THE MARCH 2011 GROCERY CHALLENGE THREAD

[princessleia]

Mar 27, 2011 21:06:38 GMT -5 p8nt said:

Mar 27, 2011 14:48:33 GMT -5 princessleia said:

Dancin' - I would count the OOP to be $2.09 for each Maxwell House because your RRs is actually part of your cash back for the other previous purchase you paid. Hopefully you are not doublecounting your benefits because that would not be a true pix of total cost. I treat RRs as $$ and a way to pay for the purchase. Just my 2cts ....

ARGHHH!!! I think I am doing this "double counting"
Am I supposed to count my RR's as OOP?

Going back to the example - I will ask myself 'Do I want to pay $2.09 for that Maxwell House?' with the MQ without considering the use of RRs......It will help you keep the cost even lower.
Like today's hounds, the 2 Colgates for $6 and you get $4RR and I got 2 $1 MQs.....so my colgates are free (counted my benefit already) but still I have incurred a bill of $4 (+tax) and then I use the $4 RR to pay the BOGO Coffee Creamer (4 bottles - $4.98).....OOP is 98 cts but I consider my cost as $4.98 for the 4 bottles.

[dancinmama]

Mar 27, 2011 20:42:37 GMT -5 jdnstl said:

dancin - i gave that note to leanna before i looked at my local ad. i went off the iheartcvs site to see that her skintimate is marked as $3.19 - $2.50 EB. but my local ad was $3.49. i still wanted to use the mq at CVS because i prefer EBs, but the mq's beeped & the cashier said he couldn't even force it through. i said "they must be coded weird," canceled the transaction & left without a thing. i want the skintimate & prefer to get it at CVS but if the mq is screwy i'll just have to try with my friend at WAGS.

suzi - did you have any probs with the skintimate q?

jdnstl: I JUST got back from CVS. Although the Skintimate coupon SHOULD not beep because you are using it on the right product and the right size, there are some cans that match up to the coupon (the first five digits in the UPC of the product match those on the coupon) and there are other cans that don't match up with the coupon. Why? Beats me. I specifically looked at the UPCs and selected my product accordingly.

HTH

[princessleia]

Mar 27, 2011 19:43:53 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 27, 2011 19:41:07 GMT -5 princessleia said:

Can it be attached as a document here for all of us to access it?
Too big? What abt shrinking it?

I don't know how to do that, but if you PM me with an email, I'll send it to you. I don't know how to shrink it. I don't think my printer has that capability.

I PMed you....thanks!

[dancinmama]

Mar 27, 2011 21:06:38 GMT -5 p8nt said:

Mar 27, 2011 14:48:33 GMT -5 princessleia said:

Dancin' - I would count the OOP to be $2.09 for each Maxwell House because your RRs is actually part of your cash back for the other previous purchase you paid. Hopefully you are not doublecounting your benefits because that would not be a true pix of total cost. I treat RRs as $$ and a way to pay for the purchase. Just my 2cts ....

ARGHHH!!! I think I am doing this "double counting"
Am I supposed to count my RR's as OOP?

p8nt: No, you're probably not. The point that princessleia is trying to make is that you should consider what you're buying with your RRs and make sure that you'd be willing to pay that same price (or close to it) if you were spending REAL money.

By double counting here's what we mean: Mary buys a product for $2.99 and gets a $2RR. She says to herself, "Wow, I got that product for only $.99. That's AWESOME!!" Then the next week she takes that $2RR and buys a product that costs $2.50 and says, "Wow, I got that product for only $.50. I'm pretty slick at this money-saving stuff. "

She made the typical newbie mistake. She counted her savings on both ends - both when she got the RR AND when she used the RR. I usually do not count the savings when I get the RR, because after all maybe I'll lose it or accidentally let it expire before it gets used. I always count my savings from a RR when I actually cash it in.

Does that make sense?

[dancinmama]

Mar 27, 2011 21:58:32 GMT -5 princessleia said:

Mar 27, 2011 21:06:38 GMT -5 p8nt said:

ARGHHH!!! I think I am doing this "double counting"
Am I supposed to count my RR's as OOP?

