2013 Grocery Challenge

[MonicaLee5186]

On behalf of all of the gals here, WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the Grocery Challenge!!!

If you have never clipped a coupon, or even if you have been using coupons for years, we'd love to have you join us. We are a crazy, fun-loving, and very friendly group of gals just chatting with one another about how to save big money using coupons. We are willing to help anyone, at any level, in any way that we can.

Don't think that you have to read through the pages and pages of posts to join in - most of it will be old, out-of-date information anyway. Just go to the last page of the thread and introduce yourself. Tell us what area of the country you're from and where you shop (grocery stores, national chain stores, Target, WalMart, etc.).

We'd love to have you join us on a regular basis, so don't be shy - just jump right in, have some fun, and save a ton of money in the process!!

[marvholly]

Glad to see someone different started this month. Continuing from my last post:

Best laid plans of mice & men..........

Plans have gone awry. One of my chain grocers is advertising a specific brand of chicken leg quarters for 0.79/lb. Plan to BBQ them Sat since the weather is supposed to be nice. However, the store had NONE when I stopped to get Thur. Rather than waste time & gas I plan to call my other 2 local stores of this chain around 10 am. I do NOT expect them to have it. While I was offered a raincheck I am STRONGLY thinking of filing a consumer FRAUD complaint since this brand is NOT a regular store stock item and I am willing to bet dollars to donuts they will NEVER be available. That IS consumer FRAUD or bait n switch since the house brand is $1.29/lb for the same leg quarters in the same size pkg.

[973beachbum]

Hi all!  I was looking around for deals because I am running low on shaving cream for DH and toilet bowl cleaner and saw a great deal for OB tampons at Riteaid.  I thought I remember a few posters here who that was their brand so here is the deal from Hip2save

"Head on over to Coupons.com to print a high-value coupon valid for $1 off any o.b. Brand Product. Print this coupon now and then use it at Rite Aid through tomorrow, June 8th, to snag o.b. Tampons for just 50¢ each. Check it out…


Rite Aid Deal Scenario (valid thru June 8th)
o.b. Tampons 18 ct 2/$5
Use 2 $1/1 o.b. Brand Product coupons found here
Plus, use the $2/2 in ad coupon
Final Cost $1 – just $0.50 each!" 

[mizbear]

marvholly- You are a better woman than I am because I would have been on the phone if I didn't find them and demand that they substitute the store brand at the sale price.   Hope your bbq goes well.

There are tons of points and 10 for 10 deals this week at my store, but the frozen veggies are all that really interest me.

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 7, 2013 7:33:18 GMT -5 973beachbum said:

Hi all!  I was looking around for deals because I am running low on shaving cream for DH and toilet bowl cleaner and saw a great deal for OB tampons at Riteaid.  I thought I remember a few posters here who that was their brand so here is the deal from Hip2save

"Head on over to Coupons.com to print a high-value coupon valid for $1 off any o.b. Brand Product. Print this coupon now and then use it at Rite Aid through tomorrow, June 8th, to snag o.b. Tampons for just 50¢ each. Check it out…


Rite Aid Deal Scenario (valid thru June 8th)
o.b. Tampons 18 ct 2/$5
Use 2 $1/1 o.b. Brand Product coupons found here
Plus, use the $2/2 in ad coupon
Final Cost $1 – just $0.50 each!" 

Thank you!!!  I'm putting DH on it!

[rubyslippers]

I did more cherry picking this week at Kroger, Rite Aid, CVS, Family Dollar, Walmart and a local grocery store.  I spent $34.66 and saved $162.35 or 79%.  I got a lot of overage at Walmart getting Almay and using the $4.00 MQ's.  I rolled the catalina at Family Dollar and got several boxes of brownie mixes cheap.  I got paid to get free clearance candy bars at Rite Aid after coupons and Ups and a free jar of salsa at Kroger.  But at Walmart I got a lot of produce, dairy and grocery items for both freezer and pantry and a rotisserie chicken that I shredded for the freezer.  I will make stock tomorrow.  I was at a store where they sell home made stock in containers like I use and they had a price tag of $1.99.  Good thing I make my own.

saveinla: I got the Secret deodorant at CVS.  Thanks for the tip!

