My Friday Fun!

The beauty of couponing is that I'm spending less money on groceries, but my pantry is stocked better than ever before.  The last few weeks at Publix have been great for me.  I got everything pictured below at Publix for $16.53 with the exception of the Milk. That came from CVS and I paid $.79 for it.

Here are some of my great buys:

• Hamburger Helper: $.55 each. My husband and I go through so many of these that it is a great deal for us!
• Normal Price: $1.59
• Discounts:
• BOGO sale.
• $.75/3 Manufacturer coupons.
• Snackwell 100 Calorie Packs (5 ct.): $.60 per box!
• Normal Price: $3.19
• Discounts:
• BOGO sale.
• $1/1 Manufacturer coupons.
• Fiber One Cereal (14.25 oz. box): $.16
• Normal Price: $4.09
• Discounts: 
• $2.50 Sale price.
• $1/3 Manufacturer coupon.
• $2/1 Store coupons
• Milk (from CVS): $.79! 
• Discounts:
• $3.79 Sale Price
• $1/1 Manufacturer coupon
• $2 ECBs from today's "Pledge to not throw away your ECBs" promotion.
• In addition to only paying $.79, I also received $1 ECB to use on my next purchase.

Total before special price savings and coupons: $97.57

Total Spent: $17.32 - 83% Savings Rate!

Thanks for taking the time to check out my deals. Don't forget to stop by my Dr. Scholl's Coupon Giveaway!

The Elusive 80% Savings Rate!

I did it yesterday.  I reached the elusive 80% savings rate.  Normally I save 60%-70% on my Publix shopping.

Here are some of my great buys:

• Whiskas Cat Food, 3lb. bag: Free!
• Normal Price: $4.49 
• Discounts:
• BOGO sale.
• $2/1 Manufacturer coupons.
• $1/1 Store coupon.
• Arm & Hammer Toothpaste, 6 oz. tube: $.50/Tube.
• Normal Price: $2.99
• Discounts:
• BOGO sale.
• $1/1 Manufacturer coupons.
• Motts for Tots Apple Juice, 64 oz. jar: Free!
• Normal Price: $2.75
• Discounts: 
• $2.00 Sale price.
• $1/1 Manufacturer coupon.
• $1/1 Store coupons.

Total before special prices savings and coupons: $52.41

Total Spent: $10.36!

Love My Publix Shopping!

The truth about Publix is:  By shopping the sales, you can get better prices on products than you can get at Wal-Mart. And you don't have to be a crazy couponer (no offense,  I just like to think of myself as a sensible couponer) to do it.

Last week I got Hamburger Helper from Winn-Dixie and this week I got four more boxes from Publix. It was on sale for $1 each and I used a $.80/4 coupon.  That brought my price down to $.80/item.

Knorr Side Dishes were also on sale for $1 each. By using a $1/2 coupon, I was able to get them for $.50 each. I love these because they are quick and easy to make and will not expire for a long time to come.

My last deal of the day was Bird's Eye Steamfresh Frozen Vegetables. I am all about quick and convenient. All I have to do with these is pop them in the microwave for about six minutes and I have perfectly steamed veggies.  These were on sale for 50% off and I used $.35/1 coupons to bring my price down to $.65 per bag.

Yesterday's Publix trip...

I went to Publix yesterday. Let me tell you, I will make sure I never use that particular cashier ever, ever again! Apparently, she did not know/understand Publix's coupon policy (which I happen to have a copy of in my purse).  So, several times I had to point out things to her and once I had to speak to her superior. This, of course, substantially increased my check out time and I'm pretty sure the lady behind me was unhappy. Publix really needs to better educate their employees on their own coupon policy.  Enough ranting... Onto the deals!

My favorite deals this week were:

Smucker's Magic Shell Topping: Originally priced at 2.19. I got them for $.39 each using the sale price, store coupons, and manufacturer coupons.

TreSemme Shampoo & Condition:  Originally, 4.29. I got them for $2.33 each using a competitor coupon and sale price.. I go through a lot of hair products, so this was a great deal for me!

