2015 Grocery Challenge

[dancinmama]

Jun 9, 2015 11:10:58 GMT -5 murphath said:

I have $5.75 in EBs that I have to use soon but haven't seen anything worth the effort. The deals must be drying up again.

Do you think the improving economy has had an effect on this board? Are people not feeling the pinch anymore and given up on couponing, etc?   Or did Extreme Couponing really kill all the deals?

I don't think that the economy has improved thaaat much.  I still think there is plenty of pinch to be felt by many.

For me, the law of diminishing returns was definitely a factor.  Within a couple of years after the advent of Extreme Couponing, it was taking me the same amount of time to 'play the game', but the payoff had diminished to the point where the deals required paying OOP for what I already had stockpiled in abundance for free.  It just made no logical sense to continue.

And now, 2 1/2 years after hanging up my scissors, I am still reaping the rewards of being an "extreme stockpiler" by being able to shop my stockpiles of non-perishables instead of having to purchase an array of various items at the store. 

[marvholly]

Complaints do work (if they are not constant). Several weeks ago I bought a couple bags of Fresh Express greens mixes. When I went to put some in a bowl I realized they were short weighted by 10%. Filed an online complaint. After a bit of email back & forth they decided to send me some coupons. Got one for FREE up to 5.99 and another for 0.55 off.

NOTE: I will check the weight while in the store on ANY FE salad bags I buy anywhere in the future.  On larger items, after he YEARS I spent weighing stuff in the lab, I can generally feel the difference.

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 9, 2015 11:08:19 GMT -5 murphath said:

FreeSalsa:

  I've never had Safeway tell me I couldn't use 2 of the same IP. Only thing I can think of would be if you clicked on the .50 NV q on your JFU account. I've done that before and the computer wouldn't accept another q. There may be a limit on the JFU q (4x?? perhaps). Check your receipt and see if that's the case.

I haven't logged in to J4U in ages so I'm sure I didn't do that.  Also, I checked my receipt carefully and there was nothing that stood out.  Not that it's easy to decipher their receipts!  Good idea though.  Thanks, everyone, for all the responses.

It is crazy that it was a must buy 4 deal and then you couldn't use 4 q's, now that you mention it.  Luckily I had some 50c/2 and 50c/1 so I was able to use all but 1 Q.

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 11, 2015 16:02:31 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Jun 10, 2015 10:43:12 GMT -5 murphath said:

saveinla: WOW! That's crazy. Offer a deal that requires you to purchase 4 of the items and then not allow 4 coupons. I don't understand their logic. They are reimbursed for the coupons.

I know - I usually mix and match items if I need to use more than 2 Qs. 

I was thinking of doing two transactions because I thought there might be a limit of one deal per transaction or something.  I wasn't thinking of the Q limit.  Next time I will do two.  I could have cancelled the order and had them do it again but I was so ready to get out of the store and it was already a good deal so I was willing to take the 50c loss.

[saveinla]

Freesalsa - I have another deal on my Amex offer - Spend 100$ at Target or Walmart and get 30$ back and can be done up to 5 times - expires 7/31.

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 12, 2015 0:35:58 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Jun 9, 2015 11:10:58 GMT -5 murphath said:

I have $5.75 in EBs that I have to use soon but haven't seen anything worth the effort. The deals must be drying up again.

Do you think the improving economy has had an effect on this board? Are people not feeling the pinch anymore and given up on couponing, etc?   Or did Extreme Couponing really kill all the deals?

I don't think that the economy has improved thaaat much.  I still think there is plenty of pinch to be felt by many.

For me, the law of diminishing returns was definitely a factor.  Within a couple of years after the advent of Extreme Couponing, it was taking me the same amount of time to 'play the game', but the payoff had diminished to the point where the deals required paying OOP for what I already had stockpiled in abundance for free.  It just made no logical sense to continue.

And now, 2 1/2 years after hanging up my scissors, I am still reaping the rewards of being an "extreme stockpiler" by being able to shop my stockpiles of non-perishables instead of having to purchase an array of various items at the store. 

It doesn't seem to me to be improving.  Prices are just higher and higher all the time.  At least I've got DH thinking on my wavelength now, checking prices carefully, asking if something is a good price or not.

Today I got a Sunday flyer with the drug ads and even two coupon inserts!  I never get these.  So I looked through them with excitement but didn't find anything I needed or wanted.  Even in two inserts I only found a Pantene q that I may or may not use.  Bummer.  I have two expired ECBs that I haven't even been to the store to try to use.  I haven't bought much at the store lately.  The freezer and pantry are getting emptier.  Mostly I've been buying salad greens at the farmer's market.

