After I was laid off last April while already in my second trimester with Claire, we had to learn to live on one income. I started clipping here and there, but nothing much. Then, my good friend Kelli hosted a small group for "Strategic Shopping." She taught me so much about coupon policies, where to find the best deals on what, buying in bulk, the target prices for my most bought items. I had a revelation when I went to Publix and paid $0.03 for $45.39 worth of groceries.
The best place to start (if you are in the South or have a grocery store owned by a Southern grocer) is to visit Jenny at http://www.southernsavers.com/.
A lot of what I say here are things I learned from Jenny. Some are things I learned from the class at church. And still others are things I just picked up along the way.
The Tri-Fecta
Your goal is what I call the tri-fecta:
1. The item is on sale
2. You have a store coupon for the item
3. You have a manufacturers coupon for the item.
For example, if Birds Eye Skillet meals are on sale from $4.99 each to $2.99 each, you've already saved $2 simply by buying the item when it is on sale. (Sales are cyclical so most items will go on sale once about every six weeks, so you don't have to buy a million skillet meals, only how many you may need for the next six weeks. We eat a lot of these in my house, so I know it's tempting to over stock!)
Then, you may find a store coupon for $2 off any Birds Eye Skillet meal. (Ask your grocer's customer service where you can find store coupons. Most keep them in booklets behind the counter where you have to ask for one- so people don't take a hundred and all the coupon booklets are gone in one day). You've saved another $2 just by asking.
Then, you may find a manufacturer's coupon in the newspaper or an internet printable for $0.50 off any Bird's Eye product. Most stores double coupons up to $0.50 so you've saved another $1, making the item FREE.
I know this sounds unreal, and I thought so at first too, but it honestly works. Keep in mind that at most places you can't have a positive balance (but at Publix you can :). This means the coupons can't be greater than the item price so it would just be a free item. So if you had ketchup on sale for $1.50 and a coupon for $2 off, you wouldn't get a $0.50 credit, just a free item. (At Publix you would get a $0.50 credit towards another item but you cannot end on a negative total where they owe you money.) Check your store location for their policies on this.
You are responsible for all taxes. So if the Skillet Meal was on sale for $2.99 and our food tax rate in Birmingham is 8% then your total would still be $0.24. But not bad for an item that started at $5.00!
Newspapers
Regardless of whether you get the newspaper, you should still receive the weekly grocery ads in your mailbox. Here in the Birmingham News, it's called "Extra" and is a mini-version of Wendesday's paper and the grocery sale ads. If you don't receive these, ask your postman or leave him/her a note.
Most, if not all, newspaper coupons come in the Sunday paper. When I started, I didn't get the paper, but I found a deal to get the Birmingham News on Wednesday and Sunday for a $1 per week, so I signed up for that. If you find that the bulk of the coupons you would use come from newspaper (rather than internet printables) you can always buy the Sunday paper at a gas station or grocery store, but that's really the only day you need.
Coupon Policies
If you are ever unsure about a store's coupon policy, ask! Customer service should be more than happy to help you. Remember, stores don't lose money when you use coupons, so the more they can help you use coupons and save money, they know the more you will shop there.
Publix Coupon Policies
1. You do not have to buy 2 of the B1G1 items to get the sale price *
2. If you do buy 2 items that are B1G1 make sure you use 2 coupons to get the best deal
3. Publix accepts competitors coupons (you can stack with a manufacturers coupon)
4. You can use a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on the same item
5. Most Publix locations double manufacturer coupons that are.50¢ or less *
* doesn't apply in Florida
Kroger Coupon Policies
1.You do not have to buy 2 of B1G1 items to get the sale price.
2.Most Kroger stores double coupons that are .50¢ or less.
Food Lion Coupon Policies
1.Check with your local store about B1G1 items.
Ask “Are you required to buy 2, or will they each ring up at half price?”
2.Most Food Lion stores do not double coupons.
3.If you do a B1G1 deal, use 2 coupons if they will let you.
4.There are regional variations in all ads, so check your ad for any small price changes
Winn Dixie Coupon Policy
1. Most stores require you to buy 2 items on B1G1 deals.
2. You are allowed 2 coupons on a B1G1’s.
3. Some stores double coupons in GA and AL, other states do not double coupons.
Harris Teeter Coupon Policy
1. You do not have to buy 2 of the B1G1 items, each item will ring up half price.
2. Coupons are doubled that are 99¢ or less.
3. They will double 20 coupons per day.
4. You must have a VIC card to get sale prices and for your coupons to double.
5. Most stores only allow one coupon per B1G1 deal, so only buy one per transaction if possible.
Internet Printable Coupons
Here are a list of sites with printable coupons. Some are linked through Southern Saver's website, others are from the manufacturer's site.
Smart Source
Coupons.com
Red Plum
Eat Better America - General Mills products
Betty Crocker - General Mills and Betty Crocker products
Pillsbury
Mambo Sprouts - Organic/Green coupons and samples
Box Tops 4 Education
Wyeth Drugs - Advil, Alavert, Robitussin, Ambesol, Centrum and more…
Food Lion Coupons
Please email me at ginimcglothin @ hotmail dot com if you find any other great coupon sites!
Rain Checks
Here is an example of a Rain Check...
When I was shopping on a Tuesday (the last day of a weekly sale in Birmingham), Publix was out of the four-pack of Bumble Bee Tuna. It was a BOGO sale, so rather than $4.00 each (making it $1.00 per can), they were $2.00 each (or $0.50) a can. Since we eat tuna fish a decent amount and tuna has a long shelf life, I wanted to get a few. So after checking out, I went to the Customer Service desk and asked for a rain check.
Tell the store associate how many deals you would like. (Since this was a four-pack of tuna, I got two deals. Eight cans is enough to last us six weeks until tuna goes on sale again.) Your rain check will be honored at any location of that store for up to 30 days.
Ad Matching
Wal-Mart and Target both ad match. This is what they are talking about in commercials when they say "if you find a lower advertised price, we will match it." More on this later.
Coupon Faries
If you have a coupon that you know you will never use (in my case cat food, home hair dye and rogaine) be a coupon fairy and leave it next to the item on the shelf at the grocery store. You may have a cat, grey hair or balding husband and need one of mine someday.
2 comments:
I loev this! Thank you!
Hey Gini- this is your cousin Jen, just wanted to thank you for this awesome info. I've been doing alot more grocery shopping (and cooking!) lately and this seems like the thing to get into. Neat little blog you got here :)
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