How Rebecca Makes a Shopping List

Making a shopping list, and shopping strictly from that list is a sure-fire way to save some money on groceries.  I have several steps I go through each week to ensure I buy only what I need and to help me save money with sales and coupons.
This can be a time consuming process, so I spread out the work throughout the week and spend only the amount of time I can afford to spend. Some weeks, I just don't have much time and may have to skip a step or two. Doing any of these steps saves some money and is worth the trouble.

Step 1: Collect Ads and Coupons -  Newspapers, fliers, mailbox inserts, online. I stash them in a file folder until I am ready to scope them out.

Step 2: Make a Sales Comp. List - I scour my sales ads looking for things that are great deals, and things that I would buy.  I only write down items that fit both criteria.  I am not interested in things that I don't need.

Step 3: Make an On Hand List - This is where I look over my pantry, fridge, freezer and cabinets to see what I have stashed in there that needs to be used up.

Step 4: Make a Menu - Set out your comp. list and your on hand list.  Study both and make up some meals using items on both of these.

Step 5: Clip Coupons:  With your sales and menu items in mind, clip coupons that you may need.  If you need cereal and there is no sale, go ahead and grab all of your cereal coupons, you never know what you may find on sale that wasn't advertised.

Step 6: Make Your List - Look over your menu and list each and every item that you need.  Mark the items you will be using on your comp. list, so that they are easy to find while you are in the store.  Staple these two together.  You will need them both in the store.  I also paper clip my coupons to my lists as well, but for those of you who use a binder, you may just want to slip your lists in there.

 I always take my ads with me when I shop and when I am selecting items, I always check generic prices against my comp. list and coupons.  I want to be sure I am getting the best deal.  I also an lucky enough to have an Aldi store nearby.  That is always my first stop.  Most times their prices are already lower than sales prices.  Plus, they always have awesome produce sales. 

~Rebecca

It looks like there are some great sales this week on Kraft items and great coupons to go with them.
Kraft salad dressings 14-16 oz. $1.69 at Country Mart or Apple Market with $1/2 coupon
Kraft Miracle Whip 30 oz. $2.99 at Country Mart with $1/1 coupon
Kraft Velveta 32 oz.  $4.99 at Country Mart with $1/1 coupon
these are great deals and you find these coupons on line at
http://www.coupons.com/coupons/Food-Coupons-107/?pid=13903&nid=10&zid=xh20
Ethel

Peanut Butter Shortbread Sandwich Cookies

My Valentine loves peanut butter cookies.  So, today that is exactly what he is getting! 

A whole plate of them, just for Him!!!

Here is the Recipe for you:

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups flour

1/8 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 sticks butter

7 1/2 tbsp creamy or crunchy peanut butter

5 tbsp sugar

6 tbsp brown sugar

3/4 tsp vanilla 

1 egg

Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another.  Beat on medium low speed until thoroughly combined. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 1 - 2 hours.  After chilling, roll out on a floured surface and cut into desired shape.  Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet, at 325* for 15 - 20 minutes or until edges begin to slightly brown.  Cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before moving over to a cooling wrack.

Filling:

3 tbsp butter

1/2 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter

2 cups of powdered sugar

3 -4 tbsp milk (use more or less to reach desired consistency)

 

Spread filling on cooled cookies and top with another cooled cookie.  Enjoy with a cool glass of milk.

~Rebecca

 

Homemade Air Freshener

A great way to save money is to make your own cleaners and home care products. I am excited to share this one with you, as is has improved our lives GREATLY today!

See this beautiful guy, his name is Abe.  We adopted him a week ago.  He is the sweetest.  He is the stinkiest.  He has spent the last, who knows how long, scavenging for food.  I buy the best extra powerful kitty litter, and I keep his box clean, but he has to power to overpower my home with his stink.

 Well, this morning I broke out my super deodorizers.  I added a little extra essential oil. Placed one air freshener next to each litter box and so far so good!  Here is the recipe:
1 mason jar
1 lid with holes punched into the top
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup baking soda
30 drops or a little squirt of lavender oil
You can use as much or little of the oil as you like.  You can also use any scent you prefer.

Stir the mixture up together.  Tighten down the lid and place the jar in your stinky spot. 

