CVS shopping trip-4/24

Today I made my way to CVS on my way home after I had been hearing about some great deals. Here is what I bought:

1 Dove exfoliator

$3,49 -sale

-$3.75 IP coupon

-final cost: free

1 Edge infuse shave gel

-$2.89

-$2.89 ECBs

-final cost: free after ECBs

2 CVS brand Vitamin D 1,000 IU, 240 count

-$11.49 each

-B1G1

-$2 CVS coupon from coupon kiosk

-2, $1 coupons

-final cost:$7.49

-2 L'Oreal eye shadows

-$4.49 each

-B1G1

-2, $1 coupons

-final cost: $2.49

-1 Adidas deo

$2.50 clearance

-$1 MQ

-Final cost: 1.50, $2 ECBs, .50 profit!

-I also had two ECBs, one for $2 and one for $3.49

Total OOP: 8.38

ECBs: $2, $2.48

Total savings: 37.85

**For those of you who don't know, 1000IUs (international units) for Vit D is really a huge amount in terms of IUs. That is the total requirement that I need to take every day. Most bottles are 400IUs, so this should last me a long time!

What coupons are available in my state?

Am I the only one who loves getting the Sunday newspaper? I love to look at all of the ads. Recently, though, it is the coupons that I've become extremely excited about. However, if you read my coupon lingo post here, then you might have seen the acronym YMMV or your mileage may vary. Coupon inserts do vary by state, and sometimes this can be frustrating. This is why I am suggesting that you all check out one of my favorite tools and web-sites to do this. It is called Couponmom.com. To look at a grocery coupon database based on where you live, click here. You may need to sign up in order to access the site, but it is free and there are absolutely no obligations. That way, you can see the face value of your coupons as well as whether or not your insert had a coupon you were looking for. Check it out!

CVS Store Guide

CVS may be intimidating to those of you who don’t know how to follow their store guidelines. I promise that after you get familiar with how they operate, you will never look back. CVS is similar to Walgreens, but they have their own set of rules and quirky terms to follow.

The very first thing you need to do before you save oodles of money at CVS is to sign up for an Extra Care membership. You can simply do that by going into the store and filling out a form that takes no longer than 5 minutes. You will be able to score some sweet deals instantly. Or, you could sign up here. I must warn you that if you sign up online, it could take up to two weeks to get your ECB card via mail.

Here is how CVS's Extra Care program works:
Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) are similar to RRs offered at Walgreens. ECBs are like money that you can spend in CVS on whatever you'd like. ECBs always print out at the end of your receipt. They key to making sure that you get your ECBs is to make sure you have the cashier scan your red card (it doesn't matter if it is at the beginning or end of the transaction).

**Every three months CVS does something really awesome with all of your purchases either from in the store or online. You get 2% cash back! You will earn 2% cash back on every purchase in store and online. These rewards will print off at the end of your receipt just like your ECBs.

**Another way to earn free ECBs is through their pharmacy. For every two you buy at CVS, you earn one ECB. Pretty awesome!

Much like RRs at Walgreens, certain items will be advertised as free after your ECBs. Forr instance, if a certain toothpaste is priced at $2.99, but CVS's ad says that they are offering $2.99 EBBs, then the product would be essentially free. As referenced above, your ECBs will print out at the bottom of your receipt.
*One area that CVS is different from Walgreens is right here. Where Walgreens doesn't have a limit on the number of times you can purchase an item and get a RR, CVS is different. CVS will often have a limit on the number of times you can purchase an item. That way, you cannot keep rolling your ECBs in the same way that you can at Walgreens).

***Please note that CVS does have the same coupon policy as Walgreens. You can use a MQ and an in-store coupon at the same time.

*Another quirky thing specific to CVS is that most stores have a machine (or a coupon kiosk) that you can print off additional CVS store coupons just by scanning your card! Be on the lookout for that!

Also, always always hand over your coupons in this order, especially if you have a special coupon like a $5/20 coupon (which they can periodically send random coupons like this if you are signed up for their e-mail). If you do not, then you will not get as much money off of your order.

First give them the $5/20 coupon manufacturer and additional store coupons.
Then give all your CVS coupons
Then hand over any MQ
Last give your ECBs

Walgreens Store Guide

Walgreens and couponing can be scary until you learn the ins and outs of the store. If you’re like me, you want to maximize your coupons and get the most you can for your money!

