Grocery Savings

Over the weekend, I did our grocery shopping. I spent a lot more money this weekend but I was able to stock up on many items and still saved a bundle. I should not have to buy any groceries except for milk, eggs and the like until the end of the month. Hopefully, not until the second week of April, but we will see.

My first stop was at Publix. They have had a HUGE Buy one Get one Free sale. ~ I took advantage of it.

I spent $47.97 with a savings of $45.66 with the sale and 3 coupons

My next stop was to Kroger. They had their milk on sale. I splurged on the chocolate milk. They have have the best chocolate milk other than Mayfield.  Yum Yum!!!

I spent $12.47 with a savings of $4.04 with the sale and a coupon.

My next stop was to Ingles.

2 cans Tomato Sauce 
2 bottles Oil    
4 boxes Margarine (I know what you’re thinking, I could not beat 50 cents a box.)

1 tub Sour Cream 
1 bag Tator Tots     2 tubes Frozen Corn (church dinner)
5 boxes Pizza Bites(splurge)    
2 boxes Ice Cream (splurge)
I spent $23.77 with a savings of $15.53 with the sale and 1 coupon

Next up Wal-Mart.

1 Deodorant  
1 Body Wash 
1 Saltine Crackers 
2 Country Gravy Mixes  
1 Tortillas
1 Salsa    
1 jar Chicken Bouillon
1 Enchilada Sauce   
2 Hot Dog Buns
2 Hamburger Buns   
2 loaves Bread

I spent $24.11 with a savings of $4.85 with 8 coupons

Last stop  Quality Foods.  *** There are many people who would rather die than shop this store. I love it! It is the oldest independently owned store in the area. You would not believe the prices on meat (they cut and package their own) and produce at this store.  I’ll give the prices on them to show you. The chicken and pork chops were both divided into 3 bags a piece and frozen. I have enough meat for 6 days.

15 pound bag Potatoes $2.99  
1 package Chicken Breast $4.92
1 package boneless Pork Chops $5.07 
2 packages Bacon    
2 rolls Sausage
2 packages Lunch Meat   
4 packs Hot Dogs (59 cents each)  
1 package pepperoni
1  2lb bag frozen Corn    
1  2lb bag frozen Mixed Veggies   
2 boxes Cereal

I spent $39.87 with a savings of $10.30 with the sale and 1 coupon

I know some are probably thinking WOW! she really spent a lot of money. Well, yes I did! But I don’t buy groceries often, so I stock up when I do buy. Now, if you have lost count on how much I spent and saved, here are the grand totals…

Total Spent  $148.19 with a total savings of  $80.38


After looking back through my book, I am right on target for my once a month shopping we did while in Montana.

Day Book

Outside my window... The beautiful sun is shining. The sky is perfectly clear with no clouds. We are to have 60 degree weather this weekend and on into Monday. 


I am thinking... About my wonderful husband who has been working very hard for our family. He’s able to work again today. If all goes according to plan, he’ll be working next week too. 
I am thankful for...So many things ~ To breathe. I can’t imagine those who struggle with breathing problems must feel. 
From the learning rooms... In Science,Monkey has been enjoying a study on Earth. So far, we have learned about Mass, Matter, Rotational Pull, the Atmosphere, and more about the distance from earth to the sun. In History, we’ve been learning about the expansion of the United States with the Louisiana Purchase, the War with Mexico and the different ways of travel during the early and mid 1800’s.
From the kitchen... For lunch today, Monkey and I are having Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches. He’s been asking for one since he heard about them on TV. For supper we are having Pizza. I’m going to be grilling it again, today. So good!
I am creating... I am bound and determined that I’m going to finish my husband’s afghan, that I have finally started for the 10th time. Yes, it has been that many times. I get so discouraged with it because I am a perfectionist with knitting. Since this is a large project, using size 9 needles, gives the impression that it is not going anywhere. I’ve been working on this, everyday this week except for yesterday.
I am going... I’m going grocery shopping today. I have four stops: Walgreens, Quality Foods, Ingles and Walmart. I was able to go to Publix and Kroger last night.
I am reading... Another Cathy Marie Hake book called Letter Perfect. I’ve not gotten far into the book, but it is pretty good. I’m still struggling through the one book for the book review. After what reading in it I did this week, I may not finish it.
I am Praying... For a meeting that we have in the morning at a church. My husband will be teaching Sunday School and preaching the morning service,  
I am hearing... Birds chirping so loudly. They are all over the back yard gathering worms. 
Around the house... All I have today, is some dusting and vacuuming. I was able to get all the laundry finished yesterday. 
A few plans for the rest of the week… Tomorrow is Church, Monday may become a much needed “Spring Break” day. With the expected weather, we may go somewhere fun. ~ and free!

