When gas prices rise it gives people an incentive to drive less, seek out the cheapest auto insurance network and make cuts to other areas of their budgets.

I’m not going to worry about the price of gas too much, it will likely go back down soon, or maybe after summer? I’ll just have to remember to fill up more when we are close to Costco.

Smiths Total Spent: $7.83

This was bought on Monday morning when Smiths was doubling coupons. The Flipz, 3 Musketeers, Mentos candy and gum were all free. Nothing better than free snacks for my husband to keep at school so he doesn’t waste money buying snacks at the school bookstore. And he’s not going to gain weight of it either because he has his own method of fat burners. He rides his bike to school!

With coupons the Cherrios were $1 each. Not a fantastic deal but my kids love them. French’s Honey mustard were 49 cents each and  the Rosarita refried beans were 67 cents each.

Sunflower Market And Buy Low – Total Spent: $10.45

Sunflower market:

• Grapefruit 6 for $1
• Red Grapes 88 cents a lb
• Natural Chicken Tenders $1.88 a lb

Buy Low:

• Jenni-O Turkey Franks 26 cents each
• Whole Wheat Bread 98 cents each

I also got $10 of fruits and veggies at Buy Low with a WIC voucher. Buy Low’s  great produce deals that I took advantage of this week include (some were Wednesday only deals):

• Oranges 4 lbs for $1
• Broccoli 2 lbs for $1
• Cucumber 3 for a $1
• Bell Peppers 3 for $1
• Pineapple 3 lbs for $1 – I wonder if its true that eating a whole pineapple will put you into labour?
• Romaine lettuce 2 for $1
• Carrots 3 lbs for $1
• Avocado 4 for $1

If you live in Utah County check out Buy Low’s produce deals each week.

Fresh Market Total spent: $11.63

This was kind of an emergency shopping trip. I had bad heartburn late at night and I was all out of antacids so I went to Fresh Market where I bought over priced Tums that I didn’t have any coupons for. I also bought 4 jars of Western Spaghetti Sauce @ 98 cents each and 2 bottles of Hidden Valley Salad dressing that were on sale for $1.98 and I used 2 $1 off coupons.

Total Spent this week: $29.91

Total left for the month: $ 64.42

Another great thing about Smiths here is that they just opened up a gas station that is usually cheaper than other gas stations in the area plus you can get discounts when you buy groceries. While driving to Smiths I noticed that we were very low on gas, coolant and washing fluid. I was meaning to get gas on the way home but I had to get back home before the baby I baby sit arrived (I got home like 30 seconds before the parents came!). I’ll just have JJ deal with the car stuff other than filling a car up with gas I don’t know how to do anything else. Hopefully I never end up having to use a 24 hour towing company because I can’t replace a tire or something. I guess I should learn….

Walmart and Walgreens Total $15.47

Walgreens – Spent $4.95 and received $5 in Register Rewards:

• 2 bags of 75 plastic straws – 50 cents each with in ad coupon
• 2 Colgate 360 ° Toothbrushes (These are my favourite toothbrushes to buy they really do clean teeth better than any other that I’ve used) $3.49 buy one get one free – 2 75 cents off coupons. making them 99 cents each
• 2 tubes of colgate toothpaste. $3.49 buy one get one free. I used two $1.00 off coupons making them 74 cents each.
• Bag of gummy bears 39 cents (you can’t have more items than coupons at Walgreens so this was my “filler” item)
• Schick 3 razor system $7.99 minus $5 off coupon making it $2.99. But I got $5 in Register Rewards (can be used like cash) so if you count that I made $2!   (You can make money off these kinds of razors often at Walgreens. I can’t believe people actually pay close to $10 for them. It’s not like they add natural testosterone like the commercials seem to imply.)
• I also used $4 in register rewards from a previous purchase.

