Walgreens 101
Walgreens is a bit more complicated than CVS (to me anyway) because of their many varieties of coupons. Since they have had some irresistible deals lately I thought I should post a guide on how to shop at Walgreens effectively.
Walgreens Weekly Ad Coupons:
These are coupons found in the weekly store ad. They usually advertise a price (ie: Dawn Dish Liquid 99¢) and most have a limit on how many items you can buy with the coupon. You must use the coupon in order to get the advertised coupon price. If the coupon says Dawn Dish liquid 99¢, limit 4 then you can buy 4 Dawn and use the one coupon. Once the coupon is scanned it will subtract a certain amount that will make all 4 Dawns 99¢. If you buy more than the limit then you won’t get the sale price for all the items. These coupons can be combined with all other coupons. Also, you don’t have to cut them out! Just show the cashier the coupon you want to use and they will scan it or type in the coupon code.
Walgreens EasySaver Catalog Coupons:
The Walgreens EasySaver Catalog is found at the front of the store with the Walgreens Weekly Ad. The front of the booklet has Walgreens coupons called Instant Value Coupons – IVC. These coupons can be combined with manufacturer coupons. They usually have a limit of how many items you can use one coupon on but sometimes will work for more than the limit. I recommend doing separate transactions if you want to get more items than the limit. These coupons do not have to be clipped either.
Walgreens Register Rewards:
Walgreens Register Rewards – RR – are manufacturer coupons that print out when your transaction is complete. They are coupons that are used on your next purchase. When doing a deal that earns Register Rewards you CAN use coupons! Coupons have no effect on the deal. If the Reward doesn’t print then you either bought the wrong items/not enough items or there is a problem with the system/Catalina machine. Usually the manager will resolve it. When you earn a Register Reward you can use it to buy other items that earn Register Rewards, but not on the same deal. For example: Buy Tylenol for $3.99, earn $3 Register Rewards. Then buy Gillette Razor for $7.99, use $3 RR from Tylenol, earn $4 RR for Gillette. You cannot use the $3 Tylenol RR to buy more Tylenol and earn another reward. Using the Reward will cancel out the Register Reward that you should be earning. But, you can use Register Rewards on OTHER deals earning Register Rewards.
EasySaver Rebates:
In the back of the EasySaver Catalog you will find rebate offers. These offers are good all month (usually). Walgreens usually has a couple of Free -after-rebate (FAR) items each month. Rebates can be mailed in or submitted online. It is very easy to submit online and it means you get to keep your receipts (in case you want to send them in for other rebates). You can choose to have a check mailed to you or have your rebate put on a Walgreens Gift Card. The gift card is the best option because you get a 10% bonus! Then once you get your gift card you can use it to pay for the next months rebate items. You can use coupons on rebate items. For example: Almay mascara $6.99 & earn $6.99 rebate. Use a $1 coupon to pay only $5.99 and still earn the full $6.99 rebate.
Coupon Rules:
Walgreens registers will not let you use more coupons than items purchased (excluding Walgreens Ad Qs & IVCs). So, you can buy 1 item, use an IVC and a manufacturer Q and it will be fine, but if you try to use a RR too it will not let you. Add a cheap candy or pencil to your order and the register will accept the coupon. If you want to buy 1 item you cannot use 2 RRs to pay for it because the number of coupons is exceeding the number of items.
Coupon Order:
The best order to give the cashier your coupons is Manufacturer Coupons, then IVCs, then Walgreens Ad Qs, then Register Rewards. That way there is a possibility for overage (not all stores will allow it though). For example: Gum is regularly priced $1.19, use a B1G1 coupon which will deduct $1.19 then use the Walgreens Weekly Ad Q that makes the gum 2/$1 which will deduct $1.38 from your order. That means you get the gum free plus 19¢ overage.
My Walgreens Deal Posts:
Walgreens deals are generally the same in all states (double check your ad though). When I post a deal, I post in this format:
Item & Price
-Coupon to Use
= Price After Coupon
Rebates or RR Earned
= Price after Coupon & Rebates/RR
This way you can see what you will be paying OOP (out-of-pocket), the rebates & RR that you should earn and the final cost.
If I missed anything let me know. I also LOVE questions! If you have any tips feel free to share!
