A few weeks ago, I decided I was going to dye some wool, but noticed I was out of vinegar. No biggie. I had planned on popping into Albertsons for a couple of things anyway, so I thought I would grab some while I was out.
Well, as things sometimes do around here, the day turned to crap–and by the time I got to Albertsons, I was in a huge hurry. I threw the vinegar in my basket, and thought the price looked a little high {$4.49}, but since I was flustered {read: a walking, frenzied disaster}, I pressed on.
Flash-forward a couple of days later, I am leisurely strolling through Target without a care in the world {Don’t it always seem to go? Some days you run around like your hair is on fire, and a mere 72 hours later you’re life has returned to a boring calm state.}. I like to walk up and down the food aisles of Target, because I am wild and crazy like that, and happened to notice the vinegar. GRRRRRR!!!! $3.17. I totally threw it in the cart, and resolved to take back the one I got from Albertsons. For the record, yes I know it’s only $1.32 difference, and I would have to pay gas and time. BUT, I DON’T CARE. I don’t like over-paying, it irks me on a really fundamental level. I had the receipt. I would be heading back to Albertsons in the very near future for something else. I would return it then.
Moving on, another day goes by {the story is really mounting now, I know}. I head into Winco, because I needed some items out of their bulk, and everyone knows, Winco is the best for bulk {totally irrelevant, but true}. I turned down one of the aisle to head toward the checkout and what caught my eye? The freakin’ vinegar. $2.09!!!! Aw, no!
This is where I may have gone a little tightwad. I stopped right there and dug through my purse. Did I still have that Target receipt? Yes. Yes, I did. So, in the basket the vinegar went. The Albertsons vinegar and the Target vinegar would both be returned–out of sheer financial principal, of course.
And guess what? I kept that Winco receipt, because you better believe that if I find it cheaper somewhere else, it’s going back. It’s a game to me now. My time “don’t mean a thing.” 😉
Total savings: $2.40
Total sanity left in-tact: ZERO
Tightwad out,
Mavis
Megan says
Costco has the best price I’ve seen.
Laura says
I almost hesitate to mention this…..but Costco has a two pack for around 3.50-3.75. I use it often and it is the best deal I have found anywhere.
Sorry to thicken your personal plot, but I couldn’t let it go without sharing. Because, yes, I have done what you have done before. My husband has convinced me that my time is worth something, though, so I do it far less often than I used to!
Alice says
I always buy the 2-pack at Costco. It’s the best price. I use the vinegar in my final rinse in my washer.
Lesley says
This is how I use my vinegar too. Cheapest I have found is at Aldi ($1.89 in the Midwest).
Rock on with yo tightwad self, Mavis! 🙂
Lace Faerie says
I use white vinegar for cleaning, so I go through quite a lot of it. Costco has the best price I’ve found in our area of the PNW.
Beth says
Some stores will match the price too, so you could go back to Target and see if they will match the lower price one…just a thought.
Debbie says
MAVIS!! I just got a gallon of Vinegar at Grocery Outlet for $1.99!!!!!!!
Amy says
I agree with you, I hate buying something and finding it way cheaper somewhere else. I don’t have the time to spend running around returning things for a dollar, but if i did you know I would. Now large ticket items I always try to comparison shop, and if I found it cheaper elsewhere I would definitely take my receipt in or return it.
Mavis says
Good to know I am not alone!
Brianna says
Perfect timing on this article! I just ran out of vinegar last night making all purpose cleaner and it is on my shopping list.
Stacey says
Nope, not crazy! But I’m the return Queen 😉 I have a bin in the back of my van for returns. I know I will be going back to those stores so I will return it when I do 🙂 But I agree with others, you might want to check Costco, could be cheaper!
Nichole says
I do the same thing, I have a bin in my trunk. Gonna make a trip back to those stores eventually, it’s inevitable I’m gonna return something. My husband also calls me the return queen. Well reign together!
Mavis says
A bin is a great idea.
Heather says
I do this too and it drives my hubby batty! I say that $2 saved is a pound of meat for dinner! Rock on Mavis!
Mamatosix says
Definitely Costco is the cheapest for the 2 gallon pack.
Ha! You crack me up!
Who knew vinegar could be so entertaining 🙂
Jennifer says
I despite overpaying for a product.
If you have a Sam’s Club membership, I’m pretty sure you can get like two of those bottles for $3 or $4.
Vickie says
I’m so glad that you shared this story. My husband thinks I’m crazy when I do this kind of stuff. I always told him that if I wanted to get back at him, I’d spend money like other people do. He just doesn’t appreciate the finer things in life, like saving money on vinegar. Ha Ha.
lynne says
LOL!!! You go, Girl! Thanks for the burst of laughter this grey, drizzly, depressing kinda day! 🙂 LynneinMN
Kari says
Last week my niece was coming to stay with my kids, and I wanted to make a gluten free treat for them to eat while we were out (monkey munch.) I bought a box of ridiculously-priced rice chex at Walmart. The next morning there was an awesome deal at Albertsons on chex cereal, plus you got a free gallon of milk when you bought four boxes. I couldn’t resist! I biked (to save gas) to Walmart and returned the first box, then did the Albertsons deal. My husband couldn’t believe I would do such a thing. 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
Give him another year or two. 🙂 Mine doesn’t even ask questions anymore. LOL
Lunch Lady says
If you buy your vinegar during canning/pickling season I have seen it for about 1.49 Our Alberts here is usually the highest prices I only go there for a last resort. Learned my lesson at Christmas when I paid almost 2X’s usual for Karo Syrup to make caramels.
