2017 Grocery Challenge Thread

[Jaguar]

Welcome to the 2017 Grocery Challenge. We're a small group now, but the goal is the same - to save money on groceries. Everyone is welcome, so please join in!!


Save On!

[murphath]

I know it was the end of the 2016 thread, but it was nice to hear from SuziQ again, too!  Hope you are feeling well and managing your illness.  

I agree with the poster that said coupons for quality food items are not readily available--but they do exist!  I'm mostly doing the deals at either Rite Aid or CVS--usually for home products we use: Dawn, Tide, toilet paper, shampoo, etc..  But certainly not like the old days.  Just when I can get a great, great deal, or when we might be running low on something.  

The money I've saved over the years via this thread (and now the you tube videos) has gone to our travel funds.  I had my 6 week Camino de Santiago hike, as well as 3 weeks in Ireland in 2016.  See what happens when you don't have to pay anything but tax on your toothpaste, LOL!


Happy New Year to all of you.

   

[973beachbum]

I had some fun last week at Shoprite buying cleaning products.  I ended up with 24 lysol cleaning products for $18.  And these are my fav. I will use off brand ones but IMO they aren't as strong or seem watered down to me. 

This week Acme has coupons in the ad for $1 off store brands.  They are Oorganics, Open Nature, Snack Artist and Eating Right.  So I have been stopping by and coming home with at least three of the four products bought mostly with coupons.

They have lots of different products under those brands so not just junk, although Snack artist is literally just snacks .  I got organic stock in a box, veggie pasta and turkey bacon yesterday and other than the bacon only paid a few cents for each.

[Happy prose]

973beachbum This week Shoprite has Arm & Hammer laundry detergent $1.77 if you buy 3. There's a digital coupon $3/3, and a coupon in Sunday's paper $3/3. Free detergent!!

[Deleted]

Publix here quit doubling coupons, which has bummed people out.  Since I have become an occasional user, I can deal.

However, there are still some good deals out there.  They have Progresso soups BOGO so $1.14 - $1.15 a can.  I have a lot of $1.00/2 coupons to use up by the end of January.  I have bought 16 cans so far.  I gave a woman who was looking with me for certain varieties two coupons today.  I like sharing.  

They also have BOGO on pot roast.  It's $6.49 a pound so I guess that is $3.25 a pound.  You don't have to buy two.  I bought one $20 one, but $10 for meat still seems like a lot to me.  I'm the only beef eater.  I know I will get multiple meals, but that still seems like a lot.  

Should I buy another one or two?  My sister comes in June.  Would one keep well in the freezer until then?  I don't remember them being on sale like this before.

[dancinmama]

Hi all you Grocery Challengers and a late Happy 2017 to all.

This may not help much since the opportunities to stockpile are far from what they used to be, but here goes.

Back in late 2012, when I knew I would soon be going on a couponing hiatus, the one thing that I really needed to stockpile was body lotions.  In the November/December timeframe of that year, there were some great deals/clearance on various lotions:  Aveeno (huge ECB deal at CVS), Eucerin (on clearance at CVS and Rite Aid), and Nivea (ECB deals at CVS and on clearance at Rite Aid).  I had posted on the Grocery Challenge to see if anyone had stockpiled these lotions and which ones might hold up best.

It is now over (4) years later and of the three I can definitively report that although the Eucerin and Nivea are "okay", the Aveeno is as if I just purchased it.  The viscosity is excellent where the Eucerin and Nivea have broken down much more in comparison.

Fortunately, the 2012 Aveeno ECB deal at CVS had a high limit and I did it several times which allowed me to stockpile a boatload of it.  I had stockpiled some Suave during that last year (2012) and we used that first as I knew it would probably break down the quickest.  It was not until late 2016 that I broke into the Aveeno stockpile and thought I ought to check the others out too.  Now we will be using everything else first and leave the Aveeno for last.

On a side note, it is soooo sad that going into this 5th year of my hiatus, the couponing deals have only gotten worse.   I was reading on We Use Coupons that CVS changed their coupon policy making it almost impossible to get your OOP down to pennies like we did in the golden days of couponing.  I also read that P&G has decreased the limits on the number of coupons you can use in one transaction to (2).  I don't know it for a fact since I have not even held a coupon insert for over 3 years!!

