Wow! You guys REALLY had an an opinion yesterday about my dress options! It was so great to see what everyone thought, and I really, really appreciate all the feedback! I still haven’t made a final decision–I may bring them all–but I am leaning towards 1 or 2. Or 6. Or maybe 5. But I like 4 too. Oh shoot….decisions are so hard! At least 3 is definitely a no. 
Almost everything on my list was a “staple item” this week–milk, eggs, yogurt, toilet paper, condensed soup–so I thought it would be fun for Princess & I to make a video about saving on those type of items.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from people who don’t use coupons is “I don’t eat all those processed foods, and they just don’t make coupons for the things I buy.” The truth is that while it IS hard to find coupons for certain items, it doesn’t mean you can’t still save on other items. I know I probably sound like a broken record, but any savings is better than none!
Here is what I got:
At Publix I spent $55.86 for $134.05 worth of groceries, a savings of 59%.
Grocery Breakdown
15 Cambell’s Condensed Soups @ – $1.00 (5) $0.40/3 Campbell’s Condensed Soup Printable (3) $1/5 Cambell’s Condensed Soups (Publix In-ad coupon) Final price: $0.53 each 4 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Sandwich Bread, BOGO @ – $3.29 (1) $0.75/1 Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse, Goldfish Sandwich Bread, or Deli Flats Target printable (NLA) (4) $0.60/1 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Sandwich Bread, exp. 11/27/11 (SS 09/18/11 R) Final price: $0.86 each (6) Talenti Gelato or Sorbetto, assorted varieties, 16 oz, BOGO @ $4.69 (6) $1/1 Talenti Gelato or Sorbetto (EarthFare Manufacturer’s Coupon) ** Final price: $1.34 each (3) Dannon Activia Yogurt, assorted varieties, 4 pk @ – $2.00 (3) $1/1 Activia Selects or Multipack, exp. 11/27/11 (SS 10/02/11) Final Price: $1.00 (2) Kraft Cheesy Skillets Dinner Kit @ – $2.00 (1) $0.50/1 Velveeta Cheesy Skillets Boxed Dinner Item Target printable (1) $1/2 Kraft Velveeta Cheesy Skillets printable (Use zip 96727) Final price: $1.25 each (4) Mueller’s Pasta, assorted varieties, 12- 16 oz, , BOGO @ – $1.69 (2) $1.00/2 Mueller’s Pasta (Blinkie) Final Price: $0.34 each 2 Athenos Crumbled Feta Cheese, assorted varieties, 3.5 or 4 oz, BOGO @ – $2.79 (2) $0.75/1 Athenos Feta Cheese (Blinkie) Final price: $1.39 each 2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Original, Fat Free, or 1/3 Less Fat, 8 oz @ – $1.50 (1) $1/2 Philadelphia Cream Cheese Tub printable Final Price: $1.00 each 4 Hass Avocados @ – $1.25 (1) B3G1 Avocados from Mexico Printable Coupon (NLA) Final price: $0.94 each 2 Sweet Onions, per pound @ – $0.99 Final price: $1.43 2 Angel Soft Unscented Bath Tissue, Double, 12 rolls @ – $5.49 (2) $0.50/1 Angel Soft Bath Tissue, exp. 11/14/11 (RP 08/14/11 R) (2) $1.00/1 Angel Soft Bath Tissue Target Printable Final price: $3.99 ($0.33 a roll) 2 Sparkle Paper Towels, 2 Giant Rolls @ – $3.19 (2) $2 off Sparkle Towels Giant Rolls wyb Angel Soft Bath Tissue Mega Roll, exp. 10/16/11 (Publix, One Stop One Store) Final Price: $1.19 each ($0.59 per roll) 1 Publix Brand Black Pepper @ $1.79 1 Publix 2% Milk, 1 Gallon @ $3.75 1 Publix Grade A Large Eggs, 18 Count @ $2.00
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And now it’s your turn! Seeing others’ examples is one of the best ways to learn new couponing strategies, hints, and hot deals. If you have a blog, please link up your coupon savings here. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to share your shopping experiences in a comment below.
Shopping list prepared at:
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Carol October 6, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Thanks for the video!!! You did awesome buying “real” staple items
Keep up the hard work, I know I appreciate it!!
Ruth October 7, 2011 at 11:54 am
Thanks Carol!
Abigail October 6, 2011 at 10:05 pm
How do you get the EarthFare coupons to print? It never prints right for me! : /
Ruth October 7, 2011 at 11:53 am
I’m not sure…I didn’t have any problems with it. Be sure to ask a manager about that one, though! My store manager didn’t have a problem with it, but I specifically asked her about it and showed her the coupon before I got to the checkout. I’m not sure that every store would accept it.
