Walgreens…New Balance Rewards Program (effective September 16, 2012)

Have you heard about this?  Walgreens has begun a new rewards program, called Balance Rewards.

Meijer - Updated Coupon Policy!

Meijer has recently updated their coupon policy, so I wanted to be sure you knew all the details.

To be honest, when I heard their policy was changing, I was a little nervous to look at the changes.  Meijer has been my favorite store to shop at, simply because they are so coupon-friendly.

The details of their updated policy are below.  I have put in italics my explanation of what things mean when I think it would be helpful.

Meijer's updated coupon policy is below.  I have highlighted the major changes I see in red and have given a short explanation under each one.

To print their official coupon policy, click here.

• Coupons must be presented on or before the expiration date.
• All coupon terms and conditions must be met and validated by the checkout register.
• Customers may use one manufacturer coupon (paper or digital) per item.
• Remember Meijer mPerks are digital coupons, but they are not Manufacturer coupons so this does not apply to those.
• Customers may also combine one manufacturer coupon per item with applicable Meijer coupon(s) where allowed under coupon redemption terms.
• Some mPerks digital coupons may state that it cannnot be stacked with a manufacturer coupon.  Be sure to read the terms on each mPerks coupon.
• Transactions cannot be broken up to avoid coupon stacking restrictions.
• This is referring to their coupon doubling policy.  They currently double 2 "Like" coupons per transaction.  Looks like you won't be able to do 2 separate transactions to double 4 coupons.
• Separate checklanes will not be opened or designated for customers with large coupon orders.
• I usually use a lot of coupons at Meijer, but I have never had so much that they had to open a separate checklane.  If this is you, just be aware of this.
• Manufacturer coupons and Catalina manufacturer coupons require the Customer to pay sales tax on the full retail amount.
• Meijer, Catalina, Meijer, and competitor coupons require the Customer to pay sales tax only on the discounted price.
• Meijer will accept coupons from major competitors in each store's trading area, for Grocery and or for Health and Beauty Care items.
• LOVE THIS!  Meijer will now be taking competitor store coupons.  Make sure that the competitor coupons to try to use are from local/regional stores.
• Meijer will accept coupons from major competitors in each store's trading area for General Merchandise items only if the competitor's price point is included.  The item must be the identical item on the coupon for the match to occur.
• Meijer does not accept competitor coupons for beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, double and triple coupons, clearance, percent off, total transaction discounts, special promotions, gift card promotions, limited quantity items, mail-in rebate offers, and going out of business sales.
• Meijer reserves the right to limit coupon quantities and to determine the order of applicaton of multiple coupons and/or promotions.

Here is some general information you may find useful in using coupons at Meijer...

• Manufacturer coupons up to $.50 off will double.  (This policy is true for stores in Indiana.  This seems to vary by state/region so be sure to check with your local store.)
• Only 2 "like" coupons will double per transaction.
• Example:  Peanut Butter - $1.00
• Manufacturer Coupon - $.50/1
• You can use 2 of these coupons per transaction making them FREE.  If you were to purchase 3 in one transaction and use 3 coupons, you would end up spending $.50.
• Meijer allows you to "stack" coupons.  You can use a Manufacturer coupon AND a Meijer store coupon together on the same item.  Great way to maximize your savings. (see more detail in their policy)
  
• 2 websites to find Meijer store coupons
• www.meijermealbox.com - printable coupons (check out my previous post about how to find your way around this website)
• www2.meijer.com/mperks - mobile coupons
• Meijer offers "Custom Coupons".  An example would be when they have a deal like "Buy 2 of a certain item, get $____ off your next order".  A coupon for money off your next order will print off when you check out.  A current list of their "custom coupons" is on their Meijer Mealbox website.
• When you can combine all three things here, you can save lots of money and sometimes even make money!  :) (my favorite)

What do you think of these changes?

Check out my post on a Meijer Shopping Example!

Meijer's current coupon matchups!

CVS Coupon Policy Updated

The CVS Coupon Policy has been updated.  The biggest change is that they've now included more detailed info on their B1G1 FREE policy.  Here are the details below along with my brief explanation.  Check this out....

Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offer, if required by applicable state laws.

Two coupons may be used on a Buy One, Get One Free promotion as long as it does not exceed the item total.

