Arizona Shopping Secrets

Free Admission tomorrow 5/1 at 3 Mesa Museums

• Arizona Museum for Youth,
• Arizona Museum of Natural History
• Mesa Contemporary Arts Center

Are you looking for grocery deals in Arizona? Here are the deals I am interested in this week! 

Albertsons

• Large Cantaloupe $1 each

• Albertsons Syrup 24 oz $1

• Sara Lee Soft & Smooth Whole Grains White $1.99 <—Haven’t found my $0.99 Nature’s Own bread the 99 cent only store on my last few trips…

• Ben & Jerry’s $2.99 -$1 Tearpad = $1.99

• Fresh cut seedless watermelon 32 oz bowl $2.99 <—for lazy moms :-)

Fry’s (Accepting Competitor Coupons and all MQs worth $1 promo)

• Kroger Yogurt 10 for $4

• Fry’s Water 24 pack $2.50

• Red Seedless Grapes $0.79/lb

• Kroger Bagels (5ct) $1

• Goldfish (6.6-8 oz) $1 <—Might grab for our upcoming Disneyland trip!!

   

  Bashas (Coupon Magic, all MQs worth $1 promo)

• Watermelon $0.17/lb

• Strawberries 16 oz package $0.95 (first 4)

• Fresh Cucumbers or Green Bell Peppers 2/$1

• Yoplait yogurt $0.38 each (wyb 10)

• Propel Water 2/$1 - $1/2 MQ = free

•  

  Safeway (All MQs worth at least $1 promo)

• Lucerne Milk Gallon $1.79

• Lucerne yogurt 10/$4

• Cluster Tomatoes, on the vine $0.97/lb

• Red Seedless Grapes $0.97/lb (wed-sat)

• Freschetta Pizza $3.99 (with ad Q and min $10 purchase) - $1 MQ= $2.99

• $5 CAT wyb 3 Hallmark Card promotion (excludes $0.99 cards)

• refreshe Water 24 pack $2.50

• Lucerne Chunk, Shredded or String Cheese 16 oz $3- $0.55 IP (if it has CA seal)= $2

• Lucerne Natural Slices $2 – $0.55 IP(if it has CA seal)= $1

•  

  Sprouts (Now offering $0.05 reusable bag discount)

• Cluster Tomatoes $0.97/lb

• Strawberries 1lb $1.50

• Red, White or Yellow Onions $0.49/lb

• House Foods Tofu 12-14 oz $0.99

• Organic Braeburn or Pink Lady Apples $0.99/lb!

• Organic Yellow Onions $0.69/lb <—Do any of you guys use Organic Onions?

• Sprouts Chicken Sausage Celebration $2.99/lb (Handmade in every store, links or bulk)

• Sunflower Farmers Market

• Super Select Cucumbers 3/$1 <—I am tempted to try to make 1/2 sour or green pickles,

• Hass Avocados 3/$1

What great deals are you excited about this week?

Interested in a more complete list of grocery deals for this week?  Check out the Arizona Shopping Board at Pinching Your Pennies.

Check out today's deals on Groupon.com.


$19 for Five Bounce Passes to BounceU in Gilbert
(Up to $44.75 Value)














Groupon.com LINK

Check out the pre-made shopping lists & discussions at PinchingYourPennies for the following local stores...
Albertsons
American Discount Foods
Bashas
CVS
Food City
Frys
IGA
Pros Ranch Market
Safeway
Sprouts
Sunflower Market
Target
Walgreens

*Click here for a compliation listing of what is cheap/free this week.

*Click here for a preview of next week's CVS ad/coupon match-up.

Joe's Real BBQ in Gilbert is giving away FREE Meals again this year for Customer Appreciation Day.

Free Food will be served between 11am-3pm and again from 4pm-8pm.

There definitely will be lines, but if you love barbeque it is worth the wait.

Click here for more information.

Last week I was invited to learn about Fry’s new Milk Freshness Campaign at their corporate headquarters in Tolleson.  I thought I would share the details with you… Journalism Style (via the 6 Ws format) <—Because I am cool like that!

Who:

Fry’s Food Stores of course!

What:

Fry’s wants you to have the freshest milk possible!  All Fry’s brand milk will have a minimum of 9 days of freshness when you buy it.  At 9 days of freshness the milk will be marked down.  At day 8 it will be donated to local food banks! <—Love that!

When:

The campaign starts Wednesday, April 27th… although they have been piloting the program since late last year!

Where:

Fry’s Food Stores :-)

Why:

Fry’s knows that milk is a grocery staple for most families and wants to keep their customers happy!  If their milk lasts longer it will eliminate waste and extra trips to the grocery store.  And hopefully keep customers happier!

