Chatzos on the Cheap: Why it pays to price match

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 Price	Competitor Price	Savings
2.03 lb of Yellow Squash	1.42/lb * 2.03=2.88	0.77/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 Hines	1.16/1*8=9.28	0.77/1*8=6.16	$3.12
1.67 lb Tomato	1.18/lb*1.67=1.97	.66/lb*1.67=1	$0.97
2.67 lb Onion	.78/lb*2.67=2.08	0.33/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!