2015 Grocery Challenge

[skubikky]

CVS last night:

$9.99 Charmin 16 pack
$8.99 Zantac 75 30 count
$0.99 Dawn
$0.57 tax
SubTotal $20.54

-$4/$20 CRT
-$3 EB
-$4 Zantac MC
-$0.55 Charmin MC
-$0.25 Dawn MC

OOP = $8.74 => Mail receipt for $8.99 Zantac rebate

[marvholly]

I have seen 3 of my ads and have 3 to go (Thur or late post ads). Not too much excites me so I have a LONG Aldi list for some things I want to restock and some things I need for my Easter/Passover holiday dishes.

[rubyslippers]

There are rumors that Rite Aid will be ending their rewards program. While their latest program isn't as nice as it was five years ago, this is disappointing. I'm still able to get my stockpile items for free or cheap, not counting the tax.  If they go the route of Walgreens, I won't be shopping there at all as the only time I go to WAGs now is if I can't price match their food items or if they have a free photo offer.  I had never set foot in any of the drugstore chains before using rewards since their prices are so much higher than other stores.  I will have to come up with a new strategy if these rumors prove true. 

[marvholly]

I, too, seldom go to WAG these days. Deals are just NOT good enough. However, if Rite Aid also downgrades their program, can CVS be far behind? Sort of scary.

I KNOW I swore I was NOT buying more freezer stuff, esp chicken. However, one of my local stores has thigh quarters for $0.49/lb this week. I am NOT stockpiling. Just getting 1 pkg and will cook next week. Got a taste going for oven fried and none already made in the freezer.

While I have several lb of potatoes in the bin they all are heavily eyed and my big fruit veg mkt has bags for $1.00 this week so I plan to toss & replace.

[murphath]

Part II of DD1's wedding celebrations is done: the Mexico version in Puerto Vallarta. It really was a wonderful time with about 34 friends/family. Since the Hard Rock Hotel is all inclusive, it made it so much easier to plan moneywise. They say tipping is included, too, but we brought a lot of ones.   That made the fantastic service even better.  I think they liked our group.

This was our first time staying at an all inclusive resort and I certainly hope they are all like the Hard Rock.  We felt like we were part of the 1%ers.

It was a lazy week just enjoying water activities either in the pool or ocean. And drinking champagne. Went on a snorkeling excursion (still not as good as the snorkeling in French Polynesia) and zip lining.  I put my brave on and did one line upside down.  So, so fun--and I'm not good with heights.  Did I mention the champagne

So, now back to reality.  Have to go to the grocery store as we ate everything before leaving.  I'm still wondering why Marisol isn't here making me a fresh omlette

[FreeSalsa]

Ha!  Where is that darned Marisol!?  Sounds like a great time!

At Albertsons I bought mac and cheese and Cambells cream soup for 69c and 99c wyb5.  They also had Oscar Meyer turkey and  roast beef (nitrates but no corn syrup) for $2.99 wyb5, with a $2 store Q peelie, making them 99c ea.  Then there was OM salami $2.49 wyb5 w/$1.50 store peelie, making them $1.50.  I got all they had, which was 3 of each.  These markdown store peelie Qs are new at Albertsons, or at least new to me.  I like them a lot!  

I got home and DH was making dinner.  Can't beat that.  Except, of course, if Marisol was making it.     I'll be helping myself to my own drinks tonight.

[marvholly]

This Sun may be the first time in MONTHS I get a paper. Per the previews there are 2 coupons ($1.75) I will probably use and there is a Sam’s Club membership deal. I live near a Sam’s so might just do this FREE 60 day membership even though I have never found anything I want on their free days.

[Deleted]

I have been totally out of the loop, trying to buy only the stuff we need instead of stockpiling stuff.

I was startled, though, by how expensive flour tortillas have become in my area. Even small packages are $2.50+.

I bought one that was written in Spanish. So I'm not 100% certain that they are flour tortillas, But they did have an English ingredient list, and the first one listed was wheat flour. 

You think they are flour tortillas? Lol. I use these in my "easy" chicken-n-dumplings.