• Ex. Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 Buy One, Get One Free and the customer is purchasing two shampoos; customer may use two coupon for $1.00 each and pay the applicable tax.
• You can use a coupon on the free item with a BOGO free sale!  Awesome!

Buy One, Get One Free promotions may be combined with Buy One, Get One Free Coupons.  Customers are responsible for paying applicable tax.

• Ex. Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 BOGO and customer has a MFG coupon for Suave BOGO.  Customer will receive both items for free but will need to pay any applicable tax.
• You can use a BOGO FREE coupon on a BOGO FREE sale and get both items FREE!

Click here to print your copy of this new CVS policy.

Click here to read through other store policies.

Don't forget to look at the current CVS deals!

Thanks for the heads up Couponpro!

Store Coupon Policies: Walmart Ad Match Policy

 
Check out all the details on Walmart's Ad Match Policy.  I've also included some tips below.

Walmart will gladly match the price in the following types of ads:

• Buy one, get one free ads with a specified price (example: Buy one for $2.49, get one free (BOGO)).
• Competitor's ads that feature a specific item for a specified price.
• Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are in a printed ad.
• For fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type (lb. for lb.; each for each)

Guidelines:

• We will match any local competitor's advertised price.
• We do not require customers to have the ad with them to honor a competitor's ad.
• There has been a lot of confusion on this.  Some cashiers will tell you that they need the ad in order to price match.  I called customer service about that and that is not correct and they don't plan to change this policy.  It is so important to have a copy of their ad matching policy with you.
• Items purchased must be identical to the ad (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc...)

Walmart will not match the price in the following types of competitor ads:

• Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price (example: "Buy [item A] to get [item B] for $C")
• Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product (Example: "Buy both [items A & B] to get [item C] for free")
• Items that require a purchase to get a competitors' gift card (Example: "Buy [item A] to get a $B gift card")
• Buy one, get one free (BOGO) ads with no actual price given
• Going out of business or closeout prices
• Percentage off (Example: "All mascara, 40% off")
• Competitors' private label price promotions

Walmart will not honor:

• Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined
• Internet pricing
• Misprinted ad prices of other retailers
• Competitor ads from outside of the store's local trade territory
• It is a store manager's discretion as to what defines a territory
• "Going out of business" sales or "close out" prices

Tips for using Walmart's Ad Match policy:

• Their policy states that you are not required to have your local ad with you, but please be sure you are giving the accurate price for the correct date.
• Don't tell them a price that is based on a percent off sale or B1G1 sale they wouldn't honor.  Be honest!
• It is helpful to the cashier to separate your items at checkout to what you are not price matching as those items that you are.
• Have your price match price ready to tell your cashier before they scan the item.
• Don't stand at the register figuring out which price you want to match the item to.  Have that figured out ahead of time.
• Enjoy your savings!

NOTE:  The policy only guarantees a price match on prices listed in competitor's ads.  It does not guarantee a price match to another store's regular price.  However, that is up to your local store's discretion.  They may or may not match that price for you.

I would definitely encourage you to print a copy of Walmart's ad match policy and have it with you when you shop.  After clicking on this link, you will see a link on the right side where you can download a copy of the policy.

Check out Walmart's current deals here!

Store Coupon Policies - Jay-C Stores

Here is a copy of the store coupon policies for Jay-C Stores.  I would encourage you to request a copy for yourself by call their customer service number at 1-877-873-6289.  It is so helpful to have a copy on hand when you checkout in case you have issues.

Jay-C Stores are owned by Kroger and their coupon policy is very similar to Kroger.  I've typed out their policy below and tried to clarify some things where I think it is necessary.

Let me know if you have any questions!


JAY-C Stores

The store manager has the right to accept, decline or limit the quantity of coupons or items used or purchased in a single transaction, by a single customer, or in a single day.

Double Coupons

• Coupons are not doubled

Pharmacy Coupons

• Competitor pharmacy coupons are accepted.
• LCM or Competitor Coupons my not be used in conjunction with our $4 Generic Program.

General Coupon Policy

• Limit one (1) manufacturer coupon per item purchased.
• Limit one (1) store coupon per item purchased.
• One (1) manufacturer and one (1) store coupon can be used on the same item.

This is not referring to their online digital coupons.  You can see their digital coupon policy below.  Sometimes they will send store coupons to you in the mail and you can stack these with manufacturer coupons.

