2013 Grocery Challenge

[saveinla]

Nov 13, 2013 11:19:04 GMT -5 murphath said:

saveinla wrote:

murphath,

Can you point me to this deal from Home Depot? Thanks


It runs through 11/15 and is on the Quick Ship laminate flooring only.  I think if you book the measuring before the 15th, you should get the deal.  If you want a laminate that is "in stock", then it's $1.99 per sq ft for basic installation.  I don't know about your neck of the woods, but $1.99 is the least expensive installation price I've found so that's even a good deal.  Everything up here is way more expensive than in SoCal.

Great - thank you.

[rubyslippers]

Lately, I've been finding quite a few deals at Kroger.  Today I bought a JCPenny's gift card for a Christmas gift and got $10.00 off groceries.  That along with a $5/50 digital coupon, senior discount, $3.00 catalina for Reach Floss, 2 free items and coupons that doubled, I did pretty good.  I got a 14 lb. turkey, pumpkin pie, 4 bags frozen vegetables, 6 lb. pork loin, 4 mushroom soup, 3 mac & cheese, yeast, 1 Dole smoothie, 2 D. Pepsi 6 pk. bottles, 1 pkg. hash brown patties, 1 broccoli crown and a 4 lb. bag of sugar.  I spent $20.16 and saved $35.07.
Basically the turkey, pie, vegetables, floss, mac & cheese, smoothie and yeast were free.

At Kohls, I did a quick couple of transactions and got 3 pillar candles for a new centerpiece my sister is making me for Christmas.  I had a $10.00 and a $5.00 coupon.  I spent $1.25 total OOP.

At Rite Aid I bought 3 power bars and a chocolate piece of candy.  I paid $.28, saved $1.50 and earned $1.00 UP reward. 

Tomorrow I'll finish up by price matching produce at Walmart.  Aldi has mushrooms $.59, 2 lb. bags of carrots $.69 and 2 peppers for $.79.  Now if I could only find a good deal on cheese, I would be a happy camper.

[marvholly]

Still have not gotten my weekly grocery ad packet. Good thing we have the internet. Plan to shop Fri or Sat. Holding out for better weather.

Got the CVS BF ad via I heart CVS. FINALLY found somethig I want/need.

[constanz22]

I can't remember if I posted about it, but I got a Sam's club membership from Groupon.  I don't usually feel it's worth it for me, a single person household.  It was a really great deal.  $45, which is the regular price, but it included a $20 gift card and coupons for a free rotisserie chicken, a free apple pie and a free scalloped potato.  With many of the coupon deals drying up, I can see myself using it a bit more.  I went in April with my mom and her card and got kitchen trash bags, Ibuprofin, and allergy meds.  They were all at least a years supply.  And as cheap as getting most with coupons anymore....

Our local news profiled an "extreme couponer" last night, interviewed her home, showed her stockpile, etc and sort of showed a shopping trip (grocery store) and said her bill was over $500 and she paid around $250 and were raving about how "great"...I just lol'd.

Had a horrible experience at RA the other day.  My usual store that I shop all the time.  "New" worker who claimed to be a manager.  She was very anti-coupon, gave me a hard time about everything.  And I wasn't even doing anything "sketchy"...sigh...just another roadblock.

[saveinla]

I have been just buying gift cards at various stores and rolling them.

Vons/Pavilions has an offer for Buy 50$ JC Penney card, get 10$ cat this week. I also got an offer for 15$ off for buying a 100$ Amex GC.  Spent 140.95, got gift cards worth 150$ and 10$ cat to buy groceries.

I bought a 50$ Sears GC from RA and got 10$ Up that I will use to get coffee next week. I used the GC at Sears and got 5$ to spend at Kmart.

I also had an offer from Amex to Spend 50$ at Lowes and get 10$ credit and another one from iBotta for Spend 100$ at Lowes and get 10$ credit. I combined them and got 20$ credit for buying Shell gas cards that we will use anyways.

Wish there were more of these sort of deals.

[rubyslippers]

Nov 14, 2013 13:06:15 GMT -5 saveinla said:

I have been just buying gift cards at various stores and rolling them.

