! I have also included some penny items from Publix. Some of these are from rebates and some are free after extra care bucks.

Valasic Sweet Pickle Relish

Milk

Combat Ant Killer

Diapers

Mac and Cheese

Depends Underwear

Deodorant

Publix Apple Juice

Publix Toilet Paper

Yogurt

Bread

Blueberries

Make-up

Lots of Kraft products

Body Wash

Toothpaste

Femine Products

Lotion

Q-tips

Chips

Dip for chips

Shampoo

Conditioner

Razors

Frozen Vegetables

Frozen Pizza
Photos

Diced Tomatoes
Tomato Sauce
Coffee
Therma Care
Butter
Dawn Dish Soap
Cascade
Publix Glass Cleaner
Publix Vanilla Wafers
Sobe Life Water
Mayo
Cool Whip
Crackers
Lunchmeat
Imitation Crab Meat



Is there anything on this list that you would like to buy for free? Sure there is... I hope this post encourages you to try couponing.


Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite "free" purchase.


-Robin