THE GROCERY CHALLENGE

[dancinmama]

Jan 3, 2011 20:58:19 GMT -5 Frugal Nurse said:

Dancin- wow, what a welcome! Thanks for being so kind!

About me: I'm 26, currently an LPN in school to be an RN (I'll be finished in May, yippee!). I have a husband and a dog. No kids, but we're workin' on that one I live in Kentucky. We don't seem to get as many great deals as some other areas of the country (like we don't get the rite aid Airwick deal this week), but I still do pretty well.

I have been couponing off and on for years, but recently ramped it up in August after reading a story about a man that lived on $1.00 worth of groceries per day by using drug store overages (so he ate more than $1.00/day, but only spent $1.00 OOP). Anyway, that got me really interested in couponing and now I'm hooked!

I lurked the MSN boards for years, but didn't post. I decided since I'm now an pretty active couponer it was a good time to jump into the group! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!

frugalnurse: Wow, you're another lurker coming out of the closet!! Geez, I don't think I could lurk anywhere for very long - I've always got SOMETHING to say. ha ha ha

That's amazing that a guy could actually eat for $1.00 OOP a day. It's amazing what people can do with coupons!!

Well, if you've been lurking for a long time, you probably already know all of us - we just need to get to know you!!

I hope this thread makes couponing a little bit more fun and profitable for you.

[vnot]

Hello! Just dropping in to share a good deal at CVS. First, the machine spit out a $0.50 EB for me to use.
Then I bought 2 Rembrandt toothpastes, 2 Reach toothbrushes $6, Revlon mascara (clearanced) $2.82 and Revlon eyeshadow (clearanced) $2.19 and used $4/$20 I got in an email, $6 rembrandt coupons ($3 x2) B1G1 and cashier gave me $4.99 off (?) and $1 Reach coupon. I had a $5 EB and used the $0.50 EB and I paid $5.52 oop and got back $17.00. Actually the $7 didn't print so I asked about it and the cashier printed out an EB for me.

$5.98MM. It would be sweeter if maybe you got some of the Revlon nailcare for about $1.00...my store only had one dinky looking one and I decided I'd rather pay more for something that I can actually use and still come out ahead in the end.

And a slight rant: I went to Walgreens and tried to buy a clearanced neutrogena lipstick for $2.49 and had a $3.00 any neutrogena cpn from ALL You but cashier wouldn't let me use it or adjust the cpn down. This is the second time this has happened at two different Wags. Boo wags.

[dancinmama]

Jan 3, 2011 21:06:49 GMT -5 vnot said:

Hello! Just dropping in to share a good deal at CVS. First, the machine spit out a $0.50 EB for me to use.
Then I bought 2 Rembrandt toothpastes, 2 Reach toothbrushes $6, Revlon mascara (clearanced) $2.82 and Revlon eyeshadow (clearanced) $2.19 and used $4/$20 I got in an email, $6 rembrandt coupons ($3 x2) B1G1 and cashier gave me $4.99 off (?) and $1 Reach coupon. I had a $5 EB and used the $0.50 EB and I paid $5.52 oop and got back $17.00. Actually the $7 didn't print so I asked about it and the cashier printed out an EB for me.

$5.98MM. It would be sweeter if maybe you got some of the Revlon nailcare for about $1.00...my store only had one dinky looking one and I decided I'd rather pay more for something that I can actually use and still come out ahead in the end.

And a slight rant: I went to Walgreens and tried to buy a clearanced neutrogena lipstick for $2.49 and had a $3.00 any neutrogena cpn from ALL You but cashier wouldn't let me use it or adjust the cpn down. This is the second time this has happened at two different Wags. Boo wags.

vnot: AWESOME JOB at CVS!!

Ya, according to the official WAGs coupon policy, they should have adjusted the coupon down; but no one (not even the assistant managers) know how to do it.

[Frugal Nurse]

VNOT: I always have trouble at WAGS. Nowhere else, just WAGS. I think they must send their cashiers to a class on how to give couponers a hard time. Every week I declare that I am not ever going back to WAGS again. Then of course they come out with a deal like free Finish dish soap and I am sucked back in

[herekittykitty]

Hi frugalnurse! Congrats on your soon-to-be RN!

I have really gotten to know a few of the cashiers at my WAGS, and I think that helps (with some at least). Then there is the one who is nice to my DH but still doesn't really like me...what's that all about? ;-)

Anyway, I used the same q on Maybelline clearance lipstick that vnot did with no problems or adjusting...go figure. Welcome aboard!

