THE MARCH 2011 GROCERY CHALLENGE THREAD

[Frugal Nurse]

Ok so I guess I'm kind of starting over this week like a newbie- No RR's, UPs, or extra care bucks :-( There aren't any HBA items that I really need, so I'm only doing moneymakers this week at the drug stores and will just get the very best deals at the grocery stores. I'm a little intimidated, it doesn't look like a very good week over all (although CVS might be good if I can get that $6 physicians formula Q). I fell so defeated... I had done so well at getting such great deals and DH ruined it. I know, I have to get over it. It is just that I worked so hard at saving all that $$ and *poof* it's gone.

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 7:22:02 GMT -5 Frugal Nurse said:

Ok so I guess I'm kind of starting over this week like a newbie- No RR's, UPs, or extra care bucks :-( There aren't any HBA items that I really need, so I'm only doing moneymakers this week at the drug stores and will just get the very best deals at the grocery stores. I'm a little intimidated, it doesn't look like a very good week over all (although CVS might be good if I can get that $6 physicians formula Q). I fell so defeated... I had done so well at getting such great deals and DH ruined it. I know, I have to get over it. It is just that I worked so hard at saving all that $$ and *poof* it's gone.

frugalnurse: Even without the Physicians Formula CRT, if you buy the concealer (which is priced at $6.29 at my store) and use the $5/1 pdf, you'll pay $1.29 plus tax in OOP and get a $7EB. I know it's not FREE, but it's pretty good for starting out at CVS.

HTH

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 7:22:02 GMT -5 Frugal Nurse said:

I had done so well at getting such great deals and DH ruined it. I know, I have to get over it. It is just that I worked so hard at saving all that $$ and *poof* it's gone.

frugalnurse: I know EXACTLY how you feel. About a year and a half ago, my PURSE was stolen. Not only did I lose all my drug chains rewards, but gift cards that I had (WAGs) along with several great rain checks with coupons attached.

I know how discouraging it can be, but trust me when I tell you that you'll get past it and happily be hounding in no time.

If you find a huge MM somewhere, anywhere and need extra Qs, PLEASE post a hound alert so we can help.

[suziq38]

Mar 28, 2011 9:08:30 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 28, 2011 7:22:02 GMT -5 Frugal Nurse said:

Ok so I guess I'm kind of starting over this week like a newbie- No RR's, UPs, or extra care bucks :-( There aren't any HBA items that I really need, so I'm only doing moneymakers this week at the drug stores and will just get the very best deals at the grocery stores. I'm a little intimidated, it doesn't look like a very good week over all (although CVS might be good if I can get that $6 physicians formula Q). I fell so defeated... I had done so well at getting such great deals and DH ruined it. I know, I have to get over it. It is just that I worked so hard at saving all that $$ and *poof* it's gone.

frugalnurse: Even without the Physicians Formula CRT, if you buy the concealer (which is priced at $6.29 at my store) and use the $5/1 pdf, you'll pay $1.29 plus tax in OOP and get a $7EB. I know it's not FREE, but it's pretty good for starting out at CVS.

HTH

Frugalnurse,


I think that it is a great deal for spending a little money ($1.29 plus tax), then getting the $7.00 EB to buy the Skintimate ($3.49) and 2 Colgates ($2.75 each)
The S and the Colgate combined should cost $8.99 minus .55 cents MQ for the Skintimate and 2 $1.00 off coupons for the Colgate.
Your balance should now be: $6.44 plus tax.
Do you see how your $7.00 physicians formula would cover that?
Of course, you would have to fill this in with 2 pecan caramels (.33 cents each),
or something for $1.00 or less.

After the transaction, you would get $2.50 for the Skintimate, AND $4.00 for the TWO Colgates, a total of $6.50 in EB's for next week, if there are things that you want that are cheap.

This is how you build your EB's.

[suziq38]

I feel so defeated... I had done so well at getting such great deals and DH ruined it. I know, I have to get over it. It is just that I worked so hard at saving all that $$ and *poof* it's gone.

We have all "been there" at some time or another.
Sometimes, it is fine to start over.

