What I'm Buying - Albertsons 12/30

I had an AWESOME trip to Albertson's this evening! I spent the day working on the FreshMarket list for GrocerySmarts (my first time doing a list), and I didn't even see the new ads until later tonight. So I was very excited to see the P&G sale - so excited that I went at 10pm because I didn't want to miss out on anything! (Yup, crazy, I know.)

I got there, the store was deserted, they had everything on my list, I was in and out in under 35 minutes (45 minutes from pulling out of driveway to pulling back in), and my favorite checker was working this evening! PLUS, I got some fabulous deals!!!

To maximize savings, I got items in groups of $25, and split them into separate transactioins. Here's how it went down:

Transaction 1
(2) Tide 2X HE Free 100oz, on sale 9.99 (8.99 after coupon)
(1) Cascade ActionPacs 20ct, on sale 4.99 (3.99 after coupon)
(1) Crest ProHealth toothpaste, on sale 1.89 (.89 after coupon)

I used (2) 1.00/1 coupons for the detergent [see P&G-12/27], (1) 1.00/1 coupon for the Cascade [from home mailer], and (1) 1.00/1 couon for the toothpaste [also from home mailer].

Total: $24.70 + got a $10 Catalina coupon good off next purchase


Transaction 2
(2) Bounty 8 Giant Rolls, on sale 9.99 (8.99 after coupon)
(1) Cascade ActionPacs 20ct, on sale 4.99 (3.99 after coupon)
(1) Crest ProHealth toothpaste, on sale 1.89 (.89 after coupon)

I used (2) 1.00/1 coupons for the paper towels [from coupon booklet back in Jan], (1) 1.00/1 coupon for the Cascade [from home mailer], and (1) 1.00/1 couon for the toothpaste [also from home mailer].

Then I used the $10 Catalina coupon from the previous transaction.

Total: $14.70 + got a $10 Catalina coupon good off next purchase


Transaction 3
(2) Iams cat food 4lb, on sale 7.99 (5.99 after coupon)
(2) Dawn Direct Foam dish soap, on sale 2.29 (.79 after coupon)
(1) Dawn Hand Renewal dish soap, on sale 2.29 (1.29 after coupon)
(1) MrClean Magic Eraser 2pk, on sale 2.49 (1.74 after coupon)

I used (2) 2.00/1 coupons for the cat food [from coupon booklet back in Jan], (2) 1.50/1 coupons on the Direct Foam soap [from home mailer], (1) 1.00/1 coupon on the Hand Renewal soap [from home mailer], and (1) .75/1 coupon for the Magic Eraser [also from a home mailer].

Then I used the $10 Catalina coupon from the previous purchase.

Total: $10.29 + got a $10 Catalina coupon good off next purchase


Transaction 4
(2) Charmin 6 Mega rolls, on sale 5.99 (5.74 after coupon)
(4) Pantene shampoo and conditioner, on sale 3.33 (1.83 after coupon)

I used (2) .25/1 coupons for the toilet paper [see P&G-11/29 or P&G-12/27] and (2) 3.00/2 coupons for the Pantene [see P&G-12/27].

Then I used the $10 Catalina coupon from the previous purchase.

Total: $10.53 + got a $10 Catalina coupon good off next purchase


Transaction 5
(2) Charmin 6 Mega rolls, on sale 5.99 (5.74 after coupon)
(2) Pantene shampoo and conditioner, on sale 3.33 (1.83 after coupon)
(2) Pantene style products, on sale 3.33 (1.83 after coupon)
(2) Albertsons shredded cheese 32oz, on sale 2.99 (2.49 after coupon)

I used (2) .25/1 coupons for the toilet paper [see P&G-11/29 or P&G-12/27], (2) 3.00/2 coupons for the Pantene [see P&G-12/27], (1) in-ad store coupon for the cheese (to make it 2.99, limit 2) and (1) $1.00 off 2lb of cheese printable coupon [see GroupA at GrocerySmarts].

Then I used the $10 Catalina coupon from the previous purchase.

Total: $15.69 + got a $10 Catalina coupon good off next purchase



So, here it is all together. My total for all 5 transactions was $75.91, and I still have one $10 Catalina coupon leftover to use (so $65.91 after factoring that back in). According to my receipts, my overall savings was $142.79!

[And I'm such a good customer, they threw in the cat for free!]

The P&G Sale is Back at Albertsons!

I am SO excited to see the P&G sale at Albertsons this next week! This is the sale where I stocked up on tons of household stuff last year for pennies on the dollar (see post HERE).

