THE MARCH 2011 GROCERY CHALLENGE THREAD

[rubyslippers]

CVS ?: How does the CVS beauty program work? Today on one of my receipts it said I had spent $89.36 so far this year. I already got my first $5.00 reward and was hoping I'd get another one today after buying a Physician's Formula @ $10.99. ($89.36 + 10.99= $100.35). Do you have to wait for your next trip for it to print? I'm thinking of returning the makeup I bought today. I only bought it because it was free after $3.00 CRT Q and $7.00 ECB.

Kroger Shoppers: This coming week you can get some good deals on P & G products using MQ's and E-coupons. I plan on getting 1 Old Spice deodoarant, 1 Old Spice bodywash, 1 Gillette bodywash, 1 Duracell 4-pk batteries and 1/2 gallon of milk for $.24 plus tax.

[jdnstl]

dancin - why don't you buddy up with a hound NOT in the west to use your UPS to buy SCR items & they send you the receipts to enter the info online? if it's a hound that travels your way or you go theirs you can pick up the SCR items in person? i know it's not ideal but you can figure a way to work with the system to get your UPS converted.

bluesclues was so nice to roll my expired RR because none of my WAGS will take them & it was $20 worth of RRs (2x$10). she rolled them into something else sending me fresh RRs. i had about a week & a half to use them once they arrived but worked out because of freebies the following ad.

[jdnstl]

philly cooking creme - i just bought 4 today using free coupons. i was picked for the kraft houseparty so i'm having a shindig at my place next saturday. i'm supposed to promote the stuff but i'm basically using it as an excuse to have a party. i will make some of the recipes they gave so i hope they turn out well. any hounds in houston wanna come?

[mercee]

marvholly - no, I don't have a Target card - might have to get one though. Spent $13 at Target yesterday, but got the Megamind DVD - it was $16.99 and I had a $5 off coupon so that was the bulk of my purchase. Got 2 bottles of Target brand cleaning stuff for 37cents each, one target brand floss for free & two reach flosses for free. DH was impressed.

We did alright at Copps today - 4 transactions that totaled under $70. Total savings (per the receipts, which counts up sales & coupon savings) - $77ish. DH was QUITE impressed with that.
I panic’d when the 2nd transaction rang up at $22 – I needed $25 for the coupons to double. I told DH to grab some gum. *whew* Crisis averted. Only had one mix-up in my lists – the coupon I had wasn’t for the stuff on sale, so we improvised some – I think that was what caused my short amt on the $22 transaction. DH was very helpful & supportive during the trip. He came up with a plan t the store on separating the transactions & executed it brilliantly. He got to be the coupon-holder. LOL

philly cooking creme - where / how are you ladies getting it for free??? I printed a $1.50/1 coupon so we can try it...

[rubyslippers]

[/b]Walmart trial: I just got back from Walmart and wanted to report my experience with the new coupon policy, which I foolishly did not have with me. DH and DS wanted some A-1 and I didn't have a drop in my pantry so was shocked to see the $3.50 price. So, I thought maybe I could test the new policy with their promise of overage and bought 4 Gain dryer sheets @ $1.87 each, 1 bag peppermints @ $1.00 and $3.50 for A-1. The cashier was going to adjust the $3.00 coupon down to $1.87 and I said, "No you're not. Your new coupon policy allows this. Please get the manager." The manager came over and looked at my purchases and allowed it. I'm really glad to have only paid $.16 for all, but the cashier was not pleased at all. I thought he was going to cry.

[leanna]

Mar 5, 2011 7:12:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

I just looked at next week's CVS ad. There really isn't anything there that I am interested in.
Thanks hopetoberich for the info on not needing a filler. I think I will just go get 2 more swiffer products with my bogof Q and use up the EB.

Things I am looking to stockpile - I have access to CVS, Wags and Walmart. I will keep checking for hound alerts, but someone let me know if they see something good on these items.
- TP (Northern or Angel Soft)
- Laundry Soap (Any brand)
- Diswasher Soap (Any brand)
- Paper Towels (Any quality brand)
- Shampoo/Conditioner


If you happen to have any Iams pet food Q's Raley's grocery store has spend $30 get $10 back. I couldn't find any Iams coupons online.

Pgnt:
While this isn't a SUPER deal, you can get Dawn dishwashing soap for .50 starting Sunday at Wags. You have to have the P&G everday savings booklet for the .50 off coupon. The price is about $1 on sale, less the coupon, will be about .50.

But maybe you are talking about the detergent that actually goes into the dishwasher?

[mizbear]

leanna- I presumed the same thing about p8nt's post ;D
I have to keep both dish soap and dishwasher soap (as I have a few things that are not dishwasher safe or do not fit in the dishwasher- my big stockpot just won't fit....

