cat food and kitty liter
laundry soap
vitamins
White Tea
Lemonade

then I would go for the meats

SamKaren
your resident DJ

Several packs of the BA steaks to start with. Do they have Rotisserie chickens? I would get 1-2 of those. Fresh veggies and fruit, then whatever canned goods, cleaning supplies and paper products you use, to make $250.00.

What a nice surprise! Kroger where I shop had a box that said something like that, but I didn't read what it said. I will if it is still there.

Sue

Canned goods
Paper products (tp, Towels)
Dish and laundry detergents
Spices
Plastic trash bags/parchment paper/aluminum foil/plastic wrap

I would buy anything that could be stored first. Like paper products and such. Then I would buy meat for my freezer. I hardly ever buy my produce at the grocery store during the summer months as we have farm stands local.

Congrats on your win!

Trish

Yes, I think you should have won. After 20 years it should have been $500.00.
I'd buy some extra meat, dog food, cat food, litter. Maybe a couple bottles of wine, and some 'treats' you normally don't buy.
Leslie

I had a gift certificate to our grocery store, and bought crab legs with it, something I rarely get.

Do you have to use it all at once?? Or is it like a debit card? I won $100 drawing at a gas station and I could use it whenever I wanted for small purchases.

We'd probably have a big taste testing event. My kids would be picking out the fancy fruits and cheeses to try. Dh would get something expensive to grill from the meat department. I'd probably be over in the freezer section loading my cart with frozen food so I didn't have to cook.

How lucky for you to have won! Sweet.
I would probably by a few tasty treats for yourself that you wouldn't normally buy.
Also some of the general merchandise things that the others mentioned. The stuff that really runs up the grocery budget.
Have fun!

Trin

I'm with you on steaks!

Is this something you have to spend all at once? I guess if so, I'd buy a gift card and spend it as and when I see fit. If you could get it on a prepaid credit card, all the better since you could use that for gas, clothes or most anything else too. I'd be surprised if they made you spend it all at once but if they do, check your cupboards and see what you need. $250 is not that difficult to spend.

A few months ago one of the stores had a gift card special where you buy a $300 card and get an extra $30 credited to it. I'm still using on that although I don't usually shop there for things other than good deals and specials. I seldom if ever buy meat there. Bad meat selection.

Bring your coupons and stretch it out.

I'd probably spend most of it on meat to stock up my freezer, plus some other things I like but don't buy often because of cost. It doesn't take long to use up $250 in any store anymore.

Congratulations, and enjoy.

Shirley

Congratulations.I'd go for the meat first and stock the freezer,then the more expensive necessities like toilet paper,paper towels etc.I'd also make sure to get dh crablegs,and other seafoods.And of course lots of different kinds of ice creams for me,especially all the expensive ones like ben & jerry,haagen daz.

I also won one of those years ago,only mine was for 100.00.When i went to pick mine up i had to have my picture taken with the mgr and they put it in the paper.
Kathi

Meat, meat and more meat..beef (hamburger, roast, etc., pork, fish, chicken; canned salmon, tuna!! I spend the most money on meat. Congratulations!!

I'd stock up on meat for the freezer, and fish, preferably shrimp! I'd also get detergents and paper products. I'd hold back on $50, and see what our local food pantry needs, then help them stock up a bit, too.

Can we just call you "Lucky" from now on? Congratulations! Do you have a freezer? A food saver? If so, I'd buy meat because you could divide it into packets enough for each meal and the meat stays good for six months or more. Turkey breasts, corned beef (they're already sealed well). Also prime rib or a whole tenderloin and cut it into filets. Some wild salmon and red grouper would be nice. Shrimp, too. I'd probably spend the whole amount on meat, although the ice cream sounds good, too! Then when the holidays roll around I'd be all set for company.

If you have to spend it all at once, I can't wait to hear what you decide.

I think I would buy mostly paper goods and cleaning supplies and bath soaps. Our freezer really does have lots of meat in it already and so I don't need any more right now. The other stuff I can store in our basement for using anytime.

Helen

I would go for the meat first. Then coffee, it has gotten so high. Charcoal would also be on the list. I think I would do a few treats that I don't normally buy, ice cream cookies, sodas, etc. Of course I would still use my coupons and make that 250.00 go as far as I could.

Congrats on your win!

Pet stuff, detergent, meats I could freeze. By the way, congratulations!

I think I would stock up on the specials that I would use first and use coupons on things that I would buy anyway. About 15 years ago I won $100 shopping at our local grocery. I can't tell you now what I did buy. I am pretty sure I didn't go for expensive stuff just because I could buy it. Congratulations glad you won!

Sue

Canned goods and ammunition.....

