I Prefer Publix: September 2011

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Why the drugstores?

Or, "I like WalMart, why should I shop at the drugstores? I don't use Alli weight loss, Depends, Poise, Polident, or any other random products that I have to buy to get a 'good deal'."

Well, here's the answer: drugstores sell products you do use on a regular basis. Toilet paper, health and beauty items like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, even food items like cereal, soda, canned fruit, and staples like sugar. With the reward deals offered by drugstores, many times you actually make money in these deals. The offer might be, say, for a "Free after rewards tube of Crest", but if you have a $1 coupon for the product, you actually make a dollar to purchase the item. That dollar can be used toward something you need.

You might think drugstores are more expensive than WalMart, and that is true if you walk in and buy it at non-sale, shelf-pricing. But if you use your coupons on sale items, you can do very well indeed. Then that saved money can go into things you can't buy at drugstores, like produce, meat and so forth.

In addition, you might not use Polident, but someone somewhere does, and they would love a gift of that item. If you don't know anyone personally that is in need, do a little research on the internet and you will quickly come up with dozens of charities that will gladly take donations of this type.

Walgreens: Getting Started: Week of 9/25-10/1

Walgreens looks good this week. Since it's the middle of the week, unless you're in a low-couponed area, you might find some items out of stock, but if not, then you're in luck.

I am going to assume if you're starting out, you don't have a multitude of insert coupons, but if you are interested in the game, you should at least get your hands on two sets of inserts a week. Buy two papers, ask a relative or neighbor to give you their unused coupons, etc. BOGO deals are almost always good with two coupons, so you always want multiples. Some of these scenarios are based on you having at least two sets of inserts.

Here's the deals, and what I recommend:

Zarbees Nighttime Cough Medicine $5.99, earn $6rr
-$1/1 inside box

Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 2/$7.98 ($3.99/ea), earn $6rr wyb 2

-$1.50/1 mq 9.11 SS

Schick Quattro Razor System or cartridges $8.99, earn $5rr

-$4/1 mq Schick refill 9.25 SS

-$2/1 mq Schick Quattro Razor 9.25 SS

Remington Razor System $4.99, Earn $5rr

Walgreens Regular or Overnight Maxi Pads, 14-24ct, $2, earn $2rr

Balance Bar $1.59, earn $1.60rr (This might ring uup $1.50 instead of $1.59)
(some areas got coupons in the 9.11 paper, but we did not, so I have not included them)

Theraflu $5, earn $5rr wyb 2

-$2/1 mq 9.25 SS

Least Oop Scenario (more transactions)
Transaction 1

Balance Bar $1.59 ($1.50)
=$1.59 +tax

Use Balance Bar coupon if you happen to have one from 9.11 SS
Earn $1.60rr

Transaction 2
Walgreens Maxi pads $2
Halloween plastic tumber/gift bag ($.16 with in-ad coupon)
=$2.16+tax

Use

$1.60rr from Trans 1

Wags in-ad coupon for Halloween cup/bag
=$.56+tax

Earn $2rr (also you will probably get a coupon for a Walgreens pads, which may or may not apply to this product if you want to buy more. Registers alternate printing a $.50 coupon that applies, and a $1 coupon that is only for bigger packages. If you get the $.50 coupon, and want to use it on another transaction, it will make your pads a $.50 mm)

Transaction 3
2x Colgate Optic White Toothpaste 2/$7.98
Halloween plastic tumber/gift bag ($.16 with in-ad coupon)
=$8.14

Use
2x $1.50/1 mq Colgate Optic White 9.11 SS
$2rr from Trans2