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A great week at Walgreens!

April 3, 2009 by

It has been a GREAT week for shopping at Walgreens (at least in my opinion!). Here are a few pictures from my ten (yes, ten!) shopping trips this week. Fortunately, we have a Walgreens on just about every street corner where I live and I happened to be travelling between schools quite a bit this week, so I was able to fit my trips in while I was on the road (which means that I also got to do them kid free).

Here’s what I’ve ended up with so far:

*20 boxes of Reynold’s (20 sq ft) foil – it is on sale for $.89 this week with an in ad coupon. There were $1/1 Reynolds Wrap Foil (excluding 25 sq. ft.) coupons in the 2-8 SS insert, so I’ve gotten .11 overage on each box (these coupons expire on 4/4….the newer coupons exclude the 20 sq ft size)

*7 The Fragrance Collection by Glade Soy Candles – I got to try these initial thanks to a Bzz Agent campaign and I LOVE them! The smaller ones are $5.99 and there is a $2 off Walgreens coupon in the April Easysaver catalog. There were $4 printable coupons from Right at Home last week and I also had some $3 coupons from the Bzz campaign. These will be great items for gifts to have on hand (if I don’t use them all myself!)

*2 Edge Shave Gel – These are $2.99, and you get back a $2.99 Register Reward when you buy one (it’s the 7 oz variety) this month, so they are free after Register Rewards! My husband was almost out of shave gel, so this deal came along right in time!

*4 Chapstick Naturals – This week these are on sale for $1.99 (they regularly retail for $2.99) and you get a $2 Register Reward when you buy them. The Register Reward deal is good through the month, but it works best this week since they are on sale!

*2 Schick Quattro razors – My Target stores were cleaned out of these all last week when the “deal” was on and I had lots of coupons to use. The regular retail price on these is $9.99, but there is a $4 coupon in the Easysaver and I had the $4 manufacturer’s coupons, so it was $1.99.

*6 Disney sticker books – These are a great filler item this week and a great filler for Easter baskets, too! They are 3/$1 with the in ad coupon.

*2 Kid card games – These are $1.99 or $2.99 each and Buy One, Get One Free this week and are also a great filler item and filler for Easter baskets!

*2 coloring books – These are also $1.99 or $2.99 each and Buy One, Get one Free this week and a great filler item for Easter baskets!

I got all of this for less than $1 out of pocket by using Register Rewards and overage from coupons. Here are a few answers to questions I’ve had already:

*Can you get overage at Walgreens? The answer is yes, but it is tricky. I have found that my Walgreens stores are SOOOO picky about coupons! I went to ten different stores this week and I had a problem at every single store in one way or another. There are three “tricks” to getting overage. First, if the way you are getting overage is by using a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon, make sure they scan your store coupon LAST. Sometimes I hold the store coupons back until they have already scanned my other coupons because they usually want to scan the store coupons first. Second, make sure you are buying enough to cover the “overage” (this is where my little sticker books and some of the other small things come in). Third, if you are just buying one or two items, this tends to raise a red flag, so try to buy a few items in one transaction.

*Why ten trips? First, because I could pull this off since I have so many Walgreens stores around me. Second, some of my stores were out of the foil. Third, I don’t believe in being a shelf clearer. Fourth, the limit on the foil is 3 in the ad. Fifth, I don’t like to raise red flags, ESPECIALLY at Walgreens because they are so picky already!

Here are a few other “noteable” deals this week: (so yes, I will still be making a few more trips)

*Printer cartridge refill – $7.50, get a $7.50 Easysaver MIR – the black ink cartridge refills are normally $10, and this “deal” will last the entire month, but they are on sale this week, which makes them free after rebate. The timing is great since my printer cartridge is almost out of ink (I wonder why?!?) If you’re wondering if this really works, it works better for some brands of cartridges than others. I have refilled our HP cartridge several times without any problems, but the Lexmark ones do not work as well when refilled.

*Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Life or Captain Crunch Cereal – 2/$5, get a $2 RR – There are LOTS of great printable coupons for this deal on coupons.com and Smartsource.com
$1/2 Quaker Chewy Granola bars printable on Smartsource.com
$1/2 Quaker Life cereal on Coupons.com (see the blue sidebar on the right to print)
$1/1 Quaker Maple and Brown Sugar Life Cereal printable here

Some helpful tips:
*At Walgreens, you cannot do a promotion more than once in a transaction and earn Register Rewards. So, if you buy more than 1 Chapstick Naturals in one transaction this week, you will only earn one $2 RR.

*You also cannot use the Register Rewards earned from a promotion on the same promotion and earn Register Rewards again. For example, if you buy a Chapstick Naturals, get a $2 RR and use it to buy another Chapstick Naturals, another RR will not print.

*Register Rewards are considered to be “manufacturer’s coupons” and you can only use one manufacturer’s coupon per item. You will have to add “filler” items. The in ad coupons often have good, inexpensive filler items. (this week the Easter sticker books are a graet filler!)