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I am glad you posted this. I had some trouble with RR’s in the past so hadnt been trying to roll them anymore.
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oh some other useful information. If the items are BOGO and they only have 1 on the shelf you can get that item half price. Also if an item that prints RR is out they will give you a raincheck for the sale price-RR’s so you are actually less OOP that way.
I wish I could edit my comments :S
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Thanks for letting me know! I didn’t know that!
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Thanks for posting this. Walgreen’s definitely had me confused with all the different Q’s.
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I love your website! This is my first time to check it out but already it’s been helpful in decifering the mystery of CVS and Walgreens. I have 2 questions–how much time should I plan on spending each week clipping, organizing, checking out store ads, checking out deals online, searching and printing online coupons, etc.? I’ve tried the couponing thing several times, but each time I’ve given it up after a few months because the time committment was so overwhelming. I think if I know ahead of time how much time to plan for, it would help me stick with it. Also, I’ve been at CVS behind women buying all kinds of things and getting them free. Is this how they did that? Thanks for your help!
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JamiKate,
I would say you should probably plan on about 2 hours per week for planning and organizing. Maybe a little more if you are new. It does get easier and takes less time the more you do it. One way to cut out time is to let the internet do the work for you. Read blogs and websites to find the deals for your stores instead of searching for them yourself. I post weekly deals for CVS, Walgreens, Albertsons, Kroger, and Brookshires. I’m also a part of the Grocery Gathering – a collection of blogs that post weekly deals for stores all over the country. So, if you don’t find your store on my site you might check there to see if it is available. Here is the site: http://www.becentsable.net/2008/08/becentsables-original-grocery-gathering.html
And, yes, that’s how they do it!
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[...] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *If you’re new to Walgreens please read my post: Walgreens 101! *Check out the January EasySaver Rebate deals to see what you can get for Free this month! *This [...]
[...] Walgreens 101 [...]
I never realized how much you can save doing this. Thanks so much for all your info…
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The information you have provided about Walgreens and the coupons for items is very accurate. I am an employee of Walgreens and this is the first site I have come accross that has accurate information about the catalina coupons and using them. This def. makes my job a little easier!! Thanks!!
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This was very helpful b/c I am new @ this and didn’t understand walgreens at all!!!
Thanks!!!
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I am new to Walgreen’s and I went in today to get their deal on razors and my rapid reward didn’t print they called the manager and she said it didn’t print because I used a man. coupon and you can’t use a man. coupon and get the rapid rewards. I was very confused and they made me feel stupid for trying to get a good deal. It made me want to never shop there again.
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Amanda,
I’m very sorry for your bad experience! I’ve had my fair share of those experiences as well! First of all, did you make sure you purchased the correct razor? The new Gillette Fusion Gamer razors (the ones producing the register reward) look very similar to the other Gillette razors and it’s very easy to grab the wrong one. If you did get the correct one then the problem is the catalina machine – not your coupon. You absolutely CAN use a manufacturer coupon and still get a Register Reward! It worked just fine for me yesterday. If you kept the razor then I suggest returning it.
Don’t give up! I’m a VERY quiet/shy/non-confrontational person and I’ve had to develop some thick skin since becoming a couponer! I’m still quiet but I’ve learned how to stick up for myself when in those situations. It’s been a tough lesson, but it’s one that PAYS!
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I spoke to the manager. I was firm telling her I knew I should be able to use a coupon. But she is the one who told me I could not use a coupon if I wanted the RR. I think I will try another Walgreen’s in the future. She told me I was buying the correct razor. It came up as the sale price. I actually tried it three times with the man’s and woman’s but I couldn’t get it to work and I think the manager was ready to kill me.
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Amanda,
That is awful! I would definitely call CS and get it straightened out! In the meantime, I think shopping at a different Walgreens is a good idea!
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Thanks so much for all this information – this is the best website I have come across in my quest to save money! Can you tell me how long it takes to get the Walgreen’s gift card if I choose to get my rebate $ that way. Thanks so much again! Jackie
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Thanks Jackie! I’m so glad you’ve found the information useful.
The gift cards rarely take more than 2-3 weeks for me, but the rebate book says to allow 8-10 weeks for delivery.