How:

1. Fry’s uses local dairy farms and has their own dairy manufacturing plant right in the Phoenix area.  They can get their milk from the cow to their store shelves faster than anyone!  <—Milk at the speed of  MOO! Or maybe a bit faster! :-)
2. They have implemented new controls to ensure milk is rotated properly at each store including additional training and tools for key store employees.  Plus they improved the visibility of the milk code dates on each gallon.  This makes it easier for both the customer and employee to quickly check the date.

 

These pictures were taken Friday night (4/22).  This milk had a full 2 weeks before the sell by date + an extra 2 days until the best buy date!

By the way I didn’t notice any earlier sell by dates on the Fry’s Milk at my store.

Note the dates on both the front and back.  Allowing both customers and employees to easily check the dates!

My Thoughts

 

I think the Milk Freshness Campaign is very cool for several reasons:

1. As a deal shopper this works well for me, I can stock up on several gallons of milk when Fry’s has them on sale knowing that I will have AT LEAST 9 days left to drink them!
2. This program also works well for light milk drinkers.  If it takes your family 2 weeks to drink a gallon of milk, you’re in luck.  You are likely to find milk with 2 weeks of freshness left at your local Fry’s store! (see my picture above)!
3. I love that Fry’s is donating the milk with 8 days left to local food banks.  As a couponer I try to donate whenever I can to my local food pantry but obviously I can’t donate things like fresh milk.  Knowing that Fry’s does so makes me feel good about shopping there.
4. I also love that Fry’s is a big supporter of the Arizona economy.  They acquire their milk from local Arizona dairy farms AND process it at their own local dairy manufacturing plant.  That results in lots of Arizona jobs!
5. Plus I might get lucky and find milk with 9 days left meaning it will be marked down and cheaper for me! <—Gotta love a deal!
6. This is just another example of Fry’s commitment to keeping their customers happy.  I believe Fry’s has the best prices on groceries in Arizona, plus they make shopping there an even better deal with their current competitor and all coupons worth $1 promotion.  Their milk freshness campaign is just icing on the cake! <—And I do love icing and cake with milk of course!

So what do you think?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this!  Do you care?  Does it make a difference on how YOU shop?

31¢ Scoop Night at Baskin-Robbins

Celebrate National Pretzel Day on April 26th with a FREE Pretzel. Participating AZ locations include:
~ Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale
~ Desert Sky Mall in Phoenix
~ Foothills Mall in Tucson

Click here for more information.

Also while there you can pick up a FREE Ream of HP Multipurpose Paper after coupon and Easy Rebate.  Click here for coupon.

Are you looking for grocery deals in Tucson, AZ? Here are the deals I am interested in this week!  

** Sorry this is late… Someone threw away my grocery ads… I am not blaming Peter anyone…but I had to scramble and steal borrow my dad’s grocery ads! **

Albertsons (Double/Triple Coupons this week)

• Lays Potato Chips $1.77 - $0.55 MQ= $0.77 each
• Red Seedless Grapes $0.69/lb
• Hormel Foods Spiral Sliced Ham Bone-in $1.27/lb
• Fresh Chicken Breast boneless, skinless $1.77/lb
• Fresh Cut Watermelon or Pineapple 20-32 oz bowl $2.99 <—for us lazy mamas!
• Frozen Turkey Breast $1.69/lb
• $1 Stovetop $0.50 IP= free
• Double Monopoly Ticket Week… but I am guessing this isn’t automatic because I grabbed some French bread yesterday and the cashier only gave me the standard number of game pieces…. Bummer.

Fry’s (Accepting Competitor Coupons and all MQs worth $1 promo)

• General Mills Cereal $2.79 -$0.50 IP (varies) = $1.79 each + gift card promo
  • Earn $5 wyb 4 general mills cereals with Q and GC = $0.54 per box! 
  • I did this last week with the BIG yellow box of cheerios, its a great deal!
  • Also I saw Honey Nut Chex, Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Total and Golden Grahams for $2.79.. all other cereal was $4.50+
• Coke 12 packs 4 for $8.88 - $2/3 Food City Ad Q - $1/2 Diet Coke tearpads =possible $1.22 each!!!!  (Requires $25 min purchase)
• Lay’s Potato or Kettle Chips $1.88 - $0.55 MQ = $0.88 each
• Cook’s Spiral Sliced or Half Ham $1.27/lb (with a $25 Minimum purchase)
• 5 Lb Russet Potatoes $0.88 each
• Kroger Cottage Cheese or Sour Cream $1.25
• Purex Laundry Soap $1.99- $1 MQ= $0.99

Bashas (Coupon Magic, all MQs worth $1 promo)

