Wow, you all had SO much to say last week about shopping at Walgreens. I really appreciate all the feedback–it is great to hear about your experiences both good and bad. For me it is the best way to learn!
I was a little paranoid about losing my leftover Register Rewards or letting them expire, both of which I’ve done more times than I’d like to admit. I knew I’d need to pop in to Walgreens but I also needed to use my CVS quarterly rewards, wanted to check out the Publix Green Advantage flyer deals, and I simply couldn’t pass up $0.50 printer paper at Staples. All in all I hit 4 stores, (actually 5–I also stopped by Victoria’s Secret to use the free panty coupon I got in the mail a few weeks ago), which made for a loooooong afternoon of shopping. Coupons are not for the faint of heart.
My effort paid off, though, because I found some great deals! Here is what I got:
At CVS I spent $7.05 for $44.39 worth of merchandise, a savings of 84%.
Transaction 1: Get $1 Extra Bucks WYB (2) Herbal Essences Hair Product 6-14oz (limit 1) @ – $2.49 (1) $3/1 Herbal Essences Styler wyb Shampoo or Conditioner EXPIRED (PG 07/03/11) (1) FREE Herbal Essences Shampoo or Conditioner (Received in Mail) Final price: FREE + Profit Travel pack CVS Brand Cotton Swabs (75% off) @ $0.25 Total paid OOP: $0.11; Got back: $1.00 ECBs Transaction 2: Get $3 Extra Bucks WYB Pampers Cruisers Jumbo Pack Diapers (limit 1) @ – $8.99 (1) $2/1 Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive, Swaddlers, Cruisers, Limited Edition Prints or Extra Protection Diapers, exp. 8/31/11 (P&G 07/31/11) Final price: $3.99 Used $4, 1 ECBs; Paid $2.55 OOP; Got back $3 ECBs Transaction 3: Maybelline Cosmetics, Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off Bought 2 Eyeshadow @ $4.49 and 2 Eye Liner @ $6.39 (4) $1/1 Maybelline New York Eyeshadow or Eye Liner Printable or (RP 8/7/11) (1) $1/1 Maybelline Product (CVS Coupon Kiosk–this week) (1) $5/15 Maybelline Purchase (CVS Coupon Kiosk–last week) Used $3 ECBs; Paid $4.39 OOP; no ECBs leftover* * *
At Staples I spent $2.51 (after rebate) for $25.04 worth of supplies, a savings of 90%.
$2.99 EasyRebate WYB Zebra Z Grip .7 mm Mechanical Pencils, 7ct – $2.99 (bought 1) Final price: FREE after Easy Rebate Limit 1 Staples 1 Subject Notebook – $0.01 (bought 6) Sunday-Wednesday ONLY ; With $5 Purchase Limit of 6 Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Tip, 2ct – $0.25 (bought 2) Limit 2 $4.49 Easy Rebate WYB Hammermill CopyPlus Paper 8.5×11′, 500 sheets @ – $6.79 (bought 2) $1.80 instant savings Final price: $0.50 after Easy Rebate Limit of 2* * *
At Walgreens I spent $3.06 for $37.40 worth of merchandise, a savings of 92%.
