Sunday, January 30, 2011

Rite Aid Deals 1/30 - 2/5

Holy cow, this is a HUGE week at Rite Aid. Which is a relief, after last week's snoozer (I didn't even bother going last week). As always, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Be sure to check the flyer for stuff I missed, stuff that's on sale without a coupon, etc.

You may have noticed that I'm not bothering creating scenarios for the "big" +UP Rewards programs - the Buy $100 of selected items, get $20, or the buy $30 get $10, etc. That's because a) I don't have enough accurate prices to work out scenarios, b) it gets really complicated, and c) in a lot of cases I don't think it's worth it to try to buy things just to get the reward. If they are things you need, then by all means go for it! Unless it states otherwise, all of the qualifying totals are before manufacturer coupons; however they may be after store coupons (ie Video Values). Check your receipt - it will tell you what your total towards the reward is.

On to the matchups for this week - Free toothpaste, Stayfree pads, Afrin, and a cold medicine moneymaker!

Covergirl Buy One Get One 50% off, Get a $1 UP Reward
Use $1/1 Covergirl coupon from the 1/30 P&G insert (if you got one – I did not!)

 $5.99 Coricidin HBP cold medicine
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Coricidin mfr coupon printable
-$2.00 AND use $2/1 Coricidin Video Values store coupon
 $1.99 Out of pocket
-$4.00 UP Reward
$2.01 MONEYMAKER

 $5.99 Afrin nasal spray
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Afrin Video Values store coupon
 $3.99 Out of pocket
-$4.00 UP Reward
FREE Net price

 $2.99 Colgate toothpaste 4.0 oz
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Colgate toothpaste coupon from the 1/30 SmartSource OR the 1/16 SmartSource
 $1.99 Out of pocket
-$2.00 UP Reward
FREE Net price

 $9.99 Breathe Right strips 26-30ct
-$2.50 Use $2.50/1 Breathe Right from the 1/30 RedPlum
-$2.00 Use $2.00/1 Breathe Right Video Values store coupon from January (no longer available to watch)
 $5.49 Out of pocket
-$2.00 UP Reward
 $3.49 Net price

 $5.99 Children’s Advil
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Advil printable
 $3.99 Out of pocket
-$1.00 UP Reward
 $2.99 Net price

Buy $25 worth of Advil, Thermacare, Robitussin, or Dimetapp, get $5 Up Rewards
Be sure to check which sizes qualify on the Advil. 
Use any combination of the following:
  $2/1 Advil Congestion Relief from the 1/30 RedPlum
  $1/1 Advil from the 1/30 RedPlum
  $1/1 Advil PM from the 1/30 RedPlum
  $2/1 Advil (any) printable http://www.medicinecabinetsafety.com/
  $1/1 Thermacare from the 1/30 RedPlum
  $3/1 Thermacare printable http://www.thermacare.com/
  $1/1 Robitussin from the 1/30 RedPlum
  $1/1 Robitussin from the 1/2 RedPlum
  $1/1 Children’s Dimetapp from the 1/2 RedPlum
(Remember the $25 is calculated before coupons!)

Stayfree Pads – Buy One Get One Free
Use BOGO Stayfree coupon from the 1/9 SmartSource (Note - max value is $6.00)
2 FREE
(Even if you don’t use these yourself, they are great to donate to a shelter or food pantry)

 $8.99 Huggies jumbo pack diapers, PullUps, or GoodNites
-$1.50-2.00 Use any of these from the 1/23 SmartSource
           $2/1 Little Snugglers or Little Movers
           $2/1 PullUps
           $1.50/1 Any Huggies diapers
          OR $1.50/1 Snug & Dry diapers printable
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Huggies Video Values store coupon from January (no longer available to watch)
$4.99-5.49 Out of pocket

Dixie paper products, Buy One Get One Free
 $3.99  2 Dixie Ultra paper plates
-$3.00  Use $3/2 Dixie Ultra paper plates Video Values store coupon
 $0.99  Net price for 2

 $1.00  Lays Stacks potato chips
-$1.00  UP Reward
FREE  Net price
And finally, to reward yourself for all your hard work:
 $2.99 Edy’s 1.5 quart ice cream 
-$2.00 UP Reward
 $0.99 Net price

CVS Deals 1/30 - 2/5

CVS is much better this week, although some of their deals overlap with the other drug stores. No freebies, but some good deals to be had. Note that they have a lot of stuff on sale for Buy One Get One 50% off. I didn't include those in my matchups because I don't have starting prices. If I get some I will post them in an update, but just keep your eyes open as you peruse the flyer!

Once again these are in the same order as the flyer. Let me know if I've missed anything! Most of these deals use coupons from this week's paper or Internet printables, so even if this is your first time couponing you should be able to jump right in.

 $6.00 Olay body wash
 $6.00 Olay Complete moisturizer
 $3.00 Secret deodorant
-$6.00 Use Buy one Olay body wash, get one Olay Complete moisturizer free coupon from the 1/30 P&G insert
-$3.00 Use buy one Olay body wash, get one Secret deodorant free coupon from the 1/30 P&G insert
 $6.00 Out of pocket
-$2.00 ExtraCare Bucks
 $4.00 Net price for all 3
(I am assuming you can use both BOGO coupons from buying just 1 body wash. I will try it and if that's not the case, I will let you know!)

 $7.99 Revlon Custom Eyes shadow or mascara
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Revlon eye cosmetics coupon from the 1/16 SmartSource
 $5.99 Out of pocket
-$2.00 ExtraCare Bucks
 $3.99 Net price

 $3.49 Vaseline moisturizer
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Vaseline lotion coupon from the 1/30 RedPlum
 $2.49 Net Price

 $3.99 Gillette body wash
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Gillette body wash coupon from the 1/30 P&G insert
 $1.99 Net price

Spend $15 on select Dove products, get $5 ExtraCare Bucks
Use any of these coupons from the 1/30 RedPlum:
 $2/1 Dove deodorant or body mist
 $1/1 Degree deodorant or body mist
 $1/1 Dove body wash
 $1.25/1 Dove beauty bar 6pk
 $1/1 Dove Hair Care
 $1/1 Dove Men+ body wash OR Active Clean shower tool
Or these printables:
 $1.50/2 Dove deodorant or body mist
 $1.50/2 Dove hair care products
 $1/1 Lever 2000 bar soap
Sample Scenario:
 $3.50 Dove deodorant
 $6.00 2 Dove hair care
 $7.00 Dove beauty bar 6pk
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Dove deodorant coupon
-$1.50 Use $1.50/2 Dove hair care printable
-$1.25 Use $1.25/1 Dove beauty bar coupon
$11.75 Out of pocket
-$5.00 ExtraCare Bucks
 $6.75 Net price for deodorant, 2 hair care, and 6 bars of soap

 $8.99 Complete multipurpose contact solution
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Complete solution coupon from the 1/2 SmartSource
 $7.99 Out of pocket
-$3.00 ExtraCare Bucks
 $4.99 Net Price

 $9.99 Breathe Right 26-30 ct
-$2.50 Use $2.50/ coupon from the 1/30 RedPlum
 $7.49 Net price
(Note that if you are going to Rite Aid this week, there is a Video Values coupon and a UPR you can use to get these for only $3.49 net)

 $4.99 Vick’s Nyquil or Dayquil
-$1.50 Use $1.50/1 Nyquil or Dayquil coupon from the 1/30 P&G insert
 $3.49 Out of pocket
-$1.00 ExtraCare Bucks
 $2.49 Net price

 $1.99 Dove Visible Care body wash
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Dove Visible Care coupon from the 1/30 RedPlum
 $0.99 Net price

Walgreens Deals 1/30 - 2/5

Wicked hot at Walgreens this week! A lot of really good deals, including a couple of moneymakers and a couple of freebies. I have put these in the order they are in the flyer, to make it easier for you to follow along.

There are new monthly store coupons at Walgreens for February. Look for the pamphlets in store, or you can print them from their website. I’ve included links, but if you can find a pamphlet then you can save printer ink.

