I have been contemplating what I hope to accomplish in 2010. I could probably list one hundred little things that I NEED to do. I have decided that there is no way I can list all of my to-do’s or I will be overwhelmed and never accomplish anything!! So I am defining specific goals that cover various areas of my life. Here are a few of the biggies:
In the area of personal health I am making a resolution to lose weight–I have made enough excuses so losing weight is my top priority to improve my health (and to try to get back into the clothes hanging in my closets 😀 )
In the area of personal wealth I am going to start tracking ALL of my expenses and I am going to try to increase our monthly savings by at least $1600 every month. This is a big goal –but I love a challenge! I really think if I budget and make wise decisions I might be able to swing this! It would be so nice to have an extra $20,000 at the end of the year in addition to our current monthly savings. This is going to be difficult as we are in the process of finishing our 2500 square foot basement!! We started the project a few months ago and we are attempting to do the whole renovation without touching our savings accounts!! So–wish me luck!!
In the area of my websites: I am going to do some behind the scenes work and get off of the shared server that I am currently using. It’s my hope that the sites keep growing and if they do then I HAVE to make a change to ensure the sites can keep up with the traffic levels. The second part of my resolution requires some input from you guys–is there anything that you guys would like to see that is not currently being addressed. Of course I may not be able to accommodate every request but I would love some input! I want both sites to be easy to navigate and provide you all with the information you are looking for.
So… fire away I really want some ideas!! Tell me what would make the site(s) better or just share your resolutions…I can always use a little inspiration 🙂
30 Comments
I just want to say thank you for your site! With your help, I have cut my grocery bill in half, and upped our savings and our “play” money! Its so awesome! Tonight I spent 10.13 and saved 65. I felt like such a rockstar. Thank you again!
My resolution is to increase my stockpile so I can spend LESS time couponing and shopping! This site has certainly helped us get started!
The only thing that would make IHEARTPUBLIX any better would be to have a checklist option like Jenny does over at your rival Publix blog ( you know, the southern one). I love that option, but I ADORE the fact that you post your sneak peek so early in the week!!! It is so easy to check off the items that I want, click on “print my list” and then I jot my notes about quantity and final OOP off to the side and I am good to go.
Thanks for all that you do for us!!
Oh I have a suggestion! If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love for categories to be alphabetized! (Even just all the BOGOs would be great)!
I would like to know how you are going to cut you monthly budget by $1600 (or try). Great sight!
The being able to print a checked off list is pretty cool. I currently just copy and paste your list and then go one by one deleting the ones I don’t plan to buy or need on my list. I don’t print your whole list to save on paper and ink..lol.
I’m not sure what the alphabetizing will help with but if all Publix stores are stocked somewhat the same. The order that things can be found in the store (for the stuff on sale in that weeks ad that we will be using Q’s on) from left to right would be great or maybe by department..lol. For example to limit my amount of time at the store..after I clip all my coupons I organize them in order of area in the store they are in from left to right. My store has all produce and gourmet types foods and deli on the far left then it moves into the bakery area in the back wall, then canned goods, then salad dressings and spices, then meds aisles along with cosmetics, then chips, crackers and cookies,then meat and seafood in the back wall, then soft drink aisle, then paper goods, cleaning,candle aisle,then bread aisle, then frozen foods and lastly Dairy on the back wall right side of store. I’m sure I miss some areas but that gives you an idea of what I’m trying to say. I try to minimize the amount of times I have to go from one end of the store back and forth…to not look crazy..kwim..lol. In the past because all my coupons were just all thrown in an envelope together in no certain order. I would end up going back and forth as I found the coupons. Whew!
I mean I can still organize them myself but since you asked for some ideas or thoughts thought I’d mention that.
I love your site…just love it. My husband is an employee of Publix and YOU know waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than he or any of the other managers know…or care to SHARE with us shoppers. If it wasn’t for you and your site I’d NEVER have the pantry I have…never have the stockpile or the love of sharing my wealth … I now donate every other month no less than two bags to St. Vincent DePaul thru my church. When my best friend came to town I sent her home with THREE bags of “extras” for her and her brood …just cause I could! My mom and dad were here and I fed them till the cried for “mercy”. And my mom could not get over how much I walked out of Publix with for a mere $11 the day before Xmas eve! Thank you thank you thank you from the bottom of my heart! Have a WONDERFUL, BLESSED and PROSPEROUS 2010!
Hi i read your site often and thought i would say all the best for 2010!
I think the sit is wonderful, I really do not have any suggestions. I would love to make a goal of saving that much money a month but it sure sounds difficult. The amount I have saved the past few month using this site has been a big help and hopefully I will get better at it.
Well, first of all I’m totally jealous that you can even FATHOM cutting your budget by $1600/mo. That’s my husband’s entire income!! You must be very blessed!
I was going to mention what benz1968 suggested…the organzing by aisle or section. I never think to do that before I go, and end up wandering the aisles for over an hour while my 4 year old touches every single thing he can reach and my 2 year old hangs out of the buggy seat demanding to “get down now!!”.
I hope you have a blessed year and just wanted to say thank you for everything you do. I just found your site and started couponing 2 months ago, and it has helped my family SOOO much. Although it’s not much, we finally have a small emergency fund thanks to all the money we’ve saved on groceries and other essentials the last couple of months. We couldn’t have done it without you!!
YOUR SITE IS PERFECT 🙂 Thanks for all you do!
I’d like to be able to contribute financially to your site. I’ve saved a ton of money in the six months I’ve been visiting you. If you had a PayPal link, I’m sure I wouldn’t be the only person making a financial contribution from time to time. (This would also help you toward your $1,600 saving goal as I’m sure funding this site isn’t cheap.) Thanks for all you’ve done to help keep my food costs low.
