Well… I don’t have many words for this past week. It was a great week in that I had three speaking engagements and was able to speak to and with over 150 people. It was bad because from Tuesday through today there have been website gliches that have robbed me of sleep and have taken me away from posting like I normally do. I’ve learned a lot this week though and I’ve found myself constantly reminding myself that it could always be worse. So – for those of you who have been patient with me this week as I’ve missed deals, missed matchups, not responded to emails, etc, thank you for your patience. I am hoping that starting this upcoming week, everything will go back to normal. They better because I’m looking forward to posting hundreds of deals on Black Friday and Cyber Monday! So, get excited – if you decide you want to buy your Christmas presents online this year, I’ll be throwing lots of time sensitive deals your way next weekend!
Now – to Publix. This is an AWESOME week to shop at Publix. As you can see from the picture above, I bought A TON of food. So much that when they bagged my groceries, the bagger brought a second cart to load all of my stuff. (Love it when that happens ;)) I took advantage of a ton of amazing deals but also of a lot of the great produce deals available this week. I received the $5.00 Publix Gift Card from the Kellogg’s Mail in Rebate this past summer so I used that. And, I used one of the free $25.00 American Express gift cards I received from the freebie I posted about HERE. So, after coupons and the two free gift cards, I spent $9.57. Not too shabby! That is on $207 worth of groceries! LOVE it!
**Update – I did receive a comment on Facebook regarding the fact that I used the $25 American Express gift card at a large grocery store versus a small chain. Let me address that. I used it because when I posted about receiving my cards in the mail (earlier this week), I took a picture of the cards and didn’t think about covering the gift cards # on it. I received two anonymous emails about this and I was concerned the cards had already been used by a reader.. So, I used it today because I wanted to use it asap. I guess if I really think about it, I am a small business and so while I didn’t put it towards another business, I did help my business by lowering my out of pocket expenses for this week 😉
How did you do this week shopping? I hope you were able to spend less and save more than I did! 
Please leave a comment letting everyone know how you did!
Below is what I bought and the coupons I used:
4 I Can’t Believe Its Not Butter All Purpose Sticks on sale BOGO $2.95 for two
Minus four $1.50/1 I Can’t Believe Its Not Butter All Purpose Sticks
Total Due: FREE plus $0.08 overage
2 General Mills Chex Cereal on sale BOGO $3.59 for two
Minus one $1.00/2 General Mills Chex Cereal
Total Due: $2.59 or $1.30 each **Looks like I will be making Puppy Chow Chex Mix – yummo
2 I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Tub Products on sale BOGO $2.95 for two
Minus two $1.00/1 I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Tub Products
Total Due: $0.95 or $0.48 each
1 Publix Bakery Bread on sale $2.00
Minus one FREE Bread (up to $2.00 value) wyb two I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter (print limit reached)
Total Due: FREE
2 Lays Potato Chips on sale BOGO $4.29 for two
Minus ZERO coupons(UGH.. want to know why I bought these? Hubby. He has been running most of my long training runs with me and he thinks that after those runs he needs the salt from chips. So, I splurged and bought him chips without coupons. I, on the other hand, am trying to STAY AWAY from chips. Now tell me, how nice am I? ;))
Total Due: $4.29 or $2.15 each
2 Vanity Fair Napkins on sale BOGO $2.29 for two
Minus two $0.55/1 Vanity Fair Napkins Source Date: 11/11/2011 Coupons.com (exp 12/02/2011)
Total Due: $1.19 or $0.59 each
1 Birds Eye Chef Variety on sale 50% off at $0.98
Minus one $0.50/1 Birds Eye Chef’s Favorites Variety (IE) Source Date: 10/01/2011 Bricks (exp 12/31/2050)
