Publix Take

I went shopping last night for the first time in two weeks. I spent $49.00 and saved $97.00.

I got 6 bottles of Sundown Vitamin B6 for FREE because Publix had a store coupon to save $6.00 on 2 bottles of vitamins. I also had manufacturer coupons to save $1.00 on one bottle. The vitamins were $3.49, so they were free.

I got 3 nail clippers. My husband said that I have a fetish for clippers because I buy so many. Silly man! I had to explain to him that the clippers cost $1.50 and I have this awesome store coupon that saves $2.50 off any 1 Revlon Beauty Tool. I earn $1.00 for each package of clippers that I purchase. That extra money goes towards the final balance of my grocery bill, making my final cost lower. This is why I buy the clippers. They won't go bad. I can give them away in gift packages or to the local homeless shelter.

I got 2 packs of Contact Cold and Cough medicine for FREE. I had this amazing coupon to save $7.00 when I bought 2 products of any kind from that manufacturer. I also had store coupons to save $2.00 of one box of Contac. Combined, the savings totaled $11.00. The Contact was priced at $5.39, so I actually came out with a little extra to apply to the final cost.

With that same $7.00 coupon, I got 2 boxes of Sominex. These were priced at $3.19, so again I had a bit left over.

I got 2 packs of Sudafed Cough and Cold medicine for FREE. The Sudafed was priced at $3.99. I had a store coupon to save $2.00 off one box and a manufacturer coupon to save $2.00.

I got 5 packs of Fisher's Trail Mix for free. They were on sale with the Buy 1 Get 1 Free, so they were priced under $1.00. I had 5 coupons to save $1.00 on any Fisher product.

As usual, there were many things I purchased without coupons or with minimal savings because I had to have them. I'm also in the habit of treating my husband to something sweet and there is rarely a coupon for that.

I'll be going to Kroger one day this week, but I'm not sure when.

My Kroger Event

I went to Kroger on Tuesday of this week with the express purpose of having myself a bit of robbery fun. Here is what I purchased.

I purchased 10 cans of Carnation Evaporated Milk. These were on sale for $0.49 if you bought 10 of the participating items. I had 5 coupons that would give me a $0.50 savings on 2 cans of this milk. The coupon doubled to give me a $1.00 savings. The milk was all completely FREE.

I purchased 2 pouches of Starkist Tuna at $0.99. I had 2 coupons that would give me $0.50 off any pouch of Starkist Tuna. The coupon doubled to give me a $1.00 savings. The tuna was FREE.

I purchased one can of Armour Vienna Sausage at $0.45. I had a coupon to save $0.25 on one Vienna Sausage product. The can was FREE.

I purchased 2 bottles of Herbal Essence Shampoo at $2.99 per bottle. I had 2 special coupons to get this shampoo for free. The shampoo was FREE.

I purchased 1 bottle of Country Bob's sauce at $3.29. I had a special coupon to get this for free. The sauce was FREE.

Even with all these FREE products, I still had to pay taxes. Fortunately there was coupon overages that covered a portion of my tax responsibility.

My total out of pocket expense for this trip:

THIRTEEN CENTS!!!

Double Coupons

I spoke to the manager at my local Publix store last week. We had a great discussion about getting products for free through the use of coupons and sales. I learned something, too. I used to think that doubled coupons were just something that stores would do to make themselves more inviting. I used to think that when the stores doubled those coupons, they lost money on that.

I was wrong. 

It turns out that when a store doubles the value of the coupon, the manufacturer reimburses the store for the costs of that extra value right along with the face value of the coupon.

How awesome is that?

Learning this also helped me understand why some coupons are clearly marked with "DO NOT DOUBLE" on them. I had wondered for some time why manufacturers would be concerned with whether the stores doubled the value of the coupon or not. Now I know.

Halloween Glitters

Publix Take - 10/19/09

I was without Internet for the past couple of days so this is a bit late. However, it's still in time for you to make it to your local Publix and take advantage of the deals I found.

I spent $84.00 at Publix Monday night.

I walked out of the store with $284.00 worth of groceries. I even managed to impress myself with this trip.

1) The Bird's Eye vegetables were on sale for 50% off, making them $0.90 each for some and $1.20 for others. I had several coupons that were for $0.50 off on one package of Bird's Eye veggies. That coupon doubles to save me $1.00 on those veggies. (Imagine that...hmm... stuff the buggy as full as I can for as many coupons as I have.)

I got 5 of the veggies that were $1.20 and about 30 of the others. THEY WERE ALL FREE!!! In addition to the veggies being free, I had extra money added to my total to help me save even more on other items.

2) I got my 2 FREE first aid kits by using the Save $3.00 off any 2 Johnson first aid products. The kits are only $1.47 each, so buying 2 of them is FREE!

3) I bought two boxes of Froot Loops and two boxes of Apple Jacks for $1.00 for each box. The cereal was on sale for $1.99. There was a coupon dispenser on the shelf to save $1.00 on each box. WOW!

4) Campbell's Healthy Request soups were on sale with a B1G1 Deal. With my coupons, the soup was about $0.20 per can. (I don't have my receipt in front of me, so I can't tell you the exact amount right off the top of my head.)

5) I got 5 packs of Yakisaba pasta (like Ramen Noodles) for FREE! The pasta costs $0.79 a pack. I had a coupon to save $0.50. The coupon doubles to save $1.00. --- FREE!

6) Ooh... The Maybeline Mascara was on sale for 40% off. I had a coupon to save $1.00 plus the store coupon to save $2.00 off any Maybeline Mascara. I got a new tube of mascara for $0.20.

7) I also purchased 4 eye shadows and 1 eyeliner. Those were FREE! I had a coupon to save $1.00 off any eyeshadow plus the store coupon for $2.00 off any Maybeline product. The eye shadows were $2.99 and the eyeliner was $2.49. With my coupons, it was all FREE!

8) I got two boxes of Children's Tylenol Chewables for $0.55 each. I had a coupon for $3.00 off when you buy 2 Children's Tylenol products. Plus there was a store coupon to save $2.00 off any one Children's Tylenol product. Using 2 of the store coupons plus 1 of the manufacturer's coupons saved me $7.00. The Tylenol was $4.09 per box. I was very pleased, because Tylenol is something we use a lot of around here.

At the end of the trip, I saved $199.00 and filled my freezer with free veggies. I even bought the Velveeta Mac & Cheese without a coupon and splurged on a pack of Reese's Klondike bars for my husband. I made MOM OF THE YEAR with the mac & cheese and WIFE OF THE YEAR with the ice cream and the super savings.

Date Night With Daddy - 2009

Time is ticking away.

The counter has begun.

The contest will begin shortly.

Do you want to win free stuff?

Are you ready?

Well, well, well - do I have the spot for you.

Visit The Art and Science of Parenting on Friday evening. I will be posting details regarding my next give away contest right here.

**If you want to be a sponsor, just send me an email at aandsparenting@gmail.com or leave me a comment below.**

Coupon Day

Today is newspaper / coupon day. I bought my five papers and searched through them to pull out all the coupon insert. This week, the Parade magazine has a coupon in it for Uncle Ben's Rice.

I never got around to going shopping last week. I also never finished clipping all my coupons from last week. I have a whole stack of coupons that need to be cut and organized. I'm also sorting out sets of coupons to mail out to my coupon customers. I generally try to do these tasks together because it makes life a whole lot easier for me.

Go out today and buy your coupons. Get ready for some great deals. As the holidays get closer, the sales will get better and better. Be ready with your coupons...