This is a great place to start.
Just think, spending $1.29 plus tax to get the Physicians Formula, then turning that EB into a Skintimate and Colgate deal.
4 things, plus you will still have $6.50 store credit for next time.

I forgot why you don't have any EB's? Did you run out, or did they get thrown away?
I have a short memory. Sorry.

[suziq38]

Have a great day, hounds.
Is there anything to buy at WAGS?

[suziq38]

This message has been deleted.

[suziq38]

I don't know who was initially asking about whether or not the Skintimate was a good deal at WAGS:
Now you can see that with a little patience, it was 44 cents at CVS.
You have two options to buy what you need!

I prefer to go to CVS because I have more EB's, and I don't have to worry about "fillers" for each RR.

[mawmawandlovingit]

Nag: I am soooo bummed......I just finished entering my monthly totals in my budget spreadsheet and I spent $1015.00 this month on groceries and there are only 2 of us in the house!! It's been a while since I spent this much, I usually spend $600 - $800 and this is WAY too much for two people. AJ: I really wish I could stick to your plan!!

I think the problems I am encountering are:

1) No double coupon stores in area
2) Chasing too many deals
3) Trying to use all the "good" coupons before they expire
4) Having the extra money in checking so not really monitoring spending.

I have enough groceries in my stockpile to last months, including meat. I have enough HBA in my stockpile to last at least a year. I AM NOT a horder, I am extremely organized and everything has its own place in the extra bedroom closet. I also try NOT to purchase many items that I will not use unless it is a HUGE money maker.

I have been doing this for about 2 years now and I feel that it is a game with me to see how much I can get for freap and the oop just adds up. I live in a 9.5% tax area so alot of the oop is taxes.

Now granted, I have given LOTS of things away to friends and family and I think that is why I have enjoyed doing this so much. My children haven't had to buy any HBA items, paper goods, or diapers/wipes in the last 2 years. They are totally spoiled and beg me not to stop ;D.

So, with all this being said, I think it is time that I seriously take a break and sit back and enjoy the stockpile and hopefully cut the grocery bill tremendously. I think I will miss this, and I'm sure I will be back into it in a few months, but it is consuming my thinking right now and I really need a break!! I will continue to lurk but might not be posting much. Thanks to all for all the great deals, love you all!!

[jdnstl]

dancin - i checked the coupon against the skintimate UPC & i don't know why it still beeped. the first set of numbers matched up so it should have worked. i may try again at lunch re-reading the UPC & q. i really would prefer CVS $ to WAGS if i can help it.

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 11:22:58 GMT -5 @mawmawandlovingit said:

Nag: I am soooo bummed......I just finished entering my monthly totals in my budget spreadsheet and I spent $1015.00 this month on groceries and there are only 2 of us in the house!! It's been a while since I spent this much, I usually spend $600 - $800 and this is WAY too much for two people. AJ: I really wish I could stick to your plan!!

I think the problems I am encountering are:

1) No double coupon stores in area
2) Chasing too many deals
3) Trying to use all the "good" coupons before they expire
4) Having the extra money in checking so not really monitoring spending.

I have enough groceries in my stockpile to last months, including meat. I have enough HBA in my stockpile to last at least a year. I AM NOT a horder, I am extremely organized and everything has its own place in the extra bedroom closet. I also try NOT to purchase many items that I will not use unless it is a HUGE money maker.

I have been doing this for about 2 years now and I feel that it is a game with me to see how much I can get for freap and the oop just adds up. I live in a 9.5% tax area so alot of the oop is taxes.

Now granted, I have given LOTS of things away to friends and family and I think that is why I have enjoyed doing this so much. My children haven't had to buy any HBA items, paper goods, or diapers/wipes in the last 2 years. They are totally spoiled and beg me not to stop ;D.

So, with all this being said, I think it is time that I seriously take a break and sit back and enjoy the stockpile and hopefully cut the grocery bill tremendously. I think I will miss this, and I'm sure I will be back into it in a few months, but it is consuming my thinking right now and I really need a break!! I will continue to lurk but might not be posting much. Thanks to all for all the great deals, love you all!!

mawmaw: You ARE spending waaaay too much IF a lot of the expense is from hounding. You just need to bypass the deals that require a lot of OOP and focus on the deals that are FREE AND, AND, AND give a profit in rewards.

