Does anyone use the grocery game list to save money on groceries?

[lbgraves]

I will keep both stores for a month maybe. Their 88cent per pound produce deals are just too hard to pass up!

But I wonder if a sales add will just make that happen and I can save the $2.50 per month.

You know, once you get the hang of things everyone can help each other here on this board in a weekly thread for grocery deals. I go to Harris Teeter but several of you use the same stores. You can also go to the deal sites that have been listed for the weekly thread of what the great deals are at each store that week.

 

[planning06]

What a week for me! This is only my 2nd week using the list. A store in town was having double and triple coupons this week and had a great GM cereal deal but they are not on the list. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what were the good deals at this store. Makes me really appreaciate the ease of Terri's list.

I had a lot of trouble with the other store. The GM cereals were supposed to be $5/3 for certain varieties. They also had other GM items on sale and a special, buy $20 in GM items and get a $5 catelina for your next purchase. Plus I had coupons for the cereal and other GM items. When I got home I realized quite a few errors.

1) They didn't discount 2 of the 7 cereals. +5.44
2) They didn't discount one item that was on sale for $1. +2.59
3) There were 3 internet coupons they scanned and they told me they couldn't accept them. Fine, but when I got home, I realized that they actually charged me the total amount of the coupons. +2.60
4) I used 2 coupons for $1/3 GM cereals. They didn't scan those. +2

I went back yesterday afternoon and they refunded me $13.33.

Now, this morning, I looked closer and realize that for the other 5 cereals they charged me $5/2 not $5/3. So that is another $4.15 that I want to get back.

I also went to Winn Dixie and used Terri's list for items there. Here's my breakdown. I'm assuming I will get the other $4.15 back today.

Total (both stores)
Shelf Price $177.42
Paid $81.80
Savings $95.62
Percentage Savings 54%

Sav-a-Center
Shelf Price $98.11
Paid $34.33
Savings $63.66
Percentage Savings 65%

Winn Dixie
Shelf Price $79.32
Paid $47.36
Savings $31.96
Percentage Savings 40%

That isn't counting the $5 coupon I have for my next purchase.

I did figure out some free deals. The other store had Hamburger Helper on sale for $1 a piece. I had 3 0.50/1 coupons that were doubled. So I got 3 free HH meals. I'm not that crazy about HH but they were free and they contributed to my $20 in GM products.

I will say though that unless this other store has some fantastic deals again, I will stick to just Winn Dixie. I spent way too much time this week trying to figure out the deals and shopping and checking the receipt and getting refunds for overcharges. It's not worth it to do it all the time. Plus, this store is typically more expensive.

 

[lbgraves]

OK here are my totals for the week. Major stockpiling for school lunches! LOL!

Trip 1
4 gorton shrimp bowls BOGO 4.19
4 marie collanders pot pies BOGO 3.19
2 lbs shrimp 6.96
2 lbs crab legs 5.87
3 sargento cheese slices S 2.00 - 50/1x2 = 1.00
HT beef hotdogs S 2.50
top serloin marked down 7.10
potatoes 5 lbs 3.99
bananas 1 lb .53
fantastic oxi S 2.99 - 1.50 = 1.49
shout S 2.49 - 75/1x2 = .99
6 capri sun 10 pks BOGO 2.59

store savings 49.56
coupons 6.00
paid 69.12
saved 45%

Trip 2
3 sargento cheese S 2.00 - 1.00 C = 1.00
hunter ice cream S 3.50 - 3.00 C = .50
6 popsicle 24 ct boxes BOGO 3.89 - 50/1x2 = 2.89/2
6 capri sun 10 pks BOGO 3.89
grapes S .98 lb 2.00

store card 27.94
coupons 6.00
paid 21.13
saved 62%

 

[lbgraves]

A store in town was having double and triple coupons this week
I did figure out some free deals. The other store had Hamburger Helper on sale for $1 a piece. I had 3 0.50/1 coupons that were doubled. So I got 3 free HH meals. I'm not that crazy about HH but they were free and they contributed to my $20 in GM products.

I will say though that unless this other store has some fantastic deals again, I will stick to just Winn Dixie. I spent way too much time this week trying to figure out the deals and shopping and checking the receipt and getting refunds for overcharges. It's not worth it to do it all the time. Plus, this store is typically more expensive.

I know that HT has the HH for 1.00 this week. Is this where you went? That is the store that I go to all the time...only using coupons & sales of course because they are expensive otherwise. They also had triples in some areas...not here though. I would be happy to help you figure out the deals for that store. I use the webgrocer site to find out the unadvertised deals, especially during triples! You can use it to look up the regular price on items to see what will be free or cheap for 3xs specials. There is also a thread at mycoupons.com for most triple weeks at HT. They go thru the store with their binders beforehand & write down what the deals will be so that would also help you.

Glad that you went back to get your money!

