Publix Weekly Ad Sneak Peek 12/26 - 1/4

Well its another 10 day ad, running into next year so you'll have to use up all those coupons that expire 12/31/11. I didn't see any great deals, especially not moneymakers but you never know what printable coupons will come out.

BOGOsWelch’s 100% Grape Juice, 64 oz, (excluding Welch’s Drinks & Cocktails)
Pace Chunky Salsa, Sauce, or Pico de Gallo, 16 oz, (excluding Mexican Four Cheese Salsa con Queso, 16 oz)
Kraft Mayo Squeeze Mayonnaise, or Miracle Whip, 22 oz
Ruffles Potato Chips, 8.5 to 10 oz, (excluding Baked, Light, and Natural)
Cheez It Baked Snack Crackers, 9.75 to 14 oz
Arnold Sandwich Thins 8 ct
Emerald Mixed Nuts or Cashews, 10 to 11.5 oz
Carol Shelby’s Chili Kit, 3 or 4 oz box
A1 Steak Sauce, 10 oz
Kraft Barbecue Sauce, 16.25 to 18 oz
Green Giant Vegetables, Assorted Varieties 4 pk.
College Inn Broth, 32 oz
Hunt’s 100% Natural Tomatoes, Puree, or Sauce 28 to 29 oz
Post Cereal: Selects, or Great Grains, 13 to 16 oz
General Mills Chex Mix, Gardetto’s, or Bugles, 7.5 to 8.75 oz
Pepperidge Farm Bread, 24 oz
Wrigley’s Eclipse, Orbit, or Juicy Fruit Gum, Or Life Savers Mints, 60 to 85 ct
Pop Secret Premium Popcorn, 11.2 to 19.2 oz
Rotel Tomatoes, 10 oz
Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough, 16 to 16.5 oz
Kozy Shack Pudding, 22 oz, or 6pk
Mayfield Ice Cream, Assorted Varieties, 48 oz
Fat Boy or Fat Boy Jr. Ice Cream Sandwich, 4 to 9 ct
Jimmy Dean D-Lights Sandwiches, or Chicken Biscuit, 4 ct Sandwiches
Pepperidge Farm Three Layer Cake, 19 to 19.6 oz
TGI Friday’s Frozen Snacks, 7.6 to 11 oz
Quirch Foods Yuca, 48 oz
Florida’s Natural Orange Juice, 59 oz
Shelled Black eye Peas, 12 oz.
Florida Grape Tomatoes, 1 pt
Perdue Chicken Breast Nuggets: Regular, Fun Shapes, Whole Grain, or Strips, 12 oz. Nabisco Toasted Chips, Ritz, or Wheat Thins, 5 to 10 oz
Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Bread, or Hearty Sliced Honey Wheat, 24 oz,
Kraft Shredded Cheese, 7 to 8 oz
Solo Plastic Cups 24 to 50 ct, or Plastic Plates, 12 ct
Sterilite Clearview Latch Box, 66 qt.
Colgate Fluoride Toothpaste, 6.4 oz

Meat
Whole Boneless Pork Loin, $1.99/lb
Cumberland Gap Smoked Pork Jowl, $2.99/lb
Boneless Chuck Pot Roast, $3.99/lb
Boneless Chuck Steaks, $4.29/lb
Top Round London Broil, $4.49/lb
Top Round Steaks, $4.79/lb
Boston Butt Roast, $1.99/lb
Pork Steaks, $2.29/lb
Boneless Pork Loin Chops, $3.49/lb, or Thin Sliced, $3.79/lb
Hormel Country Crock Side Dishes, 2/$5
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Cutlets, $3.99/lb
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders, $4.49/lb
Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Shaved Lunch Meats, or Carving Board, 7 to 9 oz, 3/$10
Nathan’s Beef Franks, Sausage Loops, Cocktail Franks, or Beef Smokies, 12 to 16 oz, 2/$7
Boneless New York Strip Steaks, $7.99/lb
Boneless Whole New York Strip, in the Bag, Cut & Wrapped Free, $5.99/lb
Ground Round, $3.99/lb
Ground Round Patties, $4.29/lb

