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Walgreens Beginners
11:49 AM | 
Posted by
Patty
Here are some tips on getting started in the savings game at Walgreens (sometimes referred to as WAGS).
The benefits of beginning a regular shopping routine at the drugstore are many, including:
- being able to afford higher end products (like skin care, make up and hair care);
- stocking up on medications your family may need
- never running out of necessities like toothpaste, deodorant, shaving & bath products
- having extras on hand for company
- excess to give away
I used to think that the prices in this store were way too high, so I never paid attention, until I learned the tricks through trial and error and now, I'm a firm believer and a regular customer. Like most stores, you'll find "loss leaders" (items on sale below cost) on the front page in order to get your attention, but you have to dig further to find the treasures—things you can get for free, or nearly free.
Register Rewards are the Goal
Here is an example. Each of these items is marked down about half at $1.99, which is the out-of-pocket cost to you (OOP), minus any coupons you may have. Suppose, like me, you have a manufacturer coupon (the word coupon is sometimes represented by 'Q') for 75 cents off the toothpaste, which would bring your OOP down to $1.24
When you check out, during the printing of your receipt, the register will also print any Register Rewards (RR's) that you earned with your purchases. In this photo below, the value is $2,although for the scenario above it would be valued at $1. Your final cost after sale, coupon and RR is only 24 cents for the toothpaste since the store, in essence, has given you back the $1 RR to spend next time.
- They're good for 2 weeks from the date printed, unless otherwise specified, so use them a.s.a.p.
- Although it sounds like cash, they are actually rung up as store coupons for the amount stated.
- You cannot use the RR's to purchase the exact same product because the manufacturer's name usually appears in small print on the paper.
Rolling Over the Rewards
All this means is trying to invest your rewards by earning additional RR's every week or every other week. When studying the weekly ad, look for the one, two or three items that you can get by combining coupons with RR's to earn more for the next time.
Store Coupons
These are found in two places; (1) in the weekly ad there are usually about a dozen coupons that can be clipped; and (2) in-store flyers that come out monthly. Store coupons can be stacked (used in conjunction with) manufacturer's coupons. Sometimes, the combination of those can get you free products.
This is an example of a product coupon put out buy the store. If you had a manufacturer coupon for the same item, you can use both. The sale price on the Revlon lashes is $5.99, and in the weekly ad it says, "99 cents after in-store coupon." The coupon is found inside this small booklet located near the front door of the store, the same place where the weekly ads are stored.
Getting the Most, Paying the Least
My philosophy has become that of buying products Imight need, even if I do not need them today. I pay attention to the best deals which in some cases, actually earn me money called overage. It's possible to come out ahead sometimes anywhere from a penny to a few dollars. Let me explain.
In the toothpaste scenario above, if I had a coupon for $1 off the toothpaste, I would have made a penny on the transaction. In another scenario, if the RR's given back were for the entire amount of the product, as often is, I could still use my 75 cents off coupon at the checkout, virtually coming out ahead by 75 cents.
In another scenario this week, look at the Dulcolax product pictured here from the ad:
Coupon Quotas
Although there are no specific quotas on the number of coupons per transaction, it is a Walgreens policy that you cannot have more coupons than items. Sometimes you need to add a couple of very low cost items to balance out your great deals. I often choose a dozen eggs when they are on sale for 99 cents, a single roll of toilet paper which is about 50 cents, a pencil, gum or other small items.
When making larger transactions with a lot of coupons, it helps to give the coupons in this order for maximum benefit, so that no coupon is rejected:
- manufacturer Q's
- store Q's
- RR's
- Cash or credit payment
If a cashier rejects any coupon or has a problem with your transaction, be nice to them, but stand up for yourself, too. Ask for help from a manager or else ask them to remove the item in question since you would not be buying it unless you can use the coupon(s).
Hope this helps to get you started. Stay tuned for my post on CVS for the Beginner and we'll get you saving big bucks in no time.
Shop smart!
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