Managed to stay up for a few hours last night to prepare for my shop today. Normally, I would be setting aside coupons for my upcoming shops weeks in advance but I am behind since I have been out of town.
I had to take the children with me today so it took me an hour longer than usual to shop. I am usually in and out of the store in 1.5 hours......but not today. I made a rookie mistake today that cost me dearly while shopping.
I forgot to bring the goldfish.
Lack of goldfish = a much more difficult shop (insert intermittent screaming and crying). It's nearly impossible for me to do math calculations when my children have reached the "point of no return" stage.
Prepping for a shop
I thought I would take a moment to tell all of you how I am preparing for my shops lately. This may or may not help you to shop more quickly but it really helps me.
I have decided to cut up the ad and glue or tape the items that I am interested in onto copy paper. When my shop is organized on paper then I can zoom to each section of the store and look at everything at once instead of going back and forth through the store to get what I need. This method also saves me the effort of having to scan through the ad constantly to read about the details of the deal.
Since I have been shopping at the same two stores for the last two months I have begun to memorize the aisles of my stores. I have found that taking 10 minutes to cut up everything and put it on a few pages ensures that I won't miss something while I'm in the store. I take these pages with me to the store so that I can quickly throw $25 transactions into my cart (instead of carrying the full ad with me everywhere). I am a very visual person and the text list from southernsavers.com is hard for me to follow in the store (I still use her list to gather my coupons the day of the sale). The sheets that I create include all of the details of the deal including which size and/or items are included in the sale. Eventually, I will just scan the ad into an editing program and just cut and paste what I need but until I obtain the technology to do this on a computer the old school method of cutting with scissors and pasting with a glue stick works for me.
I just started organizing my shops this way and I am really enjoying my time in the store more. I take a sharpie with me and I write down the price of the items in my cart on the sheet so that I can divide my shop into $25 transactions. After I purchase those items I cross them off the sheet so that I know what is left. Again, this may not work for you but it is immensely helpful to me especially when shopping with small children.
I have decided to cut up the ad and glue or tape the items that I am interested in onto copy paper. When my shop is organized on paper then I can zoom to each section of the store and look at everything at once instead of going back and forth through the store to get what I need. This method also saves me the effort of having to scan through the ad constantly to read about the details of the deal.
Since I have been shopping at the same two stores for the last two months I have begun to memorize the aisles of my stores. I have found that taking 10 minutes to cut up everything and put it on a few pages ensures that I won't miss something while I'm in the store. I take these pages with me to the store so that I can quickly throw $25 transactions into my cart (instead of carrying the full ad with me everywhere). I am a very visual person and the text list from southernsavers.com is hard for me to follow in the store (I still use her list to gather my coupons the day of the sale). The sheets that I create include all of the details of the deal including which size and/or items are included in the sale. Eventually, I will just scan the ad into an editing program and just cut and paste what I need but until I obtain the technology to do this on a computer the old school method of cutting with scissors and pasting with a glue stick works for me.
I just started organizing my shops this way and I am really enjoying my time in the store more. I take a sharpie with me and I write down the price of the items in my cart on the sheet so that I can divide my shop into $25 transactions. After I purchase those items I cross them off the sheet so that I know what is left. Again, this may not work for you but it is immensely helpful to me especially when shopping with small children.
