2015 Grocery Challenge

[skubikky]

Did this deal last night at CVS, reminded me of the old days:

(1) L'Oreal Evercare Conditioning Cleanser pump $1.74 (Clearance)
(1) L'Oreal Evercare Conditioning Cleanser pump $1.74 (Clearance)
(1) Colgate Total toothpaste                          $3.00
(1) Gillette deodorant spray                            $2.64 (Clearance)
                                Subtotal $9.12
                                       tax $0.73
-$2/1 L'Oreal MC
-$2/1 L'Oreal MC
-$2/1 Gillette MC
-$2.50 Colgate CRT

                                Total = $1.35 cleared with GC, => $4 ECB for the 2 L'Oreals!

[dancinmama]

Did pretty well at the GO today:

(12) 8 count boxes of Hostess cupcakes (each cupcake is individually wrapped inside the box) @ $.54/box!! 
The regular price is $3.99/box.  Will be passing several packages on to DS for his lunches and will freeze about (4).

(4) 1-lb. Hillshire Farm black forest ham  $1.49/lb.

(8) 12 oz. Seattle's Best ground coffee  $2.44/ea.

Prices include my 5% SC discount.  Total OOP:  $32.00

[Deleted]

I've been staying out of the grocery store lately, but today is Senior Day at Publix.

They have 10 oz-cans of Valley Fresh All-Natural chicken for $1.72 a can after BOGO.  With a $1/2 coupon, they are $1.22 a large can.  I stocked up.  Cooking my own is usually cheaper, but I don't always feel like cooking these days.  

They also have Healthy Choice dinners at 5/$10 with a Publix .75/2 coupon.  I just found out that there is a $1/4 printable.  It also qualifies for Publix's frozen food club rebate.  You get a $10 gift card for every $30 you spend on certain frozen food products.

They were pretty low on stock today.  I'm hoping for a raincheck (or three) before the week is over.  

[dancinmama]

Feb 4, 2015 18:15:04 GMT -5 southernsusana said:

I've been staying out of the grocery store lately, but today is Senior Day at Publix.

They have 10 oz-cans of Valley Fresh All-Natural chicken for $1.72 a can after BOGO.  With a $1/2 coupon, they are $1.22 a large can.  I stocked up.  Cooking my own is usually cheaper, but I don't always feel like cooking these days.  

They also have Healthy Choice dinners at 5/$10 with a Publix .75/2 coupon.  I just found out that there is a $1/4 printable.  It also qualifies for Publix's frozen food club rebate.  You get a $10 gift card for every $30 you spend on certain frozen food products.

They were pretty low on stock today.  I'm hoping for a raincheck (or three) before the week is over.  

I used to love to play the "rain check game".  I still have a rather large CVS rain check stash collected during the "glory days of couponing".

[dancinmama]

I had to go to the DMV today which is across the street from the GO, so I decided to pop in and see if they had marked anything else down since yesterday.

I didn't find anything to buy, but I did notice that there were no packages left of the ham that I bought yesterday and all the 8-cnt. boxes of cupcakes were gone too.  It just tells me that it truly is "luck of the draw" or I should say, luck of the day you happen to go and what they may have happened to mark down the previous day or early that day.

So off to the 99 Cent Store to pick up some veggies and I noticed that they had a shitpile of Valentines Snickers and Twix.  I'm thinking that they MIGHT clearance it to $.09 sooner than they did for Xmas because there is sooo much, they already have the Easter stuff out, and one of the managers said that they have St. Patrick's Day stuff in the back waiting to be stocked.  Since their phone number is not in the book OR on their receipts, I asked for it so I can call and ask in the days after Valentines instead of driving over there.

I may have to reorganize my freezer to make space for chocolate!!

[rubyslippers]

I made a quick Rite Aid stop today and bought a 2 pk. GE light bulbs, a gallon of milk and 2 caramels.  I used $2.00 in UPs, $1.00 MQ, free catalina on milk, which auto deducted $4.00 and paid of total of $.42 OOP and got $3.00 back in rewards.

