To say that I’m uber excited about my new couponing adventure would be an understatement.
I attempted couponing several years ago and was confused and overwhelmed pretty much from the beginning. I think I quit after cutting up about 4 coupon inserts and filing them all in a huge 3 ring binder by category…yeah.
Well now, there are so many awesome couponing resources that basically take the work out of searching for the coupons and creating the “deal” for you it’s much easier.
There are also several apps that help and offer cash back rebates in addition to the traditional coupons so you can save even more!
An awesome addition to my personal challenge for 2016 to create my RHSM Dream Life of being the best “Home Economist” that I can be and saving enough money for my dream vacation home in northern Michigan. Woot woot!
Ok so today.
I wanted to go to Walgreens and attempt to get FREE Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner and really cheap, like $0.80 each, head and shoulders shampoo.
Yesterday I bought two papers ($3 each, I’ll be subscribing for next week at a rate of $1.79 each) so I cut out the $5 off/2 and $5 off/3 P & G coupons twice and ran to Walgreens.
I found the bottles right away and added 10 to my cart and headed to the checkout. The cashier was really helpful and friendly (he answered my questions about the Walgreens Register Rewards program when I bought the papers the day before ???) and walked me through that I needed to do 2 transactions as the coupons specified.
I just said whatever you need to do I’m just learning and practicing here.
So the first total was for 5 bottles of shampoo and was $15.68 after $10 in manufacturers coupons. I also earned 6000 RR for my next purchase. I think that’s the same as $6.
So then the next transaction was the same amount $15.68, but I was able to use 5000 RR points for $5.00 off, so $10.68.
He informed me that the system only lets you redeem RR points in certain increments. I thought I understood this as 5000 point increments but I’m really not sure. Like, if you have 8350 you can only use 5000 but if you have 13,350 you can use 10,000…I’m still not sure, we shall see.
Anyway so I spent out of pocket $26 and change and got home and said, “Well that didn’t feel “FREE”
BUT…
I forgot about the CASH rebates with the Pantene purchase from Checkout 51 for $2.00/1 bottle – so I would have gotten cash back of $2.00 x 6 bottles or $12 which would have made them free without using the P&G coupon I’m just now realizing…damn it! Anyway, all of the Checkout 51 rebates had already been claimed by the time I checked ?.
Rookie Mistake…hmmm I’ll be better prepared next time.
Either way I got 10 bottles of shampoo for $26 – the future RR of $7 = just under $2 per bottle. Not FREE but not full price either and it was a learning experience for sure.
Tomorrow I’m off to Target to try to get some FREE toothpaste ????.
