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

[Alicnwondrln]

iw as gonna try this but it only does ot for stop and shop and i dont shop there
oh well

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

First "weekly" thread---for shopping beginning tomorrow:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=9721275#post9721275

 

[InstImpres]

besides ebay, anyone have coupon sites they recommend. I bought from Kim (http://kchappellsc.tripod.com/) which was great 2 of this, 3 of that, etc. but last weeks coupons still aren't up and there are a few I wanted extras of.

TIA Sandy

 

[sln88]

here is another one:
dealsandbargains@yahoogroups

this is a group you sign up for and get emails. Several people on the group trade coupons for pphf. One is Beck Colbert. She always posts in advance of the Sunday coupons. She mails very promptly. Her handling prices on coupons go down as the week goes on. Often she drops them to .01. There are also a couple of others that post regularly. You can also post a wishlist and people will get back to you.

here is one
http://www.couponfishingpond.com/

there is also cutncoupons.com
fast mailing- a little pricey

www.customclippers.vstore.ca

hope you find one you like

 

[jinglesmountjoy]

The grocery game sounds interesting however, most of you are not awarding yourselves $15/hr for your time. Remember, for every stop you make that's another line-up at the cashier, another parking lot... etc. For every stop you make after your original destination, it costs you an additional 20-30min (average) than if you were to stay at the original store and make the purchases there. Now multiply all that extra time by $15/hr and add that to your bills...NOW how much did you save???

Regarding the regular prices that your saving on...they are a little inflated, don't you think? Just go to Costco or Sam's Club (Costco is better) and the prices are always low. In fact, I noticed that even after the savings on several of the items, I still would have made out better at Costco.

I tried it and I just don't have time to play games and run around to 3 different stores for 5 different items. Kudos to you all who have the time. Just remember...your time is more valueable than you think. Need proof...make a list of all the things that you have been meaning to get to (organizing garage, fixing faucet, writing a will...etc). Now make a list of all the daily chores/activities you do and another list with all the daily chores/activities you would like to do (ie. with 2 kids, my floors need to be mopped/cleaned at least once a week but I can hardly manage once a month). I'm sure you see my point.

I'm not saying it isn't worth it for anyone because there are those who just have lot's of time on their hands and can really get great value. With my schedule the way it is and having 2 young ones and a wife that works, I actually give myself $20/hr for my personal time because that's how much I treasure just 15min to myself.

 

[donnajon]

I find that it works great for me with just one list. So great in fact that over the Christmas holidays, I was so busy and had plenty of food stockpiled that I rarely went to the grocery store. And if i did, it was mainly for milk.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I just use one list, one store - and it works great for me! Most of the stuff I get is cheaper than going to Costco. I go to Costco about once every five months (to get stuff that they don't carry at my local grocery store)

But it works for me - and I believe that is what you have to find - what works for you


Karen

 

[Clancycat]

I used to subscribe to the grocery game but I stopped b/c I found I can do the same thing by myself. I generally shop at one store as well as CVS, both of which are w/ in a few miles of my house.

I just went shopping tonight. Because I matched up coupons to what was on sale, I was able to get the following for $35.

2 lysol toilet bowl cleaners
8 boxes electrasol dishwasher gel pacs
4 boxes popsecret micro popcorn (6 pks per box)
12 boxes quaker oatmeal
1 gal spring water
1 2 ltr bottle diet coke
1 pint Ben & Jerrys
1 loaf wonder wheat bread
2 lbs of pears
3 lbs of apples
2 sm plastic organizer boxes

 

[DeirdreTours]

I was so excited when the Grocery Game finally made it to Louisville, but what a disappointment! I cancelled after before the end of my dollar trial--the actual lists were nothing like the "come on" lists on the site and the timing didn't match up with the best store sales. Also, the customer service was silly, when I pointed out that the list came out too late for the special two day sale that Meijer was having, she responded with some drivel about my not appreciating her hard work.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The grocery game sounds interesting however, most of you are not awarding yourselves $15/hr for your time. Remember, for every stop you make that's another line-up at the cashier, another parking lot... etc. For every stop you make after your original destination, it costs you an additional 20-30min (average) than if you were to stay at the original store and make the purchases there. Now multiply all that extra time by $15/hr and add that to your bills...NOW how much did you save???

