How To Roll With It

Starting tomorrow, May 1, at Walgreen's there will be some pretty excellent sales with Register Rewards.

First, head over to Clippin' with Carie's website and check out this week's Walgreen's ad match up, lots of awesome deals next week so go pick yours out and print your shopping list.

Here is a simple example of how you can roll your rewards to maximize savings. Your deal strategy may differ based on the items you need for your household, but this should hopefully give you some inspiration. (Prices do not include tax.)


TRANSACTION 1
1 Noxzema Disposable Razor 4 pack - $3.99
Use the $2 coupon from the May 1 RedPlum insert
PAY $1.99 AND GET A $3 RR


TRANSACTION 2
1 Gillette Fusion ProGlide Manual or Power Razor - $9.89
1 Padded Mailer or Scotch Tape $0.39 with in-ad coupon (filler item)
Use the $4 coupon from the May 1 P&G insert
AND use the $3 RR from transaction 1
PAY $3.28 AND GET A $5 RR


TRANSACTION 3
2 Cottonelle Toilet Paper 12 packs ("Large" rolls) at $5 each - $10
1 Padded Mailer or Scotch Tape $0.39 with in-ad coupon (filler item)
Use 2 $0.50 coupons printable HERE (can print 2 per computer)
AND use the $1 Cottonelle Coupon from the Wag's May Coupon Book (available in-store) - takes off $2
AND use the $5 RR from transaction 2
PAY $2.39 AND GET A $3 RR

TOTAL PAID: $7.66 - WITH $3 RR REMAINING

You could stop here and leave the store with $3 in RR for your next trip... or you can keep rolling the rewards for other items that also have RR deals, or spend the $3 on a splurge for yourself (or if you wanna be practical you could pick up some other household products you may be low on).

If I wanted to continue this roll I might pick up some the Right Guard Total Defense Deodorant for $2.99 with a B1G1 coupon paying only for a filler item and getting another $2 RR. Then I might grab some GUM Eez-Thru Flossers for $2 and use the $2 RR to pay for them (no filler needed) and get another $2 RR. Nearly endless possibilities, have fun with it!

Happy Shopping!


Important reminders about using mfg coupons and Register Rewards

1. Know the store's coupon policy! Bring a copy with you in case of any issues!
2. To get the most savings you will have to do more than one transaction
3. You may need access to multiple computers to print multiples of on-line coupons or multiple Sunday papers for duplicates of coupons (or you can try a clipping service).
4. Do NOT expect or count on the cashier to know which products have a monthly coupon book or in-ad coupon available - to have the smoothest experience have all your coupons separated by transaction and ready to go before you head to the store
5. Register Rewards are mfg coupons. Walgreen's does not allow more mfg coupons than items per transaction. Coupons for an amount off  2+ items count as a coupon for each item. When using a RR with other items you have mfg coupons on you may need to buy an inexpensive additional item so your mfg coupon count does not exceed your item count - this is called a filler item.

A note about coupon shopping etiquette

• Don't be a shelf clearer - we all want to get the same deals you want so leave some for the rest of us!
• As a courtesy to other shoppers, especially when shopping during peak times, please try to check out in one of the other store departments when possible; no one wants to wait in line while you have 5 different orders with tons of coupons.
• Don't worry about other people's stares or comments, if they want to pay retail then let them but most of us do this to save money for our families and in some cases we do it because we have no other choice to survive - they don't know you or your situation so don't let them get under your skin. Just smile and be polite, they will eat their words and stares when they see your total.

Printing To The Extreme

Over the weekend I decided to splurge a little and get a new wifi capable printer so I could use both our desktop PC's and my laptop to print coupons from the couch, or the bedroom, where ever I want! I got a great deal and was so excited that it arrived today. LOVE free 2 day shipping from Amazon Prime, love love love it!

I got so wrapped up in setting it up and getting all the computers set up that I forgot to watch TLC's Extreme Couponing. Uh oh... coupon foul! I am having issues getting my laptop to connect, the one computer I thought would be the easiest! Everything else is working great though so I just have to show off the new printing, copying, scanning, faxing, auto-paper-feeding beast!

Flat Iron Challenge

The other day while I was in the shower I was thinking about the new Walmart coupon policy (I pretty much always think about coupons - ask my husband) and how nifty it is that you can get overage for your coupons. It totally makes sense, I mean they get reimbursed for the full face value of the coupon so why shouldn't we get the full face value too?