Going back to the example - I will ask myself 'Do I want to pay $2.09 for that Maxwell House?' with the MQ without considering the use of RRs......It will help you keep the cost even lower.
Like today's hounds, the 2 Colgates for $6 and you get $4RR and I got 2 $1 MQs.....so my colgates are free (counted my benefit already) but still I have incurred a bill of $4 (+tax) and then I use the $4 RR to pay the BOGO Coffee Creamer (4 bottles - $4.98).....OOP is 98 cts but I consider my cost as $4.98 for the 4 bottles.

princessleia: Everyone uses their own method. You prefer to count on the front end, but I prefer to count on the back end. Basically, I try to pay nothing in OOP ever, so that's why I like to count on the back end. If it is too expensive to get into the game in OOP, I stay out.

[princessleia]

I always count my savings from a RR when I actually cash it in.

Yes, count your savings one time only ...either at time of transaction or after you cash it in. I do mine at time of transaction.

[dancinmama]

PHYSICIANS FORMULA CONCEALERS:

These were $6.29 at my store and giving the $7RR. They $5/1 PDF does not beep, so this is a HUGE MM!!

[Deleted]

Hello everyone! I hope y'all had a great week-end. If I've never said it before, "Thank you!" to all the people who contribute to this section. Your tips and tricks have really paid out.

I found some pretty good deals for the shelter I support. One of the things I do is collect items for the start of each school year so that more of the kids can start off the year right. I've started collecting early for my school year box early because I don't know if I am going to have a job after September.

CVS:
I stopped by a CVS looking for pony tail holders that were on clearance at other stores, but they were all out. However, I picked up 2 bottles of Pantene Conditioner for women of color that were in the clearance aisle. They were marked down from $4.99 to $1.25. I knew I had a coupon, so after digging through fliers and my coupon binder, I found it in my purse.

2 bottles of conditioner for $1.50 OOP

I already have about 15 brush and comb sets ($1 at Walgreens), a straightening brush ($1.50), a couple of perms ($1.75 each on clearance Walgreens); pony tail holders for .87 at CVS with matching barettes (.89 Sally's discount); several Garnier Fructis treatment to straighten hair (regualry $7.99, on clearance for $2.99 and I had a couple of $1 off coupons). A few more items and I'll start to pick up things for the boys.

JCPenney:
I had a $15 off $15 coupon, if I used my credit card. I found a pair of boy's school slacks (navy) for $15.99. I paid $1.07 OOP and then paid the credit card balance at the register.

Target:
Thanks to one of the ladies on this board, I was reminded to go to the Target website last week and look for coupons. I needed a new pair of khaki pants and there was a coupon for 10% off Khaki purchase. I found their chinos marked down from $24 on sale for $20.

OOP $19.40

The Target in my area has remodeled and expanded to compete with the new Walmart. There was a gift card for a free pack of eggs, which I picked up for my friend who loves to bake. I also picked up a 6 pk of Hanes underwear on sale for $6 and used the Target $1 off coupon.

I felt a little guilty, I could have picked up one of the special 8 pair for the price of 6 packs for the shelter making it a better deal, but I needed to get some new ones for myself.

[dancinmama]

Mar 27, 2011 19:17:06 GMT -5 @mawmawandlovingit said:

Mar 27, 2011 18:07:39 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

PHYSICAN'S FORMULA PDF

Has anyone used this coupon yet? Was it well-received? That thing is HUGE!!

I would LOVE this PDF is someone could please send it to me at screen name at gmail dot com. Did they take the praying emotion away? I can't find it anywhere!!

mawmaw: It's the 4th row down to the far left. They did not give us the animated one. Personally, I don't think this one looks nearly as good. Even though the animated one got the most votes, the guy doing the emoticons "realized" that it was a medium one and he had put it in the poll as a small one. Oh well. I would have used the animated one A LOT; not so sure about this one -->

[dancinmama]

Mar 27, 2011 22:32:40 GMT -5 @texasjunebaby said:

CVS:
I stopped by a CVS looking for pony tail holders that were on clearance at other stores, but they were all out.

texasjunebaby: If you have a Rite Aid, make sure to look at the 4/3 ad. Scunci's are going to be free or freap!!

[Deleted]

Mar 27, 2011 22:46:48 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 27, 2011 22:32:40 GMT -5 @texasjunebaby said:

CVS:
I stopped by a CVS looking for pony tail holders that were on clearance at other stores, but they were all out.

texasjunebaby: If you have a Rite Aid, make sure to look at the 4/3 ad. Scunci's are going to be free or freap!!

Thanks for the heads up, but we don't have Rite Aid down here.

