[jillibean1978]

I am new to the site. I have been collecting and trying to use coupons since mid-July. I have a small stockpile built up. And that is soooo exciting.
Getting food part down is kinda tricky. I have a super walmart. And a Kroger owned store Jay-C. Neither double. The jc is just now doing the coupons loaded on their card and are now accepting IP's, which will help I think. However, mostly what they have on sale is kroger/jc brand stuff and there's no coupons for those. So do I just stick with "generic"? I don't see too many coupons for meat in this area.
Am I missing a few key things or am I just gonna have to just wing it,so to speak, with store brands and walmart?
Any advice will be great!!!! I am NOT giving up!!! Oh yeah, we are a family of 6 and a dog. When I get this finally I kinda want a kitty too, just don't tell DH that. Hehe.
I guess I should add the other stores too. LOL, save a lot. CVS(which is great), family dollar and dollar general. I do get ground turkey at save a lot-1.19/lb. But really try to stay out of there as their prices are getting kinda high now.
Sorry this is so long.....

Jill

[churn111]

Does your Kroger owned store have catalinas--those machines by the register that spit out coupons when you're making a purchase? If it does, you can sometimes make money on those and use them toward meat purchases. Also make sure you figure out rock bottom meat prices, buy extra at that point and freeze.

Since Kroger stores double it's a shame that your store doesn't.

Take advantage of your CVS to get as much health and beauty for free or cheap. And cleaning supplies sometimes too. Other stuff.

For me I will use store brand if it is my cheapest option. But the more I do this the less store brand I have to buy because, the sales and q's make the brands cheaper. I've only been at this a couple months.

HTH.

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[jessl]

Does the Kroger owned store have similar sales to Kroger? If so I would check out the Kroger forum and see if you can find any tips that would apply. Even if it doesn't match 100% you could check your flyer to see if those items are on sale.

If you find the sales just don't match you could try posting in the "other grocery store" forum to see if anyone else here shops at that store and maybe put your heads together to come up with what the best deals are there every week.

Do you have multiple copies of coupons so that when name brand does go on sale you can stock up? If not then I would say get a hold of more inserts and/or join some coupon trains.

I don't do a lot of shopping at Walmart but I know some people swear by it. Have you checked out the Walmart forum? Also keep in mind they price match so maybe you can use that to your advantage.

[30good]

does the krogers have the same ad as the one online or do they have diffrent one? I shop WM, SAL, and Krogers. I find the canned good are still cheaper at SAL unless there is a good coupon that I can use at Kroger's. Some one wrote on another thread, to keep a running list on what store has the prices for items that you buy the most. This has helped me to pick which store to use the coupons.
I wish you the best of luck it is like picking the winning numbers.

[jillibean1978]

I don't know if they print out catalina's or not. The last time I went to that store on the back of the receipt there was an expired coupon for a pizza place. That helped me out a lot. LOL.
CVS I love that place. But I have been getting $10/50 every single trip. I had at one time 10 of them. I can't spend that much in there. I mean they have enough that I could but I am looking for ways to save money not spend it.
Kroger and Jay-c have different ads. I don't know if Jay-c will even honor the kroger ad. I guess if they don't I could get them to at walmart. I buy 2 papers every week. So I will most likely have 2 copies of coupons. Which helps. I don't have but a small freezer thats above my fridge. Puts limits on meat. And other stuff.
Thanks for the tips!!!

[jessl]

jillibean1978 - if you play it right a 10/50 can be great. It is based on the price before coupons and ECBs. I think you may have to give it to them first though. I used to love getting those but havent in a while.

[jillibean1978]

I have been able to get oop down to $25. Total before coupons of any kind was $58. I was happy with it. I just want them around Black Friday!!! I might be able to spend them then. LOL

[Mavourneen]

It's sad that your stores don't do double coupons. I think all of the stores in the DC area here do doubles - and I just had a great triple experience at a local Shopper's Food.

My best advice is to keep at it. Stockpile when you can, and learn what kind of things you can always get for free ( like Dawn dish soap, from CVS, etc )

I've gotten a few meat coupons - mainly Smithfield pork ones - but every once in a while you'll get a $ off meat coupon with purchase of Hamburger Helper, etc -

You should approach the manager of your Jay-C and sweetly ask why they don't double coupons. It can't hurt...

[jillibean1978]

Well, when I went in there to get their card(because they now are allowing you to upload coupons) and asked about the coupon policy the girl said that if the computers were programed to double it would. They wouldn't know how to do it. So I guess there is a slight chance that they double. I guess I could just start sending an email to Kroger saying how much I like their store and blad blah blah.....might work. LOL I can remember years ago the Jay-c that was here in my town actually had a banner saying something about doubles. So they might do it and just keep it hush hush now. I will be going Friday to do some cherry picking. And I am hoping to get some great deals. Just gotta sit down and look for the coupons that go with what they have on sale this week. That's gonna take a while.....

But thanks again everyone who has offered tips.