OK, here's the deal:
MONEYMAKERS
4 Colgate Sensitive 6oz. $3.50 ea. (sale price)
- $.75/1 any Colgate 4oz. or larger 12/5 SS
- prints $3.50 UP Reward
= FREE + $.75 overage after UP Reward
36 Ecotools Spa & Bathcare Accessories $1.99-$6.49 ea. (B1G1 50%)
no coupons
- prints $5 UP Reward wyb 2
= FREE + $2.00 overage wyb 2 tools @ $1.99 ea. (second one rings at $.99 cents) after UP Reward
26 Rite-Aid Invisible Tape & Gift Wrap Tape @ $1.49 ea. (B1G1)
no coupons
- prints $1 UP Reward
= FREE + $.51 overage wyb 2 after UP Reward
2 Revlon Nail Files $.75 cents (40% off sale) - regular price is $1.25
- no coupons
- prints $2 UP Reward wyb 2
= FREE + $.50 overage wyb 2 after UP Reward
4 Band-Aid Assorted $2.63 (20% off sale price; regularly $3.29)
- $2/1 peelies found on the black-box First-Aid products (the multi-day wound pads)
- prints $3 UP wyb $10 in product
= FREE + $.48 cents overage after UP Reward wyb 4
8 Foamie craft kits $2.29, $2.99 and $4.99 (B1G1 50%)
- $5/2 Foamie craft kits, Rite-Aid VV printable (beeped at register but cashier pushed through)
= FREE + $.51-$1.57 overage
3 John Frieda trial size shampoo $1.34 w/ ea. w/10% wellness discount ($1.49 regular price)
- $5 SCR Rebate wyb 3 John Frieda
= FREE + $.98 cents overage after rebate
8 "great value" puzzle 100-ct. $.74 cents (25% off sale price; regular price $.99 cents)
no coupons
- prints $2 UP Reward
= FREE + $1.26 overage after UP Reward
2 "great value" Disney figurines $.74 cents (25% off sale price; regular price $.99 cents)
no coupons
- prints $2 UP Reward
= FREE + $1.26 overage after UP Reward
STOCKPILE
1 Photo Frame $1.11 (25% off sale price)
no coupons
- prints $1 UP Reward
= $.11 cents
10 Rite-Aid Envelopes (assorted) $2.29 ea. (B1G1)
no coupons
- prints $1 UP Reward
= $.15 cents ea. after UP Reward wyb 2
3 Trident Layers $.97 cents ea. (sale price)
- $.50/1 Trident, Rite-Aid VV printable
= $.47 ea.
Hershey's Deal - buy $15 in select Hershey's products, get $5 UP Reward
4 Hershey's Pot of Gold $3.99 ea. (sale price)
- $1/1 Hershey's Pot of Gold printable or 12/5 SS
- prints $5 UP Reward wyb 15 (purchase 4 boxes)
- send in for $5 Rebate here
= $.49 cents ea. after rebate and UP Reward wyb 4 boxes
1 Almay Eye Pencil $4.49 ea. (40% off sale price)
- $2/1 Almay Eye, Rite-Aid VV printable
- $2 SCR Rebate (input online at riteaid.com)
= $.49 ea. after rebate
Baking Deal - buy $12 in Baking products, get $3 UP Reward
6 Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes @ $2.00 ea (sale price)
- $1/2 Betty Crocker Baking item, Rite-Aid VV printable
- $.40/1 Betty Crocker Cookie Mix printable or printable or printable or 11/14 GM, 11/21 SS, 12/5 GM
- prints $3 UP Reward wyb $12 of products
= $.60 cents ea. wyb 6 after UP Reward
Baking Deal - buy $12 in Baking products, get $3 UP Reward
6 Jif Peanut Butter @ $2.00 ea (sale price)
- $1/2 Jif Peanut Butter, Rite-Aid VV printable
- $1 off any peanut butter wyb 2 Rice Krispies printable (no longer available)
- prints $3 UP Reward wyb $12 of products
= $.83 cents ea. wyb 6 after UP Reward
4 KushyFoot Socks $3.99 ea. (B1G1 50%)
- $2/1 KushyFoot, Rite-Aid VV printable (no longer available to watch)
= $.99 cents ea.
32 Zicam $7.99 ea. (sale price)
- $2/1 Zicam (booklet found at the back by the pharmacy on a zicam stand-alone display)
- prints $4 UP Reward
= $.99 cents ea.
2 Planters peanuts 16oz. $4.49 (B1G1)
- $1/1 any planters printable (click on "like" when you get to the facebook page, then click on the Holiday Party tab, then click on the arrow in the center of the picture to "join the party," then click to the right of Mr. Peanut on the 3 tier-tray picture, then click on the empty dish, then get the coupon...whew)!
= $1.24 ea.
