[krobison]

So I am pretty new, but I have mastered body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, and razors. Now I am wondering if other things will go on sale to allow me to get them for next to nothing. It seems like week after week the great deals tend to be on the items I listed above. I would like to stock pile the items in my subject, but I am struggling to determine what I should consider a good deal. I don't want to use the coupons until the prices are the cheapest I will see. I would love to hear what others pay for these items. If it ends up that these are the items you use your RR and ECBs on that info is much appreciated too.

So I have two questions:
1. What do you consider a good deal for the items in the subject line?
2. Am I seeing the same items on sale because of the time of year or is it just random chance that the same types of things are on sale week after week or is it that these items are those that tend to go on sale? Or maybe I am missing the boat altogether?

Thanks for the info!

[oleolep]

I don't have the answer, but I second your question... I was just thinking the same thing, as I got burned about a month ago on B1G1 TP at CVS. What's better... to buy the large packages for 4.99-5.99 on sale with coupons? Or try to buy smaller packages and lots of them?

[lholley]

Ok, I am not the best in the world, but here are my target prices. I try to never NEED these items and just look for deals at all times so I am never in a position where I HAVE to buy them regardless of price.

Laundry Detergent--I am a stickler for Tide. Don't know why, but it's one of the few things that I am brand loyal to. So, I prefer to buy the 40-load powder (or 32-load liquid) for $4.

Toilet Paper--no more than $4 for 12 double rolls--prefer Quilted Northern, Charmin, Cottonelle

Paper Towels--prefer Bounty, not basic, no more than $0.50 for a regular sized roll. Will use any brand though.

Toothpaste-free only

Deodorant--will pay up to $0.50 for Secret--otherwise, $0.25 or less

Razors--no more than $1

[tratra]

First #2
The sales go in cycles, along with the seasons, holidays, and activities for that time of year.
Think back to school-- snacks, quick foods, school supplies, clothes, electronics
Thanksgiving/Christmas-- baking supplies, big dinner supplies (turkey, ham, canned veggies)
May-July-- picnic/cookout items, lots of drinks

Also the sales the stores have seem to go in cycles. Kroger is having a mega sale right now. They had a very similar one this time last year. Lots of stores' sales are predictable like this.


#1 What I consider a good deal may not be what you do. It depends on whether you buy these things anyway and how much you were paying before. If you HAVE to have a certain thing and are going to buy it whether you have a coupon/sale or not, if you pay less for it with a coupon, then that's a good deal. If it's something you're just wanting to get a lot of, you might wait a while until a sale rolls around. And sales eventually roll around on most brand-name things.

Here are my "good deal" thresholds for the items you listed
detergent $1 each (most recently All and Purex)
toilet paper $1 each for 4 pk double rolls (most recently White Cloud at Walmart)
paper towels Viva .80 each or others for .50 each
pasta $ .25- free

[sar1]

I can help w/some of this, but not all. Hopefully others will chime in. As far as detergent, if you are not brand loyal that will help a lot. We often see $2 coupons for detergent and that's when you need to stock up. I don't pay more than $1-$2 for a bottle of liquid laundry detergent; typically $1.

Pasta is often free since we've seen $0.75/1 coupons for various brands and with doubling they will usually be free. What grocery stores do you have near you?

[joshmamabear]

Target price/stock-up price or whatever one calls it is

depends on a lot of factors:
a. stores in the area ~ are there lots of box stores? drugstores?
b. do stores double/triple?
c. variation in prices, i.e., big cities usually have higher mark up prices. check sale prices of leading drugstores and it shows the big disparity in prices.
d. length of time one has been building a stockpile. those who have built a good size stockpile can always wait on the big sale where items are free, if not MMs.

I'm at the stage of couponing where the best stock-up price to me is free. I'd buy some if I still have to pay sales taxes, but if the sale is a certified MM with combination of coupons, sale price and store promo like RRs, that is when I really make an effort to stock-up especially for paper products that do not go stale. as to pasta and food items which is prone to bug infestation, I rarely stock up more than our family use within a certain period of time.

if you're just starting, a good stock up price is any amount that will save you 40% or more the regular price. DO not get pressured by what you read where everyone is getting them all free or getting paid to buy them. Otherwise, you may miss the sale w/o buying anything while waiting for the MM deal that may or may not come in your area. Any amount of savings is well worth it. Just guard yourself from buying a lot in one sale (don't build your stockpile overnight) only to realize that another sale is coming where you can get them cheaper. As long as you have stock on hand when you need them w/o paying full price, that is more than good enough

HTH.

