BIGLOTs for non-coupon savings on groceries etc.

[katwoman]

Originally Posted by DivaJen

I have found several organic/natural brands of cereal at Big Lots recently, which was a pleasant surprise.

A topic worthy of its own (ongoing) thread:

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...ead.php?t=1855

Please feel free to contribute if you spot something at your BIG LOTS!

[DivaJen]

Do be careful of what you buy at Big Lots - the Simple Green multipurpose wipes canister I bought there a couple of weeks ago was EMPTY when I opened it, and Big Lots won't do anything to replace or refund without a receipt. Understandable to a certain extent, but who saves every receipt for things like that? Should I have expected the product to possibly be empty? What if I was stocking up and say, 6 months went by before I opened them? Woudl they have some sort of timeframe to do returns?

[Amorphous02]

Thank you DivaJen,
I am steering clear of those now.
I do have to say that Biglots is the next best thing to a bakery outlet.
SaraLee sesame seed buns(8) : $1.00
Brat buns : $0.79!!!
Angel cake (loaf) : $0.59!!
Thomas's english muffins : $0.29!!!!
Had I doubled my coupon for 0.30, I still would have paid $.45 ...

[cicy33]

Originally Posted by GoodBuyGirl

I'm sure you can find some good deals at BigLots But you should never pay for BBQ sauce. That is an item you can get free matching coupons with sales elsewhere.

Okay, now, i am a major couponer and I never get mine for free! We just don't have that good of coupons much less sales in this area. Good example, coupon for Kraft BBQ, .25 off, kroger is the ONLY store in my area to double (except for Schnucks and I have to travel 30 miles for that one, takes an hour to get there). Kroger cost: usually $1.19. Sometimes it is $1. Never less. Walmart price: .79 - $1.00 still not free. What sauce are you buying for free???? So far the absolute cheapest I am getting it without a rare triple sale (those do still exist right?) is .50.

[Amorphous02]

I did get Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce for free.
The coupon from SS was for $1.00, it was on sale for $0.99 at PicknSave. Had I waited for one more week , I would have gotten $0.11 since another store sold it for $0.89

[cicy33]

Unfortunately I live in a terrible coupon area. Kroger doubles to .50. and we have an IGA that doubles to .50. nothing else though. Kroger hasn't done a super double or a triple in over 3 years here. IGA sometimes has a triple but their prices are so high that only a good coupon gets free stuff. I wish sometimes I could visit a triple coupon store. ahhh to dream!

[Amorphous02]

I agree. One has to put up with high store policies in certain areas.
Its at times like this that one has to work on a better strategy.
Please visit
A) www.grocerycouponguide.com
B) Tracking savings before and after learning from Flash
I am sure that you know more than we newbies do.
Are you on a coupon train?
I live close to Chicago. I might have to move there in future...
My aim is to learn from couponers like you and inspire others to save.
Good luck on savings. Do post your experiences , CICY33.

[cicy33]

I live in southern Illinois near Carbondale. It takes me about 45 minutes to get to carbondale. If you have to move here don't plan to save much with coupons. You really have to work HARD. I have tried coupon trains and usually end up with stuff I have never heard of. Or can't use. I generally only get coupons I can actually use. I do ebay alot with coupons. I don't do too bad, but I only save on certain stuff. Right now I am trying to get a really big potluck of good coupons but no luck so far. I really could use a great triple sale but that doesn't seem to happen here too much. Basically I focus on the ones that I can find and console myself that at least I am getting those items really cheap or free. gatorade is a big one I look for. V8 is another, usually with good coupons I can get those free or really cheap. Otherwise I just keep my eyes open. winetags are too much hassle here. the cashiers don't even know what they are because we don't get any in this area. You know the coke coupons? Lord that was a struggle for the first month! Now, not too bad, though I do have to watch and make sure they take all 5 off! I have heard that in the chicago area the stores are better for their sales.

[Amorphous02]

Thank you for your experiences with coupons.
I too have struggled so much with the coke coupons. Yes I brought back V8 for $0.55
I have saved much by using the website www.couponmom.com.
It co-ordinates the sales in certain grocery stores in all the states with the available newspaper coupons.
If you have Jewel osco/walgreens/riteaid in that part, then it should be a breeze.

When you visit www.grocerycouponguide.com, you will notice an article on the left hand side of the screen that says "$330 worth groceries for only $27.00."

May be you should be on atrain like the rest of us.
Take care. Please share more. May be I can send you my V8 if no one needs them on my train!!

[Amorphous02]

Since many members seem to be shopping at Kroger's, I decided to find out more about it. Heres what I found out ( Before you read this, I will have you know that when i used Flash's startegies in conjunction with "couponmom", I saved a LOT!!!)