I almost forgot....I went to the M&M's website and entered the codes that were on the inside of a couple of packs I bought as fillers for other purchases. They were good for $3 off a movie ticket.

Plus, during my trip to Target, I also picked up a 3 pk of women's underwear on clearance for $1.76. Don't you just love clearance!!!!!

[dancinmama]

Mar 27, 2011 22:49:16 GMT -5 @texasjunebaby said:

Mar 27, 2011 22:46:48 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

texasjunebaby: If you have a Rite Aid, make sure to look at the 4/3 ad. Scunci's are going to be free or freap!!

Thanks for the heads up, but we don't have Rite Aid down here.

[suziq38]

My Q's were $.55/1 but totally AWESOME was the bonus disposable razor that was included on the Skintimate cans. My Edge Q's all beeped and had to be manually entered by the clerk - however the Skintimate Q's went through fine.


So did mine. There was no problem with my Skintimate coupons.

[suziq38]

Mar 27, 2011 22:32:40 GMT -5 @texasjunebaby said:

Hello everyone! I hope y'all had a great week-end. If I've never said it before, "Thank you!" to all the people who contribute to this section. Your tips and tricks have really paid out.

I found some pretty good deals for the shelter I support. One of the things I do is collect items for the start of each school year so that more of the kids can start off the year right. I've started collecting early for my school year box early because I don't know if I am going to have a job after September.

CVS:
I stopped by a CVS looking for pony tail holders that were on clearance at other stores, but they were all out. However, I picked up 2 bottles of Pantene Conditioner for women of color that were in the clearance aisle. They were marked down from $4.99 to $1.25. I knew I had a coupon, so after digging through fliers and my coupon binder, I found it in my purse.

2 bottles of conditioner for $1.50 OOP

I already have about 15 brush and comb sets ($1 at Walgreens), a straightening brush ($1.50), a couple of perms ($1.75 each on clearance Walgreens); pony tail holders for .87 at CVS with matching barettes (.89 Sally's discount); several Garnier Fructis treatment to straighten hair (regualry $7.99, on clearance for $2.99 and I had a couple of $1 off coupons). A few more items and I'll start to pick up things for the boys.

JCPenney:
I had a $15 off $15 coupon, if I used my credit card. I found a pair of boy's school slacks (navy) for $15.99. I paid $1.07 OOP and then paid the credit card balance at the register.

Target:
Thanks to one of the ladies on this board, I was reminded to go to the Target website last week and look for coupons. I needed a new pair of khaki pants and there was a coupon for 10% off Khaki purchase. I found their chinos marked down from $24 on sale for $20.

OOP $19.40

The Target in my area has remodeled and expanded to compete with the new Walmart. There was a gift card for a free pack of eggs, which I picked up for my friend who loves to bake. I also picked up a 6 pk of Hanes underwear on sale for $6 and used the Target $1 off coupon.

I felt a little guilty, I could have picked up one of the special 8 pair for the price of 6 packs for the shelter making it a better deal, but I needed to get some new ones for myself.

Texas junebaby:
Great deals!
Thank you!

[suziq38]

Mar 27, 2011 22:14:32 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

PHYSICIANS FORMULA CONCEALERS:

These were $6.29 at my store and giving the $7RR. They $5/1 PDF does not beep, so this is a HUGE MM!!

Thanks, Dancin.
Now I want the PDF for Physicians Formula.
Will you please send it to me?

[e-mail]
or to my mail on this message board.

Thank you!

[shelly527in]

Mar 27, 2011 19:17:06 GMT -5 @mawmawandlovingit said:

Mar 27, 2011 18:07:39 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

PHYSICAN'S FORMULA PDF
Has anyone used this coupon yet? Was it well-received? That thing is HUGE!!

I would LOVE this PDF is someone could please send it to me at screen name at gmail dot com. Did they take the praying emotion away? I can't find it anywhere!!

I'd also like the Physician's Formula PDF please if anyone could send it to me at screen name at gmail dot com. THANKS!!!


HOUND ALERT I'd like the Friskies canned cat food Qs from today's paper. I don't remember the insert....only one of my two papers had it.

[dancinmama]

Mar 27, 2011 23:06:58 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Mar 27, 2011 22:14:32 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

PHYSICIANS FORMULA CONCEALERS:

These were $6.29 at my store and giving the $7RR. They $5/1 PDF does not beep, so this is a HUGE MM!!

