I don't know about you but I just can't pay for anything anymore. I don't know what happened to me and I certainly don't know when it happened. Somewhere along the way coupons became a part of my life. I started out like everyone else.
I bought my coupons.
I clipped my coupons.
I filed my coupons.
I used my coupons.
I was excited about my savings. So, I repeated the same cycle over and over again for months content with my savings. Then I started seeing that other people were saving more than I was and I thought, "How are they able to do that?"
I set my mind on figuring it all out. How do coupons work? How do the sales cycles work? What is the lowest price for an item? How do the POS systems work at all of the stores. Who has the best couponing policy? Why do manufacturer's market their items with a coupon?
It took almost a year of my time to figure it out but I did finally figure it out. During this process I came to several conclusions:
I will not run around all over town to "find" a deal.
I will not buy anything unless it is free or close to free.
I will be content with what I have.
.......and I love Publix.
So, yesterday when I was tasked with bringing lunchmeat for a gathering of my friends I stopped by the one store that I love and purchased some deli meat. I decided right then and there that I had turned a corner. I can no longer pay for anything without coupons and, really, I don't want to pay for anything.
ok, here's the deal:
6 J&J First Aid $1.79 ea ($5/3 Publix Q & $3/2 Q = FREE+)
4 Apple & Eve $1.39 ea ($1/1 Publix Q & $.50/1 Q = FREE+)
1 Duracell CLEARANCE $2.50 ($3/1 Publix Q & $.75/1 Q = FREE+)
1 package of deli meat $4.40 (no coupons)
1 package of deli meat $5.31 (no coupons)
TOTAL: $30.93
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS: $.40 cents
SAVINGS: 99%
NOTE: I knew something was wrong with my balance but I couldn't figure it out for the longest time. I estimated my balance to be about $3.00 but it totalled out to .40 cents. Well, I finally figured it out. The cashier didn't charge me for the batteries. I will go back to customer service next week and show them what happened and pay for my batteries.
NOTE: I met a great new cashier at Moore's Lane. Her name is Jodi. She is just terrific. She is a cute blonde woman with very tan skin and she wears her hair up. Look for her next time you are there; you will love her!!
NOTE: I know, I know. I should have used the $3/10 Deli FLIP. I know that they would let me use it at customer service, however, I would feel like a total knucklehead if I went to them and said, "hey you forgot to charge me for the batteries but we are actually even because I forgot to use my $3/10 FLIP. LOL.
16 comments:
Amazing as usual. :)
-Jay
Dang it, my post disappeared.
Anyway, here's a sneak preview for next week:
http://www.afullcup.com/forums/publix/240501-sneak-peak-7-16-7-22-a.html
What I had said before my post got lost in cyberland was that I was just noticing yesterday that coupon shopping has changed the way I spend alot of ways, not just groceries.
I (*I* meaning all of us) eat out alot less than we used to. Hard to justify eating out, with all the free food overflowing the freezers/shelves at home.
Used to when I went to Walmart for groceries I'd also buy books, knick-knacks, computer stuff, video games, home decor, and so on. I don't do that anymore, even when I go for milk or free Blue Bunny ice creams or the free travel size stuffs.
Also I kept a check on the price of the hotel rooms before our trip to Niagara Falls a couple of weeks ago, and called 3 or 4 times to ask for the lower rates when they went down. I never would have done that before.
All I can say is WOW and I'm with you on the free or nearly free...Hooray, I have coupon brain also and I'll never go back to my pre-coupon days ( I call them my dark ages ! )
I am so proud of you for being honest too ! You truly give us couponers a really good rep...and your stores will love you for it...thank you !
"I have coupon brain also and I'll never go back to my pre-coupon days ( I call them my dark ages ! )"
- Dark ages indeed.
I love, love, love your blog! It has helped me so much and I have passed along your site to my friends. One question: last week the register quit taking my coupons when I had 2 left. The cashier said I had too many coupons for the number of items, so I had to grab 2 more items to add on, then it took my coupons. This week I have lots of competitor coupons to stack with mq's and I'm concerned about botching my order. Does every kind of coupon count toward the coupons/item rule or just mq's? I would appreciate your help.
-Jen
Jen, if you have more coupons than you have items they can still take your coupons (you just needed manager approval for the last two). There are two reasons that the cash register beeps:
1. You have more coupons than you have items.
2. You have more than $50 in Manufacturer Q's (only man. Q's....your competitor and Publix Q's are not a part of this threshold).
You will notice that I throw in what my husband and I like to call "snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails." These are items that are really cheap to absorb our extra coupons. We usually add in a .04 cent Jalapeno (smallest one you can find), or a Habanero (smallest one again), etc.
Lately, we have been throwing in the Kool Aid and Sugar because they are moneymakers with the coupons that we have and they absorb alot of coupons.
Hope that helps. Don't worry if you mess up though. The manager will just come over and overide the extra coupons; they should be happy to do this. I would just save your higher dollar coupons for last in case you hit the $50 in manufacturer coupon threshold.
Glad to have you on the blog. Hang out awhile.
PS - Every kind of coupon counts toward the coupons/item rule.
Have you been able to find anymore Greenwise Mags anywhere? Concord has been out for awhile. I's love to get some more free juice! (Apple and Eve)
Hey Vicki, I have some if you need some; I'm still finding them at Maryland Farms. Just stop by the house. I have 5 that you can have.
Another super shop!
Where is the J&J $3/2 from?
Anon, it was a blinkie from about 2 months ago. Expires 8/31. They are all gone now.
LOVE your blog, and hey what a great shout out to Dumpster Divers they rock.
I have a quick question regarding your statement on "How do the POS systems work in all the stores".
Just was wondering what is a POS system .
Thank you for helping me further my knowledge on couponing.
Anon, POS stands for "point of sale." It's just an acronymn for the cash register system.
Thank you LA girl ..
Have a great vacation you will be missed.
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