Saddened by Rite Aid’s New Coupon Policy

Even though, I hardly ever right about using coupons and saving money, I have a passion for it. I’m always saving coupons and using at least one at the grocery story, but I always feel triumphant when I end up using 20 coupons and saving 50-60% or more on my grocery bill. Blogging and couponing are the two ways that I contribute to our family’s debt snowball plan. A penny saved is a penny earned. One of the stores that I live close to and had a few really good savings trips at from time to time was Rite Aid. They had such a great coupon policy and it was really easy to get things for FREE! I’m guessing that too many people are now using coupons or something has gone wrong someone because now they changed their policy, and I don’t like some of the changes!

So If you shop at Rite Aid too, you’ll want to be aware that they updated their coupon policy last week.

Here are some of the changes:

  • You can no longer use a B1G1 coupon on a product that is on sale B1G1.  You can use $ off coupons, but they must be less than the total of the product you are buying.

This coupon policy was my FAVORITE one. I’m wondering if all stores including major grocery stores are going to implement this policy.

  • If something is on sale B1G1 you can only use 1 coupon per pair of items purchased.

Oh this is another rule that really stinks. Only one coupon per two items, that’s just wrong! Stores are reimbursed by companies for the coupons used so I don’t understand why there is so much of a fuss over the use of two coupons when a store has something on sale for buy one get one free. I guess it’s just this really does make me sad because I worry that other stores are going to follow these new rules too.

  • There is a limit of 4 like items per transaction and you must leave sufficient stock in the store for other customers.  This is up to the manager’s discretion.
  • You can use manufacturers coupons (starts with a 5), Rite Aid manufacturers coupons (starts with 49) and Rite Aid Valuable coupons (starts with 48) all on the same product as long as the coupons are not worth more than the product.
  • Coupons printed off the internet (that are not Rite Aid coupons) are only accepted up to $5.

coupon

The final three changes seem to be decent changes. I mean it’s hoarding to take more than 4 items of something at a time. Things do go on sale in cycles and it should be on sale before you can go through four of something. Yeah, of course there are some exemptions but it’s the kind thing to do to make sure there is enough for others. I’ve been in Rite Aid and Walgreens many times when there is a really good sale and they are completely out.

It’s also nice that you can use three different kinds of coupons on one product. Walgreens makes you have one item per coupon used even if three of the coupons were for the same item. Now I’m sure that seems confusing, but it’s true. You can use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon at Walgreens as long as you have the same number of items as you do coupons.

And when it comes to coupons printed off the internet, most of the time if they are over $5.00 they are probably fraudulent coupons. Like I said though, I’m really sad about changes in coupon policies. I hear whispers on the internet that it’s because of TLC’s show Extreme Couponing.

Read the entire Rite Aid Coupon Policy here.  And Tell me What you Think?

I Saved over 100.00 at Albertsons: Here’s How

I haven’t been clipping coupons like I used to. I’ve just been too busy with my blog. I know how much I can save when I’m serious about clipping so I sat down the other day and clipped some coupons while checking out the Back To School grocery ads. Albertsons makes it the easiest for me to save money, especially when General Mills is giving Albertsons a kick back and Albertsons shares that kick back in an extra savings event.

For every 10 items you purchase within the General Mills savings event, you receive and additional 5.00 off in savings. I ended up saving 111.81 with combined in store sales and grocery coupons. I spent 51.27 and had five paper bags packed to the brim with groceries.

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All five bags:

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This is couponing at it’s best. How do I do it? I sign up for coupons at every turn. I sign up for free product coupons when they come out on facebook, or on all of the freebie sites. You could spend a lot of time hunting everything down yourself, or just do a few searches on-line and you’ll find places that do all the work for you. The Coupon Mom does some of the stores for you and shows you how to get everything for free. She isn’t very big in the Pacific Northwest but she does do Safeway, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.

The coupons I used were just from the Sunday inserts in the newspaper, and a few peelies from products in-store. Peelies are the coupons that you find on package inside the store. Boxes of Betty Crocker potatoes ended up being 50 cents a box and so were Old El Paso refried beans. We eat burritos a lot so I just stocked up my pantry on these items that we use often. Making yourself familiar with brands that are under a particular manufacturer also help when trying to maximize your savings for events like this. For more on this topic see Matching ads with coupons!

