Drugstore Deals and Fears...

It has been a LONG time since I have shopped at CVS or Walgreens. I got to a point where I was very good at finding the deals, cutting the coupons, printing the coupons, making my scenarios and getting great deals!! But then it seemed for a while that there just weren't deals worth spending the time and money on. I have still looked each week to see what I could maybe get for the littlest amount of money, but after I let my RR and ECB's run out so that I wasn't rolling them anymore, I was even more picky about the deals, since I would HAVE to start by spending money no matter what.
SO...
I recently made my first trip (in a LONG time) to Walgreens...and I felt like a newbie all over again. I was diligent but nervous. I was excited about the deals, but afraid I would not find what I needed for my scenarios. I was going at a late hour so there wouldn't be as many people, but was still holding up the line...
To my surprise and delight, I found everything in my scenarios except 1 item. This threw me off a little bit, but not too much...BUT...unfortunately I forgot one of the basic, and yet very important, rules of Walgreens. Coupon to item ratio! I forgot to plan for this! How could I forget? I used to have this all down to a science, and now I am forgetting the basic steps! And the rough thing about this part is that they do not have the clearance items up by the registers!
SO...
I ended up spending more than I planned and more than I would have liked, but felt like I did better than my actual first time ever doing this. The cashier wasn't a helpful one through my forgetfulness, but I got through it, and got some nice items...and some RR to hopefully roll...

The candies became my filler items as I quickly went back into the store (between transactions when I realized my epic failure) and tried to find the cheapest items available. The blowpops were on clearance for .32 for the bunches, so I was pleased with this. As for the other items:

Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion 6.8oz @ $6.99, Get $6.99 in Register Rewards (did 2 of these)
Use $1.50/1 coupon HERE (IE) or HERE (FF)
Pay $5.49 out of pocket
Get back $7 in RRs (they round up)

Gillette Fusion MVP Manual or Power Razor System @ $8.99, Get $6 in Register Rewards
Use $4/1 coupon from the 9/27 P&G
Pay $4.99 out of pocket
Get back $6 in RRs

Halls Refresh Sugar Free 20 ct @ $1, Get $1 in Register Rewards
Use 75¢/1 coupon from the 9/27 SS
Pay 25¢ out of pocket
Get back $1 in RRs

Oral-B Advantage 1-2-3 Toothbrush @ $3, Get $3 in Register Rewards
Use 75¢/1 coupon from the 9/27 P&G
Pay $2.25 out of pocket
Get back $3 in RRs

Herbal Essences Hair Care @ $2.99, Get $2 in Register Rewards
Pay $2.99 out of pocket
Get back $2 in RRs

Chapstick Fresh Effects @ $2.99, Get $3 in Register Rewards

The only thing I didn't find? Robitussin DM To Go 2 pk @ $2.49, Get $2.49 in Register Rewards

So, I did 4 transactions and ended up spending $9.74 out of pocket (would have liked to have kept this under $5) and got back $11 in RRs for next time. Hopefully next time goes more smoothly!!

Another Shopping Trip to Wgs

Last night I was looking at the Walgreens deals for next week and I decided I was not very excited. But I had $16 RR that were expiring Sunday and I would much rather roll them than to purchase things just to use the money and then have to start the "rolling" process all over again. Especially since my goal is to spend as little as possible oop each week.

So, I made a stop today. I knew they had the calcium for $8.99 and yielding a $9 RR. I had $9.50 RR I was going to use so I knew I would need some fillers. As I was flipping through the flyer to remember what was on special I ran across the .59 Butterball Chicken Broth! Perfect! 2 weeks ago when I was shopping I received 2 $1/2 for Butterball broth at Wgs. Niiice! Just needed one more thing at about .16 to get to my $9.50 RR (and I wanted to stay as close to this as possible while still buying something of some use. I found hair bands on clearance for .20. Again, perfect!



So here is what I got:

1 Posture D Calcium Vitamins @ $8.99
4 Butterball Chicken Broth @.59 each
1 2-pack hairbands @.20

I used 2 $1/2 Q for the broth
I used 2 RR for a total of $9.50

I paid $.57 out of pocket
I have a $9 RR for another trip
Total Savings: $15.23

Nice random trip to Wgs for me! How did you do?

