So, I ventured out to do my first real grocery shopping trip in Tennessee tonight. I had Silas and Kaitlynn in tow and had planned to go to Aldi. However, for some reason, I was thinking ALDI was open until 9 p.m.
I waited to go until later so that we’d miss the crazy traffic. Well, we waited a little too long, because by the time we found the ALDI, it was 8:03 and they were standing at the door locking up.
Gulp. On to Plan B.
Which was, um, non-existent. Yep, I’m all organized like that today!
{Word to the wise: Not having a Plan B is never a good plan for grocery shopping!}
Since we were completely out of some essentials and we have guests coming over to our house all afternoon and evening tomorrow, I knew waiting until tomorrow to go to Aldi wasn’t going to work.
So, I got on my phone and starting searching for nearby grocery stores. I was so excited to locate a Publix nearby.
In fact, I let out a little cry of excitement, “Yay! I’ve never been to Publix before!!”
We trooped in, armed with a list and lots of excitement.
And I started looking at the produce section for the produce deals. I kept looking, and looking, and looking.
In fact, I spent so much time looking, that a kind Publix employee came over and asked what he could help me find. I wanted to say, “The good deals. Can you help me find them? Because I’m having a little trouble locating them.”
But alas, I held my tongue. 🙂
Here’s what I ended up buying:
Publix Shopping Trip
Ground Turkey — $4.49
Ground Sirloin — $6.31
Frozen Veggies — $1.59
Frozen Veggies — $1.25
Frozen Veggies — $1.25
Spaghetti Sauce — $1.39
Parmesan Cheese – $2.79
Milk — $3.59
Carrots — $0.99
Cheddar Cheese — $2.50
Mozzarella Cheese — $5.99
Eggs x 2 — $2.79 each
Romaine Hearts — $3.49
Apples ($1.69/lb.) — $5.51
Bacon — $5.49
Yogurt — $1.50
Supergreens — $3.69
Pepperoni — $3.69Tax: $4.47
Total with Tax: $66.06
Clearly, I need some help in learning how to find good deals at Publix as these prices are almost all quite a bit more than I’d typically pay. But I price-compared everything and am pretty sure I got the best deal Publix had to offer tonight.
So, help a girl out: how do you get bargains at Publix? Are there certain items you find regularly to be well-priced at Publix? What sites have the best Publix deals match-ups? I welcome all tips and suggestions.
Also, for those of you in Nashville area: What are your favorite grocery stores to shop at? Should I just stick with ALDI?
Thanks so much for your help — I so appreciate it!
Jonna says
Crystal,
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned that Jenny @ southernsavers has a $1.00 or less post for Publix & Kroger. I’ve started to use those as guides when I shop at Publix since the closest one to my house is 30 miles away (one way). I want to get the most for my dollar! God Bless! 🙂
Katy says
Generally, I have found that I do a once a month stock up at Publix on things that Aldi doesn’t have. I always shop their ad before doing this to ensure I am getting the best bang for my buck! Good luck!
Shawn says
Iheartpublix.com does a great job matching sales with manufacturer, store and competitor coupons.
Michelle says
I grew up in the land of only Publix! Yes, really, Publix is the only full sized grocer in most areas of central florida. We did get aldi a few years ago and that helped, but they don’t carry everything. Publix is a great store and strives to do whatever it takes for the customer, however, it comes with a price. Only buy loss leaders and items you can stack Q’s on. Their BOGOs are great, but generally meat and produce are double what you would expect. It’s been an eye opener since we just recently moved out of state and I have more stores than I want to choose from now! I found that a Sams club card paid for itself in just a few months to yes for buying meat (sams $1.98 lb chicken breast vs. Publix $5.29 lb chicken breast). Also, they don’t do markdowns at Publix. They want customers to only gave the best available, so anything nearing expiration or less than perfect gets donated or discarded. If something rings up incorrectly, they give to to you for free! Also, you MUST try a publix sub (I suggest the Italian)! They are such a big desk that publix is starting to build stand alone sub shops in orlando!
Steph @ From the Burbs to the Boonies says
Publix reminds me a lot of Dillons. Sometimes they have really good produce deals but you have to watch for them. The ones in South Carolina used to double coupons, I don’t know if they do anymore or if they do in TN. They also have marked down bins somewhere. And lastly, they did BOGO which coupled with coupons could be really good.
Kathy says
We do not have publix in VA. We do have Food Lion, but I don’t know if you have it there. I like Food Lion because they frequently have bogo deals and they ring up 1/2 price each item and you can use coupons on both items. A favorite web site for matchup here in the South east is Southern Savers. Jenny is great. Welcome to the South East from your southern VA. Neighbor!
Carla Parker-Kite says
Crystal – We love Publix. Remember, they take Kroger and Target coupons that you can stack. The deals are out there, as well as their BOGO. Our Publix always has better produce and meats than any other grocery store, but they aren’t the cheapest unfortunately. Good luck!
Kim says
southernsavers.com shows all deals at each grocery store and matches the current deals to coupons.
Ann says
I have been shopping Publix here in GA for several years with help from southernsavers.com and save THOUSANDS each year by couponing and buying with the sale cycles. Give it a try! And Publix does have good meat sales from time to time, so I stock up when they roll around!
Karen D. says
I second Southernsavers.com. Also I never buy meat at Publix. I live in an area of Florida without much competition for Publix, but find better deals at Whole Foods on much better meat.
Definitely BOGOs at Publix, combining Publix coupons with manufacturer’s, plus check out your Publix and see which stores it considers competitors. Ours takes Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, and Target.
Tami says
Love Publix too! Great customer service! I am a mystery shopper and evaluate Publix stores frequently. The employees are very well trained and I look for certain things thAt Publix corporate strives to have their stores represent!
Don’t know if anyone mentioned the penny deals… Not sure if they do it in TN…. Ask your local store.
Also register at Publix.com cuz you can “clip” coupons and get them taken off by using your phone number at checkout… Saves even when you forget your paper coupons!!
Jill says
I shop at Publix regularly here right outside Nashville area, and you may stack a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon, as well as them accepting Kroger store coupons as their own, so that can add up to decent savings here in TN. The BOGO gets you in as their loss leaders, but if you have coupons to stack with the BOGO, that adds up too, especially on cereal which they have as a BOGO item quite a bit. I agree on the produce not being an exceptional bargain by any means!
I took my first trip to ALDI a couple wks ago and did not find the produce deals that many speak of…it was a very small store and seemed picked over when I went, so it may have just been a timing factor. The meat looked decent and I did get some pork for a great deal.
WELCOME to the Nashville ‘area’, you will really love it here! I moved here from PA in the 90’s and have never looked back!!!
Laura says
I don’t remember the last time I bought meat at Publix — it’s never the cheapest place to buy meat. But their store brands tend to be better quality than other store brands, and their produce is usually better quality than elsewhere. I like the BOGO sales — at Publix they treat that as a half price sale, so you don’t have to get an even number to get the sale.
I always go to Publix when it’s raining. Their customer service is definitely the best, and that REALLY matters in a rainshower! The store owns umbrellas for the purpose of helping customers out.
Jen says
I love Publix. But I’ll just go ahead and tell ya that you should probably stick with Aldi if your shops look like the one above, with mostly a ‘whole foods’ type of theme. You won’t find any markdowns in meat, produce, dairy or anything other than nonperishables/ health and beauty in Publix clearance. They do have great bogos, so I would check those each week just to check if something catches your eye. To do great at Publix, you would have to get into the coupons pretty heavily. I would check iheartpublix.com; she posts the matchups on Mondays. She’s the best! But like I said, otherwise – stick with Aldi. 🙂
Joy Rebello says
I regularly shop Publix as it is the nearest grocery store in the rural area in which I live. There is a Kroger a few miles farther.
I shop at Publix using my list. They also have handy-dandy paper lists up front with the sale papers which are sorted by aisle.
I also use Publix’s website to view the local sale. You can place items on your list which you can view from your phone or print. The BOGOs are in a separate category.
I am near 3 different Publix stores and they may have similar sales, they never have the same exact items on sale.
Publix also has digital coupons on their website which you redeem by your phone number at checkout.
Keeping an eye on my pantry, I select the BOGOs and such that I will need now or in the near future.
Our Girl Scout troop went on a store tour with a manager who explained all the ins and outs of Publix sales. She told us that Publix items are all on a rotating sale basis and each product typically goes on sale every 8 weeks which helps with planning. The moms loved it more than the girls did.
If you forget your coupons, they will give you cash with your receipt at customer service.
As I mentioned earlier, I live in a rural area. The next closest Wal-Mart or other shopping is 13 miles at a minimum away. Considering the cost of gas, some non-sale/non-coupon items at Publix are cheaper. I also save my time which is also money.
Joy Rebello says
Also, a lot of the Publix sales will also line up with online coupons such as those from coupons.com This is deliberate according to the manager.
Abby says
Publix used to have penny sales on Thursdays. It was never announced, you just have to go to the store and see what they have. It probably varies by store.
HeatherHH says
Prices do vary by region. We lived in IL for 5 1/2 years. Then we moved to WV. Our grocery bill immediately jumped. I watched every store’s ads for weeks before we moved and after. I basically found that the sale prices were in general lousy, except for the occasional large reduction on an expensive convenience product that it would raise my budget to use. Gone were the days of really good prices on dairy, etc. So I did Super Walmart, dairy and a few other things at Sam’s Club, and a few things at a bulk foods store near my parents. There was no point in going to even looking at the ads for other stores. I was so glad when ALDI opened in our town after a couple years.
Jennifer says
I am also a new Publix shopper. I was excited to move to a town that had a Publix, but oh, my! My first few shopping trips there were pricey.
I was so glad to see this post.. yesterday I checked out Southern Savers Publix match-ups, made my list from the BOGO deals, and went shopping. I stopped by customer service on the way in the store and picked up all the flyers I could, and yes- I stood there and paged through them all and cut out coupons (good thing I had scissors with me!)
My final tally was $22, and I saved 25! I had a coupon for Seventh Generation dish soap, so I paired that with a Publix coupon. I also had cut out a buy one get one free coupon for the same item, and I was able to use all three to buy two bottles of dish soap. This item wasn’t even on sale, but my final cost was about a $1 per bottle!
The store also was handing out some awesome samples yesterday- Lindor truffles and some type of banana cake covered in chocolate with sprinkles. The cake sample was so big they gave us a plate and fork to go with it. My son and I felt like we were at a party, lol.
At the check out I was so happy to see that some of the magazines (Glamour, Cosmo) had clear plastic protectors over their racy covers. Thank you, Publix!
