Thursday, February 10, 2011

Chatzos on the Cheap: Why it pays to price match

Andy Warhol, Dollar Sign ($250-350k) $446,500
Last night, I posted Houston grocer deals.  "Those prices all look great," you may be saying, "But I REFUSE to go to 7 stores to get my shopping done!"  I agree.  There is NO way that I will have anything done before chatzos if I go to more than one or two stores.  So, here is the problem: we are under a TIME crunch and a MONEY crunch.  What to do?

Surprise!  Wal-Mart price matches weekly advertised prices at their competitors.  Yes.  This includes the non-national stores with the insanely low prices.  Yes.  This includes prices on vegetables.  Yes. You can use coupons with the match-ups, but Wal-Mart will not match double or triple coupon deals from other stores.  It is an added bonus that Wal-Mart tends to have the lowest prices on non-sale/non-matched goods. 

How does this work? Just bring your weekly ads to the store.  When you are checking out, tell the cashier that you have price matches on some items.  I keep my price matches together at the end of the rest of my purchases-- and then I separate them with a divider bar.  Then I tell the cashier that everything on the other side of the bar has a price match.  I don't forget anything that way and the cashier doesn't get too annoyed with me.  

Example 1 (no double coupon): Kroger has Cheerios on sale for $2/box.  You have a $1/1 coupon for Cheerios. You have two options for this deal:
Price match at Wal-Mart: Wal Mart's price is $2.50/box.  Bring your Kroger ad to Wal Mart.  When you are checking out, tell the cashier that you have a price match on the Cheerios at $2/box.  At the end of the transaction, give the cashier your coupon.  Final cost for the box: $1.00.  A $1.50 savings over the Wal Mart price (typically the lowest in town).
Buy the deal at Kroger: Get the $2 deal at the source and give the cashier your coupon.  Kroger will NOT double the coupon (they double anything $.50 and under). Final cost for the box: $1.00.  And you may have to make other stops because Kroger IS NOT the cheapest in town on MOST goods.
Example 2 (double coupon): Kroger has Cheerios on sale for $2/box.  You have a $.50/1 coupon for Cheerios. You have two options for this deal:
Price match at Wal-Mart: Wal Mart's price is $2.50/box.  Bring your Kroger ad to Wal Mart.  When you are checking out, tell the cashier that you have a price match on the Cheerios at $2/box.  At the end of the transaction, give the cashier your coupon.  Final cost for the box: $1.50.  A dollar savings over the Wal Mart price.
Buy the deal at Kroger: Get the $2 deal at the source and give the cashier your coupon.  Kroger will double the coupon (they double anything $.50 and under).  Final cost for the box: $1.00.  In this case, I would make a special trip to Kroger.  
But what does this have to do with my shabbos prep this week?  I got all of the (non meat) shopping done (with some stockpiling items, as well) this morning at Wal-Mart for $20.63 in about 25 minutes.  Frugal with my money!  Frugal with my time!  The breakdown on the price matches:
 
 Wal Mart PriceCompetitor PriceSavings
2.03 lb of Yellow Squash1.42/lb * 2.03=2.880.77/lb*2.03=1.56$1.32
1 Cucumber.74/1*1=.74.33/1*1=.33$0.41
1.27 lb Sweet Potatoes.74/lb*1.27=.94.50/lb*1.27=.64$0.30
8 Duncan Hines1.16/1*8=9.280.77/1*8=6.16$3.12
1.67 lb Tomato1.18/lb*1.67=1.97.66/lb*1.67=1$0.97
2.67 lb Onion.78/lb*2.67=2.080.33/lb*2.67=.88$1.20
1 Green Bell.64/1*1=.64.33/1*1=.33$0.31
TOTAL SAVINGS$7.63
 
Not a small savings!  And I didn't have to run all around town to get the best price.  We are one step closer to making chatzos!
 
Off to the kitchen to get started!
 
 

3 comments:

  1. I have seen other people do this at Wal-Mart too....standing with their carts reviewing the other ads, and then I point out to my husband, "see I'm not the only one who does this!" Fortunately, the cashiers are really experienced at ringing up the competitor prices. :-)

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  2. I have *never* price matched at Walmart. I wonder what's holding me back? Maybe I will finally try it this week. Thanks for the inspiration (and for linking up to the blog hop on KOAB. Fun to find a new blog!!!!)

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  3. Honored that you are reading, Mara! You have inspired me over and over again. Glad to return the favor!

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