So this has been a busy week for me! Getting out of the house today and doing my weekly Publix shopping trip was a nice break from working on the website. 🙂 I did actually have a coupon issue today at my Publix. To the point where I talked to the manager who said that while they would put the coupons through, they shouldn’t… The crazy thing is that I have done this type of transaction multiple times. When I was leaving Publix today I talked to one of the customer service staff that I always talk to and she said it was a “gray area” of couponing.. Of course I know all about gray areas – especially since Publix doesn’t have a written coupon policy.. All of you email me about “gray” areas of Publix policies on a daily, sometimes hourly basis. But, I always want to err on the side of caution. I don’t want to break rules or even remotely get close to breaking the rules. So I am not going to include the specific coupons (yes there were two gray area issues) in question in this scenarios below. I have put a call into corporate because I want to see what they say about it. Corporate has already called me back and I am now waiting to hear from the District Manager. I know that other reputable websites (emphasis on reputable) say that this specific type of transaction is acceptable. So, either my store is “stricter” than others or my store is misinformed. Either way, I am starting to reevaluate how I run Addicted to Saving. Because here is the thing, my Publix allows certain things that other Publix locations do not allow. And vice versa. And, I don’t want any of you to think that because I am able to do certain things at my Publix it should be allowed everywhere…. SO – all this to say – going forward, I will continue to post my Photo Show and Tell and tell you what I spent and saved and what coupons I used. But, for the matchups, I am going to be a bit less specific for the “gray area” deals. I don’t want you to confuse a specific deal with being 100% acceptable when in actuality it is only acceptable at certain stores with certain managers.. Does that make sense? Did I lose all of you? 🙂
Back to my deals though.. I was so excited to score Athenos Greek Yogurt for $0.20 each and Polly-O Mozzarella for $0.69. AND – I did awesome on the U by Kotex and Kleenex! The best part is I purchased $35.00 worth of Kimberly-Clark or Mead Johnson products per the Start Your Year Out with Big Savings booklet so I will get a $10.00 Publix Gift Card in the mail! (After I send in the Publix Gift Card rebate form).
The items I purchased today coincide with this week’s Publix Weekly ad. To see this week’s ad & coupon matchups, go HERE.
If you are new to saving money at Publix, read my Intro to Publix post!
**NOTE**
1) My Publix allows us to use more than one of the samePublix store coupon and/or competitor coupon. Not all Publix locations allow this. You should ask customer service if they allow this before loading up your cart.
2) Not all Publix locations allow overage. If your Publix does not allow overage, they will usually adjust the value of the coupon down so that you receive the item for free.
Here is what I bought – I made two different trips because I had one $5 off $30 Winn Dixie coupon and one $10 off $50 Winn Dixie coupon and I wanted to use both.:
1 Polly-O Ricotta Cheese 32 oz reg price $3.99
Minus one $1.00/Any 1 Polly-O mozzarella chunk, 8-16 oz or Ricotta, 32 oz Publix Yellow Advantage Flyer
Minus one $1.00/1 Polly-O Mozzarella or Ricotta Cheese Products
Total Due: $1.99
1 Polly-O Mozarella 8 oz reg price $2.69
Minus one $1.00/Any 1 Polly-O mozzarella chunk, 8-16 oz or Ricotta, 32 oz Publix Yellow Advantage Flyer
Minus one $1.00/1 Polly-O Mozzarella or Ricotta Cheese Products
Total Due: $0.69
2 Athenos Yogurt on sale 5/$6.00
Minus two $1/1 Athenos Feta, Hummus, Pita Chip or Yogurt
Total Due: $0.40 or $0.20 each
4 Kleenex Facial Tissues on sale $1.97 each
Minus one $0.50/3 Kleenex Facial Tissue 1/2/2011 SS Insert (exp 2/27/2011)
Minus two $2.00/2 packages of Kleenex facial tissues (72-260 ct.)Publix Store Coupon Start Your Year Out with Savings
Total Due: $3.38 or $0.84 each
