Grocery Game Supporter turned Participant

BG has always been a supporter of me doing the grocery game. He enjoys the savings and since he is the cook, he is really good about using what groceries we have to make dinner, he is creative like that. Anyway, the other day there were some really good deals at Albertson's, and I hate going there. So I told him that if he wanted the steaks, then he had to go and I would give him a list of other stuff to get there as well. Usually this is a BAD idea! BG in a grocery store is like a kid in a candy store. He can find all sorts of stuff he "needs" and always spends way too much money! So with list in hand, in he went, with strict orders to stick to the list and only the list. When he got home, he was so excited! He showed me his receipt and was so proud of how much money he saved! Good job Honey! Now maybe he will continue to do the Albertson's run, doubtful!

Groceries Galore

Last night I was in a pretty foul mood! We got back from a trip to see my parents in SA and me doing the half-marathon and as always, coming back from out of town is a mess and a headache! There was laundry to be done, things to be cleaned, not to mention that I took two days off of work! The last thing I wanted to do was go to the grocery store, that is for sure! I hadn't had enough time to really plan what I was going to buy, clip my coupons, look at store ads, etc. I usually just print my list from the grocery game and clip my coupons and go from there. The problem is, there are so many coupons that I don't use and I want to save more!

Thanks to my friend Erin, I have started loading coupons to my Kroger card and have really been motivated to look at the sale items and try to combine them with my coupons, even if they are not on the grocery game. Where I used to use the grocery game as my sole list, now it is just a starting point!

So as I was heading to the store at 8:40 pm last night after getting my stuff somewhat in order, I was GRUMPY! Not only did I need to do the weekly shopping, but I had to get stuff for Saturday night (having friends over to watch Tech) and Thanksgiving, because BG is going to smoke the turkey this weekend.

It all turned around when I checked out! I had a basket full, including two turkeys. I was really worried about what it might cost because there was a good amount of stuff not on the grocery game list that we needed. Thankfully, I had spent some time checking the ad with what we needed and getting coupons if possible! The checkout girl scanned all of my groceries and then I handed her my Kroger card, and the slot machine began! At the end of the day, I saved $94 and only spent $100, I was really excited. The checkout girl was pretty impressed as well! She said, "Girl, you know how to shop, I am not sure about the time it took you, but you saved some money!" I was so excited that I called my mom and told her about it. It made my late night run totally worth it.

I will say though, I was a little upset when the couple of things that I didn't have coupons for or were not on sale but we needed went on sale today! Oh well, I will be stocking up on them so that it doesn't happen again!

Frugal Fran

So, as most of you know, I play the Grocery Game and love it! Being that April seems to be Earth awareness month, included in last weeks game was the opportunity to get free re-usable shopping bags at Kroger. While I am conscious about the environment and try to do what I can (recycle our daily paper, etc) I do not own re-usable shopping bags. BG acts like he hates the environment and could care less if we recycle, but really it is a hatred for the spotlight on the earth and how it is the "popular" thing to do, like organic stuff. Anyway, I digress..... So when I went to Kroger on Monday with my faithful list, I should have ended up with 4 free shopping bags, but alas, they were out. So what do I do? I ask for a rain check. I think the lady at the Customer Service desk thought I was out of my gourd, after all, they are only $1 a piece. I was not about to lose those free bags, after all, I paid good money for the groceries that earned me those bags. So I stood there waiting while she (a) called the manager to make sure I was entitled to said bags (she thought I could only get one) (b) checked all of my groceries to make sure I had made the required purchases and then she (c) reluctantly gave me my "rain check."

I have never in my life asked for a rain check or redeemed one, so you could call me a rain check virgin. I will be redeeming this one, I want my free blue Kroger bags!!! We don't use the plastic ones for anything, so we might as well have re-usable bags. When I told BG about my ordeal he had a look of concern on his face. I think he got hung up on the fact that I was getting reusable shopping bags and he thought I was paying for them! When I explained that they were free, his eyes stopped being glossed over. He said he would have killed me had I actually paid for shopping bags, especially in our current financial situation!

