My shopping Trip

Here is a breakdown of my shopping trip for the week:

Dillons

4 1/2 gallon's of milk marked down to .50/1= 2.00  (note: these were marked down because they are due 2 expire in 2 days- milk will last about 4-5 days past expiration and it is also freezable- I have always had great luck buying marked down milk and freezing it... I almost  have to throw any out because it spoils)

Minute Maid OJ on manager special=.99

2 daisy cottage cheese marked down to .25/1- 2 60/1 coupons doubled to 1$= +1.50 (yes this can happen where you actually make money using coupons because the coupon amount was more than the product)

3 Kroger cheeses =5.00

Sterling silver ground beef 3lb package=5.42

Kraft Miracle whip 1.77- .55/1 coupon doubled to $1= .77

2 cartons of Dillon's eggs=1.98

1 Coronzana chips 2.99- coupon for one free bag=FREE

1 bag of Kroger frozen chicken breasts=5.61 - 1.75/1 kroger coupon= 3.86 

3 Betty crocker suddenly salads= 4.50- 3 .40/1 coupons doubled to .80/1 = 2.10 for all 3

I bag of grapes at .99/lb.=1.91

1 bag of grape fruit marked to .99

I package of dillons brand buns=.98

Total for this including dillon's discounts and mf coupons= 25.84 a savings of over 50%!

Hy-VEE

3 Bush's grillin beans = 3.54 - 3 $1/1 coupons= .54 for 3 cans!

3 Kraft salad dressing =$5- .75/2 coupon- 1 free coupon - 1 in store add coupon for free salad= 2.58 

1 bag of salad FREE 

1 jar of valassic pickles=1.67 - $1/1 coupon= .67

1 blueberries=2.00

4 thing of corn=1.00

1 bag of baby carrots=1.00

1 package of sunmaid raisins=1.94

Total was 10.90 after coupons and discounts- I saved 40%!

And then I did run to Aldi... some things there are just so much cheaper that I can't pass them up when I need them!

5 Bananas=1.01

1 bag of onions=1.29

1 box of animal cracker=1.29

1 package of egg noodles=.99

1 box of dog biscuts=.99

1 bag of flour=1.68

2 cans of cream of chicken=.94 (this what you would pay for 1 can at the other stores)

2 cans of cream of mushroom=.94 (same goes for these)

2 bags of tortilla chips=1.98

All together my total was 11.83

Total for week came out to be around 48$.  I try to stick to a 40$ a week budget but when meat is on sale I can't pass it up!

More Dillons/Kroger deals

You can check out Crystal's post here for some other great deal ideas this week, especially on toiletries!  

Doubling Coupons

Dillons is the only store that I am aware of around here (Topeka) that "doubles" coupons.  They double coupons everyday!  This is their policy.  Sometimes you will see a coupon that says "not subject to doubling or tripling", Dillons still doubles them anyway.  

The policy for Dillons is that they double every coupon up to a $1.00.  So for instance a .25 coupon is doubled to .50, and a .30 coupon is doubled to .60 cents off and so forth.  For coupons that are higher than .50 cents off such as a .60/1 coupons this is "doubled" to a $1.00 meaning Dillon's will add on the other .40 cents off.   Often at the bottom of your receipt you can see how your coupons scanned.  For example I used a .55/1 coupon and at the bottom of my receipt is looks like this :

MC Scanned coupon .55-c

SC Multiplied coupon .45-c

So for a .75/1 coupon, Dillons will give you another .25 cents off to make it a 1.00.  If you have a coupon that is for a $1 or more off that is all the discount you will get.  They do not double beyond $1.00.  As for tripling coupons, I have yet to see our Dillons stores do this, so we can cross that bridge when the time comes.

