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Welcome to the Couponing 101 for beginners series. Check out what you may have missed HERE.
Fair warning this is going to be a long one and one you might want to bookmark!
The Drug Store Game
What is the drug store game? This is where you will save the most money between CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens. Each has their own set of rules. But once you start and get your ECB/UP/RR and start rolling them each week you can, like me, get $100s worth of stuff for $1 or $2 out of pocket!
The Drug stores are where you have the opportunity to MAKE money not just on items but on your whole transaction. Also this is where breaking your trip in to a few transactions will result in even more savings!
Keep in mind the best way to learn is by trail and error. Ask questions and dive on in!
CVS
I did write a CVS 101 a while back please read that and i will go over new things here.
We will start with CVS they are the easiest to learn. CVS offers ECBs (Extra Care Bucks) There are a coupons you get on your receipt after purchasing a certain item or items. They are like cash and can be used on anything in your next purchase. These are tied to their loyalty card that is free to get, but remember only 1 per household.
The best deals to be had at CVS are “Extra Bucks” offers. Watch my match ups and the CVS ad for promos like this: Spend $15 on participating candy, receive $5 Extra Bucks. You must only spend $15, before coupons! Your after-coupon total can be as low as you can get it!! Your strategy should be to use as many coupons as you can to bring down your total.
*As a side note if your total is $14.95 CVS will print the $5ECB they are the only ones who will roll up!
The ECB deals at CVS normally have a limit of 1 or 2 sometimes more.
Once you’ve done your first transaction, you’ll have Extra Bucks to use each time you shop and these will bring your total down lower and lower! You may use your Extra Bucks by separating your transactions and “rolling” them from one transaction to the next, or do like I do, roll from one week to the next. Soon you’ll have a stash of $20-40 in Extra Bucks and you’ll be shopping each week and bringing home $50 of products for pennies, all while continually rolling and replenishing your extra bucks so you’ll never run out or let them expire.
*ECBs tend to have a 3-4 week expiration date.
CVS (as all drug stores do) offer ‘Free after ECB’ deals. The one we had a few weeks ago:
$3.99 ECB WYB Crest Pro-Health or Pro-Health Complete Rinse, 16.9 oz., $3.99 Limit 1
You pay $3.99 for the Pro Health and get $3.99 back to use on your next transaction. Notice the limit of one! Now if you have a coupon say a $1/1 (at the time of this promotion there where no coupons out for this smaller bottle) Then you pay $2.99 and get back $3.99, meaning you MADE a $1 PROFIT!
This is called a Money Maker. Remember from the earlier posts the store won’t actually be handing you money!
What are Fillers?
Fillers are needed when you’re using a purchase-based coupon like $4.00 off $20.00 minimum purchase. If your total is $19.99, you need to buy something cheap to make your total over $20. Spend $0.50 on a pack of gum or an eraser in order to save $4.00. (filler are different at Walgreens see that section)
When an ECB offer says, “limit 1″, does this mean one per day? or per store?
No, limit one refers to the entire offer period. This applies across the entire store, not just one location. A week long ECB will only print for your card once in that week, a month long ECB will only print once all month.
May I use more than one ECB per transaction?
Yes! ECBs are like gift cards. Make note that if you use a $5 ECB on a $4.25 purchase, you forfeit the extra $0.75.
Does CVS issue rainchecks?
Yes! If you ask for a rain check on an ECB offer, your raincheck will be written with the sale price and a code for the ECB(if there is one). PLUS They NEVER expire!
By the way, if you’ve not done so already, you can also go here and sign up for email offers and you’ll instantly get a $4/$20 coupon. Plus, when you sign up for email offers, they often email you coupons, too!
When you are checking out and doing a more complicated transaction, you will want to make sure and have your coupons in good order so that your transaction goes smoothly. The best way I have found to do this, is to always give $3/$15 (etc.) coupons first. Then give any other CVS coupons, then your manufacturer’s coupons. And lastly, give your ECBs.
During your first few trips you will actually have to spend money to get and build your ECB stash.
Don’t worry. Just wait and see what all that money is going to get you!
On your first trip you’ll use only coupons and cash to pay. Always have them scan your card first. On your second trip when you check out, you’ll use coupons, then ECB’s, then cash to pay. Just keep rolling those ECB’s on the free deals and watch them grow.
*As a side note if you buy 2 of an ECB deal CVS will combine them into 1 ECB you if you buy 2 of that Spend $15 on participating candy, receive $5 Extra Bucks deal, you will get a $10 ECB not (2) $5 ECBs
Rite Aid
Make sure to check out my Rite Aid 101.
