JUNE Food Stamp Challenge.....Day Twenty Six & Twenty Seven and MORE Food Expenses

This post is part of the June Food Stamp Challenge located over HERE.


Saturday DH & I polished off the rest of the Ham Macaroni & Cheese leftovers for dinner along with some frozen veggies. 
Costs....mac&cheese(free-leftovers), veggies $1.69.

Sunday we feasted!  I made cheese burgers and veggie kabobs to cook out on the grill.  I chopped some veggies and used the leftover pasta I cooked and didn't use in the mac & cheese to make pasta salad.

Cost of items not figured in yet......cheese $.75, condiments $.10, celery $.10=$.95.

Total 'spending' from the pantry for the last 2 days.....$2.64

As I mentioned before I have been keeping track of non-dinner foods eaten for the month.  I've compiled a list of everything we've used from the pantry.
Here it is....
1 box cold Cereal
2 dozen Eggs
2 packages Bacon
1 box Oatmeal
2 jars Peanut Butter
1 jar Jam
10 boxes Kraft mac/cheez
7 cans Soup
1 bag Rice
3 packages Noodles
3 cans Tuna
1 jar Mayo
1/2 jar Mustard
1 bottle Ketchup
2 packages Hot Dogs
2 bags Hot Dog Rolls
1lb. Kielbasa
1 2lb. bag Onions
1 5lb. bag Potatoes
3 loaves Bread
2 bottles Salad Dressing
1 bag Tortillas
2 lb. Chicken
2 lb. Fish
1 bag breaded Fish
1 bag shredded Cheese
3 lb. sliced Cheese
1.5 gallons Milk
2 lb. Bananas
1 container Sour Cream
10 containers Yogurt
1/2 bag Flour(5lb.)
1 bag Sugar(2lb.)
1/2 bottle Oil
1 large jar Applesauce
1 pouch Cookie Mix
1 12pack Coke
3 boxes of Capri Sun
4 envelopes Kool-Aid
1 bag of Coffee
1 box of large Tea Bags
Total of Pantry Spending....$88.03

June Food Stamp Challenge Update
Spent to Date....$299.93
June Food Budget Left....$73.77
Days of Challenge Left....03


Can I keep from going off the grocery spending deep-end for 3 more days?
Stay tuned.....


Sluggy

JUNE Food Stamp Challenge....Grocery Shopping on Saturday

 The post is part of the June Food Stamp Challenge located HERE.


Being a couponer, I don't shop like most people on the planet.  Being on this Food Stamp Challenge has cramped how & where I shop a bit but it hasn't been something I can't handle.  Of course, if some of the stores that have been off limits to me this month since they don't accept EBT where off limits in the long term, I might be singing a different tune!  I suspect, I'd adapt my shopping habits if I was forced to avoid these stores indefinitely but it just might push me to seek out other low price alternatives.  And in all probability, I'd be forced to spend MORE on my groceries than I do now.

That being said, this challenge did push me to seek out and try a new shopping venue on Saturday.  A local produce market opened up near my town about a year ago and seeking lower priced produce from a EBT friendly source got me in the door.
And I am so glad I went!

Here is what I picked up.....

1 x Cantaloupe $1.49
1 x Romaine Lettuce $.99
1 x Tomato  $.44 ($.69lb)
1 x Blueberries(pint) $1.49
3 x Lemons  $.99
1 x Cucumber  $.33
4 x Squash  $2.26 ($.69lb)
2 x Red Peppers  $.76 ($.99lb)
1 x Liverwurst  $2.93($2.99 lb)*Yes, they had a deli dept. too.
Total...$11.68

These prices are well below what the chain and regional grocery stores in the area charge for produce!
While none of the items were locally sourced(it's too early here for harvesting locally)I have hopes that come picking time some of the items will have been grown in this area. 

Then we hit the local independent grocery store in town....

6 x chopped Clams BOGO sale($1.69, so $.84 ea.)=$5.04
1 x Real Goodness lactose-free Milk on sale=$2.00
2 x Krunchers Potato Chips on sale $2.50=$5.00
1 x Taster's Choice instant Coffee=$1.00
1 x Marcal recycled Facial Tissue on sale=$1.11
1 x Whack Biscuits(store brand)=$1.69
1 x Cream Cheese(store brand) on sale=$.99
1 x 1lb. Carrots on sale=$.99
SubTotal...$17.82

Coupons Used
1 x $1/1 Real Goodness Milk ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $1/1 Krunchers Chips ManuQ=$2.00
1 x FREE ITEM Catalina Q Taster's Choice=$1.00
1 x FREE ITEM ManuQ Marcal Item(up to $1)=$1.00
Coupon Total....$5.00

$17.82-$5.00=$12.82 + $.07 tax=$12.89

Then I went to Weis Supermarket for 1 item....

2 x OM Lunchmeat on sale BOGO($4.99)=$4.99

I used a FREE ITEM(up to $3)Coupon from Kraft...
$4.99-$3.00=$1.99 total for 2 packages of turkey breast.

Why I bought what I bought.....