Check out the list at GrocerySmarts - HERE.

For this sale, to get the MOST bang for your buck, you'll want to purchase items in groups that get as close to $25 as possible (you must get at least $25 to get the Catalina coupon though, so make sure you are $25.00 or above). Remember that anything above the $25 in the same transaction DOES NOT count towards another Catalina coupon, so...

If you're planning on buying about $50 worth of items, break them up into 2 separate transactions. Do the first one like normal, then use the Catalina coupon from the first transaction to pay towards your second transaction. That way you'll get 2 $10 Catalinas, instead of just one.

Although the 100oz Tide for 4.99 only shows 4 stars, it should really be 5 stars - you'll be hard-pressed to beat that deal, EVER! That puts it at .05 per ounce, even cheaper than last year's big sale.

Important End-of-Year Coupon Housekeeping Info!

THIS SUNDAY there will be 2 SmartSource coupon inserts in the paper (and possibly a third), so you may want to stock up on a few extra papers this time! And for those of you receiving the Red Plum inserts in your mailbox, you should get 2 this week (either in Tuesday or Wednesday's mail). So, a total of 4-5 inserts this weekend!

[I will post the link to the preview list at Taylortown Preview later in the week when it becomes available, so you can see what coupons are scheduled to come in the SmartSource inserts.]

Want to find out which inserts are scheduled each weekend? Check out the 2010 schedule HERE at PinchingYourPennies.com. This will tell you when inserts are scheduled to come out, and more importantly, which weeks will NOT have any coupon inserts.

Many of the coupons from this year's inserts will expire on 12/31 (Thursday), so it's time to go through your stacks or files of inserts and toss old ones that you no longer need.

But how do you know when to throw out an insert because all of the coupons have expired??? Well, the fabulous ladies at PinchingYourPennies have compiled a list for you - check it out HERE. You can toss all inserts through August, with the exception of SS-3/29, RP-6/7, SS-6/14 and SS-6/28 (because they each still have 1-2 valid coupons). There are some in September that you can toss, and some that you might want to keep (or at least cut out the few coupons from the insert that are still valid and then toss the rest to save space). Check post #2 in the thread for the details on inserts from Jan - Sept 2009.

And be sure to check any printable or mailer coupons you have - many of those will expire on 12/31 as well...

What I'm Buying - Target 12/29

I found some phenomenal deals at Target today - they have moved all of their holiday items to 75% off (70th and Redwood location, other locations may or may not be at 75% off). Here's what I picked up:


(4) Ritz crackers, clearanced to .74 (.24 after coupon)
(1) Pepperidge Farms holiday cookies, clearanced to 1.49
(3) Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil (holiday packaging), clearanced to .74 (FREE after coupon)

I used (2) 1.00/2 coupons for the crackers [see SS-12/13] and (3) .75/1 coupons for the aluminum foil [see SS-11/15 or 12/6].

Total: $2.70

My receipt says that I saved $24.50! :)

What I'm Buying - Rite Aid 12/28

Rite Aid has some great Single Check Rebate deals this month. The best one is an OralB Cross Action Power toothbrush for free after coupon and rebate, but unfortunately it's not available in Utah (GRRR!!!). But it you're not in Utah, you're in luck and should be able to get in on the deal. Check out the Rite Aid sales post at PYP for more details.

Here's what I picked up this morning:


I did this in two transactions, so that I could use two "$5 off a $20 purchase" coupons.

Transaction 1
(1) Always Infinity 28ct, on sale 6.99 (4.99 after Single Check Rebate)
(1) Always Infinity 14ct, reg 5.99 (free with coupon)
(3) Bob's Sweet Stripes sticks, on sale .50 (50% off holiday)
(2) candy books, on sale .64 (50% off holiday)
(1) Trojan condoms, on sale 9.99 (4.99 after SCR and coupon) [not pictured]

I used (1) B1G1 Free coupon for the Infinity pads [see P&G-12/27], (1) 2.00/1 printable coupon for the condoms [see HERE], and (1) $5 off store coupon [see RiteAid post at PYP, link above, for details on how to get this coupon].

Total: $13.07

The $5 RiteAid coupon is good on your total purchase, BEFORE coupons, of $20. So if you go to do any of these deals, hand them the $5 off coupon FIRST, then give them the manufacturer coupons. (It actually shouldn't matter what order they are scanned in, because the computer should keep track of the pre-coupon total, but just in case, hand them the store coupon first.)