• Coupons cannot be used on "free" items.
• Expired coupons are not accepted.
• Amount refunded cannot exceed the cost of the item.

If your coupon is for a higher value than the item purchased, you will not get money back.  Usually, the register will adjust the value of the coupon to the actual price.

Print-At-Home (PAH) Coupons

• We only accept printable coupons if they scan properly at checkout.
• We do not accept "free product" printable coupons that have no purchase requirement.
• Buy-one-get-one-free coupons and other values that have a purchase requirement are acceptable but will be much less common than traditional value-off coupons.
• We do not accept coupons for more than about 75% of a product's value without advance notice.
• Legitimate PAH coupons will not be for a high value relative to the cost of the item.  For example, a $2.00 off coupon will be acceptable for a product that normally sells for $5.00 or more, but a $2.00 off printable coupon for a product that sells for $2.25 is unlikely to be legitimate.

I haven't experienced them not accepting a coupon with this policy.  There are times that manufacturers release high value coupons, especially on Facebook that are legitimate and for 75% or more of the product's value.  That would be frustrating to not have those accepted if they are legitimate.

• Coupons will be rejected if they appear out of proportion or blurry, or are obvious duplicates.
• Legitimate PAH coupons are never copied, sold, or traded.  Nearly all coupons are "non-transferable," meaning they should not be photocopied or scanned and distributed to others.
• Coupons will be rejected if they appear to have been altered in any way.

PAH coupons can be checked for validity at http://www.printcoupons.com.

Online Coupons versus Paper Coupons

• The online coupon will always take priority over the paper coupon.  Stacking is not allowed.
• There is a limit of one electronic or paper manufacturer coupon per item.
• Digital coupon and manufacturer paper coupons may not be combined on the purchase of a single item.
• If a Customer has loaded an electronic coupon to their loyalty card, then the electronic coupon will apply before the manufacturer paper coupon.
• A digital coupon cannot be removed from a transaction once redeemed.
• If the electronic coupon and manufacturer paper coupons are applicable to the same item, the system will give the discount based on the Electronic Coupon.

If you've never checked out their digital coupons online, be sure to do that.  These are the same as for Kroger.  They do have some great coupons on here sometimes.  Realize, however, that if you have a paper coupon that is better than the digital coupon, make sure you remove it before you shop since you will not have a choice on which coupon they use.

Kroger: Updated Coupon Policy

It seems like there has been some confusion lately as to what Kroger's current coupon policy is.  I recently called Kroger's Customer Service number and they e-mailed me a copy of their current policy.

The policy below is for Kroger's Central Region.  (portions of IN, IL, MO).

Here are the details below.  I've listed their official policy and then added my comments throughout to hopefully make things more clear.  Please leave a comment below with any questions you may have.

I would encourage you to call the customer service line and have them e-mail this to you, too, or ask management at your local store for a copy of their policy.  It is so helpful to have this handy when you checkout in case there is any confusion.


Kroger's Customer Service - 866-221-4141

KROGER'S POLICY

The store manager has the right to accept, decline or limit the quantity of coupons or items used or purchased in a single transaction, by a single customer, or in a single day.

Many stores seem to be limiting you to 10 coupons for the same product in order to keep from having the shelves cleared.  This policy is left up to each store, so be sure to ask at the Kroger you shop at.

Pharmacy coupons:

• Competitor pharmacy coupon are accepted.
• LCM or Competitor Coupons may not be used in conjunction with our $4 Generic Program.

General coupon policy:

• We will double coupons up to $.50
• Coupons valued over $.50 will be redeemed at face value.
• There is a limit of 2 identical coupons per shopping trip
• A shopping trip = 24 hours
• Additional identical coupons will be redeemed at face value

I definitely do not like this policy.  You cannot double more than 2 of the same coupon.  If you want to, you will need to return to the store 24 hours later to do it.

• Coupon that will not double include retailer, cigarette/tobacco products, or store coupons.
• Triple Coupon for Fort Wayne-area Kroger Stores:  The stores affected by this policy are 857, 874, 929, 972, 973, 976, 991, and 887.
• Coupons valued up to and including $.50 will be tripled
• Coupons that cannot be tripled include retailer, tobacco products, or store coupons.
• Coupons valued at $.51 and higher will be redeemed at face value only.
• Items must be purchased in the sizes and quantities specified on each coupon.

