THE MARCH 2011 GROCERY CHALLENGE THREAD

[kathyattraverse]

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[Frugal Nurse]

Hey everyone. I got the 4/3/11 SS in the mail yesterday. I found an ad that some of you might be interested in. K-mart is offering its Shop Your Way Rewards members a $10 coupon off you next order if you spend $35 on P& G products, offer valid 4/3/11 through 4/9/11, coupon is redeemable 4/10/11 through 4/17/11. Includes regular, sale, and clearance priced grocery, beauty, and health care items. Excludes any number of items on B1G1 events,. Purchase requirements calculated before taxes and other discounts. Excludes downy Wrinkle Releaser.

I am not much of a K-Mart shopper, but I might go by there for this deal. Anyone got any ideas for scenarios?

[Frugal Nurse]

Ohio- The 4/3/11 SS will have two Ensure coupons in it- Buy two 4-packs, get one free, and save $2.00 on any ensure 4-pack. I would be happy to send you the ones I got if you PM me your address.

ETA- If you PM me before 12:00 EST, I will drop them in the mail today. If not, they will go out tomorrow.

[dancinmama]

jdnstl, kathy, suzi, and leanna: I owe all you guys a great big THANK YOU for the envies. I very much appreciate it.

[dancinmama]

HORMEL ALWAYS TENDER PORK TENDERLOIN $4/EA. FRIDAY ONLY AT SAFEWAY:

These will be on sale on Friday only for $5, but there is a $1/1 in the 2/13 SS to make them $4/ea. They are packaged such that they will not freezer burn. The ad does not say "While Supplies Last" so I might even try to get a rain check.

I used to be able to get them for a lot less when they would put a $2.50 or $3.50 price sticker on them on the last date of sale, but in the last couple of months they have started using 50% off stickers instead which makes them $6/ea. (half the regular price which is RIDICULOUS). With the cost of meat going up and the fact that they have a VERY LONG shelf life, I will be stockpiling these.

They are 1.15 to 1.7 lb packages. I will be looking for the 1.7 lb sized ones. Even at 1.15 lbs, one package will feed (3) adults because there is very little waste on them. Often times, DH and I will barbecue one for a dinner meal and then there will be leftovers for sandwiches.

HTH

EDIT:

Also FARMLAND BACON (they show 12 oz. in the ad, but it also says selected varieties so hopefully the 16 oz. MIGHT also be included) is on ad for $2.99 and there is a $1/1 in the 3/13 SS making it $1.99. I ran to my insert stacks repeating please, please, please..... and YEAH!!, I got it!!

Safeway is also having a promotion where if you spend $75 in one transaction, you'll get a $10 Spring Reward Coupon. I don't think I've spent $75 in a single transaction in.....well, quite frankly I can't remember EVER doing that cuz I have been cherry picking for years. But I figure if I can come up with $75 between the Farmland Bacon and the Hormel pork tenderloin, I might as well get a $10 bonus.

Here's what I plan to do:

$60.00 (12) Hormel Pork Tenderloin
14.95 (5) Farmland Bacon
.05 Filler
75.00
- 12.00 (12) $1/1 Hormel Qs
- 5.00 (5) $1/1 Farmland Bacon Qs
58.00 OOP --> $10 OYNO Spring Rewards Coupon

The $10 coupon gives me an additional $.59 savings off of each item so $1.40 per package of bacon and $3.41 per package of pork tenderloin.

[kathyattraverse]

Mar 30, 2011 9:02:41 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

jdnstl, kathy, suzi, and leanna: I owe all you guys a great big THANK YOU for the envies. I very much appreciate it.

You are welcome, glad to help!!

[proudmommy]

Ohio send me your address I will also send you my Ensures! Also I have a couple of the catalina coupons that print at Jewell. I normally either leave those coupons by the product and try to play coupon fairy for someone who will actually by the product.

[mizbear]

ohio- If DGM would be willing to drink the ensure (I drink he chocolate when I need it), I may be able to get you a load of those coupons since DB delivers newspapers. I can clean his inserts out Sunday morning when he ges done. He is in much better mood now and understands (after I gave him a specific hound o accomplish for DM the other day) just how important the qs are now. It's not some estrogen laden psycho-manic joke to him anymore.