Submit your receipt online for a $3.00 rebate on the condoms, and a $2.00 rebate on the pads. So, factoring those in, the total comes out to $8.07. Not bad!


Transaction 2
(2) Christmas gifts for next year, on sale 9.99 (50% off) [not pictured so as not to ruin the surprise for kiddos next year]
(1) Gillette Fusion Gamer razor, on sale 7.99 (1.99 after Single Check Rebate and coupon)
(1) OralB Advantage Glide toothbrush, on sale 2.49 (.75 after Single Check Rebate and coupon)
(1) NyQuil liquid, on sale 4.99 (1.49 after Single Check Rebate and coupon)

I used (1) 4.00/1 coupon for the razor [see P&G-11/29], (1) .75/1 coupon for the toothbrush [see P&G-12/27], (1) 1.50/1 coupon for the Nyquil [see P&G-12/27], and (1) $5 off store coupon.

Total: $26.29

I will submit my receipt online and get a $2.00 rebate on the razor, a $1.00 rebate on the toothbrush, and a $2.00 rebate on the NyQuil. So after factoring that in, the total comes to $21.29, and $20 of that was Christmas presents for next year, so I essentially got the other items for FREE! Ho, ho, ho, Merry After-Christmas shopping to me! :)

Some After-Christmas Steals!

Lots of after-Christmas 50% (or more) sales going on today. Just wanted to highlight a few deals that you might otherwise overlook amongst all the wrapping paper and Christmas ornaments.

At Walmart:


Old Spice Gift Set, contains cologne and full-size deodorant
On sale 50% off (normally 5.00, now 2.50)
Use: Old Spice Fragrance Gift Set, any $1/1 (12-31-09) PG-11/29
Final: $1.50


At Target:


Reynolds aluminum foil, 50-80ft (holiday snowflakes on package, by the holiday candies and foods)
On sale 50% off (normally 2.99, now 1.49)
Use: Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil, any excluding 20.25 and 30 sq. ft. .75/1 (12-31-09) SS-11/15 or SS-12/6
Final: $.74

Oreo cookies in blue holiday packaging
On sale 50% off (but NOT marked as on sale, normally 2.89, now 1.39)

Nabisco wheat thins crackers, family size
On holiday clearance (but NOT marked as on sale), ringing up 1.49
Use: Nabisco Crackers or Easy Cheese, any variety 5-16 oz. $1/1 DND (12-31-09) SS-11/8
Final: $.49

They also had Ritz crackers in a "holiday" type box that were part of the holiday clearance, but I can't remember what they were ringing up. At any rate, you can use the same coupon on either the Wheat Thins OR the Ritz!

(Note: I was at the Target on Redwood and 70th this morning - they had the Oreos, Wheat Thins and Ritz crackers all on an end cap facing the main aisle, just in front of where the holiday food items were, in the back right corner of the store with all the other Christmas clearance. They were NOT marked that they were on any special clearance, but they were all ringing up about 50% off. I do not know if they are ringing up as clearanced at any other stores though.)

What I'm Buying - Fresh Market 12/23

This was my first trip to Fresh Market since they switched over from Albertsons several weeks ago. The ads for Fresh Market have so far been almost identical to the Macey's and other AFS store's ads.

I had a fabulous checker today, he was super fast, and super friendly! His name was James - if you go to the Fresh Market on 47th and Redwood, keep your eye out for him!

The customer behind me in line saw me pull out my coupons and was surprised at how much I was able to save. She asked me about it and I told her that I use the GrocerySmarts and PinchingYourPennies web sites, and the checker said he knew all about the PYP web site because his family uses it too! Awesome! :)

Anway, here's what I picked up today:


(4) Western Family medium pitted olives, on sale .88
(1) Solo clear cups 9oz 40ct, on sale 1.98 (.98 after coupon)
(1) Solo Gripz cups 12oz 30ct, on sale 1.98 (.98 after coupon)
(1) Langers pure pomegranante juice, on sale 3.99
(1) Nalley Garden Dill chips pickles, on sale 1.98 (1.23 after coupon)
(8) Coke products 2-liters, on sale .79
(1) Vlasic kosher dill spreads pickles, on sale 1.97 (1.47 after coupon)
(3) Western Family sour cream 16oz, on sale .87
(1) MinuteMaid Pomegranante Lemonade, on sale 2.49 (total impulse buy!!!)
(6) Western Family frozen orange juice concentrate, on sale .88
(12) Tony's Crispy Crust pizza, on sale .88 (.38 after coupon)
(3) Nautilus cooked shrimp 1lb [ad says "large" size, but sale tag was under the "jumbo" size], on sale 3.99
(2) pomegranates, 1.99 each
(1) lemon, .50
(2) Litehouse carmel dips, on sale 2.50 (1.50 after coupon)
(3) fresh veggies tray, on sale 4.99

