2014 Grocery Challenge

[marvholly]

ooty
There is a lady from the UK that blogs a LOT about quilting on the cheap and frugal, healthy recipes:

www.frugalincornwall.blogspot.com

Her FT/day job is teaching.

[rubyslippers]

I don't remember the last time I got gasoline for $.92 a gallon, but filled up last night using fuel pt. rewards from Kroger. Kroger is having a mega sale this week, and I bought a box of Orville R. popcorn, 4 bottles of tabasco sauce, 1 bag of Malt O Meal cereal and a 2 liter bottle of Sierra Mist and was paid a penny to take it all home after coupons.

At Walmart, I price matched grape tomatoes for $.99 and got wrapping paper 50% off. That's about it as we're using up leftovers from Christmas.

[FreeSalsa]

In my parents' town gas was $1.99.  At the border on the way home it was $2.45, back at my place it's still $2.58.  A lot less than usual but $1.99 sure is better.  But 92c is unheard of!  The last time I got that price was in the 1980s!  Great work, Ruby.

For Christmas I got more sheets for my dehydrator so I can make  more fruit leather.  I asked for one sheet but got a box of 9 sheets so I will have plenty!  One year my dad went to Trader Joes and got me a bunch of treats there and I've been asking for it every since, so I got some goodies there--granola bars, mustards, jellies, etc.  I also racked up 8 bars of awesome chocolate from Godiva, Lindt, Milka, etc.  And while visiting my parents, some neighbor put out a box of lemons from their tree so I brought home a dozen or so.  They smell so good!

I also got a lot of much needed sleep and exercise.  They have a little gym in their community so I used their elliptical and bike machines.  I need a lot more exercise and don't have a little gym any more since I moved.

I need to get tissue paper, gift bows, and a Christmas tree bag in the after Christmas sales.  I need the big bag to cover our fridge that is collecting dust in the garage.  The house we moved into came with a fridge so we're using that and storing DH's fridge in the garage.  I'd also like to stop by CVS today.  I have a lot of ECBs expiring the next few days.  I got two of the Listerine for 99c after ECB but paid w/ECBs.  I might use up the last bucks on that card with mac and cheese and Orbit gum for $1 ea.  Now we're off to the farmer's market.  Not cheap but we need some fruit and veggies.  I'm loving persimmons this year so I want those.

[marvholly]

With my fuel points from Food4Less (part of the Kroger group) paid $2.09 for gas on Sat and as a single I do NOT get much in points. Most of the stations in my area are 2.55-2.65.

There is absolutely NOTHING I want at WAG or CVS this week and the week of Jan 4 is NOT looking any better at least at CVS.

[FreeSalsa]

Quick count of Black Friday items was 102 items, and I know I already used or gave away a few things so it was probably more like 110.  I'll assume sale value of $1 on some of the items, $3 for the others even though I'm sure the regular prices are much more.  A quick estimate says I got $150 in stuff for free (last year was $130.)  Not one penny of my own money spent.  I credit the Swagbucks CVS gift cards for that as starting money and to pay the tax.  Also the checker cashed out one GC by mistake so I used that money to start at RA and Wags and to pay the tax there.  Items "bought" include batteries, dish soap, laundry soap, Listerine, dental floss, mac and cheese, canned veggies and olives, pantyliners, bath sponges, gum, candy bars, paper towels, chips, fluorescent light bulbs, deodorant, toothbrushes, allergy meds and sleep aids.  Gee, I guess all you can get with coupons is 20c off junk food after all!    And I'll be getting 60-100 points on Swagbucks for using IPs.  Then I can get more GCs!

[FreeSalsa]

I'm reading a book about retiring the "Cheapskate" way, I think it's by a guy named Yeager.  He's written other books.  Anyway, he interviewed other people who retired early or cheaply and gave their tips.  One guy said a way he saves money is by not driving anywhere less than a mile away.  He walks or bikes if it's that close.  Saves gas money, wear and tear on the car, possibly insurance money by putting fewer miles on the car per year, and saves on a gym membership because you get exercise!

