Walgreens Scenario: Save 67% on Cereal, Granola Bars, Lip Balm, Plastic Baggies & Oatmeal

Update: Grrrrr, when will I learn? I keep saying I won’t shop at Wags because they are so unfriendly to couponers, and yet time and again, I go back for the good deal. Which gets messed up. Which makes me promise, yet again, that THIS is the last time.

If you live in KC, be aware that we are a “test market” for Walgreen’s new points system. Instead of RR for some deals, they give “points”. When you get a bunch of points, you get coupons to Wags for free stuff.

The EOS lip balm is one of those non-RR deals – which completely messed up my entire plan I didn’t end up getting the EOS, since I’m not prepared to spend $2.99 for something the rest of the country can get for $.99.

Of course, since my whole trip was predicated on rolling RR from one transaction to the next, I got two boxes of Special K and left without the rest of my haul. I’ve got to go back to spend my $2 in RR, which I will on the granola bar deal (assuming it works.) But then I’m really done. (At least until the next too-good-to-pass-up deal.)

Assuming the snow lets up, here’s how I plan to get (5) boxes of granola bars, (2) boxes of Special K, (1) Quaker Instant Oatmeal, (1) EOS lip balm (my fav!), (1) children’s vitamins and (2) boxes of 100-ct Ziploc sandwich bags for less than $10 out of pocket.

Transaction #1

Buy 2 – Select Kellogg’s Cereal 12-18.2 oz 2/$5, Earn $2 RR
Use the buy one get one free Special K coupon found here
(I never made it to Target last week, so I’ve got four of these coupons left!)

Buy 1 – EOS lip balm .25 oz or ultra moisturizing shave cream 7 oz $2.99, Earn $2 RR
I got a free sample a year ago that I love. Just yesterday, I noticed that it is running low, so I’m thrilled to be able to get more for just $.99 after RR!

Total OOP: $4.99
Earn: $4 RR

Transaction #2

Go! Kids Multi-Vitamin Gummies  60 ct $5 = $5 RR
(I am not sure whether or not these have a hechsher – but since they are free after RR, I will go ahead and pick them up. I can always donate them!)

Use $4 RR from Transaction #1

Total OOP: $1 OOP
Earn: $5 RR

Transaction #3

Buy 5 – Nature Valley Granola Bars – 2 for $5, Buy 5 Earn $3.50 ECBs
Use (5) $.50/1 here or here

+ small filler (You will need a filler because Walgreens doesn’t allow the number of coupons to exceed the number of items – and paying with a RR counts as a one coupon. Check the clearance tags for something less than $.25)

Use $5 RR from Transaction #2

Total OOP: @ $2.75
Earn: $3.50 RR

Transaction $4

Buy 2 – Ziploc bags freezer or storage 15-25 pk or sandwich 100 pk 2/$5
Use the $1/2 coupon in the 12/5 or 1/9 Smart Source insert

Quaker Quick-1 minute oats 18 oz 2/$3 with in ad coupon
Use the $1/1 coupon in the 1/2 Red Plum insert

Use $5 RR from Transaction $3

Total OOP: $1
Earn RR: $0

Assuming all products are still in stock (and I didn’t mess up the math!), I will pay $9.74 out of pocket for $29.49 worth of merchandise before coupons — a 67% savings! This doesn’t even take into account the non-sale price, so really, my savings percentage is even higher!

And, I’m getting products my family uses and needs! Other than the cheapie filler, there is nothing extraneous in these transactions, which is the best part!

Are you planning a Walgreens run this week? What’s on your list?

Comments

  1. also on my list for Walgreens (see, i’ve been reading ads): Pantene products are 2 for $7, with $2 in RR. On 12/26, there was a $3 coupon off Pantene (when you buy two), so I believe that brings my total down to $2 for two haircare products.

  2. I already used the Special K coupons, so instead I bought Rice Krispies using the $2/2 printables from awhile ago.

    The granola bars are actually 2/$4, not 2/$5 (at least in our ad here).

  3. I rarely go to Walgreens because they are so coupon-unfriendly (at least in my ‘hood), but we LOVE those granola bars, and I like the EOS shaving lotion. So off I went. Got 10 boxes of the bars, 4 shaving lotions (look for the ones with the free razor!!), and 2 boxes of ALL, on sale for $3.49. Not quite sure what I paid in all, but I saved a lot. Thanks, Mara!

  4. missfrizzly says

    went to walgreen’s last night and did even better than i’d hoped – i happened to stop into a walgreen’s that had just reopened so they had a special $3 off a purchase of $10 or more in honor of the grand opening…i did a couple of transactions and i don’t remember the exact amounts because i’m at work and the receipts are at home – but i did want to mention that the ziploc bags had great coupons inside – can’t remember the specifics but it had 3 ziploc coupons that don’t expire til march of 2012 – yay! sorry your walgreen’s run didn’t work as planned, always a bummer! i also got 5 boxes of the granola bars for $0.30 a box, after the $3 off coupon plus the printables and the RR…

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