Walgreens-specific words:
EasySaver Rebate (ESR) – ESR is a Monthly Rebate program through Walgreens only. Every month, Walgreens has a booklet filled with items that you can purchase and then get rebates for purchasing their items. I hear that this may be ending sometime next month (May 2009), but I will keep you posted!

Instant Value Coupon (IVC) - a Walgreens only, coupon that can be found in the EasySaver Rebate catalog referenced above. These coupons can only be used within the month that the ESR catalog is valid for.

Register Reward (RR) – RRs are coupons that print out from a machines near the registers at Walgreens, otherwise known as Catalina machines. If you buy an item that qualifies for a Register Reward, a coupon will print out at the register after you have made a purchase. The amount of the RR will vary per the promotion in the Walgreens ad. You can then use your RR towards future purchase at Walgreens.

The Weekly Ad: This can be found online or in your local walgreens store. Of course, YMMV (click here if you don’t know what that means). A new weekly ad comes out every Sunday. The ad item deals are good from that Sunday until the following Saturday.

The 7-Day Coupon is a Walgreens specific coupon that can be found littered all over the Weekly Ad.


Quirky things to know about Walgreens and their policies:

**Please note Walgreens coupon policy: Walgreens does permit the use of their in-ad coupon (whether it be a 7-day coupon or an Easy Saver Booklet coupon) with a manufacturer coupon.


If a manager or cashier refuses to give you a RR that you should get, or if the machine did not print one, call the Catalina #:1-888-8Coupon

You cannot purchase two of the same items and get two RR’s. You need to do them in separate transactions.

Along the same note: you can use a RR from a Johnson&Johnson product to buy another Johnson&Johnson product. However, please note that doing so will NOT print off another RR for you. The key to “rolling” RR’s is to roll them with different products or brands. Always do separate transactions if you want to do the same Register Reward deal again!

At Walgreens, you cannot have more items that coupons, otherwise the register will beep. This does in clued RRs, as they are recognized by the register as manufacturer coupons. If the register beeps, your coupon to item ratio is off. You can only have one coupon per item purchase.


If you want even better deals, I would make sure to go to Walgreens.com and sign up for their store e-mails. They will send you special deals or promotions along with coupons that they have.

Coupon lingo

Hi,

Have you ever been confused about what different abbreviations and acronyms mean? Below is a list that might help you figure this coupon-lingo out!

AC-After coupons
AR-After rebate
B1G1F, B2G1F- Buy one get one Free, Buy two get one Free
BC-Before Coupons
Blinkie-.A machine that gives coupons, and is distinguished by a red blinking box. It is displayed by the product
CAT-catalina coupon, which is a manufacturer coupon that is printed our at the register after buying something
ECB-Extra Care Bucks, which are used at CVS. Get more info here
FAR-Free after rebate, meaning the item will be free after a rebate
GC- Gift card
IP-Internet printable
MIR- Mail in rebate
MQ- Manufacturer coupon
OOP- Out of pocket, meaning what your cost is after all coupons
P&G-Proctor & Gamble, one of the Q inserts in the Sunday newspaper
Peelies-are coupons that peel off of a product on the shelf
POP-proof of purchase-could be a receipt, barcode or UPC
Q-Coupon
RR-Register Reward, which is used at Walgreens. Learn more here
RP-Red Plum, one of the Q inserts in the Sunday newspaper
SS-Smart Source, one of the Q inserts in the Sunday newspaper
Tear pad-coupons located near the product in a pad on a shelf
TMF-try me free, which usually involves a MIR
UPC-universal product code or barcode
WYB-when you buy
YMMV-your mileage may vary, which means that the deal varies by location.

For more info on how to see your state’s coupons, click here

Excited to shop at Walgreens next week

Hi everyone,

Are you as excited as I am for next week at Walgreens? There are definitely some great deals. I can't wait to roll my Register Rewards! Check out the ad here (thanks, anonymous).

Here are some great deals to look foward to:

Ecotrin Aspirin will be $2 next in next week's WAGS ad. Buy one, and get a $2 RR! Here is the greatest part of all, there is a coupon! Don't forget to use the $2.25 coupon/1 Ecotrin Aspirin here: Don't wait to print it, because it could be gone. Your final cost out of pocket would be free after the RR and coupon, plus a $2 money maker!

