Reader Spotlight: Bringing Family Members Together

Today we’re going to hear from  Meshell. Couponing with her family has brought them closer together – how great is that?  Take it away, Meshell!

I used to coupon many years ago, but got away from it up until about a year ago. My husband was watching “that show” and he said, “You just thought you used coupons. You couldn’t do anything like what they are doing.” My sweet husband knows me better than anyone. He knew that would be an instant challenge for me, and it was. I started taking it seriously, and have been doing it steadily for almost a year. I have a nice-sized stockpile that I regularly share with friends and family.

A few months ago, my sister was diagnosed with brain cancer. She became unable to work, and her finances bottomed out. I gave her a few things from my stockpile. She began to be interested in couponing. I shared some tips and websites with her (including this one). She fell in love with coupons. She now has her own stockpile, and no longer worries about buying food, health and beauty items, or pretty much anything. I feel it has given her hope and a new lease on life. It gives her back a measure of control. She is also able to donate quite a bit out of her stockpile, which makes her really happy.

She got my mother involved, and now my sister-in-law. We all live about an hour from the nearest Publix, but now the three of them will come down here just to buy groceries. The amount they save more than makes up for the gas. Couponing has brought me, my sister, my mother, and now my sister-in-law together in a new type of bond.

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Meshell! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com!

Reader Spotlight: Waiting for My Publix

Today we’re going to hear from Rebecca. Couponing helped Rebecca deal with some tough financial issues over the past few years and she wrote in to tell us about all the good things that have come from couponing. Like all of us, she came to love shopping at Publix . Take it away, Rebecca!

Close to three years ago my  husband and I were faced with two mortgages…we had just bought our dream house, and we had to quickly sell or rent our old house. As a stay at home mom to our two daughters, couponing was the only option that really allowed me to help my family financially.

Over the years, couponing has allowed me to do some amazing things. I have had the chance to share my love of couponing with some close friends, which in turn has allowed them to afford a better lifestyle and have extra money (as well as an endless supply of food at the end of a week/ month). I have been able to stockpile items my family uses.  My biggest accomplishment was this past Christmas –  I was able to buy Christmas for my two kids debt free, from all the money I have saved from couponing….not to mention the extra things like kid clothes, house deco items that I couldn’t have afforded without couponing. Does it take time & commitment? YES – but the rewards are endless.

I often laugh at how much I try to buy items on sale and use coupons daily in my family’s life. One moment in particular that stands out is the day I took my youngest daughter to the Dollar Tree to get class supplies. My daughter and I were looking for a particular item when my daughter saw something she wanted and asked …..”Mommy, can I have this,  is it on sale?” That was when I realized I have instilled the value of frugality in my four year old daughter!  I smiled at my daughter and told her we were at the dollar store, not Publix, so everything there was on sale for a dollar. I also made sure to thank her for asking if it was on sale!

We recently moved to a small town without a Publix, and I can’t tell you how much I miss it. We had the opportunity to sell our house quickly and move closer to my husband’s family. He also had the opportunity to work from anywhere with his new company. Living near family was something that both my husband and I felt was important for our two young daughters.

I am happy to report that we are getting two Publix locations this summer.  I can’t wait to be able to shop at a Publix in Knoxville, TN in the months to come. I keep telling my husband’s family and people I meet that Knoxville will not know what to do when Publix arrives! And I guarantee I will be in line the grand opening day with coupons!

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Rebecca ! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com!

Reader Spotlight: Why I Do What I Do

Today we’re going to hear from Jessica at Dork on a Dime. With very little effort and with just what she had on hand, she was able to give to friends in dire need. Couponing can come in handy and help make giving easy! Take it away, Jessica!

There is a reason I do what I do.

Today, I was given the chance to help a couple of good friends that have had a run of very bad luck lately.