[shelly527in]

Jan 3, 2011 20:58:19 GMT -5 Frugal Nurse said:

Dancin- wow, what a welcome! Thanks for being so kind!

About me: I'm 26, currently an LPN in school to be an RN (I'll be finished in May, yippee!). I have a husband and a dog. No kids, but we're workin' on that one I live in Kentucky. We don't seem to get as many great deals as some other areas of the country (like we don't get the rite aid Airwick deal this week), but I still do pretty well.

I have been couponing off and on for years, but recently ramped it up in August after reading a story about a man that lived on $1.00 worth of groceries per day by using drug store overages (so he ate more than $1.00/day, but only spent $1.00 OOP). Anyway, that got me really interested in couponing and now I'm hooked!

I lurked the MSN boards for years, but didn't post. I decided since I'm now an pretty active couponer it was a good time to jump into the group! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!

Hi! I'm in Indiana, but just across the river from Kentucky. There where I get my best deals since I only have dollar stores, Wal-mart, IGA and save-a-lot. What area of KY are you from if you don't mind my asking? If you can get the Louisville Courier-Journal, they have the best coupons!

[shelly527in]

HOUND ALERT: I'm looking for the Lysol disenfecting wipes coupons that were in the 1/2/11 Smart Source. Wal-Mart has them on sale...a two-pack for $2. My stockpile from three years ago is starting to fade so I'd like to replenish it. Between school and cleaning after the 4-legged bunch at home, I go through a lot. If you can help, please email me at shelly527in1 at yahoo.com. Thanks!!

[mommy2twoal]

Thank you Dancin for the warm welcome back to the pound.
I too am looking forward to the deals this year. I got one paper delivered & 5 more from dollar store & will share some with co-workers.

Went to WAGS yesterday & got 2 Cover girl blush on clearance $1.79 (after 70% off) BOGO and $2.50 off 2 MQ., my total was .19 + tax. Looked for Electrosol but no luck, now I am glad since better deal next week @ CVS. Also looking forward to Pepsi deals next week. Please let there be a rebate to go along with this deal.

I am hoping to do the Wisk & Excedrin deal @ CVS this week.

Thanks to someone for the heads up on the Revlon deal being money maker, that will help lower oop if I can find items.

Happy hounding ya'll.

[dancinmama]

Jan 3, 2011 23:22:22 GMT -5 @mommy2twoal said:

Thank you Dancin for the warm welcome back to the pound.
I too am looking forward to the deals this year. I got one paper delivered & 5 more from dollar store & will share some with co-workers.

Went to WAGS yesterday & got 2 Cover girl blush on clearance $1.79 (after 70% off) BOGO and $2.50 off 2 MQ., my total was .19 + tax. Looked for Electrosol but no luck, now I am glad since better deal next week @ CVS. Also looking forward to Pepsi deals next week. Please let there be a rebate to go along with this deal.

I am hoping to do the Wisk & Excedrin deal @ CVS this week.

Thanks to someone for the heads up on the Revlon deal being money maker, that will help lower oop if I can find items.

mommytotwo: Let the hounding begin!!

[suziq38]

Oh, I wanted to add that my Rite Aid FINALLY cut christmas down to 75% off.I got a stainless steel heated travel mug for $1.99 woohoo!


Good Job, Frugalnurse!

CVS still has not gone to 50%.
Does anyone know if Target is at 90% yet?

[weaselfer]

GDA If you are looking for Pantene shampoo or conditioner, Walgreens has it on sale this week:
2/$7 - $2 RR -$3/2 Q 12/26 P&G for $1/bottle
It's not free but cheap if you need it and about the same price as Suave.

[linarex]

Okay, joining in and I'm new to this area. I'm interested in learning some more about saving on our groceries. We live in a major city in the midwest and spend about $200/week on groceries and all the extras (cleaning supplies, toiletries, cat food etc) for 2 adults, 1 kid, and 1 cat. I'm kind of at a loss for where to even start - I've cut coupons before but rarely used them.

We usually shop at Dominick's or Costco for groceries, Target and CVS for toiletries, diapers, etc.

[shelly527in]

HOUND ALERT: Just bought 20 Lysol wipe Qs from ebay for $4 w/ shipping. They are $1/1. If anyone has this value instead of the $1/2, I can still use them.

[herekittykitty]

Jan 4, 2011 1:25:35 GMT -5 @linarex said:

Okay, joining in and I'm new to this area. I'm interested in learning some more about saving on our groceries. We live in a major city in the midwest and spend about $200/week on groceries and all the extras (cleaning supplies, toiletries, cat food etc) for 2 adults, 1 kid, and 1 cat. I'm kind of at a loss for where to even start - I've cut coupons before but rarely used them.