As I was brushing my hair I remembered my coworker Angie saying she thought my hair would look nice straightened... but I lost my flat iron on one of my work trips to Chicago. That was my "Ah ha!" moment and the Flat Iron Challenge was born.

I decided to plan a trip to Walmart where my coupon overage would buy me a brand new flat iron! Here is the one I picked out for $22.99 (online price) and it says you don't even have to dry your hair first! Although I'm a little apprehensive about not drying my hair first, I am a lazy hair styler (pony tail most days) and it got great reviews on the wet function.

Remington Wet 2 Straight Ceramic Flat Iron, 2"

Sounds easy, right? Find some coupons that are more than an item and get cash back... in general yes its super easy, but trying to find $23 worth of overage at $0.02-0.15 a pop is freakin hard! So far I have a list of 55 items with a retail total of $91.89 and coupons totaling $110.00 for an overage of $18.11 - and I have a small list of possible money making coupons and a few others I need to check and see if I still have the coupons for. Hopefully they have the items I'm looking for, and they are still the same price since I'm not sure if some of the prices I've noted from other bloggers were sale prices.

I'm still looking for coupon overage deals and trying to make a game plan to make this go as smoothly as possible in-store. If you read the Walmart Coupon Policy the register will automatically prompt them to call a manager if any of the following occurs: 40 coupons per transaction, $50 or more in coupons per transaction, or any single coupon for $20 or more for one item. This means I will want to split my shopping into 3 separate transactions to keep it both under 40 items and $50 worth of coupons. This will be epic!

Rollin' Rewards, Saved By Wags

Ever since the Target incident I've been more than a little apprehensive about coupon shopping. I keep thinking the cashiers are all going to think I'm doing something against the rules, or my coupons won't work, or all the deal items will be gone. I almost considered giving up on couponing *gasp*!

The thing is, I really enjoy looking for the deals and then figuring out how to make the most of my money and coupons. It keeps me busy, makes me happy, and saves my family a ton of money.

Shopping last night reminded me how much I love couponing and has restored a little of the confidence I lost after the Target fiasco.

Thanks again Lauren (Cosmetics at Walgreen's on Old 94 and Muegge in St. Charles) for being such a friendly and knowledgeable cashier and helping me get through all my crazy shopping orders! You helped me get back my passion for couponing and I'd love to help you get started!

Click here for a detailed list of my transactions and the coupons used or just browse the summary below!

Trip # 1 - 8 transactions (at two stores): total spent $2.75, total savings $107.56! Items not shown because we ate them (LOL): 1 large bag M&Ms and 1 chocolate covered Peep.

Trip # 2 - 5 transactions: total spent $2.15, total savings $60.13!

Side Trip: On my way home from work yesterday I stopped by CVS to see if they had any of my rain check items in and they finally did have the toothbrushes I wanted! So I snagged those up and paid $2.14 for all 4 (saved $16.86), used part of my ECBs to buy the bunnies, AND somehow walked out with $4 new ECBs!!!

I Buy In Bulk, Therefore I Post In Bulk

Since I am a little behind in sharing my recent trips, I thought it would be a good idea to post in bulk.

I finally got my Target shopping done last weekend... on the last day my coupons were good through, despite being told I couldn't use my coupons one day and then being accused of coupon fraud the next day. Third (and fourth) time's the charm, right?

Target: Trip # 1 - I purchased the items shown below in addition to 4 Degree mens and 2 Secret travel size deodorant that I gave to my mother and two baby socks I gave to my coworker... for $0.02! (Not a typo, two cents.)

Trip # 2 - My total was $61.53, I used $20 GC from the STLPost subscription promotion for a total OOP of $41.35 and my total savings was $66.73. (Not shown: 4 Sobe Lifewater that I drank already.)

Walgreens: Transaction # 1 - Gillette Razor Paid $5.36 and received a $4 RR. Transaction # 2 - 6 light bulbs and 2 plates (cant find receipt), spent approx $3 using the $4 RR for the balance.

CVS: Transaction # 1 just before midnight - purchased the diapers and pringles, used $5 CVS coupon, $9 in ECB, & two $3 pampers coupons - paid $23.69, saved $33.61 and received $10 ECB. Transaction #2 just after midnight - purchased 4 Airwick, 1 candy egg, and 1 newspaper, used $10 ECB,  two $2 and two $4 airwick coupons - paid $2.42, saved $49.29, and received $10, $1 (GBT), and $0.74 ECB (used the $1.74 to buy hubby some candy that he ate so its not shown).