Rite Aid is a bit more complicated. They have their own Wellness card and you get UP rewards (the Rite Aid version of ECBs) BUT they also have a rebate program Called SCR (Single Check Rebate). You can get a rebate check at the end of the month.
These rebates are linked to your card and you enter your receipts online. At the end of the month you can request your rebate check. they come in the mail and you can cash them at your bank or use them as payment for a Rite Aid Transaction! Sign up free HERE.
What is the offer period for rebates? Are they valid from the 1st-31st of the month?
NO! The above link to RiteAid. Rebateplus will tell you the exact offer period. It is not a calendar month. In August 2009, the rebate period is July 26th-August 29th.
How long does it take to get your rebate in the mail?
You may request your check once per month. Make sure to wait until the end of the month, or you won’t be able to take advantage of other SCR offers. You’ll receive your check within a week of your request. It’s mailed to you and looks like a post card.
Do you really “make money” at Rite Aid?
YES! Usually each week, Rite Aid advertises items that are “Free after Rebate”, they call them Frebates! A few weeks ago Bausch and Lomb contact solution was $9.99 with a $9.99 rebate. I printed a $2.00 off coupon, so I paid $7.99 out of pocket and will receive the full $9.99 rebate. That is what I call a “moneymaker”. You still pay out of pocket, but your rebate check can exceed your out of pocket expense.
**TIP** If you think it sounds fun, take your first month’s Rebate Check and buy a gift card to Rite Aid. This will help you see just how much money you’re saving because you’ll never have to pay cash again!
I have a $5 off $25 printed coupon. Is the $25 minimum purchase before or after coupons?
Spend $25 before coupons! These $5 off coupons are a sure way to make money. A few weeks ago, I purchase nearly all items that were ‘Free after Rebate, FAR’ and my subtotal was $26.26. I FIRST handed over my $5 off $25 purchase coupon, then I used about 8 dollars off in manufacturer coupons. I paid $13 out of pocket and will receive rebates for $23.00, so I made $10.00!
My Rite Aid never stocks for their rebate items and they’re always out of stock by the time I get there! Is there anything I can do?
YES! Rite Aid offers Rain Checks for rebate items! Here’s how you make Rain Checks work:
•Ask the cashier for a raincheck.
•Cut out the weekly ad that gives price and rebate info and keep it with your rain check.
•Rain check expires in 30 days (if your item hasn’t been restocked, you can get another rain check as long as you take it back in within 30 days)
•When you redeem your raincheck, the picture from the weekly ad will help you and your cashier. Make sure your receipt prints the word “raincheck”; you’ll need this to submit for rebate.
•If you purchase outside the offer period, the automated SCR program online won’t recognize your receipt for the rebate, so you have to mail or fax it in.
•Mail to:
Riteaid Single Check Rebates
PO Box 8340
Wilmington, DE 19803
Fax to: 1-800-457-2243
*Include your username, full name, address and contact info. Also include the rebate number, which month the SCR was offered and the dollar amount owed to you. Wait for your account to show the rebate credit. You may have to call or email, rebates@riteaid.com, follow up. Kind of a pain, but for larger rebate values, it’s worth it to me.
In ad coupons for Rite Aid will always say “Manufacturer Coupon”. They are not! They are store coupons and can still be used with a true manufacturer coupon. If your store attempts to tell you differently use the weekly ad to point out that in many places they ad will recommend that you do this!
Rite Aid Wellness + Program:
What’s New??
1.You will need to grab a Wellness+ card when you are in Rite Aid.
2.Every time you shop have your card scanned before checking out.
3.Your card will keep track of your points and extra savings.
What’s the Program??
•Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on non-prescription purchases.
•Earn 25 points for every prescription you purchase.
As you earn more points, you earn more rewards!
for every 125 points – a one-time 10% off shopping pass(this is off non-sale items)
500 points – 10% off all non-prescription purchases every day
500 points – free health screenings
1000 points – 20% off all non-prescription purchases every day
•Exclusive store coupons just for your card!!
•Members-only sale pricing throughout the store
•10% off Rite Aid Brand products every day
•24/7 exclusive access to a pharmacist when you call 1-800-RITEAID
One thing to note: the 10% discounts and year long discounts are on regular priced items only. When an item is on sale the computer will pick the higher discount to give you, either the sale price or the 10% off.