[gravyqueen]

I can't say for sure with the tp and paper towels because I haven't gotten them in so long. It's just 2 of us, so we don't use a lot of either. I usually try to work them in when I've got a $$/$$ coupon for cvs or rite aid combine with coupons, so I usually don't pay much for them but like I said, I don't really have a buy price. I would say $3-$4 for tp. My hubby will only use Quilted Northern, so I just look for deals on that. As for paper towels, probably about the same but I'm not brand loyal.

As for detergent, I pretty much go for free-$1. I got tons of all from food lion several months ago for about $.65 per bottle. I also got a bunch of purex for free+ after coupons and catalina from kroger a while back. I've also gotten purex 3-in-1 sheets for free from rite aid.

I wouldn't get pasta unless it was free or a few cents.

[Alexdur85]

Toilet paper/paper towels = .01 a sq ft (so if the price is the same as the square ft time to buy, I got this tip from someone on here and I forget which member but now I abide by it)

Razors-Free

Pasta .25 or less

Laundry detergent is .03 a load

Sales come in cycles like another poster mentioned. I make sure I grab enough items to last me a year.

[CMmem]

I agree with the above posts on target price.
I have a comment about storage of grain products like pasta, flour, beans, barley.
Don't buy more than a few months ahead, because you'll lose it all to little bugs called weevils. Weevils love flour, it seems they move about the cupboard and get into all the boxes.

[Alexdur85]

Originally Posted by CMmem

I agree with the above posts on target price.
I have a comment about storage of grain products like pasta, flour, beans, barley.
Don't buy more than a few months ahead, because you'll lose it all to little bugs called weevils. Weevils love flour, it seems they move about the cupboard and get into all the boxes.

Gross..

I've had my flour for about a year (in regular packaging) I haven't used honestly in about 11 months (goes to show how much I bake/cook) so I probably should throw it away.

[joshmamabear]

Originally Posted by CMmem

Don't buy more than a few months ahead, because you'll lose it all to little bugs called weevils. Weevils love flour, it seems they move about the cupboard and get into all the boxes.

Very true. Unless you can find a sealed storage system to keep them bug free, it's a waste of food and money if you have to discard them Since a lot of processed food are flour-based, bugs affect a lot of them so it may be wiser to buy just enough for personal consumption till the next sale comes.

[Weatie]

Originally Posted by tratra

First #2
The sales go in cycles, along with the seasons, holidays, and activities for that time of year.
Think back to school-- snacks, quick foods, school supplies, clothes, electronics
Thanksgiving/Christmas-- baking supplies, big dinner supplies (turkey, ham, canned veggies)
May-July-- picnic/cookout items, lots of drinks

Also the sales the stores have seem to go in cycles. Kroger is having a mega sale right now. They had a very similar one this time last year. Lots of stores' sales are predictable like this.

#1 What I consider a good deal may not be what you do. It depends on whether you buy these things anyway and how much you were paying before. If you HAVE to have a certain thing and are going to buy it whether you have a coupon/sale or not, if you pay less for it with a coupon, then that's a good deal. If it's something you're just wanting to get a lot of, you might wait a while until a sale rolls around. And sales eventually roll around on most brand-name things.

Here are my "good deal" thresholds for the items you listed
detergent $1 each (most recently All and Purex)
toilet paper $1 each for 4 pk double rolls (most recently White Cloud at Walmart)
paper towels Viva .80 each or others for .50 each
pasta $ .25- free

This is an excellant post for new couponers to read. There will always be a sale coming around.

My Buy it now prices are very simular to trata's.
Paper Towels I dont go over .50 a roll.
Lately Ive not been picking up laundry detergent for $1 or more because the past few cycles of it Ive been able to grab it for about .80 or less.

[CMmem]

Originally Posted by Alexdur85

Gross..

I've had my flour for about a year (in regular packaging) I haven't used honestly in about 11 months (goes to show how much I bake/cook) so I probably should throw it away.

I keep mine in a plastic bag also. That helps control invasions. I now store my rice in the refrigerator and it rarely gets rancid (especially good for brown rice). You don't need to throw it away unless it smells stale or you actually see the wiggly little things. They are about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. It's a good idea to measure the flour into a separate bowl and examine it well before adding it to your recipe. I'm sure it comes in contaminated from the store, but then everything that's not wrapped in plastic is at risk.

[ctsunshine]

Originally Posted by joshmamabear

if you're just starting, a good stock up price is any amount that will save you 40% or more the regular price. DO not get pressured by what you read where everyone is getting them all free or getting paid to buy them. Otherwise, you may miss the sale w/o buying anything while waiting for the MM deal that may or may not come in your area. Any amount of savings is well worth it. Just guard yourself from buying a lot in one sale (don't build your stockpile overnight) only to realize that another sale is coming where you can get them cheaper. As long as you have stock on hand when you need them w/o paying full price, that is more than good enough

HTH.

