2014 Grocery Challenge

[constanz22]

Feb 12, 2014 7:40:31 GMT -5 azucena said:

Feb 8, 2014 20:58:29 GMT -5 emhalf said:

Coupons.com currently has a $2/1 available for angel soft (12 roll+). They will be on sale 3/$15 with $5 EB at CVS on week of 2/16. I really hope that's not a misprint, because that will be an awesome price. Quilted northern and sparkle are also included in the sale, so I will probably get 2 angel soft and 1 sparkle (need PT).     

I did a lot of shopping at RA this week and got several free or nearly free items. I also racked up almost $50 toward the February UP rewards game, so I'm hoping some other deals materialize. 

What's the zip code for the $2?  I only see 0.55.  I've been watching for a TP deal as we're almost out.

I think it's probably gone.  The high value ones run out of prints really fast.

[rubyslippers]

I'm planning on cooking a meal for my DS rehearsal dinner later in the summer for 50 people. I have my list made out and will need 80 items on it. I've been on a mission to get everything next to nothing by price matching, using coupons and getting overage. I spent $9.50 on coupons and have used some to get 14 of the items free. About 10 of the items on my list will hopefully come from my garden this summer. My budget is $50.00 but I would be thrilled to get everything for $25.00 or less. I will be making lasagna rolls, garlic bread, salad, brownies and beverage. 

Frugalsuz: Nice to hear from you again.

Murpath: You should be getting your coupons some time this week.

My stockpile of Tide should last me over 2 years since the washer I got new in 2012 uses a lot less detergent.  Most of the freebies I see today are for shampoo and toothpaste.  Luckily I have razors to get through this year.

[emhalf]

Feb 12, 2014 7:50:56 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Feb 12, 2014 7:40:31 GMT -5 azucena said:

What's the zip code for the $2?  I only see 0.55.  I've been watching for a TP deal as we're almost out.

I think it's probably gone.  The high value ones run out of prints really fast.

Yeah, I don't see it anymore  My new problem with the deal is that the stores in my area don't seem to carry angel soft. I'm hoping they'll be getting some stock in by next week.

Speaking of razors, I have a $4/$10 shave CRT so I'm planning a deal on Venus for CVS next week:

4 x venus single razor $31.16 (7.79 ea)
- 4 x $4/1 venus razor 2/9 RP
-$4/$10 shave CRT
= 11.16, get back $10 EB, or .29 each

I'm really hoping I get another 20% or 25% off coupon for this weekend...that would make it into a MM.

[Deleted]

Hey ladies! Newbie here from Texas (Houston area) popping in to introduce myself. I coupon off and on, and I'm pretty diligent shopping the sales at my grocery stores, but I feel like I can always do better. It's just me and the hubster (newly married) right now and we are trying to save save save for a house and for him to go back to school to work on his master's. I love to cook but I love saving money even more. Just reading through this thread has been motivating and informative. I shop at a local produce market, a regional grocery chain (HEB), Kroger and occasionally Target and WalMart. I've never taken the time to understand the CVS and Walgreen's deals and offers...I tried once, but got overwhelmed and felt like my time was worth more than the savings. On more than one occasion the stores would be out of everything on sale and I got so frustrated running all over town to the other stores. But there's always room for improvement and learning new tricks.

[grits]

I looked at this week's ads, and they're a bust. Tomorrow, I will look at one more ad. I really cleaned up last month. This month looks like slim pickings.

[dancinmama]

Feb 12, 2014 17:39:30 GMT -5 @jbeanie said:

Hey ladies! Newbie here from Texas (Houston area) popping in to introduce myself. I coupon off and on, and I'm pretty diligent shopping the sales at my grocery stores, but I feel like I can always do better. It's just me and the hubster (newly married) right now and we are trying to save save save for a house and for him to go back to school to work on his master's. I love to cook but I love saving money even more. Just reading through this thread has been motivating and informative. I shop at a local produce market, a regional grocery chain (HEB), Kroger and occasionally Target and WalMart. I've never taken the time to understand the CVS and Walgreen's deals and offers...I tried once, but got overwhelmed and felt like my time was worth more than the savings. On more than one occasion the stores would be out of everything on sale and I got so frustrated running all over town to the other stores. But there's always room for improvement and learning new tricks.

