2014 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Don't think that you have to read through the pages and pages of posts to join in - most of it will be old, out-of-date information anyway.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!!

Alright ladies, it is a new year and hopefully we will see better deals!

[constanz22]

I went out to scout out after Christmas clearance today (planned on doing it tomorrow but we are getting a big snow storm!).  Walmart had hardly anything, no great deals and not much left and only 50% off.  Target was 70% and still had quite a bit left.  Got some decent deals.  I had to be somewhere so didn't get to spend as much time there as I would've liked.  Candy was still 50% but got some extremely cheap M&Ms with Target and MC's.  I wanted to go to Sam's but they were closed today .  My best find was at the Starbucks inside of Target.  They had refillable mugs on clearance for $9 and includes FREE refills for the month of January.  They were like $35 before Christmas!  Score!

[dancinmama]

Jan 1, 2014 13:09:41 GMT -5 MonicaLee5186 said:

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Don't think that you have to read through the pages and pages of posts to join in - most of it will be old, out-of-date information anyway.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!!

Alright ladies, it is a new year and hopefully we will see better deals!

Hey, where've you been?  I don't think I've seen a post from you in quite a while. 

[marvholly]

I was wondering (and hoping) we would have a new thread for 2014.

I started a Whats for Dinner Tonight thread in Smart Spending. Come over and visist. Seems like a LOT of people had pork on NYD but that is something I have never learned to cook - part of being jewish I guess. Dad was raised kosher so never would eat any pork except spareribs.

[rubyslippers]

Our New Year's tradition is always having sauerkraut and sausage, or any type of pork goes with that. I also make sauerkraut balls and had them fried up.   I had frozen corn from the sweet corn that I had put away this past summer and a friend had given me a quart of home canned apple pie filling, so I made DH a French apple pie. It was delicious.

Thank heavens for stockpiles! We are getting so much snow and wind that it'll be awhile before we dig out and do any shopping. I have chicken tortilla soup in the crockpot for supper tonight and it's nice being able to go to my pantry to "shop."

I have a $6.00 mperks reward from Meijer so will get a rotisserie chicken to pick off the bone and make some stock, whenever we can get out again.

The only after Christmas items I bought were the limited edition Febreeze plug-ins and 1 roll of wrapping paper.  We've been too busy remodeling and having Christmas parties.

[MonicaLee5186]

Hi Dancinmama!

I've been around. We had a ton of people in for the holidays so preparing for that and surviving it were keeping me busy .  I am working full time and a part time job on the side as well so I'm only checking in here occasionally.  This week I got some most excellent news -- I HAVE A GROCERY OUTLET NEAR ME!  And by "near", I mean 45 minutes away.   It's near a friend of mine's home though, so we are going next weekend and then out to lunch. I am super excited and I'm hoping it's a good time to go. I know that it's hit or miss, so hopefully we score some awesome deals.

[dancinmama]

Jan 2, 2014 14:34:32 GMT -5 MonicaLee5186 said:

Hi Dancinmama!

I've been around. We had a ton of people in for the holidays so preparing for that and surviving it were keeping me busy .  I am working full time and a part time job on the side as well so I'm only checking in here occasionally.  This week I got some most excellent news -- I HAVE A GROCERY OUTLET NEAR ME!  And by "near", I mean 45 minutes away.   It's near a friend of mine's home though, so we are going next weekend and then out to lunch. I am super excited and I'm hoping it's a good time to go. I know that it's hit or miss, so hopefully we score some awesome deals.

Wow, that's AWESOME!!  It wouldn't be worth a 45 minute drive, but whenever you happen to be over that way don't miss the opportunity to drop in.  I sure hope they have some killer deals for you to swoop on when you go.  Can't wait to hear your report. 

[constanz22]

Jan 2, 2014 14:34:32 GMT -5 MonicaLee5186 said:

Hi Dancinmama!

