Is it just me, or...(grocery store sales) - Page 2

[yeahwhat]

Originally Posted by mommy2maya

I find great sales on canned beans/tomatoes often. I can get 10 28oz cans of various tomato products (crushed, diced, sauce, puree, whole) for $6.90 every 4-6wks. I buy 20 cans, and it lasts a long time. Same for beans. Dried beans, not so much.

I'm jealous, because I'm happy if I can find the above for .99/can.

[Smocked]

I don't know if I'm lucky because of the area I live in, but I definitely see flour, sugar, beans (dried and canned), canned tomatoes and pasta go on sale. I'll admit I know that we have great produce prices because I live in an agriculturally rich area...pears for 29 cents a lb, apples 60 cents. I'm not sure how our meat compares because I was a vegetarian for so long and I exclusively buy at costco for meats.

I totally agree with those that think coupons are a bust! The only thing I can reliably use coupons for is the cheaper brand bacon...

[Bookworm715]

Originally Posted by Smocked

I don't know if I'm lucky because of the area I live in, but I definitely see flour, sugar, beans (dried and canned), canned tomatoes and pasta go on sale. I'll admit I know that we have great produce prices because I live in an agriculturally rich area...pears for 29 cents a lb, apples 60 cents. I'm not sure how our meat compares because I was a vegetarian for so long and I exclusively buy at costco for meats.

I totally agree with those that think coupons are a bust! The only thing I can reliably use coupons for is the cheaper brand bacon...

Wow, those are great prices! I'm originally from the midwest and was shocked when we moved west- it's a HCOL area that doesn't grow much (mountainous) and everything is so $$$$. DS loves apples and I'm happy when I can find them for $1.25/lb. A lot of times they're higher than that...$0.60?!?!?!?! I can't even imagine! It's so wonderful, though, that in a lot of areas, people can eat healthy foods cheaper than they can junk. Here, Hamburger Helper will set you back a few bucks but fresh things cost an arm and a leg. (However, obesity was a HUGE problem in the midwest and isn't here. Go figure! lol)

[lmonter]

Originally Posted by canuckgal

Do you find that if you eat healthy and BASIC and as little prepackaged as possible that there are almost never good sales in the flyers????

OK, rant over, LOL! Anyone else find the same thing???

Um, yeah. I have friends that are huge into couponing. Drives me nuts when they talk about it - because I don't buy cases of Capri Sun or Hamburger Helper or Glade scented candles and so on. Groovy for them, but their coupons don't get me 300lbs of apples.

What I've found coupons for is just Quaker oatmeal and Campbell's soups, that's about it besides the occasional Albertson's and Catalina deals. Oh, the 25lb bags of sugar went on sale at our local (Mormon-run, so they're into canning) grocery store for $9-$10/bag in the height of canning season - normally the bags are $15+ now, and two years ago they were $7.98. But they don't exactly flash deals like that so everybody's fully aware of it.

It takes time/money to grow your own food - be it fruits, vegetables or meats. Since we've gotten into it a bit (growing the fruits/veggies part) we're definitely a bit more flexible if we find something that's just really high quality or we know the grower.

[Leta]

Originally Posted by lmonter

Oh, the 25lb bags of sugar went on sale at our local (Mormon-run, so they're into canning) grocery store for $9-$10/bag in the height of canning season - normally the bags are $15+ now, and two years ago they were $7.98. But they don't exactly flash deals like that so everybody's fully aware of it.

Yes! I watch for green and black olives to go on sale 10 for $10, but for some reason, they never advertise this. Also, I sort of half-a$$ed watch for 10 for $10 juice and I might pick up 2 or 3 extra jars of sale priced peanut butter, but both of these things we get thru WIC, so I'll get more if we are expecting to eat more of them (like DSS is going to be here, holidays, or company coming, that sort of thing). Plus, PB is one of our few brand loyalties- we buy store brand natural PB for under $2/jar normally (and with WIC), but sometimes it goes on sale for $1.50. Again, this stuff is never advertised. You have to be in the store.

[BetsyS]

We are lucky that our stores run specials on staples, too. I regularly get canned tomatoes, pasta, rice, dried beans (not as often, so I stock up when this goes on sale...maybe 2-3 times a year), cheese, sour cream, flour (usually at the holidays...I try to buy at least 6 months worth, cause I love a certain brand), sugar (once a year at $0.99/5 pounds, but regularly $1.99/5 lbs), tuna, canned anchovies, and mayo (another beloved staple in our house).

Our stores do run specials on fruits and vegetables, but they are rarely as good as the regular prices at our international markets, so I usually shop there for produce.

[Pepper44]

I have noticed that the sale flyers in the Sunday paper are mostly full of junk food. It's terrible because my DH will look at it and then start adding stuff to the list that I wouldn't normally buy or eat, just because it's on sale.

Here we have Meijer and Kroger as the two main grocery chains. We also have Walmart, but I really don't like to buy groceries there...our local Walmart is so dirty and disorganized.