Hi jbeanie!!  Welcome to the Grocery Challenge!!

It's not surprising to me that you found the drug stores were OOS (out of stock) of the sales items.  That used to be quite common when an item or group of items would be free after coupons and rewards.  I have a 24 hr. CVS and it got to the point where I had to be in there shopping at midnight on Saturday to make sure that I would get the deals coming out in Sunday's ad.  Boy, did that get old.  

[dancinmama]

Boy, if it weren't for the $5/$20s that Safeway has been giving me, I would rarely step foot in there!!

I noticed that they had Ritz on ad for $1.79.  We just finished our last box so I bought (11) boxes and used a $1 bag of Little Debbies as a filler to push me a little over $20.  Too bad I didn't have (5) $.75/2 coupons from the inserts; $1.34/box was the best I could do.   My $5/$20 was going to expire tomorrow so I didn't have time to get any coupons from my mom.  The regular price for a box was $4.29!!  Ridiculous!!  Do people really pay that?

[marvholly]

I do not EVER pay that kind of price. I will just not get/eat an item if the $$ is crazy.

This is not a good week for sales for me. Even my big fruit veg mkt only has 1-2 things I might want on special.

[dancinmama]

Feb 13, 2014 6:12:57 GMT -5 marvholly said:

I do not EVER pay that kind of price. I will just not get/eat an item if the $$ is crazy.

This is not a good week for sales for me. Even my big fruit veg mkt only has 1-2 things I might want on special.

Me neither.  I refuse to pay unreasonable prices for anything.  There is absolutely nothing that I HAVE TO HAVE NOW that would push me to pay top dollar. 

Other than the Ritz, I found nothing else this week in the (5) grocery ads I get in the mail on Tuesdays. 

[hopetoberich]

A local ggrocery store had sugar for .99 when you spend $20+. Pretty easy to spend $20 nowadays so I grabbed a bag of sugar.
CVS e mailed me a wait for it ........$3/$15!! On a certain card number of course I haven't seen my card for months so I'll have to dig around.
Check your e mails for the $3/$15 
Oh i am doing well with swagbucks.....$20-$25 a month on gift cards + dh makes the same too.

[grits]

I checked the last grocery ad, not one thing I need or want this week. If the Sunday sales have something I can use, I'll get it. Otherwise, it will be an over the door storage system next week.

Anybody know of a chain grocery that has a sale on right now for Celestial Seasonings tea? 

[hopetoberich]

Coke is on sale at CVS next week.
I'll use my $3/$15
2 free mq's from coke rewards 
And get back $5 /$15 ecb's.
Oop should be low and I will get more soda than just giving the mq's to the grocery store. ;DOh and i found the correct card too....holy smoke things are actually working out

[mizbear]

I need to get back on the coupon wagon myself. I do great with store savings and gas rewards, but I have really fallen off in the coupon dept. I try to source my coupons online as much as possible now because I don't have my free insert resources anymore.
I also am less likely to overspend or have too much excess if I only use inline qs.
I have really missed the pound...
But you all will be happy to know I am doinh well in school

[Deleted]

Feb 13, 2014 20:05:00 GMT -5 hopetoberich said:

A local ggrocery store had sugar for .99 when you spend $20+. Pretty easy to spend $20 nowadays so I grabbed a bag of sugar.
CVS e mailed me a wait for it ........$3/$15!! On a certain card number of course I haven't seen my card for months so I'll have to dig around.
Check your e mails for the $3/$15 
Oh i am doing well with swagbucks.....$20-$25 a month on gift cards + dh makes the same too.

How are you doing so well, I only average $5?
Ladies, I have to ask for a favor.  Does anyone have the $2/1 Tresemme Product, exp. 2/23/14 (RP 01/26/14)?  I want 4, if anyone has them.