I used (2) 1.00/1 coupons for the cups [see SS-12/6], (1) .75/1 printable coupon for the Nalley pickles [see GroupB at GrocerySmarts], (1) .50/1 printable coupon for the Vlasic pickles [see GroupB at GrocerySmarts], (12) .50/1 coupons for the pizza [see SS-10/4 and SS-12/13], and (2) 1.00/1 coupons for the Litehouse dips [see SS-9/20, SS-8/30 or SS-12/13].

The pomegranates, sour cream, lemon and pomegranate juice are all for THIS recipe (I'm supposed to take a cheesecake to the family Christmas dinner, so I thought I would try this one).

And I was excited to see the shrimp on sale, because then I can use it in THIS recipe for Lemony Shrimp Scampi Pasta.

Total: $72.00

That's a lot more than I usually spend in one trip, but I still feel like I got some great deals. And the veggie trays are for putting out on my counter over the next few days so that I can munch on them INSTEAD of chips, sweets, cookies, chocolates, etc. I thought maybe if I got veggies that were already prepped and cut and ready to go, that I'd be more inclined to actually eat the stuff... :)

Diaper Deal at Rite Aid

Here is a LINK to a post explaining a good diaper deal at RiteAid this week. If you read through the comments, you'll notice there has been some confusion about the RiteAid store coupons which actually say "Manufacturer Coupon" on them.

NORMALLY, you cannot use 2 manufacturer coupons on the same item. You CAN, however, use 1 STORE coupon and 1 manufacturer coupon. The blog poster responded and clarified about the coupons, and I confirmed the same answer at the RiteAid I went to today: the RiteAid coupons are being considered as STORE coupons, even though they say "manufacturer" on them, so you may indeed use the RiteAid Huggies coupons together with a regular manufacturer coupon.

So, here was my trip to RiteAid today:

(and by the way, the RiteAid on 47th and Redwood, next to the FreshMarket, is out of the Pure & Natural, but had quite a bit of the regulars and the supremes as of about 2pm today)


I broke up my purchases into two transactions...

Transaction 1
(2) Huggies jumbo packs, on sale 8.99
(1) TinkerBell toothbrush set, on sale 5.99

I used (2) RiteAid 1.00/1 Huggies coupons, (2) 1.50/1 Huggies coupons [see SS-11/15], and (1) RiteAid 5.00 off your $20 purchase.

Total: $15.27

Transaction 2
(3) Huggies jumbo packs, on sale 8.99

I used (3) RiteAid 1.00/1 Huggies coupons, (1) 1.50/1 Huggies coupon [see SS-11/15], (1) 2.00/1 Huggies coupon from a mailer, and (1) RiteAid $5 off your $20 purchase.

Total: $16.97

(I was short one Huggies coupon because I only got 3 newspapers for 11/15, so if you have more, your total will be slightly less)

I will post my receipts to the RiteAid Single Check Rebate system online and I should be sent a coupon for one free jumbo pack of diapers!

ALSO, because my purchase total (before coupons) was just over $50, I qualified for the Rite Aid Holiday Gift of Savings program and will get a $10 gift certificate to Rite Aid! That ends up being 6 packs of diapers for just under $16, or $2.64 per package when everything is factored in!

What I'm Buying - Winco Foods 12/21

I'm really undecided as to whether or not I like Winco. It's a nice enough store, and they've had some great "Grand Opening" specials, but when I do most of my grocery shopping based on coupons and ads, shopping at Winco becomes more difficult. Since they don't have a weekly sales ad, it's impossible to know at any given time what the price on items is before going to the store, and the prices change periodically (but not necessarily on a predictable schedule).

The only reason I went last night was because I knew they had their milk for 1.48, which no one else can beat this week. But other than the milk, I don't feel like there were any other really great deals - they were just so-so.