Vons/Pavilions has an offer for Buy 50$ JC Penney card, get 10$ cat this week. I also got an offer for 15$ off for buying a 100$ Amex GC.  Spent 140.95, got gift cards worth 150$ and 10$ cat to buy groceries.

I bought a 50$ Sears GC from RA and got 10$ Up that I will use to get coffee next week. I used the GC at Sears and got 5$ to spend at Kmart.

I also had an offer from Amex to Spend 50$ at Lowes and get 10$ credit and another one from iBotta for Spend 100$ at Lowes and get 10$ credit. I combined them and got 20$ credit for buying Shell gas cards that we will use anyways.

Wish there were more of these sort of deals.

I've been doing the same thing and am planning on doing more during Thanksgiving week.  Kroger will have quadruple fuel points when you buy gift cards, Rite Aid will have UPs for the Home Improvement cards, and Meijer will have catalinas.  I would love to have the credit at Lowes--we need a new kitchen faucet.

[constanz22]

Well, since grocery deals seem slow, how about a couple deals for Christmas!

OLD NAVY- today online, extra 35% off with code MERRY, includes clearance.  Free shipping with $50 purchase BEFORE promo code.  I got a nice winter coat and a few clearance items for $35 shipped.

DISCOUNTMAGS.com had several $5 magazine subscriptions today.  No hidden catch and no auto renewal, just $5!
  

[dancinmama]

  THIS IS A SAD, SAD DAY FOR DANCINMAMA 

I went into the liquor store tonight to pick up the inserts from the unsolds as I have been for almost (5) years now and found out that the store is being SOLD!!   I have been getting free coupons from them for many years; I doubt these days that I could find a new supplier.

As of Dec. 16th, I will be completely couponless.

It's not as if I've used a ton over the last year anyway, but when I wanted some to stockpile something, it sure was nice to have them.  I am soooo thankful that I stockpiled like crazy back in the day when there were freebies galore.  I am so thankful that I have a Grocery Outlet and a 99 Cent Store.

Oh well, it was MOST EXCELLENT while it lasted.  Nothing lasts forever. 

Farewell free coupons.

[marvholly]

Dancin
Here is hoping you get luckey & the new owner will be friendly & let you continue to grab at lease some inserts.

[dancinmama]

Nov 18, 2013 6:35:58 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Dancin
Here is hoping you get luckey & the new owner will be friendly & let you continue to grab at lease some inserts.

Thanks, but I don't think that's gonna be happening.   Since Extreme Couponing aired I have lost (2) other places that allowed me to pull.   I had been pulling at one of them for over (3) years.  One day I walked in and they said that their carrier told them that the returned papers must be complete.  Interestingly enough, they have the same carrier as the liquor store that is being sold.     Personally, I think someone in the family (family run business) or perhaps a friend of the family decided to start couponing, but I don't know for sure.

I think it will be all good.  I don't really need any of the coupons for non-perishables and I can get a lot of food items REALLY cheaply at the Grocery Outlet and the 99 Cent Store, neither of which take coupons anyway.  It was just really nice to have them on the rare occasion that Safeway or Nob Hill had a decent deal after coupon, but that was pretty rare.

Oh well, it's sad; but it is what it is.

IF the deals were like they were in '07-'10 and I did not have stockpiles, I'd buy extra newspapers; but I really doubt that would be very cost effective these days especially with my stockpiles.

This is the first time in over 26 years that I will be completely couponless.

[MonicaLee5186]

I forgot that I wanted to mention last Friday, I was in CVS to get my free bottle of acetaminophen and saw that there were already a lot of 25% markdowns on shampoos and hair care.  I know after the holidays that really kicks into high gear at CVS but I was surprised to see it started already!  There weren't any spectacular deals yet but you never know when a nice CRT/coupon matchup may occur!

[FreeSalsa]

Nov 15, 2013 14:31:06 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

Nov 14, 2013 13:06:15 GMT -5 saveinla said:

I have been just buying gift cards at various stores and rolling them.

Vons/Pavilions has an offer for Buy 50$ JC Penney card, get 10$ cat this week. I also got an offer for 15$ off for buying a 100$ Amex GC.  Spent 140.95, got gift cards worth 150$ and 10$ cat to buy groceries.

I bought a 50$ Sears GC from RA and got 10$ Up that I will use to get coffee next week. I used the GC at Sears and got 5$ to spend at Kmart.