[saveinla]

rubyslippers - glad to help. I used my 5$ beauty ECB to buy chocolates. 

[marvholly]

MizBear
I could NOT call the stores on Fri. Our local Jewels have been bought by a venture capital firm. Everything is changing (no more gas rewards, ending loyalty card………) and the old phone number is disconnected w/no forwarding.

I plan to go this am & WILL either get the legs or make a MAJOR fuss until they substitute.

[constanz22]

I've done the $5 OYNO GM deal at Family Dollar twice. I plan on continuing to roll it to stock up on lots of stuff. Mainly cereal, even though that isn't the lowest OOP. It's what I need/use the most. I will fill in with the cheap brownie mixes and Suddenly Salads. I usually make my own pasta salad, but these aren't bad in a pinch.

rubyslippers- if you hear of any good scenarios for the deal, or hear that the cheap brownie mixes are no longer working, please let me know. I don't really keep up with a lot of the message boards any more (WUC, HCW). Tx

[constanz22]

Well, forget that idea....just popped over to WUC and saw FD has pulled the GM deal, ending today instead of advertised end of month, claiming it was a misprint...sure...My FD is not at all coupon friendly, so, I will get to do it once more today and that's it...bummer...

[constanz22]

Ok, so I ran to FD and it wasn't busy and the cashier was pretty coupon friendly so I did 3 quick transactions. I got "fillers" for 2 cuz I thought I may need them to use all my coupons. I got 5 boxes of cereal, 2 brownie mixes (I tried one of the dollar one's on one order and the $5 CAT did NOT print) 2 suddenly salad's, a can of dog food (.50) and a bag of dog treats ($1) for fillers for about $6 OOP and I still have a $5 OYNO to use another time.

[mizbear]

marvholly- YUCK! That sucks! 
I should also thank you for the heads-up, because Jewels, Albertsons and Acme all used to be the same company- if they still are, I better go use my coupons I have to use at Acme while I can . Plus buyouts usually mean peeps lose jobs and my ex-SIL works at an Acme. Oy vey.... 

[rubyslippers]

Yeah, I just found out the F. Dollar deal ends today too.  I've already done 7 transactions in the last several days so I don't think I'll run out and do any more. The salads are nasty but I'm going to save the pasta to make up my own, however, the brownies are delicious.

I don't see anything special in any of the ads for next week but I'm waiting on some more coupons to come in so I can do some overage shopping at Walmart.

[marvholly]

I did get my chicken legs Sat but:
None out when I got there. Meat clerk said they were unloading the truck, would take an hour BUT no assurance there were any on the truck.
Sent for store mgr. Waited. Waited more (7-8 min total). Mgr comes out & says, "Legs will be out in 5 minutes, I just helped unload the truck. I thanked him.
Legs were NOT the brand advertised. They were stre brand (I don't care). Apparently in this store the store mgr &/or meat mgr decided to 'make good' on the sale unlike the store I was at on Thur.

Since my 2 routine route Jewel stores have been closed and the other 2 are equally far from my home I guess this one will become my main store if/when I shop at Jewel.

[dancinmama]

I got $100 worth of Home Improvement Cards today and so did DH.  I THOUGHT I had opted out so that my UPs would print, but they loaded onto both of the cards.  I had the cashier opt me out so they will print in the future, but DH didn't understand it when I tried to explain it to him.

I do want to use some UPs on the Stayfree pantryliners. 

Question:  I have (2) $10 UPs on both cards.  What if I buy $13 worth of products?  Will it only utilize (1) $10 UP?

[rubyslippers]

Dancin, I can't answer that, but I do know you better not give them your card before you use any MQ's or the UPs will come off instead.  I'd ask before you do anything.  I'd hate to see you lose it all at once.

[dancinmama]

Jun 9, 2013 20:47:59 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

Dancin, I can't answer that, but I do know you better not give them your card before you use any MQ's or the UPs will come off instead.  I'd ask before you do anything.  I'd hate to see you lose it all at once.

Thanks so much for reminding me.  Maybe I ought to buy $20 worth of product and call it a day.  I bought the GCs cuz I know DH will spend the money at Home Depot or Lowes anyway so getting a $10 UP is a bonus.

