Comments on: Shopping Trip http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/ Where Martha Meets Real Life Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:27:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bette at Frugalmomx3 http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25164 bette at Frugalmomx3 Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:30:32 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25164 I live in Canada so we don't have any of the stores that you ladies mentioned. I've gotten in the habit of checking the clearance section for fruit and vegetables (especilly bananas)and also the bakery. I do use coupons but i've never been able to get my $200 grocery bill down to $2. For 5 people I'm usually at 100-150 a week. not bad for my area. I'm with you , I only clip the coupons for the things that my family will use, and tehn i combine it with a good sale. I live in Canada so we don’t have any of the stores that you ladies mentioned. I’ve gotten in the habit of checking the clearance section for fruit and vegetables (especilly bananas)and also the bakery. I do use coupons but i’ve never been able to get my $200 grocery bill down to $2. For 5 people I’m usually at 100-150 a week. not bad for my area. I’m with you , I only clip the coupons for the things that my family will use, and tehn i combine it with a good sale.

]]> By: Mary http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25130 Mary Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:52:17 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25130 Yes, I buy meat. Usaually look for sales in a small local market and when in any store I llok for reduced meat. I allways thought reduced meat that was gross! But if the meat is not dis-color, looks fine, I figure it a five minute ride home to the freezer. I've never had a problem with reduced meat. I only plan my meals around that inexpensive meat that I have on hand. Yes, I buy meat. Usaually look for sales in a small local market and when in any store I llok for reduced meat. I allways thought reduced meat that was gross! But if the meat is not dis-color, looks fine, I figure it a five minute ride home to the freezer. I’ve never had a problem with reduced meat. I only plan my meals around that inexpensive meat that I have on hand.

]]> By: Gina http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25126 Gina Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:21:24 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25126 I may have missed this elsewhere...but do you buy meat? If so, where? I may have missed this elsewhere…but do you buy meat? If so, where?

]]> By: Shonda http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25123 Shonda Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:45:08 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25123 Oh good, I'm so glad to know that I am not alone in the coupon world!! I thought I must be a really lousy shopper because I could never get my $200 grocery bill down to $20 or less!! We are a family of 5 and I manage to keep us around $500 per month, including toiletries and misc. non-food items.....thanks so much for your blog and the links to other like minded moms.....I am learning some great tips from all of you! Oh good, I’m so glad to know that I am not alone in the coupon world!! I thought I must be a really lousy shopper because I could never get my $200 grocery bill down to $20 or less!! We are a family of 5 and I manage to keep us around $500 per month, including toiletries and misc. non-food items…..thanks so much for your blog and the links to other like minded moms…..I am learning some great tips from all of you!

]]> By: Young Wife http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25107 Young Wife Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:10:41 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25107 How funny you should mention CVS. I had a friend tell me just yesterday that I needed to start shopping there with coupons and take advantage of the CVS bucks. How funny you should mention CVS. I had a friend tell me just yesterday that I needed to start shopping there with coupons and take advantage of the CVS bucks.

]]> By: Michelle http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25104 Michelle Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:26:50 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25104 I totally agree with the cvs shopping! I was really into it for a while, bit it seemed like I was putting so much out first. Then I would have weeks with nothing I was interested in and a ton of expiring extra bucks. I ended up using them to buy milk and other groceries that I could have gotten much cheaper at the grocery store or super target. Then I'd gave to start over collecting extra bucks all over again. Publix, my grocery store allows you to use 2 Q's on BOGOs, so I can usually get toiletries just as cheap without having to "front" money, then get back extra bucks. I totally agree with the cvs shopping! I was really into it for a while, bit it seemed like I was putting so much out first. Then I would have weeks with nothing I was interested in and a ton of expiring extra bucks. I ended up using them to buy milk and other groceries that I could have gotten much cheaper at the grocery store or super target. Then I’d gave to start over collecting extra bucks all over again. Publix, my grocery store allows you to use 2 Q’s on BOGOs, so I can usually get toiletries just as cheap without having to “front” money, then get back extra bucks.