While fighting with my daughter about taking her nap, I was perusing Facebook and seeing what all my friends have been up to lately, and I discovered a couple that I was friends with before my last job change (to stay at home mom) had unfortunately been the victims of an apartment fire. It gets worse…

They are both wonderful people. He raises her 5 year old son as if he were his own, and they are 6 months pregnant with their daughter, his first child. Over the past few months, they have been preparing the little boy to be a big brother, managing through a risky pregnancy, and all while pinching pennies to provide a warm and safe home their little girl to come home to. They both are lost and don’t know how to begin to rebuild. They lost everything in their kitchen, living room, and the nursery they were getting together for their soon-to-be munchkin. Although that doesn’t sound like a lot, and insurance should cover it… it is A LOT. I was racking my brain to figure out what I could do to help. Just thinking about their situation, I was tearing up. What do I keep in my kitchen? Plates, cups, bowls, food, cleaners, and then the furniture and media in the living room. He had been giddy about choosing things for his little girl, and all the good feelings when he sees that dress, or that bow, or those shoes… and now they’re gone.

I took advantage of the short-lived nap my own daughter was taking, and I rushed to our ‘ store’… my couponing stockpile that resembles a miniature grocery store. I took down the boxes I had earmarked for my next donation to our local food pantry, and began filling every box I could find. Let’s just say I ran out of boxes before I ran out of items to give. No, I did not wipe clean our stockpile, and Yes, I’m crazy for stockpiling that much… funny enough, the dad in this predicament has chuckled at my ‘ridiculous’ couponing prior to today. But I am grateful. I would otherwise not be able to help, and he sees my couponing in a much different light now. Our own pennies are pinched, and the way I see it, I cannot give much. But on the 30 minute drive to their temporary residence, I mentally began to inventory the items that filled up the back of my SUV. 4 bottles of laundry detergent. 5 different spray bottles of cleaner, about 12 containers of pasta, chocolate powder PopTarts and fruit for the little boy, enough body wash, toothpaste and deodorant to last them nearly a year (or more), and countless other canned, dry and frozen goods.  I even filled a basket full of items for their munchkin, so they can once again be excited about becoming parents again. The food won’t last them long, and the personal care items I brought may be different than what they prefer, but I can’t even imagine what it is like to live through that, and have the strength to pick up and move on, coordinating yet another home to come home to.

I have felt incredibly blessed today to be able to help with what I can. I love these two like family, but I rarely get to see them, and yet knowing that they have endured this tragedy brings me to my knees in grief for them.

After getting home, and my husband and I looking at our skinnier stockpile, I know there is a reason I do what I do. Not just so I can provide for my own family and save enough for us to afford me staying at home to raise our children, but so I can be there for friends in need, at a moment’s notice. We may live paycheck to paycheck, but when I think about those I love, I feel rich.

And the outpouring of affection and empathy my two strong friends have witnessed has shown them how truly rich they are too.

Thanks so much for sharing with us Jessica ! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com!

Reader Spotlight: Getting Organized, Part I

Yesterday I put out an “Ask the Readers” asking you guys about how you get organized. I just loved reading your responses and thought it would be really nice to post some of these as a special Reader Spotlight. Make sure to leave a comment if you have a tip to share!

Patty:

When the SS and RP inserts come in Sunday’s paper, I write the date in black sharpie pen on the outside page and then stack them in a plastic tub. That way, it’s easy to find the particular week’s coupons when it’s listed under a sale items.

Melissa:

When you sit down to read the MONDAY Publix preview, sit down with a pen and notepad and write down your favorite deals, and print the printable Q’s you need right then and there. That way, when its time to shop on wed/thurs you are already have your list together.
Repeat for any other stores you shop at when that preview comes out on your favorite site. It saves a LOT of time instead of reading the previews, then going back later to write the list when you “think” you have more time.

Also, If you “only have a minute” to read the preview, then DONT read it, wait until you have the time to sit down with it and do what you need to do.

Yanin:

I have a binder for each store and as the deals come through, I have a spreadsheet for each store and their deals, as well as I add the coupon source so when I get ready for my trip, I know where to go to find them. I find it is easier to keep track of the store coupons, current deals, and policies. It is very important to get to know one store at a time. You definitely have to master it and having a binder for each helps me stay somewhat organized.

Joy:

I keep a notebook near my computer so that I can write down deals as I see them. I have a page for Publix, CVS, Walgreens and Winn-Dixie. This is especially for new deals that pop up during the week and aren’t on the Weekly Deals list.

Cara:

Do a little every day if you can with clipping, sorting and pulling expired coupons. I hate it when I let stuff pile up and have to spend an hour or more on it.

Let your husband, partner, children or anyone else that reaps the rewards of your couponing help you! My husband will clip, I will organize and my 3yo discards the excess paper.

