You know that little debate that you have with yourself when you want to get something done but you know that you are really pushing it. You think to yourself, "this will only take a minute" or "I really need to get this done," or "man, I forgot to do that yesterday and I have to do it today."
Well, I was having a little internal talk with myself yesterday.
On the one hand, I had accomplished the following:
1. Staying up until 1:30am the night before with my girlfriends
2. Getting up at 6:00am to drive home to care for my children
3. Managing to get a shower
4. Feeding all 3 of us before 9:00am
5. Preparing for my Publix shop
6. Getting the children to the doctor for immunizations
7. Getting all of us flu shots for the season
**CDC recommended...so I hear....Jennifer?**
8. Meeting Jason at McDonalds for a visit and playtime for Savvy
After leaving McDonald's I began my little talk. I thought, "man I really need a nap." Then I thought, "man I really need a nap." Then I began debating how I could fit in a nap, my Publix shop and feeding the baby at the same time. I can usually solve the most complex of problems but this simple equation threw me for a loop.
Some of my solutions:
- Maybe I can shut my eyes while Savvy throws items in for me.
- Maybe I can sit in the cart and let Savvy navigate/calculate.
- Maybe we can sleep for 20 minutes in the car and then shop.
- Maybe Publix has finally instituted a play area for children.
- Maybe nursemaids are "all the rage" again
I decided to take a risk. I went ahead and did my shop in record time and then headed home to feed the baby, take a nap and rest for the entire evening. Savvy behaved wonderfully (that Publix cookie is more motivating than you think).
Note to self.......40-year olds should not stay up until 1:30am. I'll leave that nonsense to the 20-year olds.
OK, here's the shop:
MONEYMAKERS
14 Sundown $2.99-$3.99 ea
-$5/2 from 07-12-09 RP
-$6/2 Publix Q from Green Advantage flyer
= FREE + $1.51 - $2.51 overage ea.
6 Covergirl $2.99 ea.
- $2/1 Publix Q from Green Advantage flyer
- $2.50/2 Q PG 08/02/09
= FREE + $.25 overage ea.
STOCKPILE ITEMS
7 Orville Redenbachers $1.50 ea. (B1G1 price)
-.40/1 SS 8/02/09
= $.70 ea
8 Neutra Air $1.80 ea. (B1G1 price)
-$1.50/1 SS 7/12/09
= $. 30 ea
9 Pepperidge Farm cookies $2.33 ea. (advertised sale)
- $1/1 printable (no longer available)
= $1.33 ea
3 Del Monte Fruit Chillers $1.34 ea. (B1G1 price)
-$1/1 printable
= $.34 ea
9 Publix Soda $.50 ea (advertised sale)
- $1/3 FLIP
= $.16 ea
6 Campbells Select Harvest $.99 ea (B1G1 price)
-.50/2 SS 8/16/09
= $.50 ea
5 McCormick Grinders $1.00 ea (B1G1 price)
-$1/1 (exp 8/31) “Nothing Goes To Waist” booklet
= FREE
2 Listerine $3.59 ea (advertised sale)
- $1/1 Target printable
- $1/1 Green Advantage Flyer (exp. 8/28)
-.50/1 SS 8/02/09, SS 6/14/09
= $.59 ea
THINGS I NEEDED
1lb. bag bananas $.61
- $.50 off 1 lb. Target printable
= $.11
Plums $1.01
- $1/1 FLIP (guiding stars)
= $.01
Bartlett Pears $1.02
- $1/1 FLIP (guiding stars)
= $.02
1 Egglands Best $2.00 ea.
-.35/1 SS 5/03/09, SS 6/28/09
= $1.30 ea
2 Hillshire Farms $3.00 ea (advertised sale)
-$1/1 Target printable
-.55/1 RP 8/16/09
= $1.45 ea
1 Publix Reusable bag $.99 ea
- FREE Reusable bag FLIP
= FREE
$5/50 competitor coupon
TOTAL: $223.56
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS: $.78 cents
SAVINGS: 99%
NOTE: Mandi, our favorite popcorn is on sale!!!
I picked up 3 bottles of Welch's for your hubby last week so that he can get his daily dose of super-power anti-oxidants. I'm expecting that he is going to take care of all of us in our old age. Tell him that I expect him to remember that I'm the one that supplied him with some of his super-powers. Oh, that's right....you won't need to remind him because he is going to be the only one with an in-tact memory when we're all in our 80's!
NOTE: Make sure that you are printing those IP printables when you see them. The Pepperidge Farm printable is a good example this week. When I first saw it I printed four of them from my two computers and instructed hubby to print four for me also from his pc's. Print them while you can and then hold them and wait for them to go on sale. Printables always go on sale. Always.
