Slim Pickins: Deals 1/15-21

I briefly looked over the coupon blogger websites and was not impressed with the deals being offered by Walgreen's, CVS, or Kroger. Then I saw a few freebies at Ingles I can get with a handful of the basics. I'll be playing the "how little can I spend" game and work off my stockpile to feed the family this week.

Ingles has a policy that they double 3 (up to $.50 coupons) for every $10 you spend. Note: That's before coupons. I'll plan to get about $20 goods like bananas, salad, bread, and milk to get the following good deals:

• Fresh Express Garden Salad, 12oz: $.88 (if enrolled in Ingles Advantage promotions)
• Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls: $1, use $.50 MC = FREE. I'm aiming to get 5 for free.
• Pillsbury Grands biscuits: $1, use $1/2 MC = $.50 each.
• Sargento shredded cheese, 5-9oz: $1.79, use $1/2 MC = $1.29 each.
• Hershey's 6ct bars: $1, use $1 printable = FREE.
• Kleenex, 100ct: $1, use $.50 MC (if included) = FREE.

For all the Ingles match-ups, go to Southern Savers.

What are your favorite deals this week?

Couponing for Charity 4/3-9

My apologies for the delay in posting. Lots going on right now for me and my family. I've checked out the match-ups, and though it's not a great week, there are a few deals to be had. If you're picking just one, head to CVS.

CVS:

For all the match-ups, visit Southern Savers.

For a pared down list, visit Coupon Katie.

Here's my plan; note the numbers of products--as those are the limits to the deals and I round up to make it easier.

• 1 Complete multi-purpose eye solution, 12oz ($9, get $9ECB, $1MC=$1MM)
• 2 Oral B manual toothbrushes ($3 each, get $1ECB for each, use 1 B1G1 coupon and 1 $2MC=$1MM)
• 2 Gumeez flossers ($2, get $2ECB=FREE)
• 2 Crest toothpaste or floss ($3.50, get $2.50ECB, use $1MC=FREE)
• 3-4 Benefiber products depending on the price ($10ECB wyb $20 of products, I have 2 $5/2 and 2 $2/1 coupons)
• If the Benefiber deal works out, I'll use the $5 off $40 CVS printable good through 4/10. If not, I'll see what next week's deals look like.
• I also have $15 ECBs to use to minimize my OOP

WALGREEN'S:

For all the match-ups, visit Southern Savers.

For a pared down list, visit Coupon Katie.

The only real deals I see this week are the Colgate Maxfresh money maker and the $.50 Color Wonder On the Go. But I don't think it's enough to pull me in.

KROGER:

For all the match-ups, visit Southern Savers.

For a pared down list, visit Coupon Katie.

Other than a few fresh fruits, veggies, bread, and milk, I don't plan to buy much at Kroger this week. I might pick up 4 cleaning supplies if I have the right coupons and some pot pies. Make sure you load the free potpie e-saver (wyb 5) at Shortcuts.com or Kroger.com.

What are your favorite freebies this week? What did I miss?

Earthfare: $44.16 of goods for $11.54

Today was a great shopping day at Earthfare! They are so generous with their freebies and willingness to work with us crazy couponers. I just got $44.16 of goods for just $11.54 (and that includes tax). For the best savings, make sure you shop TODAY, 2/14.

Here's what I bought & how I saved:

• 1 all natural whole chicken ($7.67; FREE with dinner promotion expiring 2/16)
• 1 16oz bag of baby carrots ($2.49; FREE with dinner promotion expiring 2/16)
• 1 container of mashed potatoes ($5.34; FREE with dinner promotion expiring 2/16)
• 1 box of organic chocolate truffles ($5.98; FREE with coupon expiring 2/14)
• 1 box Nature's Gate toothpaste ($4.99; on sale for $3.99; FREE with take the boot challenge coupon)
• 2 bags Cascadian Farm edamame ($2.69 each, on sale for $2.19, used 2 $.75 printables=$1.44 each)
• 2 cans Muir Glen tomatoes with chilis ($1.68 each, on sale for $1.50, used 2 $.75 printables=$.75 each)
• 2 bags Arrow Head puffed cereal ($1.99 each, on sale for $1.50, used 2 $1/1 printables=$.50 each)
• 1 16 oz container organic strawberries--our treat for tonight's chocolate fountain--$4.97

Total after coupons: $10.35; $11.54 with tax. Since you had to spend $10 to get the free dinner items, that's about as close as you get. Go green, save green!