I also had an offer from Amex to Spend 50$ at Lowes and get 10$ credit and another one from iBotta for Spend 100$ at Lowes and get 10$ credit. I combined them and got 20$ credit for buying Shell gas cards that we will use anyways.

Wish there were more of these sort of deals.

I've been doing the same thing and am planning on doing more during Thanksgiving week.  Kroger will have quadruple fuel points when you buy gift cards, Rite Aid will have UPs for the Home Improvement cards, and Meijer will have catalinas.  I would love to have the credit at Lowes--we need a new kitchen faucet.

Please keep us posted on the wheres and hows when you do it.  It's the best thing in free money out there, I guess.

[FreeSalsa]

Nov 17, 2013 13:23:46 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Well, since grocery deals seem slow, how about a couple deals for Christmas!

OLD NAVY- today online, extra 35% off with code MERRY, includes clearance.  Free shipping with $50 purchase BEFORE promo code.  I got a nice winter coat and a few clearance items for $35 shipped.

DISCOUNTMAGS.com had several $5 magazine subscriptions today.  No hidden catch and no auto renewal, just $5!
  

I love cheap magazines.  But you snooze, you lose, and I snoozed.  Next time!  Thanks for the post!

[FreeSalsa]

Nov 17, 2013 22:06:23 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

  THIS IS A SAD, SAD DAY FOR DANCINMAMA 

I went into the liquor store tonight to pick up the inserts from the unsolds as I have been for almost (5) years now and found out that the store is being SOLD!!   I have been getting free coupons from them for many years; I doubt these days that I could find a new supplier.

As of Dec. 16th, I will be completely couponless.

It's not as if I've used a ton over the last year anyway, but when I wanted some to stockpile something, it sure was nice to have them.  I am soooo thankful that I stockpiled like crazy back in the day when there were freebies galore.  I am so thankful that I have a Grocery Outlet and a 99 Cent Store.

Oh well, it was MOST EXCELLENT while it lasted.  Nothing lasts forever. 

Farewell free coupons.

Bummer!!!!  But don't give up hope yet.  I thought the same thing about my fruit guy when his store was sold to a chain.  But they kept the same employees and after a few weeks of letting the dust settle, I was right back in business.  Hey, if you don't ask....  I hope it works out!!!

[FreeSalsa]

I am also on the declutter thread and in my decluttering I came across three more CVS cards I hadn't been able to find.  So I went to a CVS that I dont' go to very often on Saturday night after 9:00 p.m. to try to pick up a few more free acetaminophen.  I scanned the cards and I did not get the pill Qs, I got two of the exact same Qs for something else, and that's it.  It only let me scan once instead of multiple times.  What gives  I think this might have been a 24 hour store so is it possible that they had already changed over the Qs?  Also, one of the cards said something like, this card does not match our records.  How could it match records if I was just scanning it?  WTH

Earlier in the week I also got a CRT for CVS cough drops.  I got the 33% more pack for $1.49 - $1 CRT, paid the .50 and tax with a GC.  DH goes through these like candy.  I also did the Angel Soft TP deal twice with GCs and ECBs and $3/15 and it came out pretty well.  I ran out of toilet paper the last two times so I'm glad to have some in the cabinet for a while while I look for another deal.

I didn't even go to Sprouts last week.

[FreeSalsa]

Are the BF ads out yet?  Is there anything exciting to be had

[constanz22]

Nov 19, 2013 9:16:21 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Are the BF ads out yet?  Is there anything exciting to be had

Yes, they are all out.  I didn't even look at Wags.  CVS seems super lame after last year.  Rite Aid seems to be the best.  I didn't look in great detail yet, but they had tons of free after Ups items and I think I heard a split ad, with lots of free's in each.  I will probably make my plan of attack this weekend, but may only do RA this year, other than the cheap/free cereal at CVS.

[dancinmama]

Nov 19, 2013 9:08:41 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Nov 17, 2013 22:06:23 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

  THIS IS A SAD, SAD DAY FOR DANCINMAMA 

I went into the liquor store tonight to pick up the inserts from the unsolds as I have been for almost (5) years now and found out that the store is being SOLD!!   I have been getting free coupons from them for many years; I doubt these days that I could find a new supplier.

