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