Made in America Challenge Aug 1 - Sept 1

We are already started but feel free to try this too - only buy US made items for the rest of the month. Even better is only buying Big Island items for the month - this one is really hard especially if you need TP!!!

Check out Diane Sawyer's "Made in America" challenge.

There is also a Made in Hawaii, and Slow Food Hawaii facebook page.

Numerous farmer's markets exist on the Big Island. Check them all out.

Lets all do our part to tell retailers, I want American. Not only does this help OUR economy but you are helping to put our Hawaii ohana back to work!

Target - Just opened July 24th

Typically for grand openings, the retailer will have numerous items at great prices to get you in and looking around and fighting the crowds. Target of course did just that and your Puna Shopper scored some great deals on blankets, metal racks, and some of their grocery items.

But as things go past the grand opening, and the one time specials are gone, here is a link to those in the "know" who have secrets to Target shopping and saving money. Yes, you do need coupons but they also offer $5 gift cards on selected items (of course usually bigger ticket items).

Here are some suggestions for continuing to save money:  Save Money at Target

Insulated Cup

Today's Punashopper deal was at ... HFS Credit Union .. of all places.

Donate $10 to the Cancer Society and get the cup for free.... same cup that is $12.95 at Starbucks in Safeway (empty) - no free coffee ... without doing some thing good for the Cancer Society.

Other ways to save! 4-27-11

In order to be a real shopper, buying seeds and plants at the run of the mill places, seems like an oxymoron. Yesterday I was lucky enough to combine a trip to a clients with a plant exchange! Saved me money on the cucumber seeds! And like my hubby said couple of plants is all you need for enough cucumbers for the summer!

Prescription Update 4-26-11

So my SO had to go to the docs for the usual run around on prescriptions. The docs gives us a list of medications you can buy at walmart with no insurance that are from $4-10.

One of the ones my SO gets every month is $10 at Walmart, and $11 at Puna Pharmacy. Just $1 difference still and PP has been giving us that price since 2009. When i checked pricing in 2009 and recently it was $18 at Walmart. So I would have to buy this prescription from Walmart for nearly 20 months to make up for the difference price difference. (That of course doesnt even account for gas prices to get there!)

I highly recommend Puna Pharmacy! 

4-15-11 Foodland

https://www.foodland.com/files/tax_coupon.jpg

I usually don't single out one grocery store for a post but today Foodland has sent a coupon for $8 off any order of $80 or more, good 4-15 to 4-17-11. If you are using other coupons, use this one first, then have them deduct any others. Their new flyer had some great deals!

4-14-11 Prescriptions

So I got this coupon for 75% off my prescriptions. Since I had to go to Safeway anyway, I go up to the counter at Safeway Pharmacy and get some little clerk who keep saying he couldnt check the price unless I had a prescription. I said I do have one but I wont change it until I check pricing with my coupon but without the coupon it is $28 and I am checking Safeway, Long's Walmart and my personal favorite Puna Pharmacy.  (The reason I switched originally from Safeway Pharmacy to Puna Pharmacy was pricing and customer service, of which Safeway Pharm had none, except for the mgr at the time, Mike.)


Still cant do it, so I ask for the manager, and she [Kanani] who lacks a bedside manor, says nope. So I leave frustrated. I stop at Puna Pharmacy and same prescription is $12. But the wonderful clerk says go over to Long's and check them. So I go over to Long's in Pahoa and check - the clerk is very helpful and checks the pricing with the coupon, even checks the pricing with the CVS cash discount and still the prescription is a little bit higher BUT she was still really nice. I did call Safeway's corporate office when I got home.


So today PunaShopper says check with Puna Pharmacy first - tell John, or Shelly that Cathy & Robert sent you!!! (No I dont get any money!) Just want them to know that after doing our legwork, they are still da best!!

And Safeway needs some customer service training and some better pricing (yet again!!). I really am not out to get them - The ladies at the Deli counter are wonderful!!! I spent $20.15 (inc tax!) there today on 2 12 paks of Cottenelle on sale at $6.98 and a online coupon of .50 x 2 coupons and 4 cans of Campbell's Hearty Soup - BOGO free and a $1.50 coupon if you get 4 cans. I love it when I waltz out of there with a little more money in my pocket that I used to do! Have quit the impluse shopping there now since there is less and less reason to be loyal to Safeway (no mileage, no longer next to my bank, and I dont use their Pharmacy.)

Who knew Retail Therapy could be so fun????

4-12-11 Coupons and shopping in Hilo

Today is my first day to see what I can save! I carefully went through all the store ads, found as many matching coupons as I could for those items.... and I will see what I can save!

I found through my searching yesterday that there are many great coupon sites, and you can tailor them to your needs or just get a email if new ones appear! This is a very real industry.

Update: Well I did okay, saved almost $28 overall on a bill of $79 with coupons and club cards.

4/8/11 Gas Prices

Today I am letting someone else do the work!! lol       Hawaii Gas Prices

This doesn't have either of Paul's in Pahoa but it does have most of Hilo.

Have a great weekend!

4/7/11 Change of Plans: We need a few 2 x 4's

Those of you who read my construction blog will know we are remodeling! So today first thing during my FIRST cup of coffee, Robert asks me to check pricing on some 2 x 4 x 10's

HPM: $4.97  (First person who answered phone could answer question!)
Honsador:  $5.53 (transferred but person answered quickly had answer)
Home Depot: $4.97 (took 3 tries to get someone on phone and had to go through endless msg each time)
Pahoa Ace Hardware:  No more lumber!
Argus Building Supply: $4.85  got Argus himself on the phone! Personalized service and good prices!

Since we will be picking these up, I did not check delivery prices. Delivery costs may affect your price per board.

See you all tomorrow!

4/6/11 Diet Pepsi - 2 liter

I have a "buy 4, get one free" coupon, so I want to go where I will get the best overall deal. Here is how the following stores stack up before the coupon:

KTA Hilo: $2.29  - 
Safeway:  Buy 3 and get them at $1.49 ea

Foodland Keaau: $1.89
Walmart: $1.48
Cash N Carry Pahoa: $1.79
Long's / Hilo: $2.49 but the clerk was nice enough to say they go on sale on Sunday! 


Most of the stores were friendly and transferred me and I got price right away. Safeway - 3 times I called and finally got someone who was irritated about my question the last time.

So today it is Walmart for me although they are 1 cent apiece, Safeway's crabby attitude was the deciding point against them. If I dont have to go to Hilo for anything else, will go to Keaau for Pepsi as they smartly are right near my bank!!

Please feel free to add your comments on this item or suggestions where to get the lowest price. Must be real and verifiable.

Tomorrow's item will be 800 mg Ibuprofen from pharmacies, and Cottenelle toilet paper

Welcome to Puna Shopper

With costs of groceries and supplies increasing, this blog is dedicated to finding the best deals on the East side of the Big Island, and occasionally the west side if the deal makes it worth the fuel cost!

I will start with cost comparisons of items I use regularly and compare the different markets and locations on that item.  My dream is to one day shop at one supermarket and with specials and coupons etc - have them give me $1 back!

Please feel free to add comments where these items are lower. Also if there is a coupon somewhere, let us know that, too!