WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GET DEALS ON MEAT?

When we get meat or produce coupons, it makes our day!

I am excited about the new FLIP for $3 off $8 in the meat department. My plan is to buy bone-in pork chops next week (I have been craving them!)and maybe some ribs. I will spent $25 and then use three FLIPS and a $5/25 coupon. My total for $25 worth of meat will be $11!! You certainly can't beat that deal! Now all I have to do is find room in my freezer!!

My husband makes the best ribs in St. Augustine! I think he has perfected his recipe using a special rub and doing them with a rotisserie on the grill. My mouth is already watering thinking about the ribs.

MARCH MONTHLY TOTALS

The month of March is over and I am more than pleased with my totals for the month. Not only did I stock up on canned veggies and so much more, I was able to buy 11 gas cards worth $550 and paid only $440 for them, another savings of $110!!

My totals for the month of March for grocery and drugstore spending was $546.88. Remember this included 11 gas cards. When I back out the total for the cards, I spent $106.88 for the month of March!! I used to spend this and more in a week when I used to shop at Wal-Mart with their "everyday prices". You will NEVER beat a grocery store sale using coupons with Wal-Mart's everday price. This is a perfect example of it!

So far here are my totals since the beginning of the year:

JANUARY $144.79
FEBRUARY $162.31
MARCH $546.88 which includes 11 gas cards worth $440

DRUGSTORE SPENDING:

JANUARY $9.44
FEBRUARY $11.50
MARCH $5.11

PUBLIX 3/30/11, SPENT $7.01, SAVED 94%

The publix ad this week was not that exciting so I did not buy much. I wanted to use my Sargento cheese Publix coupons and paired that with my raincheck to get 9 of them for $.50!! I also utilized my Pepperidge Farm Bread raincheck to use the $1.50 off produce when you buy a P.F. Bread...so I basically got my vegetables for free. By the way, the bag is filled with 20 cans of Green Giant Vegetables!

This is what I bought:

9 Sargento Cheese (used raincheck, PQ and MQ to get all for $.50)
2 Pepperidge Farm Bread
2 English Muffins
2 Flat Out Bread
Fresh Green Beans (got $1.50 off)
Fresh Zucchini (got $1.50 off)
6 Peter Pan Peanut Butter (used MQ and PQ)
4 Ritz Cracker (used TQ and MQ)
2 Bertoli Pasta Sauce (used $1.50/2 q)
20 cans Green Giant Green Beans (used Italian Days q's)
Bananas
4 dozen eggs (used All the Trimmings book q)

This was the first trip they asked me if I had any $/$$ coupons first. I was able to use 2 of them thus taking off $10 before my coupons were deducted. My total before coupons was just over $66. My total I paid after coupons was $7.01. This was a savings of 94%!! The vegetables have an expiration date of 2013 so I will add them to the canned veggies I already have in stock. I already have plenty of lunchmeat from last weeks purchase and still have milk from the last Smart Balance milk sale. The timing was great because I only have two 1/2 gallons left, just in time to re-stock when the milk is on sale next week!

SOME GOOD DEALS FOR THIS WEEK

Sorry about the late post but I just got back into town on Monday and then had a class on Monday night. If you haven't done your shopping yet for this weeks ad, you may want to do these deals if your store accepts an expired Publix coupon.

Peter Pan Peanut Butter is BOGO at $2.49. Use the $1/1 coupon from the Home Tailgate Book. Then go here and print a manufacturers coupon for $.50/1. I think this means FREE peanut butter!

Also, don't forget the Green Giant Vegetables are BOGO again. If you have any of the Italian Days Coupons left, buy 20 cans, use five $1/4 and a $5 off when you buy 20 coupon and pay only $2.90 for 20 cans of vegetables. That is only $.15 per can! These vegetables should have an expiration date of about 2014.

SMART BALANCE MILK DEAL

I am so excited about the Smart Balance Milk on sale for $2.50 each starting next Thursday. I have already ordered my 20 coupons for $2.99 for $2/1 each 1/2 gallon of milk. To make this deal even sweeter, check your binders to see if you have the Publix coupon from the Harvest of Savings Book. Pair this $1/1 coupon with the $2/1 coupon and get $.50 overage for every 1/2 gallon of milk you buy. I have 2 left in my freezer so it looks like this sale will take me into the next few months of not having to buy milk again! Remember, this is an expired Publix coupon and not all stores will accept them. Make sure to check with your store to see if they will accept them!

COUPONING IN MIAMI

I went to Miami with my family to visit my daughter and her family. Of course we had to go to Publix to pick up a few things and I saw first hand what she told me months ago. Miami is virgin territory! There seem to be no couponers here. I was able to find 4 different booklets and found plenty of them! She said there are always plenty of booklets available here. South Florida coupon policies have changed already and they do not accept most competitor coupons we use here in North Florida. The only competitor they accept is Winn Dixie. They also will only let you use one Advantage Flyer Coupon per shopping trip. She said her grocery budget has close to doubled since she moved to Miami 2 months ago. The prices are the same but the coupons they accept and limit has changed. She also cannot use any $/$$ coupons.

We are fortunate here in Jacksonville/St. Augustine area. Our stores stlll accept coupons they will not accept in So. Florida. Unfortunately, I see that coming to an end soon. As more and more people start to coupon, I can see Publix tighening their belts to keep people from cleaning off the shelves. You can already see it when you get rainchecks. You are only able to get a raincheck for 5 deals. This is to keep peope from emptying the shelf. If you find you want multiples of an item, go to the customer service desk and place an order so they can get it in without the shelf being affected.

Also, please remember to be honest couponers. Do not use a coupon for an item that you are not buying and NEVEFR make copies of Manufacturer Coupons. They will not get reimbursed for these and eventually will put limits on us.

STEWART'S WEEKLY AD

Sushi Grade Tuna Steaks, $6.99 lb.

Fresh, never frozen Boneless Chicken Breasts,
5 lbs. or more, $1.99 lb.

Fresh Local Littleneck Clams, $3.00/dozen

Also local produce from Sykes Farm:

Broccoflower, Cauliflower, Cabbage, $1.00 head
Sweet Onions, $1.00 each
Strawberries, $1.50 quart