]]> By: Andrea http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25096 Andrea Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:47:30 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25096 I feel so much better now!! I do save a ton by combining coupons with sales but I have never been able to get the $200 worth of groceries for $2 or whatever! I would imagine maybe those who do that are buying a whole lot of stuff that is free/almost free after coupons but if you have to add milk, produce, meat/chicken or whatever I don't see how you could do it. I was feeling bad I could never achieve THAT level of savings but I guess it is not the norm. I quit CVS shopping a while ago but we have a really good stockpile of shampoo, toothpaste, etc. I dread having to get back into it because you have to put money out of pocket to begin with and stuff there costs a lot. For a while it seemed they weren't running very good deals. I feel so much better now!! I do save a ton by combining coupons with sales but I have never been able to get the $200 worth of groceries for $2 or whatever! I would imagine maybe those who do that are buying a whole lot of stuff that is free/almost free after coupons but if you have to add milk, produce, meat/chicken or whatever I don’t see how you could do it. I was feeling bad I could never achieve THAT level of savings but I guess it is not the norm.

I quit CVS shopping a while ago but we have a really good stockpile of shampoo, toothpaste, etc. I dread having to get back into it because you have to put money out of pocket to begin with and stuff there costs a lot. For a while it seemed they weren’t running very good deals.

]]> By: TheHappyHousewife http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25092 TheHappyHousewife Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:30:37 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25092 I do think prices vary by state, which is one of the reasons we teamed up for this series. I live in a high cost of living area (Washington D.C.) and Kate and Jen live in lower cost of living areas, but I have access to more stores. Your prices seem really good. I shop at Aldi and while they have great prices, their stock rotates all the time. Last time I shopped there they didn't have bananas or strawberries, but I'll be back there again today. Toni I do think prices vary by state, which is one of the reasons we teamed up for this series. I live in a high cost of living area (Washington D.C.) and Kate and Jen live in lower cost of living areas, but I have access to more stores. Your prices seem really good. I shop at Aldi and while they have great prices, their stock rotates all the time. Last time I shopped there they didn’t have bananas or strawberries, but I’ll be back there again today.
Toni

]]> By: Mary http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25090 Mary Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:25:34 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25090 I'm glad to see were all in the same boat. I'm following each site of the "3/3/31" to get ideas from cooking to budgeting. Happy Housewife was the first site I found about six months ago to try to take hols of my groc. budget, then Bauty & Bedlem, now checking Stolen Moments. I'm wonder.....do we al pay different prices for items in differernt states? I'm a big Adlis shopper from Buffalo, NY. Family fo 6, 3 teenages. During the month of March I'm trying to keep the budget to $500. Theres no Harris Teeter or Costco here. We have Sam's Club, BJ's, Tops Market, Wegmasn and Aldis. This is what I wrote on Stolen Moments... in response to her Groc. Budget I do shop at Aldis and always thought their prices were the same everywhere…but I may be wrong. I live in Buffalo, New York. I have noticed that sometimes I go in there and they have hand printed price sign on certain items (must be immediate mark down, I gusss). Yesterday they had white whole grain bread for $.79 each! Not my favorite bread but good to have in the freezer. Other Aldis prices that are pretty consistent: Skim milk, gallon $1.69 (mine last fine) 200 ct tissue $1.19 1 ply 100 ct bath tissue (like Scotts) 4pk $2.29 Parmesan Ch (plastic shaker bottle) $2.49 White Flour 5# $1.39 Cereal usually $1.29-2.19 bx typically Cinn Graham Crackers $1.39 Rye Braed $1.49 Split Top Wheat $.99 usually$1.19 Peanut Butter $1.39 Nacho Chips $.99 Produce / Dairy vary: 3# MacIn. Apples $1.99- 2.29 Romaine Hearts 3 ea consistently $1.99 Strawberries 1#(right now)$1.99 Red Grape 2# $3.49-1.57 Dozen Lg Eggs $.89-.69 The things I like about Aldis are the layout is simple & quick to get thru the store, they typically keep items where they are, no coupons to worry about “did I remember those coupons?”(the price is the price), very basic & simple. Occasionally they will have non-food items at a great price. I bought a sink faucet there for $29, a bath rug 2×3 for $3.99, 2pk of ladies PJ bottom/yoga pants for $6.99. The clientele runs the gamete from ladies with Coach Purses and large diamonds to a homeless looking person. It makes me chuckle….a deal is a deal! Are your prices similar? What state are you in? I noticed coupon scan be differnt from area to area, why? I usually use coupons for the advertised wkly items, that we will use. I’m glad to see were all in the same boat. I’m following each site of the “3/3/31″ to get ideas from cooking to budgeting. Happy Housewife was the first site I found about six months ago to try to take hols of my groc. budget, then Bauty & Bedlem, now checking Stolen Moments. I’m wonder…..do we al pay different prices for items in differernt states?