Transaction 1 Get $4 Register Rewards WYB (2) Colgate Total Advanced or Gum Defense Toothpaste, 4oz, or 360 Clean Toothbrush (limit 1) @ – $3.00 (2) $0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste, exp. 8/13/11 (SS 07/24/11 R) Final price: $0.25 each Get $2 Register Rewards WYB Listerine Smart Rinse, 500mL@ – $3.00 (1) $1/1 Listerine Smart Rinse Product Printable (NLA) Final price: FREE Get $1 Register Reward WYB Crayola Crayons, 24ct (limit 1) @ – $1.00 Final price: FREE Used $5, $2 RRs (from last week): Total Paid OOP: $1.29; Got back $2, $4, $1 RRs Transaction 2 Get $2 Register Rewards WYB NEW Huggies Slip-On Diapers @ – $9.49 (1) $2/1 Huggies Diapers Walgreens Coupon (SS 7/24/11) Final price: $5.49 Designer Pencil or Single Highlighter – $0.09 (bought 3) Great filler item! Used $2, $4, $1 RRs; Total Paid OOP: $1.45; Got back $2 RRs Transaction 3 Palmolive Dish Soap, 10oz – $0.89 Use in-ad coupon (limit 3) (3) $0.25/1 Palmolive Ultra Dish Liquid, exp. 8/13/11 (SS 07/24/11) Final price: $0.64 Wooden Ruler – $0.19 Great filler item! Used $2 RRs; Total Paid OOP: $0.32; No RRs leftover* * *
At Publix I spent $2.49 for $34.07 worth of groceries, a savings of 93%.
Sundown Naturals Vitamin B6 @ $3.59 (2) $3/2 Sundown Naturals Vitamins printable (2) $6/2 Sundown Naturals Vitamin (Publix Green Advantage Flyer) Final price: FREE + Profit Children’s Advil @ $5.99 (1) $5.00/2 Mix or Match Advil, Children’s Advil, or any ThermaCare (Publix GAF) (1) $5 off Advil and ThermaCare Product printable Final price: $0.99 each Huberts Honey Lemonade @ $1.79 (2) FREE Huberts Honey Lemonade Facebook Printable (NLA–thanks Alisha!
)
Final price: FREE
Publix Milk, 1 Gallon @ $3.89
* * *
Altogether, yesterday I spent $15.11 for $140.90 worth of merchandise, a savings of 89% for the day.
* * *
This week I want to hear how much time you all spend preparing for your shopping trips and then going to the store. Is it an all day event or do you make it as quick as possible? Do you plan carefully or try to “wing it”? Do you go once in a week, or do you go back multiple times? What’s your shopping M.O.?
P.S. Be sure to check back today at 12 Noon EST for a FUN announcement!!
Affiliate links may be used in this post. Printing a coupon or ordering a product through this link may result in a commission, which helps pay for the cost of running this site and keeps the content free. Read my full disclosure policy here.
jo August 8, 2011 at 2:50 pm
good job ruth.. hope i can save money too by couponing.. its been a month since i followed your blog ruth abouth couponing and some of your video in youtube. but i never try yet couponing i dnt know how to start?
Ruth August 8, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Hi Jo-
You’re in luck because I wrote a whole series on how to coupon called The Beginner’s Guide to Coupons. Hope that helps!
Shaidy August 8, 2011 at 5:46 pm
great shopping trip! your results are great!!!
thanks for sharing!
Shaidy
Mary August 8, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Great shopping trip, that’s some awesome savings!
Pounds4Pennies August 9, 2011 at 3:05 am
Ruth it used to take me around 3-4 hours to prepare for trips when I first started. I used the weekly file method and would find the sales then cut the coupons. Based on your first series. You are my coach. However, I would miss deals at the store because I knew I had coupons at home for, but did not cut. Now I am doing the binder method. This takes a lot more time to cut and prepare the coupons each week. When it is time to put a list together and go shopping it is super easy to go to my binder and pull the coupons I need. I look at Saving Well Spending Less and a few other sites to compare and my flyer I get in the mail. It only takes me around an hour to prepare my list.
At CVS it is a little different. I have started shopping there on Wed. or Thurs. after they get their truck. Sometimes I get an extra coupon emailed to me around Wed. or Thurs. for $5/$25 or $4/$20. I load these to my card. I print my coupons at the kiosk and then I compare this to the items I want in the circular to see if I have any matchups in my binder. I had a GREAT week last week. Stop by to see how I did.
AB August 10, 2011 at 3:06 pm
why do I sometimes have the matchups on this website and sometimes I can’t find them?
Ruth August 10, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Coupon matchups are always found on my sister site, http://www.SavingWellSpendingLess.com!