Here's what I picked up:


(1) White King laundry booster, 3.70
(1) Borax laundry booster, 3.62 (this was supposedly on sale for 2.xx, but apparently rang up full price and I wasn't watching)
(1) Arm & Hammer washing soda, 2.16
(1) Fels Naptha bar, 1.06
(2) Martinelli's sparkling apple cranberry, on sale 1.74
(1) Morton's kosher salt 3lb, on sale 1.98
(4) lbs bananas, on sale .48/lb
(1) Cascade Pride white bread, on sale .98
(2) Kraft Easy Mac singles 6pk, on sale 1.48
(2) HyTop frozen carrots 16oz, on sale .88
(2) Lindsay large olives, on sale .98
(2) Lindsay sliced olives, on sale .88
(2.5) lbs red delicious apples, on sale .75/lb
(5) lbs granny smith apples, on sale .75/lb
(2) green leaf lettuce, on sale 1.48
(2) broccoli crowns, on sale .75/lb
(3) HyTop whole milk, on sale 1.48
(1) Meadow Gold egg nog half gallon, on sale 2.68

I didn't use any coupons.

Total: $45.15

Sandwich Bread

Now that the basement has dried out, I'm finally getting a chance to post this recipe for a white sandwich loaf. I tried this recipe from a friend about three weeks ago - it turned out great and was almost as easy as my favorite wheat bread recipe. It was dense enough to support sandwich fixings, but not too dense. The taste was fabulous - definitely the best white bread I have been able to make so far, and I credit it ALL to the recipe!

Sandwich Loaf (makes 1 9-in loaf)

3 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (plus extra for work surface)
2 tsp. salt
1 cup warm whole milk (110 F)
1/3 cup warm water (110 F)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
3 Tbsp. honey
2 1/4 tsp. instant yeast (I used SAF)

Put oven rack on lowest position. Heat oven to 200F and maintain heat for 10 minutes, then turn off oven.

Mix 3 1/2 cups of the flour along with the salt in the bowl of a standing mixer with dough hook. Mix the milk, water, butter, honey and yeast in a separate bowl. Turn mixer on low and slowly add liquid. When dough comes together, increase speed to medium* and mix until dough is smooth (stop two or three times to scrape dough from hook), about 10 minutes. (After 5 minutes, if dough is still sticking to sides of the bowl, add remaining flour 1 tbsp at a time, but no more than 1/4 cup total, until dough is no longer sticky.) Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface and knead for about 15 seconds to form a smooth ball.

Place dough in lightly-oiled large bowl, then flip dough over to coat both sides. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in oven until double in size (about 40-50 minutes).

Remove dough from bowl to lightly oiled work surface. Shape into a square about 8in per side and about 1in thick. Roll dough into a cylinder and pinch seam closed. Place seam-side down in a greased 9x5 loaf pan and gently press down so it touches all sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in warm spot until dough almost doubles in size, about 20-30 minutes.

Keep one oven rack at lowest position and move second rack to middle position. Heat oven to 350F. Place empty baking dish or pan on lowest rack. Bring 2 cups water to boil in small saucepan. Pour boiling water into baking dish in oven, and then set loaf pan on the middle rack. Bake until bread reaches 195 degrees in center of loaf, about 40 - 50 minutes (for me it was 35 minutes). Remove bread from oven; remove from pan and place on wire rack to cool to room temp.

Counsel from Our Leaders

"How do we become self-reliant? We become self-reliant through obtaining sufficient knowledge, education, and literacy; by managing money and resources wisely, being spiritually strong, preparing for emergencies and eventualities; and by having physical health and social and emotional well-being."

(Julie B. Beck, "The Welfare Resonsibilities of the Relief Society President," talk given at the 2009 Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Feb. 2009)


"Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to “prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity come, we can care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others.

"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.

"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."

(The First Presidency, All is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage, Feb. 2007, p. 1)

What I'm Buying - Maceys 12/17

Here's what I picked up at Maceys this morning:


(2) Don Julio tortilla chips, on sale .78
(5) Nabisco Wheat Thins, on sale 1.58* (.58 after coupon)
(5) Martinelli's sparkling cider, on sale 1.88
(2) Reynold's parchment paper, on sale 2.49 (1.74 after coupon)
(4) Carl Buddig deli meat tubs, on sale 1.49 (.49 after coupon)
(2) Tyson frozen chicken nuggets, on sale 2.50 (1.95 after coupon)
(1) Western Family medium cheddar cheese 2lb brick, on sale 3.99 (2.99 after coupon)

I used (5) 1.00/1 coupons for the crackers [see SS-11/8], (2) .75/1 coupons for the parchment paper [see SS-10/11], (4) 1.00/1 coupons for the deli meat [see SS-12/6], (2) .55/1 coupons for the chicken nuggets [see SS-10/11] and (1) 1.00/2lb printable coupon for the cheese [see Group A at GrocerySmarts].

