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 to get 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. Is it okay to stack a manufacturer’s free item coupon with a store coupon?
  2. I looked in the Wednesday and Thursday newspaper for the “penny item” ad and I could not find it anywhere. Where is it usually found?
  3. If a Rite Aid coupon says “Manufacturer’s Coupon” on it, should my store take it as a MQ or as a competitor?
  4. Can you use Target brand coupons on Publix brand items?
  5. Can I “stack” coupons with different expiration dates?
  6. How can I print in black and white from Coupons.com?
  7. Have you ever needed to take a break from couponing, and if so, how difficult was it to start again?
  8. How long have you been couponing?
  9. Can I use Earthfare coupons at my Publix?
  10. Where can I find the best deals for holiday gifts?

And here are the answers!

  1. Missy wants to know: Is it okay to stack a manufacturer’s free item coupon with a store coupon? I have a manufacturer coupon for free Cottonelle wipes and a Target store coupon for $1.00 off the same item. Can I stack them together since my Publix accepts Target coupons?
  2. Christy: There are two ways of looking at this. On one hand, the store could (very reasonably) say that since I’m already getting the item for free they don’t need to accept a competitor (or, for that matter, their own) coupon because there is nothing left to discount. On the other hand, Publix will be reimbursed for the full value of the item and honoring a competitor (or their own) coupon is actually only going to put them out $1 in the long run. Either way of looking at this is valid; what really matters is what your store says about this!
    Michelle:  I think Christy has this one covered. Be sure and ask your store.

  3. Candie wants to know: I recently started couponing and shopping at Publix more often and I have a few questions. I looked in the Wednesday and Thursday newspaper for the “penny item” ad and I could not find it anywhere. Where is it usually found?
  4. I think it will vary based on your area and your paper.  I don’t get a paper on Thursday but last I heard the Atlanta penny item is in the Thursday AJC in the lifestyle section.  Maybe the readers can comment where they find their coupon and hopefully someone will respond from your area.

  5. Danielle wants to know: Many Rite-Aid coupons say “manufacturer coupon” on them. Do they really count as a manufacturer coupon? I have always used them as a competitor coupon, until a cashier the other day would not take one with another manufacturer coupon. What are your thoughts?
  6. They are not true manufacturer’s coupons.  Rite Aid allows you to use them in conjuction with a manufacturer’s coupon. BUT…your store has the final call. Remember that manufacturer’s coupons will always begin with a 5 or a number 9.

  7. Can you use Target brand coupons on Publix brand items?
  8. Christy: Like all things, this will depend on your store, but I’d encourage you to ask your customer service or store manager if you’re not sure. My stores take them as long as the Publix brand is a comparable item!
    Michelle:  I have heard that some stores will allow them to be used on the Publix house brand…but this varies widely and is store specific.

  9. Tina wants to know: I have a question about “stacking.” I am new to couponing, and I just got all my coupons organized into a binder. I noticed that I have several coupons for the same amount off ($.40/2), but they all have different expiration dates. Can I “stack” these coupons with different expiration dates in order to get $.80/2?
  10. Christy: You can only stack manufacturer and store coupons to increase your savings on a particular item. So if you have one manufacturer coupon for $.40/2 and a Publix (or Target, Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc) coupon for $.40/2 of the same item, you can use both coupons to get $.80 off of two of the item. However, if you have two manufacturer coupons for $.40/2, you can only use one of them per two items purchased.
    Michelle: You can never stack two manufacturer’s coupons on one item. As Christy pointed out you can use a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon but that is the only time you can use multiple coupons on one item.

  11. Kandise wants to know: How can I print in black and white from Coupons.com?
  12. Melissa from the comments had a great answer: “Under printer options you have the option to print in black and white only. I always use black and white coupons and have never had a problem. I have heard that some coupons will still print in color no matter what you do short of taking the color cartridge out, but that hasn’t happened to me yet.” I think Melissa answered this perfectly!
    Just a note that my option is called grayscale (not black & white).  I also have mine set for fast/economical printing.  Helps me save ink and time 🙂

  13. Tiffany wants to know: I’m really starting to burn out on couponing – there’s just too much to do every day and keeping coupons organized is the LAST thing I want to do at the end of the day! Here’s my question: Have you ever needed to take a break from couponing, and if so, how difficult was it to start again?
  14. Christy: In the year plus since I started couponing, I’ve taken little mini-breaks here and there. Just recently I stopped doing weekly drugstore runs for a few weeks – between work and life I was just running out of time so I took a few weeks off! Since I never really stopped ‘all the way,’ it’s been pretty easy to pick right back up again. Commenters, tell us your experiences with ‘taking a break’!
    Michelle: I think I am a little atypical…running my websites means that I kinda live and breathe coupons 🙂 I do take mini breaks here and there.  I also am a slacker when it comes to organization.  You guys would get a kick out of my desk.  I have coupons everywhere and sometimes I go weeks without filing or sorting. 

  15. Christy wants to know: I want to know who on the site or in the forum has been couponing the longest. Can we take a comments poll?
  16. Christy: Yup, that’s right, this is MY question! I’m curious – how long have you been couponing? Tell us in the comments!
    Just for the record: I’ve been couponing since the very end of August 2009 – and now I can’t ever imagine shopping any other way!
    Michelle: Here is a little survey I put together. I am curious too. I will give you guys the results next week!

  17. Suzette wants to know: Can I use Earthfare coupons at my Publix?
  18. Christy: As per usual, you need to check with your store to make sure that they consider Earthfare a competitor – if so, you should be able to use them without a problem!

  19. Marie wants to know: Like everyone else, I’m on a tight budget. Where can I find the best deals for holiday gifts?
  20. Christy: Michelle posts a ton of great deals over on I Heart Saving Money every day – I’ve already found a couple different presents for some of the harder-to-shop-for people on my list through sites like Jasmere, Eversave, Groupon, etc.
    Michelle: While I love Publix, I can’t buy everything there 🙂 I post a ton of deals over on I Heart Saving Money including drugstore deals, online deals and really anthing and everything that I can find.  There have been a ton of great deals lately and I have already put a huge dent in my shopping list!

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.