AuburnChick's Adventures

Oh, you guys, I am really doing the happy dance right now!

It’s all because of money…money that I DIDN’T spend!

Wanna see what came home with me during today’s excursion?

Now, first of all, one thing is missing from the photo.  Imagine another package of Bounty napkins.  I forgot that I had set it down on the dryer when I walked in the house.  I think my hands were full, and I was trying not to trip over the dogs.

Ok…let’s talk numbers first.  See, I’m not going to make you wait for totals this time because I want you to be so excited that you read how I did it.

After the cashier took my coupons off of my bill, I had saved $99.98.

However, this afternoon, while writing this blog post, I found three coupons that I had not pulled out of my purse this morning.  I mean, they were in the pile, but I had a few coupons that I wound up not using, and these got mixed in with them.

So, I trotted my little aggravated behind back to the store.  It was worth it when I got back $3.39.

One of my friends saw and acknowledged me, but I didn’t hear her because, in her words, I looked like I was in deep discussion with the manager.

I was.  Anytime “you” have “my” money, I’m gonna get it back.

So, with the rest of my “change” back in my pocket, my savings totaled $103.37!!

No, you did not misread that.  That’s more than $100 off of my bill!

I only spent $42.96

My bill would have been $146.33 if I had not combined store savings with coupons.

So, I saved 71% today!!

Now, let’s look at how I did this.

General Mills Cereal – B1G1 @ $3.99
Used:  $.50 mfg AND $1 Target coupons (one set per box)
Spent:  $.50 per box

TGI Friday’s Frozen Snacks – B1G1 @ $3.59
Used:  $1 mfg AND $2 Publix coupons from the Toss for Cash booklet (one set per box)
Spent:  NOTHING! This was a MONEYMAKER of $1.20 per box!!  And I bought six!!!!

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel – B1G1 @ $2.49
Used:  $2 mfg coupons (one per box)
Spent:  $.25 per box

Lender’s Bagels – B1G1 @ $2.15
Used:  $.50 mfg (from All You Maagazine, but I only had one for all four bags) AND $.75 Publix coupons from the Toss for Cash booklet
Spent:  $.20 per bag

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest – B1G1 @ $1.79
Used:  $1/2 mfg coupons (one per set)
Spent:  $.40 per box

Old El Paso Dinner Kit – B1G1 @ $3.03
Used:  $.60/2 mfg coupon
Spent:  $1.22 per box

Old El Paso Seasoning Mix – @ $1.19 (not on sale)
Used:  Buy 2 Old El Paso Dinner Kits, get a Season Mix Free (up to $1.09)
Spent:  $.19

All Detergent – B1G1 @ $5.99
Used:  $1 mfg coupons (one per bottle)
Spent:  $2 per bottle

Philadephia Cream Cheese @ $1
Used:  $1 mfg coupons from the Publix Grape Magazine
Spent:  NOTHING!

Kraft Shredded Cheese @ $3.49
Used:  $1/2 mfg coupon
Spent:  $1.25 per bag

Green Giant Frozen Vegetables @ $1
Used:  $.50 mfg coupons
Spent:  $.50 per box

Healthy Choice Steamers @ $2.50
Used:  $2 mfg coupon
Spent:  $.50

Progresso Soup @ $1.25
Used:  $1.10/3 mfg coupon
Spent:  $.88 per can

Skintimate Shave Gel @ $1.66
Used:  $1 mfg coupon
Spent:  $.66

Bounty Napkins @ $2.99
Used:  $.25 mfg coupons and $1 Publix coupon (repeated for each package)
Spent:  $1.74 per package

Charmin Toilet Paper @ $6.15 (not on sale)
Used:  $.25 mfg AND $.55 Publix coupons
Spent:  $5.35

Bounty Paper Towels @ $2.05 (not on sale)
Used:  Buy 3 particular items (this is why I bought two packages of napkins and the Charmin), get one roll of paper towels free
Spent:  NOTHING!

I also bought milk and meat, which were not on sale and for which I did not have a coupons.

And that was my shopping at Publix today!

I am excited because I broke the $100 ceiling.  I mean, after the first total, I was like, “C’mon…another $.02 and I would have been there.”  But after those three coupons and a price adjustment of something that did not ring up correctly, I did it!

Fridays are always good.  Saving so much money made it even better!

