Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Perks Can be Helpful!

 Happy Tuesday all.  Hoping you are all well and safe.  Wishing all those traveling this week - many safe travels.
I know many of you use Kroger or have affiliates of it in your area.  Yes, they can be more expensive than some other stores, such as Aldi, or dent stores.  BUT, there can be perks as well.
I am one that shops according to the sales, clearance and perks!  I rarely buy anything at regular price - I don't need things that badly.  I have a good stock - and look for deals only now.

Anyone else get this perk from Kroger?  It is so nice!  There are lots of recipes and tips and ideas to help stretch the budget.  There are also personalized coupons!!!  YES!  Coupons for things I tend to buy.
Yes, I know they are tracking my purchases - but other than paying cash and getting no store discounts - there isn't much way to not be tracked these days.
IF you don't get this or their monthly coupon packets - you might visit their site and contact them and tell them you are interested.  The coupons in the magazine are similar to the monthly coupons I get (a few extras) - but they are good through the end of January!!!!!!  My monthly packet is good for just the month.
Maybe try the email of:  ReaderThoughts@mymagazine.us

My monthly packet! 
If I am going to be spending my money on things, I want the best deals.  Coupons help.  I also am registered to get digital coupons for weekly specials.  On the digital deals there are often coupons I can download for 'good customer' or 'special deals'.
I get points that I can use for money off on gas. 100 points = .10 per gallon discount.  You get a point for each dollar spent on groceries.  Many times (almost weekly) there are special days (w/digital) you can get 2X the points on your purchase.  You can get 2X points on certain GC purchases. This is very helpful.
Last month because of 2X points for purchase and GC purchases (for gifts) - I got a $1 off per gallon of gasoline.  That was my best ever discount.

So yes, I do shop other places now and then - but I do get some nice perks at Kroger stores.  I also love their .99 clearance produce section!
It is worth going sometimes just to get the deals and then leave.

I do have several store cards - for all kinds of stores for discounts.  Again, you are tracked.  I can purchase something at say Big Lots and by the afternoon, there will be an add on my computer about that product.  Seriously!!!!!!!  
It is crazy, but it is the way of the world today.  
I can also just make some inquiries about something I want to learn about on the computer - BOOM - ads!

The truly scary thing for me - call me paranoid - is I can sit here by myself working on the computer and be THINKING of something (never utter or type a word) and within no time there is an ad!  How the heck does that happen???????
I can mention something on here on the blog and in no time there is an ad on my computer!  Yep, they monitor everything we do.
I DO now keep my camera lens covered on the computer.  Black tape works wonders!!!

BUT, I digress!  LOL
Take advantage of the perks when you can.  They can make a visit worthwhile.  Use those super coupons and only those.  Check with your affiliate to see if you can get the magazine and monthly coupons - they are really nice.  I found a jar recipe for cookies - that I am adding to brother and sis's basket this year.

Have a great day to each of you!!!!!

30 comments:

  1. Temps in the 20s this morning and hard frost everywhere. Winter has arrived in our area. No Kroger out here, unfortunately. Grocery shopping choices are Safeway, Basha's (small chain) and Walmart, as well as the various Dollar stores and a Big Lots. We do have memberships at Safeway and Basha's. No magazines. Coupons and Digital Coupons are listed in the weekly fliers. I have memberships also at department stores not in the area (Belk and Kohl's) and do shop online for holidays and birthdays, utilizing sales, clearance, stacked coupon codes and store "cash".

    Grocery prices here are a mixed bag... pun intended. About once per month there'll be GREAT sales. Following your example, I have enough food, etc. on hand to be able to wait for better sales for all but perishables. Our nearby son has a local market that offers good sales more regularly; it's a small mom & pop place. That's why we've settled into a kind of family co-op. Key to all of it is being flexible. Interestingly, I don't get the ads you do after shopping, but I *do* get ads after browsing online. Including weekly grocery fliers. Happy for all who have more choices and better prices overall! It really does seem to depend on where you live. --Elise

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    1. Yes, it is all about location. Pricing is even that way.
      At least you have some options. I like the idea of a family co-op. That is a very good arrangement - everybody looking out for one another.