As of Dec. 16th, I will be completely couponless.

It's not as if I've used a ton over the last year anyway, but when I wanted some to stockpile something, it sure was nice to have them.  I am soooo thankful that I stockpiled like crazy back in the day when there were freebies galore.  I am so thankful that I have a Grocery Outlet and a 99 Cent Store.

Oh well, it was MOST EXCELLENT while it lasted.  Nothing lasts forever. 

Farewell free coupons.

Bummer!!!!  But don't give up hope yet.  I thought the same thing about my fruit guy when his store was sold to a chain.  But they kept the same employees and after a few weeks of letting the dust settle, I was right back in business.  Hey, if you don't ask....  I hope it works out!!!

The employees at the liquor store are the owners.  I assume that it will be the same with the new owners.  This is a very small business.  I doubt you could hire people and make a profit.

[hopetoberich]

Sorry to hear that dancing. I always envied you and your great supply.
At one time a paper delivery guy dumped loads of free papers in our apt complex. That stopped about a year ago.

 I went to t he outlet store tonight. I stocked up on things we have been trying that we like. $90 later! I went a bit mad. Just regular outlet prices but I am deal starved and it made me grab the Hormel corned beef $3.99 a can. They have been around $4.50 here in forever and I like it so I got 12. Good til 2015. I have to pay real money now 

[marvholly]

Apparently one of my independent stores has NOT paid their web host bill because I get ‘this site is not currently available,’ if you own this site contact ….when I ‘try’ to get their current ad.

I deliberately did NOT go to Aldi last week because, her in IL, Link cards (food stamps) go out to half the people the 1st and half the 15th. I won’t be going this week either as my local independent fruit/veg markets have better $$ and I have not yet seen the ad (posts Thur) for my best mkt. Guess I will be shopping in the rain this week (forecast for Thur & Fri).

One of my local bloggers mentioned something on sale at Dominicks this week that I do NOT see on the ad. I’ll have to check J4U.

The CVS BF ad is LAME. The 11/24 ad seems better for me.

[rubyslippers]

I went to Kroger and paid $5.66 OOP for 4 Reach Floss, 1 bag 10 lb. of potatoes, 4 Bob Evans sausages, 2 Muir Glen tomato paste, 1 sour cream, 1 lb. butter and 1 pkg. shredded cheese. I got a $3.00 catalina from the Floss after using 4 $1.00/1 IPQ's and used that with another $3.00 catalina from last week, along with 6 $.50 MQ's that doubled and my senior discount.  I saved $7.12.  I bought a $25.00 Chipotle gift card for a Christmas gift and paid $18.00 after the $7.00 e-coupon deducted.  I bought some gasoline cards too and I received quadruple fuel points for all of the gift cards.

I will finish up this weekend by price matching $1.99 for milk, $.69 celery and $.69 3 lb. bag of onions.

Rite Aid has some good sales next week starting on Sunday. 

[marvholly]

This was an $$ shopping week for me but coffee was on sale (I also had a $1 coupon) and clementines finally hit my maximum price point ($5/5 lb). so that was already $10 more than I usually spend. I only need a couple odds & ends from my 2 local fruit/veg markets for next week-less than $3.

Today is going to be a LONG time on the computer day. I want to hit the early sale(s) at WalMart to see if I can get a couple of things including a bday gift for youngest grand (not til June but…….) and bday gits for the 3 grands in March & April. NOTE: I’ll do just about anything to NOT clean house.

[skubikky]

Wegmans had $3/$3 produce coupons.

Got 5lbs potatoes, 3lbs butternut squash, tangerines, celery and 10 lbs yams for free!

[dancinmama]

Nov 20, 2013 0:34:40 GMT -5 hopetoberich said:

Sorry to hear that dancing. I always envied you and your great supply.
At one time a paper delivery guy dumped loads of free papers in our apt complex. That stopped about a year ago.

 I went to t he outlet store tonight. I stocked up on things we have been trying that we like. $90 later! I went a bit mad. Just regular outlet prices but I am deal starved and it made me grab the Hormel corned beef $3.99 a can. They have been around $4.50 here in forever and I like it so I got 12. Good til 2015. I have to pay real money now 

Thanks for your kind words.  I never thought that the store would ever be sold.  Sadly, the patriarch of the family passed away last December and his wife decided to sell.  Their 34 year old son who runs the store had no clue that his mom was selling and he is none too happy about it.

