Couponers Find Stop & Shop and ShopRite Less Expensive Than PriceRite

The gap between food prices at PriceRite and ShopRite/Stop & Shop is quickly narrowing.

The other day during my coupon group exchange, I sat in and listened to one person say that she wanted to go to PriceRite instead of a store that accepts coupons. (PriceRite is the sister store to ShopRite—and PriceRite is a no-frills store that doesn’t accept coupons. Read more about how to shop at PriceRite here.) I agree, sometimes couponing is a hassle and it’s nice to just walk into a store that does not accept coupons and not feel the coupon-stress.

ShopRite's sales often beat the price of its budget store, PriceRite. (United States) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve written numerous posts about PriceRite and how much I love the store. There are certain items I will buy there (Italian breads, non-organic fruits, seltzer, some ice creams). But its prices are slowly going up, too. It’s not as inexpensive to shop there as it once was, and, if you are couponing, you will soon sadly realize PriceRite may not be the bargain basement of grocery stores anymore.

Here are a couple of quick comparisons this week (3-25th):

PriceRite:

-Pepperidge Farm Goldfish: $1.99

-Selter .39 cents each lowest

-Sugar free chocolate popsicles .99 cents a pkg

Versus

-Stop & Shop: Pepperidge Farm Goldfish on sale BOGO (no -coupon) $2.39 for 2 ($1.20 each)

-ShopRite: seltzer 3 for $1 (no coupon)

-ShopRite: Same sugar free chocolate popsicles .99 cents a pkg (no coupon)

The other week I noted many, many more deals at both Stop and Shop and ShopRite that cost less money than the fixed prices at PriceRite. As long as you study the circulars and use coupons on top of sales, you will usually come out spending less money at the mainstream stores than you will at PriceRite.

Marilyn, TFF

Organic Strawberries Now on Sale at Shoprite (and Stop & Shop)

You may not be able to see the difference between conventional and organic strawberries. Image via Wikipedia

Why is the $3.49/lb sale for organic strawberries at Shoprite in Fairfield a great price?

Organic strawberries can be found as one of the “Dirty Dozen” list for being one of the most pesticide-laden produce, according to the Environmental Working Group. Download the app or wallet-sized list here: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/guide/

But do you know why it’s on that list? Conventional strawberries are sprayed with a chemical called Methyl Iodide, a most deadly pesticide. Methyl Iodide is the chemical scientists have used to deliberately cause cancer in laboratory cells for research purposes. That is how powerfully dangerous it is! Experts are calling for its ban in agricultural practices.

Until then, Frugal Fairfielders, head to Shoprite for your organic strawberries this week!  It happens to be $.50 cheaper than Stop and Shop’s sale price.

Better yet, learn how to grow strawberries yourself.  It’s on my list to try, but that is for a post for another day…

~Aimee, TFF

February 2012- The First Three Weeks on Cash-Only Budget

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Time for a cash budget. (Photo credit: 401K)

It’s been a long time coming to use cash for food, gas, clothing, and entertainment. I’ve been religiously watching Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s show, “Till Debt Do Us Part,” and eyeing those money jars. It just makes sense. But, I never did anything about it.

But one day, I realized my grocery budget was creeping upward, even with couponing. What the heck was I doing wrong? Using a debit card and not using a solid budget–that’s what I was doing wrong.

I drew up a serious budget (much harder than it sounds, it takes t-i-m-e, but it’s essential). In my budget–$75 cash for groceries, $25 a week cash for gas in my car (my husband uses more, but I work from home), $20 miscellaneous or “blow money,” per Dave Ramsey. That’s only the cash part of the budget.

I didn’t use jars, but I did use basic envelopes, which proved too cumbersome as I went through my week.  I ended up labeling two pockets of my wallet. One pocket says “Gas” and the other says “Groceries” and that’s where I keep the money.

Some highlights:

1. Week One: I was filmed for Channel 12 News (not aired as of yet) on a shopping trip at Stop & Shop in Fairfield–it was an extra shopping trip that week and I shelled out an extra $54.00. To balance the budget, I decided to reduce my grocery budget for two weeks.

2. Week Two: Did relatively well, was able to buy about four pounds of expensive organic ground beef because I used some Catalina coupons from ShopRite thanks to some great deals I put together. By week’s end, I spent an extra $10 at Whole Foods when I found a couple of extra deals. It’s only $10, you say, but you know how the psychology on this works … “it’s ONLY $10….” turns into “it’s ONLY $20 and so on…” But, it’s like a diet, you make peace with yourself and get back on the program.