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  2. In the Pacific Northwest, our Safeways were recently bought out by Kroger and will change ownership in January. It will be interesting to see if the specials are as good as Safeway has been. We, too, watch for and shop according to the specials. Our freezer is full. Thanksgiving blessings to all!

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    1. Kroger is expanding a lot. I hope you get good deals too. Here, we have Safeway and they are super expensive. I really never shop there.
      Love being a deal shopper. You have a great Thanksgiving as well!

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  3. Thanks to you and your other readers, I have a fully stocked pantry, and also just now buy items on sale or bogo. It is a wonderful feeling! If I am making a recipe and do not have an item, I substitute and the food still comes out just fine!

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    1. It is lovely isn't it? I love not HAVING to shop every week.
      Good job - making substitutions are most definitely ideal. Love that everyone here has helped in some way. That makes me happy!

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  4. Yep, you can't look up anything on the internet without an ad appearing on your social media accounts. I am not on Facebook so I don't know if they flash ads at you or not. Instagram is full of ads.

    We have Meijer, Kroger, Target, Fresh Thyme and Walmart all within a few miles. Also Costco is just down the road too. We get personalized coupons from Meijer as we shop there the most. Some experts predict that the price of beef will skyrocket.

    Typical November weather today. We are headed to a couple of the stores to pick up some items. The dogs are cuddled up in their bed.

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    1. FB has ads too. I do pretty good keeping them off - but about once every six weeks I get inundated with ads on FB. It takes a good day to delete everything - and then I am good for a while.
      I have never been to Costco, and haven't been in Meijer in ages. I do not shop Target at all - haven't for years.
      Happy shopping - hope it isn't too crowded.

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  5. If you are buying anything online, always search for a promotion (promo) code to use at checkout. RetailMeNot is a non-scammy site that is a good resource. At the very least, you can usually find a 10% off or a free shipping promo code. Every little bit helps.

    I used to hesitate when encountering a promo code that required an email signup. Then I realized that the seller gets my email anyway when I buy! D'oh! So now I don't hesitate to use those promos. I just "unsubscribe" right away.

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    1. That is a good tip. Thanks! I had not heard of the RetailMeNot. Probably need a phone for that - I don't have a phone like that. Hopefully it will help others.
      I love getting any discount I can!!!
      Thanks

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    2. Cheryl, I only use my home computer to make online purchases. I find using a phone to be too glitchy and fussy.

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  6. I'll be on the lookout for the Kroger magazine. I agree, it's usually very nice. Our Kroger owned store still does senior day once a month. I keep a list of things to buy on that day. Usually gluten free item which never seem to be on sale and rarely have coupons. On Senior Day, I at least get 10% off. I'm learning to make more from scratch including the gluten free flour, so that will mean fewer mixes.
    I read that Krogers acquisition of Safeway/Vons is going to the courts. Both sides claiming they will win.
    Ellie
    Central Az

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    1. Ellie you are lucky with senior day - we no longer have them here. That stopped quite some time ago.
      That is nice that you can stock up on that day and get the discount. You do really well on cooking from scratch.
      Always a mess with buy-outs and takeovers.

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  7. Thank you, Cheryl. I emailed them. I am currently enjoying some delicious red pears from the 99 cent bins from Kroger. Love them!

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    1. I got some of those pears a few weeks back and they were delish!!!!!!! They were ripe and juicy and sweet. Sure couldn't beat the price.
      Glad you emailed them - hope you get the magazine!

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  8. I put black tape over the lens on our laptop too, but put a small piece of thin cardboard between the lens and the tape, just in case I need to make a video call one day and can't because the lens is covered in sticky stuff. We have kept it covered for a few years on the advice of our computer guy.

