October Goals

We're trying something new this month as a family.  We are setting some goals. 

Goal #1:  For the month of October, we are going to try to cut our grocery and household budget by $250.  This budget will include all food, cleaning supplies, health/beauty products, diapers, and even dining out.  I think we can do it!  In order to help achieve this goal, we are going to use the envelope budget.  We will put a specific amount of cash for our groceries and household items into an envelope.  Once the money is spent, that's it..no more shopping for the month! 

Goal #2:  Decrease our use of paper towels.  I realized we were going through almost a roll a day.  Not only is this wasteful, but costly!  Our goal is to use hand towels more frequently and cut our paper towel usage down to only 1 roll a week.

At the end of the month, I'll let you know how we did!

What are your goals?

Target Deals 9/27 - 10/3

Suave Shampoo or Conditioner (22.5 oz) $1.49

Use $1/2 here

Final Price: $1.98 for 2

Smart Ones Weight Watchers $1.88

Use $4/10 here 

Final Price: $1.48 each when you purchase 10

Coca-Cola Products 4 for $12

Ziploc Bags (selected varieties) 3 for $7

Use $1.50/2 here 

Final Price: $5.50 for 3

Dannon Danimals (6 pk) or Activia (4pk) $2

Use $1 off from 8/30 SS

Final Price: $1

Campbell’s Chunky Soups (selected varieties) 2 for $3

Huggies or Pampers Jumbo Pack Diapers or Training Pants $8.99

Use $2 8/30 P&G on Pampers

Use $3 Huggies Pure and Natural here

Final Price: as low as $5.99

Gillette Fusion Manual Razors $7.94 each – Buy 2 and get a $5 Target Gift Card

Use 2 -$4 off 9/27 P&G

Final Price: $2.88 for 2 when you include the coupons and use the $5 gift card

Hershey Kisses 2 for $5

Use $1 9/13 SS

Final Price: $1.50

M&M’s $2.50

Get a free reusable shopping bag with the purchase of any 2 Halloween M&M’s bags

Use $1/2  9/27 RP and $1/2 Target coupon here

Final Price:  $3 for 2 plus a free reusable bag!

Juicing

I love 100% fresh juice!  It’s good for you and it tastes great!  I enjoy combining fruits and vegetables.  Here are a few combinations I’ve tried:

3 Carrots, 2 apples, and ¼ lime

1 Nectarine, 1 pear, 3 carrots, and ¼ lime

2 Carrots, 2 apples, 1/4 lime, and 1 zucchini  - I can’t taste the zucchini, but I feel good knowing it’s in there! J

4 Oranges (or mandarins) and 3 carrots

1 Apple, 1 pear, 3 carrots, and ¼ lime

These combinations make about 2 cups of juice.

The possibilities are endless!  You can adjust the amount of all the ingredients to your liking.  If you have a juicer I suggest you pull it out and see what you come up with.  Be sure to leave a comment and share your creation. 

What to do with all that leftover pulp?

I didn’t want the leftover pulp to go to waste, so I started finding ways to use it:

Fruit Pulp: Add it to pancakes or bread mixes.

Veggie Pulp:  Throw it in soups, meatloaf, lasagna, or spaghetti sauce.

Do you have any other ideas? 

My Safeway Shopping Trip

I was able to get all of the groceries in these two pictures for just $65.19.  It really is cost effective to shop the sales and use coupons!

Total Before Sales and Coupons : $140.79

Savings: $75.60, 54 percent!

Sunday Coupon Insert Preview

There will be 3 coupon inserts in this Sunday's newspaper.  Click on the picture below to check out what coupons will be included (some deals vary by location).  I like to preview the coupon deals to see if it's worth buying more than one paper to get extra coupons.  Larger newspapers seem to carry more coupons and sometimes higher value coupons too!  Happy clipping!

                 

Rachael Ray's Coupon Show

Yesterday, Rachael Ray did a show about coupons.  Check out her page here to receive 20% or more off from many retailers and restaurants (Soma, Denny's, Crabtree & Evelyn, Office Depot, JoAnn Frabics and many more!) This promotion will run until October 24. 

Check out this interesting segment from the show here.

Free Chocolate Friday!

Today is the last day to sign up for the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act.  Click here to sign up.  You will be sent a coupon for a free Mars candy by mail.  It says you'll get your coupon in about 6 weeks, but mine usually arrive in about a week.  Hurry, this offer is limited to the first 250,000!

Free Museum Day

Are you looking for something fun and inexpensive to do this weekend?  This Saturday, September 26, 2009, is Smithsonian Magazine Free General Admission Museum Day.  Click here to see what museums near you are participating and to get your free admission pass.  Have fun!

Cold Stone Ice Cream

Enjoy a "free" Cold Stone ice cream today, September 24th, between 5pm - 8pm when you make a donation to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.  See details here.  Enjoy!

Safeway Deals 9/23 - 9/29

Here are some of the good deals in this week's Safeway ad, using your club card.

Foster Farms Whole Chicken .79 cents

Fresh Express Salads $1

Vine Ripe Tomatoes .88 cents lb.

Bananas .48 cents lb.

Aquafresh Toothpaste .88 cents

Rice or Pasta Roni $1

Safeway Canned Fruit $1

Safeway Brown Rice or Pinto Beans $1

Safeway Canned Tomatoes (14.5 oz.) $1

Bartlett Pears $1/lb.

Zucchini or Yellow Squash $1/lb.

Iceberg Lettuce $1/lb.

English Cucumbers $1 each

Granny Smith, Red or Golden Delicious $1/lb. 

Broccoli Crowns $1 each

Gatorade (32 oz.) $1, Buy 10 and get 5 Propel (710ml.) FREE

Kellogg's Rice Krispies Cereal (12 oz) or Pop Tarts (8count) $1.49 - must buy 5 to get this price

Use this coupon here on the Pop Tarts to get an additional .55 cents off

Final Pop Tart Price: .94 cents

Dial Hand Soap $1 use coupon here for .55 cents off

Final Price: .45 cents

Suave Hair Care .88 cents

Use coupon here for $1 off 2

Final Suave price: .76 cents for 2

Del Monte Fruit Naturals $1, use $1 off 3 here

Final Price: $2 for 3

72 Hour Sale Friday - Sunday

Driscoll's Raspberries (5.6 oz.) .99 cents each

Oreos or Oreo Cakesters $1.99 (limit 3)

Tropicana Pure Premium Orange Juice $2.98 (Limit 1)

Super Price In-Add Coupons:

Lucerne Eggs 18 count $1.49

Ziploc Food Storage Bags (15 - 30ct.) $1.99 (Limit4)

Soup Sale

Save $2 on first 4 purchased and .50 cents more on every item after 4.

Progresso Vegetable Classics $1, when you buy 4 or more

Progresso 50% Less Sodium, Light, High Fiber, or O Organics Chicken Noodle $1.25, when you buy 4 or more.

Load Cellfire coupon to your club card to save .50 cents off 2 here

Load Shortcuts.com coupon to your club card to save .50 cents off 2 here

Campbell's Chunky or Healthy Choice $1.50, when you buy 4 or more