Walgreens and CVS 2/28! Saved over $100 =]

Yaaayyyyy!!!!!

I just have to be openly excited with you guys for a minute. You'd understand if you realize how bad of a week I've had! I like to think of myself as an optimistic person, but this week blew. I was sick for a few days, and my hubby even had to stay home to take care of me =[ It was sad. But I can now be excited because I feel better. The funny part is, my shopping trip was basically what healed me! There were so many great deals today, but I felt like such crap I didn't even want to get out of bed. But I pushed through, knowing I'd regret not taking this trip, and so I did! And thank God for that. I had an awesome trip. 

Just let me remind you guys that my totals at drug stores are so low because I build up a nice stock of Register Rewards and Extracare bucks at both Walgreens and CVS. This way, I use them as a form of payment, and get some back to use the next week. Its like a cycle. So this week, I had about $12 in rewards expiring for Walgreens, and $18 for CVS. We really didn't need any of the deals this week, so I planned to get some of the necessities. Like toilet paper and paper towels. Both are always so expensive! So I like to use my rewards to buy them and get them really cheap. Here we go!

Walgreens:

Short trip. Nice and simple. Originally I was going to buy the Midol PM, which is $3, get $3 RR this week. But they had NONE. So I didn't get to. However, when it does get in stock, I have coupons to get it free! 

Transaction 1 and 2 were both the same:

1 Colgate Total $2.99 get $3 RR

- (1) $.75 from 2/27 SS

 1 Viva Paper Towels 6 pack $5.99

- (1) $1/1 Walgreens coupon in booklet

- (1) $.50/1 Online printable

1 Baby Magic Lotion $3 get $3 RR

Just wanted to see how it works!

3 Hydrogen Peroxide 3/ $1

With in AD coupon

= $13.49 before coupons

Used 7, 2 RR's

= $2.24 including tax

Get $3, $3 RR's

Total Spent:

$4.48

Total Saved:

$29.74

Yay! Usually I'd buy less expensive paper towels, but I had the rewards about to expire, and the Viva ones are my favorite. They feel like a real towel =] But again, they're a bit of a "luxury buy" in my little coupon world.

Next was CVS! I must admit, I was really proud of even myself! This trip was exciting. But it did give my husband a view of the crappy side of couponing. The annoying customers. 

Usually, if I have multiple transactions and lots of coupons, I let people with small purchases go in front of me in line. I'll do 1 transaction, then move to the back of the line. But this time, my good deed didn't go unpunished.

At first, I was just being nice, but then it got annoying. The cashier was moving slow, and this guy was trying to get up to this buy $30 get $10 extrabucks deal. He only bought $25 worth at first, then had to go back for more. He came back with the wrong item. Then went for something else. Then we was .75 away! All this time, the cashier is having me and my husband wait to the side while he takes other "quick" customers. 

Finally, the guy finished his $30 deal. Thank God.

So it was my turn! 

HAHA! My teddy bear got in the picture! He was a Valentine's Present from hubby.

Transaction 1:

Buy 2 Oral B Cross Action Tootbrush $6 get $3 Extrabucks

- (1) B1G1 coupon 1/30 P&G

-(1) $3/1 coupon 2/27 P&G

= $3 total, get $6 rewards back. Money Maker!

1 Charmin Basic 12 roll $4.99

- (1) $.25 coupon 2/27 P&G

2 Crest Vivid White Toothpaste $3.29 get $3.29 Extrabucks

-(2) $1/1 from P&G Mailed Booklet

1 Revitalens Contact Formula $5.99 get $6 Extrabucks

= $29.56 before coupons

Used $10, $7.98 Extrabucks from last trip

= $1.42 including tax!

Saved $40.11

Transaction 2:

1 Charmin 12 $4.99

-(1) $.25 2/28 P&G

1 Gillette Fusion Razor $9.99 get $4 EB's

-(1) $4/1 2/28 P&G

1 Physicians Formula Eyelash Cream $10.99 get $7 EB's

=$25.97 before coupons

Used all EB's from Trans. 1

= $4.97 including tax. 

