[ltalmadge77]

Hkystar is the winner!!! Congratulations!!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered. Everyone shared great shopping tips!!

Look for another contest next month.



I would like to learn more about my fellow Safeway/Vons/Gendaurdis shoppers.

Only one entry per person. One entry will be chosen at random using random.org.

Winner will be chosen July 15, 2012 at 7 pm EST. Winner will receive a $5 gift card. Gift card options include: CVS, Rite Aid, Panera, Starbucks, Subway, or Target.

Please include in your entry:
1. User name/name
2. Where you shop
3. Something about yourself (family, pets, upcoming vacation, anything you would like to share)
4. Any shopping tips you would like to share.

Looking forward to your posts and meeting my fellow Safeway/Vons/Gendaurdis shoppers!

[ltalmadge77]

I will start off but I am not eligible to win.

1. My name is Laura
2. I shop at Germantown, Gaithersburg and Rockville, MD locations. It just depends where my errands take me.
3. I have a 3 year old daughter and we are planning a trip to Hershey Park this summer.
4. Greatest savings are matching the in-ad coupons with manufacturer coupons. Plus there are usually some good $5 Friday deals that match up with manufacturer coupons for even more savings.

[Mteel33]

This sounds fun!

1. My name is Melissa
2. I shop at Vons in Palmdale CA
3. My husband and I are planning on taking our 3 boys to Disneyland this summer...hopefully my parents will come too so we aren't out numbered
4. I love $5 Fridays and the Just for U! Load to card coupons are soooo easy and makes my trips that much easier...especially with three kids in tow!

Sent from my iPhone using AFullCup

[rfrobins]

My name is Rachel
I shop at safeway in north pole,AK or in Fairbanks,AK
My vacation/travel plans will be travelling Alaska and enjoying the short summer.
I used to love $5 Fridays but we have $6 fridays now, Trying to save grocery money in Alaska is difficult, plus very few coupons in the paper on sunday. So ordering coupons on ebay helps some. But wow I do get jealous of the great prices everyone else seem to get. So couponing here gets me pretty close to the lower 48 regular prices. LOL

[Ticklelush]

1. hi my name is elena.
2. i shop in the small town of windsor, ca
3. our oldest is starting kindergarden this year, so all the money we save for now is going to school clothes, school supplies, and six flags (to celebrate him starting school)
4. i shop on fridays to get the better deals: $5 fridays, 3 day sales, i also use j4u, and as many coupons as i can.. but i do realistic couponing, we love fresh food and try to eat as little junk as possible

[siriradha]

1. My screen name is Siriradha, and my real name is Carolyn

2. I shop either at Safeway Circle & Galley or Bon shopping center.

3. My son and daughter are all grown up. DD lives across the street and DS lives and works across the country. My main focuses in life are spirituality and animals. My YTD savings are mounting up way faster than I ever imagined!

4. Any shopping tips you would like to share. Well...check out the forums for the stores you use, save all the coupons you can get your hands on, write to companies to ask if they offer coupons, be kind to your cashiers, check out the markdown meats and clearance areas in your stores. Oh, and if you're thinking about driving out of your way for a good deal you see posted, call ahead and see if the store actually has it in stock and at the price you saw others bragging about!

[Qballsprincess]

1. My name is Amy.

2. Safeway in Rapid City, SD or the commissary on Ellsworth AFB

3. I just moved from Fort Drum, NY to Ellsowrth AFB, SD with my husband and 18 year old in April 2012. My husband just retired from the military and my son just graduated from high school. I have always volunteered on the Army base and I am now trying to figure out what to do with myself on an Airforce base. I had never been to SD until April, so we have plenty of places to visit very close. We are trying to figure out college costs for the three of us, because the G.I. Bill money is "tied" up awaiting signatures at the Pentagon.

4. Tips that I can share: Start slow, so that you are not overwhelmed. If you don't know something, don't be afraid to ask. Get organized the way that will be beneficial to you. Plan your trips, if you go through the trouble to coupon, don't spend your savings in gas!!

[marieiro6]

1. My name is Monica.

2. I shop at Safeway in N. California(where stores don't double or round up 1 a dollar)

3. I have 4 kids and run a home daycare out of my house. Saving is essential for me!!!

4. I only buy what is on sale that week and I have to have a coupon for it. I try to achieve 60-80% savings. Last week I got lucky with 95%.

