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Fruit2O 18 oz bottles $0.99 USE $0.75/1 coupon from 01/17 SS and actually get overage for the rest of your grocery order – This is a “price drop” good through 03/17/2010 so don’t make a special trip for this because you have time to get this deal.

Sanderson Farms Whole Fryers 0.59/lb


Snow crab legs $2.99/lb

Fresh Express bagged garden salad or shredded lettuce $0.99

3lb bag Rome Apples $1.29 (if you log in and load this offer to your store card, otherwise $2.99/lb)

3lb bag Yellow onions $1.79

Palermo’s frozen pizzas are BOGO, 1 will be $3.45, USE $1.00/1 coupon from http://www.palermospizza.com/index.aspx

Wheat Thins are BOGO, 1 will be $1.68, USE $1.00/1 coupon from 01/24 SS

Lay’s potato chips are BOGO, 1 will be $1.99

Cheerios (assorted varieties) are BOGO, 1 will be $1.64; there are several printables that would work with this, especially, the $0.75 off one box of multigrain cheerios on coupons.com (go through Coupon Mama’s site to click through) and you’ll get a box of cheerios for $0.14!!!!

Contessa frozen shrimp (assorted varieties) BOGO, 1 will be $2.24: not sure if this particular variety is available but there is a coupon for $2.00/1 Contessa Meal in 01/31 RP

Land O’ Frost premium lunchmeat $1.89 after $0.55/1 coupon from 01/31 RP

Oscar Mayer meat bologna $0.74 after internet printable coupon from January (not sure if this one came back after coupons reset)

Kraft shredded/cubed cheese $2.00 each USE $1.00/2 from 01/24 SS or internet printable

Heluva Good cheese $1.00 after coupon from 01/24 SS

TONY’S PIZZAS $1.00 each OR FREE IF YOU STILL HAVE ANY 12/13 SS coupons

Chex Mix $0.40 after internet printable coupon

Rotel tomatoes $0.39 after 01/24 SS coupon

Cheez-Its $0.48 with internet printable

32 oz. Gatorade $0.99 OR FREE with 01/10 RP coupon

50 count Hefty plates $0.38 after 01/31 RP coupon

Edy’s Ice Cream $1.49 after 01/31 SS coupon
 
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There's not much going on at LF this week...Advertised specials are listed below...I'll update later with unadvertised deals.
FREE

Fruit2O 18 oz bottles $0.99 USE $0.75/1 coupon from 01/17 SS and actually get overage for the rest of your grocery order – This is a “price drop” good through 03/17/2010 so don’t make a special trip for this because you have time to get this deal.

3 Day Sale Items (prices available with $25 additional purchase):
·        
Frosted Flakes $1.38 per box with $25 additional purchase  limit 4 USE $1/3 coupon from 01/10 RP
·         Wisk laundry detergent $2.99 with $25 additional purchase limit 2 NO COUPON
·         Arnold Bread $1.59 with $25 additional purchase   limit 2 **Some regions have a $0.40/1 coupon from 01/10 – Charlotte did not get this but I know that Florence, SC and Chesapeake, VA did get it**
·         Ore Ida French fries 20-32 oz bags $1.88 with $25 additional purchase USE $1.50/2 printable
Weeklong sales:
·         Chicken breast, drumsticks, or thighs  $0.99/lb
·         GM cereals $2/4 USE $1/1 printable or $1/3 from 01/03 Sunday insert
·         Quaker grits or oats 2/$3 USE $1/1 printable coupon
·         Campbell’s Soups $0.59 each USE $0.40/4 coupon from 01/03 SS
·         Aunt Jemima pancake mix $2/4 or syrup 2/$5 USE $1/2 coupon from 01/03 RP or $1/1 printable
·         Carnation evaporated milk $0.88 USE $0.50/2 coupon from 11/01 RP or 01/24 SS
·         Frank’s Red Hot sauce $1.29 USE $0.50/1 coupon from 12/13 or 01/24 SS
 
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Benefits of a Fresh Rewards Card:

1.     Loyalty Rewards – Loyal customers will earn Loyalty Rewards based on their purchases during the previous 12 weeks. *(see more on this below)
2.     Promotional Rewards – In addition to Loyalty Rewards, all members earn rewards when they purchase targeted promotional products.  There are weekly items listed which will produce rewards.
3.     Personalized Offers – By telling us what product categories are important to them and by giving us a valid e-mail address during enrollment, members receive offers customized to their individual shopping preference.

When you earn at least $5.00 in fresh rewards, you will receive fresh rewards cash at the checkout in $5.00 increments.  Fresh rewards cash is good for future purchases at Lowes Foods.  When you’re ready to redeem your fresh rewards cash, present the coupon, along with your fresh rewards card and the value of the coupon will be deducted from your order.  There is no limit to the number of fresh rewards cash coupons you can use in an order.  Remember, fresh rewards cash is nontransferable and expires 30 days from the date of issuance.  Once fresh rewards cash has expired, it cannot be extended or reissued.

* Purchases of wine, beer, prescriptions, fuel, taxes, services, gift cards and lottery tickets are excluded from the fresh rewards program.  Additionally, fresh rewards cash cannot be redeemed for these excluded items.  Loyalty Rewards eligibility is determined by purchases made in the preceding 12 weeks.  Not all customers are eligible for Loyalty Rewards because, on average, you will need to spend about $50 per week during the 12 week period to meet the minimum requirements for Loyalty Rewards.  The total is calculated AFTER deductions such as COUPONS, taxes, etc. So, while you may not benefit from the extra Loyalty Rewards, you will at least be able to take advantage of the store’s sale prices and get personalized offers (much like a Harris Teeter VIC card) with your FRC card.