[murphath]

Dancinmama:
HORMEL ALWAYS TENDER PORK TENDERLOIN $4/EA. FRIDAY ONLY AT SAFEWAY:
Thanks for the heads up on these. They are delicious! They are normally priced at $9.99 at my SW. One day they had a 1/2 price sticker on them and there was another clearance sticker on the pkg that said $4.99. I bought 4 using 4 of the q's thinking that 50% of $4.99 is $2.50, so $1.50 ea. They rang up at $4.99 so I stopped at the CS desk and asked if I had interpreted the stickers incorrectly. The gal there said, "No, it should have been 50% off $4.99 so she refunded me the $. YEA! Their new q policy is to give you the first one free and then the correct price for any others. I didn't get that but I was very happy with $1.50 per item.

Re internet q's and companies getting "stricter": The Asst. Mgr. was my cashier the last time at SW. While scanning my q's, she came to one of my $1 internet q's. She asked another cashier if they were allowed to take it--she responded that only the "free ip q's" are no longer accepted. I don't know if that would apply to a BOGOF IP or not (skinny pepsi q comes to mind).

Also, at RA, the cashiers have been told not to accept any IP q's that beep (except the Real Calif. milk q because they always beep--even the ones from the circulars--and they are familiar with that one). I lauged because the only q's that beep for me there are the RA q's!

[dancinmama]

Mar 30, 2011 10:29:43 GMT -5 murphath said:

Dancinmama:
HORMEL ALWAYS TENDER PORK TENDERLOIN $4/EA. FRIDAY ONLY AT SAFEWAY:
Thanks for the heads up on these. They are delicious! They are normally priced at $9.99 at my SW. One day they had a 1/2 price sticker on them and there was another clearance sticker on the pkg that said $4.99. I bought 4 using 4 of the q's thinking that 50% of $4.99 is $2.50, so $1.50 ea. They rang up at $4.99 so I stopped at the CS desk and asked if I had interpreted the stickers incorrectly. The gal there said, "No, it should have been 50% off $4.99 so she refunded me the $. YEA! Their new q policy is to give you the first one free and then the correct price for any others. I didn't get that but I was very happy with $1.50 per item.

Re internet q's and companies getting "stricter": The Asst. Mgr. was my cashier the last time at SW. While scanning my q's, she came to one of my $1 internet q's. She asked another cashier if they were allowed to take it--she responded that only the "free ip q's" are no longer accepted. I don't know if that would apply to a BOGOF IP or not (skinny pepsi q comes to mind).

Also, at RA, the cashiers have been told not to accept any IP q's that beep (except the Real Calif. milk q because they always beep--even the ones from the circulars--and they are familiar with that one). I lauged because the only q's that beep for me there are the RA q's!

murphath: That is the exact same kind of deal that I used to be able to get on the Hormel, but it seems like my meat department is tightening up. They used to have a clearance bin of deli items: sausages, hot dogs, deli lunch meat, etc. They would put a clearance price sticker on each package. Many times with the clearance price and coupon I could get items for free. Now, all the packages have 50% off stickers instead. So where a package of Hillshire Farms deli meat might have been clearanced at $1 and I could use a $1 coupon to get it for free, now it is only 50% off the regular price. Maybe after throwing a lot of meats out, they will go back to their old ways. I sure hope so.

I still plan to stockpile the Hormel only because of its shelf life in the freezer which is indefinite. I am stockpiling meats that are packaged that way (in the thick plastic packaging that is tightly sealed) just in case the economy gets REALLY bad.

[va500]

BOOST - $2 Q (need to register)

www.boost.com/advantages/PrintCoupon.aspx

[dancinmama]

CAVEAT ON THE SAFEWAY GET $10 WHEN YOU SPEND $75:

I read the fine print and it says $75 after all other discounts. I'm not sure if that includes coupons. I'm going to call CS to find out.

EDIT: I called CS and your total has to be $75 AFTER ALL DISCOUNTS!! BOO on SAFEWAY.

I think this is ridiculous as Safeway get reimbursed for the coupons from the manufacturer. I plan to conveniently forget to give the cashier my coupons and then take them to CS for the deduction.

[va500]

OK -- its time to stop lurking and finally signed in. I've been with this group and have learned a lot about saving money for a very long time. --- (as far back as the race to 1000 posts). I will have to get more active.

[dancinmama]

Mar 30, 2011 10:59:53 GMT -5 va500 said:

OK -- its time to stop lurking and finally signed in. I've been with this group and have learned a lot about saving money for a very long time. --- (as far back as the race to 1000 posts). I will have to get more active.

va500: YEAH!! Glad to have you back!! No more lurking now!!