 $5.00 Scott Naturals paper towels, 6 rolls
          Cottonelle bath tissue, 12 rolls
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Scott paper towels (4+ rolls) from the 1/16 SmartSource
 Or $1/1 Cottonelle bath tissue (2 4pks or 1 12-pk) from the 1/23 SmartSource
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Scott towels or Cottonelle bath tissue monthly store coupon or printable  (Says “Kimberly Clark” at the top)
 $3.00 Out of pocket ($0.50/ea for paper towels, $0.25/ea for bath tissue)

 $6.99 Wisk laundry detergent
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Wisk coupon from the 1/2 SmartSource
 $4.99 Out of pocket
-$1.00 Register Rewards
 $3.99 Net price

Dove or Degree Clinical deodorant; Dove body wash 18-24oz; Caress, Dove, or Lever 2000 6-8pk bar soap; Dove lotion; Pond’s towelettes; Pond’s skin cream – 3 for $18, get a $6 Register Reward
Use any of these coupons from the 1/30 RedPlum (Unilever edition)
 $1/1 Degree deodorant or body mist
 $2/1 Dove deodorant or body mist
 $2/1 Degree Clinical deodorant
 $1/1 Dove body wash
 $1/2 Lever 2000 6pk bar soap
 $1.25/1 Dove beauty bar 6pk
Or $1/1 Lever 2000 bar soap 4+pk printable
Depending on what coupons you use, get $2.00–5.25 off with coupons, plus a $6 RR, so pay $6.75-10.00 for 3 products.

Dove Hair Care; Dove or Degree deodorant or body mist; Dove body wash 12-13.5oz; Dove Active Clean shower tool – 4 for $15, get a $5 Register Reward
Use any of these coupons from the 1/30 RedPlum (Unilever edition)
 $1/1 Dove Hair Care
 $1/1 Degree deodorant or body mist
 $2/1 Dove deodorant or body mist
 $1/1 Dove body wash
 $1/1 Dove Men+ body wash OR Active Clean shower tool
Or these printables:
 $1.50/2 Dove deodorant or body mist
 $1.50/2 Dove hair care products
Depending on what combination of coupons you use, get $3-5 off with coupons, plus a $5 RR, so pay $5.00-7.00 for 4 products.

$12.00 Buy 2 Clairol Natural Instincts hair color
-$2.00-4.00 Use up to 2 $2/1 Natural Instincts coupons from the 1/30 P&G insert
$8.00-10.00 Out of pocket for 2
-$2.00 Register Rewards
$6.00-8.00 Net Price for 2

 $7.99 Olay Total Effects body wash
 $6.00 Olay Complete moisturizer
 $3.00 Secret original deodorant
-$6.00 Use buy one Olay body wash, get Olay Complete moisturizer free coupon from the 1/30 P&G insert
-$3.00 Use buy one Olay body wash, get Secret deodorant free coupon from the 1/30 P&G insert
 $7.99 Out of pocket
-$2.00 Register Rewards
 $5.99 Net price for all 3
(I am assuming you will be able to use both coupons with 1 body wash. I will try this deal and let you know if that changes!)
(Also note that this deal is better at CVS this week - Net price $4.00 for all 3 products.)

Buy 2 Advil ($4.99) or Thermacare ($5.99) products, get a $5 Register Reward
Use any of these coupons from the 1/30 RedPlum:
 $2/1 Advil Congestion Relief
 $1/1 Advil 40-ct
 $1/1 Advil PM 16-ct
 $1/1 Thermacare
And/or $2/1 any Advil product printable
And/or $3/1 Thermacare printable  (click on “Special Offers,” requires short survey)
Scenario:
 $4.99 Advil
 $5.99 Thermacare
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Advil printable coupon
-$3.00 Use $3/1 Thermacare printable coupon
 $5.98 Out of pocket
-$5.00 Register Rewards
 $0.98 Net price for both

 $3.99 Icy Hot No-Mess Vapor Gel
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Icy Hot coupon from the 1/30 SmartSource
 $2.99 Out of pocket
-$3.00 Register Reward
FREE Net price

 $3.00 Natrol Melatonin
-$3.00 Register Reward
FREE Net price

 $7.99 Blink eye drops or gel tears
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Blink coupon from the 1/2 SmartSource
 $6.99 Out of pocket
-$7.99 Register Reward
$1.00 Moneymaker!

 $5.99 Arnicare pain relief gel
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Arnicare printable
 $3.99 Out of pocket
-$5.99 Register Reward
$2.00 Moneymaker!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Big Y matchups for 1/27 - 2/2

I am getting these matchups up before we go out to dinner! Some good stuff going on at Big Y this week. First, there are 3 Dollar Doubler coupons in the circulars mailed to your house or in your paper. They do not appear in the ones at the store, so make sure you clip them out and bring them with you! They will allow you to double up to 3 manufacturer’s $1 coupons, essentially taking up to $3 extra off your order. The only caveat you have to worry about is that lately Big Y has gotten pretty strict about “Do Not Double” coupons. Check the fine print on your coupons – if it says “Do Not Double,” you can’t use it with the Dollar Doubler.

There are some good sales going on. Not quite Buy One Get 2 Free, but there’s a lot of BOGO on meat, especially chicken. This would be a good week to stock up and freeze.

I forgot to post it last week, but you can find Big Y’s coupon policy here.  Now according to their coupon policy, when stuff is on sale BOGO or B1G2, technically they’re not supposed to take coupons for the free items. This is different from almost every other store. In practice, however, I’ve rarely ever had any trouble using 2 coupons on a BOGO sale. So go ahead and try it, but just be aware that if your cashier rejects the extra coupon, you won’t be able to fall back on their written policy.

Green Giant frozen vegetables 12 for $12
Buy 3 and use $0.60/3 coupon from the 1/2 GM insert
You pay $1.80 for 3 after coupon doubles

Progresso Vegetable Classics soup 12 for $12
Buy 4 and use $1/4 coupon from the 1/16 SmartSource or the 1/2 GM insert
You pay $3 for 4  ($2 for 4 if you use with a Dollar Doubler)

Dannon Yogurt, 20 for $10
Buy 10 Light and Fit yogurts and use $1/10 coupon from the 1/30 SmartSource
You pay $4 for 10 ($3 for 10 with a Dollar Doubler)

Ken’s Salad Dressing 8oz 12 for $12
Buy 2 and use the $1/2 coupon from the 1/9 SmartSource (be sure to check this – one was for the 8oz and one was for the 16oz)
You pay $1 for 2 (FREE with a Dollar Doubler)

Buy 3 Kellogg’s Special K cereal or granola, get a free gallon of milk
Use $1/3 Special K coupon from the 1/2 RedPlum with a Dollar Doubler
OR BOGO Special K printable  (requires login and a survey, but you can print 2 coupons)
Your price varies

Reynold’s Wrap Aluminum Foil, 3 for $10
Use $1/1 coupon from the 1/30 SmartSource
Use $0.75/1 Heavy Duty foil printable
Use $0.75/1 Non-Stick foil printable
You pay $2.33 for regular foil ($1.33 with Dollar Doubler)
Or $1.83 for Heavy Duty or Non-Stick after coupon doubles

Olivia’s Organics bagged salad, 2 for $6
Use $1/1 printable
You pay $2 each ($1 each with a Dollar Doubler)

(Note: The following sale prices run through 2/9)

Sargento Shredded Cheese BOGO
Buy 2 and use $1/2 coupon from the 1/30 SmartSource
Not sure of the price (can use with a Dollar Doubler)

Dragone Ricotta 32oz, 2 for $6
Use $0.55/1 printable
You pay $1.90 after coupon doubles

Kraft American cheese Singles, 2 for $5
Use $1/1 Kraft 2% printable
You pay $1.50 each ($0.50 with a Dollar Doubler)

Nabisco Wheat Thins, Triscuits, or Toasted Chips, 2 for $5
Buy 2 and use $1/2 Nabisco crackers coupon in the 1/30 SmartSource
You pay $4 for 2 (states “Do Not Double”)

I'm sure I missed some! As always, check the flyer for sale prices that are good even without a coupon. I'm thinking the $1 eggs, Coke, and OJ are great deals!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Coupon preview - great deals on Saturday only

Have I told you guys about SundayCouponPreview.com yet? I like checking there so I know in advance whether I should plan on getting a second paper. And occasionally, you see coupons for next week that would be PERFECT for a matchup this week! What to do?

If you have a local paper that includes coupons on Saturday, and you can make it out shopping on Saturday, you are in luck. Here in central CT, you can get the Manchester Journal Inquirer or the “weekend” edition of the Hartford Courant. You might want to double check that they include all the inserts, or at least the ones you’re really interested in. This week, you are looking for TWO Red Plums. (There should be a SmartSource too, but it hasn’t been posted yet.) One will have some coupons that you can use on Saturday only to get this week’s sale prices with next week’s coupons.

