Keep sending in those questions – we love to answer them! 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 big thanks to my buddy Christy over at Haphazardly Hobbying who gives me so much help getting the questions answered.
Remember–there is a tab at the top of the site called “Q & A” where I organize the questions and answers from this feature so that it can serve as a quick reference!
Here are this week’s questions:

  1. When an item that you need to stockpile goes on sale, about how many of that item do you purchase?
  2. What’s the best reaction you’ve had from a cashier?
  3. Have you found that you eat healthier since you do your couponing or do you eat more processed, prepared foods?
  4. What do you think about keeping a stockpile in the garage? Is it safe?
  5. If you file your inserts whole, how do you know what is in your stock of coupons?
  6. Michelle, I am so impressed with your budgeting skills. Where can I get more info on how you budget?
  7. Can I use a manufacturer’s coupon for a free item and stack it with a publix coupon for $1.50 off that item?
  8. How do I calculate sales tax for my shopping trip?
  9. How many coupons can I use with a particular deal?
  10. Have you noticed that your Publix is not allowing more coupons than items recently?

And here are the answers!

  1. Olenka from the comments wants to know: When an item that you need to stockpile goes on sale, about how many of that item do you purchase?
  2. Christy: This really depends on the item, how low my levels are, how much we use in 3 to 4 months, how well it will keep, and how much space I have to store it. For example, I’m (gasp!) completely out of coffee creamer, so next time it goes on sale (my stock up prices for this are >$.50/pint and >$1/32 oz, in case you were wondering), I’ll buy 4 32 oz containers (or 8 16 oz containers), because I know that’s about as much as I can fit in the bottom of my fridge. (Which reminds me: I need to experiment with freezing liquid creamer.) However, if there’s a deal on 100% juice (>$1/1) when we’re low, I’ll buy 12+, because it keeps well, we go through it quickly, and I can always find a spot for it.
    Michelle:  I also go by inventory and then by usage. For non-perishables I will get as many as I can store!  If paper towels were super cheap or free I would buy as many as possible.  It is all about consumption…I buy based on what we use!

  3. April from the comments wants to know: What’s the best reaction you’ve had from a cashier? Do you have cashiers you prefer? I have 2 cashiers I truly prefer because they are so great about my coupons, and I love how much fun they have seeing what I save!
  4. Christy: My favorite reaction from a cashier (which I’ve gotten a number of times now) is the double-take when they tell me my total and/or how much I’ve saved – it’s just so much fun! And I definitely have my favorite cashiers at each store – the ones that know me know that I’m really careful about their coupon rules, so they’re much less likely to act like I’m trying to steal the store out from under them (which is, unfortunately, something I’m familiar with as well). My absolute favorite cashier is a younger guy who always tries to guess my total after coupons before he rings it all up 🙂 – good cashiers make the checkout process so much more fun!
    Michelle:  Honestly –I have the best store ever!! I know most of the people at my store and love to shop there.  I don’t get any of the big reactions anymore but just the fact that I can go to my store and everyone is so kind to me and the boys just affirms why I Heart Publix so 😀

  5. Mary from the comments wants to know: Have you found that you eat healthier since you do your couponing, or do you eat more processed, prepared foods? I feel like if we’re not careful, all this extra food in our pantries could be bad for us!! Sometimes it seems hard to find the healthier food on sale.
  6. Christy: We’ve talked a little about this HERE, but this question is a good one for me because my husband and I have really been making an effort to eat a lot healthier, and while it can be easier and cheaper to eat processed foods, it’s certainly not impossible to save a lot of money on healthy things. My strategy at this point is to use overage deals (which my store allows) and $X/$XX competitor coupons to reduce my totals on produce, meats, and more expensive healthy items. If the overage deals are for items we won’t use, I donate them to the local food bank on my way home from the store. I also make it a priorty to spend as little as possible on staples like grains, oils, dairy, etc. In the end, my percentages might not be quite as good as some, but I’m happy with what I’m bringing home!
    Michelle: This is probably one of the questions I get the most.  I honestly don’t think that couponing need dictate cooking style.  If you made a habit of serving processed & prepared foods prior to using coupons then it is likely you will serve it as a couponer.  I always remind people that just because there is a coupon for an item that doesn’t mean you have to use it!  There are coupons for just about anything you can think of–healthy items and not so healthy items. A good couponer shops so that he/she uses coupons to bring home groceries and still stay within budget!
    I get a fair amount of emails asking about my grocery list each week and why I don’t purchase all the super deals and other hot deals that I might list.  It is really simple–I only buy what I need and what we will eat!  Remember that you can use coupons to cut cost in other areas so that you have more money to spend on items that may be more expensive.  I think finding that balance is what can make or break a budget!

  7. Elizabeth from the comments wants to know: How do you feel about keeping a stockpile in the garage? I know that some things, like paper products and laundry soap might be OK, but it’s summertime, in Florida, meaning HOT and SUPER HUMID. I’m not sure it’s safe for canned goods or plastic containers to get so hot or boxed food getting invaded by those lovely, native palmetto bugs! I just don’t have enough room in the house and would love to utilize the garage.
  8. Christy: I often wonder about this too, especially since part of my stockpile (mostly canned goods) is in an un-airconditioned hallway at the back of my house. Commenters? What do you know about food safety in higher temperatures?
    Michelle:  You know I have never even given this a thought.  I did a little digging and most things I read recommended a location with a cool stable temperature that is dry as a storage location.  You might want to look for a location where the temperature remains consistent to ensure it is safe for consumption.