We usually shop at Dominick's or Costco for groceries, Target and CVS for toiletries, diapers, etc.

Welcome to the pound! I('m not familiar with Dominick's, but I'm sure someone on here is. Lots of us shop Target and CVS, and there are some CVS deal experts as well. Frugalsuz posts the best deals weekly on her blog (frugalsuz dot blogspot dot com), and you can check iheartcvs as well.

[constanz22]

Jan 3, 2011 21:06:49 GMT -5 vnot said:

Hello! Just dropping in to share a good deal at CVS. First, the machine spit out a $0.50 EB for me to use.
Then I bought 2 Rembrandt toothpastes, 2 Reach toothbrushes $6, Revlon mascara (clearanced) $2.82 and Revlon eyeshadow (clearanced) $2.19 and used $4/$20 I got in an email, $6 rembrandt coupons ($3 x2) B1G1 and cashier gave me $4.99 off (?) and $1 Reach coupon. I had a $5 EB and used the $0.50 EB and I paid $5.52 oop and got back $17.00. Actually the $7 didn't print so I asked about it and the cashier printed out an EB for me. $5.98MM. It would be sweeter if maybe you got some of the Revlon nailcare for about $1.00...my store only had one dinky looking one and I decided I'd rather pay more for something that I can actually use and still come out ahead in the end.

And a slight rant: I went to Walgreens and tried to buy a clearanced neutrogena lipstick for $2.49 and had a $3.00 any neutrogena cpn from ALL You but cashier wouldn't let me use it or adjust the cpn down. This is the second time this has happened at two different Wags. Boo wags.

At CVS, getting EB's on clearance items is very YMMV. Most of the time, EB's will not print on clearance items. Sometimes you will get lucky and they will and sometimes you will get a cashier that will force print them, but, technically they don't have to. Just an FYI for newbies. If you are just starting to do deals, you might not want to do a deal that may or may not work out for you.

[hopetoberich]

My CVS is @ 75% off. I got what i hope to be a years worth of chocolate. I had $4/$20 and made it up to $20 with the special K for the $4ecb's. $10 oop was hard! I had to explain to myself that it was a good deal and usually i don't spend that much etc etc! I have a chocolate problem i think!
I googled the $1 a day story Frugalnurse was talking about. Things like that keep me inspired!
The google Doc's list where we swap coupons needs a mention i think. Not many people use it and there are sooo many new folks coming onboard to say hi i was wondering if you all know about it. Murpath runs it now.
Oh yes, Murpath and Dancin, your Total's for 2010 were fantastic! I couldn't believe my eyes. I will keep up the couponing for sure.
DH picked up a stray cat on his shopping trip, and it was a $2 off any order! Boy was i pleased with him! $2 off and a sale price and a couple of coupons should go a long way.
Welcome all the new posters, its nice to have lots of posts to read.

[mandyms]

Jan 3, 2011 19:57:23 GMT -5 ooty1234 said:

Jan 3, 2011 14:15:07 GMT -5 AJ CouponGG said:

Mandyms: I am in Northeast ohio-our division bought out all the competition and closed them. So all we have is Giant Eagle. When there was competition (Kroger, Tops, Daves Supermarkets) they would double above a $1 about once a month. Now it's only doubles coupons that have a start value at or below $0.99, but at least it is everyday. Something is better than nothing. Good for you for taking the initiative to call.

Dancinmama-I saw the CVS Deal. This is a pretty standard one for them in January. I for one plan to stock up, my DH drinks diet mt. dew like no other......one year we built a mountain of 12 pks in our garage.

Would you share any Giant Eagle deals you find? I just moved to NE Ohio and am having a heck of time finding free/cheap at GE.

Ooty, I believe there is a GE forum on hotcouponworld. I used to live in Cleveland, that's where I would go to find deals...they somehow also had links to coupons that I could never find on the database. Good deals there are few and far between...I shop Aldi as my standard store and even with a "great" deal at GE, I would still get it cheaper at Aldi.

[ohmomto2boys]

"Would you share any Giant Eagle deals you find? I just moved to NE Ohio and am having a heck of time finding free/cheap at GE."

OOTY - I am in NE Ohio as well and follow the following blogs for GE deals. ohcherrypicker dot com and sisterssavingonashoestring dot com

GE goes in spurts with really awesome deals and then nothing....I guess most places do that! Good luck!

