So last week Liza promised a guest blogger to do her weekly Publix Photo Show and Tell, and I must confess, I was more nervous to go shopping today than I have ever been in my life…and I’m her husband! Yes, her special guest blogger is her hubby, and when your wife knows how to seriously get it done at any store she walks into, this task was a bit daunting (especially coming off of her 9 cents before tax Publix run last week). I know what you’re thinking – how can you be nervous, you see her do this every week? True, but it’s kind of like when you bump into an old acquaintance at your kid’s piano recital and you both talk about how you should get together one of these days but instead you go about your merry ways because some things are more fun to talk about than to actually do. Talking about how much you can save and actually doing it are totally different, even when your wife IS a professional savings blogger.
Nonetheless, I decided to take on the challenge, man up, and prove to reluctant and spineless men everywhere that couponing is a piece of cake! Please note that I did not consult Liza, but simply went to her Publix weekly ad, looked for anything in RED b/c I know those are the good deals, made my list and headed out! (Confession – she did make me cut the Hunt’s Tomatoes coupons knowing full well I would’ve gladly left them uncut). Because we have a sufficient stockpile, I knew there was nothing pressing that we needed, so keep that in mind too.
Now I know why you need a list – weak sales items that you really want are so tempting (Parmesan cheese, I just couldn’t buy you without a coupon)! But seeing as I’m a sugar-a-holic, I purchased the Publix sugar 5 lb bag (best value) without a trace of guilt and will gladly enjoy it in tomorrow’s coffee. The best part about the trip? Totino’s pizzas for $0.83 a pizza! Yes, Liza tells me the sauce tastes like ketchup – which is ironic since I don’t like tomatoes – but since when did your husband do anything that made any sense?
You’ll notice I splurged on the Luigi’s Italian Ice (with no coupon), but it’s a BOGO and quite frankly, I thought my wife, who’s been laid up in bed for 24 hours with a sore throat, might enjoy the cool, soothing deliciousness of such a fun treat!
I know I didn’t save as much as Liza does (or as much as many of you do), but I actually had a blast in my first Publix coupon run! We got cheap fresh veggies, yummy Planters for less than two quarters, inexpensive gum (and I’m a freak about my breath), and that really cool Resolve that lets you wipe the stick over a stain and you don’t have to wash for 7 days – how neat is that!
Thanks for letting me be a guest blogger – you all have blessed her so much with your comments, meaning you’ve blessed me indirectly in the process. (And FYI, it is a LOT of work to post these…wow).
And let this be proof that men really can coupon, so don’t let ’em fool you ladies! 😉 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 Liza’s Intro to Publix post!
6 Totinos on sale $10/10
Minus two $.50/3 Totino’s Crisp Crust Party Pizza Products, 9/12/2010 GM Insert (exp 12/4/2010)
Total Due: $5.00 or $0.83 each
2 Luigi’s Italian Ice on sale B1G1 $2.99 for 2
No coupons (the horror!)
Total Due: $2.99 or $1.50 each
2 Trident 3-pack regularly priced $2.49 each
Minus two $2/1 Trident, Dentyne or Stride Gum 3-pk bags, 8/8/10 SS Insert
Total Due: $0.98 or $0.49 each
2 Packages Yellow Squash on sale $.99/lb
Total Due: $2.88
2 Packages Squash Zucchini on sale $.99/lb
Total Due: $3.48
6 Planters Honey Roasted and/or Lightly Salted B1G1 $2.71 for 2
Minus six $1/1 Planters Product, Any (print limit may be reached?)
Total Due: $2.13 or $0.36 each
6 Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals, 16 oz B1G1 $3.45 for 2
Minus six $2.00/1 Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals Dressing (exp 11/2/2010)
Total Due: FREE plus $0.55 overage
6 Hunt’s Petite Diced Tomatoes, 14.5 oz B1G1 $1.39 for 2
Minus two $0.45/3 Hunt’s Canned Tomatoes 10/3/2010 SS Insert (exp 11/14/2010)
Minus two $1/3 Hunt’s Tomatoes PUBLIX coupon Home Tailgate Playbook 9/14/2010 (exp 10/14/2010)
Total Due: $0.21 each
2 Nivea Lip Care 17 oz package on sale $3 for 2
Minus two $1/1 Nivea Lip Care 10/3/2010 RP Insert (exp 11/3/2010)
Total Due: $1.00 or $.50 each
1 Publix Brand Pure Granulated Sugar, 5 lb regularly priced $2.69
Total Due: $2.69
2 Sundown Vitamins, Vitamin D regularly priced at $2.99 & Folic Acid reg. priced at $3.79
Minus one $6.00/2 Sundown Vitamins Publix Store Green Advantage Flyer
Minus one $3.00/2 Sundown Vitamins manufacturer printable
Total Due: FREE plus $2.22 overage
2 Resolve Power Stain Sticks on sale B1G1 $2.99 for 2
Minus two $0.75/1 Resolve Laundry Stain Remover Product
Total Due: $1.50 or $0.75 each
Total Due: $100.37 (including tax), Total Spent: $20.92, Percentage Saved: 79.2%
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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 – I will remove links that go directly to your home page
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..
