THE MARCH 2011 GROCERY CHALLENGE THREAD

[saveinla]

Mar 6, 2011 11:51:50 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

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

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.

dancinmama,
Can you do free after rebate items like the Renpure shampoo? If you can find the TMF rebate tags, then you can convert them to cash.

[dancinmama]

Mar 6, 2011 12:06:20 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Mar 6, 2011 11:51:50 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

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.

dancinmama,
Can you do free after rebate items like the Renpure shampoo? If you can find the TMF rebate tags, then you can convert them to cash.

saveinla: Oh ya. I DO have a few of those tags on my hounding bulletin board. Great alternative. I'm going to see what I can cobble together with the SCRs first (the Desenex that I need and the Comtrex and Keri that I have coupons for). If that gets too pricey, I might go ahead and do some of that Renpure. Thanks for the reminder.

[hopetoberich]

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!!!!!

You're welcome!!

[jdnstl]

i did pretty good today, i think. i went by myself (no DS) so was able to think & move faster than normal.

CVS #1
milk 2.99x2 = 5.98
top speed nail polish = 3.99
less $1 q from 3/6 SS
less 2.99 EB
total 5.98+.17 tax got back 2 EB (milk) & 3 EB (revlon); true cost $4.14 which is THE best price for milk now that gas has jumped $0.40 in 2 weeks!!! my OOP could have been lower but my EBs from yesterday were attached to the receipt & sitting on my table at home.

CVS #2 (different card)
nail polish - 3.99
Less $3 CRT
less $1 (3/6 SS)
total OOP = $0, got back $3EB = $3 MM!!!!

Fiesta
tyson chicken nuggets BOGO & $3.49
Less $1 home mailer q
oranges $1/5
total = $3.49 for 2 bags of nuggets & 5 oranges!!!!

staples
pens $2
paper clips $2x2=4
envelopes $5x2 = 10
HP photo paper $8.99
very tiny useful box $1
subtotal $25.99 - 25 rewards statement, OOP 0.99+.08 tax = $1.07 will get $24.99 back in rebates!!!

i did this transaction twice because my other rewards statement was for $25.30 & i will do all the rebates to my mother's address for the second transaction. the cashier took my first rewards statement & said "you do know you get the purchase price back in rebates so it's all free?" i said "yeah, so?" him, "OK, just making sure you knew." well, DUH!! of course i knew but those rebates don't give me tax back so why to i want to use my $ to buy them!!! of course i didn't tell him that but you all knew i was thinking it!!!

yesterday i did really well at WAGS. i rolled the nose spray & pullups RRs back & forth about 4 times. i paid about $12 OOP & got 4 packs of pullups, 4 nose sprays, 3 peroxide & 5 wonka candies that were clearanced to $0.22 (made the best fillers), & i still have a $2RR!!! i was in this store last sunday & couldn't even find shelf space for the nose spray. when i was in yesterday i remembered that stock for the OTCs is up along the walls above the diet section & first aid. so i walked along the walls checking the stock hidden up there, & what do ya know, BINGO!! about 10 nose sprays, all with $1 peelies tucked away. no motrin pm but i didn't expect any after the first day of the sale. my transactions looked like this:

#1
nose spray 4.99
filler .22
less peelie -1
less huggies RR - 2
total OOP 2.21, get back $5

#2
pullups 8.99
filler .22
less 3.50 (2/27 SS for huggies big packs but scans no probs)
less nose RR - 5
total OOP 0.87, get back $2

[jdnstl]

oh, and i stopped at party city before staples. they are next door & were open at 10:50 am while staples was still closed. i wanted to look for gift sacks for next weekends party. i found what i was looking for plus some. i found some nice stuff on clearance for future get-togethers. i think the receipt is still in the bag so i don't have exact numbers but i remember looking at it to make sure everything rang correctly since most of what i got was on clearance. i paid 24.xx OOP and my receipt says i saved $49.xx!! so over 50% savings!!!

