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.

Back-to-School Clothes Shopping

My daughter and I did some back to school clothes shopping online yesterday.

We went through Upromise as our shopping portal, and went to American Eagle and Wet Seal.
2% of the purchase from both of those will go into my children's Upromise accounts. We were able to find discount codes at RetailMeNot.com.

At RetailMeNot, you type in the website you want, and a list will come up of known discount codes. People share the codes and then other website users share whether it worked for them.

We were able to get 15% off at American Eagle, and bought enough to qualify for free shipping.
American Eagle also offered a promotion that gave double-credits for jeans purchased on their "All-Access Pass" program, so the 2 pairs of jeans we bought will qualify us for a 20% discount on our next purchase.

For Wet Seal, we found a free shipping code. Upromise is also having a promotion too - you can get a $10 Target Gift Card (sent automatically to you in the mail) when you make 3 online purchases now through July 31st, using Upromise as your shopping portal.

So we are up to 2. We're not done with all the back to school shopping, so it will be pretty easy to qualify for the promotion.

Joining Upromise was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Quite a few grocery items also qualify for a percentage to go into the Upromise account, and with online shopping and even dining, it can really add up.

Snellville Target No Longer Accepts Internet Printed Coupons

Visited Snellville's Target the other day and tried to use TARGET web coupons (coupons I printed directly from Target's website). They do not accept their OWN coupons anymore! It's nuts. Just FYI, don't waste your paper or ink. Personally, I'm not going to waste my gas to go there, either.

....Target Home Office Sales Meeting....

CEO: Gee, business is down, but how can we make things even worse. Any ideas? Anyone?

FLUNKY: We could try pissing the customers off!

CEO: How could we best piss our customers off?

FLUNKY: We could tempt them with our own coupons, printable at our own website, let them waste their paper and expensive printer ink, and when they try to bring the the coupons in and use them, we'll reject them and at the same time, train our clerks to act snotty about it!

CEO: Brilliant idea Mr. Flunky!
Ms. Take, our Personnel Manager, will escort you to your new corner office as Vice President of Sales!

Target $5 Off Printable Coupon for Pampers Diapers or Training Pants and Wipes

This link is for a Target printable store coupon for Pampers Diapers or Training Pants and Wipes.

The coupon expires 7/31/08 and I'm not sure if it can be printed more than once (probably can)...if you do print it out more than once, please post a comment and let everyone else know - we'd appreciate that!

Also don't forget that you can combine a Manufacturer's Coupon with this Store Coupon.

You could use a Manufacturer's Coupon for the diapers, and another Manufacturer's Coupon for the 180 count wipes to qualify to use the Target coupon for $5 off.

You'd be using 3 coupons for 2 items, which is a pretty good ratio for savings.

Printable Target Coupons

Here is the link for printable Target store coupons. Worth referring back to this link often, because a great way to save money is to use a Store coupon (like a Target coupon) along with a Manufacturer's coupon.

For instance, the PopSecret Microwave Popcorn has a $1.00 off Target Coupon. Put that along with a Manufacturer's Coupon for $1.00 off, and you are taking $2.00 off the price of the popcorn. I don't know how much Target sells PopSecret for, but I really doubt it's over $2.69....so assuming the popcorn is 2.69, you would pay .69 cents for a package of popcorn.

This is what's known as "stacking" coupons.
Note: The site let me print coupons out more than once.

UPDATE: I used two of the same PopSecret coupon and had absolutely no problem using them at the Snellville Target store on Scenic Highway. I'm printing out 4 more now! Expect anything CORN related to go up in price due to the floods, so this is a good thing to stock up on.

Target Specials

Current Free Shipping Offers:

Free Shipping on Select Furniture at Target.com Through 06/28/08: Browse Furniture

Free Shipping on Select Patio Furniture at Target.com Through 06/28/08: Browse patio furniture

Free Shipping on Select Electronics at Target.com Through 6/28/08: Browse Electronics

Free Shipping on Select Toys at Target.com Through 6/28/08: Look at the Toys

Free Shipping on Select Storage and Organization Items at Target.com Through 6/28/08: Get This Offer

Free Shipping on Select Stationary at Target.com Through 6/28/08: Get This Offer

Free Shipping on Select Pet Items at Target.com Through 6/28/08: Browse Pet Stuff

Free Shipping on Select Lawn & Garden Items at Target.com Through 07/05/08: Get This Offer

Free Shipping on Select Hardware at Target.com Through 07/05/08: Get This Offer

Free Shipping on Select Sports and Outdoor Items at Target.com Through 07/05/08: Get This Offer

Free Shipping on Select Bedding at Target.com Through 07/12/08: Browse Bedding

Free Shipping on Select Bath Items at Target.com Through 07/12/08: Browse Bath Dept.

Free Shipping on Select Home Items at Target.com Through 07/12/08: Get This Offer

Free Shipping on Select Home Décor at Target.com Through 07/12/08: Browse Home Decor

Free Shipping on Select Kitchen Items at Target.com Through 07/12/08: Get This Offer

Free Shipping on Select Appliances at Target.com Through 07/12/08: Browse Appliances

Free Shipping on Select Luggage at Target.com Through 08/09/08: Browse Luggage

Other Target Promotions:

Sale on Select Baby Furniture Target.com Through 06/28/08: Browse Baby Furniture on Sale

Spend $50 in Bedding, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Bedding

Spend $50 in Bath, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Bath

Spend $50 in Home, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Home Department

Spend $50 in Home Decor, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Home Decor Items

Spend $50 in Women's, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse the Women's Department

Spend $50 in Shoes, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Target Shoes

Spend $50 in Jewelry, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Jewelry

Spend $50 in Handbags & Accessories, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Handbags and accessories at Target

Spend $50 in Cosmetics & Fragrances, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse Cosmetics and Fragrances

Spend $50 in Men's, get Free Shipping at Target.com Through 08/02/08: Browse the Men's Department