My 2012 Grocery Bag Brag! (Ongoing updates with Pics and Tips!)

[2010ontest]

I love the tip section

I'm not sure if sobeys have the same cash register then IGA, I think they have almost the same. If yes, I have some tip for IGA

[Tida]

Wtg!!!!

[ahatt]

Amazing! So glad you are doing this thread again, I look forward to it

[Big Pink]

Love this... thanks for sharing your time!

[$avvy$hopper]

Thanks for your great comments everyone! I'm so happy to hear you like the tips section and invite more! I added one more tip, found a great thread that lists products that have coupons or FPCs on the box/packaging. I learned something new and maybe you will too. See post #3 for the deets.

[$avvy$hopper]

I love the tip section

I'm not sure if sobeys have the same cash register then IGA, I think they have almost the same. If yes, I have some tip for IGA

I don't know either, I don't have IGA in my area but someone reading on here might benefit from your info. Happy to have it posted! thanks!

[tarynottawa]

Keep up the good work!!

[2010ontest]

I don't know either, I don't have IGA in my area but someone reading on here might benefit from your info. Happy to have it posted! thanks!

OK I look at Sobey's flyer... this is looking different. But for IGA, each week IGA have a freebie if you spend 70$ or more (if you spend 140$ you get 2x the freebie, ect). This freebie is deduced in automatic way (they call that electronic rebate in the invoice) at the till when the total reach 70$ before coupons and before all other 2 for 1 programmed in the system are deduced.

So when you plan your shopping, always calculate to spend 70$ minus the amount of the freebie of the week.

Example 1:

freebie is chocolate bar at 2.50$, you have to spend 67.50$ before coupon and 2 for 1 promo apply to get the freebie.

*********

If the flyer have 2 for 1 offer (BOGO offer), each item of the BOGO count to reach the 70$ level to get the freebie of the week.

Exemple 2:

freebie is chocolate bar at 2.50$, you have to spend 67.50$ to get the freebie of the week.

flyer have maple leaf stuffed chicken frozen in 2 for 1 sale, priced at 10.99$ ea. You buy 6 box and used the 5$ coupon (from portion pack in 2011 fall)

chicken: 6 X 10.99$ = 65.94$
chocolate freebie: 1X 2.50$ = 2.50$
Total = 68.44$ (you need to found an other item at 1.56$ or more to get the freebie... this could be not to hard to found or you could use an FPC of your collection at that time if you want. For the example we will use 1X yoplait yogurt FPC to buy a tub at 2.99$. Now you have a total of 71.43$ before coupons and electronic rebate)

oop calculation now:

chicken: 6 X 10.99$ = 65.94$ - (3X10.99$ electronic rebate) - (3X5$ in coupon, some use also 6 coupons because they buy 6 box... some (alot) cashier accept this, some don't) = 17.97$ or 2.97$
chocolate freebie: 1X 2.50$ = 2.50$ - 2.50$ electronic rebate = FREE
yoplait yogurt tub: 1X 2.99$ = 2.99$ - FPC = FREE
oop = 17.97$ or 2.97$

NB: this is an example, I didn't saw this exact deal in the flyer, this is just to show how to calculated to get the freebie of the week and having a very low oop (far of the 70$).

edit: I forgot to add you get 3 regular air miles with a shopping like this one at IGA if there is no other deals to get more air miles.

[$avvy$hopper]

OK I look at Sobey's flyer... this is looking different. But for IGA, each week IGA have a freebie if you spend 70$ or more (if you spend 140$ you get 2x the freebie, ect). This freebie is deduced in automatic way (they call that electronic rebate in the invoice) at the till when the total reach 70$ before coupons and before all other 2 for 1 programmed in the system are deduced.

So when you plan your shopping, always calculate to spend 70$ minus the amount of the freebie of the week.

Example 1:

freebie is chocolate bar at 2.50$, you have to spend 67.50$ before coupon and 2 for 1 promo apply to get the freebie.

*********

If the flyer have 2 for 1 offer (BOGO offer), each item of the BOGO count to reach the 70$ level to get the freebie of the week.