[dancinmama]

SAFEWAY CA PIZZA KITCHEN DEAL QUESTION

I REALLY like the CA Pizza Kitchen pizzas and figured that IF I can do a deal and then roll the CATs, it still wouldn't be too bad a deal. Has anyone had success in rolling the CATs? I'm pretty sure that they would roll, but want confirmation before I commit to doing the deal. TIA

[dancinmama]

Mar 5, 2011 15:34:24 GMT -5 jdnstl said:

dancin - why don't you buddy up with a hound NOT in the west to use your UPS to buy SCR items & they send you the receipts to enter the info online? if it's a hound that travels your way or you go theirs you can pick up the SCR items in person? i know it's not ideal but you can figure a way to work with the system to get your UPS converted.

jdnstl: Ya, that would work but would be a real hassle for the person doing it for me. I have some $20 UPs that are going to expire and I NEED the Desenex (none in my stockpile) so I decided that I'm going to get the Comtrex, the Keri, and the Desenex and just eat the extra cost. I'll be getting a couple of things we need even if it does cost a little bit extra.

[ohiositter]

Hope to be rich........ Mercee............ Dancin................

Thank you ladies for the Q's. I went and used some of the Q's already
My bill at Kroger's was $105 before discounts and Q's and my OOP was $24!!!!!!!! doing the happy dance!!!!!

[dancinmama]

Mar 5, 2011 21:00:59 GMT -5 ohiositter said:

Hope to be rich........ Mercee............ Dancin................

Thank you ladies for the Q's. I went and used some of the Q's already
My bill at Kroger's was $105 before discounts and Q's and my OOP was $24!!!!!!!! doing the happy dance!!!!!

ohiositter: AWESOME!! And you're welcome. Glad to help.

[p8nt]

Mar 5, 2011 9:40:28 GMT -5 nickyleey said:

Mar 5, 2011 7:12:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

p8nt - go to www.hotcouponworld.com and click on coupon database. Enter iams in the window and several should pop up for you. There were some in the 2/27 PG insert.

Duh! Thanks, I had 3 of the P&G inserts. Which brings me to my question. Those of you who save the entire inserts, how do you know what is in them? I actually had to sit in a display patio chair at CVS last week and go through all of my binder (not big yet) trying to find something I knew I had seen.

[p8nt]

Mar 5, 2011 14:51:14 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

CVS ?: How does the CVS beauty program work? Today on one of my receipts it said I had spent $89.36 so far this year. I already got my first $5.00 reward and was hoping I'd get another one today after buying a Physician's Formula @ $10.99. ($89.36 + 10.99= $100.35). Do you have to wait for your next trip for it to print? I'm thinking of returning the makeup I bought today. I only bought it because it was free after $3.00 CRT Q and $7.00 ECB.

Kroger Shoppers: This coming week you can get some good deals on P & G products using MQ's and E-coupons. I plan on getting 1 Old Spice deodoarant, 1 Old Spice bodywash, 1 Gillette bodywash, 1 Duracell 4-pk batteries and 1/2 gallon of milk for $.24 plus tax.

I am not 100% positive, but I got my 1st one today out of the red box scanner. I reached my $50 on my last trip. Perhaps if you go scan your card your 2nd one will come out?

[dancinmama]

Mar 5, 2011 21:21:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

Mar 5, 2011 9:40:28 GMT -5 nickyleey said:

Mar 5, 2011 7:12:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

p8nt - go to www.hotcouponworld.com and click on coupon database. Enter iams in the window and several should pop up for you. There were some in the 2/27 PG insert.

Duh! Thanks, I had 3 of the P&G inserts. Which brings me to my question. Those of you who save the entire inserts, how do you know what is in them? I actually had to sit in a display patio chair at CVS last week and go through all of my binder (not big yet) trying to find something I knew I had seen.

p8nt: I don't really have to "remember" what is in each insert, because I do all of my clipping at home before I get to the store based on the ad previews and frugalsuz's blog. frugalsuz tells you where to find the coupons that you need in order to do the deals and so do the ad previews. That way I don't have to clip and file any coupons. I just go to my coupons stacks and clip what I need as I am planning out my scenarios, then off to the store I go. HTH

[dancinmama]

Okay, maybe that CVS Beauty Program has something to do with this. I went to CVS late this afternoon to double up on the sales ads (this week's and next week's). I bought the Revlon nail polish and it rang up at $3.99 instead of $4.99 and I got the $3 EB.

Never mind; I see in the ad preview that some of them are priced at $3.99. DUH!!

[p8nt]

Mar 5, 2011 18:29:48 GMT -5 leanna said:

Mar 5, 2011 7:12:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

I just looked at next week's CVS ad. There really isn't anything there that I am interested in.
Thanks hopetoberich for the info on not needing a filler. I think I will just go get 2 more swiffer products with my bogof Q and use up the EB.

