January 2013 Grocery Challange

[dancinmama]

Jan 5, 2013 20:52:41 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

Dancin, she will let me know when I go there next week. I doubt it will work, but you never know. I do want a raincheck for the meter so I will go in to do that. I'm all out of ECB's on both DH's and my cards. It has seemed like a lot f work doing CVS lately. Maybe it would be different if I lived closer and could take advantage of all the CRTs. This past week I did get 4 trial Tressemes using CRTs.

Hound alert: If anyone could print out the Flav-R-Pac $.50 Q from smartsourcedotcom, I'd really appreciate it. There is one store in our area that has these on sale for $1.00 and they double the coupon, so it would be free. PM me if you can help. The expiration date is the end of March. TIA.

Smartsource is java isn't it? I can't get that software to load. I thought I had it once, but it keeps sending me in circles. BIL will hopefully be visiting soon and I hope he can figure it out for me. I miss out on a lot of good coupons cuz I can't print java.

[emhalf]

Sorry, FreeSalsa, I only got $1.50 coupons for the duracell hearing aid batteries

[FreeSalsa]

I can't remember who mentioned getting travel size Tressame free with the CRT but thanks for the reminder to use those on the small ones. My store didn't have Tressame but they did have the Dove deodorant for $1.27 ea. I got $2/2 and paid the rest with a GC.

The lotion aisle at my CVS tonight was slim-pickin's. No 16 oz. Aveno, no 75% off Carmex on the shelves. I tried to look for something with green writing but couldn't remember which one it was (Dial Nutriskin). This was an unplanned trip so I didn't have the name with me but I don't remember seeing those either. Lubriderm was not marked down.

I didn't try the CVS across the street since DH and I had a friend with us, but he was impressed at my freebies and said he was going to give me a grocery list for him. He complained about the price of razors. DH was impressed at my deal on the fly.

[marvholly]

Twinmama
There is a blogger in the western burbs that publishes an at least weekly list of good organic food deals. Most are order off the web. When I figure out which of the 3 I follow it is, I will post her site. Also, did you know Aldi is bringing in a house brand organic line starting next week?

Dancin
I have found that Dollar Tree stores vary widly in what they stock. Several bloggers I follow list GREAT deals but my stores have stopped carrying anything that has a coupon.

FreeSalsa
I have often wondered if most of us couldn’t start a business shopping for time strapped people with our savings knowhow. Just don’t know haw to get started or charge for my time & milage.

[rubyslippers]

Hound alert: The zip code was left blank for the Flav-R-pak
vegetables. I'd appreciate any that could be sent. Thanks.

[973beachbum]

Starting today these are the things that look like the best deals at Staples to me. ;D

Portable plastic file totes $10.99-$14.99, 100% back in rewards, limit 2 (not the ones last week)

Cardboard bankers Box Storage Boxes, 8-10 pk., $19.99, 100% back in rewards, limit 2

Avery heavy duty view binders 100% back in rewards. limit 4 but I'm not sure this isn't a continuation of last weeks through next so I wouldn't get more than 4 total.

There is still a $2 binder recycling credit. You can bring in your old crappy binder and get $2 off any new binder. It rings up as a coupon so it will reduce your rewards. But I still do use coupons because it reduces my OOP and with staples you only get 1 check a month so I don't like a huge check anyway. I would rather get more stuff for less OOP.

That is all I am seeing that looks good. There are some copy paper and photo paper rebates but they are not free so I would pass unless you have rewards from last month you need to spend, although rewards last at least 2 months.

[973beachbum]

Staples has a bunch of coupons. If you check your Staples rewards account online you can also check your "coupon wallet'. They include 15% breakroom and cleaning purchases. Which Dancin includes toilet paper and paper towels.

[constanz22]

Just a reminder, HOUND ALERT, I am looking for a few of the 2.15/1 Finish Q's from this week, if anyone gets them that won't be using them. I'd appreciate some. TIA!

[dancinmama]

Jan 6, 2013 9:13:27 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

Staples has a bunch of coupons. If you check your Staples rewards account online you can also check your "coupon wallet'. They include 15% breakroom and cleaning purchases. Which Dancin includes toilet paper and paper towels.

Ya, like I need any more of them!!

Thanks for the awesome breakdown of Staples for this week. That is EXACTLY what I was thinking about. I don't have my rebate or rewards yet, so I'll be sitting it out until I get them; but once they arrive I'll be all over it!! ;D

[dancinmama]

Jan 6, 2013 4:58:25 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Dancin
I have found that Dollar Tree stores vary widly in what they stock. Several bloggers I follow list GREAT deals but my stores have stopped carrying anything that has a coupon.