Where to get Coupons

Coupons come out every Sunday (Sunday only) in what is called the "Smartsoure"  and "redplum" inserts.  And on the 1st of every month Proctor and Gamble puts out what they call the "P&G Brand saver"  This contains coupons for toiletry and household brands such as herbal essences, old spice, tide, cascade- etc.  The Smartsource and Red Plum inserts carry all brands of manufacturer coupons (coupon language would refer to these as "mf" coupons).  These coupons can be used anywhere they are accepted.  Most common places are Dillons, Hy-vee, CVS, Walgreens, K-mart, Walmart, Falley's, Target and I am sure some others I forgot about.  Pretty much where the product is sold, the coupon can be used.  As a note:  Some stores put out "store specific" coupons that can only be used in their stores.  You will generally find these in the store ad, or in the store not usually in the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper.  Regardless the coupon will say if it is a mf coupon or not.

In the Wednesday Paper you will find coupons to restaurants and flyers for various stores, especially the grocery stores.  In my opinion if you are going to get the paper the Sunday paper is the best to get.  If you want the ads from the Wednesday paper you could get that too, however most of those adds can be located on-line. You have 2 options around here for coupons in the Sunday paper, the Topeka Capitol Journal or the KC star. In my 1 + year of couponing  I will tell you that the KC star consistently has better and more coupons.  So I only get the star. You can get this at the local convenience store for 1.50 on Sundays or order it on-line.  Go here to get the star for 26 weeks for only 25.74, that is only .99/week!  This allows you to get it F, S and Sunday and get the coupons on Sunday!  This is actually much cheaper than the Journal.  I have been told that you can request certain adds to be in your KC star that you may not get otherwise... such as Target, Walgreens and CVS.  These ads typically are not in the star since the KC stores will run different ads than Topeka.

One thing to know is that on holiday weekends there are usually no coupon inserts in the paper.  So if you buy one at the convenience store I would check to make sure there are inserts this weekend (being Memorial Day) before purchasing it.

Also, don't forget about the Parade magazine that is in Sunday's paper.  Once in a blue moon you will find some coupons in there also.

Coupons can also be printed on-line.  Some sites I reference here and check regularly are coupons.com, smartsource.com, redplum.com, bettycrocker.com, pillsbury.com, boodle.com, and couponbug.com  You do have to sign up and enter an email address in order to print coupons.  I have always felt very safe doing this and have never had a problem with spam in regard to these sites.  If you are worried about spam my suggestion is to get a different email address that is used for couponing purposes only.

One other way to get coupons is to sign up for free samples on-line.  You will often not only get a free product, but a really nice mf coupon that comes with it.  Usually the coupon that comes with the sample is worth more than the one you may get out of the coupon inserts.  For those of you who don't know Crystal, she is currently the best resource for knowing where to find "freebies".  You can also check here on Fridays for what Amy calls "freebie Friday"  for some other freebies.  

The last thing to mention is "All You" magazine.  This can be purchased at Walmart or ordered through those kids who come to your door selling subscriptions to magazines:)  This has had some very good coupons in it!

I hope this is helpful!  If you have questions please feel free to comment!

.99 cent Eggs!

I have been told that eggs are .99 cents a dozen at Dillon's this week also!  What a steel!

.20 cents off gas at North Topeka Dillons

I have been told that North Dillon's is offering .20 cents off gas this month, rather than the .10 cents we usually see... In order to get this discount you must spend 100$ or more...

If you have details about this feel free to comment.  Thanks!

Dillons 5/21-5/27

Not a bad week here either... if you shop both Hy-Vee and Dillons this week you can get some pretty good deals.

• Ground Beef is 1.77/lb (I consider a good price to be anything 1.99/lb and under
• Coke 12 packs are 4/12- buy 4 and get 2/of making these 4/10 or 2.50/12 pack- you have to buy 4 in order to get the discount
• Watermelons are 2.99 (only good at 3 locations.. check the add here for details
• Kraft Mayo is 1.77- if you got the Kraft Food and Family magazine there was a coupon in there for .50/1... this would it .77/1!
• Kroger cheese is on sale 3/5- 1.67/pack
• Lays, Cheetos, and Fritos are 1.88  (however they are 1.77 at Hy-Vee)
• Milk as usual is 2.79/1
• Kroger buns are 10/10 this week (Aldi usually has theirs marked around .79/1
• Oscar Meyer Turkey lunch meat is 2.79- use 1/1 coupon from recent insert to make it 1.79/1
• French's mustard is 1.39/1  use .30/1 to make it .79/1
• Better Crocker suddenly salad is on sale 10/10- use .40/1 coupon here and here to make them .20/1  or use .50/1 from recent coupon insert to make them .50/1
• Bushes Grillin Beans are 2/3 (Hy-vee is 1.18)  so use 1/1 coupon to make them .50 at Dillons or .18 at Hy-vee
• Kraft Dressing is on sale 1.88/1  use .75/2 to make them 1.38/1 or use your coupon for a free bottle from the Kraft food and family magazine to get it for free... or check out the Hy-vee post for a an even better deal!

