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

[ElizaB39]

I personally do NOT buy more than one newspaper. I'm also not doing a huge stockpile but I am trying to stockpile as much as I can. You'd be surprised if you take everything out of your cupboards and reorganize, how much more room you have. I also cleaned out my garage(what a job, yuck!) and made alot more room for storage of certain items out there. Anyhow, I'm certainly not experienced at this, I just started a month ago but it seems to be working. I would say you have to stockpile to a certain extent or you really can't benefit because you'll always have a lot of needs you'll have to pay full price for.

I only buy one paper and ask my MIL and SIL for their coupon inserts. MIL goes through hers first, so does SIL, but they don't use as many coupons as I do so they save and sometimes send their inserts to me. While they are similar to mine, they are not the same as far as value of coupons. This past weekend, I had several under $1 reynolds wrap coupons and MILs were all for $1. Thus, I can't triple hers and I can triple mine!

 

[JennaTX]

Okay, I tried my first trip this Sunday, I shop at our local HEB (across the street and seems to have the best prices) and I spent what I normally spend, but definately got a lot more. I saved about $15.00 in coupons. The only thing I don't know is what I saved as far as really shopping the sale prices, HEB only shows your coupon saved amount, not regular price to what you paid. I was very happy with the savings, and it was definately easy to use. I am already a coupon clipper, so that is no big deal to me. Now I just need to work on my stockpile. Thanks to everyone on this thread for the great hints!

 

[donnajon]

I, too notice that a few of my coupons didn't match up to the list this week. That hasn't happened very often but it makes me wonder what coupons I am getting that the list is not and thus, what rock bottom price might I miss. I have seen a few things on the list that a coupon wasn't listed for but I had one. Now, most of those were Smart-Source.com so they wouldn't be listed.

Anyway, I had a really good week this week. At Publix, I spent $45 and saved $57 and at Super Bi-Lo (non-list store) I went Friday and got $70 worth of groceries for $20 and on Sunday, I got $120 worth for $47. The cashier (a young guy - those are always good ones to get. They never question coupons!) said I was "pretty impressive!" My Bi-lo handed out a ton of flyers that had coupons for free store brand bread,frozen waffles, crackers, cookie jar cookies, yogurt and sandwich bags. No purchase necessary and the best part is that they don't expire until November! We'll be quite stockpiled on those items!

 

[luckofthedraw]

Thanks for the thermos tip. Now I've got one!

Today at the check-out line, the cashier noticed that I had a couple of clearanced items. He told me that I might want to check back in the next few days, because they "sure had a lot of clearance". I asked if they were redoing the freezer department, and he said, "No, we've (corporately) bought most of Winn-Dixie's sell-offs".

On the way out, it occurred to me that there were several clearance locations in this store, and usually there is NO clearance. So, if you live in an area with a Harris Teeter, you might want to do a check for clearance items. Some buys weren't so great, but you only need a few goodies to make you happy.

By the way, I spent $104.40 on $229.40 worth of groceries in the last 2 days . Third time trying the grocery game. I'm not quite as good as some of you, but I'm learning every day. And you can't put anything else in my fridge or freezer.

I also ran into my first coupon cop yesterday. That's why I went shopping today too. You'd think I was taking money out of this woman's pocket.

 

[lillygator]

Ok - tonight was my first try - Publix...
saved $30.67
most were with Terri's coupons but I also had
$5 off
$2 off Publix coupons...so that helped.

Some of the items she had listed were not on sale...that threw me....

 

[ElizaB39]

This week I did a lot of shopping as we are getting ready for school and I am still stockpiling. Oh, and it was my birthday so anything goes for that special dinner!

Here are my results.

Redner's Warehouse Market - doesn't show what you saved
poptarts 8 ct. 3 for $5.00 1.33 each box, 6 boxes

Clemens, not a gg store, all fresh items
8.14 paid, nothing on sale

Giant
75.11 shelf price
43.08 paid
57% savings

CVS
this is where i realized my poptart mistake and I didn't have coupons for this item. Poptarts are on sale 2 large boxes for $5.00 and the pack on sale is the "get 4 free" box so you are actually getting 16 poptarts for the price of 12. So I could have gotten 32 poptarts for 5.00, instead of getting 24 for $5.00 like I did at redner's. Oh well, live and learn, I still paid less than normal for me!

