On my trip to Publix just 2 days ago - I spent $102 (which is about $50 more than usual) But...are ya ready?
I SAVED a total of $157 - that's right- $259 worth of groceries and household items for just $102
I actually made $.31 on each pair of my Lysol spray purchases. HOW?
Well, in Florida we aren't lucky enough to have double coupon days or it would be even easier, but our Publix does accept competitor coupons.
So, I used 2 coupons on each of my Lysol purchases- and they were buy one get one free.
THAT means: 1 spray lysol = 1 manufactors coupon (from the newspaper) + 1 store coupon (from Winn Dixie's booklet on Spring Savings)
With the BOGO deal - I also put 1 manufacturer coupon on the buy one + 1 store coupon on it
AND not only were both of them free- but I actually made a $.31 profit. (sorry I don't have the exact prices available) but, I'll do a simple example:
Sale cost on Lysol Spray Ceaner (assorted varieties) - $ 2.69 and it's Buy One Get One !!!
pretty good deal already- NOW
If you have 4 coupons total it looks like this:
1st bottle is priced - $2.69 + free bottle= 2 bottles for $2.69
place $1 off manufacturers coupon on the first one and ANOTHER $1 off manufacturers coupon on the FREE one= $2 off so far for a running balance of $.69 still owed
then place a $.50 off store coupon on the 1st bottle and a $.50 off store coupon on the free bottle =
YOU are making a profit of $.31 on the two bottles of Lysol spray
(I bought 8 bottles total because I had enough coupons to make that happen)
Don't you just love coupons? Publix has decided it's in their best interest to beat the competition and accept their coupons- and the manufacturers pay them back in full - so, it is a WIN WIN!
Couponing 101- Using Store Coupons!
Walgreens isn't exactly one of my favorite places to shop. Well, there are two in my area that are perfectly pleasant - and the third (which happens to be the one I have easy access to) has never been anything but a total nightmare.
I've even gone out of my way to call the manager & even corporate offices a couple of times because of the lousy service & rude employees. But, as I said- there are stores out there where that is not the case.
Publix takes competitors coupons. My Publix would rather me come to Publix and use the coupons from just about anywhere else instead of shopping with a different company. I think that is just plain smart.
Different stores have different rules- and I don't even mean necessarily the chains but even just different locations. I've heard some people say that their Publix won't take certain store coupons. I'd personally ask for a manager & then another & another until I got to the person who said - "store policy is 'we take other store coupons' and the customer is always right, thank you for shopping at Publix". Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself a little bit, and I've never been escorted out! They just carry my bags for me.
Back to Walgreens- they do have some great coupons! Their weekly store flyer has many good coupons in it. I find several each week that I am able to use - so I always pick up a couple of them.
Now, they also have a smaller book- pictured above left on the outside - and center pic is of the inside coupons. See the Nabisco and the potato chips coupons? Great finds. When you pair those with a couple of manufacturer coupons and place them on BOGO's - well, you're shoppin' like a pro!
Not too bad even without the manufacturer if placed on a good BOGO- If Lays Potato chips are $3.99 - and on BOGO- that's $2 each- $1 off Walgreens coupon on the Buy One and $1 off Walgreens coupon on the Get One and you've just bought chips fo $1.00 each! Now, for me, that is really worth stopping by a Walgreens once a week! I pick up about 4-6 of the little ones each month.
Don't get me wrong- I do shop at Walgreens some too. Well, I try. I used to buy my Sunday paper there. But, the last few times I stopped in to buy it, they were out. Today I went in to buy eggs for $.99 - but they were out, and Libby Olives, but they were out. I had to get rain-checks. I tried to buy some Caress Body Wash. It was on sale for a decent price & I had a coupon for $1 off. Well, it turned out to be a Target coupon & the cashier acted like I was trying to rob the place. It was an honest mistake. Target allows you to print coupons from their site. A lot of them are manufacturer coupons, that one wasn't & I just didn't realize it. She was so rude about it that I told her that I didn't want the product. (nicely)
If you shop at Walmart- and bring in a competitors add- they will match the price. I had a cashier tell me that they didn't take competitor coupons- but the Walmart flyer clearly stated that they did. Right on the front cover!..... So, they did.
Sometimes, you have to stand up for yourself. But, like I said, I've never been escorted out. I am always polite. But firm. Know the store policy- look it up on the net- have flyer in hand - whatever, but then stand up for yourself. Maybe the cashier just needs to know & has been told wrong by someone else. Perfectly honest mistake. Keep smiling & ask for a manager.
So, keep your eyes open for those coupons. In-store booklets, flyers, little print machines, coupons attached to products (peelies). Walgreens coupons are great.
If you have an Albertsons nearby - they will mail you their weekly flyers with meat coupons & a $5 off when you spend $50! Check out the store policies for the ones around you.
Start stocking those binders. (See prior entry about binders). The time you invest now in getting started will pay off soon. After a few weeks, you'll be flying through your routine.
Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself- and ask for a manager. During the Christmas shopping crowds I went through several managers at Walgreens... but they DID take care of THEIR error. :)
It helps if you remain friendly, keep smiling, & warn the customers walking up in line behind you if you have a large order. If I have a cart full of groceries, and a handful of coupons- I know it's going to take a few extra minutes to get checked out.
