COMMISSARY Is the Commissary the best place for groceries?

[chilling23]

I am fairly new to Qing but I've picked it up fairly quickly and I'm rolling with it. I am a military spouse (Mr. Mom) yet I dont shop at the commissary. Is it work shopping there instead of Kroger? Maybe a few experts rate the top 3 grocery stores in terms of coupons and average % saved. Thanks

Ryan

[mommyto3angels]

Ryan,welcome to HCW

Yes, shopping the Comi. is great if you know your prices. Some things are cheaper some are more expensive. i shop Comi, FL, Walgreens,Walmart, HT. Do your homework for the week and than go where the deals are. One thing is 100% sure never shop anywhere else for meat and chicken but Comi.

[lmcconne]

I second doing your research. Like PP you can get some good deals on meat, especially their quick sell (didn't sell by the sell-by date) items. You do have to figure in the 5% surcharge on all items (regardless of coupons redeemed), but can still come out ahead. Be sure to visit the monthly Millitary Commissary thread over in the Grocery Store Forum to help you find current or on-going deals

[rrpate]

oh yeah!!! its a big savings on most items... as others said though you have to know the prices.sometimes you can get better deals off base... but meat in general is a great deal.. the frozen convience foods are better priced at comm too.. also if you get a great coupon for overage it is real good.. like the 1.50/1 on the st. ives... big overage... the 3/1 ky! and the pace . the chinet is good too... so i get the ads on wed and go from there.. course bogo sales like winn dixie sometimes the meat can be a super deal.. and yeah have to remember to add that 5% to the before coupon price!

welcome to HCW! this place is amazing!!! yeah check out the military thread...

[PMFan]

welcome to the board and couponing Ryan!

what stores are in your area?

the commissary cannot compete with promotions off base - doubles, triples, catalina deals.

however, the commissary has cheaper everyday shelf prices on many products.

if you have time, i would suggest you read/subscribe to every HCW forum for the grocery and drug stores in your area. if you have limited time, i suggest you subscribe to the commissary forum, one drug store and one or two grocery stores (preferrably one that double/triple).

if you are new to the concept of stockpiling (buying multiples of same item using coupons/sales), i suggest you read the stockpiling 101 thread.

here is a quick run down of stores in my area and what each has to offer to give you an idea of what's out there. i have limited time so cannot follow all the deals at all the stores so i cannot give you a fair "top 3" honest comparison. the top 3 i shop most often after the commissary are walgreens, harris teeter, food lion.

harris teeter (doubles/triples/accepts competitor coupons)*
kroger (doubles)*
food lion (store printables)*
farmfresh (doubles/dollar doubles)*
walgreens (register rewards deals, use store coupons w/ manf coupons/clearance deals)&
CVS (extra care bucks program) - store opening soon in my area - yeah!! &
Target - store printable coupons can be used in conjuntion with manf coupons
Rite Aid - rebate program. can use store w/ manf coupons.

*=also offers catalina promotions
&=very active HCW forum

[cleorose]

I don't know where you are at but we are here in Ks. Our commissary is average. Some prices are within a few pennies some are a dollar.
For Example Chinet Plates 36 ct are 1.79 (Free after coupon)
Walmart has the same plates for 2.99 (.99 after coupon)
Kmart has them for 3.79 (free during doubles)

Meat is sometimes a great deal we have dillons here which does alot of BOGO meat sales, Zeys which will put hamburger on sale once a month 1.37 lb (commissary price here is 1.81 lb) Zeys and Dillons will also have whole chickens on sale for as low as .69 a lb (the commissary lowest price here is about 1.29 lb)

Every area is different and I am still new to Q's as well. I only really started in Feb. But I have gotten good fast and knocked my grocery bill to about 250-300 a month vs 5-600 month.

Stephanie

[rrpate]

YEAH i forgot some of you are lucky to have stores that double and triple ...no such luck here!! and holy cow 1.81 for burger meat??? yikes!!! ours here lots cheaper... last i got it was 1.59 ... even local stores sales are near that... and not too often.. it does depend on whats in your area ... i should have said in MY area comm is better most of the time.. not to say i don't get some great deals off base too......

[jeweltea]

Don't forget to add in the tip you give the bagger too! I think the commissary is cheaper in general but if you have a store that triples or the Safeway promotions that you keep rolling all month long, you can get a lot of free stuff there. CVS is great for free stuff too. Of course, the commissary gives overage but sometimes they give you so much trouble about that. I only go to the commissary once a month now since I get so much free stuff off-base. However, I have a large stockpile and don't buy as much. There are some things that are always cheaper at the commissary and that is what I go for once a month.

[chilling23]

Thank you all so much for your insightful responses. The commissary I go to is the one on Fort Lee, VA. Its a 20 minute drive so I dont go often, but since I have been couponing, I have seen comments on how good the place is. I'll continue to do my homework and maybe hit the commissary 1 or 2 times a month and stockpile like its noone's business. I love saving so much money on stockpiling though, its a BLAST!