This is my second hiatus and I wonder if the deals will ever be good enough again to get back into it.  Even though I don't use coupons, I absolutely do still stockpile at the 99 Cent Store and the Grocery Outlet when I find great deals so I'm not totally brain dead.  LOL!!

[Opti]

Mar 8, 2017 11:37:08 GMT -5 dancinmama said:

Hi all you Grocery Challengers and a late Happy 2017 to all.

This may not help much since the opportunities to stockpile are far from what they used to be, but here goes.

Back in late 2012, when I knew I would soon be going on a couponing hiatus, the one thing that I really needed to stockpile was body lotions.  In the November/December timeframe of that year, there were some great deals/clearance on various lotions:  Aveeno (huge ECB deal at CVS), Eucerin (on clearance at CVS and Rite Aid), and Nivea (ECB deals at CVS and on clearance at Rite Aid).  I had posted on the Grocery Challenge to see if anyone had stockpiled these lotions and which ones might hold up best.

It is now over (4) years later and of the three I can definitively report that although the Eucerin and Nivea are "okay", the Aveeno is as if I just purchased it.  The viscosity is excellent where the Eucerin and Nivea have broken down much more in comparison.

Fortunately, the 2012 Aveeno ECB deal at CVS had a high limit and I did it several times which allowed me to stockpile a boatload of it.  I had stockpiled some Suave during that last year (2012) and we used that first as I knew it would probably break down the quickest.  It was not until late 2016 that I broke into the Aveeno stockpile and thought I ought to check the others out too.  Now we will be using everything else first and leave the Aveeno for last.

On a side note, it is soooo sad that going into this 5th year of my hiatus, the couponing deals have only gotten worse.   I was reading on We Use Coupons that CVS changed their coupon policy making it almost impossible to get your OOP down to pennies like we did in the golden days of couponing.  I also read that P&G has decreased the limits on the number of coupons you can use in one transaction to (2).  I don't know it for a fact since I have not even held a coupon insert for over 3 years!!

This is my second hiatus and I wonder if the deals will ever be good enough again to get back into it.  Even though I don't use coupons, I absolutely do still stockpile at the 99 Cent Store and the Grocery Outlet when I find great deals so I'm not totally brain dead.  LOL!!

Dancin, I think the future of deals is currently shopping dollar stores and learning when stores turn over inventory. I do coupon, but not to the level you did, nor do I aspire to that. I simply don't have the room to store that much.

I'm happy to say that in your posting absence, one of the nearby dollar stores upgraded and I finally have access to some deals like you do at the Grocery Outlet. I had some nice Nature Valley granola bar pkgs for $1 and some Manna bread. (Manna bread is cool health store type bread that is unleavened, sometimes sprouted and is much easier on the body than most breads. I had a date one, I'm slowly going through the carrot raisin one(refrigerated of course) and I think I have a Millet Rice one in the freezer.

I've been gorging on Walgreens annual stock turnover/markdowns. I'm sad the Izzie sparkling water seems to have sold out, but picked up another 4pk of Alta Palla sparkling black cherry beverage(King's Food Market for anyone in NJ...) which at $2.99 is very reasonable for my preferred natural sodas and equivalents.

I was in a large town this morning, so I hit their Walgreens because sometimes they have great closeouts. For less than a $1 I bought something that is 21 "gems" of chocolate energy and will try a sample of L''Oreal Color Vibrancy conditioner.

[dee27]

I like Kroger's style of couponing. The store sends the customers coupons based on their buying habits which I appreciate because we do not buy a lot of processed foods. I've received coupons for free butter and eggs, and we do the majority of our shopping at a competitor, but we buy enough to make use of the coupons. Kroger also gives credit for prescriptions purchased at the pharmacy. Also, the gas rebate program is superior to other chain grocery stores and Costco. Usually we get a $1/gallon off when we buy gas at Kroger or Shell.

