Good Deals this week 1/28-2/3

There is a new store in Provo called Buy-Low (where Reams used to be near Olive Garden/Shopko/Movies8). Here are some of the deals:

bananas 4lbs / $1.00
oranges 3 lbs / $1.00
apples different varieties 3 lbs/ $1.00
tide 100 oz. 9.99
boneless skinless chicken breast 1.39 (On Friday they will be $.99 for the day)
mini carrots 2/$1.00
sugar $7.99/25lbs limit 2
palmolive dish soap .99
NY strip steak $2.99 lb

Albertsons:
(If you don't live near Provo) Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, fresh - Butcher Block $1.77 lb.
Mountain High yogurt 32 oz. $1.99 use coupon:Mountain High Yoghurt, any 32 oz. .50/1 (2-28-09) SS-1/4 to get it for $1.49
Juicy Juice 100% juice 8 ct.$2.00 use coupon:Nestlé Juicy Juice product $1/1 (4-5-09) NestleSS-1/4 to get 'em for $1.00
Albertsons olives 5.75-6 oz. $.79
Nabisco crackers 6.5-10 oz. - Wheat Thins or Triscuit $1.99-Buy 3 and get one of these for free: Easy Cheese 8 oz., Velveeta 8 oz., or Kraft cheese slices 8 oz.Use coupon: Nabisco Ritz, Wheat Thins or Triscuit, any varieties $2/2 (3-31-09) SS-1/25 to get them for $.99
Nabisco Ritz crackers 14.5-16 oz. $2.50 Use coupon:Nabisco Ritz, Wheat Thins or Triscuit, any varieties $2/2 (3-31-09) SS-1/25 to get them for $1.50
Orville Redenbacher Natural popcorn 3-4 pack *B1G3FREE* Requires in-store manufacturers coupon. Then use: Orville Redenbacher’s Natural Gourmet Popping Corn, any variety 3 pack or larger .40/1 (2-28-09) SS-1/18 to get 4 packages for $2.59
Orville Redenbacher popcorn 3-4 pack *B1G3FREE* Requires in-store manufacturers coupon. Then use: Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn, any variety 3 pack or larger $1/2 (2-28-09) SS-1/18 to get 8 for $4.98
Orville Redenbacher popcorn 3-4 pack*B1G3FREE* Requires in-store manufacturers coupon. Then use printable $1.00/1 printable to get them for 4/$1.99.
Culinary Circle pizza 12.01-33.5 oz.*B1G1FREE, plus get 2 Dr. Pepper 2 liters FREE! Also use: 1.00/1 printable found on the PYP grocery list to get 4 items for $5.29

PYP link

Pinching Your Pennies Emails

Here is a link for my Utah friends. You can get all the HOT Utah Grocery Deals delivered to your in-box twice a week.


PYP newsletter link

Price Point Sheets

I wrote this for the PYP blog. We'll see if it gets "published" by them.


You know on TV where they show people on Wall Street doing their trading? There they are, pens and clip boards in hand, getting ready for the big trade. Suddenly the floor is hopping, the men in their suits, the women in their business gear, all jumping up and down yelling, "Buy, buy, buy."

Over the last couple of years as I've been couponing with the help of pinchingyourpennies.com I have often felt that same excitement to "Buy, buy, buy." Many volunteers peruse the ads, match up current coupons with the sale items, and add their expertise on good price points and sale cycles, then rate the grocery items for us. Items that are hot have 4 and 5 star ratings. Often these very 4 and 5 star deals are the ones that have me jumping in my computer room yelling, "Buy, buy, buy!" (Ok, not literally). Consequently, my pantry and storage room have been filled with these great deals.

I started to realize though that I was buying not because I needed the item, but because of the rush of the "good deal." Many items I was overbuying. A lot of these items cycled in sales throughout the year and we couldn't use them all by their "best used by dates." I also didn't know what I was actually paying for each of the items in my storage. I knew I was getting a good deal, but couldn't remember just how good. I knew I needed to keep a better record so I could use my budget wiser.

At the beginning of 2008 I made an openoffice spreadsheet (this is like excel, but free). I listed the date, store, quantity purchased, the item name and category, its size, the price, any coupon discount, additional promotions, and the final price paid. After each shopping trip, I dutifully plugged in each of my purchases into the spreadsheet. This may seem a little OCD, but it has proved so valuable to me. This became my official "Price Point Sheet."

I can see exactly what I spent on each item I bought. I can see how much I saved by using coupons. I can see how much I spent on each category of items (baby care, dairy, cleaning supplies, etc). I can also start to track on my own sale cycles and price points.

And, with the 2008 totals calculated, I learned that I used $2270.00 in manufacturer's coupons. That is a lot of savings. I also learned that I spent $4394.39 on all my grocery items for the year. That averages to $366.20 a month spent on all my grocery purchases (baby, cleaning supplies, health and beauty items, and food storage supplies). I would say that is pretty good for a family of 6 with a decent salary.

My 2008 goal of keeping track of my "buys" was a success. I am continuing with my price point spreadsheet for 2009. I figure as I keep a record like this I will have a better grasp on prices and sale cycles, I might even become my neighborhood price sage. I have another goal for this year, too. We are still a family of 6, but we no longer have a decent salary. Now that I have a record of price points and quantities, I can see what deals I can pass on (yes, you can miss a sale) and what I can cut out. I also feel more confident in my buying abilities.