Sunday Savings – Stick to your Lists matching ads with coupons

Make a list and stick to it.

 

By making a list and sticking to it you are not going to go over your budget. You’ll even save a ton of money. Figure out what you need. Then do a search and find coupons for every item. It is sometimes time consuming but really worth the effort.

Some things on the list for us: (it’s short  because I need to empty out the fridge because we’re leaving for Texas next Monday)

Coffee Creamer

Bananas

Milk

bread

cheese

butter

How to find Coupons:

Get the Sunday Paper and collect every Red Plum, Smart Source, and coupon insert you can find. If the coupons are good and you will use more than one, by yourself an extra paper. You can also purchase coupons from a coupon clipping service. It’s illegal to sell coupons but they are so cheap they are only charging you for their cutting and mailing out of the coupons.

Get as many magazines as you can find. Magazines can be purchased at really low prices at Amazon and even found for free on freebie sites all over the internet. Magazines usually contain samples and more than enough coupons to make the magazine free.

Use the internet. Do a search for the coupons you need. Are you brand dependent or not. If you have to have a certain brand then it’s best to go to that products main website. You can find coupons under tabs called, coupons, and promotions. I usually just type the item name followed by coupon and things pop up. You can even find coupons for fresh food.

 

Ways to save when there are no coupons available

With bread, if you can’t find a coupon then you can search out your local bakery. We have Franz around here. I remember growing up we had Wonder bread. So I know that they are around. Sometimes the local bakeries for the large bread companies, will even be outlets. They will have bread really cheap. Also, you might look into getting bread at your local Big Box wholesale store (BJ’s, Costco, Sams). We get two loves cheaper than one loaf when we go shopping at Costco.

Good Deals This Week:

At Rite Aid:

Single Check Rebates
(Rebates below are a limit of one unless otherwise noted)

Maybelline Cosmetics 40% Off
Get a $2 Single Check Rebate #61 when you purchase 1 Maybelline Mascara
Deal Scenario (based on on-line price):
Buy 1 Maybelline Great Lash Mascara priced at $4.89 (should ring up at $2.93 due to sale)
Use the $1/1 coupon from the 1/10 RP
Use the $1/1 Rite Aid Video Values coupon found here
Get a $2 SCR
Final Cost FREE + a $1 moneymaker!

Tom’s of Maine Deodorant or Toothpaste 2/$6
Get a $1 Single Check Rebate #70 (on 2)
Use 2 $1/1 toothpaste coupons found here (good for sensitive toothpaste)
Final Cost $1.50 each!

Sensodyne Toothpaste $4.99
Get a $1 Single Check Rebate #66 (excludes Iso-Active)
Use the $0.75/1 coupon found here
Final Cost $3.24!

Skintimate or Edge Shave Gel 2/$4
Get a $1 Single Check Rebate #50
Deal Scenario:
Buy 2 Edge Shave Gels
Use 2 $0.75/1 coupons from the 1/10 SS
Final Cost $0.75 each!

Airborne $4.99
Get a $2 Single Check Rebate #37
Use the $1/1 coupon from the 1/17 SS
Final Cost $1.99!

Comtrex Cough & Cold $3.99
Get a $1 Single Check Rebate #10
Use the $1.50/1 coupon from the 12/6 SS
Final Cost $1.49!

SanDisk 8GB SD Card $39.99
Get a $10 Single Check Rebate #100
Use the $5 off $25 Rite Aid coupon found here
Final Cost $24.99!

Lexar 8GB SD Card $39.99
Get a $10 Single Check Rebate #102 (Limit 2)
Use the $5 off $25 Rite Aid coupon found here
Final Cost $24.99

Alli Weight Loss Aid Starter Kit 60-90 count or 120 count refill $10 Off
Get a $10 Single Check Rebate $43
Deal Scenario (based on on-line price):
Buy 1 Alli 120 count refill priced at $64.99 (this should ring up at $54.99 due to $10 off sale)
Use the $5/$25 Rite Aid coupon found here
Use the $10/1 coupon from the 1/3 RP
Pay $39.99
Submit for the $10 Single Check Rebate #43
Plus, submit for rebate #552 found here to receive a $25 Rite Aid gift card
Final Cost $9.99!! Awesome price!