Walmart – spent $10.52

• 3 packs of 2 roll Green Earth paper towels. $2.97 each and I used 3 “try it free” coupons from a Green Earth promotion. Making them free!
• 3 Tubs of Land O’ Lakes Butter with Olive Oil. Price matched Smiths sale of $1.50 and used 3 – 75 cents off coupons. Making them 75 cents each.
• 1 3 pack of Trident Tropical gum.  $2.38 – used $1 off coupon. Making it $1.38.
• 2 – 8 packs of Activia yogurt. $3.92 – used 2 $1 off coupons. Making them $2.92 each.

From our $150 monthly budget this leaves me with $88.33 left for the rest of the month.

Winco and Target Total Spent: $29.08

Winco:

• 2 Bugles @ $0.98 each – 2 $1.00 off coupons. (good things they were free because neither JJ or I like them)
• 2 Ragu sauce @ $0.98 each
• 1 bag Frito Chips @ $0.98
• 2 Hersheys Special Dark Chocolate bars @$0.58 – 2 buy 1 get 1 free coupons.
• 1.93 lbs of yellow onions @ $0.68 lb (this is a very good price right now!)
• 1 Betty Crocker Frosting @ $0.98 – $0.75 coupon when you buy cake mix as well.
• 1 Betty Crocker Cake mix @ $0.78
• 2.82 lbs of bananas @ $0.33 lb
• 2 Betty Crocker cookie mixes @ $1.28 each – $1.00 coupon
• 2 4 pks of Activia yogurt @ $1.77 each – 2 $1.00 coupons
• 3 Bumble Bee Tuna’s @ $0.28 each
• 4 cans Green Giant corn @ $0.28 each
• 2 lb Tillamook Cheese @ $3.98
• .35 lb of coconut flakes ($1.47 a lb) @ $0.51
• Cottonelle toilet paper 12 big rolls @ $2.98 – $0.50 coupon
• 10 lb bag of Idaho potatoes @ $0.68
• 4 lbs strawberries  @ $2.98
• 24 pk of bottled water @ $1.98 (we don’t normally drink bottled water this is specifically for our emergency food storage)
• 2 boxes of Capri Sun 10 count @ $0.98 (I had $1.00 off coupons for these but I bought the wrong kind to use them)

The sale prices should last another week.

Target:

1st transaction:

• 2 Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaners @2.99 each – 2 $0.75 coupons.
• 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Clean @ $3.94 – $1.00 coupon
• Also used a buy 3 Scrubbing Bubbles products Get a $5 Target gift card coupon.
• Total came to $7.70 and I used a $10 gift card from a blogging assignment. I will be submitting for a $5 SC Johnson rebate.

2nd Transaction

• 3 boxes of Ziploc bags (the last 3 they had!) @ $2.27 each
• Paid for with remainder of 1st gift card and part of second gift card. I will also be submitting this for a $5 SC Johnson rebate – you can submit up to 3 rebates!

Fresh Market Total spent: $14.26

• 2 2lbs of Tillamook Cheese @ $3.98 each (these last until the end of the year so were not eating it all right away!)
• 6 1 lb bags of Guittard chocolate chips @ $0.98 each (these are the best chocolate chips I have ever had! Great for the cookies and Naniamo bars were going to be making)

This sale is over.

Buy Low Total Spent $4.08

Apples, Tangerines, Grapefruit, broccoli and Avocado were paid for with a $6 WIC voucher.

• 2 30 oz containers of Best Foods Real Mayonnaise @ $3.00 each – 2 $1.02 Store coupons.

Prices last until Tuesday next week.

I had $1.22 of grocery money leftover from last month so this months budget is $51.22 so – $47.42 we have $103.80 left for the month!

I am loving Avocado’s right now. I bought some last week as well and I am keeping the seeds to plant. But since I’m the only one who eats them I’ll have to use some as face cream. Might not have the same effect as prevera but it would be fun Avocado’s are also a great first foods for babies so I’ll blend it up and freeze it for when the new baby begins solids.