February 2013 Grocery Challenge

[misspt]

The Hydro Silk disposables four pack are $1.59 at RA after gold discount, $4/1 coupon, and UPs.  Look for a new freestanding display at your store.  Limit is 4.

[mawmaw]

Dancin: Did you see that the Conair items you purchased on clearance last week are now producing $5ECB's.  I was able to score some Instant Heat rollers this morning for $1.69 after ECB!  Limit is 2 and seems to be working for all clearance appliances.

We are doing fine, thank you for asking.  We just totally gutted our house and remodeled the whole thing WHILE LIVING HERE  .  It took us a while but we are finally about 98% finished and it came out beautiful!  We did most of the work ourselves so it did take us a while.

[dancinmama]

Feb 10, 2013 15:24:49 GMT -5 mawmaw said:

Dancin: Did you see that the Conair items you purchased on clearance last week are now producing $5ECB's.  I was able to score some Instant Heat rollers this morning for $1.69 after ECB!  Limit is 2 and seems to be working for all clearance appliances.

We are doing fine, thank you for asking.  We just totally gutted our house and remodeled the whole thing WHILE LIVING HERE  .  It took us a while but we are finally about 98% finished and it came out beautiful!  We did most of the work ourselves so it did take us a while.

The house sounds beautiful!!

Yes, I did see that the Conair was producing EBs.  That's okay.  It was a good deal even without the EBs.   

[skubikky]

Did this micro-deal at Tops the other day. 
I logged onto the Tops website and e-clipped a $3.75/1 for 6-pk of the Dove Men+body bar soap.

$6.99(sale)  6pk soap
$1.29       Bounty roll

-$3.75 e-coupon
-$4/1   MC
-$0.25/1 Bounty doubled
-$0.25

tax  $0.66

OOP = $0.67

[skubikky]

Monica
 
Did you get the Q's I sent?

[MonicaLee5186]

skubikky -- I was just thinking about this yesterday.  It hit me while I was driving that I hadn't seen that envelope, but I was out of town for 3 days last week and who knows where DH distributed the mail.  I haven't found it yet, but I will ask him tonight if he knows where he put it.  It has to be there somewhere!  I'll let you know

[973beachbum]

Monica, and any other Shoprite Shoppers, Dollar Days is supposed to start next week.  We all need to start praying that this one is better than the last two.

[skubikky]

Hound Alert

$1/1 Purina Tidy Cats, exp. 4/27/13 (RP 01/27/13 #2)

Would so appreciate it if anyone can spare a few.  Tops is having a BOGO sale on the 20lb bags.

TIA

[FreeSalsa]

I really love our little town.  The setting is perfect!

Murphath, I'd love to know where you live.  Feel free to PM me if you don't want to share in public.  Or it's fine if you don't want to share at all.  DH and I would love to relocate to somewhere small but can't decide where and are looking for ideas.

[FreeSalsa]

Hi All!  I've been off for a while.  I was way down with the flu for 2-3 weeks.  I had to postpone a business trip, which I finally took last week and now I'm home and mostly healthy.  I still have a slight cough and pain in my ribs from coughing, that hurts when I cough or sneeze or laugh too hard.  Next year I am getting a flu shot.

My business trip was to New York City, right in downtown Manhattan in Soho and near the World Trade Center.  Not bad, eh?  All paid for, including a per diem for food and extra pay for overtime (not usually allowed) and travel time.  I put everything on my credit card so I got points and I'll get reimbursed for everything.  

They gave me a certain amount per day and of course, I couldn't spend it all, so I'm thinking about using that for grocery money to buy those expensive organic things that never go on sale.  I did buy some good peanut butter while I was there and brought the extra home in my suitcase.  Don't worry, I did something fun with the money too.  I bought a theater ticket and it was a great show.

I'll have to get caught up on the deals.  I must say, I was very glad to have spent all my ECBs in early January and not to have to worry about rolling them while all this was going on.  I'm almost hesitant to jump back in.  

[FreeSalsa]

Feb 5, 2013 12:09:07 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

LATEST HYPOTHESIS / RUMOR AT CVS

Okay, it seems as though CVS has started to issue some $/$$ coupons again and some decent scanner coupons ($/$ a general product category like $2/$10 any dental hygiene).  The gals on WUC who have been used to using the $/$$, the % off, and all the best scanner coupons to lower their OOP who haven't been getting anything have been trying to figure out why.