Total Due: $0.48
2 Marie Callender Bakes on sale BOGO $5.49 for two
2 Fresh Express Salad on sale BOGO $3.99 for two
Minus two $1.25 off one Marie Callender Bake AND one Bagged Salad BLinkie
Minus one $1/2 Marie Callender or Healthy Choice Frozen Meals, TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 12/06/2011)
Total Due: $5.98 or $1.49 each
2 Sargento Shredded Cheddar on sale BOGO $3.99 for two
Minus two $0.55/1 Sargento Shredded Cheese, 5 oz+ Source Date: 11/07/2011 Printable (exp 12/31/2050)
Total Due: $2.89 or $1.45 each
2 Rondele Cheese Spreads on sale BOGO $4.59 for two
Minus two $2.50/1 President Specialty Cheese Source Date: 11/10/2011 Great Cheese.com (exp 04/30/2012)
Total Due: FREE plus $0.41 overage
2 Bags Green Beans on sale $0.99/lb **awesome price
Total Due: $1.70
2 Yellow Squash Containers on sale $0.99/lb **awesome price
Total Due: $2.02
2 Celery on sale BOGO $1.69 for two
Total Due: $1.69
2 Sweet Onions on sale $0.99/lb
Total Due: $2.01
3 lbs+ Sweet Potatoes on sael $0.39/lb **awesome price
Total Due: $1.25
2 Minute Maid Juice 10 Pks reg price $3.07 each
Minus two $2.00/1 Minute Maid Juice Packs Printable (print limit reached)
Total Due: $2.14 or $1.07 each
4 Athenos Feta Cheese on sale BOGO $4.49 for two
Minus four $0.75/1 Athenos Feta Cheese peelies
Total Due: $5.98 or $1.50 each
2 Dixie Crystals Sugar 5 lb on sale $2.99 each
Minus two $0.75/1 Dixie Crystals Imperial Brown, Powdered, or Granulated 3.4# or larger
Total Due: $4.48 or $2.24 each
4 Dr Pepper Ten on sale BOGO $1.89 for two **this may be a regional sale
Minus two B1G1 Dr.Pepper 10, 2 liter WYB Dr. Pepper, 2 liter Publix Yellow Flyer, Happy Thanksgiving (exp 12/02/2011)
Minus four Free Dr. Pepper Ten, 2 Liter, up to $1.99 Source Date: 10/09/2011 SS Insert (exp 11/21/2011)
Total Due: FREE plus $7.56 overage
2 Gold Medal Flour on sale $1.99
Minus two $0.50/1 Gold Medal Flour printable (print limit reached – check your binders/folders)
Total Due: $2.98 or $1.49 each
2 Pam Spray on sale BOGO $2.95 for two
Minus two $0.35/1 Pam Cooking Spray Source Date: 11/13/2011 SS Insert (exp 12/31/2011)
Total Due: $2.25 or $1.13 each
3 Voskos Yogurt on sale 10/$10
Minus one $1/3 Voskos Greek Yogurt or YoGreek Source Date: 10/14/2011 Printable (exp 12/31/2050)
Minus one $1/2 Voskos Yogurt, 4.6-5.3 oz, PUBLIX Coupon Publix Family Style, Winter 2011 (exp 01/31/2012)
Total Due: $1.00 or $0.33 each
1 Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon on sale $2.50
Minus one $1/1 Oscar Mayer Bacon, 12 oz+, TARGET couon Target.com (exp 12/03/2011)
Total Due: $1.50
2 Breakstone Sour Cream on sale BOGO $2.35 for two
Minus one $1/2 Breakstone’s Sour Cream (IE) Source Date: 11/04/2011 Bricks (exp 12/31/2050)
Total Due: $1.35 or $0.68 each
2 Nabisco Triscuits on sale BOGO $2.99 for two
Minus one $1.00/2 Nabisco Crackers from a Kraft booklet I found
Total Due: $1.99 or $0.99 each
4 Ragu Sauce on sale BOGO $2.59 for two
4 Mueller Lasagne on sale BOGO $1.67 for two
Minus two B2G1 Pasta, 1 lb WYB 2 Ragu Pasta Sauces, Any, up to $1.75 RP Insert (exp 12/11/2011) (each coupon deducted $1.75)
Total Due: $5.02 or $0.63 each
4 Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce on sale $0.99 each
Minus two $1/2 Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz Printable (exp 12/31/2050)
Total Due: $1.96 or $0.49 each
10 Swanson Chicken Broth cans on sale BOGO $1.05 for two
Minus two $0.50/5 Swanson Broth Cans Source Date: 11/06/2011 SS Insert (exp 12/31/2011)
Total Due: $4.25 or $0.43 each
1 Snickers Candy Bar reg price $0.99
Minus one FREE Mars Candy Bar Coupon (received in mail)
Total Due: FREE
Driscoll Raspberries reg price $3.99
Minus one $5.00 Driscolls fruit coupon (Driscolls mailed me this when I posted a giveaway for them)
Total Due: FREE plus $1.01 overage
Minus one $5/30 Publix Coupon from the Take Your Budget by the Horns Booklet
Minus one $10/$50 Sweetbay Supermarket Coupon from Sunday’s Tampa Tribune
Minus one $5.00 Publix Gift Card (received from the Kellogg’s rebate)