4 U by Kotex Tampons on sale 2/$7.00
Minus two $2.50/2 U by Kotex Tampons
Minus four $2.00/1 Kotex Product or U By Kotex Product Publix Store Coupon – Start Your Year Out with Big Savings booklet OR Green Advantage Flyer OR Gasparilla Booklet
Total Due: $1.00 or $0.25 each
4 U by Kotex Pads on sale 2/$7.00
Minus two $2.50/2 U by Kotex Pads
Minus four $2.00/1 Kotex Product or U By Kotex Product Publix Store Coupon – Start Your Year Out with Big Savings booklet OR Green Advantage Flyer OR Gasparilla Booklet
Total Due: $1.00 or $0.25 each
4 State Fair Corn Dogs on sale BOGO $3.29 for two
Minus four $1.00/1 State Fair Products
Total Due: $2.58 or $0.65 each
2 Margaritaville Shrimp on sale BOGO $7.99 for two
Minus two $1.00/1 Margaritaville seafood products
Total Due: $5.99 or $2.99 each
2 packages Ground Turkey
Total Due: $6.47
1 Bag Red Grapes on sale $1.69/lb
Total Due: $3.58
2 Breakstone Sour Cream on sale BOGO $1.50 for two
Minus two $0.55/1 Breakstone’s Sour Cream 1/23/2011 SS Insert (exp 2/28/2011)
Total Due: $0.40 or $0.20 each
2 Mount Olive Pickles on sale BOGO $2.47 for two
Minus two $0.50/1 M. Olive Pickles, Peppers or Relish 1/30/2011 SS Insert (exp 4/2/2011)
Total Due: $1.47 or $0.74 each
4 Krusteax Muffin Mix on sale BOGO $2.59 for two
Minus four $0.50/1 Krusteaz Muffin Mix 12/5/2010 SS Insert (exp 2/28/2011)
Total Due: $3.18 or $0.80 each
4 Knorr Rice Sides on sale BOGO $1.49 for two
Minus two $0.50/2 Knorr Rice and Pasta Sides 1/30/2011 RP Insert (exp 2/27/2011)
Total Due: $1.98 or $0.50 each
2 Kikkoman Soy Sauce reg price $1.39
Minus one B1G1 Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce
Total Due: $1.39 or $0.70 each
6 Rotel Tomatos on sale BOGO $1.39 for two
Minus two .75¢/Any 3 Ro-Tel diced tomatoes, 10 oz Publix Store CouponYellow Advantage Flyer
Minus six $0.25/1 Rotel Diced Tomatoes 1/23/2011 SS Insert (exp 3/13/2011)
Total Due: $1.17 or $0.19 each
4 Sominex regular price $3.19 each
Minus four $2/1 Sominex
Minus two $5.00/Any 2 Mix or Match: Os-Cal, Citrucel, Ecotrin, Feosol, Geritol, Tagamet, Debrox, Vivarin, Gaviscon, Phazyme, Sominex, Gly-Oxide or Contac Publix Green Advantage Flyer
Total Due: FREE plus $5.24 overage
4 Maalox reg price $4.99 each
Minus four $5/1 Maalox 1/9/2011 SS Insert (exp 3/1/2011)
Total Due: FREE
Minus one $5 off when you spend $30+ Winn Dixie Coupon
Minus one $10 off when you spend $50+ Winn Dixie Coupon
Total Spent: $16.43 (incl tax) Total Saved: $149.35 Percentage Saved: 90%
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Also –Attention Bloggers -at the bottom of this post is a place for you to link up your deals! So, make sure you leave a link to your shopping trip successes this week. I am looking for your personal deals not a list of store sales/coupon matchups! And, make sure this is a direct link to your deals post – I will remove links that go directly to your home page. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to leave a comment on this post letting us know how you did shopping this week!
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..
You did great – I find if I shop they give me a much harder time about the “gray area” coupons but when my husband does (far more often than I do) they take anything he gives them and never question a single thing…he also tends to shop after 9 p.m. during the week and I think the cashiers may just be tired and don’t care at that point 🙂
We tend to shop on Mon-Wed nights so you are always way ahead of us….
Great shopping trip. I like to go to the young cashiers rather than older cashiers especially female.
Seem to have a easier trip with coupons.
Some brand name stores they seem to look at all trying to find a problem.
Could you explain, hypothetically, what “gray area” deals might look like? I just wanted to know so I can either avoid them or be prepared if I try to use them! Thanks!
I would like an example as well.
Thanks!
I agree. In fact, I wish you would continue to post exactly what you buy and then indicate on the post if it is a so-called “grey area.” That way we can decide whether we feel comfortable with it or not.