One WUC gal even called customer service to complain.  The CS rep told her that what she gets is based on her "shopping habits".  She told him that she hasn't been getting anything and that she shops there all the time.  To make a long story short, he reviewed her account and told her that her OOP is too low so basically she's been "cut off".  Now of course these are his words to her and then her words to the community, but still - that was how she interpreted what he said. 

So, with that said, the latest hypothesis is that the extra bucks computer has been programmed to issue CVS promotional coupons ($/$$, % off, the better scanner coupons, etc. - the coupons that CVS pays for) only to those who show that they actually are spending money (OOP) at CVS.  You guys know that I am no computer weenie, but how hard would that be to program?  At first, I thought when I go back that I'd just start using an "old" card to "trick them" into giving me good coupons; but if the hypothesis is correct, I don't think that is going to work because the computer will wait until I actually spend out-of-pocket BEFORE it will issue the coupons.

It's an interesting hypothesis and time will tell what is really going on, but one thing is for absolutely certain - I have not received ANYTHING in almost two months - no $/$$, no % off, and mostly only discount coupons for on-line purchases only (by email).  I have been shopping at CVS for over three years (almost 4) and that is a record for me.  I can honestly say (guestimating here) that 98% of my transactions over that time have involved a $/$$ coupon.  The highest quarterly reward was last quarter when it was double rewards and it was for $2.50 only because of all the sales tax that I paid using all the $10/$50s they issued to me.  Prior to that I either got $.25 (when the threshold allowed it), $.50, or nothing.

So if the hypothesis turns out to be fact (and hopefully it's won't), it looks like the gravy train of getting freebies on a consistent basis by rolling EBs will be over - for me anyway.  It would take too much time and effort, if it's even possible, to consistently get my OOP low enough to do it.  I do have a "stockpile" of CVS money - gift cards, cash cards, and a couple of money cards from recent returns that I will use to cherry pick the best EB MMs and then use those EBs to cash in on the stockpile of rain checks that I have for pantry staples or other items that we may need that are on sale, but that will be about it.  Once my CVS money is gone, then I'll be relying on combining rock bottom prices with coupons when I shop there - just like in the "olden days".


____________________________

Number one, this could be some uninformed employee making things up.  We've all experienced that.

Number two, if it is true, then they just lost a whole lot of Hound Customers.

[973beachbum]

HOUND ALERT!!!  I am looking for the Smart Balance coupons from the 2/10 SS this past weekend.  It is for a deal at Shoprite next week.   It is Buy $10 Get a $3 Catalina.    The ones I am looking for are

$0.75/1 Smart Balance Enhanced Milks, exp. 3/27/13 (SS 02/10/13)  Any amount for the milk is fine.

$1/1 Smart Balance Spreadable or Blended Butter Sticks, exp. 3/27/13 (SS 02/10/13)

$0.50/1 Smart Balance Spreadable Butter or Blended Butter Sticks, exp. 2/27/13 (SS 01/13/13 R)

any help would be greatly appreciated!

[MonicaLee5186]

Sorry, 973BeachBum and skubikky -- I have none of the coupons that you're looking for


973BeachBum -- I'm praying right along with you for a good dollar days sale this year!!

[murphath]

FreeSalsa:

I think I just sent you a PM re my town.  I find this new board format a bit confusing.  Instead of a "send" button, it said "create message."  I believe that meant send.  Let me know.

[973beachbum]

Feb 12, 2013 10:52:15 GMT -5 MonicaLee5186 said:

Sorry, 973BeachBum and skubikky -- I have none of the coupons that you're looking for


973BeachBum -- I'm praying right along with you for a good dollar days sale this year!!

Thanks for looking!  I looked for yours and except for the one I was going to use I didn't get them.   The RP annoys me because I can only get the one in the mail and it rarely has any good coupons.  All it ever has are ads for checks, expensive dolls and nursing home patient clothes.. 

We haven't had a good Dollar Days sale in a while.  I still have some of the marcal TP from the one sale.  I don't like it very much but what the heck if we lose power for weeks because of another freak storm, I will have TP even if I can't flush the toilet.