Saved $29.62

Transaction 3:

3 Dawn Hand Renewal $.94

- (3) $.50/1 P&G Mailed Booklet

3 Gain dish liquid $1.39 regular price

-(3) $1/1 P&G Mailed Booklet

This stuff smells awesome!

4 Softsoap handsoap .88

1 Nestle Crunch Bar $.89

Just needed this so I could use my EB.

=$11.40 before coupons

Used $7 Eb

Total = $.80 total (This was all tax)

Saved $20.09

Transaction 4:

With Fernando's Card

2 Oral B Cross Action Toothbrush $6 get $3 EB

- (1) B1G1

- (1) $3/1

= $3

Get $6 EB back

Saved $13.58

Total spend including tax: $11.03

Total Saved: $103.40!!!

TOTAL COMBINED TRIPS CVS  &  WALGREENS:

SPENT: $15.51

SAVED: $133.14!!!

And to make it even more amazing, on the Physicians formula makeup was a rebate for the price of $10.95!! So I can submit it and get the entire rebate. Meaning I spent $15 total today, and in a few weeks I get paid $10!! That's like getting everything from BOTH trips for $5!!!

Walgreens... A Week ago?

First of all, I have to apologize (Again) for not keeping up with my posts!! But I have a good excuse at least =]. School school school. Gotta love that college education.

Basically I've done 3 shopping trips since my last post, and I forgot to share the first one with you about a week ago! So I'm bummed you guys may have missed out on the sale, but hopefully you can take advantage of the deals this week instead! I created this blog for more than one reason, anyways: To keep up with my personal savings, as well as spread the knowledge and share my deals with others so they can be just as blessed!

I won't lie, I can't find my receipt from the first trip, so I'm just gonna estimate how I did based on the coupons and sales I know were out there.

This trip was Walgreens, February 20.

Transaction 1:

2 Purex @ $7.99 B1G1 free

- (2) $3/1 Coupons

= $1 each

1 Represh Tampons @ $5.99 get $5 RR

- (1) $1/1 Coupons from their website

3 Arizona Tea @ $2/1 

With In-AD Coupon

1 Goody Hair ties @ $2.99 get $2 RR

1 Quilted Northern 12 Double Rolls @ $5.99

Needed this!

Used 5, 4, 4, 3, 2 RR's from previous trips

Paid OP = $4.64, including tax

Recieved $5, 2 RR's.

Not the best, but we really needed toilet paper and my rewards were expiring!

Total Saved $34.47

Transaction 2:

2 Purex @ $7.99 B1G1 Free

- (2) $3/1 Coupons from 2/20 RP

1 Represh Tampons $5.99 get $5 RR

- (1) $1/1 coupon from website

3 Arizona tea @ $2/1 

with in AD coupon

1 Goody Hair ties $2.99 get $2 RR's

Used 5, 3, 1

 = $3.23 including tax

Recieved 5, 2 RR's

Saved $26.47

Grand total spent $7.87 including tax

Saved: $60.94.

Pretty awesome considering 1 Purex alone is usually $7.99!

That's all for that trip!

Update to Come Soon!

Hey Everyone! It's been awhile since my last post, but that's because I haven't been shopping! But today will be a huge shopping day for me, hopefully. Lets hope they don't run out of the amazing deals today.

Updates to come...

In the meantime, check out my favorite websites to follow up on GREAT deals at Publix, Target, CVS, and Walgreens!

• I Heart Publix
• Totally Target
• Simply CVS
• Wild for Wags (Walgreens)

$5 and $10 Out of Pocket CVS Deal Scenarios for the Weekly Ad of 2/27/2011

$5 and $10 Out of Pocket CVS Deal Scenarios for the Weekly Ad of 2/27/2011

My Pantry Stock Up =]

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry for the slack this week! I've been really busy with Valentines Day, school, and organization! But the bright side is I have an amazing deal to share with all of you today. What I want to do this week is provide pictures of what I bought, along with the match-ups of sales and coupons I used. I can't stress enough how important it is to buy the Sunday paper if you expect to start saving money. A majority of the coupons I use come from those inserts, followed by internet printables. 

