I have been a serious couponer for some time now and I love having a stockpile of groceries so I can shop from my cabinet. I also enjoy watching my totals go down at the register as my coupons are scanned! Even though I have been posting my deals and steals, I still hear from friends and family members that swear by shopping at that "super center" that I can't stand to go into for more than five minutes at a time. I understand their doubts because I used to be a loyal super center shopper too. It is really convenient to some people to have one-stop shopping but it's not convenient for me to pay more for groceries than absolutely necessary.
In order to try to prove my point I am going to try a weekly posting of my dinner menu with the grocery store cost vs super center cost. Hope you like it!
Remember:
-Publix doubles coupons $.50 or lower and accepts competitor coupons - YEAH!
-Bi-Lo doubles coupons $.60 or lower and gives $.05 credit for each reusable bag you bring
-Bi-Lo also has the FuelPerks program, which helps me save on gas!
-Super Center doesn't double any coupons nor do they accept competitor coupons. They do price match an advertised sale price, but they will not price match items from the Publix Yellow and Green Advantage Flyers or the Bi-Lo Bonus Saver booklet (these are month long store sales). Will not price match B1G1 deals.
For my experiment, I will assume I stood in line at the super center with all my weekly store sale flyers, my coupons, my kids, and had the cashier price match my items. (Just curious, does this still sound convenient?) I will add that I didn't see any grocery shopper at the super center price match or really using ANY coupons. Tsk, Tsk. I also showed how my coupons saved me more at the grocery store than they would have at the super center.
Sunday: Chili
1 can each Bush's Red Kidney Beans & Chili Beans - sale $.75
-Used $.75/2 Food Lion coupon = $.37ea
Super center price: $.86ea (no price match on Px Advantage sales & no competitor coupons = $.86ea)
1lb Ground Chuck (Bi-Lo sale) = $1.99
Super center price: $2.34/lb (wouldn't price match bulk pricing)
1 Small Yellow Onion - sale price $.77ea
-Only needed half = $.77
Super center price: $.78ea (would price match to $.77ea)
1 can Hunt's Stewed Tomatoes - B1G1 price $.69ea
-Used $.50/2 mfr coupon which doubles to $1) = $.19ea
Super center price: $1 (wouldn't price match to $.69ea, after coupon = $.75ea)
1 bag Ritz Baked Crackers - B1G1 price $1.69
-Used $1 mfr coupon + $1 Target coupon = FREE
Super center price: $2.98 (wouldn't price match and no competitor coupons = $1.98)
Total: $3.69
Super Center with price match: $7.56
Monday: Chicken Thighs
2lbs Chicken Thighs (Bi-Lo sale) = $.78 or $.39 per lb
Super center price: $1.50/lb (wouldn't price match bulk pricing)
1 box Betty Crocker Potatoes - B1G1 price $.87
-Use $1/1 mfr coupon = FREE
Super center price: $1.66 (wouldn't price match, $.66 after coupon)
1 bag Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers Rice w/ veggies - B1G1 price $.90ea
-Used $.50/1 mfr coupon which doubles = FREE
Super center price: $1 (wouldn't price match, $.50 after coupon)
Total: $.78
Super Center with price match: $4.16
Tuesday: Cheated and ate at Chick-fi-la!
