THE GROCERY CHALLENGE

[dancinmama]

Jan 2, 2011 20:47:30 GMT -5 ooty1234 said:

Awww, thank you Dancin! I really missed you too. I'm still trying to figure out how to make an avatar on here. I found the perfect picture for me, but can't figure out how to get it here??? I love my WUC avatar, she is just so sweet!
I spent the day clippin and sorting and trying to make a plan for this week. Feels great to be excited about hounding again.

Does anybody have just ONE 4.00 Sinex Q to spare? I have 3 to do the WAGS deal. I haven't been on google docs forever, but I did change my addy but can't remember if I changed my email or not? Don't use my SBCGLOBAL addy, it is defunct!

ooty: Absolutely, but I don't have your new addie. If you don't still have my email buried in your inbox somewhere, you can still get it off the Hound List. Think of anything else that you might need and I can get an envie out to you tomorrow.

[dancinmama]

Jan 2, 2011 15:11:58 GMT -5 @mawmawandlovingit said:

Jan 2, 2011 15:07:41 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

mawmaw: I haven't gone on my coupon roundup yet, but I will be happy to share my Wisk coupons if I get them cuz I am well stockpiled on laundry soap. If I get a shitpile of inserts (unlikely, but if I do), I'll probably have some Finish that I can send your way too!!

Thanks Dancin as you know I provide for two households still, I don't know if I will ever get past buying for the twins!!! They are too spoiled

mawmaw: I haven't gone on my coupon roundup yet, but I will be happy to share my Wisk coupons if I get them cuz I am well stockpiled on laundry soap. If I get a shitpile of inserts (unlikely, but if I do), I'll probably have some Finish that I can send your way too!!

mawmaw: Due to bad weather I was thinking that I MIGHT get a lot of inserts tonight; but it just wasn't to be, so sending the Finish is iffy. The Finish Gel Tabs are the only dishwasher detergent that DSis uses so I usually stockpile it for her when the good Q comes out. Last year she only had me get her one (cuz I think she had just gotten some at Costco - silly girl).

REPEAT HOUND ALERT for mawmaw: If anyone can help her out with a couple of Finish Qs (those of you who still have awesome stockpiles), I would appreciate it. TIA

[aprilleigh]

JMo: I read your post about the amazing ice cream at your Fred Meyer on the old GC thread. I was at my Fred Meyer tonight (I live in Oregon) and they had what I assume to be the same ice cream 10 for $10! So I grabbed Pumpkin, Peppermint Stick and Mukilteo Mudd. I've only tried the Pumpkin so far, but it is A-MAZING!!

So: Fred Meyer has fantastic ice cream pints (It's called Snoqualmie something-or-other) for $1 right now. JMo mentioned in her original post that they're clearing them out.

[aprilleigh]

By the way, I'm a lurker from the old boards. I'm one of those that requested the handbook, but then never came back. I read ALL the time, but I didn't think I had anything to contribute! But I promise I'll try to post the deals I find more often.

Thanks for all the help and awesome advice!!

[dancinmama]

Jan 2, 2011 23:32:49 GMT -5 aprilleigh said:

By the way, I'm a lurker from the old boards. I'm one of those that requested the handbook, but then never came back. I read ALL the time, but I didn't think I had anything to contribute! But I promise I'll try to post the deals I find more often.

Thanks for all the help and awesome advice!!

april: EVERYONE has something to contribute. Just jump in and post!! BTY, glad you were able to use the handbook!!

[suziq38]

Welcome, April we love that you have introduced yourself.
We hope that you will tell us about your deals.

[suziq38]

coupongreengirl: OMG, AJ. People have asked about you from time to time on the GC. Great to have you back!!

AJ!! I remember you!
Welcome back!

[dancinmama]

This came up on another thread and thought I'd ask here. How many of you were brand picky when you came to the Grocery Challenge, but got over it after you found that you could get different brands for free?

I am not very brand picky at all. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Reach Total Care toothbrush. I DON'T LIKE Hefty One Zip storage bags; I much prefer Ziplocs. I'd buy a different brand besides Ziploc, but just not Hefty.

So I guess I DO have some brand preferences, but few of them are so strong that I wouldn't use a different brand - especially if it was FREE!!

[herekittykitty]

I was definitely very brand loyal...Crest, Charmin, Bounty, etc. After buying and trying a few freebies, however, there are very few things I can say I absolutely have to have the brand name. Ice cream might be one of them...I'm a complete fool for great ice cream!

