Larry's Piggly Wiggly (De Pere, Kaukauna and Little Chute)

Butterball turkey bacon $.99
Chicken drumsticks $.79 lb.
Iceberg lettuce $.99
Food Club cream cheese $.99
Betty Crocker fruit snack 4/$2.16 WYB 4 PLUS 2 mfg. from 9/29 SS Limit 4
Hamburger Helper 3/$2.22 with mfg.
Yoplait 6/ $1.94 with mfg.
Food Club frozen vegetables $.49 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase required) limit 2
Piggly Wiggly bread $.89 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase required) limit 2
Angel Soft 12 ct or Sparkle 6 ct. paper towels $3.99 each with in-ad mfg.
Jennie O frozen turkey 11- 22 lb. $.59 lb with store and $30 or more purchase, plus use $3 off coupons.com mfg. (AS LOW AS $3.49 for a turkey!!!!)
Butterball frozen turkey $.99 11- 22 lb. with store and $30 or more purchase, plus use $3 off coupons.com mfg. (AS LOW AS $7.89 for a turkey!!!)
MacIntosh apples $.69 lb.
Pears $.99 lb.
Cucumbers $.59 each
Country Hearth bread $2.49 PLUS MFG
Xtra laundry detergent $1.99
Food Club whipped topping $.99
Banquet meals $.99
Dean's whipping cream $.99
Food Club canned fruit $.89
Canadian bacon $2.99 lb.
Minute Maid/Fanta 2 ltrs $.79 WYB multiples of 3
Doc 12 pk. $2.50
Food Club cranberry sauce $.89
Handifoil roasting pan $.99
Food Club gravy $.50
Food Club broth $.49
Hershey baking chips 2/$2.98 with mfg.
Food Club bacon $3.99
Butterball turkey breast $11.99

Aldi

Kitchen Living gravy boat warmer $9.99
Cheese Club mac N Cheese $.59
Huntington Home holiday tablecloth with 6 napkins $9.99

From the Aldi holiday catalog:
Kirkwood 48 oz. boneless turkey breast $7.99
Chef's Cupboard turkey gravy $.89
Sweet Harvest jellied cranberry sauce $.89
Tuscan Garden croutons $.99
Happy Harvest cut green beans $.49
Chef's Cupboard cream of mushroom soup $.49
Clancy's sea salt pita chips $1.99
Specialty Select cheese $2.99
Belmont Supreme cheesecake sampler $9.99
Nature's Nectar sparkling juice $2.49
Old Dominion peanut brittle $.99

Green Bay shopping get-away on Deer Day

Hey ladies, this Deer Day (Friday, Nov. 15 in Michigan) don't bag bucks, save them! Not the kind of bucks with antlers, but some serious money.
Many Yooper ladies take Deer Day as an excuse to leave town, hit the "big city" of Green Bay and SHOP!
As someone who has lived in Marquette for eight years and Northeastern Wisconsin for the last ten years, I feel qualified in giving for Deer Day/Weekend shopping advice.
First of all, I'll briefly address the retailers and restaurants that I know you are frequenting because they are annual must-visits in any Yooper lady's life. However, I'd also like to suggest some places you might not know about since they are a bit off the beaten path but are definitely worth the trip.
Most U.P. visitors know Green Bay as either the Oneida St. strip of chain restaurants and Bay Park Square Mall (actually the Village of Ashwaubenon) or the Lambeau Field area (the west side of Green Bay).
The Bay Park Square area has some of the same stores you can find in Marquette and Escanaba (Kohl's, Younkers, ShopKo, Dunham's, Pier One, Bath & Body Works, JCPenney) with a few that are only available online for U.P. shoppers (Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods, Old Navy, NY & Co., Cook's Corner, Best Buy and Bed, Bath & Beyond). Just a few months ago, a Gordman's joined the mix. A girl can get some great deals on shoes, apparel, fragrances, and home decor there. Also for great deals, check out the Goodwill Store and ReStore (really!),  Kirtland's, Style Exchange, Plato's Closet, and Rue 21.