2 Ghirardelli pouches $2.50 ea. (sale price)
- $.75/1 printable or $.50/1 printable or $1/2 dark pouches printable or $1/2 seasonal printable
- prints $1 UP Reward wyb 2
= $1.25 ea. after UP Reward wyb 2
2 Rice Krispies 9oz. $1.88 ea. (sale price)
- $1/2 Rice Krispies printable
= $1.38 ea.
Revlon Colorstay Deal - buy 3 items, get $3 UP Reward
3 Revlon Colorstay Lipsticks $2.49 ea. (75% clearance price)
no coupons
- prints $3 UP Reward wyb 3
= $1.49 ea. after UP Reward
2 Act Mouthwash 18oz. $3.99 ea. (sale price)
- $1/1 from Safeway Fall Savings booklet
- prints $1 UP Reward
= $1.99 ea. after UP Reward
L'Oreal Deal - buy $15 in L'Oreal cosmetics or skincare, get $5 UP Reward
4 L'Oreal Revitalift Cleansing Cloths $7.19 ea. (B1G1 50%)
- $2/1 any L'Oreal Revitalift printable or 10/24 RP
- prints $5 UP Reward wyb $15 in product
= $2.14 ea. after UP Reward wyb $15 in product
THINGS I NEEDED:
2 Aquaphor 3oz. $7.99 (B1G1 50%)
- no coupons
- prints $3 UP Reward wyb 2
= $4.49 ea. after UP Reward wyb 2
Revlon Colorstay Deal - buy 3 items, get $3 UP Reward
3 Revlon Colorstay Mineral Powder Foundation $3.49 (75% off clearance)
no coupons
- prints $3 UP Reward wyb 3 products
= $2.49 ea.
3 Martinelli Sparkling Cider $1.66 ea.
no coupons
= $1.66 ea.
1 Candy Cane box $1.00 ea.
no coupons
= $1.00 ea.
1 Sesame Numbers Flashcard $2.65 ea. w/10% wellness discount (regularly $2.95)
no coupons
= $2.65 ea.
2 Hello Kitty Book & Sesame Street Book $3.59 ea. w/10% wellness discount (regularly $4.99)
no coupons
= $3.59 ea.
1 Tussin Expectorant $4.49 ea. w/10% wellness discount (regularly $4.99)
no coupons
= $4.49 ea.
1 Folex Carpet $5.29 ea. (sale price)
no coupon
= $5.29 ea.
2 Ultimate Skill Builder Builder Books $5.39 w/10% wellness discount (regularly $5.99)
no coupons
= $5.39 ea.
1 Rite-Aid brand Cetirizine Child $8.99 ea. w/10% wellness discount (regularly $9.99)
no coupons
= $8.99 ea.
1 Rite-Aid Hemorrhoid Cream 1.8oz. $8.99 ea. w/10% wellness discount (regularly $9.99)
no coupons
= $8.99 ea.
1 Crayola Neon Color Explosion $11.99 (B1G1 50%, I only bought one though)
no coupons - splurge purchase for my daughter for "helping" me in the store the last few days.
= $11.99 ea.
2 Crayola Color Explosion DLX 13.99 ea. & Crayola Crayons 96Ct $3.99 ea. (B1G1 50%)
no coupons
= $13.99 and $3.99 ea.
21 transactions using sixteen $5/25 printables, two $4/20 printables (no longer available to view), and one $3/20 printables Rite Aid coupons
TOTAL: $1014.86
TOTAL AFTER COUPONS AND REBATES: $34.49
SAVINGS: 97%
- For more coupon combinations please go to Southernsavers.com.
- Click on any of the picture aboves to expand them for a more-detailed view
- All of my values above assume that you are using the highest dollar value coupon listed. My balance reflects the rolling of my UP Rewards into the deal. The total after coupons and rebates is exactly what I will pay out of pocket including tax.
NOTE: I'm not actually sure if the frame that I purchased generated the $1 UP Reward. The ad states photo albums and frames but this was technically a refrigerator magnet frame. I'm not even sure if the UP Reward printed as I was pretty busy in the store and if it did generate I probably already spent it on another transaction. So, if you have tested out this refrigerator magnet frame in your shop please report back here whether or not it generated the $1 UP Reward. Thanks!