I am realizing that it just takes time to learn the ropes at a new grocery store. Deep breath… it can be done!
Jen says
Crystal, I am so excited that your family is in Nashville! We are so blessed here to have 3 major chain grocery stores that double coupons. Publix is great and I agree that southernsavers.com has the best Publix match-ups. I shop at Harris Teeter for the deals and Aldi for fresh produce. I love HT because they have several BOGO and B2G3 deals each week. This week, store brand shredded cheese is B2G3, which makes it $1.20 a bag, which is when I stock up. Plus, they double coupons up to 99 cents every day and have triple and super double (up to $2) coupon events often. And HT marks down meat and produce for the date, while Publix does not. I usually find some kind of meat marked down to $2/lb or less. And if you are close enough to the Belle Meade store, they have $10/50 purchase coupons at the register that they will let you use if you ask. I get the coupons in the mail because I live nearby. By stocking up on the best deals at HT and getting the weekly specials at Aldi, we keep our grocery budget under $400/month for our family of 7. I use southernsavers.com and homemakingmom.com for HT match-ups. Homemakingmom.com is great because she also mainly shops at HT and Aldi and shows pics of her shopping trips on a budget of $60/week.
Caitlin says
I love Publix. The customer service truly is above and beyond.
I won’t repeat all the great tips everyone has already said but I wanted to mention that BOGOs at Publix in Tennessee aren’t true BOGOs. Anything maked on sale as a BOGO is actually half off. This can become important depending on how many coupons you have for a certain item.
Not all Publix are like this so I thought it was worth mentioning 🙂
Joy Rebello says
In Georgia Publix locations, if you only want one item, it is half price.
In Florida Publix stores, you have to buy 2 to get the BOGO price.
Karole H. says
Go to Publix.com and sign up for their stocking spree coupons then pair those with your manufacture coupons and BOGO sales. I always try to stock up when something is BOGO it’s not really worth it other wise.
I have to agree with all the rest of the comments they are the friendliest around 🙂
Beth says
If you were at the Aldi that I think you were in Franklin, you were super close to the Publix you went to, but if you headed West just a bit, there should be a Kroger on your right.
Publix’s best prices are usually their BOGO’s. With careful planning, you can save money there but it is by matching coupons to sales and BOGOs. I just moved from that area of TN to Iowa, but the last year or so that we were there I shopped almost exclusively at Aldi and Publix. Kroger prices are good, but I was generally furious by the time I left Kroger almost every single time because of the poor customer service.
Publix employees are always super nice and even more helpful. I was to the point that I would rather pay more at Publix and leave happy than save money at Kroger. Now I live in a small town in Iowa with one tiny grocery store and I’m still….adjusting. 🙂
Jill says
Love Publix. The store is always clean, the staff is friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, here in Florida, they do not double coupons. But, you can preload Publix digital coupons (once you sign up for free on their website) before you go to the store and there is no limit on how many you can have at once. Sign up for the kids club and the pets club, because you will get more coupons mailed to you from that. Combine the BOGOS and sales with store and manufacturer coupons and you will see your savings multiply.
We live in a small town with a Winn Dixie, Aldi and Publix. I never go to Aldi because it is dirty and smells bad. But, I use the same savings plan at Winn Dixie that I do at Publix. I will get the special deals at Winn Dixie but do the rest of my shopping at Publix. Good luck.
Christy says
If you just walk into Publix like you did with no plan, it will cost more than Walmart or other grocery stores. If you take time to plan (mainly with http://www.southernsavers.com help) you can match coupons to BOGOs and stock up on needs that way. Also, their store brand products are great. We love their ice cream and stock up when it goes BOGO. I love Publix because of their costumer service and the stores are always clean! I am willing to pay a little more for that, but do stock up on sales and coupon items ASAP.
Dana says
I’m in Nashville, and when I do my bi-weekly grocery shopping, I hit the BOGO deals at Publix and do the rest at Aldi. Occasionally I’ll run into Kroger when I can get stuff dirt cheap, otherwise those 2 are my go-to! And I generally come home feeling like I was able to get some “fun” stuff for our family of 6 instead of just the boring essentials 🙂 Check out southernsavers.com. They do all the leg work for the Publix deals and matchups, along with all the other stores around! 🙂
Dana says
I’m in Nashville, and when I do my bi-weekly grocery shopping, I hit the BOGO deals at Publix and do the rest at Aldi. Occasionally I’ll run into Kroger when I can get stuff dirt cheap, otherwise those 2 are my go-to! And I generally come home feeling like I was able to get some “fun” stuff for our family of 6 instead of just the boring essentials 🙂 Check out southernsavers.com. They do all the leg work for the Publix deals and matchups, along with all the other stores around! 🙂
The produce is definitely best at Publix. Very high quality.
And not all the Publix stores start their ads on Thursday. Some are Wednesday, so make sure you check!
And it’s my favorite store to take my 4 boys to. They have fun shopping carts and are always super helpful and sweet with the kids 🙂 With a super tight budget, it’s almost worth it to me to spend a little more just to be in their store than to go to a Walmart in North Nashville where there is a lot of gnashing of teeth 😉
Bethany says
Because I’ve not really learned the couponing trade yet, I usually use Aldi for much of what I do and only go to Publix when I know of good deals because their prices do tend to be more expensive (I guess unless you know how to coupon.) I think the BOGO deals are the best! I only really go in when they have a BOGO deal on something I need. I’ve stocked up on frozen spinach, peanut butter, granola bars, bagged salad and juice (to name a few) that way so well that even my cashier commented on how little I spent for what she’d just scanned 🙂 way to make a frugal girl feel good! That’s my trick for using Publix if you don’t have time to coupon. Also, sometimes next to the BOGO deals, you’ll find store brands that are even cheaper than the BOGO deal, like yogurt. Publix brand yogurt and frozen yogurt are the my favorites, above name brands.
Juli says
I live just north of Nashville. Welcome to middle TN! I hope you find it as great a place to live as I think it is! I must admit, I have never had much luck at Publix. The few times I have shopped there, I have found them to be overpriced. I do almost all of my shopping at Kroger, and I think they have better deals than any other place I shop. If you go to the Kroger website on Fridays, most weeks you can load a coupon to your card for a free item. Sometimes it will be a cup of yogurt, sometimes it is something else. But free is always good, right?
Clara says
I live in Mt Juliet (25 min east of Nashville). I do the majority of my grocery & household shopping at Kroger. Overall I feel like Kroger has the best prices plus it is a one stop shop for me. However there are times that Kroger does not have a great produce selection so I end up making a trip to Publix. Publix has the most friendly & helpful staff of any store I have shopped at. They often suggest/remind me of an ad deal for that week. I most often purchase their BOGO deals. I feel like that’s the best way to get your money’s worth when shopping at Publix.
I use clipped & digital coupons at both Kroger & Publix. Publix does not have a frequent buyers card (which I like). You register with your phone number & you can load digital coupons from your PC or phone with their app. (You can do the same with Kroger but you have a frequent buyer card). I have found that the coupons are almost exactly the same for Publix as they are for Kroger.
But if traffic and hours will be a frequent issue for planning your shopping trips, give Kroger a try.
Oh & FYI….Kroger & Dillons are owned by the same company. So the deals should be similar to what you were used to at Dillons before your move.
Happy shopping!
Charlene @ A Virtuous Woman says
Oh, how I miss Publix! The cleanliness, the variety, the sales, the doubled coupon, the store coupon booklets! The best thing about their BOGO sales are, you don’t have to buy two to get the sale price, each item rings up half price, so if you onl have one coupon to match to the sale, you can by only one product an still save! (we had another chain that did BOGO sales, but the first item rang up full price, 2nd rang up $0, so you had to get 2).
Publix is great, but for planned, sale & couponing trips, not so much for off-the-cuff, impulse trips.
Kara says
Make sure you sign up for Publix coupons. You can get good deals there, but it takes some work. I do love Publix. However I do almost all of my shopping at Aldi. No one compares to those prices. Check out Trader Joe’s (currently only in Green Hills), but it’s just not as close to home as Aldi. Also Costco! Welcome to Middle TN, it’s so great here!
Kara says
Make sure you sign up for Publix coupons. You can get good deals there, but it takes some work. I do love Publix. However I do almost all of my shopping at Aldi. No one compares to those prices. Check out Trader Joe’s (currently only in Green Hills), but it’s just not as close to home as Aldi. Also Costco! Welcome to Middle TN, it’s so great here!
Matt McWilliams says
I miss that Publix 🙂
You could do what I did once accidentally. Find the $3.99 item mislabeled as $1.49, buy a huge amount (protein bars…things last for 100’s of years I think), and then when you get to the checkout and they ring up as $3.99, they check and honor the mislabeled price.
One thing I will say I experienced every time at Publix was great customer service. But yes, they are much more expensive.
Mary H. says
Sorry, I had to catch my breath after seeing what little you got for $66. I’m pretty sure you did too when seeing the total at the register. 😀
My go to sites before my Publix, as well as Kroger, trips are (in order of 1st to last) southernsavers.com , faithfulprovisons.com , and iheartpublix.com . ALWAYS get the little flyers/books that have coupons. My Clarksville store has them at the door when you go out. Don’t forget those digital coupons either!
I agree with most everyone that the customer service is beyond excellent. I will agree that Kroger prices are better- sometimes. The BOGOs with coupons are usually the best price in town. Although Walmart will price match if it has the price. Although, when you have a 50c coupon that doubles or able to stack coupons, Publix is the better.
Another thing to check to see is what other store coupons they will accept. My Publix accepts Kroger and Food Lion but not Target. It should be posted at the customer service desk.
Tracy @ Using Time Wisely says
Hands down, the best coupon matchups for Publix are through Jenny Martin at SouthernSavers.com. She’s amazing!
Signup for eCoupons as well which are linked to your phone number – no loyalty card needed. But you will need to load your e-coupons each week.
Good luck!
johnstka says
Publix’s BOGO prices almost always beat other stores. A lot of savings with their store coupons too (they have regular fliers with store coupons that you can stack) and they accept select competitor coupons. I went tonight and was able to buy 5 Breyers ice cream for $.80 and they currently have a great deal on yoplait/Cascadian Farm Granola, I got 2 boxes plus 2 8pk of yogurt for $2.50. Can’t get those prices at Aldi. Aldi is better prices for produce in general.
As others have said, I recommend Southernsavers.com. She posts coupon match ups Monday afternoons.