I highly recommend keeping a price points sheet. And though you might have less, "Buy, buy, buy" rushes, I think you will be happy with your recorded results.

Kmart Double Coupons

SUPER COUPON DOUBLES -Limit 4 of the same product, Coupons up to $2.00 values doubled. Limit 25 per day

Juicy Juice Slim 8 ct 4.23 oz = $2.50-$1.00/1 (S1/4) $0.50
Ludens Cough drops 30 ct = $1.29-$1.00/1(RP1/4) *Free
Robitussin Cough Drops = $1.99-$1.00/1 (RP11/2, 12/14, 1/4) *Free
KY Jelly 4 oz = $3.99 - $2.00/1 (RP10/26,RP12/7) *Free
Revlon Beauty Tools = $1.29-$2.49 - $1.00/1 (SS9/14, SS10/12, SS10/19, SS11/16) *Free (and up)
Endust 10 oz = $3.29 - $2.00/1 (RP11/9) *Free
Oust 12 z = $3.50-$1.50/1 (SS10/26) $0.50
Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner = $2.29 - $0.75/1 (SS1/4) $0.79
Purina Tbonz 10 oz = $2.99 - $1.50/1 (SS10/19) *Free
Wetones wipes 40 ct = $2.29-$0.75/1 (SS11/2) $0.79
Kelloggs Cereals 9-20 oz = $2.25 - $1.00/1 (RP12/14) $0.25 ea
Kelloggs Cereal Straws 8.8 oz = $2.25 - $1.00/1 (RP12/14)$0.25
Trident Gum 3 packs = $2.00-$1.00/1 (SS12/7) *Free

I got this list from the SAVVY SHOPPER. She has a lot of items listed, I only took the ones that were free or I needed for my list.

On Monday, when I went, I was able to get some free nail files (I know, how exciting), the lysol cleaner, and one free Hersheys chocolate candy-it was on clearance, so free with this coupon: Hershey Special Dark Candy 11 oz = $2.33-$1.00/1 (SS11/9). They were out of gum and the gillette was more expensive then on my list, so I didn't get any. There was a ton of Special K boxes though, and I have a ton of coupons. If anyone wants them let me know.

Albertsons 1/21-1/27

Decent Deals:
*Cantaloupe $.48/lb
*Iceberg lettuce $.88 (use in-ad coupon)
*Whole Frying Chicken $.69/lb (last year the best price I found was $.59/lb)
*Boneless beef chuck roast $1.99/lb.
*Shoppers Value milk 2%, 1%, or skim $2.19
*Albertsons large eggs dozen $1.25
*Cherry 7UP 2 liters FREE on Saturday only (use in-ad coupon)
*Albertsons tomato sauce 8 oz. - limit 8 8/$1.00 (use in-ad coupon)
*Beech-Nut stage 2 baby food 4 oz. $.40 Use coupon:Beech-Nut Jars, any $1.50/8 (1-31-09) SS-10/26 to get 'em for $.21
*1 Spring! natural spring water 24 ct. $7.79 use $5.00/1 in-ad store coupon, to get it for $2.79
*3 Old Orchard 100% juice 64 oz. bottle 3/$7.00 use $3.00/3 in-ad store coupon, to get them for 3/$4.00

Also a General Mills sale...buy $20 of stuff save $5, the only good deal I see is for *Yo+ yogurt. I love this kind (so smooth and no HFCS). If you buy 10, they come to $1.50 a piece then use the coupon: Yo-Plus Yogurt, any flavor 4 Pack $1/1 (3-14-09) SS-1/18 or printables, to get them for $.50---now I just need to find more coupons.

Last but not least, Kelloggs Promo, spend $10 and save $3...
*Kellogg's cereal 9.5-20 oz. - Frosted Mini Wheats Little Bites $2.50, after promo and this coupon:
*Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats Cereals, any flavor 14.5 oz or larger $1.50/2 (3-1-09) RP-1/18 they come to $1.00
*Kellogg's cereal 9.5-20 oz. - Frosted Mini Wheats Little Bites $2.50, after promo and this coupon:
*Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats or All-Bran Cereal, any 11.4 oz. or larger $1/1 (1-25-09) RP-12/14, they come to $.75
*Kellogg's cereal 9.5-20 oz. - Raisin Bran or Raisin Bran Extra $2.50, after promo and this coupon:
*Kellogg’s Smart Start, Rice Krispies, Crispix, Raisin Bran Crunch, Corn Flakes and/or Raisin Bran Cereals, any flavor 11.2 oz or larger $1.50/2 (3-1-09) RP-1/1 they come to a $1.00
Kellogg's cereal 9.5-20 oz. - Special K Blueberry $2.50, after promo and this coupon: Kellogg’s Special K or Smart Start Cereal, any 11.4 oz. or larger $1/1 (1-25-09) RP-12/14 they come to $.75
(For every 4 boxes of Kelloggs cereal you buy, $3 will be deducted from your grocery total)

I should buy a cow

Last year I purchased 197 gallons of milk.

LDS Church Cannery Prices

I was wondering about the price of oats at Albertsons (42 oz for $1.50-when you buy 4), and how that compared to the LDS church cannery price. I couldn't get it off my mind, so for you all this is what I found.

Here is a current cannery PRICE SHEET

Looks like Albertsons is about $.03 an ounce, whereas the cannery is $.05 to $.07 and ounce.