Stimulus Check"bargains"

**Judi Dial** · 04-29-2008, 08:29 AM

FYI, if you didn't know...Sears, Shaws, etc are offering "deals" if you come in with your stimulus check. Other retailers jumping on this bandwagon too. Do a "google" search on stimulus check promotions and you'll see what I mean.

For us, the Shaws deal will do no good. I save 10% or more by NOT shopping there, they're the most expensive store around. The only things I buy there are on sale, b1g1, salvage, or things I already have coupons for, unless it's an emergency. The promotion they're currently running about their "wild harvest" foods is more likely to be useful to us than the stimulus check promo. $300 worth of groceries is 3 weeks worth of food for us, and I typically spend < $30 a week of that at Shaws.

Judith

**PrairieRose** · 04-29-2008, 08:31 AM

Wow the advertising and marketing people have been staying up nights thinking of ways to get us to part with our hard earned money, haven't they?

**McD** · 04-29-2008, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by PrairieRose

Wow the advertising and marketing people have been staying up nights thinking of ways to get us to part with our hard earned money, haven't they?

That's their job.

I tried to talk my bank into running a stimulus check c.d. special. Put a cap on it of like 1000$ maximum deposit and run a really really good rate. Even if we paid 8.5 a.p.y for 7 months, that's only about 50$ that the bank is paying out in interest, but we get the customers in front of us for the chance to sell other products to them.....but alas.....I was told no.

**PrairieRose** · 04-29-2008, 09:26 AM

Well my husband is in sales (I can relate to your position as well as the marketers b/c obviously it's dh's job to sell/take money for his products---although I have to say he offers very good value for the dollar

) so I understand marketing, .....I am also very vulnerable to it too

(read I have a JC Penney coupon in my purse just burning a hole in my pocket.....$10 off $25 = I still have to spend $15, right?

)

I think heard the Prez. in speech say that the recession has already negated the effects that the stimulus was supposed to 'stimulate'.....

**Buc-O-Mama** · 04-29-2008, 09:42 AM

I was looking at the Kroger deal, and truthfully I wish we had one down here, because I would take advantage of the gift cards that they are making available. I know it is a marketing ploy, but to spend 300$ on a giftcard and get one for 330$ back (and so on) would be something I would take advantage of. Groceries are something I have to spend money on anyway, and it seems like a way to get more bang for the buck.

**StaceyS** · 04-29-2008, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Buc-O-Mama

I was looking at the Kroger deal, and truthfully I wish we had one down here, because I would take advantage of the gift cards that they are making available. I know it is a marketing ploy, but to spend 300$ on a giftcard and get one for 330$ back (and so on) would be something I would take advantage of. Groceries are something I have to spend money on anyway, and it seems like a way to get more bang for the buck.

Yep - Kroger (Smith's here) is our best grocerey store - at least it has been. When I went shopping this past weekend, I noticed that the club soda I regularly buy is on "sale" for $.63/2 ltr instead of the $.57/2 ltr I normally pay. I'm afraid that if I do get that "extra" $30 it's going to be gone in them just increasing everything.

**mombottoo** · 04-29-2008, 10:08 AM

Businesses around here are doing that too...Meijers is offering to give you a $10 coupon towards your next purchase for every $100 in gift cards you buy, up to a limit of $120 in coupons! It is a good deal for me because that's where I shop for the most part and you don't have to actually use your stimulus check to get the deal.

Since I spend over $100 a month when I go grocery shopping I am going to take the $300 I have set aside for May and go buy gift cards. Then I will use the gift cards and the $30 coupon to pay for my groceries in May.

**AspiringToBeFrugal** · 05-02-2008, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by StaceyS

Yep - Kroger (Smith's here) is our best grocerey store - at least it has been. When I went shopping this past weekend, I noticed that the club soda I regularly buy is on "sale" for $.63/2 ltr instead of the $.57/2 ltr I normally pay. I'm afraid that if I do get that "extra" $30 it's going to be gone in them just increasing everything.

I've thought about both of these points. But I figure I would spend our food budget there anyway (and mostly buy only what is on sale or manager's special) so it may be a bargain to get a few cards. Of course that would mean shelling out a bunch of money right up front which I don't normally have just lying around.

**forHISglory** · 05-02-2008, 09:41 PM

We are buying the Kroger card. I would be buying there anyway, so it's not as if I am purchasing something new and different. Plus, it's an immediate 10% rate on the investment. Not many places pay 10% interest anymore.

Read an article today that we need to be aware of: Some places offering the stimulus gift cards are also charging fees associated with the card. Ask before you buy!!

**coup** · 05-04-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by mombottoo

Businesses around here are doing that too...Meijers is offering to give you a $10 coupon towards your next purchase for every $100 in gift cards you buy, up to a limit of $120 in coupons!

Just a word of caution....my Meijer ad reads "For every $300 gift card purchased, receive $30 to be used for general merchandise or clothing." Not such a great deal for me.

I was excited about the extra $30 at first, but then disappointed that I couldn't use the extra $30 on groceries.

Maybe I'll give Krogers a shot.

**mombottoo** · 05-04-2008, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by coup

Just a word of caution....my Meijer ad reads "For every $300 gift card purchased, receive $30 to be used for general merchandise or clothing." Not such a great deal for me.

I was excited about the extra $30 at first, but then disappointed that I couldn't use the extra $30 on groceries.

Maybe I'll give Krogers a shot.

You are right about the ad! For me it still works out to be a good deal, because we are in the market for an entertainment center.

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-05-2008, 07:51 AM

I'm not qualified for a stimulus check- but I am happy that my tax dollars are going to people who really need it. The average American family.

I like that you've been figuring out... "does this make sense?" before jumping on the train.

You could get derailed if you fall for something like what 'Coup' describes above from Meijer..... "For every $300 gift card purchased, receive $30 to be used for general merchandise or clothing" .... when you wouldn't ordinarily want that.

But have loads of fun ladies!

**TheRootedNomad** · 05-05-2008, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by coup

Just a word of caution....my Meijer ad reads "For every $300 gift card purchased, receive $30 to be used for general merchandise or clothing." Not such a great deal for me.

I was excited about the extra $30 at first, but then disappointed that I couldn't use the extra $30 on groceries.

Maybe I'll give Krogers a shot.

This was exactly my reaction. I do more of my grocery shopping at Meijer but I do shop at Kroger as well. I will probably be buying one of thier cards. It will take me longer to use it but at the same time it will be a better deal for me.

**forHISglory** · 05-05-2008, 10:06 AM

I really like the deal I got at Kroger. I purchased $1200 in gift cards and they threw in $120 in extra cash. They give it to me in 4 cards, so that I can carry one card and put the others in a safe place. There are no fees at all associated with the cards and no expiration dates. The transaction only took a few minutes, probably less than 5. I don't mind tying up my cash in this card as it earned an IMMEDIATE 10 percent interest rate. And I use it all the time.

I was impressed.

**CYork** · 05-07-2008, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by coup

Just a word of caution....my Meijer ad reads "For every $300 gift card purchased, receive $30 to be used for general merchandise or clothing." Not such a great deal for me.

I was excited about the extra $30 at first, but then disappointed that I couldn't use the extra $30 on groceries.

Maybe I'll give Krogers a shot.

I interpret "general merchandise" to be anything in the store, including groceries. If they intended to exclude food purchases they would have specifically stated so. I would call them and ask.