My First Day with Coupons

Well today I did it....I shopped at Publix with my envelope full of coupons.
This is a big deal for me because I am mostly an Aldi shopper with some Wal-mart thrown in there. (BTW...I still have to go to Wal-Mart. I hate you wal-mart for making me need you!)
Anyhoo....I spent several hours yesterday at http://www.southernsavers.com/ going through their list of Publix stuff, printing coupons, and then cutting my own out of the newspaper.

Here is my break down:

1. I usually have $200 to spend for 2 weeks. This includes non-food items...toiletries, dog food, medicines, cleaning supplies...all of that annoying stuff.

2. The non-food items I needed today where as follows:
Dog food
Dog treats
Lysol Wipes
Comet
Windex
Laundry Detergant
Fabric Softener
TP
Q tips
Ziplocs (large and small)
Aluminum foil
Vitamins
Paper Plates
Total I spent about $40 on these items, but I did get some good deals.
For instance.

Dog Treats: They were $3.69 each, but where buy one get one free. I also had a $1.50 off of 2 coupon, so I got $7.38 worth of dog treats for $2.19.....Total Savings $5.19

Windex: (I actually got "Glass plus" ) It was $2.49, but was buy one get one free, making it $1.25 for 1. I had a $1 off coupon, so I got it for .25.....Total Savings $2.24

Comet: $1.19 each usually. Walgreens had a coupon for 2 for $1...Total Savings $1.38


Food items:
These were some of my favorite food deals.
PREFACE: I usually buy Aldi brand snacks and cereals. I don't have a problem with it, however my husband....well lets just say, it will bless his heart to have some name brand snacks.

Cheezits: $3.19 a box. On sale, buy one get one free. I had 2 $1 off coupons. So I got 2 boxes for $1.19 . Total savings: $5.19

Claussen Pickles: On sale for $2. I had a $1 off coupon. So I got them for $1.

Frenchs Mustard: On sale for .93. I had a .50 coupon, but AHA, Publix doubles coupons, so they paid me .7 to buy mustard today!

Kraft Cheese: On sale for 2 for $4. I had 2 $1 off coupons, so I got them for $1 each.




I have a lot of deals like that.


Now, I did also go to Aldi cause lets face it, they cannot be beat on milk, bread, and fruit.
I spent $35 at Aldi. I figured up that if I would have bought the items I bought at Aldi, at Publix, I would have spent $50 on those items. ( Because there was no sales or coupons on those items.)


Walgreens had some good coupons, and since Publix doesnt consider them a competitor they won't take their coupons. So I did go into Walgreens for several things.
I spent at Walgreens $8.84, and saved $7.04.
This was on Campells soups, Comet, Chicken Broth, and Green Giant Vegetables.

Back to my Publix total.

I spent (and I always take a big gulp when I see this amount of money being spent, but I do have to remind myself that I got ALOT of stuff and nobody in my house will starve, smell bad, be dirty, or complain about Aldi crackers!)....$159.95 and saved $96.47.

So to sum up:

Total spent (at 3 places) $204.06
Total saved........................$118.51


I feel really good about that, escpecially considering the amount of stuff that I got, and the fact that this will last for at least 2 weeks.
Hopefully in 2 weeks I can do even better because I'll have more coupons stored up, I won't have to buy as much non-food items (i.e. dog food), and I will know a little bit better what I am doing.

Also, I know about the CVS thing, and I had planned on doing some stuff with that, but honestly, I am out of money, so it will have to wait.

I still have to go to Wal-mart to get some vitamins and duct tape. Oh well.

Lets get "LOST" tonight!

It is here. The night that many of us have waited for...hoped for...longed for....
Groundhogs Day Night............

Er, I Mean, LOST night!


Stacy and I started watching Lost about a year ago as something we could watch together. So we rented them from Net flix and spent the next several months with the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 on the mysterious Island in the middle of nowhere.
About 8 months later we finished all 5 seasons, and now find ourselves like everybody else...still confused, having to wait, and above all else, LOST!

Tonight begins the first episode of the last season. The season where it all comes together and all our questions are answered. Ahem...we shall see.

My husband and I have been anxiously awaiting this night. WHY? Is it because the show is THAT good? YES. Is it because it is one of the only shows that we both like and can watch together? Double YES. Is it because we can lock ourselves downstairs for 3 whole hours while the chidren terrorize each other upstairs. Yes, you have it, triple YES.

So to commemerate this evenings much anticipated "date night", I have planned a Dharma Initiative feast. If you do not know what the Dharma Initiative is you should go away now.

To Start the evening we will be dining on:
"Loin of Wild Boar"
"Seasoned with John Lockes 11 herbs and Spices"
"UPC # 4 8 15 16 23 42"


With a side of:
"Roasted Root Potatoes"
"Given special attention by the 'Sun' and cooked over an open flame".
"UPC # 4 8 15 16 23 42"


And of course some veggies:
"Native Vegetation"
"Others must have been here"
"UPC # 4 8 15 16 23 42"

And to top it all off, some Desssert:
"Dessert for the Deserted"
"Contraband from Sawyer. What else is he hiding in that tent?"
"UPC # ( can you guess whats coming? 4 8 15 1 6 23 42"



And in case your wondering what that REALLY means, the menu is as follows:
Peppercorn crusted Pork Tenderloin
Roasted Rosemary Potatoes
Corn on the Cob
M & Ms and brownies (or MAYBE Duncin Donuts if my husband brings some home!)






So there you have it, our own personal Dharma Initiative date night.
Do not disturb between the hours of 7-10. We will be LOST!