[hinil]

I don't understand this new system!

I don't think my response posted though.

Staples - coupon in Sunday's paper for 0.99 for 2 boxes of 184 count Kleenex; the coupon reduced the price so I only paid tax on the .99 (usually here you pay tax on the pre-coupon price).  Reg price is $2.99/2 count package, which is less than .01/tissue, so there everyday price is cheaper than my drugstores on sale.

Staples - if you have a Staples card, open your mail.  I received a $10 off any $10 or more purchase, good through early March.  I think I'll buy kleenex!

CVS - I go a lot less in winter (cold out for walking, and not a lot of great deals)...and have gotten quite a few $/$$ CRTs and email coupons since mid Jan, including $10 off $50, $4 off $20, $5/$25 of beauty purchases, and $3/$15 cosmetic purchases.  I haven't used any, but they keep coming.  I rarely spend anything out of pocket, except do generally get a prescription each month.

[herekittykitty]

Hey misspt...sorry to hear about your situation, but I think you will be able to find a recruiter that can get you what you want.  DH and I got moved (in-state) for free.  Just don't do what he did and post your resume on Careerbuilder!  He did not believe me when I predicted the chaos that ensued.  I think he got over 100 calls in the first DAY!  He still gets calls and emails.  It's nice to be wanted, I guess! 

[dancinmama]

Feb 12, 2013 15:40:52 GMT -5 herekittykitty said:

Hey misspt...sorry to hear about your situation, but I think you will be able to find a recruiter that can get you what you want.  DH and I got moved (in-state) for free.  Just don't do what he did and post your resume on Careerbuilder!  He did not believe me when I predicted the chaos that ensued.  I think he got over 100 calls in the first DAY!  He still gets calls and emails.  It's nice to be wanted, I guess! 

OMG!!  herekittykitty!!   It's sooooo good to see you post!!  This must be "reunion week" with all of you oldies checking in.

[dancinmama]

Feb 11, 2013 22:25:14 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Feb 5, 2013 12:09:07 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Number one, this could be some uninformed employee making things up.  We've all experienced that.

Number two, if it is true, then they just lost a whole lot of Hound Customers.

Regarding your Number one:  Yes, it could be; but personally, I have not gotten any $/$$ in over (2) months (or any in-store email coupons except the Tuesday daily deals).  That is the longest "dry spell" that I've ever had in the almost (4) years that I've been shopping at CVS.  I have NEVER gone that long without getting a $4/$20 or a $3/$15.  Quite frankly, I don't think I've ever had to wait even a month.

On WUC, a few people who had been getting NOTHING for weeks (like me) did get a $4/$12 cosmetics scanner coupon this week, which is an improvement; but they're still not getting any general purchase $/$$.

Regarding your Number two:  And that is exactly what has happened.  Those of us who have been doing this fairly consistently for years at CVS should have pretty decent, if not abundant, stockpiles of the products that CVS continuously offers through EB promotions.  I just can't justify couponing there and paying OOP for what I already have a lot of for free.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks goodness I made a "target stockpile list" at the beginning of 2012 of the items I needed to stockpile or wanted to beef up in my stockpile "just in case" there was a couponing "drought".     Over the course of the year, I ticked every item off that list.  There were two items I needed that kept me in CVS after my patience had already been exhausted:  bottled water (stockpiled 18 cases for free over Black Friday week) and high quality/long shelf-life hand and body lotion (stockpiled in abundance for free over November and December).  Once I crossed those off the list, I was past ready to get out of CVS and then they kindly offered the cash card deals - perfect for my "exit".

[dancinmama]

Feb 11, 2013 2:18:31 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Feb 10, 2013 15:24:49 GMT -5 mawmaw said:

Dancin: Did you see that the Conair items you purchased on clearance last week are now producing $5ECB's.  I was able to score some Instant Heat rollers this morning for $1.69 after ECB!  Limit is 2 and seems to be working for all clearance appliances.

We are doing fine, thank you for asking.  We just totally gutted our house and remodeled the whole thing WHILE LIVING HERE  .  It took us a while but we are finally about 98% finished and it came out beautiful!  We did most of the work ourselves so it did take us a while.

The house sounds beautiful!!