*If you are buying items that would result in a “free” item or “overage” when combining a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon, give the manufacturer’s coupon FIRST, and the store coupons LAST to avoid beeping/issues at the register!

*If your Register Reward doesn’t print for some reason and you have fulfilled all of the obligations for the “deal” DO NOT let them tell you it is because you used coupons! Chances are they didn’t print because the catalina machine is not working. You have two choices: you can return your items and try again or you can contact the catalina company by doing the following:
*The store will give you a form to fill out and mail in to catalina
*Call 1-888-8coupon, option 3
*Use the online form to contact them: Contact Catalina Marketing (when I have tried contacting them this way, my results have not been very good….your best bet is to call)

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The Old Navy Weekly update

April 2, 2009 by


The coupons on Old Navy Weekly will be updated tomorrow. There will be more high dollar coupons this time. The “hottest” coupon will be for $45 off a $100 purchase and you can bet that it will go fast even though they are trying to make the hiding places trickier! Next week, there will be a $75 off a $100 purchase coupon hidden!

For more information and updates, check out their blog here.

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A Word of Caution: Mystery Shopping

April 2, 2009 by

Awhile ago, I posted this Tip of the Day Tuesday post about Mystery Shopping. I recently had a reader contact me about a mystery shopping opportunity that she had received. She was wondering if it was legit.

The scenario they wanted her to carry out went something like this: They were going to send her a $3000+ check and she was to cash it and then spend some at Walmart ($100 or so), some at a restaurant), and then take the rest and send it back to them via Money Gram.

If you get an offer like this, please do not sign up and if you get a check in the mail from a company claiming to be a mystery shopping company with an offer like this, please do not cash the check. This is a scam and the check ends up bouncing and you end up losing a lot of money. If a mystery shopping offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

You can read more about this particular scam here.

There is a list of legitimate, reputable mystery shopping companies here on Volition.com. Even if you receive an offer from a company on this list and it sounds too good to be true, you may want to do some more research. Some scam companies are using the names of legitimate mystery shopping companies to trick people.

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Coupon Round-Up

April 2, 2009 by

The listing of new coupons that will be available in the Sunday (4/5) inserts is up on The Coupon Clippers now! There will be FOUR inserts! The coupons are usually available for purchase on The Coupon Clippers beginning early Saturday morning. The dollar off amount on coupons does vary by area, so what you get in your area may not match up exactly.

Here are some highlights that I saw: (to see the full listing, go to The Coupon Clippers, and click on “Tracker”)

Smart Source #1:
*.50/1 Daisy Brand Sour Cream on any ONE, not valid in Colorado (expires 5/31/09) – I ALWAYS stock up on these when they come out because it gives me free sour cream when they go 10/$10 at the grocery store!

*$1/1 PILLSBURY REFRIGERATED PIZZA CRUST on any, expires 6/27/09 – these will be FREE at Kroger this week if you have multiples of this coupon!

Smart Source #2:
*$4/1 Claritin non-drowsy allergy product on any, 15 count or larger, not valid for purchase of Claritin-D in Oregon (expires 5/3/09) – we use this stuff ALL the time, so I always try to stock up when the good coupons come out

Red Plum/Valassis #1: (these are not available in some areas)
*$1/1 Kellogg’s CEREAL on any ONE, 10 oz or larger (expires 5/17/09) – there have been lots of good cereal deals lately!

*.75/1 Kelloggs Eggos frozen products (expires 5/17/09) – pair this coupon with the $1/2 Eggos Target printable that expires on 4/11/09 for additional savings

Red Plum/Valassis #2:
*.30/1 RAGU Pasta Sauce on ONE jar (expires 5/31/09) – these will TRIPLE at my grocery stores making a great deal if sauce is on sale (which it is at Kroger this week!)

P&G: (right now several grocery stores have a P&G Mix & Match event going on with an instant rebate when you buy a certain amount of P&G products)
*$4/1 CoverGirl & Olay Simply Ageless Foundation on any ONE (expires 4/30/09) – this is a high dollar coupon which hopefully will come in handy for a deal at CVS or Walgreens

*.75/1 Crest PASTE or Liquid Gel on any ONE, 4.2 oz. or larger (expires 4/30/09) – these always come in handy for Walgreens and CVS deals!

*$2/1 Gillette Fusion Manual or Power Razor on any ONE (expires 4/30/09) – not as good as the $4 ones, but these will still come in handy for razor deals

*$1/1 Gillette Series Shave Gel 7oz or Foam 9oz, or Post Shave 2.54-3.2 oz on any ONE (expires 4/30/09) – this is a great deal!

*$1/1 Pampers Diapers or Pants on ONE any size (expires 4/30/09)

TIP: Don’t forget to load the P&G E-saver coupons to your store card!

The Coupon Clippers

PRINTABLE COUPONS: Since it’s the beginning of the month, there are lots of new printable coupons available.

