2015 Grocery Challenge

[murphath]

Dancin:

My GO isn't that big either and things tend to go quickly. BUT there were a ton of m&m's yesterday (4 huge bins). You might want to call your GO to see if they're doing the same thing. They are individually owned--yours gives you the senior discount each week; mine is 1x month: 3rd Thursday before 11 a.m. with purchase of at least $15. Really?

[dancinmama]

Ya, I know that they're individually owned.  I found out when I went to another one on a Wednesday and found out that they didn't offer a senior citizen discount.  

No M&Ms at my GO, but when I went in today I did find:

16 oz. Hillshire Farms turkey breast @ $1.57/lb.
16 oz. V8 Splash strawberry lemonade @ $.20/ea.
16.3 oz. Peter Pan peanut butter @ $.99/ea.

AND I got an additional 5% off because it's Wednesday and I'm OLD!!  LOL

If you guys are huge M&M fans, I'd jump all over that deal.  It is rare that you find them at that price.  I would think that they would freeze fairly well.

[FreeSalsa]

Feb 9, 2015 16:59:02 GMT -5 saveinla said:

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.

Thanks for checking if you go.  I have a feeling it will cost more there too.  Sprouts also had $3 eggs today, omega 3 type.  I ended up getting them at CVS the other day for $3.

I have a hard time paying more, even if it is better quality or more humane.  But I am trying to.  It's pretty bad, what they do to the animals we eat.  I guess I hadn't heard about the shortage for the other reasons.  It is tough to get inexpensive protein.  Next we'll all be turning to beans.  At least those can't be treated poorly!  

[marvholly]

Feb 11, 2015 11:40:46 GMT -5 murphath said:

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) 

dancin

I live opposite to where you did - near north burbs.

Yes, I have dreamed about living somewhere warmer BUT

summers are miserable & I cannot affford 2 places

kids & grands are in Chicago metro area

[dancinmama]

I forgot to post yesterday - I spent a total of $23.40 on (2) cases of peanut butter and while I'm happy that I found it at a reasonable price (because DH goes through it like crazy), back in the glory days of couponing, peanut butter was one of the pantry staples that I ALWAYS got for free.

Those were the days my friends.....

[dancinmama]

CVS CANDY CLEARANCE:

Not as good a deal as what I've been getting at the 99 Cent Store, but good if you have EBs to cover your OOP.

I read that some of the 6-pks. of snack sized Hershey bars are on clearance for $.39.  "Flavors" reported:  Mounds, Almond Joy, Reeses, Hershey Chocolate, Hersheys Cookies N Cream, etc.  Some have reported that ones that weren't tagged scanned at $.39, so be sure to scan anything you might be interested in.

I haven't paid much attention, but I remember when not THAT long ago (I didn't think) a 10-pk. was $1 regularly.  Now a 6-pk. is $1.57.  Really?? 

[hopetoberich]

I have a shop to report!

CVS today. I had
4x free 12 pack coke...MCR 
$2ecb.
So 4 packs diet coke $15 - MCR...free get $5ecb
2 cans salmon @2/$4
2boxes eggs @ $1.69
1 colgate tp @ $2.99
Total oop $3.37 got back $2 ecbs colgate.
So $3.37 total and refreshed my $2ecb.

Life is good i actually felt like a smart shopper and not like ....,ah......they got me again

Off subject, but i have been a mystery shopper since the fall. I get the $ in my paypal account and leave it there, it does add up! its fairly easy and a few bucks here and there is okay with me.

[Opti]

Hopetoberich, thanks for posting. I haven't seen canned Salmon on sale at $2

for a long time. I'll have to stop by my local CVS.

[FreeSalsa]

Doh!  It ate my post.  It said that I bought eggs in Arizona this weekend for 99c/doz. at Fry's.  Not sure what I'll do when these run out.

[skubikky]

Got a $4ECB yesterday from CVS...... .
Had a $5/$15 last week from CVS.....

Hmmm.....maybe they miss me? 

Anyway, hit CVS yesterday as I needed eye pencil and they had $5 off every Physician's Formula product.

Transaction 1
                    RC $5.99 Arm & Hammer Spin Brush
                       -$3.99 ECB(they rounded down because of the $2 MC)
                       -$2.00 MC
                  tax   $0.16
                      
                Total  $0.16 cleared with GC,  => $4ECB    OOP = $0

Transaction 2
                    PF Eye Definition Liner   $6.99(Reg. price $11.99)
                                                   -$4.00 ECB
                                          tax      $0.24
                                      Total       $3.31 cleared with GC,  OOP = $0

[marvholly]

It is a good thing it has been unbearably cold and the grocery ads have been extremely poor. I have saved up a BUNCH of grocery money and this week the ads are pretty good and I will be breaking my self imposed rule NOT to put more stuff in the freezer. I cannot resist:

Bars of cheese 1.50
Strawberries 0.59/lb
Ground turkey 2.00/lb
cottage cheese (a CONSTANT in my house) 1.00/lb
Canned tuna 0.50
Fresh spinach 1.58/lb

[rubyslippers]

My best deals for the week were mainly on produce items, free body wash at Rite Aid and MM on Advil at Dollar General, after coupon and rebate.