It is difficult for me to sit out at CVS because the EBs are good for 30 days; but within those 30 days, I only do the deals that will give me a profit in EBs. If they have a sale on anything that we use regularly and there is a good coupon out for it, I will use my EB profit to stockpile some.

At Rite Aid, I "get in" when there is an item that is FREE after coupon AND giving UPs. Then I use those to increase my UPs - but only on the items that will yield a sizable profit in UPs. As soon as there is a FREE or almost free SCR item, I cash in some UPs to get it. My goal is always to get my UPs for free and turn them into cash by buying SCRs. I pick up quite a few products along the way which we will use (Rite Aid TP, snacks, the Purex Crystals, the Chloraseptic lozenges, the Doctor's Nightguard, etc.) and some things to donate (a ton of Colgate toothpaste, Afrin, etc.). When I can cash out through the SCRs, I "get out", taking what is usually a much needed break. Then I wait for the next item that is FREE after coupon AND giving UPs and "get back in" starting the whole process again. Right now, I am looking forward to getting out cuz the last time I "got in" was before the February SCRs and RA has been a PITA , but profitable.

I follow the same rule at WAGs. I "get in" when an item is free after coupon AND giving RRs (like last week's deal on the Reach toothbrushes). Then I look at the ad previews for WAGs Catalina rebates. If there is one before my RRs expire, I do it. If not, I look for items on ad that we will use (coffee, sugar, soup, etc.). If there is a way to roll them for a profit that requires very little OOP, I will do that especially if I see that doing so will allow me to get a Catalina rebate; but if not, I "get out" and take a break while waiting for the next item that is FREE after coupon and giving a RR.

Don't be sucked into using coupons just because you have them. Those $3/1 Gain fabric softener coupons are awesome. We may never see them again. I have a couple of those coupons left and they will expire Thursday. My Rite Aid is out of the small bottles. If I happen to go over to WalMart, I'll pick up the small boxes of sheets for overage, but making a special trip would defeat the purpose because of the cost of gas. Chances are I'm not going to get to use them - and that's OKAY. I even have a rain check from Rite Aid for the big bottles at $4.88, but have decided that $1.88 plus tax is more than I am willing to pay in OOP. I don't feel the least bit compelled to buy it because I KNOW that there will be another FREE fabric softener deal at some time down the road and most likely before my stockpile is gone. And if not, oh well.

The bottom line is to be VERY SELECTIVE about what deals you do always taking OOP into consideration. If the OOP is too high, I take a hike.

HTH

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 11:40:19 GMT -5 jdnstl said:

dancin - i checked the coupon against the skintimate UPC & i don't know why it still beeped. the first set of numbers matched up so it should have worked. i may try again at lunch re-reading the UPC & q. i really would prefer CVS $ to WAGS if i can help it.

jdnstl: Wow, I was sure that would be it!! I matched up the UPCs and mine went through slick as snot. I bought the 7 oz. can with the light pink lid (Skintimate Skin Therapy Lotionized w/ Vitamin E UPC # 8 41058 00562 9).

HTH

[leanna]

Mar 28, 2011 0:37:31 GMT -5 debinwa said:

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

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!!

Debinwa: If you really meant Rite Aid, I just want to let you know that next week (starting Sunday 4/3), Physicians Formula will be BOGO. I'm planning on using my Q's then - will make the concealer a MM and the mascara will be $1 for two after the Q's. My prices at my RA are about $6.79 for the concealer and $10.95 for the mascara.

[leanna]

Mar 28, 2011 9:31:14 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Have a great day, hounds.
Is there anything to buy at WAGS?

Yep, there's the Colgate Toothpaste and the Snickers eggs. I also bought the Skintimate.