Day Book

Outside my window... The sun is shining and the temperatures are cool.


I am thinking... How I wish spring would hurry and set in. The sun is so deceiving – It’s cold outside!
I am thankful for...My husband being called into work.
From the learning rooms...We are beginning our study on Earth this coming week. We just finished up a section of Prepositions and will be starting the chapter of Adjectives. Woo Hoo!
From the kitchen... Monkey and I enjoyed some of the left over grilled pizza for lunch today. For supper I’m working on Vegetable Beef Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
I am creating... I’m trying my hand at learning how to knit socks. I’m trying not to  pull my hair out learning how to knit in the round using Double Pointed Needles.
I am going...Nowhere today.
I am reading...In my Bible, I’m in Leviticus and learning about all the different kinds of burnt offerings. If you’ve never read about this, I urge you to. This is something!It is amazing to learn what the Children of Israel had to go through with their sacrifices.
I am praying...For spring to quickly come. I’m so ready for the cold weather to leave.
I am hearing… Toby barking, outside.
Around the house...I have my last load of laundry in the wash. Everything else has been tidied.
One of my favorite things...Daffodils and Tulips pushing their way up through the ground in the late winter and early spring,
A few plans for the rest of the week…Church tomorrow, the library on Tuesday.

A Savings

Grocery Shopping is a love/hate situation for me. For the first couple of years after my husband and I were married, I had a list ready for every Friday night. Then when I went back to teaching, I would buy groceries every 2 weeks. When I came home full time, I started buying groceries once a month. I continued my once a month shopping until about 6 months ago. Since we have been living by faith, I have now started shopping when the “moola” is available. I’m so Thankful, that we have a freezer that is 1/4 of the way full and several shelves of home canned foods.


While growing up, my Momma was not a big couponer. But I loved getting the Sunday paper and looking through the coupons. Even then, I would clip a coupon for a favorite shampoo or make up item.

Within the first couple of months of being married, my husband and I would spend every Sunday afternoon going through the newspapers and getting the coupons and clipping what we needed. I remember him asking about why I did not clip certain coupons. I told him, that it is not an item that I normally use so it would be a waste of money to try and save 50 cents on a can of “navy beans.” I know some don’t think this way, that’s alright. But when I am responsible for being a good Steward with the money that God has given to us, some times coupons are not the best thing.

When it comes to grocery shopping, I was at one time a point A, point B, point C shopper. Then I moved on to the one stop shopping experience, which I like very much. DON’T THROW TOMATOES, PLEASE!!!

I like shopping at Walmart, or at least I did until I started noticing in the last couple of months, that they have started pulling some brands off their shelves and started pushing their off- brand. For me, since Walmart does not put on their labels where the food was grown, I don’t buy much of it.

I usually only buy sugar and milk. I’m a name brand person, I like knowing that the orange juice that I am putting into my family is grown here in the USA, Florida in fact.

I like knowing that I don’t have to worry about some strange chemical that we don’t use here is entering our bodies.

I’ve been working on a price book, so I’ll know what I’m spending and what I’m saving or what I could be saving. This is something, that I’ve been working on for sometime now.

I like knowing when I go into Ingles, Publix, or Kroger that I can get Fleischsmann’s Rapid Rising Yeast for $4.12 a jar at Walmart. When I see the $6.89 price on the same size jar at one of the other places, I know that it is way cheaper at Walmart and I haven’t seen a coupon that will make up for the extra money while shopping at one of the other stores.

