Shopping trips this week...weeks?

Pin It    I just realized that I haven't posted any shopping trips in a few weeks. I still have all my numbers just not the pictures. We actually overspent this month but I feel OK about it. We got some canned stuff, a 5 lbs. bag of cheese, lots of other stuff we needed and, best of all, I went to the Russian store and got some of my native food. So as of  Apr. 23rd (Monday of this week) we spent $240.88, saved $88.96 and used 31 coupon. This week we went to Walmart and Smiths. We actually went to Smiths 3 times. here's why- this week Smiths is running a great General Mills cereal sale-if you buy for, you get it for $1.49 each. In reality, not all of the cereal was $1.49-some were more, some (like Honey nut cheerios) were less. And here we were down to 2 boxes of cerel, one opened. So this was a great cereal for us.At first, I only wanted to buy 4 boxes but then I decided to go back and buy more. Also one of my friends from MO sent me 3 amazing coupons for $3 off any beef,ham,chicken that were expiring 04/30/12, so I wanted to take advantage of them too. So these are my trips:

 Walmart trip #1:

   Had free coupons for any dole salad and Coffee-Mate (I use it with my PERO drink...Yum!). I also did plenty of price-matching (don't remember all of the details right now).
Total spent : $ 9.82
Total saved: $ 9.40
Coupons used: 4

Smiths trip #1:

   I had some good coupons for cereal  so I spent 49c-75c per box. Juice was $1.24-1.49 ea after some Smiths coupons.

Total spent: $9.76
Total saved: $16.16
Coupons used: 5

Smiths trip #2:

   This time cereal was a little more expensive (was out of all very good coupons) but still no more than $1. I also got Clausen pickles for $1.99 on clearance (my favorite) and some chicken tenders for $3.29- $3 chicken coupon=29c!!!

Total spent : $10.46
Total saved: 15.99
Coupons used: 3

Smiths trip #3 and Walmart trip #2 (combined picture):

  
   I really wanted to use my last meat coupon from my friend, so I stopped by Smiths again (we were in that area) and they had some steak on clearance for $3.86 down from $6.83, used $3 coupon=86c for almost 2 lbs of nice thin steak!! I also noticed a couple more things on clearance rack.

So total spent: $3.52
Total saved: $9.40
Coupons used: 2

   And at Walmart I went specifically for some feminine stuff. I cleaned my coupons yesterday and found 1 Carefree $1/1 coupon and 1 $2/2 Stayfree coupon that were expiring on Monday. I also have a $5 rebate of any 2 Stayfree packs.
So I got 1 carefree- 94c-$1 c=6 c MM
2 Stayfree- 2.86 ea-$2/2 c=$3.72- $5 rebate=$1.28 MM
I also used my last meat coupon and got more chicken for 49c. I have friends over tonight so it was perfect timing for some meat here :). And I got yet another cereal box :) Rancho Market had Honey Bunches of oats on sale for $1.99, used $1 c from Facebook=99c. Now we should be set with cereal for 6 months or so (hopefully!!). And I price-matched some produce:
oranges-6lbs/99c (price-m. to Rancho Market)
cucumbers- 8 $99c (price-m. to Rancho too)
watermelon- 4lbs/99c, seedless( also Rancho)-for dinner with friends

Total spent: $16.90
Total saved; $19.04
Coupons used: 6

So here's what the damage is this week:
Total spent this week-$50.46
Total saved this week-$69.99!!
Coupons used- 20

   Total spent this month : $291.34 ($34.34 over budget-still had $7 from last month)
Total saved: $158.95
Left to spend this month: $0
YTD spending: $1133.21
YTD savings: $666.88
YTD coupons used: 145
YTD waste: $29.77

   We decided to increase our grocery budget to $280 again for May. We need to stock up on meat (I have some great rebates that I want to take advantage of), want to buy more fresh produce and we NEED diapers (very-very soon!!)