Total: $27.35

*Note: The West Jordan Macey's has their Nabisco crackers marked with a different price than what is in the ad. The signs say "$1.48 when you buy 2 + coupon". The coupon they have is at the registers, but it is a manufacturer coupon and cannot be combined with other coupons, and it's only 1.00/2. SO - if you go there to get the crackers, you'll have to show them the ad (just grab one on your way in the door) and show them where it has the crackers on the front page listed for 1.58/box and no coupon required. Tell the cashier you want them to ring the crackers up at the 1.58 sale price and that you have your own coupons for them that you'd like to use. They'll have to override the item price (they ring up at 1.98) and then manually enter the coupons. OR, you could just take your 1.00/1 coupons and use them at Smiths - they have the crackers on sale for 1.67 this week, making them .67 after coupon. So for .09 extra per box, you can avoid the hassle of price adjusting at Maceys...

What I'm Buying - Albertsons 12/17

Here's what I picked up at Albertsons this morning:


(3) Kellogg's corn flakes cereal, on sale 3.00 (2.00 after "Buy 3 Get $3 Off" promo, 1.00 after coupon)
(3) Snyder's pretzels, on sale 2.00 (1.00 after coupon)
(2) Nestle morsels, on sale 1.88 (.88 after coupon)
(2) Crest Kids spin brushes, on sale B1G1 Free (2 @ 6.49)
(1) Crayola 24ct colored pencils, clearanced to 1.99
(2) Crayola 8ct washable markers, clearanced to 1.49
(2) Aveeno sunblock, clearanced to 3.99 [I really like this kind, so this is a great buy for next summer!]
(1) Aveeno daily moisturizing lotion, clearanced to 4.99

I used (2) 1.00/1 coupons for the corn flakes [see RP-11/8], (3) 1.00/1 coupons for the pretzels [see SS-12/6], and (2) 1.00/1 printable coupons from nestle.com.

I knew there were some Aveeno coupons but I didn't have them with me. And I was afraid the items wouldn't be there by the time I was able to get back to the store, so I bought the items anyway. When this happens, sometimes you can bring the coupon back to the store within a day or two and they will give you credit for the coupon if you show them your receipt. Not all stores will do it, but several have for me in the past, and it never hurts to ask.

Total: $35.33

If you head to Albertsons in the next few days and are in need of some liquid fabric softener, the Albies at 70th and Redwood had bottles of Downy Total Care up front on the clearance rack marked down to 3.99!

What I'm Buying - Smiths 12/16

I'm afraid I don't have much to show you this evening, at least as far as groceries go. I had my list all planned for three stores, but when we got in the car this afternoon to go, the car wouldn't start. So instead of going to the grocery store, we spent the afternoon getting the car fixed.

I did manage to stop by Smith's and grab a few things on the way back just before dinner:


(2) Wilderness pie filling, on sale 2.69
(3) Hershey's/Reese's baking chips, on sale 1.67 (1.34 with coupon)
(2) Kroger frozen french fries, on sale 1.25
(2) Kroger frozen hash browns, on sale 1.25
(3) Kroger frozen hash brown patties, on sale 1.25
(6) Kroger frozen vegetables, on sale .69

I used (1) 1.00/3 coupon for the baking chips [see SS-11/15].

Total: $22.87

Counsel from Our Leaders

"Provident living means joyfully living within our means and preparing for the ups and downs of life so that we can be ready for the rainy-day emergencies when they come into our lives.

"Provident living means not coveting the things of this world. It means using the resources of the earth wisely and not being wasteful, even in times of plenty. Provident living means avoiding excessive debt and being content with what we have...

"I testify that happy is the man who lives within his means and is able to save a litte for future needs. As we live providently and increase our gifts and talents, we become more self-reliant. Self-reliance is taking responsibility for our own spiritual and temporal welfare and for those whom Heavenly Father has entrusted to our care. Only when we are self-reliant can we truly emulate the Savior in serving and blessing others."

(Robert D. Hales, "A Gospel Vision of Welfare: Faith in Action," given as part of the 2009 Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting, Feb. 2009)

[It's a wonderful message - I encourage you to read the entire talk!]