Bakery
Chocolate Overload Cake, $4.99
Breakfast Bread, 20 oz, $3.99
Assorted Loaf Cakes, 12 or 16 oz, $3.99
French Hamburger Buns, 8 ct, $2.99
Small Crème Cakes, $3.49
Cornbread, 15 oz, $4.59

Dairy
Dannon Activia Yogurt, 4 pk., 3/$6
Claussen Pickles, 20 to 32 oz, 2/$4
Kraft American Cheese Singles, 12 oz, 2/$5
Publix Shredded Cheese, 32 oz, $7.49
Voskos Greek Yogurt, 4.6 oz, 10/$10

Beer & Wine
Korbel Champagne, 750 ml, $10.99
Moet & Chandon Champagne, 750 ml, $36.99
Sebastiani Sonoma Wine, 750 ml, $12.99
Corona 18 pk, $17.99
Mike’s Hard or Smirnoff Malt Beverage 12 pk., $10.99
Kenwood Sonoma County Wine 750 ml, $9.29
Lindeman’s Wine, 750 ml, $5.49
Budweiser, Miller, Coors Beer 18 pk., $13.99
Cupcake Vineyard Wine, 750 ml, $7.47
La Crema Wine, 750 ml, $17.99
Magic Hat Beer, 12 pk., $13.49
Beringer Wine, 1.5 L, $10.49
CK Mondavi Wine, 1.5 L, $9.49
Stella Artois Beer, 12 pk., $13.49
Shock Top Ale, 12 pk., $13.49
Bud Light Lime Beer, 12 pk., $10.99
Banfi Wine, 750 ml, $15.99

Deli
Fresh Chilled Mojo Rotisserie Chicken, $4.99 or Hot, $5.99
Boar’s Head Roast Beef Half Sub Combo, $5.99
Publix Deli Salsa, 16 oz, $2.99
Boar’s Head Top Round Roast Beef, $9.69/lb
Boar’s Head Picante Sharp Provolone, $8.49/lb
Flat-out Fold-It Artisan Flatbreads, 8.5 to 9 oz, 2/$5
Deli Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Logs, 16 oz, $5.99

Frozen
Weight Watchers Smart Ones, (excluding Steam Bags), 3.95 to 12 oz, 5/$10
DiGiorno or California Pizza Kitchen Pizza, 12.6 to 34.2 oz, 2/$12
Publix Buttermilk Biscuits, Frozen, 12 pk., 2/$5

Grocery
Publix Black eye Peas, 16 oz, $1.19
Selected Coca Cola 2 L, $1.89, B2G1
Zatarain’s New Orleans Style Mixes, Rice or Pasta, 5.2 to 8 oz, 10/$10
Lay’s Dip, 10 to 15 oz, 2/$6
Selected Canada Dry, 7 Up, A&W, or Diet Rite 12 pk., 3/$12, B3G1, Final Price 4/$12
Starbucks Coffee, 11 to 12 oz, $6.99
Bertolli Pasta Sauce, 15 to 24 oz, (excluding Organics), 2/$4
Capri Sun Juice Drink Blend, or Lemonade or Roarin Waters, (excluding 100% Juice), 10 pk., 3/$6
Selected Coca Cola 8 or 12 pk., 3/$12
Red Bull Energy Drink, 4 pk., $7.99, B2G1
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing, or Farmhouse Originals, (excluding Organic Ranch), 16 oz, 2/$5
Nature Valley Granola Bars, Thins, or Trail Mix Bars, 6 to 8.94 oz, 2/$5
Tang Drink Mix, 20 oz, 2/$4
Rico Enriched Rice, 5 lb, $3.59
Bustelo Coffee 10 oz, $2.99
Mott’s Clamato Tomato Juice, 64 oz, $3.99
Publix Condensed Milk, 14 oz, $1.99