LOL

I'd stock up on paper goods, canned goods, soaps, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Anything with a long shelf life.

Lori

Look around to see if there are some products you would like to try, but not in the budget. If you buy meat etc it will be gone so fast. Maybe some salad dressings, vinegars, seasonings, special flours ( if you do any baking), nuts, special cheeses etc. Walk thru, and really look to see what they have and make notes, if you have time. That special coffee, drinks etc. Our store is now carrying Tilamock cheese from OR and oh so good!!

Thanks you all for the congratulations. This is the second time in my life I have won anything. The first time was when I was a teenager and I won a Claxton Fruit Cake at Belk's dept. store. I bought a pair of stockings and gloves for my grandmother for Christmas,and they gave me this little key and you went to see if the key unlocked this treasure chest. Mine key opened it up and inside there were slips of paper that had numbers with corresponding prizes. Mine corresponded with a Claxton Fruit Cake. Although I love fruit cake, even back then, I was watching more closely my figure and didn't eat many sweets. My grandmother thought it was a grand thing. LOL

For all that ask, yes it is a gift grocery card to that store, so I am assuming that it can be used anytime. DH and I are going to go get it tomorrow. I am taking SheliaJoyce's suggestion and see how many coupons I can round up on Sunday from the big newspaper and go from there so it will go far. Plua some coupons I already have. We will probably go and get those steaks and stuff for this weekend, and save the rest for later. I am tickled about this...grateful!!! I haven't had a steak since last year about this time, so I will indulge.(:-)

I wouldn't buy papergoods or cleaning supplies, you can usually find them cheaper at Walmart or Target than a grocery store. Unless you have coupons! I'd buy meats, coffee, ice creams and condiments that you'd like to have. Treat yourself!

Congratulations, girl, that's wonderful! Got here too late to give you any suggestions. Sounds like you're well fixed with those! LOL (They did a good job JMHO)

Enjoy!

Congrats maybe you wont have to use it all at one time hope not!! buy some things you wouldn't ordinarily buy and treat yourselt!!

Good for you! I think the gift card is the best idea but also it would be nice if you could treat yourself to something you wouldn't normally buy because of the cost. I would love to be able to buy fresh flowers every week but can't afford them so if I had the gift card I could do that.

I am with SamKaren. LOL I would end up spending most of it on cat and dog food, pet treats and kitty litter. I would get items to stock my pantry-things that can be used throughout the year. I wouldn't buy meat - steak around here runs around $9.00 a pound when not on sale so I have gotten used to not buying it.

I hope you get a gift card but make sure you buy yourself something for a treat and not for just everyday food items.

Anne

I'd buy steak. I eat beef almost every day...that is what I would spend it on.

It sounds like you already have a plan for it's use but what I would do is use the gift card for normal weekly grocery shopping. Then, with the cash that I am not spending at the grocery store by using the gift card, I would buy something that I have always wanted, or use the cash saved to do something that I wanted to do. Mini weekend vacation? A new kitchen appliance? Music lessons? i-Pod? I would want something that I could have to show for it, that I would have for a long time. That would not be a closet full of paper towels or a trash bag filled with steak bones.

Congratulations! I'm glad you don't have to spend it all at once. I like dilly_dally's idea very much, but I can't believe all these women have posted without mentioning...

...CHOCOLATE!

Congratulations! I would get the most expensive cut of steak and lobster! And other things that I don't usually buy like expensive wines or desserts. Enjoy!
Clare

Yes, definitely treat yourself - maybe a steak a month for a bit? Then, I would get practical and either use it for the regular shopping OR stock up on non perishables.

I would just buy the same groceries as usual (and maybe use the money that would have been spent on groceries on something else)... I don't think I would alter my grocery spending. If you have to spend it all at once, I would stock up on some extra laundry det., alcohol, or medical stuff/ toiletries-- you may even be able to spend it on forever Stamps or as someone suggested, gift cards -although often gift cards and alcohol are exempt from these kinds of things.

I personally wouldn't stock up on too much meat. The last two times I have done that power has gone out and I've had to toss freezers full of meat. I'd try to focus on smaller expensive nonpersihable items.

Congratulations rthummer ! I'm sure it was such a nice surprise all the same!

Marlingardner: What a nice idea! I think I'll borrow your idea do the same.

Lorifromutah: LOLOLOLOL @ ammunition!

I'd probably stock up on wine and steak and Kettle Chips! :-)

Oh! And I'd buy the stuff to make my own laundry detergent (from another thread) No way am I going to spend all that $ on Tide.

I'd probably still use coupons and buy what's on special.

Fun to think about!

Enjoy your free groceries.

BJ