For all the links to printable coupons, check out Hannah from Frugally Farming Family.

Meals from Deals

We all know that a deal isn't a deal if we don't use the food before it goes bad. But sometimes, that's my hardest challenge. When meal planning, I usually start with what's on sale, what's fresh, or what in my freezer should be cooked and go from there. So here are a few ways I'm making the most of the recent deals I've written about.

Since I have 6 packs of Pillsbury Grands biscuits and some free shredded Kraft cheese, here' a great dinner recipe for both the kids will love. Since this is one of my freezer meals, you can double it and save one for dinner again in 2-3 weeks. I'll admit it's not a healthy meal, but who doesn't love these biscuits upon occasion?! I feel a little better, having served them with steamed carrots.

Meat Pies

1 lb ground beef browned

1/2 onion chopped

1 green onion chopped

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp pepper

dash parsley

shredded cheese

Mix together and form into small patties; freeze what you won't cook tonight. Take 1 or 2 cans of biscuits and flatten them out. Tip: Using a mallet here is a great way to get out frustration if you've had a bad day! Place the meat onto one flattened biscuit, sprinkle with shredded cheese, top with another flattened biscuit and pinch the sides closed. Bake according to can directions.

Moving on, this week I picked up 5 packs of mahi mahi, which I throw directly into the freezer. The butcher at my Kroger said they should have it on sale for a few more weeks or until supply dwindles. Since asparagus was also on sale this week, I Googled a recipe that uses both and found this delicious one. It's a great option for meatless Fridays during Lent or if you just want a light, healthy meal. I served rice with it as well.

Some may shy away from chicken breasts with the bone, but I prefer it, especially since it's cheaper. Since Tyson breasts were on sale this week, I picked up 2 packs (6 breasts) which I'll use for 4 meals. I roasted all 6 like I would a whole chicken in my roasting pan. I used some basil pesto I made from the garden last summer but any spice will do. I threw in the bottom of the pan some sliced carrots, onions and organic potatoes that are pretty inexpensive. Dinner on Thursday was the first meal.

After dinner, I deboned the remaining breasts and made stock out of the bones (another reason to cook 6 at once). The leftover veggies and 1 1/2 breasts gave Bob and me lunch on Friday--meal two. Tonight I'm looking forward to making pizzas from the free dough and cheese I picked up at Earthfare. I'll also use some of the chicken diced (meal three), the roasted onions from last night, and some mushrooms I picked up on manager's special.

On Saturday and Sunday we'll take a rest from chicken but on Monday I'll chop up the remaining meat and mix it with cooked pasta, alfredo sauce, and a variety of veggies like broccoli for meal four. I think the variety of uses for the chicken takes away the feeling of, "Chicken, again?!"

Since Saturday is going to be a busy day for us, dinner will be simple. I'm serving the remaining spinach stuffed pork tenderloin I cooked on Wednesday, but I'll cook fresh risotto rice I picked up on sale at Earthfare. One cup of rice requires three cups of stock, exactly what I made on Thursday night. I'll steam some green beans for a quick veggie.

Since I try to do one special breakfast on weekends, I'm planning smoothies and cinnamon rolls on Sunday morning. The smoothies will use the free blueberries I got at Earthfare a few weeks back and the cinnamon rolls were one of the almost free Pillsbury deals.

Finally, I'm planning to eat another of my free Healthy Choice dinners I bought awhile back when Bob has a dinner meeting this week. I can't say frozen dinners are for me; the small portions are ridiculous, but I can't argue with free and easy upon occasion.

And I have decided this is a week I will forgo my regular trip for groceries and focus on what I can prepare from what's already in my pantry or freezer. I'm calling it "Shopping in my Garage." I already have the menu laid out; so I know it's doable. Check back soon for that post. Have a good weekend.