I guess I do stick with Finish for my dishwasher, since it is
recommended by the manufacturer and it does a good job, but thanks to all of you, I can generally get that for free or cheap as well!

[suziq38]

So I guess I DO have some brand preferences, but few of them are so strong that I wouldn't use a different brand - especially if it was FREE!!

I agree. I prefer the higher end brands, but I buy anything that works when it is FREE,LOL. That is a "magic" word around here, LOL.

The Reach toothbrushes have doublepacks. for $3.00 each. You can buy 7 Reach toothbrush doublepacks.
The total is $21.00. Minus a $4.00 off of $20.00...Balance is $17.00
Minus coupons: -3, -3, -1 Balance is $10.00.
Pay with $8.99 and a $1.00 EB if possible Balance is 1 cent plus tax.
Receive a $10.00 EB in return to replace the ones that you used.

Not bad. "Refresh" your EB and get 14 toothbrushes (7 double packs).

[Deleted]

The biggest thing i have with laundry detergent is that i know we don't break out if its Tide Free... so that's what i use... I sometimes cross... like i love 360 toothbrushes, but will get others if they are free/near... but all and all i think i am pretty brand 'comfortable'... and so i'll just try to stockpile when those things come on good sale...

[suziq38]

Now is a good time to purge all of your old coupons. A lot went out of date 11/30, and 12/31.

[suziq38]

The biggest thing i have with laundry detergent is that i know we don't break out if its Tide Free... so that's what i use...

My sister and her family are highly allergic to any detergent but Arm and Hammer. Our family prefers Tide, but I will use anything!

[suziq38]

I also bought a card table and 4 chairs at CVS today.

The regular price was $59.99, Sale price is $29.99, I used a $5.00 off of $25.00, so I paid $24.99 for the set.
I paid with EB's, so I am fairly happy with this deal.

[suziq38]

I am patiently waiting for the 90% off of the holiday stuff at Target and Wal-Mart.

CVS still has not marked down their holiday stuff to 75%!!
Please let me know if holiday stuff is marked down to 90% and 75% (CVS).

Thanks!

Unfortunately or fortunately, I have to go back to work tomorrow.

[suziq38]

This week CVS has Wisk laundry detergent on sale for $5 and is offering a "reward" when you spend $25. Your transaction would look like this:$25.00 (5) Wisk Detergent
- 10.00 (5) $2/1 Wisk coupons
15.00 OOP What you pay "Out Of Pocket"

To "sweeten" this deal, use a $5.00 off of $25.00.
If you do, the new OOP would be $10.00.

Thanks for the suggestion Dancinmama.
If my OOP is $10.00 and I get back a $10.00 EB, I am just "refreshing" an older EB, and getting 5 bottles of Wisk for doing so.

love it.

[suziq38]

Mississippi PT, Your boys look fantastic.
I wish my kids were that young.

[shelly527in]

I replied to the emails I got about Wisk, Finish and eggbeaters. The Q's should go out Tuesday!

[shelly527in]

dancinmama Thanks for the reminder about hatoo and ALL the IP coupons! I miss the ROLFLMAO icon..... will have to do.

[suziq38]

I want to mention the bread stores. Do you have one near you? if so, how much is the bread?
If you don't, most grocery stores will mark down their bread. My local Ralph's would mark the bread down to 99 cents a loaf.
Ditto for Wallgreens. Just "track" the expiration date, and you can bet that they will mark it down the day before or on the exact date.

I do the same with salad bag kits at Ralph's and Food 4 Less. They mark them down to 99 cents a bag or less.

[misspt]

Jan 3, 2011 1:41:57 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Mississippi PT, Your boys look fantastic.
I wish my kids were that young.

Thanks, suzi, they are growing so fast it makes me sad. They were just babies, you know>

[constanz22]

Jan 3, 2011 0:12:43 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Hi ladies, I have been busy cleaning out my side of the garage today.
I did have time to stop by CVS:

I bought 24 Palmolive bottles (they are so small now!) @ 88 cents a bottle = $21.12
I used a $4.00 off of $20.00 store coupon (find it on I Heart CVS). Standard disclaimer means that it was from one person's card, so ask your cashier or manager if it is O.K.
Mine allows it.

Balance is $17.12

6 $2.00 off of 2 bottles coupons Balance $5.12
6 75 cents off coupons
Balance = 62 cents plus tax.

This is an example of "stockpiling."
Now I have enough for my family (adult DD and DS at their apartments included) for a year.

The coupons I got were for the 20 oz. bottles...not the small ones that are always on sale for $1 or less. Did everyone get the same coupons?