WALGREENS

Suave deodorant, Suave bodywash, or Lever 2000 2-pk bar soap, 6 for $10 and get a $3 Register Rewards
Use any of these coupons from the 1/30 RedPlum:
 $0.50/1 Lever 2-pk bar soap
 $0.75/1 Suave deodorant
 $0.25/1 Suave bodywash
That’s up to $1.50 off if you have 1 set of coupons. You pay $8.50 and get back $3 in RR, or $5.50 for 6 products.

Suave lotion, Suave shampoo or conditioner, Vaseline Intensive Care lotion, Dove 2-pk soap, Caress 2-pk soap, Caress body wash, 4 for $12 and get a $4 Register Rewards
Use any of these coupons from the 1/30 RedPlum:
 $1.00/1 Suave body lotion
 $0.50/1 Suave men’s shampoo or conditioner
 $1.00/2 Suave professionals shampoo or conditioner
 $1.00/1 Vaseline lotion
 $0.75/1 Caress body wash
Depending on which products you need, that could be up to $3.25 off from 1 set of coupons. You pay $8.75 and get back $4 in RR, or $4.75 for 4 products.

CVS

Remember how I raved about the sale prices on L’Oreal? A couple of next week’s coupons would make them even better. There will be a $1/1 Any L’Oreal lip product, and a $3/1 Any L’Oreal face cosmetic. If you haven’t gotten your Extra Bucks on this offer already, this could make for a very sweet deal.
Scenario:
 $7.00 L’Oreal True Match foundation
$10.00 2 lip products – Infallible lip gloss or Colour Riche lipstick @ $5 each
-$3.00 Use $3/1 L’Oreal face cosmetic from the 1/30 RedPlum
-$1.00 Use $1/1 L’Oreal lip product from the 1/30 RedPlum
-$1.00 Use $1/1 any L’Oreal product printable www.lorealparisusa.com
$12.00 Out of pocket
-$5.00 ExtraCare Bucks
 $7.00 Net price for 3 products

 $1.99 Dove Visible Care body wash 10oz
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Dove body wash coupon from the 1/30 RedPlum
 $0.99 Out of pocket

Now I should warn you, coupon values are regional. These might not be the exact values on the coupons you get – a lot of times a $0.50/1 turns into a $1.00/2, for example.

I realize that this borders ever so slightly on the Crazy. Only do this if you need these products and were going out on Saturday anyway!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

CVS and Walgreens Updates

Yay! I got my errands done before the snow hit! Not only did I go grocery shopping (good thing, since we would have been eating popcorn and applesauce tonight), but I ran into CVS and Walgreens too.

WALGREENS

The big news is there is a Walgreens moneymaker on Almay Pure Blends eyeshadow! This is an unadvertised Register Rewards offer for $7.00 when you buy 2 selected Almay products, combined with a timely clearance sale. I first heard about it from CommonSenseWithMoney, and I was able to confirm it today. Here's how it works:
 $7.98       Buy 2 Almay Pure Blends eyeshadows @3.99 on clearance
-$2.00     Use up to 2 $2/1 Almay cosmetics coupons from the 1/23 SmartSource
 $5.98     Out of pocket
-$7.00     Register Rewards
 $1.02    Moneymaker!
If you are lucky enough to have 2 of the Almay coupons, you can use both and turn this into a $3 moneymaker. There were only a few shades left when I was there, so hurry!

CVS

I was able to check prices on a couple of those "Buy $X Get $Y in Extra Bucks" offers.

Clean & Clear Buy $15 get $5 ECB
  Use $2/1 Clean & Clear coupon from the 1/9 SmartSource
  Use $2/1 Clean & Clear printable
  Use $1/1 Clean & Clear printable
Prices for most products were between $5.99 and about $7.99. So plan on buying 2 or 3 products to reach $15. With coupons and ECBs, you would be looking at $9-$11 off.
I also forgot about these coupons:
  $5/1 Morning Burst Surge Power Cleanser printable
  Buy one Power Cleanser, Get one refill pack of Cleansing Pads from the 1/9 SmartSource or printable
The Power Cleanser is $17.79 and qualifies for the ECB. So you could do this:
$17.79  Morning Burst Surge Power Cleanser
 $7.29   28-ct refill Cleansing Pads
-$5.00  Use $5/1 power cleanser coupon
-$7.29  Use B1G1 refill pads coupon
$12.79 Out of pocket
-$5.00  ExtraCare Bucks
 $7.79  Net price for both

Loreal Cosmetics Buy $15 get $5 ECB  Use $2/1 Loreal Eye coupon from the 1/23 RedPlum
  Use $2/1 Loreal Face cosmetic coupon from the 1/2 RedPlum
  Use $5/2 Loreal Face cosmetic coupon from the 1/2 RedPlum
  Use $1/1 Any Loreal product printable (Click on "Special Offers" in the bottom left)
I hadn't realized how good the sale prices in the ad were! Both the Infallible lip gloss and the Colour Riche lipstick that are on sale for $5.00 are normally $9.99-10.99. And the True Match makeup runs from $10.99-15.79, on sale for $7.00. So if you were thinking of trying any of these products, now would be the time!

Finally, I have to apologize - the link I posted for the Xtra detergent coupon is not working. It looks like this offer expired. Sorry, guys! Sometimes if I've already printed a coupon, there's no way for me to check if it's still valid for new users. If you find any others that no longer work, please let me know!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Rite Aid deals 1/23-1/29

Sorry these are so late! Not only am I late in getting these up, but with the snow coming I'm not even sure when I'll be able to make it out to actually check the stores. If you see any mistakes, or deals I missed, please let me know.


There are 3 new $1 off your Rite Aid purchase Video Values coupons this month! They’re called “Winter Rewards, ” “Wellness+,” and “Rx Services.” Remember, that’s just the names of the videos you watch – the coupons are good off any non-prescription purchase. In addition, you can get a coupon for $4 off your purchase of $20 or more when you watch 16 beauty videos. These videos don’t come with coupons (boo) and you can tell which ones they are because they say “1 Credit” instead of “$1”. I usually just run the videos on my laptop while I’m watching TV. All the other Video Values coupons have reset, so take a look at the list  and start watching!

While there are some deals at Rite Aid this week, a lot of them overlap ones at CVS and Walgreens – and the ones at the other places are better. Here are some of the best coupon matchups - be sure to check the Rite Aid circular for other sales on stuff you might need.


$17.98 Buy 2 Loreal Excellence haircolor
-$5.00 Use $5/2 coupon from the 1/23 RedPlum
-$4.00 Use $4/2 store coupon from the RiteAid circular
 $8.98 You pay for 2
-$5.00 Up Reward
 $3.98 Net price for 2

Buy $15 of selected L’Oreal products, get $5 Up Rewards (see ad for products)
Use any combination of coupons from the 1/23 RedPlum insert:
 $1/1 Skincare
 $2/1 Eye Cosmetic
 $2/1 EverPure/Strong/Sleek shampoo or conditioner
 $2/1 EverPure/Strong/Sleek treatment
And/or $1/1 Any L’Oreal Paris product (click on “Special offers” in the bottom left)
Combine with $2/1 EverPure shampoo or conditioner Video Values
Net price: Varies
Example scenario:
 $5.99 EverPure shampoo
 $5.99 EverPure treatment
 $2.00 Single eye shadow (if you can find – not sure on prices?)
 $2.00 Single eye shadow
-$1.00 Buy one eye makeup, get one 50% off sale
-$2.00 Use $2/1 eye cosmetic coupon
-$2.00 Use $2/1 shampoo coupon
-$2.00 Use $2/1 treatment coupon
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Video Values shampoo coupon
 $6.98 You pay
-$5.00 Up Rewards
 $1.98 Net price for shampoo, treatment, and 2 eyeshadows

 $1.99 GE Extra Soft White light bulbs 4-pk
-$1.99 Up Rewards
FREE Net price

 $7.99 Aquify or Clear Care multi-purpose contact solution 
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Clear Care or Aquify coupon from the 1/9 SmartSource
 $5.99 You pay
-$2.00 Up Rewards
 $3.99 Net price

Cetaphil products: $1 off with your Wellness card AND get $2 Up Reward
Use $2/1 printable coupon 
Net Price varies, but $5 off


Schick disposable razors Buy One, Get One 50% off (if you missed the BOGO sale last week!)

