Reader Spotlight: That Helping Feeling

Today we’re going to hear from Alice, who has a nice reminder for us that when we donate – even just an item or two – we are doing something wonderful for others…and that is a great feeling! Take it away Alice!

 I am not an extreme couponer.  If anything, my family struggles like most other families.  We have enough to eat, a house and clothes…but not much else in the way of extras.  We DO however have enough to give to the food pantry.  We don’t give a lot, but if enough people give a little, it makes a lot!

I try to donate rice.  I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when I find a 50c coupon for Mahatma rice, I go to Publix and buy the Valencia rice (99c) and donate it.  I have access to 3 papers and most of the time, the people who give me their coupons do not use the rice coupons.  I am thankful that Mahatma has been generous with their coupons lately.  I feel as though I am making a difference…even if it is only a small difference.

I love the Change for a Change posts on I Heart Publix. It gives everyone a chance to stock up for their families and to buy/donate to their local food pantry.  If I can get some of the items for FREE or for pennies, I try to buy them to donate.  Sometimes I will take items to my Sunday School class and give them to the Senior ladies who might be struggling on Social Security.

Whenever you help someone, you get a blessing in return.  In today’s world…everyone could benefit from the great feeling you get from helping someone.  Just help someone…anyone…and see how you feel!  Awesome!

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Alice! 

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: My Couponing Quest

Today we’re going to hear from Amanda, who has a nice story to share about how she went from being a deal-hunter to a full on couponer. Her story is one that I think many folks can relate to….take it away Amanda!

I’ve always been a couponer. I love finding deals and in fact, there is little I have paid full price for in the last several years. My husband is an avid “open box” shopper from (the now defunct) Circuit City and Best Buy. We both love shopping at TJ Maxx and Ross stores and the first rack I hit in any store is the clearance. I recently used two coupons, hit during a super bonus sale at a local clothing store and spent $60 on clothes, having saved $295! I love me a sale!!!

As for coupons though, I used them when I had them but I wasn’t in on “the craze” so to speak. I always hated the coupon folio format so when the “super couponing” started, I hooked up with a binder myself and found it so much easier to sort and shop this way. I’m a big fan of organization and pockets, folders and baseball card sleeves just made my day! I have lists and color coding and ooh I just love it. (Sorry, former pre-school teacher here so colors and lists are high on…well on my list!)

I would often cart my coupon binder with me when going to the store and I have been known to get to the entrance of the store, realize I forgot it, and turn around to go back for the binder. But I was often shopping at Walmart…ugh. I hate that place as much as the next person but to buy the store brand of many items, it was much cheaper to shop there. So I was using a few coupons here and there….not many, but some.

Then I decided to take a couponing class a few weeks ago. HOLY MOLY! My whole world has changed!!! (lol I know so many of you now are nodding in agreement) I never really thought about strategies in couponing until now. NOW I know when P&G puts their coupons out, and when to shop for those items. I know now that I can get NAME BRAND at Publix at a better deal that the Walmart brands any day!!!

Not having to shop at Walmart just to save a few bucks is such a relief. Especially since I know I’m actually saving more at Publix. I’m still relatively new so I’m still building my stockpile but I save more than I spend each trip and that’s my main goal for now. Eventually I will just be able to shop for the main foods and have my staples stocked up. Everyone at Publix has been super nice and I’ve even stopped a few “experienced” coupon-ers in the isle and asked for coupon advice with a deal or two just to make sure I’m getting it right.

Sure, it still takes me ten minutes sometimes to make sure I’m getting a deal right and I look like I’m talking to myself in the aisles, but I’m okay with that. This weekend I’ll be helping my husband’s grandmother set up her binder and show her the coupon sites I use. She’s on a fixed income and with medical bills and their limited finances, I am truly hoping this will help save them some serious money.

In addition to putting my husband through Pharmacy College (Go Gators!) and starting my own business (www.facebook.com/ALWaysPhotography) and Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/ALWaysSomethinToLove), I have a full time job. But working from home allows me some flexibility that a lot of people don’t have. The money I’m saving on groceries each week is allowing me to grow my businesses and plan our meals ahead of time so much more efficiently. Traveling back and forth to Gainesville for school, hubby’s hours are varied at home, so I like having dinner ready when he gets home at night so we can snag a few minutes together. In a round about way, Publix has given us more time together. I’m saving more money on groceries, shopping for just the deals I have and not wandering the store aimlessly buying stuff when I’m lonely or hungry, and I’m able to spend real quality dinner time with my husband, and some days thats the only time we get together. So…thanks Publix!

