I have exciting news.  Frugal in Franklin  has moved.  You can see my new blog, with more resources and better formatting here.  Be sure to bookmark the new site and visit often.  (Thanks for your patience while I “unpack the boxes”).

Menu Ideas to Use this Week’s Publix Deals at FrugalDr.Mom

Great List of Free Entertainment Ideas at Freebies4Mom

Tips on Surviving a Job Loss at Dollar Stretcher.com

Aldi

Milk Last Friday it was 2.25/gal.

Eggs .99/doz.

Food Lion

♥Arm & Hammer Liquid Detergent B1G1 at $4.69 ea
-$1 off Arm & Hammer detergent printable (makes it $1.35 ea)

Kroger

♥Ocean Spray Cocktail Juice $1.98 ea
-$1 off Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice All Well Booklet at Publix (makes it .98¢ ea)
-.55/1 off Ocean Spray Cranberry Drink RP 12/07
-$1 off Ocean Spray Diet or Light RP 1/11

Kroger Comforts Diapers $6.49 ea
-$3 off Comforts printable (makes it $3.49 ea)

Budding Lunchmeat12 oz Ham, Turkey or ChickenBUY ONE * GET ONE FREE
                Buddig Deli Cuts, 01-18-09 RP $1.00/1 4/30/2009 Insert (makes them $1.19)

General Mills CerealHoney Nut Cheerios

-.55/1 Honey Nut Cheerios printable

  -.50/1 Honey Nut Cheerios ShortCuts e coupon (use with printable makes it .62¢ ea)  

FiberOne Multipacks $2 ea

-$1 off Fiber One Yogurt SS 2/08
-.75/1 Fiber One Yogurt shortcuts e coupon (use together makes it .25¢ ea)

Perdue Whole Fryers $0.69 per lb

Kroger Yogurt Cups, 6 oz $0.33

Red Seedless Grapes $.99/lb

Publix

BOGO

Ragu Pasta Sauce, 16 to 26.3 oz jar, or 13.5 oz pouch, save up to $2.19
-.75/2 any Ragu Sauces RP 1/18 (makes it .72¢ ea)
-.50/2 any Ragu Sauces RP 1/18 (makes it .60¢ ea)

Progresso 100% Natural Broth, save up to $2.59
-.50/1 any Progresso broth printable
-$1.25 off any Progresso broth printable (IE) or printable (FF)

Progresso Bread Crumbs, 15 oz canister, save up to $1.93
-$1/2 any Progresso product except soups printable (makes it .46¢ ea)

Wish-Bone Dressing, 16 oz bottle, save up to $2.63
-.60/1 any Wish-bone dressing RP 1/04 (makes it .71¢ ea)
or -.75/2 or -$1/2 regionally
-.75/1 off any Wish-bone dressing printable (-thanks Quen) (makes it .56¢ ea)

Kashi Instant Oatmeal, 11.28 or 12.1 oz box, save up to $3.59
-$1 off Kashi Hot Cereal or Oatmeal Mambo Sprouts Booklet (makes it .80¢ ea)

Glass Plus Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner, 32 oz bottle, save up to $2.49
-.50/1 off any Glass Plus SS 2/08 (makes it .25¢ ea)

Huggies Baby Bath Products, 15 oz bottle or 20 ct box, save up to $3.29
-.50/1 any Huggies Wipes or Bath Products printable (Food Lion)
-$1 off any Huggies Bath Product SS 1/11 (use both together makes it .14¢ ea)

Other Deals

Sargento Shredded Cheese $2 ea
-$1/2 Sargento Shredded Cheese SS 1/25 (makes it $1.50 ea – stock up price)

Green Giant Boxed Vegetables $1 ea
-.50/2 or $1/2 GG Boxed Veges SS 01/04 (makes it .50¢ ea)
-.60/2 GG Boxed Veges printable
**Qualifies for Publix Rebate in SS 2/08, buy 15 items get $10 back- buy 15 make $2.50 after rebate**

H.G. Hill

Pilgrim’s Pride Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts 1.99lb.

-.55/1 Prilgrim’s Pride Fresh Chicken Product

Pilsbury Biscuits in a 4 pk 10/$10

-.75/3 found in Blinkie at H.G. Hill (Buy 3 makes them .75 each 4pk.)

