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.
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.
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?
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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