I feel VERY fortunate to have gotten so many thousands of inserts for free over the years.  Not only did they allow me to stockpile so many products for free, but they also allowed me to share my good fortune with so many Grocery Challengers in "the good years".   I thoroughly enjoyed being able to do that. 
 

[marvholly]

While putting thing in and taking other things up from the basement stockpile on Thur I found a snow brush & scrapper. Thought I was going to have to buy a new one this year

[dancinmama]

I was going to go out and do some deals today at Ulta and WalMart, but am not feeling very well.  I can do the WalMart deal another day, but I have a $3.50/$10 from Ulta (that expires today), $4/2 Cover Girl,  and the CG that I want is on sale BOGO 50% off, but I guess I'll just have to let it go. 

[dancinmama]

Nov 23, 2013 6:51:36 GMT -5 marvholly said:

While putting thing in and taking other things up from the basement stockpile on Thur I found a snow brush & scrapper. Thought I was going to have to buy a new one this year

YEAH!!  I love it when that happens!!

[saveinla]

CVS has a buy 150$ Paypal GC (4.95 activation fee) get 50$ ECB deal the next 4 days only. I am planning to do the following - I have 100$ Amex card from a SW promo a couple weeks ago:

Albertsons - 100$ MC + 4.95 activation fee - Use Amex 100$ - Get 20$ cat - 15$ profit
Smart N Final - 100$ MC + 4.95 activation fee - Use MC 100$ - Get 15$ cat - 10$ profit
CVS - 150$ pp card + 4.95 activation fee - Use MC 100$ +50$ CC - Get 50$ ECB - 45$ profit
CVS - Get 150$ Amex card - no activation fee - Use PP 150$ - Avoid PP activation fees
RA - buy HI GC get 10$ Up - not sure if it's limit 1 or 2.

Or roll it again once more at Albertsons and Smart n Final.

[rubyslippers]

Nov 23, 2013 17:34:09 GMT -5 saveinla said:

CVS has a buy 150$ Paypal GC (4.95 activation fee) get 50$ ECB deal the next 4 days only. I am planning to do the following - I have 100$ Amex card from a SW promo a couple weeks ago:

Albertsons - 100$ MC + 4.95 activation fee - Use Amex 100$ - Get 20$ cat - 15$ profit
Smart N Final - 100$ MC + 4.95 activation fee - Use MC 100$ - Get 15$ cat - 10$ profit
CVS - 150$ pp card + 4.95 activation fee - Use MC 100$ +50$ CC - Get 50$ ECB - 45$ profit
CVS - Get 150$ Amex card - no activation fee - Use PP 150$ - Avoid PP activation fees
RA - buy HI GC get 10$ Up - not sure if it's limit 1 or 2.

Or roll it again once more at Albertsons and Smart n Final.

I heard about the CVS deal so I have to ask since I've never done it before.  Can the funds from paypal get transferred back to your bank account?  I'm planning on doing similar deals at Meijer, Kroger and Rite Aid next week.  I would go back to shopping at CVS if I had $50.00 in ECB's.

[FreeSalsa]

Nov 23, 2013 17:34:09 GMT -5 saveinla said:

CVS has a buy 150$ Paypal GC (4.95 activation fee) get 50$ ECB deal the next 4 days only. I am planning to do the following - I have 100$ Amex card from a SW promo a couple weeks ago:

Albertsons - 100$ MC + 4.95 activation fee - Use Amex 100$ - Get 20$ cat - 15$ profit
Smart N Final - 100$ MC + 4.95 activation fee - Use MC 100$ - Get 15$ cat - 10$ profit
CVS - 150$ pp card + 4.95 activation fee - Use MC 100$ +50$ CC - Get 50$ ECB - 45$ profit
CVS - Get 150$ Amex card - no activation fee - Use PP 150$ - Avoid PP activation fees
RA - buy HI GC get 10$ Up - not sure if it's limit 1 or 2.

Or roll it again once more at Albertsons and Smart n Final.

You can use one GC to buy another one?

And how do you pay with a PayPal card?  Do you buy the GC online?

TIA