Starkist Tuna Pouches 2.6 oz. $1

-1.00 Vocal Point Coupons (Home mailer) Free 

Ground Beef 1.89/lb. (This is not their rock bottom price, but it is .10/lb cheaper than the same grade at Kroger this week)

Roma Tomatoes .69/lb

I’ve enjoyed learning about couponing from your site. One of the questions I haven’t seen addressed in my review of your site is: “Why should I coupon if I always buy generic store brands?” This is something I’m very interested in hearing about, since I try to buy generic and also work to limit the convenience foods we buy. Have you already posted about this elsewhere on your site? Thanks!

Michelle

I want to start by saying that there is not one right way to buy groceries.  Everyone’s situation is different.  We have different amounts of time and talent.  Some of us shop with small kids in tow or only have one family car.  I love couponing and believe it’s the best way (used in conjunction with lots of other strategies) to lower your food bill.  However, when I can’t find something with a coupon (like Parmesan cheese), I don’t hesitate to buy generic.  My favorite source for generics is Aldi.  You can read my thoughts about Aldi here.

A few weeks ago, I was shopping at Kroger when I saw a young mom pick a dented can of Kroger brand Manwich off the clearance shelf.  It was marked down to .49.  She was studying it carefully to determine whether or not to buy it.  I accosted her (please forgive me if I do this to you in the store, it pains me to see you pay a penny more than you have to), and asked her if she couponed.  She was clearly taken aback and told me that she always shopped generics and she felt this was the cheaper option.  I told her that Manwich was on sale that week and that with the coupon she could buy it for .20.  I apologized for bothering her and scurried away to purchase my 8 cans.  I would have shared a coupon with her, but needed all that I had with me to work the Mega deal.

This is a great example of why couponers and generic only shoppers have trouble seeing eye to eye.  Generic only shoppers look at the regular price of name brand items, subtract the value of the coupon, and it is clear that the generic is cheaper.  They are right.  What they don’t understand is that couponers “only use a coupon in conjunction with a sale”  (even my 11yr. old can repeat this mantra).  So the Publix bread crumbs are $1.69 a container, the Progresso are 2.69, and I have a .35 coupon.  Seems like an easy choice.  But the Progresso bread crumbs will go on sale B1G1 free and then I will use my coupon.   Voila!  I pay only .65 for my bread crumbs. 

The reason this method of using coupons seems unrealistic to some is that it requires a shift in the way you shop and meal plan.  After all what if bread crumbs and Manwich are not on your menu plan for the week.  I have already addressed this issue here.

The other item that Michelle hinted at in her post is the common question that drives at the idea of eating less processed foods.  I think it is a misconception that you need to eat lots of processed foods in order to save money with coupons.  As an example, I’m going to pull some items off of this weeks Publix list that could fit into a diet of home cooking and minimal processing:

Buy One Get One

Progresso 100% Natural Broth, save up to $2.59
-.50/1 any Progresso broth printable
-$1.25 off any Progresso broth printable (IE) or printable (FF)

Juicy Juice 100% Premium Juice, 64 oz bottle, save up to $3.49
-$1/2 off any Juicy Juice Products SS 1/04, 2/01 or printable (makes it $1.24 ea)

Progresso Bread Crumbs, 15 oz canister, save up to $1.93
-$1/2 any Progresso product except soups printable (makes it .46¢ ea)

Crisco 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 16.9 oz bottle, save up to $6.49
-$1 off any Crisco Olive Oil RP 2/08 (makes it $2.25 ea)

Kashi Instant Oatmeal, 11.28 or 12.1 oz box, save up to $3.59
-$1 off Kashi Hot Cereal or Oatmeal Mambo Sprouts Booklet (makes it .80¢ ea)

Earth’s Best Organic Baby Food, 6 months and up, 4 oz jar, save up to $1.09
-$1/8 Earth’s Best Foods Mambo Sprouts Booklet
-$1/10 Earth’s Best Foods printable
-$1/6 Earth’s Best printable (Food Lion)
(use FL printable with manufacturer makes it .29-.34¢ ea)

Green Giant Boxed Vegetables $1 ea
-.50/2 or $1/2 GG Boxed Veges SS 01/04 (makes it .50¢ ea)
-.60/2 GG Boxed Veges printable
**Qualifies for Publix Rebate in SS 2/08, buy 15 items get $10 back- buy 15 make $2.50 after rebate**

Other

Progresso Tomatoes $1.25 ea
-$1/2 any Progresso product except soups printable

Sargento Shredded Cheese $2 ea
-$1/2 Sargento Shredded Cheese SS 1/25 (makes it $1.50 ea – stock up price)

It may take more time to build up your stockpile if you have a lot of perameters on what you will purchase and what you will not.  But clearly, it’s possible to save money and eat a healthy, less processed diet and coupon at the same time.  In addition, saving money on toiletries and cleaning supplies may free up money in your budget for more expensive items.

