Comparing Publix, Kroger, Aldi's, Sam's and Wal-Mart for groceries

Which is your favorite grocery store in Snellville?

For me, it's Publix, hands down.

Best service, most knowledgeable/helpful employees - the prices are good on some things, not so good on others, but overall the service overrides everything else. But here's a list of what NOT to buy at Publix . If you combine coupons (most double) with the buy-one-get-one free deals, you can get lots of stuff free or almost free. They will ask you if you need help, you don't have to hunt someone down. I have never, ever had a bad shopping experience at the Snellville Publix on Scenic Highway in Snellville. As good as it is, the Publix store in Loganville at Cooper Road and Highway 20 is even more incredible, service-wise.

Kroger is okay for the things I don't buy at Publix. You can find some deals there if you pay close attention. Kroger also doubles coupons, but they don't double .35 cent coupons and Publix will.

Aldi's Snellville (Hwy 124/Scenic Hwy) - no name brands, can't use coupons, but they say their savings more than makes up for that. You can use a debit card but no credit cards. You need to bring your own bags. Bring a quarter for the shopping cart. I understand why they do all that, but it can be a pain if that's not what you expect when you walk in there. They buy older fruit and vegetables in order to save money and pass the savings along to you, and as a friend of mine (who is a loyal Aldi customer) told me, you need to plan to eat it right away if you buy it from Aldi's, because it will spoil fast. (Illinois)

Sams Club Snellville (Hwy 124/Scenic Hwy) you need to pay a membership fee. There's too much hassle involved for the savings...if you really know prices and compare you will see that they more than make up their money they save you on the "loss leaders." Loss leaders are the items that are super low, to entice you into the store...then they make up their money on overpriced items. I've always felt like the checkout process is like a cattle drive. (Headquartered in Bentonville AR)

Wal-Mart Snellville (Hwy 124/Scenic Hwy) - Savings on groceries, but if you have a problem like moldy bread (I did), expect a fight with customer service to get your money back. (Headquartered in Bentonville AR)

Target on Scenic Hwy in Snellville also has a grocery section. You can find some really good deals on cereal, dairy, and snacks sometimes. Avoid their condiments the prices on those are sometimes twice what they are from the regular grocery stores. Avoid their laundry detergents. Service: I was denied use of Target store coupons I printed out from the Target website. The Snellville Target would not let me use them, even though they were unexpired, valid Target coupons. It's no use to try to reason with a sales clerk, so I contacted Target headquarters for clarification on their coupon policy, and they never communicated with me.

I have none of these difficulties at Publix. I am very frugal, but good service is worth paying for. Another point for Publix is that if you want to help local people more, Publix is based in Florida and has a large warehouse in Lawrenceville, GA.

Kroger Grocery Deals

Through June 28th, Kroger stores in Snellville have gallons of milk for $3.58. That is probably the lowest price around. Did you know you can freeze milk? You can. The key is to pour out some of the milk from the jug first (eat a bowl of cereal I guess!) so there is some expansion room in the bottle before you freeze it. I haven't done this myself, which is amazing since I'm such a cheapskate! But if I find a super low price on milk, I might go for it.

Kroger and CVS have 12 packs of Pepsi cans for $2.75. That comes to .23 cents a can. If you regularly buy a can of soda from a vending machine at work each day at .75 cents, over the course of a year, the difference in price (.52 cents a can) adds up to $135.20 a year, assuming there are 260 work days and you bought a soda every day. Or, you could drink water (free) and save $195 a year!

Other deals at Kroger this week, and if it's in bold that means I know there are coupons out there!

Ragu 1.87
Moist n Tender Pork Loin is Buy one Get one Free (but I don't know the retail price for one)...this is the Kroger brand.
Kroger Cheese in bars, shedded, or 6 ounce deli slices: 1.66
Breyer Ice Cream 2.27
Deer Park Water 3.99
Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs (BOGO but price unavailable)
Strawberries 2.50
Purex Laundry Detergent 2.50
Betty Crocker Fruit Rollers/Gushers: 1.66
Kroger canned beans .44
Cheez Its 1.98
Hormel Chili with Beans $1
Chef Boyardee cans $1
Manwich cans $1
Lawry's Marinade $1 (use .50 coupon, it doubles and these are free after coupon)
Revlon Cosmetics 50% off full line
Almay Cosmetics 50% off full line

Click here for links to sites with good free printable coupons. You'll be surprised at how many times you can find coupons for products that are on sale. If you find a coupon you really need to have more of, check the other links to printable coupons on the page and the different sites often offer the same manufacturer's coupons.

Remember when a product like the Oscar Meyer franks is buy one get one free, you can use 2 coupons...a coupon for each item.

Click here for more information on how to save a lot of money by using coupons.

Find coupons too much hassle? Spend a lot of time fumbling with them?
Here's how to organize your coupons. The binder system is working fantastically for me. It's very quick and efficient.

Hobby Lobby Coupons

Sign up for email alerts from Hobby Lobby for extra savings. Each Sunday, Hobby Lobby sends me a newsletter that 9 times out of 10 has a printable coupon for 40% off a single item. They will alert you to future sales deals and more printable coupons each week.
Hobby Lobby e-mail Subscription Link
Best of all, the printable coupon can be printed several times.

Hobby Lobby isn't just arts and crafts. They have some toys for kids, and decorative items that all make great gifts. If you buy something weekly at 40% off and set it aside for Christmas gift giving, you could get many Christmas gifts at almost half off. Can't beat that!

Mayfield Ice Cream Deal at Kroger

Mayfield Ice Cream is on sale this week at Kroger - the price is $1.99.
The usual retail price on it is $5.30 each.

There are Mayfield Ice Cream coupons circulating now for $1.00 off, that makes final price on the ice cream only $1.00. I was able to get 3 containers. What a deal!

3 for $3, instead of 3 for $15.90
Saved: $12.90

Have I convinced you to use coupons yet?!?

...I'll even help you organize your coupons! <---- Check out this page.

The Couponizer Savings System

If you just want to "cut to the chase" and have a coupon organizer that will really work, check out The Couponizer. The Couponizer was invented by a Georgia mom of three who wanted to use coupons but was frustrated by the cheap wallet type coupon organizers that fall apart after just a couple weeks. So she designed her own coupon organizer system.

Amy's friends were fascinated by her system. She was saving a lot of money using her coupons, because she had created a system that really worked! As of the time of this writing, the Couponizer system is $19.95. It's much, much more than just a coupon file - it comes with special tools like a coupon sorting mat and even scissors! Watch the video below for a review of the Couponizer, then if you want to see more, check out The Couponizer website for another video that shows how the system works.



I have tended to be resistant to paying for coupon organizers, telling myself: "the point with coupons is to SAVE money, not SPEND it!" But this isn't just spending, it's an investment. I save $30-$80 most times I shop with coupons - that's like getting free groceries! So, if a tool like the Couponizer helps you save money, the money saved will more than pay for the initial investment of the set!