I used to be a big coupon user, but the system changed in the last few years, and I no longer buy multiples of many products. Many of the coupons online and in the newspaper are for items we never buy or have no desire to try. I still shop the sales and I have the luxury of time to buy from different stores in close proximity if the sale warrants a purchase.

[Iggy aka IG]

I'm also a Kroger/City Market shopper for the reasons dee27 mentions above.

I appreciate their downloadable coupons.  If you have the patience to scroll through them all, occasionally you'll find e-coupons for free items, or spend XX at the deli/produce/wherever and get XX off.

I did my monthly shopping last night and saved 25% or $94.49 using coupon and value card savings.  Food coupons included butter, eggs, rotisserie chicken, produce, corned beef for St. Patrick's, Kraft salad dressing, bacon and pepperoni (I'm a low carber), and several different cheeses.  From the City Market Free Friday Downloads, I also got a free Lindt egg, Chip Ahoy thins, and a V-8 energy drink.  I also had a coupon for a free Gatorade Recovery bar.

[murphath]

Hi all,

I still look at the Sunday inserts/ads to find the deals.  They are rare but can still be had.  Like Dancinmama, I still have a stash of the basics:  tp, lotion, shampoo/conditioner, etc.  I've found that the first two months of the year are good at Rite Aid because you get $20 worth of plenti points for $50 in purchases.  Combined with coupons and my saved plenti points, I'm usually able to come out about even.  I just used $12 in plenti points to get 2 Neurtrogena face scrubs (I was out).  They were B1G1 half off and I had a $2/2 q.  I'm down to $12 in plenti points but they just sent me some RA coupons that might help me build that back up.  I've noticed that CVS has begun to send me the $4/$20 q's again so maybe they've seen their numbers drop and want to lure folks back in.  I've also done deals at Target using their cartwheel app, manufacturer q's, and Target q's.  The latest was for Sheba cat food:  .74 each (2 servings): buy 10 get 2 free.  There was a 10% off cartwheel offer, and $1/3 man q.  I combined those with a $5/$25 Iams/Sheba cat food Target q.  Also brought my own bag and used my redcard (5% discount on the balance).  The receipt was pretty long!  The only disappointment, and I knew this might happen, was being limited to 4 of the man. q's.  In the end, I paid $13.41 for 41.  Non q/discount etc. would have been $25.90.

Re the P&G q's, I know that last Jan. I was able to use 5 of the Finish q's in one transaction at CVS.  Guess, unlike Target, they had not yet set up computer to reject the over the limit use of one q.  Don't know if that's still the case.  Will find out when the Finish q comes out in Jan again.

Keep up the fight ladies.  It's worth the effort.

[hitenney]

Hi Murphath!  I hurt my back last November, and am finally getting things going again.  Sometimes you don't even realize how much you are NOT getting done, until you finally feel better.  I was managing to get to work, but then I'd usually come home and crash with my pain pills.  Anyway, I'm still not keeping up with everything, but I'm wondering if you still do Coke rewards?

My grocery savings lately have been pretty much confined to the $5 Fridays at Safeway.  Last Friday I was able to save 59% off my bill, because they are real loss leaders, and then I try to plan meals around what looks good.  They have had a lot of shrimp and bacon, and some good meat specials.  There is a huge Safeway near my work, and a much smaller one near my home, so sometimes I will go late in the day to the small one, and then I am able to get rainchecks for the items they are out of, or don't carry.  Dancin Mama would be proud of me!  This has saved me a ton on ice cream, but also added a ton on me, due to ice cream! For example, they had the 25 oz bag of Beggin strips for the dog for $5, and the on sale price was $12.99.  Although it's hard to meal plan around Beggin Strips.

Think of the old gang often and wonder how everybody's doing.  I get some news on Facebook, but I don't actually get on there much, just get email alerts that so-and-so has changed their status.  Maybe when I retire...

Take care!

[hitenney]

Gee, I'm still a "New Member" after 6 plus years? Guess I have to speak up more!

[dancinmama]

Hi murphath and hitenney!! 

