I’m going to confess something terribly shocking. Are you ready for it?

I didn’t even look at the grocery store ads until yesterday. (And, new ads come out tomorrow!)

Yes, it’s true. And I call myself a couponer?! Sheesh!

However, I had been keeping up on my coupon blogs, so I knew that there were some sweet deals to be had at Safeway and Albertsons.

I called up my Albertson’s partner in crime and we took off with 3 kids in tow! Of course, we headed to the closer and prettier option for us, the McMinnville Albertson’s. Such a great store!

I took advantage of the ConAgra promo and ended up with this:

Transaction 1:
13 Hunts Pasta Sauce @ $1 each
12 Rotel Tomatoes @ $1 each
=$25, which means I qualified for the $10 Catalina!

Used: (3) $1/4 Rotel coupons from the Joy of Football book and 3 doublers

Plus, I found a coupon hanging on the cardboard Rotel display for free chili seasoning (up to $1) WYB 4 cans of Rotel (or Hunts tomatoes). The Albertson’s brand was 50¢ each, so I grabbed 4 and used 4 coupons. However, when she scanned the coupons, it automatically took off $1 each! She let it go for the first transaction, but adjusted the coupon for the second transaction.

= $17 OOP, AND I earned a $10 Catalina!!

Transaction 2:
1 Kikkoman Soy Sauce = $2.39 (used $1/1 MC + Doubler = 39¢)
2 Chili Seasoning Mixes = Free with coupon listed above
17 Hunts Pasta Sauce
8 Rotel (used (2) $1/4 MC + 2 doublers)

Used $10 Catalina from T1
= $11.39 OOP, PLUS I earned a $10 Catalina!

At this point, I stayed with the older kids while my friend took our groceries out to the car. I picked up some things that we were going to need this week, which accounts for the rest of what you see in the picture.

Transaction 3:
1 Teriyaki Sauce = $2.39 - $1/1 MC - doubler = 39¢
Food Should Taste Good chips Free with coupon (probably from a FB Fan page)
Carrots
Onion
Oranges
Potatoes
Apples
Bananas

Used $10 Catalina

= $1.80 OOP for Transaction 3!

Next, we headed back home and popped into Rite Aid to grab some free lightbulbs and deodorant (although my store doesn’t have any, so I might head into Salem if it is convenient).

I grabbed this:

The chocolate bar was a filler! I paid with (3) $1/1 MCs, (3) $2 +UP rewards and 44¢. I earned $6 in +UP rewards!

And, finally, I popped over to Safeway for this stuff (because the prices really are so much better on these items at Safeway this week than they are at Albertson’s!):

• The Rancher’s Reserve Meat coupon worked with no problems this time! Apparently enough people complained and Safeway corporate fixed it. Whew! The meat cost me 1¢.
• The Hefty cups were on sale for $1.50 and I had a $1/1 MC from the football book, which doubled, so they were free!
• The lunch meat was clearanced out, but it won’t expire until next week.
• Eggs are a good deal.

Overall, I’m pretty pleased! I stocked my pantry just a bit more (understatement, maybe?) and still ended up with a lot of the basics, all for only $35.79. This keeps me well within my $50 weekly grocery budget.

Of course, I’m going to have to reorganize my pantry again!! It’s getting to be a mess, and I’m running out of room. I might have to find creative spots for my stockpile!!

I know many of you store your stockpile in crazy places. I’d love to see! Please take a picture and send it to me, or leave a note in the comments so that we can teach non-stockpilers that there really IS room to keep a stockpile in your home!! Email to [email protected], or leave a link in the comments to your post or picture!

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