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Pearl Harbor Commissary Shopping Trip

2/22/2014

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As you may know, the commissaries don't advertise sales. Therefore, it's very difficult to "plan" a shopping trip if you're a military spouse doing your household grocery shopping. However, the prices are ALMOST always cheaper than civilian stores. I stress ALMOST. There are some things that I do not buy in the commissary because it is much cheaper outside. Milk, meat, and spam to name a few. Milk is usually over $5 a gallon in the commissary. Meat is moderately priced, but can't beat some of the sales at your neighborhood grocery store. And spam. Supply and demand. Most mainland military familes DETEST spam. Therefore, the demand isn't as great as somewhere like Longs CVS. Spam was on sale today at $2.76 a can. They even had bacon and Hot & spicy flavored spam. Even with a coupon, the price can't beat the sales at Longs for $1 a can!

I don't shop like this often. When I do, this kind of trip will sustain my household for at least 45 days with the weekly quick trip to the nearby grocery store for staples like milk, bread, eggs, some produce, etc. I do however, use the commissary the same way most use Costco. Except when I buy in bulk, it's in smaller unit sizes using coupons for every single item. Costo, you get 1 coupon for one bulk packed case. Don't fall for it. 

Today's shopping trip took me about 3 hours to accomplish. No ads to follow. Just my binder and me. I wish I had taken a picture of my wagon. When I'm shopping alone at the commissary I ALWAYS bring one large utility tote and my key fob. I use my Thirty one key fob to hang my LUT from the shopping cart handle to add more real estate to my cart. Most know that commissary shopping sometimes requires two carts depending on what you're buying (toilet paper, dog food, rice, etc.).

The savings percentage (in my opinion) that is listed at the bottom of the receipt is skewed. If I were to compare my total savings to a civilian stores retail price, that number would be substantially higher. So, here's what I bought, and the prices I paid.
Picture
Kraft dressing - $1.50, used $0.75/2 from sunday paper Q = $1.12 each

Ragu - $1.50, used $1/2 sunday paper Q = $1.25 each

Yakisoba $0.69, used $0.50/1 sunday paper Q  = $0.19 each

Ramen bowls $0.69, used $0.50/1 sunday paper Q = $0.19 each

Hinode brown rice $0.98, used $1/1 coupons.com NLA = money maker

El paso seasoning packets $0.54, used $0.50/1 coupons.com NLA = $0.04 each

Kikkoman Pearl soy milk $1.36, used $0.55/1 printable NLA and 1 q from All for you mag = $0.81 each

Almond breeze milk $2.16, used $1/2 from mambo sprouts site = $1.66 each

Ritz crackerfuls $2, used $0.75/2 q from sunday paper = $1.62 each

Jolly time popcorn $0.89, used $0.50/1 q from insert found at entrance a few weeks ago = $0.39

Angel soft TP, $4.99, used BOGO printable NLA = $3.34 each

Iams dog food $1.12, used B2GO printable = $0.45 each

Pedigree dry dog food $14.99 no coupon

Scott napkins $1.59, used $1/2 printable = $1.09 each

Bathroom cleaner Soft scrub $2.19, used $1/1 from all for you mag = $1.79

Kaytee Bird seed $1.98, used $3/1 printable Q = money maker

Snausages dog treats $1.99, used $1/1 printable Q = $0.99 each

dish scrubbers $0.76 ea. no coupon

Scrubbing bubbles toilet gel $2.50 ea, used BOGO Q from sunday paper = $1.25 each

Ocelo sponges $1.21 each no coupon

Eggs 18 count $3.99, used $0.35/1 q from insert at entrance a few weeks ago = $3.64

Daisy Cottage cheese $1.78, used $0.75/1 from sunday paper = $1.03 each

Imperial margarine $0.99 each no coupon

Gortons grilled fish $2.39. used $1/2 printable and mailed from manuf = $1.89 each

Pagoda frozen egg rolls $2, used $1/1 printable = $1 each

Michelinas frozen entrees $0.79, used $1/5 printable from website $0.59 each

Bologna $1.79, used $0.75/2 tearpad on shelf = $1.41

Luvs diapers $6.77, used $1/1 printable and $1 ibotta rebate  = $4.77

Hormel party tray $8.69, used $2/1 printable $6.69

Poise liners $2.59, used $1.50/1 MQ from previous purchase (in package) = $1.09

Ponds face towelettes $3.79, used $1/1 from all for you mag = $2.79

Bottle brush $2.59, no coupon

Suave shampoo $1.25, used $1/1 q from all for you magazine = $0.25

Fresh pork chops $4.15 no coupon

Fresh pork shoulder $4.22 no coupon

Spinach $4.55 no coupon 

Salad mix $4.55 no coupon

Cabbage $1.18 no coupon

Clover sprouts $1.09 no coupon

Romaine hearts $2.14 each no coupon

oranges $4.51 no coupon

Clementines $2.99 no coupon

Pears $2.75 no coupon

My total before coupons $286.10

I paid $204.75

The amount of stuff you see above will last our house a minimum of 45 days, if not longer. Throw in a few quick trips of milk, eggs, and bread throughout the month and I'd estimate our grocery spending to be approximately $300 for our family of FIVE. Well, 10, if you count the Rotts, Lhasa, and peach face love birds. 

How much do you spend?
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