Health & Beauty
Pampers Cruisers, Swaddlers, or Baby Dry Diapers, 20 to 42 ct, $8.99
Gerber Graduates Yogurt Melts, Blends, Fruit & Cereal Bars, Bite Size Snacks, Juice Treats, or Fruit or Cereal Twists, 1 to 6 oz, 2/$5
St. Ives Energizing Body Wash, 13.5 oz, $1.39
St. Ives Facial Scrubs, 6 to 10 oz, 2/$5
EAS Advantedge Carb Control Shake, 4 pk., 2/$10
Herbal Essences or Aussie Hair Care, 3.5 to 12 oz, 2/$5
Herbal Essences or Aussie Hair Care, 23.7 to 29.2 oz, $4.99
Aleve Pain Reliever, 80 to 100 ct, or Bayer, 200 ct, $7.99
One a Day Multivitamins, 30 to 200 ct, 25% off
L’Oreal Facial Moisturizers, .4 to 4 oz, $5 off
Icy Hot Medicated Patch or Sleeve, 3 to 5 ct, 2/$10
Gold Bond Ultimate Lotion, 13 to 14 oz, $6.99
Allegra Allergy Medication, 30 ct, (excluding D), $17.99

Household
Brawny Paper Towels, 6 ct, $5.99
Quilted Northern Bathroom Tissue, 12 pk., $6.49
Pledge Furniture Polish, or Multisurface Clean & Dust, 9.7 to 16 oz, 2/$6
Purex Ultra Laundry Detergent 83 to 100 oz, $4.99
Snuggle Fabric Softener, 32 oz, $2.99
Glad Drawstring Bags, 40 to 78 ct, $9.99
Formula 409 Cleaner, 32 oz, 2/$4
Vanity Fair Napkins, 40 to 100 ct, 2/$3
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, 35 ct, 2/$4
Pine-Sol All-Purpose Cleaner, 48 oz, 2/$6
Kingsford Charcoal Briquettes 11.1 to 16.6 lb, $6.99
Swiffer Disposable Dusters, Swiffer Sweeper Small Cloth Refills, 3 to 16 ct, or Wet Jet Refills, 42.2 oz, 2/$8

Pets
Purina Friskies Cat Food 5.5 oz, 10/$5
Purina One Adult Dog Food, or Senior, 18 lb, $17.99
Newman’s Own Organics Cat Food, 3 lb, $7.99
Publix Crunchy Dog Treats, 26 oz, 2/$5
Iams Dog Food, 6.1 to 7 lb, $9.49

Produce
Florida Vegetables: Yellow Squash, Zucchini, or Green Beans, $.99/lb
Glory Greens: Collard, Kale, Mustard, or Turnip, 16 oz, $1
Red Seedless Grapes, $1.69/lb
Asparagus, $2.99/lb
Hass Avocados, 10/$10
Publix Salad Blend, 5 to 12 oz, 2/$4
Blueberries or Florida Strawberries, 1 pt or 16 oz, 2/$6
Idaho Potatoes, 5 lb, 2/$5
Idaho Potatoes, 10 lb, $4.89
Cantaloupes, 2/$3
Cherries, $2.99/lb

Seafood
Medium Shrimp Platter, 18 oz, 30% off
Medium Lobster Tails, 5 oz minimum, $8.99
Fresh Tilapia Fillets, $6.99/lb
Extra Large White Shrimp, 21 to 25 per pound, $9.99/lb
King Crab Clusters, $15.99/lb
Phillips Crab Cakes, 6 oz, $6.99

Top Hat New Year Balloon, $9.99

Thanks to Slickdeals for ad. To see the matchups at iheartpublix go HERE.

12/25 Sunday Coupon Inserts

Well, there are rumors that we'll be getting a P&G insert in the Christmas Sunday paper, but I have my doubts. But, then again we did get a P&G on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We know definitely there will not be SS or RP, and according to the P&G website the next insert is January 1, 2012. So, I've cancelled my extra papers and I'll find out Sunday morning if I need to scurry out and try to find a store open to buy more papers if there is a P&G insert.

 

This week is a great time to toss out all those expired inserts and organize your coupons.

Win a $100 Amazon GC every Year for Life!

Appsumo has a giveaway for a $100 Amazon Giftcard every year for life which seems pretty great to me. All you have to provide is an email address so it's a simple, easy entry. Ten (10) lucky winners will get the prize. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM CST on 12/28/2011. It could be you... 