[constanz22]

I took the day off to have a 4 day weekend and need to get some groceries and run a few errands. I will be stopping at Target, WM, and CVS, RA, Wags, etc. so, will report back when I get home what their Christmas discount is. WM was 75% here on Friday, but all of the other stores were still 50%. I probably missed out on any good deals at Target, but, oh well. I dont NEED anything....it wasn't worth driving 20+ miles again.

[mrslynch]

i am so glad that the topic of brand loyalty came up. i'm starting to plan for my first couponing trip and there are certain hba that i cannot buy anything other than specific brands. for instance, due to a medical condition, my dh must use a certain type of shampoo or his condition flares up. this particular brand of shampoo is never on sale and i have never seen a coupon for it. ever. how do you reconcile these types of situations?

on the plus side, i've read through the entire handbook and have started combing websites for coupons. i've also: figured out a coupon-tracking system that, for now, will work; cleared out a pantry closet to start the stockpile; and completely outlined how i'm going to document the adventure on my blog (i've found that if i write about it, i'm more apt to follow through). additionally, i'm trying to keep up with this thread but does it move fast! oy!

[constanz22]

Jan 3, 2011 9:10:58 GMT -5 mrslynch said:

i am so glad that the topic of brand loyalty came up. i'm starting to plan for my first couponing trip and there are certain hba that i cannot buy anything other than specific brands. for instance, due to a medical condition, my dh must use a certain type of shampoo or his condition flares up. this particular brand of shampoo is never on sale and i have never seen a coupon for it. ever. how do you reconcile these types of situations?

on the plus side, i've read through the entire handbook and have started combing websites for coupons. i've also: figured out a coupon-tracking system that, for now, will work; cleared out a pantry closet to start the stockpile; and completely outlined how i'm going to document the adventure on my blog (i've found that if i write about it, i'm more apt to follow through). additionally, i'm trying to keep up with this thread but does it move fast! oy!

mrslynch So glad you have joined us and that is a great question! If the shampoo your DH needs is sold at the drug stores or other stores that you are going to be couponing at, what I would do is buy it with excess "rewards", EB's, RR's, +Ups that you have earned from other deals. It is perfectly ok to burn these on things you NEED but don't want to pay a lot for!
The other thing you can do, is if/when you have a coupon like at $5/25 purchase, get the shampoo with that order since you are essentially getting $5 worth of free products. I'm sure some of the other ladies will also chime in with ideas for you!

[suziq38]

The coupons I got were for the 20 oz. bottles...not the small ones that are always on sale for $1 or less. Did everyone get the same coupons?


OMG! Constance! This may be true. Will someone else check? I have already used the coupons and done the deal, but if it does say 20 oz....OOPS!
If so, I will delete my post. No wonder the deal was so good. The picture was exactly like the bottles I bought.
This goes to show you that errors can be easily made.
Look at the size if it looks too good to be true.

Thanks, Constance.

[suziq38]

Jan 3, 2011 9:45:25 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

Thanks, suzi, they are growing so fast it makes me sad. They were just babies, you know>

Yes, they grow up fast. You must be saving for college.

[suziq38]

my dh must use a certain type of shampoo or his condition flares up. this particular brand of shampoo is never on sale and i have never seen a coupon for it. ever. how do you reconcile these types of situations?

What brand are you talking about, T-Gel?
If so, my CVS had some on markdown for a mere 25% off.

No, I have never seen any coupons for TGel, only Head and Shoulders.

Most of the other brands have coupons from time to time.
some more frequent than others.

[mandyms]

Hi all,

I had a great deal opportunity at Giant Eagle this weekend. They had Sundown vitamins BOGO AND are they are doing double coupons ($1 and up = $2). I would end up getting about 5 bottles for free. So I went on Friday, the SECOND day after the ad came out and they were OUT! I went and asked for a raincheck and asked about having the coupons double as well. Got a big fat no..."we're only on our second day of ad." Yes, I was well aware of that, and was expecting to having items in stock.

It's frustrating, b/c I have very limited time to grocery shop and it's on the weekends. So trying to hound at a store I don't usually is SUPER frustrating if things don't work out. I will have to call this afternoon to see if they got anymore over the weekend and hopefully pick some up after I pick up DD from daycare.

[suziq38]

I am going to work today, I will be able to stop by a CVS on the way to see if the 75% off is on.

Thanks for checking on the others, Constance.

Reminder: The CVS coupons $4.00 off of $20.00, and $5.00 off of $25.00
expire today.