THE GROCERY CHALLENGE

[alphayankee]

NAG - Hambone - I have a ham from Christmas dinner and want to do something with it. Can I make something using the bone? There's a bunch of meat and some fat left that I couldn't cut off. Crockpot or soup of some kind?

I'd make greens. I've been in the south for more than a decade and just discovered the heaven that is collard greens and turnip greens. You can even make them in the slow cooker.

[suziq38]

I'd make greens. I've been in the south for more than a decade and just discovered the heaven that is collard greens and turnip greens. You can even make them in the slow cooker.

I've never made greens. I see them in the stores from time to time.
How do you make them in the crock pot? Do greens taste similar to spinach?
I make homemade creamed corn in the crockpot. I love cooking the corn in that pot because it doesn't burn.

[suziq38]

12/28/10 07:02 AM

I just got my Tena diapers rebate for $11.99! I love the big rebates. The little ones are not as good for me.

I bought two rolls of wrapping paper at 50% off at Target the other day. I decided to wait for the 75% off sale.

Please let me know when it does on in your area, especially if you live on the East Coast or Midwest.

We live on the West Coast, so that may give me a couple of hours to get out to the store, LOL.

I just love the 90% off sale.

I have quite a bit of gifts from last year for next year, so I am spending very sparingly.

Frugal to the max, even though my style is to buy now for next year.

I bought two rolls of wrapping paper, one black and white, and one red and white, that would work for all year round.

With a couple of weddings using black and white as its color theme, the black and white roll would be useful for wrapping their wedding gifts.

I have been explaining what I do for the kids.

We watch "hoarders" for entertainment, and they have realized that while I have a lot of stuff, I am no "hoarder."

Right now I am in need of small to medium sized gift bags, so waiting until they go to 75% and 90% off is the way to go.

[bluecluessubtlety]

Dec 28, 2010 12:53:13 GMT -5 @alphayankee said:

I'd make greens. I've been in the south for more than a decade and just discovered the heaven that is collard greens and turnip greens. You can even make them in the slow cooker.

When I was growing up, my mother's boyfriend who was from the south made ham and greens often. I once left home based on an argument over who was going to wash the dishes after one of those meals (actually, greens and pigsfeet). I would have been homeless before I gave in to washing out those pots. So thanks for the suggestion, but I'll pass on that idea.

[Free Salsa]

Testing.

[FreeSalsa]

Hi All,
How do I become a member instead of a guest?
And if I want to post something, to I click "Reply?"

ETA: I think I have to register to be a member. Get a load of that dancing devil guy. He's so cute!

[arkie]

Dec 28, 2010 12:56:14 GMT -5 suziq38 said:

I'd make greens. I've been in the south for more than a decade and just discovered the heaven that is collard greens and turnip greens. You can even make them in the slow cooker.

I've never made greens. I see them in the stores from time to time.
How do you make them in the crock pot? Do greens taste similar to spinach?
I make homemade creamed corn in the crockpot. I love cooking the corn in that pot because it doesn't burn.

How do you cook the greens and the creamed corn in a slow cooker? I'm interested.

[FreeSalsa]

holy cow! you guys spend about $25 a week for two people? Dang... I need to learn more how you guys work the couponing/stockpiling!

In other words, the meats were FREE yesterday.

------------------------------------------

And THAT, PudgyBunny, is how it's done! Ok, SuziQ got lucky that time but it's almost always a game of skill for her, rather than luck. She is the queen of free so watch and take notes! As someone said, it takes a while to get to that level, and some of us will never get to Suzi's level. But please, start slowly. Even if you just take coupons for the items you buy regularly, follow us and you should save at least 20-30% on your first try.

I don't keep track regularly but when I was keeping track I would average about $50 a month for food, bath, and cleaning supplies. Sometimes more, sometimes less. That was just for me and for donating extras if I had them to family or charity. Now that I have DBF and he likes organic, it's probably more but I haven't added it up yet.

[alphayankee]

How do you cook the greens and the creamed corn in a slow cooker? I'm interested.

I googled it and found a bunch of recipes online. I'm not really good at following recipes. I usually just read a bunch and get ideas, then try to incorporate them.

I know it involved vinegar, sugar, ham hocks (or left over ham bone should work), onions, bacon, hot pepper vinegar, and cooking on high for at least 10 hours. Wilting the greens first in a saute pan will speed up the process.

I found the slow cooker to be trickier than the stove top method. You really have to know the texture you are trying to achieve, so you know when to stop cooking. My first attempt was really underdone. I cooked it for hours longer than was called for and they just never seemed to be done.

[arkie]

Okay. I'll just have to try it and see what I come up with. Thanks for the help Alpha!!!

[dancinmama]

Dec 28, 2010 12:24:02 GMT -5 bluecluessubtlety said:

NAG - Hambone - I have a ham from Christmas dinner and want to do something with it. Can I make something using the bone? There's a bunch of meat and some fat left that I couldn't cut off. Crockpot or soup of some kind?