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=1418850

I also use flash's methods to stockpile and find peelies to get conditional discounts on meat and produce...works every time.

[markio26]

i was at big lots this evening.. i could not find any deals at all... school supplies were about the same as wmt prices... the bread was outdated or dated for today... the canned goods were not on sale or at a lower price than savealot.. only seen organic spaghetti sauce and it was way overpriced.. can purchase it for a couple dollars less at giant eagle.... i have bought a few things in the past, but, not today..

[Kris10Leigh]

I did all my back-to-school shopping at Odd Lots today and probably spent around $40 for everything for my first grader. (I bought some other things too, so I'm not sure exactly) I thought we did pretty well, especially since our local news later said that parents spend on average $364 on school supplies for a child his age!

[cicy33]

Originally Posted by Amorphous02

Since many members seem to be shopping at Kroger's, I decided to find out more about it. Heres what I found out ( Before you read this, I will have you know that when i used Flash's startegies in conjunction with "couponmom", I saved a LOT!!!)

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/story?id=1418850

I also use flash's methods to stockpile and find peelies to get conditional discounts on meat and produce...works every time.

While I found this interesting I also think that it is only half true. In other words it is true for some people in some areas but not others.

Example 1: she says there are coupons for eggs, produce, etc. WHERE??? We never get those kind here. The only way that I get them is off ebay and sometimes coupon sites if they don't go so high that they are no longer worth my time! And where did the delmonte go? or the birds eye veg?

Example 2: she says that the majority of coupons are $1. Bull. Most of ours are .35 or .55 (just enough not to double) and the ones that are $1 are off 2. We get the crappiest coupons here. that is why I go to other places to get them. Please understand that I think that she has good ideas but people also need to be aware that some areas are just not good for coupons. When I lived in Lawton Ok. That was a great area!

[cicy33]

Originally Posted by Amorphous02

Thank you for your experiences with coupons.
I too have struggled so much with the coke coupons. Yes I brought back V8 for $0.55
I have saved much by using the website www.couponmom.com.
It co-ordinates the sales in certain grocery stores in all the states with the available newspaper coupons.
If you have Jewel osco/walgreens/riteaid in that part, then it should be a breeze.

When you visit www.grocerycouponguide.com, you will notice an article on the left hand side of the screen that says "$330 worth groceries for only $27.00."

May be you should be on atrain like the rest of us.
Take care. Please share more. May be I can send you my V8 if no one needs them on my train!!

I have a walgreens but not the other places. We are pretty basic here! I wouldn't mind being on a train but what if no one likes my crappy coupons! and I do mean crappy. I get all mine from sites that I can find. I am always looking for V8! my kids love it and I buy the single serve cans and I usually get them for either .09 or free.

[Kris10Leigh]

I read the part about a woman buying store brand items only spending $70 and the woman with coupons spending $35. I just don't buy it. Not here anyway. Even with hours spent on coupons, I can not imagine doing better than I do at Aldi's. I could do well with dairy and produce coupons, but I'm with Cicy on this one. Where are those? I see maybe one per year in an advertisement Kroger ocassionaly sends out in the mail.

[Amorphous02]

Dear all, especially cicy33,
Here is my strategy to avoid ending up with "crappy coupons" (worth only $0.35 for aproduct worth $2.79
1)Get the newspaper
Do you subscribe to a news paper?
I have gone to the extent of getting 3 news papers on sunday.
I make the money back in the deals I get.
2) talk to V8.
I can make a phone call and have them send coupons to YOUR address!!
They love it when you tell them why you like V8
Talk to all the companies you are interested in. I save $54.00 to date, thanks to flash and couponmom.
3)Form a coupon club in your area
4) get on a coupon train
collect reciepts and credit card statements, before and after using these methods.
5) As for finding meat coupons: turkey store and Carl buddig have $1.00 in their 8oz boxes.
I reserveBiglots for emergencies.
Egglands best sent my friend a coupon for 60 cents off in 2005. She told me so recently.
McDonalds and Burger king will send you some if you take a 5 min survey!!
Do write back. I ight in future move to an area with Kroger. I am a little scared.
What you say is right: each state needs customized solutions for maximum savings on groceries.
Thank you for your enlightening posts. If i ever run into you, coffee is on me!!!

[flash]

Originally Posted by cicy33

While I found this interesting I also think that it is only half true. In other words it is true for some people in some areas but not others.

Example 1: she says there are coupons for eggs, produce, etc. WHERE??? We never get those kind here. The only way that I get them is off ebay and sometimes coupon sites if they don't go so high that they are no longer worth my time! And where did the delmonte go? or the birds eye veg?

