2014 Grocery Challenge

[dancinmama]

Sept 2, 2014 5:51:41 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Dancin
You would be shocked at how oblivious corps are to what is happening in the REAL world. The advertising, sales & marketing depts. are their own fiefdoms and NEVER speak to each other.

Also, coupon values have dropped a LOT while the $$ of most grocery & HBA has gone up, sometimes quite a bit. This year we have hardly seen a coupon for or a sale price on peanut butter during back to school. That had been a constant in previous years.

I was talking to DH and we took that into consideration - that maybe the left hand hadn't been talking to the right.  Or maybe we were just a small blip on their big radar screen so that what couponers were amassing for free wasn't even noticeable.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
From what I remember, this is the third year in a row that seasonal deals on peanut butter have been lacking.  I've had to resort to buying a year's worth when Costco offers it with a manufacturer's instant rebate - basically it's a sales price.

I'm going to have to check out the coupon previews now and then to stay on top of coupon values.  I don't need the ones for non-perishables and I buy most of our food at The Grocery Outlet and The 99 Cent Store, neither of which accept MCs so there is no point in my paying for the newspaper to get them....for now.

[skubikky]

Found a nice deal at Wegmans last evening.
8 oz. bottles of Aussie shampoo for $0.99 and I have $0.75/1 MC that doubled...made it $0.08.
Colgate Toothpaste(6.2 oz) for $0.88 and I had a $1/1 MC made 6 cents on that one.
 
14 cents for a bottle of shampoo and a tube of toothpaste....I'll take it.

[marvholly]

Dancin
Since the cost of our Sun newspaper went up here about 6 months ago I ONLY buy the paper if there are enough coupons listed in the previews to make it worth while.

Wouldn’t you know it? Paid 0.69/lb for chicken leg quarters last week. Got 6 servings from the pkg I bought. This week one of my regular stores has them for 0.49/lb in jumbo packs. If jumbo is 5 lb I’m in. If it is 10 lb I am NOT. WAAAY too much for me and not enough freezer space.

[saveinla]

Regarding Peanut Butter - I have been buying when I have a price of 1.99 for either JIF or Skippy and they have an eCoupon at my Vons stores. Lowest price recently is 1.99 for the smaller jars. Haven't seen any deals below that for the past 1 year or more now.

[rubyslippers]

Kroger had Jif for $1.49 as part of their mega sale a few weeks ago. This week Meijer has it for $2.00. I think I have enough to last us awhile. I price matched bacon this week @ $2.50 lb. and several vegetables.  Aldi has red and yellow peppers for $.65 each and grapes for $75.lb.  I bought several peppers and will slice them and vacuum pack them in the freezer.  I canned pizza sauce today and will be canning tomatoes before too long. 

[saveinla]

rubyslippers,

Kroger has a 12/50 Q for groceries that ends today or tomorrow. Not sure if you have the link, but google Queenbee or some blogger like that to get the link.

[dancinmama]

Got a survey invite from CVS to compare the CVS ad and the WAGs ad this Sunday.  $10 in EBs coming my way!! 

Maybe I'll use them to buy eggs again. 

[rubyslippers]

Saveinla: Thanks for the Kroger tip but I will only be doing a couple of the mega deals tomorrow and also be getting my fuel cards. I like it when stores have the dollar off coupons to use for a big purchase. Do you ever get Kroger coupons mailed to you?  I've received some pretty good ones in the past.

Dancin: I've never done a CVS survey and wondered if they always give EBs when you complete one.  That's pretty neat to get $10.00 to spend.

I just saw on another site that Dollar General has a digital coupon site where for signing up, you get a $2.00 e-coupon.  I plan on getting a can of pepper for $.15.

[constanz22]

Hi everyone!  Haven't been on in ages!  I miss the deals too .  I almost never even use a coupon these days.  Pretty sad.  I have been dealing with a lot of health issues this year and just don't have the time or energy for it.  There are still coupon deals to be had, cuz I am on a local "extreme couponing" facebook group and they still post a lot of their haul's.  But, I have really no interest or energy anymore, unfortunately.  I still have a decent stockpile of HBA, but pretty much everything else is gone.  I just try to buy on sale, and maybe use ONE coupon (as that is all I usually have).  I have even (gasp) been shopping at Sam's club.  At this point, if I can buy something that is going to last me a year, it is worth my time, energy and sanity to just do so.  I would say I have gone from spending $100-125 a month on "groceries", including food, HBA, and pet, to probaby $200.  It is what it is...glad I was in on the heyday though!