$1.29 zucchini (5 in a package)

    .59 mushrooms

    .69 onions (3 lbs.)

    .40 green pepper

    .79 Roma tomatoes (6 in a package)

  1.58 lb. asparagus

  1.29 dozen eggs

    .50 tuna

    .19 pasta, after coupon at Kroger (bought 6)

[chiver78]

this weekend is a 5/$25 "sale" on meats at one of the pricier stores near me*. I've hit this up in the past to stock up when the freezer is low - since I'm starting from scratch in the new house, this means now. basically, packages of meats that tend to run from $6-10/pkg are $5 each if you buy 5. I don't love the selection this time, but will end up splitting the 5 with a friend that lives nearby. he's probably going to grab 2 packages of 85/15 ground beef.

I'm planning to pick up:
-3+lb pkg of chicken drumsticks
-3+lb pkg of chicken thighs
-Hatfield black peppercorn pork tenderloin

the chicken will carry me through the rest of the winter for soups. I'll break up the packages and re-package into 1 drum/thigh each and freeze. if I'm making a small batch of soup, I only use one of each. if I'm making a larger batch, I'll just thaw out more than one Ziploc.

the pork will get portioned and frozen as well. I grill it on the grill pan all winter, to toss in salads. I'll only buy these packages in sales like this one, or when Carl's store would have BOGOs. they are pricier than I like to pay, for what they are.

*ETA: for the New Englanders, this is Roche Bros/Sudbury Farms.

[saveinla]

Feb 20, 2015 9:08:08 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

My best deals for the week were mainly on produce items, free body wash at Rite Aid and MM on Advil at Dollar General, after coupon and rebate.

$1.29 zucchini (5 in a package)

    .59 mushrooms

    .69 onions (3 lbs.)

    .40 green pepper

    .79 Roma tomatoes (6 in a package)

  1.58 lb. asparagus

  1.29 dozen eggs

    .50 tuna

    .19 pasta, after coupon at Kroger (bought 6)

rubyslippers,

Can you let me know what the pasta deal is?  Thanks

[rubyslippers]

Saveinla, Kroger is having a mega sale buy 6 save $3.00.  The Ronzoni pasta is $.69 each after buying 6, and there is a printable coupon for Ronzoni $1/2.  I found the link on bargainstobounty.  HTH.

[saveinla]

Feb 20, 2015 11:21:57 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

Saveinla, Kroger is having a mega sale buy 6 save $3.00.  The Ronzoni pasta is $.69 each after buying 6, and there is a printable coupon for Ronzoni $1/2.  I found the link on bargainstobounty.  HTH.

Thank you.

[chiver78]

woot! I cleaned up today

in addition to the 5/$25 meats, of which I saved:
4.22 for b/s chicken breasts (to my friend)
2.24 for 85/15 ground beef (to my friend)
5.14 for a family pack of chicken drumsticks
2.49 for a 93/7 Plainville ground turkey (which I know is normally $5 in other places...)
and the big savings -
7.78 for a Hatfield black peppercorn pork tenderloin.

past that, I also scored:
$16 in savings for 4 bags of NE coffee co. ground coffees
$15 in savings for 3 lg bottles of Berrio extra light EVOO (all I use. in this case, I'm a snob....)

with a few other minor savings, I tallied a bill of $101.24 with savings of $56.15. I will take it!

[dogmom]

Feb 20, 2015 18:14:29 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

woot! I cleaned up today

in addition to the 5/$25 meats, of which I saved:
4.22 for b/s chicken breasts (to my friend)
2.24 for 85/15 ground beef (to my friend)
5.14 for a family pack of chicken drumsticks
2.49 for a 93/7 Plainville ground turkey (which I know is normally $5 in other places...)
and the big savings -
7.78 for a Hatfield black peppercorn pork tenderloin.

past that, I also scored:
$16 in savings for 4 bags of NE coffee co. ground coffees
$15 in savings for 3 lg bottles of Berrio extra light EVOO (all I use. in this case, I'm a snob....)

with a few other minor savings, I tallied a bill of $101.24 with savings of $56.15. I will take it!

You totally Rock!!