Things I am looking to stockpile - I have access to CVS, Wags and Walmart. I will keep checking for hound alerts, but someone let me know if they see something good on these items.
- TP (Northern or Angel Soft)
- Laundry Soap (Any brand)
- Diswasher Soap (Any brand)
- Paper Towels (Any quality brand)
- Shampoo/Conditioner


If you happen to have any Iams pet food Q's Raley's grocery store has spend $30 get $10 back. I couldn't find any Iams coupons online.

Pgnt:
While this isn't a SUPER deal, you can get Dawn dishwashing soap for .50 starting Sunday at Wags. You have to have the P&G everday savings booklet for the .50 off coupon. The price is about $1 on sale, less the coupon, will be about .50.

But maybe you are talking about the detergent that actually goes into the dishwasher?

Thank you, I had 3 of those inserts and here in Northern California the coupon was only $.25 but that is still better than nothing.

If anyone wants either the Glide Floss or the tampax coupons from the P&G inserts let me know. I don't use either of those brands.

[azucena]

Mar 5, 2011 14:51:14 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

CVS ?:

Kroger Shoppers: This coming week you can get some good deals on P & G products using MQ's and E-coupons. I plan on getting 1 Old Spice deodoarant, 1 Old Spice bodywash, 1 Gillette bodywash, 1 Duracell 4-pk batteries and 1/2 gallon of milk for $.24 plus tax.

Ruby - do you follow a kroger blogger? Which region are you in? I've been trying to help a friend start hounding in the central region.

[herekittykitty]

Mar 5, 2011 10:07:08 GMT -5 frugalsuz said:

Mar 4, 2011 22:59:31 GMT -5 herekittykitty said:

Mizbear: Even dancinmama or frugalsuz don't have that many RR saved up!

HA! This totally cracked me up! Think they'd take a $5 off $25 coupon too?? (this smiley cracked me up all over again! Its called "muhaha" hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha)

I'm heading out to RA in a bit to check for free dryer sheets. I haven't been reading the Slick Deals thread for this week at all, so I almost missed it. The RA brand dryer sheets are on sale for $1.99 with a $1 UP. But....some of them are ringing up as $0.99 making them free! Erica on iheartriteaid got the 80 ct ones for $0.99.

That smiley guy creeps me out! Gonna have nightmares tonight...

[debinwa]

Mar 5, 2011 20:46:22 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

SAFEWAY CA PIZZA KITCHEN DEAL QUESTION

I REALLY like the CA Pizza Kitchen pizzas and figured that IF I can do a deal and then roll the CATs, it still wouldn't be too bad a deal. Has anyone had success in rolling the CATs? I'm pretty sure that they would roll, but want confirmation before I commit to doing the deal. TIA

Roll away, girl!! They roll.

[jdnstl]

Mar 5, 2011 21:35:01 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 5, 2011 21:21:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

Duh! Thanks, I had 3 of the P&G inserts. Which brings me to my question. Those of you who save the entire inserts, how do you know what is in them? I actually had to sit in a display patio chair at CVS last week and go through all of my binder (not big yet) trying to find something I knew I had seen.

p8nt: I don't really have to "remember" what is in each insert, because I do all of my clipping at home before I get to the store based on the ad previews and frugalsuz's blog. frugalsuz tells you where to find the coupons that you need in order to do the deals and so do the ad previews. That way I don't have to clip and file any coupons. I just go to my coupons stacks and clip what I need as I am planning out my scenarios, then off to the store I go. HTH

p8nt - i do the same as dancin. i work full-time & 2 part-time jobs & i have a 2-y-o, so i miss a lot of the super deals but i try to get the best deals i can during the weekends (most free time to shop). i've been thankful for the slow sales lately. i was so grateful that the kroger daytona mega was full of stuff i don't want or like so i didn't spend all my stockpile $ on it for the month! i hope the march madness sale has the items i need though!!

[jdnstl]

Mar 5, 2011 17:13:36 GMT -5 mercee said:

philly cooking creme - where / how are you ladies getting it for free??? I printed a $1.50/1 coupon so we can try it...

mercee - my free q's were in my houseparty pack. i also got a free skillet & pot holder, then 15 wooden spoons, magnets & to-do list writing pads & $1.50 coupons to give to my guests. i will apply again for another houseparty! i love the free stuff & a great excuse to PARTY!!

[dancinmama]

Mar 6, 2011 2:23:21 GMT -5 debinwa said:

Mar 5, 2011 20:46:22 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

SAFEWAY CA PIZZA KITCHEN DEAL QUESTION

I REALLY like the CA Pizza Kitchen pizzas and figured that IF I can do a deal and then roll the CATs, it still wouldn't be too bad a deal. Has anyone had success in rolling the CATs? I'm pretty sure that they would roll, but want confirmation before I commit to doing the deal. TIA

Roll away, girl!! They roll.

debinwa: Thanks so much. I figured that they did, but ya never know. It would have been too expensive if they didn't.

