We were getting dangerously low on vegetables, fruit, dairy and perishables. We have been doing a budget challenge all month – trying to spend as little out of pocket as possible – so we’ve been eating lots of frozen vegetables.
My first stop was QFC and if I wasn’t so shy, I would have been doing a happy dance down the aisles. Seriously – I found the motherload of Manager markdowns. A blessing in the form of a bright orange sticker. 🙂 I’ve taught my kids to look for them and they get nearly as excited as I do when we find them.  I spent $22.77 at QFC and I walked out with four big bags of healthy foods.
Dozen eggs –Â $1
Had a FREE store coupon from the mail
Final price = FREE
Tillamook yogurts –Â $0.15 cents, manager markdown
Corn on the cob –Â $0.50 cents each
Kroger bagged lettuce –Â $0.99, manager markdown
Plus I used a $0.60 store coupon I received in the mail
Final price = $0.39 cents
Mountain High Yogurt, 32 oz –Â $0.75 manager markdown!
I didn’t even have my coupons, but I bought three, what an incredible deal! They aren’t even dated until May 22, so we have lots of time to eat them.
Activia yogurt, 4 pack –Â $0.75 manager markdown
Lemon $0.99, more than I wanted to spend, but we needed it for halibut
QFC eggs –Â $1, didn’t have a coupon for the second dozen, but this is a great price!
Simple Truth Organic Spring Mix –Â $1.69, bought two
Bella Mushrooms, 8 oz –Â $1.79 each
Bananas –Â $2.34
Organic kale, big clamshell –Â $2.99 (reg. $6!)
1/2 gallon organic Simple Truth milk –Â $2.99
They had lots of non-organic gallon milk marked down for $2.29, but it was close dated, so although it would have been a better deal, we would have ended up throwing away most of it, since we don’t go through it fast enough. This is an example of how I’ll pay a little more for organic and for a size that is more appropriate for what we need.Â
Final total =Â $22.19 which I think is amazing considering all the healthy food I was able to purchase! It would have been even better if I had my Mountain High coupons with me, but I won’t lose too much sleep over it.
Then we went over to Safeway. I rarely hit up two stores at one time, especially with kids, but I was feeling brave, I guess. Plus they are just across the street from each other. I spent only $9.82 for everything pictured, thanks to some high-value free coupons I had and some in-store deals I found!
International Delight creamer –Â $3.69
FREE after coupon I got from International Delight Facebook sweeps
Final price = FREE
Kellogg’s Mini Crunch cereal –Â $2.99
FREE from Facebook coupon promotion they did a last month
Final price = FREE
Golden Grain pasta products – $1, with Just 4 U coupon
$0.55/1 Golden Grain Hidden Veggie Package 04/07/2013 SS Insert (exp 05/31/2013)
$0.55/1 Golden Grain Hidden Veggie PastaÂ
$0.55/1 Golden Grain Pasta
Look for $0.55 blinkies!
Final price = $0.45 cents
French’s mustard –Â $2.19, buy one, get one FREE
Use two $0.50/1 blinkie coupons
Final price = $0.60 cents each
Yes, it’s cheaper at Albertsons this week, I would have saved $0.40 each but not worth a trip to another store for me this week. Plus you never know about stock on those great deals at Albertsons. 🙂
Fresh Express Spinach –Â $1.25 a bag
Great price!
Cheetos Puffs – $1.49, with Safeway Just 4 U coupon
Total splurge, but my kids deserved it. They love these and they were great in the store!
Safeway strawberry jam –Â $1.99
We were completely out of jam for sandwiches and toast
Final total =Â $9.82. I saved $24.55, which is a savings of 71% off.
We are excited to have some salads and yogurt this week. Â We’ll grill up the corn and hard boil the eggs for snacks!
What sorts of deals have you been finding in the stores lately? Find the latest Safeway deals here and the latest QFC deals here.
Kristi says
No Juli, you cannot due to coupon policy.
Juli S. says
Can you use a coupon on the free mustard at Safeway?
Stacy B. says
Your QFC marks way down compared to mine. Whatever I find is 50% off the original. Good be a good deal and possibly not.
Heather Clarke says
Generally it’s 50% off. I was shocked that I found so many low, low deals this time. Just what I needed for the budget challenge!
Caro says
Good for you on those deals! I print out the coupons from tonytantillo.com to use on the Fresh Express spinach and salad mixes at Safeway. The magazine is sometimes available in the store. I’m assuming its available in your area. I’m in the People’s Republic of PDX.
Jen J says
I’m in the SouthEast and we have Kroger stores (looks to be the same as QFC??). I saw a sign in their Monday night when I was grocery shopping that said starting 5/12 they would only take coupons for face value (no more doubling). I’ve never seen any massive coupon hauls by anyone in there, but I guess coupons were becoming a problem for the store. A shame.
Heather Clarke says
Hi Jen – Sorry to hear this. You’d be surprised at the “underground” coupon community. LOL. There are definitely people who take advantage of coupons (and corporations) to save at the checkstand. But it could just be part of the growing national trend of retailers trying to have a better bottom line. I know there have been talks for a long time from Kroger to stop doubling. We don’t have doubling here in the Northwest and still manage to find great deals – so I hope this is the case for you too. 🙂