Here's what my transaction looked like:

(2) Colgate TP $6
(2) Skintimate $4
(7) Snickers Eggs (.29 x7) = $2.03
Less:
(2) Colgate Coupons (SS - 3/27) ($1.50 x 2) = -($3)
(2) Skintimate Coupons (SS - 3/27) (.55 x 2) = -($1.10)
(2) Mars $1/2 Coupons (RP - 3/20) ($1 x 2) = -($2.00)
Total:
$5.93
Paid with:
$5 RR (Thank you Almay )
.93 OOP

Received:
$4 RR Colgate
$2 RR Skintimate

ETA: I count the Colgate as a MM, but there was just the interesting conversation about how one counts RR's - when you earn them or when you spend them. I count 'em when I earn 'em so Colgate Toothpaste was $6 less $3 in coupons less $4 in RR = $1 MM which I count towards making my Skintimate free.

[pubbler]

Cheap WAGS diapers this week. Just saw this deal on W4Wags. Buy $25 WAGS diapers/wipes, get $10 MIR.

5 x WAGs diapers @ $5.99 ea = $29.95
Less Infant care Q (10.00)
OOP $19.95, get $10 MIR.
Cost after rebate = $1.99/pack. Those MM RRs from last week, will come in handy for this deal.
Shelly - I haven't forgotten about your Qs - have just been busy. I grabbed some Qs at GS yesterday & will add the friskies too.
I had $68 RRs yesterday & decided to get some easter candy. I was a bit bummed to see that Hershey RR is only good on Hershey products
My cashier was so excited to see me pay 39c for $53.xx worth of goods. She was raving about it, to the guys in line behind me. This is at my 'friendly' WAGS.

[leanna]

Mar 28, 2011 12:14:59 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 28, 2011 11:22:58 GMT -5 @mawmawandlovingit said:

Nag: I am soooo bummed......I just finished entering my monthly totals in my budget spreadsheet and I spent $1015.00 this month on groceries and there are only 2 of us in the house!! It's been a while since I spent this much, I usually spend $600 - $800 and this is WAY too much for two people. AJ: I really wish I could stick to your plan!!

I think the problems I am encountering are:

1) No double coupon stores in area
2) Chasing too many deals
3) Trying to use all the "good" coupons before they expire
4) Having the extra money in checking so not really monitoring spending.

I have enough groceries in my stockpile to last months, including meat. I have enough HBA in my stockpile to last at least a year. I AM NOT a horder, I am extremely organized and everything has its own place in the extra bedroom closet. I also try NOT to purchase many items that I will not use unless it is a HUGE money maker.

I have been doing this for about 2 years now and I feel that it is a game with me to see how much I can get for freap and the oop just adds up. I live in a 9.5% tax area so alot of the oop is taxes.

Now granted, I have given LOTS of things away to friends and family and I think that is why I have enjoyed doing this so much. My children haven't had to buy any HBA items, paper goods, or diapers/wipes in the last 2 years. They are totally spoiled and beg me not to stop ;D.

So, with all this being said, I think it is time that I seriously take a break and sit back and enjoy the stockpile and hopefully cut the grocery bill tremendously. I think I will miss this, and I'm sure I will be back into it in a few months, but it is consuming my thinking right now and I really need a break!! I will continue to lurk but might not be posting much. Thanks to all for all the great deals, love you all!!

mawmaw: You ARE spending waaaay too much IF a lot of the expense is from hounding. You just need to bypass the deals that require a lot of OOP and focus on the deals that are FREE AND, AND, AND give a profit in rewards.

It is difficult for me to sit out at CVS because the EBs are good for 30 days; but within those 30 days, I only do the deals that will give me a profit in EBs. If they have a sale on anything that we use regularly and there is a good coupon out for it, I will use my EB profit to stockpile some.

At Rite Aid, I "get in" when there is an item that is FREE after coupon AND giving UPs. Then I use those to increase my UPs - but only on the items that will yield a sizable profit in UPs. As soon as there is a FREE or almost free SCR item, I cash in some UPs to get it. My goal is always to get my UPs for free and turn them into cash by buying SCRs. I pick up quite a few products along the way which we will use (Rite Aid TP, snacks, the Purex Crystals, the Chloraseptic lozenges, the Doctor's Nightguard, etc.) and some things to donate (a ton of Colgate toothpaste, Afrin, etc.). When I can cash out through the SCRs, I "get out", taking what is usually a much needed break. Then I wait for the next item that is FREE after coupon AND giving UPs and "get back in" starting the whole process again. Right now, I am looking forward to getting out cuz the last time I "got in" was before the February SCRs and RA has been a PITA , but profitable.