Yes, I did see that the Conair was producing EBs.  That's okay.  It was a good deal even without the EBs.   

Actually, I just noticed in my ad that the Conair deal is different.  Here it's SPEND $8 and get a $4EB (Limit 1).  It excludes clearance items, but we all know that that is not always the case; but still, I didn't spend $8.

[constanz22]

Wow, finally a good week at Rite Aid!  This is one of the first week's in a LONG time that I really wish I could use Ups the same day, cuz I'm making multiple trips, but, at least it's right by work and on my travel route to and from.  I had $4 Ups on Monday that I turned into $12 with little OOP, then turned that $12 into $13 today, again with little OOP.  I still want/need to make one more trip for a few items that I need that aren't as profitable, but a good price, especially after rolling these MM deals all week.

CVS-Meh, I'm almost out there.  I may do the Coke deal this week, spend $15, get $5.  I did get some x/xx for cosmetics and such this week, and saw some discussion on HCW of people getting $3/15 general CRT's from the red machine, but I have not.  But, I rarely even go scan my cards anymore.  I have one lonely $5 EB to spend and less than $10 on a gift card, so, the Coke deal seemed like a good use of it. 

[973beachbum]

Feb 13, 2013 12:07:48 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Wow, finally a good week at Rite Aid!  This is one of the first week's in a LONG time that I really wish I could use Ups the same day, cuz I'm making multiple trips, but, at least it's right by work and on my travel route to and from.  I had $4 Ups on Monday that I turned into $12 with little OOP, then turned that $12 into $13 today, again with little OOP.  I still want/need to make one more trip for a few items that I need that aren't as profitable, but a good price, especially after rolling these MM deals all week.

CVS-Meh, I'm almost out there.  I may do the Coke deal this week, spend $15, get $5.  I did get some x/xx for cosmetics and such this week, and saw some discussion on HCW of people getting $3/15 general CRT's from the red machine, but I have not.  But, I rarely even go scan my cards anymore.  I have one lonely $5 EB to spend and less than $10 on a gift card, so, the Coke deal seemed like a good use of it. 

connie, are you the person i remember doing Dollar General deal?  I don't have one close but for some reason I still get their ads in my paper.  My ad had a $5/$25 coupon in it good for Sunday and Monday.  If you will use it I could throw it in the mail today and you should get it by Monday I would think considering how close you are.  If you want it just PM me your addie again and I will send it out.

[constanz22]

Feb 13, 2013 13:55:11 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

Feb 13, 2013 12:07:48 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Wow, finally a good week at Rite Aid! This is one of the first week's in a LONG time that I really wish I could use Ups the same day, cuz I'm making multiple trips, but, at least it's right by work and on my travel route to and from. I had $4 Ups on Monday that I turned into $12 with little OOP, then turned that $12 into $13 today, again with little OOP. I still want/need to make one more trip for a few items that I need that aren't as profitable, but a good price, especially after rolling these MM deals all week.

CVS-Meh, I'm almost out there. I may do the Coke deal this week, spend $15, get $5. I did get some x/xx for cosmetics and such this week, and saw some discussion on HCW of people getting $3/15 general CRT's from the red machine, but I have not. But, I rarely even go scan my cards anymore. I have one lonely $5 EB to spend and less than $10 on a gift card, so, the Coke deal seemed like a good use of it.

connie, are you the person i remember doing Dollar General deal? I don't have one close but for some reason I still get their ads in my paper. My ad had a $5/$25 coupon in it good for Sunday and Monday. If you will use it I could throw it in the mail today and you should get it by Monday I would think considering how close you are. If you want it just PM me your addie again and I will send it out.

Thanks for thinking of me, but I don't need it. I rarely shop there anymore because I ALWAYS have coupon issues and they are very coupon unfriendly...they usually have the 5/25 available to print on their website too. I do appreciate the offer!

[dancinmama]

murphath:  Gotta love the Grocery Outlet.  Today I scored a (3) 12 oz. 4-pks of bbq type sausage with caramelized onions that went out of date on 2/11 and were $1.99.  When I showed them to the guy with the scanner machine, he asked, "How about $.50/pkg?"  SOLD!!

I also got 3 lb. bags of "Cuties" for $1.99/ea.

