Rite Aid Cover Girl Deal Today... Rewarding Yet Complicated.

Cover Girl Deal: +Up Rewards, Sale, Coupons, AND Rebate.... Whew..

Through today, Rite Aid has all Cover Girl cosmetics Buy One, Get One 50% off. PLUS, when you spend $30 in participating P&G brands, you get $10 +Up Rewards back (limit one per person). Cover Girl is a participating brand. The $30 is a pre-coupon amount too! :)    AND! Cover Girl is also one of the brands you can use to work the current P&G Rebate found HERE.  You have to hurry though... you have until 10/31 to work this rebate.

Ok.. so if you can stick with me.. it gets a little tricky here.. but I will try to explain how I worked the Cover Girl, Rebate, +UP Rewards Rite Aid deal today. (it ends today... but it will give you an idea how to work similar deals in the future if it is too late for you to catch this one!)

Transaction one:

CG Lip Perfection:  $7.19

CG TruBlend Minerals Powder: $9.89

CG TruBlend Minerals Blush: $9.69 (then Half OFF, so really $4.84!)

CG Lip Perfection: $7.19

CG Lip Perfection: $7.19 (Then Half OFF, so really $3.59!)

Then, I used coupons:  

$8 off 2 CG

$8 off 2 CG

$1 off 1 CG

My total was $17.99 after tax!!   

My TOTAL SAVINGS were $25.45

My Total towards the rebate:  $32.70  (so even though I spent $17.99 out of pocket, I got credit for spending $32.70 because of how the receipt printed the cost of the items, and because these rebates consider the PRE COUPON amount per item.) 

AND, I got a $10 +UP reward back.

SO, Transaction 2:

CG Outlast: $10.99

CG Outlast: $8.99 ($4.49 after half off!)

CG Eyeshadow kit: $8.49

CG Lip Perfection:  $7.19 ($3.59 after half off)

CG Eye Pencil:  $5.99

CG Bronzer: $4.39 ($2.19 after half off)

Then I used Coupons:

$10+Up Rewards from Transaction 1

$8 off 2 CG

$1 off 1 CG

$1 off 1 CG

$1 off 1 CG

Total after Tax:  $14.74

I saved  $31.30!  

Total Towards the Rebate:  $35.74

Goal of the rebate is MET! 

Total out of pocket to get to the $50:  $32.73

I will get $10 back!

I bought $89.48 worth of product for $22.73 after I get my rebate check in! That totally rocks! And I am set on make up for a while now! :)

Which is great. Because I hate to admit it, but I have not bought any make up in 3 years. Sigh. So today was totally fun.. well, once you take out the whole shopping with toddlers factor! :)

An Entire Holiday for 3 Kids, Including Party, For Less Than $40?

I Love the Holidays. 

Some Say I Go WAY Too Detailed With Them

I Say Couponers Can Rock a Good Holiday!

If you are new to the world of couponing and pro-actively deal seeking, it is too late for this Easter for you to pay pennies on the dollar for everything you need.  I think this post is good timing, however, to get you in the right frame of mind to get ready for next year.  Yep, next week you will be shopping for all your family's Easter needs for 2012!

Last year, I got really annoyed with the community egg hunts. You wait outside in the heat for an hour with the rest of the crowd.  There are always THOSE kids that show up and run and scoop all the eggs for the little kids.  Last year, at one egg hunt, my kids and I (my kids are all preschoolers) walked over the field after the egg hunt to put egg halves together and scoop up forgotten candy.  No, we hadn't arrived late. In fact, we were first in line for the hunt. The other kids just knocked my kids over and got all the eggs.

It was pitiful and really maddening.  So, we decided to surprise our kids with a hunt the next weekend. My husband slipped out and hid eggs on a local elementary school's Kindergarten playground.  It was perfect.. and relaxing.  

I had a plan for this year: I would throw a mini egg hunt party with a couple of other preschoolers my kids love to play with.  Then, we would have a little celebration back at my house! The plan was hatched and I had a year to get ready.

I started with the Post-Easter Clearance.  (did you realize you CAN use unexpired coupons on clearance like this??!  Seriously.  It really makes it super awesome when you can find a coupon for clearance stuff!!)

I ended up getting:

Spring Cake Mix: 50c

5 Felt Easter Baskets:  35c ea (They WERE $5 ea at Old Navy prior to clearance!)

Spring Sprinkle sets: 75c ea for 2 (were about $5!)

Candy to Stuff the Eggs: $1.88 for the HUGE HUGE 65ct bag (Skittles and Starbursts. FROM Halloween Clearance!!)

Bunny Cupcake Stand:  $1.25

Party Easter M&Ms: $1.15 ea bag, 2 bags bought at CVS Last week on sale and with $2 off 2 Easter candies coupon

Pretty Flower Paper Plates: 35c  (Easter Clearance last year!)

Bunny Marshmallows: $1

Sparkling Pear Cider:  88c (Harry and David. They closed locally and the store went 75% off plus I had a coupon!)

