THE FEBRUARY 2011 GROCERY CHALLENGE THREAD

[dancinmama]

Feb 13, 2011 18:05:06 GMT -5 murphath said:

I was thinking of using the Olay q's in the last P&G where you get free moisturizer for buying body wash, but the least expensive moisturizer is $8.99 and the max value of the q is $6. So, I'd have to spend $9 OOP. Not bad for 3 body wash and 3 Olay mositurizers but I guess I'm just getting too "houndy"!

Yep, that's one of the hazards of becoming a hard-core hound.

[Opti]

Thanks everyone for the answers on WAGS RRs.

[misspt]

Thanks for all the scenarios you post, guys and gals! I was able to buy the 2 prilosec, 4 deos, 1 gallon milk, and 2 excedrin at RA today (no papers, b/c we didn't get ANY coupons in our papers in MS or south AL that I know of). I used two free excedrin coupons, a $2 off non RX purchase, the $8/2 prilosec coupons, 4 x $2/1 dove coupons, and all of my UPs expiring by 2/19 plus one $10 UP from the Heart Healthy and $4 OOP (plus a little change). I got back $20 in UPs plus I will submit for the $25 rebate on the prilosec, so I am pretty happy for this super quick (before church) transaction. Thanks for all the ideas guys.

P.S. I still have another $30 in UPs on top of the $20 listed above I need to put to good use.

[frugalsuz]

Feb 12, 2011 22:23:26 GMT -5 ohiositter said:

Frugalsuz.......... Could I trouble you for the spread sheet you use? I was looking for something and I just can't seem to find anything, but then again I'm not computer savvy LOL. TIA
My email is almap675 at gmail dot com

Absolutely! Just sent it to you

[frugalsuz]

Feb 13, 2011 6:02:22 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Frugalsuz, this happened at the Walgreens last month on the Tylenol Precise. They had it for $5.99, I had a Wags catallina for $3.99 off, and they were giving $3.00 RR. When it didn't print when my order was complete, I asked the cashier who said she couldn't help me and I would have to speak to the manager. So, I asked to see the manager. Waited like 15 minutes for her to show up. She went back to the register, located my coupon and said they do not issue RR with catallinas. I pointed out that it said "manufacturers coupon" but it didn't make any difference. She equated it to using a rolled RR on a "same" product. Wags RR's are not like CVS' EB.

dogmom - that's really interesting! I've never had that situation come up (using a WAG catalina on a RR item) but I'll have to remember that if I ever do run into that scenario. I don't understand why it wouldn't work, but I stopped trying to make sense of these things long ago. I've found its just better to roll with 'em.

My boyfriend and I exchanged Valentine's Day presents today and he got me a Walgreens gift card. ;D We'd said we weren't going to spend a lot of money on each other this year. So when he was in Walgreens picking something up and saw that the WAG gift cards are nonrefundable, he figured it would be the perfect gift b/c I couldn't make him take it back! (not that I would ever do that!) He cracks me up.

[jdnstl]

i blew through my RRs from last week. since there wasn't anything exciting for the next 2 weeks i couldn't see any way to roll them. so i burned them on a paper, olay facial moisturizer (my current bottle of wal-mart brand is almost out) & 2 grape-nuts. grape-nuts are on sale for $1.99 this week, which is a really good price for here, plus i'm low on "adult" cereal, so it was a good burn i think. it also takes me out of WAGS for a few weeks, which i need since this is a short month & i need to just NOT shop for a bit so my short check will not stress me too much. i've been pretty out of CVS, just doing the best deals to stock some coke, oatmeal & starbucks. i have a couple of EBs that expire 2/28 so i'll have to figure something out for those, but thanks to dancin's preview i think i'll be ok rolling those.

[dancinmama]

Feb 13, 2011 21:52:35 GMT -5 jdnstl said:

i blew through my RRs from last week. since there wasn't anything exciting for the next 2 weeks i couldn't see any way to roll them. so i burned them on a paper, olay facial moisturizer (my current bottle of wal-mart brand is almost out) & 2 grape-nuts. grape-nuts are on sale for $1.99 this week, which is a really good price for here, plus i'm low on "adult" cereal, so it was a good burn i think. it also takes me out of WAGS for a few weeks, which i need since this is a short month & i need to just NOT shop for a bit so my short check will not stress me too much. i've been pretty out of CVS, just doing the best deals to stock some coke, oatmeal & starbucks. i have a couple of EBs that expire 2/28 so i'll have to figure something out for those, but thanks to dancin's preview i think i'll be ok rolling those.

jdnstl: I smuggled the ad out of the store just for you!!