[dancinmama]

Sept 4, 2014 11:46:02 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Hi everyone!  Haven't been on in ages!  I miss the deals too .  I almost never even use a coupon these days.  Pretty sad.  I have been dealing with a lot of health issues this year and just don't have the time or energy for it.  There are still coupon deals to be had, cuz I am on a local "extreme couponing" facebook group and they still post a lot of their haul's.  But, I have really no interest or energy anymore, unfortunately.  I still have a decent stockpile of HBA, but pretty much everything else is gone.  I just try to buy on sale, and maybe use ONE coupon (as that is all I usually have).  I have even (gasp) been shopping at Sam's club.  At this point, if I can buy something that is going to last me a year, it is worth my time, energy and sanity to just do so.  I would say I have gone from spending $100-125 a month on "groceries", including food, HBA, and pet, to probaby $200.  It is what it is...glad I was in on the heyday though!

Glad to see you post and a sorry to hear about your health problems.   I hope whatever the problem, you're feeling better soon.

There's no doubt that there are still some deals to be had, but it's not like taking candy from a baby like it used to be.  I've been out of it for 20 months now and have no clue what the rules are anymore.  If I wanted to play again, I'd have a new learning curve to tackle.

I am still working through my stockpile of non-perishables.  So far I can't think of anything that I'm going to run low on anytime soon.  I feel VERY lucky to have been going full throttle during "the glory days of couponing".

[dancinmama]

Sept 3, 2014 22:18:14 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

Dancin: I've never done a CVS survey and wondered if they always give EBs when you complete one.  That's pretty neat to get $10.00 to spend.

They send an email invite.  You click on the link they give you and ask some preliminary questions to see if you "qualify" for the survey as sometimes they're looking for data from a specific demographic.  If you qualify, you take the survey and once you finish you can print your EBs.

I've also gotten invites from CVS to take a survey where the payoff is to be entered in a drawing to get a $100 gift card.  I skip those ones.

I just took an EB survey about a month ago and the payoff was a $15EB.  I used it to stockpile eggs.  I looked at next week's ad and they have plain Cheerios on sale so I think I might get $10 worth of Cheerios because it's my fav cold cereal. 

These are the first EB survey invites that I've gotten in quite a while.  I sure hope I keep getting them cuz being able to get a few groceries for free here and there is awesome.

[dancinmama]

Sept 3, 2014 6:22:42 GMT -5 skubikky said:

Found a nice deal at Wegmans last evening.
8 oz. bottles of Aussie shampoo for $0.99 and I have $0.75/1 MC that doubled...made it $0.08.
Colgate Toothpaste(6.2 oz) for $0.88 and I had a $1/1 MC made 6 cents on that one.
 
14 cents for a bottle of shampoo and a tube of toothpaste....I'll take it.

Excellent deals with the doubled coupons.  Does Wegmans set a limit on how many coupons you can double in a transaction or how many items you can get at the sales price?

I don't think there's a grocery store in CA that even offers doubled coupons anymore.  Suzie and Free Salsa used to get them in SoCal, but I think they got cut off at least 2 or 3 years ago.

[skubikky]

If I remember correctly, they limit it to 4 coupons doubled in one transaction.
There would be no limit on how many of these items you can purchase.  The shampoo is a special size with is just priced at 99 cents, no Shoppers Club sale price.
The toothpaste is put out at 88 cents from time to time but they don't put any limit that I am aware of.

[marvholly]

dancin
I ussed to hate you gals that got double coupons. We have NEVER had them regularly although AZ still does. Once in a blue moon a store here gives doubles BUT it usually requires a minimum of a $25 purchase, frequently AFTER coupons.

Anyone else ticked off w/WAG? They seel things for $xx/2 or 4 BUT if you only want/need 1 or 2 you pay shelf price. Sure cut down my WAG shopping.

[Blonde Granny]

I hadn't shopped at WGs in a long time. I got really tired of their bait & switch. I learned the hard way that if the their coupon showed a picture of lemon jello on it, the store wouldn't give me the sale price on orange.

But, I did have to go there a couple weeks ago as I needed some travel size items that WMT didn't carry. However, I stuck to my list and didn't fall into their trap. WGs in building a new store about 2 blocks from us, and that is right on our path to get to the main roads, I'll just keep on driving by as WMT is right across the street.

[saveinla]

Sept 4, 2014 11:46:02 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Hi everyone!  Haven't been on in ages!  I miss the deals too .  I almost never even use a coupon these days.  Pretty sad.  I have been dealing with a lot of health issues this year and just don't have the time or energy for it.  There are still coupon deals to be had, cuz I am on a local "extreme couponing" facebook group and they still post a lot of their haul's.  But, I have really no interest or energy anymore, unfortunately.  I still have a decent stockpile of HBA, but pretty much everything else is gone.  I just try to buy on sale, and maybe use ONE coupon (as that is all I usually have).  I have even (gasp) been shopping at Sam's club.  At this point, if I can buy something that is going to last me a year, it is worth my time, energy and sanity to just do so.  I would say I have gone from spending $100-125 a month on "groceries", including food, HBA, and pet, to probaby $200.  It is what it is...glad I was in on the heyday though!