Cupcake Liners and Picks: 50c

Kit Kats: $2 worth

Sweet Tart Jelly Beans:  Got PAID 51c to own ($2.50 off Q, they were on sale last week for $1.99 at Rite Aid

I also used Eggs we already had, and icing, etc left from a previous bday party.

Foam Craft for all the kids $1

Stickers for Craft $1

Total Spent  $15.40 for a really great Easter Party for 5 kids!  

Also, this weekend we celebrated the Bunny coming.  We have a crazy schedule this week and had to move it up a week.  My kids got one HUGE basket to share.. Each kid got an item or two that is specifically for them, and then they got a bunch of "community property" items that they divided up between them quite fairly!!

The total spent on stuff for this basket was about $18. 

In this huge basket the kids received:

Little People figurines, a Tag (Leap Frog) Bunny book, a Little Critter Easter book, a Mickey Mouse Cartoons DVD, 4 Mr. Men Plush Toys, 3 Mr. Men figurines, Mr. Men Stickers,  2 bendy bunnies, 3 chocolate bunnies, assorted candies, a couple packs of jelly beans, and more! *all items in the basket were BRAND NEW from the store. I didn't pull a fast one here. (Not saying that second hand is not as good... just explaining where I got mine!  Hint: The DVD was FREE through Disney Movie Rewards program...)

Full price would have run me $64+ for all the items in the basket.   I like the $18 I spent over the year much better.

Total Price for Easter Gifts and Party for my family of five and a few friends:  $33.40 plus tax.  

I can live with that! 

It is really funny, because people are always amazed at what I can put together on the cheap for my kids at the holidays.  Those same people raise their eyebrows at me when I leave Target with a buggy full of clearance Halloween candy!  That candy is AWESOME. Usually, there is plentiful candy left at Halloween clearance time... and it usually expires in 1-2 yrs from when you buy it.  I use it for everything from Garage Sale Freebies to hand out when I sell my resale and drugstore overstock items, to stocking and Easter Basket fillers.  It is great.

My handy tip for planning a holiday a year in advance? Start a small box. Clearly label it EASTER or whatever.  AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK FROM THE STORE, everything you bought for that holiday goes STRAIGHT INTO THE BOX! This is a must so you don't clutter stuff and so you can easily find it when the holiday rolls around.  If you cant find it and miss the chance to use it and even have to buy more to replace it when the items are full price, it was a waste of time, effort, and money no matter how cheaply you got it.  

**The same principle goes for my Ebaying.. I buy my stock a year ahead during post-event clearance.. like backpacks at the back to school clearance.... and clearly label the boxes I store them in until the next year when I can get more money for the items.

Happy Easter, or Whatever you celebrate!  And Remember, next year's holiday planning and shopping starts a week from today!

Sale Match Ups For This Week

Here is Your Handy, Easy to Reference 

Guide of Links to the Best Deals of the Week

Want to know where I go to help me make my POA for deal hunting this week?

 

I have collated my favorite links for this week's deals here:

1. Love Target as much as I do? Check out this week's under $1 deals HERE and a more comprehensive best deals and match ups HERE.  (thanks, Couponing to Disney and Totally Target)
2. Walmart has a few deals HERE for you to check out. (thanks, Couponing to Disney!)For
3. For the CVS Deals, go HERE.  Some of the circular deals are only good through Tuesday, so I say go today if you didn't go yesterday! There are some good deals and moneymakers this week! Also, don't forget to scan your CVS Membership card at the magic coupon kiosk.. you might make your deals even sweeter! (thank, Couponing to Disney)
4. This week, Wild for Wags has split their deals up.  Go HERE to check their ideas on the best deals and scenarios for Walgreens this week.(thanks, Wild for Wags!)
5. Love Rite Aid? I am beginning to...  Check out what Kristin at Couponing to Disney has found for Rite Aid this week! Go HERE.

Anyone looking for Kmart, Family Dollar, etc? Let me know. I will start adding them to the matchups super list.  Also, I am about to be able to bring you all the good Kroger deals, too.. Fingers Crossed! :) 

Turn +UP Rewards Into CASH!

I am Loving Rite Aid.

I Just Figured Out How to Turn My +UP Rewards Bucks Into CASH!

Before I posted this deal, I wanted to make sure it would work the way I was hoping it would be. And it did! I am so excited about the prospect of this scenario and the implications it holds for the future of my bank account....

Here's What Happened:

Last Saturday, I had $2.88 in +Up Rewards "bucks" for Rite Aid that were expiring. I had worked a deal a few weeks back where I paid less than $2 for $17 worth of items. Then, I received $2.88 BACK in +UP Rewards.  