Meijer often has organic food on sale. When produce is in season they will have organic produce on sale. This year I got organic broccoli for 88 cents a pound. Apples were just on sale, 3 lbs for a dollar for delicious Honey Crisp apples!! They also advertise that their regular produce (again, in season) comes from a local farm. They have a huge produce selection. Bananas are usually 49 cents to 60 cents a pound. Sometimes the organic spinach is on sale, the fresh herbs too.

Meijer also has their own brand of organic dairy and other organic products. I see the dairy on sale a lot, but we buy local milk with the cream on top instead. They have delicious organic instant oatmeal that I buy boxes of on sale. You can buy 20 pounds of long grain jasmine rice for $10 in a huge bag.

The thing is, most of these items are never in the flyer. I don't know why. Sometimes Meijer has a small organic section in their ad, but it's easy to glance over and miss it. You have to go to the store and look at the shelves to find the good stuff on sale.

[Kyamo]

For coupons that's certainly true. For sales, I don't think it is. A lot of the flyer is devoted to packaged stuff, but that doesn't mean the other stuff doesn't go on sale. I don't buy very much processed food at all (mostly just condiments) and I save a huge amount of money shopping sales. There's usually one page in most of the flyers devoted to vegetables. (not sure if this is true for Superstore, its far from here so I usually don't read thatone) Yesterday I just bought apples that were on sale $1.74 for a 4lb bag at No Frills! And even without true sales, the prices of fruits and vegetables fluctuate every week, so I can buy whatever's a good price that week. Meat (freeze it!) and cheese goes on sale very often and that is in the flyers as well. Flour and sugar goes on sale in the flyer sometimes. And don't forget that not everything that is on sale is in the flyer. You may find a sale sticker on the dried beans even if it isn't in the flyer.

[Norasmomma]

I don't find that at all-I mean there are those things, but much of what is on sale here is basics. I also do coupon and I do get coupons for those things-but I buy coupons so there is a larger variety. I just bought a bunch of organic butter coupons, coconut milk and coffee. I also live in a produce area, so that's usually cheap. Last week the local store had a fall baking sale, so I stocked up on flour, sugar, choc. chips.

[GuildJenn]

I live in Toronto and I find there are sales on basics, especially seasonal produce (right now apples, squash, potatoes, parsnips, etc.) and rice, pasta, canned tomatoes, that kind of thing. This week my loss leader items are (Food Basics):

- clementines
- cheese
- raw almonds

And at Valu-Mart where our library is anyway there's pasta, sole (frozen)

and had I not done a CSA it would be cabbage, green beans, and spinach

Flour should be going on sale soon as a holiday baking loss leader.

Dried beans rarely go on sale though, but sometimes they are marked down anyway.

[nichole]

This is the time of year to watch for oatmeal sales and flour sales. Next time you see something that is on sale that you usually buy, get A LOT OF IT. Get as much as you can fit in your house and you can eat before it goes bad.

We get the generic oats and it is really cheap. One store puts out a coupon for .99 for 18 eggs every month. Milk and bread are on sale depending on what store you go to. Sometimes it pays to go to more than one store.

Use coupons for your non food items. Toothbrushes and toothpaste are often free if you combine the sale with a coupon or rebate.

If you eat the pork that is on sale, get 2. One for this week and one for your freezer. I rarely pay more than 1.99 a pound for meat and I can get it for .99 a pound sometimes!

[Denvergirlie]

I am so surprised at these responses, I almost never pay full retail price on anything.

I find coupons and deals for all of this.

Organic's and lots of staples. I do find all these deals looking thru sales flyer as well as knowing my prices. Flour, yeast, beans, rice, oats, cheese, pasta and butter are all things that have coupons for. Pair them with a sale and pennies on the dollar if not free (I still have at least 8 lbs of challenge european butter in my freezer that I got like 35 pounds for free last winter with coupon and sale).

I will occasionally get coupons for these itmes but mainly have to watch sales for organic milk, baking soda, vinegar, buffalo, beef, chicken, fish and organic yogurt, so my savings percentage is lower, but never pay full retail on these items either. When thye do go on sale, I stock up thou.

I buy a few things in bulk at local Sunflower market. Nutrirtional yeast, brown rice, variety of nuts and dried fruits.

I'm just shocked that so many of you are not having success in this.

Sure, I see a LOT of stuff in the weekly sales flyers that I just won't ever use. But who cares, the stuff I want is going on sale as well, I just have to watch for it.
Say I have no food at home, just moved in.... It's not like I can just go to the store every week for a month and have a fully stocked supply of everything and have it all be half off retail.
I might have to buy honey and pay full price. But then next week that honey goes on sale, 40% off. I buy it, and buy 3-4 months supply. Everything goes on sale, sometimes it's just waiting for it, if it's possible to stock up, then do so.