[emhalf]

Good afternoon ladies (and gents?)

Special thanks to the always-lovely dancinmama for emailing me...I like your new digs. Nice to see so many familiar "faces" have made the switch. And even better, proboards is not blocked by my work like msnmoney was, so I might be able to lurk moar.

Hope everyone has a "most excellent" day! ;D

[dancinmama]

Mar 30, 2011 11:24:52 GMT -5 emhalf said:

Good afternoon ladies (and gents?)

Special thanks to the always-lovely dancinmama for emailing me...I like your new digs. Nice to see so many familiar "faces" have made the switch. And even better, proboards is not blocked by my work like msnmoney was, so I might be able to lurk moar.

Hope everyone has a "most excellent" day! ;D

emhalf: Another blast from the past!! Lurk? Why the lurk? ha ha ha So glad you decided to come check us out. PLEASE post any great deals you see and let us know if you need any Qs.

[ohiositter]

Thank You All for the kind words and support......
Is my DH'S DGM and hospice is already involved and it will be brought up to the hospice nurse about the Boost for DGM, I had the Ensure Q's, so she has some for about a week now.

[leanna]

Mar 30, 2011 10:29:43 GMT -5 murphath said:

[

Also, at RA, the cashiers have been told not to accept any IP q's that beep (except the Real Calif. milk q because they always beep--even the ones from the circulars--and they are familiar with that one). I lauged because the only q's that beep for me there are the RA q's!

Hmmmm.... I wonder if that's why I had the problem I did the other day at RA with the Physicians Formula Q. I went to my RA that's right by my house - I don't shop there much because they are a TINY RA - I usually go to the one further away to do my deals.

When the coupon beeped, the cashier didn't call a supervisor or anything like they usually do - just handed it back to me.

Uh-oh...this could be bad for me for Sunday...I've got scenario's worked out in my head already involving that PF Q.

[kathyattraverse]

Mar 30, 2011 12:19:52 GMT -5 ohiositter said:

Thank You All for the kind words and support......
Is my DH'S DGM and hospice is already involved and it will be brought up to the hospice nurse about the Boost for DGM, I had the Ensure Q's, so she has some for about a week now.

You might want to check with Commission on Aging or a local Senior Citizen Center to see if you can get it free. Sometimes they do that and even ask for a small donation if the recipient is capable of doing that.

[mercee]

Mar 29, 2011 22:47:57 GMT -5 princessleia said:

I am in WI and there's a store here that doubles Qs but with lots of conditions (only on Wednesday, only 5 Qs can be doubled and minimum $25 transaction before Qs)....and even with that, they stopped the doubling program soon. I sent my heartfelt feedback to the company and mentioned abt the competition (from Super Target & Walmart) and they want to stop their doubling program? I told them it was a mistake. Anyway, I didn't shop so often at that store after that and I was just going to a few places to get my stuffs and guess what, I think they realised their mistake and they brought the program back and implemented Double Daze on Saturdays as well. So, send them your feedback. and in the meantime, buy minimally from the store.

I'm also in WI, princessleia & shop at the store you mention. It is a pain, but I've found that I reach that $25 rather quickly & can usually get my balance down to around $15 - sometimes lower if I have high value coups that won't double anyway. I usually do 2-4 transactions per trip. I agree, though, we certainly can't do the hounding that those crazy "Extreme Couponers" can do. But I've managed to get free cereal & other items when coupling sales with double coupons.

This Sat is Double double daze (in Madison area) where 10 coups will be doubled so I plan on doing one or two transactions (depending on what the ad has & what I have coupons for).

I haven't found any other stores in my area that do double coupons, though I haven't researched it much either. It's just easier for me to go to this store & get the fuel rewards - plus it's by a walgreens & a super target so I can hit all three without running all over town.

[proudmommy]

I stopped by walgreens picked up so Folgers coffee .79 with my $2.00 coupon! I picked up the COlgate Toothpaste and toothbrush! The snickers I bought 8 with two $1.00 coupons and my cashier was not happy she would not even attempt to scan. She called the manager and he said did it scan??? As long as it scans it is okay to use??/ She was not a happy camper!I needed to some fillers so I purchased the mandarins that are 2 x $1.00. Good deal.

