Safeway Deals + Diaper Deals

I have to admit with Christmas around the corner I've been trying to wrap up projects around the house on my days off and have not done a ton of coupon shopping. It definitely helps that I have been Christmas shopping throughout the year when a good deal would come along so I am pretty much set without having to do a lot at the last minute.

Safeway has had some good deals lately, they have a good deal on Nabisco crackers wyb5 get $5 off. There are current Nabisco coupons for $1 off any cracker, makes the Cheese Nips FREE and most other crackers $.49. They were out of Cheese Nips at my store so I held on to my q's, promotion ends 1/7/10.

They also have coupons from now until Christmas Eve where there is a free item each day with a $20 purchase (today was dozen eggs, tomorrow is little smokies!). Now is a good time to whip out those coupons for free items to bring your total to $20. Went tonight for some milk (sorry, no picture):

gal milk $2.19
dozen eggs - FREE with Christmas coupon and a $20 purchase
6 Mr. Clean Spray and refill @ $1.99 each wyb3 or more - (3) free spray wyb refill (the computer automatically takes off the original price of $3.99 = all 6 FREE
9 Barilla whole grain pasta @ $1 - (9) $.50/1 mq = FREE
sugar substitute @ $6.99 - FREE mq = FREE
3 bananas @ $.39/lb
6 Lucerne cheese @ $.99 ea - $.30/1 peelies (did 2 separate orders as the limit is 3) = FREE
Total = $4.29 on a gift card

What I can't figure out, and maybe KC can help me since I know you've had tax issues at Safeway before, is why my OOP was so high. My receipt says that tax is $1.24 and since everything else was free except the milk then my total should be $3.43. I don't know!
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I've also been asked about diaper deals, this is probably the best one this week at WG's:

Huggies are $8.99 with a $2 RR
Scenario:
Buy 1 @ 8.99
- $1.50 q from SS 11/15 (look around though for other q's you may have, I know I have $2 q's from something)
- $1 WG's coloring book (this was available like back in August, may be hard to find now)
Pay $6.49 and get back $2 RR
Like paying $4.49/pack

Remember not to use your $2 RR from this to buy another pack of diapers as it would not generate another $2 RR. If you don't have the coloring book, $5.49 is a still good deal on Huggie's. My personal 5-star price is $5 or less on brand name diapers, so not a bad deal!!

Walgreen's $5/$25 coupon good through 8/29

Just received an email from WG's, they have a new coupon out starting tomorrow 8/26-8/29 for $5 off a $25 purchase. Unfortunately it does state that the $25 purchase has to be after any other coupons or discounts. Hip2Save has a great deal scenario, especially if you are just starting to do the "Walgreen's thing". I'm still deciding what I am going to do since I don't have any RR right now to bring down my initial OOP and I don't like the fact that the RR expire in 2 weeks so I have to use them pretty fast. (Don't forget that if you received a RR from a promotion and use it to purchase items for that same promotion the new RR will not print). Albertson's will take them but will only take 1 per person (YMMV). I might use it to get my ink cartridges refilled though since I don't normally have a coupon for that.

Let me know what deals you come up with using this coupon!!

Learning the ropes!

I got this email from one of my friends, just wanted to share it! I used to feel the same way about WG's and CVS until I really started learning the ropes of getting great deals there. Now I they are 2 of my favorite stores for coupon shopping! I didn't learn in one trip though, so just keep going bit by bit and you'll be a pro before long! As always, feel free to ask any questions!

Love the blog, I do have to say its kind of addicting, I have told everyone about it. I used to hate walgreens and CVS thinking that everything was so over priced. I was very nervous to try it out, but went for the first time today and did good. The only thing I need to do better is the whole 1st transaction and then the 2nd, so that way I dont end up with a bunch of RR just chillin in my wallet. I am learning a lot keep it coming....

Great WG's deal!

Starting tomorrow, 8/19 - 8/22 WG's will have a special 4 day ad and basically you will receive a $5 RR for spending $25 on practically everything (except gift cards, stamps). Also, it's $25 BEFORE coupons!

This would be a great time to combine this with the current RR deals so you can start rolling them.

Hip2Save has posted some deal scenarios to go with this.

