Saved 99% At Publix!!!!

Spent $1.56 for $189.90 worth of groceries- 99% savings!

Today I hit the "holy grail" of couponing. I spent $1.56 for $189.90 worth of groceries. That is 99% savings. Today's trip also includes ten pounds of fresh meat and lots of high end/expensive Valentine's Day dinner treats (which I definitely upgraded once I discovered my deals). 

How you ask? I found the trial size packages of Crest White Strips on clearance at Publix for $2.99 each. I have been reading about people finding these in their stores and getting large amounts of overage so I always check and have my $10 off coupons handy just in case. I can't believe I actually found them.

I was popping into Publix to grab a treat or two to surprise Justin with for our Valentine's Day dinner tonight and at first I walked by the clearance rack. I didn't really have my coupons together today and I didn't want to deal with it. On my way out I decided to give it one quick glance and at first sight the Crest strips caught my eye. Much to my surprise there were ten packs of them all marked down. I had exactly 10 coupons in my binder that did not say "excludes trial size" so it felt like it was meant to be.

The product that made this all possible!

I basically panicked and quickly tried to figure out how much overage I would be getting, then break it down into three transactions (since the coupons state you can only use four like coupons per transaction). My Publix will give you back overage in cash or a gift card but I would feel so awkward doing that, threfore I use it to buy extra stuff with.

In hindsight, I could have been more planned with the way I used my overage and bought sale items which I had coupons for to make my extra $70 go further (I already had planned on close to $10 in overage from other products to pay for my Valentines treats) but I just used it to buy meat. We can never find good sales on meat and it was the quickest and easiest way I could find to use up that overage. I only roughly figured it out before hitting the register so I am so glad the numbers all worked out right.

To make it even sweeter, each trial pack comes with a $7.00 off coupon that also does not say "excludes trial size"  and expires in 2013 which means that I will be keeping my eye out for this deal again for a long time to come : )

Here are the breakdowns with pictures!

Transaction #1- .64 cents in overage



Transaction #1:

Total value: $59.07

Saved: $60.71

Saved 103% and got .64 cents in overage!

Bought:

3 package of ground beef: $15.57

1 pork tenderloin: $6.81

4 boxes of Crest White Strips: $11.98

2 boxes of Peanut Butter Cheerios on sale: $5

Used four $10 off coupons making me .64 cents in overage!



Transaction #2: $1.90 in overage!



Transaction #2:

Total value: $61.30

Saved: $63.20

Saved 103% and made $1.90 in overage!

Bought:

5 packages of boneless, skinless, chicken tenderloins: $26.12

4 boxes of Crest White Strips: $11.98

Used four $10 off coupons making me $1.90 in overage!

Transaction 3: Spent $4.10

Transaction #3:

Total value: $67.53

Total spent: $4.10

Total saved: $63.43

Percent saved: 94%

• 2 boxes of Crest White Strips, on sale 2/$.5.99
• Used two $10 off coupons
• Made them FREE plus a total of $14.01 in overage
• 4 boxes of Phazyme, retails for $3.49 a box
• Used four $2.00 printable coupons from the manufacturer website
• Stacked with two $5/2 Publix coupons from the Green Advantage flyer
• Made them all FREE plus a total of $4.04 in overage
• 2 boxes of Sominex, retails for $3.19 a box
• Used two $2.00 off coupons from the manufacturer website
• Stacked with a $5/2 Publix coupon from the Green Advantage flyer
• Made them FREE plus a total of $2.62 in overage
• 4 boxes of Keebler Right Bites, retails for $3.19 each, on sale BOGO ($1.59 each)
• Used two $1/2 coupons from 1/29 RP
• Made them $1.09 each
• 2 boxes of Duncan Hines cake mix, retails for $2.05 each
• On sale BOGO, made it $1.03 each
• Publix Brie: $5.12
• Publix Goat Cheese: $2.99
• Prosciutto: $3.42
• Mini Cannolis: $2.40
• Publix Olive Bar: $1.92 worth of fresh olives
• Publix 3 Cheese Demi Loaf: $2.49

This pretty much made my day/week/month. I was kind of feeling guilty about spending grocery money for our Valentines Day treats so being able to pay for all of them with overage made me insanely happy : )

Valentine's Day "Cakies"

Not quite cookie, not quite cake.

As you know by now, I am addicted to Pinterest. These "cakies" (cake + cookies) are my new favorite Pinspired (via PlainChicken.com) creation. A clever combo of cookies and cake these treats are amazingly simple and so delicious. I think that I am going to have to adapted the M&M color for every holiday to come. I even doubled the batch in anticipation of how good they would be.

