Coupon Article

Check out this article on the value of couponing!

Food Giant 2/24/10 - 3/2/10

Food Giant 2/24/10 - 3/2/10


Food Giant accepts coupons, but only doubles on Monday. They double up to 90 cents.

They do not accept internet coupons. They match competitors ads every day except Monday. And Wednesdays are Super Seniors Day. Seniors get a 5% discount off their entire order (exluding tobacco and alcoholic beverages).

MEAT

Ground chuck: 1.78/lb

10 lb bag chicken leg quarters: .48/lb

Cook's ham, shank portion: 1.18/lb

Rib Eye steak: 5.99/lb

Top Chick chicken fingers: 5.99 each (Great Deal! My family loves this and this is a great price!)

Boneless pork chops: 2.79/lb

Shoulder steak: 2.39/lb

Tennesse Pride sausage patties 24 oz: 3.49

Gwaltney jumbo franks or 1lb bologna: 1.19

Gwaltney sliced bacon: 1.99

Gwaltney ham or turkey 10oz pkg: 1.99

Conecuh smoke sausage 1 lb pkg: 2.79

Cades Cove BBQ: 5.49

Foster Farms CornDogs 29 oz minis or 2.67 lb reg.: 4.49

On Cor Patties or Nibblers: 1.39

-.30/1 On Cor entrees (source unknown)

Buddig lunch meat 2 oz pkg: 2/$1

-$1/1 Buddig deli cuts 1/17/10 SS exp 3/30/10 (if this kind is on sale)

$1/1 Buddig deli cuts 2/07/10 SS exp 4/30/10

Sea Best Tilapia 1lb: 3.79

I.Q.F. medium shrimp 51-60ct: 5.99 lb

I.Q.F grouper fillets: 6.99 lb

Catfish fillets: 4.99 lb

PRODUCE

Red Ripe Florida Strawberries 1 lb: 2.48 each

Seedless grapes: 1.68 lb

Idaho potatoes 5 lb bag: 1.68 each (WOW!!!)

Red delicious apples 8 lb bag: 5.98

Seedless navel oranges 8 lb bag: 5.98

Ready-to-eat Dole salads: 1.28

Roma tomatoes: .98/lb

Jumbo yellow onions: .68/lb

Green Giant baby carrots 1 lb pkg: 1.18

Sweet Gold Pineapples: 2.48

Large bunch collards: 1.98

Celery: 1.38

Plums, nectarines, peaches: 2.28/lb

DAIRY

Freshland large eggs 1 dozen: $1

Borden cheese, shredded or chunks 8 oz: 3/$5

Food Club spread 1 lb quarters: .68

Coffeemate creamer 16 oz: 1.78

-.75/1 2/7/10 RP exp 5/7/10


.50/1 2/7/10 RP exp 5/7/10

Tropicana orange juice 59-64 oz: 2.88

-$1/2 2/21/10 RP exp 4/30/10

Merico biscuits, Texas style 5 ct: 2/$1

FROZEN

McKenzie's creamed corn 20 oz: $1

McKenzie's selected varieties 16 oz: $1

Hungry Man dinners 16-18 oz select varieties: 2/$5

T.J. Farms french fries: 2.88

Bird's Eye steamfresh vegetables 10-16 oz selected varieties: 2/$4

-.50/1 2/7/10 SS exp 3/7/10

Mrs. Paul's Fish Sticks 24 oz: 4.99

Country Club ice cream 56 oz:2/$3

CANNED AND BOXED

Hormel chili w/beans: $1

-.55/2 1/24/10 SS exp 3/21/10

Bumble Bee tuna 5 oz: .58

-$1/2 2/21/10 SS exp 5/31/10

Bryan vienna sausage 5 oz: 2/.88

Bryan potted meat 3 oz: 3/$1

Cheez-It Crackers 9 oz original or white cheddar: 2/$3

Nestle candy singles selected varieties: 2/$1

Food Club beans 15 oz: .68

Allens green beans 14-15 oz: .68

Hunt's spaghetti sauce 26 oz: .98

Food Club flour 5lb bag: 2/$3

Martha White muffin mix 7 oz: .78

DRINKS

Coke products 12 pk 12 oz cans: 3/$11

Dasani water 24 pk .5 liter bottles: 4.99

Gold Peak tea .5 liter bottles: 4/$5

Fuze 18.5 oz: 4/$5

VALU TIME PRODUCTS

Peach slices 29 oz: $1

Mac & cheese 6.25 oz- 3/$1

Apple Juice cocktail 64 oz- $1

Vegetables 16 oz frozen: .88

Tea bags 100 ct: .88

Peanut butter 18 oz: 1.38

Dill pickles 32 oz: 1.48

Ketchup 24 oz: .88

Dog food 18 lb bag: 4.98

Cereal 9-10 oz: .88

Paper towels 3 reg roll pkg: 1.68

Cookies 6-13 oz: 1.28

Saltines 16b oz: 1.18

Tomatoes 14 oz or tomato paste 15 oz: .58

Foam plates 40 ct: $1

Bath tissue 4 reg rolls 2 ply: .88

Coffee creamer 22 oz powdered: 1.88

Evaporated milk 12 oz can: .78

Hot cocoa mix 10 oz reg or 8 ct sugar free: 1.08

Cooking oil 48 oz vegetable: 2.28

Quick oats 42 oz: 1.88

Sandwich slices 10 oz: .88

Frozen biscuits 20 ct southern style or buttermilk: 2.98

Bleach 1 gallon: $1

PET FOOD

Nunn Better dog food 16 lb bag: 5.49

Some Grocery Match-ups!

