Grocery Shopping

[xoxoxoBruce]

The local grocery store I frequent is running a monopoly game again. For each $10 I spend they give me a game piece. Open the game piece and there's a coupon for cents off on shit(slam dunk trash can), a serial number to check for wins on the website(that's what the gmail acct is for), or a coupon to get 2 more game pieces from the store. Each game piece contains 4 sticker to match spots on the playing sheet. I can win grocery cards for $5 to $25, up to a half million dollar house or a million in cash. It's free(cost hidden in prices), I shopping there anyway, and no way buying extra to play more, so why not... I might even win something.

Then I found this...

Perhaps some of you living in the U.S. are playing the Safeway/Albertsons/Vons/etc. Monopoly game, which runs from Feb 3 to May 3. (For those not playing, it's a promotion in which you receive game pieces when you shop at these stores, and if you get the right combination of pieces you win various prizes).

Those playing might be interested in the experience of the "Slot Sisters" who committed themselves BIG TIME to the game when it ran last year.

By making mass purchases of Ramen noodles, they managed to acquire 42,000 game tickets. They also toured through 6 states, driving close to 3000 miles, because they thought that getting tickets in different locations would increase their chances of winning.

Their final grand total of winnings was $365 in gift cards and $800 in free groceries. Not a great return on investment. As they note, it's "not a game for people on a food budget."

And yet they promised that they'll be playing again this year.

While this doesn't alter my circumstances, it does lower my expectations of winning anything.