Exemple 2:

freebie is chocolate bar at 2.50$, you have to spend 67.50$ to get the freebie of the week.

flyer have maple leaf stuffed chicken frozen in 2 for 1 sale, priced at 10.99$ ea. You buy 6 box and used the 5$ coupon (from portion pack in 2011 fall)

chicken: 6 X 10.99$ = 65.94$
chocolate freebie: 1X 2.50$ = 2.50$
Total = 68.44$ (you need to found an other item at 1.56$ or more to get the freebie... this could be not to hard to found or you could use an FPC of your collection at that time if you want. For the example we will use 1X yoplait yogurt FPC to buy a tub at 2.99$. Now you have a total of 71.43$ before coupons and electronic rebate)

oop calculation now:

chicken: 6 X 10.99$ = 65.94$ - (3X10.99$ electronic rebate) - (3X5$ in coupon, some use also 6 coupons because they buy 6 box... some (alot) cashier accept this, some don't) = 17.97$ or 2.97$
chocolate freebie: 1X 2.50$ = 2.50$ - 2.50$ electronic rebate = FREE
yoplait yogurt tub: 1X 2.99$ = 2.99$ - FPC = FREE
oop = 17.97$ or 2.97$

NB: this is an example, I didn't saw this exact deal in the flyer, this is just to show how to calculated to get the freebie of the week and having a very low oop (far of the 70$).

edit: I forgot to add you get 3 regular air miles with a shopping like this one at IGA if there is no other deals to get more air miles.

Thanks 2010ontest! Makes me wanna have an IGA near here now! Hopefully Sobeys will offers similar deals. I'll include these in tips when I do the update later this week! Awesome info!

[$avvy$hopper]

Jan 24/11- Long live the 30% orange stickers!!!!



Had a bit of time this evening to scoot out for a few items and ended hitting a jackpot on meat! Here's how the hour went down:

SDM:
1x Lean Cuisine $4.29 - FPC = $0
2x Nativa whole wheat pasta $2.99 - 2x $2 managers special stickers = $1.98
2x Gerber Lil crunchers for DD $1.99 ea = $3.98
Total OOP $5.96

I show the Multibionta because it earned me enough points for a $100 spree at SDM! 1x Multibionta $11.99-$10 coupon + 1500 bonus point coupon (got it in the mail, earn 1500bps wus $10 on any vitamins!)

SWEET!

Freshco:
As with my last trip to Freshco, I only went in for the cereal but again, checked the meat section and there were those pretty orange stickers again! LOL! The meat's good for a few more days but I've popped most in the freezer already; nice start to February's meals.

1x Corn Pops $2.99 - $2.50= $0.49 (dd saw it when i came home and said "wow, that's fantastic mommy. you did a good job"...she's 4!)
2x Ground beef $3.47ea - 30% stickers = $2.43 ea!
And the piece de resistance is the chicken drumsticks- 10 drums in each pack:
#1 $3.58-30% sticker = $2.51
#2 $3.71-30% sticker = $2.60
#3 $3.85-30% sticker = $2.69
#4 $3.86-30% sticker = $2.70
Total: $15.91 after coupons
Less $5.56 other money from consignment
Total OOP: $10.35

So, if i count the consignment $ against the chicken purchase, that's $5.03 for 40 drumsticks = $0.13 ea!!!!!!!!!!

You bet your coupon binder I'm happy dancing right now! Hope your grocery runs bring you equally fun savings and surprises!

[coupon girl]

way to go on the meat deals -i looked in sobeys after work last night for stickered meat wasnt any -but keep up the great work

[frugalkitty]

very inspiring...your "other money" concept is a big hit with me and helped me to have a 12 dollar grocery month in 2011 (for one person). I'm currently waiting on 3 rebates as well.

[$avvy$hopper]

way to go on the meat deals -i looked in sobeys after work last night for stickered meat wasnt any -but keep up the great work

Thanks so much! Hope you find some next time!

very inspiring...your "other money" concept is a big hit with me and helped me to have a 12 dollar grocery month in 2011 (for one person). I'm currently waiting on 3 rebates as well.

Oh my gosh, this was the best news of my day!!!! So happy the tips helped! You have to share how you got it to $12 for the month, I'm sure others are dying to know too! Given the various posts re "make do month/year" and financial challenges, all our stories and tips will no doubt help a lot of people. WTG and great job on the rebates!

[frugalkitty]

I do not remember the exact details but I remember I got 38 or 34 dollars in rebates, Used PC points and coupons and FPCs. I always meal plan and re purpose left overs. I also woke up early to get marked down dairy and meat.

Now I've finally got a Shoppers Mastercard so I'm going to clean up!!

Thanks so much! Hope you find some next time!



Oh my gosh, this was the best news of my day!!!! So happy the tips helped! You have to share how you got it to $12 for the month, I'm sure others are dying to know too! Given the various posts re "make do month/year" and financial challenges, all our stories and tips will no doubt help a lot of people. WTG and great job on the rebates!

[ahatt]

What an amazing score on meat! This thread is so inspiring, did I mention yet how much I love it!!

Post #2 updated with my fantastic shop tonight! Headed out for just a few items and came back with a meat deal I couldn't pass up!