Emily Allen says
I am from Florida and have greatly missed Publix when I moved to MN and now in TX. The BOGOs are usually the best deals. This is a blog that does price matches for publix
http://www.southernsavers.com/publix/weekly-ad-publix/
nicole says
I’m from Florida and I can’t begin to tell you how much I miss Publix. You can’t beat the quality, atmosphere or the friendliness of the employees. Publix is an employee owned store just like Hyvee. You should use Publix as a last resort to pick things up but the best time to shop there is doing the BOGO sales because you can use 2 coupons! You can also stack store/MQ coupons and I heard they even take competitor coupons(target, Walmart, etc.) as long as it’s equivalent to there item. http://www.iheartpublix.com is a good one or http://www.southernsavers.com is another good one. Don’t knock on Publix-lol
Lauren says
The most ethical blog for Publix shopping is http://www.truecouponing.com. They post the Publix ad with match-ups on Monday mornings around 7AM, and they teach “Couponing for Christ – savings for yourself and blessings for others”!
Lisa says
I love Publix. BOGOS are great and they are very coupon friendly. However, I do tend to shop at Aldi for some produce. If you get used to the sale cycles at Publix you will always pay half-price for many items.
Anna says
I don’t have any experience with Publix, but I just wanted to express my empathy for your new grocery store sticker shock! I just moved to greater NYC and am constantly paying more than I ever used to due to fewer sales and a higher cost of living. It’s hard but you will figure out how to make it work. Good luck! 🙂
Kristen @ Dem Golden Apples says
We love Publix! In fact, this is where we do almost all of our shopping. You can go online to publix.com and check out their weekly sales. They change the deals every Thursday. They take coupons from competitors, and you can triple up on competitor and manufacturer and even Publix coupons if you have them for the same item! Their BOGO sales are really good. We usually shop the sales for the most part, and always use coupons. We actually only end up getting a couple of things that are not on sale and/or without a coupon. They do have excellent customer service and go above and beyond for the customer. It’s a great company. I’m sure all of these comments will help you save money there. In fact, where I live, I find better deals at Publix than I do at Aldi. The only other place we shop from time to time is Costco. Hope that helps!
Ruth says
couponmom.com will give you match ups with coupons. Publix is always a very clean store with great produce and meat. Prices are higher, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Employees are generally paid more than other stores and the have higher quality employees.
Courtney says
The only thing I ever buy at Publix is their BOGO specials and sometimes their two for specials. When I do shop there I stock up! A lot of times they have really good stuff on these. They recently had BOGO organic chicken breasts!
Courtney says
Although I should say I just moved to Nashville about 7 weeks ago and am experiencing a bit of sticker shock at the grocery stores myself !
Melinda says
Publix does take competitors coupons and you can return just about anything however it is more expensive than other grocery stores here in Florida except maybe Whole Foods 🙁
Sharon T says
True! I live in Naples, FL. Our options are limited to where we shop. Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Publix or Winn Dixie. Costco and Sams too, but those places are ones I don’t shop at on a weekly basis.
I mainly shop at Publix and Costco. Whole Foods/Trader Joes for specialty items and never at Winn Dixie, ours is just… so very dirty and the produce is terrible.
I try to buy most of our produce from the many farmers markets we have but you can’t always find what you need.
Rachel K says
A great go to website: http://www.iheartpublix.com
She lists all the weekly deals including the green and yellow advantage buyer ads with coupons, etc. GREAT site!
Tina says
Hi! My husband recently started working in sales for a large named bakery brand. Did you know that most of the Aldi items are name brand and Aldi makes the brands change them to Aldi titles? I was shocked because I thought they only sold generic brands…they don’t! It just looks that way. He also said they have a very strenuous health and quality code, which is awesome for the consumer! It’s exciting to know that you can get quality for a low price!
Crystal says
I live in Florida and go to both Aldi and Publix every week and usually CVS too.
I only buy the best deals at Publix – BOGOs, combining manufacturer coupons with Publix store or competitor coupons.
But for my weekly essentials (bread, produce, cheese, baking supplies), I go to Aldi for the greatest savings.
Good luck : )
Cheryl says
Their BOGO are great. Everyone is very friendly. The meat department is wonderful as is the deli.
Lizzy says
I love Publix! I think it is wonderful to see that the same employees have been there for years. In our area, a weekly flyer shows al the sale items for the week
I know it is way more frugal to make your own sandwiches, but Publix has the best subs ever!
Anna Rose says
GREAT service in meat dept!!! Great service in general that is almost as good as saving money.
My hubs was a meatcutter at Publix. Try their “Market Grinds” for ground beef. It’s meat trimmings from t-bone, sirloin, other leaner cuts with usually little fat. Instead of throwing it away, the meatcutters will grind that up and sell it and is much cheaper than 90% lean beef.
They will also cut meat the way you want. For example, they can make fajita strips out of flank steak or turn london broil into ground beef without extra charge. And also- they can cut a frozen turkey in half (I cooked one half then kept the other frozen for later).
Same at the produce section= they will core a pineapple for you or split watermelon in half and you only pay for half. They even washed strawberries for me when I asked (we were on our way to the beach).
And if they charge you the wrong price on the register than the price on the shelf, it’s FREE! Plus, the customer service desk took missed coupons and expired coupons were ok for up to one week. And they gave FREE cookies at the bakery dept. And let you try any of their desserts for free! Their desserts are the best ever! Better than Cheesecake Factory. Try the Chocolate Ganache and Raspberry Torte, and my fave Tiramisu!
I am praying so hard they will move up to VA!
zoe says
this isn’t exactly related, but i have been enjoying following your stories related to your move. i have tried to go back to the beginning to find where you talked about moving, but am having trouble locating it. would you consider making that something like a “series” where readers can go see all of your stories related to that? i am in the process of a move, so hearing about your adjustments and changes are encouraging to me.
also, i’m a big publix shoppers. BOGO’s can be good, as everyone said. also, they do have good prices on the local “in season” produce, but other produce tends to be high. it is more fresh than aldi and kroger and lasts longer.
HeySueB says
Try iheartpublix.com. The site will go over the whole weekly add and links to get coupons to get the best deal on items. The Publix website is a great place to get coupons as well. They do digital coupons. I am not sold on these yet, but do use them. I can’t remember what I have “clipped” to try to match a mfg coupon to got along with it. Publix does not double coupons, but has tons of BOGO’s each week. They also will take coupons from stores near by each location. Check your Pulix to see what other store coupons they take like Target and other grocery stores. Publix customer service is always outstanding and will issue rain-checks on any BOGO item that you didn’t get enough of.
Michele says
I haven’t read this yet, but Publix sells the best subs! Delicious and big, too! Their bakery department is very good – their rolls are much better than other supermarkets.
Elizabeth says
Agreed on the subs and bakery! Best in the world. They are the only grocery store I’d consider buying a wedding cake from, no joke.
Lindsey Swinborne says
Congrats on the move! I’m excited to hear about your family’s life in TN. Sounds like an adventure! These prices look similar, even a little low, compared to our prices in Wyoming. We don’t have an Aldi anywhere nearby so we are used to paying $140 per week (or more sometimes) to feed our family of 6 even while hitting sales and using coupons.
carol goodlet says
Iheartpublix.com is my favorite website for Publix.
Christine says
Their BOGO deals are great but honesty compels me to admit that you can save a lot of money if you do your shopping elsewhere. Even so, I am a loyal Publix shopper because customer service matters so much to me and no other grocery store comes close to the Publix level of service. As you once pointed out on a blog posting, you don’t have to save money everywhere and if something is important to you then you should feel okay about spending more in that area. Shopping at Publix makes me happy so it is worth it to me.
Julie says
Yes, yes, yes! I will gladly pay a little more for good customer service. After growing up with Publix in FL and then moving to east TN 12 years ago, I was at a loss without Publix. They finally came to my area 2 years ago and I haven’t been happier! I shop their sales as well as Aldi and Trader Joe’s.
Sarah S says
I checked to see if there is a Kroger store near Nashville and there are several. I typically shop 4 stores, walgreens, king soopers (a kroger store), dollar tree and sams club. The kroger store doesn’t always have the best deals but they run pretty good deals and ads change on Wednesdays, plus you gain gas points, always helpful. Hope this helps. I’ve learned so much from your site and shopping trips that it’s become a hobby!
Tshanina | Thrifty T's Treasures says
Congrats on your first real grocery trip in TN!
I live close to Nashville and do most of my shopping at Publix and Aldi! I’m a huge fan of Publix, but not when I’m buying everyday staples and produce. (I stick to Aldi for that.)
As stated above, the trick to shopping at Publix is shopping their BOGO deals. And as Laura said, Southern Savers is my go-to site for match-ups. If there’s a Target near the store, more than likely you can pair a Target coupon with a manufacturer coupon (just ask at customer service).
From following your blog for a while, I don’t believe your family eats a lot of processed foods. To be honest, most of the time that’s what you’ll find with their BOGO deals. That being said, you can find sales on their produce (I’ve never seen any markdowns/clearance at my store) and they also have BOGO deals on frozen veggies quite frequently.
My husband likes Boars Head meat and I’ve found that their prices are cheaper than Kroger, so that’s one of the staples I buy every week.
Welcome to TN Crystal!
Katie AUld says
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CouponingAtPublix/655824177837352/?notif_t=group_comment_reply
Couponing at Publix facebook page is a great way to learn the deals. Also truecouponing.com
Rachel Robinson says
I miss Publix! They are not close enough here for it to be worth it. I saved more money there than I seem to at Kroger. (Don’t have an Aldi.) Their sales and store coupons help a lot! There produce is pricey but good. However, I do love the managers specials I get on meat and produce at Kroger. I think you will have to go several times to get a feel for the store and how they do things. Don’t give up on them yet!
Laura @ Unpunctuated Life says
I use http://www.southernsavers.com/ for Publix deals. I tend to find better Manager’s Special markdowns at Kroger (in fact, I have never found any at Publix, at least not on produce), so it is my main grocery store. I only hit up Publix when there are really good BOGO deals + coupon matchups. In that case, though, it is really easy to save ~75%!
Mandi says
For me, one of the best ways to save is to match up BOGOs with coupons. You can use a Publix and manufactures coupon for both items, so if there are coupons out you could potentially use 4 coupons for a pair of BOGO items. As for competitors coupons, you’ll have to ask the local Publix which competitors they accept… it varies from store to store. I frequently get good deals this way and I’m SO EXCITED to (hopefully0 start seeing some weekly deals for Publix from you now… been waiting forever for this :))
Christie says
At Publix you have to shop for the bogo items and you can get paper and digital coupons that you can stack with your manufacture coupons. the produce is better quality than anywhere else but cost quite a bit more than Aldi. Their coupon policy is extremely friendly
Crissy Stout says
Regarding paper, digital, and manufacturer coupons….my Publix told me that most of the digital coupons are manufacturer coupons now so they will no longer accept all 3 at once.
