Changes in the Albertsons' programs....

So I was in picking up the masses tonight at Albertsons'. (BTW--it was amazing and had me doing Gene Kelly's to the truck afterwards). The PIC (person in charge) informed me that as of tomorrow Albertsons' is kicking off a new rewards/incentive program that will replace the existing card/phone number that they take at the register. Guess what? They are going Fred Meyer-ish...with cash kick-backs for designated monies spent...following me? So, for example, Kroger (ie. Fred Meyer in the NW, Smiths' in the Mountain west, etc) accumulates dollars spent in a quarter and then sends you redeemable dollar amounts with added coupons. It comes in the mail and you have so long to use them. It's like free cash towards your next purchases. Well Albertsons' is getting on a similar bandwagon, except that they won't be mailing the coupons or cash incentives--they will just print them at the register as the totals are met. I haven't got the specifics in writing yet as to what the totals will be, but of course, those totals accrue prior to the coupons decreasing the out of pocket expenditure.

I asked the PIC if they were just going to convert over the existing phone numbers and people to this new program and he said NO. He said that as of tomorrow all people who shop at Albertsons' will have to re-register with the store and get new forms filled out. FYI--fuel points will transfer. (Good thing or I could get a little hostile about losing my 50 cents off a gallon...just sayin'). So, don't forget to salute the theory of "hope and change"--at least at Albertsons', so that you can start getting kick-backs at the register. Who knows--you might get lucky every now and again with your power purchases accruing major bonus points.

Going back to my Gene Kelly's tonight--this is what I got...28 cans Hunt's Spaghetti sauce, 16 cans Chef Boyardee Raviolis, 10 boxes Orville Redenbacher's popcorn, 8 jars Peter Pan Peanut Butter, 6 cans of Pam cooking spray, 8 packages Hunt's pudding-assorted flavors...all for $29. AND I still have $10 to spend from the Catalina print-outs on my next purchase and added 30 cents off per gallon (up to 20 gallons)on my Albertsons' card. Brilliant. Serotonin is flowin'.

Next weeks' deals for Albertsons' includes the Procter and Gamble incentives...buy $20 in assorted products and get $5 back PLUS 5 movie rentals out of Redbox. Not the most stellar of deals, but not bad. The cereal deals are truly what shines this week in the major ads. Make a combination that works...and don't forget to add the coupons. The cheaper it is--the better it tastes, right?

Need Cereal?

This week at SAFEWAY:

Kellogg’s Cereal $1.99 each (Don’t you dare buy it until Saturday!!)
Rice Krispies, 12 oz, Fruit Loops, 12.2 oz, Corn Flakes, 12 oz , Cocoa Krispies, 16.5 oz, Apple Jacks, 12.2 oz, Honey Smacks, 15.3 oz, Corn Pops, 12.5 oz
$1.00/3 – Kellogg’s Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, and/or Frosted Flakes 10oz+ – (kelloggs.com)
$1.00/2 – Kellogg’s All Bran, Rice Krispies, Crispix, Smart Start, Raisin Bran or Corn Flakes – (kelloggs.com)
$1.00/2 Kelloggs All Bran, Crispix, Rice Krispies, Smart Start, Raisin Bran or Cornflakes from RP 4/11
$1.00/3 Kelloggs Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Frosted Flakes from RP 4/11

Kellogg’s 8 oz or larger between 5/1-5/14
Buy 3, Receive $2.00 Catalina ($0.67 savings per item)
Buy 4, Receive $3.00 Catalina ($0.75 savings per item)
Buy 5, Receive $4.00 Catalina ($0.80 savings per item)

Gotta do the math: 1.99x5=$9.95-4.00=$5.95 minus the coupons....5 boxes of cereal for $3.95. That's what ONE box of cereal costs at regular price. You can score FIVE for the price of ONE. Just sayin'....

This week at ALBERTSONS':
Buy Post Cereal, any 10 oz or larger between 4/24-5/16 and save up to $4 on your next order

Buy 4, Receive a $3.00 Catalina ($0.75 savings per item)
Buy 5, Receive a $4.00 Catalina ($0.80 savings per item)

Post Cereal $1.67
Pebbles, Honey Bunches of Oats, Raisin Bran, Honeycomb, Golden Crisp
$2.00/1 – Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat or Grape Nuts – (postnatural.com)
Final Price: FREE and BEYOND free?? Free tastes so much better!!
GET SOME COUPONS TO GO WITH THIS DEAL!!

And there is a register print-out on Post cereal....

Kelloggs Cereal & Poptarts 4/$10.00
Buy 4, Save $4 ONYO
$1.50/2 – Kellogg’s Cereal, various varieties – (redplum.com)
Buy participating Kellogg’s products between 4/18 – 5/1 & get up to $4.00 on your next order.

