Meredith is holding our sales receipt from Big Lots today! This reflects 5 carts worth of stuff…wow.
I’ve been pounding away at our pantry and freezer in recent weeks, using up everything. Now, I’m ready to start looking for good deals to replenish the pantry.
Before I share my hot deals, which I got with Big Lots 20% off coupon (good until Sunday I think), I want to share my philosophy here.
I am not a hoarder. I am not stockpiling for fear of economic collapse. I am not compulsively scoping out deals every day or even every week. I am not a huge fan of coupons.
I am simply a wife and mother who desires to be the best steward I can be with the dollars we are entrusted with.
That being said, I do hunt for bargains on things that my family regularly uses. My motivation is stewardship, but also to enable myself to stay out of stores as often as possible. Go into enough stores and you’re sure to buy things you don’t need. I also don’t particularly enjoy shopping with lots of children, so why not stock up on the “no-brainers” like basic toiletries and staples? As the price of fuel continues to rise, driving less makes even more sense. The news reported that we could expect to pay $3.75 a gallon by Spring!
Big Lots has great deals all the time, however, about the only time I shop there is when they put out their 20% off coupon. My estimate is that it comes out twice a year. Big Lots deals are good but not on my regular route. But with 20% off, I make the extra effort.
Big Lots usually has decent deals on cereal, but I’ve never seen a deal like this! Post Toasties, 11 oz. boxes for .50 cents. Take the 20% discount, now it’s .40 cents. Dude!
This is 3.6 cents per ounce! My price point is 12 cents per ounce….crazy, just crazy. I got 16 boxes.
OK, I’m not a huge sugary cereal fan, but hey….Malt-O-Meal cereal, Tootie Fruities 11.5 oz. for .50 cents/.40 cents discounted, 3.4 cents per ounce!!!!
Frosted Flakes were an even better deal at 2.6 cents per ounce! The cashiers kept encouraging me to go back to get more, they had tons. I’ll pay 2.6 cents per ounce for this kind of no-fiber cereal, gladly! I bought 16 bags of Tooties and 13 bags of Frosted Flakes.
My toothpaste price point is $1. Big Lots usually has Aim toothpaste for $1, but today they had the tubes that included a free trial size, still for $1 and at 20% off…..80 cents.
This will last us about 6-9 months. Now, here’s how I about it…..I have absolutely no need to look at sales for toothpaste for at least 6 months. It’s like I’ve deleted it from my mind and checked it off my list of things to thing about. How freeing!
Today, I don’t care who has toothpaste or at what price, I’m done thinking about toothpaste until I get down to about 5 tubes.
80 cents bought pudding cups for lunches……
Here again, I’ve got enough shampoo and conditioner for about 6 months now. Delete. I don’t have to think about it until I get down to about 6 bottles, then I’ll start looking for a sale. My shampoo/conditioner price point is $1, I got these for .80 cents each.
.80 cents and I just got a few. I still had some left from the last sale.
I got a mess of deodorant for the 4 teenagers at 20% off…..
Finally, I’ll share my deal on pasta. This is organic pasta and the only whole wheat pasta they had. I require whole wheat but I don’t need organic.
Price point? $1 per box. Walmart frequently has whole wheat pasta on sale for $1 per box, BUT the Big Lots pasta were #1!!! Walmart’s package is about 11 oz. Plus my 20% off made this a better deal. I only got enough for about a month and probably should go back for some more before the sale is over.
I also picked up some things for a lady in need and dropped them off for her, this is the kind of sale that makes it easy to be generous. Other things I picked up were some gardening stuff, school supplies, canned goods and outdoor solar lights.
Yep, 5 carts. That’s a record for me. I must say that the carts were very small…ahem.
Have you found any great deals this week? How do you feel about stockpiling and chasing coupon deals?
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I think I’m going to run to our Big Lots and see if they have that cereal marked down!
Stephanie,
Let me know how you do, ok?
Thanks for commenting!
WOW….I wish we had a Big Lots. Your pictures and deals are making me envious!
Julie,
It might be worth googling to see if they have an affiliate in your area! Thanks for your comment!