Valentine M&M’s Candies 9.9-12.6 oz. Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Get a $1 Single Check Rebate #97 (good when you purchase 2 M&M’s; Limit 2!)
Use the $1/2 coupon from the 1/10 RP
Final Cost depends on where you live

For more great deals check out Hip 2 Save

Walgreens:

Pert Plus
$2.50 and earns $2 in Register Rewards
$1.50 off Pert Plus For Men 1/24 SS, $1 off 1/24 SS
As low as FREE after coupon and Register Rewards!

BIC Disposable Razors
B1G1
B1G1 coupon 1/10 SS
Get 2 FREE after coupon!

Sure Deodorant
$2/3 with in-ad coupon
$1.50 off Sure For Men, 1/24 SS, $1 off any 1/24 SS
Sure Try Me Free Rebates here, here and here (Not sure what is included in sale, but Sure For Men was pictured in the ad, must buy products with Try Me Free peelies to submit rebate)
As low as FREE + profit after coupons and rebate!

Olay Quench Body Lotion
$7.99 (and get a free Olay Quench In-Shower Lotion WYB Body Lotion)
$2 off 1/17 RP
Try Me Free Rebate (must purchase by 1/29)
Get 2 FREE lotions for a profit after coupon and rebate!

Reach Prevent Toothbrush
$0.99 with in-ad coupon
$1 off 10/18 RP
FREE after coupon!

TRU2Go Blood Glucose Monitor
$9.99 with a $9.99 rebate in box
FREE after rebate!

Coffee Mate Liquid
B1G1 ($2.49)
$1 off printable
Get 2 for just $0.25 each after $2-$1 coupons!

Blistex
2/$2
$1/2 coupon 12/13 SS
Only $0.50 each after coupon!

7-UP, Canada Dry, Hawaiian Punch or Sunkit 2 Liters
$1.25 each and earns $2 in Register Rewards WYB 3
Only $0.67 each after rewards!

Stayfree or Carefree
$1.99
$1 off printables
Only $0.99 after coupon!

Maxwell House Coffee
$1.99
$1 off from December Food & Family Magazine
Only $0.99 after coupon!

Bayer Breeze 2 or Contour Meter
$14.99 and earns $5 in Register Rewards
$14.99 mail-in rebate in box
FREE + profit after rewards and rebate!

Check out Scenarios for how to maximize your deals at The Freebie Blogger.

Sunday Savings, Coupon Insert Schedule, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Albertsons, where to find this weeks savings

Thanks to Simply Being Mommy I know where to find a coupon schedule. Here is a quick preview because I don’t want to steal from her:

January

  • 3 – 2 Smartsource and 2 Red Plum
  • 10 – Smartsource and Red Plum
  • 17 – Smartsource
  • 24 – Smartsource and Red Plum
  • 31 – Smartsource and Red Plum

February

  • 7 – Smartsource and Red Plum
  • 14 – Red Plum
  • 21 – Smartsource and Red Plum
  • 28 – Smartsource

 

Check out Simply Being Mommy for more details.

 

Walgreens preview:

Thanks to Jolly Mom I know where to find Walgreens Steals.

Piera credits Moms by Heart Here is a quick looks

Kellogg’s RR Deal: buy two, get $2 RR
Select Kellogg’s Cereals 2/$5
-$1.50/2 printable HERE – Mini Wheats, Raisin Bran or All Bran (if included)
-$1/2 from 1/3 RP – Special K
-$1/2 from 12/13 RP – various Kellogg cereals

Special K bars 6pk 2/$5
-$1/2 printable HERE or from 1/3 RP
Scenario:

Select cereal or Special K bars 2/$5
-$2 RR
-$1/2 coupon or $1.50/2 coupon
Final Price: $.75-$1 each

Palmolive dish liquid $.99 (with insert coupon)
-$.25 from 1/3 SS
Final Price: $.74

RR Deal: spend $20+, get $5 RR
Coffee Mate liquid 2/$3
-$1/1 or $1.50/2 printables HERE
Final Price: $.50

Hot Pockets 2/$5
-$1/4 from 10/25 SS
Final Price: $2.25

Purina Pet Food 3.5-4.4 lbs $5.99
-$1 printable HERE (IE) or HERE (FF) – Puppy Chow
Final Price: $4.99