I price matched eggs @ $1.29, 4 lb. naval oranges @ $1.79, bananas @ $.44 lb., 10 lbs. potatoes @ $2.99 and bottled 6 pks. pop @ $2.50.

The weather is too cold to do much shopping so it's short and sweet and get back home to a warm house.

[marvholly]

Feb 5, 2015 15:28:34 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

I made a quick Rite Aid stop today and bought a 2 pk. GE light bulbs, a gallon of milk and 2 caramels.  I used $2.00 in UPs, $1.00 MQ, free catalina on milk, which auto deducted $4.00 and paid of total of $.42 OOP and got $3.00 back in rewards.

I price matched eggs @ $1.29, 4 lb. naval oranges @ $1.79, bananas @ $.44 lb., 10 lbs. potatoes @ $2.99 and bottled 6 pks. pop @ $2.50.

The weather is too cold to do much shopping so it's short and sweet and get back home to a warm house.

There is NOTHING I need to much that I have to run out in cold or bad snow weather. I usually manage to eek out 1-2 days/week that are decent enough to do my shoppin & errands.

[Deleted]

Not as good as some of you guys' shopping trip, but it works for me:

$20.26 worth of meat for $15.26 after coupon: ground sirloin, Cure 81, Butterball All Natural sandwich slices, and centercut porkchops.  Plus some other stuff on sale.

I'm grateful for the meat coupon, which came from Target and Publix accepts.  The Butterball All Natural were also a find.  $2.50 each with a .55 peelie attached.  And it counted in my $20 meat total.

I don't mind buying marked down meat as long as it hasn't expired, but I have to pull off the markdown sticker before going home.  DH swears he can taste "old" meat, but he can't after I rewrap it and then put the package through seal-a-meal.

[dancinmama]

Feb 6, 2015 20:29:06 GMT -5 southernsusana said:

Not as good as some of you guys' shopping trip, but it works for me:

$20.26 worth of meat for $15.26 after coupon: ground sirloin, Cure 81, Butterball All Natural sandwich slices, and centercut porkchops.  Plus some other stuff on sale.

I'm grateful for the meat coupon, which came from Target and Publix accepts.  The Butterball All Natural were also a find.  $2.50 each with a .55 peelie attached.  And it counted in my $20 meat total.

I don't mind buying marked down meat as long as it hasn't expired, but I have to pull off the markdown sticker before going home.  DH swears he can taste "old" meat, but he can't after I rewrap it and then put the package through seal-a-mal.

  Good job on the meat.  I very rarely buy anything but marked down meat (and fish) these days.  It has saved us a bundle of money.  When I open it, I use the sniff test to make sure that it is still "fresh"; I've never had to throw anything out.

[FreeSalsa]

Feb 7, 2015 9:29:47 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Feb 6, 2015 20:29:06 GMT -5 southernsusana said:

Not as good as some of you guys' shopping trip, but it works for me:

$20.26 worth of meat for $15.26 after coupon: ground sirloin, Cure 81, Butterball All Natural sandwich slices, and centercut porkchops.  Plus some other stuff on sale.

I'm grateful for the meat coupon, which came from Target and Publix accepts.  The Butterball All Natural were also a find.  $2.50 each with a .55 peelie attached.  And it counted in my $20 meat total.

I don't mind buying marked down meat as long as it hasn't expired, but I have to pull off the markdown sticker before going home.  DH swears he can taste "old" meat, but he can't after I rewrap it and then put the package through seal-a-mal.

  Good job on the meat.  I very rarely buy anything but marked down meat (and fish) these days.  It has saved us a bundle of money.  When I open it, I use the sniff test to make sure that it is still "fresh"; I've never had to throw anything out.

Thank goodness that I have won DH over on this one.  He can be pretty particular about stuff like that.

I'm headed to Albertsons today. There is a Q in the mailer for canned tuna for 2/$1, limit 4.  These are the days I wished I still live in an apartment.  I would totally be in that recycle bin grabbing all the tossed ads.  They also have Jennie-O ground turkey 2/$5 and there is a 55c IP (zip code 22222 on coupons dot com.)  I know there are a few other things but can't recall at the moment.

