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

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you are only 45 minutes away--any reason you can't subscribe to just the Sunday paper?

 

[cruisnfamily]

If you are only 45 minutes away--any reason you can't subscribe to just the Sunday paper?

I tried, they said they don't do home delivery in my area.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I tried, they said they don't do home delivery in my area.

oh poo to them!



When we lived in New Orleans--my step father had our old newspaper mailed to us.

My mom in St. Augustine can get the Jacksonville Paper....and she's about an hour from Jax.

Maybe if someone goes shopping with you--they can do the coupon hunt while you go around and get the groceries.

I can see how that would be a pain, though.

 

[disney4us2002]

I read thru the rules and can't find mention of when the list is supposed to be updated except in the "Timetable". Here's what it says:

Saturday - Save all Supermarket advertisements that come in the mail. Cut and file any manufacturer coupons.

Saturday/Sunday - Buy New York Times or your local Sunday Edition paper.

Cut and file all manufacturer coupons.

Save supermarket ads with coupons (usually in Section II).

Tuesday morning - Log in to www.thegrocerygame.com to get THE LIST

Tuesday -Saturday - Shop with THE LIST



So, I'm guessing I'm supposed to wait until Tuesday evening at the earliest. That is okay but since the sales start on Sunday, some of the better sale items will be gone by Tuesday and I'll have to get rainchecks and return later which is just a pain. I wonder why my area isn't ready til Tuesday???

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So carla--your list is promised by Tuesday, then. If you didn't get it until Wednesday, they wouldn't be holding up their promise.

 

[cruisnfamily]

OK, I emailed GG cust service with my concerns and I have copied and pasted their response. I made sure I wasn't giving away any "secrets" and nothing in the email seems to be confidential. Here is what they said in answer to my concerns:

Hi,

You can use any major metropolitan paper, we just let people know that we
primarily use the St. Pete Times for reference, because that newspaper tends
to have a very complete set of coupons. The Orlando Sentinel is another
good choice in Florida. The Sunday coupon inserts in the smaller, local
newspapers tend to be missing many of the coupons.

We made the decision not to include the school supplies promotion, and I'll
explain why. Most of our List is created based on a database that we've
built over the years concerning the regular and sale prices for grocery
store items at different stores. Using that information, we know whether a
deal is at its "rock bottom" price, and good enough to buy in large
quantities. Many of these back-to-school deals are brought into the stores
specifically for this promotion and aren't regularly sold there. We don't
have records on them, and we don't track prices at places like Staples or
Office Max, so we can't reliably say whether those deals are worth buying at
Winn-Dixie (especially since office supply stores will also be having
back-to-school specials).

We build the Publix and Winn-Dixie Lists from Ocala. In order to keep the
List affordable, each List is made available for the entire region for which
the same sales apply. Over the past couple of years, we've found that it's
relatively rare for the sales to differ across our region.

Thanks for writing, and...

Happy Shopping!

They thoroughly answered my question regarding the B1G1F insert and I understand that one. The rest of it doesn't really help me but I'll just have to hope that over time I'll build up a stash of coupons sufficient to keep up with the GG list.

I'm not shopping today so I'll post my savings after I shop tomorrow.

 

[sln88]

I hear faint rumblings of unhappiness in the GG. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if GG does not work for you, you can do this yourself!

There is no way that I would ever wait til Tuesday to start shopping and preparing for a sale that starts on Sunday!

I get one of my ads on Friday(for a sale that starts on Sunday with doubles on Wed), and I immediately go to cutouthunger to see what the deals are with the coupons. I then start trying to get my hands on the coupons I need. I try to get multiples for good deals. I generally trade for them when I can, but will pay a handling fee if I have to. If all goes well, by Wed I have my coupon multiples at hand, know what the deals are and go do my shopping. Last week my bill before coupons(but after sale price) was $92. After coupons was $15. This included 1 gal milk, 2# cheese, garlic bread, breadsticks, 2 bags cat litter, 8 healthy choice frozen dinners, 5# pork tenderloin, 1.5# pork roast(boneless), 9 bottles of marinade, 100 sq feet Al foil, 2 taco seasonings, 2 boxes ice cream bars, 3.5 qts low carb ice cream, 2 boxes of pasta. If I had to wait til Tues to know the deals, it would not happen.