As always please comment if you see something I missed

Hy-Vee 5/21-5/27

Looks like another good week at Hy-Vee!

• Cherries are 2.99/lb.  (compared to Dillons that are 4.99/lb this week)
• Blueberries-6.oz packages are 2/4
• Gremway Farms Baby carrots .97/package  (these are consistently this price at Aldi, if not less)
• Stimilt braceburn  apples are .99/lb - good price for any produce!
• Fresh sweet corn are 4/1  (compare to dillons that are 5/2)
• Lays Potato chips are 1.77/package (good price for name brand- I would save money by buying the off brand... price at Aldi is usually 1.09/bag of chips)
• John Morrell hot dogs are .49/1
• Certain Kellogs cereals are 5/10... there are 1/1 coupons there possibly making these a 1$ a box... but still 2$ a box is not bad either
• Pepsi products- 4 12 packs/11$... there is an in add coupons that says if you buy 4 you get the 5th free... making them 2.20/12 pack
• Kraft BBQ sauce is .99/1  (off brand at Aldi ususally runs for this)
• Hy-Vee brand relish is .99/1
• Hy-Vee brand 12oz. cans of peanuts are 2/3
• Lipton Knorr Sides are 10/10- use .60/2 from recent insert to make these .70/1
• Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad 5/5- use .50/1 from the paper to make them .75/1 or use the .40/1 coupon here or here and make them .60/1
• Bush's Grillin Beans are 1.18- use 1/1 coupon from recent coupon inserts to make them .18/1
• Pillsbury cake mixes are .88/1
• Hy-Vee brand 25oz cottage cheese is 1.68/1  (this size is usually 2.12 at Aldi)
• There is an in add coupons that says buy 2 Kraft salad dressings (3/5) and get 1 bag of Hy-vee salad free.  There are .75/2 coupons and don't forget in this months Kraft Food and Family magazine there was a coupon for a free bottle.  So use 1 .75/2 coupon along with a coupon for a free bottle and pay 2.58 for 3 bottles of kraft and a bag of salad- a steel!  (comes down to .86 a bottle)
• Totinos pizza rolls are 10/10  you can use .40/1 coupons from recent inserts to make these .60/1 (I will tell you that Dillons frequently puts these on sale 10/10 also... since they double coupons you can end getting these for .20/box!-so you may consider waiting)

If you see anything I didn't catch feel free to leave a comment!  

Dillons at 29th and Urish

This store is apparently having a Re-Grand opening sale!  I don't have a flyer but I do know that Grapes are .99/lb. and so are strawberries!

Hy-Vee 5/14-5/20

I wasn't so sure about this new Hy-Vee coming to Topeka because I knew they did not double coupons (one of my favorite aspects of Dillons)  This week however, I am impressed.  While Hy-Vee may not double coupons, they have prices on items I have never seen so low!  So here it goes:

