Nico in the Pursuit of Savings, part 6

I have shopped my final store, and today’s savings adventure brings us to Wood’s Supermarket. Where to start… Wood’s and I were not close friends for a very long time; I was completely fed up with their expensive prices. The last time that I shopped there was almost a year ago, and I was hoping to see some better prices. Wood’s Supermarket is still home to the $8.00 Rotisserie Chicken, but they have made many aesthetic improvements to the store. Wood’s has added a Gas Station, Coin Star, and a Quick Care Clinic (limited hours); they also offer Prescription Delivery Service (locally only) through their Pharmacy. Nice new services, but how are those prices?

For the not so good … The customer service at Wood’s is not very good at all, and many of the sale items that I would have loved to pick up were no where to be found. Wood’s is also home to an extremely dangerous parking lot, it is a mess. I was surprised to see that many of the items on my list were actually on sale the day that I was shopping, but the regular price of these sale items was still too high. Walking around the store I also spotted one Dozen Eggs for $2.05, one bag of Tostitos Chips for $4.19, and one Pound of Organic Pasta for $3.99! I was tempted to purchase some Jelly Belly Jelly Beans when I saw the gigantic display (right by the veggies). They had Bubble Gum, one of my favorites. When I noticed the price at $6.99 a pound, there was no way I was going to make that purchase. Just what are those Jelly Beans made of for that price!

Now for the positives… Wood’s Supermarket is home to an awesome, albeit a bit pricey, Organic Section. It is well stocked with tasty Soy Ice Cream, and Gluten Free Baking Mixes, pretty cool for our little town. Wood’s also has a great bakery, and if you are nice and say please and thank you, your toddler can score a free Chocolate Chip Cookie Wood’s also offers Kid Friendly Shopping Carts! They have several on site in the shape of a Fire Truck, and a Pick-Up Truck, and the most awesome Kid Friendly shopping cart I have ever shopped with… It is a bright blue, gigantic big-rig of a shopping cart, you can easily fit three kids and a full load of groceries in this bad boy, it is truly awesome. I’ve shopped with it once, and it rocked

So just how were those prices?

• Cat Food-Cat Cafe 3 lbs: $1.99
• Kitty Litter- Always Save 10 lbs: $1.79
• Kleenexes- Best Choice (sale item): $1.00 (sold out at out store)
• Toilet Paper-Best Choice (sale item): $1.00 (sold out at our store)
• Diapers- Huggies Jumbo Pack (sale item): $9.97
• Baby Food 2 pack: Gerber 2nd Foods (sale item): $.99
• Baby Food Jar: Gerber 3rd Foods (sale item): $.75
• Gerber Puffs (sale item): $2.09
• Saltines-Best Choice (sale item): $.99
• Coca-Cola 12 pack (sale item): $3.33
• Bread-Best Choice (sale item): $1.00
• Eggs- Best Choice (sale item) $1.50
• Milk One Gallon 2%- Hiland: $3.69
• White Flour5 lbs-Eagle Mills (sale item): $1.99
• Sugar 4 lbs-Best Choice (sale item): $1.69
• Grand Total of all items $33.77

The sale items were great buys, but Wood’s is still not the best place to save for me. The regular priced items are just a little too steep for this frugal gal, but man I love their awesome shopping carts

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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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