Good to see you on constanz. Hope you feel better soon. Any update on the move to a warm place?

[dancinmama]

Sept 5, 2014 6:16:27 GMT -5 skubikky said:

If I remember correctly, they limit it to 4 coupons doubled in one transaction.
There would be no limit on how many of these items you can purchase.  The shampoo is a special size with is just priced at 99 cents, no Shoppers Club sale price.
The toothpaste is put out at 88 cents from time to time but they don't put any limit that I am aware of.

That's awesome.  At least you can stockpile a little shampoo and toothpaste (if you have the MCs, that is).

[dancinmama]

Sept 5, 2014 8:37:34 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I hadn't shopped at WGs in a long time. I got really tired of their bait & switch. I learned the hard way that if the their coupon showed a picture of lemon jello on it, the store wouldn't give me the sale price on orange.

But, I did have to go there a couple weeks ago as I needed some travel size items that WMT didn't carry. However, I stuck to my list and didn't fall into their trap. WGs in building a new store about 2 blocks from us, and that is right on our path to get to the main roads, I'll just keep on driving by as WMT is right across the street.

That's bizarre.  They obviously can't put a picture of every flavor of jello on the coupon.  Maybe you got a cashier that was clueless.

My WAGs shopping was greatly reduced when they did away with their ESR program (WAGs rebates) and became almost non-existent when they cut way back on the RRs that they offered and went to the point system.  Now, I check their ads to see if they have eggs on sale and check out their holiday clearance after Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.....that's about it.  So sad considering that I used to be "the WAGs dancin' queen". 

[dancinmama]

Sept 5, 2014 6:19:29 GMT -5 marvholly said:

dancin
I ussed to hate you gals that got double coupons. We have NEVER had them regularly although AZ still does. Once in a blue moon a store here gives doubles BUT it usually requires a minimum of a $25 purchase, frequently AFTER coupons.

I used to get them in the old, old days - the late 90s and early 2000s.  I haven't gotten them regularly or irregularly for well over a decade; but when I did, you can only imagine the damage that I did. 

It's so hard for me to believe that I'm totally coupon-less these days, but I've always looked for the best deals wherever I can find them and these days it's at stores that don't accept MCs.  The prices that I buy at are lower than anywhere else even taking possible coupon discounts into consideration and when I find a killer deal, there are no limits!!    Obviously there are never any freebies after coupons, but there aren't any at Safeway these days either....or if there are, they're an anomaly.

[marvholly]

Dancin
I am nearly couponless too. I print VERY few IPs since most of the places I shop do NOT take them (independent stores). I last bought the sun paper 7/27/14. I watch the coupon preview blog posts and even this week w/4 inserts there is NOT enough to jusify the expense of the paper.

[rubyslippers]

I'm still using coupons although not as many as I have in the past years.   There is only one store in our area that still doubles coupons but it isn't one where I do much shopping.  Meijer and Kroger both have digital coupons and I really like some of the coupons that Kroger has.  I got shredded cheese for $.49 a bag this summer.  I do print coupons if it is for something I plan on getting, but my biggest savings have been doing the price matching at Walmart.  I haven't had any hassles over prices this year.  Most of the cashiers ask me what items I'll be price matching before they start to ring me up.  Dollar General has digital coupons now, but using 2 of them the other day froze their registers up.  I got my 2 items but probably won't be using their coupons too often. 

Marvholly, I hate that Rite Aid also charges full price on a 2/$ sale if you only want to buy one.  As far as I know, CVS is still allows you to buy 1 item for the sale price.

[constanz22]

Sept 5, 2014 8:43:41 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Sept 4, 2014 11:46:02 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Hi everyone!  Haven't been on in ages!  I miss the deals too .  I almost never even use a coupon these days.  Pretty sad.  I have been dealing with a lot of health issues this year and just don't have the time or energy for it.  There are still coupon deals to be had, cuz I am on a local "extreme couponing" facebook group and they still post a lot of their haul's.  But, I have really no interest or energy anymore, unfortunately.  I still have a decent stockpile of HBA, but pretty much everything else is gone.  I just try to buy on sale, and maybe use ONE coupon (as that is all I usually have).  I have even (gasp) been shopping at Sam's club.  At this point, if I can buy something that is going to last me a year, it is worth my time, energy and sanity to just do so.  I would say I have gone from spending $100-125 a month on "groceries", including food, HBA, and pet, to probaby $200.  It is what it is...glad I was in on the heyday though!

Good to see you on constanz. Hope you feel better soon. Any update on the move to a warm place?