 

Enter HERE

Seven Ways To Chop Down Your Phone Bill

Telephone service is a requirement for most people. It is one of those necessary evils in life. However, just because it necessary does not mean that it has to bog your wallet down. There are ways you can have a significant amount of phone service and not have to spend every penny. The following tips will help you to save on telephone service.

1.   Choose Mobile Phone Service Over Landline Service
Even if you are a work at home mom who hardly ever leaves your home, it will still be cheaper for you to use a cell phone as your home phone unit. The reason is the long distance charges. Landline companies usually charge extra for long distance calls. Just about every cellular phone provider offers nationwide calls as a part of the monthly allotment. This one change can save you a huge amount of money and you can speak to your friends and family members as much as you like.
2.   Choose Plans with Free Minutes
The best mobile phone plan is one that offers unlimited minutes. If that's too expensive, the alternative option is to choose a plan that offers free night and weekend minutes. The hours may vary between providers. You just need to investigate and choose the option that best fits your situation.
3.   Try Prepaid Service
Many prepaid service providers offer excellent monthly packages. The great thing about prepaid plans is that you can stop paying for them whenever you like. With a post-paid plan, you have to pay the bill every month whether you use the phone or not. Prepaid plans give you the freedom to cut your expenses any month that you see fit to do such. Some providers will allow you to skip three months before they release your phone number.
4.   Make it Basic
You can cut down your monthly telephone bill significantly by passing on  the extra features. If you do not absolutely positively need text messaging and data, cut them from the bill. The reason you have a phone is to make calls. Downgrading to a cheaper plan will not prevent you from doing so.
5.   Ask About Discounts
Some cellular phone providers reward their faithful customers with discounts. They give special V.I.P. privileges to people who maintain service and pay on time. In addition, customers who work at specific companies may be eligible for a discount on their monthly bills. Check with your provider and inquire about all eligible discounts. If some of them pertain to you, opt to take them.
6.   Perform Frequent Price Plan Checks
If you do not have an unlimited plan, check your usage each month to see if you can possibly move to a cheaper price plan. You might find that you have not been using nearly enough minutes as your current plan allows. If it looks like you can save money by downgrading your plan, tell the customer service representative to cut you down.
7.   Make Referrals
Not all cell phone companies offer discounts to customers who refer other people, but some do. Make a phone call to your provider and ask about referral rewards. If you are persuasive enough, you just might be able to maintain a free cellular phone account.

There are many tips and tricks to lowering your telephone bill. Test these out individually or in any combination. Your next bill should be a lot lower than your previous statements.

Talia Martinez likes to shop, write about personal finance, and writes for travelinsurance.org.

My Publix Trip - Got paid $1.29

I finally feel like I'm getting back in the groove after being on vacation last week and out of the loop with couponing. It killed me to shop with my sister who buys whatever her sweet little mind wants and chids me for trying to get her to pick the less expensive option, since "money is no object". We are total opposites as far as our finances and behaviors. Anyway, we had a great time at the beach, boating, sightseeing and canoeing. She does look up to me so there is hope.

 

So, I was pleased to see a nice moneymaker this week with the Zephyrhills water. The Alka Seltzer cold meds are a nice filler to bring the totals up so I can stack competitor and PQ $ off $$ coupons. This is a good ad to have longer for 10 days. The next ad will be out on the 26th and run long too.

So here's my shop. I miscalculated and they ended up paying me a small amount for my cart full of groceries.

 