As stated, this $2.88 was expiring. So, I took my bargain binder and the circular (and the rewards, of course) to Rite Aid.   I was SUPER ANNOYED, however, bc the items and deals I wanted to work were sold out. As I was walking around trying to think fast of a plan B to use my rewards dollars on, I spotted BLINK Tears drops. They were fully stocked. I grabbed my circular. Hadn't I seen where they were $7.99 on sale that day, with a full $7.99 rebate offer attached?? Yep. It was right there in the circular. Usually those "FREE AFTER REBATE" items are sold out. This one wasn't. Why was that? I think it was because the good folks at Rite Aid forgot to put the hang tag with the offer on the shelf.  AND, they were marked $10+ in price. Again, an oversight of the employees. They forgot the special ad price of the week on that item.

SO, WOO HOO! I could use my $2.88 in bucks to pay for the $7.99 drops, and then get a rebate on the purchase price of the drops going through Rite Aid's Rebate site.  

My question for the check out employee (also a manager) was this:  Would I get a rebate for the FULL $7.99, or would I just get the $7.99-$2.88 amount since I was using "bucks"?  He didn't know. I figured, heck, Free Drops either way and the +UP rewards were expiring that evening, so why not run an experiment for you.

So, I bought the drops, paid with $2.88 in +UP rewards, and submitted the rebate offer. Fast Forward to today. I just got notice that Rite Aid approved my rebate and is mailing me a check for $7.99!!! 

So, I essentially turned my $2.88 into depositable CASH for my bank account. NICE!!  

*Remember, I originally got the $2.88 by spending LESS out of pocket than the $2.88 I got back. This was a TRUE moneymaker!! 

Now you know.  I am really thrilled about the prospect of working rebates more often in the future and getting even more cash to deposit.  Need more info on this? Want to get signed up to start working your own Rebate deals? Go HERE. 

**This is the SECOND TIME where Rite Aid being sold out of the items I wanted originally turned into a moneymaking scenario for me.  The first time was when I went to work an Edy's deal. They were sold out of the icecream. I could have bought 6 of the quart and a half Edy's for $1 total. They gave me a raincheck. The week they stocked the ice cream back up, they had a different sale going on. I bought the 6 ice creams with my raincheck and THEN, it triggered the current week's deal to print +UP rewards out for me.  I ended up getting paid 30c or so to walk out with 6 Edys.  That was better than paying $1 for 6! Yeah. Digging my luck at Rite Aid.. even when it seems like crap luck, it turns out wonderfully. You just have to be patient sometimes.

My Under $2 Brag for the Week

How Far Did You Make $2 or Less Go This Week?

This is My Brag. I Will Update the List as the Week Goes On

Every penny counts in this economy. Which is why I am putting together my list of super cheap deals. I want to show you that you can make your dollar go further by being super frugal and aware of deals and coupons.  Some bloggers show you the under $1 deals. I think there are some really great $2 or less deals that you could be aware of and have decided to expand my weekly list to include my $2 or less deals.

CVS:

• Crest Complete Mouthwash- Got Paid $1.77 to own
• Glide Floss- Got Paid $1.77 to own
• Herbal Essences Full Sized Shampoo- 49c
• Aussie Full Sized Hair Gel- 49c
• 18oz Irish Spring Bodywash- 49c
• Dr Pepper 2L- 75c
• Snickers Dark Candy Bar- 8c
• Snickers Candy Bar- 8c
• Dove Candy Bar- 8c

RITE AID:

• Disney Gummie Vitamins ($7+ size)- $1.40
• Disney Gummie Vitamins- $1.40
• Snickers Candy Bar- FREE

 Walgreens:

• Always- FREE 
• Cottonelle Flushable Travel Sized Wipes- 25c
• Cottonelle Flushable Travel Sized Wipes- 25c

 Krispy Kreme:

• 1 Dozen Glazed Doughnuts- FREE 

Chick Fil A:

•  Large Unsweet Tea- Free
• 4 Chicken Biscuits- Free
• 4 Yogurt Parfaits- Free
• 4 Chicken Minis, 3 ct- Free

Mc Donald's:

• Oatmeal- Free
• Oatmeal- Free
• Hamburger- Free
• Apple Dippers- Free

Target: 

• Circo Jeans with Stitched Hearts- $2
• Circo Jeans with Stitched Hearts- $2
• Cascade Pacs, Dragon Fruit Scent- $1.99
• Glade Premium Room Spray- 50c
• Glade Premium Room Spray- 50c
•  1 Load Tide Detergent- was Paid 31c to Own
• Secret Clinical Travel Sized- was Paid 31c to Own
• Secret Clinical Travel Sized- was Paid 31c to Own
•  Loaf of Market Pantry Whole Wheat Bread- 61c
• Shredded Cheese- $1.30
• Shredded Cheese- $1.30 

*The bummer on Target was that I had a $5 off any women's jeans mobile coupon. They had plenty of $4.98 clearance maternity jeans. Those would have been free, or even paid 2c to own. I was tired, I had already gotten my milk jug, and when I tried to call my preg friend, my phone glitched. So, I passed on this deal. In hindsight, I should have just bought some and put them on Ebay... live and learn. As you have seen in my posts from time to time, there will always be a "duh" moment.  :) Oh well. My wins outweigh the duhs so I am cool with that.