When people walk up behind me I always smile & say "I could be a few minutes- I have coupons- It takes longer". Most people are very nice about it. The other ones- you really don't want standing behind you anyways - RIGHT? A lot of people ask if they can watch & want to know what I'm doing. Especially, when they see that I've just spent @ $55 and saved @ $80 !!! (yes, that's $135.00 of groceries for $55.00- this weeks total from my Publix trip)
Saving that much is really quite fun. And the time you've spent planning it is so much less trouble when you realize how much money you are putting back into the family budget! More money for family time - more money for family adventures!
Couponing 101- Step 2- Get Your Grocery Store Info.
I stop by Publix & grab the weekly flyer and a couple of the yellow monthly flyers- the yellow flyers give all the special sales that remain throughout the month & offer coupons to boot! If it isn't convenient to "just stop by" you can go to the site: http://www.publix.com/ and click on weekly flyer - it will show you the weekly specials, BOGO's, and allow you to click on and print out a personalized list.
If you don't have a Publix- check your local store web page & see what they have to offer.
Personally, I like to make a list online & I like to grab a paper from the store- it is easier to see what the prices are that way sometimes & I can reach out and grab it when I'm putting all my info together for the "shopping trip".
Once you know what is on sale and what you are going after - you go through your nifty binder and pull out the matching coupons that you have amassed. If you have Publix- you can check http://www.iheartpublix.com/ - Kroger you can check http://www.iheartkroger.com/ to see what coupons should be available for that week.
I just put the coupons for the week into an envelope and attach it to the weekly flyer and list with a paper clip. Your goal (as long as your store allows it) is to put one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon on each item.
For example: If Libby canned olives are on sale at Publix - Buy One Get One for $2.18
If you have Walgreens or Target (local competitor) coupons for $.50 off & 2 manufacturers coupons from Libby's for $.50 off - you start with $2.18 for 2 products or $1.09 each- put $.50 store & $.50 man. coupon on one and you'll put $.50 store & $.50 man. on the other can- lowering your total spent on BOTH items to .......$.18 or $.09 each can of Libby's olives! Now that's a bargin!
In some places there are double coupon days - if you live in one of these dreamy states- you can walk away with loads of free stuff. (NOT impossible even if you do!)
This week I got 2 Colgate coupons for $1.00 off in Sunday's paper- Walmart had Colgate on sale for $1.00 each soooooooooo...... I got 2 Free tubes of toothpaste. I found a $1.00 coupon on floss & Walmart had the floss on sale for $.97 sooooooo..... I actually made a few cents. I also had 2 $75 off coupons for Colgate and went ahead and picked up 2 more tubes for just $.25 each.
They had large cans of specialty tomato sauce on sale for $1.00 and I had $1.00 off on 2- so they were $.50 each. Those coupons came from one of the little electronic store machines that say "take one" - ALWAYS take 2 and watch for the item to go on BOGO!
You can see that no matter where you shop - you can get great deals if you have your system in place & do a little prepwork. I checked the Walmart flyer and the http://www.iheartthemart.com/ site before my trip to Walmart- so I knew what I was going for.
For the first few weeks of couponing - it can be a little overwhelming. I remember thinking -"why did I even buy the papers this week ? there is nothing here i need!" But, there is probably more there than you realize.
After about 4-6 weeks, on average, is when it starts to really come together & you realize that 1 grocery store trip that saved you $75 - $100 is well worth the printer ink, time, and money on newspapers!
Then you realize that you can never pay full price again! It's like leaving money on the table-
Couponing 101- 3 ring binder system
Step One in Couponing is to get yourself a 3 ring binder system going! It doesn't have to be fancy (obviously) - I got my plastic clear inserts for free at a teacher supply depot and added them to an old binder.
I added a plain piece of white copy paper into each sleeve and scribbled the "title" for that section on each one: Mayo, butter, oils on one- Lunchmeats & Meat Products- Cereals- Breakfast, Fruits & Veggies-
Household Misc.- Beauty & Meds- Paper & Pet Products - Snacks & Drinks- Milk, Cheese & Dairy-
Sweets & cookies- Baking & baking products- Misc.
You can tweak it according to your family shopping habits-
I go through the binder about 1x each week & go to each section to get rid of expireds
*** I now have a family who is collecting expired coupons to send to troups overseas - they can use the coupons expired up to 6 mos. !!!!! save & send 'em to me-
When I cut coupons from the paper or print from printer I lay them out into the various catagories listed above & simply slide them into the binder sections
I go to http://www.iheartpublix.com/ each week (you can go to http://www.iheartkroger.com/ - or your local grocery web-site to make your list according to what is on sale.
Now that I have been able to stockpile a bit by saving tons of money- I shop mostly just the BOGO's
(Buy One Get One) - that way I can put a store coupon & a manufacturer coupon on each
(yes, that is 4 coupons on 2 items) My Publix allows this- some stores vary- check until you find one that does!!!
At http://www.iheartpublix.com/ I can check the sales & she points out the coupons available for those items!
Helps a great deal with organization & sometimes I am able to print from a direct link if I don't have a particular coupon. (most of the time if you wait until that week- the coupons are no longer available) but you can make a list of the coupons you need to pull from your binder!
I go to http://www.pulbix.com/ to make my actual shopping list an then attach the coupons to the printable list & I'm off !!
It may seem like some work- and it is- but once you start - it is really fun & when you see how much you can save....... you will never want to do it any other way!
*** last week I spent $50.08 and SAVED $87.45
That means I bought $137.53 worth of groceries & household goods for just $50.08
Would you like to feed your family for $50 a week? Each post will teach a little bit at a time until you get there! http://adventurezinchildrearing.blogspot.com/
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