I plan on making Club Sandwiches for dinner one night(the lunchmeat, tomato), Clam Chowder another night(clams, milk and enough clams for another batch later this summer), some meat grilled out with veggie skewers(squashes, pepper), the romaine, cuke and carrots for salads, and the fruit, cream cheese & whack biscuits are for breakfasts this week.  The liverwurst is for Hubs lunches at work & he can take chips in a reusable container.  The lemons are for my home brewed iced tea of course! ;-)

Saturday's spending.....$26.56

June Food Stamp Challenge Update
Spent to Date....$209.26
June Food Budget Left....$164.44
Days of Challenge Left....05

Sluggy

JUNE Food Stamp Challenge.....Day Twenty Four & Twenty Five

The post is part of the June Food Stamp Challenge located HERE.

On Day 24-Thursday- DH & I went out to eat.  While you can't pay for meals out with food stamps/EBT, folks who rely on food stamps to eat DO go out.  One way you can stretch those precious dollars to afford to eat out is using deals and coupons.  We use a site called Restaurant.com where you can buy gift certificates to local eating establishments.  I figure, if you're going to spend on eating out, you might as well spend as little as you have to AND spend it with locally owned businesses.  You save $ doing something fun and you support local people's businesses.  Win/Win!

I will wait until the site is having a sale, like an 80% off any certificates you buy sale.  Alot of the cert.s I buy are "$25 off your bill when you spend $35" ones.  At 80% off, they cost me $2 a piece, so in the end I am getting $35 of food for $12(the $10 over $25 I must spend + the $2 cost of the cert.=$12).  That's a 65% savings on the cost of eating out!(Not including the tip).

So we headed out on Thursday to use a "spend $35, get $25 off" $2 certificate I had bought months ago during a 80% off sale.  Hubs had a gourmet burger and wings & I had crabcakes and onion rings.  My meal also came with salad, a potato and veggie of the day.  We went a few dollars over $35 but I had enough food leftover for lunch the next day as well.
We spent $37.99, so our expensive night out cost us $12+$2.99+$6.85(tip)=$21.84.

On Day 25-Friday-DH & I ate odds & ends from the freezer.  He had some beer brats and the leftover potato salad from earlier this week, and I took some pieces of breaded chicken cutlets, shredded cheese and spaghetti sauce and made some quick chicken parmesan in the skillet, adding a tossed salad to finish up the greens I had bought last week.

Day 23 food costs for items bought before June......chicken cutlets $1.00, sauce $.40, cheese $.50, brats $.67, condiments $.05.
Friday's total=$2.62


That brings our 'spending' for the last 2 days to $2.62.($21.84 for non-food stamp purchases.)

June Food Stamp Challenge Update
Spent to Date....$182.70
June Food Budget Left....$191.00
Days of Challenge Left....05


Sluggy

2 More Trips to Rite-Aid & I'm Finished with the June SCRs

I couldn't resist looking for more Corned Beef Hash so we hit Rite-Aid when we went out to grocery shop today.  Found 1 more can so I have an even total of 10 cans for #2 son when he gets back from camp. 8-)

1 x Corned Beef Hash on sale=$1.50
1 x Colgate Toothpaste on sale=$2.99
2 x Rembrandt 20% Wellness Discount($6.39)=$12.78
1 x Motrin PM on sale=$3.00
SubTotal....$20.27

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks/VV IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/1 Colgate Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $3/1 Rembrandt (1 ManuQ/1 IPQ)=$6.00
2 x $3/1 AdPerks/VV IPQ=$6.00
1 x $1/$10 Oral Care Purchase Wellness CRT Q=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Motrin PM ManuQ=$1.00
Coupon Total....$20.00

$20.27-$20.00=$.27 OOP put on FREE Rite-Aid Gift Card so ZERO spent!
+Up Rewards earned...$3(Motrin PM), $2(Colgate)=$5.00

And then I hit the local Rite-Aid.....

1 x Airwick Sprayer 50% off=$4.99
6 x Bounty Towels on sale $.99=$5.94
1 x Glad Trash Bags on sale=$5.99
2 x TGIFriday's Chips BOGO=$2.19
1 x Colgate Toothpaste on sale=$2.99
1 x Motrin PM on sale=$3.00
SubTotal....$25.10

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $20 Purchase AdPerks/VV IPQ=$5.00
1 x $4/1 Airwick Sprayer ManuQ=$4.00
3 x $1/2 Bounty Towels ManuQ=$3.00
1 x $1/$10 Household Purchase Wellness CRT Q=$1.00
1 x $1.50/1 TGIFriday's Chips IPQ=$1.50
1 x $1/1 Colgate Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Motrin PM ManuQ=$1.00  *I ran out of the $3/1 Qs.
1 x $3/1 +Up Reward(Motrin)=$3.00
1 x $1/1 +Up Reward(Purex)=$1.00
1 x $4 off any Rite-Aid Purchase *This is one of the Qs I received from corporate when my +Ups didn't print earlier in the week.
Coupon Total....$24.50