I've been around. We had a ton of people in for the holidays so preparing for that and surviving it were keeping me busy .  I am working full time and a part time job on the side as well so I'm only checking in here occasionally.  This week I got some most excellent news -- I HAVE A GROCERY OUTLET NEAR ME!  And by "near", I mean 45 minutes away.   It's near a friend of mine's home though, so we are going next weekend and then out to lunch. I am super excited and I'm hoping it's a good time to go. I know that it's hit or miss, so hopefully we score some awesome deals.

Just curious where it is.  I don't think you live all that far from me so I did a search on their website but it said nothing within 50 miles of me...

[MonicaLee5186]

constanz it's in the Scranton area, the address is technically Archibald.  I have family in the area so we are there occasionally. It's called P&R Discounts, they have a facebook page if you want to check them out.

[constanz22]

Jan 2, 2014 21:16:29 GMT -5 MonicaLee5186 said:

constanz it's in the Scranton area, the address is technically Archibald.  I have family in the area so we are there occasionally. It's called P&R Discounts, they have a facebook page if you want to check them out.

Oh, ok, cool.  It's not technically Grocery Outlet.  Grocery Outlet is an actual "chain".  But, I will check it out.  I am only about 45 minutes from there.  I get down that way a few times over the summer usually.  Thanks.  Let me know how you like it.

[skubikky]

Digging out of a few feet of snow.
Been busy with the holidays and DH's knee surgery.  Had to get it in before the end of the year.
Had reached the HDHP deductible and the surgery and MRI wasn't any cost to us..   DH is healing but
I've been going up and down the stairs to keep the wood burning stove going instead of turning on the furnace.

The day after Christmas at WM.
     40 sq ft. wrapping paper   $ 0.48/1
    Proglide razor and shave cream gift set  $4.88 - $3/1 ProGlide Q

CVS
Used Puffs Q and Dawn Q's with P&G GC to get some free tissues and dish soap at CVS.
They had a Revlon lip gloss on sale 75% off 9.99, had a $2/1 Revlon Q = $0.70 cleared with GC.(these are the kind of deals that we used to get).



 

[dancinmama]

Well, it appears that when it comes to being a coupon queen I'm either all in or all out.  I just realized that I had $7 in EBs from Black Friday that I let expire.  These are the first rewards that I ever let get away from me.  I also had a bunch of $.50/2 Mars candy bar coupons that I was going to use on clearanced Snicker nutcrackers, but I forgot to even check for them. 

I still have a bunch of inserts, but once those coupons have expired, I'll be out of the coupon game unless I find another coupon resource.  My mom gets (3) sets (she learned to get multiples from me  ) so I can get at least (3) from her if I need something and she's not going to use them.  The problem is that with my stockpiles and the fact that I have a Grocery Outlet, I'm not really even looking for coupon deals these days - a good problem to have.  I can usually find the food items that I need at the GO or at the 99 Cent Store for less than anywhere else even if I do have a coupon so I no longer see the need to spend the time and effort.

I've saved more than my share over the decades, but I'm pretty sure that 2007-2012 beats the previous two decades combined even though during one of those decades I had doubled coupons at my grocery store.

[MonicaLee5186]

I hit up the ShopRite can-can sale this week and bought 6 months worth of canned beans for our household at .50/can. I much prefer the ease of just using canned beans and I think their texture is better, too.

I also got a 24 pack of "double roll" toilet paper for $4.30 by using an E-coupon, a manufacturer's coupon, and a store coupon off any toilet paper purchase.

[marvholly]

Monica
I SOOO agree w/you about canned beans. Generally, I find Aldi has decent prices on them. Rarely my large frut/veg market will beat Aldi by 0.09/can.

I plan to go out today IF it warms up a bit (20'2). Its been SOOO cold here, and will be again, that I have been hibernating. However, I am almost OUT of reading material. There is a limit to how much time I can/will spend on the computer or watching tv.

[constanz22]

I have not left the house since Wednesday morning!  It is brutal here in the NE!  It is hovering right around 0 right now with -15 to -25 wind chills.  Nothing I need to leave the house for in that kind of weather!  I don't think I'm getting out today either.  I will probably wait til tomorrow to run to the grocery store (1 mile away) for my paper (tons of inserts this weekend, first paper of the new year!) and to gas up my car for the week.