Courtesy of WikiMedia

Popular restaurants along this Bay Park Square strip include Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden, Chipotle, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, Longhorn Steakhouse, Golden Corral, Panera Bread Co. Smart Cow, and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers,  just to name a few. There are always great coupons for these chain restaurants online and in the Entertainment book.
The area around Lambeau Field (Lombardi Ave. exit) has really built up over the last several years. Many visitors know this area for the Packer's Pro Shop (open year round), Chuck E Cheese's and perhaps, Margarita's. But did you know, we now have a Cabela's? Even if you aren't an outdoorsy person, it's worth going in and checking out this beautiful store. (It even smells really good.) Also, just down Military Ave. you can now find Green Bay's newly opened Burlington Coat Factory (phenomenal deals... my husband just bought a Chaps sweater for $15 there!). Across the street in the outdoor Green Bay Plaza is a Big Lot's, TJ Maxx/Home Goods, and Sears. Little known to anyone but locals is the U Bake It shop where you can score big deals on everything from cake decorating supplies to pizza crusts, breads, and cookies.
This is also a great area for local restaurants. In a previous post of Cheap Eat'n, I wrote about Golden Basket restaurant- a must visit on Military Ave. Just down the street is The Pancake Place with pancakes that are so big, they literally fall off the plate!
While some fantastic deals can be found at these stores and restaurants, many locals avoid the Oneida St. and Lombardi Ave. traffic by visiting locally owned businesses in De Pere, downtown Green Bay, and Green Bay's East side.
Check out these places when you are in town:
De Pere- A huge Menards, just off U.S. 41; the Drift Inn (featured in a Cheap Eat'n); Bilotti's Italian Restaurant; Cupcake Couture; and the St. Norbert College Bookstore.
Downtown Green Bay- The Broadway District (pictured below) where a Whole Foods may go in the next year or so and some very fun, trendy stores currently reside; Captain's Walk Winery; Titletown Brewery; and the Neville Museum's gift shop.

Green Bay's West Side- The National Railroad Museum's gift shop; Kroll's Restaurant; the Green Bay Botanical Garden; Woodman's (in case you are in the mood for grocery deals).
Green Bay's East Side- East Towne Mall on East Mason St.; Schroeder's Flowers; the Heritage Hill State Park gift shop; the new Costco on Lime Kiln Rd.; the Grapevine Cafe on Lime Kiln (quiche to die for!) and Pizza Ranch on Main St.


Coupon match-ups through November 16

Kmart

FREE layaway, no service fee

Sparkle 8 rolls $3.99 with mfg.

Maxwell House $5.49 with mfg.

Cannon fleece throw $4.99

Kellogg’s cereal  $2 with mfg.

Westfield Farms cheese $1.88

Fleet Farm

Baking wafers 2/$2.98 (variety of 7)

I Love Oats 6 pk $.99

Chippewa 1 gallon water 3 pk. $1.99

Tidy Cats 20 lbs. $3.49

22 inch deluxe bar claw snow brush with scraper $2.19

CVS

Progresso 4/$5 plus MFG

Iams 3.3 lbs. dog or cat food $4.99 with mfg.

Dollar General

Cottonelle $4 with mfg.

McCormick chili mix $.50

Walgreens

Scott 16 rolls $4.99 with store and mfg.

Hamburger Helper 3/$1.25 with mfg.

Ziplock 2/$4 with mfg.

Green Giant $.50 with store

Campbell’s soup $.75 with store or 3/$1.85 with store and mfg.

Betty Crocker potatoes $.99 with store

Gevalia K-cups $4.49 with store and mfg.

V8 Fusion/ Splash 2/$4 with mfg.

Welch’s Sparkling 2/$4 with mfg. (11/10)

Lights sets 100 ct. $2.99

Wexford invisible tape $.49 with store

Xtra laundry detergent $1.49

Blistex $.75 with mfg.

Aleve $3.99 with mfg.

Bayer $4.99 with mfg.

Colgate $.99 with Register Rewards and mfg.

Progresso 2/$2 with mfg.

Palmolive $.74 with mfg.

Menards

6 ft. indoor extension cord $.88

Canvas art $.99 after MIR

Heet 4 pk. $3.99

End ice melt $7.99 after MIR

Food chopper $8.99

Silicone grabber FREE after MIR

14 inch x 25 inch boot tray FREE after MIR

Folding chair $7.99

Campbell’s gravy $.68

Southeastern Mills biscuit mix $1

Country mix bird food 20 lb. $4.99

Oral B toothbrush $.79

18 inch aluminum snow shovel $5.99 after MIR

Copps

Green Giant 5/$3 use with Butterball mfg. (11/10)

Old Williamsbergh tea lights 50 ct. $3.50

Blistex $1

Betty Crocker cake mix 4/$1 WYB 4 with 2 doubled mfg.