$21.98 Buy 2 Schick Quattro razors at $10.99
-$4.00-6.00 Use 2 $3/1 Schick Quattro Trim Style printable coupons 
  And/or $2/1 Schick Quattro for Women from the 1/16 SmartSource
-$5.49 Get one 50% off
$10.49-12.49 You pay for 2

Buy $10 of Orajel adult or baby products, get $3 Up Rewards
 Use $1/1 Baby Orajel teething product printable
 And/or $1/1 Baby Orajel Tooth & Gum cleanser 
 And/or $1/1 Baby Orajel Toddler Training toothpaste
Your price varies – at least $4 off $10 if you use one coupon

Anything else you guys see this week? Once I make it there I will try to get some more prices on Orajel, Cetaphil, and L'Oreal.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

CVS Deals 1/23-1/29

Here are my best deals from CVS this week. Still kind of slow this week, but some decent Extra Bucks offers. I will have to check prices on some of the "Buy $X Get $Y in ECB" offers, but it looks like you may be able to make some good coupon matchups. In the meantime, here's some to get you started:

 $3.99 Crest Pro-Health rinse, 16.9oz 
-$3.99 ExtraCare Bucks (limit 1)
FREE Net price

  $1.49 Xtra laundry detergent (limit 4)
-$1.00 Use $1/1 Xtra laundry detergent printable
  $0.49 Out of pocket

 $9.99 Clairol Perfect 10 haircolor 
-$3.00 Use $3/1 Perfect 10 coupon from the 1/23 SmartSource insert
 $6.99 Out of pocket
-$2.00 ExtraCare Bucks (limit 1)
 $4.99 Net Price

$8.99 Huggies Jumbo packs – diapers, Pull-Ups, or Goodnites
-$1.50-2.00 Use any of these coupons from the 1/23 SmartSource:
   $1.50/1 Huggies diapers
   $1.50/1 GoodNites
   $2.00/1 Little Snugglers or Little Movers
   $2.00/1 PullUps
 OR use any of these printables:
   $1.50/1 Huggies Snug & Dry
   $2.00/1 PullUps 
$6.99-7.49 Out of pocket
-$1.00 ExtraCare Bucks
$5.99-6.49 Net Price
(Limit 1. This deal is slightly better at Walgreens this week.)

 $5.49 Buy 1 Visine with Hydroblend moisturizer
 $5.49 Buy 1 Visine Soothing Wipes
-$2.00 Use $2/1 Visine with Hydroblend coupon from the 1/9 SmartSource insert OR $2/1 Visine with Hydroblend printable
-$5.49 Use Buy 1 Visine with Hydroblend, Get Visine Soothing Wipes Free printable
 $3.49 Out of pocket
-$1.00 ExtraCare Bucks (limit 1)
 $2.49 Net price for both

I will be back with some prices and scenarios later this week on all of these Extra Bucks deals:

Almay Cosmetics Buy $10 get $4 ECB
Use $2/1 Almay coupon from the 1/23 SmartSource insert

Revlon Cosmetics Buy $10 get $4 ECB
Use $2/1 Revlon Face coupon from the 1/16 SmartSource
Use $2/1 Revlon Eye coupon from the 1/16 SmartSource
Use $1/1 Revlon Lip or Nail coupon from the 1/16 SmartSource

Loreal Cosmetics Buy $15 get $5 ECB
Use $2/1 Loreal Eye coupon from the 1/23 RedPlum
Use $2/1 Loreal Face cosmetic coupon from the 1/2 RedPlum
Use $5/2 Loreal Face cosmetic coupon from the 1/2 RedPlum
Use $1/1 Any Loreal product printable (Click on "Special Offers" in the bottom left)

Clean & Clear Buy $15 get $5 ECB
Use $2/1 Clean & Clear coupon from the 1/9 SmartSource
Use $2/1 Clean & Clear printable
Use $1/1 Clean & Clear printable

Eucerin Buy $20 get $10 ECB
Use $1/1 Eucerin coupon from the 1/23 RedPlum
Use $2/1 Eucerin Redness Relief printable

Walgreens 1/23-1/29

No freebies this week, but some decent deals. Remember these are only what I consider the best matchups - read the flyer to see if there are any sales on stuff you need.
Be sure to check out the Walgreens Basics page above.


Buy $15 of participating L’oreal products, get $5 Register Rewards
(See ad for products)
Use any combination of coupons from the 1/23 RedPlum insert:
 $1/1 Skincare
 $2/1 Eye Cosmetic
 $2/1 EverPure/Strong/Sleek shampoo or conditioner
 $2/1 EverPure/Strong/Sleek treatment
And/or $1/1 Any L’Oreal Paris product  (click on “Special offers” in the bottom left)
Net price: Varies
Note that the qualifying $15 is before coupons. Example scenario:
  $6.00 EverPure shampoo
  $9.99 Double Extend Mascara
$15.99 Before coupons
 -$2.00 EverPure shampoo coupon
 -$2.00 Eye Cosmetic coupon
$11.99 Out of pocket
 -$5.00 Register Reward
  $6.99 Net price for both

 $7.00 2 Pantene Hair Care
-$3.00 Use $3/2 Pantene coupon from the 12/26 P&G insert
 $4.00 Out of pocket for 2
-$2.00 Register Rewards
 $2.00 Net price for 2
(There is a $1/2 Pantene coupon in the 1/23 SmartSource insert as well. This would bring your net price to $4 for 2 products, which in my opinion is too high. But if you really love Pantene and don’t have the $3/2 coupon, you could do this.)

 $5.99 Clairol nice’n’easy haircolor
-$2.00 Use $2/1 nice’n’easy coupon from the 1/23 SmartSource insert
 $3.99 Out of pocket
-$1.00 Register Rewards
 $2.99 Net price

 $5.99 PediaCare Cold Relief
 $4.99 Out of pocket
-$4.00 Register Rewards
 $0.99 Net price

 $8.99 Huggies Jumbo packs – diapers, Pull-Ups, or Goodnites
-$1.50-2.00 Use any of these coupons from the 1/23 SmartSource:
   $1.50/1 Huggies diapers
   $1.50/1 GoodNites
   $2.00/1 Little Snugglers or Little Movers
   $2.00/1 PullUps
 OR use any of these printables:
$6.99-7.49 Out of pocket
-$2.00 Register Rewards
$4.99-5.49 Net Price
(Remember Register Rewards are not tracked, so you can do this deal as many times as you have coupons, as long as you do them in separate transactions and you don’t use the RR you earned in one transaction to pay for the next. See the Walgreens Basics page.)

 $4.99 Gold Bond body wash 12.5oz
 $3.99 Out of pocket
-$3.00 Register Rewards
 $0.99 Net price

Still ongoing: Jergens, Curel, and Biore – Buy any 2 participating products, get a $5 RR. 
Scenario #1:
 $8.58 Buy 2 Jergens Ultra Healing 12.5oz lotion @ $4.29
-$2.00 Use up to 2 $1/1 Jergens coupons from the 1/16 SmartSource
 $6.58 Out of pocket for 2
-$5.00 Register Rewards
 $1.58 Net price for 2
Scenario #2 :
 $4.29 Jergens Ultra Healing 12.5oz lotion
 $7.99 Biore pore strips
-$1.00 $1/1 Jergens coupon from the 1/16 SmartSource
-$1.00 $1/1 Biore coupon from the 10/10/10 SmartSource OR from inside product if you have it
 $10.28 Out of pocket for 2
-$5.00 Register Rewards
  $5.28 Net price for both
(The Register Rewards deal is monthlong, but the prices have changed throughout the month. Unfortunately the pore strips are no longer $5.99, but $7.99. Sorry.)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Rite Aid Video Values - watch them today!

Today is the last day you can watch Rite Aid's January Video Values to get store coupons. There will be a new batch starting tomorrow. You definitely want to get the three $1 off your total purchase coupons. There are some other good ones too, including Huggies, Breathe Right, Dove shampoo and body wash, and Mucinex. Remember, this batch doesn't expire until the end of February, so even if you don't need them now, if you think you might you should be sure to watch the ads and get your coupons!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Grocery matchups 1/20-1/27 and slight rant

“It’s impossible to eat healthy with coupons.”