Today, I finally broke down and went from Point A (Publix), to Point B (Ingles), to Point C (Walmart) I had only 1 coupon. Publix and Ingles is having a Buy 1 get 1 free sale. I took $50.00 to spend on groceries. I was able to get everything I needed, then a couple of extras with that money.



Here is what I bought:




Publix (Spent $6.47/ Savings $5.48):

2 packages Broccoli Florets $1.00 each/original 2.50

1 Chicken of the Sea PINK SALMON pouch $1.85

2 (2 packs) Cokes $2.49 BOGO *extra splurge

Ingles (Spent 14.37/ Savings $12.33)

1 package split chicken breast $3.37/original 7.84

2 Barilla Spaghetti Noodles $1.38 BOGO

2 Duke’s Mayonnaise $3.28 BOGO

2 Laura Lynn Self Rising Flour $1.78 each/ original $2.48

1 Kraft Mozzarella Cheese $1.78 / original $3.58

2 Snickers Candy Bars .56 / original .78 each plus .50 coupon doubled * extra splurge

Walmart (Spent $27.69)

1 gallon milk $1.88

1 18 count large eggs $1.77

1 Sarah Lee Hot Dog Buns $1.97

1 2lb bag pinto beans $1.96

1 Johnsonville turkey sausage $2.98

3 Jennie O frozen ground turkey $1.56 each

1 Skippy Peanut Butter $3.42

1 Crisco Shortening $1,84

1 Butter $2.32

1 Hot Dogs $1.88

1 1lb lard $1.00

1 Bacon $2.18


I will say, that Walmart can beat some prices hands down. But since the groceries stores around here all double coupons, I usually use the coupons there, unless I know for sure that the Walmart’s price is cheaper even with the coupon being doubled at the other store.

In today’s economy, a lot of people are finding ways to add money to their wallets. To some, there’s not many places that they can cut spending. While we are doing all that we can to save money, the stores are raising prices. But if we all take a second look we can find ways to save.

Day Book

Outside my window... The sun is shining, the birds are chirping. A wonderful spring like day. Hopefully, I'll make it out it the warmth later on today.


I am thinking... Today would be a good day to go FISHING!
I am thankful for... Answered prayers
From the learning rooms... Monkey has been doing well. We just finished up a chapter on Venus in Science. He is about to finish up a chapter on the Declaration of Independence and what lead up to the Louisiana Purchase in History.  He is doing well in Math. We've been working on Multiplication and Division.
From the kitchen...I am going to be making a Blueberry Buckle. I found the recipe in an old cookbook. Today is a good day to try this.
I am creating... I've been working on knitting some dish cloths to sell. I have a couple of other ideas running through my head, to work on, to help bring in a little money.
I am reading...For my daily Bible reading ~ I'm in Leviticus, Mark, Psalms and Proverbs. For my fun reading ~I'm reading Beloved Castaway by Kathleen Y'Barbo. I also have a book that was sent to me to read for a review. I'm not so sure about the book. At this point, I'm almost afraid to keep reading it. It is a book about the Bible, but the way it is written, the author is trying to put God on our level of thinking ~ THAT just can't be done. I think that it will be good for me to finish it, so I'll know "what people are teaching others."
I am praying...For my brother, his family and his wife's family. Her nephew passed away last night, after a long fight with cancer.
I am hearing... Monkey watching "Dirty Jobs." That is one of our favorite Saturday t.v. shows.
Around the house... My laundry is finished. YAY!  I have some straightening up in the basement. I 've been neglecting my scrapbooking, so hopefully, all the straightening will be done quickly, so I'll have a place to pull out all my scrapbook stuff.
One of my favorite things...Reminiscing, while looking  through Monkey's scrapbooks. I can't believe how 10 years have flown.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Cleaning today, Church tomorrow, Home School the rest of the week.

Day Book

Outside my window... There's four inches of snow on the ground! It is not very often that we get that much snow here in Georgia.  The sun is shining and the sky is clear. It'll begin to warm up, hopefully!