[herekittykitty]

Had to go to 3 CVS to get enough of the Gas-X prevention to do the EB deal as posted by frugalsuz. It is also irritating that none of our RA's have restocked any of the J & J or Desinex products, even though they are in the ad this week! I also don't think they are ever going to restock the small Gain fabric softeners. I guess I am going to have to try to brave Wal-Mart this week after all...if you don't see any posts from me the rest of the week, send RR's for my bail! ;D

[herekittykitty]

Anyone who still has the $3 off Viactiv coupon from 4-6 weeks ago (exp 4-30-11) and a 20% wellness card discount can get the chews for .19 plus tax this week at RA!
(1) Viactiv 60 ct $8.99 reg. price, $7.19 after 20% wellness discount: use $3 mfq and $4 in-ad RA Q= .19 plus tax, so .68 for me!

My mom does not do well trying to swallow "horse pills" like calcium, so these are a great buy for her!

[mizbear]

NAG- This weather has knocked the hounding spirit out of me! I am trying to gather up extra inserts from DBs new ig delivering papers (he got the job!). And I am trying to plan extra frugal needs only hounds for the next few months to try and re-assert/re-affirm myself/my point with family about my budget/lifestyle. But this rain/wind and siding blowing off the building into my sliding window just isn't doing it for me. I want to go back to sleep and wake up with my diet complete, school complete, my siding reattached, my coupons organized, my headache gone, the cleaning fairy visited, etc.

You can all stop laughing now.

[mizbear]

Mar 6, 2011 15:42:18 GMT -5 herekittykitty said:

Anyone who still has the $3 off Viactiv coupon from 4-6 weeks ago (exp 4-30-11) and a 20% wellness card discount can get the chews for .19 plus tax this week at RA!
(1) Viactiv 60 ct $8.99 reg. price, $7.19 after 20% wellness discount: use $3 mfq and $4 in-ad RA Q= .19 plus tax, so .68 for me!

My mom does not do well trying to swallow "horse pills" like calcium, so these are a great buy for her!

I take calcium too, on top of my other meds, what makes them think the calcium pills have to be the size of the milk bottle??? I thought that was part of the point?? I can't take Viactiv because the chews pulled my caps out

[bobbysgirl]

Comtrex, 4.99
4.00 Single Check Rebate
1.50 Q in 02/13 SS insert

Final Cost: .51 money maker

Trident single pack is .99 this week at RA. There is a BOGO Q in this Sunday's Smart Source (SS). The video values program has a .50 Q.
Final price: 2/.49


NYC cosmetics are Buy 1 get 50% on the second item.
All You magazine has 3 1.00 Qs, 16 hr lip stain, mascara or eye product, and face product or foundation. (Item has to be more than 1.73)
ALSO there is a 1.00 up reward when you purchase any item 1.99 or more.

A probable scenario is spend under 3.00 on 2 items, use 2 Qs @ 1.00 each. Get 1.00 up reward.
Final cost as low as .00. This is a Steal Deal

[herekittykitty]

Mizbear: there are some "petite" size calcium pills out there, but I find them to be more expensive. You might also try the Nature Made ones, as they seem to slide easier...

[herekittykitty]

Deal Seeking Mom has a link to a free $50 coupon book for Publix shoppers living in certain areas...not sure if this is different from the one you have available in stores--we don't have Publix!

[leanna]

I have a REALLY stupid questioning. I'm actually embarrassed to ask it

I had a few of those $3 off Gain fabric softener coupons that I've been carrying around with me. And, whaddya know, my Rite Aid, had the small liquid bottles for $2.99. Yay - so free fabric softener.

Now, here's my "probably stupidest question ever" question. Ummmm...I've never used liquid fabric softener before.
I'm presuming it goes in with my laundry detergent in the wash?

[rubyslippers]

At Rite Aid there's an in-ad $3.99 Q for Thermacare, which makes it free. Also, if you want to use a $3/15.00 order, this would get your total closer to $15.00. Combine it with 4 Colgates and you have a moneymaker.

[leanna]

Does anyone else get bummed when they get every item on their shopping list except 1?

So silly really - I got free Colgate, Comtrex, Keri lotion, Snickers bar, Thermacare, Reeses king size and mini's, and sardines (some after scr - you know the drill). YET I am bummed that there was NO Ester c in stock! LOL! Just one item!

I think the only reason I care is that I've had a mild cold this week, and I generally only crave vitamin c when I'm sick. So I really wanted to try it. The other items I didn't need. Oh wait, I desperately needed the Reeses!