I hope this answers Michelle’s question, as I know it’s one that lots of people are wondering about.  Please contact me at frankmomof3@yahoo.com.  I may not be able to answer you right away, but I will tuck your question away and try to address it in a later post.

Current Deals at Target Couponing 101

Plus, .69 Flat Earth Chips at Target Money Saving Mom

 Upcoming Deals at Target    Abundant Food Savings 

$14.95 Heely’s  Frugal Dr. Mom

.

Free gas card with P&G purchases  Money Saving Mom

Buy One Get One Deals

Ragu Pasta Sauce, 16 to 26.3 oz jar, or 13.5 oz pouch, save up to $2.19
-.75/2 any Ragu Sauces RP 1/18 (makes it .72¢ ea)

Progresso 100% Natural Broth, save up to $2.59
-.50/1 any Progresso broth printable
-$1.25 off any Progresso broth printable (IE) or printable (FF)

Juicy Juice 100% Premium Juice, 64 oz bottle, save up to $3.49
-$1/2 off any Juicy Juice Products SS 1/04, 2/01 or printable (makes it $1.24 ea)

Progresso Bread Crumbs, 15 oz canister, save up to $1.93
-$1/2 any Progresso product except soups printable (makes it .46¢ ea)

Crisco 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 16.9 oz bottle, save up to $6.49
-$1 off any Crisco Olive Oil RP 2/08 (makes it $2.25 ea)

Kashi Instant Oatmeal, 11.28 or 12.1 oz box, save up to $3.59
-$1 off Kashi Hot Cereal or Oatmeal Mambo Sprouts Booklet (makes it .80¢ ea)

Glass Plus Glass & Multi-Surface Cleaner, 32 oz bottle, save up to $2.49
-.50/1 off any Glass Plus SS 2/08 (makes it .25¢ ea)

Ronzoni Pasta, 12 or 16 oz box, save up to $1.39

Other Deals

Cantaloupes $2 ea
Red or Golden Delicious Apples 3lb bag $2.50 ea

Progresso Soup $1.25 ea
-$1.10 off any Progresso printable (IE) or printable (FF)
-.25/1 off Progresso Light SS 2/08
-$1/4 Progresso Soups SS 01/04
-$1/2 Progresso Soups <printable orprintable(IE) or printable (FF)
-$2/4 Progresso Soups printable

Smart Balance Oil 24oz bottle $2.50 ea
-$1 off Smart Balance Oil RP 2/01

Sargento Shredded Cheese $2 ea
-$1/2 Sargento Shredded Cheese SS 1/25 (makes it $1.50 )

DiGiornio Pizza $5.50 ea
-$1 off DiGiornio Ultimate SS 2/01 (if included)
-$1 off DiGiornio printable (Food Lion)

Green Giant Boxed Vegetables $1 ea
-.50/2 or $1/2 GG Boxed Veges SS 01/04 (makes it .50¢ ea)
-.60/2 GG Boxed Veges printable
**Qualifies for Publix Rebate in SS 2/08, buy 15 items get $10 back- buy 15 make $2.50 after rebate**

Pillsbury Rolls* (Or Crescents, Squares, Twists, Breadsticks, Pizza Crust, Or Loaf, 8 to 13.9-oz can): $1.66
- $.60/2 Pillsbury Italian Meal Breads: HERE, HERE and HERE
Price after (1) Coupon: $2.72 for 2
($1.36/each – save 41%)
*Qualifying product for Pillsbury Bake-Off Publix Gift Card Offer – see 2/8 Smartsource for details!

