Frugal Living NW

Helping you live well on a budget in the Pacific Northwest.

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I'm Angela Davis, a PNW native, mom of lots of kids, and I love saving money. I'm here to help you live well on a budget by making every penny count. You'll find deals at your local stores, ways to save online, recipes, and frugal living tips and inspiration.

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My $40 Food Budget and Menu Planless Monday

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Don’t you hate it when you go into a store for “just one thing” and come out with a whole bag worth?!

I went into Fred Meyers today to get the 5/$10 deal using my $1/1 Cheerios challenge coupons and ended up using half my food budget there. There were some good deals, though, so I’m actually glad I stopped. I will even admit, to the loyal Freddies fans, last week was a good week at Fred Meyer. Enjoy that, it doesn’t happen often.

Fred Meyer

6.07lbs. Foster Farms Chicken Breasts $6.01
Cheerios $2 (only one left, but I got a rain check!)
canteloupe $.37/lb. = $1.71
bananas $.59/lb. = $1.61
red grapes $.98/lb. = $1.78
leaf lettuce $1
32 oz. Daisy sour cream $2.50
Band Aid $2.09
Band Aid $1.49
(2) Purex Detergent $2.50 each
Goldfish crackers $1

-$1/1 Cheerios
– (2) $1/1 Band Aid
– (2) .35/1 Purex
-.05 bag credit
Total = $22.44

It feels like i didn’t get a great deal as I didn’t use many coupons, but the prices were just really good without coupons I have to remember.

Safeway(3) Buitoni Tortellini $3.99 each
Graham Crackers $2.50
(8) Extra gum packs $1.39 each plus BOGO sale
Total before coupons: $20.03
-$1/1 Graham Crackers
– (4) BOGO Extra Gum ( making them all free except I ended up paying $.12 for one of them)
– (3) $1/1 Buitoni
-$2 Safeway double
Total: $8.58

Albertsons (10) Starkist Tuna pouches $12.50
Ocean Spray Cranergy $2.99
Ocean Spray Ruby Pomegranate $2
Black Cherry Soda $1.50 + $.60 deposit
Total before coupons= $19.59
-(3) $1.50/3 Starkist
-$1/1 Ocean Spray Cranergy
-$1/1 Ocean Spray Ruby Pomegranate
-$5 instant savings
-$2 Albies Doubles
(forgot to use my $.55/1 Black Cherry Soda coupon, grrrr)
Total: $6.09 and received two $1 catalinas plus my free bag of groceries for using a reusable bag!I did just the 10 tunas again the next day and paid $3, received (2) $1 cats and a $2OYNO survey cat.
SafewaySo I rarely buy this type of cereal and junk food, but it made me money so I figure I will donate it all to someone else who likes it. (Sorry to put a disclaimer but we really get scrutinized for the groceries we buy)

(3) Kellogg’s Fruit Loops $1.49 each wyb 5
Pop Tart $.99 wyb 5
Keeblers Chips Deluxe $1.99 wyb 5
Classico Pasta Sauce $2.50
Total before coupons: $9.95
– (3) $1.50/1 Fruit Loops
-$.55/1 Pop Tarts
-$1/1 Keeblers Chips Deluxe
-$1.50/1 Classico (catalina)
-$2 Safeway Double
Total = $.40! So the junk food helped buy my pasta sauce!

I also bought 2 more Cranergy Juices at Albertsons with doubles and paid $1.98 total.

Plus $3 for a dozen local farm fresh eggs
Okay, so this actually adds up to $45.49, but I did get $6 in Catalinas to use next week so that will make up for it. At least, that’s the idea, we’ll see what happens.

As for my menu plan or rather menu planless……

Monday I cooked a whole chicken in the crockpot and ate it with some roasted red pepper fettucine and marinara sauce.
Tuesday through Friday I plan on being at my sisters in the Pudget Sound and also visiting my husband up that way as well. (He’s working out of town for awhile) So I’m hoping to mooch off of them all, or, at least my sister. I imagine I will be cooking for my man so I’ll have to take food up there.
Saturday is Fourth of July and I imagine there will be a BBQ to go to.
Sunday ? Something with chicken???
Ah well, I’ll get it together someday….

Rebecca

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  1. Anonymous says

    I had and used the extra gum coupon a few weeks back. It came from the coupon insert in the paper, but it was from a little while ago.(maybe a couple of months)

    Reply

  3. Anonymous says

    Check with one of the store clerks if you're still looking for the tuna tearpads. At the one on Barnes Road in Beaverton, when they ran out of tuna they took the cardboard display with the tearpads into the back room but they were able to bring it back out when I asked.

    Reply

  4. Jen says

    I just found my extra gum coupons (still not sure what insert they were from as I has already cut them out). They expired yesterday. Bummer! Has anyone found the tuna tearpads at any Portland westside stores?

    Reply

  7. Frugal Living Online says

    I can't seem to find what insert the gum coupons where in, sorry. I know I have had them for a while. Anyone else know?

    Reply

  8. Adrienne and Lee says

    I was wondering the same thing-where is the gum coupon? You did great! I found the tuna tearpads, but now tuna!

    Reply

  9. Jen says

    Wow–it looks like you did great! I was really wishing I could find some of those tearpads for the tuna at Arbies as that is an amazing deal. Do you happen to know which insert the extra gum coupons were from? If this sale is still on today I would love to get some. Can't beat the price!

    Reply
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