I'm sorry to hear that. I know that's not the case with all Dollar Tree stores, however, because I see new posts all the time for coupon matchups.

Personally, my store is pretty small compared to the town next door that has a HUGE Dollar Tree. I'm still going to give it the ol' college try.

[dancinmama]

Jan 6, 2013 0:04:22 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

The lotion aisle at my CVS tonight was slim-pickin's. No 16 oz. Aveno, no 75% off Carmex on the shelves. I tried to look for something with green writing but couldn't remember which one it was (Dial Nutriskin). This was an unplanned trip so I didn't have the name with me but I don't remember seeing those either. Lubriderm was not marked down.

I can't believe how much high quality hand/body lotion I have purchased in the last two months. I've even added more since I posted my inventory list because you can't really go wrong with Aveeno @ $.50/bottle after coupons/EB. I'm sure that DS and his GF will be more than happy to take some off my hands.

I saw some Eucerin on clearance yesterday that has been reported to be giving the $6EB when you buy (2) from this week's ad, so I'm going to check that out. I think it was only 50% off at my store ($4.XX) and I don't have any coupons for it.

I have a $4.99 rain check (and hopefully will get more $3/2 coupons tonight) for the Aveeno, so unless the Eucerin goes to 75%, I won't be buying it.

[dancinmama]

Jan 5, 2013 20:03:48 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Jan 3, 2013 11:45:53 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

I know that there is probably nothing that anyone can say to relieve your anxiety about the situation. I know that when things like that have popped up in our lives, I feel better as long as we have a long range plan that incorporates the various outcomes that may arise. If A happens then we'll do this; if B happens then we'll to that. Perhaps your DH should start putting feelers out there for work. That doesn't mean that he has to take a job or even interview if his freelance work picks up, but at least there might be options given to you (meaning the two of you as a team) that wouldn't be there otherwise. The more "options" you can create, the better.....if that makes any sense.

Good luck and I'll be thinking of you.

Thanks, Dancin. I have to remember that we do have money, it's not that we're broke, I just have to find a way to make it ok in my mind to allocate it differently. It's just a point of view that needs adjusting, I think. There's no "I" in "Team", right? I'll figure it out eventually, I think. But it is a bit stressful.

I can TOTALLY relate. When DS was little and I was a SAHM, the company that DH works for was having layoffs at the field site where he worked. We knew that his "business" was prone to layoffs so we did have a healthy savings account and no debt besides our mortgage, but it was still stressful until we knew for sure whether he was "on the list" or not.

The additional stress for you is that you're holding up the fort, so to speak, working a job that you're not exactly 100% happy with.

It sounds like you're trying to change your mental attitude and are doing a pretty good job of it. That's half the battle right there.

[twinmama85]

Jan 5, 2013 21:15:55 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Jan 3, 2013 16:13:14 GMT -5 twinmama85 said:

Has anyone seen any organic coupons around in the newspapers or printables?? I switched my kids & I to mostly organic foods, and as we know, its more expensive. Thankfully, in California, the organic produce isn't too much higher than the "industrial" produce. ;D

Hi twinmama! I'm glad you asked! I wish JennysMom was still on the board to give her two cents but I'm glad to share what I've learned in the last few years.

I found that the stores near me that sold the most natural/organic products are Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes. I did a search for "Sprouts coupon match ups" and found a few sites that made lists for these stores. Even if you don't have these stores, these sites do provide links to IPs for items that are on sale that week. If a product is on sale there one week, it's likely that it will be on sale the same week or soon at another store. At WF, they have a lot of store coupons that can often be stacked with an MC, as long as the manager will allow it.

I found the matchup sites that work best for me are Organic Deals dot com, Saving Cents with Sense, and Couponing 101. The Centsable Shoppin has organic deals on her site sometimes too.

Sites that have IPs on just natural foods include Mambo Sprouts dot com. I can't think of any others at the moment. However, regular products sometimes have an organic version that you could use a coupon on, like Any Dole Pineapple or Kraft macaroni and cheese makes an organic version that you could probably use a regular IP or newspaper MC coupon for. Red Plum's site has some, as well as the Smart Source site, and of course, coupons dot com. Muir Glen and Cascadian Farms often have IPs because I think they're owned by GM now.

You can try writing to the manufacturer of each product that you like and raving about their product and asking them to send you coupons. They often will send you some in the mail or give you a link to IPs.