The week is still ongoing. I will update this list as it goes on. I plan to get some more good Chick Fil A Freebies this week!  

My Weekly Drugstore Brag

I Had Drugstore "Bucks" That Were Expiring..

So, This Weekend, I Went to 3 Drugstores.

I highly recommend here to pick one drugstore each week and go work those deals. It is madness to go to a billion different stores a week to get the cheapest best deals. Ok, so it isn't madness. It is kinda smart. But with several children, it is often more trouble than it is worth to drag them in and out of so many stores every week. Especially since I have been couponing long enough to have a nice little mini "store" of my own to shop out of for free. Out of toothpaste? I just go to my bathroom closet. But, since being sick with the flu, an unprecedented event occurred.. all of my drugstore "bucks" were expiring in one day!! So, three drugstores it was.

1. Rite Aid:  Most of the deals I wanted to work, they were out of. That was a bummer. And, I was a little scattered. I totally turned into "that lady" at the check out.. "what??! I am 30c shy of getting the full value of my +Up rewards? Ok.. let me see what you have in the circular.."  If you have a +Up rewards buck for $2, but your pre tax amount is $1.70, and you use the +Up anyway, you lose the remaining 30c value. So, I found a 88c Snickers bar with a 88c back +Up reward to add onto the bill.  I spent $1.39 out of pocket and got $2.88 in +Up Rewards Bucks back.  I bought 2 Disney Gummie Vitamins, $7.29 each at BOGO, 1 Altoids at half off at 99c, and the 88c Snickers.  Even though the Disney Vitamins were BOGO, it is the store's policy to allow you to use a manuf coupon on each of them. So, I used $2.50 in coupons on the Disney Vitamins making them $4.80 for two after bogo and coupons. I used $6 worth of +Up bucks to pay also.   The Disney vitamins had a $2 +Up attached, and of course, the Snickers had the 88c back.  
2. CVS:  I had $4 EB expiring to spend.  I decided to work the Schick Hydro Razor deal where you get $5 EB when you buy one Schick Hydro razor.  The razor was $8.49. I used a $2 off manuf coupon. Then, I used the $4 EB.  My total was $3.08 after tax.  I spent $3.08, and got $5 EB back.  Also, the razor came with 10 Free MP3 Song Downloads. 
3. Walgreens:  This was not my best brag. The main reason is that I really needed to break my transactions but was too tired to deal with doing that. I spent more out of pocket than I needed to by $5.  Oh well. I have the "bucks" to use next time now.  

I bought at Walgreens:
Taco Shells   $1.99
Always:  $2.99 (-$1 manuf, and I got $2 back, so "Free")
Cottonelle Flushable Wipes: I bought 2 packs at 99c each. Then, I got $1.50 in "bucks" back. So, 25c a                                         pack after bucks back.
Play doh Valentines Set: On clearance for $1.25 for a huge bag of mini Play Doh tubs.
Pampers:  I bought a pack of Pull Ups and a pack of Diapers for the 2/$20 deal. Then, I used two $2 coupons which made them 2/$16. Then, I got $3 "bucks" back, which made them 2/$13, or $6.50 a pack. Not the best price I have gotten lately, but $8 a pack is reasonable on these, so I will take $6.50 a pack! 
My total was $25.18, and I have $6.50 to spend another time.  Usually, I would break the transactions up to spend the least amount of money out of pocket. I would have ended with having spent only $18.68. 


 This was my first trip to Walgreens to do a deal like that, and the lady at the check out was a trainee. Also, there was a line.  As a couponer, I try to pick and choose my battles. It is how I get special treatment sometimes from the employees at CVS.. you know.. the ones that give me the circulars a week ahead of time sometimes... 

Also, when I got home, I realized I could have gotten two free Snickers bars. I had a coupon with me that was a BOGO Snickers coupon. When I was at Rite Aid and got one 88c Snickers, and got 88c back, I could have gotten two Snickers, paid 88c for both using the BOGO coupon, then gotten the 88c back per the +Up deal.  See, it happens to all of us sometimes! :)  


How did you do last week?






 
 

The Best Deals and Coupon Match Ups for This Week

Looking for a Handy Link Guide to the Best Deals of the Week?

Don't Pore Over Those Circulars.. Here's a Handy Linked Guide to Those That Have Already Figured Out the Best Deals for You!

As I try to do most week, I have grabbed links to some of the best deals match ups for you for this week.  Looking at crowded circulars can be frustrating sometimes. Now, all you have to do is follow a link from here to some of my fave blogs and you will find some great deals scenarios.  Some are handy and printable even!  Happy Deal Hunting this week!

• For some good Target Deal Scenarios, go HERE to Totally Target's site.  
• A Walmart shopper? HERE is a list of the Under $1 deals as found by Kristin at Couponing to Disney.
• CVS is a fave of mine. I love the folks that work at my location.  I like to check out this list HERE before I go. Some are free, some are moneymakers! Thanks, Kristin!   Also, let us know if you get some good coupons at the kiosk scanner in store.
• Coupon Katarina has some good deals up HERE for Rite Aid. I have recently started doing Rite Aid deals. I have had mixed luck. The deals I find are really great. However, my location seems to be inadequately stocked on the deal items.
• Again, I really like how Kristin at Couponing to Disney lays out the deals. So, go HERE for a link to her list on the Walgreens deals.