[dancinmama]

Mar 5, 2015 11:09:06 GMT -5 murphath said:

Part II of DD1's wedding celebrations is done: the Mexico version in Puerto Vallarta. It really was a wonderful time with about 34 friends/family. Since the Hard Rock Hotel is all inclusive, it made it so much easier to plan moneywise. They say tipping is included, too, but we brought a lot of ones.   That made the fantastic service even better.  I think they liked our group.

This was our first time staying at an all inclusive resort and I certainly hope they are all like the Hard Rock.  We felt like we were part of the 1%ers.

It was a lazy week just enjoying water activities either in the pool or ocean. And drinking champagne. Went on a snorkeling excursion (still not as good as the snorkeling in French Polynesia) and zip lining.  I put my brave on and did one line upside down.  So, so fun--and I'm not good with heights.  Did I mention the champagne

So, now back to reality.  Have to go to the grocery store as we ate everything before leaving.  I'm still wondering why Marisol isn't here making me a fresh omlette

murphath:  Congrats on your DD1s wedding.  It sounds like you had an awesome time.

All inclusives are pretty awesome.  DH and I went to Sandals in Jamaica for our 5th wedding anniversary (wow, over 31 years ago!!) and it was the best.  My fav was the thatch covered bars on the beach with slurpee machines that dispensed daiquiris.  Ya, that was pretty good. 

[dancinmama]

Mar 4, 2015 7:54:40 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

There are rumors that Rite Aid will be ending their rewards program. While their latest program isn't as nice as it was five years ago, this is disappointing. I'm still able to get my stockpile items for free or cheap, not counting the tax.  If they go the route of Walgreens, I won't be shopping there at all as the only time I go to WAGs now is if I can't price match their food items or if they have a free photo offer.  I had never set foot in any of the drugstore chains before using rewards since their prices are so much higher than other stores.  I will have to come up with a new strategy if these rumors prove true. 

For your sake, I hope that doesn't happen.  I've followed your RA posts and you have done really well there.

Before drug chain rewards, I only shopped at them when they had a loss leader (that I often combined with coupons) or a free rebate item. 

I stopped shopping RA on a regular basis after they started requiring a 24 hr waiting period to use UPs, but by that time my stockpiles were established so it was all good.

I never did get into the points thing at WAGs.  I could see that it was going to cost me OOP and there was no need since I was still able to stockpile at CVS for free. 

Being able to get freebies in abundance was an anomaly.  I am just thankful that we all had the opportunity to take advantage of it. 

[dancinmama]

Mar 7, 2015 20:30:06 GMT -5 southernsusana said:

I have been totally out of the loop, trying to buy only the stuff we need instead of stockpiling stuff.

I was startled, though, by how expensive flour tortillas have become in my area. Even small packages are $2.50+.

I bought one that was written in Spanish. So I'm not 100% certain that they are flour tortillas, But they did have an English ingredient list, and the first one listed was wheat flour. 

You think they are flour tortillas? Lol. I use these in my "easy" chicken-n-dumplings.

Well, tortillas only come in corn or flour and it's pretty easy to tell the difference, so I'm pretty sure what you got are flour.

Flour tortillas is a regular Costco item for us.  We get 30 jumbo for $2.59 (I think that's what I paid last time, but I couldn't swear by it).  We go through a lot of tortillas for burritos, quesadillas, etc.

[marvholly]

Southernsusanna

Do you have Aldi (or possibly Trader Joe)?  I KNOW tacos are MUCH cheaper at Aldi than just about any other store.

[Deleted]

Mar 8, 2015 5:52:49 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Southernsusanna

Do you have Aldi (or possibly Trader Joe)?  I KNOW tacos are MUCH cheaper at Aldi than just about any other store.

We do have Aldi's, but DH really prefers specific name brands.  It is too far for a single item.  I do go to Costco's every week for gas.  I'll check there.

[rubyslippers]

Dancin, my stockpile never was as big as yours but I tried to have a year's supply of the 3 things I always hated to spend money on which includes toilet paper, garbage bags and laundry soap. I have more than a year's worth of Tide and enough of the other 2 to get past this year. What I am low on right now, believe it or not, is Crest. If the rumors are true, I'm trying to decided what to spend my remaining UPs on. 