[car-chick]

Mar 6, 2011 16:14:52 GMT -5 herekittykitty said:

Deal Seeking Mom has a link to a free $50 coupon book for Publix shoppers living in certain areas...not sure if this is different from the one you have available in stores--we don't have Publix!

Can someone pretty please put up a link to this???

Also perhaps to Frugal suzs blog???

TIA!!!!!

[car-chick]

Mar 6, 2011 16:15:37 GMT -5 leanna said:

I have a REALLY stupid questioning. I'm actually embarrassed to ask it

I had a few of those $3 off Gain fabric softener coupons that I've been carrying around with me. And, whaddya know, my Rite Aid, had the small liquid bottles for $2.99. Yay - so free fabric softener.

Now, here's my "probably stupidest question ever" question. Ummmm...I've never used liquid fabric softener before.
I'm presuming it goes in with my laundry detergent in the wash?

Thats an awesome deal and you did not ask a stupid question!!!! I have a dispenser in my washer that you can put the liquid fabric softner in. (A hole in the middle thingy in my washer). However, if you don't have a dispenser, I would NOT add it to the dry clothes like you would liquid detergent. I would let the water fill up over the clothes and then add the liquid softner. I had one bad experience with putting the liquid in the washer on top of the dry clothes and it stained one of my shirts. This was a really long time ago so that may no longer be a problem but I wouldn't chance it.

[dancinmama]

Mar 6, 2011 16:49:28 GMT -5 car-chick said:

Mar 6, 2011 16:14:52 GMT -5 herekittykitty said:

Deal Seeking Mom has a link to a free $50 coupon book for Publix shoppers living in certain areas...not sure if this is different from the one you have available in stores--we don't have Publix!

Can someone pretty please put up a link to this???

Also perhaps to Frugal suzs blog???

TIA!!!!!

accountant4christ: Great to see you post again!!

frugalsuz's blog is: www.frugalsuz.blogspot.com

Try www.dealseekingmom.com for the other one (but I'm not sure about that one).

HTH

[hopetoberich]

Leanna.
You have a PM from me

[missourimommy]

dancin,
I haven't forgotten about you! My mom and dad were here for the weekend and just left. My 2nd grader earned his God and Me Cub Scout Award and it was presented to him at church this morning! Not a proud mom or anything like that. Now we're getting ready to go back to church for Bible Blast. I haven't had a chance to sit down and figure out where my coupons are. My cleaning fairy visited Friday and she did a GREAT job! My house has never been cleaner.

jdnstl, I, too won the "right" to host a Philly Cooking Cream Cheese Houseparty next week, too! The skillet was pretty awesome, as were the recipes!! I can't wait to try some of them! They all looked easy, too, which will be really nice on crazy nights!

[dancinmama]

It's shocking that none of the SCR items (NONE) were on sale in the CA ad. I ended up spending $38 in UPs and $1.12 in OOP to get $32 back in SCRs, but we really needed the Desenex which would have cost $8.49 normal price. It's all good since I got most of the UPs for free.

Did anyone else have problems with the Keri IP beeping? My cashier pushed it right through.

OH, also was told by the cashier that the store manager got fired last week. She had no idea why. AND one of my fav cashiers at CVS got fired last week. What the heck is going on?

[hopetoberich]

I don't seem to have either a Keri or comtrex coupon. Can someone let me know where to get these? They are not in my SS

[mizbear]

leanna- I agree with accountant4christ. Use the dispenser on your unit (if in the agitator, we usually top it off with water, I don't know why, my DGM just fusses if we don't) or add after the machine has filled. I would also make sure you put the clothes through a second rinse until you are sure it agrees with you, particularly if you are a cold water washer.

[dancinmama]

Mar 6, 2011 15:44:03 GMT -5 mizbear said:

NAG- This weather has knocked the hounding spirit out of me! I am trying to gather up extra inserts from DBs new ig delivering papers (he got the job!). And I am trying to plan extra frugal needs only hounds for the next few months to try and re-assert/re-affirm myself/my point with family about my budget/lifestyle. But this rain/wind and siding blowing off the building into my sliding window just isn't doing it for me. I want to go back to sleep and wake up with my diet complete, school complete, my siding reattached, my coupons organized, my headache gone, the cleaning fairy visited, etc.