Anyone need information on deals to a store not listed? I will try to hunt those down for you guys, too!

Let us know what deals you are working this week.

Weekly Deals Links

The Deals for the Week:

A Handy Blog Link Guide 

Most of the blogs have posted their best deals scenarios and guides for this week's sales, freebies, and under $1 items.  Here is a quick reference guide to link some of my favorites together in one spot.  Also, today ends February, with March starting tomorrow. This means you want to go around to the coupon sites online and print your favorites before they swap out with the new month. Also, check around for new coupons. Let us know what you find!  

My Coupon Printing Destinations:

www.target.com

www.coupons.com

www.redplum.com

• Target Deals Under $1 are HERE.   A more comprehensive list of Target Deals are featured on Totally Target's blog HERE. 
• CVS deals with printable shopping checklist are HERE.  I would like to point out that this blog had the CVS circular for this week posted 2 weeks ago! Yes, I am bragging a little. That was such an amazing thing to get handed.. Anyway. I would like to thank Kristin at Couponing to Disney for allowing me to post a link to my CVS circular on her FB wall. If you don't follow Kristin already, you need to! 
• HERE are some deal ideas for Rite Aid. 
• Looks like the MoneyMakers are at Walgreens this week! Go HERE to check them out. 

If I only go to two stores this week, you will find me at Target and Walgreens.  

ALSO! Remember, try really hard to use your "Rewards Bucks" from the various drugstores to work other "Rewards Bucks" deals to keep the savings rolling into each other.  If you can use bucks from previous weeks to work money makers deals, even if you don't need the items, this is a good idea.  IF it wont cost you anything out of pocket, you will "make money", have more product, AND trade in your expiring bucks to get "fresher" bucks back.  Don't need the items you make money to own? Give them, trade them, or sell them!

You will notice I didn't post grocery stores or Walmart.  Our grocery stores don't do all the crazy good deals that other stores like Publix/Kroger do.  So, you will have to take your bargain binder in with you if you find yourself in a grocery store this week. You can still get some really good deals, you just have to hunt around for them.

Also, as far as Walmart is concerned.. our local one is not so couponer friendly. Plus, their prices are usually way high to me. Unless you want to go to the hassle to ad match?? I sure don't. Seems like if you have the $3 off Gain Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets coupon, you might be able to get those for free at Walmart.  

Thanks again to Totally Target and Couponing to Disney for being so comprehensive in organizing the deals for the rest of us!!! :) 

 

Rite Aid: Free Edy's, Anyone?

My Trip to Rite Aid:

Free Edy's Ice Cream,

and $10.50 Out Of Pocket, with $6 +UP 

to Use Next Week!

Remember my recent post about how rain checks can be a really good thing? (Go HERE for a refresher, if you like.) This trip to Rite Aid was so awesome.  Cashing those rain checks I got for Edy's Ice Cream in really made the difference. More on the details of that later. 

First, here are the highlights of my trip:

• I spent $10.50 Out of Pocket 
• I received $6 in +UP rewards after my final transaction today. I can use them on the next trip to Rite Aid.
• I got 6 1.5 quarts of Edy's Ice Cream Free

How I did it:
I worked two separate transactions, doing my rain check transaction first. As a refresher, I had $7 worth of +UP rewards to cash in today from the Colgate deals I worked the other week.

Transaction 1:
6 Edy's Ice Cream,$2 +UP WYB 2,        99c ea*
1 Sucrets Wild Cherry Lozenges, $2+UP, 2.99

I used the $7 in +UP I came in with.
I used a Sucrets Manuf coupon for $1.50 (which made the Sucrets a 50c Moneymaker!)
My Subtotal was .43!!!, After tax it was $1.06.  AND, I got $8 in +UP BACK!


*I bought 6 1.5 qts of Edy's Ice Cream.  I had a rain check that made them "like paying 99 cents each after +UP Rewards."  To honor the rain check, the clerk overrode the price of each ice cream as she rang it, so that the price would reflect 99c ea.  THEN, today's circular states you get $2 +UP rewards WYB 2 Edy's.  So, I got $6 +UP rewards for buying this ice cream today.  I bought $6 in Edy's Ice Cream, I got $6 in +UP Rewards, per the current circular.

Transaction #2:

Huggies Jumbo Diapers, $2 +UP,  8.99
Huggies Jumbo Diapers, $2 + UP,  8.99
Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder 15 oz, $2 +UP,  2.99


I used:
$8+ UP I made in Transaction #1
$2 Manuf Huggies Coupon
$2 Manuf Huggies Coupon
$1 Manuf Johnson's Baby Item Coupon


My total was $9.44, I received $6 in +UP rewards to use next time!