Video Values:
Rite Aid now offers a program where you watch a video, normally a 30 second – 2 minute commercial on an items or store program, and in return you earn points and store coupons. You get a different coupon for each product video you watch PLUS each video earns you 1 or 2 point. Once you reach 25 point in a month you receive a $5 of $25 purchase in store (or something like that the promotion changes each month). There are always enough videos for you to reach this goal each month. Then you can pick and chose what coupons you would like to use.
Remember these are Store Coupons and can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon. However, you will have less luck using a In Ad Coupon and a Video Value coupon together on the same item.
Go HERE to watch the videos and print the coupons!
One other thing Rite Aid is known for their spend $100 on participating products in a month period and get a $20 UP. They have one right now called Winter Rewards. This $100 is BEFORE coupons and you do NOT have to do it all in one transaction. There will be a tally at the bottom of your receipt telling you how much you have spend toward you $100. On the transaction you reach the total a $20 UP will print at the bottom of your receipt.
*As a note Rite Aid will only print 15 UPs per receipt (not $15 worth but 15 TOTAL coupons). So plan your transactions accordingly.
Walgreens
Make sure to read the Walgreens 101 HERE
With a combination of in-ad coupons, manufacturer coupons, Register Rewards and Sale Items, you can often “get paid” to shop at Walgreens. Walgreens runs register rewards promos each week. Their sale cycles run Sunday-Saturday.
Biggest thing with Walgreens is you don’t need a membership card. You can use one store coupon AND one manufactures coupon per item. BUT here is the kicker you need to have 1 item for every coupons you use, including store and register rewards (RR). So if you have 5 manufactures coupons, 3 store coupons and 2 Register rewards you have a total of 10 coupons you MUST have 10 items. This is why you will see filler items under $1 and many under $0.50 to use so you can use all your Coupons.
In Ad Coupons:
When looking at the weekly Walgreens sales ad, you will see many “in-ad” coupons. These are store coupons that typically set the price of the item and will usually impose a limit to the number you can buy. These coupons will come out in the Sunday Paper and will be good through the following Saturday.
Register Reward Program:
Walgreen’s has a “Catalina” program called Register Rewards. A Register Reward is a coupon that prints after you make a qualifying purchase. They are Walgreens specific coupons (i.e. you can’t use them anywhere else) It is typically good for “X” amount off of your next transaction. When you buy the advertised item, after paying, you will receive a coupon (Register Reward) to use on your next purchase. You can make this a “money maker” buy using manufacturer coupons as well. Register rewards are actually coupons given by the Manufacturers of the products that are on special that week. For example: You buy Bounty Paper Towels and a $1 Register Reward prints – this register reward is provided by Procter and Gamble. When you turn around and use your Register Reward, Walgreens will then submit that coupon to Procter and Gamble and get reimbursed.
Example:
True North Nut Crisps or Clusters $3.00
Buy 1, Earn a $3 Register Reward
Use the $1.00/1 – True North Product – (truenorthsnacks.com)
Pay $2.00 Out of Pocket, and receive the $3.00 Register Reward.
*This is considered a Money Maker because after you are paying $2.00 and getting $3.00 back.
They usually have a few of these items per week–some which are completely free after Register Rewards. By using a store coupon and/or a manufacturer’s coupon when buying a Register Reward item, you are often able to get the item for more-than-free, free, or almost free after the Register Rewards.
Unlike CVS, the Register Rewards (RR) are not tied to a store card. Instead, they just print out for everyone who buys that particular item or items that week. Because of this, there is no limit on how many of one deal you can do. That said, they have recently tightened their system so that you usually cannot roll the same RR over and over again on the same deal.
What this means is if you get a $3 RR from buying Huggies you can NOT turn around and buy another pack of Huggies and use that $3 RR another RR with NOT print. You can buy the Huggies and use a Crest RR and get the $3 again though. Many stores will limit the amount of transactions they will do for you at any one time due to the fact you can get unlimited deals. So if you want a lot of an item plan to go to a few stores.
Register Reward FAQ
Q: Will more than one register reward print out on the same transaction (buy 2 different products that each have a register reward)?
A: If you buy two (or more) DIFFERENT register reward items in one transaction, one reward will print for each different product that you have. However, if you buy two of the SAME item, only one Register Reward will print. So, if you are wanting to buy 2 of the Same product to trigger a Register Reward, do separate transactions.
Q. Can I use the RR that I received from item “X” to buy the same item “X”
A: This is known as “rolling” Catalina’s and can not be done, if you want another Register Reward to print. To best way to get around this, and keep your out of pocket expense low, is to find 2 different products that trigger the same value Register Reward and alternate buying those items in separate transaction, paying for the 2nd transaction with the first register reward, and so forth.