Here is the recipe PlainChicken.com adapted from AllRecipes.com {gotta give credit where credit is due : ) }

M&M Cakies

• 1 box of yellow cake mix (just the mix, not the other needed ingredients)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 bag M&M's (you can clearly see I went with the Valentines Day theme)

1) Mix together all the ingredients except the M&M's until completely blended and smooth. This took me a little while since the consistency is a little thicker than your normal cake batter.

2.) Stir in M&M's.

3.) Drop by rounded scoops onto a greased or parchment covered baking sheet.

4.) Bake at 350 for nine minutes or until the bottom edges are slightly golden (I know nine seems random but it seemed the perfect time for me)

5.) Let cool for at least 10 minutes before trying to eat or they will be very crumbly when you try to pick them up. Believe me, Justin tried.

Enjoy!
And if you love this you can always Pin it : ) 

Monday Meal Plan 2/13

Hope you had an amazing weekend. I am really excited about what we are making this week and I have been looking forward to it since my shopping trip last week when I pre-planned what I needed to shop for. We also used some of our grocery money at the Farmer's Market this weekend to get some fresh veggies for our meals. 


I am really excited to be making some mini tapas and such for tomorrow night. Justin has to work until after 8pm so we are going to just do little finger foods when he gets home to celebrate. I am going to use this as an opportunity to try out a few little appetizers from Pinterest (where else?)


Here is what is on the list of meals for the week:


Quinoa Mac & Cheese
Giada's Springtime Pasta
Roast Chicken (compliments of a Publix sale awhile ago) and Veggies
Skinny Enchiladas and Salad


Valentines Day Tapas Dinner and treats:
Brie Bites
Marshmallow Bites
Olives
Salami (Justin loves this)
Valentine's Day Cakies


What are you making? Any fun suggestions for a tapas style Valentines?

Saved 77% At Publix 2/9

It was a pretty strange week in the world of Publix ad's. I couldn't really see a rhyme or reason to what was on sale or BOGO this week and I also found a few random unadvertised BOGO deals too. I was hoping to grab a bag of Purdue perfect portions on sale plus my coupon but I could not seem to find them in the Publix I went to today.

I was able to find one of the two money makers from the Green Advantage flyer but the other one was all out of stock at that Publix. I may try to see if I can find it at my other Publix and apply it to the bag of Purdue but we shall see if they have it.

I also used a $5/30 Winn Dixie coupon to help lower my total. I spent way less than my weekly budget so I will definitely have some cash left in our grocery envelope to go and buy some fresh produce at the farmers market to make a few of the dinners we are having next week.

Here is the breakdown of today's trip:
Total retail value: $116.39
Total spent: $27.29
Total saved: $89.10
Percent saved: 77%

Here is what I got with coupon/sale match ups:

• 2 boxes of Sominex, retails for $3.19 each
• Used two $2.00 off printables from the manufacturer website
• Stacked with a $5/2 Publix coupon from the Green Advantage flyer
• Made them both FREE plus a total of $2.62 overage on both
• 8 bottles of Sambazon Organic Acai Juice, retails for $2.99 each, on sale for $2.00 each
• Used eight $2.00 off printable coupons from coupons.com and Facebook
• Made them all FREE
• 1 box of Multigrain, Peanut Butter Cheerios, retails for $4.59, on sale for $2.50
• Justin has been dying for these : )
• Used a $1.00 off printable from BettyCrocker.com
• Stacked with a $1.00 off coupon (regular or Muligrain Cheerios) from the Publix In Good Health booklet
• Made them .50 cents
• 2 tubes of Pilsbury Cresent rolls, retails for $1.59 each, on sale for $1.00 each
• Used a $1/2 printable
• Made them .50 cents each
• 1 box of Dulce De Leche Cheerios, retails for $4.59, on sale for $2.50
• Used a $1.00 off printable from Pilsbury.com
• Made it $1.50
• 4 packages of Monteray fresh ravioli, retails for $3.99 each, on sale BOGO ($1.99 each)
• Used four $1.00 off printables from RedPlum.com
• Made them .99 cents each
• 1 box of Panko bread crumbs, retails for $2.49, on sale for $1.50
• Used a .50 cents off coupon from the 1/8 GM insert
• Made it $1.00
• 4 boxes of Keebler Right Bites, retails for $3.19 each, on sale BOGO ($1.59 each)
• Used two $1/2 coupons from the 1/1 RP
• Made them $1.09 each
• 2 boxes of Duncan Hines Cake mix, retails for $1.89 each, on sale BOGO (.94 cents each)
• Used two .35 cents off coupons from the 2/5 SS
• Made them .59 cents each
• 4 tubs of Cool Whip, retails for $1.95 each
• On sale BOGO, made them .94 cents each
• 2 packages of Crysal Light mix, retails for $3.49 each, on sale BOGO ($1.74 each)
• Used a $1/2 in store blinkie
• Made them $1.24 each
• 2 boxes of Morning Star Veggie Burgers, retails for $4.39 each
• On sale BOGO, made them $2.19 each
• 2 bags of California Sundried Tomatoes, retails for $2.79 each
• On sale BOGO, made them $1.39 each
• 1 box of Slimfast snack bars, retails for $3.99 each
• Used a .55 cents off Publix coupon from the In Good Health booklet
• Made them $3.44
• Gallon of Publix Low Fat Milk, $3.59