[Alianora]

1. My name is Allison.

2. I shop at Safeway in Northern Virginia.

3. I live with 3 very expensive cats who eat special food, so I try to save money on groceries!

4. I usually only shop at Safeway when there are really good deals. Otherwise you can find me at Giant where I get gas points for buying things, especially when there is no coupon for something! I would suggest comparing prices at different stores in your area to make sure you're getting the best deals! I also shop at Harris Teeter sometimes.

[hkystar]

1. Hkystar - Maureen
2. Safeway across the Alexandria/Arlington area of Northern VA
3. I have one incredibly cute daughter who is going to celebrate her 1st bday this summer. I shop for my little family (which includes 2 dogs and a cat) and also share my savings with my sister and her family.
4. In terms of produce, always compare the sale ads! I shop around between HT, Giant, Shoppers and Safeway for produce depending on whats in season/on sale. Also, its easy to freeze/dry the in season fruit to eat at a later date!

I love the peeps here who post all the good deals on non-produce! Its a huge help to know what to get where.

[michellzey]

1. michellzey, Michelle
2. Safeway in McMinnville, OR
3. I've got 3 cats (all rescued), 1 teenaged son, and 1 teenaged daughter
4. I always look at the safeway (and albies) ads online the night before they come out, and print out any qs I find on different couponing site's matchups at the same time.

[couponjunkies7072]

1. My name is Kathleen
2. Safeway in San Francisco Bay Area
3. Husband and I love to travel but haven't done much of it lately.
4. I really like the Just 4 U program for the extra savings

[shunt9745]

1. My username is shunt9745
2. My name is Shelley
3. I shop at Tom Thumb in Frisco, Texas
4. I just took a new job after working 12+ years at my old job.
5. They are one of the few stores that triples and doubles, so I go there a lot to use coupons to get stuff for free. I usually separate my transacations since the only double the first one. I got free salad last week.

[JStacklie]

1) Jamie
2) I live in Eugene OR, I shop Albies (forum leader) Fred Meyer on occasion, Safeway (we just got Just4you)
3) we just got back from a week at Disneyland (coupon for the flight, restaurants, etc. eBay for park tickets...). We have a ton of house projects this summer, so I'm trying to save $$ where we can.
4) I rely heavily on forum postings to point out the good deals. I am very busy and that allows me to still save $$ without spending tons of time on the ad research!

[smdicke]

Howdy!
1) My name is Sarah (and I'm a coupon addict)
2) I shop at Randall's in Austin
3) I'm a nerdy scientist- I write textbooks, run experiments, sometimes teach students. Couponing is my hobby.
4) You can always get toothpaste, floss, hairspray, hand soap, deodorant, shampoo, feminine products, and condiments for free using coupons- so don't pay $$ for those items unless you can't wait until the next combination of sale/coupons allow you to get it free.

[Dizneywatcher]

1. Hi! I'm Amanda!
2. Safeway in WA, Albertsons, Military Commissary
3. I'm currently in college to get my Associates in Health Information Management Technology. I also am a mom to 3 little girls and 2 cats as well as an Army Spouse. I've always wanted to use coupons the way my mom did but she could never fully explain it to me so I started to learn online.
4. If you go to one of the $5 Fridays and what you want isn't on the shelf, don't be afraid to ask if they have any more in back!

[mathnut]

1. Michelle
2. Rehoboth Beach, DE
3. My family is my husband, 2 teenage kids + one of their friends for the summer, and my pit bull. We don't go on vacation in the summer because we live at the beach. I teach, so I'm off all summer and couponing becomes my full time job for a few months.
4. Never pay full price for ANYTHING!! Hold on to all of the Sunday q's until they expire-you never know when a moneymaker deal will be posted at one the drug stores.

Sent from my iPad using AFullCup

[CWilliams9490]

1. User name/name - CW
2. Where you shop - Vons, Target in SoCAL
3. Something about yourself - No pets
4. Any shopping tips you would like to share - If it is free with a coupon then buy it and donate it if you won't use it. I love blessing others with freebies.

[gigglets]

User name - gigglets; name - Sarah

Where I shop - Safeway in Bristow, VA ( as well as Harris Teeter during their special events)

About me - I have a 2 year old, husband and no pets - started couponing when DH lost his job a year ago and when he returned to work, I loved the savings do much I kept it up!