Thanks, Dancin.
Now I want the PDF for Physicians Formula.
Will you please send it to me?

[e-mail]
or to my mail on this message board.

Thank you!

suzi: You have a PM from me - dancinmama!!

[debinwa]

Mar 27, 2011 19:38:40 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

mawmaw and cruisingalong: I forwarded the pdf that debinwa sent to me. HTH

dancin: thanks so much for forwarding these on. I'm not really ignoring those who asked me to send them on, but I don't usually get online until late in the evening-- very late to you east-coasters.

If anybody else still needs them, I'm happy to share with an email address.

I have used both of the .pdfs on different items at Rite Aid with no beeping at all.

Also, I think if you choose brochure printing when you get to your printer page, you might be able to get a little bit smaller print. Or else go into your printer preferences and reduce the % size, down to maybe 60 or 70%.

[debinwa]

Mar 27, 2011 22:11:50 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 27, 2011 21:58:32 GMT -5 princessleia said:

Going back to the example - I will ask myself 'Do I want to pay $2.09 for that Maxwell House?' with the MQ without considering the use of RRs......It will help you keep the cost even lower.
Like today's hounds, the 2 Colgates for $6 and you get $4RR and I got 2 $1 MQs.....so my colgates are free (counted my benefit already) but still I have incurred a bill of $4 (+tax) and then I use the $4 RR to pay the BOGO Coffee Creamer (4 bottles - $4.98).....OOP is 98 cts but I consider my cost as $4.98 for the 4 bottles.

princessleia: Everyone uses their own method. You prefer to count on the front end, but I prefer to count on the back end. Basically, I try to pay nothing in OOP ever, so that's why I like to count on the back end. If it is too expensive to get into the game in OOP, I stay out.

I agree that the most important thing is that you are conscious of the fact that you can double-count if you're not careful. I count my rewards when I earn them, and I look at them as cash. But the important thing is that you don't count them when you earn them, and then again when you spend them. That overstates your savings and makes you think you're spending less than you are.

[p8nt]

Mar 27, 2011 22:07:04 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 27, 2011 21:06:38 GMT -5 p8nt said:

ARGHHH!!! I think I am doing this "double counting"
Am I supposed to count my RR's as OOP?

p8nt: No, you're probably not. The point that princessleia is trying to make is that you should consider what you're buying with your RRs and make sure that you'd be willing to pay that same price (or close to it) if you were spending REAL money.

By double counting here's what we mean: Mary buys a product for $2.99 and gets a $2RR. She says to herself, "Wow, I got that product for only $.99. That's AWESOME!!" Then the next week she takes that $2RR and buys a product that costs $2.50 and says, "Wow, I got that product for only $.50. I'm pretty slick at this money-saving stuff. "

She made the typical newbie mistake. She counted her savings on both ends - both when she got the RR AND when she used the RR. I usually do not count the savings when I get the RR, because after all maybe I'll lose it or accidentally let it expire before it gets used. I always count my savings from a RR when I actually cash it in.

Does that make sense?

Yes, this makes sense and I believe I have been guilty of it. However, most of the RR's I have have been from free products so I guess it hasn't been a huge sin. I think from now on I will count them when I use them.

Thanks!!

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 0:13:56 GMT -5 debinwa said:

Mar 27, 2011 19:38:40 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

mawmaw and cruisingalong: I forwarded the pdf that debinwa sent to me. HTH

dancin: thanks so much for forwarding these on. I'm not really ignoring those who asked me to send them on, but I don't usually get online until late in the evening-- very late to you east-coasters.

If anybody else still needs them, I'm happy to share with an email address.

I have used both of the .pdfs on different items at Rite Aid with no beeping at all.

Also, I think if you choose brochure printing when you get to your printer page, you might be able to get a little bit smaller print. Or else go into your printer preferences and reduce the % size, down to maybe 60 or 70%.

debinwa: I knew that you didn't usually check in until later on at night and also knew you wouldn't mind if I forwarded them. I think I've sent it to (4) of the gals.

Did you know that the concealer is priced at $6.29 at CVS? The pdf makes it a great MM. Thanks!!

[debinwa]

Mar 28, 2011 0:29:54 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 28, 2011 0:13:56 GMT -5 debinwa said:

dancin: thanks so much for forwarding these on. I'm not really ignoring those who asked me to send them on, but I don't usually get online until late in the evening-- very late to you east-coasters.

