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

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We will be at MGM on Sunday instead of doing the Grocery Game.

So I hit Albertson's today and will hit Publix tomorrow. This way, we can take some food with us for the weekend.

Since I've added albertson's to the mix--some of their stuff (like my organic milk) is a few cents cheaper!! Wahoo!

I also hit the Merita Discount Outlet--and got fresh bread, same as what is on the grocery store shelves--100% whole wheat Wonder Bread--3 loves for $2.45. Price for one at Albertson's was $2.09 without card and $1 something with....so I based it on the no card price since that is how I'm basing my savings!

I was a bit disappointed that it is the first day of the new ad and they didn't have a single family pack of drumsticks. Poor planning on their part. I didn't try for a raincheck--b/c the drumstick isn't exactly the healthiest part of the bird anyway. It was on sale for 79 cents per pound..and I have seen those sales elsewhere. So no biggie.

I do like that for the most part Albertson's keeps clearance items on the shelves with regular items--so they display more nicely and you don't have to dig through a messy cart. I got some Nivea Hand cream that I can use for traveling and some conditioner that is for heavy duty damaged hair.

and my godiva chocolate icecream was still B1G1 . Though it all expires in december...so I only have 4 months to eat it all and a marathon to train for.

Got 12 pack tp for $4 (with coupon and sale) that was regular price $7.99.

Albertson's
Retail: $75.79
Paid: $49.07
Savings: 26.72 (35%)

Merita Bread Outlet
Retail (compared to Albertson's): $6.27
Paid: $2.45
Savings: $3.82 (61%)


August:
Retail: $715 even
Paid: $440.32
Savings: $274.68 )38%)

 

[cruisnfamily]

By the way I have been trying out the list and have not really been that happy with it. More that once the price on Terri's list was not what the item was (ie: tuna two weeks in a row List= CS tuna 4 for $2, store 4 for $4). Also she doesn't list all the meats that Shop rite has on sale. This week only listed chops and some pre cooked chicken when all of the perdue chicken was 50% off!!

You shoudl email cust service. Seriously, if everyone just says "the list is wrong" and nobody tells the gg then they'll never fix it. I would definitely email customer service with your issues!

Doing the list does take me quite awhile at home and at the store

.
Since I'm still new at this, I find that it does take me a little while to get organized before I go to the store. Browsing the list, selecting what I want, printing, pulling the coupons, transfering my needs on to the printed list. Probably 20-30mins. BUT, I find in the store it takes no time at all and I actually get throught the store quicker than I used to. Because I've already done my "figuring and calculating" I don't have to think once I'm there, just grab and go.

 

[Nicolepa]

By the way I have been trying out the list and have not really been that happy with it. If I could just find out when different catagories of grocery's go on sale I could probably do this myself.

I've been doing this myself for year. I just go thru the ad's that come in the mail each Tuesday. Most of my stores start their sale on Wednsday's. On starts on Sunday, which I get in the Weekly Paper. I've done the GG because I do fine on my own. I just found out that the GG is adding another chain in my area in September, so I may try it then when I have two stores.

also I do not wish to handle a stock pile of grocerys.

If you don't want to stockpile groceries then there really is not point to using the GG. (Just my opinion.) You aren't going to save a lot of money if you don't buy when it's on sale and stock up.

 

[lbgraves]

ITA with this. The goal of power couponing or the GG is to save the most money possible. The way to do this is to stockpile when things are on sale & there are coupons. If you don't play the game, you wont see the results.

 

[Nicolepa]

I wasn't going to go grocery shopping this week, no matter what, because we are leaving for DW on Saturday. Well Albertsons ad came out and the sales were too good to pass up! They were running their 10/$15 with $5 off for every 10. I had coupons for 29 items and when I got there ONE box of fruit roll ups had a coupon off one, so I had coupons for 30 items exactly!


Drum Roll please......


Total Spent $23.53
Total Saved $84.51 (78%)


I would have saved more but I had to buy 2 lunchables ($4) and bagels ($1.79) & Cream Cheese (at least this was B1G1F). Without those I would have spent $15.25 and saved $82.02 (84%). Oh well, gotta keep the kids happy on the plane, right?

 

[sln88]

I wasn't going to go grocery shopping this week, no matter what, because we are leaving for DW on Saturday. Well Albertsons ad came out and the sales were too good to pass up! They were running their 10/$15 with $5 off for every 10. I had coupons for 29 items and when I got there ONE box of fruit roll ups had a coupon off one, so I had coupons for 30 items exactly!