Go to the Earthbound Farms site. They've been doing a promotion for months, something about 'taking an organic step.' You have to register for it (with your junk mail account) and they send you a bunch of e-mails but about every 4 days they offer a coupon (print 2) $0.75 off any item. On the site it says it's for a particular item but when it prints it's for any item.

There is a coupon out right now for 55 cents off any item that has the Real California Dairy seal on it, which I've been using on organic/natural milk and yogurt (Alta Dena, Brown Cow, and Organic (Farms?)). It expires at the end of this month so I need to stock up. It was 55 cents but I think it might be 35 cents now. Let me know if you want the IP and I can send it to you.

For meat I watch the sale ads and just buy at the lowest price and stock up. At Sprouts, organic grass-fed beef was once $3.99/lb and once there was a store coupon for $3 off any ground beef. There is a brand of organic chicken legs that goes on sale for $1.89 about every 3 months, but it's unadvertised so I just check the shelf every time I go. JMo once told me that she checks the meat and other clearance items at Safeway etc. because organic is not so popular there and they often have to get rid of it. A coupon on top of that makes my day.

Where we live we can grow food all year long so I've been doing that. I don't get a lot but I've had enough baby lettuce for individual salads every few days. I also try to get extras from co-workers that have fruit trees. I just got a huge bag of key limes from a co-worker and squeezed and froze the juice for later. I made a key lime pie for a company party in exchange, and he was happy to get rid of the extras, which seem to come all at once and litter the yard. He was glad someone could use them because otherwise he would just throw them out. Another year it was Meyer lemons from someone else. I made lemonade for the group and put it in the company kitchen for everyone to share. Another guy brought in Ruby Red grapefruits once. When we were growing up it was sort of rural and my mom sometimes found an abandoned house with apple trees overloaded and she helped herself.

Having said all that, I've found that I spend more at the store when I buy organic processed items with coupons, than when I buy the raw ingredients and cook from scratch, so keep that in mind.

Let me know what you find too because I really prefer organic as much as possible and of course, I really don't like to spend a lot doing it!

ETA: As JMo would have said, the word police are going to come after me! Sorry for the long post.

Hey can you please send me the IP for that coupon, I used to have it but my hard drive crash so I had to replace it. It is a .35 coupon now instead of .55, but its still better than nothing (for Feb of course ;D) We only have Trader Joes and Fresh n Easy. I really don't like Fresh n Easy but Trader Joes is OK. I have also been comparing prices to Vitacost and Amazon as well. Right now I get my milk from the commissary: $3.59/ half gallon. With the .55 coupon, it makes it cheaper than trader joes milk. I really wish Organic Valley would release coupons since that is the main organic dairy that the commissary carries and unfortunately, they don't have the California seal on a lot of their products (besides the milk).

I was pleasantly surprised to see that organic produce isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Trader Joe's had organic avocados for .75/ea and they are the large ones, which is .25 less than the conventional ones.

I want to grow a garden but the problem is, I kill everything lol. I am going to try and put together a raised garden bed and grow somethings. I first am gonna try to grow catnip inside (supposed to be the easiest thing to grow) and see if I can do that. If I can't grow catnip, I am SOL lol.

[twinmama85]

Jan 6, 2013 4:58:25 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Twinmama
There is a blogger in the western burbs that publishes an at least weekly list of good organic food deals. Most are order off the web. When I figure out which of the 3 I follow it is, I will post her site. Also, did you know Aldi is bringing in a house brand organic line starting next week?

We don't have Aldi's out here...however, I've heard through the grapevine that they own Trader Joes ;D

[emhalf]

We don't have to re-register for beauty club for the new year, do we? I feel like maybe we did last year, but I don't remember

[constanz22]

Jan 6, 2013 11:41:07 GMT -5 emhalf said:

We don't have to re-register for beauty club for the new year, do we? I feel like maybe we did last year, but I don't remember

No, I asked the other day in the store.

[FreeSalsa]

Jan 6, 2013 11:01:12 GMT -5 twinmama85 said:

Jan 5, 2013 21:15:55 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

t.

Hey can you please send me the IP for that coupon, I used to have it but my hard drive crash so I had to replace it. It is a .35 coupon now instead of .55, but its still better than nothing (for Feb of course ;D) We only have Trader Joes and Fresh n Easy. I really don't like Fresh n Easy but Trader Joes is OK. I have also been comparing prices to Vitacost and Amazon as well. Right now I get my milk from the commissary: $3.59/ half gallon. With the .55 coupon, it makes it cheaper than trader joes milk. I really wish Organic Valley would release coupons since that is the main organic dairy that the commissary carries and unfortunately, they don't have the California seal on a lot of their products (besides the milk).