Jess October 6, 2011 at 11:54 pm
I just love your videos!!!
And I definitely think that half the stuff that people claim on that program is 100% baloney. Let’s say someone says they’re getting 100 boxes of whatever for free b/c they have 100 coupons…well I’m sure they had to pay for at least some of those coupons…which makes their free stuff not-so-free-anymore!
Ruth October 7, 2011 at 11:51 am
That’s a great point Jess! There is definitely a lot of “behind the scenes” stuff that doesn’t get shown.
Starbucksgirl October 7, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Jess, I have many friends that have over 100 inserts. They get free inserts from the recycling bins, their friends and family, and sometimes businesses donate the inserts to them. They are not paying for their coupons online. Just an FYI….many people get their inserts free from many different sources.
I just picked up 40 inserts free from a recycle bin (they are all the same date); the newspaper carriers dump their old newspapers in a bin close to me. I routinely find Sunday papers bundled in the recycle bins that have never been opened.
morgan October 7, 2011 at 9:13 am
This is great! Those people who think that coupons are useless don’t know half of what they’re talking about. I used to be one of those people until a friend convince me to cross over. Only then did I realize what a big help it was. Great video by the way. I’ll try to make one as well as soon as my schedule clears. Keep on couponing
Jennifer October 7, 2011 at 12:09 pm
Hi Ruth!
I was in Orlando earlier this week and went into Publix a few times. I found them to be very generous with their store coupons, both in store at the kiosk and in the Sunday paper (Orlando Sentinel). You’re very lucky to have a great store like Publix to shop at!
By the way, I never get free toilet paper, either!!
Great video…keep them coming!
Megan October 7, 2011 at 2:45 pm
Hey Ruth,
There were some questions on my Weight Watchers Coupon Blog about how to save on the everday things, then ironically there is a video from you talking about just that. I linked you video to the blog…hope you don’t mind too much. Thanks for all the work you do!
Ruth October 8, 2011 at 5:48 pm
I don’t mind at all Megan, but I’d love to have the link!
Megan October 9, 2011 at 7:08 pm
It’s a blog in the Weight Watchers Online Community: http://community.weightwatchers.com/Groups/GroupPage.aspx?sid=6720135
Ruth October 11, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Cool, thanks Megan!
Starbucksgirl October 7, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Ruth,
I checked your math on a few of your items. I am getting a few different numbers. Can you check your math and let me know if my calculations are correct? I’m going to head back to Publix to pick up a few items that you purchased but want to make sure of my prices. Thanks!
Campbell’s soups – $.66 cents each
Athenos Feta – $.64 cents each
Have a great day!
Ruth October 8, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Hey Kelly–You could be right. Sometimes I do my math too fast when I’m trying to get the post finished.
Linda October 8, 2011 at 12:36 am
Ruth,
I was curious about the cream cheese coupon you used. I saw you bought the 8 oz packs and not the soft cream cheese in the tub, does the coupon work for the regular cream cheese? I have serveral coupons and have been waiting for a sale on the tubs and there hasn’t been any.
thanks for all you do…love all 3 of your sites,
Linda
Ruth October 8, 2011 at 5:47 pm
That is a great question Linda! I didn’t think so but I asked at the register (the store manager was checking me out) and she said it was fine. You may want to ask ahead of time though!
Kristen @ Joyfullythriving October 8, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Good job! I had to stock up on staples this week too and was surprised to see I saved exactly 50% at both Kroger and Meijer. Good savings for replenishing my pantry!
Taylor October 9, 2011 at 12:06 am
Hi Ruth! I love your blog (especially since I live in Fort Myers), and I read it often! I have been extreme couponing for almost two years, and I have always thought that when manufacturer’s coupons say redeemable only at a certain store, we couldn’t use it elsewhere. Is that not the case? I wanted to get the Talenti, but I didn’t want to be fraudulent. Thanks for all the help!
Megan October 9, 2011 at 7:14 pm
Some stores accept their competitors coupons. Check your stores policies!
Taylor October 11, 2011 at 2:05 am
Megan, we don’t have Earth Fare in our area, so I know it’s not being accepted as a competitor’s coupon.
Mimi October 9, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Hi Ruth,
Best video and shopping trip ever!! Real food and a I appreciate to T.P. comment.
Thanks
Mimi
Cynthia Ann Cochran October 28, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Maybe this is a dumb question, but what do you mean by “staple” items? Also, I see on some sites where they talk about single check rebates, or something like that. What are they and how are they used?
Amy November 11, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Have you stopped doing this on the site? I loved seeing your results!! Please bring it back!