I had no idea that stores in the Fort Wayne area tripled coupons!  Lucky you!  :)

• Any cash due back to customers from coupons will be returned to the customer.  Amounts of $4.99 or less is given in cash form.  Amounts of $5.00 or more will be given in the form of a Kroger Gift Card.

This policy is one reason I would say to have a copy of it with you.  Just in case your cashier doesn't want to give this to you.  :)

• Items must be purchased in the sizes and quantities specified on each coupon.

Digital or Internet Printed Coupons:

• Digital Coupons loaded to a Plus Card will redeem automatically at the end of the transaction.  Paper manufacturer coupons will not be redeemed for same item if a digital coupon has already been redeemed.  (Limit one manufacturer coupon per item)

Be sure that if you have a paper manufacturer coupon that is higher value than your digital coupon, delete the digital coupon from your account.  You will not have the choice in the store.

Digital Coupons and a Store Coupon may be redeemed on the same item.

To protect the interest of our company we will not accept Internet Coupons which fall into any of the following categories:

• Coupon does not scan
• No expiration date
• Coupon is for FREE product without additional purchase
• High dollar value (coupon value is 75% or more of the value of the product)
• Coupon appears out of proportion, blurry, no picture, or obvious duplicates
• Altered coupons in ANY way
• Customer should refer back to the web site where they obtained their internet coupons.

We will accept Catalina generated "MANUFACTURER" coupons from other retailers if the coupon scans.

Any opinions regarding "how to use coupons" from unauthorized Blogs, Internet Sites, Chat Groups, Classes, Radio or Television shows are expressly the opinions of those entities and may or may not fall into Kroger Policy for Coupon Acceptance, Management reserves the right to limit quantities of items sold and coupons accepted.

Store Coupon Policies: Marsh

Here is a summary of what you need to know to shop at Marsh.  For the complete coupon policy, you can read it on the Marsh website here.

• You need a Marsh Fresh Idea Card in order to receive the sale prices, double coupons, and other deals offered, etc...
• Marsh doubles manufacturer coupons up to $.50 in value.  (i.e. $.50 off coupon will be $1.00 off)  The only exception to this would be "Catalina" coupons that print at the register that don't double.
• You can only double 2 "Like" coupons per transaction.  If you have 4 $.50/1 coupons for peanut butter that you want to double, you will have to pay for them in 2 separate transactions.
• Special 4-Day FREEBIE coupons are regularly offered on their website.  These are valid only Thursday-Sunday each week and can only be used once you have purchased $50 or more in groceries.  Be sure to use this coupon first before using any other coupons you may have or your transaction total may not be enough.
• Marsh offers printable coupons on their website.  However, the majority of these coupons are pulled from coupons.com.  If you print the coupons here, you will not see them on the coupons.com site.
• Sometimes Marsh offeres Marsh store coupons online, in their circular, in mailers or in their e-mail newsletter.  These can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon.
• Any coupon used cannot exceed the price of the product.  However, many times the cashier will just adjust the coupon amount and still let you use it.  It depends on your cashier.
• They do not accept internet coupons for FREE products, unless it is an authorized coupon from Marsh.
• Marsh offers a variety of "clubs" to register for with your Fresh Idea Card.  These clubs help you earn rewards for various items you purchase.
• They also offer a Kids Club you can sign your children up for that are 4-12 years old.  Your child will get a special card of their own, receive a special treat at the customer service desk each time they shop with you, and a FREE birthday cake for them on their special day.  Very cool!

This post may contain affiliate links.  For more information, please read my disclosure policy.

Store Coupon Policies - Walgreens (Reading the Receipt)

Thought I would post a Walgreens receipt to show how to read it.  A lot of times, it can be confusing trying to figure out where your coupon savings went.  Hopefully, this will help answer a few questions.

Here is a copy of a Walgreens receipt of mine.  You can probably tell by looking at it that I don't shop there much.  There isn't much on it.  :)  There should be enough there, though, for you to see how what all they have on their receipts.

The biggest thing with their receipts is that the Register Rewards used look the same as a regular manufacturer coupon on the receipt since they are counted the same at checkout.  Can be a bit confusing when trying to find your savings.

Please leave a comment below or contact me with any questions.