[kathyattraverse]

FYI: P&G insert this Sunday, April 3

[leanna]

Mar 30, 2011 13:08:18 GMT -5 proudmommy said:

I stopped by walgreens picked up so Folgers coffee .79 with my $2.00 coupon! I picked up the COlgate Toothpaste and toothbrush! The snickers I bought 8 with two $1.00 coupons and my cashier was not happy she would not even attempt to scan. She called the manager and he said did it scan??? As long as it scans it is okay to use??/ She was not a happy camper!I needed to some fillers so I purchased the mandarins that are 2 x $1.00. Good deal.

Sorry you had trouble with $1 Mars coupon. I'm finding the evening cashiers at my Wags are not uptight like the daytime cashiers.

I'm not an expert on the filler thing, but I think you had 4 fillers with the Snickers already. Someone else please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think since the coupons say $1/2, and she had 2 of those coupons, only 4 of those snickers would be taken up by the coupons.

[mizbear]

va500- Welcome and for posting the Boost link-

[bluecluessubtlety]

Battling the flu and mind not working properly. Are the Physician's Formula scenarios posted for Rite Aid?

[bargainkids]

FYI Walgreens has a 15% friends and family printable discount coupon for March 31 on their website

[mandyms]

Hound alert--Giant Eagle shoppers
Charmin is 2/$13 on 6 mega rolls or 12 doubles, get $3 OYNO starting tomorrow. There is a clippable e-coupon on GE website for $3/1 expires 4/2. They are doubling coupons over $1 and supposedly (according to HCW) there was a $1/2 in the Feb 27 P&G insert expires 3/31 (tomorrow).

If you count the catalina, that's $2.50 for a package or 10 cents a roll (I count 12 doubles as 24 rolls).

[jdnstl]

do ya'll remember me posting about the all you promo for a $10 wal-mart gift card when you purchase 2 participating products? well my DM & DGM were visiting for a week (they left this afternoon) & my DGM is a retired WM employee who can still get a 10% discount with her discount card. so i took advantage of the situation & did this 3 times - THANK YOU PICGHAW for supplying 6 of those 0.75 tearpad q's!!!

cottonelle ultra 12 double rolls - $6.67 x2 = 13.34
less .75 x 2 tearpad q's = (1.50)
less 1.24 discount = (1.18)
subtotal = 10.66
tax = .88
total = 11.54, will receive $10 gc for a total cost to me of $1.54, or 0.77 each!!!

since i did this 3 times i will not need TP for over a year!!!

[princessleia]

Mar 30, 2011 12:46:31 GMT -5 mercee said:

Mar 29, 2011 22:47:57 GMT -5 princessleia said:

I am in WI and there's a store here that doubles Qs but with lots of conditions (only on Wednesday, only 5 Qs can be doubled and minimum $25 transaction before Qs)....and even with that, they stopped the doubling program soon. I sent my heartfelt feedback to the company and mentioned abt the competition (from Super Target & Walmart) and they want to stop their doubling program? I told them it was a mistake. Anyway, I didn't shop so often at that store after that and I was just going to a few places to get my stuffs and guess what, I think they realised their mistake and they brought the program back and implemented Double Daze on Saturdays as well. So, send them your feedback. and in the meantime, buy minimally from the store.

I'm also in WI, princessleia & shop at the store you mention. It is a pain, but I've found that I reach that $25 rather quickly & can usually get my balance down to around $15 - sometimes lower if I have high value coups that won't double anyway. I usually do 2-4 transactions per trip. I agree, though, we certainly can't do the hounding that those crazy "Extreme Couponers" can do. But I've managed to get free cereal & other items when coupling sales with double coupons.

This Sat is Double double daze (in Madison area) where 10 coups will be doubled so I plan on doing one or two transactions (depending on what the ad has & what I have coupons for).

I haven't found any other stores in my area that do double coupons, though I haven't researched it much either. It's just easier for me to go to this store & get the fuel rewards - plus it's by a walgreens & a super target so I can hit all three without running all over town.

Mercee, so do you buy BP gift cards from Copps too to get more fuel perks? I pay for my gas with the gift card and also, I good thing is that sometimes I don't hit the $25 reqd limit, the gift card purchase comes in useful. Other examples, if I am ordering from Pizza Hut, I get my gift card first.

[mizbear]

mandyms- THanks for posting that GE deal- sometimes Giant gets the same deals!