[hopetoberich]

Well I don't want tosound like Debbie downer but I walked around my grocery store and came out with a $0 oop. No not some great deal to tell you all about I was so disgusted with the prices I went to pricerite instead. They don't take coupons but are cheaper.
I will head to big lots for my cookies later in the week.
Oh I used up my last $13 ecb on respected Tea Party members, flour,smuckers and Pepsi.they sent a 25% off to my card do I did some food shopping in CVS.how times have changed.

[dancinmama]

Jun 10, 2013 19:47:27 GMT -5 hopetoberich said:

Well I don't want tosound like Debbie downer but I walked around my grocery store and came out with a $0 oop. No not some great deal to tell you all about I was so disgusted with the prices I went to pricerite instead. They don't take coupons but are cheaper.
I will head to big lots for my cookies later in the week.
Oh I used up my last $13 ecb on respected Tea Party members, flour,smuckers and Pepsi.they sent a 25% off to my card do I did some food shopping in CVS.how times have changed.

It is what it is.  The constant flow of freebies was great while it lasted.  We can all still save a lot of money by shopping rock bottom prices and combining with coupons when possible.  Like you, I have started shopping a lot more frequently at a couple of stores that don't even accept coupons because in spite of that, I can get certain food items cheaper at them than anywhere else.

I don't want to sound like Debbie Downer either, but the best days for couponing and stockpiling for free seem to be behind us.  There are still some pretty decent deals to be had and even the occasional freebie, but I don't think we'll ever see the likes of what we saw in 2007-2010.   One thing that we can celebrate, however, is that we were all couponing then and can say "remember when.....".  

[marvholly]

ALL of my stores accept the newspaper coupons. However, several do NOT accept IPs. That is the trade off I do for the MUCH better prices there.

One of my fruit stores better have a good deal ($1/pkg or preferably less) on berries (black, raspberries or strawberries) this week because I used the last of the ones I froze last year I my yogurt this am. If not I wil just have to buy a bag at Aldi. Will be going there as I need cottage cheese anyhow.

[marvholly]

Got my wish (sort of) on fruit/berry prices. At worst Aldi has cantaloupe, raspberries & strawberries for $1.29 ea. A bit more than I like but…………

My plan to Wed shop is shot. We are supposed to have a BUNCH of rain today. I have a dentist appt mid morning Thur so that shoots Thur. Guess I will just go Fri. That way I can also check $$/specials at my big, good fruit mkt to make sure the Aldi $$ are the best available.

[aprilleigh]

Hi ladies! I rarely have anything worth posting, but I thought this might be helpful:

thekrazycouponlady.com/2013/06/12/rare-berry-coupon-save-0-50-off-driscolls-berries/

[emhalf]

This weekend's RP has a coupon for $5 off a venus razor, as well as $5 off a specific type of gillette mach 3 razor. For once they don't require you to buy the refills too...it's been awhile since I've seen a value that good.

[dancinmama]

I had a good day yesterday at the 99 Cent store.  I picked up a lot of produce for $1 each:  a bag of Fresh Express with romaine, a package of (3) Persian cucumbers, a large bunch of asparagus, a pint of grape tomatoes, and a HUGE watermelon.  I also got a huge orange bell pepper for $.50.  The produce there is amazingly good and a fraction of the cost of what it would be at any national grocer.

I picked up some beautiful pork chops at Safeway found in the meat clearance section.  We will be grilling them for dinner tonight.  I also picked up several loaves of Safeway's cinnamon raisin bread.  I have a J4U price of $1.49/loaf plus a J4U of 30% off any bread or buns.  I have been saving the bread bags from previous purchases of raisin bread so that when I found them at rock bottom I could double bag them and stick them in the freezer.  I didn't want to clear the shelf, so I will be going back for more before the end of the week.

DH literally keeps pinching himself.  I keep telling him, "Honey, you don't have to pinch yourself; we're living the dream." 

[MonicaLee5186]

I stopped at CVS on the way home for a prescription.