I went to our Big Lots yesterday and they had cereal by Cascadian Farm and Natures Path, Toms of Maine toothpaste and organic baby food.
Christy,
Wow, how much were they asking???
The carts at Big Lots are not very big at all. Nice shopping trip!
Hey Bannon,
Thanks for the validation!
Glad to hear from you!
Gotta see what is the closest to me. The one that was closed a while ago. Cereal!!!! Thanks!!
Kimi,
There’s got to be one near you!
Where do you keep your stock piles? I have about 10 tubes of tooth paste and maybe 6-8 boxes of cereal in our stock pile, that I got free at Rite Aid. But my husband does not understand why we need all that tooth paste, and tells me not to bring any more home even if it is free. We only have 4 in our family so far, and the baby, and 2 yr old dont use adult tooth paste or eat much cereal, but I imagine my stash wouldnt last all that long in your family.
Im not a big fan of our Big Lots. Its pretty junky and unorganized, but I have gone a few times. I do most of my shopping at a discount grocery store and Rite Aid. Every once in a while, Walmart. This week Weis had several good deals so I went there, got several boxes of free green giant frozen veggies, free hamburger meat and cheap whole wheat pasta (healthy harvest on sale 10 for $10 -$1 on 2 coupons made them 50 cents) I just look through the sales fliers and pick the one with the best deals I dont run to each one. That would be a night mare with a 2 year old and baby.
Dara,
Great to hear from you!!
Oy, where do I keep my stockpile? For toiletries, my storage space is super limited. This house has an extremely small linen closet, as opposed to our other house which had a ginormous linen closet for things like extra shampoo and toothpaste. I’ve had to get extremely creative in the new house this year.
Look for nooks and crannys in your house like unused areas of your closet (above or below), cabinets under sinks are always a place that can be reorganized to stash a few things, under stairways (Personal fav here) or even under beds in Rubbermaid boxes. I don’t care how small your house is, there is somewhere to stash things.
That being said, your family probably doesn’t need too much of a stockpile at this point. My husband would have said the same thing to me with two babies. At that stage, I might have kept 5 (which would last just my husband and I 6 months at least) and donate the rest to the food pantry. Keep in min, Dara, that you only want to stockpile things that you use all the time.. If you don’t use those things, call a friend to tell them about the deal or plan to donate from the beginning.
I have a post on making a price book and creating your own personal hit list of items to shop for if you enter “price book” on the search box on the home page. This will help you identify what items to look for on sale and stock up on.
Take care!
i went tonight and used my coupon! got some great deals, but your cereal deals are hard to beat!!!! GREAT JOB!!! perfect timing and awesome provision for your family. God definitely blessed your intentional stewardship!
Dena,
Maybe my store or area had a specific buyout, I’m not sure. That was quite the jackpot, wasn’t it??
WOW, I always forget about Big Lots, but I might check it out, especially if this coupon is still good!
Kristia,
It’s good until Sunday or Monday, you’ll have to read the coupon. Good luck, let us know how you do!
I found two!! Just not as close as the one that closed. But not that much further. Just busier street. But, I’ll suck it up and stop whining to see if I can find some deals!! Thanks!!
Good for you, Kimi! Go get some deals!
I admire how you do what I do, times 5 or more. It takes a lot of savvy to be able to do what you do!
Thank you, Shelly!! I appreciate your words!
I haven’t made it.. it was a little slushy today around these parts. I’m going to check though! For sure!
Stephanie,
The weather is hazardous around these parts too, be careful!!
Wow!
In our area (Ontario) we don’t have a store like that, but I’m off today to buy ham at 88c/ pound, cheese at $3.97 for 500 g (approx a pound) as well as butter for $2.88 a pound, and celery for $1. …And I’ll buy expensive toothpaste as well, since I haven’t seen a toothpaste sale around here in months and we’re almost out.
I love how you describe your stocking up policy. It’s what we do, but we’ve never had a shopping spree like yours!
Annie Kate
Hi Annie Kate,
Great to hear from you! Sounds like you have some good sales in your area going on. The name of the store isn’t as important as you knowing where the best deals are in your town.