3. Week Three: So, it’s now Saturday, one day into my third week of cash only, and I have spent my reduced cash budget. But, we have plenty of food and will only need some fruit and veggies–but it’s extra money.

But so far, it’s great, I love it, and I see where my money goes and it gives me great hope. I spent $200 so far in three weeks–not too terrible in an affluent town like Fairfield.

Stay tuned.

~Marilyn from TFF

Avoiding Couponing Distractions

Bargains are everywhere which causes distractions. Image via Wikipedia

The couponing stars are not aligned for me this week and it has to do with too many distractions.

Distracton #1: Bargain Hunting

After leading a successful Couponing 101 class–suddenly I’m coupon challenged. Last night I tried an experiment at Stop & Shop. I took ALL of my coupons to see if I could snag unadvertised deals. The store was empty and quiet, but I was distracted by searching for deals and matching coupons. I ended up spending more than I would have otherwise, only saving a measly 38% on my bill.

I do better (savings of 50% to 75% or more) by taking a tightly controlled envelope of coupons and a list to the store rather than venturing out with every coupon. But others, as we learned in class, do better by taking all their coupons with them on a shopping trip.

Distraction #2: Debit Card

It’s not about what you save, it’s about what you spend. So another distraction I plan to eliminate is my debit card on grocery trips. By using a debit card, I tend to “nudge up” the total by getting an extra item or two that is not on my list. Next week I begin my cash-only project for groceries. I’m giving myself an envelope with a generous $75 a week in cash to stock up on groceries for my family of four (which includes my eating machines– husband, 12-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl) and two ravenous pets.

No more debit cards when shopping! A huge distraction which allows you to spend more when you're trying to save. Image via Wikipedia

That’s not easy to stick to in this expensive town without using sales and coupon strategies while trying to eat healthy whole foods. My goal: get down to $50 a week in cash only for groceries. It can be done — I’ve done $30 a week before (including produce)– but I’m driven to eliminate my distractions.

Distraction #3: Kids

It goes without saying that bringing kids of any age with you on a shopping trip can be distracting. My 13-year-old daughter has an strategy when she comes shopping with me. She’ll choose something not too expensive, but not too cheap and I fall for it. She knows I won’t buy junk, so she’ll find a hair accessory or something she “needs.” Other times she grabs extra fruit or vegetables, which she knows I can’t say “no” to, but, of course it’s never on sale! On the positive side, she’s learned a lot about how to shop well with coupons!

Stay tuned as I try to turn off my distractions.

~Marilyn from TFF

What Happened To All Those Good Deals at Stop & Shop in Fairfield, CT?

After giving the new Stop & Shop sales circular (sales starting Friday Feb. 3rd) a careful look-over a few times, I failed to find any really, really good deals. Am I imagining this? Are there any good deals at Stop & Shop in Fairfield anymore? If so, please let us know! If we do end up spotting one that CouponMom has not found for the local stores, we’ll let you know. ~TFF

Update on February 9th — the new circular looks great! Lots of sales that match my coupons. Looking forward to getting some more gas points!

News! ShopRite in Fairfield, CT Now Accepts Competitor’s Coupons

ShopRite in Fairfield now accepts competitor's coupons, per this sign in the entryway of the store. This is welcoming news, but watch the limits on the coupons! Next step: see if Stop & Shop takes ShopRite coupons. I also wonder -- does sister store PriceRite take ShopRite coupons? Doubt it, but I'll ask... Photo: TFF

After getting in trouble last month at our new ShopRite for using a competitor’s coupon (I really did NOT know it was a competitor’s coupon because it came from the manufacturer, not from a store flyer…and it was a bit confusing)…well, ShopRite now accepts competitor’s coupons. Yippee! Well, hold on, there’s a catch, of course. I thought I’d test out the new policy and here are the results:

Today, November 9th: Stop & Shop‘s recent in-house coupon flyer (which you pick up from the front of the store) has a great coupon for $1 off of one Near East Couscous that expires 12/2/11. ShopRite has a sale this week for three Near East Couscous boxes for $5 (making each box $1.67). I figured I could get four boxes (the store limit) for .66 cents each. I took my four coupons in, confirmed with the cashier that they now accept competitor’s coupons, and we began check out. But the Stop & Shop coupon said “limit one coupon per specified item purchased.” Phooey! There goes my great deal to get four boxes of couscous for .66 cents each.

Anyhow, the bottom line is that I really need to read the fine print of every coupon! But, this new policy is still great news for us penny-pinching Fairfield, CT shoppers! For non-Fairfielders reading this — check the policy on competitor’s coupons with your local store, it could be different in each ShopRite location.

~TFF