77 Days of Seasonal Savings through December 31:
Quaker Standard Oats $1.77
West Pac Vegetables $.77
Banquet Brown n Serve $.77
Kellogg’s Raisin Bran or Mini Wheats 3/$6.31 with doubled mfg.
General Mills Chex 3/$6.31 with doubled mfg.
Campbell’s chicken noodle/tomato soup 3/$1.31 with doubled mfg.
Swanson broth 3/$.81 with doubled mfg.
Prego pasta sauce 2/$1.54 with doubled mfg.
Corn King bacon $3.77
Era 50 oz. $1.77 with doubled mfg.
Roundy’s 5 lb. flour $1.77
Roundy’s 4 lb. sugar $1.77
Oreo’s King Size $.77
Roundy’s pasta $.77

Festival Foods

Gold N Plump whole chicken $1.98 with doubled mfg.

Imperial margarine $.49 with store

Tru Moo $.98 with store

Prego pasta sauce 2/$1.16 with store and doubled mfg. (SS 11/3)

Braeburn apples $.88 lb.

Hershey baking chips $.99 each WYB 2 with Green Sheet

Sylvania light bulbs $.99

Green Giant baby carrots $.48 with store

Kitchen Kleen russet potatoes $.68 with store

Handifoil roaster pans $.99 with store

Birds Eye Steamfresh $.88 with store

General Mills Chex cereal $1.98

U.P. coupon match-ups through November 16

Super One (Marquette, Negaunee, Iron Mountain and Escanaba)

Note: deals listed below are only good through Friday in Escanaba but are good through Saturday in Marquette and Negaunee
Bananas $.39 lb.
Elliott's pork sausage rolls $.97
Family pack chicken drumsticks or thighs $.97 per lb.
Royal gelatin $.33
Royal pudding $.44
Essential Everyday cream of mushroom soup $.55
Westpac classic vegetables $.77
Parade brown sugar $.97
Essential Everyday butter spread $.97
Westfield Farm butter $1.88
Argo corn starch $1.09 with mfg. (RP 11/10)
Seville pumpkin $.77
General Mills cereal 2/$4 with mfg. (SS 10/27)
Shasta pop 2 ltrs $.99
Lynden Farms shoe string potatoes $1
Whisker Lickins cat treats $1
Seagrams, Fanta, Mello Yello, Barqs, Minute Maid or Sprite 2 ltrs 4/$3 (good at Mqt and Neg. only)
Gold N Plump seasoned whole fryers $4.45 with mfg. (printable)

Coupon book items good at all locations through Saturday:
FREE $5 Super One gift card with any Butterball turkey purchase (10 lbs. or larger), be sure to use that $2 printable Butterball mfg. with this deal!
Hickory Country sliced bacon $2.99 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Pillsbury Grands $1.25 with store or 3/$3.35 with mfg. (SS 11/3) ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Crisco cooking spray $1.99
Seville pumpkin (canned) $.77
Essential Everyday sugar $1.88 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Wolf chili $1 PLUS MFG
Hunt's pasta sauce $1
Chef Boyardee pasta $1
Swiss Miss packets $1
BOGO Jennie O breakfast turkey sausage with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Land O' Frost $.99 with mfg. (RP 11/2)
S&W kidney or chili beans $.55 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Hunt's tomato paste $.44 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
College Inn broth $.75
Crunchmaster crackers $1.99 with store with mfg. (coupons.com) ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
KC's best wild rice $2.99 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Essential Everyday cream cheese $.83 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Essential Everyday chicken/beef broth $.50 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Essential Everyday shredded cheese $1.50 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Sunbelt granola bars $1.44 with mfg. (SS 11/3)
Rhodes Warm N Serv rolls $1.49 with store with mfg. ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Smuckers ice cream toppings 2/ $1.75 with store and mfg. ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Chex cereal 2/$2.76 with mfg. (limit 5)
Fast Fixin strips/nuggets $3.33 with store ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Suave products 7/$10 with in-ad coupon
Aleve $2.94 with mfg.
Essential Everyday clear tape $.50
Softsoap $1 with mfg. (coupons.com)
Tidy Cats 20 lb. $2.99 with store limit 2 ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)
Milk Bone $2.99
Jack's pizza $1.88 with store, limit 3 ($10 minimum non-coupon purchase)

EconoFoods (Marquette, Clintonville, Brillion)

Holiday Bucks- use More card to earn bucks toward whole turkey, half ham or whole ham for every $30 spent, you receive $.50
Farmland country style ribs $1.39 lb.
McIntosh or Cortland apples $.89 lb.
Our Family shredded or chunk cheese $1.50 DEAL IDEA: use in-ad mfg. and get 4/$5
nestle candy bars $.33
Our Family whipped topping $.59
Land O' Frost deli meats $3.14 with mfg. (printable)
Our Family bacon $3.49
Brown N Serve sausage $1
GW white sugar 4 lbs. $1.79
Our Family flour 5 lbs. $1.59
Chex cereal $1.89 or 2/$2.78 with mfg. (SS 10/27)
Our Family sour cream$.79
Westfield butter $1.89
Grands 4/$4.60 with mfg. (SS 11/8)
Progresso soup 4/$4 with mfg. (SS 10/20)
Sunbelt granola bars $1 with Facebook printable
Indian Summer apple juice $1.69
Farm Rich Appetizers $3.99 with mfg. (printable)