Since you are outside of Florida, I believe you will see that one item is on sale each week for only $0.01. BOGOs are the definite secret though!
In Florida, Walmart will match Publix BOGOs. I’m not sure if they do in Tennessee.
Casey says
yay! Me too!! I can’t WAIT to learn from Money Saving Mom on how to shop better at my favorite grocery store!!
They aren’t cheap but Publix Subs are the BEST FOOD EVER!!! They have a cult following…
Terra says
We always love shopping at Publix when we’re at our condo in Ormond. We always treat it as a vacation, so I don’t sweat it when I spend more on groceries. I treat normal grocery stores differently than I would Walmart or Aldi. I base my shopping lists on the sales. And a lot of the time, I can combine a coupon on sale items. I shop like that mostly, as I prefer that method. I’m not an Aldi fan. We have a Safeway here, and I don’t know if Publix has this, but they have a website for members and you had coupons directly onto your shopping card. I save a ton of money that way. I think it’s up to you. It’s all about what makes you comfortable and if you have normal things you buy every week, then my method isn’t going to work for you as regular priced stuff always costs more in typical grocery stores. If your method has been working for you all these years, and clearly it has, then I’d save Publix for last minute purchases or to just take advantage of certain sales.
Diana says
I agree with “save Publix for last minute purchases or to just take advantage of certain sales.” I’m in North Alabama, so a lot of our ad prices would be similar to yours.
Since you have an Aldi, you will almost definitely find lower prices there on produce than Kroger or Publix will ever give you. I’d say stick with your old plan for doing most shopping at Aldi and checking other store ads for their current deals to see if anything’s worth the extra trip. You will definitely find Publix produce to be good quality, and the sales are usually cheaper than Kroger’s. But Publix’s BOGO on many things can’t be beat by much (condiments, Bird’s Eye veggies, crackers, bottled juice, etc.)
I buy most of my groceries at Kroger since we’re too far away to make Aldi feasible often, but about half the time I also head to Publix for some produce (usually seasonal fruit) and boxed/canned/bottled items (often with coupons for those things, too).
Kelley says
I cannot say enough good about Publix. And I save money there, too! I do shop at two stores, to be sure I’m getting the lowest prices I can. Their BOGO sales are great and there always good match-ups. They take store and manufacturer coupons. Their food is fresh. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve wasted carrying just-bought rotten meat and produce back to Bi-Lo and Ingles.
This morning, my groceries there cost $32 and I saved $45 with sales/coupons.
And on top of it, I came out to the car with a completely flat tire. I went back in to see if anyone could help me. The assistant store manager was out there two minutes later, laying on the ground, sweating. He did the whole thing, wouldn’t let me help. That’s the kind of store Publix is, at least my Publix.
Tshanina | Thrifty T's Treasures says
Publix’s slogan is, “Where shopping is a pleasure!” I wholeheartedly agree, and love shopping there.
I love that the store manager helped you with your tire! It just goes to prove that their slogan is true. Their employees are always so friendly and helpful.
Jennifer B. says
Please be sure to share that compliment with Publix! As I recall (we don’t have Publix stores here), Publix is employee owned, but I think hearing good things about their employees going WAY above and beyond is appreciated.
Donna says
Actually, when management gets a compliment about a specific employee, the employee often gets a reward (I think they still do that). My husband works there. Pass on the compliments 🙂
gina says
yes, they do!!! In fact, i called once to compliment some employees at my store…and later found out that they were rewarded with a free lunch from their deli!!! That’s the way they make sure that the customers stay happy!!!
Jennifer K. says
I live in Nashville and I shop almost exclusively at Kroger. I’ve found that I find the best deals there especially with their digital coupons. Publix just can’t beat their prices. Publix does have superior customer service, though. No doubt about that.
Candice says
I completely agree. I’m on the east side of the Nashville Metro area, and I shop between Publix and Aldi. With the changes in Kroger’s coupon policy and inconsistent produce quality (at least at mine) I’ve given up trying to get a good deal at Kroger.
Not to try to suggest a competing blog, but southernsavers.com has printable shopping lists with all the sales listed along with the coupons available for that item. You can check off what you want and make a shopping list of just those items. It’s pretty nifty. 😀 Unfortunately, she really only caters to stores in the south, but Publix is one of them.
Although the produce is more expensive, if it’s something I need to last for a while, I do pick it up at Publix (if it’s on sale.) Aldi’s is great for produce if you hit it at the right time, but sometimes we get stuff that only lasts a day or two.
I’m also picky about what I get where. Snacks and most staples are from Aldi, but Publix is great for sales on creamer, milk, cereal, olive oil, pasta, pasta sauce, and soup. Oh, and paper goods like toilet paper and paper towels, and prepared meats like bacon and hot dogs. 🙂
Becki @Running with Team Hogan says
We’ll be traveling through Tennessee this summer. After reading this post, I think I’ll have to map out where the Aldi’s are to stop and by food along our multi-day vacation.
Sarah says
I live in middle TN as well and I’ve made Publix my main go to place for groceries. Shop BOGOs with lots of coupons. Iheartpublix.com is by far the BEST match up website for them! The publix ads start on Wednesday but she gets it early and has it posted up match ups every Monday morning (2 days early!).
So I get about 80% of my groceries there and the rest at Kroger. But be sure to check with the Publix stores around you to see what competitor coupons they take, if you can find one that accepts Target then your golden! Good luck and keep us posted!
Esther says
I live in Florida where I have been going to Publix pretty much my whole life. I love their stores and the customer service. Produce is not cheap there, so stick with Aldi. I go to Aldi for my produce and milk. I get everything else at Target and Publix. Publix customer service is unmatched. They have great deals on bogos – check iheartpublix.com or southersavers.com for matchups. I stock up and often save more than I spend. Although the appearance makes it seem like everything is more expensive I find it is like any other store where some things are and some things aren’t. The cleanliness and the helpful attitude of their employees makes it worth it if I pay a little more.
sarah k @ the pajama chef says
We live in Nashville, and my first ‘regular’ shopping trip at Publix was like $80 for two of us! Usually we spent $40-50 at Kroger and/or Trader Joe’s. Here is what I have found: the best deals are on their BOGO items. I also think their produce is fresher than our nearby Kroger (we have both within a 5 minute drive), and some of their produce (spring mix lettuce) is cheaper than Kroger’s usual prices. Their storebrand dairy products are comparable in price (a little more expensive) but I think the quality is better. I much prefer the atmosphere at Publix over any other grocery store in the city…so calm and relaxing, with very polite employees who even offer to carry our groceries when I’m with my husband!
The closest ALDI to me is 15 minutes away, more in traffic, so I’ve only been once. It’s also not really on the way to anywhere I regularly go, and was dirty inside.
I shop at Trader Joe’s once or twice a month…it’s in a very busy area but is worth it to me. Just don’t go on a Sunday unless you go when they open at 8…we usually go before church or on Friday night and it’s calmer then.
BTW the Publix bakery is amazing! I usually don’t buy bakery items, but I must say that the sandwich buns are SO good. Their key lime pies are a family favorite from vacation days, and my friend swears by their cakes. My husband is obsessed with their black & white cookies too.
Kate says
Welcome to TN! We have lots of beautiful farms here and since we try to eat organic, we take advantage of the Franklin Farmer’s Market on Saturdays. (FYI, some of the vendors are selling locally grown produce, not organic.) We also, get a CSA every year and plan meals around it. Yum! Also, in the fall we buy a grassfed cow at C & F meats in College Grove, TN. (Don’t buy out of the case. Way too expensive.) We eat really well all year on steaks, roasts, stews, etc for about what Publix charges for ground Turkey. I buy paper goods at Sam’s, so I can stock up and be done. Lots of my friends have switched to Costco, because of their organic selection. I never buy produce at Walmart, because it spoils too quickly. Whole Foods is working really hard to beat Kroger, etc on prices. They also, have a terrific satisfaction guarantee.
Rebecca says
I haven’t read all the comments so some of this may be repeats…I live in NW FL also where we do not have ALDI. I spend at least 75% of my grocery budget at Publix (the rest at CVS, Walgreens, and an occasional trip to Target, Walmart, or Winn-Dixie). To get the best deal, you have to watch the sales and only buy what’s BOGO and if you have a coupon it’s even at better deal (of course). They have lots of Publix coupons that you can stack with Manufacturer coupons. (For example, today I got 2 cartons of Breyers ice cream and 2 boxes of popsicles for about $5 for all 4. Not every deal is that spectacular, but some are.) They have the BEST customer service of every store in my area. Check out http://www.iheartpublix.com. Every Monday she posts the coupon matchups for the next sale week. Once you get the hang of it, you can find some great deals.
[email protected] says
If you go to: http://passionatepennypincher.com/category/store_deals/grocery_stores/publix/ they do a list that is a one click print and saves a ton of time planning for your trip. And they put a trip up on Wednesday afternoons with all the coupons to match with the trips! It’s a great place to shop!
Ashlee says
Not many have mentioned this, but one of my favorite things about shopping at Publix in TN is that the BOGO items each ring up half off. So you can just get one if you want and it’s half off. If you want to get two of the BOGO things, you can use two coupons. I’ve found that my husband and I spend much less by shopping the BOGO deals at Publix than we would have at Kroger or Walmart in the past. Plus, as many have commented, it’s such a great shopping experience. I’ve never met anyone at Publix with a bad attitude or anyone who is not willing to help. Plus, if you need anything they don’t stock, they will ALWAYS order it special for you. I’ve never had such a great experience (every single time!) shopping at any other grocery store!
Jennifer B. says
Great to mention for Crystal about the half price BOGO because I had assumed it was that way everywhere (but it isn’t!). We visited Florida (Orlando area) and there, the first item in BOGO at Publix rings up full price and you don’t get the discount unless you buy two.
Ashlee says
That happened to my husband and I when we were on vacation in Florida, too! We were so used to the BOGO ringing up half off, we were shocked at our final total until we realized their policy was different!
Jennifer B. says
It is good to mention for Crystal that apparently TN Publix does half price for each BOGO. When we visited Publix is Florida (Orlando area), their BOGO rang up full price for the first item, with the discount only applying to the second. I even asked the manager if that was the way it was supposed to work, because I only wanted one!
Jennifer B. says
Sorry about the double posting!
Also, I think the Publix shoppers in Florida do not get the 1 cent items either. Not sure why they are more strict with Florida. Perhaps they have less competition there?
