After 3 weeks away, our poor little refrigerator was completely bare and I had no choice but to make a run to the store.
I am not normally one to count calories. (If you’ve ever tried one of my butter-and-cheese-laden (but oh-so-good!) stockpile recipes you probably can already attest to that!) I like things to taste good and, being very tall and relatively active (if semi-obsessive toilet cleaning and chasing toddlers all day counts as exercise), I have been pretty fortunate to not have to worry too much about what I eat.
After 2 weeks of trying to hit all my favorite hometown restaurants (Starbucks, Pho, Starbucks, Indian Buffet, Starbucks, Casa Que Pasa, Starbucks, Fairway Cafe….) followed by a week of triple dessert dinners on our cruise, (sadly I’m not kidding–I really did eat 3 desserts every night), I was fully expecting to have gained a few pounds. However, I was shocked when I stepped on the scale this morning and discovered a “few” was more like 15. Yikes!
So an hour later, when I got an email from Ebates advertising double cash back for signing up for Weight Watchers®, I took it as a sign from the universe that it was time to get serious and joined on the spot.
The only thing I know about Weight Watchers® is that you count points instead of calories. Husband will probably argue that it is essentially the same thing, but it just sounds simpler. The online program actually looks pretty cool and I love that you can track what you eat online. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Needless to say, between being out of everything AND trying to focus on “diet” options, today’s savings weren’t quite as dramatic as usual. But that’s okay. I was still a smart shopper & saved as much as I could, focusing on sale items that fit within my needs.
Here is what I got:
At Publix I spent $61.23 for $120.65 worth of groceries, a savings of 50%.
In my area (Southwest Florida) today was the last day of the sale ad, so you can still get these items through closing tonight. However, in some areas the new ad has already started and these prices are no longer available. I will still be shopping tomorrow as well!
Grocery Breakdown 2 Ocean Spray Juice Cocktail or Juice Blends, 64oz, BOGO @ – $3.99 (2) $0.55/1 Ocean Spray Blueberry Juice Drink, exp. 8/31/11 (RP 05/15/11) Final price: $1.44 each 6 Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt, 4pk, BOGO @ – $2.79 (4) $0.50/1 Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt Multipack (SS 6/19/11) Final price: $1.06 each 2 Flatout Artisan Flatbread, 8.5-9oz, BOGO @ – $2.99 Final price: $1.50 each 6 Kellogg’s Special K Cereal, 11.4-19.5oz, BOGO @ – $4.15 (3) $1/2 Special K Cereal printable (2) $1/3 Kellogg’s Special K Cereal Target printable Final price: $1.58 each 2 Eggo Waffles, 9.8-12.6oz, BOGO@ – $2.29 Final price: $1.14 each 6 Zatarain’s Frozen Entrees, BOGO @ – $2.99 (3) $1/2 Zatarains Frozen Entree printable Final price: $1 each 2 Red Raspberries, 5.6-16oz – $2.00 Final price: $2.00 each 1 California Strawberries – $2.50 each Final price: $2.50 each Tomatoes on the Vine, .60 lbs @ $1.69 per pound Final price: $1.01 Sweet Vidalia Onions, 3.24 lbs @ $0.79 per pound Final price: $2.56 1 Eggplant, 1.29 lbs @ $1.29 per pound Final price: $1.56 1 Head Romaine Lettuce-$1.99 each 1 Publix Sweet Cream Butter-$3.19 Publix Cottage Cheese-$2.99 Publix Shredded Cheese-$2.50 Publix 2% Milk, 1 gallon-$3.79
But you know what really gets me excited about today’s shopping trip? This delicious little cup of cottage cheese with fresh berries. Yum!
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Anita @ Mommy in Search of Me June 22, 2011 at 7:45 pm
I am so glad you are doing this. I have been a member of Weight Watchers since last september and have lost 66lbs and am now maintaing my weight. I am constantly trying to watch what I spend and trying to eat healthy. Of course I do indulge every now and again (Who doesn’t). Looking forward to see what you have to come
Ruth June 23, 2011 at 1:25 am
Wow 66 pounds! Way to go, that’s awesome!
Ronda Cox June 22, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Thank you for all the time and personality you put into all this. I can totally relate to trying to hit all my favorite places to eat when I go home. I hit a few of them when I went home alone a couple weeks ago, but hubby and I will most likely have our list in hand when we go home in December. It’s just such a part of our trip home that we couldn’t possibly leave it out. I will look forward to reading more about your WW success and as a new coupon diva, I am happy and my husband is ecstatic to brag about my savings of 50 – 65 % off our grocery budget. You and all your information are real treasures!
Ruth June 23, 2011 at 1:26 am
Thanks Ronda!
Lisa G. June 22, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Here’s a suggestion for the flatbread you bought. I made wraps the other night with it, because it was too hot to cook. I used neufchatel cream cheese and mixed it with Garden Gourmet herb blend, Mediterranean flavor. These come in a tube and hopefully you can find them. I got mine at Nob Hill (Raley’s) on sale a couple weeks ago. Anyway, the herbs make it so good! Then you can layer deli meat, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, onions and cucumbers and wrap it up. I bet grilled eggplant would be good too.
Ruth June 23, 2011 at 1:27 am
That sounds really yummy! For lunch I made a roasted eggplant sandwich & it was so good that for dinner I did a flatbread veggie burger. Both were delish! Now I’m just sorry I didn’t buy more.
Amanda June 23, 2011 at 12:20 am
WELCOME BACK! Oh How I have missed the weekly shopping trips!
Ruth June 23, 2011 at 1:27 am
Thanks Amanda!
Gaudy June 23, 2011 at 2:56 am
Welcome back, thank you for all the help i get from you, please keep doing what your doing , my family thank you so much!!!!!
Debi June 23, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Welcome back, I really I missed you! Great job shopping! I like things to taste good as well but unlike you, I don’t have a little ones to chase around and keep me active.
Shauna June 23, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Welcome back, Ruth! It sounds like your trip was amazing, both for you and hubby and the girls. You were absolutely missed, and, while I understand the need to get away, we are all so excited to have you back. Good luck on your journey into the WW galaxy. Hopefully you will help me get back on track with my own journey. When you follow the program, it works. Thank you so much for all of your wonderful advice. You definitely have inspired me both with couponing and to lead a happy, more relaxed, fun life. And you have given my husband the opportunity to brag about my amazing savings:-)
Maggie June 29, 2011 at 2:33 am
You go girl! Have been a WW member for years now and, personally, find it the most efficient, reliable way of both maintaining healthy weight as well as helping rid myself of “holiday kilograms” that happen to the best of us. Plus I strive to be a smart shopper too – well done.