2013 Grocery Challenge

[marvholly]

If anyone has Aldi nearby & still needs baking supplies the sugar & flour are the cheapest I have seen anywhere this year.

[dancinmama]

Since I am down to one unopened Excedrin, I decided to use some of my UPs to do the Excedrin deal.  I went on the coupon database to find Excedrin insert coupons and was surprised to find that there are none available right now.

I'm still going to get it, cuz there is nothing else giving UPs that I need right now.

[rubyslippers]

Kroger: I bought a $25.00 Chipotle gift card and saved $7.00 with digital coupon.  With the $7.00 savings, I got a manual can opener, 1 head of lettuce, pizza dough, loaf of bread and 1 head of purple cabbage.  After using a $3.00 catalina, my total came to $2.20 and I finished my Christmas shopping with the can opener and gift card.

 

Aldi: A pack of tortillas and a bag of mini peppers came to $2.98.

Rite Aid: I bought 4 bags of Werthers Caramels, 2 cans Almonds, 1 Neutragena moisturizer, eye makeup and 2 Oxi Clean power paks for $2.19 after UPs and MQ's.  The Oxi Clean were $1.19 on clearance minus $1.00 IPQ so I got 2 of them for $.38.

This weekend I will price match Walgreens milk for $2.29, Aldi's eggs and oranges for $1.29 and $1.99.

Meijer: I got 4 long sleeve T-shirts BOGOF w/mperks.  Each shirt cost $4.00.

Hallmark:  I used two $5/10 IPQ to get 10 Yankee scented wax melts and 2 pieces of candy for $11.76.  (Gift to me)

[dancinmama]

Finds at the Grocery Outlet today:

$.47/ea.  14.4 oz. boxes Krusteaz sugar/snickerdoodle cookie mix
$.47/ea.  30 oz. cans Bush's Mexican black beans (they're refried black beans with some whole beans within)
$.48/ea.  30 oz. jars Kraft Homestyle mayo
$.97/ea.  Nabisco Honey Maid Grahams

PLUS I got 5% off my total purchase for being "old".

I popped in because I had to go to Rite Aid and the GO is right across the street.

On Thanksgiving Day I popped into the GO near my sister's home and they had boxes of Lipton chicken noodle soup mix @ 2/$1 so I picked up (10).  I LOVE this soup.  I like the taste better than Campbell's.  And I really like the fact that it is not in a can.

[rubyslippers]

Dec 4, 2013 20:54:26 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Finds at the Grocery Outlet today:

$.47/ea.  14.4 oz. boxes Krusteaz sugar/snickerdoodle cookie mix
$.47/ea.  30 oz. cans Bush's Mexican black beans (they're refried black beans with some whole beans within)
$.48/ea.  30 oz. jars Kraft Homestyle mayo
$.97/ea.  Nabisco Honey Maid Grahams

PLUS I got 5% off my total purchase for being "old".

I popped in because I had to go to Rite Aid and the GO is right across the street.

On Thanksgiving Day I popped into the GO near my sister's home and they had boxes of Lipton chicken noodle soup mix @ 2/$1 so I picked up (10).  I LOVE this soup.  I like the taste better than Campbell's.  And I really like the fact that it is not in a can.

I love that soup too!  Sometimes I jazz it up with a few chopped vegetables and some cooked chicken for a quick and easy little pot of soup. 

[marvholly]

Dancin
PLUS I got 5% off my total purchase for being "old".


this happened to me Wed at my fav fruit/veg market. They just recenty extended their sale dates to include Wed. Used to be their sales were Thur thru Tue and senior discount on Wed only. Have to see how long that bonus lasts. I figure VERY short time.

[skubikky]

Been doing the 12 days of Christmas on the mycokerewards.com  website.
Was able to get $5 McD's GC(115 reward points) on Tues, and yesterday, a $25 TJMaxx GC(600 reward points).
I was thrilled to be able to get these.