 

[planning06]

I know that HT has the HH for 1.00 this week. Is this where you went? That is the store that I go to all the time...only using coupons & sales of course because they are expensive otherwise. They also had triples in some areas...not here though. I would be happy to help you figure out the deals for that store. I use the webgrocer site to find out the unadvertised deals, especially during triples! You can use it to look up the regular price on items to see what will be free or cheap for 3xs specials. There is also a thread at mycoupons.com for most triple weeks at HT. They go thru the store with their binders beforehand & write down what the deals will be so that would also help you.

Glad that you went back to get your money!

It was Sav-a-Center. Thanks for the tips though! I will try that the next time. I think the doubles must have been only my area. I did browse the forum for Sav-a-Center at dealagogo this week and nobody mentioned the doubles for non health & beauty. They only mentioned the triples on health & beauty.

 

[disney4us2002]

I guess I should email the gg people rather than complain here, lol. My list is finally up today (yeah, I know it's promised Tuesday) and there are many things that are just wrong. I have the sale ad in front of me and the things gg list are just not on sale or on sale for a different price. Here's an example of a weird thing: Francesco Rinaldi sauce is listed as 2/$5 on gg and then it says to use a .55 coupon from 8/17 (before I started collecting). First, FR is typically priced 1.89 at my store so 2/$5 is NOT a sale. Second, last week FR was on the $1 list (our grocery often has a whole page of $1 items). Certainly, last week was the bigger savings even without the coupon and I went ahead and bought 10 jars which was the limit.

I have one more week to decide but I'm seriously doubting I'll continue. I have begun saving all the coupon inserts however so I can look thru them weekly with the ad on my own. Back to lots of time devoted to saving however.

 

[NvrBnToWDW]

I use a similar program for my grocery shopping, but it's free. Try cutouthunger.org or couponmom.com, they list the states and grocery stores along with the coupon and item and total price. It's really easy, instead of cutting out your coupons from Sunday's paper, you just write the date on the front with a marker and keep in a file. When the website shows the coupon, it lists the date and you find the coupon insert with that date and then cut out just the coupon you need. No coupon organizer needed!

 

[planning06]

I use a similar program for my grocery shopping, but it's free. Try cutouthunger.org or couponmom.com, they list the states and grocery stores along with the coupon and item and total price. It's really easy, instead of cutting out your coupons from Sunday's paper, you just write the date on the front with a marker and keep in a file. When the website shows the coupon, it lists the date and you find the coupon insert with that date and then cut out just the coupon you need. No coupon organizer needed!

I tried it but it didn't have any stores in my area. Terri's list did.

 

[lbgraves]

disneyforus2002, are they using the same store that you go to? I know that our store has different prices than others an hour or so away. Each location has their own sale ads. That might be some of the problem that you are having with your list?

That site has been mentioned and seems comparable to the GG. Each one deals with different stores however. That's a good idea if you get good inserts in your paper. I don't get many coupons in our cheapo local paper so I end up ordering multiples of the ones that I want & when they come in the mail already clipped out they just go right in my binder.

 

[mum of two pirates]

Hi i'm on page 3 of the 20. But have to go shopping now and wanted to know if anyone takes thier list to walmart and gets it price matched. It says the only store in washington is albertons and we have a safeway and super 1 and walmart. super one is owned by rosours and our walmart will not houner the buy one get one free sales. anyone thanks the nearest albersons is 70 miles away and with gas $2.60 a gal here not worth the drive. thanks mum of

 

[ElizaB39]

Hi everyone!

I am doing really well with my c oupons, and also learning a lot from this thread. Thanks!

I just want to try and help for those who may have expired coupons or have a coupon for an item the store is out of stock or simply doesn't carry. I sometimes ask if I can substitute an item since the one the coupon is for doesn't seem to be there when I am shopping. Also, one time I said, "I really wanted this item this week and it hasn't been in the couple of times I have stopped (true) can I subsitute another similar item?" Answer, "yes, sure..." I am always honest about the number of times I have tried to buy the item and it hasn't been there, even if it is just that one timewhen I ask to substitute a product etc. Also, a Superfresh in Wayne, PA frequently takes expred coupons. My friend does this all the time. She said the clerks are encouraged to do this. We also have Whole Foods stores and the produce department is encouraged to give out free samples. A few of my friends have stumbled across this as well.

FYI, I was at Target today the the ad is for Hanes underwear on sale. The flier said "all other hanes on sale as well." It didn't say "Hanes Classic". Well I got the printed Hanes for my son (boxers) and did not get a sale price. I went over to customer service and said, "the flier says all other hanes etc. and this did not ring up as a sale price." She checked and refunded me my two dollars. The AM said it was supposed to be just for Hanes Classic but since the flier did not specifiy, I got the sale price on the boxers I bought for DS. I did not have to fuss, he willingingly offered the refund. I also got a large tube of Colgate toothpaste with a free toothbruch for 1.89 less a 1 target coupon, so a large tube of paste and tbrush for .89 is my deal for the week! (not a freebie I know * sigh* but you could argue the brush was free : - ))

 

[Southern4sure]

It is a long shot but today I emailed Publix to ask if they see any chance of doubling coupons at the Publix store I shop at. I havent heard anything yet. Im just wondering if others sent an email if it would make a difference. I know Publix doubles coupons in other areas why not double coupons at all Publix stores? What is the criteria for a store to double coupons? Anyone else want to send Publix an email?