  9. Stephanie from the comments wants to know: I was thinking about starting to file my inserts whole like you and Christy do, but I’m wondering what you do if you come across a clearance or unadvertised item that wasn’t on your list. Do you just know what you have by memory?
  10. Christy: I always worried about this too, but I’ve found that it’s not as big a problem as I assumed it would be. When I file my inserts every week, I take a little while and flip through past weeks, clipping anything that’s expired for my military envelope. I find that this helps me to keep a good idea of the coupons I do have without requiring all that time for sorting and filing!
    Michelle:  I will be honest…I do miss some deals BUT not enough to make me go back to clipping!!  Every once in a while I see an item where I know there is a coupon and I have to pass up the deal.  My free time is very limited and the last thing I want to do is spend it clipping inserts.  Missing a deal every now and again is a trade off I am willing to accept!!

  11. Gayla from the comments wants to know: Michelle, I am so impressed with your budgeting skills. Where can I get more info on how you budget? I’d love to learn from the master. 🙂
  12. Gayla you are too cute…budgeting is really very simple. It is a bit easier if you can take some time to track your spending.  If you are able to understand what you are averaging in specific areas it will be easier to determine what to set aside or what areas might need modification.  There are a million books and websites devoted to how to set up a budget.  I am an online person so I do everything online. I like to be able to have a visual of my spending by category as well as how well I am meeting my short term and long term goals.  Programs like Quicken or Microsoft Money are great as are free online programs like Mint.
    It is very eye opening to examine your monthly spending.  If you are trying to reduce spending you need to know your baseline.  I record every penny that I spend so I can determine where all of my money goes each month!  I highly recommend tracking your spending as it is critical to know where your money is going each month if you are looking to save or shift money to a different budget category.  After all you have to know what you are spending to determine what areas can be cut or modified.  I will see if I can work on a post detailing budget ideas!

  13. Amy wants to know: Can I use a manufacturer’s coupon for a free item and stack it with a publix coupon for $1.50 off that item?
  14. Christy: This will depend on your store – mine won’t allow me to use another coupon on a free item, but if your customer service desk says it’s ok, then go for it!

  15. Holly wants to know: I love your Publix Excel Spreadsheet and I use it for my shopping trip! I am on a strict budget (even with coupons) and I like to know my total before I go into the store, so my question is about how to calculate sales tax. Do I calculate sales tax on the total before coupons or after coupons?
  16. Sales tax is calculated based on your total BEFORE manufacturer coupons, which can make a big difference in your total out of pocket price.  I *think* store coupons reduce your taxable amount but I am not positive.  Maybe there is someone out there who can give us the scoop. 
    I know different things have different tax rates and I just can’t keep up so I do not bother attempting to calculate sales tax!  If you know you will be cutting it close you might just estimate using the highest tax rate and that way there will not be any surprises at the register!! 

  17. Lindy wants to know: I was wondering how many coupons you could use with certain deals/coupons. For example, if Gatorade is 10/$10, and I have a hangtag coupon for 5 free wyb 10 AND 10 $.50/1 coupons, can I use all 11 coupons on 15 items?
  18. Christy: This will, as usual, depend on your store, but the way I understand it, you should be able to use all 11 coupons – the 10 $.50/1 attach to those 10 items, and the hangtag attaches to the 5 free items. I’m sure other people will see this differently, which is why it’s always such a good idea to check with your customer service desk if you’re unsure.
    Michelle:  I agree that the $.50/1 attach to the ten you are buying and the free coupon attach to the other five that you are getting because you bought the required amount.  As Christy said–when in doubt…ask your store!

  19. Tracy wants to know: Have you noticed that your Publix is not allowing more coupons than items lately? I often have more coupons than items since my store is great about accepting competitor coupons. In the past, the cashier would call the manager over and they’d put in a code to accept the last few coupons. However, during the last two visits the computer has “scanned” the coupons, but it doesn’t come off the total. Two visits ago I didn’t notice it until I got home, so when I went today I wanted to make sure to watch when I checked out. I put 3 Publix coupons at the end since they specifically name the coupon, but only 1 rang up even though she entered all 3! There was a line after me and my 2yo was having a melt down, so I didn’t ask about it. However, I just wanted to know if you had heard/seen anything like this in other stores.
  20. Christy: I haven’t noticed a change at any of my local stores, so you might want to ask your store manager if they’ve made any policy changes lately. If not, you’ll be able to tell your cashier that you’ve spoken to him/her about it if they give you any sort of trouble.
    Michelle: Tracy I feel your pain as checkout can be crazy with kids in tow!!  I have not heard anything and had to have a manager over-ride for my last 4 coupons on Monday as well.  When I saw this question I had to go look at my receipt and I was happy to see that all of my coupons were listed.  I know this will be one of those easier said than done statements…but–if possible try to watch for this issue as it will be easier to find the issue while the cashier/manager is entering the coupons.  It could be that an incorrect key is being pressed??  If anyone else has had this issue –leave a comment and let us know your findings!!

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.