[constanz22]

Dec 5, 2013 10:32:40 GMT -5 skubikky said:

Been doing the 12 days of Christmas on the mycokerewards.com  website.
Was able to get $5 McD's GC(115 reward points) on Tues, and yesterday, a $25 TJMaxx GC(600 reward points).
I was thrilled to be able to get these.

I saw some of those on a blog, but I rarely have more than 100 or so points in my acct.  I grabbed the 12 pack for 30 points a few weeks ago which put me under 100.  I don't buy that much soda so I am not able to rack up many points

[skubikky]

Dec 5, 2013 11:06:35 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Dec 5, 2013 10:32:40 GMT -5 skubikky said:

Been doing the 12 days of Christmas on the mycokerewards.com  website.
Was able to get $5 McD's GC(115 reward points) on Tues, and yesterday, a $25 TJMaxx GC(600 reward points).
I was thrilled to be able to get these.

I saw some of those on a blog, but I rarely have more than 100 or so points in my acct.  I grabbed the 12 pack for 30 points a few weeks ago which put me under 100.  I don't buy that much soda so I am not able to rack up many points

Yeah, I wouldn't have that many points except that one of the younger engineers in my department was buying a lot of 12 packs awhile back and gave me all the codes.
He gives me caps almost every week. ...otherwise I wouldn't have much either.

[marvholly]

I don't drink enough soda, let alone coke products, to bother w/their points. I MUCH prefer Pepsi sierra Mist.

My good fruit/veg market had signle serve porions (4 oz) of butter & lemon marinated salmon for 0.99. Bought 1 to try. Was NOT impressed. It was ok but NOT worth the extra fat compared to the plain ones for the same price. i can easily add the lemon juice and just a bit of fat.

[FreeSalsa]

Dec 4, 2013 20:54:26 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Finds at the Grocery Outlet today:

$.47/ea.  14.4 oz. boxes Krusteaz sugar/snickerdoodle cookie mix
$.47/ea.  30 oz. cans Bush's Mexican black beans (they're refried black beans with some whole beans within)
$.48/ea.  30 oz. jars Kraft Homestyle mayo
$.97/ea.  Nabisco Honey Maid Grahams

PLUS I got 5% off my total purchase for being "old".

I popped in because I had to go to Rite Aid and the GO is right across the street.

On Thanksgiving Day I popped into the GO near my sister's home and they had boxes of Lipton chicken noodle soup mix @ 2/$1 so I picked up (10).  I LOVE this soup.  I like the taste better than Campbell's.  And I really like the fact that it is not in a can.

Great prices!!

[marvholly]

Rumor is the Dominicks (Safeway) on the Evanston-Wilmette border may be bought by Trader Joes. TJs is negotiation for a number of stores. I am not surprised they want this one. Good location-near Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette. These are all pretty comfortable income towns. Also, the already existing Trader Joes are much further east/west and MUCH smaller.

Several local bloggers have mentioned that some Dominicks are running 50% off sales. Mine was on the discounting list. However, I did NOT go last Wed and am unsure of when/if I will be there with this horrible cold and wind we are experiencing. Also, 50% off is NO great gift with how high their prices start compared to my independent stores.

I wish Grocery Outlet would come into metro Chicago.

[FreeSalsa]

Yesterday I used one of my $10 Up rewards to buy 4 of the o.b. and get $4 UP back.  I paid $1 OOP each, which is good.  I also got a $1 roll of tin foil, since we were out.  And I used an MC to get 2 big bottles of Pantene for $2 each.  I know it's not like the old days but I've been down to V05 for conditioner for months and it's not very good and my hair is practically crying.  So I bit the bullet and bough real conditioner.  I tried a sample before and it was very nice.

