Do you think this is frugal?

[Mabuisakura]

We shop at different stores to save money but Albertsons is doing a promotion that if you spend 10 bucks you get 1 sticker 20 bucks 2 stickers and so on. With these stickers you get brand new pots and pans. We are in need for new pots and pans. So is it worth spending a little more each month to get free pots? What do you think?

[nanamom]

What would new ones cost (or better yet a decent set of used ones?) compared to how much extra you are spending? I usually discover I can get the "free" item cheaper if I just saved whatever extra I would be spending and bought the thing. Consider quality as well, how long will they last?

[momof1in150]

I think that it would be better to put the money in a savings account and get the individual pieces you need/want. Most of the sets contain pieces that most people don't use. I would rather have one good saucepan, saute pan and dutch oven then a bunch of inferior pots.

[Aleta]

If you're going to have to spend more each month no. If you're just buying their sale items which could be eggs, milk, produce, then yes. I personally, use coupons and then take that money out and save it. Maybe you could do something similiar. I don't use a coupon unless the item is free, buy 1, get one free or mostly that I really use the product. I agree that it is sometimes good to buy your individual pieces. A few months back, my son and wife sold their almost new pots and pans in their garage sale because they received a very nice set from their wedding. Sometimes, you can find items like that in their boxes at garage sales because they were presents.

[disneysteve]

I'd say no for a couple of reasons.

1. The pots and pans they are "giving away" probably aren't very good quality. You are better off investing in a quality set that will last.

2. Those promotions are usually for a limited time and you don't want to get stuck with a couple of pieces and unable to complete the set because the promotion has ended.

3. As others have stated, if you would be overpaying for your groceries to get the pots and pans, you haven't actually saved anything.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I would because Albertson's takes CVS ECB and CVS coupons. So because of that I heard it's a great place to shop and get deals. You can use ECBs to pay. But that's just my opinion. Plus they have decent deals when combined with coupons.

[Ima saver]

I would check out garage sales, thrift stores, etc., first.

[lieweheksie]

how many stickers do you need for a set- figure out how much you need to spend for the " free" pots?
can you combine stickers with other people?
I would say go for it as long as you dont spend more than you normally would- freebies are allwys good just make sure it really is a freebie

[Aleta]

I agree with the above. I have been in line and the person in front of me has given me their stamps or stickers. Find out from your friends if they shop there and would they save the stickers for you.

[shelbylovesmelby]

I agree I'd be leary of the quality on the pots & pans. If they allow for it maybe hang on to them & redeem them when they offer something else.

[Aleta]

I recently picked up a couple of very attractive plates from a grocer. I use them just for special occassions and to set a different theme at my dinner table. Being that it is two of us, we can do that. The dinnerware is reasonable enough that if it doesn't last, you didn't invest very much. I did notice that the quality wasn't all that great on one of the plates and of course when the promotion goes, so does your chances of changing a bad piece. So, if you're not investing very much; maybe the investment is worth it. Depending upon how badly you need the pots and pans.

[PetMom]

I would look at the pots in question and determine their quality;
if teflon coated, the cheaper ones tend to peel quickly.

The Albertsons here always has the best sale prices in their
flyers out of all the grocery stores.

We got some silverware doing this, sure not excellent quality
but definitely serviceable.

[Aleta]

Sometimes in the beginning, that's what we want and need. We need just something that will get us by until we can get something better.

[lemarquis]

You'll just have to crunch the numbers and see if the price of Albertson's pots are worth the money that you're saving with stickers.

[jill8beans2]

I don't think it's frugal. I think you should save the extra $$ and buy the exact stuff you want.

[Couponers United]

I agree w/ the last post.