Regarding the regular prices that your saving on...they are a little inflated, don't you think? Just go to Costco or Sam's Club (Costco is better) and the prices are always low. In fact, I noticed that even after the savings on several of the items, I still would have made out better at Costco.

I tried it and I just don't have time to play games and run around to 3 different stores for 5 different items. Kudos to you all who have the time. Just remember...your time is more valueable than you think. Need proof...make a list of all the things that you have been meaning to get to (organizing garage, fixing faucet, writing a will...etc). Now make a list of all the daily chores/activities you do and another list with all the daily chores/activities you would like to do (ie. with 2 kids, my floors need to be mopped/cleaned at least once a week but I can hardly manage once a month). I'm sure you see my point.

I'm not saying it isn't worth it for anyone because there are those who just have lot's of time on their hands and can really get great value. With my schedule the way it is and having 2 young ones and a wife that works, I actually give myself $20/hr for my personal time because that's how much I treasure just 15min to myself.

Been there done that. If I have to shop for 3 hours or less and save $100---heck yeah it is worth my time.

However, I did discontinue using it b/c the shopping day didn't work for me (and the sales are near over by sunday). I did it on my own.

And for wholesale warehouses--you actually buy more than what you need and more of what you don't need. The savings really aren't all there as it may seem. And I'd have to drive a heck of a lot further to get to those places. Much easier to hit 3 stores: 2 that are 5 minutes from my house and 2 minutes from each other and the 3rd that is 15 minutes from my home. All in the vicinity of where we are doing other things.

The warehouses are a good 20 minutes away minimum (no traffic) and is simply a destination. I have no other reason to be in that part of town.

It's all about doing what works for you. At this point--it is more economical for me to pay a set fee to prepare 12 meals at a storefront that to stand in my kitchen each day wondering what the heck to make for dinner. So I use my grocery stores now for toiletries, cleaning products, and dairy and produce and that's about it.

 

[geetey]

At this point--it is more economical for me to pay a set fee to prepare 12 meals at a storefront that to stand in my kitchen each day wondering what the heck to make for dinner. So I use my grocery stores now for toiletries, cleaning products, and dairy and produce and that's about it.

Lisa, can you explain this more? I *hate* standing in front of the refrigerator each night trying to decide what to make! Thanks!!!!

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

Lisa, can you explain this more? I *hate* standing in front of the refrigerator each night trying to decide what to make! Thanks!!!!

I want to know. Tell me too!!!!!

 

[nbodyhome]

I agree about it being what it's worth to you.

The warehouses are cheaper on many items than the grocery store is for me. Milk is $1.00 cheaper, I can get 6 pounds of frozen strawberries for what it costs for 4 pounds at the grocery store. Cereal is usually less expensive (and BJ's does take coupons). I can get a 4 3/4 pound turkey breast at Sams for the price of a 3 pound at Super Target. If I want a large container of seasonings, that is a great deal - as are some fruits and veggies, large boxes of single-size chips for my husband as well as his beef jerky and pistachios.

Fortunately, I shop similarly each week. I know the best deals on many items before I leave the house. I get the Publix circular, and hit their sales (they are within walking distance, so I shop there nearly every day for any produce and such I need - usually bananas). Sams, Super Wal Mart, Super Target, and BJ's are all within 4 or so miles of me (in the same direction). It's hard to beat!

I rarely have to open up the fridge and decide what to make that day. Today I'm doing several things (having friends over) - ribs in the crocpot, goulash in the small crockpot, chicken on the tabletop electric grill. And the remainders will be leftover for the week. I love Recipezaar!

Denise

 

[nbodyhome]

Oh...and even though these aren't groceries - I am sitting in my Reebok jogging pants from Sams, those were $7.00, and my Von Dutch t-shirt that I got for closer to $3.00 from Sams. (The Von Dutch shirts are very comfortable, but not worth $25.00!) Lots of clothes that we have - including my Speedo Swimsuits I bought off-season for $10.00 or less, are from Sams.