When they printed the Up that I had, something was wrong with the printer ink and there was a big streak down the center where nothing printed.  This, of course, meant that they could not scan it properly.  The manager told the checker to enter the first 11 numbers, but it took her about two whole minutes of staring at the screen to do it.  Whatever.  I don't know what she did but she was so thrown off.  Anyway, checked my receipt at the end as i always do, and I had not been charged any tax!  That saved me about $3 so that was nice.   I have another $10 UP to use so I'll see what's on sale this week.  If there's nothing good I'll just hit the $1 aisle and get some more foil and whatever else.

Last week at work someone brought in lemons and limes from her trees.  I brought home about half a plastic grocery bag full for free.

Speaking of grocery bags, my major city bans them on 1/1/14.  Luckily I work and do most of my shopping in one of the many separate cities interspersed within the city, so I'll still get some until they can vote on it.  But it's coming soon.  I got so many bags during the BF sales and I will keep using them as kitchen garbage bags until I run out.  I'd hate to have to buy them--I don't think I've ever bought a garbage bag.  I've been trying to get DH to use produce bags or bread bags instead of grocery bags if he just has meat bones or whatever to get rid of.  I've been using the bags the newspaper comes in in my very tiny bathroom garbage cans, and also the packaging that a 12 pk of TP comes in.  That's not the prettiest but no one is in my bathroom but me so I don't care.

[murphath]

Does anyone know if I can use UPs to purchase a gift card?  I have @ $22 and want to buy another HI gift card.  If it matters, one of the UPs is a $10 one from buying a prior HI gift card a few weeks back.

Thanks.

[constanz22]

Dec 8, 2013 12:36:21 GMT -5 murphath said:

Does anyone know if I can use UPs to purchase a gift card?  I have @ $22 and want to buy another HI gift card.  If it matters, one of the UPs is a $10 one from buying a prior HI gift card a few weeks back.

Thanks.

No, you can not.

[dancinmama]

Dec 8, 2013 6:55:55 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Rumor is the Dominicks (Safeway) on the Evanston-Wilmette border may be bought by Trader Joes. TJs is negotiation for a number of stores. I am not surprised they want this one. Good location-near Evanston, Skokie and Wilmette. These are all pretty comfortable income towns. Also, the already existing Trader Joes are much further east/west and MUCH smaller.

Several local bloggers have mentioned that some Dominicks are running 50% off sales. Mine was on the discounting list. However, I did NOT go last Wed and am unsure of when/if I will be there with this horrible cold and wind we are experiencing. Also, 50% off is NO great gift with how high their prices start compared to my independent stores.

I wish Grocery Outlet would come into metro Chicago.

I wish it would too.  Right now, I think they're only in the west. 

If it makes you feel any better, the deals there are hit and miss.  I'd never do any of my "regular" shopping there.  I pop in to find what they might have on clearance which means it has recently passed its "sell by" date or is about to.  I can stockpile cheese, vacuum sealed meats, coffee, etc., but I have to be very careful if the deal is on something that comes in a tin can (like veggies or beans) or a box (like cereal or crackers).  You really have to know the shelf-life of the product you're buying or you can end up throwing food away. 

[dancinmama]

Dec 8, 2013 12:20:57 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Speaking of grocery bags, my major city bans them on 1/1/14.  Luckily I work and do most of my shopping in one of the many separate cities interspersed within the city, so I'll still get some until they can vote on it.  But it's coming soon.  I got so many bags during the BF sales and I will keep using them as kitchen garbage bags until I run out.  I'd hate to have to buy them--I don't think I've ever bought a garbage bag.  I've been trying to get DH to use produce bags or bread bags instead of grocery bags if he just has meat bones or whatever to get rid of.  I've been using the bags the newspaper comes in in my very tiny bathroom garbage cans, and also the packaging that a 12 pk of TP comes in.  That's not the prettiest but no one is in my bathroom but me so I don't care.