Sprouts has bulk walnuts for $4.99/lb. this week.  I think that's about as low as they get so I will get those.  

Tomorrow is free fruit box day.  I've actually been running out of fruit, even from the freezer because I've been getting a lot of veggies mixed in with the free fruit.  I've gotten a lot of strawberries from my guy so I froze them but I've eaten many of them already.  I'm hoping to make some jam.

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 14, 2015 13:43:29 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Freesalsa - I have another deal on my Amex offer - Spend 100$ at Target or Walmart and get 30$ back and can be done up to 5 times - expires 7/31.

Cool, thanks!

[973beachbum]

I did the CVS cash card deal last week.  The one thing I wanted is Coke.  The deal for 12 packs of cans was about as good a deal as I have gotten in a year so I just did it. 

I don't remember exactly what I bought but it was like 8 12 packs of coke and something else to bring it to $30.  I might have spent a dollar more than if I had waited for a sale somewhere else but that is about it.  I got my $10 gift card and am pretty happy with it.  It looks cheesey but I think it is just a gift card.  My DD's college has a CVS across the street so I may just give it to her incase she needs an RX or something.

This week they have Nestle water for 2.99 and scott tp.   The prices are almost exactly what they have been on sale every where else so I think I am just going to do it and get a second card.  I do actually need the water bottles and TP.  

[murphath]

Let's change it up a bit. I have a question not really related to deals.

My daughters are hosting a bridal shower at my house this weekend. Guess who gets to prepare the lunch?? That's right: ME!

Both won't get into town until late Friday night so I'm up to bat.

Do any of you have any suggestions for salads that are vegetarian? The bride is vegetarian so we'll cater to her tastes. There's always pasta salad, Chinese chicken salad (with chicken on the side), three bean salad, etc.

Any of you have any killer recipes? I have the ones I've always made but thought you ladies might bring a little something extra, extra to the table, so to speak. 

Thanks.

[saveinla]

murphath - I like the Greek salad (if bride will eat feta) and also quinoa salad.

Greek salad is pretty easy - cucumber, tomatoes, little bit of onion, olives, salt, pepper, olive oil and feta

Quinoa salad - allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quinoa-Vegetable-Salad/ or www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/quinoa-salad-recipe0.html#!

Black bean and mango salad - this is from my friend and is very good.

I chopped tomatoes & onions and added some leftover corn on the cob kernels (sliced off the cob, of course). I did cook the tomatoes & onions (not crazy about raw tomatoes
or raw onions) a bit in a tiny splash of olive oil to soften things up and get rid of the "raw taste". Once it was a bit cooked I added some of the dressing referenced below & let it sit for a while.
I then added roasted red peppers, black beans, a chopped avocado and a chopped mango. I recommend letting the salsa cool before adding the avocado and mango. Otherwise it will turn brown and look gross.

I served it as a salad mixed with romaine, a sprinkle of cheddar cheese and homemade tortilla chip "croutons" for the top. 

Also, if you're expecting leftovers, store the salsa and the romaine separately. 

Dressing for the above recipe - --Chili-Lime Southwestern Vinaigrette

Minutes to Prepare: 5 , Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients

juice of 1 lime
1/4c canola oil
1/4c rice vinegar
2T water
2t honey
1t chili powder
1/2t garlic powder
1/2t oregano
1/2t salt
1/2t black pepper
1/8t cayenne (or more)

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a jar or cruet and shake well. Allow to stand for at least 30 minutes. Shake well before serving. Makes 6-8 servings.

[973beachbum]

 My pasta salad is pretty different, according to DH's family.   It has the pasta of my choice along with garbanzos and kidney beans.  I then add more "normal" things like olives and vegatables.  I dress it with Ken's cesear salad dressing.

My other one is I buy bags of broccoli or mostly broccoli slaw.  I add golden raisins, walnuts and other like cut vegatables like carrots and a small amount of cabbage.  I dress with a vinagrette but a mayo based one would work also. 

Both would work with the chicken on the side.  HTH!

[alabamagal]

My go to veg recipe when we entertain is vegetarian chili. I use Emeril's recipe but use canned tomatoes and corn. Even my DS who doesn't eat many vegetables likes it.

Can be made the day before and you can freeze leftovers. I just had some for lunch!