Store Coupon Policies - CVS (Reading the Receipt)

Ever leave a store and wonder whether or not you received all the savings you planned on?  Sometimes, the store receipts can be really confusing to read, so I thought I'd post a copy of my receipts from each store and spell out how to read them.  Hopefully, this will help you understand what you are looking at.

The first store I'm going to do this on is CVS.  I have included a copy of one of my CVS receipts below separated into 3 different sections.  Here we go!


Section 1: The top portion of the receipt.  Specifics of your transaction.

Section 2:  The next section includes your purchase date, total amount saved on the shopping trip, etc...

Section 3:  This is the last section of the receipt and shows you what you've saved so far for the year, your beauty club totals and details on all the ECB deals you've purchased products towards.  Be sure to look this over.  There have been times where I haven't used my limit of ECB deals and didn't realize it until I looked at this part of the receipt.

Hopefully this helps clear up some confusion on the CVS receipt.  I like their receipts because they give a lot of detail.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to post a comment below or contact me.

Walgreens: Get to know the beauty advisers

Deal Seeking Mom has a great informational post about the Walgreen Beauty Adviser.  I have heard that they can be extremely friendly and helpful to couponers.  Be sure to read her post on this topic here.

Thanks Deal Seeking Mom!

Check out the current Walgreens Coupon Matchups!

Store Coupon Policies - Kroger **UPDATED**

Kroger has made a number of changes to their coupon policy within the last 6 months.  I ran into a very strange issue the other day and I've heard some stories, so I wanted to clarify some things.  I was told the other day that I couldn't do a second transaction to make 2 more sets of coupons double because I had to wait 24 hours before the second transaction.  Strange!  Yes, it is true...this is part of their policy.  Be sure to read it below.

NOTE:  Kroger coupon policies can vary by location.  Please be sure to check with your local store for their coupon policy.  Most stores will have a copy of their policy at their customer service desk, so just ask for one.

Here is a list of their current coupon policies....

• There is a limit of 10 like item coupons redeemed in one shopping trip = 24 Hours. (Management reserves the right to lower this limit)
• There is a limit of 2 like item coupons that will be doubled, additional coupons for the like item will be redeemed at face value.
• Digital Coupons loaded to a Plus Card will redeem automatically at the end of the transaction.  Paper manufacturer coupons will not be redeemed for same item if a digital coupon has already been redeemed.  (Limit one manufacturer coupon per item)
• Digital Coupons and a Store Coupon may be redeemed on the same item.
• To protect the interest of our company we will not accept Internet Coupons for the following reasons.
• Coupon does not scan
• No expiration date
• Coupon is for FREE product without additional purchase
• High dollar value (coupon value is 75% or more of the value of the product)
• Coupon appears out of proportion, blurry, no picture, or obvious duplicates
• Altered coupon in ANY way
• In the event we owe cash back from coupons at the end of your transaction, from coupons redeemed, exceeding the value of the items; an amount of $5.00 or more will be given in the form of a Kroger Gift Card.
• We will accept Catalina generated "MANUFACTURER" coupons from other retailers if the coupon scans.

I have tried to "BOLD" the points that I think are new/important to know.  If you have had issues using coupons at Kroger and you have worked within these policies, I would strongly encourage you to get a copy of this policy from your local Kroger store.  Make sure you carry the policy with you when you shop so you can pull it out if needed.

Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.  Have any of you heard of the 24 hour waiting period?

Kroger current coupon matchups!

Store Coupon Policies - Walgreens Example

For the past two weeks, I've been posting about the coupon policies at Walgreens.  If you haven't read through those posts, check them out here!

As I said in these posts, I think coupon shopping at Walgreens can get confusing, but you can save a TON of money there if you just know the tricks.  Here is an example I have of a shopping trip to Walgreens.  As you can see, I broke my trip up into 2 separate transactions.  I do this often to help lower my Out of Pocket (OOP) expense.

