Coupon Question and Answer: Ask I Heart Publix 6/6
June 6, 2012
Keep sending in those questions – we love to answer them! Just remember if we didn’t get to your question this week…we will do our best to cover it another week!! As always a big thanks to my buddy Christy over at Winn Dixie on a Dime who gives me so much help to get the questions answered.
Remember–there is a tab at the top of the site called “Q & A” where you can find the questions and answers from past weeks!
Here are this week’s questions:
- How do you know when there’s a good coupon being offered on Facebook?
- Any ideas on how to save money on bags of birdseed??
- How do these two BOGO coupons work together?
- Does Publix honor the Target gift card deals?
- How did you find what organization method works best for you?
And here are the answers!
1.Lindsay wants to know:I was wondering how people know when there’s a good coupon being offered on Facebook. Do you have to seek out a specific product’s Facebook page, or is there someway to search for coupons that are currently being offered anywhere on Facebook?
Michelle: I wish there was an easy way to find the coupons!
I have “liked” a ton of companies to score coupons and or promotions so I see a fair amount on my page which helps. Of course I have some phenomenal readers who love to share deals so that is how I often find deals too. Pair that with emails from other bloggers and I usually get the scoop on the good ones. I share ones on the site that I think will last more than 30 seconds. The ones where they offer only like 400 coupons are pointless in my opinion and I don’t waste my time posting about them 
Christy: I usually get my info from other blogs or from blog readers that email me to let me know that there is a good coupon available. All it takes is one person to find a new Facebook coupon and it usually spreads through the blog networks like wildfire.
2. Marla wants to know: Thanks to your great site, I can find deals to feed my family, including the furry family members, our dog and cat. But…I can never seem to find good deals or coupons to feed our feathered friends at the birdfeeders in our backyard! Birdseed is so expensive, but we really enjoy feeding the beautiful cardinals, bluebirds, and yellow finches. Any ideas on how to save money on bags of birdseed?
Michelle: Oh my this is a tough one. I would say sign up for all the local pet superstore emails. I just saw a pretty good Petsmart coupon in my inbox a few days ago that was off your total purchase. Those might be your best bet for savings?
Maybe the readers can help us with this one as I am not sure what other suggestions to offer!
Christy: I have a menagerie (inside the house) to feed, so I don’t shop for those outside. I would just give my regular advice…$X/$XX coupons are a great way to save on those items that we don’t often see coupons for. Commenters, do you have any other ideas for Marla?
3. Kimberly wants to know: I have a BOGO coupon for Crave cat treats from Publix and also one BOGO manufacturer’s coupon. Do I get 2 free or 4?
In this situation, you can get two items for free with the two coupons that you have. The only way you could get more than two free items with the two coupons was if you paired them with a BOGO sale on Crave treats.
4. Marija wants to know: Does Publix honor the Target gift card deals?
Michelle: Publix does not price match…they accept competitor’s coupons. If the the offer is via coupon then you may be able to use it.
Christy: Michelle is right…and to the best of my knowledge the Target gift card offers are not made via coupon, so you likely will not be able to take advantage of those deals at Publix.
5. Amanda wants to know: How did you find what organization method works best for you? I’ve tried EVERYTHING and can’t seem to figure out what I like most. I’m currently doing the binder method right now. I clip and file everything!
Christy: Organization is such a personal thing. I’ve tried about 6 systems over my years couponing and eventually found that I prefer to just file whole inserts and clip coupons as I need them. I was spending so much time clipping and filing that i was burned out before I even made a list! I would suggest that you just keep trying different ways of doing things until you find one that really seems to ‘fit’ best for you.
Michelle: I have also tried just about every method out there! Like Christy, I file whole inserts and have a coupon box where I organize printables, tearpads, peelies and the like.
Cutting inserts was a big time waster for me. I found myself only using a few from each insert. I just couldn’t justify all that time spent clipping…not to mention it took twice as long for me to clean out my binder!