• Milk Gallon $1.77 (Fri-Sun only)
• Strawberries 1lb $0.97 (Fri-Sun only)
• Food Club Cheese 6-8 oz$1.25 (Fri-Sun only)
• Yellow, White or Red Onions $0.59/lb
• Lays Kettle Chips $1.77 - $0.55 MQ= $0.77 each

Safeway (All MQs worth at least $1 promo)

• Strawberries 1lb $0.97
• Del Monte Sweet Gold Pineapple $0.99 (Thursday only)
• Lucerne Shredded or Chunk Cheese $5.99 – IP = $4.99

Sprouts (Now offering $0.05 back for each reusable bag you use)

• Strawberries 1lb  $0.99
• Pink Lady Applies $0.99/lb (also fuji and jonagold)
• 99% Fat Free Chicken Tenders (fresh) $1.99/lb
• 99% Fresh Ground Chicken Breast $2.99/lb

Sunflower Farmers Market

• Strawberries 1lb $1.25
• Clementine Mandarins 2lb $1.25
• Golden Pineapples $1.25
• Spiral Cut Ham $1.77/lb

What great deals are you excited about this week?

Interested in a more complete list of grocery deals for this week?  Check out the Arizona Shopping Board at Pinching Your Pennies.

Extra 20% off on discounted gift certificates at CityDeals.com with code AFF20 - expires 4/25/11.

Shipping on entire order is .99.

Here are just a few of the current offers available...





Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers - Glendale or Gilbert location
- $25 gift certificate for $8.80 after code


Quizno's - Mesa - $20 gift certificate for $7.20 after code


Cheba Hut - Tucson  - $20 gift certificate for $8.00 after code





The Duke - Maricopa  - $26 gift certificate for $10.40 after code






*remember to keep checking back for new deals as the discounted gift certificate offers are always changing

CityDeals.com LINK

Check out the pre-made shopping lists & discussions at PinchingYourPennies for the following local stores...
Albertsons
American Discount Foods
Bashas
CVS
Food City
Frys
IGA
Pros Ranch Market
Safeway
Sprouts
Sunflower Market
Target
Walgreens

*Click here for a compliation listing of what is cheap/free this week.

Click here to print a coupon good for $10 off $50 at Fresh & Easy.
Valid thru  5/2/11.

**Don't forget you can use this at Fry's if your total after all manufacturer's coupons is over $50.**

Celebrate National Public Gardens Day on May 6, 2011
Free Admission to a Garden Near You

ARIZONA
Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior
Desert Botancial Gardens, Phoenix
Tohono Chul Park, Tucson

Click here for more information.

Let’s talk cheap Easter Baskets ideas! I have to admit that I love celebrating holidays with goodies for the kids, but I loathe spending tons of cash.  To combat this I am a big planner, as in I plan for my holidays up to a year in advance and yes my Easter Baskets are already done.

 

Of course MY advance holiday planning doesn’t really help any procrastinators out there…. so I decided to do a little retail therapy and browse for some cheap Easter Basket ideas for you!

Hopefully these ideas can inspire you to put together a cute little Easter Basket on the cheap!  

 

The Easter Basket

I am a firm believer in reusing the same basket over and over again. 

Seriously how many Easter Baskets do you really need… 

However baskets do get lost, destroyed or outgrown…

You can only use that Elmo Easter Basket for so long… A 10 year might protest slightly. :-)

 

 

I found these  ideas in the dollar section Target: Cute totes that work for older boys and girls.  I love

the “Where the Wild Things Are” themed goodies!

 

I also found lots of choices at the Dollar Tree (where everything is $1 or less). 

Here are traditional style Easter baskets, plus some great sand pails that can be used at the beach or park later!

 

 

They also had a selection of “basket” ideas for older kids, including sports themed baskets and cute totes.

 

 

Speaking of $1. I found similar basket ideas at the 99 Cent Only Store as well.

 

For those wanting to splurge a bit, I found these more expensive ideas at Target.  I think you could justify these baskets if you could repurpose them after Easter, perhaps for school supplies or toy storage. 

 

And if you want to be a planner for next year, watch Target for their after Easter clearance, I have seen the cute $10 plush baskets at 90% off.  Seriously only $1! I snagged several of those one time to use for baby shower gifts.

Easter Grass

I am not a fan of Easter Grass.  It’s messy and not really reusable.

 

I think gift bag shred is a much better choice.  You can use it for the Easter basket and then salvage it to use later in a birthday day gift bag!   

 

Here is selection of boy, girl and neutral gift bag shred at the 99 Cent Only Store.

Plus if you are a frugal type you might already have some gift bag shred in your gift wrapping supplies at home!  I know I try to salvage it from gifts our families receive when possible.

 

If you do insist on Easter grass, keep it under $1.  Albertsons has it on sale for $0.79 this week and CVS will have it free after Extra Care Bucks next week!