Denise

 

[starwood]

I was just thinking - maybe we could come up with our own sales lists for the different supermarkets. Why pay someone to do what we can do for ourselves.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa, can you explain this more? I *hate* standing in front of the refrigerator each night trying to decide what to make! Thanks!!!!

My area has a business called "My Delicious Dinners" it is local only--but there are chains of a variation of this. Not sure what they are called though. Saw threads a way while back thinking--man, we don't have that here. And I was skeptical and thought it was crazy.

For $189 I got 12 meals for 6 and could pick from a menu and choose the same thing up to 3X. I got crab cakes (YUM!), pork tenderloin, quiche, chicken with apples and almonds (YUM!), some honey lime pork chops and a bunch of chicken fingers. They always have kid-friendly options and this was the pick that month--but the kids usually eat any of this stuff--they LOVED the crab cakes. The kid items are appropriate for adults as well.

Anyway--hubby's not here, so I split what meals could be split (some meals the way they are prepared cannot be split--but the large majority of them can be split in half. [splitting just involves divvying the recipe into to pans or ziplock bags right there--there is no extra work for me when I get home]

This company also has an 8 meal version. It is $135. You can still triple up on an item (counts against your total) and split meals.

Anyway--for me and my girls--we have dinner for roughly a month for less than $200 (we get far with leftovers).

They are also opening up Dinner in a Dash which I think may be a chain.

If you post somewhere--someone will know about these things and can provide the "chains".

It seems there is an option for "you" prepare in 2 hours (it took me about 1 1/2 hours b/c of what I ordered--doubling up on selections caused this). And an option for "they" prepare--so they make it and you just pick it up.

Items can be frozen. My date was 2 days before leaving for 3 weeks and we are just getting around to enjoying the yummy stuff.

Anywho--I got some pretty yummy stuff for much less $$$ and much less time than if I hunted around for the stuff myself and figured out what I wanted to make and how to put it together at home.

I simply take out the item the day before I want it and then the next day--pop it in so that it is finished in time for when we want to have dinner.

That is my only weakness--remembering to put something in the fridge for the next day. So far so good.

ETA: Forgot to add--they give you stickers to put on the item...so you know what it is, of course. It also provides the thawing and cooking directions as well as suggested side dishes for a complete meal . I use the suggestions when I need them, otherwise I do not sweat it.

This location also has desserts--but I'd hate to waste a meal selection on dessert.

 

[DeirdreTours]

This may be a convienience, but there is just no way that it represents any monetary savings over preparing the same dishes at home --you are paying in excess of $15 an entree. There is a chain here that does the same thing, but they try to market it as a social thing, "bring your friends and all prepare at the same time".

 

[brandip22]

We have on eof these, but it's called The Supper Studio. I try to save money and jsut haven't been able to justify this expense yet. However, once DS is older and into soccer and all that, it may be worth it for the time savings! Neat idea.

 

[Spoisal]

This may be a convienience, but there is just no way that it represents any monetary savings over preparing the same dishes at home --you are paying in excess of $15 an entree. There is a chain here that does the same thing, but they try to market it as a social thing, "bring your friends and all prepare at the same time".

I think it is a monetary savings - but it depends on what dishes you decide to prepare. If you choose enchiladas, it is not worth it. BUT, if you choose salmon, steaks, or anything with an unusual ingredient - it is totally worth it. How many times do you buy some expensive ingredient for a recipe (spice or whatever) that you only use 1 or 2 times. Also, it is $15 an entree, BUT - for our family of 4 it serves as leftovers as well. So, it is not 12 meals - it is 20-24 meals that you are getting. You don't go there to make spaghetti - you go there to make a dish that you wouldn't prepare at home - because of the difficulty - or ingredients. It breaks up the monotany of our budget meals. And my husband gets something a little different & is a happy man! Heck, it is a lot cheaper than a divorce lawyer - haha!!

 

[geetey]

And definitely cheaper than going out to eat because nothing is ready at home.

We are stuck in the practice/games routine and I feel like we are spending far too much $$ eating out. Something like this would definitely help.

Thanks for the explanation, Lisa.