Hy-Vee Trip #2

So, I just couldn't help it.  I had to go back to get more cereal.  In the past 2 days I've picked up 32 boxes.  Today I saved 60% at Hy-Vee and got just over $100 worth of groceries for about $41.  I don't have a detailed breakdown of this trip, but here's a picture of what I was able to get by combining Hy-Vee sale prices, coupons and price matching from Walgreens and Target ads.  A huge thanks to the patient and helpful cashier, bagger and assistant manager at Hilltop Hy-Vee in Mankato for your help today.

Penny Prints Are Back At Snap Fish

It's back!  The penny print sale is back at Snap Fish.  If you have photos from a special event or just pictures you haven't printed yet, you will want  to check this out.  

From now until September 10, 2011 (fine print says "while supplies last") you can get up to 500 4"x6" prints for just $0.01 each plus shipping.  Click here to get started.  Last time they had this deal, I got 200 of my Disney trip pics printed.  I'm planning to get the rest plus some others printed with this sale.  My winter goal is to get all of Olivia's scrapbooks up to date before her Confirmation next May.  The best part is that you can use the coupon up to 5 times per customer.  

What are YOU going to print?

Weekend Coupon Reminders

Just a quick reminder - there will be no coupon inserts in this weekend's paper due to the holiday.  BUT, this would be a great time to visit all your favorite coupon sites to print out new coupons.  It's a new month so coupons.com, redplum.com, smartsource.com, savingstar.com and any others you like should have new coupons available.

Cereal Stock Up Trip

As you should all know from previous posts, Hy-Vee is having a stellar sale on cereal this week.  I stopped in on Thursday to pick up a few things and got 4 boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios for only $4.00 out of pocket and took home a $4.00 catalina too.  I went back tonight and brought home 16 boxes of cereal and 4 candy bars for $8.74, plus I ended with a $4.00 catalina for when I go back to buy "real" groceries later this weekend.  If you haven't tried this yet, there is still time to take advantage of this great deal!

To make it even easier, here's a quick "how to" example:

I did 4 transactions in a row.  My store wasn't too busy and they had cashiers standing at empty checkouts so I didn't feel guilty about this.  If it had been busier I would have limited it to 2.  I also used 4 store coupons, which I made sure would be okay with the cashier before I started, just to avoid any problems.  (I was, however, prepared to send hubby and 2 kids through if they enforced the coupon fine print of 1 per customer).  I also let the kids get candy because I read on another blog that you needed a "filler" so you didn't have more coupons than items.  Afterward I realized I wouldn't have needed to do this on two transactions since I only had coupons for 3 of the 4 boxes.

Transaction #1:
1 Reese's PB Cup @ $0.67 (this was one I wouldn't have needed)
1 Cheerios @ $2.50
1 Honey Nut Cheerios @ $2.50
2 Rice Chex @ $3.29
- $1/3 coupon for any GM cereal
- $4/4 coupon from the Hy-Vee Ad
-$4 catalina from previous shopping trip
Total = $3.30  


Transaction #2:
1 Reese's PB Cup @ $0.67
1 Cheerios @ $2.50
1 Honey Nut Cheerios @ $2.50
2 Kix @ $3.19
- $1/3 GM cereals
- $0.50 Honey Nut Cheerios
- $4/4 coupon from the Hy-Vee Ad

-$4 catalina from previous transaction
Total = $2.60 

Transaction #3:
1 Kit Kat @ $0.67 (this is the other I wouldn't have needed)
1 Cheerios @ $2.50
2 Honey Nut Cheerios @ $2.50
1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch @ $2.50
- $1/3 GM cereals
- $4/4 coupon from the Hy-Vee Ad
-$4 catalina from previous transaction
Total = $1.67


Transaction #4:
1 Kit Kat @ $0.67
1 Cheerios @ $2.50
3 Cinnamon Toast Crunch @ $2.50
- $1/3 GM cereals
- $0.50 Cheerios
- $4/4 coupon from the Hy-Vee Ad
-$4 catalina from previous transaction
Total = $1.17, and a $4.00 catalina to take home.

If you take out the $2.68 I spent treating my kids, my total out of pocket for cereal was only $6.06, or $0.38 per box.  I'm planning to round up some more coupons so I can go back again before the sale is over. :o)

Financially Fit Friday

Have you started a money makeover? What are you planning on paying CASH for? What bill are you paying off? Share a bit of your story! No story is too small to share! Real life stories keep Sister C motivated :D

Emergency Fund - Stocked

Credit Card Beginning Balance 4/29/11 - $6031.08

• Deposited $4.84 in spare change
• Deposited $175.14 from leftover paychecks and other income
• I cannot wait for the kiddos to be in school and not need all their school supplies any more.  I have also learned my lesson not to wait until mid-August to buy shoes and clothes. 
• Current Balance - $3776.05
• Goal is to have this loan paid off before Halloween - October 31, 2011!
• We may have to push this back to Thanksgiving time, as we ended up paying off the other credit card after starting to pay this one off, but I'm not willing to change the date quite yet.  I'm still pursuing this date!

Menards Run

So Sister C decided to take advantage of the Menards rebates.  We plan on doing a lot of remodeling over the next year, so we started buying several of the Menards rebate items and when the checks come from us buying these products (they are in the form of merchandise checks good only at Menards), we will buy the supplies we need to remodel our side of the duplex.  :D

So, this week we bought...

Craft Adhesive Glue $2.97 - need it to fix window on truck, no rebates.  

Super Glue Gel 3pk $2.50

AAA 20 pk Batteries $4.99

AA 20 pk Batteries $4.99

Battery Storage Rack $8

Root Beer $1.25

2 Shop Towels $6.99 each

Total $38.68

Saved $9.32 from sale prices

Will Receive $30.50 in rebates

"Spent" $8.18

2 - 3 LED Cranklights $5.99 each - will return these as I misread the rebate and we already bought the other kid of LED lights last week.  So I'll just leave this off my total.

Hey, Mom! What's for dinner?

What's on your plate for dinner tonight?

This is Sister C's Pizza Pasta.  It's the only picture of my meals I've made that I had on my computer :D 







1 box of noodles 16oz , I used rotini.
1 jar of spaghetti or pizza sauce 20+ oz
1 pound of ground beef, browned
20 slices of pepperoni, cut in fourths
Sprinkle with cheese. 
It's been a hit with my kiddos for quite a while now.  Top with any of your favorite pizza toppings.