I was beyond thrilled with this week’s Publix ad. Maybe it was the $1 Goldfish–a favorite of all kids everywhere–or the great deals on fruit, made even sweeter by the oh-so-rare $2 off produce coupons Publix issued last week to those who signed up for the Stocking Spree coupon booklet. Or maybe it was because despite filling my cart with only the week’s hottest deals, everything I bought was stuff that my family doesn’t just like, but honestly loves–Goldfish, Cinnamon Life, shredded cheese, pasta, Sabra hummus, Pretzel M&Ms (yum!) It almost felt like a “normal” shopping trip, you know, the ones where you just go and buy the things that sound good, except for my tiny total at the end.
One of the most common complaints about coupons is that there are no good food coupons. I’m sure most of you are already familiar with LWSL’s sister coupon matchup site, SavingWellSpendingLess.com, but (almost) every day I post a Coupons to Print Now list of the hottest printable coupons that I can find around the web. I try to focus on finding as many great food coupons as possible, so if you aren’t already checking out that list daily, you should definitely start. I try to have the list posted by 8am EST.
And now that I’ve piqued your curiosity, here is what I got:
At Publix I spent $34.99 for $168.48 worth of groceries, a savings of 80%.
For Publix stores that count Save-a-Lot as a competitor, I discovered recently that you can sign up here to get a $5 off $25 purchase coupon!
Grocery Breakdown: $5/$25 Purchase Save-a-Lot Coupon 8 Beech-Nut Stage 4 Steamies, BOGO @ – $2.00 (3) $2/2 Beech-Nut Stage 4 or Juice Product printable (2) $0.75/1 Beech-Nut Stage 4 Steamies printable Final price: $0.06 each 2 Sabra Hummus, BOGO @ – $3.99 (1) $1/1 Sabra Hummus (Become a Brand Ambassador & complete tasks to unlock Q) or (SS 6/26/11) (1) $1/1 Deli Item (Publix Baby Club) Final price: $0.99 each 1 Kashi Granola Bars – $2.99 (1) $2/1 Kashi Product Recyclebank printable Final price: $0.99 10 Mueller’s Pasta, BOGO @ – $1.53 (10) $1/1 Mueller’s 100% Whole Grain Pasta Facebook printable Final price: FREE + profit 4 Quaker Life Cereal, 15.4-20oz, BOGO @ – $5.07 (4) $0.75/1 Quaker Life Cereal, exp. 8/31/11 (RP 06/19/11 R) Final price: $1.78 each 4 M&M’s Brand Chocolate Candies, Large Bag, 15.4-19.2oz, BOGO @ – $4.89 (4) $1/1 M&M’s Brand Pretzel Chocolate Candies, exp. 7/31/11 (RP 06/19/11) Final price: $1.44 each 2 Reynolds Wrap, assorted varieties, BOGO @ – $4.29 (1) $1/1 Reynolds Wrap Foil, exp. 6/30/11 (SS 05/15/11) (1) $1/1 Reynolds Wrap Non Stick Foil, exp. 6/30/11 (SS 05/15/11) Final price: $1.14 each 2 Fab Laundry Detergent, BOGO @ – $3.99 (1) $1/2 Dynamo, Ajax, Fab or Niagara Product, exp. 8/22/11 (SS 05/22/11) Final price: $1.49 each Kraft Shredded or Chunk Cheese, 7-8oz – $2.00 (2) $1/2 Kraft Cheese Product Target printable (NLA) (4) $1/1 Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese w/ Philadelphia Final price: As low as $0.50 each 6 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Snack Crackers or Grahams – $1.00 (2) $0.35/1 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Grahams printable (4) $0.55/1 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Grahams Final price: $0.52 each 2 Emeril’s Bam! Meals, 14.5-15oz can, BOGO @ – $1.49 (1) $1/1 Any Emeril’s Product printable (Rachel Ray EveryDay June/July ’11) Final price: $0.24 each 2 Cool Whip Whipped Topping, 8oz, BOGO @ – $2.03 Final price: $1.01 each 1 Publix Sweet Cream Butter – $3.00 1 Athena Cantaloupe – $2.50 Del Monte Gold Pineapple, each – $2.00 Driscoll Strawberries, 16oz pkg – $2.00 (1) $0.50/1 Driscoll’s Berries printable Southern Blueberries – $2.50 (3) $2 off Publix Produce (NLA) Final price for 4 produce items: $2.50, or $0.63 each 1 Johnsonsville Brats or Italian Sausage – $4.00 (1) $1/1 Johnsonville Italian Sausage printable (1) $1/1 Fresh Meat Item (Publix Baby Club Mailer) Final price: $2 Pillsbury Moist Supreme Cake Mix (excludes sugar-free) – $1.00 1 Publix Cocoa Butter @ $3.49 (1) Free Publix Cocoa Butter (Publix Baby Club Mailer) Final price: FREE 1 Publix Hand Sanitizer @ $0.99 (1) Free Hand Sanitizer (Publix Baby Club Mailer) Final price: FREE 1 Publix Rubbing Alcohol @ $1.49 (1) Free Publix Rubbing Alcohol (Publix Baby Club Mailer) Final price: FREE 1 Yoplait Yogurt @ $0.75 (1) Free Yoplait Yogurt (Yoplait Mailer) Final price: FREE
Combined with my Sunday shopping trip, this week I spent $83.75 for $328.61 worth of groceries and drugstore merchandise, an average savings of 75% for the week.