$25.10-$24.50=$.60 OOP put on FREE Rite-Aid Gift Card so ZERO spent!
SCR qualified for....$1(Glad)--this item is a limit of 2 rebates=$1.00
+Up Rewards earned...$3(Motrin PM), $2(Colgate)=$5.00


Today's totals--
Spent...$.87 put on gift card
SCR....$1.00
+Up Rewards earned....$10.00

MONTHLY TOTALS

Number of Transactions......16
Total Spent....$46.87--all put on free Gift Cards/Certificates
SCR qualified for....$59.98 in cash and $35 in Gift Cards
Other Cash....$15 MIR from Neutrogena
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$5.00 Gift Card from Gillette(for survey)& $20 in Prepaid Debit Cards=$25.00
+Up Rewards earned=$63.00  *They sent whole dollars for the +Ups that didn't print so  I rounded up the .99¢ amount.
+Up Rewards spent=$32.00

Total Cash I'm getting Back=$74.98
Total Gift Cards I'm getting=$60.00
+Up Rewards left to spend=$31.00

Sluggy

Rite-Aid Scenario for 6/27-7/3.....97¢ OOP, Get $4.99 SCR & $3+UpRewards

Here's a scenarios I am considering doing this coming week at Rite-Aid.
My 20% Wellness discount does NOT come into play so you can do this with the right coupons even if you have no Wellness discount yet.  You do need a Wellness card to get some of the sale prices however so make sure you sign up for this program at Rite-Aid.
I am assuming certain prices from my local store, you store's prices may vary.

1 x Tresemme Shampoo on sale $3.99
1 x Crest Pro-Health Sensitive Shield Toothpaste on sale $2.99
1 x Venus disposable Razors on sale $5.99
1 x Stayfree Pads on sale BOGO $3.99
2 x M&M's single serve packages BOGO $.88
1 x Welch's Grape Juice on sale $3.00
Subtotal...$20.84

Here are the coupons you need....
1 x $5 off $20 or $5 off $25 AdPerks/VV IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/1 Tresemme IPQ from the Tresemme website=$1.00
1 x $2/1 Tresemme AdPerks/VV IPQ from watching videos last month=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste from 6/27 inserts=$1.00
1 x $2/1 Venus disposables ManuQ from last P&G insert=$2.00
1 x BOGO Stayfree ManuQ from 6/27 inserts=$3.99
1 x BOGO M&M's ManuQ from 6/27 inserts=$.88
1 x $2/1 Welch's IPQ from Welch's facebook page(go "Like" them)=$2.00
Coupon Total....$17.87

$20.84-$17.87=$2.97
I have a $2 +Up Rewards from the Colgate I bought this week, so I'll add 1 to bring the OOP total down to $.97.

I'll qualify for $4.99 in Single Check Rebates(SCR)...$2 for the Venus & $2.99 for the Crest.
I'll receive back $3 in +Up Rewards(they spend like CVS's ECBs)....$1 for theTresemme & $2 for the Venus.
$.97 OOP-$4.99 in SCR=$4.02 overage + the $3 in +UpRewards.

If you are into tooth whitening strips, I also see  a great deal this coming week on the Crest 3D vivid whitestrips.  The 10 ct will be on sale for $22.99.
There is a $5/1 ManuQ in the last P&G insert for these, or better yet, there is a $10/1 ManuQ in today's insert!

Pair that with a $5 off $20 purchase AdPerks/VV IPQ and if you've used your Wellness card this week, you should have a $1 off $10 Oral Care purchase Q on the bottom of your Rite-Aid receipt which you can also use.
$22.99-$5-$10-$1=$6.99
And with this purchase you will receive a $10 +UpReward on the bottom of your purchase receipt, so after that +Up, your bottom line spent is -$3.01.

Even better....if you plan on doing the John Frieda deal at Rite-Aid(buy 4 for $20, use Qs to bring that purchase OOP down to $2--a $5/$20, a $1/$10 hair care wellness CRTQ, 4 x $3/1 JF ManuQs=$18 in Qs-- and get a $10 +Up Reward), then turn around and roll that $10+Up into a Crest Whitestrips deal so your OOP is REALLY $1.99.

Your total OOP for both deals will become $3.99($2 for 4 shampoos & $1.99 for the whitestrips) and you'll have a $10+Up Reward left to do it again or put toward something else.

The BIL hasn't done the skin care SCR deal yet(it runs until 7/24)so he might be buying some Coppertone and Aveeno this coming week.

If you need batteries the Duracell deal looks mighty fine as well.  Buy $20 and get a SCR for $10 so that makes them 50% off right off the bat.   The 25 ct. packs of Duracell are $10 this coming week and you get a $2+Up Rewards for buying one.  Spend $20 on batteries in 2 transactions(so you get the $2+Up for each packages) and you'll pay $8 after +Ups for each & get $10 back so $6 OOP.  Spend at least $20 in each transaction and use a $5 off $20 AdPerks Q to make it an even better deal.  I might have to buy some batteries this week too....lol

What scenarios are you considering for this coming week at Rite-Aid?

Sluggy