HOW TO SAVE BIG AT PUBLIX

OK, I've been getting more and more requests to share how I save so much money at CVS and Publix, so I thought I'd start with the easier of the two. This post will hopefully give you several simple steps to begin saving money at Publix. Keep in mind that I've been at this for over a year now (and I'm still learning) so make little goals and don't get overwhelmed. Do what you can and enjoy the little savings at first, then watch it grow as you get better! Money Saving Mom noted in one of her podcasts to make it a goal to add another $5 of savings each week. Our family budget is $110 for all grocery and household items per week. (including diapers and all toiletries) It is like a game to me now. =) I can usually get it around $90 most weeks.

OK, first and most popular question: "Where do I find coupons for Publix?"

First you need to begin getting the Sunday paper EVERY week and collecting coupons. Here you will find
Smart Source insert
Red Plum insert
and sometimes a Proctor and Gamble insert or special Publix inserts.

I pull them out of the paper and write the date on the front then I file them in a small vertical file box by month so coupons are easy to find and I don't waste time flipping through endless unorganized inserts. This is the system that works for me. I don't clip coupons, because I plan everything that I am going to buy before I go to the store. Sometimes I get multiple Sunday papers if I see the coupons are going to be extra valuable that week.

Many of the coupons I use are internet printable coupons that are linked from the "Bargain Blogs" that I will share with you later in this post.

Publix has rounders at the front of their stores with advertised sales and coupons in these. I grab several of these to keep on hand. Publix allows you to stack a "Publix coupon" with a "Manufacturers Coupon". This adds up to super savings.

Many Publix's also accept competitor's coupons such as Target or Food Lion. Today I got a save $3 on a $10 purchase at Save A Lot coupon in the mail... I took it to my Publix and they accepted it! They will not accept coupons for stores like CVS or Walgreens, but have always taken my major grocery store competitor coupons.

Finally, I am in all of the Publix loyalty programs that you can sign up for in store or online at publix.com Including the Greenwise magazine club (organic coupons in every issue) and the Baby Club (NOTE: if you don't have a baby it would be unethical to lie and say you have one, thankfully I do. =) ) And also the "Pre School Pals Club" There is also a Family magazine you can sign up for and a Wine magazine. All of these magazines and clubs send you coupons in the mail monthly or quarterly.


So... that's that. Step one. Now once you start your collection you're well on your way! Now... there are two SUPER blogs that do LOTS OF THE WORK for you! My online friend, Sarah, has a blog called FiddleDeeDee where she notes the sales and gives you the coupon match ups each week. For example: this week Progresso soup is $1.50 per can. There is a printable coupon HERE for $1.10 off one can. Thus making the soup cost .40 cents! An 84% savings! Sarah maps all this out for you each week in her Publix posts. Sarah also seems to eat pretty healthy and I find her "Organic Friday" posts helpful in buying more organic or natural foods at a lower price. Today I had coupons for hummus, organic pita chips, and Greenwise organic milk. I also had a coupon for $1 off produce (Publix baby club)$1 off any deli item and $1 off any dairy item to stack on it. making my one gallon of organic milk cost only $2.99!

Another site I check often is Southern Savers. (Look for the Publix tab near the top ) She also blogs other store deals like CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger.

Both of these sites are VITAL to my planning each week and I am GRATEFUL to these ladies for their hard work.

Please note also that you should check with the Publix you will be shopping at as to their specific coupon policies BEFORE you start using any crazy competitor coupons because they seem to vary from store to store. Both the Publix's in my city have been very good about accepting my coupons as long as they are not expired and are for the correct products. They also accept two coupons on Buy One Get One Free Deals... one for the one you pay for AND one for the free one, which I LOVE.

I know this may seem like a lot of work, but I only spend about one hour planning my shopping trips each week. Today I saved $60 so I think that's a pretty decent return. =) Once you get rolling and get a system in place that works for you, it becomes very easy. Please feel free to comment with any questions and I will do my best to answer it!

PUBLIX SHOPPING TRIP 1/25/08

This one was so good I had to blog it.

All this food.....
$68.84 retail price before sales and coupons

Total out of pocket after sales and coupons $28.04!!!!!!!!

