Store coupons, manufactures coupons equal FREE stuff! Play the Game!

@coffeebreak (17797)
United States
June 14, 2008 5:07pm CST
I learned a new way to get free groceries,household items. A blog called Money Saving Mom energized me and showed me some things that made me think a little and realize how much is out there. I have faithfully been working hte Walgreen's Easy Couon rebate catalog and using their store coupons. Doing pretty weel, THey put the "rebates" on a Walgreens gift care and I refill the GC every month with the Easy saver program, and often I dont have to use any money from my pocket -just what I saved from last month. Well, this blog goes into detail about how to make coupons work. I knew alot of it, but it turned me on to how to use Walgreens and good chance I won't have to pay for alot of things at all! I learned to take the sunday (or online if you like) ads and go through, pick out first, what I need/want. Then Look at the easy saver catalog and see what I need/want. They always have at least 4 items that are free after rebate and I get them even if I dont need it, but will give it to someone that does. Okay, I ramble...so here's what I am working on. Pick the coupons I want. Then go to my personal stash of coupons and see if anything matches the Walgreens coupons as they store will allow you to use a manufacture coupon IN ADDITION to their store coupon. Then I go to the web site of each of the stroe coupons and so often they have a coupon for that item there! Instant coupons savings! IF I dont' find a coupon there, I will go to a few coupons sites (on my profile ) and do a search for the store items and see if I get a coupon there! It might take a little time, but it is saving alot of money. This week, just in learning about it all, Sweet N Low was 2/$4.00. I searched the coupon site and got 2 coupons for 35 cents off a box - to $4.00 minus 70 cents.=$3.30 divided by 2 = $1.65 a box of 120 packets. This will last me for several months! INstead of the stores regular (and Targets too) price of $3.50 a box. Sugar was $1.99 - I didn't find a coupon but it is $3.69 in the grocery store! They were out but gave me a rain check. PRingles were 79¢ each and I had 3 coupons for 15¢ off one can - so I got them for 64¢ ea.....you get the idea. And this for just a thought! So this week, now that I know how to play the game, and have my coupon sites to match things up, I am anxious for a really low bill and a cart full of stuff that I need and use! Give it a shot. It really isn't that hard. In my profile are 2 of the sites I use for coupons -print them out immediately and use them. Just don't fold them where the bar code is, or they wont scan. Seems many clerks don't like to have to do the work of inputing the bar code manually and if it don't scan, they often try to tell you they don't take that coupon, when it is only that htey dont' want to be bothered to do something manually and hope you will accept not using the coupon.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
15 Jun 08
I've been hearing about Walgreen's coupon system, but it seemed complicated to me. I'll have to check it out more closely. It sounds like you made some pretty good deals.
2 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Thanks... I need to work at this a little. I don't do CVS, either, but I've read about it. I should make a better effort to keep costs lower.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Thanks for "best response." :)
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
12 Jun 09
Well I just found out that Walgreens has stopped the mail in refunds for the free items. They have gone to the instore reward points on the register reeipt with expiration dates like CVS has. I just am not in the area enough to make the multiple trips and use the reward amounts before they expire. Guess all good things come to an end.. wonder if Walgreens is going to feel it! Those monthly freebie coupon books I bet brought them alot of customers that mainly went in for the freebies, but would buy additional stufff while there.. Now they just don't bother the trip and just get the "additional" stuff elsewhere and not at Walgreens.
• United States
24 Jun 08
I've bookmarked this discussion so that I can come back with all my coupons and Walgreens saver book and see how this works! Sounds like lots of fun.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
24 Jun 08
As long as you look at it as "fun" instead of "work" it is fun! The Easy Saver didn't have anything I needed so I just got the store coupon stuff, but still, $2 for SPAM, regularly $3.49 and a 25¢ coupon on one can - I really like it only it is so bad for you! But that is a treat for me a few times a year! Aluminum foil 20 ft 2/$1 and aluminum is recyclable better than the saran wrap, at least in my opinion. Toothpaste - AquaFresh pump for kids - $1.99 but they were out so make sure you get a rain check! By the time they get it back, I might have a coupon to go with it!