[dancinmama]

$3/1 GAIN FABRIC SOFTENER

Isn't this a fairly new product, just like the Gain dish washing liquid was? If so, I would think that we ought to see some pretty good promotional sales on it before the coupon expires on 3/31 - (6) weeks to find a MM and stockpile some fabric softener!!

[debinwa]

Rite Aid has Huggies diapers on sale next week, 2/20. Here is a scenario I saw posted on Slick Deals. I'm long past diaper stage, but it looks good to me for those who need them.

There is a $2.00 printable for snugglers/movers on coupons.com

Diapers are 8.99 - 2q - 2 VV = 4.99 with 2 up = 2.99, and these
count toward the $20 Buy and Save Winter Rewards up when you buy $100. You can also use your $4 off $20 if you haven't used it yet. Depending on how many coupons you can get, this could be a great sale. Of course, you can only use one VV coupon.

There's also free Johnson's baby stuff after ups and insert coupons.

[suziq38]

Some of the newspapers did NOT have all of the coupons flyers.
In the 2/13 newspaper there were three:
1 SS, 1RP, and 1 GM.

Make sure that you check your newspapers before you buy them.

[marvholly]

Carolina
You would think the assorted store mgrs would have learned about your shelf clearer. I know at least 1 mgr here puts out 6-12 of a good item and restocks later in the day/next day just to foil such people. Also, I can ask if the shelf is clear when I come in for my 1 or 2.

SuziQ
I used to check my papers to make sure the coupon inserts were there. However, a number of years ago the Chicago Tribune started putting all the ad and coupon flyers in a supposedly sealed plastic bag. Now I only check to make sure the bag is sealed. However, there have been quite a few complaints about missing ads/inserts anyhow. Excuse is the sorting machine had an issue or certain areas are NOT scheduled to get.

[ohmomto2boys]

Good morning!
SuziQ - good luck with your surgery. I had to have a hyster a couple years ago.....best thing ever!!! They were able to leave my ovaries though so I didn't have to go on hormone replacements (I was 40 when I had it done). I had a good recovery - hope you do too!

[alphayankee]

I'm going to use the $10 Neurogen for the 3/$10 Olay Body Wash and get a $3 RR back. I was thinking of using the Olay q's in the last P&G where you get free moisturizer for buying body wash, but the least expensive moisturizer is $8.99 and the max value of the q is $6. So, I'd have to spend $9 OOP. Not bad for 3 body wash and 3 Olay mositurizers but I guess I'm just getting too "houndy"!

There is also a Q for FREE Secret deodorant when you buy Olay body wash. I did this one because I needed to burn some RR's. The deos were $2.99 in my store.

[suziq38]

Feb 13, 2011 18:12:58 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Feb 13, 2011 18:05:06 GMT -5 murphath said:

I was thinking of using the Olay q's in the last P&G where you get free moisturizer for buying body wash, but the least expensive moisturizer is $8.99 and the max value of the q is $6. So, I'd have to spend $9 OOP. Not bad for 3 body wash and 3 Olay mositurizers but I guess I'm just getting too "houndy"!

Yep, that's one of the hazards of becoming a hard-core hound.

Yes, I see deals like that quite often, and can't afford to participate.
Sometimes I laugh when I see how much the item is.

[suziq38]

For those of you that have iPhones:

A friend of mine downloaded an application for finding the cheapest price in the area for any given item.
It is called "Scanner," because it will give you the ability to scan any item with a bar code, then see who is selling it for the cheapest price.

I notice though, that not all vendors are in my immediate area. This is the downside.

The "scanner" application cost me only 99 cents, so it is definitely worth the investment.

I know that this isn't new news to you "young un's," and even I had heard about this before, but I think I will be able to use this one.

[suziq38]

Happy Valentine's Day, all!

I woke up this morning and gave DH a HUGE card from CVS.
He just loved it. It was very sentimental, and I read it to him for extra "value," LOL.

I paid $3.99 with my Extra Bucks. It was well worth it.
I think I will save it for next year.....

Are we frugal or what?

[suziq38]

Feb 14, 2011 9:04:58 GMT -5 ohmomto2boys said:

Good morning!
SuziQ - good luck with your surgery. I had to have a hyster a couple years ago.....best thing ever!!! They were able to leave my ovaries though so I didn't have to go on hormone replacements (I was 40 when I had it done). I had a good recovery - hope you do too!

ohmomto2boys,
Thank you for your kind words and good wishes.
I am almost 55 (54 and hanging in there!) so I think it was a bit overdue anyway.