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Amanda! 

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: Reinventing Ourselves

Today we’re going to hear from Coupon Guy, who has a great story to share. His story is one that I think many folks can relate to.  

Our story begins with my wife and I living in a suburb of Ft Lauderdale, Florida. We had a very comfortable combined six digit salary, a modest home for the area, we both drove Luxury Import Cars, and we had a $50K boat in storage. I could count on one hand how many meals we prepared at home each month, and we still would spend an average of $250.00 per week at Publix for groceries, household goods, and personal care items.

Fast forward to the beginning of our current economic downturn, and we found ourselves missing a salary, with a 65% reduction in our income. We decided to leave the expensive Cost of Living behind in South Florida and moved in with relatives in rural Central Florida.

It was time to reinvent ourselves!

Even when you decide to get rid of your expensive toys, you can’t just put the brakes on your financial obligations. Thankfully, we had made the decision years earlier never to use Credit Cards. This was the only thing that stood between us and Bankruptcy. We could see a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, our savings is gone. But, after two years, the expensive home is gone, the Luxury Import Cars are gone, and the boat is gone too. I can count on one hand how many times we’ve eaten in a restaurant in the last 3-months. And, now we Coupon and Stockpile Shop!

When we started Couponing, our goal was to shop smart and save 50% off our Grocery Budget. As we read the shopping Blogs like I Heart Publix, and learned from others, our savings quickly moved beyond 50%. It took us about 1-Year to build a solid Stockpile, and now we can selectively shop for only those items on sale and with a Coupon. Our average weekly spending is about $50.00, like everyone, some weeks less and some weeks more, but we do maintain a $50.00 average.

Couponing and Stockpile Shopping has allowed us to purchase a beautiful, spacious, new home in a rural setting in Central Florida, much larger than our home in Ft Lauderdale, price adjusted for the current economy. Our Mortgage Payment is less than the cost of a single Car Payment from our old lifestyle. We have a substantial Stockpile that we share regularly with visiting friends and family, and we collect and donate toiletry items for a Charity Drive run by our local Bank each fall. The Bank provides Backpacks, and the Bank patrons provide Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Shampoo, Conditioner, and Soap, with other items, for inside the Backpacks, to be distributed to locals in need around the Holidays.

We are forever grateful to the relatives that took us in during our most desperate times. Unfortunately, these tough economic times did not spare them. They find themselves left with only one salary and are about to lose the home we shared. Thankfully, Couponing and Stockpile Shopping has allowed us to use what little credit we had left to secure the financing for their new home, also price adjusted for the current economy. I consider this our greatest Couponing accomplishment. Both households are in much better financial positions for the future! Now we live less than a mile apart, and yes, they shop regularly in our Stockpile Room!

We are thankful for the Blog Sites like I Heart Publix that share such valuable information, we are thankful for our fellow Couponers who have shared their money saving tips and ideas and trade coupons, and we are most thankful for the friends and relatives that sacrificed to help us without hesitation. We would urge every Couponer to Use your Couponing Gift to take care of your friends, family, and neighbors. Because there may come a day when they are taking care of you!

Mr. & Mrs. Coupon Guy
Haines City, Florida

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Coupon Guy! 

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!

Is Excessive Couponing Affecting Food Companies?

Coupon Guy wrote a great article that I thought I would share with you guys. This is not exactly a reader spotlight…instead it is more of his take on our current economic situation. I enjoyed reading the article and thought it might be a good conversation starter to see what you all thought about some of the goings on here lately.  I love that his ultimate message is that we as a couponing community are our own best resource.

I have had several conversations with folks lately that have me thinking more and more about the various perspectives regarding couponing. I will share more of my observations …maybe a little later this week. For now, enjoy Coupon Guy’s take on couponing and how it affects major brands.

Is excessive Couponing affecting food companies? Only with higher profits!