This is probably the #1 complaint you hear about couponing. And it’s valid…. in a way. Just like the defense of couponing, “Sure you can, there’s tons of coupons for healthy food!” is also valid… in a way.

There are some good groceries you can get with coupons. Yogurt, bagged salad, frozen vegetables, bread, hummus, cereal. There are even coupons on organic food. But to be honest, if all you ate every week was stuff that you could buy with coupons, you’d be eating a lot of soup, mac & cheese, and Hamburger Helper. (Not that I have anything against any of those. But I have high blood pressure. That little Helper hand might as well be putting a gun in my mouth.)

It’s no secret that it is cheaper to eat junk food than it is to eat what Michael Pollan would call real food. Junk food also has a higher profit margin, for producers and the stores. So I don’t know why everyone acts all shocked, shocked! that most coupons are for processed, prepackaged food. Duh.

But there is a middle ground. If I can save $30 off a $100 grocery bill, buying food that we would have eaten anyway, then I’m happy. I use coupons on some items so that I can afford to buy the more expensive, healthier stuff, like produce and meat. Can I bring a $500 grocery tab down to $9, like some extreme couponers promise? Nope. Because what they’re buying is totally unrealistic and would not help you at all come dinner time.

Last week at Big Y I bought $60 worth of stuff, took $15 off in store sales and $15 in coupons. So I saved about $30, or 50%. Not bad, right? Now here’s the thing: some of the things I bought were not on sale and did not have coupons. I could have just not bought them, and then maybe I would have saved $30 and only spent $5 or $10. Then I could brag that I saved 75% on my grocery bill, but I wouldn’t have gotten the things that I needed. My suspicion is that a lot of those Crazy couponers you see going on about how much they save at the grocery store are buying crap they don’t need and forgoing stuff they do need just to massage their numbers.

All this to lead up to my grocery matchups for the week. :-) Sorry, I just had to get all that off my chest! Bear in mind that this isn’t an exhaustive list. I’m only making the sale/coupon matchups, but there are plenty of good sales, even without coupons, that you should definitely read the circular for.

BIG Y
Big Y store coupons can be printed at http://www.bigy.com/coupons/ They are off Big Y brands, so they can’t be combined with manufacturer coupons. They also don’t double.
Big Y states that they will double manufacturer coupons up to $0.99. They are very strict with not doubling coupons that state “Do Not Double.”

Chobani Greek yogurt, $1.00
Use $0.30/1 printable
You pay $0.40 after coupon doubles

Healthy Choice frozen entrees 5 for $10
Use $1/2 printable
You pay $3.00 for 2

Aunt Jemima frozen waffles, BOGO
Use $1/2 printable
You pay – Not sure, but not bad

Stonyfield yogurt 20 for $10
Use $0.50/3 printable
You pay $0.50 for 3 after coupon doubles

Fiber One bread BOGO
Use up to 2 $0.55/1 coupons
You pay – Not sure, but don’t forget these coupons will double

Quaker Instant Oatmeal 2 for $5
Use $1/1 coupon from the 1/2/11 Red Plum insert
You pay $1.50 each

The following are monthly deals that you can view here http://www.bigy.com/coupon_book/20101230-20110126-CBcoupons.pdf or in booklets in stores.

McCormick Slow Cooker seasoning packets 10 for $10
Use $0.75/1 coupon from the 1/2/11 Red Plum insert
You pay $0.25 (moneymaker if the coupon doubles!)

Folgers or Millstone K-cups 12-pk $5.99
Use $2/1 coupon from the 12/12 Red Plum insert (this one is worth ordering from a clipping service if you can find it – doesn’t expire until 2/28!)
You pay $3.99

Perdue Short Cuts chicken or turkey strips 9 oz $3.88
Use $0.75/1 printable
You pay $2.38 after coupon doubles

Tribe Hummus $2.98
Use $2/1 printable if the Origins is included – the ad says it does include Organic
You pay $0.98

STOP & SHOP
To get store coupons at Stop & Shop, you’ll have to use those new price scanners. When you get them you can scroll through the Savings to see your offers, and more will pop up as you shop, based on what you buy. These can be combined with manufacturer coupons.
Stop & Shop will double coupons up to $0.99, even those marked “Do Not Double.”

The big promotion this week is an offer to save $5 off your order when you buy $7 of the featured products. If you needed them, this is a good deal, but I don’t think any of the sale prices make it worth buying stuff just to get this promotion.

There’s not a lot else going on at Stop & Shop this week. They’ve been advertising this as “The biggest sale of the season!” but I’m not impressed. Maybe there will be more after new coupons come out on Sunday. Meh.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

How to shop

Actually going into stores and shopping can be both the most fun and the most stressful part of couponing. There’s nothing like watching that total on the register go down… and down… and down. There’s also nothing like the eye rolls you get from cashiers… or the frustration of not finding what you need on the shelves… or having to drive around town to 4 different stores to get the best deals.

There’s not much you can do about that last one, except be honest with yourself about how much your time is worth. But there are ways to make your shopping experience smoother, and Less Crazy, for all.

Cashiers.  Cashiers can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Look, I’ve done it. Cashiers are paid terrible money to put up with all sorts of crap. Don’t make their jobs any harder. That means being organized and as efficient as possible when you get to the register. (Organization will be the subject of an upcoming post!) Have all your coupons ready to be handed over. If you have rainchecks, price adjustments, price matches, etc, be sure to set those aside and tell the cashier as they’re scanning them. If you have an issue, don’t scream at the cashier – they are not paid enough to care and will probably just respond by digging in their heels. Ask politely to speak to a manager and then – this is important – step out of line so the poor cashier can keep doing his/her job and the people behind you in line don’t stage a bloody mutiny.

That said, you do have to keep a close eye on the cashier. There are a couple different types. Maybe 10%* of all cashiers are awesome – they are impressed by your saving skills, they will point out deals you may have missed, and they make sure that every coupon goes in correctly. Their only drawback is that they tend to be verrrry slow.

At the other end of the spectrum, you have the 20% who are sure that you are somehow ripping them off and will do anything to stop you from using your coupons. You will hear everything – that the store doesn’t accept internet coupons, that you can’t use multiples of the same coupon, that you can’t use coupons to get something for free, that you can’t combine store and manufacturer coupons, etc. Your only defense is to travel armed with a copy of the store’s coupon policy and be prepared to counter each and every objection.

By far, the vast majority of cashiers will barely register (no pun) your presence (see “not paid enough to care” above). This means they probably won’t put up much of a fight. On the other hand, this is the group you have to watch most closely, since they often don’t ring in all your coupons correctly. This is a big problem at Rite Aid – their registers can be really slow, and if the cashier just flashes the coupons past the scanner without checking to see if they all go in, invariably some will not go in properly. You might have to ask them – nicely – to hold on and check that the last one went through before they continue.

In any case, if a cashier tells you that you can’t use a coupon, ask them why. Often what happens is that a coupon will beep or not go through on the first swipe. Rather than figure out why, they will try to just hand it back to you (see “not paid enough to care” above). Make them tell you why they can’t accept it. If they won’t budge, that’s when you ask for a manager. In the cashier’s defense, sometimes they cannot override a register beep on their own, but a manager can. Unless there’s a valid reason they can’t take the coupon (expired, wrong product, size limits, etc) I’ve found most managers to be pretty reasonable. Just be polite, firm, and Not Crazy. I find myself frequently taking the same tone I use on students. :-)

Stuff on shelves, or lack thereof. This one really corks me, especially when I have a whole scenario planned out or I need to buy a certain amount of something to use a store coupon… and they’re out of it. This is the worst towards the end of the week, obviously, which is unfortunately when I tend to get around to my shopping. If you really need the item in that trip, there’s not much you can do. You can try another store – I’m lucky enough to live within easy driving distance of 2 Rite Aids, 4 CVSs, 3 Walgreens, 2 Stop & Shops, and 2 Big Y – but that’s a huge pain, and a major waste of your valuable time.

If you don’t need the item right away, but it’s a good deal, you should always ask for a raincheck. This was a revelation to me! No more missing out on deals just because a bunch of Crazy shelf-clearers got there ahead of me (or because a store did not plan ahead and order enough stock).