Google split pea soup or navy bean soup. Both are very easy to make. You can add a lot of veggies (carrots, onion, celery, etc.) to both if you'd like.

[suziq38]

ETA: I think I have to register to be a member. Get a load of that dancing devil guy. He's so cute!

Hi Freesalsa!!! Thanks for the kind words.
You hang around here long enough, and the "frugalness" becomes a daily way of life.

As far as the creamed corn:

I buy two small cartons of Half and Half with extra bucks from CVS.
Ditto for the butter.

I had bags and bags of Steamed Fresh frozen vegetables (corn) that I had bought for FREE about 9 months ago, LOL.
All my bags are still in date!!!

Anyway here is the recipe:

4 packages of frozen corn
2 small cartons of whipping cream (yum this is better than Half and Half)
2 TSP. salt
10 TSP .sugar
a little white or cayenne pepper
4 tbsp. of melted butter
4 tbsp. of flour

Combine all ingredients is a crock pot except the butter and flour. Let it cook on high for a couple of hours.
When it gets closer to serving time, mix the butter and flour in a separate pot. Put the mixture in the crock pot, and then change the setting to low.

Serve whenever.

[suziq38]

Speaking of CVS:
I bought 6 bottles of Ecinacea vitamins for $3.49 each( 50% off), then a bottle of AXE body wash (marked down to $2.89 50% off).

Total: $23.83
Minus: $5.00 off of $15.00 CRT for Nature Made Vitamins, minus 6 MQ for $3.00 off of each bottle of Ecinacea.

New total: 83 cents OOP plus tax.

[suziq38]

Order #2 still at CVS:

2 bottles of Fish Oil vitamins $11.49 + $11.49 = $22.98

Minus $5.00 off of $15.00 CRT for NM vitamins then used 2 MQ for $3.00 each.

The cashier loved what happened:

Since it was a BOGOF for the vitamins, it took off $11.49!

The balance was 49 cents, and the tax was $1.12 for the two bottles.

Not bad.

[suziq38]

Tomorrow I am going to try a few Pantene orders.

Look around for markdowns in the body wash and vitamin sections!

[suziq38]

The AXE body wash is a perfect gift for DD's BF.

I was at WalMart the other day.
So many of the gift sets were marked down by 50%. Some were Olay, Herbal Essence, etc.
It was cheaper to buy it in the gift set than to buy the items separately.

Another point to all of this is that you can make your own gift sets for family members with the free toiletries that you already have.

[suziq38]

I am going to splurge and buy a spiral ham for $1.17 a pound at WINCO. The average ham, all sliced with the sugar packet costs about $8.50.

I will also buy a couple of bags of black eyed peas.

I love to cook some ham, the beans, celery, onions, and chopped carrots in a soup in the crock pot all day.

I save some really good pieces of ham to cook for another dinner with a veggie and mashed potatoes (that 10 lb bag of potatoes bought at Ralph's awhile back is still alive and well!).

Another meal will be ham sandwiches, or a breakfast with ham omlettes.

I think that the one ham will be good for my family of 4 for New Year's Day and beyond (2 more meals!).

What a good value.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Have any of you had a problem with stores who refuse to take coupons you print off the internet?

[dancinmama]

Dec 28, 2010 19:14:53 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Have any of you had a problem with stores who refuse to take coupons you print off the internet?

Underwater: WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the Grocery Challenge from me - dancinmama!!

The best way to avoid a problem with IPs (internet printable coupons) is to check the stores coupon policy before attempting to use them. Usually a store will either accept them or they won't. Sometimes it is a store's policy to accept them, but for some reason they don't scan (this has recently happened to me) so they refuse them. HTH

[dancinmama]

I just got back from a little hounding excursion.

WAGs
$20.00 (4) Vicks Sinex Nighttime
2.99 (1) Colgate Max Fresh (6 oz)
1.98 (2) Playtex Gloves (price w/ in-ad Q)
.99 (1) Carmex (price w/ in-ad Q)
.29 (1) Xmas Candy (50% clearance)

I used an $8RR, paid $2.61 OOP (mostly sales tax), and got a $10RR (Sinex) and a $2RR (Colgate).

I asked the store manager when they would be going to a higher discount on the Xmas items. He said that they would not go lower than 50% (dictated by corporate). Eventually they will clear the shelves and donate what is left.


CVS
$3.88 Tone Body Wash
- 3.00 EBs
- 1.00 Tone IP

Paid $.25 OOP and got a $3EB (Tone) and a $1EB (bag tag).

There is a "flavor" of Tone body wash that is being clearanced for $2.74. It is the same size as the ones that are giving EBs. In the past I THINK clearanced items have still given the EBs; can anyone verify?

[dancinmama]

I have a 24 hr. CVS and was told by one of the cashiers that they plan to stop accepting expired EBs at some time in the near future. Since then I have done at least (4) transactions using expired CRTs or expired EBs and no other cashier has said a word to me. I always ATTEMPT to keep my EBs within a reasonable period anyway, but it sure would be nice if they kept accepting expireds. I have some expiring this week. I had planned to use them to stockpile the Swiffer Wet Jet pads, but of course they are OOS (got 2 rain checks so far) so I am looking for another way to spend them.