Transaction #1:

• Colgate (1) - $2.99 each
• Deal - Buy 1, Get $2.99 in Register Rewards (RR's)
• Used 1 - $.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste Manufacturer Coupon
• Herbal Essence Hair Care (2) - 2/$7
• Deal - Buy 2, Get $2 in RR's
• Used 1 - $1/1 Herbal Essence Hair Card Manufacturer Coupon
• Used 1 - Buy 1 H.E. haircare item, Get 1 H.E. styler product FREE (up to $3.23)
• $2.99 - $.75 in coupons = $2.24 (Colg)
• $7 - $1 - $3.23 in coupons = $2.77 (HE)
• FINAL OOP = $5.01 (received a $3 and a $2 RR)

Transaction #2:

•  Tide Detergent (1) - $5.99
• Used 1 - $1/1 Tide Detergent Manufacturer Coupon
• Planter Nuts (2) - $.79
• Used as filler items
• $5.99 - $1 in coupons = $4.99
• Used the $3 and $2 RR from previous transaction 
• This made me use a total of 3 Manufacturer Coupons....that's why I needed "filler" items
• FINAL OOP = $1.57

SUMMARY

• Spent $6.58 OOP

Couple things to note....

• You could have purchased more Colgate or Herbal Essence Hair Care in your second transaction, but you wouldn't have been able to use the RR's from the 1st transaction towards that purchase.
• Ideally, you want to "roll" you RR's.  As you do this more, you would have RR's to put towards your 1st transaction and then walk away with RR's from your last transaction.

As you may be able to tell, I don't regularly shop at Walgreens.  That is why I didn't have RR's to roll into the first transaction and I didn't plan it so I would walk away with any RR's.  I hate to say it, but Walgreens drives me crazy.  :)  But please know, that is simply my opinion.  I know many that love to shop there.  I would encourage you to try it and decide for yourself!

As always, please leave a comment below with any questions you may have!  :)

Store Coupon Policies - Walgreens (Part 2)

Like I stated last week, coupon shopping at Walgreens has so many similarities to CVS.  However, Walgreens does have a few "quirks" that you need to be aware of so you aren't taken off guard.

Here are the policies that are different than CVS....

• Walgreens has no Loyalty Card
• A huge benefit to this is that there is no limit to how many times you can get a Register Reward (RR) deal as long as you purchase them in separate transactions.
• Register Rewards (RR's) cannot be rolled over on the same type of transaction
• Example:  If you receive $2 in RR's for a purchase of NyQuil, you cannot use that same $2 RR towards your next NyQuil purchase.  You will need to use it for something else.
• RR's are treated as Manufacturer coupons at the Walgreens register
• Walgreens will only allow 1 Manufacturer coupon per item being purchased.
• Example:  If you purchase 4 items and have 4 Manufacturer coupons, the register will not allow you to use your RR's on top of the Manufacturer coupons.
• To get past this policy, you would need to purchase a "filler" item.  There are usually items right by the register that you could purchase for $.40 or so.  These can be used as a "filler" item if need be.
• RR's expire quickly
• Walgreens RR's expire much quicker than ECB's at CVS.  Be sure to keep an eye on the expiration date.  Walgreens will not let you use a RR past that date.

In my opinion, Walgreens can be a bit more confusing than CVS.  However, once you are familiar with their system, you can score some great deals!

Next week, I will post some examples of a shopping trip at Walgreens that will hopefully make this all come together.

Store Coupon Policies - Walgreens (Part 1)

Walgreens is another pharmacy where you can get some really great deals when you know how to take advantage of their coupon policies.  I will say that from personal experience, some of their stores are not very coupon friendly, but it really depends on the store.

How is Walgreens similar to CVS....

• Their Register Rewards (RR's) are very similar to the Extra Care Bucks (ECB's) at CVS
• The same shopping strategies apply to shopping at Walgreens
• Rolling your rewards from one shopping trip to another is the best way to save LOTS of money
• Use your Register Rewards (RR's) to lower your Out of Pocket (OOP) expense
• Register Rewards (RR's) are offered weekly (ex.  Buy $15 of a certain product and get $5 in RR's)
• In this example, the $15 is what you spend before coupons.  You can use coupons to lower this amount and still walk away with $5 in RR's.
• RR's print at the register when you checkout and can be used towards your next shopping trip.
• ECB's can be treated as cash, but be sure to use the full amount of your ECB, as you will not receive change.
• Be sure to keep an eye on the expiration date as you WILL NOT be able to use these after the expiration date .
• Types of coupons they accept
• Manufacturer Coupons
• Walgreens Coupons (monthly booklet)
• Internet/Printable Coupons
• Register Rewards

Next week, I will talk about some more of the coupon policies at Walgreens and what makes it different from CVS.