What I'm Buying - Sunflower Market 12/11

Here's what I picked up at Sunflower Market this morning:


(1) chocolate advent calendar, 1.99 [yup, we're starting late...]
(2) Cuties clementines 2lb bags, on sale 1.97 (limit 2, and they go fast)
(2) california rolls, on sale Buy 1 Get 1 Free [5.50 for 2] (daily special - Friday only)
(3) lbs bananas, .59/lb

No coupons used.

Total: $13.64

The Food Storage Has Been Spared...

Sorry folks, no grocery shopping for me today. The reason we had no water in the kitchen this morning is because we had a frozen pipe. And that frozen pipe burst this morning...and our basement flooded. There's a lot of wet stuff, but the food storage has been spared! :)

Anyway, I will post the sandwich bread recipe eventually, after we get the mess downstairs cleaned up and the pipe fixed so we can get the water back on.

Why Store Water?

Because you never know when you'll wake up one morning and have no water to your kitchen...like this morning...

Guess I'll be doing dishes in the bathtub today... :)

What I'm Buying - Winco Foods 12/7

Great trip to Winco this morning - here's what I picked up:


(2) Barq's rootbear, on sale .78
(2) Hy-top white bread, on sale .88
(2) Shasta cola 12pk, 2.38 (1.48 with in-ad coupon, limit 2)
(1) 10# bag russet potatoes, on sale .68
(3.5) lbs bananas, on sale .35/lb
(1) lb yellow squash, on sale .98/lb
(1) box kosher salt, on sale 1.98
(2) Langer's cranberry juice cocktails 64oz, 1.98 (.98 with in-ad coupon, limit 2)
(2) green leaf lettuce, on sale .98
(4) Green Giant canned veggies, .48 (.28 with in-ad coupon, limit 4)
(1) Bandon medium cheddar cheese 32oz, 4.78 (2.98 with in-ad coupon, limit 1)
(2) cucumbers, on sale .48
(2) Kellogg's poptarts 8ct, 1.48 (.78 with in-ad coupon, limit 2)
(1) lb broccoli crowns, on sale .98/lb
(1.5) lbs roma tomatoes, on sale .98/lb
(2) lbs red seedless grapes, on sale .98/lb
(2) lbs green seedless grapes, on sale .98/lb
(1.5) lbs yellow onions, on sale .48/lb
(4) Chinet dessert plates, on sale 1.98 (free after coupon!)

I used (4) 2.00/2 coupons for the Chinet plates [see SS-11/22], which the checker had to reduce down to 1.98 to match the item price. The other coupons were all in a Winco flyer sent out in the mail last week.

Total: $30.64

Counsel from our Leaders

"We encourage families to have on hand this year's supply; and we say it over and over and over and repeat over and over the scripture of the Lord where He says, 'Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?' How empty it is as they put their spirituality, so called, into action and call him by his important names, but fail to do the things which he says."

(Spencer W. Kimball, "Family Preparedness," Ensign, May 1976, p. 125)






"Home production and storage is a very necessary element of personal and family preparedness; however, it is not the only element, nor is it necessarily the most significant element. Some people have reacted to the theme of preparedness as if it were a doomsday matter. In reality, all six elements* of personal and family preparedness are to be emphasized so that the Latter-day Saints may be better prepared to meet the ordinary, day-to-day requirements of successfull living.

"Our emphasis on this subject is not gounds for crisis thinking or panic. Quite the contrary, personal and family preparedness should be a way of provident living, an orderly approach to using the resources, gifts, and talents the Lord shares with us. So the first step is to teach our people to be self-reliant and independent through proper preparation for daily life."

(Victor L. Brown, "Welfare Services Essentials: The Bishops Storehouse," Ensign, Nov. 1976, pp. 112-113)

*[At the time, these were: Literacy & Education; Career Development; Financial & Resource Management; Home Production & Storage; Physical Health; and Social, Emotional & Spiritual Strength. Welfare Services still uses all of these areas of focus, although the titles have changed slightly.]

What I'm Buying - Smiths 12/5

Here's what I picked up at Smith's this afternoon:


(4) Kroger all-purpose flour 5lb, on sale 1.25
(1) Charmin 6-mega roll, on sale 5.99 (4.99 after coupon)
(6) Snow chopped clams, on sale 1.00
(2) Mountain Dairy whole milk, on sale 1.50
(2) Florida's Natural orange juice, on sale 2.50 (1.50 after coupon)
(1) Kroger sour cream 16oz, on sale .88
(4.5) lbs bananas, on sale .39/lb
(1) Cuties Clementines 3lb bag, on sale 3.99 (one-day special)
(3) Kroger deluxe ice cream, on sale .99 (one-day special)
(2) Fast Fixin' chicken nuggets, on sale 4.99 (4.24 after coupon)
(2) Chef's Requested filet mignon, on sale 4.99 (got mine marked down to 2.49 each because the "use by" date was 12/4 and they didn't have any others - plus had a $3 off coupon, so 2 packages for $2!!!)
(1) Smith's bread, on sale .89
(2) Saturday Preview double packs newspapers, 3.00 (hiding under the chicken nuggets and Charmin...)

