Shopping Drugstores: Walgreens 101 Part 3 of 3

Well, here's the last installment of my three part series of Shopping Drugstores 101. The final drugstore I'll talk about is Walgreens, which in the coupon world is sometimes known as Wags.

Now, Walgreens does not have a reward card here in the Southeast. However, I have heard of them testing a card in some areas, so you would need to check your local Walgreens.

Walgreens does have something called Register Rewards, or RR's. These are separate coupons that print from a Catalina machine. So after your transaction you will get a receipt, and Catalina coupons, or RR's printed separately. (That's if you bought something that qualifies for a Catalina of course.) These RR's can be used as cash on your next order.

There are a few things you need to know when shopping with RR's, and coupons at Walgreens. You can not have more coupons (RR's are considered coupons, even though it says $? off your next order) than items. So, if you have a RR for $5 off your next purchase, and a manufacture coupon for a razor, you will have to purchase at least one more item other than the razor to be able to use both coupons.

These "extra" items are called "fillers" in the coupon world. There are different strategies for fillers. Some people try to find the least expensive item they can find to use as a filler. That is one thing that Walgreens has ample plenty! You can always find orange clearance tags all throughout the stores for items dirt cheap. Normally you can find something as you peruse through the aisles for $.25 or under. Other people would just rather get an item that they are out of, or low on know matter what the cost. Either one is perfectly fine, just have the same number of items to ring up as coupons.

Another very important tidbit......Most RR's can not be used again for the same item. For example, if you buy a certain razor that generates a $5 RR, then you take that RR to purchase another of the razors, it will not print another RR. There are exceptions to this rule....Sometimes the RR's will "Roll". The coupon term "rolling" refers to the really fun occasions when you can in fact use the same RR for the item again, and generate another RR. It will let you use them for a different item that generates RR's, and they will print just fine. It can be confusing, I know. I hope I have made it clear. If not please leave a comment, and I will do my best to explain this better.

I think some people just try to see if it will roll. I'm not one of those people. I normally just read about it somewhere else. :) One of the places I will usually read about it is at A Full Cup. This is a great website, to learn some wonderful couponing tips.

Next week Walgreens ad 8/8/10 - 8/14/10, has Dial Nutri Skin Body wash 16oz on sale for $3.99, there is a coupon for $1 off Dial Body wash you can print here , which brings the total to $2.99 before tax. After you pay it will print a $3 RR to use on your next purchase. Now don't forget....you can use it for another Dial body wash, but you will not get another RR for that.

Again, I need to credit i heart wags , which is where I go to get a sneak peek at the upcoming Walgreens sales.

I hope this helps answer your questions on shopping at Walgreens. As always, I love to hear from you, so feel free to leave questions or comments.

Happy Shopping!

Jennifer

Shopping Drugstores: Rite Aid 101 Part 2 of 3

Hello,

Today I will talk about shopping at Rite Aid. This drug store has recently become my favorite drug store to shop. I'm sure you will come to love it too! :)

First, like CVS, they have a rewards card as well. Their card is called the Wellness + card. You just have to fill out a simple form to receive your card, at no charge of course. You will get a $5 off your next $25 purchase just for signing up. (Remember to use this coupon before any other coupons, so your total doesn't dip below the $25, as we talked about in Part 1 of this series.) The cashier will need to scan your card in order to get the sales prices. There are many benefits to using this card.

• Card members receive 10% off Rite Aid products
• Only members get the sales price
• Also, you have access to a pharmacist when you call the 1-800 number

There is also a reward point system. For every dollar spent (not including prescriptions), you get one point. For prescription purchases you get 25 points. These points add up to rewards that you can read more about here.

In addition to all this, Rite Aid also has +Up Rewards on items in their weekly circular. These are very similar to the CVS ECB's discussed in Part 1 of this series. These +UP rewards will print at the end of your receipt to be used like money on your next purchase.

That's not all though folks! Rite Aid also has something called Single Check Rebates. These are FANTASTIC! When you walk into a Rite Aid you should see near the front door, the ads, as well as a Single Check Rebate booklet (SCR). Pick one up! These booklets come out once a month. They are packed full with upcoming items that will be included in the Single Check Rebate Program for the month. Ok, now your asking....what does it do? spit it out! Well, when you purchase an item that is currently featured in the weekly circular for a Single Check Rebate, you will get back the specified amount in a check. Yes, a check that you can cash in for money at the bank to use anywhere you please!

