One of our local grocery stores, Cooke's, had a Friday only sale this week. They had canned vegetables for 25¢ each, but for only six hours starting at noon. I would be at work, so I asked my daughter to go instead.
To say it was a madhouse would be an understatement. She arrived at 11:55 and had to park far away from the store.
She easily found peas and green beans, but no corn, so she asked an employee who told her where the corn was located and pretty much told her to be careful.
She found the corn and while she was getting a box, someone actually tried to take what she already had out of her shopping cart. She was shaking when she finally got out of the store and said never again.
I don't know why stores design these sales for only a few hours knowing what might ensue.
Anyway, we ended up with 24 cans of peas, 24 cans of green beans, and 48 cans of corn. Cooke's had recently sent me a coupon for $5.00 off any purchase, which she used. So her total came to $19 or 20¢ for each can.
I know why the place was a madhouse. I think it's because groceries cost more now than before the Great Recession in 2008. People are underemployed or looking for work and times are hard.
When a good deal like this comes along people want and need to get in on it. We wanted to get in on this good deal as well. When was the last time you saw canned vegetables for 25¢ a can? I've not seen that price since before 2008.
We will be going through the summer without my sub pay, as usual, so we definitely wanted to stock up on this good deal. Even if it was a little bit frightening.
Creating demand I guess drives people in that might not otherwise shop there, I guess. I read about the insanity in the UK on yellow sticker deals, and think whoa! I'd like to reduce our groceries but I avoid too much chaos, and just hope enough of the time I'm a savvy shopper. Good luck stretching through the summer. My hubs is commission and summer is slow so I sort of relate.
Thank you, Sam. I love to read about those yellow sticker deals in the UK. They get some of the best deals. It hadn't occurred to me about the insanity surrounding those, but it makes perfect sense. I hope you and your hubs are able to stretch your income far this summer too.
Oh my goodness! Your poor daughter. I bet that shook her. But what a great job to get all of those veggies for such an awesome price. Have a great weekend, Belinda!
I'm glad your daughter was able to get out of that sale in one piece. Scary. I also work in a school, so no checks in the summer. I do benefit in the summer, though, with a more relaxed schedule and more time for saving when shopping and cooking frugally.
Thank you. I definitely agree with you about the relaxed schedule in summer and more time for saving when shopping and cooking frugally. I am looking forward to that time as much as ever. I hope you have a great, frugal summer.
Your DD is a brave girl. I hope that person is ashamed of themselves for treating a teenager like that. I agree about your assessment on the craziness. I can't with chaos. I have anxiety. I try to avoid stores like the plague. :) I am the new consumer that the press keeps talking about that orders online. I do still go to Dollar Tree & WalMart. I shop late at night. Less crowds. I can find some nice bargains that way too. I might venture into Aldi's this weekend. DH & I are noticing a creep in our grocery bill since we cut Aldi's due to the craziness.
Oh my gosh, Yes! My daughter does not like Aldi for the same reason, the crowds are hard for her to take and create a lot of anxiety.
I also like shopping at night or very early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Shopping online is a great way to avoid that, but like you I want to find some bargains by going in the stores sometimes. :)
I'd like to think that the person who tried to take things from her cart was desperate because of severely reduced circumstances. Unfortunately, it was probably someone who thought, "Why should a young girl get all the deals? I've got a family to feed! I'll just take a few and she probably won't say anything because I'm older than she is."
As we know from those Black Friday tramplings at Wal-Mart, the chance to save money brings out the worst in some people.
That really WAS a good deal. Good for you for stocking up.
Good deals like this do bring out some of the worst behavior in people. Could have very well been someone who was desperate. Hopefully she was able to get in on the good deal as well. :)
Oh my goodness, glad you were able to score some canned goods, but I would really not care to be in such a crush of people. I agree, the opportunity for such a savings can bring out such horrid behavior in many people.
Creating demand I guess drives people in that might not otherwise shop there, I guess. I read about the insanity in the UK on yellow sticker deals, and think whoa! I'd like to reduce our groceries but I avoid too much chaos, and just hope enough of the time I'm a savvy shopper. Good luck stretching through the summer. My hubs is commission and summer is slow so I sort of relate.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sam. I love to read about those yellow sticker deals in the UK. They get some of the best deals. It hadn't occurred to me about the insanity surrounding those, but it makes perfect sense. I hope you and your hubs are able to stretch your income far this summer too.
DeleteOh my goodness! Your poor daughter. I bet that shook her. But what a great job to get all of those veggies for such an awesome price.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Belinda!
Thank you, Lili. She did really well and I was happy with what she got.
DeleteI hope you have a great weekend too. :)
I'm glad your daughter was able to get out of that sale in one piece. Scary. I also work in a school, so no checks in the summer. I do benefit in the summer, though, with a more relaxed schedule and more time for saving when shopping and cooking frugally.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I definitely agree with you about the relaxed schedule in summer and more time for saving when shopping and cooking frugally. I am looking forward to that time as much as ever. I hope you have a great, frugal summer.
ReplyDeletePoor Bailey! Can't believe someone tried to remove items from her cart! Yikes!
ReplyDeleteShe couldn't believe it either, Carol.
DeletePeople are so rude these days or maybe just entitled. Glad Bailey stood her ground.
ReplyDeleteGreat bargain!
Thank you, Mary Lou. :)
DeleteThat is just crazy! We went out one year for Black Friday and experienced something very similar. I haven't been again .
ReplyDeleteGreat price on the canned goods though!
Thank you, Busy Bee. We did the same thing with Black Friday. We went one time and decided not to do it again.
DeleteYour DD is a brave girl. I hope that person is ashamed of themselves for treating a teenager like that. I agree about your assessment on the craziness. I can't with chaos. I have anxiety. I try to avoid stores like the plague. :) I am the new consumer that the press keeps talking about that orders online. I do still go to Dollar Tree & WalMart. I shop late at night. Less crowds. I can find some nice bargains that way too. I might venture into Aldi's this weekend. DH & I are noticing a creep in our grocery bill since we cut Aldi's due to the craziness.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, Yes! My daughter does not like Aldi for the same reason, the crowds are hard for her to take and create a lot of anxiety.
DeleteI also like shopping at night or very early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Shopping online is a great way to avoid that, but like you I want to find some bargains by going in the stores sometimes. :)
I'd like to think that the person who tried to take things from her cart was desperate because of severely reduced circumstances. Unfortunately, it was probably someone who thought, "Why should a young girl get all the deals? I've got a family to feed! I'll just take a few and she probably won't say anything because I'm older than she is."
ReplyDeleteAs we know from those Black Friday tramplings at Wal-Mart, the chance to save money brings out the worst in some people.
That really WAS a good deal. Good for you for stocking up.
Thank you, Donna.
DeleteGood deals like this do bring out some of the worst behavior in people. Could have very well been someone who was desperate. Hopefully she was able to get in on the good deal as well. :)
Oh my goodness, glad you were able to score some canned goods, but I would really not care to be in such a crush of people. I agree, the opportunity for such a savings can bring out such horrid behavior in many people.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely can bring out the worst in people, Kathryn.
Delete