I got paid to shop at Publix

So I went to Publix last night.

We usually go on Wednesdays because it's Penny Item day (Publix brand sliced cheese this week), and honestly, how can you beat a deal like that? Since Boy was knee-deep in chemistry (He's in summer school!), he had to skip last night's trip. I think he was really sad he missed it, though. But because I'm completely incapable of being by myself for an extended period of time, I asked my mommy to go with me, since she'd been curious about this whole couponing thing.

I did my usual Southern Savers prep and noticed a good amount of reasonably priced stuff.

Rabbit hole: People who are curious about couponing always ask me how I do it, even though I've only been couponing for a short time. The answer is Southern Savers. Without all of the work Jenny puts into her sale/coupon matchups, there's no way we'd be able to approach the small amount of success we've had so far. If I ever get to meet Jenny, I'm giving her a hug or taking her out to dinner or something. She's amazing.

Back to the regularly scheduled programming:

After a slow start at the store, we finally made some headway finding the items we needed. You'd think I'd remember the aisles, considering I go there once a week and they have a guide ON THE SHOPPING CART. But you'd be wrong.

I had a fairly extensive list and if I could find almost everything on that list, not only would I be able to use 2 Penny Item coupons, but I'd be able to use my $5 off a purchase of $30 or more coupon from the Summer Breakfasts insert (I only had the 2 PI coupons because I didn't expect to get to $30 or even close to it. Should have gotten 3).

Luckily, the total before coupons was just over $30 so that $5 off coupon helped tremendously. Anyway, here's the haul. Before you remark about its small size (like Boy did), let me explain first.

Grand total: - $2.13; Total savings: $42.98

You read that correctly, folks. My grand total was NEGATIVE $2.13. And with a recent change in their coupon policy, my wonderfully sweet Publix cashier literally reached into the register and handed me $2.13. I'm not meaning to brag about this, but I was really really excited. We'd been chasing our 100% savings goal for a while, but we'd never actually avoided paying at least something out of pocket. It was crazy.

But it doesn't look like much! How as all of that $43? I know, right? It doesn't look like much at all. Let's break it down, though:

-2 boxes of pasta regularly priced at $1.99 each (purchased at $.66 each w/ sale and coupons)
-2 boxes of pasta regularly priced at $1.89 each (purchased at $.44 each w/ sale and coupons)
-1 package of imitation crab meat regularly priced at $2.99 (purchased at $.49 w/ sale and coupons)
-1 container of Greek Yogurt regularly priced at $1 (purchased at $.15 w/ sale and coupon)
-2 Publix brand American singles regularly priced at $2.99 each (purchased at $.01 each w/ PI coupons)
-2 bottles of vitamins regularly priced at $3.59 each (purchased at, wait for it, -$.41 each w/ sale and coupons)
-2 boxes of insect traps one regularly priced at $4.69 and the other at $8.29 (purchased at -$.56 each w/ sale and coupons)

It kinda added up quickly. I was going to get some $.34 Country Crock butter-type product spread (giggle), but the sale combined with some good coupons cleaned them out by the time I got there. So I got my first rain check!

Never gotten one of these before! I'm a dork.

 I was pretty excited about the savings for this trip. The extra $5 off helped a lot--it was the difference between a $2.70 bill (still really really good) and a neat situation where the store actually had to pay me the overage.

My mom was pretty interested in the amount of planning and organization it takes to really make couponing work. She'd be crazy-good at it. When she finally decides to retire, look out, grocery stores! Sara will legally rob you blind!

I do want to brag on something, though, and it has absolutely nothing to do with me. I love Publix. Love it. Kroger is usually a great shopping experience, but I have to give the best over all shopping experience award to Publix. Their slogan, "Publix, where shopping is a pleasure," is pretty much dead on. All, and I do mean every single one, of the employees I talked to were helpful and nice. Even when a couple of the coupons didn't want to scan, my cashier just manually overrode the system (after carefully studying the coupon to make sure it was valid) and kept smiling. I'm excited for the new location at the corner of North College and Shug Jordan. Two Publixes! Auburn is growing up :)

I'd say last night's trip was a good confidence booster. I wish Boy would have been able to see it, but I'm glad I had my mommy with me. We'll see how next week's Kroger visit goes. It'll be hard to top being paid to shop, though.

Oh, and just so you don't think I'm making it up, here's my receipt from last night :)

Neat, huh?

Until next time.