Various Couponing Adventures - Week of 7/31/2011

Before I begin with the products, I've started taking pictures each week of the products I've purchased.  Here is this week's collection!

So, as you can see, I got quite a bit of stuff!  I'm excited too.  We don't need to buy mouthwash until our future kids are teenagers!  Now, that's definitely an exaggeration, but we definitely have enough to last us a while, and since I was essentially paid to take it out of the store, I don't mind that we now have 4 L of mouthwash, in addition to the bottle that's currently open, and the 1L already in our stockpile.  Alright, enough with the small talk.  Let's get down to business.

CVS:  This trip was done in two transactions on two different days.  The first day also included some things my husband needed that we did not have coupons for, but were on sale.

Transaction 1:

• (2) Genuine Muscle Milks - Regularly $9.99 ea.
• On Sale - $6.00
• (2) Skinny Cow Crisp Singles - Regularly $1.19 ea.
• On Sale - $0.99
• BOGO Free Skinny Cow Singles MFC
• Get $0.99 ECB (Limit 1)
• Final Price: 2 for FREE!
• Bic Soleil Shimmer - Regularly $8.49
• On Sale - $5.99
• $3.00/1 Big Soleil Razor MFC
• Get $3.00 ECB (Limit 1)
• Final Price: FREE!
• Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor Manual - Regularly $10.99
• On Sale - $9.99
• $4.00/1 Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor
• Get $5.00 ECB (Limit 1)
• Final Price: $0.99
• Also used $5/$25 CVS coupon and $9.99 in ECB

Summary:

• Total Before Savings: $41.84
• Total Card Savings: $11.88
• Total Coupon Savings: $23.18
• Total After Savings: $6.78 + tax
• Percent Savings: 83.8%

Transaction 2:

• (2) Revlon Lip Colors - Regularly $9.49
• On Sale - $5.79
• $1.00/1 Revlon Color Cosmetic Product
• Get $3.00 ECB (Limit 6)
• Also have $3/$10 Cosmetic Purchase
• Final Price: $0.29 ea.
• U by Kotex Pantiliners (18ct) - Regularly $1.57
• "Free" Coupon from CVS MCM
• Final Price: FREE!
• Also Used $5.99 ECB.

Summary:

• Total Before Savings: $20.55
• Total Card Savings: $7.40
• Total Coupon Savings: $12.76
• Total After Savings: $0.39 + tax
• Percent Savings: 98.1%

Had a pretty good week at CVS.  Everyone I encountered was pleasant, or at the least tolerated my use of coupons.  I enjoyed this week at CVS since I got to get some beauty supplies for me, which hasn't happened since I've started couponing.

Today, I did the rest of my shopping.  I went to Walgreens by my school first, and they didn't have something that I needed, which I needed for my first of 3 transactions, so I had to leave.  Then, I went to a Walgreens halfway between school and home, and they didn't have the same item I needed for the first transaction, so I had to leave that store as well.  After that I went to Walmart, and they didn't have the All You August magazine.  Has anyone else had a hard time finding the August copy of All You?  I've checked 2 or 3 times now, and haven't found it.  Maybe I'll try a different Walmart tomorrow.  Anyway, then I went to Staples, and got what I needed there and then went to Rite Aid.  They had almost all of what I needed, but still needed to stop again to finish the trip.  After Rite Aid, I finished my drive home, and went to a third Walgreens where I was 100% successful in finding everything, and then stopped at a second Rite Aid to get the remaining items.  Long trip home, that's for sure!  Here are the details, broken up by store.


Staples: Of course, Staples is running weekly back to school promotions, so I took advantage of 2 out of the 3 in my area.

•  Pentel RSVP Ballpoint Pens, Black 5ct - $4.00
• Easy Rebate for $4.00
• Final Price: FREE!
• Staples College Rule Filler Paper (8 1/2 x 11) 400 sheets - Regularly $5.(something??)
• On Sale for $2.99
• (2) Sharpie Accent Highlighters, 2ct - Regularly $1.49
• Extreme Deal - $0.10 (Limit 2)
• (2) Staples 3x5 Ruled Index Cards, 100ct - Regularly $1.00
• Extreme Deal - $0.10 (Limit 2)

So, roughly speaking, I spent $7.39 +tax OOP, I am getting $4.00 back in a rebate, and in total I purchased roughly $15 worth of product.  I could have made it out cheaper, but I use that filler paper for school, and am nearly out of it, so that was a needed product.  A cheaper option would have been to get two of the $0.50 items, or one of the $1.00 items to meet the $5.00 minimum to get the Extreme Deals.  All in all, a good trip.  And I am well on my way towards my pledge to donate school supplies as well as having what I need for this upcoming year.

Rite Aid: The following purchases were made in three different transactions between two stores, the first two being at one, and the third transaction at a different store.  This trip was easy to purchase, but a bit nerve-wrecking at the same time.  It relies heavily on the single check rebates that Rite Aid offers.  Only time will tell on that offer though.  Here we go.