15-Dec	44		79.29	12.33	68.25	tax	-1.29	53	-101.63%
Product	qty	price	subtl	-B1G1	-Q		total	Q#	Q details
lettuce	1	1.29	1.29				1.29
mushrooms	1	2.69	2.69				2.69
cucumber	1	0.75	0.75				0.75
onions	1	0.50	0.50				0.50
Bailys creamers	2	2.19	4.38		3.00		1.38	3	$1/1 MQ + $1/2 PQ wntr svgs bk
Drinking Water 2.5 gal	1	1.99	1.99				1.99
Pompien Cooking Wine	2	1.50	3.00		1.00		2.00	2	$0.50/1 print
OreIda Hash Browns BOGO	6	2.79	16.74	8.37	7.50		0.87	5	$1.50/3 MQ all trim bk + $1.50/2 12-4 SS TQ
Zephyrhills 1L water BOGO	8	0.99	7.92	3.96	8.00		-4.04	8	$1/1 MQ print
Smart Balance Milk 1/2 gal	4	2.50	10.00		6.00		4.00	4	$1.50/1 MQ printable
Friskies cat treat	10	1.25	12.50		13.75		-1.25	15	BOGO TQ + $1.50/2 12-4SS MQ
Oral B toothbrush	4	1.39	5.56		7.00		-1.44	8	$1/1 PQ + $0.75/1 MQ 11-27PG
Alka Seltzer Plus 20ct	3	3.99	11.97		12.00		-0.03	6	$2/1 PQ + $2/1 MQ 12-4SS, 10-23RP
$/$$ coupon		0.00	0.00		5.00		-5.00	1	$5/$30 PQ Take Budget by horns
$/$$ coupon		0.00	0.00		5.00		-5.00	1	$5/$25 SAL or $10/50 Sweetbay

12/18 No Sunday Coupon Inserts

It looks like according to the insert preview schedule and verfied with various forums, there will be no coupon inserts in the Sunday paper this weekend, 12/18/11. Looking forward, the last Sunday of the year is Christmas and there will be a lone P&G insert in that paper.

 

Keep an eye out for the new 2012 Insert Schedule which will be posted soon. I can only see that Redplum and P&G have come out with a schedule so far, but I'd like to wait for Smartsource before posting.

Publix Sneak Peek Weekly Ad, Dec 15-24

This ad is a long one, all the way through Christmas Eve, and then of course Publix is closed Christmas Day.

BOGOs:
Celery, save up to 1.99

Matlaw's Seafood Appetizers, 7 to 11 oz pkg, save up to 3.99

Simply Potatoes Diner's Choice Mashed Potatoes, Original, Sweet, Sour Cream & Chives, Country Style or Garlic, 32 oz pkg, save up to 3.99

Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz pkg, save up to 2.99

Publix Baby Cut Carrots, 16 oz bag, save up to 1.69

Cool Whip Whipped Topping, 8 oz bowl, sve up to 1.75

Totino's Pizza Rolls or Stuffers, 4 or 40 ct, 14 or 19.8 oz pkg, save p to 3.41

Cole's Garlic Bread, Bread Sticks, Cheesesticks, Toast Slices or Cinnamon Sticks, 10.5 to 16 oz pkg (excluding Mini Loaf and Mini Toast), save up to 2.99

Ore-Ida Hash Brown Potatoes, Roasted, O'Brien, or Steam N' Mash, 20 to 32 oz pkg, save p to 3.51

Publix Sneak Peek 12/8 - 12/14/11

BOGOs:
Quorn Meatless & Soy-Free Entrees, 7 to 12 oz pkg (excluding Turkey Roast), save up to 5.99

Margaritaville Shrimp, 8 or 10 oz pkg, save up to 8.99

Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breast, 10 oz pkg, save up to 4.99

Marzetti Dip, 13 to 15.5 oz pkg, save up to 3.69

Boursin Cheese, 5.2 or 5.28 oz, locaed in the Publix Deli Cheese Section, save up to 5.99

Muffins, 4 ct, Apple Bran, Raisin Bran, Blueberry, Corn or Carrot, 10 oz size, save up to 3.09

Powerade Ion4 Sports Drink or Powerade Zero, 32 oz bottle, save up to 1.49

Green Giant Vegetables, 4 pk, 14.5 to 15.25 oz can, save up to 4.99

The Coupon Game - Part 2

Usually on Friday I like to post my Publix Trip from the first day of the sale but I'm not really impressed with the ad this week, so I'm waiting to get the few things I need on Saturday when the new YAB flyer starts. There is a little moneymaker on the Friskies Party Mix using the $1.50/2 MQ in this weekends 12/4 SS combined with the printable Pet PQ.