Love your site. I would also love to be able to print off a check list so I don’t have to copy and paste and can print off just what I want to buy. Happy New Year!!!
Thanks for the great site, you have been blessed to have such success – but I know it is hard work. I would love to learn more about how to do the logistics of running a successful blog like yours – affiliates, how to put ads on the bottom of feeds, making buttons. You must have a computer geek help you. Anyway a check list would be nice too of the sneak peek.
Your site is fantastic! I check it several times a day to keep up with all the news/offers/etc.
I would love to maybe see a little item written about where to buy a good coupon organizer or make your own. Now that I am in full-throttle coupon mode, I find that my little pendaflex is not going to work any more. You may have addressed this already but a refresher with the new year would help me a ton.
THANKS!
I love your site. the money you have saved me has been amazing. I agree with DeeDee with publix penny item change the printable list would be great!
Traci….I made mine with just plain ole long envelopes and scrapbook paper. I can send you the link if you want. We had a coupon expert in our n’hood that helped us get started and then we made the coupon holders to take home to get started. I am now storing my coupons in a box because I outgrew my envelope thing…but it was a great start!!! here is my email address if you want the link : cheryl54@bellsouth.net
I love this site. You do have the best readers that are great at contributing good tips. And of course, love the sneak peek of the ads and the photos and listings of all of the booklets. I love that the site is simple and not cluttered. It makes finding things so much easier. I would like to see a tab that has all of the valid Publix coupons from the booklets/flyers sorted by product in one list with the expiration date.
I also love the link to your other site for good info on Ingles and Kroger and the Drugstores.
You couldn’t possibly help anymore unless you came an lived with me and held my hand at the grocery store! Seriously! You are the best and i couldn’t think of anything that could make the website better.
My 10 resolutions:
1. Eat healthier! (by letting some coupon deals go)
2. Less TV (impossible goal)
3. stay on budget (possible now due to you)
3. Less coffee/alcohol, more water/green tea
4. Save 5,000 (not as lofty as 20,000)
5. Spend xmas at home! (no 6 hr drive!)
6. Keep the bathroom cleaner
7. Become a better golpher
8. Run 3 mi once a month
9. Use windfalls to pay down 2nd mortgage
10. Go on a motorcycle trip.
I think that you will find that each Publix is a little different in their set up. It is in my town. We have 2 Publix within 4 miles of each other and they both differ greatly in the order of their products, mainly because one store is fairly new and the other one has been here a while. So, I don’t think it would benefit many people to go by store aisle. However, I think the newer the store, the more likely it is to be very similar to another. I think Pulbix has some New Year’s resolutions of their own in that corporate is trying hard to stay consistent in many areas.
I wouldn’t change a thing! You do so much now, I have to agree with Leanna! Any more help would be taking each of us to the store.
Traci – I’ve just found a wonderful coupon organizer, as I am outgrowing my little pendaflex, as well. I love etsy.com and found grandmaslittlelilly. She also makes reuseable sandwich bags and zipper pouches in tons of different fabrics to match. The organizers come with 26 dividers and 80 pre-made peel & stick category labels. Hope this helps!
Fara, thank you so much for that suggestion! I visited that site and her organizers are beautiful. The hard part is deciding which one to buy! May have to buy one for my sis, too. Can’t wait to get them!
LOL Benz, I’m a spaz- I’ll remember something is on some kind of sale, and I want to go back to see what the match ups are, and I have to go through the whollllle list to find it-and most of the time-skim so quickly I miss it (multiple times lol), if it were in alphabetical order I would just have to glance in the spot where it should be instead of having to search the list for it 🙂 It would just be a time saver for me.
I love both of your sites, keep up the great work! The printable list would be great, currently I go to Coupon Mom to print my shopping list out, then go to your website for the coupon match ups, if I could just go to your website that would be fabulous. Also, I would love for you to take your comments off the ‘Weekly Ads’ main page as they are out dated and don’t seem relevant. Happy New Year!
there’s a site that i use (southernsavers.com) that I like to print my grocery list from. i always have your site up and check and compare the info, but this other site allows you to create a shopping list and to even customize, meaning to type other items into your categorized list. not sure how difficult that would be, but that’s really the only feature I use on the site, but I keep going back there for it, ’cause it’s SO nice. If you had that here, I’d be in Heaven! 🙂 I love your info and match ups, you do a wonderful job! thanks for all you do! 🙂
I resolve to be a better “Coupon Fairy.” I always get lots of coupons I don’t or won’t use and I hate to waste them. Maybe I’ll start a Take One Leave One box at our Publix!
This is extreme wishful thinking…but while we’re “wishing”… I have VERY often needed certain items that I know I saw a coupon for in past weeks, but is not on sale when I NEED it so I have no reference to take me back to where I saw the coupon.
My wish is that there were a database one could use and type in “Mr. Bubble” OR “French’s Mustard” and it would produce information in which publication and the date it ran.
How sweet that would be! (Now, if this already exists… somebody, please, tell me!)
Great site – thanks for all your hard work!
Happy New Year!
Lee –
Couponmom.com has a coupon database. I love it!! Go here! http://www.couponmom.com/grocery-coupon-database-10
I am new here. What is your other site?
You wouldn’t believe it but I have spent all day scrounging for some information about this. I wish I knew of this site earlier, it was a wonderful read and has helped me out to no end. Kind regards,. – The <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Scrapbooking-Page-Layout-Ideas