I wrote to corporate asking why the basis for loyalty rewards wasn’t calculated BEFORE COUPONS since the store does, indeed, recoup all of its monies back from coupon usage. I was pleased with their response saying that they had forwarded my question and information to their corporate marketing department.  Maybe we’ll hear something back on that????  I will definitely follow up...in the meantime, let’s keep our fingers crossed!!!!
 
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DISCLAIMERS: (1) This information is compiled from www.lowesfoods.com and e-mail messages from corporate. (2) I know this is LONG, but PLEASE, if you intend to shop Lowes, read it in its ENTIRETY.

1.       Get a Fresh Rewards Club card from the cashier or customer service desk (see next post for details on this program)
2.       Register your card online to get E-Offers (electronic discounts you select to load to your store card – according to corporate these are NOT manufacturer or store coupons,but discounted prices on items. It seems that you would be able to stack mfg coupons with these offers but the store policy states that you cannot.)  In some cases the e-Offer is better than a coupon. For example, right now you can load a $2 off discount on the 5.5 oz size Gold Bond Ultimate skin therapy lotion to your FRC card.  There are currently $1 off printables on the Internet and from Sunday inserts.
3.       Coupons double up to $0.99 everyday
4.       Limit 4 of the same coupon per transaction
5.       They do accept competitors’ coupons for dollars off your total purchase (NOT for specific items) and they accept Catalinas from other stores (Kelly has to ring code 6949 for Candice).  I used Walgreen’s Register Rewards last week at Lowes Foods with no problem.
6.       They offer shopping bag credits; $0.05 per bag added to your Fresh Rewards quarterly balance, not deducted from your order total like at Bi-Lo and Target.
7.       From time to time, LF offers Triple Coupons, but much like HT there is no rhyme or reason to when this event happens.
8.       If any item scans for a higher price different than the shelf tag, you receive one of that item FREE; excluding beer and wine (Scan Right Guarantee).
9.       Rainchecks are issued for out of stock items BUT they EXPIRE 30 days from the issue date
10.   Lowes To-Go: Online shopping with drive through pick up. The user interface is exactly the same as Harris Teeter's so if you've seen that one then you are familiar with this one.  The policies are much the same, also.  Coupons tendered are applied to your next online order.  There is a place for comments so if you are paying cash, I would think that you can leave a note regarding your wish to use your coupons.  They have been very customer oriented since I've been shopping there so I don't suspect this will be a problem on a cash order since they have to make another trip back inside the store and out to you anyway to get the payment and give you any change that may be due. There is a $4.95 charge for online ordering. Every 4th order is free.  Store personnel are not to accept any tips from customers. 
 
There are some great deals to be had at Lowes Foods this week...Remember, they double coupons up to $0.99 and they accept competitors coupons.

**Coupons referenced below are all from January Sunday paper inserts**

Butterball Turkey
Smoked Sausage FREE after $0.75 coupon
Butterball Turkey Bacon is on sale 2 for $5 (unadvertised) so this coupon would make it only $1.00 per pack

Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey BOGO, 1 rings half price (I paid $1.63 for a 1.3 lb pack)

Quaker rice snacks, all varieties have been reduced to $1.00 and are FREE after $0.75 coupon

Ballpark Franks all varieties BOGO pork/meat franks will be FREE after $0.55 coupon and turkey or beef franks will be just $0.80 per pack!

Dreamfields pasta as low as $0.46 after $1.00 coupon

Birdseye frozen vegetables (corn, broccoli, brown or white rice, green beans, peas, or mixed vegetables only) BOGO makes them $1.00 each or FREE after $0.50 coupon

Chobani yogurt FREE after $1.00 off coupon if you didn't already use these at Harris Teeter during Super Doubles week

Quaker Chewy bars $1.50 per box after $1.00 off 2 coupon

Healthy Choice Natural or Select frozen meals $1.00 each after $5 off 5 printable from www.healthychoice.com OR $1.50 each after newspaper coupon $1.00 off 2
 
I've been delving into the magical world of couponing for the past month and I must say that I am amazed at the amount of money that can be saved with a little PLANNING and PATIENCE.  Check out Coupon Mama for all the details on getting started on the path to being a better steward over your finances so that you can SHOP, SAVE, and SHARE!

The "Sweet Talk" blog will now be a hybrid of couponing and caking information.  My focus area for couponing will be Lowes Foods (Tega Cay) but from time to time there may also be other couponing information available. 
 

2010 classes have been scheduled.  Check the Cake Decorating Classes tab or http://hobbylobby.com/stores/stores.cfm?page=3.2&menu=1&storeno=383 for class dates.  The January special is half off tuition for all cake decorating courses.

 

Q: How do I keep my cake from having that dome on top as it bakes? 
A: Use bake even strips...

A Wilton innovation for baking perfectly level, moist cakes without cracked tops or crusty edges. Eliminates the need to cut off cake tops for leveling.

•Uses more cake and eliminates waste.

Available in packages of either 2 or 4 strips to cover a variety of pan shapes and sizes.

To use: Before baking, dampen strips and pin them around the OUTSIDE of the pan.

 
So, this month a new set of students made their first cakes the Wilton way.  Check out the comments for their thoughts on the experience and the end result.
Click here for their cake photos
 

I've been baking and cooking for family and friends for years.  I am also a cake decorating instructor.  I enjoy teaching others the skills to create their own tasty treats for special occasions or just because.  It's always exciting to see the looks on my students' faces when they've made something with their own hands that others will also enjoy.  I've worked as an accountant for several years, so, from that perspective, I must also add that it's more economical to make your own cakes as opposed to paying high bakery prices.  

From time to time, I will post favorite cake recipes or share how-to's on cake decorating techniques.  I encourage you to join me in a little Sweet Talk!