Grocery Budget up 300% - HELP!

[stacyloucks]

I don't know anything about Pavillions but Vons only doubles the 1st like coupon just like Ralphs. I think the doubling at Ralphs is a hit and miss. At one time, mine only doubled the first one and now they double them all. As far as Stater Bros., I miss that store. I used to live in San Bernardino and went there all the time. I think they are cheaper than Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons. They don't have them here where I live. I would definetly check into them if you can!!

Good luck!!

Thanks Stacy!

Does Vons also limit the total number of like coupons? In Vegas it was 4.

So Stater Brother's is a little lower in price. Do you know their coupon policy?

My husband travels to San Diego for business at least once a month. Maybe I can bring you the Stater Brothers "haul" and you can direct me to the no limit Ralph's? lol.

btw. I went to Wal-Mart tonight. (Yes - I am now having a cocktail ). The prices were the same or higher on the staples. They did have a few more generics, but that's about it. Butter, milk... I found was equal to 10% higher. The stress and frustration of being there is just not worth a few dollars here and there.

We had Food For Less in Vegas and they were usualy a mirror of Smith's deals with few exceptions. I'm not sure why I didn't think of them as an option. No doubles is fine, just don't make me come in 5000 times. Food for Less was also lower on the staples. My only issue ever with them was specialty items and deli items. I can easily deal with those though.

I never appreciated what I had!! There were certain items I NEVER paid for, others had limits... The "I'll never pay more than $1 for this has gone to $3".

I'm sure I'll find some better deals here and there, but this is very hard to swallow. Next time I say, "I'm only going to get 8 FREE peanut butters because I know I can do it again in a few months" I will buy 32!

I paid full price for mayo today. Do you know how painful that is?

Thanks for all the input. Any more is greatly appreciated!

[Stacy]

No problem!!

As for the limits Vons has, I am not sure. I will get back to you on that. They have Capri Sun on sale for $1.49 WYB 3 or more. I have 9 more $1/1 coupons left making them .49 each. I would like to use all 9 coupons in 1 trip. The ad starts Wednesday, so I will let you know for sure!

I don't know Stater's coupon policy. I am not sure if the thread on here has it or maybe you can contact Stater's directly? I am pretty sure they are still lower in prices than the other 3 stores. I don't shop at F4L cause A.) I don't like to bag my own groceries and B.) the closest one to me is about 20 minutes away, which isn't a problem, but it is trash. So I stay away from there.

Will definetly take you up on the Stater's/Ralphs idea!! LOL

Stacy

Thanks Stacy!

Does Vons also limit the total number of like coupons? In Vegas it was 4.

So Stater Brother's is a little lower in price. Do you know their coupon policy?

My husband travels to San Diego for business at least once a month. Maybe I can bring you the Stater Brothers "haul" and you can direct me to the no limit Ralph's? lol.

btw. I went to Wal-Mart tonight. (Yes - I am now having a cocktail ). The prices were the same or higher on the staples. They did have a few more generics, but that's about it. Butter, milk... I found was equal to 10% higher. The stress and frustration of being there is just not worth a few dollars here and there.

We had Food For Less in Vegas and they were usualy a mirror of Smith's deals with few exceptions. I'm not sure why I didn't think of them as an option. No doubles is fine, just don't make me come in 5000 times. Food for Less was also lower on the staples. My only issue ever with them was specialty items and deli items. I can easily deal with those though.

I never appreciated what I had!! There were certain items I NEVER paid for, others had limits... The "I'll never pay more than $1 for this has gone to $3".

I'm sure I'll find some better deals here and there, but this is very hard to swallow. Next time I say, "I'm only going to get 8 FREE peanut butters because I know I can do it again in a few months" I will buy 32!

I paid full price for mayo today. Do you know how painful that is?

Thanks for all the input. Any more is greatly appreciated!

[JulieDB]

I lived in Northen CA some years ago. I learned to buy as much as I could at Walmart, K Mart and Longs drugs. I don't think Longs is in business any more. I think it might be CVS now. Not sure.

My daughter was a baby/toddler/young girl when we lived there. Her favorite food was canned green beans and as long as she had those she was happy. I tried to eat a vegetarian diet in those days as did my daughter. I only had to buy meat for my husband. That was the most expensive thing.

I had a really hard time using coupons in CA. Mostly I would get them for products I couldn't find in any stores. So that was frustrating.

What really got me was the price of fresh vegetables. They were sooo expensive!

We did live fairly close to the Asian section of Oakland so we would go shopping there once in a while. Some things could have better prices there but we did have to be careful because not everything was cheaper.

Is there an ethnic area near where you live? If so try shopping there.

[stacyloucks]

Thanks and reps for the Grocery Outlet suggestion. I have one 5 miles away. I'm going to go check it out!

Also, you don't have a Grocery Outlet in Long Beach, but you might want to check one out when you are in neighboring cities. Prices on canned goods, dairy products, frozen foods and personal care items can be CONSIDERABLY less. It is a liquidator and won't accept coupons, but the savings are substantial enough that we usually stop when traveling and pick up stockpile items. If you live close enough, you might want to consider bringing an ice chest for some tempting refrigerated/frozen items.

[abond0017]

I just moved from SoCal last year so I do know your pain. The entire 3 years I lived there I took a hiatus from couponing cause it just wasn't worth the effort to me.

The only suggestions I had was ones that others have suggested. The Commissary (since we are military), Food 4 Less and Farmers Markets were how we survived.

I do have one good tip about the farmer's market though. If you can manage to get there while they are loading their trucks back up at the end of the day...you can usually score whatever they have left out for half of what they were selling it for just an hour before. They would much rather sell it that day.

[taylordvd]

While I am not in Cali, I am totally feeling your pain. We just moved and I am afraid to look at my grocery budget. I had to use up all my discounted meat I had in my freezer and brought with me a poor excuse for a stockpile. Then we lived in temp housing for a month. It has been a rough summer. Good luck!

[Gardencook]

Thanks and reps for the Grocery Outlet suggestion. I have one 5 miles away. I'm going to go check it out!

Grocery Outlet is definitely worth a try. Each store is individually owned, so you never know what you may find. We lost them here and REALLY miss them, but we try to hit them when traveling.
A lot of times, the food isn't close to pull-date, it is just the manufacturer changed a label or discontinued a flavor. Just remember it is a liquidator, so if something is a great deal, it won't last and you may never see it again.
With the down economy, more people are shopping there, so prices are rising. If you keep an eye out and be ready to change meal plans over a good deal, you can really score some bargains.