I get asked all the time how I save money on fresh meats and produce.
These items are hard to coupon for, the coupons do exist....they just don't come around very often.
For me these are items you are going to purchase regardless of a coupon,
they are necessity items that I plan to pay full price for them
and make it up with the savings I get on other items.
But, if the opportunity comes around to help me save on these necessities
I am all over it!
This was a question that was posted on my facebook page today:
Starr Wrote:
What would be the best sceanrio to use the 10.00 catalina from Albertsons after you spend 30? I am trying to get a game plan together for Sunday :) I was thinking use it on food.
Catalinas are my favorite coupon! Think of them as a gift card to that store!
You can use them to buy almost anything available in the store it was issued.
Usually the only things you are not allowed to purchase with them are Tobacco products, lottery tickets and alcohol.
I love to use Catalinas to buy the things I would buy regardless of a coupon
like meats, dairy and produce!
But, you also have to have a game plan to maximize your savings.
Here is an example of what I plan to do on Sunday at Albertsons;
I will be rolling a catalina offer to maximize my savings and stretch my dollar!
I plan to start with the OYNO Promo, I want to do this promo twice so I will roll the $10 catalina savings into the 2nd transaction to make sure I keep my OOP as low as possible. I want to make sure I don't want to do this promo anymore before I will spend the $10 catalina on anything else.
*I get 5 papers, so I will be armed with 5 sets of doublers.....This is how I plan to use them!
Spend $30 on participating products, get $10 catalina to use OYNO Promo
Transaction #1:
Buy 2 Finish Gel Pacs or Tabs $3.79
Buy 3 All Laundry Detergent $3.50
6 Heft Bags $2.00
= $30.08 - Total after store sale, but before coupons
- $4.30 - (2) $2.15/1 Finish Quantum Powerball or Gelpacks SS 1/30
- $6.00 - Double (3) $1/1 All Laundry Detergent RP 1/1
- $3.00 - (3) $1/2 Hefty One Zip Bags RP 1/1
= $16.78 Pay OOP, Get $10 Catalina
Transaction #2:
Buy 2 Finish Gel Pacs or Tabs $3.79
Buy 3 All Laundry Detergent $3.50
6 Heft Bags $2.00
= $30.08 - Total after store sale, but before coupons
- $4.30 - (2) $2.15/1 Finish Quantum Powerball or Gelpacks SS 1/30
- $6.00 - Double (3) $1/1 All Laundry Detergent RP 1/1
- $3.00 - (3) $1/2 Hefty One Zip Bags RP 1/1
-$10.00 - $10 Catalina from transaction #1
= $6.78 Pay OOP, Get $10 Catalina
Transaction #3
Buy 2 Land O Lakes Butter Spread $1.50
Buy 1 Ken's Dressing $1.67= $4.67 - total after store sale, but before coupons
- $1.67 - Double (1) $1/1 Ken's Salad Dressing
Final Price: FREE - possible $.33 overage from dressing
Transaction #4
Buy 6 Pillsbury Brownie Mix $1.50 each - BUY 2, GET 1 FREE
= $6.00 - Total after store sale, but before coupons
- $6.00 - Double (3) $1/2 Pillsbury Brownie Mix RP 11/6
Final Price: FREE
for my final transaction I plan to put that $10 catalina I still have from transaction #2 to work. I want to take advantage of Albertsons meat/veggie promo.
The current promo says buy 3 lbs of participating roasts @ #3.99 lb - Get 5lb bag of potatoes, 1lb bag of carrots and 1 celery bunch for FREE
*What is great about these promos is you don't have to get 1 3lb roast, you can get (3) 1lb roast or (2) 1.5lb roast! Whatever you would like to do, just make sure you use your butcher...they are there for a reason....they will customize your roasts free of charge!
*another thing, I always ask my butcher to wrap my meat in their freezer butcher paper. This paper will protect your meat from getting freezer burnt much longer than the clear wrap you usually see on them.
*oh yeah, one more thing....I am purchasing the Ken's Dressing with this final purchase because I will have overage for buying the dressing and I want that overage to be applied to my meat purchase.
Transaction #5
Buy 3 Ken's Dressing $1.67
Buy 3 lbs of beef roast $3.99 lb
1 5lb bag of potatoes $1.69
1 1lb bag of Carrots $.79
1 Celery bunch $1.29
= $20.75 - total after store sale, but before coupons
- $3.77 - Albertsons FREE produce promo
- $6.00 - Double (3) $1/1 Ken's Dressing SS 1/8
- $10.00 - $10 Catalina from Transaction #2
Final Price: $.98
TOTAL RETAIL: $157.84
I will pay out of pocket: $24.54
85% SAVINGS
Pretty much I am only paying for the home items. Not a bad price for 4 boxes of dish detergent, 6 bottles of laundry soap and 12 boxes of zip baggies!
*Of course you do not have to do exactly as I am, but I hope this gives you an idea of how to roll the catalina savings to your best advantage!
Like what you see? Sign up for my FREE daily email!