I took my car in to the dealer for a recall and asked them about a few other things.  Turns out I have an extended warranty I didn't know about so they are going to fix the other things for free, including completely replacing the radio.

I had an expired Q for an oil change for $18.99 at one of those chains.  I called the place to see if they would honor it and they said they could give me a $19.99 special, which was fine by me.  They did not charge me the extra $5 that other places have charged because of the type of car I have.  They checked the brakes for free and sanded them for free to help get rid of the groaning noise.  The last place I went suggested a $100+ brake flush and adjustment that did not cure the problem.  I will be giving this place a good Yelp review.

I decided not to get the gym membership I was thinking about, at least for the moment.  I'm trying to take advantage of my hilly neighborhood and just go hiking instead. That's free.

I got another $5/15 from CVS.  This time I printed it so I can use it expired.

[dancinmama]

Feb 7, 2015 11:24:18 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

Feb 7, 2015 9:29:47 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

  Good job on the meat.  I very rarely buy anything but marked down meat (and fish) these days.  It has saved us a bundle of money.  When I open it, I use the sniff test to make sure that it is still "fresh"; I've never had to throw anything out.

Thank goodness that I have won DH over on this one.  He can be pretty particular about stuff like that.

I'm headed to Albertsons today. There is a Q in the mailer for canned tuna for 2/$1, limit 4.  These are the days I wished I still live in an apartment.  I would totally be in that recycle bin grabbing all the tossed ads.  They also have Jennie-O ground turkey 2/$5 and there is a 55c IP (zip code 22222 on coupons dot com.)  I know there are a few other things but can't recall at the moment.

I think that it just takes a couple of times to show them that it's perfectly good meat.  Now when I get home, DH asks if there were any meat markdowns today. 

[Deleted]

I will probably never convince DH about the meat, but removing the sticker and repackaging does help.  The only place around here, though, that marks down meat is Walmart. Bruno's used to, but they are long gone. I imagine the rest either serve it in their deli or sell it to their employees.

I printed another $5/$20 meat coupon and went back to Publix. We are pretty stocked now since I gave away my freezer to my daughter.  They are a family of six, and we barely used it.

It is time to go back to eating through the freezer.  That's actually a fun challenge in itself.

[FreeSalsa]

Albertsons had markdowns today, which I don't remember seeing before.  The price stayed the same, actually, but the markdown was a $2 q stuck on the package.  They had these on products all over the store.  We got 85% ground beef for $2.60 after Q.  I also got 16 oz. ricotta cheese for $2 after Q.  I was planning on making lasagna anyway so I was glad to find a good deal on both.  Albies is now running the Monopoly game again and we got lots of game pieces for that.  DH was really into sticking them all on the board so that was fun.  I've never bothered with that before but now that I've been shopping there regularly it may pay to play.

[dogmom]

Not grocery related, but I got a smokin' deal on lightbulbs at Ace Hardware yesterday.  Packs of five CFL bulbs for $1.99.  Usual price $11.95----Ouch!  DH questioned my sanity on the buy , and last night we needed a new bulb.  Hmm.  Somehow I ended up with $2.00 EB from CVS.  They tell me they are going to expire soon.  I've been getting quite a few $5/$15 e-mails lately.  CVS isn't convenient for me...Maybe I'll go across town and pick up a gallon of milk.  That's all I'm low on this week.

ETA:  I did stop at Dollar Tree yesterday also.  Picked up some frozen chopped peppers/onion, some Awesome cleaner (don't know who posted about this stuff a bunch of years back, but it really does work well) and a curtain rod for our bathroom.  I usually don't pay attention to what people buy, but I couldn't help but notice a woman in line in front of me was buying an awful lot of candy.  At checkout, it was $41.00.... .   Wow, can't imagine spending that much at a Dollar Tree, let alone on pretty much all candy and a tube of toothpaste.

[Happy prose]

2 free Arm and Hammer laundry detergent at Shoprite this week. In this week's smartsource, there's a $2/2, and also a $2/2 ecoupon. I love free detergent!