Grace:

My husband just discovered the grocery list on http://www.publix.com. You can put in your local Publix store number and the list will even tell you on which aisle you will find the ingredient you wish to buy. There is a place for taking notes and to indicate that you have a coupon for each item. It tells you the price and / or special for that week, and you can save it for later, e-mail it to view it on any carry-size device where you can get internet (i-pad, kindle, cell phone, etc.) or print it out for a quick trip.

Christy:

I write my list on the back of an envelope and put all my coupons in the envelope. I keep a spare pouch in my purse and if there are any coupons I don’t end up using they go in the pouch to get re-filed at home.

Denise:

I make my list in order of the store’s layout. My shopping plan, since I usually shop with my 1&2 yr olds in the car cart, is to hit the free balloon first and get the kid’s cookie before checkout to buy that extra time. We also shop during the day when the old folks think it’s cute that my boys race to get to the next blinkie

Aren’t these some great tips? Thank you guys so much for sharing!! If you have any other organizational tips be sure to leave them in the comments!

Reader Spotlight Casting Call: How Do You Stay Organized?

Okie dokie guys…since the start of a new year means that many of us are trying to get a bit more organized, I’m going to ask all of you to share an organizational tip or two today!

Your tip could be about how to best manage all your coupons, how to plan for your trip or shop more efficiently, or how to organize your stockpile. With all the great tips I’m sure you guys have, we should all be able to get motivated to get things straightened out in no time! 

Leave your tip(s) in the comments for this post…and ‘tune in’ to upcoming Reader Spotlights to see your name in lights!

Reader Spotlight: My Couponing Game

Today we’re going to hear from Becky, who has a really fun way of thinking about couponing. How are you guys doing in the couponing game? I know you guys are all BIG winners! Take it away, Becky!

I reluctantly got into couponing after some friends invited me to a play date/ coupon lesson. At first, I didn’t see the value in it since our family could get by just fine before. But then after a few weeks, I found out how FUN it can be. Don’t you just giggle putting something in your cart, knowing that you’ll pay just 20 cents when it’s worth $2.50? And then smile at all of the possibilities for that $2.30 that you saved! It’s been almost a year now and it’s still a blast!

Here are the basic elements for me:

Game rules- learn your store’s policies and FOLLOW THEM. No one likes a cheater – in Monopoly or couponing.

Game pieces- there’s paper money in both. Decide how much you want and where you’re going to get it. Personally, I don’t buy papers every week – there are usually enough internet printables for me. But some people say “Go big or go home” and get 10 every week.

Strategy- You’ve got to plan ahead of time. Use iheartpublix to get organized – check on Monday for the new ad, on Wednesday for the Happy Report, and then you’ll be ready for shopping on Thursday. Make a list ahead of time with everything you need to know, and have your coupons already sorted into an envelope. There just isn’t time for me to wrestle with a binder in the store when 2 babies are on the verge of throwing fits! My lists look something like this:

X4 Lucky Charms BOGO 3.99-.50/1= $1
X2 Publix yogurt $0.25-1/6=$0.17
I’ve got quantity, name (and sometimes size), sale price, coupon amount, and final price for each item. It all fits on the back of an old printable Q (good scrap paper!) to slide in the envelope with the coupons.

Then have a backup plan. Think of Scrabble- you might need a second word figured out for when cousin Fred takes the only open S on the board. If the store is out of something, get a rain check. But what if you had planned on using a $5 off $30 and now you‘re short? Have extra coupons on hand to substitute another item to get to the $30 mark. This is especially important when Publix does the Amex or gas card promotions with a minimum purchase amount.

Gametime-If you’ve prepared ahead of time, the shopping should be quick and fun! Cross things off the list with a smile, knowing that you’re winning! Because you honestly can’t lose. You’re not competing against the store or the other shoppers – just against yourself and the way you used to shop. I do a double check of my coupons before handing them to the nice cashier, and then love to see the numbers go down. I actually like that Publix doesn’t write the percentage saved on the receipt – its fun to figure out on your own later when you can do a victory dance without being embarrassed.