Go here for this week's Publix match-ups.
Go here for this week's Winn-Dixie match-ups.
There should be a match-up for Bruno's here later on.
There should be a match-up for Food world here later on.

I will try to get Food Giant and Piggly Wiggly ads covered later today. If not, it will be up first thing tomorrow morning. Happy saving!

Additional Coupon Instructions Available

So, we've gone over the bare bones of couponing. There are better, more in-depth tutorials on couponing availoable on other sites, like SouthernsSavers.com and KrazyCouponLady.com. Check them out. These ladies are AWESOME!!! Just remember to come back here for your local ad match-ups. I will cover local stores that no one else covers. And, if I don't cover your favorite store, let me know! I'll be happy to add them to the line-up. I will begin addressing each stores individual policies and programs on Wednesday, when I begin covering local ads.


I will provide links to the match-ups for our major stores like Publix and Winn-Dixie. Then I'll start covering the smaller stores like Food Giant, Food World and Piggly Wiggly. I've seen some coverage for the Pig, but sometimes it's spotty.

In addition, I'll post tips and special buys that I come across. So stay tuned! The match-ups will begin on Wednesday!

Couponing - Part Four

Back to the couponing basics!


Once you have your coupons clipped and organized you are pretty much ready to go. From this point you should start checking your local grocery and drug store ads. Or, check the internet for sites that match your ads for you. Southernsavers.com is my favorite for the drugstore ads and Publix. However, most of the local Birmingham stores are not covered on the internet. I will start covering some of those in the near future.

These ad match-ups tell you what items are on sale, what coupons to use and where to get those coupons.

Now, this isn't like your usual shopping. You are not going to be able to get your regular set of groceries on the cheap like this. You will have to learn stockpiling.

Stockpiling is when you purchase only what you can get on sale with coupons that week. You buy multiples of those items. Then the next week, buy multiples of what you find on sale, and so forth and so on.

Let me give you an example. This week Winn-Dixie has Lipton tea on sale for $1.29. I had four 50 cent off coupons for this product ( I buy four copies of the newspaper each week so that I will have multiple coupons). So the coupon doubles to $1 off and I have enough tea for almost two months for only 29 cents per box.

Whoops, battery is dying. More later! Ta-ta!

More wireless issues

Okay, I'm still having problems getting a signal. I think it's time for a new router. Stay tuned. I'll get this fixed and complete the couponing series.

Winn-Dixie Ad Match-up 2/17-2/23

Go here for the Winn-Dixie ad match-up! Happy shopping!

Couponing Posts

I know I've left you hanging with the coupon how-to. My apologies. I will try to get back on schedule by tomorrow at the latest. Being a working woman and also a mother and wife, I often find myself overwhelmed with tasks. But I will try to carve out some time each day to compose these posts for you. So hang in there! I'll be getting to the next couponing post shortly!

My trip to Publix

So I ran in to Publix Tuesday night to grab a few things. Here's my catch:

Nivea body wash, regularly $5.99, on sale for $2.89. I used my $2/1 coupons and got six of these for 89 cents each.

Ziploc freezer bags, on sale for $1.50. I used my .40/1 coupons which doubled to .80 and got four of these for 70 cents each.

Lipton tea 100 ct, regularly $3.99, on sale BOGO. I used my .50/1 coupons which doubled to $1 and got four of these for $1 each.

And lastly, Mrs. Paul's fish sticks, regularly $3.99, on sale BOGO. I didn't have coupons for this but it was a great deal on something my kids love.

Publix's new sale starts today. To get the ad matchup go here and click on the Publix tab. Select "Weekly Ad" then click on the current ad. They give you the ability to print a grocery list complete with coupon match-ups. Enjoy!

My trip to Food Giant

Quick update! I ran in to Food Giant last night on my way home from work. I had four of the 75 cents off 3 boxes of Hamburger Helper coupons. I picked up 12 boxes (three each of four different types) at $1 each. The coupons doubled and I paid $6 for 12 boxes of Hamburger Helper. Talk about a cheap dinner! A couple of months ago, there was an Internet Printable coupon for 50 cents off ground beef. When Winn-Dixie put their ground beef on sale for 99 cents a pound, I grabbed up multiple one pound packages. The coupons doubled to $1 off and I got several pounds of hamburger for free! This was one of those rare internet coupons that allowed you to print multiples copies. I froze the beef for later use. So, free hamburger and 50 cent Hamburger Helper makes for 12 dinners that cost me only 50 cents each!


Now that's what I'm talking about! Go coupons!

Deal at Food Giant!