I used (2) .75/1 coupons for the chicken nuggets [got in store from company spokesperson doing demo], (1) 1.00/1 coupon for the Charmin [from a mailer], (2) 1.00/1 coupons for the orange juice [see SS-11/22], (1) .65/1 store coupon for the Kroger ice cream [from a Smith's home mailer], and (1) 3.00/1 printable coupon for the Chef's Requested filet mignon [see LINK here].

And I JUST realized that even though I watched the checker scan in my Chef's Requested coupon, AND heard the machine scan it, IT DIDN'T CREDIT ON MY RECEIPT!!!! GRRRR!!!!

Total: $53.06 [should have been just under $50]

So sick!

Sorry guys, I have been so incredibly sick for the last week...

Just want to remind you not to miss the big one-day sale at Smith's tomorrow (Sat, Dec 5) from 7am to midnight. They will have some great deals! Check out the list at GrocerySmarts.com for more details.

Harmon's will also be having a one-day sale on Saturday, too!

And I'm trying out a new sandwich-bread recipe today (so far, so good) that I'll have more details on later.

Also, here's a LINK to the preview list of coupons for this weekend (at Taylortown Previews).

What I'm Buying - 12/2

Actually, I'm probably not buying much of anything today. My husband and both kids have strep throat, and then on top of that, just as my son started antibiotics for the strep and impetigo, he picked up a nasty cold, which is now spreading through our already immuno-compromised (read: already sick) family. (I did't pick up strep, but this cold is really doing a number on me!)

[I love food storage for times like these - so that I don't have to go out and get groceries if I don't feel up to it for a few days!]

But just because I'm not heading out for good deals today, doesn't mean there aren't some great deals to be found. In fact, if you're here in Utah (or even in another state where you have a Kroger, check their ad), I would HIGHLY recommend a trip to Smith's this week!

They have got lots of great 5-star deals, but I especially want to highlight these:

Kroger brown sugar 2lb bag, .99 (limit 6)
Kroger flour 5lb bag, 1.25 (no limit)
Kroger powdered sugar 2lb bag, .99 (limit 6)

These are great deals on some great pantry/food storage basics, but best of all, there are NO COUPONS NEEDED! :)

Also on the good deals list - GM cereals for 1.00/box at Albertsons (only at 7000S & Redwood or 9000S & Redwood locations) when you buy in multiples of 4. See the list at GrocerySmarts.com for the various coupon options (printables and insert coupons).

More Multi-Tasking Food Storage

Did you know that you can use your dry powdered milk from the cannery to make:

Sweetened Condensed Milk
(to replace a 14oz can)

1/2 cup hot water
1 cup dry powdered milk
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon butter

Mix all thoroughly in blender.


Evaporated Milk
(to replace a 12oz can)

1 1/2 cup water
1/2 cup + 1 Tablespoon dry powdered milk

Mix well, then add to additional ingredients.


Buttermilk

Make equivalent amount of buttermilk using dry powdered milk (for example, if you need 1 cup buttermilk, mix up 1 cup of milk using your powdered milk). Then add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar for each cup of milk, and let mixture stand for about 5 minutes to "sour" it.


If you don't want to have to store a lot of brown sugar, you can make your own with ingredients you might already be storing:

(I keep a small bottle of molasses around for use in some bread recipes I have.)

Add 1-2 tablespoons of molasses to 1 cup of white granulated sugar. Mix well with fork or in blender or mixer. Add more or less molasses depending on whether you need light brown or dark brown sugar.


And did you know that baking powder starts to lose its leavening power the minute you open it (it reacts with moisture in the air)? For best results, baking powder should be used within 3 months - max. If you don't want to have to keep rotating through a lot of cans of baking powder or have to keep a lot stored in your food storage, you can make your own:

For each tablespoon of baking powder needed, mix 1 teaspoon baking soda and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar.

(Of course, that really only helps if you keep cream of tartar around - otherwise its probably just easier to store the actual baking powder.)