Great job- can you explain anything about the $5 off for every 10 deal? I have a Jewel and sometimes they run the same specials as Albertsons

 

[Nicolepa]

Great job- can you explain anything about the $5 off for every 10 deal? I have a Jewel and sometimes they run the same specials as Albertsons

The have a list of items, this week it was things like General Mills Cereal, Fruit Roll Ups, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Pillsbury Cookie dough, Betty Crocker brownie Mix & Cookie Mix etc. They are priced 10/$15, but for every 10 you buy you get $5 off, making them 10/$10. The key is you have to buy in incriments of 10.

I had some awesome, .75, .50 coupons for the items this week so I was able to make out like a bandit! (We don't have double coupons here.) I got 10 boxes of Cereal for $6. 5 boxes of Granola bars for $3. Pillsbury Perfect Portions Biscuits for .25.

 

[donnajon]

I would have saved more but I had to buy 2 lunchables ($4) and bagels ($1.79) & Cream Cheese (at least this was B1G1F). Without those I would have spent $15.25 and saved $82.02 (84%). Oh well, gotta keep the kids happy on the plane, right?[/QUOTE]

You are supposed to ring this up seperately and not count it! HEHEHE! Then you can legitimately say "I saved 84% today!"

 

[ElizaB39]

I need to get my Albertsons/ACME ad out again and peruse it. These deals sound too good to pass up. I keep stockpiling though and wonder when to stop! I'm addicted.

 

[lillygator]

you Florida gals who are using this at Publix, how do you do it?

I just got charged as my trial is up and I haven't really used it...so now til Oct I need to use it to see if I want to continue. I have all the coupons plus Publix honors comp and has been sending out $5 off.....I just hate waiting til Sunday when she puts the list out...I wish it would come out when the ads do.

 

[geetey]

WTG, Nicolepa!!

Another question - do you still need to shop at Target/Walmart when you are such couponers or does it make more sense to just stick with the grocery store? I definitely stick to Target for my supplies and have never even checked the grocery store - I just assumed they were more expensive. Now I am wondering if I have been mistaken for the past couple of years!

 

[planning06]

Another question - do you still need to shop at Target/Walmart when you are such couponers or does it make more sense to just stick with the grocery store? I definitely stick to Target for my supplies and have never even checked the grocery store - I just assumed they were more expensive. Now I am wondering if I have been mistaken for the past couple of years!

So far I have found that there haven't been too many good deals on supplies at the grocery stores. It's mostly good deals on food. I have found some good health and beauty deals but not many cleaning supplies or paper products. But I've only been doing this 3 weeks.

I have found that I can get some great deals on cleaning supplies and paper products as well as health and beauty from drugstores. I'll just continue to see where the good deals are. These deals beat out normal Target and Walmart prices or sales.

 

[lbgraves]

The only thing that I get at WM is the Gum toothbrushes for free. They are .93 and there are always Gum product coupons out for 1.00 off any. Since WG has opened up here I get some cleaning supplies there but with doubles & a sale I usually stick with the grocery store.

 

[geetey]

but with doubles & a sale I usually stick with the grocery store.

I was afraid you were going to say that! <sniff, sniff> But I love my Target.... I guess I need to start looking at the grocery store and making some comparisons.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[lbgraves]

LOL! To be honest, I haven't had to buy many cleaners for a while. I stocked up with super $1 doubles & triples a couple years ago. Now I only buy when things are dirt cheap. Don't give up Target! That is where I do alot of my gift shopping when their clearance hits 75%.

 

[geetey]

Gotta LOVE Target and their clearance!!

 

[lbgraves]

LOL! I have been going thru mild withdrawls this summer.

 

[donnajon]

I always bought my cleaners and makeup at Target/WM too. Before I knew any better! An example, last month Publix had Soft Scrub with Bleach on sale BOGOF and I had two $.50 off coupons which doubled to $1.00 each. I think I ended up paying something like $.75 for a large bottle of the stuff. I also say that Kroger had Cover Girl makeup on sale $40% off and there were a bunch of $1.00 off coupons. I still like going to Target (can't say the same about WM) but I'm not buying as much there.

 

[Nicolepa]

WTG, Nicolepa!!

Another question - do you still need to shop at Target/Walmart when you are such couponers or does it make more sense to just stick with the grocery store? I definitely stick to Target for my supplies and have never even checked the grocery store - I just assumed they were more expensive. Now I am wondering if I have been mistaken for the past couple of years!

Actually I buy most of my cleaning supplies (I assume that's what you are talking about) at Walgreens or Rite Aid. With their rebates I usually can get 409, Mr Clean etc for <$1.00. I also get most of my shampoos there or at Target. Target runs some decent sales too, although not as often. Keep an eye out for their Dollar Days. With a coupon I can get ziplocks, shampoo's and such really, really cheap.

We don't have a Walmart nearby, so I have no idea what their prices are like.

 

[geetey]

Yes, I was referring to cleaning supplies, ziplocs, foil, laundry detergent, fabric softener, paper towels, toilet paper etc... basically all of that stuff we buy but can't eat.