the maximum you'll pay for certain items

[corrie43]

I was wondering if any stockpilers have certain items they will only get for free or under $1.

Mine is toothpaste. I will only get it for free now. I have over 10 tubes here and have discovered I can get at least 2 tubes a month for free with my coupons. I will no longer pay anything for regular toothpaste. I use crest or colgate or whatever is free.

kids Soap is a good one as well. I have about 8 johsons buddie bars that I have gotten for free so I see no need to pay for soap any more. If I can get it free I will grab it, but otherwise I will pass.


Cereal I will not pay more than $1 a box. I have 30 boxes stockpiled and will not pay more than $1 or maybe $1.25 for my fave brands.
I have a daycare so one box of cereal lasts one meal or snack, so we go through a lot, but it seems to always be on sale at shaws and with coupons and their deals for free milk ect I get it very cheap..

Anything you have decided you will only get free or very cheap??

[ChetMC]

Rock Bottom Prices

There are a number of things that I know the rock bottom price for, and I will hold out for that price. I also spend a lot of time comparison shopping to make sure we get the best deal when we buy something that I don't specifically track the price of.

Airline tickets - I watch fares for the destinations we travel to. I know what the best price is, and I'll book when I see that price (taking into account the time of year).

Kids Clothes - I've figured out the coupons and mark down cycles at the stores we typically shop at. I hold out for $5 sleepers at Carter's and Children's Place. I often pick up $8 sweaters at Gymboree online by shopping clearance and using coupons. It was a big deal last week when we paid $12 a piece for Laura Ashley easter dresses at Costco, though I felt better when I saw similar dresses at Macy's for $50.

Movies - We don't go to movies often, but when we do, I typically hold out for cheap night.

For stuff like cleaning supplies and personal care products we mostly buy in bulk rather than clipping coupons, watching flyers and stocking up on sales. I'll just buy a gallon of dish soap and not need to buy it again for another 8 months, or we get a six pack of toothpaste when we run out. The thing is though, we're originally from Canada and we don't have the same kind of double coupon schemes where you end up getting stuff for free there. I'm only starting to get used to the whole coupon thing here in the US!

I've also figured out what to not bother shopping around for. As near as I can tell, there are no deals to be had on Persil laundry soap. It's imported, and it's basically the same price everywhere. When we bought our car, people warned us that VW dealerships don't really deal. They might knock $1,000 off the price and that's it. We tried two VW dealerships, one wouldn't budge on the price AT ALL and the other knocked a $1,000 off. Everybody we'd talked to had the same experience.

[Tilia]

Yep!

Toothpaste: Free or 50 cents per tube
Baby wipes: $1/tub (or 17 cents for the Huggies Clean Team ones when they have the $3/2 coupon out)
Chicken broth: 50 cents/can or $2 for a 50 ounce can
Frozen veggies: 50 cents/bag
Canned beans: 50 cents

[NullSet]

I'm almost embarrassed to post my maximums for clothing. I buy only previously owned for the entire family (except undies and bras). My usual maximum for children's stuff is $1.00. It has to be super-spectacular for me to go over that. For mine and dh's clothes the maximum is $2.00. : I also refuse to pay 3 dollars for any sort of coffee drink!

[Staceyy]

2 liter soda will not pay more than $1
butter not more than $1.99 lb

[Jenelle]

Originally Posted by Tilia

Chicken broth: 50 cents/can or $2 for a 50 ounce can

I am very, very interested in how you are getting chicken broth this cheap. I have been watching, watching, watching, for it to go on sale (we shop Meijer mostly) and it just never. does.

I will never pay for toothpaste again as long as CVS is paying me to take it.

I'm with the pp about wipes for $1.00/tub. We have tried many, and only like Huggies unscented. Now that I know I can get them for $1.00/tub w/ coupons and sales, I *stock up* and will not buy them again until I can get this price.

Cereal -- I am at a point where I will not get it unless it is free. We do not eat that much cereal (although, yes, we've been eating more of it since I have been getting it so cheap!). So, for us to have like 5-6 opened boxes in the cabinet, and another 10 in our "storage" container... Is a bit much. I have had to tell myself no. more. paying. for. cereal.

[hollytheteacher]

I don't get it...how exaclty are you getting this stuff for free? I mean, i have seen coupons for buy 2 get 1 free...is that what you mean?

