Well, if it were me, I would load up on seafood, because that's probably the most expensive thing I buy. Then I would freeze it. Fish and shrimp. Oh, and tampons, hahahaha. Those two things cost me the most at a grocery store on a regular basis.

You could also get fruits and veggies to either prepare and freeze, or can, if you feel like doing any of that. Make soups, chilis, etc, and put them in the freezer.

Well, if you have bills and you don't need anything and you don't have money to put into this prize, just do a regular shopping trip.

If it were me, I would be buying good steaks, frozen shrimp, lovely fresh produce (some to freeze for slurpees) and some other special wants.

But I don't think I would go overboard as to me, 20% is not all that much of a discount.

Do you have any pets? pet food! a couple of books... some staples.. dishwasher soap? I don't know how much room you have for storage... Meat would be good, you don't have to buy a ton! Cards... they are expensive! If you send out birthday, anniversary, thank you , get well cards. Need any cookwares

have fun!
I have to run, I;ll try to think of more!

Another vote for pet food (assuming you have pets), but as Sheilajoyce said, 20% isn't that big a discount. If I were you I'd figure out the most expensive things I buy on a regular basis, and choose them--especially if they don't go on sale very often.

Cleaning supplies, toilet paper, stuff that never goes bad. Tolitries,, canned goods,, dry beans, I would stock up on my pantry items. With a well stocked pantry you can make it go a long way.
Maybe a nice ham for the freezer they should be on sale by then from that you can make several meals plus have the bone for the beans. I would be checking what is on sale after the holidays.

I am not a big fan of frozen meat and seafood either so I would concentrate of household goods and pet food. Cleaning products, toilet paper and paper towels, frozen fruits and veggies, limited meats, PEANUT BUTTER(!), cereals (if you have kids or eat it). I think I would make a test run to see what the most expensive items are that I use regularly and would choose those, concentrating on any they have on sale.

Has anyone said coffee yet??

Just buy what you regularly do. Food prices always seem to go up in January and it seems that there are very few loss leaders and good sales during that month.

I figure I'll buy lots of pet food, some steaks, seafood and cleaning products. Mostly a "regular" shopping trip. I realize 20% is not that big a deal. I like buying produce as fresh as I can get it. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of eating food that's been frozen.

Check all use by dates if buying packages or cans.
Congrats

Can you buy alcohol with it? I would do a rather large regular shopping day and throw in all your monthly necessities for a couple months but remember things often go on sale and buying a ton of dog food at say 20% off with your deal may end up costing more than picking it up in a month on sale at 25% off.

I'd search the add for sale items so that you can double dip into the savings. Like someone else mentioned, 20% isn't that exceptional except for items that don't go on sale or are already on sale.

Congrats for winning. Maybe a close friend or relative could use something special you could pick up for them too.

Hi Jannie,

Does that store send out weekly sales flyers? The ones around here do.

I think that I'd check them week by week, looking for one that had good prices on a number of the items that I like which would stand long storage or freezing and load up on them.

Unless you have a good idea of regular prices, start now to collect price data on such items not only at that store but at others in the vicinity to find out where you might be able to find comparable price levels if there are more attractive items than you can use within the $200.00 limit. If there are more items available at attractive prices than you can fit into the $200.00 limit, you may want to know another store that has comparable prices on some of the items, to get some of the items there.

Was that ... buy a car for the kid ... or, unless such a car is essential for her needs and she can't contribute, maybe help her to buy one.

If our young ones invest in things themselves, it seems to me that they value them more highly.

Good wishes for a great Christmas, and may you find health, happiness and a measure of prosperity in the New Year.

ole joyful

joyful, I think you misread. She gets 20 % (percent) off, not $200. It's 20% off her groceries at that store, once, in the month of January. Unless I missed something.

I do agree with looking at things that are on sale, so that, the 20% is in addition to that. Only if those are things you'd typically buy or would want to buy if the price weren't prohibitive, though.

Can you use coupons on the things, too, in addition to the 20% off?

You get 20 dollars off every hundred you spend. I wouldn't worry about what I bought. Just figure out what you would normally spend in for the month and do a huge shopping trip to stock up and buy things you would normally use. Buy sale items and loss leaders to get even a better deal. Spend as much as you can afford on that one trip.

20 cents on the dollar is 20 cents on the dollar whether you use it for potatoes or lobster.

I buy cheese and freeze it.

I'd stick with the practical stuff--toilet paper, paper towels, pet food, laundry detergent, cleaning products, any cosmetics or medications you use, etc.

Focus on the sale stuff too.

If you are buying any canned things, look at the "use by" dates. As far as freezing, it doesn't last forever in the freezer. Below is linked a chart which will help you know how long you can freeze things.

Here is a link that might be useful: food storage guide

I'm hearing a common flaw in the logic of "saving". Overspending. You've indicated money is an issue. Your first consideration is how much can you afford to spend? Exceeding that is not a wise decision IMO.

Next, what do you need? Make a list and check it twice.

Are there some "treat" items you want? Perhaps that can come under the 20% portion.

Buying something you can't use, or will spoil or you're not going to like (aka frozen meat) is never a good deal, nor is it a bargain.

I think too many people have become conditioned to think like a TV show challenge of how much can you spend. Not a fiscally sound practice most of the time.

Lastly, is 20% really a good deal? If I got a 20% discount at an expensive store and compared it to Aldi, it wouldn't get used, most likely.

Good luck.