Filing means that I will occasionally miss out on a clearance deal since I may not have all my coupons with me. That is a small price to pay for the time I get back not clipping!
I hope our answers to these questions were helpful! Make sure you ‘tune in’ next week for even more Q&A with I Heart Publix. If you have a question you’d like to see answered, email me at contactiheartpublix@gmail.com.
Facebook coupons…
I compile a list Thursdays of the current Facebook coupons…
here was the list from May 31st…
http://www.thesavvysquirrel.com/2012/05/31/facebook-coupons-there-are-so-many/
It is ridiculously long, so you have to hunt for things you want..and as Michelle says some disappear so quickly
I’ll be posting a new list tomorrow
I use the whole insert system as well. I keep them in a binder that I carry with me to the store. When I find a great clearance deal, I look up the product on my cell phone under I Hear Publix’s coupon database to see if there are any coupons. I locate the insert and clip the coupon in the store. It only takes a moment, and I have found some great deals, especially on reduced meats.
I clip what i use out of each inserts, and then put them in a recipe style box. I carry that in my purse when im shopping in case i need one i have them organized, and it helps for me to have them already clipped. I dont spend alot of time doing this. I reserve tues. night before grocery shopping for clipping them, or just when i have free time. That is the best way for me, because i dont like to carry a big binder in the shopping cart.
Oh and when i go to the grocery store I have my list and pull what coupons i need out of the box, and put into an envelope. I also carry it with me if I find a good deal.
There was a printable coupon for a free Target gift card if you bought a certain amount in groceries around Christmas time. The first time it was offered up, publix took the money off. The second time they said because it said a Target gift card, they would not accept it. So I guess it would depend who your cashier was.
#2: I just read this morning that cooked rice is a good thing to feed birds. There are usually Qs for and sales on rice, so you might want to try that!
Rice?? I thought thats what you are not supposed to give a bird? Like throwing out rice at wedding’s. Cooked rice maybe different i guess.
It is only an urban legend that rice harms birds. Birds can eat rice, even uncooked rice, with no problem.
i got an email from the starbucks ice cream, and they have coupons on their site for .75/1 each pint. I have not seen that one posted. Its good to have a seperate email for when you sign up with companies for coupons.
Starbucks emails you an ice cream coupon on your birthday! I would share, but isn’t the pint really a single serving?
I have seen a good number of Target coupon offers for a free Target Gift Card when you buy certain detailed merchandise.
I file the whole inserts because I get 8 papers and cutting up those would be a huge waste of time. I just clip what I am going to use, so I am only taking a very small stack of things with me to the store, versus a huge binder to tote along with children. As far as missing out on clearance deals, my Publix will let me bring back a coupon with a receipt. So, if I find something on clearance, I buy it and then go home and see if there is a corresponding coupon that I can bring back on it. If you don’t find it worth the price without a coupon, then just return it.
This may not help till next summer but you might try looking at the end of Summer for clearnace birdseed. Places like Wal Mart and Target usually put out lots more stock in the summer than they keep all winter long so they clearance it out when they start dragging in the holiday goodies. HTH
Yes, Publix does accept competitor gift card offers – as long as the offers are in coupon form. Target frequently puts out these coupons: e.g. FREE $5 Target GiftCard with purchase of two Raid Max Bug Barrier items. You would simply receive a Publix giftcard with the purchase of the two items. I’ve never actually done this, but the new Publix coupon policy as posted on http://www.publix.com/pages/Page44.do
I would suggest printing and carrying around the Publix coupon policy. Here is the specific quote from the new policy:
Q: Will Publix accept a competitor coupon for a free $5 gift card with the purchase of an item or items? (For example, a coupon for “buy both Raid Max Bug Barriers 1 gallon starter kit and refill” and receive a $5 store gift card.)
A: Yes, the customer will receive a $5 Publix gift card if we carry the identical items.