[hitenney]

beachbum - I just love garbanzo and kidney beans in my pasta salad (not to mention salami and cheese and veggies, too)!

murphath - here's a very easy one from our boy scout troop's cookbook, and we all loved it at our potlucks! The dressing is a simple mix of 1/3 cup sugar, 1/3 cup cider vinegar, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, and 1 tsp. garlic salt.  Suggested greens and toppings: spinach or mesclun mix, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts or almonds, sliced red onions, crumbled Feta cheese. My personal choice also includes diced apples, and I like the nuts candied, but that's my sweet tooth.

I was very excited to be going to the store this weekend, as they had some really great specials (I was actually going to post them!), but then a dental emergency came up, plus my cement block wall on one side of the front yard has developed a decided list toward the neighbor's.  So that reined me in, and hopefully I will actually use what's in the cupboard, and that pork bargain will come back around again!

Right now I'm really wishing for some pasta salad, and very happy I have kidney and garbanzo beans in the cabinet!    What's everybody else having for dinner tomorrow?  Aloha!

[marvholly]

Murpath

you need to know i the bride is vega (MUST grow in the ground) or just veggie (will eat animal bypructs like mile, cheese, egs.......).

7 layer salad is veggie IF you use some of the bacos chips that are made from soy (cheapies=facos)

Any pasta salad can be done either vegan or veggie

I have 2 new recipes I have not tried:

zuchinni salad

lentil couscous with spinach

Both look pretty good to me & I will probably make one for an open house in mid-Juy.   I have been cooking veggie for DD1 for 25 years.

[hitenney]

Hi Holly!  What's for dinner?  I need some new ideas for chicken. Getting tired of fried and/or teriyaki.

OK - one last salad: my favorite at Bravo restaurant by Pearl Harbor - Chopped lettuce with turkey, Genoa salami, chick peas, tomatoes and Gorgonzola cheese (to be edited by vegetarians in whatever form). 

Stopped in at Safeway this morning so I wouldn't have to get fast food lunch, and the whole register system crashed.  There were some mighty unhappy shoppers there!

[FreeSalsa]

One of my co-workers makes a salad with Trader Joe's lentil salad mix (in the pre-packaged food section, like hummus, etc.) mixed with feta, I think.  Super easy to buy two packages and mix them together and very delicious.

Cucumber salad is also good.  Vinegarette w/red wine vinegar, some oregano, feta.  Slice the cuke lengthwise, cut a little off the bottom to make it stay flat, and scoop out the seeds to make a boat.  Mix some cucumber with feta, seasonings, and dressing and fill the boat.  Then you can cut it and make it finger food.

www.yummly.com/recipes/cucumber-boats 

For dinner we had Taco Bell.  We are cheaters!  

[marvholly]

Jun 17, 2015 15:03:13 GMT -5 hitenney said:

Hi Holly!  What's for dinner?  I need some new ideas for chicken. Getting tired of fried and/or teriyaki.

OK - one last salad: my favorite at Bravo restaurant by Pearl Harbor - Chopped lettuce with turkey, Genoa salami, chick peas, tomatoes and Gorgonzola cheese (to be edited by vegetarians in whatever form). 

Stopped in at Safeway this morning so I wouldn't have to get fast food lunch, and the whole register system crashed.  There were some mighty unhappy shoppers there!

I make chicken a TON of ways:

roasted, BBQ, oven fried, smoked, fajitas, stir fried, with pasta or rice & veggies w/various sauces (EVOO+garlic, pesto, red, alfredo), on salad plates, in soups, stes, .......................

ETA: went out to lunch w/DDs yesterday. had a Mediteranean chicke sandwich. Did not like the way made but like the concept: on a flat pita bread place some chopped onion, diced tomato, sliced chicken and sprinkle w/crumbled feta cheese.

[murphath]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm going to do the pasta salad and add some garbanzo beans to it. Don't know why but that sounds delish.

The cucumber boat sounds different, too.

Thanks for all the suggestions! Friday night will be spent preparing salads!

[saveinla]

Jun 17, 2015 21:52:40 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

One of my co-workers makes a salad with Trader Joe's lentil salad mix (in the pre-packaged food section, like hummus, etc.) mixed with feta, I think.  Super easy to buy two packages and mix them together and very delicious.

Cucumber salad is also good.  Vinegarette w/red wine vinegar, some oregano, feta.  Slice the cuke lengthwise, cut a little off the bottom to make it stay flat, and scoop out the seeds to make a boat.  Mix some cucumber with feta, seasonings, and dressing and fill the boat.  Then you can cut it and make it finger food.

www.yummly.com/recipes/cucumber-boats 

For dinner we had Taco Bell.  We are cheaters!  