Triscuits on sale for 1.99 a box, 3 boxes
bic soleil razors 3.99, 1.50 coupon
bookcovers, 4 at .99 each
pencils 5 for $1.00
After this purchase I got a bunch of register coupons so I went back today
Mt Dew buy one 12 pak get 2nd for a penny, bought 2 for 4.20, saved 4.18
3 packages of OREOS 1.99 each
two facial products, used coupon for 2.00
Total was 25.68 before savings of 11.18
had a $1 CVS buck
10.70 saved, 42% saved

Target
coupons totaled 8.78
bought 6 packages of goldfish, $1 off 3, and two of the packages had a free Whims with purchase of 2. Also had a swiffer coupon for $1.

Bought tostitos 3 for $5, good price and good product, bought 6 bags.

Won't detail everything else as some were clothing and cabinet hardware, and no, everything wasn't on sale.

Felt like I did well this week.

Eliza

 

[Forevryoung]

I will join the GG when I get back to school and start food shopping for myself (Saturday). But there was a deal in the paper that I couldnt pass up!

King Kullen
B1G1F Ragu pasta sauce I had a buy 2 get .50 off and they double (they double up to $1 =$1.99 off )

So I paid $1.18 for 2 Too bad I dont have more room in my car for groceries!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hit Albertson's today and saved 51%.

The month is still going and the money is out--so not sure how much I'll be able to buy for this weeks grocery game.

My totals for August:
Retail: $875.98
Paid: $535.39
Savings: $340.59 (39%).

My goal for September is $500 and 40% savings

 

[cruisnfamily]

Hit Albertson's today and saved 51%.

The month is still going and the money is out--so not sure how much I'll be able to buy for this weeks grocery game.

My totals for August:
Retail: $875.98
Paid: $535.39
Savings: $340.59 (39%).

My goal for September is $500 and 40% savings

Lisa, That savings number looks really, really good to me! Didn't you say you were spending tons more money than that on groceries before? You're definitely ahead of the game.

I'll wait 'til August is over and pull my totals out of quicken for you but I'm absolutely positive I spent way more than that. I'm getting great savings, I'm bringing home more food, but I'm actually spending more money at this point(I think, anyway). I figure it's 'cause I"m buying extras of those blue items to try to get a stockpile going. The savings better catch up with me soon!

I'm gonna try the Walgreens thing starting next week too with the free list on the grocery game.

 

[lillygator]

Lisa Loves Pooh - Terri doesn't have an Albertsons on her site for your area does she?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa, That savings number looks really, really good to me! Didn't you say you were spending tons more money than that on groceries before? You're definitely ahead of the game.

I was in denial before--so don't really know my true number....

But roughly--I would top $100 at the grocery store--a $20-$30 fruit/veg refill and those trips to the natural foods store. My hubby was clocking me at $1000+ per month for groceries. The savings on gg alone have practically paid for our freezer that we purchased .

We are only shopping for 3 now as he is on a field assignment and we just gave up diapers..which is why my shopping numbers are even this low I think. But with a good stock pile, it will not be an issue later on. Wahoo!!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa Loves Pooh - Terri doesn't have an Albertsons on her site for your area does she?

No--but I applied what I learned and have added that to my route. Between WD, Publix, and Albertson's, I'm doing well, I guess.

They have so many deals--I just stop in and get the deals and nothing more.

I had an off week due to going to Disney so I didn't use the GG this week.

 

[dtuleya]

I wish she had any of the grocery stores in my area.

 

[geetey]

My two local grocery stores are running what appears to my un-GG eyes to be some great deals. Lots of 10 for $10 specials, as well as half-off deals. Since GG isn't available here, and I can only use a max of 15 coupons, where would be the best place to see if these are truly *deals?

This is a link to Schnucks - http://www.schnucks.com/ad/ad.pl?adinfo=AkDkDLDBAgAhEAEBCVADCEBgBYAlEqDECJEPBnBKBoCTDWDfCwBJCAEXDhEYBlCVDtBoEDCkBhElAKCJDaCrEIAQEhBKCbCeDoATDSAdBkCHDoAgAhDnBiEgEJALBCBMDjAsBlBlBlCGBhCPBnCWAoEIBCDrAnCBCVBRBTDiDUBwBAvVCpDNAmBbDfEdCbEGBcBSAJARCJESCcClCcEuEbBAEMEhCxCNDaEDDVEsBWAIDsDFCRBwCfDbCdECENEuEAERArDj&page=1

And this is a link to Dierbergs - http://www.dierbergs.com/dierbergs.com/ad+specials/AdDisplay.htm?StoreID=2&AdHeaderID=661&type=pdf&key=asdfio2348u9asdf69834jhosdf87gfdkjo324789sdfhjladfgh23509809fdhjkrlejrtgjdf8dfg8dfg89j4kj3l4fdkje783nf84jf8r***4gj

Anyone want to take a look?