I follow the same rule at WAGs. I "get in" when an item is free after coupon AND giving RRs (like last week's deal on the Reach toothbrushes). Then I look at the ad previews for WAGs Catalina rebates. If there is one before my RRs expire, I do it. If not, I look for items on ad that we will use (coffee, sugar, soup, etc.). If there is a way to roll them for a profit that requires very little OOP, I will do that especially if I see that doing so will allow me to get a Catalina rebate; but if not, I "get out" and take a break while waiting for the next item that is FREE after coupon and giving a RR.

Don't be sucked into using coupons just because you have them. Those $3/1 Gain fabric softener coupons are awesome. We may never see them again. I have a couple of those coupons left and they will expire Thursday. My Rite Aid is out of the small bottles. If I happen to go over to WalMart, I'll pick up the small boxes of sheets for overage, but making a special trip would defeat the purpose because of the cost of gas. Chances are I'm not going to get to use them - and that's OKAY. I even have a rain check from Rite Aid for the big bottles at $4.88, but have decided that $1.88 plus tax is more than I am willing to pay in OOP. I don't feel the least bit compelled to buy it because I KNOW that there will be another FREE fabric softener deal at some time down the road and most likely before my stockpile is gone. And if not, oh well.

The bottom line is to be VERY SELECTIVE about what deals you do always taking OOP into consideration. If the OOP is too high, I take a hike.

HTH

I like what you shared DancinMama. Your strategy is very interesting about starting out when an item is totally free. I could see how that would positively impact the budget so much better.

I have an interesting thing going on with RR's that really helps me. My Safeway (grocery store) will take RR's, so that really helps me create mm's without having to roll at Wags.

Example: Last week with Almay - I could buy an Almay item for $3 OOP (after Wags coupon.) Then I would receive a $5 RR. I take that $5 RR and buy groceries at Safeway that I need. So I got to spend $3 for $5 of groceries AND I got a free Almay item. Not too shabby.

[4hatsandfrugal]

is there a new coupon book out at WAGS? I remember seeing it mentioned somewhere, but don't remember what it's called or even may look like. On my way there today, so wanted to see if I can find it.

[leanna]

Mar 28, 2011 13:22:40 GMT -5 @4hatsandfrugal said:

is there a new coupon book out at WAGS? I remember seeing it mentioned somewhere, but don't remember what it's called or even may look like. On my way there today, so wanted to see if I can find it.

Are you talking about the Beauty Book or the new April book? Or maybe you're talking about an infant book that I've heard about?

[4hatsandfrugal]

No, no the baby book. Still haven't been able to get that one. I guess it's the April book? It's one that either came out last week or is coming out this week. I can't remember all the details, that's why I'm asking here

[pubbler]

4hats - its called the "Infant Care booklet". That book is hit & miss at WAGS. Check the pharmacy or ask a cashier/manager. I didn't find these in my stores, but you might get lucky.

[mandyms]

I see other people are rolling RRs from WAGS during the following week...does that mean you wait until mid-week to go to WAGS to shop? My RR are only good for 5 days...is this the same for everyone?

[princessleia]

Let's see if my uploading the Physician's Formula pdf files worked

Attachments:

eyeboostercoupon.pdf.jpg (532.75 KB)

[princessleia]

All right...it worked!

Attachments:

mineralwearcoupon.pdf.jpg (543.17 KB)

[princessleia]

Mar 28, 2011 13:44:48 GMT -5 mandyms said:

I see other people are rolling RRs from WAGS during the following week...does that mean you wait until mid-week to go to WAGS to shop? My RR are only good for 5 days...is this the same for everyone?

Yaks...that's horrible. Mine's good for like 2 weeks. I got RR today and it expires 4/11/2011.

