Based on all the feedback from you guys –I think this little feature will not go anywhere anytime soon 🙂 You guys are great about sending in those questions! Just remember if we didn’t get to your question this week…we will do our best to cover it another week!! As always a huge thanks to my buddy Christy over at Haphazardly Hobbying who gives me so much help to get the questions answered. I like that we are often able to give you a couple of points of view!!
Remember–there is a new tab at the top of the site called “Q & A” where I will do my best to organize the information from this feature so that it can serve as a quick reference!
Here are this week’s questions:

  1. Does Publix get reimbursed when you use a Walgreens Register Reward as payment?
  2. Why can I never find all the All You coupons you list in the matchups in my copy of that issue of All You?
  3. When is the best time/day of the week to shop at Publix when the shelves are usually fully stocked?
  4. What does DND 5 mean?
  5. Why do so many managers in the SAME store give you so many different answers for how to use coupons?
  6. Do you have any suggestions for how to save the most when you can’t really “stockpile”?
  7. Is it possible to be a master couponer who saves tons of money while still eating healthy food and not buying the junk?
  8. Do you have any streamlining tips for keeping up with and organizing inserts?
  9. Do you have any suggestions for keeping all the IPs organized?
  10. Any ideas on how to help friends and family get started on couponing?

And here are the answers!

  1. Angela wants to know: Does Publix get reimbursed when you use a Walgreens Register Rewards as payment? My store keys it in as a competitor coupon, not as a manufacturer’s coupon like it states on top of the RR.
  2. I am not sure about this one.  I have asked three different stores and no one could tell me with any certainty either way!!  If anyone has a definite answer I’d love to hear it…we will open this one up to the readers!!

  3. Ellen wants to know: Why can I never find all the All You coupons you list in the matchups in my copy of that issue of All You?
  4. Christy: I’m glad we’re addressing this here because I think it’s something that many people don’t know – or at least, it’s something that I didn’t know until I read the comments from last week’s “Ask I Heart Publix” call for questions! (So before I answer, I have to say  a huge “thanks!” to Jo from the comments for the info!)  The reason you might not have all the coupons in your All You is because the subscription version of the magazine is different than the version you can purchase at Walmart – the off-the-shelf version has more coupons! I was a little annoyed to find this out at first, but since I so rarely go to Walmart, it’s worth it to me to miss out on a few coupons and pay SO much less for my subscription.
    Michelle: Yes there can be some variation in the home delivered and store bought version.  This is actually my one little irritation with the magazine.  I agree with Christy in that the couple of coupons that I might miss is in no way going to entice me to deal with the less than pleasant experience of a Walmart trip 🙂 

  5. Christy wants to know: When is the best time/day of the week to shop at Publix when the shelves are usually fully stocked?
  6. Christy: This will depend on your store, of course – you might want to ask you managers when the shelves are generally restocked – but for the most part, I’ve found that early morning (7 – 9 am) or later in the evening (7 – 9 pm) during the week are the best times to find fully-stocked shelves (and, as a bonus, it’s much easier to get in and out quickly, too).
    Michelle:  It will vary based on the store’s delivery schedule.  Most stores get multiple trucks each week so I find that they are constantly re-stocking!  I typically shop on Monday mornings and they are always busy restocking in many departments. 

  7. Jennifer wants to know: What does DND 5 mean?
  8. DND is a code used on manufacturer’s coupons – it stands for Do Not Double.  Coupons that begin with a number “5” WILL automatically double at the register (unless manually suppressed by the cashier). In contrast, coupons that begin with a “9” will not automatically double, and will require the cashier to manually double the coupon. 

  9. Kimberly wants to know: Why do so many managers in the SAME store give you so many different answers for using coupons?
  10. Christy: In my opinion, this is a problem that can be traced back to the training programs your store has in place (or doesn’t have in place, as the case may be). If you run into problems in your store, I’d suggest that you talk to you store manager, your district manager, or even corporate customer service after everytime you run into a problem. Publix’s focus on customer service is such that I’d almost guarantee you that you see changes in the store after no more than a couple phone calls.

  11. Candy wants to know: My goal is to get my grocery bill down to $75 a week for a family of 5 (I’m currently spending about $100/week). I don’t have a deep freeze to store meat and I don’t even have a pantry to store food to stockpile like I want. Do you have any suggestions for someone who can’t really stockpile? 
  12. Christy: I know that Michelle doesn’t have a deep freeze, so I’ll let her address that aspect of this question, and I’ll take the “no pantry” issue. My husband and I rent an 80-year-old house with a small kitchen and very little storage space, and I worried about how to manage to find space for a stockpile too. Eventually, I just kind of made my own space – we have a back hallway that I lined with shallow (around 9 inch) shelf units I got very inexpensively at a thrift store and I picked up baskets and bins at the local dollar store as a way to organize types of food on those shelves. I got some more inexpensive (but attractive) bins that would fit in the space between my kitchen cabinets and the ceiling – I keep my unopened cereals, crackers, and other dry goods I don’t need on a daily basis up there. I have to keep an eye on expiration dates for the stuff up there, of course, and I try to rotate things out fairly quickly since it’s not as handy as a regular pantry, but my savings on these items makes the extra effort worthwhile. Lastly, I make it a point to keep my kitchen cabinets neat and organized because I can fit SO much more in those cabinets when they’re clean!!
    Michelle: I don’t have a deep freeze (YET)  so I have learned to be very creative and also very picky with what I purchase.  For me, keeping my freezer stocked with meat is a much higher priority that keeping it stocked with frozen waffles!!  I save space by removing any packaging that I can and often repackaging items into portions sizes to help conserve space.  I am lucky to have plenty of room for my “pantry” items.  But again it is not necessary…I have seen some very creative ways to store items.  I have seen people store things under their beds, in the garage, behind hanging clothes in the closet–you name it!!  I think it is really a matter of creativity and organization. You may not want 20 cans of soup in your closet next to your shoes but hey, if that is where they fit why not!?!