Please note: Since the value of the coupon is more than the product costs, the register might beep. If your chashier won't bring the price down to match, then you might have to buy two for $4 and use the $2.25 coupon. This is still a .25 money maker! :)

Another deal:

Got2b Hair Care products are going to be priced 2/$10. When you buy 2 you'll receive a $5 Register Reward. It gets even better, there is a $2/1 coupons that you can print from here. Can I tell you that there are no limits on printing!

Here is how the deal would work:
Buy 2 got2b products
=$10
Use 2 $2 coupons
Pay $6
Get back a $5RR
Final cost .50 each!

Do you love Nivea products? Well, their Body Wash for Women will be $4.99. But the best part is you will get a $4.99 Register Reward. As if getting that for free isn't good enough, you can also print a $1 coupon from here. Final cost will be FREE + a $1 profit!

Finally, a great week at WAGS!

(Thanks, Hip2Save).

Walgreens deals for 4.10.09

Ok everyone, this has been a great week because I have been able to roll my RR's from Walgreens back and forth between the Skintimate shave gel and the Colgate toothpaste. Gotta love getting those for free!

Earlier in the day yesterday, I was shown a free $15 coupon to use at New York and Company. Jess and I went there over our lunch and scored some great deals. I've always wanted a scarf, and got this one for only $2 after the $15 coupon! Score!

Then....I headed over to Walgreens. I'm not sure if you heard about this deal or not, but it is great. Basically if you buy 5 of a certain product (Vlasic, Open Pit, Armour, Duncan Hines, Log Cabin or Mrs. Butterworth’s), they will send you a $5 MIR (mail in rebate). So, Vienna sausages is one of them, and they happen to be on sale this week at Walgreens for .49. I've bought 25 of them so far, so this will end up being a nice little $12.75 money maker :) Check out the deal here.

At Walgreens I made three different transactions and got:

15 armour sausages (.49 each)

3 Red Baron pizzas (1.99 each thru today, Sat)

1 package of Nyla bone dog treats ($3.19) (used online $2 coupon from here, )

2 things of colgate toothpaste (3.49, used .75 coupon and got 3.49 RR)

1 skintimate shave gel (2.99, got $3.00 RR)

At CVS:

I bought four cans of pringles (.88 each) and used two, $1/2 coupons from the 4/5 insert

My total OOP for everything from New York & Co., Wags and CVS: $14.69

Total savings: $57.24

Mail in rebate coming: $12.75

Plus, from rolling my RR's and Walgreens, I've still got $7 left to roll for next week.

Heads up guys: because of the holidays, there will be NO inserts in this Sunday newspaper :(

Target trip today

So, today I had a very disappointing Target trip. Not because there weren't good deals, but because they hassled me about my coupons. I know if I didn't have so many to use at once, it wouldn't have been a big deal. But I don't want to have to make 12 trips to Target so that they will actually scan usable coupons. What a HASSLE!


Here is what I was planning on doing:


Vitamin water: $1.00


-Buy 7 of them, use 7 $1 coupons from 4/5 SS


FREE


Betty crocker delights minis: $1.99 each


-Buy four of them, use (4) .50/1 coupons from 4/5 RP and use two Target coupons that are $1/2




$3.96


-Dunkin donuts coffee: $6.00


-Buy three of them, use (3) $1.50/1 coupons from 4/5 RP and use three Target coupons that are .75/1


$11.50


-Hershey's bliss chocolates $2.99


-buy one and use one $1 coupon from 3/15 SS and pair it with one Target, $1/1 coupon


$1.00


-Cheetos by the check-out $1.29


-Buy 6 of them, use 6 Target $1.00 coupons


$1.74


-Amy's spinach and feta pocket: $.98


As you can see, I had a TON of coupons, using a Target coupon and a MFR coupon with each item, which is totally legitimate. Read Target coupon policy below:


We accept two kinds of coupons: Target-issued coupons and manufacturer-issued coupons.

We'll accept one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits it.

We can't give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item; in that case, we'll adjust the value of the coupon to equal the price of the item.

We can't accept coupons from other retailers, or coupons for products not carried in our stores.

All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of sale.