All in all, I spent $10.40 out of pocket, got $6+Up  to use next time, and bought 6 1.5 quarts of Edy's Ice Cream, 2 Jumbo packs of Huggies, 1 Sucrets, and 1 Johnson's Baby Powder.  

A note:  The Sucrets was a moneymaker. The diapers came out to less than $5 a pack, the ice cream was free, and the baby powder was a 1 c moneymaker.  Be patient, do the math, and always stay pleasant. The bummer of not getting the ice cream on sale a couple weeks ago and having to wait ten minutes to get a rain check really turned into a sweet deal. Pun intended.

 
 

My Less Than $1.50 Brag for the Week

This Week, I Got Many Items Less Than $1.50 or FREE. Some Items I Even Got Paid to Own.

In lieu of a large item by item description of my weekly trip to Target, I decided to make this post about items I got for less than $1.50, Free, or even got Paid To Own.  Sometimes, it is hard to see why it is worth it to clip coupons or deal seek. It can be tedious at times.  But, items like the ones listed below are why I do this.  Last year, I saved my family more than $4000 working one deal at a time.

Here's what I did this week: 

In the mail so far, this week, I received FREE: Being Girl Tampax/Always sample pack, Secret Flawless Berry scented deodorant, a FREE Parents Magazine with a $10 off Any Baby Item Amazon.com coupon, and the week is still going on...

At Target, I got the following deals (after coupons, etc. Not going to break it down this week..)

•   Huggies Travel Wipes for the diaper bag, 47c
• Huggies Travel Wipes for the diaper bag, 72c
• Finish QUANTUM Dishwasher Tabs, 10ct (reg $5), FREE
• Shout Wipes(we use these all the time), 7c
• Tide 1 load Detergent, 12c
• Tide 1 load Detergent, 12c
• Planters Peanuts, 3oz, 24c
• Colgate, 6 oz, 44c
• Travel Size Herbal Essence Conditioner, Got Paid 3 c to own!
• Kraft Shredded Cheese, $1.29
• Kraft Shredded Cheese, $1.29
• Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, $1.50
• Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs, $1.50
• Kraft Deli Sliced Cheese, $1.30

Rite Aid was pretty wonderful this week. The prices below reflect the +Up Rewards added back into the original cost.

• Colgate Sensitive, got Paid 50 c to own!
• Colgate Toothpaste with FREE Toothbrush, got Paid $1 to own!
• Gain Apple Tango Dish Detergent, Reg. Size, got Paid 13 c to own!
• Gain Apple Tango Dish Detergent, Reg. Size, got Paid 13 c to own!
• Gain Original Dish Detergent, Reg. Size, got Paid 13 c to own!

CVS deals were pretty nice too. Again, the prices below reflect the Extra Bucks added back in as reimbursement.

•  Listerine Total Care Mouthwash, Full Size, FREE

• Colgate Toothpaste, FREE
• Colgate Toothpaste, FREE

I do this weekly deals brag just to show you that you can do this! The deals this week were pretty straightforward.  The Gain moneymakers were using a $1 off coupon.. I got paid to own these instantly since they were only 87c on sale, and the computer took the full $1 off coupon amount without beeping. 

It takes a little time and effort.. but not having to pay for toothpaste, dish soap, dishwasher detergent, etc?? Totally worth it!

2 Drug Stores, 45 Minutes, And Getting Paid to Own Things I Need

This Week, I Broke Tradition 

and Went to 2 Drug Stores: 

Rite Aid and CVS 

Usually, I go to one drug store a week.  Usually, that store is CVS. This week, I went to both CVS and Rite Aid.  I am trying to work some good Rite Aid deals so I can use Register Rewards to pay for a really amazing deal I have in the works.  That will come later.. but for now, here is a summary of my trips:

RITE AID: 

As per the cicular, Rite Aid has 87 c Gain Dish Soap this week, and they have select Colgate Toothpastes on sale. These toothpastes are on sale for $3.50 this week (down from the regular $4.99). ALSO, you get a $3.50 +Up Reward to use on a future transaction with each participating Colgate you buy, limit 2.

This is my transaction:

Gain Dish Soap    .87

Gain Dish Soap    .87

Gain Dish Soap    .87

Colgate Sensitive  3.50

Colgate w/ Bonus Free Tooth Brush  3.50

• Then, I used 3 Gain coupons, valued at $1 each.  (From the P&G brands rebate coupon book I submitted for a few months ago). The computer TOOK OFF THE WHOLE AMOUNT! It didn't beep to let the clerk know to value the coupon down to 87c.  Therefore, I got PAID 13c each dish soap to take it out of the store.

• I also had  a coupon for $1 off the Colagate, and 50c off the other Colgate.  Since I received $7 in +Up Rewards for buying these items, it is like I got PAID $1.50 to take these out the store.  