If the GG does not work for you, I would really suggest going to a place like mycoupons or deal a go go. Generally, there will be someone else in your area going to the same stores and you can learn from their posts.

For those of you that are happy with the GG, just ignore me

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I hear faint rumblings of unhappiness in the GG. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if GG does not work for you, you can do this yourself!

There is no way that I would ever wait til Tuesday to start shopping and preparing for a sale that starts on Sunday!

I get one of my ads on Friday(for a sale that starts on Sunday with doubles on Wed), and I immediately go to cutouthunger to see what the deals are with the coupons. I then start trying to get my hands on the coupons I need. I try to get multiples for good deals. I generally trade for them when I can, but will pay a handling fee if I have to. If all goes well, by Wed I have my coupon multiples at hand, know what the deals are and go do my shopping. Last week my bill before coupons(but after sale price) was $92. After coupons was $15. This included 1 gal milk, 2# cheese, garlic bread, breadsticks, 2 bags cat litter, 8 healthy choice frozen dinners, 5# pork tenderloin, 1.5# pork roast(boneless), 9 bottles of marinade, 100 sq feet Al foil, 2 taco seasonings, 2 boxes ice cream bars, 3.5 qts low carb ice cream, 2 boxes of pasta. If I had to wait til Tues to know the deals, it would not happen.

If the GG does not work for you, I would really suggest going to a place like mycoupons or deal a go go. Generally, there will be someone else in your area going to the same stores and you can learn from their posts.

For those of you that are happy with the GG, just ignore me

I rumbled--but I spent maybe 20 minutes on it and saved 40%.

 

[cruisnfamily]

I rumbled--but I spent maybe 20 minutes on it and saved 40%.

I rumbled too! More loudly than most! BUT, I still think this is gonna work for me. It might just take a little longer to build that stash of coupons up but it will work out in time. This just happens to be an off week for me with my needs vs what's on the list which bummed me out because I'm excited to get going with this and last week was a really good list. I just need to be patient and keep working it for a while before I decide if it works for me. So, point of story, I'm over it now and looking forward to brighter weeks in the future! I'm shopping tomorrow and will list my savings.

I get one of my ads on Friday(for a sale that starts on Sunday with doubles on Wed), and I immediately go to cutouthunger to see what the deals are with the coupons. I then start trying to get my hands on the coupons I need. I try to get multiples for good deals. I generally trade for them when I can, but will pay a handling fee if I have to. If all goes well, by Wed I have my coupon multiples at hand, know what the deals are and go do my shopping. Last week my bill before coupons(but after sale price) was $92. After coupons was $15.

More power to ya! Really great job! I wish I could do that, I really do but....I know me....and there's no way I would do that week after week after week. I might do it once, nah, probably not even that. It's too much work for me. The GG I can do easily once I spend a few more weeks working with it, it'll be no problem at all. I'm just getting used to it.

sln and lbgraves(hope i got the names right ) are my idols but I'll never come close to the deals they get. I'll just be happy if I can save a little more than I have been and get more stuff for the money.

As far as saving 40%, I doubt I'll save that much this week as my needs are not on sale, but I'll let you know tomorrow.

 

[lbgraves]

Please don't give up! Whatever savings you are getting now is more than before you started. I didn't get the hang of this overnight...and I doubt that anyone did. I learned things one & two years into it and am happy to learn more little tricks to get the best deals.

I hate that you guys are getting discouraged though. I have seen Publix & Albertsons mentioned the most here. Well, guess what? They each have websites where you can go to your store & get the weekly specials sorted by department. Please note that I am NOT subed to the GG so haven't gotten any info from that site. This is just using the store website & my coupon binder that is greatly understocked at the moment.

Publix http://store.publix.com/publix/cgi/selection?mapid=US&place=orlando&region=FL,US&zip=&x=44&y=5

Just skimming thru the add, these are some deals that I wish I had here.

Yoplait Yogurt 3 FOR $5.00 Trix or Yumsters, Assorted Varieties, 6-pk. 4-oz cup SAVE UP TO $2.17 ON 3
** There are usually 50/1 coupons for this but I haven't been able to get them this summer.

