My Kroger Mega Event & Healthy Shopping Trip

I am really working hard to try to purchase as much fresh produce and all natural products that I can for my family. That has meant upping our grocery budget a bit.  But…we haven’t had to up it more than around 20% or so. I use opportunities like the Nature’s Prime Organic and Nutty Guys Groupons to help cut down costs on things like organic meat and nuts. If it isn’t in the budget, I just get conventional. We do our best, but sometimes we just can’t go all the way with natural and organic products. I tell you that to encourage you that every little bit counts.

Trip #1

I ran in Kroger Sunday after church to get my $.99 papers, and grabbed a quick deal on the Mega Event for my Annie’s All Natural Mac n Cheese, but got no picture, so just picture 10 boxes of macaroni. Plus I grabbed one bottle of the Annie’s Dressing, Green Goddess, because there was only one $1/1 Annies tearpad coupon left.

This is my absolute favorite dressing, I now use it in place of my Homemade Greek Dressing on my Greek Chicken Pita Sandwiches. For only $.50 a bottle, I can’t make it for that once you factor in my time!

In all I spent around $8.50 at Kroger for papers and all.

:: See the Entire Shopping Trip

Trip #2

Then yesterday I made a quick trip to Publix and got the following for around $9.  Again, picture the following, I forgot to grab a photo.

2 Lysol Wipes — $1.50/ea
2 Strawberries — $1.67/ea
3 Green Giant Frozen Veggies — FREE (the printer ate my 4th coupon!)
6 Muir Glen Products — FREE
Almond Breeze Thin Crackers — $2.09 (w/ Whole Foods coupon)

Publix Total:  $9

Trip #3

Today, I tried a new Kroger to see if they might have more of the $1 Annie’s Salad Dressing tearpads, but no luck.  Someone at mine had taken the whole tearpad and left me only one!  I was so bummed.  I might have to make it out to another Kroger to see if I can find another one.  It is worth it as much of that dressing as we use, and that it is normally around $4 per bottle!

*BONUS* – The Annie’s Dressing will give you a $1.50 catalina on your next order when you purchase 2! Plus when I purchased one on Sunday, the catalina machine spit out a $1.50 off 2 Annie’s Dressing at checkout.  Which I used below!

Here was today’s Kroger trip pictured above.

6 boxes Cascadian Farms Bars – $1.99/box ( See how I got them HERE)
Kashi Walnut and Black Currant Granola – managers special $1.99/box
2 Annies Dressing $.75/ea
2 Triscuits — $1.49/ea
6 Red Gold Tomatoes — FREE
5 Knudsen’s rganic Juice – $1.25/ea
2 3-lb bags organic apples– $3/ea (great price, I usually pay $2.59 for manager’s special bags)
1 5-lb bag naval oranges $2.49
8 Lara Bars — $.75/ea after coupon and sale
cantaloupe — $2.20 (more than I normally pay, but these were wonderful tasting!)
3 bags organic broccoli — $1.49/ea (normally over $3 ea)
organic celery — $1 on manager’s mark down
5- So Delicious Organic Coconut Milk half gallons — $1/ea  (used a raincheck from the last sale, plus $1 coupons)

Kroger Total: $55

All in all I spent a little more than a normal week, however, I didn’t shop last week so I had two weeks grocery budget’s worth of money I could use.  I had plenty of produce from the weekends birthday party.  More on that party later!

I ended up making three trips to the store this week which isn’t my normal thing to do. But, since Kroger had such great prices on the Mega items and those included all natural products, I was fine with it.  I just can’t do it every week, but once in a while is good for these kids of deals.

So, how did you do this week? Don’t forget, we will be hosting a “Show Your Savings” link up on Friday morning.  Be sure to take pictures and post about your grocery trips.