Is that plastic or paper too?  My county has been threatening to ban the plastic for a couple of years, but so far it hasn't happened.  I use them for garbage bags too.  I have to empty the garbage more frequently, but that's okay.  I don't mind.  It seems silly to "buy" something (garbage bags) just to throw them away.  I have "a few" of the plastic grocery bags stockpiled if/when they are banned.  I also have a stockpile of regular garbage bags from the days when they could be had for free, but I only use them to hold/haul recyclables to the recycling center and use the same bag(s) over and over again.

In my sister's county, you have to pay $.05 extra for each bag.  I always have to remind myself to take reusable bags when I happen to go over to her Rite Aid, CVS, or Grocery Outlet.

[rubyslippers]

I have ECB's to use up at CVS so I will be getting 2 cans of the Planters mixed nuts. I don't see too much of anything else.

I'll be stocking up on Scott TP this week with the UPs I got from the Rush Card and HI gift cards and rolling over some rewards for the free nail polish.  I have some rain checks I want to be using in the next couple of weeks.

I got a fresh pineapple today by price matching Aldi's for $1.49 and oranges for $1.99 a bag.  There isn't too much else on my list unless someone comes out with an amazing deal on cheese. 

[FreeSalsa]

Dec 8, 2013 16:38:33 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Dec 8, 2013 12:20:57 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Speaking of grocery bags, my major city bans them on 1/1/14.  Luckily I work and do most of my shopping in one of the many separate cities interspersed within the city, so I'll still get some until they can vote on it.  But it's coming soon.  I got so many bags during the BF sales and I will keep using them as kitchen garbage bags until I run out.  I'd hate to have to buy them--I don't think I've ever bought a garbage bag.  I've been trying to get DH to use produce bags or bread bags instead of grocery bags if he just has meat bones or whatever to get rid of.  I've been using the bags the newspaper comes in in my very tiny bathroom garbage cans, and also the packaging that a 12 pk of TP comes in.  That's not the prettiest but no one is in my bathroom but me so I don't care.

Is that plastic or paper too?  My county has been threatening to ban the plastic for a couple of years, but so far it hasn't happened.  I use them for garbage bags too.  I have to empty the garbage more frequently, but that's okay.  I don't mind.  It seems silly to "buy" something (garbage bags) just to throw them away.  I have "a few" of the plastic grocery bags stockpiled if/when they are banned.  I also have a stockpile of regular garbage bags from the days when they could be had for free, but I only use them to hold/haul recyclables to the recycling center and use the same bag(s) over and over again.

In my sister's county, you have to pay $.05 extra for each bag.  I always have to remind myself to take reusable bags when I happen to go over to her Rite Aid, CVS, or Grocery Outlet.

Plastic is banned in the city I live in (starting Jan.) and if you want a paper bag you will have to buy it for $.05, or you can bring your own.  They've done it in a lot of the surrounding cities already.  They keep postponing the vote in the city I work and shop in but it will happen sooner or later.

We purposely bought a kitchen garbage can with a lid that fits that size bag. DH has a very sensitive nose so we take out the garbage every other day usually, because he can smell anything that's been there for a day or so.  I'd rather fill it first but a lot of times it's gone before it's full.  

Remember when we could fill 22 pages in a day?  Now it's 22 pages for the year.  I'm a sad hound.  

[marvholly]

my post Sunday about Dominicks becoming Trader Joes was wrong-it is becoming whole foods.

Dancin
I am very well aware of the 'forgivness' in best buy dates. Back in my working days we did a LOT of such package testing. You can bend at least 6 if not 12 months on most of them.

Free Salsa
A LOT of those 22 pages/day were posts from JMo regarding her trials, tribulations, bargans and kid stories.

[dancinmama]

Dec 8, 2013 22:35:33 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Well, I screwed that up!!  FreeSalsa said:  Remember when we could fill 22 pages in a day? Now it's 22 pages for the year. I'm a sad hound.