Great job! you did a lot better than i did.
LIZA,
You can also Submit your receipt for a $10 gift card from the “Start Your Year Out With Big Savings” Booklet.
If you don’t have one – contact me and I can send one to you. Purchase of $35 worth of certain items must be made between 1/10/11 and 2/13/11. It has to be postmarked by 2/21.
The items are Huggies, kleenex, cottonelle, viva, scott, kotex, u kotex, poise, depend and enfamil.
🙂 Also, great job on the news & Thank you for al the great deals you help me score!!!
🙂 Christina
Hi Christina! Thanks so much for the offer! I bought the four boxes of Kleenex to insure that I spent $35. A friend gave me the booklet so I have the rebate form. I so appreciate your offer though! Take care 🙂
Liza, the new store manager called me after I e-mailed corporate and basically gave me the run around. He said one thing one minute and backed off the next. I was specifically asking about a bogo and using a store coupon and a manufacture coupon on each item. He said something different every other sentence. I gave up and figured he had not really made a decision about what he was going to do in his store. he did admit there was no “corporate policy” i will just continue to shop at a different Publix until they straighten this out.I want to follow the rules but it is hard to do when the rules change from store to store.
Good job Liza, sorry to hear about your dilemma I know exactly how you feel. Thanks for sharing. Hey the U by Kotex, I didn’t see them on sale at my store (i didn’t ask either) is that advertised anywhere?
Hi Yani! I didn’t see the U by Kotex in any ads (to my knowledge).. it is definitely not in the weekly ad.. My store had them marked as 2/$7… Good luck finding the sale – I hope you find it! 🙂
Thanks!
They are not on sale at 2/$7 in mu store (32765)either.
Lucky you!! reg. price hre 4.79 each. 🙁
I also would like to hear more about the issues you had. I personnaly hope that you continue your show and tell posts as you always have because I think it is everyone’s personal responsibility to find out for themselves what their store allows, especially since Publix’s policy is different from store to store and you make that fact clear to your readers on a regular basis.
Hi Marykay! Thanks for the comment – don’t worry – I won’t stop doing Photo Show and Tells.. I just worry because not everyone is as savvy with couponing that goes on my site and I don’t want people to think that they can do every deal that I do (and vice versa). 🙂
I hope you still post everything so we don’t miss something. Please!
I had an issue with my coupons this week as well. I had two different orders and wanted to use a $5 off $30 on each. They wouldn’t let me and would not let me use my register reward. I am doing another trip and going to my more coupon friendly store. I do not copy coupons and only do what is reasonable. Very frustrating when they treat me like a criminal.
Walgreens register rewards are MFQ and they should just scan them even if they dont accept walgreens coupons as its only their logo on it.
Hi JJ – not all Publix locations accept RRs even though they are MFQ… In fact, most don’t. So, if yours accepts them know that you are lucky! 🙂
I’ve only been couponing for almost 6 months. I try to find young guys for my cashiers. They don’t seem to care too much; but I always avoid older ladies. I don’t blog, so I don’t know how to submit a link, but Thur I made two trips to use the 2 $10 gift card when you buy $50 coupons. First trip totaled about $100, used $5 Winn Dixie coupon, spent $5 and change, received $10 gift card. Second trip, total was about $85. Cashier applied $10 off, $5 Winn-Dixie coupon. Total was $3.91. Used gift card from first trip, walked out with money still left on gift card. So does that mean I got $185 of food for free? It does not even phase my husband anymore.
Liza, there is a $1/1 Margaritaville Seafood item in the Sweetbay coupon booklet matched with $1/1 printable making them $3.99 for two 🙂 Also there is a $1/1 Krusteaz cookie mix in the 12/5 SS making them super cheap 🙂
The Publix store I went to two times this week told me 2 different things about the green advantage coupons. One day customer service said that I could only use one green advantage coupon per product, and today, customer service told me I could use 4 green advantage coupons per product. It’s very confusing.
Thank you for doing all this work to help everyone save money.
Lately, everytime I go into Publix they have new rules. Very annoying!
Liza,
I too would like for you to list the deal even if it may be a little “gray” at some stores. Several REPUTABLE sites do that…they just put (if your store allows) or ymmv (your mileage may vary). I also try to be completely honest when I coupon and my store employees know that and respect me for it. Your site is a helpful tool to many and no one is going to hold you responsible for a deal that goes sour.
