CVS & Walgreens 10/04

Warning: This is a long post!! It is hard to explain this process in a short-and-sweet manner, so please bear with me. Trust me..when you start saving money, taking the time to read my post will be worth it ;)

I am working on learning the "system" to shopping at CVS and Walgreens. Visit Deal Seeking Mom to learn more about earning and using Register Rewards at Walgreens click here. To learn more about earning and using Extra Care Bucks at CVS click here.

Also... check out this amazing website that helps you utilize only $5.00 each weeks to get tons of great deals at Walgreens. This week she spent $5.00 out of pocket and got $14.47 worth of products. Plus she ended the transaction with $5.49 in Register Rewards (which have cash value, so in reality she made $.49 on this total purchase!!!) She can now use the $5.49 in Register Rewards to apply to next week's deals. That means that she should not have to come out of pocket at all next week. I think, I'm still learning too about "rolling over" your Register Rewards but I am thinking that is how it will work. Guess I'll find out next week ;) Here is the website for Walgreens http://kingdomfirstmom.com/category/the-walgreens-5-challenge. Here is the website for CVS http://kingdomfirstmom.com/category/the-cvs-5-challenge.

Okay, so back to my trip tonight. Like I said, I am still learning but I saved 71% at CVS (which is pretty dang good I think) and get this.....98% at Walgreens!!!! After shopping at both stores, I bought $88.08 worth of products for $26.09. That means I saved 71% on this shopping trip!!

Here is what I got for $26.09 (and I have $3.00 in Register Rewards to use next time I go into Walgreens)....

(3) Degree Clinical Strength Deodorants
(1) 6 pack Dove Bar Soap
(2) 12 pack Diet Dr. Pepper
(1) 12 pack Dr. Pepper
(1) 3 pack Tone Bar Soap
(1) Colgate Total Toothpaste
(1) 6 pack Bounty Paper Towels (select a size kind)
(1) Clean & Clear Face Wash (trail size)
(1) Colgate 360 Clean Toothbrush
(3) Jars of Ragu Spaghetti Sauce
(2) Carefree Pantiliners (22 ct)
(2) Trident Gum
(1) Platex Cleaning Gloves
(2) Campbell's Tomato Soup

Want to start saving money like this too? Here is how to start... get a newspaper EVERY Sunday and clip out EVERY SINGLE coupon (even the ones you think you won't use, trust me!!). File all your coupons away for later. Here are some tips on how to organize your coupons http://personalbudgeting.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_organize_coupons.

Don't have any coupons? Want to start saving money this week at CVS and Walgreens? Here are a few scenarios of ways you can....

At CVS -

Dial, Tone or Coast Soap (2-3 pk.), $1.88
Get $1 ECB (limit 1)
$1/1 Tone Soap printable (IE) or printable (FF)
FREE after coupon and ECBs!

Colgate ActiFlex Toothbrush, $2.99
Get $2 ECB (limit 1)
$1/1 Colgate Acti-Flex Toothbrush printable
FREE after coupon and ECBs!

Here's how you would do this deal.... Print out both coupons

Buy Tone for $.88 out of pocket w/ coupon
Get $1.00 ECB on your receipt
Do a second transaction and apply your $1.00 ECB you just received on the Colgate Toothbrush
Get Toothbrush for $.99 out of pocket w/coupon
Get $2.00 ECB on your receipt for your next purchase

You will pay $1.87 for $4.87 worth of products!! Plus you will have $2.00 ECB's left over to use on your next purchase. Therefore you are really MAKING $0.13 off of these 2 transactions!! Cool, huh!!

At Walgreens -

Campbell’s Tomato Soup, 2/$1 (get coupon out of weekly flyer when you go into the store)
$1/2 Campbell’s Cooking Soups printable (IE) or printable (FF)
2 FREE after coupon!

Trident Layers Gum, 2/$2
Get $1 RR wyb 2
Use $0.75/1 Trident Layers Gum printable
$0.25 after coupon!

Chapstick Fresh Effects, $2.99
Get $2.99 RRs
FREE after RRs!

Robitussin DM To Go (2-pk.), $2.49
Get $2.49 RRs
FREE after RRs!

Emergen-C Booster, $3.49
Get $3.49 RRs
FREE after RRs!

Here is a scenario deal... Print all coupons prior to going to the store

Get (2) cans of Campbells Tomato Soup (the coupon does work, as I used it tonight) for FREE w/coupon
Get (2) packs of Gum for $1.25 out-of-pocket after coupon
Receive $1.00 in Register Rewards on your receipt
Do a second transaction and apply $1.00 Register Reward to buy Chapstick for $1.99.
Get $2.99 Register Rewards to use on your next purchase

You will pay $3.24 out-of-pocket for $6.99 worth of products. Plus you will have $2.99 in Register Rewards to use on your next purchase. Therefore you are really only paying $0.25 total for the items!!!

REMEMBER: Guard your Receipts that have your Extra Care Bucks and Register Rewards printed on them!!! Treat these as you would cash!!! P.S. Mom - they print out on your receipt and ARE NOT on your tag. You must have your receipt to redeem your Extra Care Bucks or Register Rewards!!

Well Folks, that's it for tonight! Whew, that was a long one. But hopefully, it was inspiring and helpful!!! Keep checking back for more great deal!!