Friday, April 15, 2011

Publix: No extreme couponers here!

I took a trip over to Publix to complete my Passover shopping, and I also needed Goodnites for my child.

I paid with two transactions.  In the first, I did a little trick I figured out last year, and I combined a coupon with my Flexible Savings Account to be able to get one of my Passover items for free (or, technically, my FSA account paid for it).   The other transaction was for the rest of the items.

In the aisles, I also found some great blinkie coupons (those coupons that come out of the small machines attached to the shelves).  I got some $1/2 coupons for Kraft shredded cheese w/Philly, some for 75¢ off Vlasic pickles, and $1/5 Royal gelatin or pudding coupons - those will be great to use at Walgreens, where Royal gelatin often goes on sale for 5/$1, making them free.

While the cashier rung up my items, I asked her, "Have you had any Extreme Couponers here yet?" She said, "Nope, you're the most extreme one we've had!" And believe me, I am not extreme at all... I guess that is a good thing for the other shoppers at my store!

Here's what I got:


Transaction #1:
1 Goodnites @ $10.99
- $3.00 Goodnites Publix coupon from the 4/10 Smartsource insert
= $7.99

1 Pull-ups wipes @ $4.19
- Free Pull-ups wipes when you buy Goodnites or Huggies from the Get a Bundle of Savings, Do a Bundle of Good booklet (available in-store)
= FREE

1 Osem matzo meal @ $3.19

Total products: $11.18
Tax: 48¢
Total after tax: $11.66
FSA payment: $11.65 ($10.99 + 66¢ tax)
Total out of pocket: 1¢

Transaction #2:

2 Wesson canola oil @ BOGO $4.29
- 2 40¢ Wesson coupons from the 4/3 Smartsource insert
= $3.49 for two, or $1.75 each

2 Kraft Triple Cheddar w/ Touch of Philly shredded cheese @ 3/$5.00 = $3.34  (regularly $3.79 each)
- $1/2 Kraft shredded cheese w/ Touch of Philly coupon from the 3/13 SmartSource insert
= $2.34 for two, or $1.17 each

1 Domino sugar 5 lb @ $2.99 (regularly $4.17)
-50¢ Domino sugar coupon from the 3/27 RedPlum insert
= $2.49

1 Streit's potato starch @ $3.29

1 Silver Spring horseradish @ $1.25 (regularly $1.79)

1 Planters walnut pieces @ $2.09

Total out of pocket: $14.95
Saved: $12.55

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9 comments:

Carla Jo April 15, 2011 at 6:29 PM  

I went to publix today, spend $154 and saved $110. I was getting the reactions you saw on the show. The manager even came over and congratulated me. It was kind of crazy.

Anonymous,  April 16, 2011 at 9:20 AM  

Is there a limit for wesson oil and its coupon in publix in florida?

Unknown April 16, 2011 at 10:10 AM  

As far as I know, there are no corporate limits on Wesson oil and its coupons. However, individual stores may set limits. If you're planning to buy a lot, I would call the store manager and make a special order.

Keep in mind that oil goes rancid - the bottles I bought have an expiration date of September 2012. And this isn't the best deal I've seen on cooking oil; with the coupons (and no doubling) it's $1.75 per bottle. With doubling it would be $1.35. I've seen deals for other brands of canola oil for $1.00 or less. I needed oil, so I got two, but I'll wait for a better deal to buy several bottles.

Anonymous,  April 16, 2011 at 11:47 AM  

I don't understand what the FSA means in the first transaction....is it flexible spending account and if so, can you use fsa for diapers, wipes? That would be awesome and mind blowing if true.

Unknown April 16, 2011 at 1:13 PM  

FSA does stand for Flexible Savings Account - an account you can save for out-of-pocket medical expenses. It does not cover baby diapers and wipes; check with your employer's program to see what medical devices it does cover.

Anonymous,  April 16, 2011 at 3:24 PM  

I know that the government overhauled the FSA program this year so that it can't be used for over-the-counter medications etc but when I saw on your first trans FSA I thought maybe you were able to use the flexible spending account for the items on that trans.....you must have meant something over then flexible spending acct.

Heather April 17, 2011 at 4:06 PM  

I would really like to know more about the FSA part of this transaction. My job offers it but I havent signed up. Do you have any great pointers?

J Rodney April 20, 2011 at 7:59 PM  

You did great Laura, but I did not expect anything else.

My local Publix does not have any extreme couponers besides me (and I am not that extreme).

While I love couponing, I apppreciate the fact that there are still products left on the shelves both before and after I have been there:)

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