Take care!
thanks for the head up regarding Big Lots. I printed my coupon and went last night. I was able to get EnviroKids Crisp bars $2.50 a box before the coupon and HonestKids organic juice $1.80 precoupon. I wasn’t sure how the fam would like the bars. Once box has mysteriously vanished! So I am heading back today.
Love good deals so I can stockpile. We aren’t a big family (4 of us) but my DH and I work outside the home. Time with the kids is precious. So if I can stockpile in order to reduce errands on the weekend I am happy!
Lissa,
LOL! Sounds like the bars were a hit! Better get a case! Good job on your savings!
Wow! Great deals. I need to get Big Lots on my radar. My goal is also to shop as little as possible. I’ve been enjoying learning to make my own stuff, which I enjoy so that makes it not a burden. You’re so right too in that frugality can become too much of a focus. I’ve stopped couponing for the most part, but that’s mainly because I’m doing so much from scratch that there aren’t tons of coupons out there for basic ingredients. Where we were really saving was on stuff we’re not using anymore.
Hello Amy!
I’m with you! I cook a lot from scratch and most coupons aren’t of much use. However, that being said, once in a while I use them but only on what we normally use.
Thanks for commenting!
I got so excited about your post that I ran to Big Lots- the store was empty when I walked in. They said a lady with a gaggle of kids and several shopping carts had cleaned them out….hahaha…I couldn’t resist
You know I love you and your frugal ways!
Kara,
You’ve got me laughing so hard! I love you too, girlfriend!
Sounds like a great shopping trip for you. I have never been to a big lots.
I found Special K a couple of weeks ago on a RR deal using coupons that was fantastic at Walgreens. Ended up with so many boxes I gave 4 to my brother
Grace,
Great to hear from you!
Do you have a Big Lots near you? Definitely worth the trip with the 20% coupon!
Sounds like you’re finding some great deals other places, that’s great!
Take care!
I just found your blog, and I have really been missing out! We do have a Big Lots about 45 miles away, but I’ve never shopped there. I’ll have to check them out. I was wondering if you would share how you determined your price points. I’ve never thought of shopping that way, and would love more explanation. Do you have them for every purchase, like baking products, all toiletries, etc? How do you keep track? Obviously I’m a newbie at this!
Hi Paula,
That’s a great question, no one has ever asked me that before.
I don’t have a specific price point for everything single thing I buy. Price points are for things I use all the time from my “hit list”, see “How to Make a Price Book” here….
here.
Based on my top 20 or so and years of watching prices on those items, I’ve determined what they are worth to me personally and I know just about when they are going to be at rock bottom price ie my price point.
It would drive someone crazy to do this for all of your shopping, but those items that you use and enjoy the most are a good start.
Does that answer your question?
Kelly, thank you for the quick reply. Yes, that answers my question, and the link to your other article is most informative. Thanks again!
Great deals!! Congratulations!
I’m wondering though how you can use so much toothpaste so fast, even for 11 people. Looks like 22 tubes there, so 2 tubes each in only 6-9 months?? We have 3 people in the family, and we might use 2 tubes all together in that time. We use Tom’s of Maine and the tubes aren’t very big.
I love Big Lots. Last summer we got a full-size bookcase for my son’s room, made in USA of real wood, for only $25 before the coupon.
Becca,
Well, you’ve got me there about the toothpaste. Honestly, I haven’t really calculated how many tubes we use other than I do promote “minimal usage”. That being said, we’ve definitely got enough toothpaste for 2011!
I encourage my daughter and son-in-law (to be) to “shop” in my stash when they come home, I’ll lose a few tubes there but that’s why I buy it. They don’t need to pay big city prices for their toiletries when I can get them so much cheaper.
Thanks for your question and comment!
I’m ALWAYS looking for soap, toothbrush and toothpaste for charity. This year we are packing 800 Boxes for Operation Christmas CHild. Let me know if you hear of any deals before Nov. 19th. :God Bless!
Marion,
It’s that time again, isn’t it?? I just saw the display at church, we need to get working on our boxes this week. I’ll post if I see any rocking deals.