NOTE: It took me a little while to find the fruit chillers. They were in the canned fruit aisle.
50 comments:
Great trip! Thanks for the info on the fruit chillers. I have been looking for those! My picky six-year-old actually likes them!
Another great shop. Thanks also for the tip on the IPs. I must admit that my mouth started watering when I saw the Milanos in your photo! I am jealous!!
Awesome shop! As always, you still inspire me!!!
Gotta love Tom Cruise in Risky Business!!! :)
I love the Picture. How funny! I am not impressed this week with Publix's sale items, but, I've got a ton of Sundown Q's ($5/2) to use up before midnight tomorrow. I am thinking I will do some of my own risky business and only go in with my sundown Q's and pick up a london broil (and some other meat) tomorrow and go through the the self-check. What do you think? The # of Q's won't exceed the # of items...
Melissa, I am in the same situation. I have 20 Sundown Q's left and I need to go and buy some more Almond Butter I think! You can do self check-out buy you'll have to input all of those Sundown Publix Q's by hand.
You did it again and even while sleep deprived! :D
So, what are the HOT (overage) items coming up, so we can be prepared?
Thanks!!!
Hey. Did you know there were tear pads for FREE Sara Lee bread wyb 2 Hillshire Farms? I also found that same Q as a peelie on the Hillshire Farms. Carissa
I also have a ton of the Sundown Qs but couldn't use but 2 sets of them (my store does poorly at restocking those items). Not going crazy over overages anymore. Not worth it.
Carissa, do you have the $5/2 Sundown Q or the $1/1 Sundown Q. If you have the $5/2 Q then you should be able to get plenty of overage with them as there are several Sundown's that are $3.99 (and they provide $1.50 in overage ea).
I never got the Sara Lee/Hilshire Q although I do remember seeing it. LOL.
Nice to have you on the blog sweet Carissa. I can't wait to see you guys on Sunday! Hope we'll be eating FREE food!
Carissa, thanks for letting me know about the peelie. I'll look for those on Sunday when I go again. Or maybe we'll find some doing our charcoal deals. :)
Awww...thanks for the Welch's! Jeff really is crazy over that grape juice, but he doesn't want me to buy it at full price, so that is really a treat for him. :)
About the popcorn...I bought an embarrassing amount of it last time it was on sale with stacking coupons. I still have a pretty good stash...I'll have to see if I can make any more room. Hmmm...
Im not sure where else to put this but thought maybe one of you would like to trade the Toss 4 Cash books with me. I have the one with 57 sauce, TGI Fridays, Boston Market. Would LOVE to trade for the other book!
Mandi, I have an embarrassing stash of it in my house too (blushing).
You'd think I was stockpiling for a nuclear war.
Carrie, I have several I can trade for you; our stores are still stocked with these booklets. Let me know how many you want to trade.
BTW, you can always post this kind of request right here in the comments section. You can put anything you want in this section. We're a small community so post away.
I'll email you. My email address is starbucksgirl@hotmail.com.
Awesome shop as always. I learned my lesson on waiting to print IPs. I saw the Pepperidge Farm one late one evening and decided to wait until the next morning to print. Big mistake!
Kelly you know there's a Whole Foods coupon for Maranatha Butter (that's the one you like, right?)
I think it was in the most recent Whole Foods booklet (could've been the one before that expires Monday, I can't remember)
-brandy
Kelly,
You listed the Campbell's soup for $.99 (BOGO price). Was that only at the store you shopped at? The sales flyer (and Concord store) said "Save up to $2.39" (which would be $1.20 BOGO price). Just trying to clarify my confusion... :p
Thanks!
Carrie, the hot overage item starting tomorrow is the Revlon. There will be a $2/1 Revlon cosmetic or tool Q from the Green Advantage Flyer. You can couple that with the $1/1 manufacturer Q for overage.
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Brandy, I haven't picked up the Whole Foods flyer for August/Sept. yet. I need to get my hands on that maranatha Q. I love their almond butter.
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Jennifer, the Campbells soup was .99 cents at Nipper's Corner. Not sure what it costs at other Publix stores in the area. Nipper's usually is .10-.60 less on many of their items compared to other Publix stores in the area. For example, their KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce was $1.57 and it was $1.99 at most of the other Publix stores in the area.
Hi- Just got back from my weekly trip to Publix. Spent $10.84 and saved $128.38. 2 Great deals that you may not know about
Aunt Jemima Pancakes B1G1
Use:
$1/1 from Toss 4 Cash and
$1/2 from SS 8/16
Free plus overage
Also, I was able to use a coupon from whole foods for a free rotisserie (sp?) chicken but they just took the link down on the website.