Participating Products Include: All-Bran 13.2-18.3oz, Apple Jacks 8.7-21.7oz, Cocoa Krispies 8.8-16.5oz, Corn Flakes 7-24oz, Corn Pops 9.2-21.4oz, Cracklin’ Oat Bran 17oz, Crispix 12-17.9oz, Jumbo Rice Krispies 11.2oz, Froot Loops 8.7-21.7oz, Frosted Flakes 14-27.5oz, Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size Cereal 16-24oz,
Frosted Mini-Wheats Little Bites 14.5oz, Honey Smacks 15.3oz, Keebler Cookie Crunch 10.5oz, Raisin Bran 15-25.5oz, Raisin Bran Extra! 14oz, Raisin Bran Crunch 18.2-25.5oz, Rice Krispies 9-24oz, Smart Start 14.7-17.5oz, any flavor, Smorz 10.5oz, Special K 7-18oz, Kellogg’s Pop-Tarts Toaster Pastries 12ct.

Buy 4, Receive $4.00 Catalina ($1.00 Savings per item)


General Mills Cereal $2.99
Cheerios, Golden Grahams, Kix, Cocoa Puffs, Reese’s PB Puffs
Buy 4, Get FREE Milk ONYO
$1.00/2 – General Mills Cereal – (coupons.com)
$1.00/2 – General Mills Cereal – (bettycrocker.com)
$1.00/1 – Cheerios, Original – (cheerios.com)
$0.75/1 – Kix Cereal – (bettycrocker.com)
Final Price: As low as $1.49 each, plus FREE milk

So--peoples--it's time to buy some cereal. Sit down and have a quiet moment and crunch the numbers and see where your loyalties lie...there's a deal to be had with every brand, so you don't have to be brand-exclusive or saddled to the no-name brands. Get a 3-month supply and get it on the cheap.

Freezer meal Friends...

For everyone that follows me in the freezer meal circles....Fred Meyer has the Glad ovenware on sale for $3.99!! That's pretty stellar since they are normally $5.99 for the twin pack. If you go to one of the coupon websites, check for the Glad coupons to add to that sale price for mega deals. I looked at the tag and the sale price should be effective for at least the next 10 days. Plenty of time to order coupons and stock up on the containers before the next cooking night.

By the way--that's going to be on May 14th--7pm (my house). The recipe selections will be e-mailed by the end of the this week.

Links for ConAgra....

http://www.childhungerendshere.com/Public/brands.html?source=id4283

This is the link for the 2 coupons that you can print for ConAgra to use in conjunction with the Albertsons' sale that ends tomorrow. It's $1.50 off 4 products. Each computer allows you to print twice. Layer it on the $25 deal for the $10 back and you'll have a stellar deal.

Hurry to Albertsons'........

So I was on a ConAgra foods website this morning and there is a great coupon...save $1.50 when you buy 4 items. It was marketed under the Kroger ads but then it occurred to me that Hunts' products are ConAgra owned and they are on sale at Albertsons' this week. AND--when you buy $25 worth of goods, you get a print-out after every $25 transaction for $10 OYNO. Beautiful. You can print 2 coupons (that's $3 off towards 8 products and add any more that you already have). It adds up to a great deal! I wish I had numerous computers to print from.

Now might be a great time to talk about FRAUD. It's a cut and dry deal with manufacturer's coupons that you get from the paper, because one is one--no questions asked. But when you have a home computer you can print, copy, cut and paste, reproduce....you get the picture. So when you have a coupon that you've printed...you CANNOT copy and use it twice. I know--it never occurred to you...but it did to LOTS of other people who thought they'd take advantage of a good deal. Each coupon that is printed generates a Pin Number. It's usable ONCE. The registers (mini-computers) will track it's usage and cancel out the coupon. Multi-use of one pin number is fraudulent and brings into question whether the stores will even take coupons printed from home.

So Tiddly Bit: play by the rules so that we can all play the game. Have some integrity and the stores will keep offering great deals. There's nothing wrong with trading favors and coupons with someone with another computer to print more with different pin numbers. There are coupons that you can print from multiple websites. If they let you print multiples, that is NOT fraudulent.

So last Tiddly morsel for the day: if it says "Manufacturer's Coupon" but it comes from a store that does NOT have the sale that best suits your purchase--it is still OK to use that coupon at another store. A coupon printed in a Fred Meyer ad that says "manufacturer's coupon" can be used at Albertsons'. I love that. Because Albertsons' is the one having the major sale with boo-koo savings. I'm all about the bottom line and savings. Good luck, shoppers. Everyone wins.

Olive Garden....I love You!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that my favorite restaurant is Olive Garden. In other restaurants, I compare my Italian favorites to them to see if they muster up. Most are left wanting and I go back to old faithful.

I love it when I get a coupon for $4 off 2 entrees. It assures me a place there between now and payday. But they have another coupon out that doesn't expire till 5/7 that is the best I've seen---$5 off 2 entrees. Sweet Niblets!! Go to this link http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/2009/05/olive-garden-coupons.html or http://www.olivegarden.com/OEG95RTPHTM/ps/and you can print up to 2 coupons before it expires your computer.

For everyone going to Time Out For Women in Spokane next weekend...now I know where I'm going for dinner.