Couponing to Disney

I’ve cracked the code!

After weeks of being very pregnant and very over budget, I’ve finally figured out how to get back in the black. In the red? I don’t know. Back in the good color.

Here’s the trick: Have a baby and be blessed enough to have people bring you food for the remaining weeks of the month. You’ll be shocked at how quickly that budget deficit closes.

In case you hadn’t heard, she is officially here. In fact, she got here, officially, three weeks ago. But why did none of you remind me how newborns never sleep and eat constantly? And while we’re talking about things you did not remind me about, why did none of you remember to tell me how crazy it would be to feed a never sleeping newborn with two high energy preschoolers running around? Y’all really dropped the ball on that.

One of the great gifts people give you when they drop off meals, besides the obvious gift of free food, is the time you don’t have to spend finding that food, paying for that food, and preparing that food. We spent two weeks just focused on our new beautiful bundle, while trying to give attention and love to our old bundles as well. That would not have been possible without all the generous meals brought to us.

But all good things must end and I knew that eventually the food would run out. And run out it did. With one grape and half an slice of bread left, I knew it was time to do the thing I was most dreading: go back to the grocery store.

The grocery part of the grocery shopping I was actually looking forward to. Picking out the food we would have in our house would bring a sense of routine and normalcy back to our transitioning home. It was the shopping part I was not super keen on. Specifically, shopping with three children. More specifically, shopping with three children and slow response time, due to the aforementioned lack of sleep. Most specifically, shopping with three children, no sleep, and staying on budget.

My goal during this shopping trip was two fold.

1. Keep all children alive.
2. Do not cry.

I am very happy to report that I accomplished both goals. There was a tricky bit where I almost lost my cool over some lettuce. While we were in the “I just had a baby bubble” something happened with Romaine lettuce. I (still) don’t know what exactly, but I saw enough memes and gifs about lettuce on social media that I knew something went down. What I also (and still) did not know was whether the Romaine Situation was still going on. My Kroger had Romaine. But I did not know if the Romaine could be trusted. The Green Leaf did not look as good and the Red Leaf was a little pricier. I stood in front of the lettuce for about five minutes debating which kind of lettuce to get, but alternately keeping up a steady internal monologue: keep all children alive, and do not cry. At some point, adrenaline kicked in, I grabbed the Red Leaf, and with that, my first grocery trip as a mom of three was completed.

• Bananas, 1.45 lb-$.86.
• Blackberries (3)-$2.97. On sale for .99 a container!
• Blueberries, 1 pint (2)-$5. In store sale, two for $5.
• Blue Cheese-$3.99. I can have blue cheese again! Gimme all the blue cheese!
• Boar’s Head Maple Glaze Turkey, .5 lb-$5.
• Boar’s Head Sandwich Pepperoni, .5 lb-$2.35.
• Boar’s Head Tavern Ham, .25 lb-$2.80.
• Boerenkaas Gouda-$6.40.
• Clementines, 3 lbs-$3.99.
• Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 6.09 lbs-$12.12.
• Heritage Farm Chicken Thighs, 5.20 lbs-$5.15. In store sale, $.99 a lb.
• Kroger Italian Sausage, 1 lb-$2.99.
• Kroger String Cheese, 12 ct-$3.29.
• Lipton Soup-$1.99. Straight up impulse buy. I love soup.
• Mangoes (3)-$2.97.
• Pears, 1.67 lbs-$1.55.
• Pillsbury Cinnamon Roll (2)-$4. This was a request from the Glass Slipper, who has been such a great big sister, I figured she deserved a treat.
• Private Selection Brioche Rolls-$1.99.
• Private Selection Whole Wheat Bread-$1.99.
• Private Selection Ice Cream (2)-$4. In store sale, 2 for $4.
• Red Leaf Lettuce, 1.09 lbs-$1.84.
• Roma Tomatoes, .71 lbs-$1.06.
• Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, Ibotta (.10 off Any Item)

                                Total Budget: $75

                                Total Spent: $78.30

                                Total Saved: $21.40

                               Deducted from Next Trip: $3.30

I was slightly crestfallen to see I went slightly over budget. But then I remembered that I accomplished my main two goals (all kids alive and no tears!) so I gave myself a pass on those three dollars.
Do you grocery shop with more than two kids? How do you do it? Tell me your tricks. What happened with Romaine while I was gone? Hit me up in the comments!

Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey three years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!