Here are some highlights:

COUPONS.COM
.50/1 Cottonelle 4 pack toilet paper – My Kroger store still carries these and the coupons double making free or almost free toilet paper!

*$1/2 Quaker instant oatmeal
*$1/2 Quaker Life cereal
*$1.50/1 Dove Cream Oil body wash
*$1/1 Tylenol
*$2/2 Kotex
*.35/1 Pillsbury crescent dinner rolls
*.50/2 Pillsbury Grands
*.75/1 Betty Crocker Bisquick
*$2/1 Dry Idea roll on antiperspirant


SMARTSOURCE.COM
*.50/2 Viva big rolls (paper towels)
*.50/2 Pillsbury Grands refrigerated biscuits
*$1/2 Quaker Chewy granola bars
*.50/1 Wacky Mac pasta

Possible cheap movies: $3/1 Because of Winn Dixie DVD, $3/1 All Dogs Go to Heaven DVD, $3/1 Cheaper by the Dozen DVD, $3/1 Robots DVD, $3/1 Garfield Movie DVD, $3/1 Sandlot DVD

Also, check out this link from Slick Deals with an A-Z printable coupon list.

Don’t forget to load the latest E-coupons to your grocery store cards (at this point they CAN be used with paper coupons):
*Cellfire
*P&G E-saver
*Shortcuts

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Thrifty Thursday: Free entertainment and ideas for saving on gas!

April 2, 2009 by

Are you looking for some free entertainment this weekend? If you are a Bank of America card holder (and it can be ANY card), you can get free admission to over 70 museums across the country the first weekend of every month. All you have to do is show them your card. You can check out the details here and find out what museums are available in your area here.

In addition, as Easter weekend and summer vacation approach and families have more reasons to travel, I thought I’d share these money saving travel tips that I received from Jiffy Lube:

SAVE MONEY AT THE PUMP
We can shave off dollars and cents every day by doing little things. The tips below from the car-care experts at Jiffy Lube will not only help keep your vehicle in top shape – helping to avoid potentially costly breakdowns in the future – and put a few dollars back in your pocket.

*Engine Air Filter: An air filter is essentially your vehicle’s lung. A clean air filter helps the engine “breathe” and run more efficiently, while a clogged one makes the engine work harder. According to the Federal Government, replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10%. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for when to replace your engine air filter.

*Tires: Tires can be gas bandits as under-inflated tires create extra friction where the rubber meets the road. Incorrectly inflated tires also wear unevenly, which can impact your vehicle’s traction on the road and possibly lead to a dangerous blowout. According to the Federal Government, you can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. You can find your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure information in the vehicle owner’s manual or often on a decal typically in the vehicle’s door jamb or in the vehicle owner’s manual.

*Oil Grade: Motor oil lubricates the engine, keeping it cool and reducing friction between moving parts. As the motor oil circulates, it also cleans away harmful dirt and contaminants. When motor oil gets too dirty, it loses some of its lubrication and absorption abilities. According to the Federal Government, using your vehicle owner’s manual recommended grade oil can improve your gas mileage up to 2% — savings which can add up over time! Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual for the correct grade of motor oil for your vehicle.

*Lighten Your Load: Extra weight means more strain on your vehicle and more fuel burn. According to the Federal Government, vehicle drag can decrease your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by 2%. Leave unnecessary items at home before setting out on a drive.

*Avoid Aggressive Driving: According to the Federal Government, rapid acceleration/braking can lower your gas mileage up to 5% around town.

*Carpooling: Taking advantage of carpools could cut your weekly gas usage in half. Not only will mom save a few bucks, but she’ll get some much-needed time back!

SUMMER TRAVEL
We all value our summer vacations – they allow us to de-stress and recharge. A recent Jiffy Lube International survey that reveals despite the economy, people are not deterred from taking a vacation this year. In fact, plans for summer travel are up 4% from last year. One way people are being economical, yet still enjoying themselves is planning trips to places that cost little to no money – such as the beach, historical sites, national parks and museums. I’ve included statistics on the top summer vacation destinations below.

Think the economy has travelers staying at home this summer? That’s not the case according to a new survey from Jiffy Lube International.

*88% of people surveyed say they plan on taking a vacation this summer, a 4% increase from 2008.

*While people are not willing to sacrifice their vacation, they are however changing how they get there. 71% of travelers plan to jump in their family car, avoiding buying plane or train tickets and long security lines; 30% prefer air travel, and 12% plan to travel by bus or train (six% each).

Top 2009 summer vacation destinations (according to a recent Jiffy Lube International survey):
*The beach (63%)
*Historical sites (51%)
*A national park (46%)
*Museums (40%)

Survey Methodology: The Jiffy Lube International survey was conducted via telephone interviews during the period of February 19-22, 2009. The survey included a national probability sample of 1,001 adults comprising of 500 men and 501 women 18 years of age or older, living in the Continental United States. The survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation.

Filed Under: Thrifty Thursday