DH and I walked to lunch at Baja Fresh and to Ralphs today.  We've been meaning to do it for a while.  It's not that far but on the way home it's mostly uphill so we've been putting it off.  But today was a nice, cool, sunny day so we went.  At Baja Fresh we each got a burrito and ate half and saved the rest for another meal.  I'll take mine to work tomorrow.  We used a $2/$8 Q DH got e-mailed to him when he signed up for something or did a survey.  Less than $10 for 4 meals.

At Ralphs we bought Barilla pasta (we were out) and DH even volunteered to look for Qs before we went!  I got Nabisco crackers but I only had one 50c Q for those.  $1.50 ea. wyb4.  We were almost out so I got those.  I we got boneless steak on sale, $4.97/lb. which is about the lowest around here.  DH REALLY likes the bone-in better but he said he could wait until it went on sale too--he said that voluntarily!  He's' really learning!  We also found crab legs marked down to $3.50 for a package.  Not enough food for a meal but definitely for an appetizer or salad.  Spent $21.xx, saved $21.xx, saved just over 50%. 

Now we're going to make cookies, to give my fruit guy, among other Christmas gifts.

ETA:  The crab was .78 lb. for $3.58, or $4.58/lb., down from $7.99/lb.  There was plenty, we had it for NYE dinner.

[dancinmama]

My mom is having bladder problems.  She's had several UTIs with some passage of blood.  We had to practically force her to see a urologist.  She had a biopsy last Friday to check for bladder cancer.  We haven't gotten the results yet, but the dr. is almost certain that it's not cancer.  Whew!!  Other than that, my mom is sharp as a tack (although sometimes she pretends not to be) and as strong as an ox and she's 88 years old!!

I stopped at my sister's Grocery Outlet and snagged (6) lbs. of Hormel Black Label bacon for $1.66/lb.  YEAH!!

I think a lot of people have caught onto the Grocery Outlet.  I still find some great buys, but they just aren't as frequent as they used to be.

[FreeSalsa]

That's good news!  On your mom and the bacon!

[marvholly]

Dancin
I am see less & less reduced for clearance/end of code stuff EVERYWHERE. I suspect stores are buying/cutting/making less and/or putting it out in back for employees to buy at good prices.

This weekend is the first time in many months I will prob get a Sun paper. There are 4 coupon inserts including a $2.15 one for finish (regional but we got in past years. As I recall finish has gone on sale most Jan at good prices.

[dancinmama]

Dec 30, 2014 7:19:33 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Dancin
I am see less & less reduced for clearance/end of code stuff EVERYWHERE. I suspect stores are buying/cutting/making less and/or putting it out in back for employees to buy at good prices.

This weekend is the first time in many months I will prob get a Sun paper. There are 4 coupon inserts including a $2.15 one for finish (regional but we got in past years. As I recall finish has gone on sale most Jan at good prices.

Yes, January used to be the month for great Finish coupons and decent deals on it too. 

I agree with you.  I think stores are trying to be a lot more careful about what they order.  If I see something at my Grocery Outlet that is an awesome buy, I have to grab it right then and there if I want it.  There are no second chances like there used to be.

I went today and came up empty handed.  There were no great buys on anything. 

[dancinmama]

Well, it's been two years since I retired my scissors and my stockpiles of non-perishables are holding up really well.  I can't think of a single thing that I am running low on at this point.  With the cost of food rising, not having to buy this stuff has really helped.

[marvholly]

I had to go digging in my freezer on Tue to find the shrimp I wanted to make for dinner. This is NOT because my freezer is unorganized. I have a single shelf 8in my side by side freezer devoted to uncooked chicken & fish. It is because I am WAAAY overloaded on chicken and fish filets. Therefore I will NOT be buying either item until I reduce my in house stocks.

Since I am not much of a soup person I have knocked down my stock on those. I do still keep a good stock of canned tomatoes. I try to keep several bottles of Ken's dressing on hand when there is a coupon w/aa sale (about 2x/year). I am still pretty heavy on pasta and VERY heavy on breakfast cereal (don't eat very often).

[FreeSalsa]

Happy New Year's!  I hope you all saved lots of money this year and will save even more next year!

I'm trying to get some groceries using Swagbucks but none of those stores have cards there.  The closest I can think of is getting a Visa debit card, but this particular one can only be used online, and some cards have an activation fee.  Do you think I could buy a Ralphs card online with it?  They also have Paypal cards but I don't have an account and I think they charge you for something.  Suggestions?