I was thinking about watching sales and buying at rock bottom pricing, and buying as space allows. A reminder..send an e-mail to manufacturers about their products. It sometimes helps. Last month I sent an e-mail to Bob Evans, asking about one of their products. They responded, but also sent coupons (via mail) to me. I'm not huge into their product, but, due to their generosity, I picked up 3# of sausage for $1.55/#. Usually $3.98/# in our area... I'll take it.

[FreeSalsa]

This week at Ralphs/Kroger 
Tuna 2/$1, the lowest I've seen in probably 8 years
Colgate $1 - 75c blinkie in the toothpaste aisle = 25c for my favorite brand

[chiver78]

Feb 21, 2015 17:44:55 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Feb 20, 2015 18:14:29 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

woot! I cleaned up today

in addition to the 5/$25 meats, of which I saved:
4.22 for b/s chicken breasts (to my friend)
2.24 for 85/15 ground beef (to my friend)
5.14 for a family pack of chicken drumsticks
2.49 for a 93/7 Plainville ground turkey (which I know is normally $5 in other places...)
and the big savings -
7.78 for a Hatfield black peppercorn pork tenderloin.

past that, I also scored:
$16 in savings for 4 bags of NE coffee co. ground coffees
$15 in savings for 3 lg bottles of Berrio extra light EVOO (all I use. in this case, I'm a snob....)

with a few other minor savings, I tallied a bill of $101.24 with savings of $56.15. I will take it!

You totally Rock!!

I was thinking about watching sales and buying at rock bottom pricing, and buying as space allows. A reminder..send an e-mail to manufacturers about their products. It sometimes helps. Last month I sent an e-mail to Bob Evans, asking about one of their products. They responded, but also sent coupons (via mail) to me. I'm not huge into their product, but, due to their generosity, I picked up 3# of sausage for $1.55/#. Usually $3.98/# in our area... I'll take it.

nice!    I will keep that tip in mind!

I just moved, so I am seriously starting over from scratch again. I have a basement in this place, and intend to get a chest freezer once the snow melts and I can access my bulkhead. the interior basement stairs are too narrow to get one now. but that is exactly what I plan to do once I have it down there - watch sales and plan accordingly.

[marvholly]

Free Salsa

Food4Less is my version of Kroger here in metro Chicago. They also have the tuna 2/$1 and have run it that way several times in the past couple months.

My big fruit veg market had a couple thoings CHEAP but not on ad items: pea pods for 0.98/lb.  Don't remember the last time they were so cheap.  I will blanch & freeze most.  Cantalope for 0.98 each, grape tomatoes for 0.50/pint.

[FreeSalsa]

Feb 22, 2015 6:23:10 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Free Salsa

Food4Less is my version of Kroger here in metro Chicago. They also have the tuna 2/$1 and have run it that way several times in the past couple months.

My big fruit veg market had a couple thoings CHEAP but not on ad items: pea pods for 0.98/lb.  Don't remember the last time they were so cheap.  I will blanch & freeze most.  Cantalope for 0.98 each, grape tomatoes for 0.50/pint.

Now that I moved I don't get the Food4Less ads anymore, otherwise I would have gone there sooner!  I used to be able to get 2/$1 at the dollar store before the cost of everything shot up.  There was a Q from Albertsons for the same price a week or so ago but it was a home mailer and limit of 4.  This time I bought 15.  Now when DH asks what's for dinner, the answer will be "tuna" for a long time!    I'll see if I can get a rain check too.

Nice price on the produce.  We have to take advantage while we can.  

In my new place there is a loquat tree, and the fruit is starting to ripen.  I'd only heard of this fruit a couple years ago and had never tried one but it was pretty good.  I've read it's supposed to be like a tropical apricot.  I'm not sure I could describe it except both sweet and astringent.  I'm thinking maybe it needed to be a little more ripe, but we've got a small tree full of them and I'm looking forward to all the free fresh fruit.

[chiver78]

Feb 24, 2015 18:31:48 GMT -5 CCL said:

Feb 21, 2015 20:41:58 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

nice!    I will keep that tip in mind!

I just moved, so I am seriously starting over from scratch again. I have a basement in this place, and intend to get a chest freezer once the snow melts and I can access my bulkhead. the interior basement stairs are too narrow to get one now. but that is exactly what I plan to do once I have it down there - watch sales and plan accordingly.

Have you considered an upright freezer? Mine is much better than the chest freezer I had. Everything is easy to see and reach so I no longer have to worry about anything getting lost or wasted.

honestly, whatever is cheaper and works. if I'd been 15 minutes quicker this am, I could have had a good size chest freezer for $100 via the local fb virtual yard sale.

sent from my electronic distraction

[dancinmama]

Sorry I've been MIA.

I haven't been grocery shopping in over a week because last week we were car shopping.  I finally found something I liked and was able to negotiate a pretty sweet deal + $1500 cash back AND 0% interest for 48 months!!