I had fun at Kroger last week with the $5.00 in catalinas I had earned prior. I rolled them several times and got 1 box of cereal, 2 loaves of bread, 1 pkg. hamburger buns, a dozen eggs, a yeast strip and 12 Kotex for $4.18 OOP, saving $52.39 and I have another $5.00 in catalinas for this week.

I have $20.00 in Staples rewards coming this month and I hope I find another good deal on paper towels.  I couple of years ago I got 32 rolls of paper towels for $.28 after coupons and rewards.

Some times Meijer will have a decent sale on their products.  Last week I got free Garnier and got DH his vitamins really cheap and the week before, I got razors pretty cheap.  Not nearly as good as free but now I guess cheap will have to do.  On the other hand, I am saving a lot by price matching.  Aldi has 5 lb. bags of red potatoes for $.99 and a 3 lb. bag of onions for $.69.  I bought both and saved over $4.00. 

[FreeSalsa]

Mar 7, 2015 20:30:06 GMT -5 southernsusana said:

I have been totally out of the loop, trying to buy only the stuff we need instead of stockpiling stuff.

I was startled, though, by how expensive flour tortillas have become in my area. Even small packages are $2.50+.

I bought one that was written in Spanish. So I'm not 100% certain that they are flour tortillas, But they did have an English ingredient list, and the first one listed was wheat flour. 

You think they are flour tortillas? Lol. I use these in my "easy" chicken-n-dumplings.

You can get tortillas at the dollar store, though there are probably fewer in the package than there used to be, just like everything else.  I've been getting mine at Trader Joes for 99c or $1.29, I can't remember, but not expensive and few ingredients.  Would you share your easy dumpling recipe?

[FreeSalsa]

Last week at Jons (local chain) they had bags of Mahatma white rice, 20 lb. for $10, or 50c/lb.  But it was such a big bag I didn't get it, especially since we've had a moth problem.  I didn't want to risk losing it all.  So far we've only lost the original dried fruit and nothing more.  Moths take up to 10 days to hatch and we keep thinking we've seen the last of them, but then another one shows up every 5 days or so.  At least it's just one.  It seems the invasion is over for now.  

[saveinla]

Freesalsa,

You know those little dessicant packets you get in purses and crispy food boxes and electronics etc?

Put some of them in the cabinet where you store grains/pasta etc. Just wipe down the shelves with warm soapy water, then dry with a dry paper towel, and then spread these packets in nooks and crannies and re-shelve all your items. That will keep the bugs away. The bugs like humidity. The dessicant packets absorb the moisture.

[dancinmama]

Mar 8, 2015 15:32:41 GMT -5 rubyslippers said:

Dancin, my stockpile never was as big as yours but I tried to have a year's supply of the 3 things I always hated to spend money on which includes toilet paper, garbage bags and laundry soap. I have more than a year's worth of Tide and enough of the other 2 to get past this year. What I am low on right now, believe it or not, is Crest. If the rumors are true, I'm trying to decided what to spend my remaining UPs on. 

I had fun at Kroger last week with the $5.00 in catalinas I had earned prior. I rolled them several times and got 1 box of cereal, 2 loaves of bread, 1 pkg. hamburger buns, a dozen eggs, a yeast strip and 12 Kotex for $4.18 OOP, saving $52.39 and I have another $5.00 in catalinas for this week.

I have $20.00 in Staples rewards coming this month and I hope I find another good deal on paper towels.  I couple of years ago I got 32 rolls of paper towels for $.28 after coupons and rewards.

Some times Meijer will have a decent sale on their products.  Last week I got free Garnier and got DH his vitamins really cheap and the week before, I got razors pretty cheap.  Not nearly as good as free but now I guess cheap will have to do.  On the other hand, I am saving a lot by price matching.  Aldi has 5 lb. bags of red potatoes for $.99 and a 3 lb. bag of onions for $.69.  I bought both and saved over $4.00. 

There were times when I questioned whether I should stockpile more of certain products, but I decided that as long as I had the storage space and the product was non-perishable and free, I might as well go for it - kind of a bird-in-the-hand attitude.

Two years later, my stockpiles are still holding up better than expected.

