When did Grocery store "double coupons" promotion end? (San Diego: how much, to buy)

[wehotex]

I'm looking back into moving back to so cal and had heard that the double coupons were over with. I only called Ralphs so far to verify,which I found out was bought out by Kroger. I was a double coupons "demon" when I lived in Socal and loved hearing the checker telling me how much I saved. . It was the only thing that brought the food bill to an affordable price besides making the trek to Food 4 less (a longer drive). When I go visit my San Diego friend, I shop for food at the local Vons and am re-shocked at the prices for items like coffee, frozen foods and most other items. The only items that costs less than Texas' are produce, beer, wine and liquor. Everything else unless on sale, costs a good deal more. How do you cut your grocery bill down in So Cal?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by wehotex

I'm looking back into moving back to so cal and had heard that the double coupons were over with. I only called Ralphs so far to verify,which I found out was bought out by Kroger. I was a double coupons "demon" when I lived in Socal and loved hearing the checker telling me how much I saved. . It was the only thing that brought the food bill to an affordable price besides making the trek to Food 4 less (a longer drive). When I go visit my San Diego friend, I shop for food at the local Vons and am re-shocked at the prices for items like coffee, frozen foods and most other items. The only items that costs less than Texas' are produce, beer, wine and liquor. Everything else unless on sale, costs a good deal more. How do you cut your grocery bill down in So Cal?

A lot of places have cut back on double coupons, but most coupons really are not that great anymore cause the either require you to buy 2 or 3 of the product or they are worth 55 cents, with was never doubled to begin with. I am a huge coupon user, we still have a store here in AR that does give double, but I don't find more than 2 or 3 a week in the paper worth using..oh and as for produce, when we do shop in Ca (obviously not very often, only when we visit) we haven't even found produce to be less expensive; Beer,wine and liquor yes...

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by nmnita

A lot of places have cut back on double coupons, but most coupons really are not that great anymore cause the either require you to buy 2 or 3 of the product or they are worth 55 cents, with was never doubled to begin with. I am a huge coupon user, we still have a store here in AR that does give double, but I don't find more than 2 or 3 a week in the paper worth using..oh and as for produce, when we do shop in Ca (obviously not very often, only when we visit) we haven't even found produce to be less expensive; Beer,wine and liquor yes...

oh yeah nita, you're right about even the produce being more expensive (when it's actually grown there!). I used to go to second hand grocery stores who would get what didn't sell at Vons or Ralphs. food 4 Less was also reasonable. You're right about the lack of good coupons. But when I combined those coupons with a "value" price, I was able to cut down the grocery bill by at least 20-25%.

[ccm123]

When I lived in SoCal, I recall that Ralph's, Von's and Pavillion's offered the double coupon promotion. Don't recall when it ended though.

[Spikett]

Kroger has owned Ralph's for about 14 years now. And Kroger still does double coupons (at least the ones in TN do - I spent the last year there and that's where I shopped). Was at Pavilion's the other day and saw a "coupons at face value only" sign. There was such a battle for a while, each chain trying to outdo each other - double coupons! triple on some days! It got out of hand, obviously.

[LASam]

Last time I saw double coupons was in Ohio before I moved to California. I've never seen double coupons in CA.

[steel7]

Vons used to have double coupons but that stopped yrs ago. I dont think double coupons exist anymore in ca.

[Fontucky]

Kroger also owns F4L.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by wehotex

When I go visit my San Diego friend, I shop for food at the local Vons and am re-shocked at the prices for items like coffee

Vons isn't a good gauge for the cost of groceries in So Cal.

Originally Posted by wehotex

How do you cut your grocery bill down in So Cal?

I shop at Food 4 Less, Winco, Target and the Latino markets (Cardenas, Superior, Rio Ranch). Never Vons or Ralphs. Sometimes Stater Bros, depending on what's on sale.

For instance: coffee. I regularly pay between 6.98 and 7.98 for 33.5 ounce cans. Name brands.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Vons isn't a good gauge for the cost of groceries in So Cal.



I shop at Food 4 Less, Winco, Target and the Latino markets (Cardenas, Superior, Rio Ranch). Never Vons or Ralphs. Sometimes Stater Bros, depending on what's on sale.

For instance: coffee. I regularly pay between 6.98 and 7.98 for 33.5 ounce cans. Name brands.

Latino markets are a great place, especially for produce. Oh, I know the veggies are from Mexico but when it comes to $$s and cents, I do what I have to in order to keep the food prices down. And yes, Target and/or WalMart if there is one near by do offer some great deals. Again, I am not a huge supporter of either, but saving a few bucks can make a big difference..