[murphath]

gin1984 wrote:
Does anyone have the $2/1 Tresemme Product, exp. 2/23/14 (RP 01/26/14)? I want 4, if anyone has them.

I have three I can send you.  PM your addy and I'll get them out to you.

[dancinmama]

Feb 14, 2014 6:25:03 GMT -5 mizbear said:

I need to get back on the coupon wagon myself. I do great with store savings and gas rewards, but I have really fallen off in the coupon dept. I try to source my coupons online as much as possible now because I don't have my free insert resources anymore.
I also am less likely to overspend or have too much excess if I only use inline qs.
I have really missed the pound...
But you all will be happy to know I am doinh well in school

Hey mizbear!!  Glad to see you post and glad to hear that school is going well. 

I lost my resource for free inserts too.  Oh well.  I've used more than my share over the years. 

[mizbear]

My father died in July and my brother quit delivering papers, so there went my sources. But, I now don't have to worry about 3AM phone calls about car accidents and flat tires. I think that's worth its weight in coupons.

[marvholly]

I have actually decided to skip buying a paper this weekend. Only 1 coupon insert and nothing of interest/need to me listed in the insert previews. It will not save me a stop but just the $ for that item.

[hopetoberich]

Feb 14, 2014 9:32:38 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Feb 13, 2014 20:05:00 GMT -5 hopetoberich said:

A local ggrocery store had sugar for .99 when you spend $20+. Pretty easy to spend $20 nowadays so I grabbed a bag of sugar.
CVS e mailed me a wait for it ........$3/$15!! On a certain card number of course I haven't seen my card for months so I'll have to dig around.
Check your e mails for the $3/$15 
Oh i am doing well with swagbucks.....$20-$25 a month on gift cards + dh makes the same too.

How are you doing so well, I only average $5?
Ladies, I have to ask for a favor.  Does anyone have the $2/1 Tresemme Product, exp. 2/23/14 (RP 01/26/14)?  I want 4, if anyone has them.


Its slow going gin.
I run sb tv and watch a lot of it.
I run the mobile app for 50 points everyday..it adds up.
I do jun vids, and encraves when they are up.
I also search a few times a day.
I just let things run and i get a $5 amazon every 5 /6 days.

[Deleted]

Feb 15, 2014 7:13:14 GMT -5 hopetoberich said:

Feb 14, 2014 9:32:38 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

How are you doing so well, I only average $5?
Ladies, I have to ask for a favor.  Does anyone have the $2/1 Tresemme Product, exp. 2/23/14 (RP 01/26/14)?  I want 4, if anyone has them.


Its slow going gin.
I run sb tv and watch a lot of it.
I run the mobile app for 50 points everyday..it adds up.
I do jun vids, and encraves when they are up.
I also search a few times a day.
I just let things run and i get a $5 amazon every 5 /6 days.

I had not heard of the mobile app, I'll check it out.  What is jun vids?

[marvholly]

Ran into 2 VERY unexpected (unadvertised) deals this weekend. Local chain had Skippy PB for $0.99 – stocked up. Even the Aug back to school sales were NOT this low.

DD1 lives about 20 mi from me. Hit the REALLY big Dollar tree near her. Got 4 oz portions of frozen bay scallops for $1 each. Much prefer this size scallop.

Between the new, more energy efficient fridge & no big old energy hog freezer my electric bill is DOWN 100 kWh. Saved $9-10.

[FreeSalsa]

Feb 8, 2014 20:58:29 GMT -5 emhalf said:

Coupons.com currently has a $2/1 available for angel soft (12 roll+). They will be on sale 3/$15 with $5 EB at CVS on week of 2/16. I really hope that's not a misprint, because that will be an awesome price. Quilted northern and sparkle are also included in the sale, so I will probably get 2 angel soft and 1 sparkle (need PT).     

I did a lot of shopping at RA this week and got several free or nearly free items. I also racked up almost $50 toward the February UP rewards game, so I'm hoping some other deals materialize. 

I missed the $2 Qs but I did get a $5/$15 in my e-mail so that's just as good.  It expires today so I'll have to get a list together and see what else I might want.  I haven't been to CVS in probably 2 months or more.   Been busy. 