Example 2: she says that the majority of coupons are $1. Bull. Most of ours are .35 or .55 (just enough not to double) and the ones that are $1 are off 2. We get the crappiest coupons here. that is why I go to other places to get them. Please understand that I think that she has good ideas but people also need to be aware that some areas are just not good for coupons. When I lived in Lawton Ok. That was a great area!

Land of Lakes eggs are expensive, but I've received several coupons for FREE products from them. Egg beaters, coupons and sales make free. Wine tags, $1 on eggs, and the store brand is a $1. Fresh Express, usually have a $2 on 2, or a $1 on 1. Fresh Express, Earthbound, always send coupons when asked, and there are usually some in organic magazines, Mambo sprouts booklets, store circulars. Safeway O brand, often on sale, and they had the $1 coupons out for months.

I think the coupon train members can all verify that I regularly have $1 coupons or better on many products. I post them in my blog, and I give them away to train members immediately upon request. I never said the majority of coupons that EXIST are $1. But, they are definitely out there. Joining a train gives variety; I get many produce coupons from California. Most of my coupons are NOT from trains, or trades. Or printables. The fact that YOU can buy them on eBay just proves that someone is getting them somewhere - for free.

I never said that EVERYONE should use coupons! Just the opposite, everyone should do what works for them to get the best groceries for their needs at the prices that fit their needs.

I was actually EXTREMELY careful to be accurate and use techniques and coupons that were widely available. I did not use any FREE items coupons, I did not plan ahead for weeks and save up the best deals. I did, on request, pick up a newspaper ad and my personal coupon box and go out shopping. Several times.

I personally find it offensive that you would call me out for "half truths", when I listed the details, showed pictures, receipts, and went out of my way NOT to use any "magic beans" free coupons or unusual tricks.

If you don't have good coupons in your newspaper, try other papers. Write to the companies. Sign up for freebies. Register on websites.

But don't challenge my ethics.

[Amorphous02]

Now that is aFlash of anger1
But i did find the specific examples flash uses very usesful. I even started thread called, "Tracking savings..."
It works. One has to customize the rules to ones needs and state.
I will be starting a thread that lists what one has to do to maximize savings.
It requires community support as usual.

Anyone and everyone can coupon. I did it. I am the jumpiest mom and the most unco-ordinated shopper. shopping is nothing like the research
I do. On top of it , i trained for several years. Initially , we all forest gump our way through it. On step at a time.

[cicy33]

Actually I never said that you told half truths, I actually meant the person that wrote that article was not wholly accurate. I believe what I was getting at was that the article has good info but like most things we read are not correct for all areas. I have personally tried trains and have not had good luck. My family does not buy much junk food, i.e. chips, cookies, ice cream, etc. Probably 2 bags of oreos in the past 6 months and that was because of the free milk. About the only chip we buy are tostidos (sometimes kroger brand, they are good), so my personal experience has not been good with trains which is what I said. I don't recall saying that everyone should or should not coupon. I think that is a personal choice. I coupon out of necessity. But I rarely find a large amount of coupons for what I use. I do ebay alot! that is because sometimes I don't want a variety of just 100 coupons. I prefer potlucks of about 300 or more if I am going to trade and I have in the past been able to use about 1/3 of those. By no means did myself or I am sure anyone mean to offend you in any way. All I said was that some areas suck! mine does. Our papers have horrible coupons. lately they have been mostly advertisements. I do subscribe to the paper. I tried the trains. I do ebay and mycoupons and other places but when I do find a really good winetag they go for so much it is no longer any use. I wish every area got these. We never do. I also think that coupons in general are getting worse. I haven't seen a barilla pasta (just the regular kind) in a LOOOOONG time, just to name one. I used to get cheap or free pasta that way. So for me I just focus on the coupons I can get that I use and save that way.

[Amorphous02]

cicy33,
Do you have a Farmer Jack or a Meijer's?
Do they not double coupons?
I am a little concerned since moving to that area of IL is a strong possibility.
Thanks to flash, jodi , Imasaver etc, I have a good idea of what stores double coupons.
Is there an upper limit on the number of coupons Kroger doubles , besides the value?
All feed back would help me at this point.
Picknsave in our area has so many restrictions that hsoppers use Save-A lot here.
Picknsave doubles coupons only once a week: Wednesday.
Limit 5 coupons, max val $1.00.
Still i got some spectacular savings. I am fairly new to this, but the price meter in my brain is always actively seeking a lower price.
HANG IN THERE ALL YOU COUPONERS!