Now I am headed over to the Tech board to see why I can't post just the name of a link instead of all of the info (because those are some LONG links!)

 

[nsmith]

I have posted on this topic before, still not sure if I am going to continue with the grocery game after my intro is completed.

I hate to add monthy bills but I must report that I saved $40.00 on my grocery bill this week. Major savers were 4 clairol hydrience with one free. and lots of snacks stocked up for school lunches as well as cereal.

Normally I try to stay away from lots of processed foods (ie: boxes and bags) and try to buy meat, fruits and veggies. But the last few weeks I have "stock piled" tooth paste, deordorant and hair color as well as cereal.

I really like the convience of the cross reference of the add with the coupons. I don't even clipped all coupon ahead I just go to the circular and clip before I go to the store.

Now if I can keep my family from eating all the "extras" in one week .

 

[Shenzi]

I signed up for the $1 trial, but I found that it didn't do much for me. I track prices on a few of the things we buy frequently, so I know when a price is good enough to stock up. I was hoping the GG would do that for me, so I didn't have to keep track.

It was odd - my lists frequently did NOT list things that were advertised in my grocery circulars that were really good prices. I also didn't see any green items on my lists. Maybe my area just doesn't do green deals?

The other problem is that so many of the "blue" deals were packaged items, which I eat very little of. I discovered that I can much better control my weight if I make food myself.

I am happy for all you ladies who get value out of the grocery game. For those of you (like me) who don't get a lot of value, it's very easy to track prices on your own. I don't track every single item I ever buy, but I have found that we buy a lot of the same/similar things. I update my list with the sales circulars and also with my receipt - I don't wander through the store writing down prices.

I print out a copy of my list and take it shopping with me. That way I can see if the canned tomatoes on special really are a special price. If they are, I purchase them and update my list from my receipt when I get home - very easy to do. It takes me (at most) 10 minutes per week to update.

 

[planning06]

I'll wait 'til August is over and pull my totals out of quicken for you but I'm absolutely positive I spent way more than that. I'm getting great savings, I'm bringing home more food, but I'm actually spending more money at this point(I think, anyway). I figure it's 'cause I"m buying extras of those blue items to try to get a stockpile going. The savings better catch up with me soon!

I definitely think I have spent more this past month stockpiling, but I've bought a heck of a lot more than normal. This week there will be a good Kraft catelina promotion at one store and only a couple of items I want at my GG store. I'm planning on my total being much less this week though I will still get a lot of stockpile items through the Kraft promotion. I think the stockpile effect is starting to kick in a bit.

 

[planning06]

This thread is getting really long. How about we start a new thread each week? Maybe we can call it couponing - and the dates of that week.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This thread is getting really long. How about we start a new thread each week? Maybe we can call it couponing - and the dates of that week.

Good idea!

 

[ElizaB39]

I like the idea of a new thread each week. I will post my savings today as it is the last day of this week.

I had a local store offer unlimited triples. Well, I went this morning (7 am) to beat the crowds and didn't do as well as I had hoped. And, the cashier charged me for nectarines (I actually bought peaches which she also charged me for but she didn't zero out the $4.02 nectarines, also she didn't use a 'use me now coupon for .50 which would have tripled to 1.50 so I have to make a trip to get my 5.52 back!). That said here is how I did.

Shelf 135.96
I paid 70.94 (taking into consideration the 5.52 I will go back for)
total savings 65.02 or 52%

I didn't do as well as I had hoped. I ended up not using many of my coupons as they didn't carry the item or else it just wasn't a good enough deal, even with triples. This IS know as the local 'expensive' grocery store so I really had to check prices before putting anything in my cart. I am still collecting coupons from as many people as I can and trying to get my weekly bill to 100 or less.

Thanks for all the tips.