BiMart (do you have those?) Is usually pretty good too.
Mavis says
Great point. Just because coupons aren’t at their height anymore, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t “stock up” when prices are at their lowest.
Crystal says
Just so you know, stores are often required by food code to throw away any food items that are returned to them in case they have been tampered with. So while you may get your money back for overpaying for vinegar, you will also be contributing to it getting thrown in the trash.
Susan says
Those larger bottles of vinegar have a tamper-proof ring on them. As long as they are not opened, they are safe to restock.
Siobhan says
Yeah, it stinks, but we have to throw it out. Technically even if it hasn’t left the store. I’m sure that state laws vary. But I would ask a manager to match the cheapest price and keep it, it won’t go bad and you’ll use it eventually.
Kelly says
I have to agree with these comments, I have worked retail many times. We had to throw out anything food related that was purchased and returned. Even if it was purchased 5 minutes before and then returned.
Oregon Guest says
Well, Mavis, it’s settled. The only responsible thing to do is to return the vinegar bottles to Albertson’s and Target, wait for them to throw them out, and then go rogue (pull them out of the dumpster). You cannot in good conscience let Albertson’s and Target throw away perfectly good plastic bottles which could be recycled, because that would blow your zero waste plan for the year. See, this is more complicated than you thought….ha! The vinegar is taunting you — don’t let it win.
By the way, my mother used to buy items from what she called the “used meat” section of the grocery store while I was growing up. Thanks to your readers, I can now relax knowing that any food returns were thrown out and that my mother was not actually able to buy someone’s returned pork chop.
Julie Ann says
I have had a few stores tell me no matter if the “safety equipment” is intact… it still goes into the garbage.
Walmart, Safeway, Bashas…
Julie says
This is hilarious! …and totally something I would do!
CheapNLazy says
Duh, its Winco. I love and miss Winco from Eugene (relunctantly in FL now 8 yrs). Anyway I’ve yet to ou return you. You rock (bottom)!
Tamara says
What a chuckle and smile you brought to my day! You go, girl! As our friend Benjamin F. said: “A penny saved…”
Jenn in Indiana says
I have done this also. In fact, I think I have done it quite a bit in the past. And by the way, I buy my vinegar at Rural King. It is almost always $1.99. This is one of the reasons that I keep a price sheet in my coupon binder. I write down my absolute lowest price that I will pay then when it is on sale, I stock up. That way I never have to pay full price for most food items.
Debbi Atkinson says
LOL! This speaks to my soul. I’m obsessed with cheap vinegar as I use it for everything: laundry, household cleaner and weed killer base. Where I live the cheapest I’ve found so far is Winco.
Melissa says
I’m like this, but my husband has gently reminded me over the years that my time is worth something. He’s shown me, that in my case at least, saving a few pennies became an obsession and that it wasn’t in my best interest mental-health wise to focus on such things. I still get really bugged when I overpay, but I’ve learned to talk myself down, give myself a break and realize that overall, I’m doing more to be frugal than many Americans. My family likes me much better when I’m not “obsessed penny-pinching mama.”
Tisha says
Mavis, it may be a good idea for you to develop a price book where you keep a record of some of the things you use often (toilet paper, vinegar, food) and record the best prices you have seen (both normal prices and sale prices) and if the item goes on sale, how often for the best price and where. When you start running low on vinegar (or whatever) you can look at your price book and the next time you are in the area of where that store is, pick it up.
Ellen says
This comments isn’t about vinegar, but it is about finding better prices for food, groceries, etc. I live in a small town with one grocery store. There is a university town 10 miles away. Here’s a scenario…..I can purchase 2 items at the grocery store very close to my house OR I can drive 10 miles and buy those same items and perhaps a 3rd and drive back home for the same price. GRRRRRRR !!!!!
UpstateNYer says
Since the stores appear to be just throwing out your vinegar once you return it , I think the wisest choice would be to ask for a price match at the customer service desk at the two other stores. Now you have an overstock for other uses and an a savings in your wallet! Double win!
Jonnie says
I can’t run around returning things, as on great days I use a walker, and on good days I use a wheelchair, so I check all sources on line to get the cheapest prices, so only have to go to one place ( for each item). I always start at dollar Tree, then Big Lots then the little ethnic ‘villages’. We have a slew of Asian markets, Indian markets, Mexican markets,etc. You get the right ingredients, and their prices are more than reasonable. After that I check out Walmart, Target, etc… I do that with everything from food to furniture ( at least what I can’t talk my son into helping me build).