Transaction 1:

• Gillette Fusion ProGlide Manual Razor - Regularly $10.99
• On Sale - $9.99
• $4.00/1 Gillette ProGlide Fusion Razor MFC
• Get $5.00 +UP
• Final Price: $0.99
• Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power Razor - Regularly $12.99
• On Sale - $9.99
• $4.00/1 Gillette ProGlide Fusion Razor MFC
• Get $5.00 +UP
• Final Price: $0.99 
• Also had $3/$15 coupon and $7.50 in +UP.

Summary:

• Total Before Savings: $23.98
• Total Card Savings: $4.00
• Total Coupon Savings: $18.50
• Total After Savings: $1.48 + tax
• Percent Savings: 93.8%
• Have (2) $5.00 +UP for next purchase

Transaction 2:

• Oral-B CrossAction Toothbrush - Regularly $7.99
• On Sale - $5.99
• $3.00/1 Oral-B Battery Operated Toothbrush MFC
• Can Submit for SCR for $2.99
• Final Price: FREE!
• (2) Crest ProHealth Rinse 1L - Regularly $6.99
• On Sale - $5.00
• (2) $2.00/1 Crest Rinse 946mL or larger MFC
• Can submit for SCR for $10.00 wyb 4 of these.  (I will ... see below)
• Will also get $5.00 +UP, when I spend $25.00 on Oral Care Products.  (I will ... see below)
• Final Price: $0.75 profit/money maker each.
• Used $5.00 +UP from previous transaction.

Summary:

• Total Before Savings: $21.97
• Total Card Savings: $5.98
• Total Coupon Savings: $12.00
• Total After Savings: $3.99 + tax
• Percent Savings (OOP in this case): 81.8%  (don't forget, this really is going to be a money maker)

Transaction 3: (At a different store than above ... the first store did not have 4 ProHealth Mouthwashes in the 1L size.)

• (2) Crest ProHealth 1L - Regularly $6.99
• On Sale - $5.00
• (2) $2.00/1 Crest Rinse 946 mL or larger MFC
• See above for final price details.
• Also used the other $5.00 +UP from Transaction 1

Summary:

• Total Before Savings: $13.98
• Total Card Savigns: $3.98
• Total Coupon Savings: $9.00
• Total After Savings: $1.00 + tax
• Percent Savings: 92.8%

But, really ... looking at the big picture now ... I purchased roughly $60.00 in product.  I paid about $6.50 OOP.  But, I am getting $12.99 back in SCR, and still have $5.00 +UP for next time.  Going in, I had $7.50 in +UP, so I am down $2.50 on +UP, but the surplus in SCR more than makes up for that.  I gain $3.99 by making the above purchases.  I just got PAID to shop at Rite Aid!!!  But, like I said, this all requires those SCR's to go through like I planned.

Walgreens: Like I said above, it took me going to three different Walgreens today to find what I needed, but it was all worth it in the end.  Here's the deals, broken up into three transactions.

Transaction 1:

• Complete Multi-Solution (12oz) - On Sale for $8.00
• $1.00/1 Complete Multi-Solution 12oz or larger MFC
• Get $8.00 RR
• Final Price: $1.00 Profit/Money Maker
• Crayola Broad Tip Markers (8ct) - On Sale for $2.00
• Get $2.00 RR
• Final Price: FREE!
• (2) Penway Notebooks (1-subject) - On Sale for $0.39 ea.
• Fillers needed for Register Rewards being redeemed
• Used $7.50 in RR (split among 3 different RR)

Transaction 2:

• Celedrin Advanced Joint Health (60ct) - On Sale for $10.00
• Get $10.00 RR
• Final Price: FREE!
• Penway Notebook (1-subject) - On Sale for $0.39
• Filler needed for Register Rewards being redeemed
• Used $8.00 in RR from Transaction 1

Transaction 3:

• Bioglan Kids Smart Hi DHA-Omega Fish Oil - On Sale for $7.00
• Get $7.00 RR
• Final Price: FREE!
• Goody Hair Clips (6ct) - On Sale for $2.00
• Get $2.00 RR
• Final Price: FREE!
• Crayola Fine Tip Markers - On Sale for $2.00
• Get $2.00 RR
• Final Price: FREE!
• Used $10.00 RR

So, to summarize all three transactions,

• Total Before Savings: $58.71
• Total Wags Savings: $26.54
• Total Coupon Savings: $28.50
• Total After Savings: $3.67 + tax
• Percent Savings: 93.7%

And, really, I went in with $7.50 in RR, and came out with $11.00 in RR.  So, really, I spent $0.17 on all the above.  Couponing is amazing isn't it!  :-)  So, those are all of my deals for the week.  I may go back to Walgreens and get a few more things, since there were such good freebies this week!  Great for making those back to school donations.  Don't forget to share your couponing adventures with us!