[4hatsandfrugal]

Mar 28, 2011 13:39:34 GMT -5 pubbler said:

4hats - its called the "Infant Care booklet". That book is hit & miss at WAGS. Check the pharmacy or ask a cashier/manager. I didn't find these in my stores, but you might get lucky.

nope, that's not the one i'm looking for. I know what that one looks like, but I haven't been able to find them in my stores. I think it must be the april book. Off to go try to find it...my wags workers aren't very helpful so I was hoping for a picture or description of it.

thanks anyway for trying to help, though! ;D

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 13:44:48 GMT -5 mandyms said:

I see other people are rolling RRs from WAGS during the following week...does that mean you wait until mid-week to go to WAGS to shop? My RR are only good for 5 days...is this the same for everyone?

mandyms: No, usually RRs are good for 14 days. Are you in one of the test areas?

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2011 13:54:52 GMT -5 princessleia said:

Mar 28, 2011 13:44:48 GMT -5 mandyms said:

I see other people are rolling RRs from WAGS during the following week...does that mean you wait until mid-week to go to WAGS to shop? My RR are only good for 5 days...is this the same for everyone?

Yaks...that's horrible. Mine's good for like 2 weeks. I got RR today and it expires 4/11/2011.

Mine were only good for 5 days (in buffalo) which is why I no longer shop at WAGs, only CVS.

[leanna]

Mar 28, 2011 13:51:23 GMT -5 princessleia said:

All right...it worked!

Nice job! karma for you

[dancinmama]

Mar 28, 2011 13:18:52 GMT -5 leanna said:

I like what you shared DancinMama. Your strategy is very interesting about starting out when an item is totally free. I could see how that would positively impact the budget so much better.

I have an interesting thing going on with RR's that really helps me. My Safeway (grocery store) will take RR's, so that really helps me create mm's without having to roll at Wags.

Example: Last week with Almay - I could buy an Almay item for $3 OOP (after Wags coupon.) Then I would receive a $5 RR. I take that $5 RR and buy groceries at Safeway that I need. So I got to spend $3 for $5 of groceries AND I got a free Almay item. Not too shabby.

leanna: That is awesome!! There is NO WAY that my Safeway would take a WAGs RR. Occasionally, I still get the line about not being able to use the same coupon multiple times for multiple items in the same transaction. I thought that they would become more coupon friendly after they were featured in the Extreme Couponing show a while back, but nope.

suzi's Vons (Safeway) is even worse than mine.

If I COULD use RRs at Safeway, I'd ALWAYS be stopping in at WAGs first.

And regarding my strategy: I stockpiled a lot of non-perishables at WAGs for absolutely no OOP back in the ESR days. All of my OOP was covered by the rebate money that was reloaded onto my gift card every month.

When WAGs discontinued the ESRs, I had to rethink how I would do my hounding to minimize my future OOP. Since I already had a fairly decent stockpile of HBA, cleaners, and household items (Ziplocs, foil, etc.), I could be VERY PICKY about what deal I did or did not do so I just patiently waited for the BEST DEALS and skipped all the others. The only time I would stray from my standard plan is if I needed eggs or something else that WAGs had on ad that I needed. Then I might do a "decent" deal to roll the RRs into what I needed (similar to what you do to shop at Safeway).

When RA started the UPs program, I decided that I would apply the same strategy there and it worked out even better cuz I could usually turn the UPs into SCRs.

During those days, CVS constantly was giving $/$$ from the red machine, so almost EVERY transaction at CVS resulted in a profit in EBs with very little in OOP. Lately, the red machine has been REALLY stingy, so now I have even gotten more selective about how I roll and spend my EBs.

It's all about patience and building your stockpiles SLOWLY, letting the great deals come to you instead of forcing an okay deal just so that you can have a stockpile.

[leanna]

Mar 28, 2011 14:03:51 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Mar 28, 2011 13:44:48 GMT -5 mandyms said:

I see other people are rolling RRs from WAGS during the following week...does that mean you wait until mid-week to go to WAGS to shop? My RR are only good for 5 days...is this the same for everyone?

mandyms: No, usually RRs are good for 14 days. Are you in one of the test areas?

I'm going to join in here...I'm in the test market area & my RR are good for 14 days. (However, our RR have been few & far between, although I hear that is going to change. This week we got both the Colgate and the Skintimate so I am one happy couponing bunny!)