 

Easter Candy

There are lots of cheap Easter Candy ideas out there.  Keep you eye out for store sales and/or coupons you can use.

There are $1/2 Mars candy coupons that work well on the snickers egg singles.  This works out to free snickers eggs at Fry’s or Walgreens (where they are $0.29 this week). 

There were also $0.50/2 Cadbury Eggs or Reese’s Eggs coupons available within the past month at Circle K stores, this also resulted in free candy when the coupons doubled at grocery stores. 

My thoughts are to keep candy limited (this isn’t Halloween), be open to the kind of candy you buy and watch for sales/coupons!

 

Easter Basket Goodies

The 99 Cent Only Store has a huge selection of goodies that would work for Easter Baskets.  And of course everything is $1! 

 

Lots of art supplies and stickers!

 

Even cute Disney themed art supplies.  And speaking of Disney… they had lots of Disney themed toys as well.

 

You could easily theme your basket to Mickey Mouse, Disney Princesses or Cars for example.

  

I also found some fun, simple toys like wood puzzles, cars and bubbles.

 

I also saw a wide variety of goodies in the dollar section at Target including: bubbles, socks, chap stick, stickers, art supplies, flip flops, hair accessories and  journals.

I love hitting Target for their after holiday and BIG TOY clearances each year.  I buy in advance so I am prepared for both birthdays and holidays.  I realize that not everyone buys well in advance like I do, but Target has great clearance year around.

 

I found a couple cool clearance ideas for Easter baskets just this week. 

There were cool art kits in the greeting card section. The projects included paper dolls, race cars, and light switch covers and more!

And I found a huge selection of silly bands at 50% off in the toy section. I think these are big with tweens?  I am not sure… My oldest is only 3 1/2. :-)

Dollar Tree also had some cute ideas: Easter egg chalk, bubbles, jump ropes, puzzles, fireman hats, and splash balls.

 

The $5 Easter Basket Solution:

I think with a little bargain shopping and recycling you can put together a  $5 Easter Basket easily!

Easter Basket $0- $1

Easter Grass $0 - $1

Candy $0-$1

Goodies $2-$5

Total Cost $2-$5

 

What tips do you have to keep Easter Baskets costs low?  I would love to hear what you put in your kiddo’s Easter Basket!

 

I ran to Bashas last night to pick up Elliot’s free birthday cake from the bakery.  And found a whole table of clearance…

WITH something that I really needed!!!!

(P.S. Check out Bashas’ New Moms or Kids’ Clubs to sign your kids up for a free cake)!

 

They had a stack of Baby Orajel tooth cleanser/brush kids marked down to $2.50!! 

 

I knew I had $1 MQs at home…. so I went back this morning with my coupons in hand to grab a few.  I scored them for $1.50 a piece!!!  That is a smokin’ hot deal on baby toothpaste.  Baby & Toddler toothpaste is something I can never get a good regular sale on… I have only found deals on it when I combine a clearance price with a MQ!

 

This find was perfect timing for me because we were just at Elliot’s 1 year appointment yesterday and his pediatrician reminded me that we are supposed to be brushing his teeth…

 

We might have been slacking in that area….. but fear not… we have the supplies now!

 

I also grabbed a #2 birthday candle for $0.10!  We are set for next year! :-)

 

 

 

Clearance will vary by store, but I have noticed similarities between my 2 stores clearance selection in the past.  So if you are in the market for infant tooth paste, check out your local Bashas, you might get lucky!  And remember the clearance could still be on the regular shelf! 

P.S. I took a picture of the clearance table in case you might see something else to look for at your local store…

 

 

Fry’s 

I also ran to Fry’s to pick up some cheap Cheerios!  They are on sale this week for $2.79 and when you buy 4 General Mills Cereals you receive a $5 Gift Card at check out. Pair that with some IP’s and it works out to a sweet deal!!

Order #1

• 4 Cheerios $2.79-$0.55 IP = $1.79 each
• 4 Ken’s Dressing $1.67 -$1 MQ =  $0.67 each <—The poppy seed variety had $1 peelies on them!!
• Total $9.84 OOP
• I received $5 Cash in lieu of a gift card since it didn’t work at check out. So it really worked out to $4.84 OOP!

I am not sure why the $5 General Mills cereal deal didn’t work.. and the Fry’s cashier and customer service person were completely clueless about the promo.  They decided $5 cash back was the easiest way to fix it for me.

Works for me!

The only cereal I saw priced at $2.79 were these ones (+ Honey Nut Cheerios)….. All the other general mills cereal was promo priced as part of the $5 gift card deal, but were all ~$4.50+

I plan on borrowing some printers and print some additional Qs.  The yellow cheerios are a big box and a great deal at $0.54 each!