Store Coupon Policies - CVS Example

I LOVE shopping at CVS!  The past few weeks, I've been posting about CVS' coupon policies.  If you haven't read through those posts, check them out here!

You can find some really great deal at CVS if you just know how to shop there and take advantage of their Extra Care Bucks!  One thing I do often is split my shopping trip into 2 separate transactions.  This way, I can use some of the ECB's I earn in that trip, and lower my Out Of Pocket (OOP) expense.  You will see what I mean below.

Transaction #1:

• Garnier Nutritioniste Moisturizer (2) - $10 each
• Deal - Buy $15, Get $5 ECB's
• Used 2 - $2/1 Garnier Nutritioniste Moisturizer/Cleanser Manufacturer Coupon
• Complete Contact Solution (1) - $7.99
• Deal - Buy 1, Get $7.99 ECB's
• $8.49 in ECB's from previous transactions
• $20 - $4 in coupons = $16 (GN)
• $7.99 - $0 in coupons = $7.99 (Comp)
• $23.99 - $8.49 (ECB's) = $15.50
• FINAL OOP = $15.50 (received $12.99 in ECB's)

Transaction #2:

• BIC Soleil Razors (1) - $6.99
• Deal - Buy 1, Get $3 ECB's
• Used 1 - $3/1 BIC Razors Manufacturer Coupon
• Crest Pro Health Mouthwash (2) - $4.50 each (RAINCHECK DEAL)
• Deal - Buy 1, Get $2.50 in ECB's (Limit 2)
• Used 2 - $2/1 Crest Pro Health Mouthwash Manufacturer Coupons
• Coke products (12 pk.) (4) - 3/$10
• Deal - Buy 3 12 pks. at 3/$10, get 1 FREE (4/$10)
• Used 1 - $1/3 12 pks. Coke Products Manufacturer Coupon
• $12.99 in ECB's from previous transaction
• $6.99 - $3 in coupons = $3.99 (BIC)
• $9 - $4 in coupons = $5 (Crest)
• $10 - $1 in coupons = $9 (Coke)
• $17.99 - $12.99 (ECB's) = $5
• FINAL OOP = $5 (received $8 in ECB's)

SUMMARY

• Spent $20.50 OOP and walked away with $8 in ECB's
• Regular price for all the items listed above is $80.60
• 75% savings - not including the $8 in ECB's I walked away with!

CVS Coupon Policies (Part 1)
CVS Coupon Policies (Part 2)
CVS Coupon Policies (Part 3)

CVS current coupon matchups!

Store Coupon Policies - CVS (Part 3)

As you can tell from all my posts, there are a lot of things to know about shopping at CVS.  Trust me, once you learn how to shop here, YOU WILL LOVE IT!  So many amazing deals to be found at this store!  Here are my final tips/info about coupon shopping at CVS.

• The Extra Care Buck deals in their ads each week are before coupons.  Check out my example here....
• Buy $15 in Garnier Products, Get $5 in ECB's
• Let's say the Garnier Facial Cleansers are $5 each.  You could buy 3 Facial Cleansers, use 3 coupons, and still get your ECB's.
• Buy 3 Facial Cleansers ($15)
• Use 3 $2/1 coupons (my coupon example)
• Final Out of Pocket (OOP) is only $9 and you will walk away with $5 in ECB's.
• Final Price = $4 for 3 items ($1.33 each)
• You do not have to buy everything in on transaction to get the Extra Care Buck deal.  CVS tracks your purchases for that week and once you have purchased enough for the deal, you ECB's will print.
• Using the example above of Garnier Facial Moisturizer....
• Buy 2 Facial Cleansers with 2 coupons in one transaction
• Buy 1 Facial Cleanser in another transaction later that week
• You will receive your $5 ECB's after your second transaction
• REMEMBER....you must purchase these items during the same week as the sale is going on or you will not receive the ECB's.
• Be sure to purchase one of their "Bag Tags".  When you attach this tag to any bag you have, just bring that bag into the store each time you shop.  They will scan this tag each time and after every 4 scans, you will receive a $1 ECB.  Super easy!
• You can break up your purchases into 2 transactions if you wish....just be mindful if there is a long line of customers.  This will help you decrease your OOP expense.
• If you are taking advantage of 4 different ECB deals, you can purchase 2 of them in one transaction and use those ECB's towards your 2nd transaction of 2 more ECB deals.
• The key is to calculate what would give you the lowest Out of Pocket (OOP) expense.

