Tops 11/4 - 11/10 shopping: free bacon, cheap cereal & more

This week I spent *way* over my typical grocery budget.  I really, really try to stay under $75 per week, I generally stay under $50, and I can often squeak by spending under $30.  I bought tons of groceries this week, so I am very well stocked in certain areas, and as much as I wish I didn't spend as much as I did I'm OK with the deals I picked up.  Since this week isn't a gas points earning period, I usually make just one large trip but I ended up making several trips in order to stay within Tops' coupon policy (doubling policy of 4 like coupons per transaction) and because I was able to find additional coupons and deals as the week progressed.  I only took a picture of the first trip, but I'll also recap my additional shopping trips:

Trip #1
6 boxes Pop Secret popcorn - $1.50 each
On sale 2/$4, used 3 $0.50 off 2 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

2 packages Nestle morsels - $1.38 each
On sale for $1.88 each, used a $0.50 off 2 coupon (doubles to $1) from here (must register)

8 boxes Ronzoni Healthy Harvest pasta - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used 4 $1 off 2 coupons from their Facebook page

8 boxes (10-pk) Kool-Aid Jammers - $1.50 each
On sale $2 each, used 4 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here

4 Baker's Chocolate - $1.99 each
On sale for $2.99 each, used 4 0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

2 bags (4 lbs) Domino Sugar - 1 @ $1.24, 1 @ $1.74
On sale for $2.49 each, used a $0.50 Tops in-ad coupon and a $0.75 off 2 printable coupon (doubles to $1.50) that is no longer available (there is a $1 off 2 printable here, though)

9 cans Chef Boyardee - $0.86 each, see notes
On sale 10/$10, used a $1.25 off 9 Catalina coupon I received on a previous trip
Notes: These each earned 5 bonus anniversary points.  It also triggered a $1 off 6 Catalina coupon.

4 bottles Diet Dr. Pepper - $0.61 each
On sale 3/$3.33, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here

8 StarKist tuna pouches - $0.83 each
On sale 3/$4, used 4 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here

4 packages Hormel Pepperoni - $1.90 each
On sale 2/$6, used 4 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here
Note: Each of these earned 5 bonus anniversary points

4 bottles International Delights coffee creamer - $0.90 each, see note
On sale 2/$4, used 4 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here
Note: Before shopping, be sure to activate the $5 off $15 eCoupon from SavingStar.  Purchases towards the eCoupon can happen over multiple shopping trips before 12/31/12.

12 Balance Bars - $0.67 each
On sale 10/$10, used 4 $1 off 3 coupons printed from here

1 box Post Cocoa Pebbles - $0.75
On sale 5/$10, used a $1.25 Catalina coupon from a previous trip
Note: Select marked boxes have coupons printed inside them, including a $0.75 coupon which will double to $1.50 when used on a future purchase.

1 box Post Fruity Pebbles - $1.00
On sale 5/$10, used a $1 Catalina coupon from a previous trip

I also bought produce and used a $3 Catalina coupon from a previous trip to help lower my out-of-pocket costs on these items.

The retail cost of this trip was $198.37 and I paid $86.31 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 56%.

Trip #2
4 packages Nestle morsels - $1.38 each
On sale for $1.88 each, used 2 $0.50 off 2 coupons (double to $1) from here (must register)

4 boxes Ronzoni Healthy Harvest pasta - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons from their Facebook page

4 boxes (10-pk) Kool-Aid Jammers - $1.50 each
On sale $2 each, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here

2 Baker's Chocolate - $1.99 each
On sale for $2.99 each, used 2 0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

6 cans Chef Boyardee - $0.83 each
On sale 10/$10, used the $1 off 6 Catalina coupon I received on trip #1
Note: These each earned 5 bonus anniversary points. It also triggered another $1 off 6 Catalina coupon.

8 bottles Diet Dr. Pepper - $0.61 each
On sale 3/$3.33, used 4 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here

4 StarKist tuna pouches - $0.83 each
On sale 3/$4, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here

1 box Post Cocoa Pebbles - $0.50
On sale 5/$10, used the $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from the box purchased in trip #1

2 packages Hormel Pepperoni - $1.90 each
On sale 2/$6, used 2 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here
Note: Each of these earned 5 bonus anniversary points

2 bottles International Delights coffee creamer - $0.90 each, see note
On sale 2/$4, used 2 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here
Note: Before shopping, be sure to activate the $5 off $15 eCoupon from SavingStar. Purchases towards the eCoupon can happen over multiple shopping trips before 12/31/12.

1 block Cabot cheese - $2.00, see note
On sale 2/$4, no coupons used (there is a $1 off 2 printable here (must register) that I had already printed and used previously)
Note: I'm pretty sure there was a $0.50 SavingStar coupon I had activated.  I don't see it listed now, but there is currently a $1.50 off 3 eCoupon there now you can activate before shopping.

6 Balance Bars - $0.67 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1 off 3 coupons printed from here

I also bought some produce (no coupons).

The retail cost of trip #2 was $107.99 and I paid $49.77 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of approximately 54%.

Trip 3
6 cans Chef Boyardee - $0.83 each
On sale 10/$10, used the $1 off 6 Catalina coupon I received on trip #2
Note: These each earned 5 bonus anniversary points

6 bottles Dr. Pepper 10 - $0.61 each
On sale 3/$3.33, used 3 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here

2 packages Sister Schubert frozen mini baguettes - $1.50 each
On sale BOGO ($3.99), used a $0.50 coupon (doubles to $1) from the October issue of All You magazine (there is also a $0.50 printable on their Facebook page)

The total retail value for trip #3 was $29.76 and I paid $12.48 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 58%.

Trip 4
4 boxes Hungry Jack pancake mix - $0.23 each, see note
On sale 2/$4, used 4 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here
Note: These, along with the Eagle condensed milk below, are part of a store promo where you earn $4 off automatically ($0.67 off each item) when you buy 6 select items.

2 cans Eagle sweetened condensed milk - $0.33 each, see note
On sale 2/$4, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here
Note: These were part of the above $4 off deal.

4 packages Butterball turkey bacon - FREE
On sale 2/$3, used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here

I also bought some produce (no coupons).

The retail price of trip #4 was $29.79 but I paid just $3.29 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 89%.

Trip 5
1 box Post Cocoa Pebbles - $0.50
On sale 5/$10, used the $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from the box purchased in trip #2

4 packages Butterball turkey bacon - FREE
On sale 2/$3, used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here

The retail cost of this final trip was $8.77 but I paid only $0.50 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 94%.

Overall, I paid $152.35 (a ton more than usual, but I'm well stocked for holiday baking, drinks for school lunches and more) for $374.68 worth of groceries, which is a savings of 59%.  Definitely not my best week, but still a decent haul in my opinion.

Until next time, happy shopping!