Yoplait Go-Gurt Portable Yogurt 2 FOR $4.00

Sargento Cheese 2 FOR $4.00
Shredded, Cubes or Sunbursts, Assorted Varieties, 5 to 8-oz pkg.
**There are 50/1 coupons that expire 9/30/05. If your store doubles this is 1.00 per pack! Still at 1.50 not a bad deal for a good name brand cheese. (I freeze these in the chest freezer)

Kraft American Singles 3 FOR $5.00 Regular or White Cheese Product, 12-oz pkg.

Pillsbury Ready To Bake! Cookies2 FOR $5.00 *** Rebate was in paper 3 WYB 3 pks any Pillsbury cookie dough. This would work out to $4.50 after the rebate for 3 packs, 1.50 each. (I like these because they are less messy & the kids can bake half a pack at a time. I freeze the other half in a ziplock bag.)

Betty Crocker Muffin Mix BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $2.49
*** 40/1 coupon exp 8/7/05 2.49-.80= 1.69 so .85 ea or if dbls -1.60=.89 so .45 ea.

CapriSun All Natural Drinks 3 FOR $5.00 SAVE UP TO $2.47 ON 3

Dole Fruit or Fruit-N-Gel Bowls BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $2.47

Kellogg's NutriGrain Cereal Bars BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $3.49
** There are coupons on the sides of some boxes for 1/3 so this could work out to be 1.41 a box...great deal!

Pasta Roni or Rice A Roni 5 FOR $3.00 SAVE UP TO $2.85 ON 5

Betty Crocker or Sunkist Fruit Snacks BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $2.73 ** 60/2 coupons out there 2.73 - 1.20 = 1.43 (.72 ea) or 2.73 - 2.40 = .33 (.17 ea!!!)

Nabisco Ritz Crackers BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $3.49

Nabisco Kid Sense Fun Packs 2 FOR $4.00 SAVE UP TO $1.38 ON 2
** 75/2 coupons 4.00 - .75 = 3.25/2 or 4.00 - 1.50 = 2.50/2 (school lunches)

Post Cereals BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $3.69

Pop-Secret Popcorn BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $2.57
*** 50/2 coupon 2.57 - .50 = 2.07/2 or 2.57 - 1.00 - 1.57/2

Wish-Bone Dressing 16 oz BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $2.55
** 1/2 16 oz coupon 2.55 - 1 = 1.55/2

Pompeian Olive Oil BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $5.39

Jennie-O Turkey Store Burgers BUY ONE GET ONE FREE SAVE UP TO $4.99

Seedless Grapes $1.29 lb red or white SAVE UP TO 70¢ LB

Fantastik Cleaner $2.19 Assorted Varieties, 26 or 32-oz bot.
*** 1.50/1 coupons so .69 for the bottle!!!

 

[lbgraves]

Here is Albertson's. http://albertsons.shoplocal.com/alb...pretailerid=-99868&siteid=404&storeid=2407961

It looks like that add started on Wednesday so you have the list for it already. That is how our ads run here...Wednesday thru Tuesday.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I hate that you guys are getting discouraged though. I have seen Publix & Albertsons mentioned the most here.

I'm not discouraged..quite the contrary. Just PO'd at Publix for their little bait and switch ad which is not the fault of my intent to save or the grocery game. It is their sneakiness. It just soured my whole experience today. Just as well. Those particular turkey burgers are actually pretty terrible. I had a batch go rancid once. So it is just as well as they didn't have a deal on them that I could use. Had there been a deal, I would have been ready to try again.

I do not have the time nor the patience to go through ads on my own and figure out which coupons to use. I could make an experiment and see what I could find on my own and compare it to what GG comes up with it--to see if they would save me more than the cost of their membership. I already have a folder stuffed with several flyers. I just do not trust my skills to wing it on my own and am willing to pay for the convenience. And I like that they will reference a coupon out of a particular circular.

As far as the ad---for example---you don't list a coupon that could have been used on Jenny O--for another $1 off...so in a way grocery game can catch that stuff that would be missed. (I didn't have the coupon--it was available before I ever started and it wouldn't have mattered since my store did a bait and switch ).

 

[cruisnfamily]

Please don't give up! Whatever savings you are getting now is more than before you started.