CVS Coupon Policies (Part 1)
CVS Coupon Policies (Part 2)
CVS Shopping Example

CVS current coupon matchups!

Store Coupon Policies - CVS (Part 2)

Guidelines for Coupon Use....

• You can use 1 Manufacturer and 1 CVS coupon per item
• You can also use Extra Care Bucks (ECB's) towards your purchase
• They will reduce the value of the coupon if it exceeds the value of the item being purchased
• B1G1 FREE Sales - You may use 2 manufacturer coupons or 1 manufacturer B1G1 FREE coupon
• CVS will issue rainchecks for items that are out of stock - this includes ECB deals
• Rainchecks do not expire
• Internet printable coupons must have a bar code and it must scan or they will not accept it
• CVS does not double coupons
• CVS does not accept competitor coupons and will not match competitor prices

CVS Coupon Policies (Part 1)
CVS Coupon Policies (Part 3)
CVS Shopping Example


CVS current coupon matchups!

Store Coupon Policies - CVS (Part 1)

I LOVE to shop at CVS!  I used to think their products were so expensive so I always wondered why anyone would shop there.  I do think their regular prices are expensive, but as a couponer, I see things differently.  Their Extra Care Bucks program, combined with coupons, creates an amazing way to save LOTS of money!  To thoroughly discuss their policies, I'll probably split up the information into separate blog posts.

Here is part one of the CVS coupon policy....

• Coupons they will accept
• They accept Manufacturer coupons (paper and printable)
• Store coupons (on their website....cvs.com, the magic coupon machine in their store or coupons that print at checkout (CRT's) )
• Competitor pharmacy coupons
• Extra Care Bucks (ECB's)
• ECB promotions are offered weekly (ex. Buy $15 of a certain product and receive $5 in ECB's)
• In this example, the $15 spent is before coupons.  If you can use coupons with this deal, you can save a LOT!
• ECB's print at the register when you checkout.  You can use these towards your next purchase.
• Every 3 months, ECB's will print as a percentage of what you spent over the previous 3 months.
• ECB's can be treated as cash, but be sure to use the full amount of your ECB, as you will not receive change.
• Be sure to check the expiration date....however, many stores will allow you to use your ECB's after the expiration date.  You will need to check with your local store to see what their policy is.

CVS Coupon Policies (Part 2)
CVS Coupon Policies (Part 3)
CVS Shopping Example

CVS current coupon matchups!

Store Coupon Policies - Martins Supermarket

Martins Supermarkets is a great local grocery store!  The workers there are always friendly.  Since I started couponing, I haven't shopped there as much simply because of the prices.  However, if you keep an eye on their sales, you can score some great deals here as well!

Here is a quick summary of their coupon policy.

• Accepts Manufacturer coupons both paper and printable
• They do not double coupons
• They do not accept printable coupons for free products
• They do not offer Martins coupons for "stacking"

Remember, Martins also offers a money off gas program.  Each week, if you purchase certain items, you can earn money off gas.  This can add up and save you some money when you fill up.  I wouldn't suggest taking advantage of this unless it is a good deal.  If you are spending more on the product than what you are saving in gas, you really aren't saving.  Just do the math, and know what you are really saving.

Store Coupon Policies - Walmart

B.C. (before couponing) I used to do a lot of my grocery shopping at Walmart.  They always had the best prices.  Since I started couponing, I don't shop there much because they don't have regular sale ads so I know what's on sale, they don't double coupons and they don't have Walmart coupons to stack with.

You can get some great deals at Walmart with coupons, it is just hard to prepare ahead of time for a couponing trip.  You just need to bring your coupons and see what the deals are.

Walmart has changed their coupon policy recently and become more coupon friendly.  Here is a quick summary of their policy.

• They accept Manufacturer coupons (paper coupons)
• They accept all Print-at-home internet coupons unless it is for a free item that doesn't require a purchase.
• They accept competitor's store coupons that feature a specific item for a specified price.  This would not include money off, percentage off, or B1G1 free (i.e. CVS ECB's)
• They accept checkout coupons from any competitors' registers as long as it says "Manufacturer Coupon".

I especially like the last two!  :)