Aleve 20-24ct $2.99 ea
-$4/2 Aleve, Bayer, Aspirin etc. Green Advantage Buy Flyer
-$1 off Aleve 20ct or larger printableor printable or SS 01/04
(Buy 2, use 2 man. coupons and 1 store coupon makes both FREE)

Bayer 36-count Tablets, $2.69 ea
-$1 off any Bayer Aspirin 20ct. or larger SS 01/04
-$4 off 2 on any Aleve, Bayer Aspirin, Aleve-D etc. Green Advantage Flyer at Publix exp 1/30
(Use store coupon with 2 Manufacturer coupons and get 2 items FREE)

Cover Girl reg. price
-$2.50 off any 2 Cover Girl items PG 01/18
-$2 off any Cover Girl Green Advantage Buy Flyer
(use 2 store coupons and one manufacturer coupon save $6.50 off any 2 items will make some lip and eye items free)

Revlon Beauty Tools or Cosmetics reg. price
-$2.50 off any Revlon Beauty Tool or Cosmetic Green Advantage Buy Flyer
-$1 off any Revlon Beauty Tool SS 2/08
-$2 off any Revlon Color Cosmetic product SS 02/08
(just using store coupon makes nail files and clippers free, add in man. coupon for overage or to make other products FREE)

Free lotion from Origins or Victoria’s Secret?  See Thrifty Mama

How about $5 off  a $5 purchase at JC Penney?  See Freebies4Mom

Huggies Sample?  See Money Saving Mom

(Note:  I’ll be at the sale with a Frugal in Franklin table.  Be sure to stop by and introduce yourself!)

Before the sale:

1. Clean out all of the clothes for the upcoming season (right now that means summer).  Weed out all those things that were never worn or don’t fit anymore.  Also, check toys, maternity clothes, children’s furniture and anything else you might want to clear out.
2. Prepare your items to sell (it’s too late for this sale), but keep it in mind for next time.  Or, decide who you might be able to share the items with.  If you are going to hand them down to a friend, do it in advance of the sale so that she doesn’t buy unnecessary items.
3. Make a checklist for each child for whom you will be shopping.  You can do this on a 3×5 card or create a spreadsheet that you can re-use.  It depends on your personality.  If it’s a really hectic day, scrawl it on the palm of your hand.  Be sure to include the following for each child: clothing sizes, shoe sizes, and measurements (maybe waist, inseam, and arm length).  Then create a list of needs for that child.  My list would look something like this:

• 5-7 outfits for play
• 1-2 church outfits
• windbreaker or sweater
• swimsuit(s)
• 1 pair of decent pajamas
• dress sandals
• casual sandals

This is an entire season of clothes for one of my kids.  I would pare down the list, based on what we had already obtained from other sources.  Don’t forget to consider other needs you may have.  Ask yourself about:

• Birthday gifts
• Shower gifts
• Sporting Equipment
• Yard toys
• Bigger car seats, strollers, beds, or potty chairs

Lastly, think about items you may want to pick up for yourself or your home.  Would a breadmaker help you cut your grocery budget?  Would a table lamp help you cut back on overhead lighting?  Do you need any clothes for the summer?

On the day of the sale, be sure of the following:

1. Make sure you have eaten, are well hydrated, and have had a bathroom break before you go.  If you are expecting, this goes double for you.  The lines can be long!
2. Dress comfortably-especially your shoes.  Also be sure to dress for the weather.  In the summer it’s hot and in the winter it’s cold.  Dress accordingly.
3. Bring a bag or basket for your finds.  I think it’s helpful to  have sold sign to put on top of your stuff if you need to put it down in a corner for just a second.
4. Your list!
5. A tape measure.
6. Take big kids (over 10) who will be picky about what you buy.  Leave little kids at home.  Children under 10 are not allowed, and you won’t want them with you anyway.
7. Patience and great attitude. 

Have a great time, and feel free to come back here to tell us about your great deals!

Jenny at Southern Savers has done it again.  She has posted a list here of the top price she is willing to pay for items she is stockpiling.  She also has a blank form so that you can fill in your own.  I will see what I can do about posting my list for you.  But I wanted to get this resource to you as quickly as possible.  Enjoy!

Is the internet just not enough to help you learn everything you want to about grocery savings?  Do you need to be able to ask questions in person?  Are you just a person who likes an excuse to get your friends together?  Check out my new Learn How page.