Kids eat FREE every Tuesday from 5p to 8p for every adult meal you purchase
Wednesday: I don't know what you call this, but this is what we ate (wink, wink)
1 pkg Tyson breaded chicken patties - B1G1 price $3.30
-Used $2 FLIP + $1/1 mfr coupon = $.30
Super center price: $6.98 (wouldn't price match, $5.98 after mfr coupon, no competitor coupons)
1 pkg No Yolks Egg noodles - sale price $1.50
-Used $.75/1 mfr coupon = $.75
Super center price: $1.53 Great Value brand (doesn't carry No Yolks brand)
1 packet McCormicks Brown Gravy (reduced sodium) - B1G1 price $.49
-Used $.50/1 mfr coupon which doubles to $1 = FREE
Super center price: $.50 (would price match, FREE after coupon)
1 loaf frozen Southern Home Garlic Bread - part of a meal deal promo at Bi-Lo = FREE
Super center price: $1.74 Great Value brand (wouldn't price Bi-Lo meal deal)
Total: $1.05
Super Center with price match: $9.25
Thursday: Potato Corn Chowder
3 medium Potatoes - sale price $1.99 per bag
-10 potatoes per bag = $.60 for the potatoes I used
Super center price: $3.97 per bag (would price match, $.60 for potatoes used)
1 pkg Green Giant Frozen Corn - B1G1 price $.90ea
-Used $.50/1 mfr coupon doubles $1 = FREE
Super center price: $1.25 (wouldn't price match, $.75 after coupon)
1 can Swanson Chicken Broth - B1G1 price $.67ea
-Used $.75/1 mfr coupon = FREE
Super center price: $.84 ( no price match, $.09 after coupon)
2 Carrots - sale price $.99 per bag
-6 carrots per bag = $.33 for the carrots I used
Super center price: $.78 per bag ($.26 for the carrots I used)
2 cups Milk
2 tbsp flour
4 pcs Smithfield Bacon - cooked the entire pkg because we REALLY like bacon! sale price $2.49
-Used $.55/1 mfr coupon doubled to $1.10 = $1.39
Super center price: $2.18 Gwaltney brand (doesn't carry Smithfield, no coupons available for product)
1 Yellow Onion - sale price $.77
Super center price: $.78 (would price match to $.77)
Total: $3.09
Super Center: $4.65
Friday: Fish Fillets w/ sides
1 pkg frozen Tilapia fillets (4 pcs) - B1G1 price $2.99
Super center price: $3.50 (wouldn't price match)
3 medium Potatoes - sale price $1.99 per bag
-10 potatoes per bag = $.60 for the potatoes I used
Super center price: $3.97 per bag (would price match, $.60 for potatoes used)
1 box Uncle Ben's Rice Pilaf - B1G1 price $.94
-Used $.50/2 mfr coupon which doubles to $1 = $.44ea
Super center price: $1.82 (wouldn't price match, $1.57 after coupon)
1 box Green Giant frozen peas - B1G1 price $.90ea
-Used $.50/1 mfr coupon which doubles to $1 = FREE
Super center price: $1.25 (no price match, $.75 after coupon)
1 pkg Nestle refridgerated cookie dough - B1G1 price $1.59
-Used $1/1 mfr coupon = $.59ea
Super center price: $2.22 (no price match, $1.22 after coupon)
Total: $4.62
Super Center: $7.64
Saturday: Spaghetti
1 can Hunt's Pasta sauce - sale price $1
-Used $.50/2 mfr coupon, double to $1/2 = $.50ea
Super center price: $.98 ( $.73 after mfr coupon)
1 pkg Healthy Harvest Ronzoni noodles - B1G1 price $.89
-Used $.50/1 mfr coupon, double to $1 = FREE
Super center price: $1.26 Great Value brand (doesn't carry Ronzoni brand)
1lb Ground Beef - sale price $1.99/lb
Super center price: $2.34/lb (wouldn't price match bulk pricing)
Total: $2.49
Super Center: $4.33
As you read, the difference in cost of some meals was small, but even a small difference quickly adds up to a big amount of money after a couple of weeks. The only coupon I have yet to add to my totals above is the $5/$25 CVS or Rite-Aid coupon that Publix accepts. I wasn't sure how to figure than into the prices, but I always have one of those to use when I grocery shop at Publix to help cover the cost of items like, milk, that don't normally have a coupon available.
Grand total spent at grocery stores: $15.72
Grand total spent at super center: $37.59
A difference of $21.87 for one week's worth of groceries!
How can there be any doubters?
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