Hope this helps
- Ashley
Ashley, thanks for the info.
I knew about the Aunt Jemima, however, I only have the Toss for Cash booklet. Our region didn't get the $1/2 manufacturer Q. :(
I also knew about the Rotisserie chicken; picked one up last night. What I didn't know was that they took down the link. That's a bummer. Good thing I already printed 6 of them.
**Word to the wise.** Always print a coupon when you see it. Always, always, always. Coupons disappear (especially popular ones).
Thanks for the tips Ashley. You rock girl! Oh, and I love that super cute pic of you! You're adorable.
I'm bettin' money that you're a Southern girl by birth.
Ashley, oh...great shop. $10 for $128 in groceries. That's stellar.
Question about the Rotisserie chicken: I printed 1 yesterday (before they changed the expiration date). Since there is no bar code, do you think I could copy the one I have?
Jennifer, unfortunately you can't copy coupons ever. I don't even copy the FLIPS (Food Lion Internet Printables), for example. It's illegal (buy you may not have known that). :)
BTW, they have removed the coupon from the whole foods website and indicated the following:
"this coupon was intended for specific email subscribers, and has been improperly distributed through channels we had not anticipated. Due to the overwhelming number of redemptions, we have had to cancel the coupon. We are sorry for any inconvenience."
I knew that deal was too good to be true. My hubby and I are currently debating whether or not we are going to use the remaining coupons that we have since they cancelled them. I think I'll call Whole Foods to see if they are going to honor the coupons that we already printed. If they say yes, then I will still use them either at Whole Foods or Publix.
This is one of those ethical dilemas. On the one hand it is great to get a FREE rotisserie chicken. On the other hand this coupon is a complete loss for Publix. My own personal ethics would probably only allow me to use it once or twice at Publix. There is no right answer though. This is a personal ethics choice. Everyone might see this situation differently. I think the relationship with my Publix is more important than getting a free chicken every day for example. :)
Thanks for your post on the "chicken issue". :)
Coupons have so much 'grey area' to them. Couponing has been such a financial blessing to our family. I would NEVER intentionally misuse a coupon or abuse the privilege of using them at great stores like Publix.
I understand that when you print a coupon it has a bar code & you can't copy those. But I wondered about the other IPs (FLIPs, for example). Just for my own understanding, what is the difference between printing 5 FLIPs or printing 1 & making 4 copies?
That's great how your total is so low without going into the negative. The one time my total was around $1 it was an accident. I thought it was going to be higher. The cashier started freaking out just a little when the coupons started paying for the tax, and she had to get a CS rep to do an something to the register.
Rai
Jennifer, the reason you can't copy them is because it says you can't on the coupon. It doesn't matter if it has a barcode or not.
Food Lion coupons state "void if copied, sold or exchanged."
Jennifer, just wanted to let you know that your question was a good one. Many folks are confused about this issue. They think they should just be able to copy since you can print as many as you want.
Just remember that the coupon is void if you copy it but not if you print it (I know silly....but true).
Please let us know what Whole Foods says about the chicken. If you do end up using it at Publix there is an in ad coupon for a free 2L Coke when you get a chicken.
BTW- I am Southern Born and that cute little one-year old thumb-sucker with me in the picture is too!
ALSO_ I am looking for up to 7 Publix Summertime Savings booklets with the Apple and Eve fruit juice coupons in them to trade. I have a bunch of Toss for Cash booklets.
Please let me know if you are interested and what you would be looking to trade.
Thanks- Ashley
I have not seen the new green advantage buy, but it might have overage if the Poise pantiliners count with the Poise coupon. I wanna say they are around $3... so if you combine the $3/1 Publix and the $1/1 MF there should be overage. But I can't say til I see the coupon in the flyer and check current pricing. :)
Ashley, email me about the Smart Sumertime Savings Book. Cspudley@aol.com
Hi everyone. I'm looking for Similac checks/coupons (the $5 or the $4 coupons/checks). Please let me know if you have any that you can spare. I'm stockpiling formula for the newly adopted baby. So far, I have 20 cans. I need about 12 more and I will have enough formula stockpiled for the whole year.
I can also use any other formula coupons/checks that you may have as I can trade them for Similac coupons.
I'm also looking for the Maranatha coupons (any of them). I love their almond butter (thanks Natasha)!
If you have any of the above please let me know if you can spare them. My email address is starbucksgirl@hotmail.com
Are you guys finding the Toss 4 Cash books at the front of the store in the rotating kiosks, or elsewhere in the store? While there are many things I LOVE about the Publix nearest to my house (Fieldstone Farms), I hardly ever find the coupon books I see mentioned in coupon blogs there, with the exception of Green and Yellow Advantage Flyers. Do you know of a specific store that currently has the Toss 4 Cash book?