  13. Valerie wants to know:  Is it possible to be a master couponer who saves tons of money while still eating healthy food and not buying the junk? It seems like most of the coupons out there are mostly for the junk/processed foods.
  14. Christy: I agree that many of the coupons out there are for heavily processed foods, but couponing can still REALLY reduce your totals for meat, eggs, milk, produce, etc. Watch for coupons on meat and produce (they ARE out there), and purchase or trade for as many as you can reasonably use before they expire. Look for mail in rebates for things you would already purchase or winetags that don’t require alcohol purchase or any other way to get money back on your purchases.If your store(s) allow overage, use overage deals to reduce your overall totals (and, if you don’t want the items that get you the overage, drop them off at a local food bank on your way home from the store). **Note: I know this is a bit of a controversial suggestion, but let me say clearly that I’m not encouraging everyone to go clear off the shelves and make it so that no one else can get an overage deal – but it’s perfectly acceptable to buy one or two overage items and take $1 or $2 off your total.** In the end, being a master couponer means that you have the tools to save money off whatever it is that you want to purchase – and even if you save a bit less than other coupons, you’re still saving much more than you would without coupons, right?
    Michelle:  I think it really depends on what you consider a master couponer…there are coupons for most everything at some point.  Like Christy said you can even use overage to reduce the cost of things that you want and reduce your overall spending.  It drives me crazy when I hear people say that they don’t bother with coupons because there just are not coupons for the stuff they use.  Really??!!…so I guess these people don’t buy flour, bread, sugar, yeast, spices, salad mixes, meat, fruit, deodorant, detergent, shampoo, razors, medicines, and the list goes on and on!!  I always have to remind them that just because the hamburger helper coupon exists they don’t have to use it 😀  Even if you buy the most expensive organic, free range meat you can still save money by using a coupon to reduce the cost of your toilet paper!!  The way I see it —coupons allow me to stretch my budget.  I think using coupons is a very intelligent choice so no matter if you save 10% or 95% just by making the choice to use a coupon to stretch your budget a bit farther makes you a master couponer 😀

  15. Loren wants to know: Keeping up with inserts takes a lot of space and organization – do you have any streamlining tips?
  16. Christy: I don’t know if it will help, but the one thing I can tell you is that I just recently switched from cutting and clipping four sets of inserts every week to storing whole inserts and clipping when I need things, which is SO MUCH EASIER! (Because I’m OCD, I do create a little extra work for myself by stapling like pages together so I can cut all four of one coupon out at once rather than flipping through messy inserts.) Other than that, the only thing I can tell you is that much of coupon organization is trial and error – you’ll eventually find something that works really well for you. In the meantime, commenters – tell us what you do!
    Michelle: I also file uncut inserts in a two drawer file cabinet by date.  It is super easy to label a new hanging folder and drop those babies in and not have to worry about them until it is time to clip your coupon.  I also maintain an accordion style case where I store loose coupons by category.  I really don’t spend more than 30 minutes each week on coupon organization.  If I see a pile develop I just quickly sort them and stick them in my binder.

  17. Valerie wants to know: I have my system down pat when it comes to the coupons from the newspaper inserts and the full ads from Publix. But the printables are KILLING ME! I print everything when I see it, twice, and proceed to try to cut and file. There has to be a better way, right???
  18. Christy: If there’s a better way, maybe Michelle knows it, because that’s exactly how I do it. IPs are a pain to cut and file but so worth it when you save a little extra!
    Michelle:  These are the piles I was referring to in the previous question.  I also print quite a few coupons.  Once my pile is so big  that it is driving me crazy –I will quickly cut and file them. 

  19. Tamara wants to know: I tell so many friends and family members about couponing, and all they say is “that sounds like too much work”… any ideas about how to help them get started an easy way?
  20. Christy: I’m sure that most of us can relate to this question – I know I’ve tried to talk friends and family members into just giving couponing a try, and that’s almost always the answer that I get, too! The one thing you might try is clipping a few coupons for them, or, if you’re in the same area, maybe even calling or emailing with info about a deal for that particular week that you know they’ll be able to use. However, you need to keep in mind that couponing isn’t for everyone, and if that person isn’t willing to put the work in, they’re not  going to reap the benefits! 🙂
    Michelle: I have a few tactics that have worked pretty good.  First I tell them how much I spend each week for a family of four.  I then show them my stockpile and explain that most of the things they see were free or only cost a few pennies.  Then I show them a few receipts just so they can actually see that big ol’ thing with the tiny tiny total!  If they still complain that they don’t want to put forth the hour or so it would take to save I go back to the receipt and show them the savings.  I kid them and ask how much they make per hour and show them that I average over $50 per hour when you consider the time I spend and the amount I save!!  It is really hard to argue that fact!!
     Couponing is not a job where you are constantly having to learn a new skill 🙂  Seriously think about what you make per hour as a couponer…I am guessing that most of you make a pretty penny as a smart shopper!! Of course it may take a little more time for a beginner but once they get the hang of it they are set.
    If you have the time you could offer to help them with their first trip…many times when a person sees that first really great savings and gets that shoppers high…you might have a little savings addict on your hands!!

I hope our answers to these questions were helpful! Make sure you ‘tune in’ next week for even more Q&A with I Heart Publix. If you have a question you’d like to see answered, email me at contactiheartpublix@gmail.com.