NOTE: The Rite-Aid store on Watt and Arden is no longer taking the $5/25 coupon that expires on 12/31/10. The coupon rings up as .1 cent now. I went to a few other stores today and the coupon rang up as $5 so I'm not sure why it is working at some stores but not working at other stores. If you know the answer to this question then please post it in the comments section. Thanks! Just be aware that the coupon may or may not scan at your store. I'm afraid the really amazing deals may be coming to an end with the loss of the $5/25 coupon. You will still be able to get really good deals but you may not have as much of an opportunity to make money from your transactions. UDPATE 12/18: The $5/25 is working again; showing up as a regular coupon (not as invalid).
NOTE: If you have never tried Betty Crocker's Sugar Cookie mix then you are missing out. My good friend Lori Bynes from Nashville told me about this cookie mix. She told me that this cookie mix is better than anything that she has ever made from scratch and I have to agree. She is always right about these things. Love you Lori and miss you!
2nd & 3rd Picture: The "great value" puzzle and disney figurines were found in the Christmas toy section with all of the other great value toys (I had to keep looking until I found them; they are small items and are difficult to see). The Foamies are located in the arts and crafts section of the store by the crayola stuff. The cheaper foamie products were hanging instead of laying on the shelves so make sure you look around when you find the foamie kits.
4th Picture: I'm trying to get to 1000 points on my wellness card before the end of the year so I decided to go and do a shop today to just purchase things that we needed in our stockpile that are missing (i.e. Cetirizine, Tussin and hemorrhoid cream). We also purchased some fun stuff for Savannah to do while we drive to San Diego next week to visit my brother (i.e. crayola stuff and preschool stuff). This is a great strategy to employ if you are trying to use up some of your extra UP Rewards. We had 98 UP Rewards that we earned throughout the last few months and I needed to use some of them before they expired. I'm not really sure that I understand how the wellness points are calculated, however, I have 62 more points to go until I reach the Gold level where I will receive 20% off of everything. If you understand how the wellness points are calculated can you please leave a comment explaining it here. Thanks!
5th Picture: I did some reading about the wellness program this afternoon and I just now figured out how the points are calculated. You earn points based upon the cash that you spent out of pocket plus the manufacturer coupons that you used (you do not get points for any Rite-Aid coupons including the UP Rewards). I decided to head back out to Rite-Aid tonight to get the 60 points that I needed to make the gold level so that I could get 20% off on my future purchases at Rite-Aid next year. If you make the Gold level before 12/31/10 you get the 20% discount all year next year. I purchased 30 Zicam cold remedies to get to the gold level because I could use a $2/1 manufacturer coupon with each one; I gave away 8 of the Zicam to the cashiers that helped me. I may take a break from couponing for awhile now that I've reached the gold level. I want to spend my time doing something else for a little while but will surely return after a hiatus. Evie, I'm sure you will laugh when you see all of this Zicam. You can have more than two of these if you would like. LOL.
great job! I am so mad at myself for forgetting the puzzles! I meant to pick them up yesterday to use for stocking stuffers, so now I have to take the kids with me. Man!!
ReplyDeleteDid you see the deal on Hormel Compleats? Those were great fillers!
Brandy,
ReplyDeletePuzzles? Do tell.
I used up all of my Hormel Compleats Rite-Aid Q's the last time they were on sale so no moneymakers. :(
The ecotools is the best deal going this week. Buy 1, Get 1 and most are at $1.99 (produce $5 UP for every two you buy). I went to several stores to build up my UP Rewards. Hoping to purchase a DVD Blue Ray or a travel DVD for the kids.
At one of my stores the $5/25 was ringing up as $.01 cent. At the other store it rang up fine. Weird.
Have a great week friend.
Never mind. Just found it. :)
ReplyDeletelol- yeah, by the time I got back the other couponer had cleaned them out. :( sad.
