Let me start off by saying that I have not been coupon shopping at drug stores, so this is still a learning process for me. There is a great Walgreens starter guide HERE and other tips HERE.
I do not want to dedicate too much time to drug store couponing because it is more complicated, so for my sanity I made a few rules for myself. In order for me to make the extra trip to the store these are the criteria that must be met:
- Has to be an item we use regularly (we are brand specific)
- Must have a coupon for the item
- Preferably get RR back for the purchase
My family is very brand specific on what we like to use for personal care products. So, I just scan through the weekly ad and see if anything jumps out at me. There are some great deals on personal care items, toilet paper, paper towels, diapers and baby care, plus they have a rewards program. Walgreens issues Register Rewards (RR) which are manufacturer’s coupons that you use like cash on your next purchase. You are required to have as many items as you do coupons, so you have to buy filler items (gum, candy, pen, card, etc.) to use your RR if you have a coupon for each item you are purchasing. I have been working it to my advantage the past couple weeks.
Last week 3/20-3/26
Get $5 in RR with (1) Almay Eye Makeup Remover on sale for $4.19
I bought 3 and used the following:
- (3) $2 off Almay product from Walgreens Beauty Booklet
- (1) $2 Almay product found in the 3/06 SmartSource
Final cost: $5.53 (96 cents was tax)
Plus I received $15 in RR – so I made a profit of almost $10!
This week 3/27-4/2
Get $2 in RR with (2) Edge or Skintimate Shave Gel on sale for $2
I bought:
- 2 Edge Shave Gel @ $2
- 1 Skintimate Shave Gel @ $1.69 (was supposed to be $2, but I’m not complaining)
- 1 travel size Dove deodorant @ $1.49 (I needed one for my gym bag, so this was my filler item)
I used:
- $5 RR from last week
- (2) .55/1 Edge Shave gel, SS 3/20
- .55/1 Skintimate shave gel, SS 3/27
Final Cost: $1.09 (56 cents tax)
Plus I received $2 in RR, so I made a 91 cent profit!
Next week 4/3-4/9
$5 RR with $20 purchase or $2 RR with $10 purchase of participating Pampers products: Pampers Jumbo Pack Swaddlers, Cruisers, Easy Ups or Baby Dry at $8.99 ea.
I truly prefer Pampers over Huggies, so I am excited about this! I plan on buying 3 Jumbo Packs of Swaddlers and will probably get some Easter candy singles as my fillers. I haven’t had a Cadbury Egg yet!
I will use:
- (3) $2 off Pampers Cruisers, Swaddlers, or Swaddlers Sensitive diapers big or jumbo pk., Walgreens Infant Care Booklet
- (3) $1.50 off Pampers diapers, P&G 4/03
- (2) $5 RR from the first week (will need 2 filler items)
- (1) $2 RR from the previous week (will need 1 filler item)
Final estimated cost: $5.97 (with $1.50 in filler items factored in) +tax
I will get $5 in RR so that’s like getting 3 packs of diapers for about $1!