[FreeSalsa]

There was a sign posted at Albertsons that there was a recent change to the state law about labeling so there is a significant increase to the price of eggs.  They didn't have anything under $5.  I read on coupon mom that eggs were supposed to be $1.59 at CVS and when I got there they were $2.99.  Has anyone else seen an increase?  Saveinla, did the prices go up at your farmer's market?  It would be out of the way for me since I moved but maybe I could combine it with some other errands to make it worth it.

Also posted at Albertsons was a sign that said there was a shortage of organic milk, due to increased demand, I think.  Is there another CA dairy Q out?  I thought the last one expired a few weeks ago.

[dancinmama]

Feb 8, 2015 6:25:15 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Not grocery related, but I got a smokin' deal on lightbulbs at Ace Hardware yesterday.  Packs of five CFL bulbs for $1.99.  Usual price $11.95----Ouch!  DH questioned my sanity on the buy , and last night we needed a new bulb.  Hmm.  Somehow I ended up with $2.00 EB from CVS.  They tell me they are going to expire soon.  I've been getting quite a few $5/$15 e-mails lately.  CVS isn't convenient for me...Maybe I'll go across town and pick up a gallon of milk.  That's all I'm low on this week.

I usually don't pay attention to what people buy, but I couldn't help but notice a woman in line in front of me was buying an awful lot of candy.  At checkout, it was $41.00.... .   Wow, can't imagine spending that much at a Dollar Tree, let alone on pretty much all candy and a tube of toothpaste.

I used to get ALL my candy/snacks for free at the drug chains.  I haven't gotten free candy in over 2 years now; but thanks to the 99 Cent Store and patiently waiting for markdowns after a holiday has passed, I pay $.09 for items that are normally $.50-$.99 before the holiday.

[Deleted]

My dog has to have grain-free food because of skin problems. It's the grain-free or a staph infection every other month with a vet visit or two.  She hasn't had one in over a year since we switched. We did go with one of the less expensive brands (Nature's Recipe), but still an ouch!

So I did a PetSmart survey for the last time DH bought food and got $3 off. I bought her grain-free treats; the coupon knocked them down to $3.50.  It got better . . . I got ANOTHER survey to get a $3 coupon and a $5/$30 (and higher values for higher purchases) that we can use on our next purchase.  Our next purchase will, of course, be more dogfood. 

Yay!!!!

[marvholly]

You must be in CA. Chickens there must be in hen houses that allow a GREAT deal of freedom of movement. Not sure exactly how much but it has affected your local egg prices – a LOT. I have been able to buy eggs in metro Chicago for $1-1.29 over the last month.

Got my CHEAP chicken leg quarters on Sat. Since I went out to eat on Sun today becomes a MAJOR cooking day. I LOVE having precooked entrees in the freezer for my lazy (most) nights. I am not sure how many are in the bag but I will cook them up several different ways so I don’t get bored. Probably roasted w/veggies, BBQ and lemon, parsley & basil. I suspect each quarter will actually be 2 meals as this store generally has HUGE ones when they run a really cheap price.

Thinking ahead: EBT cards (food stamps) will be loaded on Fri so I will need to hit Aldi before that, probably Wed or Thur. I’m thinking of shrimp for my Valentaine treat meal. It is not on my ‘plan’ but that is what a pencil eraser fixes.

[dancinmama]

CVS - AM I OUT OF THE LOOP OR WHAT!!!!

I went into CVS and here's what I planned:

$5.99  Arm & Hammer Spin Brush power toothbrush
$5.99  Arm & Hammer Spin Brush power toothbrush
$7.99  Renu
$1.00  Dole canned pineapple
$20.97 Subtotal
-  5.00  $5/$15 (email coupon)
-  2.00  A&H IP
-  2.00  A&H IP
-12.00  EB
($ .03)  I planned to eat that
+ 1.33  Sales Tax (to be paid on a gift card)

Get an $8EB for the toothbrushes and a $4EB for the Renu.

.....but that's not what happened.