ReplyDeleteI think you saw the deal with the 5/25, but it's scanning as "invalid coupon" at most stores now, and only at $.01.
Was hoping it would be around until the end of the year, but it was fun while it lasted!
Just used the $5/25 at one of the stores in Sacramento and it rang up as $5 but said "invalid" on my screen. Casher didn't blink an eye and just kept on scanning. I'm pretty sure that the coupon will become invalid completely by next weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely fun while it lasted.
the 5/25 no longer is working because they say it was used more than it should have been used, some cashiers even told me that its a fraudulent coupon, I thought that was nonsense lol it was fun having the coupon here...
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what rite aid you shop at? you always seem to find everything.. :D
I just used the $5/$25 q at the rite aid in Franklin, TN. It rang up saying "invalid coupon" but took the $5 off anyway. The cashier just looked and looked at it, but kept ringing up the coupons anyway! SCORE!
ReplyDeleteLidia, the coupon was not fraudulent. Rite-Aid is indicating that it was supposed to be a one-time use coupon, however, the coupon was in the form of a .pdf. When that happens you can basically print it as many times as you want. Some folks put the coupon 6 to a page and then posted on google docs for everyone to go out and get. It is the companies responsibility to manage the way that they issue their coupons. Sounds like Rite-Aid is a little "green" and isn't aware of the coupon world that is out there that will take what they generate and make it available to everyone. In the end, Rite-Aid made a mistake by issuing the coupon as a .pdf and thousands of folks used it over and over again. They say that wasn't their intention but the couponing world won't know any different until Rite-Aid makes a change (like they just did by making the coupon ring up as 1 cent).
ReplyDeleteI shopped at 4 different Rite-Aids to obtain all of the stuff in this shop. Jason and I went out last night and we were on the West side of town and found a Rite-Aid in a nicer neighborhood and that's where I found all of the puzzles (I wasn't able to find any before). The reason that I get most of the items that I need is because I usually shop Sunday morning before church and everything is in stock on Sunday because that is the day that the sales cycle a new week. If you are going on Monday or later then they will most likely be out of stock especially if there are other couponers in your area.
One way to avoid this is to communicate with your management ahead of time and call them and ask them to order a bunch of the items that you are interested in (you need to do this a week in advance though). You can even special order from some stores (just depends on the manager). Place an order the week before the sales turn over and then go and get your stuff.
Just some ideas....
Bethany, hi there! I used a $5/25 on Monday and it rang up as invalid but still went through. I used it the next day and the computers had been updated and it rang up as a penny. Don't be surprised if you walk in over the next few days and their computers are updated. Still, it was an awesome coupon while it lasted.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got a good deal!
Lidia, btw....we were on the West side of town because we were out looking at Christmas lights with the kids. We just stumbled upon a Rite-Aid and I asked him if I could go inside for 10 minutes and look for the puzzles and figurines. He was gracious and let me cruise the store for a minute. I was super excited when I scored those puzzles. LOL. My main point is that I wasn't looking to do a shop last night but when I find a Rite-Aid in a remote part of town I hit it just to see what kinds of things they have in stock.
ReplyDeleteI should do that sometimes we go visit our parents which are in different area's of sacramento :D I should plan my shops ahead so i can go earlier in the week. Thanks so much for taking time and updating your shop and showing us what coupons you use and such, I have been getting better at this. :D
ReplyDeleteDid ya see that the Rite Aid Facebook has responded to the 5/25. They say as of the 17th you can use them again.....YAY
ReplyDeleteGonna try and do as much shopping as I can before they expire. Also in theory I should be getting a few of the GOS because I control the Rite Aid SCR accounts for my mom and sisters and they get the benefit of my extra stuff and the SCR get mailed to them. So in theory since they are emailing the 20$ I should get all 4 for my greedy self ;)
Christa
So excited about the 5/25 I have almost used up my 3/20 getting in on the Advil cold and sinus 2MM 2/1 Manu Q there are also nov and dec VV for them as well as the 1 in-ad although I didn't remember to use the in-ad. Shoot would be a 3 MM. I am happy with 2MM
ReplyDelete