Update on Wgs Shopping Scenario

I made it to Wgs today. Went to the one that usually has more of a supply. I didn't do the best shopping I've ever done, and I didn't get everything I wrote about here (because they either didn't have it or it wasn't the price I thought it was going to be), but I still think I made out good, and still made out under my $5 challenge.




Transaction #1

• Colgate Visible White toothpaste $4.49=$4.50RR
• Skintimate Shave Gel $1.99=$1RR
• Right Guard Deodorant Professional Strength $5.99=$5RR
• Kraft Macaroni and Cheese .69 with in ad coupon (2/$3 regular)
  

Total before coupons:
$18.47

Coupons I used:

• $1/1 Colgate (printed this one and the register didn't want to take it, but the cashier was really nice and he made it work somehow)
  
• .75/1 Skintimate from the 4/26SS
• $1/1 Right Guard from the 4/19SS
• b3g1 FREE for Kraft (made sure he scanned this coupon BEFORE scanning the ad coupon so that it will take off the full $1.50 instead of just 69¢) This coupon also says that it will take off up to$1.30, so I wasn't sure what the store would actually take off.
• .69 in ad Kraft Mac and Cheese (takes off the right amount for all 4, even though it says limit of 3 and it already took off the $1.50)

Total after coupons: $10.98

• Pay with $8 RR from last week.

Final cost $2.98 + tax or $3.67

Transaction #2

• Edge Shave Gel $1.99=$1RR
• Right Guard Deodorant Professional Strength $5.99=$5RR
• Binder Tab Dividers on clearance for $.64 and needed for filler item
  

Total before coupons:
$8.67

Coupons I used:

• .75/1 Edge from 5/17 I think (now I can't remember)
  
• $1/1 Right Guard from the 4/19SS

Total after coupons: $6.87

• Pay with $6 RR from last week.

Final cost $.87 + tax or $1.30

Total Spent Today OOP: $4.97 ($.03 left to spare!)
Total RR used: $14
RR for next visit: $16.50

Not bad! How did you do?

Wgs RR

This week I don't see much worth my while for making a trip to Wgs or CVS, but by the end of the week, I may have heard about hidden deals and may make it out. I think I can say this very boldly since I feel as though I am really getting the hang of how to make these trips worth the time and effort spent on researching and reading and clipping, etc.
Many things have really helped me to get better in this arena, but really I think it has just come with time and experience. If you don't have these things yet, or don't want to wait, I have just read over a great summary of how to go about the Walgreens experience, especially how to make using Register Rewards work for your benefit.
Go on over here and read another Angela's blog about her tips, and you can also find some links to other great sites discussing similar info. You'll definitely be an expert by the time you are done reading!

Trial Week 2

This was my second week trying out the whole coupon thing...getting the Sunday paper, clipping internet coupons, reading blogs and other web sites, etc. and I think I have done much better! I left Sunday almost immediately after church to go to PA to visit family with my husband and 3 month old. I took all my lists and coupons, etc, especially for the wgs diaper sale and was so excited, only to find very few (and none near where I was) wgs!
We got back in town Wed afternoon and after my husband fixed a flat we had on one car before we left, i proceeded to go to a couple of stores...got one set of diapers and a few other cheapies/freebies at wgs, and I was satisfied (especially since I thought all the diapers would be gone!)
I left work on Thursday with my 3 month old in tow and hit 3 stores, and when my husband got home later I went to 2 others. These pics only show what I got on Wed and the first 3 stores on Thurs, but I am a proud shopper.
I know my spending is still more and saving still less than many I see in the bloggosphere, but I saved more than I spent (a first ever) and have $40 to use at wgs and cvs next week!

Huggies

I did my first great buy yesterday at Wgs by getting 2 packs of diapers and 1 pack of wipes @ $26, then turned in my $15 in coupons everyone has been printing and then had $10 in RR from dove products last week, so I spent $1 and tax out of pocket...starting to get the hang of it...looking to make another trip to get more stuff today...