I'm on a couponing cloud!

I've been so busy getting the store ready, I haven't looked at the weekly coupon inserts for the last few weeks, (more like 6 weeks).  We were running low on somethings like cheese & cereal, and realized that I need to start getting some school supplies.  So I packed up the entire family and my wonderful husband trucked us all over town.  That man is so sweet, I just love him.  When you see the 1st picture remember I went to several different stores & I DID NOT wipe out the shelves!  That is #3 on my 10 Commandments of Couponing.

Total spent $48.96 worth $155.70!  69% savings!

Broken down by store:

                                                                  Safeway $0.20                                                                  

                        

                                 Franz Bakery Outlet $5.29                               

                                                  (no coupons used but it was 3/$5.29!)

Target $8.57 

                                                    

                                          

Fred Meyer  (2 transactions)  

$20.74

                                                               

Albertson's $11.19 

(3 transactions)    

               

           

                                                                    Rite Aid $2.97  

                                                          

I'd love to hear about your deals or comments.  Please let me know!

PS Sorry that the pictures are all over the place on my side they are fine, but once it is published it takes on a mind of its own.

You control the sales, the sales don't control you

When I teach my couponing classes, I always, always stress "YOU CONTROL THE SALES, THE SALES DON'T CONTROL YOU".  Why?  The point of couponing is to save money on things you usually buy and not on things that you don't.  Don't waste your money.  Honestly I think I haven't see anything noteworthy at Safeway in the last few weeks, the prices are AWFUL!  Prices here have jumped, probably by double digits in the neighborhood of 25-50%.  Since I live in a small town that's where you shop unless you wanna drive into Salem.

So needless to say we've been eating out of my stockpile.  But there were some good deals for items I will donate to the food bank.  No the ice cream is for my husbands sweet tooth & it was hot here yesterday (a whopping 80 degrees).  Take a look, total spent $9.

Say hello to my little friends. . .

So Safeway has a chicken deal going on right now, 77 cents a pound.  A pretty good price given that gas is still $3.79 here, (my stock up price was 60 cents a pound).  So I grabbed 2 whole chickens, each one being around $3.50. 

While I was away my wonderful husband made "Beer Can" chicken, but instead he used white wine in the can, rosemary, oregano, & garlic tucked underneath the skin.  I love making chicken this way, it is so tender & juicy.  One chicken can last us at least 3-4 dinners.  Making each dinner about $1.25.  Not bad.  Tonight will be chicken sandwiches, sometime this week will be chicken & rice, & the other dinner will be chicken enchiladas.  His partner in crime, will be cut up and froze for those night where I don't want to cook or it's too hot. 

Doesn't those look like the ones from the store?

I have a sickness, I like to take pictures of my grocery deals.

Yes, I have a sickness.  Why do I like to take pictures of my grocery deals?  I'll never know.  Maybe to inspire or boast?  Who knows, but I'll keep doing it, if you guys like to see what I get super cheap.

All of this for $3.53.



This is what $6 will buy you at Safeway.

All of this for $6.08.  Not bad.

Hey I can make my own dishwasher soap!

I was asked in one of my couponing classes if I knew how to make dish washer soap.  I didn't, but I'd look into it.  Guess what!  I have all the ingredients in my pantry, thanks to my laundry soap recipe.  It is free of harsh chemicals.

Difficulty: Easy                 Costs: $0.75 for 40 loads/1T .02 per load or 20  loads/2T .04 per load

Ingredients:

1 C Washing soda

1 C Borax

Vinegar (as a rinsing agent)

Mix Borax and Washing soda in a jar. Washing soda is similar to baking soda but better suited for cutting through grease and grime.

Break apart any clumps in the mixture as you mix it. Screw the lid tightly on the jar during storage.

Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of the homemade dish soap in the soap cup of your dishwasher. Run the dishwasher as usual.

If desired, place vinegar in the rinse agent dispenser. Vinegar cuts through water spots and is particularly useful when washing glass ware.

 

Knock you socks off sourdough bread

Holy Moly!  Have you checked out the prices for Sourdough bread lately?  Here in my little town it's a whopping $4.69! for 1 loaf.  I could drive to Trader Joe's (at least 30 miles one way) & get it somewhere in the range of $2.99.  But, gas is now going down to $3.81 a gallon YIPPEE!  So I, yet again, am trying to find a cheaper version that I'll like.  I THINK I FOUND IT.

Rustic Sourdough Bread

Difficulty: Med/Med High                                             Costs:$2.50 for 2 loaves

Time: 2 1/2 hours ( 2 Hours to let the dough rest)

Ingredients:
1 C "fed" sourdough starter
1 1/2 C Luke warm water
2 1/2 tsp salt
1 T Sugar (I used 2, it was really sour)
2 tsp Instant yeast
5 C Flour

Combine all ingredients until a smooth soft dough.  I add a few cups of flour at a time.

Place in a greased bowl, cover, & let rise until doubled 90 minutes.

Divide dough in half & shape into 2 oval loaves.  This is the 2nd time I've made this & I used 2 bread pans so the dough is taller.  Place in a lightly greased pan.  Cover & let rise till puffy 60 minutes.

Slash the tops & bake in preheated over @ 425 degrees for 30 minutes, keep an eye out about 25 minutes, so the tops don't brown too much.  Cool on rack.

Enjoy!  Remember to put the remainder of the bread in the refrigerator, it doesn't have preservatives.