Anyway, I am off to a wedding this weekend, should be tons of fun! I will try and post pics, etc. when I get back!

Have a good evening!

I Win, Again!

Today is grocery game day and I won like no other! For the first time ever, I actually saved more than I spent! It was like watching a slot machine pay out! The check out girl rang all of my groceries up before scanning my Kroger card and the total was $114. Then she scanned my Kroger card and it paid out around $40, then came the coupons. All in all, I spent $56 and saved $58, not too shabby for a weeks worth of groceries for a family of 3!! Oh, and just for fun, I took pictures of the grocery store that I have created in my own home! Enjoy!

The cleaning supplies

The pantry

The bathroom "aisle"

The paper products (in our closet)

The Grocery Game

In my last post, I mentioned the Grocery Game. Loni commented on it and said I should blog on it, so here it is.

I got hooked on it because of my friend Pippin, yes that is her real name, isn't it cute! It does require a little prep work and flexibility, but it is totally worth it. Basically, what the people at the Grocery Game do is cross-reference what is on sale in the stores and the coupons in the paper. Loni had heard that it is mainly convenience food, but I don't really eat that stuff, so I don't buy it if it is on there. After you have been "playing" for a while, you realize that most coupons in the paper are for bath items (shampoo, toothpaste, etc.), paper products and laundry items. They say it takes about 12 weeks for you to build a "store" in your own home.

But the grocery game is not just about coupons, it is about saving money and getting the best deal. The weekly list often includes fresh produce, lunch meat & cheese and organic items. The list will show you the product, original price, sales price, coupon if applicable and finally the % you are paying for the item. It also categorizes the items into three buckets, best deal, good deal, and luxury items (items that you should only buy if you need them or want them, but not the best deal). So those are the benefits, but what are the costs you ask?

Well, time is a huge piece of it, you have to cut coupons, make sure you go to the store sometime between Sunday and Tuesday, and gather everything together to make your trip. I have been doing it for close to 6 months now, so I have a little routine and really it doesn't take that much time. I get so excited about how much money I save, that it doesn't really bother me. The other "cost" is the convenience factor. You have to be flexible in what you and your family eats and uses. For example, I use all kinds of shampoo, I don't care what kind and that works for the grocery game, because all different kinds are on sale. We are also very flexible in our meals for the week. I am using the royal "we" here, because I have nothing to do with this thanks to my wonderful husband! BG just looks at what we have in the pantry or the freezer and makes something. Oh, and one more cost, storage. We have a very large pantry, so that helps, but we also have toilet paper in our closet, our bathroom cabinet is full of toiletries and our two laundry room cabinets are full of cleaning supplies!

Side story about BG and the Grocery Game....BG kept complaining because I kept buying diced tomatoes, so he started throwing them in everything even if the recipe didn't call for it. So now, what has been on the grocery list for the last couple weeks, diced tomatoes!

After doing it for a while, you get in your grove and you start seeing the pattern. I am really hoping that laundry detergent is on sale again soon, because we are running low!

Razor Review

I decided on this post this morning while in the shower. I am an everyday shaver, so I feel like I have plenty of knowledge to write a review on this tool. I do this thing called the grocery game which is fabulous!

**Side Note** I have saved so much $$$ doing this. Point in case, I went to the store this weekend and had a basket full and only spent $81. When I looked at my receipt, it showed I had saved $75, that is 48%! If you sign up, make sure to put me as a reference, I get bonus points!

Okay, so because of this, I have purchased multiple brands of razors, most of the time for free. I started with the Gillette Venus, which I had had for a while. Then, I got a Bic Soleil for free (thanks to the game) and then a Shick Quatro, which is what I am using right now. So which do I think is the best......

The Gillette wins out over all of these! Why? Not sure exactly, might be personal preference, might just be good old days syndrome. But, I can tell you that the 4 blades of the Quatro, don't do a hill of beans. I have more missed strips on my legs using this razor and it doesn't move to fit the contour of the shapely chicken legs that I possess! I didn't hate the Soleil, but the moisture strip, or whatever it is called came off within the first week.

So, if you have the Gillette and are contemplating a switch, don't, its not worth it!