• Dole Broccoli Bunch 1.18/1  (these used to be .99/1 at Aldi, but I have not seen that price in a while)
• Birds Eye Frozen Veggies .88/1  use 1$/2 coupon to make these .38/bag or a 1$/3 coupon to make these .55/bag (these were printable a few weeks back)  
• Hyvee Chicken Breasts are 1.99/lb
• Dannon Light and Fit plus yogurt 4 pack 2/4- use 1/1 coupon to make these 1/pack!
• Yo Plait yo plus yogurt 4 pack 2/4- use 1/1 coupon to make these 1/pack!
• Duncan Hines cake mix is on sale .88/1 and DH frosting is 1.38/1  Buy both and use the .75/1 cake mix and frosting coupon to get both for 1.51 
• Hy-Vee 12 oz. cottage cheese is .98/1 (note:  24 oz of this at Aldi usually runs for over 2$)
• Hy-Vee 80z. sour cream is 2/1 
• Green Peppers are 2/1 (note: Great deal!)
• Dole ice berg lettuce is .79/1  (Aldi usually runs this price too)
• Blackberries are 1.88/5.6 oz container (I don't think I have seen them this cheap- only if they are manager special because they are getting ready to go bad)
• Ball Park Franks are 2/3 (Best Deal I have seen)  Now combine coupons and get the best deal ever!  Go here to get 1/1 coupons make these .50/1!
• Fast Fixin Chicken 10/10 (same deal as Dillons- check this post for the coupons that make these FREE!)
• Health Choice meals 10/10 with in-add coupon- go here for 1/2 coupons making them .50/1!!!  There were also coupons in the paper a few weeks back with 1/2 coupons
• Ziplock bags are 2/3- use 1/2 coupon to make them 2/2 ( good price for quality bags!)
• Pillsbury Brownie Mixes 10/10
• Hyvee Catsup is .97/1 (Aldi's runs .99/1)
• Ben and Jerry's ice cream pints are 2/5- go here for 1/2 coupon making them 2/1!  (note these usually run 2.50-3.50 at most stores)

Please feel free to comment on other good deals you noticed and ones I may have missed!

More Hy-Vee deals!

Hy-Vee also has some other deals I saw yesterday:

• Dr. Pepper/ 7-up 12 packs were on sale for 1.99
• Pilgram's pride frozen chicken breasts 2.5lb bag 3.97!
• Wonder Bread .99 cents! (price of Aldi bread)
• Assorted Canned veggies .33 cents!  (Aldi runs around this price)
• Little Debbie snacks .88 cents!
• Grands biscuits .99 cents!
• 5lb bag of Russet potatoes are .99 cents!

Lets hope these deals keep coming and don't ware off:)

Dillons 5/14-5/20

I will be honest and say I did not notice much this week, but here are the best finds.  Remember also that Dillon's will double coupons up to 1$.  So a .50 coupon becomes a 1.00, a .40 coupon becomes .80 and so forth.

• Post Cereals are on sale 4/10.  When you buy 4 you will get an automatic 4$ taken off your total making this deal 4/6 or 1.50/box.  Pretty good buy.  Make it better by using coupons.  There are 1/1 coupons out there making them .50/box or 1/2 coupons making them 1/box. (note:  Cereal at Aldi tends to run 1.50/box and higher)
• Kroger sour cream is 10/10 (note:  You do not have to buy 10 to get this price, also sour cream at Aldi is .99/1 and I prefer to buy it at Kroger for the 1$ price so it counts toward my gas purchase)
• Private Selection ice cream pints are 10/10
• Land O' Lakes butter spreads are 1.49/1  use a .30/1 coupon doubled to .60/ 1 and these are .89/1
• Egos are 1.22/1  (best price I have seen for Egos in a while- if you prefer name brand)
• Fast Fixin Chicken 10/10  go here to sign up for 1$ coupons making these FREE!  If I remember right 5 coupons will print out for you.

If you have questions please feel free to comment and I will try to answer them.  If you notice deals that I did not post- please post those!

The Purpose

I have always wanted to start a blog but never knew what to write about.  Every week I tend to email some friends and tell them the best grocery buys at surrounding stores.  So this week I decided to create a blog that anybody could look at so no one would miss out.  My goal with this blog is to post mainly about current Dillon's and Hyvee deals.  The add runs from Wednesday- Tuesday every week.  My goal will be to post every Wednesday on what I think are the best buys.  I usually base what I think is a best buy on what I know to be the best price I have ever paid (usually at Aldi)  I know that Walmart does frequently have lower prices, however I make a it a goal to not have to go there.  It is a store that has business that overwhelms me to my max.

The deals I post probably run for surrounding areas as well, such as Manhattan and Lawrence. Their adds tend to be the same.

So it looks like I finally have something to blog about!  I hope you benefit from this and it becomes a blessing to your grocery budget!