Now, there are limitations on which promotions you can get rainchecks on. Anything advertised as “limited quantities” is, of course, a no-go. CVS and Rite Aid will honor ECB and +UP reward deals on rainchecks, but as far as I know Walgreens and grocery stores won’t. Clearance items also aren’t raincheckable. But if they’re out of stock on a deal you want, just ask a salesperson if they have any more in stock, and if not ask if you can get a raincheck. You’ve got nothing to lose.

Of course, the corollary law to the problem of empty shelves is, Don’t clean out the shelves! Don’t be that person who hoards – yes, I said it – hundreds of items that they don’t need and keeps other people who could use it from getting it. Not cool, and definitely not the Not-Crazy Way.


*87% of all statistics in this post are completely fabricated.

Rite Aid Update

I finally made it to Rite Aid today. If you haven't gone yet, I was able to confirm prices on a few deals that might help you make your decision.

First off, at the Rite Aid in Newington, the limit on free toilet paper has been set to 3. They actually had signs posted, which was nice of them - otherwise I would have only gotten 1! Don't know if this is at all stores or just that one - if you don't see signs, go ahead and ask.

There is a new $1.50/2 Dove haircare products printable that you can use to get an even better deal on Dove shampoo than I originally posted. Shampoo and conditioner is on sale for $2.99, plus get a $1 +UP Reward. I was able to confirm that multiple UPR will print if you buy 2 products. So do this:
Buy 2 Dove shampoo or conditioner $2.99 = $5.98
Use $1.50/2 Dove haircare coupon
Use $1.00/1 Dove Video Values coupon
You pay $3.48
Get back (2) $1 UPR
Net price $1.48 for two

Opti-Free contact solution 10oz is $9.99. That means after the $3 store coupon and $1 printable, it's only $5.99.

Schick Quattro razors and cartridges are $10.99 BOGO. Use two $2/1 coupons and you will get 2 for $6.99. (Obviously, only do this if you already use Quattro or were going to try them anyway.)

Has anyone been to any of the drugstores this week? Did you get any deals?

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Updates and my CVS Haul!

Well, I finally made it out today and managed to hit Walgreens and CVS. I found some more deals for you, and I figured I’d share my CVS haul, since it was the more impressive. :-)

WALGREENS

They are running a month-long Register Rewards deal on Jergens, Curel, and Biore – Buy any 2 participating products, get a $5 RR. Most of the included products are $5.99, but the 12.5oz Jergens Ultra Healing lotion is included and it’s only $4.29. So even without any coupons, you could buy 2 of these for $8.58, get back a $5 RR, and get 2 lotions for a net price of $3.58.
 (side note - does anyone know how to make blogger stop rotating my pictures?)
But! In the 1/16 SmartSource insert there was a $1/1 Jergens moisturizer coupon! If you have one coupon, your net for 2 lotions drops to $2.58. If you’re lucky enough to have 2, you get them for only $1.58 - $0.79 each.
Need pore strips? (God, yes!) There were $1/1 Biore coupons way back in October, if you still have them. They expire 1/31/11, so use them now! Also, if you currently have a box, check inside – there’s usually a coupon in the little folded insert. Then you could do this:
  1 Jergens lotion $4.29
  1 Biore pore strips $5.99
  Use $1/1 Jergens coupon
  Use $1/1 Biore coupon
  You pay $8.28
  RR -$5.00
  Net for both $3.28
This deal is good through 1/29.

Next up, there was some Sally Hansen still on clearance, although the shelves are starting to empty. I found some lip glosses for $2.19 – use the $1/1 lip product printable  to get them for $1.19.


Lots of Revlon foundation and powder on clearance, anywhere from $3.59 up. Assuming they still have your shade, you can use the $2/1 Any Revlon Face product from the 1/16 SmartSource insert to get one for $1.59. And Revlon 3D Extreme Mascara is on clearance for $5.19. Use the $1/1 Any Revlon Eye product from the 1/16 SmartSource and it’s only $4.19.



CVS

I got the $3/2 Listerine store coupon from the kiosk! Here’s a pic so you know what to look for.


There is an unadvertised moneymaker deal on Boirin Chestal Honey Cough Syrup! The 4.2oz is on sale for $5, with $5 ExtraCare Bucks. See the green sticker on the front of the box? It’s a $1 “peelie” coupon that you can use right away. You pay $4 and get back $5 in ECBs. (Sorry for the bad picture – it was on the bottom shelf and I was practically lying on the floor to take it!) You’re basically getting paid to walk out with a $7.29 cough syrup.


Several shades of Revlon nail polish were on clearance 75% off. I couldn’t get a good picture, but look for round pink 75% stickers on the tops of the bottles. Clearance price $1.32, use the $1/1 Revlon Lip or Nail product from the 1/16 SmartSource to get it for $0.32.

There was still some Sally Hansen nail polish on clearance too. 75% off price was $0.79, use the $0.50 nail color printable and it’s only $0.29.

Here’s what I did at CVS today:
$7.98  2 Listerine Zero
$4.99  Dayquil Sinex 20-ct LiquiCaps
$5.98  2 Crest toothpaste
$5.00  Chestal cough syrup
$0.79  Sally Hansen nail polish
$24.74 before coupons
-$1.00 Listerine mfr coupon
-$1.00 Listerine mfr coupon
-$4.00 Sinex mfr coupon
-$1.00 Chestal mfr coupon
-$0.50 Sally Hansen mfr coupon
-$3.00 Listerine store coupon
$14.24 out of pocket
Got back:
-$2.00 Listerine ECB
-$1.00 Sinex ECB
-$4.00 Crest ECB
-$5.00 Chestal ECB
$2.24 net!

Plus, I paid with $9.48 in ECB from last week, so I only had to hand over $4.76 in actual cash. If you don’t have any ECB, obviously your cash out of pocket will be higher… but, next week, you’ll have $12 to spend! (Also, they were sadly out of Tropical Remix Orbit at my store, so I didn't get any free gum.)

Oy! I even went grocery shopping, too, before Big Y’s sale ended for the week. I will start with the Big Y and Stop & Shop deals tomorrow or Friday, once I get this week’s sale flyers. Come on, Buy One Get Two Free sale!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Drugstore Updates

Throughout the week, I will sometimes make updates to my lists of deals. A new printable coupon might have become available, or there could be unadvertised deals I missed. Or, a store could have imposed limits (like Rite Aid did with the free TP this week) or I made a mistake in a matchup that would mean a deal no longer works.

I will try to consolidate those updates and post them once a day. I will also update the original deals lists, so that if you haven’t made your own shopping list yet, you still only have to look at that one post to find everything rather than having to scroll through everything.

CVS
 Living Rich with Coupons reports that some people have been getting a $3/2 Listerine coupon at the price check kiosk. This is a store coupon, so you can combine it with a manufacturer coupon. If you do get it, here’s what you should do:
Buy 2 Listerine mouthwash 16.9 oz  @ $3.99 = $7.98
Use any 2 of the following, all from the 1/9 SmartSource insert:
   $1/1 Listerine TotalCare mouthwash
   AND/OR Use $1/1 Listerine Zero mouthwash
   AND/OR Use $1/1 Listerine Antiseptic mouthwash, Reach toothbrush, or floss
AND Use $3/2 Listerine products CVS Store coupon
You pay: $2.98
Get 2 ECB:  -$2.00
Net price $0.98 for 2
(Buy 2 products on sale, use 2 mfr. and 1 store coupon, get back 2 ECBs. Score!)

RITE AID
There is a new $1.50 Huggies diapers coupon on SmartSource.com. There is also a $2 Huggies Video Values store coupon.
If you need diapers right away, go ahead and combine these two to get $3.50 off. However, you might want to wait and see if there’s a sale in the next few weeks that will make for an even better deal. (Remember that you can print 2 of the mfr coupons per computer, but only 1 of the Video Values coupons per Wellness card.)

I also forgot to mention that on the Video Values site there are 3 $1 off your purchase coupons! One is listed as “Wellness+,” one as “Rx Services,” and one as “Resolution Rewards” in the video menu. That’s just the subject of the video ad you watch; they are all valid for $1 off any non-prescription purchase and are good through 2/26/11. If you don’t have any +UP rewards to redeem yet, these might be good to keep your out of pocket expense low this week while hopefully getting some +UP for next week.

