Coupons 101 - Store Cash (Walgreens & Register Rewards)

I used to believe that the local pharmacy stores, Walgreens (Wags) and CVS, were a waste of time.  I would always buy my items at Target and walked out happy.  I was surprised to learn that I was missing out after all these years.  But after couponing for awhile, I learned that these stores run great sales that, when coupled with coupons and store cash offers, become a bargin store.

Register Reward Examples

Wags offers Register Rewards, RR.  These store coupons can be used on any future transaction as a dollar off coupon (yes, they are a coupon).  Note that a "future transaction" means any purchase right after the one just done.  This means that you can turn around and use the RR on a purchase right there while at the store.  Some of the RR deals may include "buy X-number of items and receive a RR" or "buy $N worth of this product/brand and receive a RR."

Being a coupon, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• The number of items being purchased has to be equal to or greater than the number of coupons being used.  Since RR are a coupon, it has to be counted when doing this math.  Note that Wags counts some multiple item coupons (e.g. $1/2 items) as multiple coupons.  For example, if your purchase 2 candies with a coupon that is $.50/2 candies, you may be using one coupon but Wags counts as two since it applies to 2 items.  Finding out that your total items is under the amount of coupons/RR being used?  Solution: Throw in some filler items (those cheap little items that are under $.40 found throughout the checkout area).  The only exception to this rule is when you are buying a single item.  Then you are able to use (2) coupons.
•  RR can be used on any future purchase.  But if it is used on the same item (and sometimes same brand) any new RR will not print.
• For example, let's assume Colgate Total toothpaste is on sale for $3.  When you purchase, you will receive a $3 RR.  This makes the item essentially free.  But if you take that $3 RR and purchase more Colgate toothpaste, a second RR for $3 will not print.  Solution: Alternate the use of RR.  If you have a RR for buying deodorant the same week, use that RR to buy the toothpaste (then you can use the Colgate RR to buy the deodorant.
• RR deals often have a limit of 1 RR/transaction.  This means you cannot buy 2 toothpastes (based on example above) and receive $6 in RR.  Only 1 $3 RR will print in this example.

RR are as good as cash.  So use these to bring down your total OOP (out-of-pocket) expenses to a manageable amount.  When you use a comination of coupons, RR and Wag coupons, there are great deals to be had.

Good luck and happy couponing!