If anybody else still needs them, I'm happy to share with an email address.

I have used both of the .pdfs on different items at Rite Aid with no beeping at all.

Also, I think if you choose brochure printing when you get to your printer page, you might be able to get a little bit smaller print. Or else go into your printer preferences and reduce the % size, down to maybe 60 or 70%.

debinwa: I knew that you didn't usually check in until later on at night and also knew you wouldn't mind if I forwarded them. I think I've sent it to (4) of the gals.

Did you know that the concealer is priced at $6.29 at CVS? The pdf makes it a great MM. Thanks!!

dancin: oh, of course I wouldn't mind. I appreciate you getting them out!

I am heading to Rite Aid tomorrow and hope to find some goodies with those coupons. I bought a couple of items last week, but my daughter came over and snagged them! Gotta go back and see what else they have! Concealer is an old lady's best friend!!

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 0:28:22 GMT -5 p8nt said:

Mar 27, 2011 22:07:04 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

p8nt: No, you're probably not. The point that princessleia is trying to make is that you should consider what you're buying with your RRs and make sure that you'd be willing to pay that same price (or close to it) if you were spending REAL money.

By double counting here's what we mean: Mary buys a product for $2.99 and gets a $2RR. She says to herself, "Wow, I got that product for only $.99. That's AWESOME!!" Then the next week she takes that $2RR and buys a product that costs $2.50 and says, "Wow, I got that product for only $.50. I'm pretty slick at this money-saving stuff. "

She made the typical newbie mistake. She counted her savings on both ends - both when she got the RR AND when she used the RR. I usually do not count the savings when I get the RR, because after all maybe I'll lose it or accidentally let it expire before it gets used. I always count my savings from a RR when I actually cash it in.

Does that make sense?

Yes, this makes sense and I believe I have been guilty of it. However, most of the RR's I have have been from free products so I guess it hasn't been a huge sin. I think from now on I will count them when I use them.

Thanks!!

p8nt: For me, it's all about OOP so I try to keep it low when I get them and when I spend them. If you are patient and wait for the deals where the product is free or close to free after MC AND is giving a RR, you pretty much can't go wrong. I needed more Reach toothbrushes like a hole in the head, but I couldn't pass up $20 in almost free RRs. Now I'll have several to give to my sister when her book club puts together care packages for the troops in Afghanistan.

[suziq38]

Mar 28, 2011 0:07:34 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 27, 2011 23:06:58 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Thanks, Dancin.
Now I want the PDF for Physicians Formula.
Will you please send it to me?

[e-mail]
or to my mail on this message board.

Thank you!

suzi: You have a PM from me - dancinmama!!

Thanks Dancin!

[p8nt]

Dancinmama, I plan on giving anything I can't use to the food pantry at the church. Some of my friends think I am nuts, but organizing my Q's and making my shopping plans keeps me occupied while I work the night shift, and then I can help others out at the same time.

[constanz22]

Can someone please send me the PF pdf? My email is cdarrow26 at yahoo. Thanks!

[p8nt]

Mar 28, 2011 6:02:45 GMT -5 constanz22 said:

Can someone please send me the PF pdf? My email is cdarrow26 at yahoo. Thanks!

I have no idea how pdf Q's work, but I forwarded you the email with the attachments that I got from debinwa. I hope that was ok.

[upstatemom]

Mar 27, 2011 22:32:40 GMT -5 @texasjunebaby said:

Hello everyone! I hope y'all had a great week-end. If I've never said it before, "Thank you!" to all the people who contribute to this section. Your tips and tricks have really paid out.

I found some pretty good deals for the shelter I support. One of the things I do is collect items for the start of each school year so that more of the kids can start off the year right. I've started collecting early for my school year box early because I don't know if I am going to have a job after September.

Karma for you in your support of shelters. Did you see the great deals in the weekly Staples add, they are having their dollar days? I have a school bin for my sons, that I replenish during the year when I see these specials, you inspired me to buy extras to donate. Our School nurse is great at getting needed items to the kids who need them but I have not done this much recently.

[upstatemom]

This message has been deleted.
why are my posts, double posting??

[mizbear]

constanz- Let me check this weekends stash of Qs- my DB said I can have any Q inserts I can pull out of his car before he cleans it out.