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    1. Good tip. Yes, I was getting cloned, what seemed like every week even after changing passwords. So I covered it and that has virtually stopped. That is some scary stuff - that people can be watching us!!!!!!!
      One of the gals on here has a husband that is a computer/tech guy - he says cover it too!

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  9. If you have Lidl on your town don't miss the Black Friday deal. Buy $100 in gift cards and you get a $20 store coupon to use on anything and no need to buy any amount to use it. Hubby and I will both do this deal on Friday and then they will offer it again mid December when we will do it again. We buy gift cards for places that we spend money anyway like Home Depot. This will give us $80 in free food! You will need the app to do this deal. I am excited that they are offering this again this year.

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    1. That is a great offer. No Lidl here. We have Aldi - sister store, but no Lidl yet.
      I don't blame you - free groceries is a winner!!!!!!

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  10. Mostly I just take advantage of sales. Not many perks here in Canada right now.

    God bless.

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  11. Yes, we have Krogers! But they are at least 30 minutes away but one of our daughters drives there because they have the items she needs to cook in a healthy way with her dietary needs, she'll go to Krogers and then hop on over to the heb over there. When I was a little girl, we shopped at Krogers and went there when it was first Henke's!

    That magazine looks nice, I'll have to clue Zuzu in on that! : )

    Yes, it is so worth it many times to find free shipping coupons or at least a percentage off. Also, swagbucks is nice. You get points using them to search or buying products from stores on swagbucks. (almost everything). Then when you get points you can get a virtual gift card to buy things. It's like getting free money! I usually get Amazon or ebay gift cards. It's easy, you just put the little code in they give you when you pay online, you get the code when the card hits and even if you don't use it right away, it could be the next year...They will resend a code. Easy peasy and trust me, I hate gimmicks that are a pain. It's a nice way to treat ourselves.

    Have a sweet evening Cheryl! I appreciate you! ~Amelia

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    1. Nice to have several options to save some. The magazine is great.
      I do not order much of anything online - so it wouldn't pay for me - but others yes.
      Thanks!

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  12. Hi all, I've been busy today prepping food for T day. It's only the 2 of us but I hate cooking potatoes at the last minute so they will go in the crockpot Thursday morning.
    *Your magazine looks interesting. I don't think we get anything like that here. I hardly ever use a coupon anymore, they make me nuts.

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    1. Good for you on getting the prep out of the way.
      I basically use the coupons that Kroger sends and digital coupons from Kroger that go on my card. That is it.
      Funny how we used to be coupon queens!!!!!! LOL
      Other than that - I get no coupons anymore.

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  13. It seems that the less we shop, the more incentives we get to shop! I still only buy items that I would ordinarily buy. Nice to get a page of coupons every month; coupons are long gone in my neck of the woods. I do get weekly offers via app. But I have to hope that there will be something offered on the one day of the month that I shop as I'm quite a distance from the city.
    I get no ads on my computer as my son installed an ad blocker for me. I had issues recently where You Tube would not allow me to load videos unless I disabled the ad blocker. I did not do that. Within a couple weeks, they allowed me to load as usual. I will not be coerced!! I am certain that the ad blockers are free although they have a notice like Wikipedia which requests a donation.
    Thanks for the reminder about the camera; I need to cover mine.

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    1. Yes, they try to entice us! The coupons are specific for one store - so they are nice. Once a month shopping! You go girl. That would take discipline. Being a long way from town would help.
      I have always wondered about the add blockers if they really worked. Thanks. Yes, cover that camera when not in use!!!

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  14. I love these coupons and I hope I get this coupon book! It looks great!

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    1. They are great. Specific to your shopping needs. Hope you can get it!

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  15. I know about how they track you but that leaves us with great coupons like you say for things we buy most of. Reading your comment Cheryl I didn't realize I could block ads on Facebook. Thanks for that information!

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    1. Yes, even the tracking has it's perks.
      You are welcome, I hope it helps you!!!

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