Not giving up! Just resolving to give it a few more weeks to build my coupons up. This particular list this week didn't give me much and I need to do a BIG shop tomorrow of needs so yes, I'm a little discouraged but not giving up.

My savings at this point aren't any better than before because I was already shopping the ads, just not using coupons but I guess it'll take a little while to really get the savings.

I, like Lisa, am willing to pay for the convenience of having someone else match up the coupons and flyers for me and tell me when "rock bottom" has been reached for items I might not ordinarily buy but would buy if they were a terrific deal.

I'm looking forward to building up my stockpile but that too, will take time.

On separate note, I now need to decide if the school supplies that are B1G1F at my WD are a deal. They were not included in my list So tell me, what would you say is a good price for markers, colored pencils, pens, pencils, notebook paper, and that type of stuff. I've already got most of what the kids need so I figured I would only buy those items that work out to less than $.75 each. What do you think?

 

[lbgraves]

Have you checked out WM, Target, & Staples? They each have some great sales right now. As for stocking up for later in the year or next year...I shop Target's clearance when it hits 75%. Last year I had grabbed the K-3 lists for our school when they came out. DS started Kindergarten so I got everything on that list. At 75% I picked up some things that were on the other lists.

 

[starwood]

I started stocking up on all the coupons (even ones I wasn't planning on using) a couple of weeks ago. I'm planning on starting GG when I get back from vacation at the end of the month. I figure I should have all the pertinent coupons and be in need of the items on sale. I'm really anxious to try this out.

 

[lillygator]

I clipped a lot of coupons yesterday but my GG only has Winn Dixie and Publix on there. I don't really think that with Publix there is much savings (extra I mean)....I don't know. It is discouraging to hear all the northern stores have douple coupon day while we don't - also in "season" Publix jacks up the price of many things........
I am still giving it a whirl.

 

[planning06]

I started GG on Sunday. I cut out the coupons in last Sunday's paper in preparation and again in this Sunday's paper. Still, most of the best deals were for earlier published coupons. I still think I had a great start. To give you background, I never bothered to clip coupons or worry about what was on sale in the past. I just bought what I wanted when I wanted it.

Combining the store sales and coupon with GG to help me I saved almost $48 which was a 34% savings. I think that is a great start! My WD rewards only every came up to $1 or $2 in the past per shopping trip. I can't wait until I get a good stash of coupons. Oh, and I REALLY need a good coupon organizer. Any recommendations?

Two deals I got yesterday on need items that I was really happy about...

I needed shampoo. We like Herbal Essences but don't have to use it. This Sunday there was a B1G1F coupon for all HE hair products and WD had it on sale. Regularly 4.49 for 2.99 each. Cool! When I went I was able to get 2 12oz shampoos and each has a 6oz free conditioner. So I thought I would get 2 shampoos and 1 conditioner for 2.99. The coupon rang up for 4.49. In the end, I got each shampoo and conditioner for 0.50 a piece.

I also needed cheese. WD has a sale on shredded cheese, 2 for $4. I found an in store coupon for $1 off. Not rock bottom cheap, but since I needed it, it sure was nice to get it on sale.

I think I'm enjoying this.

 

[lbgraves]

I use a thin 4x6 photo album. It is a little over 1/2 inch thick. I got it at Target. There are 3 4x6 slots on each page. The cover is plastic & it slides right into a plastic holder. I think that they have ones with 2 per page if you are just starting out. I have used this for the past 3 years. I set it up by the rows of the store I use most. This way when you get more than one of a coupon, you can just file those in their own slot.

 

[patsal]

Nothing near me so I guess I can't "play". However I did this for years on my own when I was a stay at home Mom and every penny counted. Now I just shop ALdi and hit the grocery store for sale brand named items I have coupons for.

 

[cruisnfamily]

OK, here's my report for this week. Keep in mind, my needs were very large this week and I bought a lot of meat. I had very few GG list items this week and I would have gotten most of these savings myself. So, here are the numbers:

$220.08 Shelf price
$57.15 Saved($54.85 reward card savings, $2.30 coupons)
$162.93 Amount paid
That's about a 26% savings. It's OK but not great.

I didn't build my stockpile at all as this was all needs shopping. However, next week, my needs should be very few and I will only shop for the deals and hopefully very little else.