I think even Aldi is high on canned veggies now.  My little local chain store (Shur Save) runs a sale on canned veggies every few months, .45 a can wyb 12.  I usually grab 12 whether I need them or not as the use by dates are always a couple years out.

[whoisjohngalt]

I am going grocery shopping today.  I have NO coupons and sales are really crappy.  Also, after Thur-Fri snow, I don't even want to think what stores will look like.  Wish me luck!

[saveinla]

Jan 3, 2014 14:10:44 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Well, it appears that when it comes to being a coupon queen I'm either all in or all out.  I just realized that I had $7 in EBs from Black Friday that I let expire.  These are the first rewards that I ever let get away from me.  I also had a bunch of $.50/2 Mars candy bar coupons that I was going to use on clearanced Snicker nutcrackers, but I forgot to even check for them. 

I still have a bunch of inserts, but once those coupons have expired, I'll be out of the coupon game unless I find another coupon resource.  My mom gets (3) sets (she learned to get multiples from me  ) so I can get at least (3) from her if I need something and she's not going to use them.  The problem is that with my stockpiles and the fact that I have a Grocery Outlet, I'm not really even looking for coupon deals these days - a good problem to have.  I can usually find the food items that I need at the GO or at the 99 Cent Store for less than anywhere else even if I do have a coupon so I no longer see the need to spend the time and effort.

I've saved more than my share over the decades, but I'm pretty sure that 2007-2012 beats the previous two decades combined even though during one of those decades I had doubled coupons at my grocery store.

dancinmama,

Some stores take expired EBs , so check with your store and let them know you were out of town. You never know.

[dancinmama]

Jan 4, 2014 10:57:36 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Jan 3, 2014 14:10:44 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Well, it appears that when it comes to being a coupon queen I'm either all in or all out.  I just realized that I had $7 in EBs from Black Friday that I let expire.  These are the first rewards that I ever let get away from me.  I also had a bunch of $.50/2 Mars candy bar coupons that I was going to use on clearanced Snicker nutcrackers, but I forgot to even check for them. 

I still have a bunch of inserts, but once those coupons have expired, I'll be out of the coupon game unless I find another coupon resource.  My mom gets (3) sets (she learned to get multiples from me  ) so I can get at least (3) from her if I need something and she's not going to use them.  The problem is that with my stockpiles and the fact that I have a Grocery Outlet, I'm not really even looking for coupon deals these days - a good problem to have.  I can usually find the food items that I need at the GO or at the 99 Cent Store for less than anywhere else even if I do have a coupon so I no longer see the need to spend the time and effort.

I've saved more than my share over the decades, but I'm pretty sure that 2007-2012 beats the previous two decades combined even though during one of those decades I had doubled coupons at my grocery store.

dancinmama,

Some stores take expired EBs , so check with your store and let them know you were out of town. You never know.

My store used to take them up to 30 days past the expiration date.  They stopped doing that about 2 years ago when they went all-out-ballistic anti-coupon. 

[Ombud]

Staples has paper for $1 after rebate again. Limit 4 (which will get me to next sale now that I closed business)

Safeway has a cracker on sale for $1.50 with a $1 off each coupon book sitting next to it. At checkout. I got 8 boxes for $4 -- would have donated to food barrel but they're vegan and the vegan in the house loves them ♡. Nature Valley bars on sale for 4 boxes for $5.96 less another 50c each on app making it $3.96 for 20 bars if you get before Tuesday. I have one each morning with coffee and whatever fruit is ripe in yard ... usually $3.99 each so that's a savings of $12 total

[saveinla]

Jan 4, 2014 12:50:31 GMT -5 Ombud said:

Staples has paper for $1 after rebate again. Limit 4 (which will get me to next sale now that I closed business)

Safeway has a cracker on sale for $1.50 with a $1 off each coupon book sitting next to it. At checkout. I got 8 boxes for $4 -- would have donated to food barrel but they're vegan and the vegan in the house loves them ♡. Nature Valley bars on sale for 4 boxes for $5.96 less another 50c each on app making it $3.96 for 20 bars if you get before Tuesday. I have one each morning with coffee and whatever fruit is ripe in yard ... usually $3.99 each so that's a savings of $12 total

This week's GM insert has 1.25/1 Q for the NV granola bars, so 24c per box WYB 4. You can mix and match with the Cheerios 14oz cereal that has 1$ off MQ also. I had printed these same Qs last week and when I went t the store, I saw blinkies for 1$ off any GM cereal right next to the Cheerios. I bought 2 boxes of cereal and 2 boxes of the bars for 1.46.