First, the A&H toothbrushes weren't tagged so I scanned them to make sure I had gotten the right ones for the EBs.  The scanner showed a price of $5.99 which matched the ad, but they didn't ring up at $5.99; they rang up at $5.84.  My EBs printed so no biggie, but it's WEIRD that the price the red machine/scanner gave me did not match my receipt.

Then -

my $5/$15 scanned (given first)
my IPs scanned (given second)
but when he tried to scan my $12EB  (given last) he said I needed to spend $.33 more. 

The asst. manager happened to walk by about the time this all went down.  The cashier told the asst. manager that "it" came up "yellow" - I needed another $.33.  The asst. manager told me that I must not have met some spending limit, but told the cashier to override it. 

Here's what my receipt showed:

$5.84  Arm & Hammer power toothbrush
$5.84  Arm & Hammer power toothbrush
$7.99  Renu
$1.00  Dole Pineapple

- 2.00  A&H IP
- 2.00  A&H IP
-12.00  EB
- 4.67  $5/$15  (but he had to override something to get the computer to take it)

$0.00  Subtotal
$1.33  Sales Tax
$1.33  Total

This tells me that even though I gave the $5/$15 first,  the IPs second, and my EB last, it is the $/$$ that got rejected. 

What's up with that?  Is this new or have I been out of it for toooo long. 

[saveinla]

Feb 8, 2015 12:23:56 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

There was a sign posted at Albertsons that there was a recent change to the state law about labeling so there is a significant increase to the price of eggs.  They didn't have anything under $5.  I read on coupon mom that eggs were supposed to be $1.59 at CVS and when I got there they were $2.99.  Has anyone else seen an increase?  Saveinla, did the prices go up at your farmer's market?  It would be out of the way for me since I moved but maybe I could combine it with some other errands to make it worth it.

Also posted at Albertsons was a sign that said there was a shortage of organic milk, due to increased demand, I think.  Is there another CA dairy Q out?  I thought the last one expired a few weeks ago.

Freesalsa,

I have been on vacation for 2 weeks and out of town this weekend, so have not checked the prices at the farmers market recently. If I go this weekend, I will be sure to check. Trader Joes still had eggs at 2.79 - 3.79 based on grade, size and free range or regular.

[dancinmama]

Feb 9, 2015 7:14:14 GMT -5 marvholly said:

You must be in CA. Chickens there must be in hen houses that allow a GREAT deal of freedom of movement. Not sure exactly how much but it has affected your local egg prices – a LOT. I have been able to buy eggs in metro Chicago for $1-1.29 over the last month.

The size is about double than what is considered to be "standard".  Not only that, but as of 1/1/15, California cannot "import" eggs from farms in other states that do not meet California's regulations. 

Not to get political, but talk about hurting the middle class.  In an attempt to treat chickens in a more "humane" way, the poor and middle class will pay the price.  The rich can afford expensive eggs, but the middle class and below are (make that were) eating eggs as a protein alternative to combat the rising cost of meat. 

Regulation, regulation, and more regulation.  I wonder what will be next.

[Deleted]

I got a $5 Winn Dixie gift card today.  I vaguely remember doing some "super survey," but then I forgot about it.  What a great surprise in a month when I am trying to keep spending down!

[marvholly]

Feb 9, 2015 17:28:12 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Feb 9, 2015 7:14:14 GMT -5 marvholly said:

You must be in CA. Chickens there must be in hen houses that allow a GREAT deal of freedom of movement. Not sure exactly how much but it has affected your local egg prices – a LOT. I have been able to buy eggs in metro Chicago for $1-1.29 over the last month.

The size is about double than what is considered to be "standard".  Not only that, but as of 1/1/15, California cannot "import" eggs from farms in other states that do not meet California's regulations. 

Not to get political, but talk about hurting the middle class.  In an attempt to treat chickens in a more "humane" way, the poor and middle class will pay the price.  The rich can afford expensive eggs, but the middle class and below are (make that were) eating eggs as a protein alternative to combat the rising cost of meat. 

Regulation, regulation, and more regulation.  I wonder what will be next.

I know what you mean as I am trying to live on just my soc check and saving my RMDs for fun stuff like travel.  I generally eat eggs 3-4x/week.  That helps balance out my 'treating' myself to good fish/shellfish and a rare steak.

