I am ashamed to admit it, but sometimes I feel a little sorry for myself when I see all those fantastic Mega Event deals at Kroger or the Super Doubles at Harris Teeter, or realize that most other areas of the country have at least 5 or 6 grocery chains to choose from (and compete.) And while I’m whining, let me add that stores in Florida don’t even double coupons, for goodness sake!
There, I’ve said it. I suffer from coupon envy.
But really, honestly, I have nothing to complain about. Publix, where shopping truly is a pleasure, (their motto, for those of you who don’t live in the South), has been so good to me. Most weeks I love only needing to visit one wonderful store, where everyone knows me by sight and most even remember my name. Behind my back they may call me the crazy 6’2″ coupon girl, but to my face they are nothing but nice. And I’ll take it.
This week was no exception. I was in and out of the store in about 45 minutes, even with a brand new cashier–Cassandra–who handled my stack of coupons like a pro. It was another week of big Italian Days savings and I was especially excited to be able stock up on whole grain bread and lots of fresh produce. The $10 off Sweetbay coupon didn’t hurt, either!
Here is what I got:
At Publix I spent $23.68 for $153.40 worth of groceries, a savings of 85%.
Detailed Purchase & Coupon Breakdown:
$10 off $40 purchase (Sweetbay coupon, printable here) 4 packages Wheat Thins Toasted Chips (BOGO @ $3.39 = $1.70 each) (2) $1 off 2 Nabisco Crackers (Guy’s Big Game Coupon Book, final price: $1.20 each) 6 loaves Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Bread (BOGO @ $3.89 = $1.95 each) (3) $0.75 off 2 Pepperidge Farm Bread (Smart Source 2/13, final price $1.57 each) 1 pint Strawberries (Sale price: $1.67) 1 lb. Green Beans (Sale price: $1.45) 1 bag Idaho Potatoes (Sale price: $2.99) 1 32oz. bag Carrots (Regular price: $1.79 2 bags Fresh Express Salad mix (BOGO @ $3.69) (6) $1.50 off any produce WYB Pepperidge Farm Bread (Healthy Beginnings booklet) (2) $1 off Fresh Express Salad Mix (printable here) (1) $1 off Produce (Publix Baby Club coupon, received in mail) (final price for all produce: $-0.41-moneymaker) 6 boxes Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Cereal (BOGO @ $3.99) (6) $1 off Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Cereal (Red Plum 1/23 or printable here, final price: $0.99 each) 6 jars Classico Pasta Sauce (BOGO @ $2.69) (6) $1 off Classico Pasta Sauce (Peelie found on Ronzoni pasta last week, final price: $0.35 each) 10 boxes Mueller Pasta (BOGO @ $1.43) (10) $1 off Mueller Pasta (printable here (register), final price: $-0.28 each-moneymaker) 4 boxes Keebler Club Crackers (BOGO @ $3.89) (2) $1 off 2 Sunshine or Keebler Crackers (Red Plum 1/30, final price: $1.45 each) 4 Athenos Greek Yogurt (Sale Price: $1.00) (2) $1 off 2 Athenos Yogurt (printable here, final price: $0.50 each) 2 bottles Infants Advil Drops (Regular Price: $5.39) (1) $5 off 2 Advil products (Publix Green Advantage Flyer) (2) $2 off Children’s or Infants Advil (found flyer at pediatrician’s office, final price: $0.89 each) 2- 12 packs Zephyrhills Bottled Water (BOGO @ $3.79 each) (2) $1 off Zephyrhills water (printable here (facebook), final price: $0.89 each or $0.074 a bottle) (1) Gallon Publix Milk (Regular Price: $3.35)(Since so many of you have asked for more detailed pricing information, I decided to do my breakdown a little differently this week. Items purchased are in black, manufacturer’s Qs are in blue, store Q’s are in green, and competitor’s Qs are in purple. Hopefully it makes sense to you all!)
Combined with my Sunday totals, this week I spent a total of $34.18 for $304.92 worth of groceries and drugstore merchandise, an average savings of 89% for the week.
Now it’s your turn! Seeing others’ examples is one of the best ways to learn new couponing strategies, hints, and hot deals. If you have a blog, pleas link up your coupon savings here. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to share your shopping experiences in a comment below. There were some pretty amazing shopping trips posted last week….I can’t wait to see how you all did this time around!
Affiliate links may be used in this post. Printing a coupon or ordering a product through this link may result in a commission, which helps pay for the cost of running this site and keeps the content free. Read my full disclosure policy here.
Jaclynn February 24, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Well, if it helps to commiserate with you, here in CA, I don’t know of any stores that double in my part. And we don’t have stores that take competitor coupons, although Walmart price matches. I save the most going to Rite Aid, and sometimes sales with Target & mfg coupons at Target.
Ruth February 25, 2011 at 12:27 am
Oh, and I even forgot to mention Rite-Aid in my little whine-fest! I guess the grass is always greener, right?
Tonya February 24, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Hi Ruth, Thank you for breaking everything down and showing the final price for everything. That helps me a lot
Thank you for all your hard work!
Ruth February 25, 2011 at 12:27 am
You’re welcome!
Laura @ Frugal Follies February 24, 2011 at 6:09 pm
I have to agree with the coupon envy – really wish I could be in Kroger or Harris Teeter territory, or even double coupon land! You did great – love all the free produce!