When I did the rotel deal yesterday…my cashier did look at my rotel q’s a couple of times because I bought 8 and used 2 b3g1 with 3 .25/1 mq and 2 .75/3 publix q’s. I think he was questioning the b3g1 and the .25/1 manu q’s being used together. Sometimes I think cashiers get confused that a manufacturer doesn’t mind if you also use a manu coupon for the one you are buying in order to get one free. I believe in actuality I could have used 3 more .25/1 manu q’s but I just didn’t have them.
Couponing rules are certainly confusing sometimes and the truth is that most store employees don’t undertstand them…even customer service managers. I had one tell me last week “I really don’t understand coupons and I really hate counting them at night”.
Obviously, she is one of my favorites…LOL. Keep up the great work and “SHOW ME THE COUPONS!” haha
I had problems with my local Publix for the first time in a long time, I hope it is a one-time issue, so I don’t have to start shopping at another Publix. Luckily we have several in the area, but only one that takes Target coupons.
I would like to invite you to link up your savings at the Weekly Savings Linky @ Frugality Is Free , you can win a free ad space too!
You have enough Maalox for the state of Florida! 🙂
As far as Publix goes, I think we all know we are on our own and luck of the draw. Some cashiers want to hold each coupon up to infrared light – and some will accept coupons from Norway and Asia minor.
If I have a GRAY area, I will ask them WAY before check out and make sure I get the clerk who said “But of course.” My best clerk is the distracted clerk talking about her cheating boyfriend to a bagger. Everything slides! 🙂
Just to let everyone know I went to a different Publix today and had no problem with stacking a manufacture’s coupon on top of a store coupon on a BOGO. Although the guy who rang me up was careful to examine EACH coupon and match it with the item. Which is fine by me as I do not want them to get in trouble.I think all the publicity with the news shows has gotten us this attention. I keep having cashiers ask where did you prit that one. thanks to your web site I can point them to it so they can see for themselves where I got it and know they are legitimate.
Can you explain about the $5 off of $30 or $10 off of $50. If I purchase $30 or $50 worth of product but I have coupons and it brings it to say around $20 am I still able to use the $5 or $10 off coupon?
What’s usually done (at least to my knowledge) is that you put the $5 off coupon (or whatever you have) on the top of the stack of coupons. That way it’s taken off before the rest of your coupons when your total is at least $50 (or whatever the minimum is).
Wow..I have learned so much from your site already. My goal is to save like you do, but I’m still pretty happy..saved $83.12 at Publix today using coupons and tips I found here yesterday..thanks for a great start to my new “hobby”, and thanks to all the ladies who comment here..learning alot from you guys too 🙂
Hi there. Liza or anyone else that can help. I need the LU# for the Kleenex. My Publix did not seem to find this booklet (Start Your Year Out with Savings). But if I have that number they will give it me. They are so nice and take all cpns. Thank you so much for your help.
I had teh same issue the other day, so I told them to void the transaction because I did not want to buy everything but one be able to use 1 publix coupon and 1 manufacture coupon. They have changed teh verbage on teh coupons. And then depending on who you get is how they intrupt the language. I went back the next day got a different cashier same type transaction just different products – and nothing was said and she did not question anything. so it is all depending on who get get. I knew right away the first one I was going to have issues with cause she had a mean person ahead of me – who did not have coupons but food stamps and was rude about her not taking things for the food stamps that she should not have. Even with the manager there with my transaction – she was telling them things they were putting thru they shouldnt, and they said yes this does count. They did process the transaction but “not again”.
Both my sister and myself had problems at Publix this morning!! Are you local to the Largo/Clearwater area? I wonder if we went to the same Publix! I hope this doesn’t keep up, we’ve also done transactions like this a million times.
Hi Brianne – I am a bit north of you so we shop at different stores 🙂
Liza…keep up the excellent work. I save on average 50% off my total bill..sometimes lots more! The “extreme coupon” thing has gotten alot of press lately causing more intense looks at the stores, but…when u got it…u got it! All savings are great savings so let’s keep clipping!!!!
This is my favorite section of your website! I look forward to seeing what deals you score every week. And the photo is great b/c sometimes I spot things that I overlooked in the list!!