I had an opportunity to read a Reuters News Agency Story published on March 6, 2012 regarding Walmart’s Pricing Strategy. Many of the points in the article relate to everyday couponing and how Walmart affects our shopping, even when we don’t shop at Walmart.

Walmart would like to use a price strategy that keeps everyday prices permanently low, without having price rollbacks or sales. They have started applying significant pressure to many of their Food Suppliers to lower everyday prices. While this sounds like a really good thing, it can be very bad for consumers in the long run. Tier 1 companies like Kraft Foods can push back and maintain a fair balance. Walmart needs Kraft as much as Kraft needs Walmart. But Tier 2 and Tier 3 Companies like Clorox, ConAgra, and Hershey rely on Walmart for up to 26% of their sales. It will be very difficult for some of these companies to maintain quality while staying within the forced price points created by Walmart. If these companies are forced to cut corners, it could be bad news for all consumers, no matter where you shop.

The article mentioned that suppliers are finding it necessary to raise prices. We know!! It goes on to quote Stock Market Indexes, that track the products we buy in the grocery store, to show how these suppliers are doing. A Stock Market Index is created by taking many companies with similar products or services and tracking their stocks as a group. The average performance of the group will give you an indication about how good or bad that industry is doing.

There are two Stock Market Indexes that track companies that supply grocery stores. The first Stock Index tracks the performance of the companies that supply Packaged Foods and Meats. This is simply called the S&P 1500 Packaged Foods & Meats Index. The second Stock Index tracks the performance of the companies that supply Household Goods and Personal Items. This is simply called the S&P 1500 Household & Personal Products Industry Group Index.

So, how are these Grocery Store Stock Indexes doing in this terrible economy? The article says that both these Stock Indexes are trading at (16) times expected earnings. While the S&P 500, an overall Stock Market indicator used since 1957, only trades at (12.8) times expected earnings.

Now I’m not a Stock Guy, so what does this mean? It means record profits for many Food Producing Companies. During a recession, when couponing has become a necessity for many of us to make it from paycheck to paycheck, many food companies are having record years. Readers have speculated on the I Heart Publix blog that excessive couponing could trigger an end to couponing for all of us. The discussions can get very heated! It’s not likely food producing companies will end a practice that led to record profits! It looks more like some companies have used coupons to give the illusion of value to those who coupon, while taking more money out of the pockets of retail consumers. Money that many of us just don’t have to give.

In this same article, General Mills was singled out for implementing an 11.5% price increase that resulted in an 11.3% drop in sales in the 12-weeks ending in February. During the toughest economic times that I can remember in my 50-years of life, General Mills has taken advantage of the situation to try and dramatically increase profits. Fortunately, many savvy consumers saw through the smoke and mirrors and stopped buying their products. Good for us consumers! We sent a message. Did General Mills listen? Will they lower everyday prices when the cost of corn, wheat, sugar, and oil go back down? Not likely!

What does all this tell me? It tells me that, as consumers, we need to take care of each other, joining together is our greatest strength and our loudest voice. Because no matter how Green they say they are, or how much they say they give back to the community, big companies have little interest in the well being of our families. We need to share savings ideas, and leverage coupons with sales for maximum savings. Far too many people pay retail for their groceries; this is a choice they make. For those of us that choose to use coupons, I hope none of us ever pays retail for an item we need. Your site helps us join together and save every day!

Thank you for the part you play in our savings!
The Coupon Guy

I’d love to hear any comments that you guys have. What are your thoughts on couponing in this economy –too much, too little? Who do you think is ultimately profiting??

Reader Spotlight – Scouting For Food

Today we’re going to hear from Laura, who has a great story that made me smile ear to ear. She helped turn a donation into something totally amazing. 

I would love to share a story about my son’s Scout Troop.

They do an annual food drive, Scouting for Food, every year. This year they collected a large amount of food plus they also received $480 in donations.

Instead of donating the cash, myself and another couponing Mom took that and turned the $48o donation into $1584 worth of food to be added to the Scouting for Food donation.

We also took along the Scout Master on our shopping trip, He was so amazed at the savings, he is now actively couponing for his family as well as the Troop. We were very thankful to our local Publix for allowing us to come in and coupon for that much food and be able to use all our coupons, they are a wonderful asset to our community.