Janice says
Southernsavers.com for match-ups….for sure
Produce is not going to be the cheapest at Publix, but you won’t have as much of a “look and see if it is fresh” as you do at Aldi. Publix is definitely the best for buy one, get ones and any kind of coupon deals. Plus amazing customer service (especially if you are with your kids)…that sounds silly if you are trying to save pennies, but I have had such horrible experiences at other stores, that paying a few dollars more per trip is worth my peace of mind.
Publix doesn’t do expiring meat or produce deals like Kroger does, but I am good with that.
The best deal on basics every day is Aldi….but I do all my stocking up at Publix with their sales in the weekly flyer. I don’t even go to Kroger at all anymore.
Mylynda says
I am sorry to hear that you guys didn’t score big on your first shopping experience at Publix. I completely agree with those who have referred you to southernsavers.com for all the GREAT coupon match ups on BOGOS. In fact, if I am not mistaken, her website is how I happened upon your blog many years ago. I stick with Aldi for produce and milk. Kroger has some great weekly sales on produce, as well as meat.
jeness says
In the end, you get what you pay for. Customer service at publix can’t be beat. Find out which stores your publix location considers a competitor. Many products in produce and dairy will be less at aldi. But catch the sale on a national brand and add in coupons, publix can’t be beat. I love iheartpublix.com She makes publix shopping a breeze. I think eventually you will LOVE publix.
Katy C says
I love the free oral antibiotics when we absolutely need them, I appreciate their friendly staff & managers, and I love their proximity to my home. Having said that, if I have to “run to the store” for something real quick, or go to the store having not checked the ad, which I’ve done many a time and regretted, I usually end up spending twice as much that time than I normally would. I typically start my shopping trip at Aldi, then go to Trader Joes, and then if I still need something, like organic meat, I end up at Publix for a few items. I find they have decent BOGO’s on household products and if timed correctly you can get a great deal. I got a pack of wipes for .50 there just the other day because there was a manufacturer coupon, a publix coupon and the item was on sale!
Susan says
iheartpublix.com posts all the deals early Monday mornings.
Cheryl says
I am sooo glad you posted this. We lived in Florida and I LOVED Publix so much. Then we moved where there was no Publix (for 2 years) and I got heavy into couponing. Then we moved back to Florida (yay!) and I was so excited to get back to shopping at Publix but WOW are they expensive! Even the B1G1 deals aren’t as exciting for me as they used to be (except for the tea – LOVE the tea). Excited to see there are some Publix savings blogs and already set up an account with coupons loaded to it and next trip I’ll be ready to save big!
gina says
I LOVE Publix!!!! They have the best customer service you can find!!! If a product is marked incorrectly, they give the first one to you for free…and if you are buying more than 1 of that same item, they charge you the marked price!!!!
Also, they take competitors coupons!!!! They always have a minimum of 31 BOGO sales a week….and many Publix coupon booklets running at the same time (ask for them at customer service)…everytime I go I save an average of 65% to 75% of what would have if I went somewhere else!!!! 🙂
Emily says
I agree with many of the other comments, Publix is pretty expensive if you just buy without at least doing BOGO. Even BOGO can be a lot. For me (I live in Florida) I pretty much only buy the Publix items that I can BOGO and use both a store and manufacturers coupon on. Even better, I have a bunch of the $5/$30 Winn Dixie coupons that I use at Publix. That ends up working out really well for me!! I use southernsavers.com for my Publix and Winn-Dixie match-ups. Good luck and welcome to the south! 😉
Jennifer Timmons says
I shop at Publix every week. I only give myself $40 a week for groceries. That seems to be my big key no matter where I shop. Well, that along with a list and menu plan. When it comes to cutting cost otherwise, I shop the sales. If chicken is buy 1 get 1, I buy chicken that week and freeze it. If the mayo that I like is buy 1, get 1 I buy it even if I have some in the fridge. You get the idea. Checkout 51, Shopmium, and Ibotta have been very useful also. (Especially Shopmium, it deposits straight to a PayPal account with no minimum required.)
JennF. says
I didnt read thru all the comments, but iheartpublix.com is great and with your extensive coupon knowledge, you will be able to match even more coupons up with the already extensive list they use. Also, sign up for digital coupons (can use both..just have them tender sale first with digital then use paper coupons. Mine also takes winn dixie $5/30.
Carolyn Biles says
A big WELCOME to TN! A beautiful state with lots to do.
Aldi is the least expensive grocery. Kroger & Publix double coupons. Kroger offers a lot of digital coupons & Free Friday offers and exclusive coupons by mail. We do have a food tax, but that is offset by no state income tax.
Christine says
Public does not have good deals on produce. You make up for it by shopping the bogo sales.
Kirsten says
I see a lot of good ideas on here. I live in the Nashville area and find that Aldi prices are not too different from good deals at Kroger. The Kroger stores here, still double coupons (thankfully) and generally have decent prices. I don’t buy as much fresh foods as your family, but with coupons and sales, can feed our family of 6 for less than $100/week. Publix is good for BOGO and that’s about it. The best site for coupon matchups for this area is http://www.faithfulprovisions.com. She lives just south of Nashville. Southern Savers is a little off on the prices (since she is in the ATL area) and the IHeart sites are off on their matchups a lot of times for this area because of the same reasons.
Jenna says
The best bargains at Publix are in their BOGO items every week. Pair those with coupons from the Sunday paper and you can really see the savings. Nashville has way better coupons than where I live, so that will definitely help! I don’t think all places double coupons, but they will double anything 50 cents and under where I live. Also, on Wednesdays they have a different penny item each week.
One thing I love about Publix BOGO is that you don’t have to buy two to get the savings. It’s just me and my husband, so being able to buy one at half price is really great when it’s an item that would spoil quicker than we could eat two of them.
I like to use southernsavers.com for coupon match-ups at Publix.
Margaret says
I forgot to say earlier our tax is 10% !!.. in central Alabama.. Our milk is $4.19 a gallon.. Also, Publix’s competitors will be listed right when you walk inside to get the grocery carts. If Winn Dixie is a competitor, you can buy the Enjoy The City books which have $5 winn Dixie coupons in them! The website is enjoythecity.com. These are coupon books specific to your region, but the Winn Dixie coupons are not city specific.
D Lamb says
It’s hard to save at publix since they do not double coupons in my area, FL & SC. They do have some good sales and you can use a manufacturer coupon and Publix coupon but those deals are rare. I grew up with Publix so there are some items that I only buy there but I do not do large trips there anymore. And of course they asked if you needed anything. Publix is by far the best grocery store when it comes to customer service. I walk out of there feeling like a celebrity!!!
D Lamb says
And to boot, I have Publix, Harris Teeter, Aldi, Wally world, Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Target all outside my door. Aldi is the best value w/o coupons- Harris Teeter and Bi-lo are my best stores w/ coupons and I avoid Wally World and Food Lion.
Sara says
Next time try trader joes! I do 90% of my grocery shopping there. I’ve never been to Aldi, but TJs has tons of organic things for significantly cheaper than you’ll find anywhere else. And I know there’s at least one in Nashville 🙂
Jenna says
Trader Joe’s and Aldi are the same company, Aldi is much cheaper! And, if organic is your thing, Aldi carries a lot of organic items now. (I’m not knocking Trader Joes, love them too, probably more than Aldi)
Joanne Peterson says
Also, if Aldi’s is carrying something they list as a special purchase, let the company know on their website you like and appreciate the special purchase and want to see it continue. The parent company often is using the special purchase as test marketing for new products they are considering adding to their store.
I have done google searches for grocery stores in the area. Then I look at the weekly fliers online to get a feel for what the sales offered are for the week. Then I compare and shop. After a while, I have a very good idea what the store is like. I also have had to realize my grocery budget may not have been what it once was, or it may be better. Each part of the country, or city even in the same state will have different prices.
After I know what the stores offer for basics, I will search out some of the area’s local specialty/second’s stores, farmer’s markets, csa’s, food buying clubs, co-ops, etc. This often has been by word of mouth, checking out the local health food stores, coffee shops, etc. It is a process, and a learning curve that takes time.
Elizabeth Rogers says
We don’t have Publix in my part of TN, so I don’t know much about it. But, I highly recommend you search out a Save-a-Lot, I know there are some of them around the Nashville area…we used to live in Hermitage and I shopped at the one there. It’s similar to Aldi, with pretty consistent pricing on the basics. Welcome to Tennessee, hope you’re loving it!!
Pamela says
I shop at Aldi, prices still seem cheaper than Publix. I live in TN as well. Here is a few items I just purchased.
Fit and Active, Turkey Franks $1.29 -16oz. (Publix Hebrew National Beef Franks BOGO this week 11oz-12oz. $ 4.99)
2% Milk $3.19 – Gallon
Honey Nut Oats $1.69- 12.25oz.
Gluten free pasta, 16oz.- pkg. $1.29
Strawberries $1.49 -16oz. (Publix has them on sale this week for $2.99)
Grapefruit $0.49 ea.
Deluxe Almonds $4.99- 12oz. (Publix has them this week BOGO $3.59-6oz. still more expensive)
Roman Hearts, $1.99
Baby carrots $0.99
12 Grain Bread $0.99
Frozen Orange Juice $1.29
Large Eggs $1.69
Rice Cakes $1.29
Mini Sweet Peppers $1.29- 1 LB
Red Delic Apples $2.99- 3 LBS (Publix has them on sale this week $1.69LB)
Kara says
One thing that doesn’t help the food budget is TN has one of the highest food taxes in the nation. It can get hard!
Tammy says
Wow, food is taxed in TN?
I’ve never been shopping at Publix before, so no helps there. I’m sure you’ll get it figured out! 🙂
Jenna says
I don’t think they have income tax in TN though… If I recall. I’d rather pay higher grocery tax than our state’s 5% income tax!!
happy momma says
Those who say Kroger I agree with them. We have Smiths which is in the same grocery family. For our area they are the most coupon friendly, plus they have digital coupons you can download to your card. After a while they will send out coupon booklets in the mail packed with coupons for some of the things you buy most. This last round I got three coupons for produce. (doing a happy dance)
Being a big chain they can often negotiate better deals than the little guys. This week I see they have pineapples again for 99 cents each. Yahoo! Time to get out the canning supplies. Here is a post I wrote about canning pineapple when they had this deal before. http://www.lifelesshurried.com/2013/06/preserving-pinapple.html
It takes time to find the deals and learn the patterns. We have found that going in the afternoons is best here in our town. Mornings we didn’t have much luck, we found out they tend to mark down stuff just after lunch. So we go in the afternoons, before the pre-dinner rush. We always look for the Orange and yellow “Manager special” tags. We find pretty good deals and often find produce marked down. My favorite are the fresh herbs.
