So, you’ve done the grocery game for a while and you are pretty confident about using coupons at your favorite grocery store, but how about the drug store game? That’s a whole ‘another ball game. BUT once you figure out how the drugstore game works, you will see your grocery bill go down even more; between Rid Aid, Walgreens and CVS you can get so many free or cheap Toiletries, cleaning items and anything you may need.
Honestly, before couponing, I rather went to Wal-Mart for any of these items, but now I rather stop at Walgreens or CVS because it is so much cheaper in the end.
Let’s start talking about Walgreens this week and I will touch each drug store in the next few weeks. Walgreens is about on every corner, at least down here in Florida and Alabama I saw them everywhere.
Walgreens does not require you to open a membership card like CVS or Rid Aid, you just walk into the store and purchase your items, however there are some rules that need to go along with Walgreens.
Walgreens Rules for a successful shopping trip:
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If you have a Walgreens Coupon, they are either in the Sunday Flier or in a monthly booklet that is available at the door, with the weekly flier; these coupons will take off the amount per coupon for each item you have. Meaning if you bought 10 Colgate Toothpaste and there is a Walgreens coupon for $1 off, all you need is ONE coupon, it will automatically remove $10 off your total; the coupon knows how many items you have and multiplies itself that many times.
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You can also use a Manufacture coupon to go along with the Walgreens coupons, just like you are used to from the Grocery store.
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A lot of deals at Walgreens will print out a Register Reward, we call RR. This is how it works, the Weekly add states Buy 2 Shampoo get $2RR, the RR will print after your transaction and can be applied towards your next transaction good on anything in the store. You can use coupons to buy the “Shampoo” to lower your cost or even get it Free and then at the end the register will print the RR.
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How do RR’s work? You can use them on anything in the store immediately after you get them; however if you use them to purchase the same items again, in hopes to get another RR… well…. no, you can purchase the item and use the RR but it will not print another RR for the same transaction
so, don’t waste your RR on something like that; rather buy the same item without the RR and get another RR… hope that makes sense. -
A lot of time you get a better deal if you break up your transactions into different transactions to maximize your RR’s and your savings. Also, checking out in the cosmetic Section is a lot smoother and less costumers to worry about
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Don’t forget the rain checks if Walgreens is out of stock for an item you wanted.
Here are some Websites that always post Walgreens Deals
Also, make sure to check out the Walgreens Coupon Policy and maybe even print a copy to keep in your folder, just in case.
Here is an example of a Walgreens Shopping list
Coppertone Sun Care $9.99 = $4 RR
Use the $1/1 coupon found in the 5/22 RP or here (bottom right corner)
Pay $8.99
Get back a $4 RR
Final cost $4.99!
Garnier Fructis shampoo, conditioner 10.2 or 13 oz, styling products 2-8.5 oz 4/$14 = $4 RR
Deal Scenario:
Buy 4 Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner 10.2 or 13 oz 4/$14
Use 4 $1/1 coupon found in the 3/6 RP (Exp. 6/6!), 5/1 RP, 6/5 RP or here
Pay $10
Get back a $4 RR
Final cost $1.50 each!
Aussie or Herbal Essences hair care 6-14 oz $2.99 = $1 RR
Use the $1/1 coupon found in the P&G Everyday Savings Book
Pay $1.99
Get back a $1 RR
Final cost $0.99!
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