You can all stop laughing now.

mizbear: Sorry to hear that your feeling a little overwhelmed. Hang in there; I'm sure things will get better. Here's a hug for you.

[mercee]

Here's my question for the day / week.

Wags has the coffee-mate creamer B1G1 and I have a coupon for a free coffee-mate. So does that mean I get 2 for free or would I get 3 for the price of 1?

[dancinmama]

Mar 6, 2011 17:31:03 GMT -5 mercee said:

Here's my question for the day / week.

Wags has the coffee-mate creamer B1G1 and I have a coupon for a free coffee-mate. So does that mean I get 2 for free or would I get 3 for the price of 1?

I would think that you could get two for free.

[dogmom]

Thanks Ms. Dancin for the information on the "stacked" coupons. I tried at our Jewel/Albertsons which resulted with cashier and manager stating that I could not use both coupons on the Meaty Bones/Canine Carry Outs "deal". I made them take both off my order when they refused to take both coupons. I was happy with the Meijer deal. I wish we had a Rite Aid...The closest is 71 miles away, and with gas prices at $3.80 and rising (Chicago has $4.09 at a few spots) It's an "I don't think so" for any road trips... It was a disappointing day though. I was going to burn some EB's at CVS today on an Entertainment Book that was in this week's ad. DH, his best friend and one of his co-workers usually take what we don't use, or even think we will use. Seemed like I could do it. They had been sold out since December...Why would they advertise $10. off with NO STOCK? No anticipation of stock, and honestly with gas prices the way they are, I burned them on free Wisk, and free nail polish. I lost $1.00 in RR but rolled them otherwise.... Okay, the balance of my rant, while I'm at it, I got a phone call from the place I ordered eye glasses. I had a BOGO which they honored. I should have micromanaged them and asked if BOTH pairs were ready. Drove there (but stopped at the Dominicks (Safeway) on the way to pick up the $42.00 freezer coupon book. Then I went to pick up the glasses. Only ONE pair was ready, and an assistant was not available for a fit nor did she know how to split a transaction. (There is supposed to be no appointment necessary on pick up...UGH) So, a second trip to take care of what should have happned in the first place... But, it's all good...We're stocked, I have a nice stockpile of coupons and a plan for my next shopping trip... Well, at least I hope so.

[leanna]

Mar 6, 2011 16:53:45 GMT -5 car-chick said:

Mar 6, 2011 16:15:37 GMT -5 leanna said:

I have a REALLY stupid questioning. I'm actually embarrassed to ask it

I had a few of those $3 off Gain fabric softener coupons that I've been carrying around with me. And, whaddya know, my Rite Aid, had the small liquid bottles for $2.99. Yay - so free fabric softener.

Now, here's my "probably stupidest question ever" question. Ummmm...I've never used liquid fabric softener before.
I'm presuming it goes in with my laundry detergent in the wash?

Thats an awesome deal and you did not ask a stupid question!!!! I have a dispenser in my washer that you can put the liquid fabric softner in. (A hole in the middle thingy in my washer). However, if you don't have a dispenser, I would NOT add it to the dry clothes like you would liquid detergent. I would let the water fill up over the clothes and then add the liquid softner. I had one bad experience with putting the liquid in the washer on top of the dry clothes and it stained one of my shirts. This was a really long time ago so that may no longer be a problem but I wouldn't chance it.

Thanks Accountant and thanks mizbear both for answering my question and for not making me feel stupid for having asked it!

I felt kind of silly, 'cause it's not like I'm a teenager, but in all the years I've been doing laundry, I never purchased liquid f.s.

[herekittykitty]

Sorry, all...deal seeking mom is www.dealseekingmom.com
If you sign up for her email alerts, you will get a daily newsletter with various deals and q links.

Hope: The $3 Keri q is an internet printable...try frugalsuz for the link at www.frugalsuz.blogspot.com. There was also a $2 Keri q in the circulars a week or two ago, I believe...

[herekittykitty]

Sorry about the deal seeking mom overload, but I just got today's email alert, and Target.com has a cosmetic bag with free samples and q's for doing a quick 5 question survey...www.samples.target.com/beauty-bag/ (that's what showed up in my browser window when I clicked the link!)