 

Anyway, I'll update you on the coupon game with store #685. It turns out the District Manager is on vacation until next week, so the Store Manager called me yesterday after getting my customer service inquiry about the CWS. He apologized for the rude manager behavior of the night before. He skirted around the coupon and he said he would still not take it because it was not the manufacturers "intent" that it be used on trial size packages. We discussed further and I told him this issue was not resolved and I would have to contact customer service again.

 

So I called customer service again (800-242-1227 put it in your phones now) and explained that the store manager was still stating he would decline acceptance of that particular coupon. The CSR confirmed again that stores should be accepting that coupon as the vendor had agreed to honor them and reimburse Publix. She offered to call the store manager to ensure he would take the coupon, and then she was to call me back. A short while later she called me back and reported that the store manager had now agreed to take the coupon. Gee, that's what I wanted in the first place.

 

I'm still not sure he has shared this agreement with his staff, so I expect to have resistance again when I shop this afternoon. I'm sure the product will still be there because nobody can use the coupon for it. Anyway, the store manager called me again today to follow up to ensure the CSR had shared that they "came to an understanding" that the coupon was valid and should be accepted. I told him I would be in today and looked forward to a pleasant transaction.

 

Anyone want to take bets on how this turns out?

 

 

The Coupon Game

Today in my blog feeds there was an especially interesting article. Seth Godin posted about the Four Stages of The Game:

 

You don't even realize there's a game. (And any contest, market, project or engagement is at some level a game).

You start getting involved and it feels like a matter of life or death. Every slight cuts deeply, every win feels permanent. "This is the most important meeting of my life..."

You realize that it's a game and you play it with strategy. There's enough remove for you to realize that winning is important but that continuing to play is more important than that. And playing well is most important.

You get bored with the game, because you've seen it before. Sometimes people at this stage quit, other times they sabotage their work merely to make the game feel the way it used to.

And then a new, different game begins.

 

This reality struck me that my couponing is a game. I like games, I think most people do. The problem is that they can be big time wasters. So, I don't have an Xbox or 360 or whatever those game toys are called. I don't download games or even play games on my computers. I spend so much time on computers being productive, I don't want to waste my time on chat, facebook or games - if I did I would be on the computer at least fifteen hours a day. As it is, I spend at least ten hours a day using the computer. Way too many.

 

So, my couponing is a game. I call it my new hobby, giving up photoshop and scrap booking since that wasn't productive. But with couponing I can make money and save money on things I would have normally spent money on. So I coupon. And its a game. And its challenging. Every successful shop is a so great feeling. And even after couponing for years, every rejection still hurts bad.

 

This week has not been a great coupon game week for me - a lot of drama in my opinion. It started with the gas card deal at Publix last Thursday, when the assistant manager Bob wanted to deny me the use of a $5 off $30 PQ and the $10 off $50 gas card wyb $25 coupon, when I only just $30 on my cart. His interpretation was that it intended for shoppers to spend $80 to use both coupons. Which I explained to him I had because I had the $30 groceries plus the $50 gas card, which equals $80. I offered to call corporate to clarify, but then he said ok, you can do it this time.

 

Then at another store the assistant manager said they couldn't take the Rachel Ray PQ because it was a copy. I explained that the coupon is only available online on Publix website and must be printed. The coupon is poor quality and is difficult to read, but it is a legit Publix coupon. I got the, "we'll do it this time" story again, only after offering to show the site to her on my smartphone.

 

The latest drama involved the crest white strips $7 coupon and the trial pack. My unfavorite manager Bob denied the use of this coupon. I should have been on alert when the shelf was stocked with a dozen of the item. It was clear he would not give even after threats of contacting corporate or assurances that the coupon could be scanned.  So we abandoned our order and left. We did not want to escalate the situation in our close store and it was clear no one there could make the right choice. 

 

So this morning I called corporate to inquire as to the status of that coupon and the use on the trial pack. Corporate assured me it is valid to use on the trial pack. They look at it as P&G's problem if the use is not what they intended. But Publix stores are supposed to accept it for the trial pack because they will get reimbursed. So the District Manager is going to get involved and hopefully we can get this store #685 trained on proper coupon review and acceptance.