[mercee]

Mar 5, 2011 21:00:59 GMT -5 ohiositter said:

Hope to be rich........ Mercee............ Dancin................

Thank you ladies for the Q's. I went and used some of the Q's already
My bill at Kroger's was $105 before discounts and Q's and my OOP was $24!!!!!!!! doing the happy dance!!!!!

ohiositter - woo-hoo!! That's AWESOME!!!! I wish I could score grocery deals like that!!

[dancinmama]

Mar 5, 2011 14:43:19 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Since I was out of treats for my girl, I had fun with the recent Beggin Strips/Busy Bone coupon while shopping their sale.

Bought 2 Beggin Strips @ $2.04 each, used 2 $1.00 any Beggin Strips AND the buy any Beggin Strips and get a package of Busy Bones free. Two different coupons...
So, for $2.08 I got 2 packages of Busy Bones and 2 packages of Beggin Strips. Not bad. I was surprised I was able to stack two manufacturers coupons. Don't know if my favorite cashier was just making me happy or what?

dogmom: Using both Qs together is completely okay. I did the exact same deal when they had the Beggin Strips on sale at CVS. I used both MCs and a $/$$ to lower my OOP. Those two coupons are available together frequently, so be on the look-out in the future.

[rubyslippers]

Azucena: I follow Southernsavers.com and use my own Ohio ad because some of the prices are a little different. I loaded up my Kroger card to get ecoupons that I can use with the MQ's.

I printed off the new Walmart coupon policy and will have it in a handy place in case I need to inform any cashiers.

[dancinmama]

My trip to RA this morning is going to be a BIG PITA. My mom gets the 10% discount, DS has a $4/20 and $4 off anything VV Qs, and I have no discounts or VV Qs, so each transaction is going to have to be calculated separately in store (since I have no ad and have no idea what the stock will be). I was going to go across town yesterday to run an errand and go on a "fact-finding mission" at RA, but gas is getting too expensive to do that so I'm going to wait until later in the morning to head out to RA so that I can bundle my other errand with my hounding.

[bluecluessubtlety]

Mar 5, 2011 21:21:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

Mar 5, 2011 9:40:28 GMT -5 nickyleey said:

Mar 5, 2011 7:12:19 GMT -5 p8nt said:

p8nt - go to www.hotcouponworld.com and click on coupon database. Enter iams in the window and several should pop up for you. There were some in the 2/27 PG insert.

Duh! Thanks, I had 3 of the P&G inserts. Which brings me to my question. Those of you who save the entire inserts, how do you know what is in them? I actually had to sit in a display patio chair at CVS last week and go through all of my binder (not big yet) trying to find something I knew I had seen.

Now I have a fancy pants phone so I access the coupon database. But before I would print the preview. You can get that from various blogs. I used to use the one madcoupons sent. Print that and put it in front of inserts for that week.

[suziq38]

Mar 6, 2011 10:10:44 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

My trip to RA this morning is going to be a BIG PITA. My mom gets the 10% discount, DS has a $4/20 and $4 off anything VV Qs, and I have no discounts or VV Qs, so each transaction is going to have to be calculated separately in store (since I have no ad and have no idea what the stock will be). I was going to go across town yesterday to run an errand and go on a "fact-finding mission" at RA, but gas is getting too expensive to do that so I'm going to wait until later in the morning to head out to RA so that I can bundle my other errand with my hounding.

Dancinmama, I hear ya.
I have been going really slow with my purchases due to the fact that I have so much and nothing is expired (store credit) as of yet.

The tax plus the new gas prices are "killers," to a decent deal, LOL.

[dancinmama]

This message has been deleted.

[dancinmama]

Mar 6, 2011 10:52:33 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Mar 6, 2011 10:10:44 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

My trip to RA this morning is going to be a BIG PITA. My mom gets the 10% discount, DS has a $4/20 and $4 off anything VV Qs, and I have no discounts or VV Qs, so each transaction is going to have to be calculated separately in store (since I have no ad and have no idea what the stock will be). I was going to go across town yesterday to run an errand and go on a "fact-finding mission" at RA, but gas is getting too expensive to do that so I'm going to wait until later in the morning to head out to RA so that I can bundle my other errand with my hounding.

Dancinmama, I hear ya.
I have been going really slow with my purchases due to the fact that I have so much and nothing is expired (store credit) as of yet.

The tax plus the new gas prices are "killers," to a decent deal, LOL.

suzi: The problem is that I have (3) $20 UPs that are going to expire before the next good free after SCR offers come out, so if I'm going to convert them to cash, this is the week. We DO need the Desenex and with Qs the Comtrex and Keri lotion may work out to be "okay" deals.