[murphath]

gin1985:
Sent you a PM, too, but you forgot to give me your name.  Right now the enevelope is addressed to Ms. Gin?.  Will send out this afternoon when I run errands.  Hope you get it.

[dancinmama]

Feb 16, 2014 6:29:52 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Ran into 2 VERY unexpected (unadvertised) deals this weekend. Local chain had Skippy PB for $0.99 – stocked up. Even the Aug back to school sales were NOT this low.

DD1 lives about 20 mi from me. Hit the REALLY big Dollar tree near her. Got 4 oz portions of frozen bay scallops for $1 each. Much prefer this size scallop.

Between the new, more energy efficient fridge & no big old energy hog freezer my electric bill is DOWN 100 kWh. Saved $9-10.

WOW!!  That's an awesome price, marvholly!! 

Peanut butter was something that I ALWAYS got for free in the glory days of couponing.  Geez, not any more and DH eats peanut butter like he breathes air.   

I've looked for it the last couple of years in late Aug/early Sep (back to school promotions) and for some reason the sales, if any, have not been very impressive.

Unfortunately this is one item that I have never seen deeply discounted at the Grocery Outlet.  I think there are too many moms shopping for it there so they never have to put it on clearance.

[constanz22]

I am looking for some $2/1 Nature Made Vitamin D coupons from the 2/2 SS.  If someone fairly close to me (northeast) has some and could send them ASAP, I need them by Sat.  My local grocery chain has them BOGO, which ring up 50%, which is 2.99!  I take it every day so would live to get several.  TIA

[hopetoberich]

4x12 packs diet coke for 79c oop.+ $5ecb's = MM!

I had 3 of the my coke rewards free 12 pack mq's
$3/$15 on my card
 This turned into a great deal.
I still have one more free 12 pack mq left for the summer but am collecting point all the time

[FreeSalsa]

I went to get the TP and got another $5/$15 to use with my $5 ECB.  Yay!  It expires tomorrow so I might get some stuff for DH.  I have to look into the razor thing now.  I doubt I have many coupons.  ETA:  I just looked.  Razors are at Kroger, not CVS.  ETA again:  My razors are $7.99 at Kroger/Ralphs.  Darn HCOL!!!

[grits]

I now have enough tp to last over 2 years.

[saveinla]

Feb 16, 2014 23:24:47 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

I went to get the TP and got another $5/$15 to use with my $5 ECB.  Yay!  It expires tomorrow so I might get some stuff for DH.  I have to look into the razor thing now.  I doubt I have many coupons.  ETA:  I just looked.  Razors are at Kroger, not CVS.  ETA again:  My razors are $7.99 at Kroger/Ralphs.  Darn HCOL!!!

Freesalsa,

Did you get the Angelsoft TP? If so, can you PM me which store? I checked a couple stores here and they don't carry the Angelsoft. Thanks

[murphath]

I went cherry picking yesterday and did pretty well at Safeway:
6 boxes Ritz crackers:  $1.79 minus 3/$1 off 2 q's (on the package)
4 Coke Diet w/lime (B2G2 free): $6.29 ea minus 2 Coke rewards q's. 
FE Asian salad: $3 minus $2 Tony T newsletter q
FE Spinach: $1.49 J4U price
4 Tillamook greek yogurt .89 JFU price: minus 2 B1G1F q's (for some reason the computer took $1.25 off 1 and $1 off the other)
Danimals strawberry greek yogurt 4 pk:  Free JFU
I Can't Believe it's not butter Simply delicious: $2.49 minus $1 J4U q
3 lbs. granny smith apples (my fave!)  $2.92
Precious string cheese  $3.50 minus $1 q

All told, I paid $24.59 which was a 72% savings ($59.18).  I then stopped at Raleys to buy 4 boxes of Cherrios: $1.49 (wyb4) minus 2/$1.00 off 2 q's.  So .99 each.

Since I technically spent more than $40 at Safeway (before q's), I also now have .30 gallon credit to use at their gas station.

It all adds up, right?!!!