~Rebecca

Ads for the Week of Feb. 20 to 26

Ad Match Guarantee
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6AMfQamu7QNR2xianU2UHF2VHc/edit?usp=sharing
 Comp list 2/20 to 2/26
Hy-vee
http://www.hy-vee.com/shop/WeeklyAd.aspx
Price Chopper
http://pricechopper.shoptocook.com/circular/clickable.jsp

Country Mart
http://mycountrymart.gsnrecipes.com/Shop/WeeklyAd.aspx

Apple Market
http://www.myapplemarket.com/Shop/WeeklyAd.aspx

Piggly Wiggly
http://www.yourpigglywiggly.com

Aldi
http://weeklyads.aldi.us/aldi/default.aspx?action=entryflash&adref=aldistorelocator&StoreRef=555

Greenhills
http://www.greenhillsgrocery.com/LOCATIONS/KovacsSouth.aspx

Target (2/17 to 23)

 http://weeklyad.target.com/lawrence-ks-66046/grocery?=

Dollar General (2/17 to 24)

 http://www2.dollargeneral.com/Ads-and-Promos/Current-Ad/Pages/index.aspx

CVS (2/17 to 23)

 http://weeklyad.cvs.com/cvs/default.aspx?action=entryflash&

Walgreens (2/17 to 23)

 http://walgreens.shoplocal.com/walgreens/default.aspx?action=browsepageflash&storeid=2506263&pagenumber=1&prvid=Walgreens-111016&promotioncode=Walgreens-111016&rapid=1284886

Kmart (2/17 to 23)
 http://kmart.shoplocal.com/kmart/default.aspx?action=entry&bypassgeo=y&storeid=2421271

Hen House (2/20-2/26):  http://henhouse.mywebgrocer.com/Circular.aspx?c=141792&n=1&s=257457779&g=5eecb1ce-f73b-4d01-a64e-aacc93c0ce67&uc=BC88F67

These are the links to the ads so that you can comp.  Please remember to pick up your ads if your store requires you to have them.  Check the store policy.
Ethel

Comp shopping and coupons

What is comping or comp shopping?  Well if you have seen the
commercial on television for Walmart they ad match, or match
competitors prices.  There are other stores that also comp that i
have heard of but my preference is to shop at one store, with the
gas prices as they are and the convenience of shopping at one store.
To comp you need to get your ads to all the stores that is allowed in
your area.  All Walmart stores could have different policies.  Please
go on line to www.walmart.com and print one off or go to your local
walmart and pick one up.  This will tell you what they will allow.
After you have your ads go though and look at all the sales.  Most stores have a get you in awesome sale.
Write these sales down, put the store, the product, the size and the price.  An example would be Country Mart (CM) I use a lot of initials for short when i make my list.  You can do what ever makes you comfortable, then the product - Kraft Velveta, 32oz.,$4.99.  Make sure to take your ads with you.
I know this sounds like a lot of work but it is so worth it if you save 50% or more on your shopping.
If you match these sales with a coupon you save even more.  You also need to make sure the dates on the sale has not expired.  Some stores have special one, two or three day sales.  These are usually the really good ones.  Sales ads usually come out on Wednesday in your local shopper or paper.

Coupons are found in different places the Sunday paper, I find that the larger cities have more coupons than the smaller cities.  For example, in my area the Kansas City Sunday paper has double the coupons than the St. Joseph paper.  You pay a little more for it but you save more money with more coupons.  Another source I use is the "all you magazine"  found at the check out in walmart.  I get mine from ordering a subscription through the local girl scouts at a much lower rate.  I believe that they are selling magazines at this time.  You also find them as peelies on products in the store or catalinas.  These come out with your reciept. Not all stores have catalinas, walmart does not.  You can also get coupons on line, I like going to different web sites to get these.  A few SmartSource.com or Redplum.com.  There are many more sources of finding
coupons.  The big savings come with sales coupled with coupons.  And if you have a store that double or triple coupons this can be another big savings but can be really tricky.  You must read the policy of the store first.  Our only store that double coupons don't allow you to double on sales and you can only double 10 coupons up to .99, every once in a while on some products you can find a free or almost free product.

An example of my savings for the week of 2/6-2/12 I got 10# of russet for .88  reg. price $2.50
Dunkin hine cake mix, .99 paired with a .50 coupon = .49  reg price 1.38,  80% ground beef $1.98 reg price $3.38, Store brand cottage cheese 24 oz. $1.77 reg price $2.68.  If you find a store brand sale like Hyvee brand, always save or best choice brand you substitute it for walmart brand which is great value.

My total product of my grocery shopping would of cost me $139.17 but with comping & couponing  I paid $78.63 and saved $60.54.  - Ethel