I do the lentil salad too - one package lentils, one container of their bruschetta sauce, 1/2 a container of the feta with herbs and some fresh pepper. This can be served as is or on a bed of romaine and is really great summer salad, but is expensive for a number of people.

[marvholly]

I reviewed my grocery list for this week and really do NOT need anything before early next week. I have enough salad on hand for 3+ servings. I will go Mon or Tue before the current ads expire.

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 18, 2015 14:12:24 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Jun 17, 2015 21:52:40 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

One of my co-workers makes a salad with Trader Joe's lentil salad mix (in the pre-packaged food section, like hummus, etc.) mixed with feta, I think.  Super easy to buy two packages and mix them together and very delicious.

Cucumber salad is also good.  Vinegarette w/red wine vinegar, some oregano, feta.  Slice the cuke lengthwise, cut a little off the bottom to make it stay flat, and scoop out the seeds to make a boat.  Mix some cucumber with feta, seasonings, and dressing and fill the boat.  Then you can cut it and make it finger food.

www.yummly.com/recipes/cucumber-boats 

For dinner we had Taco Bell.  We are cheaters!  

I do the lentil salad too - one package lentils, one container of their bruschetta sauce, 1/2 a container of the feta with herbs and some fresh pepper. This can be served as is or on a bed of romaine and is really great summer salad, but is expensive for a number of people.

I just went to a BBQ pot luck yesterday and they had this.  True, it's better for a small group, price wise.

[FreeSalsa]

Hi Ladies!  Yesterday I dropped in to CVS to get the BOGO Borax cleaner.  It's supposed to be a more natural ant killer.  DH is looking into it and taking care of it.  I used an expired ECB and they took it, no problem.  It was only a month old but I still have one that expired in March--oops!  I also found another one for 50 c that also expired in May.

I'm going to try to cook a bunch of things today.  The summer heat is picking up so I don't want to cook too much.  I'll do one meal in the crock pot, maybe one in the bread maker, and something stove top.  Though I have lots of potatoes to cook.  Which reminds me….

[FreeSalsa]

I tried a new local store (2 branches in G-town, saveinla) called Golden Farms.  I've been getting their ads but I haven't been there before.  It reminded me of Jons, in that it catered to Eastern European and Mediterranean type food, but it was more sparsely laid out and the shelves were emptier.  They had very little produce that was not from Mexico (pesticides that are outlawed here but can be used there and imported here) but I found a few things.

One day only sale
California watermelon 15c/lb. (so good!)
Nutella $1.99
Swiss cheese from Germany $3.99/lb.
Canned tuna 69c
Beef chuck steak or shoulder roast $3.49/lb.
Pepsi or 7-Up 69c

Weekly sale
California Blueberries 18 oz. $2.79
10 lb. bag Idaho russet potatoes $1.50
Flank steak $4.49/lb.
Bread and buns, local bakery, four ingredients $1.99 and $2.19

It's good to know it's there and it's on the way home from work if I need good bread.

[rubyslippers]

Hi everyone! I haven't been posting since spring arrived here and we have had so much work to do outdoors and also to maintain what we've done. My little gardens are doing quite well and I am definitely enjoying the berries from my strawberry patch for the first time ever. My goal was to have enough to eat fresh every night without spending money at the farmer's market. I bought 1 quart awhile back for $5.00 before mine were ready but we've been eating strawberries every night for over 2 weeks from what we've grown.  I made 2 pies, strawberry shortcake, smoothies, fruit salad, added to my romaine chef salads and I also have a few bags in the freezer to make jam later on. This will be the last week I get to enjoy them as I don't ever buy strawberries from the grocery store.

I did get back into Rite Aid since they started their new program and except for a few really good deals, haven't been shopping there too often.  I like that the points are good for a couple of years.  My plan is to build up the rewards on the card and not use them until I go through more of my stockpile.

I still use coupons but mainly for the gap in my pantry items.  My biggest expense at the store these days is from the produce aisle and I still price match where I can.  Aldi's ad this week isn't a great one since neither DH nor I like melon, but last week I got grape tomatoes for under a buck.  I will be waiting for a sale on potatoes as I have to make potato salad for the 4th of July, but the prices are too high now.

I will be spending $.24 at Staple this week on a 6 pack of paper towels after using a $4.00 reward and a $.75 MQ.

[dancinmama]

Hi Grocery Hounds!!

Just checkin' in.  I'm loving the fresh, summer fruit from the 99 Cent Store.  You can't beat watermelons or a 2-lb. bag of peaches for $1!!

