Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Bi-Lo Clean Sweep

I most definitely should be in bed by now, but I'm practically too excited to sleep... which says something about me, I guess.

Anyway, a while back (think a year-ish) Bi-Lo sent me several flyers with coupons for free grocery items. Each flyer would have 8 total coupons - 4 coupons for free food (usually for related items), and 4 for $8 off a $50 total purchase - and they'd each be good for a different week.  Somewhere along the line (I think when a flyer arrived after one had already expired) I found out that they take them expired - no matter how late.  So, I've saved most of them up until I had a need for the particular item.  Many of the items I haven't yet had a need for (or, at least not when Bi-Lo was on the list for that week, or I remembered about the coupon, or whatever).

This afternoon I went to Bi-Lo for the first time in probably several months to grab a few good deals (primarily Organic Peaches for $1.79/lb).  I wasn't getting much, so I almost didn't go, but with my hubby traveling, I've got plenty of free time and I went.  While standing in line with my 3 items, I saw a sign that said "As of Sept. 1 we will only except Bi-Lo coupons that are less than 30 days expired."  As it turns out, Sept. 1 is tomorrow - and all those freebie coupons are waaaay more than 30 days past due.

You can imagine where this is going, right?  I headed home, grabbed the coupons, went to Back-to-School night for a few hours, and then back to Bi-Lo - at 9:30 at night.  I grabbed all the free stuff, and a few extra items so I could hit the $50 and get $8 off (essentially scoring $8 more of free food - mostly organic stuff that I would hesitate to buy because of the price), and headed to the (oops!) only open register.  My list:
  • 2 bags of Pirate's Bounty puffs
  • 2 pouches of Uncle Ben's Ready Rice
  • 1 loaf of Nature's Own Premium Specialty Multi-Grain bread
  • 1 box of Strawberry Cereal Bars
  • 1 8-ct bag of hamburger buns
  • 12-ct brown-and-serve rolls
  • 1 10-ct box of instant oatmeal
  • 1 bottle of ketchup
  • 50-ct heavy duty paper plates
  • 1 8-oz bag of shredded cheese
  • 1 lb of butter
  • 4 yogurt cups
  • 1 frozen pizza
  • 1.5 qt Blueberry Cheesecake ice cream
  • 1.33 lbs ground beef
  • 4 lbs Earthbound Farm Organic Oranges
  • 16 oz deli potato salad
  • 1 small bag of Earthbound Farm dried mangos
  • 1 small bag of Earthbound Farm dried plums
Total:  $60.13. 
I paid:  $4.41.
That's an average of 18¢ / item.
I think that means I saved 93%.
See why I couldn't sleep 'til I "shared" this with someone?
I think burgers and ice cream will be on the menu for this weekend when our friends come in town for Labor Day.

Buying free food... Soli Deo Gloria.

2 comments:

Nate and Molly said...

I still don't get it after reading it three times, I just know that I'm jealous! Maybe it has to do with the fact that it's 11:30 PM and I'm waiting for laundry to finish? hmmm.

Justine said...

Or maybe you don't get it because I wrote it around 11:30 at night and should have been in bed, too :) What I don't get is why Bi-Lo no longer sends me flyers with coupons for free ketchup, beef, burger buns, plates, etc.!!