So my first official day---I still spent roughly what I usually do on a week's worth of groceries...actually about $10-$20 less for the same quantity of stuff. So apples to apples--that is an improvement.
I have a pretty detailed synpopsis--with care given to NOT offer up specific items that are on the list as that constitutes fraud per the warnings that print up on the lists and are shown on the web-site.
I spent a total of $117.28. I am hoping that goes down....but too many B1G1 deals to pass up--so I bought more than just the recommended quantities. Had I stuck to the list as produced by the grocery game, for those items....I would have easily been under $100. I had a few "needs" and a few "needed wants" (like pop corn and b1g1 free candy that we will use at the movie theater today and Pizza that was on sale--but I guess not a good sale to be picked up on the list and then the kids asked for stinkin' fish sticks
).
I shopped at Winn Dixie and Publix today. WD is exasperating---b/c you have to have the card. I do not believe in frequent shopper cards--but the fact that was was clearing 70+% of some of my fruits...and the other items were around 50%....too good a deal to pass up!!! Since I do NOT frequent the store...I would need Teri's List to tell me it is worth stopping in. I do need to compare it to a Publix List--as in comments posted earlier to Cruisinfamily (sorry if I got your name hacked!).....there were common items on both lists--in one case...the item was cheaper at WD (with card) and in the other I did not buy--it was a greater % off at WD, but for less money, you could get the same thing at Publix. The freebie list is only available for me at publix--so the grocery game would be a needed service for me to justify going into WD--a store that I very much do not care for
.
My WD excursion for fruits, 1 veggie, and a meat product:
Whole price: $59.56
Paid: $26.14
Savings: 56%
Publix--I am one peeved puppy! Amazing how one snafu can just label the whole trip. When I went on my "needs" trip on Thursday, I picked up the flyer. Got really excited b/c they had B1G1 Turkey Burgers. The flyer is in their store--have NEVER had a problem before...so didn't suspect that I would go today and not be able to purchase my turkey burgers. It was in the flyer and on the list. BUT, not in the store...they only carried the larger size. The price tag did say $4.99 for 48 ounces. After speaking with a meat person...I wasn't happy. They said they probably sold out. Well if that is the case, there'd be a hole in the freezer for more to go and at the very least a pricing label. I took the turkey burgers to the front and have them priced. They weren't B1G1---heck they weren't even $4.99. It was probably rude, but I let them put them back so that they could check the sign when they did and see that they were overcharging customers.
Grrrrr!!!!
I don't know why I'm so angry about the Turkey Burgers--it is not the lists fault--the fault lies solely with my store. I was looking forward to my turkey burgers!
Anyway...
My excursion needs that were not on Terry's List that may or may not have had a sale attached to it:
Digornio Pizza (on sale, not on list)
Pillsbury cookies (not sure if on list--I only print what I was going to get--it was on sale and a back to school flyer at the store had coupons)
Milk--Organic X2
carrots--organic
Bread
chicken--free range (coupon--and still haven't figured out why it is always cheaper than publix's non-free range, but close enough equivilant
).
Newman's Own Fig Newtowns
Ballpark--this is about $30-$40 of my bill.
I did look at the coupon web-sites...and figured out how to print them on my daughter's computer. I had a coupon for popcorn that was better than the one on Terry's List that I was able to use today
.
Publix:
Whole price: $136.59
Paid: $81.14
Savings: 33%
Combined trips
Whole price:$196.15
Paid: 117.29
Savings: 40%
Was it worth it?
Well it is helping me stock up my freezer
It is helping me identify in-season and inexpensive fruit without me having to hunt and peck through the produce department or a grocery flyer
It helps me to hold onto coupons
It gives me a quick laundry list to identify needs better.
I think it is great for the newbie saver who has had problems pinching pennies.
It is worth a trial for those who have restricted diets as non-edibles are on there....and even today I found no sugar added applesauce as well as some incredible sales on fruit and stuff. I don't expect to ever find my natural/whole foods/organic stuff on there--but in January when they have that sale....perhaps I can stock pile some stuff
.
I was disappointed that there were some sales in the store not listed on the list (pizza, cookies, et cetera). Not sure why they didn't have them as I'm not familiar with the database. I will give the B.O.D. that perhaps when they follow trends and stuff, they must know something that I do not---and the items I purchased today are available for even less money other times.
I give it a THUMBS UP!!! But it is important to review the lists to make sure you are getting things you need or will use. We will use all that we have purchased. Had I not had this list--the grocery bill would have been about $130...and I'd be stocking up on $30 produce midweek
. So even if I'm purchasing things in a different way--I'm still saving money.
. It's sad, but all week I've been kind of looking forward to getting this weeks list and really getting with the program, starting my stockpile, getting all the right coupons, etc. Well, nothing from my needs list was on the GG list except grapes. And with the wrong coupons and school supply items not on the list...well, I'm just not as excited anymore.