 

[ReneeQ]

Thanks for everyone's advice! I went to Publix today (and used my Poptart coupons!). I also went to Kroger and used some of my coupons there. On the GG I can only get Publix. I went to cutouthunger and got the deals for Kroger. As they also have the deals for Publix at cutouthunger, I haven't decided yet if I'll stay with the GG after the initial trial (since I have to go to CutoutHunger for Kroger anyway). If the GG added Kroger to my area, it might be worth it for both, but I'm still undecided.

According to my receipts, these are my totals:

Publix
Total $71.66
Advertised Specials -24.60
Coupons -16.05
Total Spent $31.01
Savings 57%

Kroger
Total $61.57
Advertised Specials -25.72
Coupons -11.15
Total Spent $24.70
Savings 60%

But this is my question, or observation really, I don't feel that I truly "saved" 57% and 60% because I did buy things that I would have NEVER bought at full price. I sort of feel like my savings is "inflated." Does that make sense to anyone? For instance, I bought some cookies that were $2.99 a bag, on sale B1G1, making them $1.50 a bag. And I had a 75 cent coupon for each bag, making my final price 75 cents a bag. So while I got $6 of cookies (2 bags x $2.99 each) for only $1.50 (75 cents x 2 bags), I don't really feel like I "saved" $4.50, because I would have never paid $6 in the first place, I would have just bought cheaper cookies.

Same thing with the stores advertised specials. Where it shows I "saved" x amount on "advertised specials" those things were ONLY in my cart BECAUSE they were on sale. Does this make sense to anyone?

Am I just looking at this all wrong? Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with saving, and can see how things will start to stockpile just with what I got today. I guess maybe I need to give it more than one week.

 

[ElizaB39]

Does that make us both crazy? I, too, will only buy things if I have a coupon or if they are a BOGO etc. For example, I will only buy OREO cookies if they are BOGO or $2 per package. I would never pay full price of $3.49 per package. So, my savings would be comparing the price at BOGO (1.75 each) and the price at $2.00. My savings would only be .25, not the "inflated" total of $3.49 if I were to do BOGO. So, yes IMHO the savings total is inflated, but I am still shopping based on the fliers and the sales. I go to the store with the most savings for me for the week. After we stop our weekend trips and summer travelling, I am going to do the grocery game or something else, couponmom etc and then I will really be in the know! Can't wait.

 

[ElizaB39]

What is a catalina? Is that when the coupons print out at the register?

 

[lbgraves]

Yes, the red & white coupon that prints out at the register is the catalina.

Regarding the savings question....I think that bringing the amount you actually spend down is the main thing. You are saving that much compared to the average person who would buy it on a regular weekly trip without paying attention or focusing on the sales & coupon deals.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Wow, this thread was active today...love it!

In response to the GG list being all wrong, I would definitely email them thru the cust serv link on the website. They need to know that. I'm sorry to hear that it isn't matching up for you. It's been really great for me!

As far as going to the cut out hunger site. I looked and it's just not as "friendly" or "easy" as the grocery game. Maybe I'm just lazy but I know how I am. I won't do it if it's work. With the grocery game, it's no work and I like the format better. I'm glad there are other sites out there but right now, I prefer the grocery game one.

They also have message boards over there but they aren't terribly active like the boards here.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Regarding the savings question....I think that bringing the amount you actually spend down is the main thing. You are saving that much compared to the average person who would buy it on a regular weekly trip without paying attention or focusing on the sales & coupon deals.

I agree with this. I also agree with what you all are saying about inflated savings because you wouldn't have bought it otherwise but to me, the point is to spend less on groceries overall. I don't really care what % I save as long as my grocery bills go down. That's what matters. right now it's kind of fun to play wiht and post the %s but it's the dollars that matter in the end.

Before the GG I was saving a good bit already by shopping the sale flyer but now I'm matching up the coupons with the sales and doing the stockpile thing so this is gonna work out better for me in the end(I think anyway)

 

[sln88]

What is a catalina? Is that when the coupons print out at the register?

do you guys all know about the nice catalinas printing out at Osco? $7 on school supplies and $5 ez rebate on oral b? If anyone has these stores and is interested, lmk and I will give details.

 

[lbgraves]

Also remember that once you have a good stockpile your amount spent will go down. Even though I am not doing major couponing this summer, I also haven't had to buy very much. We have just been living on my stockpile for most things except milk, eggs, & yogurt.