I had purchased some Princella yams a while back for $.50/ea. and saw the exact same cans (same size, same expiration date -11/13) for $1.59.  I didn't realize that they might actually raise the price on some items, but I guess they do.  Good thing I grabbed (10) cans!!

Oh, and don't forget the additional 5% discount I got today for being a "senior citizen".

[dancinmama]

Feb 13, 2013 12:07:48 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

CVS-Meh, I'm almost out there.  I may do the Coke deal this week, spend $15, get $5.  I did get some x/xx for cosmetics and such this week, and saw some discussion on HCW of people getting $3/15 general CRT's from the red machine, but I have not.  But, I rarely even go scan my cards anymore.  I have one lonely $5 EB to spend and less than $10 on a gift card, so, the Coke deal seemed like a good use of it. 

So sad to feel that way, isn't it?  I wandered in there today because their designer fragrances are 25% off this week  (instead of Buy One Get One 50% off) and I had a $5/$25 any fragrance purchase.   I decided to buy some smell good stuff (Polo) for the Silver Fox (aka - DH ) using a money card from a return to pay my OOP.   He says "his girls" at work loves that stuff.   I think I'm going to wait until after he retires to give it to him, cuz I kind of love that stuff too.

[pudgybunny]

Hound alert! Looking for coupons for Beggin strips, $1 or $2 off ones. Asap as they are on clearance by me!

It has been ages since I have hounded and OH do I miss it! I recently quit my day job so I should have time to get back into hounding!!

[mawmaw]

Feb 13, 2013 11:51:18 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Feb 11, 2013 2:18:31 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

The house sounds beautiful!!

Yes, I did see that the Conair was producing EBs.  That's okay.  It was a good deal even without the EBs.   

Actually, I just noticed in my ad that the Conair deal is different.  Here it's SPEND $8 and get a $4EB (Limit 1).  It excludes clearance items, but we all know that that is not always the case; but still, I didn't spend $8.

I don't even have this deal in my ad and the ECB printed .  It has been reported that the curling irons are on sale for $2.xx and ECB is working......limit of 2.  I didn't see any curling irons at my store that were on clearance so I just went with the rollers.  When I got home and opened the package......there was HAIR wrapped around all the rollers .  Nearly lost my lunch, because I am a germ freak!!!  These are definitely going back .

[misspt]

Feb 13, 2013 11:51:18 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Feb 11, 2013 2:18:31 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

The house sounds beautiful!!

Yes, I did see that the Conair was producing EBs.  That's okay.  It was a good deal even without the EBs.   

Actually, I just noticed in my ad that the Conair deal is different.  Here it's SPEND $8 and get a $4EB (Limit 1).  It excludes clearance items, but we all know that that is not always the case; but still, I didn't spend $8.

That is the deal listed in everyone's ad, but the conair hair appliances are all producing the $5 EB.

[misspt]

Feb 13, 2013 12:07:48 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Wow, finally a good week at Rite Aid!  This is one of the first week's in a LONG time that I really wish I could use Ups the same day, cuz I'm making multiple trips, but, at least it's right by work and on my travel route to and from.  I had $4 Ups on Monday that I turned into $12 with little OOP, then turned that $12 into $13 today, again with little OOP.  I still want/need to make one more trip for a few items that I need that aren't as profitable, but a good price, especially after rolling these MM deals all week.

CVS-Meh, I'm almost out there.  I may do the Coke deal this week, spend $15, get $5.  I did get some x/xx for cosmetics and such this week, and saw some discussion on HCW of people getting $3/15 general CRT's from the red machine, but I have not.  But, I rarely even go scan my cards anymore.  I have one lonely $5 EB to spend and less than $10 on a gift card, so, the Coke deal seemed like a good use of it. 

The past two weeks at RA have been a lot of fun, I have pretty much been there everyday!

[weaselfer]

For any who are on the lookout for discounted itunes gift cards, Kroger has on their digital coupons (I know, they suck, but I used it last night and it came off), $5 off at the register when you purchase a $25 itunes or app gift card.  The "coupon" that I put on my card expires the 19th, so if you want to do it, do it quickly.  I found the digital coupon yesterday.  I know that they will have limits on some coupons (i.e. only so many can be loaded) so that is another reason to load it onto your card now, even if you don't use it.