Q. Can I buy 1 item, and use 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 Register Reward Coupon to pay?
A. At Walgreen’s their registers will not allow you to have more coupons than items. If you have 1 item that you are buying, and you are paying with 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 Register Reward, you will need to add a “filler” item. This applies to all coupons. If you have in-ad coupons, manufacturer coupons and Register Rewards- just do a quick count of items and coupons. Make sure that you have at least one more item than you do coupons. Look for a clearanced item, pack of gum, individual caramel or Sunday newspaper to add as a filler item.
Q.What makes a Register Reward print?
A.Register Rewards are linked to specific products each week. Sometimes you only need to buy one item, sometimes it is for buying a certain amount of products.
Q.Can I use a Register Reward to buy a different Register Reward item or items?
A.YES! You can “roll” your RR buy using them on a different Register Reward deal. As long as you are not using them on the same products (see above).
Q.How long are Register Rewards good for?
A.It varies. Most are good for 3 weeks some that you get will be good for a shorter amount of time. Expiring of Register Rewards is the most difficult part of their system.
Registar Reward (RR) Tips:
If you are not a regular weekly Walgreens shopper… When you know you are going to get a RR from a certain transaction, have another transaction ready to use it right then. This solves the problem of having to remember when they expire. Think of items you need weekly, Milk, the Sunday paper etc. to use it on.
You must have as many items as you have coupons.
Most of the registers appear to be programmed not to accept any more coupons than you have items. So, make sure and tally up your items and coupons before you check out. The Register Rewards count as a coupon as do any of the store coupons, so count those, too.
If you have more coupons than items, add on a few cheap items so that you have the same number of items as coupons. I always play it safe and try to have at least one more item than coupons. This just guarantees the register doesn’t have issues.
In order to get your total down to the lowest amount possible and for the register to accept all of your coupons, the order you give your coupons in is very important.
So far, I’ve never met a Walgreen’s cashier who knew how to manually push a coupon through. So if you’re coupon won’t go through, it won’t go through. That’s why it’s important that you have as many items as coupons and that you hand your coupons over in the correct order.
After lots of trial and error, here’s the best coupon order I’ve come up with:
1.Manufacturer Coupons
2. Walgreen’s In-Ad Coupons
3. Register Rewards
Doing it in any other order than this seems to cost me at least a few dollars more or it causes the system to jam and not allow my coupons through and means I either have to add on some extra items or it means that I pay extra money out of pocket.
I give my coupons to the cashier in batches split up in the groups mentioned above. This keeps things simple and ever since I started doing it this way, I’ve never had a problem with the register jamming or a coupon not going through.
This order works especially well in a scenario like this:
{BUY 2} Dentyne Gum Regular Price $1.00 each
-Manufacture coupon for Buy 1, Get 1 FREE (or -$1.00)
-Walgreen’s In Ad Coupon for 2/$1 (or-$1.00)
Final Price: FREE
Here’s what it would look like if you gave them the in-ad coupon first:
{BUY 2} Dentyne Gum Regular Price $1.00 each
-Walgreen’s In Ad Coupon for 2/$1 (or-$1.00)
-Manufacturer coupon for Buy 1, Get 1 FREE (or -$.50)
Final Price: $.50
If for some reason they cannot get a coupon to go through, request that they void the item right then off of your order.
It’s much easier to just void it off right then and not pay for it, then to try and mess with it later. And voiding it off is a very simple process.
In Store Coupon Booklets:
Walgreen’s is also known for their in store coupon booklets. These are normally found on the same rack as that weeks sale add and the book of coupons is good all month.
Coupon “Stacking”
The weekly store fliers often include a number of store coupons which are good all week. Since these are store coupons, they can be “stacked” with manufacturer’s coupons, meaning you can use them in conjunction with a manufacturer’s coupon. So, in this case, you can use both a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon on one item. Often, you’ll be able to get a really great deal by stacking a store coupon, a manufacturer’s coupon, and a store sale.
COUPON POLICY
The Official Coupons Policy can be seen HERE.
Print it out and take it with you so there are no problems.
Homework: Start with the drug store closest to you and read up on it read the 101 and coupon policy and get started. Make your first trip, make sure you have your membership card if needed. Do 2 transactions do a small one to get your ECB/UP/RR and use that to lower the cost of transaction #2 from there just keep rolling to get your OOP cost down!