Yesterday, Fernando and I were really excited to go on our date to the movies! By the way, we saw Unknown which was an incredible movie. I highly recommend it! But because of this, my pictures are so sloppy and ugly! We went straight from the grocery store, rushed home, took a picture, then went to the movie. So sorry, but they will be alright for this week.

Haha I really enjoy posting pictures on this blog, and I feel like they make things more interesting. So this post is going to be full of pictures! By the way, if you want to view JUST this blog, apart from all the others, simply click on the title and it will redirect you to this individual posting. 

So here we go! My trip this week was to Publix. I knew this would be a helpful post to you beginners because up to this point I've focused my blog around the drug stores. While its nice to get free stuff from drug stores, shopping in these places is more for intermediate couponers who already have a food supply built up. The rest of you guys probably are much more interested in learning how to stock up your pantries! So that is what this post is for. Publix sales run from Thursday-Wednesday of the next week. So you guys have until Wednesday to take advantage of these deals.

Here is what I bought. This week I'm putting the product, coupon match up, and a picture of those items. But I did buy everything pictured in one transaction. I just thought breaking it up would make it easier for some of you to find the items by yourselves.

1/2 lb Deli Meat $4.56

2 Macaroni Grill Meals for 2 @ $7.99 B1G1 free

- (2) $1.50/1 internet printable here
=$2.50 each

4 Totinos Pizzas @ 4/$5
- (2) .75/2 internet printable here
=$. 88 each

2 Sargento shredded cheese @ 2/$4
- (2) $1.50/1 Publix coupon here
- (1) $.50/2 1/30 SS
=$.25 each

4 Progresso Bread Crumbs @ $1.95 B1G1 free

- (1) $1/4 Publix coupon 

Flyer in store

=$.73 each


16 Hunts tomato sauce @ 6/$2
- $5/20 Included products Publix coupon
(These 16 cans plus the 4 Totino's pizzas were included in this coupon)
= $.02 per can!


2 Sominex @ $3.19
- (1) $5/2 Publix Coupon in Green Flyer
- (2) $2/1 Manufacturer here
= - $2.62
This is overage that went towards paying for the other groceries!


2 Vivarin @ $3.19
- (1) $5/2 Publix Coupon in Green flyer
- (2) $2/1 Manufacturer here
= - $2.62 Overage


2 Phazyme @ $3.49
- (1) $5/2 Publix coupon in Green Flyer
- (2) $2/1 Manufacturer here
= -  $2.20 overage

2 Frosted Flakes @ $4.09 B1G1 Free
- (1) $1/2 Manufacturer here
= $1.55 each


2 Betty Crocker Brownies @ $1.99
- (2) $1/1 Publix Coupon on flyer in store
- (2) $.50/1 2/13 GM 
= $.49 each


4 Green Giant Vegetables @ $1.33 B1G1 Free
- (1) $1/4 Publix Coupon on flyer in store
=$. 42 each


4 Wishbone Ranch Dressing @ $2.97 B1G1 Free
- (2) $1.50/2 Target coupon here
- (2) $1/2 Manufacturer 1/30 RP
= $.24 EACH!

1 Bunch of Bananas @ $1.06
- (1) $1/1 Fruit when you buy 2 Frosted Flakes
Found the Coupon on Box
= $.06!


1 Cucumber @ $.85


2 French Bread Loaves @ $1.99
- (2) $1.50/1 Publix bread when you buy 6 hunts products
Publix coupon found on flyer
= $.49 each!

And my grand total? 
I spend $18.09
And I saved $88.84


That is $18 for over $105 of groceries
Or a savings of 84%


Considering that I was even able to get produce, deli meat and bread, which are things that are pretty difficult to save on, I did pretty amazing this week.


We will be donating the tomato sauce.

Walgreens 2/13 Spent $2.25 Saved $20

Hey everyone! Sorry I'm a little behind on postings, but this week I was doing my student internship at an Elementary school and have been verrryyy busy!

This weeks deal that I did was at Walgreens. Now again, I used previous RR's to pay for the items pictured. Therefore my out of pocket expense was very small. So again I'll say that if you guys want to start saving at Walgreens or CVS, use my transaction examples [previous blog post] to start earning Register Rewards. Here we go!

Ask me any questions below using the comment tool!