Just a quick note to let you know about the great deal at Food Giant. They have their Hamburger Helper on sale for $1 per box until tomorrow. There is a coupon for 75 cents off a purchase of 3 boxes (I think it was in the January 3 paper). Food Giant will double this coupon today only (they only double on Mondays, but they double up to 90 cents). So if you purchase 3 boxes at $1 each, use one coupon, doubled to take $1.50 off, then you will pay only 50 cents per box! That's a great deal! I don't know about you guys, but we eat a lot of quick meals and my family loves Hamburger Helper. Check it out!

I'm baaack!!!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Due to the inclement weather I haven't been able to get out and find a good signal. I should be back on my posting schedule by later today or tomorrow. We'll get to the next stage of couponing soon! Later!

Couponing - Part Three

Today we will discuss how to organize your coupons for maximum efficiency. It used to be that I would just put a few coupons in my purse with the intention of whipping them out at the cash register. Invariably, I would forget them. So when I became serious about couponing I knew I would have to have a better system.


I have tried several methods but my favorite by far is the shoebox method. I took a small shoebox and made dividers from index cards. I created categories by labeling the index cards. Every Sunday after I purchase my coupons, I clip the ones I know I’ll use and also ones I think I might use. Then I organize them by category and place them in the box. The box fits easily into a shopping cart basket and simplifies my shopping trip by placing everything at hand.

Another method is the coupon binder. This is created by using a large zippered binder and multiple baseball card holder sleeves. The coupons fit into the sleeves and you can see exactly what you are looking for as you flip the pages. I tried this myself, adding dividers to separate my categories. It quickly became too much work for me.

A third method is the file. Some couponers simply place the entire coupon insert, unclipped, into a file folder labeled with the date and type of insert. This is a simple method but didn’t work for me because I didn’t have my mental list of coupons since I hadn’t actually handled and clipped the coupons.

When you shop, take your whole box or binder with you. You never know when you will happen on an unadvertised sale and need a coupon from your stockpile.

Tomorrow, look for my next couponing post…The Basic Rules of Coupons.

See ya!

Couponing - Part 2

Now that we know where to get our coupons, it’s time to learn the lingo. Couponers have their own special language that can be somewhat mystifying. Never fear! I have your “decoder ring” here!




There are four major coupon inserts that come in the newspaper. Here they are:

SS: This is the Smart Source insert.

RP: This is the Red Plum insert.

P&G: This is the Proctor & Gamble insert.

GM: This is the General Mills insert.



Other terms you may need to know are:

IP: This is shorthand for “Internet Printable”.

Catalina: These are the coupons that print out at the cash register at your grocery store.

OOP: This stands for “out of pocket”. This is how much you actually spend after all coupons, etc.

BOGO, B1G1: This is short for “buy one get one free”.

MIR: Short for “Mail In Rebate”.

Blinkie: These are the little machines you sometimes find in the grocery aisles that produce coupons. They are called blinkies because of the blinking light on it.

Peelie: These are coupons that you find stuck to the product itself.

Hangtag: These are coupons that you find around the neck of some bottles.

SCR: Single Check Rebate. This is the rewards program for Rite Aid.

ECB or EB: Extra Care Bucks or Extra Bucks. This is the rewards program for CVS.

RR: Register Rewards. This is the rewards program for Walgreens.



This is the basic jargon for couponers. Tune in tomorrow to find out what’s next!

Couponing - Part One (Continued)

Okay, we left off yesterday at internet coupons. I mentioned Coupons.com. There are other free coupon sites. One is Smart Source and another is Red Plum. The coupons you get from these sites are free. Simply select the coupons you want and click print. These sites require you to download the coupon printer application. This is free and completely safe.


Internet coupons generally limit you to two copies. On the sites mentioned above, after you've printed you can generally go back to the home page and start over for a second print.

There are also "free-standing" coupons called bricks coupons that are generally put out by the manufacturer of the product. You can find these by visiting the manufacturer sites of your favorite products. These are related to Coupons.com. To get a second print of these coupons you will need to hit your back-bar.

Another source of coupons could be your friends and family. If they don't use coupons, they might be willing to give you what they receive in their own newspapers. Or you could set up a swap and drop where you exchange coupons that you don't use. Someone else might drop off something you can use.

Next phase - Coupon Lingo!

Couponing - Part 1

This blog is dedicated to helping local folks save money in this tough economy. To that end, I would like to give those who don't know a quick rundown on the basics of couponing. I will do this in phases, since I am a working mom and I update this blog on my lunchbreaks :)

Part One - Where to find coupons

Of course, the obvious place is the Sunday paper. You can get your paper at a local Dollar Tree store for only a dollar plus tax. I usually get four copies, so that I can stock up when there is a great deal.

Also, you can get coupons from flyers that come in mail occasionally.

A great source for coupons is the internet. My personal favorite site is http://www.coupons.com/.

Okay, lunch is over! I will give you more coupon sources when we continue!

To Get Started...

While I'm putting everything together, go check out SouthernSavers.com. This site has grocery ads for Publix and Winn-Dixie as well as all the local chain drugstores. Check it out!

Coming Soon!

Coming Soon! Savings at local grocery stores in Birmingham, AL. Stay tuned!