[ohmomto2boys]

Ladies - how do I get the "box" around quoted text? I'm a bit slow.

Thanks.

[carolinagirl]

Shelly, I sent you an email. I have the Lysol Q's.

[mandyms]

There's a button on the posts that says "Quote". Just click on that button in the post you want to quote.

[mrslynch]

so my first planned couponing trip at the supermarket was both a boon and a bust. it was a boon because i was able to stock up on some things that were on sale for cheap (canned tomatoes at 3/$1, pasta at .59/box, ice cream at $1/pint), i noticed that our favorite tomato sauce was not yet at its rock-bottom price (who knew that i even realized this type of information?!) and, when i checked my receipt, i noticed a $2 off coupon for meat (when i showed it to my husband he said "now we need to find a coupon for laura's and get it for even cheaper"). i even stayed $7.53 under budget!

with all of this goodness, how could it be a bust? well, it's because i was not able to use one. single. coupon. i thought i did everything right--checked the store's coupon policy for internet coupons, figured out which ones i needed, tried to match them up to sales, "clipped" them and let them print while we ate dinner. when i checked the printer after dinner, i realized the damn printer was out of ink! >:(my coupons were a mess of smudged black ink with no discernible coupon scan bar. ugh! what a lesson to learn!

question--when you all started couponing, did you dive right in or did you do it in baby steps? i'm really overwhelmed with all of the grocery stuff that i thought i'd back off and try for the hba items first. once i have that down, then i thought i'd move to groceries.

[dancinmama]

Jan 4, 2011 1:25:35 GMT -5 @linarex said:

Okay, joining in and I'm new to this area. I'm interested in learning some more about saving on our groceries. We live in a major city in the midwest and spend about $200/week on groceries and all the extras (cleaning supplies, toiletries, cat food etc) for 2 adults, 1 kid, and 1 cat. I'm kind of at a loss for where to even start - I've cut coupons before but rarely used them.

We usually shop at Dominick's or Costco for groceries, Target and CVS for toiletries, diapers, etc.

linarex: WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the Grocery Challenge from me dancinmama!!

I believe Dominick's is a Safeway store (which I have). I follow a blog (myfrugaladventure.com) that has the latest on Safeway. You might want to see if what she posts matches up with your ad and if so, you can follow her to get the best deals at Dominick's/Safeway.

CVS will be AWESOME for health, hygiene, beauty, household and SOME food items.

I don't shop Target unless that have a killer deal on something because it is across town, but recently I bought a bunch of Swiss Miss hot chocolate for the food pantry and Beggin' Strips dog treats there.

There is a Grocery Challengers Handbook that will give you some of the tricks of the trade. You can download it from Pg. 3/Post 85 of this thread. It will help you get started.

So glad that you decided to join us. We will be happy to help you in any way that we can.

[dancinmama]

Jan 4, 2011 8:55:34 GMT -5 mrslynch said:

so my first planned couponing trip at the supermarket was both a boon and a bust. it was a boon because i was able to stock up on some things that were on sale for cheap (canned tomatoes at 3/$1, pasta at .59/box, ice cream at $1/pint), i noticed that our favorite tomato sauce was not yet at its rock-bottom price (who knew that i even realized this type of information?!) and, when i checked my receipt, i noticed a $2 off coupon for meat (when i showed it to my husband he said "now we need to find a coupon for laura's and get it for even cheaper"). i even stayed $7.53 under budget!

with all of this goodness, how could it be a bust? well, it's because i was not able to use one. single. coupon. i thought i did everything right--checked the store's coupon policy for internet coupons, figured out which ones i needed, tried to match them up to sales, "clipped" them and let them print while we ate dinner. when i checked the printer after dinner, i realized the damn printer was out of ink! >:(my coupons were a mess of smudged black ink with no discernible coupon scan bar. ugh! what a lesson to learn!

question--when you all started couponing, did you dive right in or did you do it in baby steps? i'm really overwhelmed with all of the grocery stuff that i thought i'd back off and try for the hba items first. once i have that down, then i thought i'd move to groceries.

mrslynch: Great job on your shopping trip - even without the coupons!!

When learning to do what we do, it's really hard to "dive right in" because you need a stockpile of coupons (so to speak) and you need to slowly build up some drug chain rewards - those tools will allow you to start picking up items that you need for free. I think a lot of gals might get discouraged by this, but if you're patient and go slowly, it will pay off.

Just keep looking for ways to get several inserts every week, follow whatever blogs help you the most with the stores that you have, and check in here regularly to get help or offer help to others.