[rubyslippers]

No milk and very little bread today as people are preparing for the bad weather we'll be getting tonight and tomorrow. I just wanted a curtain rod and a bag of carrots at Walmart and every lane was a mile long. The cashier at the service desk checked me out or I would've been in line a lot longer. I found some bread at the Dollar General but their food shelves were getting pretty low too.  There were big lines at the gas stations today as people were filling up gas cans in case of power outages.

[marvholly]

I shopped on Sat too and the stores were VERY busy. Dollar store fridge & froze sections looked pretty depleted.

I have NO plans to go out today (we are supposed to be getting 10+ inches of snow between Sat & today) or Mon & Tue with REAL temp highs being well below or at zero. Next decent (20's) day is next Fri. Good thing I got to the library on Sat.

ETA to add:  I cleaned out my coupon holder this am.  Almost NOTHING left.  My paper was missing one Smart Source insert - the one w/finish & butterball coupons.  Guess I son't be buying those items anytime soon

[grits]

In addition to coupons, I take the online surveys for Walgreens, Kroger, Whataburger. I almost never eat at Whataburger but got a free burger out of it.

Kroger has a $100 gc giveaway each month, and they have a $5000 for the year. Walgreens has a $3000 gift card giveaway. I wish I could win the Kroger one.

[Ombud]

saveinla

Only coupon I found on the bars was 75c off 1. And only 1 coupon. But that's 75c (don't take a newspaper anymore)

[saveinla]

Jan 5, 2014 15:39:04 GMT -5 Ombud said:

saveinla

Only coupon I found on the bars was 75c off 1. And only 1 coupon. But that's 75c (don't take a newspaper anymore)

Can you check the zip 77477? It was there on Friday - not sure if it's still available.

[constanz22]

Jan 5, 2014 16:03:08 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Jan 5, 2014 15:39:04 GMT -5 Ombud said:

saveinla

Only coupon I found on the bars was 75c off 1. And only 1 coupon. But that's 75c (don't take a newspaper anymore)

Can you check the zip 77477? It was there on Friday - not sure if it's still available.

I think it's gone.  I checked that zip for it yesterday and it wasn't there...

[Ombud]

Can you explain what you mean by checking zip code 77477? How would I get one if those papers here & how much would it cost? is it really worth while to subscribe to a paper for one coupon or am I missing something?

[constanz22]

Jan 5, 2014 16:41:09 GMT -5 Ombud said:

Can you explain what you mean by checking zip code 77477? How would I get one if those papers here & how much would it cost? is it really worth while to subscribe to a paper for one coupon or am I missing something?

She's talking about checking printable's on coupons.com.

[Ombud]

Gotcha. I was missing something. Anyway 4 boxes nature valley bars, cream, boca burgers, and bread pudding for $9.10

[murphath]

Not much hounding going on around here.  I did get 2 free M&M peanut butter at CVS using the .75 q from the red machine.  Used my card and DD's card (since she's the one that eats them).

Reading about all your cold weather, I guess I can't complain.  It's going to be @ 58 here today.  We do need rain, though, so put in a good word to the guy above about that for us, please.  It's also our 35th wedding anniversary today.  We're celebrating by pulling down wallpaper in DD1's room, going on a hike, then an early dinner at Flemmings.  If you live near one, I suggest you try their happy hour: $6 for a glass of champagne and/or the best cheeseburger ever.  This is, of course, in the bar area only.  The first time we went, we were laughing about being those "seniors" who eat so early.  We got there at 5:05 (they open at 5) and it was already packed!  They have other things on their $6 happy hour--I just like champagne!   Cheers!