Insider Ways to Help You Save Money at Publix…Every Time
One of the few grocery stores that I haven’t talked about on my blog is Publix. Well that all changes today. Below are a few of my favorite way to save money at Publix Super Markets, I hope they can help you save some cash on your next grocery trip.
Here are a few of my favorite insider ways to save money at Publix:
1. Shop Wednesday Nights or Thursday Mornings
Sale cycles end every Wednesday night with new sales starting every Thursday morning.
So it’s an excellent strategy to alternate between shopping on a Wednesday and a Thursday so you can take advantage of last minute sales on Wednesdays as well as brand new markdowns on Thursdays.
2. Pay Close Attention at Checkout Register
This one is pretty cool.
Be sure to watch carefully as your items are ringed up, and closely examine your receipt for price discrepancies.
If they charge you more than they should, they’ll not only give you the lower price for the item, but let you take one home for FREE.
See Also: 11 Smart & Simple Hacks to Save Money at Kroger
3. Many Store Brands are Made by Leading Manufacturers
I love it when some grocery store “generic” items are made by leading manufacturers and repackaged and sold to you for significantly less money.
Publix is one of those stores.
The specific products are kept hush-hush for obvious reasons, but it has been suggested that the name-brand directly next to the Publix brand on the shelf is actually the manufacturer.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve noticed this phenomena.
4. Get the Mystery “Penny Item” Every Thursday
Did you know that Publix has a “Mystery Coupon” that comes out every Thursday?
Check out the new sales flyer to find the coupon and buy at least $10 worth of groceries and you’ll be able to score the mystery item for only a penny.
5. Make a “Special Order” to Stock-Pile Sale Items
A great way to take advantage of upcoming sales at Publix is to place a “special order” and have them arrive during the sale period.
Apparently each department handles this differently but it’s definitely worth asking about.
Many stores will likely do this for you as they won’t want you to clear the shelves of a particular product.
Keep in mind that it will take some time to get the special order form filled out, and employees might not be happy about it, so save this tip for significant purchases like party planning.
6. Liberal Return Policy
Publix return policy is similar to Costco’s in that they’ll take back any unopened grocery items with no questions asked.
This includes both perishables and non-perishables grocery items.
Be sure to always hold on to your receipt to make your return as easy as possible.
According to this Reddit thread, many store managers will even take back competing store brands that Publix doesn’t even sell, which many employees feel is taking the policy “too far”.
See Also: Here’s Why the Trader Joe’s Return Policy is AWESOME
Bonus Tip #1: BOGOs Are Your Friend
Many Publix shopper these days stick to the BOGO deals at Publix and do most of their grocery shopping elsewhere, typically Walmart and Aldis.
Even when you do the math on the BOGO deals, Walmart will still be cheaper in many situations.
Ask the Reader: How do you save money at Publix? Perhaps you stack coupons or have a different insider tip? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks.
Photo by Ron Cogswell.
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)