Scorecard- Save your receipts to check your progress. Once in a while, I go through my pile of receipts and add them to a spreadsheet. Between Publix and drugstores, I’ve saved 58% so far this year. If you can see this overall total, it helps when you don’t do so well that week. A 42% receipt is just a bad roll of the dice – you’ll do better on the next turn. You can also use this to determine your average weekly spending since the whole goal of couponing is to stay within a budget. I think we’re actually spending less now (with 2 in diapers) than when it was just my husband and I!

Take it to the next level- So you’ve mastered couponing at Publix. Great! Well, now try more things – drugstores, clothing stores like JCP and Kohl’s, free samples, office supply stores. You can easily save 60 – 80% on a lot of things! Keep separate scorecards for each retail area to have them compete against each other. Then refine each area to make it better – like I just found out that you can scan your CVS card at the coupon center twice! I acted like someone had shown me a secret code in Super Mario! There’s always something new to learn.

The best part is that everyone wins- Publix likes that I shop at their store, manufacturers like that I buy their products, my husband and kids get the quality products they enjoy, and I get to keep our finances on track. Plus we’ve made some donations and are getting awesome stuff for Christmas gifts with freebies and promos. Couponing is seriously the only game I’ve never lost at.

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Becky! 

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com!

PHOTO CREDIT

Reader Spotlight: Grocery Store Literacy

Today we’re going to hear from Kat, a librarian who wrote us a fantastic article about ways to foster learning at the grocery store. Take it away, Kat!

Recently I was commiserating with a friend about the difficulty of grocery shopping with young kids in tow. Thankfully, my children are beyond the age where they beg to go with me as soon as they hear the jingle of car keys, but I remember those days vividly.

So, how can you keep little ones occupied while shopping, short of letting them snack their way through the store? Believe it or not, the grocery store is a great place to teach early language and pre-math skills.

For the youngest ones, even infants, it’s as simple as talking to them while you shop. Skip the baby talk and chatter away about what you’re doing. Talk about the colors, shapes, and sounds around you. Yes, other shoppers may stare, but even the youngest babies develop brain connections and learn the sounds and patterns of language just by listening.

As they get older and begin to understand simple concept such as colors and shapes, let them help you look for things: “Let’s see how many round things we see.” “Let’s look for something in a green box.” You can also introduce simple counting activities: “We need two boxes of cereal.” “Let’s pick out six red apples.”

A child’s powers of observation can be strengthened with a simple game of I Spy. Ask your child to look for a tomato, an orange, something square, or something round. Another fun game is Bear Hunt. Challenge him to find a picture of a bear (you’d be surprised how many food packages have bears on them). Keep count of how many things he finds. As an added bonus, if he’s busy counting bears, he might not be clamoring for sugary cereals or cookies.

During the preschool years, the supermarket is a great place to reinforce letter sounds. Pick a “letter of the day” and look for things that start with that sound. “Our letter of the day is P. What can we find that starts with P? Potatoes, pickles, popcorn…” For a child mature enough to recognize individual letters in print, advance the game a little more by challenging her to find packages with the letter of the day printed on them.

Once your child has mastered counting, introduce some basic addition and grouping concepts. “We’re buying two tubes of toothpaste, and each one costs two dollars. Two dollars plus two dollars is four dollars.” “We’re buying apples, bananas, and pears. That’s three kinds of fruit.”

Comparisons and spatial relations are pre-math skills that teach vocabulary as well. Challenge your child to look for something higher than his head or lower than his belly button. Help him identify the smallest item in your cart, or the biggest watermelon in the bin. Ask him to look for something on the shelf above the noodles or below the cereal.

By incorporating a few of these simple ideas into a routine chore, you‘ll not only have a smoother shopping trip, you’ll also be preparing your child for smooth sailing when it’s time for kindergarten.

Reader Spotlight: I QUIT Couponing Because of ‘That Show’

Today we’re going to hear from Karina, who has a great story about a situation that many of you have likely faced…the way that Extreme Couponing affected the way she was treated as a couponer. Karina was discouraged and quit couponing for a while, but now she’s back! Take it away, Karina!

Almost 2 years ago I saw some local couponers on TV and signed up for their local couponing classes. I did the binder and had everything down. I LOVED couponing and my stockpile was great! I even got my sister couponing!

Spring of this year I started hearing and seeing first hand the impact that the show ‘Extreme Couponers’ was having in my local community. Most stores that I frequented had wonderful coupon policies like Publix & Bi-lo…but I started seeing changes and problems when I would hit up my drugstores.

