First dose of very cool weather.
Saturday, Georgia Bulldogs football game, seats on the 50 yard line, my first trip to Athens. This adventure was long awaited, but a surprise when the day finally came! (I know you are thinking what has a GA football game have to do with a tale about a Publix's Run? Hold on, I am building up to it....imagine....)
My husband called me and said he had tickets to the GA game on Saturday if I could see if the kiddos could visit the grandparents at the lake. Extended visit with the grandkids was welcomed. So on the long but exciting drive to Athens, I had my treasured coupon binder, note pad and the Publix sales paper. My Hubby and I talked about many different topics (much needed adult conversation-because during November & December I see him even less due to the peak season for UPS.) When there was a lull in the conversation, I opened the Publix ad and started taking notes on all the B1G1 opportunities. As I did so, I flipped through the binder and took out the matching coupons. What is wonderful about Publix is that if it is a B1G1 deal you can use a coupon on each if you have them and if you follow the rules.I ended up with 1 1/2 pages of items to purchase (or walk out with for FREE), an envelope of coupons, and my courage. But then, I looked at the sales paper and found that the sales in that particular paper ended that night. There was a slim chance I would make it back home after the GA game in time to go shopping.
DAWGS WON! We stopped in Gray, GA for some celebratory bbq at Old Clinton BBQ, yum! Needless to say, I did not make it Publix before it closed. Sigh. But it was a wonderful vacation from the normal everyday routine!
Sunday morning (very early), I went to Publix to buy a couple of the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspapers. When I got out to my car, you would have thought I was Charlie from Willy Wonka opening the last chocolate bar and finding the Golden Ticket!!! The new Publix sales paper had even better deals and steals in it than the one the day before!!! I went home to ready for church, while my head spun with the possibilities of the upcoming challenge.
Sunday afternoon, Vicious and I went back to the lake to get the kids only to deliver them to their dad for a few days. While on the road, Vicious drove and I developed the battle plan.
We arrived at Publix, binder and courage in tow, just minutes after 8pm. We took our time going down every aisle, examining the merchandise and checking and double checking our list and coupons. Vicious keeps the binder, the list, and checks things off after they are in the cart. She also acts as my back-up brain. Although I have meticulously written out the list, the coupons being used, the money being saved and spent and it all makes sense, I can't make sense of it once I am in the store. I started getting a little panicky. Heart-racing, jitters, cold sweat, hot flashes, my goodness you would have thought I was menopausal! HA!
By the time we got to the end of our list there were only a few items left and no room left in the cart. I nervously walked back to the front of the store for a second cart. As I am returning to Vicious, I noticed the store manager eye-ing me closely, and not in the flirty way either;) I am sure he was thinking: "Okay, these two ladies have been in here almost two hours; what are they up to with a second cart?"
Stacks of toilet paper and paper towels, coffee creamer, cheese, shampoo, and deodorant fill up the second cart. Before we staked our place in a line, we pulled off to the side and went through our list again, checked and double checked each and every coupon, and then said a little prayer. As we neared the check out, I was nauseous. The manager spied that we were heading to the front and kindly open another lane just for us. A sweet little girl, looking barely over 16 years old, smiled and greeted us. A chatterbox bagger came to her rescue and for our entertainment.
"Are you ladies Extreme Couponers like on the tv show? Where is the camera crew?"
"Us? Ha! No. Not quite. Just trying to save some money."
"Wow! Look how much you have saved so far! That's pretty good. How long have you been couponing?
"Not long, this is actually our first BIG trip. (Under my breath, I think I am going to be sick. Where is the panic button?)
As the checker kept swiping the items, the rising total flashed before our eyes on the convenient display screen by the debit machine. As the cost went up we noticed a second total of what we were saving and it was almost matching the the amount we were to spend. After all the items were scanned, the coupons thoroughly examined and scanned, our grand total saved was...$202.57! Our total cost was $203.32 before taxes!
(Pictured above is all of the items that were FREE!!! Now double this and add a few other items and you can see why we needed the two carts. Praise the Lord for our bountiful pantry!)With two carts full of bagged groceries, a huge sigh (from holding my breath as the last few coupons were approved and scanned) and a lighter step, I thought to myself. This is going to be do-able! I like going home saving 50% on my groceries. We had purchased multiples of many items that before I would only purchase one, and then return the next week for the same item. By purchasing multiples, I can go weeks maybe even a month without purchasing the same item until it is on sale again.
Until next time,Mama D