Dove Deodorant:  Originally, 2.99.  With manufacturer's coupons and BOGO, I got them for $.75 each!  Great deal!

Great Deals at Publix this week!

I went to Publix yesterday and got some great deals!

My favorite deal was Great Grains cereal for $.30 a box!  These were BOGO, plus I had store and manufacturer coupons to use. I've never actually tried these, so hopefully they will be good. If they aren't, I still only paid $.60 for two boxes. 

The other top deals of the day for me were:

• $.49 for 5 oz. Olay Regenerist Facial Cleanser.
• Free Tylenol Precise Pain Relieving Cream.
• $2.00 for 80 ct. Lysol Disinfecting Wipes. (I go through lots of these, so it was a great deal for me!)

Saving Percentage this week: 77% - My highest ever!

Today's Publix: Good Deals, Terrible Service.

So, today I decided to try my shopping at the Publix store on University in Sarasota, Florida.  I normally shop at the one on 14th Street in Bradenton, but my house is kinda in the middle, so I thought I would try the one at University.  Bad Choice.

About the Service:

I got some great deals today, but was badgered by the cashier who refused to believe that my coupons were legitimate simply because they weren't printed in color.  I know that Publix is implementing a new coupon policy and trying to tighten the reins on the coupon frenzy, but his service was unacceptable.  I actually print all coupons in black and white or grayscale to save on ink. In addition to this one of my printers is a black and white laser printer that does not even have color ability. So, he (an older man) was convinced that I had copied all of them. I tried to explain the situation, but he insisted I had copied them. He did eventually take them, but I will NEVER again shop at that Publix again.

About the Deals:

I got two Caltrate Calcium Soft Chews for $1.49 each. These are normally priced $7.99 each.  The Soft Chews were on sale for 25% off, plus I had a two $2 manufacturer coupons to use on each of them, and I had a $5/2 Publix coupon. Final price: $1.49 each. Doesn't get any better than that!

I got two Ronzoni Quick Cook Macaroni boxes for $.17.  $1.17 is the normal price. They were BOGO and I had a coupon  for $1.00/2 which brought the price down to $.17 for both boxes.

I got paid to get 4 Wishbone Salad Dressings.  Each dressing was originally priced at $2.69. They were on sale BOGO. I had a manufacturer coupon for $1.25/2 Wishbone dressings and 4 Publix coupons for $1/1 Wishbone Dressings. If I'd had more of the manufacturer coupons I would have bought more, but I used what I had.

My favorite coupon deals of the week!

My favorite deals this week were Milk at CVS and Vlasic pickles at Publix.

I got T.G. Lee Milk for $1.19 a gallon. It was on sale for $3.19 and I had a manufacturer coupon for $1.00 off.  Then for each one purchased, I got a $1.00 CVS Extracare Buck to use on my next purchase. So, for the first gallon I paid $2.19. For the second gallon I paid $1.19 and I have $1.00 worth of CVS Bucks to spend in the future.

Now, at Publix, Vlasic Pickles were on sale for BOGO. Originally $2.47, the BOGO brought the price of the individual jar down to $1.23. I was able to use a store coupon worth $.55 and a manufacture coupon worth $.55 on each of them.  This brought my cost down to $.13 per jar!  Awesome!!!

$51.48....

So, this weekend at Publix, $51.58 bought me...

1. A $50 American Express Gift Card.
2. A bottle of 133 Vitamin C vitamins.
3. 6 Bags of Birds Eye Steamfresh Veggies.

And I think it was a great deal.  I had to buy the gift card for someone's upcoming graduation so I would have spent $50 no matter where I went. However, because I went to Publix where there was a coupon for $10 a $50 gift card, I got it for $44.95 ($40 + $4.95 activation fee).  Then I used a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the Vitamin C which brought the cost down from 7.99 to 3.99.  I also used store and manufacturer coupons on the veggies which were already 50% off. That lowered the price of them to $.57 each (normally $2.39).