How I used the Walgreens $5/$20 coupon

I had intended to do two transactions (detailed over at Chief Family Officer), but my favorite coupon-friendly cashier wasn't working, and I didn't want to risk asking the woman who did ring me up if I could split the transaction up. I also ran into an unexpected wrinkle, a consequence of not double-checking my local ad against the information that was online: the Reach deal wasn't advertised here. Grrr!

But overall, I had a pretty successful transaction, so I really can't complain:

3 Garnier Fructis family size shampoo + bonus conditioner @ $7.29 each - $21.87
Pert 2 in 1 - $3.49
3 Dimetapp DM Elixir @ $5 each - $15
Crest ProHealth toothpaste - $3.79
Visine - $4.79
L'Oreal Revitalist Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate - $16.49
5 Halls cough drops @ 99-cents each with weekly ad coupon - $4.95
2 Nabisco Nutter Butters - $5
Total before coupons: $75.38

Coupons used: $4.50 RR, 3 $2 off Garnier family size, 3 $3 off Garnier from Oct. EasySaver catalog, $2 off Pert, $2.50 off Pert from Oct. EasySaver catalog, 3 $2 off Dimetapp, 75-cents off Crest, $2 off Visine, $2 off Visine from Sept. EasySaver catalog, $3 off L'Oreal, $5 off $20 purchase

Total after coupons, including tax: $38.02

I received a $10 Register Rewards for the Dimetapp and $3 RR for the Nabisco cookies. I should also get the following rebates: $10 for Garnier, $3.49 for Pert, $3.79 for Crest, $16.49 for L'Oreal, plus an extra 10% or $3.38 for having the rebate credited to my gift card. That works out to a profit of $14.13 $12.13 - a little bit less than my original calculations, but not bad considering I couldn't even do the Reach deal.

I was also bummed to realize that my local ad didn't include the 2 for $4 Snuggle dryer sheet deal that's apparently available in other regions. I'm not sure why we're getting shorted on deals here, but I don't like it!

On the bright side, the woman who checked me out turned out to be extremely coupon-friendly and totally supportive. She did something new to me, which was scan the coupons for each item after she scanned the item. For example, she started with the Garnier and scanned all three bonus packs, then scanned the manufacturer coupons and then the EasySaver coupon. She even said that she's good about doing the rebates but not coupons, but that I inspired her to clip coupons because I did so well. (She was impressed by my sale price and coupon savings, which came to $55.97 - I wanted to tell her the number was meaningless without context, but that's a discussion that can take all day!)

One last note: Since the max rebate amount for the Pert is $4.29, I assumed that it would ring up at that price. But it actually rang up at $3.49. I've submitted my my receipt for the rebates in this purchase, so we'll see if they all go through without a hitch.

See more non-CVS drugstore deals at The "Cent"sible Sawyer.

CVS: Kimberly Clark deal limit is 2

As I mentioned over at Chief Family Officer earlier this week, I was pretty excited about the Kimberly Clark deal, which included Viva paper towels, Cottonelle toilet paper, and Kleenex tissue with lotion. I needed all three items, but especially the tissue - I've had a cold for the last week, which has been a good reminder of what's in store in the coming months. And we go through a lot of tissue during the winter. The deal was excellent: buy $25 worth of products, get $10 ECBs back. But the best part was that even though the weekly ad said the limit was one, the limit is actually two. And you have through tomorrow to take advantage of it.

My transactions were pretty simple, since I only bought the three items I mentioned. But Huggies mega packs and Clean Team wipes are included, and if I'd had another $3 off 2 Clean Team products coupon, I would have worked that into my purchases. Alas, I only had three 50-cents off Viva and 1 50-cents off Cottonelle coupons, so here's what I did:

Transaction #1:
2 Cottonelle @ $5.99 each - $11.98
17 Kleenex @ 77 cents - $13.09
Total before coupons: $25.07

Coupons used: $2 off $10 purchase, 50-cents off Cottonelle

I paid with ECBs and a gift card and received $10 in ECBs.

Transaction #2:
3 Viva @ $6.49 each - $19.47
Cottonelle - $5.99
Total before coupons: $25.46

Coupons used: $2 off $10 purchase, 3 50-cents off Viva

Again, I paid with ECBs and a gift card and received $10 in ECBs. This time, my receipt said "Offer limit reached."

And I'm now super well-stocked on toilet paper, paper towels and Kleenex, which makes me extremely content. What can I say? I'm weird that way :)

See more CVS deals at The "Cent"sible Sawyer.