[dancinmama]

Went to the GO yesterday.  I found 5.3 oz. cups of spreadable cream cheese with chives for $.25/ea. 

I also picked up 2-lb. bags of shredded cheese for $4.97 and 16 oz. Coffeemate liquid caramel macchiato creamer for $.50/ea.

I love my GO.

[FreeSalsa]

Mar 11, 2015 11:23:15 GMT -5 saveinla said:

Freesalsa,

You know those little dessicant packets you get in purses and crispy food boxes and electronics etc?

Put some of them in the cabinet where you store grains/pasta etc. Just wipe down the shelves with warm soapy water, then dry with a dry paper towel, and then spread these packets in nooks and crannies and re-shelve all your items. That will keep the bugs away. The bugs like humidity. The dessicant packets absorb the moisture.

Good idea!  Thanks, I'll try that.  It's terrible because we're always trying to get more humidity in the house in this dry climate but unfortunately, bugs love humidity too.

[marvholly]

Mar 11, 2015 16:47:11 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Went to the GO yesterday.  I found 5.3 oz. cups of spreadable cream cheese with chives for $.25/ea. 

I also picked up 2-lb. bags of shredded cheese for $4.97 and 16 oz. Coffeemate liquid caramel macchiato creamer for $.50/ea.

I love my GO.

I am VERY envious of the prices you post for GO.  NOTHING like that within a 40+ mile radius of me.

[FreeSalsa]

I love the sound of that GO too.

Disappointing corned beef sales.  $2.49/lb. at Ralphs and Vons.  $1.99/lb. at Albertsons, limit 2 w/Q mailed to home.  Not great at all.  Does anyone see anything better?

On the other hand, Armstrong nursery is having a wine tasting/appetizer/20% off sale one evening next week.  Maybe I'll go get some flowers.  No, wait, it's today.  Maybe I'll take a ride over there.

I got a lot of paperwork done this week and made a lot of phone calls.  As usual, my procrastination has cost me some money for sending in for medical reimbursements or spending rewards, I waited too long.  DH said he'd be in charge of one that still has a month left to be submitted.  I spend so much time on the nickel and dime stuff to save and then I end up losing tens or hundreds due to procrastination or neglect or flat out forgetting.  Not sure what to do about that.  Very disappointing but at least these are things that have been nagging at me that I can cross off my to-do list.

[dancinmama]

Mar 12, 2015 6:09:56 GMT -5 marvholly said:

Mar 11, 2015 16:47:11 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Went to the GO yesterday.  I found 5.3 oz. cups of spreadable cream cheese with chives for $.25/ea. 

I also picked up 2-lb. bags of shredded cheese for $4.97 and 16 oz. Coffeemate liquid caramel macchiato creamer for $.50/ea.

I love my GO.

I am VERY envious of the prices you post for GO.  NOTHING like that within a 40+ mile radius of me.

Honestly, I wish everyone had one.  The deals, however, do vary from store to store as they are independently owned.  I have visited several in a nearby metro area and I don't see the deals at them that I see at mine.  It's probably because they have a lot more customers so they sell out long before they need to even think about putting anything on clearance.

Even at mine, things seem to be going A LOT faster than they used to.  It used to be that I would see something that was a decent/good deal and I might see it a week later even cheaper.  Now, when I see it, I'd better grab it cuz a week later (or even a couple of days later), it will be gone.

I don't know what's up with that cream cheese spread cuz the date on them is 4/13/15 - a whole month away.  They have boxes of (8) 5.3 oz. cups that are marked $2.99, but they are selling the individual 5.3 oz. cups for $.25/ea.  No wonder the boxes aren't moving.   

[chiver78]

question for everyone - I've said I'm rebuilding stockpiles in the new place, and I've hit a roadblock. I don't use a lot of pasta in my daily cooking, but I do like to have it on hand so I'm not paying non-sale prices for it when I do want to cook some. my problem is that since the last time I was regularly buying pasta, I have decided to not purchase Barilla products anymore. (not looking for a discussion on this....)  I have tried a few different pastas since then, including another new one tonight when I make mac 'n cheese, but the ones I prefer for texture are all way pricier than the Barilla stuff is. for example, DeCecco boxed pasta is regularly $2 at Walmart, and was actually $2.79 at Stop & Shop last night - which was how I ended up with another new pasta to try out. I wasn't paying close to $3 for 1lb of pasta.

so my question - what pasta(s) do y'all prefer, do they go on sale/have coupons regularly? so far, I like the DeCecco the best, but it is one of the pricier labels.

fwiw, I'm also looking at a pasta machine and just making my own. but that's not going to help me on a weeknight when I just want a bowl of linguini.