I was pleasantly surprised to see that organic produce isn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Trader Joe's had organic avocados for .75/ea and they are the large ones, which is .25 less than the conventional ones.

I want to grow a garden but the problem is, I kill everything lol. I am going to try and put together a raised garden bed and grow somethings. I first am gonna try to grow catnip inside (supposed to be the easiest thing to grow) and see if I can do that. If I can't grow catnip, I am SOL lol.

Sure! PM me your e-mail address and I'll send it on. Organic Valley--that's the milk I couldn't remember. That's what I've been buying with the CA coupon. I've been getting half gallons of milk for $2.45 (on a 2/$6 sale) and yogurt for 19 cents. OV did have some milk and butter coupons out about two months ago but they've expired now. Horizon puts out coupons regularly.

I had to do a lot of research before growing things, and I don't do as well as I'd like. But I enjoy it and it's a good project for the kids, since you have some.

You could also try farmer's markets. I've heard that near the end of the day, farmers are trying to get rid of their stuff so they mark it down so they don't have to take it back with them.

Oh yes, and buy extras when you get a good price and freeze or dry them. I can't tell you how many blueberries I have in the freezer right now. In June there was a one-day sale on org. blueberries $2 a pint at Whole Foods. I bought 6.

[FreeSalsa]

Jan 6, 2013 9:16:20 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Just a reminder, HOUND ALERT, I am looking for a few of the 2.15/1 Finish Q's from this week, if anyone gets them that won't be using them. I'd appreciate some. TIA!

Is it this week? I didn't see them in the coupon preview I looked at or on HCW. TIA--this will affect how many papers I buy this week.

[constanz22]

Jan 6, 2013 12:23:44 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Jan 6, 2013 9:16:20 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Just a reminder, HOUND ALERT, I am looking for a few of the 2.15/1 Finish Q's from this week, if anyone gets them that won't be using them. I'd appreciate some. TIA!

Is it this week? I didn't see them in the coupon preview I looked at or on HCW. TIA--this will affect how many papers I buy this week.

Yes, this week's SS. Miraculously, I actually got it in my paper. I NEVER get this high value Q. But, would still use a few more if anyone has extra's.

[twinmama85]

I'll have to check out the farmers markets..they have one today in the Village and another one in Lompoc I think on Saturdays...I remember they were pretty pricey and I don't think that they were organic either, but I will check again.

I don't buy newspapers anymore because it isn't cost effective enough for me, so I rely on IP or I don't use them. I have been able to cut out about 90% processed foods out of our diet but I wasn't buying organic. After doing much research on GMO's, I decided I didn't want that in our diet either so the only way to avoid GMOs is by buying organic.

[hinil]

twinmama: Re farmers markets, the best times to go are either right when the open (best selection) or right before they close (make them an offer for a large amount of produce at SUPER cheap). In Chicago, there is one certified organic farmers market, but I saw farmers I recognized from there at another nearby one. Everything they grow is organic. Food at the "non-organic" (i.e. not certified) market, is still largely organic. Also, if any single item they sell is non-organic, they can't call their stall organic. Again, I'd get to know the farmers, go at the end when they have lots of time to chat and want to move their produce etc....I have found if I do that, it's cheaper then buying even non-organic produce at the grocery store. I have had this same experience in more than one city I've lived in.

[twinmama85]

Holy cow ladies..ok, so I found this awesome site on Pinterest called Lozo...you go on there, search through coupons that are out there and this website will link you to the coupon. Its kind of like a coupon database but I think it is more user friendly; just printed off $1/1 Organic Valley butter coupons that I did not know existed! lozo.com/grocery-coupons-bundler/

[missourimommy]

Good afternoon:)
I haven't been on in, oh, I don't know, 5 months or so? :DD Being that it's the beginning of a new year, I've decided I'm going to get myself better organized and keep my q's clipped. I give myself until the end of January. I SCORED at one of my WAGS last Friday. I ran in to get a memory card for my son's new video camera so we could go to the Harlem Globetrotters Friday night. They had their food items marked down 75% off. I scored brown sugar and powdered sugar for 57-cents per bag, a bag of Dunkin Dounuts Pumpkin Spice coffee for $2.16, some candy canes (in flavors my kids will eat), 2 packages of Peeps, a bottle of Karo Syrup and 2 memory cards for just over $30. Nothing will go to waste, as I do a lot of baking and the candy canes are good for a quick "sugar" pick-me-up.