CVS, RITE AID, AND WALGREENS
Sally Hansen products are on clearance in a lot of stores for some reason. Now, when it comes to makeup clearance I’ve found that there can be huge differences even between stores in the same chain, so no promises! Clearance items are usually limited to certain shades, but they’re always marked pretty well. If you’re not sure, run it through a price check scanner.
Combine the clearance sale with the following printable coupons (both from Coupons.com - sort by "Personal Care" on the left menu):
$0.50/1 Sally Hansen Nail Color product
$1.00/1 Sally Hansen Lip product

How to get coupons

So now we get to the question, "Where do you find all these coupons, anyway?" Two main places, really: Newspaper coupon inserts (SmartSource, RedPlum, the P&G Brand Saver) and Internet printables.

Newspaper inserts. The obvious. Most papers include their inserts on Sundays. Some, like the Manchester Journal Inquirer, have theirs on Saturday since they don’t publish on Sunday. You can also find “weekend editions” of some papers, like the Hartford Courant, in convenience stores on Saturday. They are less expensive than the Sunday edition, and include all the coupon inserts, but not the weekly store flyers.

Internet printable coupons. These are available from a number of different sites. There are aggregate sites, like RedPlum.com, SmartSource.com, and Coupons.com . Some of their coupons are the same as the ones in the inserts, and some are unique.
Many manufacturers offer printable coupons on their websites. Some that are still stuck in the Stone Age make you fill out a form and then mail you paper coupons. (Which you redeem at Ye Olde Grocerie Shoppe, I guess?) Of those that offer printables, sometimes you can just hit Print, and sometimes you have to give them personal information, which can range from just your email to your address, DOB, and a survey about your shopping habits. I know, I’m a little skeeved about that too. I’ve come up with a few strategies to protect as much of my privacy as possible.

  • Have a separate email account just for giving out to websites. This will keep your regular account from getting bombed with spam on the chance that your information gets sold. (Which every company swears up, down, and sideways they will never, ever do. Yup.) Check it every week or so, since some goodies will get sent there, like more coupons. 
  • Don’t give them your name. Or rather, give them a version of your name that is not related to your bank account, credit card statement, address, etc. I use my husband’s last name. You can use your maiden name, or your middle name instead of your first name, or a nickname. 
  • Don’t give them your birthdate. OK, this one involves actually lying, which might be controversial. But in my mind, asking for my birthdate is intrusive. If their only real purpose is to verify that I’m over 18, then it won’t matter to them if I change the month or the day. 

Finally, companies have started to offer coupons on Facebook when you 'like' them. There will usually be a tab on their page that says something like Special Offer, Coupon, or Promotion.
In each of these cases, the first time you go to print an Internet coupon, you’ll be asked to download a small program. It’s OK, go ahead and install it. (If you’re nervous, go to one of the big sites like Coupons.com first so you know it’s legit.) 95% of Internet printables have a print limit of 2. What the program does is keep track of how many times you’ve printed a specific coupon, and generate unique barcodes for each. You cannot copy or duplicate printable coupons! Each unique barcode can only be redeemed once. Doing otherwise is coupon fraud and most definitely NOT the Not-Crazy Couponer Way! (Coupons offered in PDF format, on the other hand, have no print limits. Copy away.)

Coupon clipping sites. Need even more coupons? There are several websites where you can order multiple copies of coupons from the Sunday inserts. Now technically, you cannot sell or buy coupons. What you’re actually paying for from these companies is a fee to cover their time and labor. Regardless, clipping sites usually charge a percentage of the face value of the coupon. So a $1.00 off coupon would cost from $0.08-$0.10, while a $5.00 coupon would be more like $0.50. Most have minimum and maximum limits on both individual coupons and your whole order.
In the past I’ve tried to wait for store matchups to be posted and then order a bunch of coupons just for that week. Which, as it turned out, was just Crazy. I’d sit there waiting all week, nervously checking the mailbox, until the coupons finally showed up on Friday or, worse yet, Saturday, at which point I’d race out to the stores only to find the shelves already cleared. Argh.
The Not-Crazy Way? Only order bulk coupons for items you buy all the time. For example, in the 1/16 SmartSource insert there’s a coupon for $1/15 cans of Friskies cat food. (Yes, we feed our incredibly spoiled cat wet food.) 15 cans will last us about a week. The coupon expires 4/30, or in about 15 weeks. So I will order 15 copies of that coupon. I also do this with coffee K-cups, almond milk, pasta, and other staples.
You can also order extras of high value coupons, especially BOGO coupons. Just be aware of minimum orders. If you have to order 10 coupons and they cost $0.50 each, and the face value is $5.00, this only makes sense if you’re going to use at least 2 of the coupons.
Some good clipping sites: TheCouponClippers.com, Coupon DeDe, and TheCouponMaster.com. You can also find them on eBay. Be aware that some coupons are regional, so expect some differences in availability and face value.

I will post all this information in a permalink, too! 

Monday, January 17, 2011

Rite-Aid Deals 1/15-1/22

Make sure you read my Rite-Aid Basics guide at the link above. There are some OK deals this week, a lot of them using printable coupons. If you've never printed Internet coupons, I will be doing a post on them later this week.
These are the highlights and best deals. If you want the full list, Maven of Savin' always does a great job on Rite Aid.

UPDATED: There is a new $1.50 Huggies diapers coupon on SmartSource.com. There is also a $2 Huggies Video Values store coupon.
If you need diapers right away, go ahead and combine these two to get $3.50 off. However, you might want to wait and see if there’s a sale in the next few weeks that will make for an even better deal. (Remember that you can print 2 of the mfr coupons per computer, but only 1 of the Video Values coupons per Wellness card.)

Rite Aid Brand facial tissue, bath tissue single roll, or Simplify bath tissue 4-pk $1.00
UPR -$1.00
Net Price FREE
UPDATED: There is no advertised limit, but most stores are having trouble with people clearing off the shelves - ie, Crazy Couponers. Some are reporting limits of only 1 UPR. My Rite Aid in Newington had a posted limit of 3.)
UPDATED: There is a new printable coupon and I have confirmed that multiple +UP Rewards will print on this deal.
Buy 2 Dove shampoo or conditioner 12 oz $2.99 = $5.98
Use $1.50/2 Dove haircare products printable coupon
Use $1/1 Dove shampoo or conditioner Video Values
You pay $3.48
UPR -$2.00
Net price $1.48 for two

Ricola cough drops   2/$3.00
Use $1/2 Ricola from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
You pay $2.00 for 2
UPR -$1.00
Net price $1.00 for 2

Opti-Free contact solution 10 oz $9.99
Use $3/1 store coupon from the flyer
AND Use $1/1 Opti-Free printable
You pay: $5.99
Kotex products  2 for $11.00
Use $2/2 Kotex pads from the 1/16 SmartSource
  OR $1.50/2 Kotex liners from the 1/16 SmartSource
  OR $1.50/2 Kotex tampons from the 1/16 SmartSource
You pay $9.00-9.50 for 2
UPR -$3.00
Net price $6.00-6.50 for 2
(The deal is actually a lot better at Walgreens this week)

Clearasil Skin Care products
Use $2/1 store coupon from the flyer
AND use $2/1 Clearasil printable
UPR -$1.00
Net price $5.00 off – prices vary

Schick Intuition or Quattro razors or cartridge refills B1G1 
Use up to 2 $2/1 Quattro for women razor or refills from the 1/16 SmartSource
Your price: Varies
(Very happy about this one – I use the Intuition razor and the cartridges are expensive! Even though I don’t have any coupons for the Intuition, BOGO is still a good deal.)

Buy One Get One Free on any of the following:
Oscillococcinum 3-12 ct
Cold Calm 60-ct
Children’s Oscillococcinum 80-ct
Chestal Cough with Honey 8.45 oz
Children’s Chestal 4.2 oz
Use 2 of any of the following printables:  (use two of the same or mix and match)
  $2/1 Adult Oscillococcinum, any size
  $2/1 Children’s Oscillococcinum, any size
  $1/1 Children’s Cold Calm or Chestal, any size
UPR -$2.00
Net price will vary, but this should be a really good deal after BOGO, up to $4 in coupons, and the $2 UPR!

Finally, on the Video Values site there are three $1 off your purchase coupons! One is listed as “Wellness+,” one as “Rx Services,” and one as “Resolution Rewards” in the video menu. That’s just the subject of the video ad you watch; they are all valid for $1 off any non-prescription purchase and are good through 2/26/11. If you don’t have any +UP rewards to redeem yet, these might be good to keep your out of pocket expense low this week while hopefully getting some +UP for next week.