That got put on the back burner when my health took a nosedive.  It is probably not in the cards for me now.  I need my good health insurance and generous time off that I have at my current county job, so...looks like I'm stuck here.

[FreeSalsa]

I've been buying the natural peanut butter for a while now.  It's usually about $4-6 but I can get the store kind in a plastic tub for $3 or occasionally $2 on sale, so I've been doing that.

I have 2 $5 ECB at CVS and it seems like they send me a $3 or 20% off Q every week or two so I'll try to put something together there.

It seems like it's been easier to shop and save since NOT using coupons the last month while I get ready to move.  But I think that's because we've been using and eating up everything in the stockpile.  I'm hoping there will be something of use to me in the BF sales coming up in a couple months.

I think I'm done with Sprouts as my regular store.  I can't explain it but it bums me out in a way no other store does.  I'll still go for the occasional sale item or to stock up on peanut butter with a GC but I'm giving it a break for a while.

We'll be moving soon and then I can check out some new stores.  I'm also looking forward to planting some winter veggies (we can grow all year.)  I'm only transplanting a few things from this place but I had to bring two tomato plants and the celery leaf plant. 

[marvholly]

Ruby
Yes, CVS still does allow you to buy 1 on a multi purchase sale for the sale price UNLESS it is a BOGO.

It is amazing the differences between Dollar Tree stores that I have been in. I have 2 locally: a small one w/o fridge or freezer so VERY limited. The larger one has fridge & freezer but some days looks like a tornado was predicted w/SOOO many empty shelf spots. Also, as large as this one is, they did NOT have regular asperin on Sat or 4 items I had seen when I was in the one near DD1 8/21. I will have to keep watching or drive out there again (35 mi rt & gas is 3.89 here yesterday).

[rubyslippers]

Marvholly, our gas prices went up this past week but we filled up on the 31st and used fuel points and got it for $2.37 a gallon.  I have 3000 fuel pts. to use this month and I want to plan it strategically as it won't be for awhile till Kroger has quadruple fuel points again.

Constanz, good to hear from you again.

Freesalsa, what is celery leaf?  Can it be preserved?

Aldi has celery and mushrooms this week for $.69 each.  Our other Aldi still has peppers on sale through Tuesday so  I'm going to get more and slice them for the freezer.  We eat fajitas once a month and that will be enough for 6 months.  

[FreeSalsa]

Hi Ruby!  Celery leaf (I'm not sure if that's the real name of it) is a plant (herb?) that grows the celery leaves but it never develops into the stalks that we think of as normal celery.  It looks similar to parsley.  We use it mostly for soups so you get the celery flavor without actually using big chunks of celery.  We dry it and freeze it whole and chopped up.  We have a lot stored so if the transplant doesn't make it we'll be fine for a long time.  My aunt gave me the plants when they were small because I mentioned I liked to make soup with carrot leaves but she didn't tell me that it wouldn't become celery so for the longest time I kept waiting for the celery to come!  Finally I asked her and then just used the leaves like I was supposed to.  

BTW, in case we have some newbies, the thing that says Infected is a Halloween zombie thing.  Last year when it happened I thought my computer had a virus!

The house we are going to rent already has a fridge so we're going to keep ours as an extra for leftovers and good sales, yay!

A friend of DH had a fire in his apartment building and he lost almost everything.  We are giving a lot of our extra things to him and his wife and young kids.  It hurts me because the frugal me wants to sell the stuff to get money for it but I know it's the right thing to do to help them.  I got a lot of stuff for free from relatives when I first moved out on my own so I guess it's good karma.

[FreeSalsa]

Leaf celery or cutting celery

Mine looks most like the second picture but I just cut off the stems as they grown and don't pull out the whole plant like you might get at the store.

www.laurieconstantino.com/all-about-leaf-celery/

[marvholly]

Ruby
Apparently our Aldi stores have different sales. The good produce item this week was avacados for 0.49 ea. I would buy the mushrooms & celery at those prices. My good fruit/veg mkt just raised the price of mushrooms 25%! Hope it is just seasonal not permanent.

[constanz22]

Aldi sales are always regional.  If you look at their ad, and put in a different state/area zip code, the produce deals will always be completely different.  I still do much of my regular grocery shopping there.  I also love Price Rite, but it just isn't very convenient for me.  I just stared eating Paleo to address (hopefully) some of my health issues, so my grocery shopping is going to change dramatically, as well as my budget   Ah, well, if it helps, it's worth it...

[rubyslippers]

Freesalsa, thanks for the info on the celery leaf.

Our other Aldi's ad came out yesterday and they have a better price on celery and mushrooms, $.59 each. I got 6 bags of celery and chopped and blanched them for the freezer. A lot of my soups and casseroles call for chopped celery. If I had more room in my freezer, I'd do a few more bags. I'm still freezing tomatoes from my garden.