So..How much did my weekly menu planning pay-off?

In my previous post I told you how I do my weekly menu planning. Now I will tell you a little about my trip and how I did.

My first stop was at my beloved Publix.

This list will include my menu planning items AND additional items that were on sale and needed in my home. Remember that at my local Publix I can purchase ONE of a BOGO item and it will ring half the price. I don't have to purchase 2 items to get the BOGO deal.

From my menu list:

Pillsbury Grands

$1.99 minus $1.00 coupon= $.99

Green Giant Boxed Veggies (needed spinach for my menu)

10/$10

Needed to purchase 3 to use coupon for $1.00 off = $2.00

Asparagus

$3.75 Not on sale and no coupon

Items not on menu but on sale and/or had coupons:

Lysol-Buy One Get One Free (BOGO)

$1.35 minus $.50 = $.85

Domino 5 lb. Sugar

$1.99 no coupon but on sale--great deal

Colgate Total Toothpaste

2/$5 minus $1.50 coupon and $1.00 coupon= $2.50

Had 2 coupons, one for each toothpaste

Danactive yogurt

3/$6 = $2 each, purchased 1 at $2.00 minus $1.00 coupon= $1.00

Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup

4 pack on sale for $1.99 minus $.40 coupon = $1.59

My total savings with vendor coupons, and advertised special savings was $16.21! With tax and all, I only spent $14.55! I LOVE when I SAVE more than I SPEND.

My second stop was at a local, hometown grocery store: Mr B's IGA.

My main reason for going here was because they had the cheapest price on good quality boneless, skinless chicken breast at $1.88 pound. ( I missed out on the $1.99 per pound at Publix last week.) Thanks to the man at Mr. B's that told me that their chicken breasts will go on sale Wednesday for $.99 per pound, too bad I need it before then.

I decided to get all my meat for the week at Mr. B's. I did substitute the pork chops for the orginally planned pork tenderloin.

My meat purchases were:

1 package bacon ON SALE for .$98

1 package sausage $4.99 (not mixed with chicken and other by products--paid a little extra)

1 package boneless sirloin pork chops $4.66

1 family pack ground beef $5.54 (split into 4 packages when I got home)

1 package chicken breast $3.89 (much better than the $8 to $10 I was going to have to spend elsewhere)

I also bought my tomatoes, potatoes, freezer bags, and tomato paste, and cheese while I was here. My total for everything was $33.47. Not bad when I consider what I saved on the meat. I could have gotten some of the other items cheaper elsewhere but time was of the essence and as the saying goes, "Time is money."

Last stop for the day: CVS

CVS had the cheapest deal on Pepsi this week at 5/$10 or $2.00 per 8 pack. Since I had not spent nearly my weekly budget, I went ahead and got 3-8 packs. I needed hairspray and Tres Semme was on sale for $2.00. I also needed chicken broth for one of the recipes. Swanson was BOGO and I had a coupon for $.25 off. My total was $10.67.

I received coupond for $5 off a $15 purchase, $3.00 off any 2 hand or body lotions, and $1.00 off Hershey Bliss, and $1.00 off 2 Nivea Lip items.

I only need to spend $14.00 more dollars on Pepsi or Frito Lay products this week to receive $10 Extra Bucks. I may go back and spend at least $15 so I can use the coupon for $5.00 off--good way to stock up on drinks AND maybe some chips for the Super Bowl.

I still needed rice, toilet paper, and body wash but I had only spent $60.35 so far, not bad for a week's worth of food and a few extras--if you ask me.

Blessings!!
Tara