KUSA - The rising cost of the Turkey Day dinner is why we sent out our Your Money Consumer Team to see who could find the best deal on the grocery list. Gregg Moss visited Safeway and King Soopers, Jenn Ryan went to Target and Walmart and Heidi McGuire went to area specialty food stores such as Whole Foods. You get to decide who found the best bargain.
=
GREAT GROCERY RACE: Gregg cashes-in coupons
HIGHLANDS RANCH - I came prepared for the 9NEWS Great Grocery Race with a secret weapon - Jen Kugler with CouponSense.com. We visited King Sooopers and Safeway. Both stores had aggressive deals, but Jen helped me cash-in big on coupons that we could use at Safeway. Jen had amassed some special deals and even a flu-shot coupon that she received from the Safeway pharmacy. Bottom line, it allowed me to buy a lot more for a lot less. My grand total at Safeway was $5.06. My grand total at King Soopers was $16.49.
Keep in mind that weekly specials vary week-to-week and store-to-store and our couponing received a nice boost courtesy of some special deals that Jen had been accumulating for a few months. Bottom line, a little preparation and some good coupon resources can help you save a lot of money during the holidays and any time.
If you're interested in trying out CouponSense, use the promo code 9NEWS and you'll get the first month free and $10/month after - www.couponsense.com.
GREAT GROCERY RACE: Jenn saves with store cards
CENTENNIAL - With my Target RedCard in hand, I was able to snag a few money saving deals while shopping for my big Thanksgiving feast.
If time is money, then I win this Great Grocery Race. I gathered nine essential items in less than 10 minutes on a Wednesday afternoon, just one week prior to Thanksgiving.
Using my RedCard, I was able to knock-off 5 percent of my total purchase with a grand total of $22.60.
A quick shopping spree at Walmart yielded similar results. Aside from the turkey which was priced at $13.38 for 12 lbs., the big-box retailer had almost identical prices as Target.
Walmart's grand total was $24.92.
GREAT GROCERY RACE: Heidi finds out all-natural options incentivize customers
I decided to approach my shopping on Wednesday by looking for the lowest priced items and then followed up with each store including: Whole Foods, Natural Grocers, and Sunflower Market to see if there are additional ways to save.
I found out all three take coupons, and incentivize costumers who bring their own bags. Sunflower Farmers Market and Whole Foods, will give you .10-cents back on every bag you bring into the store, and Whole Foods gives you the option of donating your savings. Natural Grocers is completely bag-free, and will donate .05 cents to the local food bank for shoppers who bring their own bags.
Each of the stores also offer food in bulk, which is a great way save especially if you just need a dash of this, or a pinch of that this holiday. You will only pay for what you need.
Whole Foods shoppers looking to save are encouraged to shop on Wednesdays to take advantage of their "One day sale" on select items throughout the store. When Heidi shopped on Wednesday, she found fresh cranberries on sale for $1.50 and opted for that instead of the canned cranberry sauce.
Sunflower Market also encourages shopping on Wednesdays by offering double ad items on Wednesdays only. And, for those who are willing to spend a little more, $49.99, compared to our $32.11, Sunflower offers already prepared Thanksgiving Meals that serve up to 8 people. Whole Foods also offers full meals or sides for the holidays, for those looking to spend a little less time in the kitchen, or who have a surprise guest or two this Thanksgiving.
For the vegetarian this Thanksgiving, I found a great deal at Natural Grocers on a complete Tofurke meal that feeds 6 people and includes: Tofurke, gravy, stuffing and chocolate cake for 19.95.
Natural Grocers also had a great deal on organic russet potatoes for $1.69 and pie pumpkins for .88 cents verses, $6.19 for a frozen pumpkin pie.
I also found that most of her items purchased at each store were on sale. Her final totals where: Whole Foods $52.05, Natural Grocers $39.42, Sunflower Farmer's Market $32.11.