[babyjay]

Dec 28, 2010 21:20:16 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

I have a 24 hr. CVS and was told by one of the cashiers that they plan to stop accepting expired EBs at some time in the near future. Since then I have done at least (4) transactions using expired CRTs or expired EBs and no other cashier has said a word to me. I always ATTEMPT to keep my EBs within a reasonable period anyway, but it sure would be nice if they kept accepting expireds. I have some expiring this week. I had planned to use them to stockpile the Swiffer Wet Jet pads, but of course they are OOS (got 2 rain checks so far) so I am looking for another way to spend them.

sadly they did send out a memo to all the CVS stores telling them not to accept expired ECBS and man coupons. We have always made provisions for the customers at my store and I am sad that we are no longer "allowed" to do this. As a cashier you can manually put in whatever coupon amount you want to / need to, however this shows up on your cashier report and sometimes needs explanation. Cashiers are graded on a scale every week on their ECB scan rate and their cash register, coupon entries and price modifies are looked at daily. I am not sure why corporate is cracking down on coupons...as a cashier I like to keep the customers happy! We are not marking down our fragrances until after valentines day, but I am hoping to get a few on clearance then. The but it before it is gone make up event started today with lots of make up marked down to 75% off... (tons of Revlon and physicians formula!) everything may not be marked right away , it takes time going through all the merchandise , and remember you can use coupons on those items, however they are often not included in ECB deals such as but 10 in Revlon get 3 ecbs and etc. As always I am happy to answer any CVS Qs

[babyjay]

Dec 28, 2010 21:15:09 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

I just got back from a little hounding excursion.

WAGs
$20.00 (4) Vicks Sinex Nighttime
2.99 (1) Colgate Max Fresh (6 oz)
1.98 (2) Playtex Gloves (price w/ in-ad Q)
.99 (1) Carmex (price w/ in-ad Q)
.29 (1) Xmas Candy (50% clearance)

I used an $8RR, paid $2.61 OOP (mostly sales tax), and got a $10RR (Sinex) and a $2RR (Colgate).

I asked the store manager when they would be going to a higher discount on the Xmas items. He said that they would not go lower than 50% (dictated by corporate). Eventually they will clear the shelves and donate what is left.


CVS
$3.88 Tone Body Wash
- 3.00 EBs
- 1.00 Tone IP

Paid $.25 OOP and got a $3EB (Tone) and a $1EB (bag tag).

There is a "flavor" of Tone body wash that is being clearanced for $2.74. It is the same size as the ones that are giving EBs. In the past I THINK clearanced items have still given the EBs; can anyone verify?

Sometimes clearance items still give ECBs .... its always a gamble, try it with your friendliest cashier in case you need to do a refund..I am always happy to check for people, however the cashier won't know until you go through the process...

PS the limit on Vitamin water is 6 giving you 2.00 ECB's if anyone is interested.

[dancinmama]

Thanks babyjay. I did not realize that the directive to discontinue accepting expireds had come from corporate; I thought that it had come down at the district level. I wonder why no other cashiers are saying anything about it. I have a $9.99 EB that expires tomorrow. I guess that I could buy some AZO and roll it. I guess that's what I'll do.

[marvholly]

Underwater
NONE of my independent grocery markets take internet printed (IP) coupons. One chain has VERY strict limits on what they accept. One chain spends a BUNCH of time reading EVERY line on the coupon 3-5x and checking a binder page by page 3x to make sure it is good. One chain is pretty liberal: if it scans it goes.

[alphayankee]

Are there any good TP deals this week or next? I am down to my last few packages of FREE Angel Soft from almost two years ago! I'm going to feel like a failed hound if I run out of TP!

I have access to CVS, WAGS, Rite Aid, Publix, Kroger, Target, Ingles, and WM.

TIA!

[missourimommy]

Underwater,
Welcome! Stick with the ladies here and you'll soon be saving! Please don't hesitate to ask questions! The ladies on this board are INCREDIBLY friendly and more than willing to help!

The only place I've really had an issue with IP coupons is at Walmart, and that's just because the cashier didn't want to take them. My Walmart isn't in the best area and the customers that come in tend to be a little, um, unsavory? (Not quite sure how to put it... but I don't go to my Walmart alone after dark, if that means anything.)

The best motto I've heard on the board is "If you don't ask, the answer is already no." That has worked for me for EVERYTHING!! Many of my cashiers have the motto "If it scans, we'll take it." With the "big chain" stores (WAGS, Walmart, CVS, Target, etc) I believe the motto is "if it scans, it works."

[breezy]

I'm in - hoping to cut my grocery budget. I spend $300 for just me and a teenage son. Doesn't that seem high?

[pubbler]

alpha - RA is having a $1 UP deal on 4ct Quilted Northern next week. Not sure about the price though. I know there were 50c/1 IPs before, so check the database for Qs. HTH

[dancinmama]

pubbler: YEAH!! You made it over. Glad to see your post.