I started having issues at my local Walgreens with nearly every transaction. Several times I was told “I know your kind…I’ve seen that show and you all are stealing from companies!” I was horrified! I am a stay at home mom and I coupon to save money just like everyone else. My stockpile is not insane. It is enough to get us through 2-4 months when the next sale cycle comes around. I DON’T clear shelves and I always carry my coupon policies with me to help out the cashier if they have a problem. But this store was so horrible to me and made me feel like I was doing something wrong. I knew I wasn’t wrong, and complained to corporate, but nothing changed. I eventually took them off my list of places to go and moved on.

After that I had about a handful of moments at my local grocery stores with customers and a couple cashiers that were probably just having a bad day, but I caught the wrath of that with rude comments and gestures because I was using coupons. I remember coming home in April of this year and telling my husband that I was DONE! I was sick of being put in this box of “the crazy couponer” and I wasn’t even close to that! I had been beaten down. I quit couponing for about 6 months. I didnt’ read blogs, I didn’t get the paper, I didn’t print a single coupon.

Finally in October I started reading blogs again…I just did online deals…getting started on Christmas shopping and stocking up on samples and such. Then I hit up I Heart Publix. I once had a great relationship with Publix and so it was a no-brainer to begin again at my favorite store. This last  week was my first week “Back” and I was excited and ready. My husband even went with me for support! I ended up saving $80 and spending $60! I was SOOOO happy and my husband said “Guess who’s back?!” (: I saved more than I spent and that is my goal.

I’m not going to stress myself out with couponing and let what happened before happen again. My husband has missed his stockpile of bodywash and deodorant and I have missed the feeling of happiness that comes from saving! It is truly a good feeling to know you are saving money and helping your family and as couponers we can’t forget that is the reason we all started. It is easy to get caught up in the extreme part of couponing, but remember it is always a victory when you save more than you spend!!

Thanks so much for all that you do I Heart Publix and to to all my fellow couponers…your stories and comments inspire me every day!

Thanks so much for sharing your story, Karina!  

I could really use a few new volunteers for the Reader Spotlight – so please write in if you have a story to tell! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life, you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com!

Got a Question?

Our Ask I Heart Publix stockpile is still a little low on questions, and we need you to help us fill it up again! If you have a question, please send it in. Your questions can be about anything – basic couponing information, how to use the site, finding coupons, other ways to save, whatever you’re curious about! We happily welcome questions from new couponers or old hands alike – and if there’s a question you know the answer to but we haven’t talked about here, send that in too! We want to try to cover just about any question that a couponer could have about anything related to Publix or couponing, and we just know there’s a lot more out there to discuss! Email your questions to contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com.

I’m also looking for new people to spotlight for our ongoing Reader Spotlight section! If you’d like to be featured, email me your story at contactiheartpublix at gmail dot com.

Reader Spotlight: Sharing Our Bounty at the Holidays

Today we’re going to hear from Nicole, who has a great story about a holiday tradition that has really benefitted from her couponing. Take it away, Nicole!

I wanted to share our family’s coupon story. I started couponing this year because of I Heart Publix, and not only have I been able to build up a great stockpile for our family, but I have been able to stay on budget and, now the fun part- have been able to share!!

Today my three children and I are stuffing shoeboxes for a program called Operation Christmas Child. We are so excited!!! The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ along with lots of fun goodies will be shipped to children all over the world. Children who hardly have enough to eat, will be blessed with candy, toys, school supplies, shoes, socks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, and the story of love. We are able to fill 30 shoeboxes this year because of all the coupon deals I have been able to gather over this past year.

Just the toothpaste alone should have cost over sixty dollars, but instead cost me about four. Then throw in all those awesome back to school sale items that we had coupons for, and the halloween candy we just snagged to share, and you have a box that should have cost at retail price around 15 dollars for less than 5. Coupons have multiplied, literally, the blessings we are able to share!

We have high ambitions for doing 50 boxes next year, so keep those great deals rolling! Thank you for all you do, not only are you blessing your friends, family, and neighbors, but children in the farthest corners of the world! If anyone is interested in this fantastic program, please google it and start a pile for next year. Almost every little town has a church of some sort that will collect them!

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