Looks like WG's Photo is also running some specials this week, including Free photo clings on 8/19, 20 free 4x6 prints on 8/20, 8x10 scrapbook page for only $.99 on 8/21, and 50% off photo books on 8/22. Time to work on those photo projects!!

WG's & CVS

I returned to WG's to pick up my ink and they were still stocked with Ragu and Skippy so I decided to pick up some more. The color ink cartridge failed, meaning they couldn't sell it to me. When this happens these usually still work for a while so I basically got a free refill. The bad news is that they changed the price on the ink refills for $12.99 for either black or color. Black used to be $10. Sorry, no pics for right now. I'll try to get them up later.

1st order:
4 Ragu @ $2 ea
4 Skippy PB @ $2 ea
- (3) $5 RR (these were from a while ago when it didn't print at the register. I called and they mailed them to me)
Total = $1
+ I received a $10 RR for buying 8 Unilever items

2nd order:
1 black ink refill @ $12.99 (ugh! I'm going to have to check but I think I can buy a new one at Target for about this price!)
- $10 RR from previous purchase
Total = $4.07

CVS

1st order:
1 Contour glucose monitor, raincheck priced to $19.99 - $19.99 mq
1 pkg Pampers @ $10. Would have had a $3 mq for this but it wouldn't scan and the grouchy cashier would not manually enter it! I hate it when they are stingy! I may take it back with my receipt and try to get them to take it.
1 Skippy PB @ $2
2 Chocolate eggs @ $.50 ea (thanks to the 2 yr old that tried to bite into both of them!)
- $4/$20 (coupon given for asking about the Readyfill program at the pharmacy. The pharmacist told me that I had to sign up for the program even though there was a sign right in front of me advertising the coupon book when you ASK about the program. When I pointed that out he gave me one)
- $5 EB
Total = $4.87
+ I earned $5 EB for the Contour (Raincheck from last month) and $3 for the Skippy (I bought the other $8 in items earlier) and a CRT for free Absolute Divine chocolate bar!

2nd order:
1 Contour glucose monitor machine, raincheck priced to $19.99 - $19.99 mq
1 Pampers diapers @ $10 (I didn't even try to use this coupon!)
1 Vapomist plug in clearanced to $2.20 (I used these a lot on DD when she would get sick)
1 Snicker's bar $.22 (the little stinker bit into this one too!)
- $4/$20
- $5 EB
Total = $4.09
+ I earned another $5 EB for the Contour and $5 EB for buying 2 Pampers

Not getting the Pampers coupons really hurt my budget here!

Remaining budget for the week: $18.08 - $1 - $4.87 - $4.09 = $8.12 (For right now I'm not including the ink in this budget as it technically is not groceries or h/b items)

WG's and CVS

Day 1 of my challenge and I'm already starting to feel a little nervous only because I really want to stock up on roast at Safeway for $1.77/lb and chicken will be on sale for $1.67/lb starting Wed. I need to replenish my stockpile as much as I can with these deals.

I stopped in at WG's before work today since I was a little early. I was excited to see that they had their photo stamps clearanced out to $7.59 from $30! I have read that these are on clearance but the only other one's I saw were still $14.99. That's cheaper than buying them at the Post Office, and you get to have any photo you choose put on them with free shipping. I also took advantage of the Unilever RR deal.
1st transaction:
8- Ragu pasta sauce @$2 = $16 - (4) $1/2 q from here (keep hitting the back button fo unlimited prints!) or use Ragu Pasta Sauce, any $1/2 (9-27-09) RP-8/2
Total = $12 Plus I earned a $10 RR for buying 8 items.

2nd transaction:
2 - Photo stamp kits @ $7.59
- $10 RR
Total = $5.52

Don't know what a RR is? Check out this explanation.

CVS
1st transaction:
Lemonade and Simply Orange Vitamin water @ $1.25 ea
1 CVS popcorn
2 strawberry & peanut butter M&M's clearanced @ $.22 ea
- $4 EB (adjusted to $3.96)
Total = $0 OOP!
+ I earned $3 EB for buying the Vitamin water and I got my free gift coupon for a 4 pack of batteries. These happen to be on sale B1G1F so next time I go I will get 2 packs FREE! I read about the Vitamin water producing $3 EB on SlickDeals. That means that you pay $1.25 for the Vitamin water and get back $3! Sounds like a $1.75 MM to me! It only works on certain flavors and it only gives you one no matter how many you buy in a single transaction.