I’m a big Adlis shopper from Buffalo, NY. Family fo 6, 3 teenages. During the month of March I’m trying to keep the budget to $500. Theres no Harris Teeter or Costco here. We have Sam’s Club, BJ’s, Tops Market, Wegmasn and Aldis. This is what I wrote on Stolen Moments… in response to her Groc. Budget

I do shop at Aldis and always thought their prices were the same everywhere…but I may be wrong. I live in Buffalo, New York. I have noticed that sometimes I go in there and they have hand printed price sign on certain items (must be immediate mark down, I gusss). Yesterday they had white whole grain bread for $.79 each! Not my favorite bread but good to have in the freezer. Other Aldis prices that are pretty consistent:

Skim milk, gallon $1.69 (mine last fine)
200 ct tissue $1.19
1 ply 100 ct bath tissue (like Scotts) 4pk $2.29
Parmesan Ch (plastic shaker bottle) $2.49
White Flour 5# $1.39
Cereal usually $1.29-2.19 bx typically
Cinn Graham Crackers $1.39
Rye Braed $1.49
Split Top Wheat $.99 usually$1.19
Peanut Butter $1.39
Nacho Chips $.99

Produce / Dairy vary:
3# MacIn. Apples $1.99- 2.29
Romaine Hearts 3 ea consistently $1.99
Strawberries 1#(right now)$1.99
Red Grape 2# $3.49-1.57
Dozen Lg Eggs $.89-.69
The things I like about Aldis are the layout is simple & quick to get thru the store, they typically keep items where they are, no coupons to worry about “did I remember those coupons?”(the price is the price), very basic & simple. Occasionally they will have non-food items at a great price. I bought a sink faucet there for $29, a bath rug 2×3 for $3.99, 2pk of ladies PJ bottom/yoga pants for $6.99. The clientele runs the gamete from ladies with Coach Purses and large diamonds to a homeless looking person. It makes me chuckle….a deal is a deal!

Are your prices similar? What state are you in? I noticed coupon scan be differnt from area to area, why? I usually use coupons for the advertised wkly items, that we will use.

]]> By: TheHappyHousewife http://thehappyhousewife.com/cooking/shopping-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25086 TheHappyHousewife Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:05:43 +0000 http://thehappyhousewife.com/?p=10177#comment-25086 I didn't need any meat because my last trip (in February) I stocked up so now I literally have a freezer full of meat. I only buy meat when it is on sale, so I don't purchase it every trip. Thanks for asking, I meant to address that in the post but forgot. Toni I didn’t need any meat because my last trip (in February) I stocked up so now I literally have a freezer full of meat. I only buy meat when it is on sale, so I don’t purchase it every trip. Thanks for asking, I meant to address that in the post but forgot.
Toni

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