[murphath]

Unfortunately, regulations are necessary when folks are being cruel to animals. If you saw the news that showed how chickens were being kept, you'd be for the new regs as well. Lots of folks around here are keeping their own chickens--don't know if it's cost effective but I do hear the roosters while on my walks.  Kinda of like it.  I'd say we're on the lower end of what's considered "middle class" but I'll pay extra for humanely raised eggs.  We're all God's creatures...just my two cents.  Feel free to ignore.

Dancin: For your chocolate cravings: my GO has M&M candies 10/.97! Only the milk chocolate ones were left but I snagged about 20 pkgs. I may go back. That's a great deal! The St. Nicholas snickers bars were also 10/.97 and Ritter w/hazelnut were .99. Those are $3.99 other places.

[973beachbum]

Feb 8, 2015 12:23:56 GMT -5 FreeSalsa said:

There was a sign posted at Albertsons that there was a recent change to the state law about labeling so there is a significant increase to the price of eggs.  They didn't have anything under $5.  I read on coupon mom that eggs were supposed to be $1.59 at CVS and when I got there they were $2.99.  Has anyone else seen an increase?  Saveinla, did the prices go up at your farmer's market?  It would be out of the way for me since I moved but maybe I could combine it with some other errands to make it worth it.

Also posted at Albertsons was a sign that said there was a shortage of organic milk, due to increased demand, I think.  Is there another CA dairy Q out?  I thought the last one expired a few weeks ago.

I posted this here a while ago.  Eggs have gone up dramatically in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  There was an ad right after thanksgiving for lg eggs on sale for $3.49 a 30 pack.  Two weeks later when I went back they were up to $6.99 for that same 30 pack..  They had a story on CNN about that time that DH saw that talked about the coming egg shortage world wide.  And trust me California's new law probably isn't making that any better but it was already a full blown problem before that because of bird flu and droughts and high oil costs.

It seems it is only going to get worse.

[dancinmama]

Feb 10, 2015 11:32:23 GMT -5 murphath said:

Unfortunately, regulations are necessary when folks are being cruel to animals. If you saw the news that showed how chickens were being kept, you'd be for the new regs as well. Lots of folks around here are keeping their own chickens--don't know if it's cost effective but I do hear the roosters while on my walks.  Kinda of like it.  I'd say we're on the lower end of what's considered "middle class" but I'll pay extra for humanely raised eggs.  We're all God's creatures...just my two cents.  Feel free to ignore.

Dancin: For your chocolate cravings: my GO has M&M candies 10/.97! Only the milk chocolate ones were left but I snagged about 20 pkgs. I may go back. That's a great deal! The St. Nicholas snickers bars were also 10/.97 and Ritter w/hazelnut were .99. Those are $3.99 other places.

Thanks for the tip on the chocolate.  I don't know how big your GO is, but it's gotten to the point with mine (which is small) that when they have great discounts it's get it now or forget it.  I used to be able to think about it and go back, but in the last couple of months that has not been the case.

[Happy prose]

973beachbum This week (ends Saturday) Shoprite has 4 Grain eggs on sale for $2.50 per dozen, and there's an ecoupon for $.50 you can load to your price plus card. 

[marvholly]

I am sort of glad the grocery ads are totally UNEXCITUNG again this week. My freezer is stuffed and after today we are getting hit w/cold (highs in the teens) here in metro Chicago so I will be hibernating again. I am actually skipping my farthest stores where I only have 3 items of interest between the 2 stores and my BIG fruit/veg market & Meijer change ads on Thur when it gets REALLY cold so it is unlikely I will go there this week.

I will not likely end up doing it due to weather but I was thinking of hitting Aldi on Mon or Tue to see if they knocked down the price of flowers left.

[murphath]

marvholly:

Have you ever given thought to moving somewhere warmer? It's got to be tough to be homebound for much of the winter.

What part of Chicago are you in? We lived in Tinley Park for six years when I was I kid so I did my time living in snow. (six years in Massachusetts, too)