This is fantastic advice!

[blumoose]

if you have enough room you can keep flour in the freezer it does not freeze solid you can use it right out of the freezer its just really cooled this way it keeps for a long time and if you dont use it often you can still have it on hand

[girlygirljess05]

I won't pay more than $1 for laundry detergent. But that's only if it's Tide, Gain, or Purex 3 in 1. Any of the cheaper brands like basic purex, all, etc. must be free for me to get them.

Paper Towels no more than .30 a roll, and that's pushing it.

Toilet Paper... not too sure. I bought a bunch from K-mart when they were on sale for $5 ea. and when u bought $20 u got $10 back and used a $10 off $20 purchase.

Pasta... normally free, but no more than .30 a box.

[couponmama62]

Pasta -normally FREE but no more than $0.25 a box

Laundry Detergent - no more than $1 no matter what brand

Toilet Paper- no more than $0.25 a roll any brand

Paper Towels- no more than $0.25 a roll any brand

Toothpaste-FREE only

Deodorant--FREE only

Razors FREE only

I know I'm el'cheap'o

[excited]

Thanks for the info I have been wondering about the prices of these things. Thanks

[roseminxe]

Originally Posted by sar1

I can help w/some of this, but not all. Hopefully others will chime in. As far as detergent, if you are not brand loyal that will help a lot. We often see $2 coupons for detergent and that's when you need to stock up. I don't pay more than $1-$2 for a bottle of liquid laundry detergent; typically $1.

Pasta is often free since we've seen $0.75/1 coupons for various brands and with doubling they will usually be free. What grocery stores do you have near you?

I never get my pasta for free I usually buy the Wal Mart Brand which I think is better than most prices...

I guess I do not have the stores here to get them free and no store here doubles coupons~

[roseminxe]

What am I missing with the laundry det. The best I ever did was 26 bottles for free but now I'm paying $2 for the Purex 32 load since I have coupons.

Is it that you all are doubling the coupons?

[sar1]

Originally Posted by roseminxe

I never get my pasta for free I usually buy the Wal Mart Brand which I think is better than most prices...

I guess I do not have the stores here to get them free and no store here doubles coupons~

Yes, I think doubling helps A LOT. But I'm pretty sure there were regional Dreamfields and Barilla coupons within the past year that were for $1/1 and that made it free in some places without doubling.

As far as the laundry detergent I've never gotten it for free even with doubles and triples here. I've used the regional $2/1 All coupons to get it for $1-$2 a bottle.

[Gr8day2save]

I love this post. Thanks for asking the questions and thanks to everyone else for their great answers!

[Krysla]

Thanks so much for this post! Esp the advice about $.01/sq ft for the paper goods - that's the one that always confuses me.

I make my own detergent so I'm glad I don't have to worry about that one

[minahsmom]

I think one thing to keep in mind is everyone on this board lives in different regions and prices vary. What may be free for some folks, others may never get it that low. Some people are fortunate to get double coupons which really makes a difference.
Unfortunately, no stores in my area double. Don't get caught up when you see posts where people get like $300 worth of goodies for free. There is a lot of work involved in those trips and most of the time they don't reveal everything they did to get their OOP that low. Those trips don't happen every time they shop. I consider a good price on an item when I'm able to save at least 50% or more on any given item. I also compare shopping trips to those folks who live in my particular region where I know prices are more comparable. Good luck to you!

[tnmommy]

Originally Posted by gravyqueen

I can't say for sure with the tp and paper towels because I haven't gotten them in so long. It's just 2 of us, so we don't use a lot of either. I usually try to work them in when I've got a $$/$$ coupon for cvs or rite aid combine with coupons, so I usually don't pay much for them but like I said, I don't really have a buy price. I would say $3-$4 for tp. My hubby will only use Quilted Northern, so I just look for deals on that. As for paper towels, probably about the same but I'm not brand loyal.

As for detergent, I pretty much go for free-$1. I got tons of all from food lion several months ago for about $.65 per bottle. I also got a bunch of purex for free+ after coupons and catalina from kroger a while back. I've also gotten purex 3-in-1 sheets for free from rite aid.

I wouldn't get pasta unless it was free or a few cents.

I have to say that if All oxy was for free, I would not even use it then. It seemed to fade my towels and did not really seem to clean well. (but I have like 10 of them now) I did like the other All products I have gotten in the past, but really prefer the tide. Some things you have to just make a decision and realize you won't save quite as much...but life is just too short.