I rarely find coupons for a ton of produce, but I almost can always find it on sale. Yes, some sale prices are still high, but it's still a discount. I eat more seasonally and meal plan.
No strawberries in December and but lots of apples and oranges, more berries in the summer, etc. I am stocking up on potatoes, onions, and winter squash, these are all on sale right now, and they kept well.

Meal planning helps a lot too.

I can easily feed our family of 2-5 (varied by day) for $200 a month without processed junk being consumed.

I do occasionally buy coupons on eBay and then wait for a sale to stock up.
Here are some auctions on eBay right now for organic coupons:
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=org...+goupon&_rdc=1




Best of luck to you all

[nichole]

Originally Posted by Denvergirlie

I can easily feed our family of 2-5 (varied by day) for $200 a month without processed junk being consumed.



Best of luck to you all

Wow that is amazing! I feed six people for about 400 a month. That includes paper products but does not include if we eat out on the weekend. Have you been doing this long? Maybe it takes time to get better. My bill keeps gradually going down. So far I haven't been able to include as many unprocessed items as you are. We are using some canned goods, frozen vegetables, conventional meat, etc. What kind of meats do you buy and how much do you pay? When we used to go to whole foods, chicken breasts were like $7 a pound!! Now I just stick to less than $1.99 a pound meats to stay in the budget.

[fruitfulmomma]

We have a Sprouts too and they do have a lot of great sales (like cheese or 90% ground beef for $1.99/lb.), so I check their flyer. I also can usually find more unadvertised sales in-store and often times some mark downs on stuff going out of date.

Other than that, I don't check the flyers. I used to but there is hardly ever anything in there and I am not going to waste money driving all over town to get one or two things for a few cents cheaper.

The only coupons I use are ones that either came on the actual product I bought or from the manufacturers website. I don't have time to waste checking ads for the very rare time when there might be something in there.

[Alyantavid]

Originally Posted by Smocked

I don't know if I'm lucky because of the area I live in, but I definitely see flour, sugar, beans (dried and canned), canned tomatoes and pasta go on sale. I'll admit I know that we have great produce prices because I live in an agriculturally rich area...pears for 29 cents a lb, apples 60 cents. I'm not sure how our meat compares because I was a vegetarian for so long and I exclusively buy at costco for meats.

I totally agree with those that think coupons are a bust! The only thing I can reliably use coupons for is the cheaper brand bacon...

I don't buy meat at the store, so I have no idea how expensive it is, but I do find lots of deals in the sales fliers. We spend $300-400 a month on groceries and I cook almost entirely from scratch. I think it must depend on your area. I live in a very agricultural area and can always get a good deal on produce. Whenever something's on sale, I stock up big time.

We do buy some canned or frozen items, but even sugar, flour, etc go on sale often enough and I get alot when they do.

I almost only ever use coupons for things like Ziplocs, toilet paper, etc. and rarely ever on food.

[eirual]

absolutely!

I saw large bags of flour were on sale the other week and sent DH out to get them once our new budget week started. He found that it was the big named bleached flour that was on sale...for the price of the unbleached flour we usually get!

I actually stopped getting flyers because you see all the cheap cr@p that you really don't need and if you were to buy it ontop of what you normally get would just up your grocery bill- it's not a deal if you're giving away money you wouldn't normally spend...no matter how cheap it is.

[mama2mygirl]

Wow. Two hundred. That's amazing.
I don't like the selling of coupons. It rubs me the wrong way.
I feed our family of four for twice that. I cook everything from scratch. Bake our own bread, etc. We eat almost no processed foods. I also buy very very little meat and eat a lot of lentils.

[gentlemango]

Originally Posted by Denvergirlie

I can easily feed our family of 2-5 (varied by day) for $200 a month without processed junk being consumed.

PLEASE share your shopping list! Typical meals?

We strive to be low grain and not eat factory farmed meats or dairy. I don't see how coupons or store sales would help us at all. $200 a month! That is unbelievable! Please help us out and share what you eat!

[mum4boys]

No I do not have this problem at all because I know the stores and when the sales cycles are. For example right now we are going to see a lot more coupons for flour, sugar and those kinds of staples on sale for the holiday. I do not buy food to feed my family that week. I buy to replenish my supply to last when it goes on sale again and that is how I can feed 3 teenagers, 11 year old, 10 year old, a 2 year old and husband on $300 a month. We do not eat prepackage food and we do eat a lot of organics fruit and veggies. If you want to take advantage of these sales start writing things down in a price book so you notice when things go on sale.

On the flipside, I do "buy" a lot of prepackage food well I get it for free through coupons so I can donate it to the food bank. I might not use it but someone will eat it.

[Norasmomma]

Originally Posted by mama2mygirl

.
I don't like the selling of coupons. It rubs me the wrong way.

May I ask why? For me I find that buying coupons gets me the ones I need in the quantity I like, plus I also am not getting 4 papers for 4 coupons. For our household this has become a huge way to save money.