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: couponing, grocery shopping, publix, Saving Money | 6 Comments »

Oh you guys…I had a fantastic day!

First, I got to sub for my favorite teacher.

Picture this…a clean classroom with lime green walls.

It sounds a little strange (the green walls, I mean), but it’s really quite eye-catching and endearing.

My students were attentive as we listened to The Scarlett Ibis.  It’s a short story that takes you through a range of emotions.

Then, coupons in hand, I went shopping!!

Woo Hoo!

I just HAVE to share the deals I got today!

First was Publix…

Ragu – $1.29
Used:  $.55 mfg AND $.75/2 Target coupon
Spent:  $.37 per jar

Popsicles – B1G1 @ $3.99
Used:  $1 mfg AND $.75 Target coupons
Spent:  $.25 per box

Ball Park Franks – B1G1 @ $4.09
Used:  $1 mfg
Spent:  $1.55 per pkg

Sara Lee Hamburger Buns – $3.19 (not on sale)
Used:  Buy 2 Ball Park Franks get Sara Lee Buns FREE
Spent:  NOTHING!  FREE item!!

Ritz Crackerfuls – 2/$4
Used:  $1 mfg AND $1 Harveys coupon
Spent:  NOTHING!  FREE items!!

Publix Reusable Bag – $.99
Used:  $.99 coupon
Spent:  NOTHING!  FREE item!

Grand Total Spent:  $4.31
Total Saved:  $32.84
Percent Saved:  87%

Then, I went to Target…

A shout-out to my mother-in-law, who came across more coupons and passed them along!

Chef Michael’s Dry Food – $4.26
Used:  $3 mfg AND $1.50 Target coupon
Spent:  NOTHING! This was a MONEYMAKER of $.24!!!

Chef Michael’s Wet Food – $.84
Used:  B1G1 mfg AND B1G1 Target coupon (the Target coupon actually took off $1 – go figure)
Spent:  NOTHING!!! Both cans were FREE!

I bought a little something extra to get the total over 0 because the store’s system won’t allow negative amounts.

Grand Total Spent:  $1.23
Total Saved:  $6.67
Percentage Saved:  84%  (this is misleading only because of the extra item I purchased)

After running to Target, I spoke to my mother-in-law, who mentioned another deal at Publix, so back I went since my ads run Wednesdays through Tuesdays (this was the last day)…

Publix recently put out Toss for Cash coupon booklets.

The coupons inside are STORE coupons, which means that you can stack mfg coupons with them.

The one I was interested in was the $3 when you buy 1 40oz Heinz Ketchup AND 2 Ore Ida Tater Tots or Fries.

This week, the ketchup is on sale 2/$4…a GREAT deal on its own.

My mother-in-law had figured out that by purchasing the smallest box of fries ($1.13), she could get the threesome for $1.26.

Good deal, eh?  Especially when you consider that the ketchup is regularly $4.58.

This was right up my alley because the Mr. had specifically requested this brand of ketchup.  I’ll use whatever is cheapest for cooking, but it’s gotta be Heinz for hamburgers, hot dogs, and fries.  Trust me…we’ve done blindfolded taste tests before.

Anyhoo…

Before I left home, I googled for mfg coupons for both products but came up empty.

I figured it was a great deal without additional coupons, so off I went.

I got to the freezer section, and what did I find?

A blinkie (a machine that spits out coupons)…suctioned to the glass door.

What was in the blinkie?

Mfg coupons for Ore Ida fries.

No kidding.

The coupons were $1/4.

Before leaving home, I had clipped four Publix coupons, so I had already planned on purchasing eight boxes of fries.

This coupon saved me an additional $.50 per “threesome,” taking my total from $1.26 to $.76.

Yeah.

I felt like I’d won the Lotto.

Ok…maybe not quite as good as that but pretty darned close.

I HAD to call my mother-in-law on the spot.

She was astounded because she had visited two Publix stores today and never saw the blinkies.

Grand Total Spent:  $3.04
Total Savings:  $19.56
Percentage Saved:  87%

Total for the Day:  $8.56

Guess what we’re having for dinner?

Hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, and corn on the cob.  If you only include what I bought today, I’ll be feeding my family dinner and lunch for a few days for less than $10.

Oh, and the dogs?

They’re eating Filet Mignon.

Living like royalty, I say.

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: couponing, grocery shopping, publix, Saving Money | 1 Comment »