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And 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, please link up your coupon savings here. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to share your shopping experiences in a comment below.
Shopping list prepared at:
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Julie June 30, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Wow, amazing! I did my first real grocery shopping trip today with the same sales and paid ~$50 for ~$120 worth of groceries. It’s all stuff I use too! Your comments about the importance of saving on items you actually use is what convinced me to take this site and couponing seriously. Thanks for all you do, very inspiring!
P.S. There’s a coupon, I’ve seen it at several Publix stores, for $2.00 off produce when you buy two bags of Lays chips. With them being BOGO this week (and with the holiday bbqs and parties this weekend/summer), I took advantage of it. Especially with all the great fruit sales! They had the coupons in a Lays display at the front of the produce section at my store.
Ruth July 2, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Great job on your first shopping trip!
Thanks for the tip about the Lays coupon.
Patricia June 30, 2011 at 11:03 pm
I was so excited for this weeks Publix ad too, the goldfish, the playtex cups, the reynolds wrap. I did two trips today. My first one was awesome, spent $19.00 saved $110.00. Then my second trip was going good until the manager said I could only use one of the Mueller’s coupons, I was like it doesn’t say one per transaction. He said because it said one per person I could only use one. I was like um I used 6 earlier today. I knew he was wrong and I know he was wrong but how can you argue with the manager?? So my transaction ended up being $10 oop instead of $3 and saved $90.00, and I didn’t get the pasta!! Makes me soo mad!! I know I should be happy that I only spent that amount but I know he was wrong about the coupon.
Ruth July 2, 2011 at 5:38 pm
The previous Mueller’s coupons said “one per person per visit,” but these ones stated “one per person per purchase.” I took that to mean you could use more than one at a time, but like you said, how can you argue with the manager? My philosophy is that it is not worth throwing a fit over something like that–better to keep a great relationship with your store! 90% savings is still awesome! Great job!
Josie July 1, 2011 at 2:19 am
Hey Ruth, long time I don’t leave a comment, just wanted to say one more time how I love your blog, I come here every week before I go for my grocery shopping, I was happy that finally we are starting to have good weeks again after a few months, I really like that you post all of your transactions and basically I copy must of them. Thank you
Ruth July 2, 2011 at 5:39 pm
You’re welcome! Thanks for the comment!
Wendy July 1, 2011 at 3:40 am
Great trip! I would love to know how you guys get more than one of the Mueller coupons…more than one FB account?
Ruth July 2, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Whenever I see a coupon that is in PDF format instead of limited print (like coupons.com), I always save it as a PDF file in my computer rather than print. That way I have access to it until it expires!
JRFrugalMom July 1, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Awesome shopping! I cannot wait to get my hands on some cheap Sabra Hummus!
I would like to invite you to link up your savings at the Weekly Savings Linky @ Frugality Is Free .
Ruth July 2, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Thanks JR!
NettynDayton July 2, 2011 at 3:52 pm
I have been reading your website and Common Sense with Money to learn how to become better at using coupons. This week I almost save 50% on a grocery trip. My best coupon buys:
Dove Soap for Men sale price 5.99 used 4.00 coupon final price: 1.99
Dove Deodorant for Men sale price 3.39 used 2.00 coupon final price 1.39
Dole Fruit Cup sale price 2.00 used .50 coupon doubled to 1.00 final price 1.00
Chi Chi Salsa sale price .99 used .55 coupon/doubled to 1.00 final cost FREE!
Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs sale price .99 used 1.00 coupon for buying 2 final cost, got one FREE!
A-1 Steak Sauce sale price 2.50 used 1.00 coupon final cost 1.50
Oscar Mayer Sandwich Como regular price 2.99 used 1.00 coupon final cost 1.99
Aunt Mille’s Bread or Buns sale price Buy one at 3.39 get 2 free used coupon .55/doubled to 1.00
I think I am starting to get the hang of this (smile) Thanks for your website!
Ruth July 2, 2011 at 5:35 pm
I think you DO have the hang of it! Great job!