Congrats!!! Even though it’s not .09 cents, spending 20 from 100 is GREAT! 😀
awww that is so sweat…I hope she feels better. I know that Italian ice will make her feel better. I am buying that as well, yes w/o cpns AAAAAAA!!!!
You did a great job and we r proud of you.
Great job for a newbie! Liza has taught you well! Hurry up and get better soon Liza – we miss you!
Great job!! Hope Liza is feeling better soon 🙂
How fun, you did a great job!! Fun guest post.
I’m showing this to my husband. Maybe some of this has rubbed off on him, too!
Awesome Job! I am so making my husband read this, so he can give it a try! He gets too tempted with impulse buy though 🙂 I love your site!
Wow.. That’s great! I’m impressed!! Hmmm… Maybe I can get my hubby into couponing too!! Lol!
Jeff,
Bob and I are very proud of your hard work!!! 🙂 (Could shopping be a Guys Night Out for the both of you??? ha!ha!)
Liza, we hope you feel better soon!!!
Thanks guys! Yeah, I’m not opposed at all to a boys’ night out at Publix! Can we use the savings the next day on golf??? 😉
You can definitely use the savings for golf…and maybe a nice date night with the wives afterwards?? 🙂
On the trident coupon it says ” $2 on any 3 trident,dentyne or stride gum 3 pack bags. I am not sure how you buy only 2?
Michelle,
You are so right about that! Totally innocent mistake though. Buying the gum was the hardest part about the trip, b/c I couldn’t find the deal that was on my list, and the coupon language was confusing me. So in my naive search for a good deal, I wrongly used the coupons. 🙁 Hope we can chalk it up to a first time couponer mistake!
That is so so cool….!
Very good idea !
I really like the idea of you taking the challenge and step up to do the shopping.
You did very very well ..and what a great example for all the men around..!
Congratulations!
I hope that Liza gets better soon !
Hats off to you !
You did a GREAT job!!!
Liza’s Husband – A friend of yours told me to check out your first savings blog posting ever. I was not disappointed. I am amazed not only by your skills at Publix, but also that you think Totino’s Pizza is edible.
Great job!
Oh I love this!!! Why not make this a regular segment (or at least every now and then)? Every now and then is more realistic, probably. Get well soon Lisa.
awesome job Jeff!! I am so proud! and I am sure Liza is too. Sometimes, I con my husband into checking out with all the coupons. it’s a nice break for me since I get all the coupons together, and put all the stuff in the buggy. it’s teamwork. and sometimes I send him on shops all by himself. and he is so amazed when he saves so much money! Thanks for being a good example to the guys out there. Lord knows they need it when it comes to shopping! lol
Ten Cents today at Publix, woohoo!
I didn’t really need anything for my weekly groceries but decided I wanted to make salad with a few of the deals. I ended up buying two Hidden Valley dressings and some onions. (The feta was not B1G1 at my publix, boo! and I couldn’t find the book needed for Hunt’s toms)
The cashier said “that’s the lowest anyone has ever paid through my line”. 😀 (It was also the fastest I ‘ve ever gone through the line since I only had three coupons, haha)
I have to add a brag on my hubby. I had an accident over 7 weeks ago that required surgery on my elbow. I can’t drive, so no shopping. I also can’t really do anything else with my arm, that includes cutting coupons. My husband has been great!! I make the list, create a plan and print what I can. He cuts things, pulls flyers, listens to the plan and does the shopping for our family of 4. He isn’t even embarrased when I have him buy 32 boxes of pasta. Today the guy behind him said “Dude, you got to teach me how to do that!” He had $180 in his cart ( including beer and ribs) and paid $40. He’s a rock star in my eyes!
We are remodleing a bathroom right now and it time to buy the tile and order the cabinets. My hubby asked me if I had any Lowe’s coupons. I took advantage of the Home Depot coupon that was availabe when you sign up for their moving stuff and saved $150 on tile and custom Kraftmaid Cabinets. Then he took me to dinner!
Janice-
I used to work at HD. Both stores have a similar policy that if you find the identical product somewhere else for less the will match the price plus take off an additional 10%! Good luck 🙂
Jeff, you did a wonderful job (actually better than most of my shopping trips!) and what a sweet heart you are for taking such good care of your wife. Hope she feels better soon!
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