Did you find any good sales? Comment and let me know!

Barefoot Contessa's Birthday Sheet Cake

The pictures of this cake do not do it justice. I was originally skeptical when Justin asked me to make this cake for his Fire School graduation in 2008. It had lemon in it and if you know me, you know I don't like lemon, or any fruit flavors for that matter, in my desserts. This cake is the exception.


We first saw it on an episode of Barefoot Contessa. It can also be found in her cookbook Barefoot Contessa Family Style .We love Ina Garten in our house but many of her recipes are very technical and call for expensive ingredients. Once again, this cake in an exception.


Ina's recipe calls for a chocolate ganache icing (which is amazing) but my friend who I recently made this cake for is not a huge fan of chocolate (impossible, I know). So I tried it with a cream cheese icing from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes and it was delicious.


Barefoot Contessa's Birthday Sheet Cake

• 18 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 3 cups sugar
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 8 ounces (about 1 cup) sour cream, at room temperature
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• The zest and juice of one lemon
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

1.) Cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.

2.) While this is going, I zest and juice the lemon.

3.) On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then the sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest and juice.


4.) Slowly add dry ingredients in with the mixer on low speed until smooth.


5.) Pour into a greased 12x18 sheet pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until slightly browned on top.

5.) Cool completely before icing.

Martha Stewart's Cream Cheese Icing

• 12oz of cream cheese room temperature
• 2 sticks of butter room temperature
• 1 pound (16oz) of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1.) Cream together butter and cream cheese with an electric or stand mixer until smooth.

2.) Add in vanilla.

3.) Slowly add in powdered sugar until completely smooth and fluffy.

4.) Ice the cake before you eat all the icing by itself : )

Perfect ratio of cake to icing!

Publix Ad & Match Ups 2/9

Here are the links to the new Publix ad with match ups starting tomorrow 2/9 in Florida. The ad doesn't thrill me but there may be some good deals on things you need. We are pretty well stocked so I will probably just stock up on a few things and grab some fresh stuff and call it a week.

There is also a new Yellow Advantage flyer found in stores and I will post a few match up links to that too. It also contains a decent amount of Publix coupons too so be sure to grab one in the store. There are also a number of coupon sheets, booklets and flyers showing up in stores so be on the look out to see if you store gets them in.

Publix Ad 2/9 #1

Publix Ad 2/9 #2

Yellow Advantage Flyer Match Ups #1

Yellow Advantage Flyer Match Ups #2

Comment with any question!

This Week's Publix Trips 2/2

Tuesday's Trip = Completely Free!

Today's Trip Part One

Today's Trip Part Two (plus two 5 pound Purdue whole chickens, not pictured)

This week I took an extra trip to Publix. I usually try to only go once a week and get all my shopping done in that one trip but this week it was not the case. I actually have two Publix's on my way home from work so at least I did not go out of my way for the extra trip.

I was cleaning out my coupons this week and in the process I found a few extra coupons for the current sales and couldn't pass up the opportunity for a free shopping trip (my second ever!).

Today's trip which was my normal weekly was a little bit higher than normal but since we are having people over for the Super Bowl, I needed some fresh items to supplement our stockpile. I also took advantage of the $10 gift card deal and my $5 off Albertson's coupon by buying some whole chicken, bacon and olive oil that was on sale.We also got our deep freezer in this week (a very generous Christmas gift from our parents) and I had been waiting to stock up on a few things until we had the extra storage space.