[saveinla]

chiver,

I have tried the DeLallo pasta - wholewheat and liked it, but it is not very cheap. It goes on sale occasionally at one of our local markets.

Do you have a Kroger affiliate - their store brand was on sale once for 25c (this was last year or the year before - they had a promo for store brand items buy 5 save 5) and I really liked that. Was even a liitle bit better than Barilla.

[chiver78]

no Kroger affiliates that I'm aware of. the big names around here are Market Basket, Stop & Shop (aka Giant elsewhere), Hannaford and some smaller regional chains.

I looked up the delallo website, that logo looks familiar. I will give it a shot if I see a sale. I am not a fan of whole wheat pasta, but it looks like they have other options, too. thanks for the tip!   

oh, and I'm totally making this....with whatever capellini I have on hand.  
recipe link

[Blonde Granny]

The Fresh Market here has what they call the Thursday Little Big Meal. The last time I bought the whole package dinner was for spaghetti. The spaghetti was whole wheat pasta. Either I didn't cook it long enough, or it was just that it was whole wheat, but I didn't care for it..it was TFM own brand. It seemed tough if that makes sense. They are running the same special on Thursday for the entire month, but we're skipping this one.

I guess I'm just not a pasta snob, as long as it cooks I'm OK with it.

The only stores we have around here is Walmart, The Fresh Market (like Whole Foods) and 2 small chain stores named Harps and Allens.  The nearest Allens is almost 30 miles away, and Harps prices are at lease 20% higher than WMT.

[Opti]

I like Mueller's elbows pasta but I have not tried any of their other varieties.

Does go on sale here and fairly reasonable generally.

Other suggestions I could come up with are pricey. Delverde or something

like that if on sale is a good choice.

[FreeSalsa]

Well now that you said you don't want to discuss your dislike for Barilla I am very curious!  I like to eat natural and organic and environmentally friendly stuff whenever I can, so if there's an issue with that, I'd love to know about it.  Maybe it's a feud with the company over a denied rebate!  Or maybe it's just a weird allergy.  Enquiring minds want to know!  Ha.  Just kidding.

I usually use Barilla but I will buy anything that says "Product of Italy" on it.  That's usually a good sign.  Of course I can't think of any names at the moment.  My dad makes his own pasta and it's so good.  You can make big batches and dry it so it's ready for a week night.  Someone gave me a pasta machine years ago and I haven't used it yet.

There was a girl on here (was it A.J. Green?) who gave out a chicken noodle soup recipe.  She made her own "noodles" but they were just sort of rolled out by hand.  Good for soup, not what you'd think of as pasta.  But if you want the recipe I can find it.

[CCL]

Mar 13, 2015 8:56:10 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

question for everyone - I've said I'm rebuilding stockpiles in the new place, and I've hit a roadblock. I don't use a lot of pasta in my daily cooking, but I do like to have it on hand so I'm not paying non-sale prices for it when I do want to cook some. my problem is that since the last time I was regularly buying pasta, I have decided to not purchase Barilla products anymore. (not looking for a discussion on this....)  I have tried a few different pastas since then, including another new one tonight when I make mac 'n cheese, but the ones I prefer for texture are all way pricier than the Barilla stuff is. for example, DeCecco boxed pasta is regularly $2 at Walmart, and was actually $2.79 at Stop & Shop last night - which was how I ended up with another new pasta to try out. I wasn't paying close to $3 for 1lb of pasta.

so my question - what pasta(s) do y'all prefer, do they go on sale/have coupons regularly? so far, I like the DeCecco the best, but it is one of the pricier labels.

fwiw, I'm also looking at a pasta machine and just making my own. but that's not going to help me on a weeknight when I just want a bowl of linguini.

I use my KitchenAid with attachment.