Boost Nutritional Drink $5.99
-$1.50 from 1/3 SS2
Final Price: $4.49

Nescafe Tasters Choice instant coffee $5.99
-$.75 printable HERE or $.50 from 11/1 RP
Final Price: $5.24-$5.49

 

CVS Preview:

Thanks to Go Graham Go I have a place to look CVS deals

Felicia credits Slick Deals

Free After ECB Deals

* $7.99 ECB wyb Crave-NX Diet aid spray 0.64 oz $7.99 Limit 1

Weekly ECB Deals

$1 ECB wyb (2) V8 2/$6 Limit 1
$2 ECb wyb GE Energy Smart Bulbs $2.99 Limit 1
$1/1 GE Energy Smart printable
GE Energy Smart, GE Reveal or GE Edison Halogen product $1 (1/31/10) SS 11/22/09
$5 ECB wyb Wrinkle Free or Acne Free Limit 1


$5 ECB wyb $15 PG products Limit 1
Olay Complete or Age Defying $8.99
Head & Shoulders $5.99
Pantene $5.99
Cover Girl $7
Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser $1 (1/31/10) P &G 12/27/09
Olay facial moisturizer, any $1/1 RP 12/13 exp 1/3
Pantene $1/1 PG 12/27 exp 1/31
Pantene$1/1 PG 12/27 exp 1/31
Pantene$3/2 PG 12/27 exp 1/31


$5 ECB wyb $10 Nivea Body Wash, Lip Care or Lotion Limit 1
Nivea Body Wash for Women, 16.9 Fl oz $1 (1/31/10) V 12/6/09
Nivea Body Lotion 13.5 fl oz $2.00 RP 1/3/10
Nivea Body Lotions 13.5 oz $5.00/2 RP 1/3/10
Nivea Body Wash for Women 16.9 oz $2.00 RP 1/3/10
Nivea Lip Care 0.17 oz – BOGO RP 1/3/10
$10 ECB wyb $35 Healthy Skin Care Products Limit 1

Rite Aid Goodies:

I noticed in the paper this morning that there is a game you can play at Rite Aid. You get these game pieces when you buy specially marked products. It’s called the Game of Life.

Win over $5,000,000 in prizes! Play the game of life, collect and win!

There are a ton of L’Oreal Products on special this week.

These deals were also found on The Coupon Project. Please visit Rite Aid Preview if you want to know more about saving at Rite Aid this week.

L’Oreal Kids Shampoo $2
$0.75/1 coupon from 11/1 Red Plum
Bottom line: $1.25
Garnier Nutrisse Hair Color $5.99
$2/1 coupon from 12/06 Red Plum
Bottom line: $3.99
L’Oreal Skin Care*
40% off
$2/1 coupon from 1/3 Red Plum
Wet & Wild Cosmetics*
40% off
Submit for $2 Rite Aid rebate (item must have retailed for $3.99 or up)
Bottom line: something for cheap!
L’Oreal Excellence Hair Color*
Save $5 on 2 with in-ad coupon
Stack with (2) $2/1 coupons from 11/15 SmartSource
Bottom line: $3 each
L’Oreal Healthy Look Hair Color $9.99
Save $2 with in-ad coupon
Stack with $2/1 coupon from 1/3 Red Plum
Bottom line: $5.99

Albertson’s Savings are only good through Tuesday Night

Thanks to The Coupon Project I was able to find some great deals with Albertsons. The Sunday paper has some doubler coupons in it, you can use three per transaction. The Coupon Project recommends that you check out Krazy Coupon Lady and The Grocery Gathering for more on Albertson’s Savings.

Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt $0.33
$1/10 coupon from 12/06 SmartSource
Bottom line: $0.23 each
2-Liter Coke Products
$0.87 each when you buy in multiples of 3
Wonderful Pistachios, 10 oz, $3.49
$1/1 coupon from 11/15 SmartSource
Bottom line: $2.49
Bell Pepper/Cucumber
$0.50 each

For much more than a preview, including a wonderful scenario for Proctor and Gamble products, visit The Coupon Project. Buy 25.00 and get 10.00 back to use on your next transaction.