We haven't been able to do that in such a long time.  Back in those days, we had so much fun sharing the deals and giving each other crap.  You guys had me rolling on the floor so many times.  I loved ooty's dog pictures of all of us.  Those were hilarious!!  

I think JMo wins the prize for having the most non-grocery related posts, but we all did a little bit of that.  I think that she was a want-to-be writer and the Grocery Challenge gave her an outlet for doing that.

Anyone who had ever participated on the Grocery Challenge for any length of time learned how to shop "on the cheap".  They learned that there are sales cycles and to wait for rock bottom prices, if they can, before they buy.   Those skills will be useful regardless of the changes in deals that we have seen.  There's not so much for free these days, but you can still buy on the cheap.

I am thankful for my stockpiles.  I can easily pass on most of the deals as I just do not need the products.  What I miss is the overage that I used to be able to get doing the deals that allowed me to get grocery staples for free along the way.  I also miss being able to donate toiletries to the local food pantry like I once did.  'veI pulled way back on doing that in the last couple of years. 

BUT, there is new year on the horizon and hopefully it will bring good deals!!

[constanz22]

There are better than free Hershey Kisses at CVS this week.  You have to watch a video on cvs.com and then share it on FB, Twitter or Pintrest and it prints a 2.50/2 cvs coupon and there is 1.10/2 MC on coupons.com.  They are on sale 2/6 with $3 EB.

[constanz22]

If you're at Rite Aid, it's worth taking a look through the aisles.  Lots of 50-75% clearance popping up.  I found some lotions and body washes.  I don't remember the brand right off, think it's a RA brand, but the regular price was $10.xx.  They were marked 75% off AND all had $2 RA peelies on them.  I paid .54 each for them.  Less actually cuz I had a $4/40 RA coupon.  Lots of clearance in the make up aisle too.  I used up all my Ups today on printer ink and the above purchase.

[hopetoberich]

RIte Aid is making me $$ RIGHT NOW. Not by couponing. I  bought their stock when it was down in the dumps and that turned out real well. I've doubled my investment  I'm happy RAD is the sticker.

[rubyslippers]

There are some Kraft cheese IPQ's on couponsdotcom, 3 printables per computer.  Just what I was looking for as my supply is low. 

[constanz22]

Dec 10, 2013 6:58:34 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

There are some Kraft cheese IPQ's on couponsdotcom, 3 printables per computer.  Just what I was looking for as my supply is low. 

I was JUST coming to ask who it was looking for a cheese deal!  Are you near a Target?  Just read a deal on a blog.  There is a B2G1 Target Q and a cartwheel Q you can pair with the IP to score some really cheap cheese!

[rubyslippers]

Unfortunately, we don't have a Target near here.  That would be really sweet. 

[murphath]

rubyslippers wrote:
There are some Kraft cheese IPQ's on couponsdotcom, 3 printables per computer. Just what I was looking for as my supply is low.

I checked my coupons.com:  no Kraft IPQ's.  Is there a special zip code to use?  I notice that my local zip code doesn't always get the same coupons.com q's.  Can you share which one you used?  Thanks.

[rubyslippers]

Murpath: I used zip 10101

I got 10 bags of the shredded cheese last night by price matching Meijer's $1.88 bag. I got overage at Walmart on the Almay products, so after 10 bags of cheese and 5 IPQ's, 1 bag pretzels and 1 can of water chestnuts, I paid $3.67 OOP.

At CVS I used my $6.99 ECB and a $1/2 Planters MQ to get 2 cans of mixed nuts free.

Meijer had free Tostitos on their mperks and got 2 using my DS and my mperks account. They also had ham shanks on sale for $.67 lb. and got 2, one I'm cooking now and one for the freezer. They also had Challenge butter for $2.50 and I used a $1.00 IPQ to get a pound of butter for $1.50.

[constanz22]

Would anyone happen to have a $10 promo code for L.L.Bean catalog they are not using?  It's on the back of recent catalogs that went out.  TIA