Nico in the Pursuit of Savings, part 5

Today’s adventure brings me to our local IGA, everyone loves to shop and save here, but I’m not quite convinced. I brought along my list of fifteen items and a coupon or two, let’s see how the prices compare to the other local shops.

So for the not so good…I’ve shopped the Coca-Cola sales a few times, but that was about the best deal to be found. Every item and then some were very very pricey. Our local store could also use a little upkeep, and a little updating. There were four check-out lines, and only one open as we were shopping, but the line did move quickly. Also something a little  interesting, I was never asked the usual questions as I shopped, “can I help you find anything, and how are you today”, very odd.

And on to the good… The store is a quick little drive from our house, just under a mile. It would be a great place to run in and grab a gallon of Milk or a Loaf of Bread. The local IGA doubles coupons up to $.50, as long as they are manufacturers coupons. Our local IGA also has a Gas Station, and they run incentive buys in the store to save you a little bit on fuel costs. I also spotted a Green House, so we might have to go back and check out the flowers. Our local IGA has great shopping carts with plenty of room :) During the holidays they run a “Free Grocery Contest”, you shop and you are entered to win an entire month of free groceries, that would come in pretty handy with all of the holiday cooking and entertaining.

So how were those prices?

• Cat Food-Always Save 3.5 lbs: $1.79
• Kitty Litter-Fresh Step 7 lbs:$2.99
• Kleenexes- Puffs 108 ct.: $1.25
• Toilet Paper-Angel Soft 4 ct:$1.65
• Diapers-Huggies Jumbo pack:$10.89
• Baby Food 2 pack-Gerber 2nd Foods: $1.19
• Baby Food Jar-Gerber 3rd Foods: $.85
• Gerber Puffs: $2.29
• Saltines-Best Choice: $1.35
• Coca-Cola 12 pack: $3.50 (sale)
• Bread- County Fair: $1.09
• Eggs- Best Choice: $1.50 (sale)
• Milk One Gallon 2%-Prairie Farms: $3.19
• White Flour 5 lbs- Gold Medal: $1.79 (sale)
• Sugar 4 lbs- C&H: $1.69 (sale)
• Grand Total of all Items: $37.01

Well I don’t think that this will be a store that I shop at too often, this is one local deal that I have to pass on. The prices seem to speak for themselves… I’ve got one more shop to visit, I hope to see some better prices :)

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I Heart Walgreens

Yesterday we made a run to Walgreens for a few supplies. I had looked at their weekly specials online, and I spotted a great sale on Walgreens Diapers and Training Pants. Both were on sale for just $5.99, a deal too good to miss. I looked through my coupons, and I had one coupon for $2.00 off Walgreens diapers, so I could save even more.

At checkout I handed the cashier my coupon, and she ran it for both packs of diapers, I was thrilled. I ended up paying $3.99 for the Diapers and $3.99 for the Training Pants, oh how I love Walgreens :)

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Nico in the Pursuit of Savings, part 4

Sorry for the little break, I’m back at it, and still shopping for the best deals locally. This week I made a shopping trip to Dollar General to see if I could find a few deals on my fifteen items. Here is all the fun shopping details ;)

First off the not so good… Locally our store is a little dated, it could use a little aesthetic upkeep. Parking at our local store is crazy, you are right on the street in teeny tiny spaces. If you time your shopping trip at the right time of the day, you can get in and out of the store with no trouble, but don’t shop at noon, its packed. Dollar General is also home to tiny shopping carts. Thade is a big fan of them, but I’m not the biggest fan.

Now for the good… The customer service at our local Dollar General is great, and everyone is very helpful and so friendly. I’m happy to report that Manufacturers Coupons are accepted, so that helps out even more in the savings department. Computer printed coupons are not accepted locally, but that’s no biggie, I run into that problem at just about every store that I’ve visited so far… Overall it is a great place to shop, and it is fun to shop around for all of the great deals. I’ll definitely be shopping at our local Dollar General more often.

So how are the prices?

• Cat Food-Dollar General Brand: $2.25
• Cat Litter-Hartz 8 lb.:$1.00
• Kleenexes 120 ct.:$1.00
• Toilet Paper- Angel Soft 4 ct.:$1.10
• Diapers-Luv’s Jumbo Pack:$8.00
• Baby Food 2 pack-not available locally
• Baby Food Jar-not available locally
• Gerber Puffs-not available locally
• Saltines- Clover Valley: $.85
• Coca-cola 6 pack:$1.99
• Bread-Sara Lee:$2.40
• Eggs-Sun Valley:$2.25
• Milk One Gallon 2%-Hiland:$3.90
• White Flour 5 lb-Southern Biscuit: $1.25
• Sugar 4 lb: $1.65
• Grand Total $27.64

Well I couldn’t find all of my items on my shopping list, but the items that I did find were well worth the trip. I found Baking Cups for $.55, and I’m usually paying $.92 for the exact same brand at the Supercenter. I also picked up Non-Dairy Coffee Creamer for just $1.00, which is a great deal for this coffee consumer. Dollar General seems to be the best bet locally for baking supplies, I can pick up Flour and Sugar at rock bottom prices, and keep on baking. At our last shopping trip Thade purchased a pad of Construction Paper for only $1.00, a great and very affordable find.

We’ll be shopping and saving at Dollar General again soon :)

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