The Food Bank was amazed at what these young men pulled off by donating over 3500 lbs of food. We are very proud of our Scout for a job well done!

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Laura! 

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: Couponing Has Changed My Life

 

Today we’re going to hear from Natalie, who has a great story about the various ways in which couponing has very literally changed her life. Take it away, Natalie!

I just had to contact you as I feel on top of the world right now. I “bought” 46 bags of Whiskas All Natural Cat treats and donated them to a local no kill animal shelter. My total out of pocket expense was $3.53 which included buying the coupons on ebay with shipping and the sales tax I had to pay. I don’t have a cat; I don’t even really like cats….but couponing has changed something in me… it has made me appreciate everything I have and has helped me be able to do a little more for those less fortunate. I have my own stockpile of items of course, but now I’ve started asking myself… “What deal is so amazing that I can do a little bit more, and donate?”

Couponing got me through a very rough time in my life. My silly post college spending had caught up to me and my credit cards were maxed out and my paycheck barely covered my month to month expenses. Every month I went further down the hole… I then learned about couponing from the extreme couponing show. A light bulb went off… I found your website and was so thankful that there was a place that did 99.3% of the work for me. For a while, I was only eating the BOGO pasta for .23 cents and homemade pesto that I made with our basil plants outside or spagetti sauce. I had a weekly budget of $10/week for food. It was not pretty. I am thankful to say… 6 months later I have one credit card balance paid off and am anxiously waiting my tax return and bonus check to pay off the balance of my remaining credit card. Within the next 6 months, I’ll be debt free!

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Natalie! 

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, Pt II

Last month 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 a good idea to post some of these as a special Reader Spotlight. Make sure to leave a comment if you have a tip to share!

Christine:

My best organizational tool has got to be my coupon file that I keep in my purse at all times. I bought it at Publix (of course!) and it is about 10 inches long and 5 inches high with 13 sections. I have a dedicated section for each of the different drug stores and grocery stores I frequent, and also a section for store and restaurant coupons. I use the back section that doesn’t have a label for coupons that need to be filed in my binder (which I use for insert coupons that I *know* I want to use and for my printables, blinkies, and tearpads). I have all of my loyalty cards in the appropriate spot, as well as my current shopping lists and coupon matchups for each store. I NEVER forget my coupons, because they are always with me!

Stephanie:

I make a list with number of items I want with store prices, put coupons in envelope, go to the store and (here’s the biggy) STICK TO MY LIST! That last one gets hard for me sometimes. Oh, and I learned a long time ago to leave my son and husband at home. Son whines about how long it takes and husband put random things in the cart.

Lynne:

I started carrying full inserts to the store with me in a nice sturdy bag and a big pair of scissors. Having full inserts on me helps tremendously when I run into an in-store clearance b/c I can just whip out my i-phone, get on the I Heart Publix database, and quickly check the coupon source and get the coupon(s) I need. My bag is a little full, but I have my inserts organized and it saves me tons of time

Mama Mia:

I have to go to the store with a very specific list based on the current ad, our recurring needs, and any coupons that match the list. I keep the coupons in an envelope paper-clipped to my list. When I grocery shop, all 4 of my children join me. Yes, I am THAT woman. Since it’s all 5 of us at one time, I only have the energy to go to the store 1x per week. This forces me to make a strict list and strategically plan what we will eat for the next week based on the sales ad. Also, going weekly is about all the planning I can currently manage. If I miss a sale or clearance item due to not knowing it was included in the sale, I just miss it.

Since Publix has added the listing feature with aisle locations to their weekly ads on the website, I have shaved at least 15 minutes off my grocery trip. That doesn’t sound like much, but with 4 kids who usually are in some sort of meltdown by the time we leave, it’s a major help. I had been using a map from my store but with the recent and ongoing store upgrades, nothing quite matched.

April:

I recently downloaded an app for my iPod (My Coupon Tracker) that tracks my coupons, let’s me know when any are about to expire and helps me calculate sales. It is a little tedious getting started, but as long as stay on top of inputting newly acquired coupons, it will be a huge help!

