Target Shopping Trip Results and Confession

We went to Target to do our shopping this week! So here’s a confession before we share our results…… we actually have not been on a regular shopping trip for groceries in 2 months!! The last time was November 20th!! WOWZA.  I knew it was a while, but could not believe it has been that long!

Why has it been that long?? Well, we were really busy after Thanksgiving hunting and scoping out Holiday deals, then we went on vacation the end of December for 11 days, and come January, it has taken us this long to get back into couponing for groceries! We have been getting deals on other things the last two months, but not  on groceries!

How can we not go grocery shopping for two months?? Well, we actually get most of our produce from our co-op that we pick up nearly every Saturday morning just down the road from us.  So we have had our fresh fruits and veggies.  We also have our milk delivered from a local dairy (we do this even though we are “thrifty” because it may cost us a little more per gallon, but it is fresher and uses a healthier processing – we figured it is important to us as this is a main source of protein for our younger kids). So, between getting our milk and produce, we can just live off the rest of our pantry! We have the freezers full of meat and items on the shelf that we eat regularly! This also meant saving some money as we didn’t do our regular shopping

With that in mind, we try to have around 3-4 months worth of stock of items on our shelves. There are a few things however, that we didn’t have quite as much and ran out quicker and ended up not getting the best deal when we went shopping, but we needed those items!  So, this shopping trip was the “get back into coupon shopping” trip and we spent a little more than we usually do just to grab items we were out of. We also don’t just grab the cheapest items looking for the best results using coupons, but we buy the things we would actually use and eat – even if it means it is a bit more than another type! We are brand picky! But in the end, couponing is such a blessing because we can buy the foods we love and get them cheaper!

So with the long story….. here’s our results!

• 2 lbs. of Sutton and Dodge steak on sale for 4.86 (between two 1-lb. packs). Then used two $1.00/1 Target printables = $2.86 for two lbs. or 1.43 each package of beef.
• Up & UP (Target brand) Cleaning Wipes sale for $1.99 each = $3.98. Then used $1.00/2 Target catalina coupon = $2.98 for two or $1.49 each
• 2 La Croix Soda Water cases sale for $2.50 each = $5.00. Then used two $1.25/1 printable – $2.50 = final is $2.50 for two or $1.25 each case.
• 4 Ortega Whole Grain Taco shells sale for $1.25 each = $5.00. Then used two $1.00/2 printables – $2.00 = final is $3.00 for 4 or .75 each
• 4 Kikkoman Soy Sauce sale for $1.42 each = $5.68. Then used two bogo printable and two $1.00/1 printables – $4.84 = final is .84 for 4 or .21 each.
• 6 Classico Pasta sauces (one of our favorites) for $1.79 each = $10.74. Then used two peelies for buy two get one free – $3.58 = $7.16 for 6 or $1.19 each.
• 3 Boxes of Kashi Organic Cereal (another favorite in our house and a little pricey this trip, but we needed it!) on sale for $2.99 each = $8.97.  Then used $1.50/3 Target printable = $7.47 for three or $2.49 each.
  
• 1 Quaker Old Fashioned Oats large container sale for $2.74. Then used $1.00/1 1/2 Red Plum Insert and stacked with $1.00/1 Target printable = final is .74.
• 3 Alexia All-Natural Sweet Potato fries on sale for $1.44 each = $4.32. Then used 3 $1.00/1 printables = final is $1.32 for 3 or .44 each
• 2 Jamba Juice Smoothie Mixes sale for $2.29 each = $4.58. Then used two $1.00/1 printable = final is $2.58 for two or $1.29 each
• 6 Dannon Activia sale for $1.89 each = $11.34. Then used 6 $1.00/1 coupons 1/9 Smart Source Insert = $5.34 for 6 or .89 each
• 2 Challenge Butter sale for $1.99 each = $3.98. Then used two $2.00/1 printable coupons (no longer available) = final is FREE
• 2 Country Crock butter sale for $1.68 each = $3.36. Then used two .50/1 Target printables = $2.36 for two or $1.18 each.
• 4 Boca Veggie Burgers packs (again, another favorite and pricey – but really wanted it!) sale for $3.49 each = $13.96. Then used two $1.00/2 1/2 Smart Source Insert = final is $11.96 for 4 packs or $2.99 each
• 4 Bounty Basic paper towels for .99 each = $3.96. Then used 4 .25/1 1/16 Procter and Gamble Insert = final is $2.96 for 4 or .74 each.
  
• 1 Zantac sale for $6.99. Then used $5.00/1 printable = final is $1.99
• 4 boxes of Special K Cereal sale for $2.50 each = $10. Then used two bogo coupons and two $1.00/2 Target prinables – $7.00 = $3.00 for 4 or .75 each
• 2 Kraft Marshmallows for $1.24 each = $2.48. Then used .50/2 Target printable = $1.98 each or .99 each.
• 2 Frozen strawberries bags sale for $1.88 each = $3.76. Then used $1.00/2 Target printable = final is $2.76 for two or $1.38 each.
• 2 frozen chicken nuggets sale for $4.74 each = $9.48. Then used two $1.00/1 Target printable = final is $7.48 for two or $3.74 each.
  
• 2 Kashi Organic Frozen meals sale for $3.00 each = $6.00. Then used two .75/1 coupons = final is $4.50 for two or $2.25 each.

Summary: The total AFTER store sales was $126.18.  We then used $54.42 in coupons, which made our final total was $71.76. Just with using coupons, we saved 43% over the sale prices! With sale prices considered, we probably saved a total of around 60%.