Time for a roadtrip!!  LOL

I'll be going shopping tomorrow.  WAGs has eggs for $1.29/doz., one of the ethnic markets has boneless chicken leg meat for $.99/lb. (stir fry) and another ethnic market has talapia for $2.57/lb.  Maybe it will be more fun cuz I'll be cruising around in my new car. 

[marvholly]

dancin

Saw your post about car buying. Congrats on the new car & deal.

Except for produce this is another week of unexciting grocery ads. It is also another week that the coupon inserts for 3/1 hold NO interest for me. I do not remember the last time I bothered buying a Sun paper.

[dancinmama]

Just got back from grocery shopping.  I don't know why, but it seems to wear me out these days.

I think I did really well at the GO:
(15) 6 oz. Adelle's smoked sliced chicken @ $1.49/ea.
These are already vacuum sealed and have no nitrates/nitrites.  They're perfect for adding to lettuce for a home made chicken Caesar salad.
(12) 8 oz. Kraft colby/jack cheese @ $1.29/ea. (8) are for my mom
(10) 5 oz. Jack Links crinkle cut pepperoni @ $.83/ea.
(7) 13 oz. Chips Ahoy cookies @ $.92/ea.
(4) 12 oz. Taco Bell chipotle dip @ $.25/ea.
(6) 11.13 oz. bags Snickers Valentine fun size @ $1.23 ea.
(4) 8 oz. Philly 1/3 Less Fat @ $.99/ea.

All prices include my 5% discount for being old.   I spent almost $70, but my receipt says I saved $202.14 (probably compared to buying the same stuff at Safeway when it's not on sale). 

Ethnic Market #1
1 lb. tilapia fillet @ $2.57/lb.
Fuji apples @ $.69/lb.

Ethnic Market #2
10 lbs. boneless/skinless chicken (whole leg meat) @ $.99/lb.

Was so happy to get this.  Lately, my rock bottom for chicken legs/thighs has been $.99/lb. and I'm paying for bone and skin!!

WAGs
(2) doz. eggs @ $1.29/dozen
They were limiting everyone to (2) so I'm going to have to go in with DH and each get (2) more before the sale ends on Saturday.

Tomorrow I will be repackaging the boneless chicken meat for freezing.  It should make for a lot of great stir-fry meals.

[rubyslippers]

I'm glad to see that eggs are on sale at WAGS this week as I didn't get a flyer or look at their ad online.  The deals I did so far this week are:

Rite Aid: 

   4 Colgate toothpastes

   4 Curad bandages

   4 Robitussuns

   2 Choloraseptic lozenges

   2 bags M&M's

   1 lg. bottle of Advil

   1 8 pk. Scott paper towels

   1 X-tra laundry detergent

   1 caramel

    I paid $6.27 OOP and saved $64.65. I started with $31.00 in UPs and ended up with $30.00. I plan on starting my Scott toilet paper stockpile for next year.

Walmart:

    I price matched 2 boxes of Creamette pasta for $.69 each and a few bananas.  I paid $.91 OOP after using a $1.00 catalina coupon for the pasta.

Dollar General:

   4 Beneful dog treats

   2 bags (5 lbs. each) flour

   1 can pinto beans

   I paid $.48 OOP and saved $8.00 after using 2) $4.00/2 dog treat IPQ's

I will be getting groceries later this week at Kroger and Walmart.  I can get quadruple fuel points at Kroger as I downloaded an ecoupon for this weekend's sale.

[marvholly]

I also bought eggs at WAG this week. Best price in town. Hope we do better around Easter.

I guess spring has sprung – somewhere. Produce prices appear to be coming down somewhat & 2 of my stores are featuring asparagus at almost decent prices.

[dancinmama]

Well, today was the last day for eggs @ $1.29 at WAGs.

I didn't go in until Wednesday and by that time they were limiting customers to 2 dozen.  DH went in on Friday and got the last two that they had.  They said that they have been having a hard time getting them in for the sale. 

Well, you know what that means --- RAIN CHECKS!! 

We both went in today on the first shift and on the last shift, enabling us to get (2) rain checks each.  They were limiting the quantity on the rain checks to (2) dozen too.  That kind of irritated me since there is no limit in the ad and which is why we went back at the closing shift.

Anyway, now I can get (8) dozen eggs at any time in the future for $1.29/dozen.  YEAH!!

[marvholly]

This summer I will be getting the produce store I ONLY go to now if I am out near my DD1 and usually when I am heading that way they have NOTHING I want or cheaper than my other stores. They are opening in a nearby town – not on my regular route but near where I generally to for gas. Now if I could get a Trader Joes close.

Slowly, VERY slowly the closed Safeway (Dominicks) stores are being re-utilized.