Jessica:

I used to keep a spiral notebook and map out each store’s deals in there throughout the week, tear out that sheet, and put it in an envelope with that store’s Q’s. I found reusable plastic envelopes (similar to a plastic accordion, just without the extra pockets) at Publix so now they don’t get torn up anymore!

Recently, I found groceryiq.com where I can organize lists by store and each item has a notes section where I note everything from mapping out the final price to where to find the coupon if I don’t have them handy at the moment. There is an Android app and an Apple app (free!) so I always have access to it between my phone, iPad, and computer. No more spiral notebook for me!!

Lisa:

On Sundays when there are no inserts, I use the time I would have spent perusing and clipping for clean out instead. I go through old inserts, manu. Books, AllYou, etc to clear out expired coupons and make room for more the next week.

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: Food for Thought on Freezing

Today we’re going to hear from Heather from over at Heather’s Hints…she has some great information for us about freezing various products. One of the questions I get asked the most is “Can I freeze this?” so I know this will come in handy for a lot of us! Take it away, Heather!

As a child I used to tease my grandmother that she kept the door locked on the deep freeze on the back porch but the door to her house was always open. She would tell me that what was in the freezer represented months of hard work and to replace it would cost a lot of money. What I didn’t realize then, but I do now, is that what she did to help frugally provide for her family isn’t that far away from what I do for mine. While I don’t plant a full vegetable garden every spring I do find fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy items on sale, and hopefully with a coupon too, and store as much as I can for as long as I can for maximum savings. Below you will find my favorite types of items to freeze and all my tips and resources for doing so.

Meat
Is it cooked or uncooked? This will determine how you need to package it and how long you can safely store it in the freezer. Unless it is vacuum packed, remove it from its original packaging. The plastic wrap and Styrofoam plate that meat usually comes on offers no protection in a freezer. If you know you will be using it soon, like within the week, butcher paper and tape should work just fine. If the meat is on the bone, double wrap or wrap then bag for prolonged storage. Ground meat like hamburger can be stored in zip lock type freezer bags laid flat to freeze and then set standing up for more storage space (this method is also great for freezing soups and sauces).

Safety is also a major concern when storing meat. Make sure you use proper thawing techniques; some parasites can revive after lying dormant during freezing. Washing meat before freezing is not required but it is most certainly required before cooking. The amount of time a meat is frozen is also important. I follow the time chart as well as all the tips given by the USDA on storing meat.

Dairy
This is one of my favorite food groups to freeze. When the children’s yogurt tubes go on sale with coupons I buy them in bulk and freeze them. My children love them frozen almost as much as they do in their natural state. I also freeze butter, cream cheese, and hard cheeses of all kinds. Bags of shredded frozen cheese work great in casseroles, no thawing required. Did you know that if you bake or cook a lot you can freeze milk and eggs too? They need extra preparation for freezing and I wouldn’t recommend drinking or eating them by themselves when thawed but for baking it works great and you cannot tell the difference. I use the dairy freezer guide over at NDSU for helpful hints on freezing dairy products.

Produce
As with dairy, freezing produce takes a little preparatory work, but for the money you save over the year it can certainly be worth your time. You will need to use the freshest produce you can find, and freeze it as soon as you can. Make sure to wash and dry everything thoroughly and cut into uniform sized pieces. If the item is fruit you can freeze them as is, in water, or in simple syrup. With veggies, it depends on the vegetable and how you intend to use it, some do better cooked, others raw. I use the freezing vegetable guide over at Garden Guides as to what each vegetable may need.

General freezing tips and hints:

• Make your wrapping/plastic bags/containers as airtight as possible.
• If freezing anything in liquid form make sure you give it at least 20% head room to expand.
• Clearly label and mark all containers including a date.
• Just like rotating any other stockpile items, move new things to the back or bottom of the freezer and older items to the front or top.
• Check the maintenance schedule and capacity limits of your freezer. This will help ensure the best environment for your food.
• Remember freezing during holiday food sales as a way to use those sales to your advantage. Fresh cranberries in November make wonderful muffins or scones in February.

With these helpful resources and tips I hope you begin to think about using your freezer as a way to help your family save money on groceries. Go ahead and give it a try, your Grandma would be proud!

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Heather! 

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: 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!

 

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