Follow me as I chronicle my shopping adventures in an effort to spend $300 per month on groceries, health/beauty and cleaning products in Success Stories.
New Month. New Budget. AMAZING sales.
Hy-Vee & Hen House

Hen House Pictured: (2) Spaghetti Os, (15) Libby’s Canned Vegetables, (4) Dole Mandarin Oranges, (4) Dole Pineapple, (2) Dole Tropical Fruit, (8) Libby’s Canned Pears, (2) Libby’s Canned Apricots, Betty Crocker Cake Mix, Betty Crocker Frosting, (2) Chunky Soups, (8) Jolly Time Popcorns, Worcestershire Sauce, (2) Best Life Buttery Spreads, Eggland Best Eggs, (10) Kraft Cheese, Jell-O Pudding Snacks, Blue Bunny Ice Cream Bars, (3) New York Brand Texas Toast, and (2) Johnsonville Brats.
Total: $42.96 (Saved $110.92 according to the register.)
Hy-Vee Pictured: (2) Bakery Hamburger Buns, M&M Pretzel, (4) Capri Suns, Cheetos Zingers, (2) Lay’s Potato Chips, Pillsbury Brownie Mix, Hy-Vee Hot Dog Buns, Town House Flatbread Crisps, (2) Wheat Thins, Orville Popcorn, (2) Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread, (3) Baby Carrots, 2.82 lbs Pink Lady Apples, 2.83 lbs Green Cabbage, and 2.40 lbs Green Grapes.
Total: $27.11
Free items at Hen House:
Spaghetti Os with $.50/2 Printable Coupon
Best Life Buttery Spreads with $1/1 Manufacturer Coupon
Worcestershire Sauce with $.50/1 Printable Coupon
My FREE item list isn’t extra long, but I was able to get SO many items for under $.50 each that I stocked up. I was especially excited to get the Libby’s Veggies and Fruit, Chunky Soup, and Spaghetti Os for so cheap because they will be donated to my local food pantry.
On a side note – I broke the register at Hen House again. Luckily, Jennifer, the supervisor, was working my checkout lane. She was able to fix the problem and took my coupons (all 37 of them). They all know me as “the coupon lady” and are nice as can be. I love my College & Quivera Hen House!
Price Chopper

I went the Ball’s Price Chopper at I-35 & Roe to pick up some MORE Hatch Chilies. And I have to tell you that I was in HOG heaven in their Hispanic food aisle.
They had all sorts of weird ethnic foods of varying shapes, sizes, and brands. I can see a future trip there when I have a little discretionary money. Oh, my.
Pictured: (2) 8-count flour tortillas, (2) Breyer’s Ice Cream, 3.44 lbs white onions, (9) limes, and 10.31 lbs of Hatch Chili Peppers.
Total: $20.53
The white onions were DIRT cheap at $.50/lb and the limes were a screaming deal at .12 each. (Can you say Gin & Tonics this weekend?) I’ll be drinking those as I’m roasting the 10 lbs of Hatch Chili Peppers on my grill.
So, it was an EXPENSIVE week for me.
When you add in the retail value of my CSA plus everything in the picture, I’ve spent $115.60.
But the majority of these purchases were for my stockpile. And when prices are this low – you need to take advantage of them.
Will I need to watch my spending the rest of the month? Absolutely.
But, will I enjoy all those peppers, canned fruit, and microwave popcorn in January. Absolutely.
What about you? How was your week? Leave a comment and let me know. Or even better, send me a picture of your trips. I’d love to share them with everyone on the blog or on Facebook.