[sogriffin]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

I don't get it...how exaclty are you getting this stuff for free? I mean, i have seen coupons for buy 2 get 1 free...is that what you mean?

Manufacturer's coupons+Store coupons+Sales= Free, or really close to it

And drugstores like Walgreens and CVS will have weekly or monthly deals that come out to tons of free/super cheap toothpaste, etc

I track my grocery store's deal on Hot Coupon World. They break down the weekly deals for pretty much every store possible.
Its a little overwhelming at first (at least it was for me) but now its just habit. I can't imagine shopping any other way, lol.
There's actually a ton of websites that will give you the scoop on deals, but I personally like Moneysavingmom.com as a good place to start.

[Adamsmama]

subbing

I only buy used clothes (or wait for hand-me-downs!) for the kids ... we have gotten some really good deals on craigslist/trading boards/ebay for kids clothes.

[corrie43]

I just recently learned how to work cvs and walgreens and I will never again pay for toothpaste. That was the first thing I learned that there is always a sale somewhere to make it free. Even regualr grocery sotres sometimes seel it for $1 and with a coupon it is free.

You do need to get a weekly paper and start clipping coupons or look online in places like redplum or coupons.com.

Afullcup.com or becentsable.com are to great places to start. I am actually so exited to learn this way of shopping I am thinking of teaching a cloass on how to do it in my local area...

I shop mostly second hand or end of season sales for clothes. I do not like to pay more than $5 for brand new items or $2 for used.

[seeing_stars]

Couponing has really changed my buy prices!

Toothpaste: FREE
Kids soaps: FREE
Shampoo, conditioner, body wash: max $1
Listerine: $2/bottle
Wipes: $1 tub, but I've been getting Huggies trial packs (32-40 ct) Free with $1/1 Huggies Bath and Body coupon+store sale

93/7 ground beef: $1.99/lb
Milk: $2/gal
Canned beans $.50
Cereal $1 box
Granola bars: $1 box
Fruit snacks: $1 box
Canned soup: $.50/can

I will splurge on clothes/shoes because I can make up for the difference in other areas, but I really like to buy Hannas on ebay for less than $9/piece (mainly zippers)

[Jenelle]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

I don't get it...how exaclty are you getting this stuff for free? I mean, i have seen coupons for buy 2 get 1 free...is that what you mean?

For example, CVS has Crest Pro Health toothpaste this week, 2.99 and you get back 2 extra care bucks. (Which are like money you can use in their store.) So, 0.99 for the toothpaste. I had a 1.00 coupon, so they actually paid me to take the toothpaste off their hands.

[AlmightyIsis]

Dish soap, always on sale with coupon at either CVS or Walgreens

[Mosaic]

I haven't bought a razor since 1995 (and yes, I shave daily)! I manage to find plenty for free online.

Movies: we never rent or go out, and only buy DVDs for less than $5.

I also don't buy canned beans anymore since you can get so much more for <$1/lb.

[Honey693]

2 liter soda - $1
jeans for me - $25
85/15 ground beef - $1.99
cereal - $2.25/box

[cristina47454]

Where are you guys getting wipes for free? And how? Recently bought generic and HATED them, but even with the rebate, they were still $4. I like the huggies for $1 idea much better! Is this a CVS type deal? A grocery store find? Do tell!

[Jenelle]

Huggies tubs go on sale at Meijer 2/4.00. My 0.50 coupons double to 1.00 off.

Also when Kmart doubles coupons -- I got this same deal.

[2cutiekitties]

I am envious about the toothpaste. I can only use Toms of Maine spearmint. I gag (even threw up once) otherwise! What a bummer for me and my pocketbook.

[~PurityLake~]

The prices you have all listed on this thread just depress me. Those prices simply don't exist in my town.

Due to the expensive prices here, I just don't do some of those things, like going out for a movie, buying children's soap, etc.

[Shelsi]

I hate the whole CVS Extra Care Bucks thing because I don't always get back there in time before my bucks expire. However I still get toothpaste free through Walgreens and local grocery stores that double coupons. Also I've got the use of the commissary and sometimes I make money with coupons which is awesome.

Toothbrushes, I don't spend more than $0.50.
Shampoo, conditioner no more than $1
Same for body wash except sometimes I "splurge" on my fave kind and spend about $1.50.

We can't do much with food because of our allergies and we have to be really brand specific but I don't typically spend more than $2/box on cereal.