Couponing tip - stock up when there is a good sale but don't overstock on an item just because it's on sale - if you won't use 10 hot sauces, don't get them just because they are free (unless you will donate). - they are taking up space for other good deals that you will use!

[ok1234]

1. User name: ok1234/ name: Olesya
2. Where you shop: Vancouver, WA
3. Something about yourself: I am a mother of 4, 2 boys & 2 girls, my oldest is 10 and my youngest is 8 month. I have been married for 11 years and working full time as an accountant. I found out about couponing when I had my last baby and been loving it since. I don't know why I haven't figured it out earlier.
4. Any shopping tips you would like to share: read previews and check the prices, not all stores have the same prices. Sometimes I was able to get even a better deal than what was posted by simply checking other stores in the area. Also, don't stress about it, sales come and go every week, if you were not able to get on some good deal this week, there will be other deals next week.

[pratherdeals]

1. Beth
2. Safeway- south lake Tahoe
Nowhere near anyplace that doubles
3. 3 kids, 1 husband- I use coupons to save up for vacations, which is ironic because we live in a resort town
4. Don't take little kids in shopping trips.

[tinarama]

1. My name is Christina
2. Shop at Safeway in various Northern VA locations
3. 3 kids, 1 husband and a mother inlaw
4. I only buy things on sale and with coupons and also shop Giant/Safeway/Harris Teeter and sometimes Wegmans, before I had a little stockpile I was paying more, now that I have a stockpile it is more of a strategic kind of shopping with less out of pocket. I tell my kids and mother inlaw to let me know what they want and they have to wait

[canastaxyz]

1. canastaxyz/Ashley
2. I shop at Safeway, and the people who work there are awesome.
3. I'm married and have two children and a couple of dogs. I started couponing a few months ago, and am busy working towards finding the best deals for my family.
4. Our Safeway has clearance sections throughout the store on damaged boxed items or frozen items they are getting rid of. Check them out if you have them, I usually run across items that are 50% off and I have a coupon for them.

[Annie123109]

Hello!!!

1. My name is Annie
2. I normally pm for meats/produce at Walmart but Tom thumb/ Kroger/ target/ cvs/ Walgreens for cheap and frees.
3. Family of four in Dfw, consisting of Joujou (3) Khai (1) Hubby and myself. We recently went on a short vacation to San antonio to a time share presentation. Hehhe free vacation stay for a 90 minute presentation! (must pay taxes)
4. If you can, leave the kids and husband at home if you really want to save money! Don't try to shop all the sales and end up spending the money on gas.

[Judybats]

Howdy Folks from the Big D!

* My name is Judy and my screen name is Judybats. That's a nickname that was shortened to 'bats from when I was in college...those were the days Little know fact: The real Judybats were a alternative/folk band from the late 80s/early 90s.

* I am a die hard CVS Shopper. Truth be told, my LOVE for CVS runs deep..haha!
You can also spot me making my rounds at WAGS, Kroger, Tom Thumb, Target and Albies. I love my coupon-friendly cashiers at my regular stores. I went coupon shopping and my BFF (who doesn't coupon) tagged along and she said: "WOW... they all know you... it's like you have this whole other life that I've never known about." My reply: Uh huh...I've been TRYING to tell you for years! LOL!

*I shop for the grand total of 2 people...my ma and me! She's getting older now and can't do a whole lot of her own shopping anymore. So, she clips and organizes my coupons for me and helps me file them in my binder and I do the deal searching and shopping...makes for a perfect fit! I don't have any non-furry kids and I'm an aunt to a really cute niece and a great friend to all those in my life

*I have an adorable elderly WESTIE (14 yrs!!).. he's the most docile dog I've ever known. He doesn't even BARK! His idea of "protecting me" means licking anyone and everyone that comes to the door. His loyalties are questionable, since he'll go anywhere with anyone.. haha! He's just THAT easy! LOL!

*I LOVE my job and my boss and wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world. I'm a recent recipient of a Master's Degree and managed to graduate without any incurring any debt! That was a proud moment for me

*I have a borderline obsession with laundry products. I'm currently in therapy to help me overcome my need to sniff Downy Unstopables

*I heart all of my AFC friends. Y'all are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Tips: Start small, find a coupon friend, be kind and generous with your coupons and deal information. The old adage that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar rings very true in the coupon world.