I popped into the 99 Cent Store today and am sooo glad that I did.  16 oz. Oscar Mayer Hardwood Smoked bacon was $.99/ea. and 15 oz. Oscar Mayer Deli Combo (turkey and ham) was $.99/ea.  7 oz. Oscar Mayer Naturals ham was also $.99.  I stocked up!!  It seems like DH can't get enough ham.  Unfortunately though, these deals (which I find from time to time) are hit and miss and not everyone can get them which is one of the reasons that I stopped posting them.

It's probably been three years since I've even touched a coupon flyer.  My master closet floor used to be lined with stacks and stacks of them. 

I was at Trader Joes the other day and a CVS was right next door, so I popped in.  Since I stopped couponing, I've hardly stepped foot in CVS - I mean, why would I?  LOL!!  It looked vaguely familiar, but at the same time felt oddly strange to me. 

I check out WUC every now and then and their participation rate is waaaaay down; it's not like the old days where couponing was like taking candy from a baby.  And for 15 minutes of fame and the hopes of increasing revenue for their blogs and websites, a few short-sighted people killed their own businesses and changed couponing forever.  

Thank goodness for stockpiles of non-perishables!!  I just used up the last of a roll of Reynolds Wrap the other day.  I went to the closet and pulled out another 20 sq. ft. roll (free from WAGs, of course), remembering those wonderful $1/1 coupons (with the 25 sq. ft. roll exclusion, but nothing about the 20 sq. ft. roll) and smiled to myself. 


HAPPY HOUNDING EVERYONE!!  

[hitenney]

I am swooning - bacon for 99 cents!  I have been happy to buy that deli combo for $5 on Safeway special - it's usually $9.99!  Although a different market did have the Farmer John ham steaks 6 oz for $1 each.  I love ham, but DH & DS just say, is that all there is to eat?  My Mom used to say the definition of forever is 2 people and a whole ham. Now I understand! So I was happy to get those little ones.  So true about the change over the years - seems like people don't feel like something has really happened unless they have filmed it for TV or posted on social media. And the grocery/food/coupon corporations figure it all out.  I have been staying away from the drugstores, too - need to use up my stockpiles before they expire.  But sometimes after work I go to the giant Safeway near my job, and then pick up dinner on the way home, because I'm tired from walking from one end to the other and back!  I need to get more organized! Wait, didn't I say that 10 years ago?  Oh, dear.  

My other excitement (!?!) is doing the Safeway Monopoly game.  I'm still waiting for my million $$$, but I have gotten a lot of free donuts, containers of salt, crackers, half & half, and just this week, a free Fresh Express salad and a 32-oz package of cheese.  Tostadas in my future! And a bunch of coupons-have to figure out if those are worth it.

KEEP ON HOUNDING!  It puts a smile on your face when you find a bargain!  Aloha - nice to hear your voice, dancin!  

[murphath]

Hey hitenney and dancinmama!

Nice to see some familiar names!

DH alerted me to the fact that we were running out of our tp stash.  Ha, ha, I said.  I had another 3 huge packages on the other side of Murph Mart!  Still working on all that I accumulated from years past--only add to it if it's a smoking deal.

As for the coke rewards, Coke changed their program--and not for the better.  Thus, I no longer collect the codes.  It was nice to get those $5 Walmart gift cards every so often.  Now it's a contest to see if you're lucky enough to win something.  With my last name, that ain't happenin' any time soon.

Keep hounding ladies.  It still helps the bottom line.

[finnime]

Not a grocery thing, really, but you can get $10 added to a $20 credit with Amazon. See this link: Free $10 Amazon credit.

Kind of nice!

[dancinmama]

Well, it's been almost 5 years since I stopped playing the drug chain coupon game (geez that time just flew by). It is amazing how long my stockpiles are lasting. I still have not had to spend money on any non-perishables. The only item I may have to purchase in the next year (maybe) is Kleenex. Other than that, my stockpiles are still in excellent shape!!  Thanks to all who helped me build them by sharing coupons. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I think of this board almost every time I go to grab something from the stockpile (instead of having to put it on my shopping list).


Happy Hounding to all (if that's still possible).