Fun and Frugal

I went to two Publix stores (East Brainerd and Ooltewah) kind of as an experiment to see what store coupons they had and how my coupons would be processed.  The E. Brainerd store didn’t have the Healthy Meals Healthy Kids coupon booklet (which allows you to get Smuckers Uncrustables for $.45 when you stack w/a manufacturer coupon right now!)  but to my surprise the Ooltewah store did have the booklet.  (Both stores keep store coupons behind the customer service desk counter and must be requested.)  My conclusion on coupon processing was (as usual unfortunately) that it all depends on the cashier you get.  For example, at each store, I purchased 1 package of Huggies GoodNites and gave the cashier 3 coupons: a $3 store coupon; a $1.50 competitor (Food Lion) coupon; and a $1.00  manufacturer coupon.  The cashier at E. Brainerd said I could not use all 3 and called a manger over to verify that.  While we were waiting the girl bagging my groceries stated, “I guess I’ve been doing it wrong all along because I always let people use all three coupons.”  The manager came over and said I could only use 1 store coupon and 1 competitor coupon OR 1 store coupon and 1 manufacturer coupon, so I chose the pair that gave me the better discount.

But, when I presented the same set of coupons at the Ooltewah store, the cashier processed all three, no questions asked.  (*added* By the way, the week before, I asked the customer service desk at the Ooltewah Publix if you can use a store coupon, competitor coupon, and manufacturer coupon on the same item and the lady said, “yes.”  Many readers on SouthernSavers.com have said their stores allow that, too.*)  Stores are allowed to set their own coupon policies, but still it seems certain policies are very inconsistent from cashier to cashier even at the same store, in my experience and with emails/comments from some of you and talking with other couponers.  I can say from experience, that every cashier I’ve had at the Ooltewah store (probably in the last 6-12 months or so) manually overrides any coupons that state “do not double” so that I don’t get the double.  I’m glad they’re consistent on that, but too bad that consistency is unfavorable to the consumer since most other Publix stores across the country do not do this.  But, I’ve decided to go in expecting not to get any of those doubled and if I do, then it’s an added bonus. *Added* I’ve actually quit even using “do not double” coupons at the Ooltewah Publix altogether. However, I just got an email from Devon who says the Ooltewah Publix has changed their policy again and has quit supressing the “do not doubles!”*

*added* My understanding is that when a store doubles a coupon, if it says “do not double” that means that the manufacturer will not reimburse the double to the store, so the store must eat the cost of the double.  As far as I know Bi-Lo and Publix stores have always let “do not double” coupons double since the barcode is set to automatically double if it begins with a “5.”  It’s only been here recently that some stores have begun to manually override their register to not double those since our area has gotten so saturated with coupons. But I will gladly comply with the rules.*

The following sales are good through Tuesday, Feb. 23.  Publix will double manufacturer coupons up to $.50 (but may not if it says “do not double”).  You can stack (meaning use both on the same product) a store coupon (found in their sales ad, and Advantage flyers, and various booklets – check with customer service);  competitor coupon and/or manufacturer coupon (depending on store/cashier).  I use SouthernSavers as my starting place, but I’ve noticed some of the prices she lists vary from prices in our area.

OK, longer than usual introduction, so here’s a breakdown of my trips with what coupons I used, so that hopefully you can get these deals, too!  First stop–The East Brainerd store:

• Classico pasta sauce BOGO at $2.49 less $1/2 printable (you can print 2 per computer-I have access to 2 computers) = $.25/ea! correction $.75/ea!
• Huggies GoodNites $15.99 less $3 store coupon (found in the weekly ad in the revolving rack by the front doors, also good on Huggies Pull-Ups and box diapers) less $1.00 printable = $11.99
• Mueller’s pasta BOGO at $1.39 less $1/3 printable here or here = $.36/ea!  (Just saw a new site you can print $.55/1 Mueller’s whole wheat pasta here, which would make it $.14/ea – even better!  It lets you print as many copies as you want, so this would be great to print extras and donate some to a local food bank or ministry.)
• Scotch-Brite Scrub Sponges 3 count pack BOGO at $2.99 less $1 coupon I had in my collection not sure from where, sorry = FREE
• Betty Crocker Premium muffin mix BOGO at $2.59 less $.50 printables here, here, and here doubled to $1 (note these say “do not double” so most likely the Ooltewah store won’t double) = $.29/ea!
• Total Spent $17.56; Total Savings $27.33, or about 61%

Next is my trip to the Ooltewah Publix:

• Minute Maid All Natural Coolers 10 pack BOGO at $2.49 (no coupons that I’m aware of) = $1.25/ea (I love the Fruit Falls flavored water kind for my kids and they love them, too!  Easy for school lunches and on-the-go and no worrying about it staining.)
• Johnson’s Buddies soap (love these – they last a long time) $1.09 (reg. price) less $1.00 printable = $.09/ea!  (Wal-Mart carries these for $.97 or $.98 in the baby dept. but they are always out of stock it seems.)
• HuggiesHuggies GoodNites $15.99 less $3 store coupon (found in the weekly ad in the revolving rack by the front doors, also good on Huggies Pull-Ups and box diapers) less $1.00 printable less $1.50 competitor coupon from Food Lion = $10.49
• Pillsbury Sweet Rolls $1.67/ea (reg. $2.09) less $1/3 printable store coupon less $.40/2 (doubles to $.80) from recent Sunday paper insert = $1.07/ea
• Organic Valley half gallon milk $3.50 (reg. $3.99) less $.75 coupon (sorry, can’t remember which magazine I got it from) = $2.75
• Nivea body wash – I had a rain check from last week for $2.89/ea (reg. $4.39-5.29/ea) less two $2 coupons from All You magazine = $.89/ea!
• Soft Soap $1.00 (reg. $.79) less various coupons: $.50 from March All You magazine (doubles to $1 making it FREE); $.35 printable; $.35 from recent Sunday paper insert; and I had several $.35 coupons that I can’t recall where I got (sorry again) = FREE to $.30/ea
• Cole’s garlic bread BOGO at $2.79 (correction) $2.29 less $.50 printable = $.40/ea! $.15/ea!
• I forgot to get a rain check (I hate when I do that) for the Smucker’s Uncrustables 4 packs on sale for $2, which you can get for $.45 after the $1 printable here or here stacked with the $.55/1 store coupon in the Healthy Meals Healthy Kids coupon booklet they have at the customer service desk.
• Total spent: $17.47; Total Saved $41.65, or about 70%!

Popularity: 4% [?]