Whatever store you choose, I would call and see when they get their shipments in. Be sure to ask which days and what time they typically mark down items. This has enabled us to be some of the first to enjoy the discounts, it is less picked over. Also, knowing the store layout and which corner they hide the markdowns is helpful. Each store is different, I remember when we moved three years ago I had to spend some time getting to know the stores. Hubby thought I was crazy at first. I remember higher food bills for a few weeks just because I did not know the tricks for this area but I learned, and it has been well worth my efforts and with rising food prices Hubby is glad that I have developed some skills to be able to keep a good food budget. Good luck.
Lauren says
I also use iheartpublix.com. She posts the sales with coupon match-ups on Monday mornings. That is honestly my favorite thing about Monday mornings 🙂
I rarely buy any produce or meat at Publix. They have the best BOGO deals and they have store coupons. My local Publix accepts very few other stores’ coupons as competitors, but Whole Foods is one that they consider a competitor. I stop there almost every week to find super cheap items – yogurt, frozen items, condiments. Unless there’s a special deal on a particular produce item, I stick to Aldi and my local farmer’s market.
Casey R. says
Publix takes a little bit to get the hang of. I typically just keep a stock pile in my cabinets and go in and buy sale items. I try to get mostly bogo items that have coupons as well. Then the coupons help take care of your other items as well. I usually save at least 50% of my trip.
amanda says
i live in fl i shop publix mostly bogos and now walmart bogos since its cheaper there even though im a publix girl at heart. This post actually made me feel better because i see your deals and am always like dang why cant i do that!!! lol
amanda says
i love southernsavers!
Jill says
I think Harris Teeter in Nashville is awesome. When we lived in Nashville, I always did well with their triple coupon promotions. Also, the Trader Joe’s in Green Hills is great! My husband works in Nashville once a month still and I usually send a list of Trader Joe’s stock-up items.
Julie says
The key to shopping Publix is BOGO! They regularly have staple items on their buy one get one free specials so I just wait to stock up on things like pasta, sauce, cereal, snacks until they’re back on sale. I go to their website every week (in GA it comes out on Thursday) and review the weekly ad and make my shopping list and print it out from there. Produce is always high quality, but not always the best price so I usually just buy what’s on sale.
Megan says
TN is really hard b/c the tax is so high…..you find good deals but then have to add 5% back on! Also, most stores don’t double coupons or they are very restrictive. When we lived in TN, I did a lot of food shopping when I was visiting my family in NC b/c it was so much cheaper.
Lea Stormhammer says
Wow!
How many states tax food? I live in MN and we don’t tax most foods. That five percent would make a big difference.
Lea
Tracey says
I love my Publix! You’ve gotten lots of good advice here, so I’ll just add my two-cents worth and recommend using iheartpublix.com for coupon matchups and obviously shopping the BOGOs and sale ad as much as possible. I have compared prices for Publix brand items with Walmart brand items and have found them to be very comparable here in SC. Publix was even cheaper on a few items – and to be honest, the customer service and shopping experience at Publix as compared to our Walmarts are worth a few cents difference for me.
Amy says
I second the comments on SouthernSavers.com. The Southern Savers site is *wonderful* for coupon matchups with Publix, Harris Teeter, Winn Dixie, and so many other grocery stores and drug stores. I haven’t found a coupon blog like hers anywhere else!
Jo says
I agree – Southern Savers is my favorite coupon matching site.
Misty Nicole Overstreet-Roberts (The Lady Prefers To Save) says
As a fellow savings blogger in Mississippi, I can also share that I post weekly deals as well. In addition, I would highly recommend not shopping for all of your items at one store! For starters, I have found that Winn-Dixie has the best deals as you can BOGO shop with two man. coupons per deal (scan coupons before your loyalty cards), and then price match your produce at Walmart. I also buy meats at save-a-lot; ground beef for under $1.59/lb, and ground turkey for $1.00 a lb. Also, for all frozen foods and dairy, shop the Kroger 10 for 10.00 sales, and for other household staples, coupon shop at the Dollar Tree. I have gotten my monthly food budget for four under $120.00 a month, well within my savings budget.
Stacey says
check out http://www.iheartpublix.com. I shop Aldi’s , Publix, and local produce stand only. Publix is great for Buy One Get one Free’s.
Rachel H. says
I second I Heart Publix! Publix is great for their BOGOs and the coupon stacks, especially if your Publix accepts Target coupons, but for a quick trip for essentials or produce, Aldi and Kroger are your best bets. Welcome to TN!
Erin says
We joined a fruit and veggie co-op. It’s $30 for 2 weeks worth of produce (about 40+ lbs). We plan all of our meals around our produce. If you can get into something like that- I found that it’s worth it. Where I live, there is only a Publix that is close by. Everything else is 20-25 minutes away. I couple their BOGO’s with coupons. Also, make sure that everything rings up at the price marked. If it doesn’t, it’s free. Our Publix takes Target and Winn Dixie coupons. But, even with all the couponing, I tend to spend anywhere between $60-$75/ wk at Publix (including paper products, laundry items, and personal care items). Over a year ago, I payed $150+/wk of groceries (for our family of 3!). I am pretty excited that I’ve been able to cut the bill in half.
Andrea says
Every week I make a produce match up sheet with all the stores in my area. (I have 2 people in my family that can only eat berries and tropical fruit due to allergies so it can be very expensive.) So bottom line I make my match up sheet and I buy all my produce at Walmart. It is near and it is easy to do price matching (Target is harder and in my area won’t match produce or meats). I also feel that Walmart produce is much better than Aldi’s (at least in my area). I do all my other couponing at different stores.
Yesterday this is what I bought at Walmart with price matching:
15 containers of Strawberries
9 kiwis
6 mangos
1 seedless watermelon
bananas-2 lbs
apples-4 lbs
3 pineapples
broccoli crowns-1 lb
2 baby carrot bags
Price: $46.02 (I think I saved about $21 price matching)
FYI, I bought more strawberries than normal because I made some freezer jam and strawberry/mango fruit roll ups. 🙂
Mel says
This is exactly what I do as well. My wm is used to me coming in every week. They don’t start scanning my stuff until I give them my pm’s!
Margaret says
I second all the comments on iheartpublix.com. Publix is known for their customer service. I used to shop exclusively at Walmart, but I have not stepped foot in there in two years ! Now I buy exclusively at publix, and spend less thAn I spent at Walmart!! You just need to plan out the weekly deals and coupons and you’ll get the hang of it. The produce is pricey but you can make up for that saving on all the bogos .
Lindsey says
Yep, it’s all about customer service! I don’t shop Publix regularly because I don’t do coupons, but if I need something that Aldi doesn’t have Publix is the way to go. I may be a little partial, having grown up in central Florida where Publix is headquartered, but down here it’s just fact- Publix IS where shopping is a pleasure! They have regular bogo deals, honor all coupons, stack store/manufacturer coupons, give kids a free cookie at the bakery, and if you want something they don’t have they’ll special order it. Also, it’s a great company to work for…and much of my family has. 🙂
Heather says
I live in NJ and prices are high here (travel a lot across the country so I have seen the price differences) Can’t help you out on this grocery store chain but looking at the prices you paid I can tell you that you could make out better at Whole Foods. And I remember you saying there is a Whole Foods in your area. Whole Foods has the best price on milk in my area -cheaper than Aldi’s, Target, Wal-Mart, Wegmans. Not only that but if you buy 4 gallons it is considered a “case” and you get an extra 10% off. (their case deals work great when you find an item on sale – ask at customer service how many items to make a case as sometimes it is less than 12 – and stock up!) Uncured nitrate free 365 bacon is $4.99 (slightly cheaper than what you paid but uncured and nitrate free) 365 brand can be really cheap. Even OJ – which is $2.39 at Aldi (not from concentrate) and only $1.99 at Whole Foods (also not from concentrate)
Wendy says
I live in Nashville and shop primarily at Aldi – but I do shop the ads for Kroger and Publix and get the items that are on sale there that Aldi doesn’t have… i.e. my yogurt – I eat only Dannon Light and Fit greek – kroger and publix both have had it on sale the last few weeks for $1 each – match that with a $1 off 3 coupon and I am saving… but be careful – although Publix is great (I love their service and friendly people) their produce is always high in my mind. Shop the ad weekly with your coupons and you can come up with some great savings…same with Kroger. I have saved a ton lately at Target – with their stacking coupons (1 target/1 manufacturer) plus their cartwheel app on your smartphone plus using their Target Red Debit card 5% off and adding up Pharmacy rewards for another 5% coupon monthly – I have been saving on certain items there as well…
Melanie E. says
I rarely shop Publix. Their every day prices are HIGH. Only shop for the deals, and maybe clearance items. Obviously, that was not an option for you last night, bless your heart.
Another good website to help you match up the good deals is http://www.iheartpublix.com/
Margery H. says
I live in Atlanta area, Georgia, and we have Kroger, Publix, and Aldi (as well as WalMart and Target.)
The most expensive store is Publix. The best prices you can get at Publix are BOGO sale plus a coupon, and Aldi is still usually cheaper than that. Publix is the cleanest store with the best customer service, and high quality produce and meat, but they are really expensive.
My strategy is to purchase most things at Aldi. I buy meat at Costco since I don’t like Aldi or Kroger meats. I fill in the random things that Aldi doesn’t have at Kroger or Target. Publix is closest to me, but I only shop there when I am desperate!
I hope this helps.
Meredith says
This sounds exactly like me. I’m in SC and Publix moved in last year. I was all pumped especially since they had double coupons at the time. frugality is free has a blog where I would do the matchups and get my coupon deals. Then one day with coupons in hand, I learned that Publix doesn’t double anymore in my area. Now, I go to Aldi for pretty much everything. Super Target for the cat stuff and milk (it’s way cheaper there), Harris Teeter for the triples or Super Doubles, and then Publix if I am desperate. At least by your post I know that I’m doing it right!
Chris says
I live in Nashville too. I shop once a month at Aldi and Trader Joes.
My regular shopping is at Kroger (mostly dairy, paper products and sale items).
I shop at Harris Teeter when they have super double coupons (double up to $2) and Publix when they have good deals with their BOGO’s. Harris Teeter is expensive, but they always double up to 99 cents. Not somewhere for your regular shopping, but when they have good sales or the super double coupons you can do okay on select items.
Make sure to sign up for the shopper cards at Kroger and Harris Teeter.