We'll be going to Costco today to fill up the tank, so I'll pop in and get nuts, tortillas, kitty food, and shrimp.  DH wants to make a shrimp linguini with lobster bisque sauce for dinner.

On the way home, I'll pop into the GO to see if there are any deals.  I notice that more and more people are shopping there.  I always seem to find killer deals on deli meats and cheese there.  Now, more than ever, you have to grab a good deal when you find it because their inventory goes fast.

[dancinmama]

Didn't get around to shopping until today.  I found a great deal at the GO on Johnsonville breakfast sausage (9.6 oz. vacuum sealed packages for $.77/ea.).  With my SC 5% Wednesday discount they came to $.73/ea.  According to the Safeway website the regular price on this sausage is $4.39/ea.

I also snagged 7 oz. packages of Oscar Mayer all natural roast beef for $1.49.  This also shows a regular price of $4.39 on the Safeway website.
 
At Smart and Final I got avacados for $.59/ea. and 59 oz. Dole juice blends (pineapple, orange, banana) for $2/ea.  Great with a splash of rum in the summer. 

That's all. 

[marvholly]

Guessed right for a change. Las ad my bi fruit/veg market had cherries for 1.49. I bought ½ lb. This week they are 0.99.  going to get about a lb.

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 22, 2015 15:30:25 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

Hi everyone! I haven't been posting since spring arrived here and we have had so much work to do outdoors and also to maintain what we've done. My little gardens are doing quite well and I am definitely enjoying the berries from my strawberry patch for the first time ever. My goal was to have enough to eat fresh every night without spending money at the farmer's market. I bought 1 quart awhile back for $5.00 before mine were ready but we've been eating strawberries every night for over 2 weeks from what we've grown.  I made 2 pies, strawberry shortcake, smoothies, fruit salad, added to my romaine chef salads and I also have a few bags in the freezer to make jam later on. This will be the last week I get to enjoy them as I don't ever buy strawberries from the grocery store.

I did get back into Rite Aid since they started their new program and except for a few really good deals, haven't been shopping there too often.  I like that the points are good for a couple of years.  My plan is to build up the rewards on the card and not use them until I go through more of my stockpile.

I still use coupons but mainly for the gap in my pantry items.  My biggest expense at the store these days is from the produce aisle and I still price match where I can.  Aldi's ad this week isn't a great one since neither DH nor I like melon, but last week I got grape tomatoes for under a buck.  I will be waiting for a sale on potatoes as I have to make potato salad for the 4th of July, but the prices are too high now.

I will be spending $.24 at Staple this week on a 6 pack of paper towels after using a $4.00 reward and a $.75 MQ.

I am so jealous of your berry patch!  I will have them some day.  Right now I'm looking forward to the tomatoes.  We should have lots of romas. 

[FreeSalsa]

Jun 23, 2015 12:21:25 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Hi Grocery Hounds!!

Just checkin' in.  I'm loving the fresh, summer fruit from the 99 Cent Store.  You can't beat watermelons or a 2-lb. bag of peaches for $1!!

We'll be going to Costco today to fill up the tank, so I'll pop in and get nuts, tortillas, kitty food, and shrimp.  DH wants to make a shrimp linguini with lobster bisque sauce for dinner.

On the way home, I'll pop into the GO to see if there are any deals.  I notice that more and more people are shopping there.  I always seem to find killer deals on deli meats and cheese there.  Now, more than ever, you have to grab a good deal when you find it because their inventory goes fast.

I got a huge head of purple cauliflower at the 99 Cent store.  It was almost 2.5 lb. so a pretty good deal.  I don't looove cauliflower but it's something different and between that and the bagged broccoli I can put it on the baked potatoes I got last week.

[FreeSalsa]

I needed a gift card so I bought it at CVS to get my whopping 50c quarterly EB.  I also bought the Kotex U pantiliners using a 25% off your order sent to me via e-mail and a 25% off liners/pads/tampons CRT.  I was surprised but it took off both, making it a little over half price.  It's my favorite and I'm out so I needed it.  I still have a 25% off your order that I got in the mail and expires tomorrow and a 20% off liners CRT so I may go back for some more.  Not free but I don't see a lot of deals on these so I do the best I can.

I need diapers for a baby gift and I've been trying to put something together.  There is a CVS sale this week with store Qs and MQs but I couldn't get all of them and it just didn't work out.  Then Ralphs also has a deal but I didn't have the right Qs for that either.  I always check their mark down shelf and what do you know?  One package of Kroger diapers - $3.  Sold.