Let me explain some things about this program. First, you need to go here, and click on Sign Up For SCR. This will set you up an account, so that you can get your check. The way you get your check is, when you purchase an item that is included in the SCR program, you have to come home and enter your receipt into your account. You will see in the link I provided above a link for entering your receipts. It does that a few days for your receipt to show up. Of course, you have to be sure to set up your account first.

Second, you can only request your check once during the month. So, I always keep entering receipts until I know I for sure I will not be returning again for that month, then and only then, click on the request your check field. It does take a few weeks to get your check.

I know this seems like a lot of things to do, but it is definitely worth it! This is how you read about people getting free groceries. They cash in their checks, and use them at the grocery stores for things that maybe you don't see many coupons for, like meat, and produce.

Let me give you a perfect example:

Next week (8/8-8/4) Rite Aid's ad will have

-Crest Pro-Health Sensitive Shield Toothpaste 4.2oz for $2.69, and there is a $1 Proctor & Gamble (PG) manufacture coupon that came out on 8/01/10, which brings your Out of Pocket (OOP) to $1.69 + tax. This item is also featured this week in the SCR program for $2.69. Yes, when you come home and enter your receipt, you will get back the full $2.69 sale price at the end of the month when you request your check.

Once again, I would like to give credit to i heart rite aid , which is where I always check for the upcoming deals at Rite Aid.

Well, hopefully this post has been informative, and clear. Please feel free to leave questions, or comments! I love to hear from you. :)

Until next time, Happy Shopping!

Jennifer

Shopping Drugstores: CVS 101-- Part 1 of 3

Hi all,
I thought I would share with you some tips on how to shop three of my local drug stores, which are CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. So I'll go over each one on separate days. First, you may ask me.....Aren't those drugs stores more expensive then other stores? Well, I used to think the same thing, and never shopped those drug stores until I learned how to shop savvy with coupons. Now I can usually get things like toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc. completely free. Yes, I said free, sometimes I even make money on these items. I'll explain what I mean by this in a little bit. I'm talking brand name items! Brands that I would have never have bought in the past because of the price. Ok, let's get to it!

So today I'll start with CVS. First, you will need to get a CVS Extra Care Card. This is there loyalty card, and it is completely free. You just have to fill out a form when you go into the store. The cashier will scan your card before your purchase to get the sale prices. You can not get the sale prices without this card. You can read more about the card here.

Second, CVS has something called Extra Care Bucks, or ECB's. These are "Extra Care Bucks" that are printed at the end of your receipt after you've paid for your purchases. These bucks are like cash to use at CVS on your next purchases.

Third, in CVS stores, they have a coupon center. This is a tall machine that scans your card, and will print coupons out. You should always stop by that machine before you start your shopping trip. You never know what you could get. Sometimes it prints $/off a specific item, and sometimes they print coupons like $4 off $20, or $10 off 50. You could even get lucky, and get a free item.

Fourth, let's talk about the order you hand your coupons in. You may wonder why you should hand your coupons in a certain order. Well, if you happen to have one of those $? off $? like $4 off $20 for example, and your total before your coupons is $21, you want them to take that off first, because if you hand your manufacture coupons first your total will dip below the $20, and you will no longer be able to use the $4 off $20.

Finally, let's get to how you get those free items. Next weeks sales ad has Schick 3 or Hydro 5 cartridges 4ct or razor $8.97. There is a $5 Schick razor coupon coming out in the Smartsource insert on 8/8/10. This brings the razor to $3.97. After you pay, you will then get $4 ECB to use on your next purchase. So, yes, you do initially have to pay out of pocket to get the ECB, but once you start to build up your ECBs you will then be able to use those instead of cash out of your pocket. Then in turn get more ECB's.

Now here is how you can actually make money. First buy the razor mentioned above, and complete that transaction. Then do a second transaction with the following. CVS also has Ducolax Balance 8.3oz. on sale for $9.99 next week. Use the $4 ECB you received in the first transaction, along with the $4 coupon that came in the Smartsource insert on 5/16/10, which brings it to $1.99. You will receive a $9.99 ECB after you pay.

You always have to pay tax. So, you paid $3.97+ tax in first, then $1.99 + tax in second, but you get back $9.99 to use in your next transaction. Now, you should know that you can only use the ECB's on the pre tax total. So if your pretax total is $3.50, and you have a $4 ECB you need a filler item if you don't want to waste that $.50. Filler items are things that will get you to the total you need, like a $.50 candy bar, or pack of gum.