Whole Foods is expensive. I don’t even shop there now that we have a Trader Joes.
Southernsavers.com is the site I also use to find sales.
If you really want good deals on in season produce the Farmers Markets (especially any put on by Good Food for Good People or the downtown Farmers Market) are great places to shop. I usually stock up on in season produce and freeze it.
Hope that helps!!
Ashley P says
Oh, and one more thing you may want to consider:
If your children have a UPromise account, Publix participates. A portion of the money you spend on certain items there gets placed into a savings account for your child’s college. It may only be a nickel here or a dime there, but over 18 or so years, it does add up. And, hey, every little bit helps, right?
I signed up for a UPromise account before I even had kids (Hey, it doesn’t say you can’t!) and I have a little savings in there. I’d probably have more if I shopped online more often (the returns on online purchases seem to be a bit higher than in stores) but I’m not saying no to free money back on stuff I was buying anyway.
Ashley P says
Oh, and one last thing. Publix pharmacy. If you or your kids ever need oral antibiotics, have them send the prescription to Publix pharmacy. Oral antibiotics are free there.
Jennifer B. says
I know Crystal doesn’t have pets, but this free oral antibiotics deal Publix offers also applies to pet prescriptions! My mom had no idea until the vet told her. Such a great savings! Especially nice that the vet told her (since my mom is an older person on a fixed income).
Dee Wolters says
I do not have a Publix close enough to shop regularly, but do have an Aldi. I would stick with Aldi. Especially for produce and dairy, consistently low prices. But give yourself some grace, you just moved across the country. We have moved numerous times, and it seems each time I head to the store for the 1st time, I chose the most expensive store. But in the whole picture of keeping our family fed and happy during such a stressful time, it is ok. Welcome to Tennessee!
Jamie Rohrbaugh says
It’s definitely not the cheapest option, but to me Publix is worth it. I do almost all my grocery shopping at Publix because we buy a lot of whole foods, and the produce I get there lasts longer than what I find anywhere else. They have a ton of BOGO stuff and we do try to buy BOGO when possible, but we don’t sweat it too much if not. Their customer service is incredible and they take really good care of their employees. They are a family-owned company and I like their business model, their product selection for my vegetarian diet, and the way they take care of their people and customers, so much that I don’t mind that their prices can be a little higher.
Ashley P says
I wouldn’t say they take great care of their employees. At least the ones down here didn’t. My husband worked for them for years, and when he finally moved up to the meat department, he noticed the safety was broken on the patty machine. He was told to use it anyway. It’s how he got his fingers cut off. Thank God the EMTs liked to stop in there and order subs, so they were already in the store when it happened. They managed to get (most of) his fingers sewn back on.
Also, at the end of the night, Publix would throw out any deli chicken it hadn’t sold. My husband and several other employees asked if they could take the chicken home since it was being thrown out anyway. Publix said no, they had to pay full price for the chicken. At least the guy at the deli got smart. He threw the chicken out in a separate garbage bag, with the chicken still in the containers. Then he dragged the bag outside, and then everyone got to take what they wanted.
Maybe the franchises down in South Florida aren’t like the other good Publixes elsewhere. But that’s our experience with them. I still shop there, of course. (They’re pretty much the only store around until Aldi moved in, and you can’t beat their fried chicken). But I won’t ever say they treat their employees well down here.
Robin says
I love Publix! I basically shop at Publix for the bogo deals. I would recommend http://www.southernsavers.com to help with the best deals at Publix and coupon match-ups.
Ashley P says
Publix will always be more expensive. In South Florida, they’re pretty much the only game in town, unless you want to go to Super Walmart (which doesn’t have much produce-wise) so you either pay their prices, or do without. It sucks because they basically have a monopoly down here. There’s a handful of Winn-Dixies, 2 ALDIs, and maybe one Albertson’s left down here.
That being said, I do know Publix will do price matching to certain stores if you have the flyer. And they take coupons for each item, even on BOGO deals. So there’s that.
But…BUT! I will say this. If you’re willing to pay the price, you CANNOT beat their fried chicken. It is literally the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. Better than KFC. Better even than my husband makes. DELISH!
Crissy says
Aldi in Franklin is one of the best. They usually get their new stuff on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Happy shopping!
Lauren says
I’d say skip Publix and go to Kroger. Or hit Aldi, then Kroger. The only thing I prefer at Publix is their cakes. 🙂
Teri says
First, you should know Publix is the friendliest place you will ever shop! The employees bend over backwards every time I’m there, asking if they can find something for me, take my cart to my car for me, etc. They compliment my baby every time I’m there too, lol. 🙂
Like everyone else has said, Publix has great BOGOs. Also, they take competitor coupons. You can use a store coupon (Target, Kroger, etc.) + a manf coupon. They also double coupons (up to $.50 coupons double) – Kroger has ceased to double coupons.
Lana says
I only do the BOGOs that have coupon matches at Publix plus the other few good deals there. Southern Savers and I Heart Publix are your best resources for finding the deals there. There are lots of good deals there once you learn the ropes. I pretty much buy our produce, meat and milk at Sam’s Club. Then I supplement with the deals at Publix and Bi-Lo (don’t know if you have that one). I do still shop Aldi for some things but the produce from Sam’s keeps twice as long and is so much better and I have never been a fan of Aldi meat.
Jenn says
Publix bogo items are great. They also stack store coupons, take competitor coupons, and manufacturers coupons. Their meat and produce is higher but always good. If you need something special for a recipe they will have it. They also have a gluten free and organic section to rival Whole Foods. Swing by the Deli and get all your kids a free cookie and you a sample of their bread. On Wednesday they have their penny item! Go to southernsavers.com. She has videos on how to get the best deals.
Your prices will probably be higher than in Kansas. When we moved from the midwest to the south our grocery budget HAD to go up.
heather says
Publix is not the best place for produce/meats. They are usually higher on those things. But they do have great bogo sales, and they take competitor coupons as well. If you look at the front of the store where you enter, there is a rack with their coupon booklets as well. You can match the Publix coupons with your other coupons to really save there.
Lee Privette says
With publix you really have to shop their ad. They do offer store coupon and manufacturer coupons that will stack, and if you buy a bogo item you can use two coupons, and that can really add up. I buy whatever meat is on sale, but I have never seen produce at the prices you posted from Kansas. The benefits to publix are the cleanliness and friendliness. :). For us the next closest store is 30 mins away. I would definitely use southernsavers to make the most of your trip 🙂
karen says
One thing i forgot to say…if you buy the publix chicken tenders sub you will get enough chicken tenders for two people! my daughter and i do that splurge sometimes when she is home on weekends (she just graduated college) We split a large chicken tender sub and even split it’s too much food for one meal!
I never buy subs anywhere but at the publix deli counter because they make THE BEST Subs. I’m Italian so you can trust this recommendation! We Italians know our subs! 🙂 🙂
kristen says
I am usually able to walk out if publix w some good deals on their bogo items. Getting the fliers at the front really helps then stacking those qs w manu qs. Ali is def the first place I stop to get essesntials. Publix for sales, bilo for meat. Good luck learning publix. It’s one of my fave grocery stores to coupon at. Iheartpublix.com and southernsavers.com have great match ups.
karen says
i only shop for bogos at publix and do everything else at walmart/super target/Sam’s!
i think you will find prices much higher where you are now than where you were in Kansas. To be honest when I’d read what you were spending in Kansas I wondered if you were making things up! Most big metro areas come with bigger prices. Now you get a chance to see the challenges most of us face with food budgets!
You never really explained why you moved?
Joy says
http://www.truecouponing.com posts the Publix ad for the upcoming week every Monday morning. They match up the coupons with the sales. If an item is BOGO, you may use a coupon on each item. You may also stack store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons, or use manufacturer’s with competitor’s coupons. They are cyclical in their sales, so learning the cycle is helpful. We live in FL, shop primarily at Publix (and Aldi), and spend less than $300.00 per month to feed our family of 7. Hope this helps some :-).
Amy says
I only skimmed the previous comments, but I think you got lots of great tips. I only shop Publix periodically for BOGOs because their regular prices are higher than anyone else’s in our area. I might buy produce there once or twice a year. Aldi will beat them every time and most of the time Bi Lo, but I don’t know if they have those in Nashville. Also keep in mind as one previous poster said that food prices are just generally higher in TN as is the tax on food. That 7.25% really adds up quickly here in Chattanooga! We also have some dairy regulations in our region that make those prices higher and some coupons void (sad face). Hang in there – you will get in the swing of things!
Jennifer says
Gee, those resemble Maine grocery prices, meaning not good, except for the milk. Milk has been over $4 a gallon here for years.
Do you have a Super Target with a grocery section? I’ve been getting good deals there–probably not as good as Aldi’s but we don’t have one of those. But the Target is open way past 8!
Kristin says
Wow, those milk prices really floor me! I live in Central New York dairy country, and the highest price I have seen for a gallon of non-organic milk is $2.39. Your produce prices are generally much lower though down south (except for apples – this is apple country too!). I am always amazed at the dramatic price differences. Good luck navigating your new shopping options!
Jennifer C says
I am a HUGE Publix fan and since we moved to Maryland a little over a year ago, I think I miss Publix more than our friends and family. LOL
The absolute best site for Publix deals is IHeartPublix.com. Definitely check it out and keep at it at Publix. They are amazing. Most Publix stores take competitor coupons, so you can stack a manufacturer coupon with even a Target coupon. Imagine the savings on a BOGO!
I am jealous and yet excited that you get to experience the wonders of Publix. It is the best grocery store I have been to and I’ve lived all over the country from Florida to Seattle, WA to Maryland now.
Diana says
I like other use to use iheartpublix.com or
southern savers.com hut have since found an awesome site called : Mycouponexpert.com
she is awesome!! I shop only the deals at publix and do the rest of my shopping at Walmart. Due to lack of choices. Hope you get it sorted out.
Diane says
I LOVE Publix. First find out which stores your Publix views as competitors. They will honor their coupons. I check both southern savers and iheartpublix when making my list. Iheartpublix puts out the list on Monday morning so I have a couple of days to think about my menus. Southern savers Publix list usually shows up sometime in the afternoon on Monday. Sign up for Publix Best Meals Happen at Home email coupons and Publix digital coupons. Ask customer service where they display their printed store coupons. Publix also has a Love to Shop Here, Love to Save Here multi week sale. Around 12 items will be on sale for the 3 week cycle. These are only listed in the ad the first week of the cycle. And finally through recycle bank I am able to use 2 5/25 competitors coupons each month. I hope you enjoy Publix as much as I do.