The Airwick deal is still going on this week, if you can find them in the stores. (If not, make sure you get a rain check and I always like to keep a copy of the ad with my rain checks for clarity.) Print four of the $4 Air Wick Freshmatic Ultra Starter Kit coupons (you will need two computers) from coupons.com, then purchase four of them for $8 and get a $10 ECB for a $2 money maker deal!

Mad Princess & The Hunt For Purex Crystals

I have a great coupon stack for Target on the new Purex Crystals fabric softener. Seems like I am not the only one who has these since there have been none on the shelves for the last three weeks! I am dying to try this stuff out, its driving me crazy trying to figure out how it even works.

Lucky me was poking around on Facebook and happened to click on the Purex page just as Coupon Is a Verb posted a link to their giveaway for a coupon for a FREE Purex Crystals, woohoo! Drawing ends 4/11 at midnight, so hurry on over to the Coupon Is a Verb blog and enter to win!

Oh and there is also a $1 off coupon you can print from the Purex facebook page! The Target coupon is no longer available for a stack, but you can still get a pretty good deal if your store still has it on price cut for $2.99 with the $2 coupon from the 3/13 RP insert or the printable coupon above.

Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe

Catch a mean, cranky, old lady cashier by the toe? Unfortunately that is exactly what happened tonight. My choices were very limited, older lady with short hair and older lady with long hair.

I only had a few items and not a lot of complicated coupons (so I thought). I get to the register and the lady tells me that she cant take my coupons on the travel items I was purchasing, sets them on the counter, and told me to take it up with the manager because its against the store policy to accept them.

I was irritated since I knew it was not against the store policy and had her call the manager over. When the manager arrived she asks if the coupons didn't scan, so I promptly spoke up stating that she refused to even try. The manager told her to scan them and if they work to take them. The cashier rebutted that the coupons were for $1 and the item was only $0.99. Much to my delight the manger said "I'll explain it to you later" all the while the cashier is still muttering under her breath that its against the store policy.

They still wouldn't take 4 of my store coupons because the computer said the items didn't exist in my purchase when they clearly did... and even if they were taken off the, total was way too high. By then I'd had enough and instead of trying to go through everything line by line I asked them to void the transaction and return my coupons.

I've had some not so great trips before, but this trip by far takes the cake and goes down in my record books as the-worst-trip-EVER! I guess I'll try again in the morning.

This just serves as another reminder to make sure you know the store's coupon policy. Head over to my Coupon Policies page to read up on store coupon acceptance policies.

Cleaning Up With Sweet Deals

For those of you not familiar with CVS Extra Care Bucks, one of the perks of shopping there and using the card is that every quarter you earn 2% of your spending back! Over the weekend I got my email notification that my $3.50 ECB was ready, and to top it off I got a $5 off $25 purchase coupon. Woohoo!

I decided since the $5 coupon expired today I better force myself to stop on the way home despite my throbbing toe. For everything you see below, and a few pieces of candy my husband devoured when I got home, I spent a total of $2.65, received $9 more in ECB and my total savings... $78.24!

 

Here is what I got and the corresponding coupons:

Transaction #1
I used my $3.50 winter spending ECB and paid $0.41 cash.

	Price	Coupons	ECB Rec'd
2 Right Guard Total 5 Body Wash	$3.88 x 2	B1G1 Free	$3

Transaction #2
I used $5 off $25 coupon, $3 ECB from #1, $5 beauty club spending ECB, and $5 ECB from a couple weeks ago, and spent $2.24 cash.

	Price	Coupons	ECB Rec'd
3 Softsoap Refills	3 for $9	(3) -$0.50	$3
1 Alcohol Swabs	$1.79	Gift (Diabetes Club)
1 Dawn Dish Soap	$0.99	-$0.50
2 Travel Size Herbal Essences	$0.99 x 2	(2) -$1
1 Travel Size Pantene	$1.29
4 Pringles	3 for $4	(2) -$1 on 2
3 Reeses Eggs	2 for $1
4 Snickers Eggs	2 for $1	(2) -$1 on 2
4 Oral-B Power Toothbrush*	$5.99 x 4	(2) -$3 & (2) B1G1 Free	$6
* I had a rain check from the sale about a month ago with a $3 ECB deal (limit of 2) and used my (now expired) coupons from February