Please tell me what part of their policy I did not follow? I'm frustrated because the cashier simply got scared at taking all of my coupons, and their own staff didn't even know THEIR policy. If I have 7 manufacturer coupons for the vitamin water, why can I buy 7 of them? They said it was something about retail policy in general and that you are only allowed so many coupons per family. Again, my question is, what did I do wrong? The other issue is that the person telling me their policy did not even look at my coupons or products. Had she done that, she would have seen the manufacturer coupons, and not the target ones. If Target has 25 coupons for that week, I am allowed to use all of them separately, so why can't I use the ones that I had? I just had a lot of coupons. SO FRUSTRATING!


Needless to say, they tried scanning each coupon (thank goodness) and they ALL worked, as they are supposed to. I just wish that their employees would understand their own policy so that I don't have to be embarrassed in their store for following their rules. Thanks for listening to me vent :)


My total OOP spent: $20.04

My total savings: $28.56

Caribou coffee

Do you enjoy caribou coffee? Well, I've got good news for you. Caribou currently is offering a medium cup of Caribou Blend coffee for only $1 every Monday, "that's more Bou for your buck" ;)

Win a $1,000 goft card at Target

Did you know that you could enter to win a $1,000 gift card at Target ? All you need to do is go here and enter your information. Pretty sweet deal! Thanks, Denise!

Target Deals

Today I went to Target with my co-worker, and got some good deals. Not as good as at Walgreens, but good for me :)



Dunkin donuts coffee (3): on sale for $6

-used three, Target .75 coupons

-used three $1.50 coupons from the 4/5 RP



Betty Crocker Warm Delights (2): $1.57

-used two .50/1 coupons from the 4/5 SS

-used one $1/2 Target coupon



Johnson's safety swabs (3 of them for donation): $1.24 each

-used three $1 from the 3/8 RP

-used three .75/1 Target coupons (free + profit)



Market pantry fruit snacks (1) $1.52

-used one $1 Target coupon



Cheetos (3) snack sizes by the registers $1.29

-used three $1/1 Target coupons



Dole coleslaw mix: $1.69

-used $1/1 Target coupon



Bought three, Amy's cheese pockets, .98 each (I've heard at other stores they can cost as much as $2.50)



Vitamin water, $1.00

-used $1 coupons from 4/5 SS



Total OOP: 17.37

Saved: 22.19



Not bad, considering the coffee was $3.50/bag, and I got three of them. (I love Dunkin donuts coffee. They are normally $6.50/bag)

Deals: 4/5/09

So lately, I've been feeling pretty broke, so I made it my goal to start couponing once I saw how good people were doing with it. It is my goal to never have to really pay for toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, shave gel, shavers, basically many of the commonly used toiletries. At the very least I want to get a very good price for all of this. This is what owning your own place and having to pay all of your bills can make you want to do. I've found that I am getting used to it. Soon, I will post more about couponing jargon and what you can do to save $$$.So I think I did pretty good today. I made trips to Walgreens and CVS...the attached photo (if I can get it to DL) is a pic of all that I got. Below is how much I spent:Walgreens: $11.08 OOP (out of pocket)-

I still have $7 in RR (register rewards, which are like free money to use in the store for your next purchase)-

I also have $8.98 in Easy Saver rebates coming for the month of April so far (again, once I get it in the mail, it is like free $$ in my pockets).

What I got: 2 betty crocker chocolate frostings

2 bottles of visine no red eye drops

2 colgate toothpastes

2 Sunday newspapers (this weekend had 4 inserts!!!)

2 things of reach floss

6 one a day milti-vitamin drink mixers

2 glade lasting impression scented oils

2 oust air sanitizers

1 package 18 count playtex tampons

2 skintimate shaving creams

At CVS, I spent :$2.62 OOP

I have $8 in ECB's (extra care bucks, which is like free money to spend in the store on future purchases)and I have a $10 mail in rebate too.-

What I got:2 natural dentist mouth washes

1 skintimate shave gel

2 cartons of Pringles

1 box of extra strength Excedrin

****I'm also planning on going back to Walgreens to roll some more of my RR's for one more colagate, one more oust spray and one more glade scented oil, to cost me $2.73 OOP, and I will get back another $3.49 RR

oh and I forgot about CVS...gotta go back and get more pringles....4 cartons for $1.76 :)