Jack's Fresh Market (Manistique)

Clementines 3 lb. bag $3.99
Dutch Farms Shredded cheese $1.79
Kellogg's cereal $2 with printable
Nature Valley or Fiber One bars 2/$5 with mfg. and use in-ad to save $2.99 on water
Pam $2.50
Campbell's Homestyle soup 2/$2.5 with mfg. (SS 10/13)
Essential Everyday cream soups 4/$3
Green Giant vegetables $1 plus use mfg. for $3 off Butterball turkey with purchase of veg.
Squirt, Crush, Vernors 2 ltrs $1
Sparkle 8 roll paper towels $4.99 with All You mfg. (July)
John Morrell bacon $3.89
Azteca tortillas $1.66
Cucumbers $.50
Baking potatoes $.49 lb.
Baby carrots $.99
Pears $.99 lb.
Klement's summer sausage $2.24 with mfg. (SS 10/27)
Deer bait: Beets, carrots, apples 35 lbs. $4.99
Deer bait: Shelled corn 30 lbs. $5.99

Save-A-Lot (Manistique, Green Bay)

Sugardale ham $.99 lb.
General Mills cereal $1.49 with mfg. (SS 10/6)
Save-a-Lot milk (gallon) $1.99
Imperial Spread $.79
Ginger Evans four, 5 lbs. $1.69
Heinz gravy 4/$3 with mfg. (coupons.com)
Green Giant canned vegetables $.69

Glen's Market (Munising, Sault Ste. Marie and St. Ignace)

Powerade/ Fuze/Gold Peak $.67
Gallon milk $2.88
Kraft chunk or singles cheese 4/$6 with digital coupon
Sargento shredded $2
Smart Balance 2/$2.94 with mfg. (SS 10/13) good only Thurs, Fri and Sat
Bob's candy canes 6 ct. $1.39
Spartan powdered sugar or brown sugar, 2 lbs. $1.77
Spartan whipped topping $.88
Spartan 18 ct. eggs $1.79  good only Thurs, Fri and Sat
Idaho potatoes 3 lb. bag $.97 good only Thurs, Fri and Sat
Domino sugar 4 lb. bag $1.88 good only Thurs, Fri and Sat

Simplifying leads to saving

Simplifying is a huge part of saving. It seems a bit counter intuitive but when you simplify, you save money and stress, and in turn, you to live a richer life.

Think about this. Twenty or thirty years ago, a household budget was pretty simple and didn't include a $50 Internet bill; a $100 plus cell phone bill; a $100 satellite or cable bill; gas prices more than $1.50 a gallon; Netflix subscriptions; memberships to warehouse retailers or $5 a cup morning coffee.  Do we really need these things? As children of the Eighties, weren't we okay without them? I’m not advocating doing away with all technology created after 1986 but perhaps prioritizing and self-reflection might not be a bad thing.

In the last five years, my husband and I have shed quite a few household budget line items.

First of all, we got rid of our credit cards. We had been drowning in department store , Visa, MasterCard, and Discover card bills every month. We now simply use cash, debit or pre-paid credit cards. It’s a lot easier to know what we've spent and what we have.  It has limited us from impulsively purchasing frappacinos, mall food court delicacies and the like. It’s also a HUGE savings to avoid late fees, high interest percentages and annual membership fees.

Secondly, we cut the cord on our land-line and depend on our pre-paid cell phones. These are $65 a month each but include unlimited calling, texting and Internet. This move saved us at least $75 a month and the headache of receiving telemarketing calls at dinner time.

We also switched from cable to satellite. We've been very happy with this change as well since our satellite provider has only raised prices by about $10 in the last three years.

One change that has been difficult at times is becoming a one car family. We didn't do this voluntarily. My husband’s car simply became too much of a lemon to run and we couldn't afford to take on another car loan. Luckily, my job is on the way to my husband’s job and we can work out when each of us needs the car. It has saved us thousands each year on car insurance, gas, maintenance and license fees.

We’ve taken on a frugal lifestyle, only going to restaurants or making a purchase if there’s a coupon or if it on sale.  This allows us to try out new restaurants or products. These changes have allowed us to enjoy holidays and vacations without the prospect of bills afterwards. This  lead to less stress, fewer arguments over finances and a better outlook overall.