– Laura from Frugal Follies
Amy February 24, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Can you point me to some Kroger blogs? I enjoy reading how you are doing, but I live in a Kroger area and this is now my new main store to buy things. I have been doing well, but I know I can do better, since the lady in front of me yesterday checked out with a large basket of stuff and paid $0.00. I want to do that one day. Also how do you keep track of those coupons from early Jan? I have started the folder system like you have; however I don’t know if I can remember to look back in Jan for a coupon for something on sale. Do you just go through each weeks RP and SS and match up to what is on sale? I am still trying to figure out a good method.
-Amy
Amy February 24, 2011 at 6:57 pm
Awesome thanks! That is what I was doing, but didn’t know if this was the best way, since I went to CVS on Monday for the Purex and it was nearly all gone.
Thanks so much for your help. I think I have CVS worked out. I did really well last week.
Now I just need to tackle Kroger. Once I get that down, on to Target!
Thanks,
Amy
Patricia February 24, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Thanks Ruth, I love the price breakdown. You amaze me with your great Publix deals! I love shopping at Publix now that I am saving so much money!! At least 60% or more on each trip since following your blog and learning how to coupon.
-Patricia
Ruth February 25, 2011 at 12:26 am
Patricia, that’s wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing!
Jennifer Camp February 24, 2011 at 7:45 pm
Hi Ruth. Thanks for breaking everything down. It’s helpful to know what price you buy things at. I got a great deal on Keebler crackers a few months ago for about $.50 a box and haven’t found that deal since. We are now out and the kids are begging for crackers. So its helpful to know that you buy them for $1.45 each.
I love reading your blog. You are a great and interesting writer!
PS – I sew exactly like you – fast and not perfect!
Ruth February 25, 2011 at 12:25 am
Thanks Jenny! Your comment made me smile….I’ve been wondering how your couponing was going! To be honest, I debated about the crackers but my kids go through them like crazy too and we were almost out. I knew I had a little wiggle room with that $10 Sweetbay Q, so I “splurged.”
Although I would love to get everything for free, my general rule for things that my family really likes is if it is on sale for at least 50% off (or BOGO) AND I have any sort of coupon for it AND we are low on it, I will buy it.
But I do look for substitutes too. For instance, the girls love Goldfish but I haven’t seen a good sale on those in months. They’ve had to live with Scrabble Tile Cheese-Its which go on sale a lot. I think they’d probably still prefer the Goldfish, but they’ll live. They get really excited when we go to other people’s houses and they get the fish!
grace February 25, 2011 at 12:10 am
Great job and I understand the coupon envy. Where I live there is no double coupons unless I travel 150 miles and then it is only 2 days a week and limit of 5 coupons.
I do hit that store if visiting the big city.
Ruth February 25, 2011 at 12:28 am
150 miles! That is true commitment!
Kelly February 25, 2011 at 4:36 am
Well, I USED to live in a state that had all three (Publix, Kroger and Harris Teeter). Now, I live in a state that has none and doesn’t double either. Rite-Aid is all we poor Californians have. Still, I’m thankful for the deals that I can get.
I’m almost out of pasta that I stockpiled almost 3 years ago and my pasta sauce, tomatoes and canned vegetables are running low with no way to replenish in sight. Sigh, Viva Italia…..you are surely missed.
Ruth February 26, 2011 at 11:08 am
Do you have a SuperTarget nearby? You could try stacking the Bertolli $1.50/2 Manufacturer’s Q from RP 2/20 with the printable $1/2 Target Q (redplum.com). I’m not sure what it is priced at, but it might give you some kind of pasta sauce deal, at least enough to tide you over!
Debi @ Bluegrass Savers February 25, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Your new website idea sounds fantastic! Once again, you did a really great job. I’d trade my Kroger stores for a Publix any day! Lol Please come link up at the Bluegrass Savers weekly shopping page.
Dawn February 25, 2011 at 4:16 pm
I have to tell you that the Publix where you shop is amazing. One of the employees saw me buying some Progresso items last week, told me about the coupons for it and went and got me two sheets, which I needed because I didn’t have enough printed out plus I wasnted to buy bread. I went to the checkout with the new manager and she asked if I was taking your class. She closed the line and was extremely accomodating about all of the coupons I had. (I had $288 worth of groceries for which I paid $93.) I even grabbed the wrong type of cheese and she had the bagger exchange them for the right one. Plus, I had a printer incident which caused a coupon to be printed on two different pieces of paper and she accepted the taped coupon. I love that the management is so wonderful to couponers there and I think I may frequent that store much more.
I, too, like the new breakdown of prices that you’re showing. Thanks for all of your ideas, suggestions and help.
Sherri @ Luv a Bargain February 25, 2011 at 9:20 pm
I love your breakdown! I am going to be in Florida visiting my mother-in-law in 3 weeks and she shops at only Publix ….with NO coupons! It makes me crazy! So I will be taking mine with me and continuing to work on her. Your scenario’s will be priceless.
Ruth February 26, 2011 at 11:11 am
There is a lot of money to be saved at Publix, even without coupons! Even if she just focused on the BOGO items each week and followed the stock-up principles, she could save a lot of money! Good luck….let me know how it goes!
Taylor February 26, 2011 at 2:25 am
Hi Ruth! I love that you’ve started listing the items you bought with the corresponding coupon under it. Even if you don’t give the always give the links to the printable coupons (I’m sure it’s tons of work), it will be great to see what coupons you used with which items. Even though I’ve been “extreme” couponing for over a year, it’s fun to see other people’s matchups. Thanks!!! =)
Ruth February 26, 2011 at 11:12 am
You’re welcome! I try to provide all the links to any coupons that are still available, but sometimes I am going too fast and I miss one. Feel free to let me know if that happens, and I will find the link!