Rachel Estarellas says
If you strategically collect Kroger points, you can save a substantial amount on gasoline purchased from Kroger. My parents shop managers specials, and get the Kroger card price (which has each item ring up as less)
Kirby Pettigrew says
I usually end up buying produce at Aldi, can’t beat their prices. At Publix I always start with the match up from Southern Savers. The best thing about Publix is their BOGO and price matching. My Publix in West Nashville accepts Whole Foods, Target, Harris Teeter, and Kroger coupons. Paring man. and store coupons along with a BOGO sale is the way to get out of Publix on a budget. Right as you head inside check out their store display and get their store ads with coupons (there are usually 2- a food related one and a healthcare related one). Good luck! Welcome to Nashville!
Kristi says
I also recommend southernsavers.com. Jenny will post the deals for Publix, Kroger, Aldi and more. She will also put coupon match-ups and let you know when an item is at it’s lowest price. I do love our Publix for their great coupon policy and the BOGOs. I shop Aldi for produce sales, but we do not have a Kroger in our area.
Tammie says
Publix has some great deals when you use the BOGO and stack coupons , but other than that it is just not an everyday shopping type store unless you have deep pockets or require very particular foods, but even that is rare mist stores carry the same or similar. I try to do my stock ups at Aldi which has great produce. Or atleast the one I go to in Hendesonville does. Northeast of Nashville about 25 minutes. Other weekly shopping I use the Kroger app on my phone to load coupons and build my list. My neighbor makes a trip every few weeks to Harris Teeter also and always brings back great deals. I’m just not that dedicated to couponing to get the deals that she gets ! Lol! So I get them from her!
J. Johnson says
HUGE Pbx fan here. As others have said, the BOGOs are where you really save. Our Pbx still doubles ALL coups $.50 or less and will take competitors coups as well. You can combine a store and manufacturers coup on any item for increased savings. And you can always get rainchecks if an item sells out. With all the Pbx coupon books that are mailed out or available in store it’s easy to save more than you spend. When we need extra help with deals, iheartpublix is a go to page for us. New add will be out tomorrow. Hope your next trip goes a lot better!!
Letty says
While I don’t have advice on getting good deals at Publix, I have to tell you: they make the best sub sandwiches!! Whenever we travel to a southern state we always stop at a Publix to get subs. They make them for you at the Deli counter. I recommend the Ultimate, and the Publix brand meat is just as good as the Boar’s Head. Ask for their freshest bread, though, that does make a difference!
Martina says
We lived around here for about 8 years now, and I always found Publix overpriced a little. We now mostly shop at Aldi and Sam’s Club.
Mandi says
Oh, the fun of living in a new place. My husband and I used to move every three months for his job. It was always a process to find the right grocery stores. When we moved to Alaska we were in major sticker shock… we were at Safeway and a bag of potatoes were near $10. Then we discovered Fred Meyer which was part of Kroger…. I loved that store. They even had a play area you could drop your kid off to be babysat!!! I didn’t have a kid at the time, but wow! Good luck!
Carol O. says
Aldi has AWESOME produce prices, that is the place for produce. However, I also recommend Kroger because they mark their stuff down ALL the TIME. I buy only marked down stuff from Kroger unless I need a specific item for a recipe. That will help keep your produce costs down.
Sheryl says
I live in Alabama. We have had our Publix just over a year I guess. I strictly shop the ads. I generally save 1/3 of what i spend. So spend $20 save $10. Sometimes the packaged greens are a great deal. Where I save the most is stacking coupons on BOGOS. Cereal is most frequent score. They sell their store brand yogurt for $.35-.45 a cup once a month.
Liz says
Not sure if you have one in the area but Save-A-Lot (savealot.com) is great for staple items and some brand name stuff. PLUS, they take coupons and often have insane markdowns. Recently got a 4pk of double roll Charmin for $1.20
Hope that helps! My heart goes out to you for sure. I moved 150 miles from home and it took me a few weeks to get adjusted to grocery shopping in a new area. Keep plugging along, you’re doing great! Remember: even a small bit of forward motion is still forward motion. I heard some wise woman say that. 😉
Jill says
I am a Publix newbie myself. I always go to Aldi first and then either Kroger or Publix for the rest. The BOGO deals aat Publix are great when you can find them on the produce you want. It may be pricier, but their amazing customer service and cleanliness of the store keeps me going back.
Leigh says
I have to be honest, I was especially excited for your move to Nashville so I can really get a grasp on how you shop with our stores. I shop at Publix and at Whole Foods for things I can’t find other places (my child is highly allergic to many foods) but my main store is Super Target which has a full grocery section so I buy meat and other items there. Ours has also started carrying a lot of gluten free foods at cheaper prices than I have been paying elsewhere. I don’t shop Aldi as I have to be very brand loyal to avoid certain allergens. I do like Food Lion produce as well. I am excited to hear more about your shopping trips and hopefully learn where I can find some good deals in Nashville!
lea ann lund says
publix rarely has any good deals, except their weekly BOGO. their produce is a bit fresher on average but you pay for it. i live in Nashville and stick to Kroger and Aldi. and you should definitely check out Trader Joe’s for affordable organic!
Jennifer Brown says
Trader Joes is great. Mine is about an hr and 15 minutes away or I would shop there more regularly.
Cristina says
As others have mentioned, publix is only good for the bogo deals and cake. ☺ I recently learned about Walmart price matching with publix.
Elise says
Check the websites listed for deals. Also, watch the sales. Sometimes, I buy name brands BOGO cheaper than the store brand. Also, the ad changes on Wednesday. There will be a penny item tomorrow. There are store coupons and in store flyers at either the door or at customer service. They also have digital coupons. The service at my Publix is wonderful!
Jennifer says
A penny item?
Jenn says
Yup! On Wenesdays buy $10 of merchandise (before coupons) and take in the coupon from the paper and you get an item for a penny. It’s usually a publix store brand unless they run out then they substitute name brand.
Jennifer says
Boo! I just checked and Florida doesn’t participate in the penny item promo 🙁
Jen says
We don’t have much to choose from where we live. So those prices are pretty much normal. Wish there was an Aldi’s here.
Megan says
Unfortunately, there aren’t very many produce deals at Publix. 🙁 I have had to learn to buy products I don’t really need that give you overage with sales/coupons to use the overage to buy produce with it just to keep our grocery bill down. 🙁 If you have a Kroger nearby (we don’t and wish we did), get the card and actuate the savingstar ecoupom for the healthy offer of the week to help cut down some of the bill. This week it’s 20% off apples. It’s still some savings 🙂
Megan says
Unfortunately, there aren’t very many produce deals at Publix. 🙁 I have had to learn to buy products I don’t really need that give you overage with sales/coupons to use the overage to buy produce with it just to keep our grocery bill down. 🙁 If you have a Kroger nearby (we don’t and wish we did), get the card and actuate the savingstar ecoupom for the healthy offer of the week to help cut down some of the bill. This week it’s 20% off apples. It’s still some savings 🙂
Lauren says
Publix has never really been a grocery store that I’ve gone to for good deals. Kroger has much better sale items and manager discounts. Plus, the Krogers I’ve been to have always had good quality fresh produce.
Joy says
southernsavers.com is the way to find the deals at Publix 🙂
Abby says
Southernsavers.com has the best coupon match-ups for Publix. I live in Nashville, and sometimes the prices are a little different than what is posted on Southernsavers, but usually it’s for the better. The BOGO deals are what I typically go there for, and sometimes there are some great store coupons too! Jenny from Southernsavers has a whole video about couponing at Publix that you might find helpful!
Also, as far as I know, Kroger still doubles coupons in the Nashville area. And they have better meat deals. I definitely go to Publix and Kroger for sale items, but I tend to shop at Aldi for our main staples and produce, much like you seem to on a normal week.
Jennifer Brown says
If im comparing prices on southernsavers, I know that I will have to add about 20% for the real price of my Publix stores. Crazy how different priced areas are.
lisa says
I love publix. Check out iheartpublix.com and southernsavers.com. Publix is Great for bogos and they stack store and mfg qs. Without coupons they are not cheap. I shop publix sales with coupons. I shop aldi produce. Next week (thurs) here is súper cheap breyers with coupon stack. The Front of your store should list competitors coupons. If you are lucky they will take target qs and there are tons of bargains them. And the staff is súper helpful/ cserv focused
Christina Stanley says
The websites iheartpublix.com and southernsavers.com are both good for finding deals at publix.
Carla says
We live in Nashville and Publix is not the place to go for produce or meat deals in my opinion. They do have good BOGO deals though. We shop there a lot because it’s right next to our neighborhood so the convenience factor wins out.
Michelle says
Our Wal Marts in Florida will match the Publix BOGO deals, at the Wal Mart Prices. I match those with a coupon for the best prices. Not sure if they match the BOGO in other states, but check with your local Wal Mart and see.
maya johnson says
I used to (we moved and there is no aldi here) buy all my main staples in aldi and sometimes go to publix and see what their bogo deals were. Now having just Walmart and Safeway, I really miss aldi and our wallet took quite a hit.
Christina says
Try iheartpublix.com
Ashley says
Southern Savers (http://www.southernsavers.com) has great Publix deal match-ups!
Laura Coffman says
I loved http://www.southernsavers.com when we lived in Georgia and Florida!
Tracy S. says
And I use southernsavers.com in Birmingham. I think she’s actually based out of Tennessee so that could make it even easier. 🙂
Bettie says
Publix has great BOGO deals and is very coupon friendly, but their everyday prices can be a little much. Also you may find that grocery prices in general are more in TN than in Kansas. I know our grocery prices in FL over all are higher than many mid Western states by comparing my prices with family in other states. I wish we had an Aldi so I could experience shopping there. I read so many blogs that tell about wonderful deals there.
Ashley P says
Depending on where you live, Florida DOES have ALDI’s now! They are few and far between, and they aren’t exactly advertised, but you can check out Aldi’s website to see if there’s one near you. I know they now have a handful in the Broward County area, and I love shopping there!
Donna Downey says
Go to Kroger and sign up for their savings card…..my folks have lived in Nashville for 25 years and Publix has always been overpriced since they came into the market, according to my very thrifty mom.
Amy says
I have been shopping at Publix for over 17 years. Haven’t found produce deals. Look for the BOGO products and shop the ads. Publix will take coupons from their competition as well as manufacturer coupons but I’ve yet to have them give overage.
Laura says
I agree with Amy. It’s the BOGO deals, stacking coupons, and competitor coupons that brings me to Publix. Meat, produce, milk and bread come from Aldi.