 Make sure you check out my Sam's Club gift card GIVEAWAY before it ends this weekend!

My breakdown for the week:
Total retail value: $222.17
Total spent: $65.29
Total saved: $156.88
Percent saved: 70%


Here is what I bought with coupon/sale match ups by trip:


Trip #1 Spent $0 for $34.77 Worth:

• 6 boxes of Fiber One Cereal, retails for $ a box, on sale for $2.50 a box
• Used six $2 off Publix coupons from the weekly ad
• Stacked with six .75 cents off coupons from the 1/1 SS
• Made them all FREE plus a total of $1.50 in overage
• 3 boxes of Jolly Time popcorn, retails for ? a box, on sale for $1.00 a box
• Used three .50 cents off coupons from the 1/15 SS
• Plus the $1.50 overage from the cereal, made them all FREE
• Whole trip was free since there was no tax on these items : )

Trip #2: Spent $65.29 on $187.40 Worth:

• 20 boxes of Barilla Whole Grain Pasta (half to donate), retails for $1.59 a box, on sale BOGO (.79 cents a box)
• Used twenty $1/2 coupons from the 1/8 SS
• Made them .29 cents each
• 2 bottles of Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, retails for $6.99 a bottle, on sale BOGO ($3.50 each)
• Used two $1 off printable coupons from the manufacturer website
• Made it $2.50 a bottle
• 2 bags of apple slices, retails for $3.29 a bag
• On sale BOGO, made them $1.65 each
• 4 Haas Avocados, retails for $1.29 each
• On sale BOGO, made them .65 cents each
• 2 boxes of Betty Crocker brownie mix, retails for $2.77 each
• On sale BOGO, made them $1.39 each
• 2 jars of Planter's Peanuts, retails for $4.39 each, on sale BOGO ($2.19 each)
• Used a $1.50/2 coupon from the 1/29 SS
• Stacked with a $1 off coupon from Target.com
• Made them .95 cents each
• 2 packages of Sargento Cheese Slices, retails for $3.49 each, on sale for $2.50 each
• Used a $1/2 Publix coupon from the 1/8 SS
• Made them $2.00 each
• 2 bags of Fresh Express Baby Spinach, retails for $3.99 each
• On sale BOGO, made them $1.99 each
• Broccoli, on sale for $2.50
• Baby carrots, on sale for $1.29
• Celery on sale for .99 cents
• Plum Tomatoes on sale for $2.00
• 3 lemons for $1.99
• Publix Cream Cheese: $2.09
• 2 cartons of Swanson's Broth, retails for $2.69 on sale for $2.00 each
• Used two $1.00 Publix coupons from an in store display
• Stacked with a $1/2 printable coupon
• Made them .50 cents each
• 2 bags of Sundried Tomatoes, retails for $2.79 each
• Unadvertised BOGO sale, made them $1.39 each
• 4 jars of Newman's Own salsa, retails for $2.59, on sale for $2.00
• Used four .50 cents of coupons from the 1/22 RP
• Made them $1.50 each
• 2 close to five pound whole Purdue chickens
• On sale for $1.29 a pound
• 2 packages of Smithfield Bacon, retails for $5.99 a package, on sale for $3.33 a package
• Used a $1/2 Publix coupon from the 1/8 SS
• Made them $2.83 each
• 4 bags of Bird's Eye Steamfresh veggies, retails for $2.59 each, on sale 50% off ($1.30 each)
• Used four .50 cents of coupons from the 1/8 SS
• Stacked with two $1/2 Publix coupons from the Find Yourself In Good Health booklet
• Made them .30 cents each
• 2 four packs of Dannon Activia yogurt, retails for $2.50, on sale for $2.00
• Used two $1 off coupons from a tearpad
• Made them $1.00 each
• Publix Butter $2.39
• Spicy Mustard on sale for $1.39
• Pecan chips $3.99
• Breakstone Sour Cream, retails for $2.99, on sale for $1.50
• Used a .55 cents off coupon from an in store blinkie
• Made it .95 cents
• 1 can of Red Gold Diced tomatoes, retails for $1.39
• Used a $1.25 off coupon from Facebook
• Made it .14 cents
• 2 packages of Wholly Guacamole, retails for $3.59 each, on sale for $2.99 each
• Used two $1.50 off printables from the manufacturer's website
• Made them $1.49 each

Did you find any great deals? What did you save this week? Don't forget to check out the Sam's gift card giveaway!