We made some homemade sugar scrubs for the kids' teachers for Christmas gifts. Gotta love Pinterest.... I found the recipes on there. We did a lemon sugar scrub and a brown sugar vanilla. Really easy and not too expensive. The most expensive thing we had to buy was the olive oil and sunflower oil. But WOW!! They are really nice and do a GREAT job at smoothing out that winter-skin. Not to mention, it's cheaper than what Bath and Body would sell them for.

Target ads--- have you all checked out www.totallytarget.com? She does a great job matching the Target ad with the current q's and has the Target printable q's, too.

Just my 2-cents:D I'll go back to hibernating/reading/becoming a soccer mom.... Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

[missourimommy]

Oh...Constanz...you have PM!

[constanz22]

Jan 6, 2013 17:14:09 GMT -5 missourimommy said:

Oh...Constanz...you have PM!

Back atcha!

[MonicaLee5186]

Does anyone have any CVS deals lined up for this week? I'm sitting on $24.50 in ECBs that will expire 1/16. TIA!

Also -- if anyone is not going to use their $3/2 Aveeno coupons I will gladly take them. I only got 1 of those inserts between the paper I bought and the 3 sets of inserts I get from other people. Very disappointing!

Sorry, dancinmomma, I didn't get any cat food coupons. I do have a bunch of $1/3 cat treats, but that's all that I had for cat stuff. Hopefully someone else can help you out.

[saveinla]

Jan 6, 2013 18:14:03 GMT -5 MonicaLee5186 said:

Does anyone have any CVS deals lined up for this week? I'm sitting on $24.50 in ECBs that will expire 1/16. TIA!

Also -- if anyone is not going to use their $3/2 Aveeno coupons I will gladly take them. I only got 1 of those inserts between the paper I bought and the 3 sets of inserts I get from other people. Very disappointing!

Sorry, dancinmomma, I didn't get any cat food coupons. I do have a bunch of $1/3 cat treats, but that's all that I had for cat stuff. Hopefully someone else can help you out.

If you have the Finish Qs, you can use them and some other things to get the 10$ CVS cash card. That's what I did - planters peanuts, FInish gelpacs and potato chips combined to make 30, used Qs and ECBs and got back a 10$ cash card.

[emhalf]

Jan 6, 2013 18:14:03 GMT -5 MonicaLee5186 said:

Does anyone have any CVS deals lined up for this week? I'm sitting on $24.50 in ECBs that will expire 1/16. TIA!

I have 2 deals that I'm doing this week, but they do depend on having certain CRTs/clearance items. First one:

2 x simple cleanser: 11.58
simple moisturizer scrub: 5.79
simple moisturizer (clearance): 3.12
= 20.49
-$4/20 facial skin care CRT
-2 x $2/1 simple cleanser 1/6 RP
-2 x $3/1 simple moisturizer 1/6 RP
=6.49, get back $5 EB for spending $15 on Simple. Plus it should all count toward Beauty Club.

Other transaction:
4 x one-a-day vitamins: 22.47 (BOGO50%)
-$4/20 vitamins CRT
-2 x $5/2 OaD 1/6 SS
= 8.47, get back $6 EB for spending $20 on bayer brands

Nothing MM, but good deals for me, especially the vitamins. I'm hoping I can find them in stock at my nearby stores tomorrow.

[FreeSalsa]

Jan 6, 2013 12:32:52 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Jan 6, 2013 12:23:44 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Is it this week? I didn't see them in the coupon preview I looked at or on HCW. TIA--this will affect how many papers I buy this week.

Yes, this week's SS. Miraculously, I actually got it in my paper. I NEVER get this high value Q. But, would still use a few more if anyone has extra's.

So strange. I didn't see them on any of those lists but there they were, in my paper. Sorry to say that I will need them but thanks for the reminder. I bought 4 but I doubt that will be enough. I bought 2 of the city paper (for more coupons) and two of the local paper (for half the price.)

[FreeSalsa]

Jan 6, 2013 16:37:47 GMT -5 twinmama85 said:

Holy cow ladies..ok, so I found this awesome site on Pinterest called Lozo...you go on there, search through coupons that are out there and this website will link you to the coupon. Its kind of like a coupon database but I think it is more user friendly; just printed off $1/1 Organic Valley butter coupons that I did not know existed! lozo.com/grocery-coupons-bundler/

Thanks, I'll check it out. See, I knew there were OV coupons sometimes.

It's very expensive to get certified as an organic seller so just because it doesn't say certified organic doesn't mean it isn't. You have to do your research with the markets and farmers.