My wish came true! A new Walgreens $5 off $20 purchase coupon good Friday and Saturday only

I mentioned last week that I forgot my last two-day only coupon when I went to Walgreens, so I am extremely thankful that I've been given a chance to make up for my error and pick up some of the free-after-rebate items that I haven't gotten yet. There's a new $5 off $20 purchase coupon and it's good tomorrow and Saturday only. The usual limitations apply. I'll be posting my scenarios tomorrow morning over at Chief Family Officer if you want some ideas on how to make the most of the coupon.

Almost-free prints/gifts at Shutterfly - but you must order tonight!

I just happened across this deal at MoneySavingMethods, and paid a mere 14 cents for a 5x7 photo book and one print at Shutterfly. I'm still stunned at that deal. It ends tonight, so don't delay!

Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom for the deal alert.

Walgreens this week: No $5/$20 or $10/$40 coupon, but I'll be getting cheap trash bags

Not that I needed it, but proof that I don't get enough sleep and have too much to do came last week when I forgot to put the $10 off $40 purchase coupon in my coupon bag! I found myself at Walgreens about to move my purchases from the cart to the counter when I realized my mistake. Fortunately, it's my favorite store with the nicest cashier, who kindly offered to hold everything while I ran home for the coupon. But a drive home and back didn't really fit my plans (Walgreens isn't that close to our house) so I just bought my non-rebate items and called it a day. Well, except for the water pitcher filter - I finally found one, so I bought it.

I was hoping for another weekend coupon so I could make up for last week, but there isn't one so I guess I'll wait until next week to pick up the remaining free-after-rebate items just in case a coupon comes out for then.

In the meantime, though, I can't pass up the deal on Ultra Tuf brand trash bags. I bought some of these last month when they were free after the sale price and monthly rebate, and they're comparable to the Kirkland brand drawstring bags that we've been getting from Costco for years. This week, they're on sale for 2 for $5, but the best part is that the 45-count boxes aren't marked on the shelf with the sale price but ring up $2.50 per box. It's been months since I bought trash bags at Costco so I don't remember the exact price, but I estimate $2.50 for 45 bags to be about two-thirds of the cost of the Kirkland bags. I'll be buying as many boxes as I can find, since there don't seem to be that many great sales and coupons on trash bags.

While I'm at the store, I'll also pick up Colgate Max toothpaste since it'll be free after the "super coupon" that's in the weekly ad and a $1 off coupon that I think came in the mail. I will also check out the Glade Plugins sale - I don't use these things, but I haven't maxed out the monthly rebate and I have a bunch of coupons. I'll need to check exactly what's on sale, though, to see if it matches my coupon. Finally, I'll pick up a bottle of the free-after-Register Rewards Crest ProHealth mouthwash, since I still have the coupon I didn't use last week.

I'll definitely be heading back to Walgreens next week, too - check out the preview at SlickDeals, there are some really good deals in it!

Walgreens 2-day coupon: $10 off $40 purchase Friday & Saturday only

Walgreens has come out with another $10 off $40 purchase printable coupon. It's good tomorrow and Saturday only, and contains the now-standard language requiring the pre-tax total to be $40 after coupons. It also excludes stamps, which might be new.

Check out Chief Family Officer tomorrow morning for my scenario. In the meantime, check out the deal scenarios at Money Saving Mom. And if you have a scenario yourself, please share. (Feel free to include a link in your comment if you've posted about a deal yourself.)

Two free years of Parents Magazine

Parents Magazine is one of my favorites, and right now, you can get a free two-year subscription. But you should hurry - I don't know how long this deal will be available!

Thanks to Money Saving Mom for the deal alert.

The Drugstore Game This Week: One quick stop

I almost didn't go to any drugstores this week, but I had a little time to kill with both boys this morning, so we popped into CVS for the free Dawn. I picked up the last two bottles on the shelf, along with two weekend editions of the Los Angeles Times (it has some pretty good coupons).

My transaction went like this:

2 Dawn Plus Hand Renewal @ 88 cents - $1.76
2 LA Times @ $1.50 - $3.00

Coupons: 2 $1 off Dawn Plus Hand Renewal (they didn't beep, so the cashier didn't adjust down, giving me 24 cents of overage toward the papers)

Used: $2 ECB

Paid 99 cents on a gift card

I normally buy my early papers at Ralphs, so I was pleasantly surprised to see the weekend edition at this CVS (it's one I rarely go to but it was on the way to our playdate).

See more CVS deals at The "Cent"sible Sawyer.