Summary:  I spent $5.11 out of pocket, after coupons and tax. I got $7 in Rewards to use like "cash" on my next trip to Rite Aid.  
*Ok, so WHY did I not ROLL the transactions? Why did I not buy one toothpaste, then turn around and use that $3.50 to pay for the next toothpaste? I could have done that. The thing is, you have to have $3.50 in the transaction to get the full$3.50 value.  AND, I wanted to use all my coupons. IF I had bought one toothpaste, and gotten a $3.50 UP Reward back, I could have used it to buy the other toothpaste. However, the dish soaps took off more than they were priced with the coupons. So, that would have left just the toothpaste on the transaction. The toothpaste was $3.50, but I used at least a 50 c coupon. Which made the transaction, had I done it that way, go below the $3.50 pre tax amount. I still could have used the +Up Reward, but I would have lost the extra value on it. They don't give cash back or another Reward when you use one for less than face value amount. I chose to use my coupons and get paid to own the toothpaste, rather than not use the coupons, use the +Up Reward and come out even.

CVS:

I needed some Pull Ups and Diapers. As per the circular, CVS has Huggies Pull Ups or Diapers, Jumbo packs, on sale for 2/$17.98, with $4 EB back.  (Target usually has these on sale every week for $8.99, so the CVS deal is a good one!)  I decided, IF I had to spend the $17.98 anyway, I might as well spend the same amount of money and come home with a lot more product/value by browsing the circular and working some of the other EB deals. Then, I would roll 4 transactions to get the best values for the least out of pocket cash. I went to the store at 8:20PM on a Tuesday, when it isn't busy and the cashiers are chatty. They don't mind doing 4 transactions back to back for you when it is slow! :)

1. In Transaction 1, I bought some clearance heart lollies for the girls for 50c. AND, I bought the Listerine Total Care Mouthwash from the circular. You Pay $3.99, You get $2 EB back. Also, I had a $2 off Listerine coupon (printed from Coupons.com a while back).  So, it was like I got the Listerine FREE!  Spent$2.79 OOP, after tax and coupons, got $2 EB.
2. Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste was Buy 1 at $3.79, get $3.79 in EB.  I used the $2 EB from Transaction 1.  Again, this was like FREE, or even getting paid to own as I spent $2.06 OOP, and got $3.79 EB back. 
3. Worked the Colgate Deal one more time, as the limit was 2.  I bought one at $3.79. I used the EB from the previous deal, $3.79 EB. My total was .27 c for tax.  I got $3.79 EB back. So, again, FREE toothpaste. 
4. The transaction I came to actually "do".  I bought one package of Jumbo Pull Ups, one package of Overnights diapers (both Huggies).  These were $8.99 each. Also, I had two $2 off coupons for these.  So, they were $6.99 each after coupon. THEN, I used the $3.79 EB from the last Colgate deal to pay for them.  My total came out to $11.45 for both "diapers", post tax and coupons, or  $5.72 each pack!  Pretty nice! AND, I got $4 in EB back!

Total Summary:  
I spent a total out of pocket amount of  $22.35 at both stores.  I have $11 worth of rewards to spend next week.  I saved $33.86 in in-store deals and coupons combined. It took me about 15 minutes to decide which deals to work at the drugstores and which coupons to pull out to work them.  IF you did not have any coupons and worked these deals you could have rolled the Rite Aid savings into each other. AND, once you work a deal or two like these "Rewards back" deals, you will always have some Rewards in your wallet to keep for the next week's deals. The goal is to always have some to work with so that your original money spent working the first deal keeps getting rolled forward into more savings and value with less out of pocket expense.  


**I want to note that I needed the Pull Ups and Diapers. To buy both at normal Target cost, sans coupons, it would have been about $18.   My CVS total was $16.57 for EVERYTHING! AND, I have $4 EB to use next week.

 

  

Grab Your Circulars! It is POA Time Again!

Yesterday was Sunday Paper Day

Today, it is Time for Your Weekly POA!

Everyone got a paper yesterday, right? You have all gone to print your coupons from your fave sites, right? These are mine: Target and Coupons.com.

Whether you got your paper full of coupons and circulars, or not, I am going to link the best deal scenarios of the week here for you in one easy to reference spot.  Let me know if I have missed a store or deal you might be interested in.

• Go HERE for some good CVS match ups.  Some are money makers, 7 are under $1. (Thanks, Couponing to Disney!)
• HERE is Rite Aid. There are a lot of money makers on the list! Also, if you got the P&G coupon book rebate, seems like you can score some really good freebies, like the Gain dishsoap. (Thanks, again, Couponing to Disney)
• Walgreens has some super cheap Skintimate shaving cream this week, for those of you that asked!  Go HERE for that deal and many more! (Thanks,Couponing to Disney)
• For a list of items you can get for under a $1, go HERE.  Walmart does not usually put out good deals in weekly circulars. Their sales seem to be so-so to me. Locally, they are a pain to deal with at check out time for someone with a lot of coupons. IF you have a Walmart that you have good experience with and welcomes couponers, let us know! (Thanks, Couponing to Disney)
• Totally Target has a comprehensive circular deals match up list HERE. (Thanks Totally Target!)  OR, if you like the check list and simple form that Kristin at Couponing to Disney implements, the Target less than $1 deals are HERE.