One last little money saving tidbit.....CVS also has a green bag tag you can purchase for $1. Attach this to your reusable bag, and have the cashier scan this. Every fourth visit you will get back $1 in ECB's. So you get your money back on your fourth visit. Every dollar counts! :)

Now, I just want to give credit to a great website i heart cvs, which is where you can find upcoming sales to make your plans. This is where I regularly check each week for CVS's deals.

Well, hopefully I have cleared up some questions on how you can shop a drug store like CVS for some fantastic deals. Be sure to check back here for posts on future trips to CVS. As always, I love to hear from you, so feel free to post comments or questions.

Happy Shopping!
Jennifer

Let's Talk Coupons

Hello all,
A new blogging friend of mine was asking some questions about coupons, which inspired this post. I hope you all find it informative. Please feel free to leave questions in the comments if I can help any further.

There are all types of coupons, Manufacture Coupons, Store Coupons, Blinkies, Tearpads, Snail Mail, and Printables.

Let's start off with the Manufacture Coupon. These are coupons that are sent out by the manufacturer. I get the majority of my manufacture coupons in the Sunday paper inserts. The inserts normally found in the Sunday paper include (but are not limited to), Redplum, Smartsource, and P&G (Proctor and Gamble). These coupons will have Manufacture Coupon printed on it normally at the top of the coupon near the expiration date.


Store coupons are coupons that are store specific, and are meant to be used only at that store. Now, some stores will take competitor coupons, so be sure to ask if you can use them at other stores. These coupons will have Store Coupon printed on them near the expiration date.


Blinkies are the coupons that come out of those machines attached to the shelves on store aisles. They are called Blinkies, because they usually have a blinking light on them to get your attention.

Tearpads are the pads of coupons that vendors normally stick on the shelf near their product that they are promoting.

Snail Mail coupons are sent to you through the mail from the manufactures. You might get these from companies that you email bragging about a specific item, or maybe from a sample package.

Finally Printables are coupons you can print from the internet. Like here:




Be sure that you know your stores coupon policies. Some stores double coupons. For instance, one of the stores I shop in Publix, doubles all coupons $.50 and under. So a $.50 coupon doubles to a dollar, $.25 doubles to $.50, etc. I've even heard of some stores tripling coupons. Also, and this is a big tip, some stores will allow 1 store coupon, and 1 manufacture coupon for each item. This can make for huge savings!

I hope this clears up some questions for coupon newbies. Take care, and Happy Shopping!

Jennifer

Disclaimer:  The above coupon link is an affiliate link.  Thank you for helping support Just Peachy in Dixie! ;)

Ahh, Sundays!

I just love Sundays! My Sunday always starts out with my four legged, floppy eared, sweet kissing, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gently whining to go outside. After I let him out, I fix a cup of coffee, catch up on my emails, and check out the sales for the week.

When the family stirs, my daughter and I normally head to the kitchen to make our traditional Sunday breakfast of homemade pancakes and bacon. She and I have the best time making the pancakes. She follows the recipe to a T, and is proud as a peacock when her Daddy brags on the delicious breakfast.

Today, after breakfast I put a chicken in the Crock Pot. Here's what I did to prepare the chicken: I rinsed the bird and patted dry. Then inside and out I salted, peppered, put paprika, and Montreal Chicken Grill Mates Seasoning (these were free a few months back with coupons :) ), and lastly I cubed an apple and stuffed inside. I set the Crock Pot to high for a couple of hours, then turned down to low, to let it cook for another 5-6 hours. Boy, does it smell good. Here.....take a nice whiff of this....

TIP: I lined the Crock Pot with one of those liners, to make for an even easier clean up.


I'll have plenty of left overs to make chicken salad to put on croissants for a great lunch tomorrow. Yum! On a frugal note....This chicken cost $4.??, and is being used in two meals. You could even stretch it further and add water and vegetables to cook in to make a great homemade chicken broth, but I have plenty of that in the freezer already. I love to use the chicken broth in place of water to make very flavorful rice. The homemade broth will also help cut down on the sodium, as apposed to some of the store bought.

Today after feeding our bellies, we got dressed and went to church to feed our soul. Feeling full physically, and spiritually, we'll now just enjoy a relaxing day. I'm sure I'll be clipping coupons later. :)

Ahh, this is shaping up to be a great Sunday! :)

Thanks for stopping in! I always am glad to hear from you.

Jennifer