Minus one $25.00 Visa Gift Card (received free during the FedEx gift card giveaway)
Total Spent: $9.57 Total Saved: $196.09 Percentage Saved: 95.3%
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Sadly, this week I’m not going to post a linky due to all of the web issues I’ve been experiencing. But, I did want to share with you what one of my favorite readers sent me! Cynthia had an AMAZING Publix shopping trip today! Check out her picture and the list of everything she bought below:
Cynthia Bought:
10 Welch’s Grape Juice
6 I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Sticks
20 Publix Yogurt (rain check)
2 Dozen eggs
8 Swanson Chicken Broth
4 Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce
3 Heinz Home Style Gravy
4 Sundown Vitamins
12 Vanity Fair Napkins
1 Birthday Card
1 Package Ground Pork
1 Package Ground Beef
2 Snap Closure Rectangular Containers
8 Uncle Ben’s Rice
4 Tubs I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter Spread
Minus countless coupons 🙂
Minus $5 off $30 Publix coupon
Minus $10 off $50 Sweetbay coupon
Minus Publix $10 gift card (mail in rebate)
Minus P & G $10 prepaid Visa (mail in rebate)
Awesome job Cynthia!!
Total out of pocket including tax $$7.73
Total saved $ 152.43
Thanks for coming to Addicted to Saving! Here’s a little bit about me so you can know who’s behind all these posts!
My name is Liza and I began my money-saving journey in the Spring of 2009 as a way to stretch a limited household income. I had lost my job and my hubby was self-employed. I launched Addicted to Saving in November of 2009 and it has grown by leaps and bounds. Since then, my hubby and I have struggled with the ups and downs of two failed adoptions and are now LOVING being parents to our little man Asher who we brought home from Ethiopia in August of 2013. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to help you save money. My goal is that you will have FUN and become empowered to save more and more money each week..
great deal on VANITY FAIR napkins and plates…. I checked with manager before doing and he said it worked!
2 pckgs Vanity Fair plates: 1.97ea (3.94)
minus one 1$/2 man Q
2 pckgs Vanity Fair napkins BOGO 2.29
minus one yellow adv store Q (which gets one free and in-store BOGO promo to get second free)
minus two .55/1 Napkins man Q
total due: 1.84 or .46 each
I actually bought 4 plates and got 4 napkins free+
I was so bummed! the manager at my publix said that the 10 off 50 sweetest coupon had to be off 50 AFTER coupons because it says after all discounts are applied! I told them that coupons are not discounts but they were having none if that. So upset cause coupons = money and in my opinion should not be considered discounts. Didn’t make too much of a thing out if it though because publix is so awesome about coupons usually
That is ridiculous! I would ask to get the number to regional or corporate or something, They seem to be cracking down. My publix wont except a 10 dollar gift card coupon with a money off order total any more:( if they didnt let me use a 10 off 50 I would walk out.
The problem with the $10 off $50 coupon is that it is worded in a manner that technically, Publix could require us to use it after coupons and sales. Sweetbay has started worded their coupons in a manner that Publix is aware of. Fortunately for me, my store let me use it before all coupons.. But I know that every store will vary as to how they treat this coupon 🙁
I would talk to the store manger because from my knowledge and what i was told is coupons are a legal form of tender not discount.
I had that same problem and I was so upset. I told the manager the same thing you did about coupons being treated as money. He even went as far as calling SweetBay and asking what they were doing. They were taking off the coupons first then using the $10 off. But because of the wording he honored the coupon.
Do you freeze your green beans? If so, do you prepare (eg. blanching) them before freezing?
I cook and freeze them. Then micro them. They’re great.