I usually pick one drug store a week to shop, and I usually go to Target.  With 3 kids in tow, I have to pace myself.  There are many more bloggers that run the deals and scenarios. You have to pick a couple blogs you like and use mine to supplement them. If you do too many stores, blogs, scenarios, you will get burned out pretty quickly.

Happy Shopping! Let us know what you find out there. 

"Out of Stock" When an Item is on Sale Can Be Good News

If a Store Offers Rain Checks on Sale Items, 

You Could be in Luck, Big Time, When Items are Out of Stock

I was lamenting the "out of stock" classification of the Edy's Ice Cream at all the local Rite Aid Stores. They were on sale BIG TIME this past week. After you worked the deal by buying 6 of the normally pricey ice cream, you would get enough "UP/Register Rewards" (like Extra Bucks, or "dollars" to spend at Rite Aid on just about anything you want to buy. Think of the RR, or UPs as mini gift cards) to make buying 6 Edy's cost a total of 99cents. OR, 16.5 cents EACH!  

So, as soon as the stores opened last Sunday, Rite Aids everywhere SOLD OUT of the ice cream. My own personal coupon diva says "Yeah. But you got your rain check for the sale/deal, right?"  Oh. Yeah. Rain check. DUH! How did I forget to ask for one of those? SO, I went back and got my rain check. This means that I can get the same pricing, sales, deals, and rewards if I can find the ice cream in stock at any Rite Aid within the next 30 days.  Great!  I made sure to tell them I needed 6 of the Edy's included in the rain check. 

Why is it a good thing to get an item rain checked?

1. You now have 30 days to find the ice cream.. and any possible coupons to make the deal even better. 
2. You now have 30 days to work other Rite Aid deals as cheaply as possible to get UP/Register Rewards to pay for the ice cream.  (The ice cream deal works where you pay about $18 out of pocket and get $17 back in UP/Register Rewards. The goal is to roll the rewards into each other so you can have the least amount of out of pocket expense as possible.  If you are buying the ice cream without any ice cream coupons or RR to pay for it with, it is still a good deal to buy. Especially if you need shampoo, milk, any other items that the drug store may sell. You would buy your ice cream first, then take the coupons for the other items you need to buy anyway and the RR you just got from the icecream, and you would use all that to pay for the items you needed. The idea here is that you could spend $18 out of pocket getting things you need like diapers, milk, whatever. OR, you could spend $18 out of pocket, roll your transactions into each other and get the diapers, milk whatever AND all that lovely ice cream! 
3. You might be able to roll even more transactions depending on the deals of the week when you do find the ice cream in stock.

If you have the time and patience, or even good luck, catching a mega deal/sale like this in rain check form can work out much better for you than those folks that got up super early last Sunday when the deal started and ran out to buy out all that ice cream.  All you have to do is look at the situation and scenarios critically and creatively and you can really really get some major bang for your buck.

Just make sure you keep up with that rain check!!

*The deal I am alluding to is an ice cream deal from last week. The lesson applies to any really great deal. Some deals the stores will not issue a Rain Check for. Just ask. The worst they will do is say "Nope, sorry." 
**The deal was Pay $2.99 for Edy's Ice Cream, get $2 back in rewards.  THEN, it was on a page that had a headline of "Get $5 rewards back when you spend $15 in the participating brands below".  SO, you buy 6 ice creams. You spend $18. You get $2 x 6 back because of the ice cream deal. So, $12 back right there. BUT you spent $18 in participating products (that is more than the $15 required), so you get another $5 back. Your total back after spending $18 is $17 for 6 ice creams!

It is Sunday Again!

The Most Important Day in the Couponer's Week:

SUNDAY PAPER DAY!

Today is the day to toss your circulars from last week and get your Sunday Paper.  All of your circulars for this week are out today! Clip and organize you coupons, check in on the deal match up blogs, and make your plan of action for shopping for the week.

Go HERE because Target just released a whole bunch of NEW printable coupons, and reset the printing limits on others. (remember to scroll down. The coupons link on the site is usually on the bottom, or towards the bottom on the left)

Go HERE for a match-up of the coupons with the weekly Target circular (thanks, Totally Target!).

Go HERE for the very best deals of the week for Target (thanks, Totally Target!). 

Go HERE for the best Walgreens deals of the week.. many are under $1, some are FREE! (Thanks, Couponing to Disney!) 

Go HERE for the best coupon match ups to CVS deals (thanks, Couponing to Disney!). *Did you guys catch that I had the CVS circular up days before any of the other blogs? **SPECIAL THANKS to Couponing to Disney and Totally Target who allowed me to share the link with everyone. Not all bloggers were as generous!

Go HERE for the match ups for Rite Aid.. Under $1 deals and Freebies! (thanks, Couponing to Disney!) 

Any stores you are interested in that I have not included here? I want to make this blog about you guys, so let me know!

Now, go forth and get your Sunday Papers and plan your deal snagging!