How did I do it? I mostly shopped the buy one get one free things, and stacked manufacturer's coupons on top of these sales. Publix is great because they will accept one coupon for the one you pay for AND for the one that is free! That adds up to some killer savings. If you shop at Publix I really recommend checking out the weekly coupon match up posts on Sarah's Blog, FiddleDeeDee and on Southern Savers Many of the coupons are printable so you don't even have to save the coupon inserts from the Sunday papers for most savings. (But you save even more if you do!) These ladies make it their full time job to help us save BIG BUCKS on our weekly shopping trips!!


I'm going back for a few more things that I didn't have coupons for with me later this week, but wanted to be stocked on essentials because Gabe isn't feeling well and worse case scenario I don't want to be stuck with no toilet paper if I can't leave the house! HA!

NOTE: The toilet paper was actually on sale at Walgreens and was about $5.

Addendum....

Just wanted to add one more thing to my Friday Felicities.

I happened to see the "Omaha Steaks Deal" right after it was posted from Thrifty Florida Mama and got my steak burgers yesterday! It was delivered in dry ice and Gabe and I had a lot of fun pouring water on it and making fog. haha.

I got 18 4 oz. steakburgers (Yes...18!!!)
And a knife cutlery set and cutting board (Which I will be selling at my yard sale because they look cheap and we have Cutco's)

For $3.98!!!!!!!!

This deal is now dead... I went to my friend's house about 3 hours after I did the deal to help her do it and even she couldn't get it to work!!! You have to be SUPERSONIC fast on some of these deals!! (She did get 12 burgers for $3.98, but not the bonus 6 and kitchen stuff)

Please pray for our family. We are being attacked by sickness. We woke up this morning and 3 out of 4 of us have pink eye. Please pray that Justin remains well. He has an amazing immune system! Thanks! Happy Weekend!

CVS Deals- Memorial Day

This was the coolest week yet. I got 2 $25 giftcards for transferring my Rx's from Walgreens. They were all out of the Tums Quick Pak's at my CVS, so my deal didn't work quite as planned, but it was still great.

Transaction #1
2 Kraft BBQ sauce @ .66 each
2 Revlon Nail Polish's at $3.99 each
2 Tide's at $5.99 each
Total: $22

1 $3/15 CVS coupon
2 $1 off Tide
2 $2 Revlon color products
$6 in ECB's
Balance used giftcard from transferred Rx's.

Recieved $10 in ECB's back


Transaction #2
2 packages of Playskool diapers @ $10.99 each

Total= $22

1 $3/$15
1 $2 Playskool diapers
Remainder used giftcard

Total OOP= NOTHING THIS WEEK

Got another $5 ECB's with this transaction for a total of $15 in ECB's this week and $25 giftcard left! Plus I am STOCKED in diapers for a few weeks! Yaaaay!

CVS Deals 4/20

OK. So I've decided to join the bandwagon of Money Saving Moms who are working the CVS deals. Before I decided to do this I read everything I could from the sidebar of Money Saving Mom's website. There is an article entitled CVS 101 and What You Need To Know About CVS Deals that were REALLY helpful. =) She advises to start small... so that's what I'm doing! Here we go!!


Trip 1:
ECB = Extra Care Bucks (bucks you can come back and use on anything at CVS)

I bought....
1 Speek Stick for $3.99
1 Alavert allergy medicine for $6.99 (I needed this!)
Bought some CVS Pullups for my Mom that she wanted to keep at her house when Gabe visit's $11.99 for 40 pk.

Coupons:
$1 / 1 speed stick
$4 / 1 Alavert from their website
$4 / $20 CVS Welcome coupon from website

Total After coupons $14.81
ECB received for next time: $7.99
Total Out of Pocket (OOP): Nothing, because my Mom gave me a $20 for the diapers. haha

Trip 2:
Justin LOVES the Boost energy drinks for breakfast, but they are $$ so we rarely buy them. As a diabetic, I have to say.... they ARE decent for us to drink on the go too. A good blend of fat, protein, and carbs. (33 carbs, 15g protein, 6g fat and only.5g saturated fat) It keeps ya going.

OK...
3 Boost 6 packs for a total of $ 21

Used $8 in ECB from first transaction
Used $4 / $20 from cvs website

Total OOP: $9
TOTAL ECB's earned: $10

If you are totally confused.... please go to Money Saving Mom's website and read the stuff I mentioned at the beginning of my post. This game is going to eventually save us lots and lots of money on household items. =)