Mandi, I picked up some of the Toss 4 Cash booklets last night; there are still plenty left here.
I'll bring you some on Sunday along with your grape juice.
As always, great shop! Mom will be happy to take some of the popcorn stash which is causing such embarrassment.
Also - thanks for taking the advice of said CDC epidemiologist. :)
JMac, is your mom still in town? Tell her I said, "hi."
I don't know that this is the place to post this, but did anybody see today's paper yet? On the back of the Kmart ad there is a Q that says "$5 off food, consumables, health or beauty purchase of $50 or more".
Does anybody know if Publix would accept this as a competitor Q?
Also, my paper had GFS ads with $5/50 coupons on the back. Yippee!!
Jennifer, you can post anything coupon related on this page. Thanks for the heads up on the GFS coupon. I'll look for those in the recycle bin this week. :)
The Publix stores that I shop at do not consider Kmart a competitor but you could always go to customer service and ask them about it.
Good news! I went to my Concord store last night and got to use the $5/50 K-Mart Q!!!
I asked at CS beforehand. The rep I talked to said yes since they accept Target she didn't know why they wouldn't accept that one. Also, she said that since it said "for food" they would accept it (as opposed to the Rite Aid/pharmacy ones).
Wanted to pass along the good news! I was able to get $100 groceries for $18 (should have been $16 but they wouldn't let me use the Guiding Stars Q. I didn't argue.)
Jennifer,
My Publix in Smyrna accepts the Kmart coupon because it specifically says "food" on it. Awesome!
Jennifer, thanks so much for letting us know Concord accepts K-mart. I asked another Publix, who has a K-mart across the street, and they would not take it so I assumed Concord would not either. They are an awesome store and if any of you ever have problems using coupons, I would suggest making the trip!
Kelly,
I've done all the steps involved in vocalizing my complaints/concerns regarding overage. I received a call (finally) from the store's manager on Saturday evening. He listened to my concerns and wouldn't budge on his policy. He states that he will not allow any overage on any item. This also includes an item that is cheaper than a MQ. For instance, if a bag of ice is $1.69 and the coupon is $2.00, he will downgrade the MQ to the price of the item. He states that by NOT downgrading the MQ, it is considered coupon fraud.
We went round and round (in a very respectful manner) but never came to an understanding. He also stated that this was the entire Publix policy and he is just following the rules.
Needless to say, I will not be shopping at this particular store because there are others that do allow overage (in the city). Now what would you do? Thanks for helping all of us out!!! I truly appreciate it! :)
Dixie Clip, Just an FYI....just because one CS rep said that it was ok doesn't mean that there store policy dictates that they will accept the Kmart coupon. YMMV. I just don't want you to travel there just to use that coupon and then be told that you can't. Typically most Publix stores do not allow the use of Kmart coupons. Some of the CS reps at Concord are more lenient than others. They do not have the final say, however, as the store manager sets the policy. If you go there and they tell you no then just remember that just because one CS rep told one of us that we can do it doesn't mean that we can. Still, they may let you use it so it doesn't hurt to try. Just be careful not to say, "well, so and so got to use their Kmart coupon when they were here."
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Bethany, did you email corporate or just call the store manager?
I emailed corporate and it took a week for someone (who was the store's manager) to call me back or email me.
Bethany, I would try and contact the District Manager and explain the situation to him/her. Find out who your DM is for your area. Then tell him that the store manager is telling you that it is coupon fraud if he doesn't adjust the coupons; tell him that this is incorrect information.
The manufacturer is going to reimburse Publix for the full value of the coupon. You just want to ensure that the savings for that coupon is passed on to you as the consumer and not to Publix. Tell him that the store manager is misinformed and handing out inaccurate information (i.e. that it is Publix's policy to adjust coupons down). This adjustment policy is only attributable to Publix's coupons and NOT to manufacturer coupons.
That's what I would do. If you don't get anywhere then come back here and post and I have some more ideas.
You can also tell him that many stores in the area have the opposite policy (that it is "coupon fraud" to adjust manufacturer coupons....Walgreens for instance). You can also tell him that there was a recent email sent to the Publix staff indicating that manufacturer Q's should not be adjusted (at least it was sent to our area recently).
Great shop!! You are so inspiring.
Hey...am looking to trade florida toss for cash books for the put clean in your cart booklet...if anybody has some to spare...my email..patelyomika@gmail.com..thanks.
Tina, Im emailing you now. :o)
Wow! I am always so impressed with your shops. Mine are never near yours! I'm learning...
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