[suziq38]

Feb 14, 2011 7:39:42 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Carolina
You would think the assorted store mgrs would have learned about your shelf clearer. I know at least 1 mgr here puts out 6-12 of a good item and restocks later in the day/next day just to foil such people. Also, I can ask if the shelf is clear when I come in for my 1 or 2.

SuziQ
I used to check my papers to make sure the coupon inserts were there. However, a number of years ago the Chicago Tribune started putting all the ad and coupon flyers in a supposedly sealed plastic bag. Now I only check to make sure the bag is sealed. However, there have been quite a few complaints about missing ads/inserts anyhow. Excuse is the sorting machine had an issue or certain areas
are NOT scheduled to get.

I am not sure if it is human or machine error in our area. Nonetheless, I don't leave the store unless I have checked for the coupons for now.

If it was sealed, I would have to buy the newspapers, then open the sealed plastic bag and see if the coupons were there.

Thanks for the "heads up."
This change will probably come here too.

[suziq38]

Feb 14, 2011 1:00:09 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

$3/1 GAIN FABRIC SOFTENER

Isn't this a fairly new product, just like the Gain dish washing liquid was? If so, I would think that we ought to see some pretty good promotional sales on it before the coupon expires on 3/31 - (6) weeks to find a MM and stockpile some fabric softener!!

Dancin,
I think this will be a good coupon in the future. Keep us posted!

[suziq38]

Goodbye all!
I am off to visit my sisters and mom, then dinner with DH at 5:00.

I will be busy all day.
I hope that I have some time for some "hounding."

[alphayankee]

I think it was dancinmama that was talking about what a bust CVS has been lately. I can't believe how low my ECB stash has gotten. I was down to 4 ECB's on two of my cards yesterday and was only able to double them.

The good news was that V-day stuff was already at 50% off, so I was able to get a bunch more stuff for DS's party today. Instead of just the typical kid's valentine card, I was able to make a little bag for each child. Here's how it added up:

Small V-day themed gift bag - $.09 each (90% after last year)
Wall-E themed v-day cards - <$.01 each ($.29 for 34 cards - 90% after last year)
Box of sweet hearts message hearts - $.25 each
Krabby patty - $.03 (bag bought on clearance sometime last year)
2 Wild Cherry ind. wrapped life savers - $.02 (bag bought on clearance)
DS added construction paper hearts that he cut out of paper that I got for free two years ago.

It's not all v-day themed, but the kids should be pretty happy for about $.35 each (it would have been almost $2.00 each at full price). I'm more than happy to do nice v-day gifts for DS's class for around $7.00.

This is where hounding has really helped me and even buying things I didn't need at that moment came in handy. For this little project, I had everything already on hand except for the boxes of hearts. I still have a couple of boxes of cards for next year, but I am down to just a few bags, so I will be looking for those once my stores go to 90% off this year.

[nickyleey]

Feb 14, 2011 9:54:05 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Feb 14, 2011 9:04:58 GMT -5 ohmomto2boys said:

Good morning!
SuziQ - good luck with your surgery. I had to have a hyster a couple years ago.....best thing ever!!! They were able to leave my ovaries though so I didn't have to go on hormone replacements (I was 40 when I had it done). I had a good recovery - hope you do too!

ohmomto2boys,
Thank you for your kind words and good wishes.
I am almost 55 (54 and hanging in there!) so I think it was a bit overdue anyway.

NAG - Suzi I hope your surgery and recovery go well! Get some R&R and you'll be back to hounding in no time!

Just wondering, don't want to pry, but it seems that alot of ladies on this board have had to have some lady bits removed - is this the norm now once you hit 40+? Just asking cuz I'm a huge and I really thought that childbirth would be the worst of it and I'd be done!

[dancinmama]

Feb 14, 2011 10:03:25 GMT -5 @alphayankee said:

I think it was dancinmama that was talking about what a bust CVS has been lately. I can't believe how low my ECB stash has gotten. I was down to 4 ECB's on two of my cards yesterday and was only able to double them.

alphayankee: Yes, it was me. It is the $/$$ that make it so easy to "multiply" EBs and for whatever reason, CVS has decided to make them almost obsolete.

In a way, however, the timing has been perfect. Not having so many EBs to roll has allowed me to focus more on Rite Aid which has been REALLY good lately. I'll be getting over $160 in SCRs for the month of February!! In the last two months, I have been able to stockpile toilet paper, rewetting drops, snacks, and deodorant that we will use. I also have gotten several things to donate to the food pantry.

BTW: Great job on the Valentines party items. I remember doing the EXACT same thing when DS was little.