I will try to get some prices to fill in the gaps. Or if you find any, leave them in the comments!

Walgreens 1/16-1/22

Be sure to read the “Walgreens Basics” from the link at the top of the page. These are the best deals; for a full list you can go to Common Sense With Money .
There are some decent Register Rewards deals at Walgreens this week. That means that if you decide to go, your total might be a little high this week, but next week you’ll have lots of RR to keep your out of pocket expenses down.
The Kotex and Nyquil deals look pretty good, and they both use coupons from this Sunday’s paper.

UPDATE: There is a monthlong Register Rewards deal through 1/29:
Jergens, Curel, and Biore – Buy any 2 participating products, get a $5 RR. 
Scenario #1:
Buy 2 Jergens Ultra Healing 12.5oz lotion @ $4.29 = $8.58
Use up to 2 $1/1 Jergens coupons from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
You pay $6.58-$7.58 (depending how many coupons you have)
RR -$5.00
Net price $1.58-2.58 for 2
Scenario #2 
Buy 1 Jergens Ultra Healing 12.5oz lotion $4.29
Buy 1 Biore pore strips $5.99
Use $1/1 Jergens coupon
Use $1/1 Biore coupon from the 10/10/10 SmartSource or from inside product (if you have it)
You pay $8.28
RR -$5.00
Net for both $3.28

Vick’s Dayquil or Nyquil, buy $15 and get $5 RR
3 Dayquil and/or Nyquil @ $5.00=$15.00
Use $1.50/1 Nyquil from the 1/16 P&G insert
AND $1.50/1 Dayquil from the 1/16 P&G insert
AND $1.00/1 Vick’s product from the 1/16 P&G insert
You pay $11.00 for 3
RR -$5.00
Net price $6.00 for 3

Kotex, buy 3 and get $3 RR
Buy 3 selected Maxi pads and/or pantiliners and/or tampons = $9.00
Use $2/2 Kotex pads from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
OR $1.50/2 Kotex liners from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
OR $1.50/2 Kotex tampons from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
You pay $7.00-$7.50 for 3
RR -$3.00
Net price $4.00-$4.50 for 3

ThermaCare Heatwrap, 1-ct $2.50
RR -$2.50
Net Price FREE
(These go fast – get there soon!)

Full Fast Appetite Control Spray 2 oz $10.00
RR -$10.00
Net price FREE
(I wish I knew if this stuff works. It’s a lot of money out of pocket, and sometimes I have trouble spending large RR.)

Joint Juice 20 oz $10.00
RR -$10.00
Net price FREE

Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor $9.99
Use $4/1 Gillette Fusion ProGlide from the 12/26 P&G insert
You pay $5.99
RR -$5.00
Net price $0.99

Pampers Jumbo pack diapers, buy 2 and get $3 RR
Buy 2 diapers = $18
Use up to 2 $1.50/1 Pampers diapers from the 12/26 P&G insert
You pay $15.00-$16.50 for 2 (depending how many coupons you have)
RR -$3.00
Net price $12.00-13.50 for 2 jumbo packs

Neosporin Lip Health, buy 2 and get $3 RR (I LOVE this stuff!)
Buy 2 Lip Health = $8
Use up to 2 $1/1 Neosporin Lip Health from the 1/9 SmartSource insert
And/or $1/1 Neosporin Lip Health printable (print 2 copies per computer)
You pay $6.00 for 2
RR -$3.00
Net price $3.00 for 2

Revlon Cosmetics Buy 1, Get 1 50% off
Use $1/1 Revlon Eye product, and/or $2/1 Revlon Face product, and/or $1/1 Revlon Lip or Nail product from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
You pay: Varies
UPDATE: Select Revlon products are on clearance - look for bright orange price tags! You can find foundation from $3.59 (use the $2/1 Face product coupon) and 3D Extreme Mascara for $5.19 (use $1/1 Eye product).

Note that there are similar deals on the Revlon and the Nyquil at CVS!

CVS Deals 1/16-1/22

Check out the "CVS Basics" link above for information about CVS's coupon policy, ExtraCare Bucks, etc.
Most of these deals use coupons from this week's paper, so you can get started right away! A few are from the last few weeks, but I tried not to go much beyond that. Of course, if you do have older coupons, you should use the ones with the earliest expiration date first.
This week at CVS you can get free toothpaste and gum, plus deals on mouthwash, Revlon makeup, and Nyquil. These are the best deals - if you want the full list, check out Common Sense With Money.

UPDATE: Boirin Chestal Honey Cough Syrup 4.2oz $5.00
Use $1/1 peelie from the front of the box
You pay $4.00
ECB -$5.00
Net price $1 moneymaker!

Selected Crest toothpaste $2.99
Use $1/1 Crest toothpaste from the 1/16 P&G insert
OR $1/1 Crest toothpaste from the 12/26 P&G insert
You pay $1.99
ECB -$2.00
Net price FREE
(Limit 2 – If you have both coupons, or two from this week, you can use both to get 2 for free.)

Orbit Gum Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Use B1G1 printable coupon
(If you’re not sure about printing Internet coupons, I will be doing a tutorial on them soon!)
Net price 2 FREE
(One of the two must be the Tropical Remix flavor. You can print up to two coupons per computer, so you can do this deal multiple times for more free gum. The coupon does state “Up to $1”. Sometimes the store covers the difference, and sometimes they will charge you for it, in which case it would be $0.29 for 2 packs of gum.)

Listerine mouthwash 16.9 oz $3.99
Use $1/1 Listerine TotalCare mouthwash from the 1/9 SmartSource insert
You pay $2.99
ECB -$1.00
Net price $1.99
(Limit 2)

UPDATED: Living Rich with Coupons reports that some people have been getting a $3/2 Listerine coupon at the price check kiosk. This is a store coupon, so you can combine it with a manufacturer coupon. If you do get it, here’s what you should do:
Buy 2 Listerine mouthwash 16.9 oz  @ $3.99 = $7.98
Use any 2 of the following from the 1/9 SmartSource insert:
  $1/1 Listerine TotalCare mouthwash
  AND/OR Use $1/1 Listerine Zero mouthwash
  AND/OR Use $1/1 Listerine Antiseptic mouthwash, Reach toothbrush, or floss f
AND Use $3/2 Listerine products CVS Store coupon
You pay $2.98
Get 2 ECB  -$2.00
Net price $0.98 for 2
(Buy 2 products on sale, use 2 mfr. and 1 store coupon, get back 2 ECBs. Score!)

Colgate Total toothpaste $2.77
Use $1/1 Colgate Total coupon from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
You pay $1.77
ECB -$1.00
Net price $0.77
(Limit 2. This is an OK price if you really need toothpaste, but as you can tell from the Crest deal above, it’s not a stock-up price.)

Vick’s Dayquil or Nyquil $4.99
Use $1.50/1 coupon from the 1/16 P&G insert (there’s 1 for Dayquil and 1 for Nyquil)
You pay $3.49
ECB -$1.00
Net price $2.49
OR
Vick’s Sinex $4.99
Use $4/1 Sinex coupon from the 12/26 P&G insert
You pay $0.99
ECB -$1.00
Net price FREE
(This is the same deal as the one above, and it’s limit 1. The Sinex is not advertised, but it’s been confirmed to work.)

Revlon Cosmetics Buy 1, Get 1 50% off
Use $1/1 Revlon Eye product, and/or $2/1 Revlon Face product, and/or $1/1 Revlon Lip or Nail product from the 1/16 SmartSource insert
You pay: Varies
UPDATED: Select shades of Revlon nail polish on clearance 75% off, or $1.32.
Use $1/1 Lip or Nail coupon
You pay $0.32

Select Sally Hansen products on clearance
Clearance items are usually limited to certain shades, but they’re always marked pretty well. If you’re not sure, run it through a price check scanner.
Combine the clearance sale with the following printable coupons:
$0.50/1 Sally Hansen Nail Color product
$1.00/1 Sally Hansen Lip product
UPDATED: Select shades of nail polish 75% off, or $0.79
Use $0.50/1 Nail Color
You pay $0.29

Note: There are similar deals on Revlon and Nyquil this week at Walgreens, so if you don't need any of the other stuff posted here, check out my upcoming Walgreens deals and see if you can save yourself the trip. (Because fewer trips = Less Crazy!)