About a month or so ago, Albertson’s our local grocery store started this new campaign.  Cookware for a penny. It’s as close to free as it gets. Collect stickers & redeem in-store for your pots and pans.

The problem is, you only get 1 sticker for every $10 you spend. If you spend $15 you still get 1 sticker and what sucks even more is if you spend $19.99 you still only get 1 sticker. That number has to go up to $20 before you can get a 2nd sticker. So I guess when you are at the store buying groceries, keep in mind how much moneys worth of groceries you have in your cart so that you either don’t go over or under a $10 increment. Even if it means buying a candy bar or a bag of M&M’s or a bottle of water or package of cookies at the check stand.

7.8″ Non-stick fry pan. It’s 1¢ with 50 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $5.49 with 25 reward stickers. Retail price is $29.99

10.2″ Non-stick fry pan. It’s 1¢ with 60 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $8.99 with 30 reward stickers. Retail price is $39.99

7.8″ Casserole with Lid. It’s 1¢ with 70 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $9.99 with 35 reward stickers. Retail price is $44.99

9.4″ Saute Pan with Lid. It’s 1¢ with 80 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $11.99 with 40 reward stickers. Retail price is $49.99

10.6″ Square Grill Pan. It’s 1¢ with 80 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $11.99 with 40 reward stickers. Retail price is $49.99

9.4″ Dutch Oven with Lid. It’s 1¢ with 90 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $12.99 with 45 reward stickers. Retail price is $54.99

11″ Non-stick stir fry pan with Lid. It’s 1¢ with 90 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $12.99 with 45 reward stickers. Retail price is $54.99

13.7″ X 10.1″ Roasting Pan with Rack. It’s 1¢ with 110 reward stickers or you can purchase it for $19.99 with 55 reward stickers. Retail price is $89.99

I will be saving up for the 9.4″ Saute Pan with lid but I’m going to go the easier route by turning in 40 stickers and buying the rest with $11.99. I may also save up for the first 2 pans, the 7.8″ and 10.2″ frypans using the same deal with half the stickers and paying for the rest.

The little pan is great for omelette’s and the biggest one with the lid is great for hamburger helper or something like that which needs a lid. I’m not sure if I will have the stickers for all of these things by the deadline which is the end of January but one could hope.

Update 2011-01-24: We ended up getting the 9.4″ Saute Pan with Lid and the 9.4″ Dutch Oven with Lid.  We really didn’t need all of these and I’m very satisfied to have the 2 pots and pans we ended up with.