This is what I bought:

1 Lysol No-touch Soap Dispenser Regular Price $14.99

On sale $11.99 get $7 RR's back

Used $3/1 Coupon from 2/13 SS

1 Reach Toothbrush $2.99 get $2 RR

No coupons

1 Tuf Paper Towels $.49

3 Panty Hose $.69 

1 Orbit gum $.69

Total = 

$18.23 before coupons

$15.23 after coupons

Paid with $5, $4, $3, $1 RR

Total paid including tax $2.25

Got back $7 and $2 RR!

So while this wasn't a HUGE deal, I've really wanted to try the Lysol Soap Dispenser. It's usually $15 so this week's deal was the best price for it!

So in total I saved about $20 using coupons and shopping sales prices. $2 bucks for $20 of stuff is pretty good in my book!

Walgreens Scenario for Beginners

Here is my example scenario for today that I recommend for those of you new to couponing. In this case, you will spend about $10 for merchandise originally worth... $30! This isn't necessarily an ideal scenario but you would be getting a nice razor, and the Lysol no touch system for only $10. That's a really great price considering the Lysol alone is usually about $14.00. Plus you will have 4 RR's to use next week!

Transaction 1 

Buy 1 reach total care toothbrush or floss $2.99 get $2 RR 

                -$1 reach dental floss or access flosser or toothbrush 10/10/10 rp

                Or

                -$1 reach floss on smartsource.com [printable]

= 1.99

Get 2 RR back

Transaction 2

Buy 1 Lysol healthy no- touch system $11.99 

Buy 1 cheap item, such as the tuf paper towels for .49 or pantyhose for .69

- $3/1 coupon from today's ss (2/13)

- $2 RR from transaction 1

= 7.50-7.70

Get 7 RR back

Transaction 3

Either buy something else such as the Venus or Gillette razor for $7.99

If so, use the 7 RR from transaction 2 and pay .99

Then get back 4 RR 

Or you can just use the 7 RR and buy some groceries or other needed items.

Organization Made Easy

Hey everybody!

I know that some of you have started to pick up and begin couponing. So I thought I should give you one really easy, yet important tip on how to organize your coupons. Now, I can't stress enough how important it is to buy the Sunday paper. Maybe you won't use any of the coupons from it that specific week, but some coupons last for months, and come in handy eventually. So its nice to have them there when the time comes. When I started couponing I tried EVERY method imaginable to stay organized. I bought 4 papers, cut out ALL the coupons, and filed them in tiny coupon holders to take to the store. But not only is this time consuming, its annoying. So now I have what I like to think of as the best method possible for beginners and even serious couponers like myself.

So here it goes! What I do now is look at Sundaycouponpreview.com every week before the paper comes out Sunday. If I know I'll be using multiples of certain couples, I'll buy multiple papers, always in even numbers. So some weeks I buy 8 while others I buy 4. Then, I bought a filing box system at Target for about $10. It holds letter and legal sizes hanging folders. I use the letter size. Here's a picture!

What I do next makes my life so much easier! I label the tabs with the date of the coupon insert, and by brand of insert. For example, since we moved to Miami, all my coupons from before January were left in Tampa! So I started fresh. The first tab says " 1/2 SS" this means January 2nd Smartsource Insert. 

Sometimes there is more than one insert of the same brand, such as RedPlum. So I will label them RP1 and RP2! Here's a closer look...

Next, I follow websites such as Iheartpublix.com and Totallytarget.com, and Iheartwags.com where they match up the sales with coupons. For example it might look like this:

Colgate toothpaste $2/5 at Walgreens

$1/1 Coupon in 1/16 SS

Now I now that if I'm buying Colgate toothpaste, I will be looking in the smartsource from January 16. Then I'll take it out, cut the coupon, and put the insert back in its place. It's really simple. 

I'm also a pretty organized person so I have a lot of fun with this! I buy the colorful-pretty tabs and my coupons are so organized!

And this method is really not very expensive. Yesterday I found a 25 pack of the green hanging folders plus 50 regular manila folders for only $2.48 at Target. 

So far I have everything from January through the first weekend of February. I even have enough room for probably all the inserts through March. At that point, many of the January ones will be expired and get thrown away.