OMG, it is soooo much easier now than when I started couponing. I started couponing back in the wagon wheel days before there was any such thing as a blog or an internet printable. As soon as we got a computer that had database software, I created my own coupon data base using Microsoft Works so that I could do my own coupon match ups from the coupon inserts that I got every Sunday.

Don't get discouraged. If you even save $1 this week that you didn't save last week, you're still making progress, right?

[dancinmama]

NEED HELP DOING A NEW SECTION FOR THE GC HANDBOOK: I want to ad a section to our handbook that gives newbies one or two good blogs that they can go to for help finding good deals at THEIR grocery chain. We all know about Hot Coupon World, but quite frankly, they are little to no help for me and my grocery chains because the threads are not very active.

So if you know a REALLY GOOD blog that provides help with a specific grocery chain, would you please let me know and I will comprise a list to be added to the handbook. Once I have a pretty good list, I'll see if suzwantstobefree can help me do the update to the copy provided in this thread.

I already made a note of those mentioned for Giant Eagle by ohmomto2boys. Thank you soooo much for that info which put the idea into my head to do this!!

linarex: When you check out myfrugaladventures to verify whether or not it would work for Dominick's too, please let me know. If it does, maybe we can temporarily assume that a blog that covers a particular store in a chain, really helps with ALL stores in that chain. BUT NO RUSH!!

TIA for any help any of you can give me to pull this together.

[suziq38]

i noticed that our favorite tomato sauce was not yet at its rock-bottom price (who knew that i even realized this type of information?!) and, when i checked my receipt, i noticed a $2 off coupon for meat (when i showed it to my husband he said "now we need to find a coupon for laura's and get it for even cheaper"). i even stayed $7.53 under budget!

Mrs. Lynch,
I have a small case of tomato sauce (the really tiny size) that I bought a couple of months ago at CVS for 10 cents a can. It was on markdown. I keep this on hand because I make a big pot of meat sauce for pasta (a full 8 quart pot) with one restaurant sized tomato sauce can from Costco ($2.40?) I put them in small (meal for 2 or 3) plastic containers and freeze. If I have an extra guest I add a small can or two of the 10 cent tomato sauce. Since the pasta was FREE ( I am running a little low) the meal costs are about $1.00 or less for each container.
DH usually likes sourdough bread, so I defrost a couple pf pieces and bake with a little free mozzarella cheese on the pieces.

I am glad that you got the $2.00 off on the meat.
I like to go to Safeway (my Von's) and buy the clearenced meats. They are usually 50% off. I also find the same deal at Fresh and Easy (small chain store).

[pubbler]

Hi Ooty & AJ. good to see you post again. AJ, I always check your blog
Dancinmama/Ooty - I'm not sure if the Sinex is included in the sale this week. I checked yesterday & it had a tag with a price of $7.49! I didn't do a price check, cuase my store only had 2 boxes. I did buy the Finesse shampoo that's free after MIR, cause I had a $1.50 RR expiring. When I got home & check the MIR, it says you get back the amount after discounts & coupons! What?! I paid 61c OOP & have to use a 44c stamp. So after everything, I'm getting back 8c (cause they wont cover my tax). How is that getting the item FREE. To me and RR is as good as cash. So I'm returning this item & getting something I can use instead.
Shelly - thanks for the heads up on the Lysol wipes. I'm having to buy some for the first time in about 2 years. Darn, I was at WM yesterday, but I'll have to go back for the wipes. That's a good deal.

[nickyleey]

Jan 4, 2011 8:16:03 GMT -5 hopetoberich said:

DH picked up a stray cat on his shopping trip, and it was a $2 off any order!

hopingtoberich - I read that and thought you meant he picked up a stray kitty! I love kitties and all but I'd be happier if DH brought home a $2 cat instead of one more mouth to feed!!!

[suziq38]

Hi Pubbler!
I am glad to see that you are here.

[nickyleey]

Jan 4, 2011 9:37:08 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

NEED HELP DOING A NEW SECTION FOR THE GC HANDBOOK: So if you know a REALLY GOOD blog that provides help with a specific grocery chain, would you please let me know and I will comprise a list to be added to the handbook. Once I have a pretty good list, I'll see if suzwantstobefree can help me do the update to the copy provided in this thread.

TIA for any help any of you can give me to pull this together.

Dancin - southernsavers is awesome for the southeast chains, kroger, Harris Teeter, bi-lo, publix and she also has printable shopping lists with coupon links for target, CVS, WAGS and RA.