There was a point, early to mid rumpus, where I complained (just a teeny, tiny bit) about the lack of coupons. Because the coupons were lacking, y’all. Especially my beloved digital coupons.
Pre-rumpus (remember life pre-rumpus?), I had a complicated relationship with coupons. We buy a lot of produce and meat, things that rarely get paper coupons. So I was a bit salty. When I moved to the Midwest and discovered Kroger, I very excited to discover digital coupons.
Digital coupons, unlike their paper brethren, open up a whole new savings door. Why, you ask? Because in addition to the store wide coupons everyone gets, you get specific digital coupons based on the things you already buy.
Here’s how it works:
Kroger offers in-store sales on select items to Kroger Card members. So, to get that sale, Kroger shoppers must swipe their card. Which we do! Next, the list of everything you bought on that trip travels the internet to live in a database. Then, the Grocery Fairy assigned to you especially sorts through the shopping trips in your specific corner of the database to determine what you need coupons for, based on your purchases.
Using her grocery fairy magic, she sends you coupons for the expensive brand of ice cream you only get on sale. She sees your middle child’s love of sausage and sends you a coupon for that. The grocery fairy wants you to have the foods you like and to keep shopping in the Kingdom of Kroger, so she sends you the coupons your heart most longs for.
But that’s not all! The grocery fairy knows that you need to try new things, experience more of what the Kingdom of Kroger has to offer. So she mixes it up, sending you coupons for items you’ve never tried but she thinks you’ll like. The Grocery Fairy isn’t trying to get you to spend more money, no! She’s looking out for you. Introducing you to new products and broadening your horizons.
And sometimes, if you’ve been an extra good shopper, just when she knows you need it most, the Grocery Fairy will send you the most special coupon of all: The Best Customer Bonus. These treasured coupons entitle you to free items. Not just a percentage or a monetary amount off: completely free. Thank you, Grocery Fairy!
Now, it occurs me to that during the early to mid rumpus, I wasn’t seeing much of the Grocery Fairy. Was she mad at me? Was I canceled? Just when I started to believe I would never see a coupon again, poof! The coupons are here! The coupons are here! I don’t know what I did to get back in her good graces, but the last few trips she has been spreading that magic all around: produce, meats, dry goods, cheese. And this trip? This trip was the most magical of all.
For on this day, the sixth of July, the Grocery Fairy bestowed upon me her most generous coupon yet: $11 off a purchase of $110. Fairy, you know I am going to hit that threshold like, the second I walk in the store. You tricksy pixie, giving me 10% off my entire shopping trip.
- Asiago Cheese-$1.96.
- Avocados (4)-$3.96.
- Bananas, 2.73 lb-$1.50.
- Black Grapes, 2.65 lb-$2.33. In-store sale $.88 a pound.
- Blueberries, 18 oz (2)-$5.98.
- Boar’s Head Pepperoni, 1 lb-$9.40.
- Fuji Apples, 2.87 lb-$3.70.
- Green Grapes, 2.33 lb-$2.05. In-store sale for $.88 a pound.
- Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 14.72 lb-$29.31.
- Johnsonville Sausage, 2 lb-$6. In-store sale makes them $3.50 stacked with a *Digital Coupon* for $1 off.
- Kikomen Panko Breadcrumbs-$1.89.
- Kraft Salad Dressing (1)-$.99. Great filler item for Buy 6, Save $3.
- Kroger Heavy Cream-$3.99.
- Kroger Pickles-$1.09. *Digital Coupon* for $.40 off.
- Magnum Ice Cream, pint (2)-$5.58. $2.79 with the mega sale.
- Monterey Jack Cheese-$2.45.
- MultiGrain Cheerios (2)-$2.58. $1.79 each with Buy 6, Save $3 stacked with a *Digital Coupon* for $1 off two or more boxes made each box $1.29.
- Pepper Jack Cheese-$3.50.
- Private Selection Bread -$1.49. *Digital Coupon* for $.50 off Private Selection Bread!
- Private Selection Honey Turkey, .75 lb-$4.84. A*Digital Coupon* for $.75 off Deli Meat knocked down the in-store sale price of $5.59, or $7.49 per pound.
- Red Gold Canned Tomatoes (2)-$2.
- Red Grapes, 2.14 lb-$1.88. In-store sale $.88 a pound.
- Red Leaf Lettuce, 1.58 lb-$2.67.
- Roma Tomato, 1.45 lb-$1.44.
- Simple Truth Baby Food Pouches (4)-$3.25. *Digital Coupon* for $.75 off four.
- Vidal Onions, 1.71 lb-$1.69.
- Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, CoinOut, Ibotta ($.10 Off Any Item) Shopkick (150 kicks for Blueberries)
Total Budget: $98
Total Spent: $96.52
Rolled Over to Next Week: $1.48
Thanks to the Grocery Fairy, I find myself under budget at the start of the month. A lovely way to start to the month.
What do you prefer, paper coupons or digital? How has your Grocery Fairy been treating you? Let me know down below!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!