Hi Chandra! I don’t freeze them because we go through them quickly 🙂 But, I remember asking that question on Addicted to Saving about a year ago and if I recall, many readers recommended blanching first.. And, if I recall, I think some others even said that you could freeze them without cooking at all.. You might want to google it (or Swag Bucks search it) 🙂
Great trips!! Didn’t know where to comment on Liza’s trip…but there is a new publix bklet – all the trimmings that has a coupon for buy 2 sargento cheeses, get free publix eggs and also in the winter family savings bklet a coupon or dixie crystals – not sure if it matches the sale…thought I let you know. Keep up the good work! Thanks!
Thanks Maria for the heads up on this! I actually was able to find the booklet this morning (Sat am) at a different Publix. I will do my best to get the matchups up this weekend 🙂 and yes, the sugar deal is AWESOME as is the Sargento/eggs deal using the coupons in All the Trimmings!
Love the fact that you thought my pic was worthy of sharing with others! Thanks and everyone enjoy the rest of their weekend 🙂
Cynthia you did awesome! Thanks for emailing me it 🙂
So glad I checked your posts this morning – totally forgot about my $2/1 Minute Maid juice coupons! And they expire tomorrow – yikes! I’m headed out of town but sending hubby with SPECIFIC instructions to get shopping done for me – we’ll see how he does! lol
Yeah Erin! If I recall, the coupon expires today (or tomorrow)?!? So I’m glad I reminded you to use it! Keep me posted on how hubby does! 😉
On the Marie Callender’s bakes i found a great deal:
1 b2g1 free Target coupon (which actually gets you 2 free because they’re b1g1)
1 $1/2 Target coupon
4 $1/1 Marie Callender’s bakes: http://www.mariecallendersmeals.com/promotions.jsp?gclid=CLrOtYvAw6wCFRAj7AodxWVYpQ
Paid $.49 and bought 4 🙂
I was not aware you could use more than 1 store coupon for a certain amount off the total ($10/50 sweetbay and publix coupon). I am going to try that next time. Hopefully it works because I would love to save some more money!
Hi Brittany! Yup! You can use one competitor $/$$ coupon and one Publix $/$$ coupon in one transaction. Just make sure that you purchase the total dollar amount before coupons. In other words, if you have a $5/$30 Winn Dixie and a $5/$30 Publix, purchase $60 worth of groceries before using any coupons 🙂
I did a deal at Publix today…..that was a pretty good one I thought. The Marie Callenders Pies were $7.29 each, I bought 3 and a can of Reddi Whip. I had a Publix Coupon for buy 2 get 1 free, I also had a Target coupon for $1.50 off when you bought 2 pies and 1 Reddi Whip, I had another Publix coupon for buy 2 pies and get 1 Reddi Whip Free, I had .25 off Redi Whip and mfg coups for $1 off each pie….the 3 pies and 1 can of reddi whip were $23.87, after all my coupons, I got 3 pies (and these are big nice pies) and 1 can of Reddi Whip for $9.83! Not too bad I didn’t think. I was a bit surprised they let me use all those store coupons, but really, each one was a bit different.
I did the same thing at my Publix in PP with no problem. I did get 2 cans of Reddi-whip because I have a large family for Thanksgiving dinner. 3 pies and 2 cans for under $12 is great.
It was a great week for me too! Spent $55 with a savings of $92!!! This is my best trip yet and some of my favorite items were on sale!! Thank you for all you do, my trip would not have been as successful without you!
*Although I did encounter some cleared shelves on the vanity fair napkins and Rondele. 🙁
Great job Rachel! I shopped Friday late afternoon and I noticed that many items I was purchasing were extremely depleted. I think this week is a pretty awesome sales week so shelf clearing is inevitable 🙁 Don’t forget, though, that Publix does give rain checks!
I can’t find the free Dr. Pepper 10 coupons that are supposed to be in the 10/9 SS. I have two inserts from St. Pete Times and 3 inserts from Bradenton Herald. Am I missing something? Please help if you can.
These were a regional coupon and not all the SS inserts had them and all the coupon clipping sites were sold out of them the very same morning.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for your help. That does make me feel better.
300.00 would help pay for the ipods my kids have put on there xmas list