1. I didn't want to overwhelm the cashiers with handling so many coupons at once and
2. I wanted to make sure I left plenty of pasta on the shelves. (It's just not nice to clear shelves).
I did my trips during the end of the sale week, so I left plenty of chance for other shoppers to get some pasta before I came through. I got to really know my cashiers these past few days, and they got used to seeing me. Makes couponing so much smoother when you get along with the cashiers & they are familiar with you as a couponer. Each time I shopped I made sure to shop during the slow hours (early morning for my store) & to make the whole process as streamlined as possible. This was my process:
• I made sure I had all my coupons cut out neatly & paper clipped like ones together. This was especially important for my pasta coupons because I paper clipped them in counts of 10.
• I used the reusable grocery bags DURING my shopping process. This was especially important for my pasta...I group all the like varieties into the bags as I got them. I shopped in 10's. So in one bag I'd have 10 spaghetti, 10 linguini, 10 fettuccine. (this will make it easy when u check out)
• Check out time, I pick a lane, look around if there are any other shoppers that may need to go before I check out. (there is always that one person who has ONLY 2 or 3 items that sneaks up behind u at checkout & gets all huffy when u start holding up the line w/ all your couponing) So I would just ask them to check out first (impresses the cashiers, I think)
• I GREET my cashier by name!!!! They have name tags on...at least I know for a fact they do at Publix. I say..."Good Morning Melita (my fave cashier at my Publix), how are u today, I hope you don't mind & will be patient with me..I have a lot of coupons" Yea it works...I get them smiling before they start.
• Now on to the pasta..I already have them bagged up except one box of each of the varieties. I let my cashier know I have this #boxes of each variety I have on the counter. No need for her to scan each of my 20 or 40 boxes, & no need for her to bag them either cause it's already bagged & sitting in my cart. (I think my cashier is impressed).
• Once everything is scanned...I hand my cashier my neatly paper clipped coupons, the pasta ones are paper clipped in 10's. I get my total, and I pay or in some cases they pay me some overage.
• Lastly VERY important. I thank my cashier for being so patient & for their hard work checking me out. (that gets an even bigger smile).
I apologize if this reads like a poor instructional manual. I'm not very good at writing things out. This is just how I do my couponing.
My Haul:
160 boxes of Mueller's Pasta
(On Sale BOGO 2@ $1.39...I hade $1/1 Q's...each box gave me .30cents overage)
($48 worth of overage that went towards my groceries)
1Gal. Mayfield Milk
1Gal. Whole Milk
4 Pkgs. Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies
10 Jars Prego 32oz. Sauce
1 Btl. French's Spicy Brown Mustard
4 JuicyJuice 8pk Juice Boxes (not pictured)
3 Btls. Glass Plus Cleaner (not pictured)
2 Pkgs. Almond Accents
1 container of Argo Cornstarch
1 Dbl. tub pack I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
1 Danimals 6pk Yogurt drink
2 Pks Dan-o-nino Yogurt
4 Green Giant Valley Steamers
1 cube Scotties Lotion Tissue
1 Btl. Holland Red Wine Vinegar
1 bunch Celery
1 bunch Cilantro
1 Lime
2 Cucumbers
1 Red Bell Pepper
