Adventures in Couponing!

More often than not, shopping for me is quite an adventure. Take tonight, for instance. I headed out to Walgreens to score some great deals. List and coupons in hand, I went in on a mission to find several very specific items and figured that I'd be headed home in less than 20 minutes. Sadly, I was very wrong.

I approached the cashier with my 13 items and handed in my 15 coupons. For some reason that I was not yet aware of, my last 2 coupons were not accepted. I asked the cashier why he couldn't take them and he wasn't able to give me an answer. So, I (politely) asked him if he could call his manager up so I could ask her. He laughed. Not the polite, "of course, because I need to know this stuff too, just in case another customer should ask" kind of way, but more in the, "lady, you're a moron" kind of way. It wasn't pretty.

One short conversation with the manager later, I was out of the store and on my way to a different Walgreens. Turns out that they can't accept more coupons than items purchased. In my case, I had only 13 items and 15 coupons. Had I not been so caught off guard by the surly teenager, I would have grabbed a couple 12 cent pencils as fillers. But, I didn't.

Instead, I drove to the next closest Walgreens and was pleasantly surprised to score some more great deals AND I encountered a really sweet teenage cashier who was beyond polite and helpful. She and the lady behind me even asked how I managed to pay so little out of pocket and I was able to hand out a couple business cards.

Long story short, it turned into a worth while shopping excursion, adventures and all.

Take a look at the damage:

Here's what I bought at Walgreens #1 (aka "Surly Teenager Walgreens")


1 Venus Embrace Razor
Original Price: $11.99
Coupon: $2.00 off from 2/7 PG
and
1 Olay Body Wash
Original Price: $6.99
Coupon: Buy Embrace Razor, get Olay Body Wash FREE from 2/7 PG

Register Reward: Buy Venus Razor and Olay Body Wash and receive $4 Register Reward
Final Price for both razor and body wash: $7.00
Savings:$12.00

2 19.75 oz bags of Hershey's Kisses
Original Price: $5.19 each
Sale Price: 2 for $8.00
Coupon: $2.00 off 2 from 1/31 Smart Source
and
2 16 oz. bags Twizzlers
Original Price: $2.79 each
Sale Price: 2 for $3.00

Register Reward: Spend $10 or more on participating Twizzlers or Hershey's products and receive $5 Register Reward
Final Price for Twizzlers and Hershey's Kisses: $6.00

Savings: $10


1 10 oz. NyQuil and 1 10 oz. DayQuil
Original Price: $6.99 each
Sale Price: $5.00 each
Coupons: (2) $2.00 off from 1/17 PG


2 6 oz. Vicks Formula 44
Original Price: $5.99 each
Sale Price: $5.00 each
Coupons: (2) $1.00 off from 1/17 PG


1 box Puffs Facial Tissues Plus Lotion
Original Price: $1.99
Coupon: Buy 2 Vicks get Puffs FREE from 2/7 PG


Register Reward: Buy $20 or more Vicks and receive $10 Register Reward
Final Price for NyQuil, DayQuil, 2 Vicks Formula 44 and Puffs: $10.00
Savings: $18.00


1 Crest Cavity Protection Toothpaste
Original Price: $2.29
Coupons: $1.50 off from Walgreens February coupon book
$0.75 off from 2/7 PG
Final Price: $0.04
Savings: $2.25


Had I waltzed into Walgreens and purchased all of these items at regular price and without any coupons, I would have spent $73.27.


My total Out Of Pocket, after coupons and $27 worth of Register Rewards from previous shopping trips was: $9.83


Not bad, huh?


My second Walgreens stop was a success too! I'd love to show you a picture but, for some odd reason, my computer isn't so much cooperating.
Here's the rundown anyhow:


1 Air Wick Scented Oil i-Motion Air Freshener Starter Kit
Original Price: $7.99
Sale Price: $4.00
Coupon: $4.00 off from 2/7 Smart Source
Final Price: FREE


1 Oral B CrossAction Toothbrush
Original Price: $4.49
Sale Price: 2 for $7
Coupon: $0.75 off from 2/7 PG
and
1 Crest Pro-Health Mouthrinse
Original Price: $4.29
Sale Price: 2 for $7
Coupon: $2.00 off from 2/7 PG


Register Reward: Buy 2 participating Oral B or Crest products and receive $2.50 Register Reward
Final Price for Oral B Toothbrush and Crest Mouthrinse: $1.75


3 3 Musketeers Truffle Crisps (aka My New Favorite Candy Bar... Yum!)
Sale Price: 3 for $2


My total, before sales, coupons and RRs would have been $18.80


My total out of pocket, after sales, coupons and RRs from a previous trip was just $1.25

Is it just me, or was there a serious silver lining this evening?