The grocery game

[Mellie2162]

Has anyone tried this? www.thegrocerygame.com If so, is it worth it? Have you saved a lot?

 

[xboxundone]

I have never used it but read a lot about it and hear about tons of people SAVING hundreds at the stores the key is buildign up stock pile of coupons and only buy the items they suggest at times they suggest and stock up. It is time consuming but it saves money!

 

[PlaneJoy1]

I've just started and can see where you can really save once you have your stock of coupons. The "game" is really stockpiling while things are on sale, with the coupons that you have.

My normal saving when I shop is ~15-20% with the coupons I use and store card. Last trip (my first with GG) I saved 33%.

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I did the trial but didn't like it or find it useful. I've been doing my own grocery game using the online store flyers and my coupons. Plus it's more fun browsing the ads!

 

[CherylA]

I use it and I like it. I used to do it all myself but time is limited now and I find it easier to look at Teri's list than scope the ads on my own. I do pretty well but I used to do better on my own. The time saved is worth the small fee though.

 

[poohbearrules]

I have been using Teri's List for over a year. I have 3 kids and run a home daycare. It saves me a lot of money. Some weeks are better than others, but I love it.

 

[musicdude]

We have been using the grocery game for over two years. Some weeks I save a lot some weeks not so much. Sometimes because of stockpiling I can skip most of my weekly trip. The best I have ever done was over $200 worth of groceries for less than $20. Honest to God truth. It is worth every penny of the $1.25 a week. Give the $1 trial a go, what do you have to lose except a hefty grocery bill. Another site to try is www.couponmom.com it is free. I use their virtual coupon organizer all the time. Good luck!

 

[lbgraves]

This is a fantastic thread from last year that has ALOT of great info in it. Many of us looked over the websitte & you can find out how it worked or didn't for us.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=869489&highlight=grocery+game

 

[KaitlinsMom]

Just wanted to say that I use it and I love it! I don't have to go every week now since I have stockpiled - But it is worth it to me -

Karen

 

[cruisnfamily]

I use it and LOVE it!

Here's a link to a thread of mine that gives some numbers: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=977182

 

[denisekayt]

I just wanted to post a reply to thank the OP for this thread! After coming across your thread yesterday I decided to sign up for the $1 trial of the grocery game....I bought the Sunday paper today, and using the list this morning went armed to the grocery store.

I bought $106.38 worth of groceries and only paid $57.04! That's a savings of 47%!

Now, it should be said that since I had already done my main grocery trip this week, this trip was ONLY to buy those items from the list which we commonly use. So in the future, if I combine my normal trip with the list trip the % of savings won't be as high. BUT, all the items I bought today are ones we normally use and so I won't be needing to buy them in the near future at what would be higher prices!

WOW!

 

[Shugardrawers]

The major flaw in the grocery game is with the coupons. Coupons are usually for highly refined foods such as cereal, crackers and the like. We've gone to eating mainly fruits, veggies and meats so about 80% of the coupons were for things we don't buy anymore. Also, it works best for families with children and not childless couples or singles like us. That being said, for families who actually use the products the coupons are for it's a savings bonanza. Also, you need LOTS of storage space. In a 1 bedroom apartment we don't have it.

 

[Mellie2162]

Well thanks for all of the replies...my problem is I dont come across coupons all that much. We dont get the Sunday paper and it seems like the online coupon sites make you jump through hoops to get them. I really could use a break in the groceries though...this really seems to be one of our major problem areas. My kids tend to try to eat as much as they can when they see I have a stockpile. I wont let them do it if I can but a lot of times they do it when im working and not paying attention. Does anyone else's kids do this?

 

[ReneeQ]

I'm going to agree AND disagree with Shugardrawers. True, MOST of the coupons and the best deals are on highly processed foods. But not ALL. I still get some great deals on cleaning products, paper products, etc. I've also gotten great deals recently on Sunmaid raisins, Quaker oats and Kashi cereal. Though those are not "whole foods" it's still better than some of the other stuff.

It's just my husband and myself, no kids, and I find I save a good bit of money. I did do the trial to the Grocery Game, and then subscribed for 10 weeks, but canceled after that. We don't get the BIG Atlanta paper in my area, so I don't get all of the good coupons the list called for. Now I do couponmom.com, and though I still don't have all the coupons needed (and thus can't get all the deals), I'm not paying for the service, so it doesn't bother me as much.

Storage IS a problem, but with it just being two of us, I don't need to stockpile as much as a large family, so don't need as much space. I use my pantry area, plus an additional shelf in a closet, and if it doesn't fit there, I don't buy it.

Also, if I can get something free or 90% off, I will even get things we don't use, and donate them to our church food pantry, my mom, etc.

