I only went to one store, although I did 3 transactions.

I must apologize in advance, i do not have a photo of today’s excursion… the camera is with my sis so no photo today… I’m sorry!!

Ok, Fred Meyer had some good sales this week.  Here’s how I did:

Item description: (Retail price / sales price / - coupons / my price - Qty )

Kraft Mac n’Cheese: 89c / 59c / -9c / 50c - 20
Barilla Pasta: 1.99 / 1.00 / -50c / 50c - 6
VO5 Shampoo: 1.29 / 99c / -45c / 54c - 4
Fred Meyer Bread: 1.29 / 50 / -0 / 50c - 12
Activa/Danimal/Dannon Yogurt 4pk: 2.29 / 1.88 / -1.00 / 88c - 3
Bumble Bee Tuna Pack: 1.99 / 1.00 / -62c / 38c - 5
Hunts Pasta Sauce: 1.10 / 99c / -30c / 69c - 18
Bar S Bacon 1lb: 2.99 / 2.50 / -50c / 2.00 - 6

Total Coupons: $20.29
Total Spent: $48.62
Total OOP w/tax: $52.15

I’ve been “coupon” stockpiling for a little over 2 months now.  HOWEVER, I have always been someone who stocks up at Costco on things that I never want to run out on: toilet paper, paper towels, deodorants, food items we eat regularly, etc. With that said, I usually always have a 2-4 week solid stockpile in our home.

Now that I’m couponing so intensely again, all that has changed.  I will now stock up on something as much as I am able to buy at the pennies or free price.  For example, we currently have 41 boxes of kleenex (well we have more, but I’m speaking about the ones I got free) because they are free.  Today is the last day to take advantage of this deal so I’m going out and getting anywhere from 12-20 more depending upon the stock the store has available.

Anyway, here are some pictures of my stockpiles, with explanations of what you are seeing within each picture.  Enjoy!

View 1 of my main, near my kitchen, pantry

The top shelf back in the corner has 20+ boxes of cereal… the edges of the pantry extend pretty deeply beyond the doors (sort of annoying when trying to utilize said space!!).

View 2 of my main, near my kitchen, pantry

Again, top shelf has another 30+ boxes of cereal back in that corner.  My pantry stockpile here is actually somewhat low right now.  I haven’t been through a full cycle yet of sales/coupons (takes about a year) so there are things I haven’t stocked up on that we were using regularly.  Now however, we’ll use what I’ve been able to purchase at steep discounts.

View 1 of my laundry room pantry area.

My laundry room is nice and spacious.  However, we recently moved in and I don’t have anything really built in yet.  In another picture you’ll see some shelves we did put up - with supplies we already owned.  Now the quest  begins to find things free to better utilize this space.

View 2 of my laundry room pantry area.

I can’t wait to start taking advantage of Walgreen’s and Rite Aid sundries sales… my coupon stockpile is pretty solid right now so BRING IT ON you two!!

View 3 of my laundry room pantry area.

See what I mean about utilization of space??  I’m desperate for shelves, counters, etc.  I’m excited for the day this room will really function well.

View 4 of my laundry room pantry area.

As I said before, I did have some shelves and brackets so we put them up.  I really want to extend this whole thing towards the right… someday!!

FYI, 90 boxes of “helper” meals, all found for 62c a box.  Capri Sun’s were free, so were crackers.  Soups were 30c can or less, bars were free to $1.00 box.  Kraft Mac and Cheese was 30c box or less, cereal is 75c/box or less, etc.

View 5 of my laundry room pantry area.

Extended view of the last one… bin of snack size chips, bin of school supplies and 44 bottles of joint juice (free).  Oh, and the lovely cat box (sorry!!).

$3.48 for 12 boxes of kleenex, 1 bottle of shampoo, 3 reeses cups

This is a combined Safeway / Walgreen’s purchase (6c at Safeway for the kleenex and $3.42 at Walgreen’s for the shampoo and candy PLUS, I have $6.00 oyno at Safeway and $2.00 oyno at Walgreen’s from this purchase).

Today was make out like a bandit day!

• 29 boxes of Kleenex
• 1 large bottle of Cascade dishwasher soap
• 2 Speed Stick deodorants
• 14 bottles Joint Juice
• 6 boxes Raisin Bran cereal
• 2 36ct packages Chinet plates
• 2lbs cheddar cheese
• 2lbs bacon

$89.15 retail prices for which I paid $6.48 (plus $3.84 in sales tax for a grand oop total of $10.32).  And, I have $6.00 oyno cash for my next purchase.

Not many sales at Safeway this week, but still did great!!

I’m going to detail our spending for the month of October… it is my hope that we get our grocery spending down to $150 for October for our family of 6.

It’s a lesson in “journaling” our spending… reducing our grocery budget and overall responsibility with our finances.

Starting October 1st I will post a snippet every single day describing any spending we did in the previous day and why, what for, etc.  I’ll maintain a detail for you as well.  You can also check out the “grocery challenge” link above for the breakdown.

Pulled BBQ pork sandwiches (7lb pork roast 98clb, 10 hamburger buns 1.10 )

Mashed potatoes (1/3 of a 10lb bag 46c)

Fresh express salad mix (50c)

Fudge brownies (75c)

All items were bought on sale, with coupons.

There is enough left over pulled pork for 6-8 more sandwiches, yeah!

My goal for dinner costs is no more than $10 for dinner 5-8 times a month, the rest of the time it must be $5 or less for dinner.  We save our $10 dinners for when we have friends over.

Updated:  Ok, it fed 2 adults and 4 kids (3 of whom eat like adults) with 2nds for everyone (except mom) PLUS more than 1/2 of the pork left over for another meal.  YEAH!