2nd transaction:
1 Lemonade Vitamin water @ $1.25
1 Skippy peanut butter @ $2
- $3 EB from previous transaction
Total = $.25 OOP
+ I earned $3 EB for buying the Vitamin water

3rd transaction:
1 Simply orange Vitamin water @ $1.25
1 Skippy peanut butter @ $2
- $3 EB from previous transaction
Total = $.25 OOP
The EB from this transaction didn't print, I guess becase the Simply orange doesn't make it print. My receipt did say that I had not reached the offer limit so the manager checking me out manually printed the EB. This is a great new thing that they are able to do at CVS now so if your EB doesn't print say something and they can make it print for you.

I also got rainchecks for all the Back 2 School items that are free after EB (FAEB) as well as the Blink eye drops and Electrasol dishwashing tabs.

Budget: $40 - $12 - $5.52 - $.25- $.25 = $22 for the rest of the week.

15% off Walgreen's 7/31 ONLY and RR explanation

Walgreen's has a great coupon valid tomorrow 7/31 ONLY for 15% off eligible items and 20% off Walgreens and W brand products. Be sure to read the fine print for exclusions and it does say to use only at the photo or cosmetic check out. I'm planning on taking my color ink cartridge in to have it refilled. I usually can catch this when they're having a sale but haven't seen one in a while so I guess I'll have to fork out the $15- 15% discount = $12.75 to have it filled.

Speaking of ink cartridges, I have a little tip when you get your ink cartridges refilled. If they bring it back to you and say that the test failed, keep it and try it. Basically they test it after filling it and it has to perform well enough that they can sell it to you. If it fails, they give it back to you and do not charge you for it. I have found that a lot of times because they did fill it, it works well again in my printer. It may not last as long or give as good of a print, but hey, for what I'm using my printer for (mainly coupon printing) a FREE refill works for me!

Some other good deals that I see with this:

Tuf Ultra Trash bags
in-ad coupon for $2.99 (if I remember right, these are regular $5.99)
- 15%
Total = $2.54 Not the best deal, but I need these so I'll get a box and then look for a better deal in the meantime!

Conair Gel Grips Hair Dryer
on sale for $14.99
-15%
$12.74, Plus you will get $10 RR (Register Rewards)
Total after RR = $2.74

Now for an explanation of RR if you are not familiar with them. Basically at WG's they run weekly/monthly promotions where when you buy certain products you get a certain amount back in the form of a catalina, or the little strip of paper that prints out with your receipt. This RR is a manufacture coupon and states that it is redeemable at WG's and is for a dollar amount off your purchase (aka ONYSO). So basically you buy something and get a coupon that is like money to use on your next purchase. Unfortunately at WG's, your RR will not "roll" which means that if I had 2 blow dryers and paid $12.74 for the first one and used the $10 RR I got from the first to buy the 2nd, it would not print another $10 RR for me. You can, however, "roll" RR from different promotions. So, taking the example from before. If I used a RR that I received from buying, say shave cream, to pay for the hair dryer then I would get another RR print out. The real "trick" to the game is to keep these rolling between different promotions. You may also use coupons on a product that has a RR (if the RR doesn't print, don't let them tell you it is because you used a coupon!) CLEAR AS MUD??

Albertsons and Walgreen's

I forgot to post this one, unfortunately the sale ended 7/28.

Albertson's

4 boxes Kellogg's cereal @ 4/$10 = $10 - $1 MQs = $6
2 gallons milk = FREE for buying 4 cereal
2 Sara Lee bread @ $.97 with in ad coupon= $1.94
5 lb potatoes (should have bought these at the Farmer's Market!) = $2.99
6 Easy Mac @ 3/$1 with in ad coupon (did 2 transactions since the limit was 1) = $2
3 Jimmy Dean breakfast croissants @ 3/$10 - $3 in ad coupon = $7 (cheaper than Costco)

Used $10 RR

Total = $10.12

WG's

2 bubble mailers on sale @ $.39 each = $.78 - $.50 MQ from 7/26 RP

Total = $.34

*If I had more than one Sunday paper delivered, which I plan on doing SOON, a better deal would be:

Buy 4 @ $.39 - (3) $.50 MQ = $.06 + tax for all 4!