I am thinking... All the laundry that I have to do today.
I am thankful for... For answered prayers. The Lord always answers in His timing.
From the learning rooms... We took a much needed "snow day" yesterday. There was no snow on the ground at that time yesterday. But it sure felt good, to take a break. We'll be getting back in gear on Monday morning.
From the kitchen... Today is a good day for a big pot of homemade chili.
I am creating... I have no idea what is wrong with my creative side. I just can't seem to get into being creative right now. Hopefully, this won't last much longer. I do have some fabric for a couple of skirts that I need to make.
I am reading... Cathy Marie Hake's Whirlwind . What an amazing author! I believe I have a new favorite, really.
I am praying... For several things for our family.
I am hearing... Nothing, my two men are sleeping in, since they stayed up half the night watching a comedy.  They needed their guy time, while I read a book.
Around the house... Not a whole lot today.
A few plans for the rest of the week... Well, I'm not sure. With all this snow, I know we will not be going out much today, if at all. As for Church tomorrow, I haven't heard anything as of yet. Then next week is a regular home school week.

Something of Interest

The other night, I was unable to sleep. I had finished the last of the stack of library books that sit on the night table beside my bed.  I was laying there wide awake, when I realized that I had my1946 edition of Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book under the bed.



I know... Strange place for it. I put there until I could get some of the round ring stickers for the pages that were torn.  Any way, I pulled the book out and began to read. Of all the cookbooks that I have, I have never actually read any of the "information" in the books.

I found some really neat things other than some new recipes that I am planning on trying in the near future. Those of you who make a weekly, bi-weekly or even monthly meal menu for your family, you'll enjoy this...

MEAL - PLANNING IS A GAME that's fun if you play it with imagination and zest. If you play it well, you will win satisfaction for yourself and cheers of enthusiasm from your family. It's important to plan well-balanced means, but it's equally important to make those meals appetizing and attractive, with plenty of variety.

When I read this, I thought how neat! Wives and Mothers way back then were into menu planning for their families. I know that we've seen old t.v. shows and movies that talked about "Meatloaf Monday."  Many of the wives  that created a menu plan stuck with it for everyday of the week. This was a good way for the family to know what is for dinner each day of the week. And I'm sure it also kept down the hassle of knowing what to buy at the grocery store.

To many, menu planning is a new thing; when actually it is something that has been going on for years. How neat is that!

I Never Would Have Guessed

Most of you know that I taught school for 10 years.  I taught all elementary grades except for fourth and sixth grades.  My first year teaching, I taught in the preschool in the mornings and substituted in the high school in the afternoons.I think about some of the students that I taught and wonder where they are and what they have done with their lives.



Over the ten years of teaching, I had somewhere between 150 - 180 students to sit under my teaching. That is a lot of boys and girls that entered my classroom doors. When I look back on those years, I can't help but think about Kaycee, Chris, Michael, Patrick,April, Erica, Zack, Brianna, Marcus, Thomas and Morgan. All of these except for two have already graduated high school and moved on with their lives. One is getting ready to graduate this year and the other is in middle school. The one graduating and the middle schooler, I hear about often or talk to on Facebook.  The others are just a few that tugged at my heart while they were in my class.

When I think about all of those hearts and minds, I can't help but wonder what ever came of them.  I know that there are a couple of Missionaries that are on the mission field ( I never would have guessed that they would be missionaries), Pastors working in churches ( the ones that I know of, REALLY and TRULY I never would have guessed them to be pastors), teachers teaching in a Christian school and others who have gone on to serve the Lord.

Sadly, there are more that have strayed from their Christian teachings than those that stayed. This is something that really breaks my heart. When I think about some of these ~ I never would have guessed that they would have made the decisions that they did.  But I was not their mother. I was not the one who was raising them. I was only part of the leadership that they encountered in their young lives. Do I regret putting 10 years into the lives of these young people?  Absolutely not!  It was a joy.

I was able to teach in two really good schools. I had the opportunity to teach the Bible and teach these children about Salvation. I was able to lead several students to the Lord ~ what a blessing for me.   I know that I can't go back and try and teach more Bible and say not to get into this or that. But there is one thing that I can do today ~ I can pray for a class as a group and ask the Lord, to help them to remember something that I taught them.