I had ECBs expiring on Sunday, so I bought:

2 Colgate toothbrushes - 2/$5.98
1 CoverGirl mascara 50% off - $4.50
2 Covergirl natureluxe lipgloss 50% off - $8.50 total

Total: 18.98
Minus: $3/$15 CVS coupon
$1/$5 toothbrushes CVS coupon
2 $1/1 Colgate toothbrush coupons
$2.00 Covergirl mascara
$3.00/2 Covergirl items
$5.00 ECBs

Total: $3 and change

Received $2 Colgate ECBs and $3 Covergirl ECBs in return.

[marvholly]

Strange. About 4-6 weeks ago I found I could NOT add items to my card at Safeway’s J4U. I have had to do it in the stores which I HATE as a time waster on a shopping/errand day. Much rather do it very early am at home. Today I tried again and it worked perfectly. I have changed NOTHING on my computer.

Dancin
My local $1 stores do not have fresh produce or much of anything HIGHLY perishable. I got the boneless pork chops last week at my Safeway, also from the meat clearance section. Had a $1 fresh pork coupon to boot so 0.88 for 1.25 lb (3 chops).

[rubyslippers]

I wasn't going to do much shopping this week until the papers came out and a grocery store ad had some great MQ's which coincided with the Oscar Mayer/Kraft deals going on at Meijer and Kroger that also generated catalinas.  I also received Almay MQ's which gave me overage.  This week I spent $25.83 and saved $259.96, or 90%.  I used MQ's, rolling catalinas, Rite Aid UPs and overage to get a big stock up on dairy, lunchmeat, bacon, salad dressing and produce.  Aldi has decent prices on mushrooms, cauliflower and Vidalia onions this week which I price matched at Walmart. 

I have $16.00 in catalinas to use next week.  It was fun shopping.

Patstab: Your garden sounds neat.  I'm going to make a salad this weekend from our garden.  I have 4 different kinds of lettuce planted.  My radishes, carrots and onions aren't ready yet.

Is anyone fixing their DH or DF something special for Fathers Day or do you go out to eat?  My dad likes raisin pie, so I will be making him that this weekend.  DH will be getting a nice, big steak w/mushrooms, salad, baked potato and a strawberry dessert.

[constanz22]

I had $5 expiring at CVS that I needed to use and no plan or idea to roll. I had read about some 1.99 Biore strips that were producing the $5 EB/2 but I checked 2 or 3 stores this week and never saw them, but didn't really know what they looked like or where to find them. There was also some CVS feminine pad/purse thing that was supposed to give $2 EB and cost around that but I didn't find those anywhere either.,.UGH...so I just used my 20% coupon and got pee pads for the dogs.

Anyone who has been scanning their card this week would have gotten a $2/1 Maybelline CRT, several of the nail polishes are 50% off, ringing up 1.99, so FREE! Some stores have them marked, some don't but even in the store that didn't have them marked, they still rang up on clearance. A lot of the colors on the top row are on clearance and you can always scan for price at red machine.

My dad doesn't want or need anything, and always tells me that when I ask. I just end up baking him something, usually a nice loaf of some kind of sweetbread, banana or pumpkin or something like that. He does like his sweets

[FreeSalsa]

I ran into CVS this week for a Father's Day card and came out with a third $4/20. I have enough rain checks for about $12 worth of stuff. I need another $8 of some deal to make it worth it.

I've had a hard time printing those Driscoll coupons in the past. I'll have to try it again.

Pastab, yay garden!  I just pulled the last of the winter veggies--lettuce, beets, carrots, along with the volunteer tomato that survived the winter and last year's parsley too.

I bought a clove of garlic last time I was up your way Dancinmama, and it's sprouting green garlic.  It's the only thing that will grow in the tiny but adorable pots DH got me as a gift one year.

Sadly I had to buy a few saucers to go under the plant pots.  The ones I got before were pretty flimsy and cheap and I'm always stepping on them and breaking them and water is leaking all over the place.  I grew about $35 in food last year.  I just spent the same on replacement saucers.  Not the most thrifty move.  Good thing I like to do it.  

It's very sad.  The month is half over and we're still on page one.  

[FreeSalsa]

Oh, hey, I made it page two, woohoo!!!