If it looks like something you'd be even slightly interested in, I think it's definitely worth the $1 trial. I would recommend building up your coupons a few weeks before signing up, as most of the coupons they'll call for will be for previous weeks.

 

[Clancycat]

I used to subscribe but have found that I can do the same thing on my own. It takes a bit of time to search thru the store flyers and then thru my coupons but I enjoy it and I save a ton of $$$.


For someone who doesn't have the time or inclination to do it themselves, the cost of the subscription can be well worth the price. The price of the sunday paper is also well worth the cost. The amount you save using the coupons is much more than the expense of either of them.

The list will tellyou when meats, eggs, milk, produce etc are at rockbottom prices, so it can help even if you don't buy any of the boxed or prepackaged foods on the list. You can also save so much on toiletries, paper goods, cleaning supplies, pet supplies, etc I will never pay full price for toothpaste, deodorant or shampoo again .

Good luck!

 

[ckoncurat]

I tried it and found I consistantly spent MORE than usual. It was just too tempting to get extra snacks, toilitries, etc. None of the grocery game prices ever beat ALDI's prices, so I'm sticking to ALDI.

 

[can'twait]

I find the best way to save money is not to go to the store.

Seriously, I buy milk, bread, fruit, every week. We plan one or two meals per week and eat leftovers or a can of soup or eggs or sandwiches the other nights. We don't have the time or energy to make detailed dinners more than once or twice, and if we did, we would end up tossing the leftovers. We've been buying meat and cereal at Costco. We've been trying to cut out the processed foods, like pasta & sauces, potatoe chips, etc. I used to do coupons but I can't be bothered anymore. I don't have time to sit and sort through them and I finally decided would only use them for items I would buy anyway, but it didn't seem like there were enough of those to warrant buying the newspaper just for that, because I don't have time to read the rest of the paper. And then I would forget them at home or spend half the time at the store looking through the stack of coupons. And half of them would be expired. Ugh! Not worth it!

 

[nbodyhome]

The major flaw in the grocery game is with the coupons. Coupons are usually for highly refined foods such as cereal, crackers and the like.

Same here. Over half, maybe 2/3 of what I buy is fresh - milk, meat, veggies and fruits (frozen and fresh), etc. I try not to throw much out - and I often end up with store brand items instead of coupons items (not always, it depends on the item - but like, I prefer Target instant oatmeal at $1.52 over Quaker). I wait until Publix has a sale, or a buy 1 get 1, and I shop at Sams, SuperTarget and BJ's on Saturdays along with Publix (all within about 4 miles of me). I check the Super Target site before I go shopping...I picked up some Hamburger Helper type meals with coupons last week for .02 each. I didn't buy many, because I prefer to cook fresh.

I used to do coupons like crazy, refunding, occasional free trips to the grocery store (a number of years ago). Quite frankly, I couldn't do it now - because of the way I shop. I don't eat as cheaply as I used to - my main lunch item will be a large smoothie in a few minutes which costs approx $1.75 for me to make (banana, frozen strawberries, other berries, low sugar Oj, yogurt, etc.) - but I do it as cheaply as I can from the stores I go to.

Denise

 

[nbodyhome]

I do use some coupons - for cat litter, etc. I can walk to Publix, get their circular on Thursday, and plan for the week. Most weeks, I buy nearly the same thing. Milk is cheaper at Sams Club by nearly $1.00 from anywhere else I go (currently around $2.49 for skim). They have frozen strawberries, a 6 pound bag for around 7.50. A 3 pound bag of assorted berries for about $6.49.

I pick up the Dannon Yogurt at Target (low-fat, their brand is not) for $1.79 or so. Fruits and veggies depend on who is having a sale. I buy mostly the same stuff every week, so I have an idea of what I am paying already (and the best prices). I stockpile on non-perishables when on sale/clearance, like I'm stocked for nearly a year at least on femine hygiene, shampoo, conditioner, etc. I buy liquid soap by the gallon, and if I get a great buy on toilet paper, I'll buy tons. I love the warehouse stores for stuff like fish oil pills, frozen items, vitamins, clothes, meat, etc.

And I love that with my crockpot, I can take a bunch of fresh food and easily turn it into a wonderful, inexpensive meal.

Denise

 

[grlpwrd]

I tried it and found I consistantly spent MORE than usual. It was just too tempting to get extra snacks, toilitries, etc. None of the grocery game prices ever beat ALDI's prices, so I'm sticking to ALDI.

I just want to thank you for mentioning Aldi's. I see your location on your profile is Maryland and I have heard about it for years on mycoupons.com yet the Virginia location is very far from me. My dh works in Baltimore and I checked their store locator on their website and I see they have 3 convenient locations for him. I'll have him check it out and I will make a trip when we stay with him. I know so much about them already - just never got the chance to go until now.

Again .. thanks so much!