[mandyms]

Hi all,

No great deals for me this weekend. But I did see that Babies R Us is having a trade in event. For every used carseat, stroller, crib, high chair, etc you trade in, you get 25% off a same day store purchase. I have been looking around for a booster seat for DD. I have her current car seat, travel system when she was an infant, and umbrella stroller we never use. So I am hoping to get 75% off a new booster car seat!

Dancinmama, I saw you posted a future coupon in P&G. Where do you go to see them?

[dancinmama]

Feb 14, 2011 3:14:33 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Some of the newspapers did NOT have all of the coupons flyers.
In the 2/13 newspaper there were three:
1 SS, 1RP, and 1 GM.

Make sure that you check your newspapers before you buy them.

In my area the GM is only in the major metro paper, not the more local paper; so that is one that not everyone might get.

[saveinla]

Feb 14, 2011 10:46:22 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Feb 14, 2011 3:14:33 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Some of the newspapers did NOT have all of the coupons flyers.
In the 2/13 newspaper there were three:
1 SS, 1RP, and 1 GM.

Make sure that you check your newspapers before you buy them.

In my area the GM is only in the major metro paper, not the more local paper; so that is one that not everyone might get.

dancinmama,
That is true for me also. I get the LA Times and the Daily News but the GM insert comes only in the LA Times. The good Qs also are sometimes available only in the Times.

[dancinmama]

Feb 14, 2011 10:37:41 GMT -5 mandyms said:

Dancinmama, I saw you posted a future coupon in P&G. Where do you go to see them?

madyms: I think you're referring to my CVS ad preview post for the sales starting 2/27. The ad that I "smuggled out" of CVS indicates that there will be a P&G insert that weekend. It has some of the coupon values in the ad to entice people to look for the coupons and come in and use them to get the ad items for less.

[dancinmama]

Feb 14, 2011 10:51:15 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Feb 14, 2011 10:46:22 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

In my area the GM is only in the major metro paper, not the more local paper; so that is one that not everyone might get.

dancinmama,
That is true for me also. I get the LA Times and the Daily News but the GM insert comes only in the LA Times. The good Qs also are sometimes available only in the Times.

saveinla: The major metro paper for my area costs $3/ea. so I don't get them unless there are some leftover at the liquor store on Sunday nights (which is rare).

[dancinmama]

Feb 14, 2011 9:47:33 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

For those of you that have iPhones:

A friend of mine downloaded an application for finding the cheapest price in the area for any given item.
It is called "Scanner," because it will give you the ability to scan any item with a bar code, then see who is selling it for the cheapest price.

I notice though, that not all vendors are in my immediate area. This is the downside.

The "scanner" application cost me only 99 cents, so it is definitely worth the investment.

I know that this isn't new news to you "young un's," and even I had heard about this before, but I think I will be able to use this one.

If ANYONE has this app and happens to use it to find a great price on the Gain liquid fabric softener, please post. I was told not to use dryer sheets in our dryer when we bought it, so I have to get the liquid.

[AJ CouponGG]

Good morning all! Happy Valentine's Day and nice job on the valentine's cost savings everyone!

Today happens to be our favorite Director's bday so the girls and I got together decorated office with balloons, streamers, and bday sign. For staff mtg we got a chocolate chip cookie from grocery with happy bday and name on it. So since I'm the frugal one I work I went. Price for cookie was $10.99 I got the bakery lady to give me $3 off since it was made yesterday and today's 12" cookies were not ready yet. I was excited-I'm in line I got it for $7.99 (work pays for it but I like saving where I can). I do self checkout.
Let me preface this with the following info: I'm wearing a business suit and a red poplin blouse with heels, she's in a track suit.
The woman in front of me did a P&G deal or something at our local G.Eagle and got a $10 off next purchase catalina on the machine. She left it. I said "Excuse me Ma'am you forgot your coupon" She turned and hatefully said "I don't do coupons" I politely said, "excuse me but it's not a coupon, it's $10 off your next transaction, you earned it from what you purchased today, it's sort of like a gift card". She looked me up and down and said "Do I look like I need coupons?" I decided fine, I won't push. So I asked "Do you mind if I use it?" She literally scoffed at me and said "Obviously you need coupons" and stomped out of the line. I was trying so hard to hide my glee. I immediately went and grabbed fruit/veggies to total $10 and did 2 transactions. So I got 2 weeks worth of veggies/fruit(they had the $0.99/bag of semi ripe bananas too) for $0.05 OOP. Total was $10.05, I used her Q and paid a nickel! Then I bought the cookie for work on my word credit card. It was great!