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Thanks so much Stephanie – have another question – with internet coupons -can I print more than one and use them in one purchase. I would like to buy 3 colgate toothpastes – can I print 3 coupons and use them all at once. I’m a newbie – so I appreciate all your help
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Jackie,
Typically you can only print coupons twice, but if you print 2 and buy 2 of the correct items, you can use both in 1 trip. Though, sometimes a coupon will say “limit 1 per household” even though it lets you print it twice. In that case, you would only be able to use 1 coupon at a time.
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Thanks Stephanie – makes sense – appreciate the help!
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Thanks for the all of your advice and suggestions. I am to a newbie at this coupon thing. I will be trying my coupons out tomorrow to see how this all works. Thanks again!!!
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Hey Stephanie, I am new , and all of your information on walgreens is very helpful, just one question. How do you get the discount card? is it free? Thanks!
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Nisia,
You do not need a discount card to shop at Walgreens!
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Can somone please give me help with using coupons at Walgreens?
I bought an item that is $2.99. I had a mfg coupon for $1.00 off the item & a wag coupon for $2.00 the same item. I assumed my bill would be $0 and I’d just pay tax. The cashier said she can’t accept the mfg coupon since the computer won’t accept it. I asked can’t you adjust the coupon & she said no.
Can I use the combination of coupons to get free items or do I have to buy filler items to get the total over 1 cent?
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Shane,
Unfortunately not all cashiers quite understand coupons. The cashier should have adjusted the manufacturer coupon down to 99¢ so you would pay $0. Sometimes it is easier to buy overage items along with items you have to pay for to avoid the overage issue.
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I simply HATE having awful couponing experiences… is there a posting of Walgreens coupon policy?? I’ll ask here… Coupon Expiration date of 3/11/09 can i use it on 3/11/09 or is the last day I can use it 3/10/09??
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Hi, first I wanted to say that I love your blog and that it has been very helpful. I’m new to the coupon thing and need some clarification on some things. You said in Walgreens 101 that you need as many items as you have coupons and that the IVC and and Walgreens Q’s are not counted. When I first bought a Garnier Fructis shampoo, I was able to use an IVC and manufacturer coupon and only had to pay tax. Later in the week I went back and got another garnier item with an IVC and manufacturer coupon, the cashier that i had this time was different and he said that the computer would not take my manufacturer coupon because I had one too many coupons so I had to buy a filler item. My question is if the IVC’s are really not counted and if they are counted then are they counted as 1 or as many items as the coupon is applied to?
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Tracey,
The expiration date is the last day you can use it. If it expires 3/11, you can use it 3/11.
Quynh,
IVC’s are NOT counted. Your cashier probably thought it was too many coupons because it beeped. It beeped because the shampoo is $2.99 and you are getting a discount of $3. They aren’t allowed to owe you. The cashier would have needed to adjust the man. Q down to 99¢. Or you could buy a filler to “absorb the overage.”
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Thanks Stephanie! I thought the cashier was incorrect, but I didn’t want to hold up the line. I’m going to go back tomorrow and get my money back.
Love your website & keep up the good work!
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Thanks! I have been buying lots of filler items because I didn’t want to hold up the line but since you clarify I can stop doing that now and save even more money!
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[...] can read my ‘Couponing at Walgreens’ or check out this post – Walgreens 101. (No Ratings Yet) Loading [...]
THIS NEWBIE NEEDS HELP. I’m single and have recently lost my job. So everyone penny counts. I’ve tried 4 different Walgreens this week to do the Dry Idea deal. It’s on clearance for $2.29 and I have (2) $2 off coupons. I SHOULD get (2) $2RRs. Make a long story short. I use my (2) $2 off coupons and pay cash for the remaining. My RRs don’t print out. I ask the cashier why they didn’t print out. She doesn’t know. I go home and call the Catalina phone number and Carla told me that the RR will not print IF you spend less money on each item then what the RR will be. Since the Dry Idea was 29 cents after the coupon and the RR was $2. You don’t get the RR. I don’t understand. Earlier this week I bought Crest that is on clearance for 95 cents used a 75 cents coupon and got my $1RR. I’m confused. Has this happened to anyone? Like I’ve said I’m new to couponing and thinking about giving up on couponing. So much effort for nothing in return. HELP!!!
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Carolin,
It is possible that since the deodorant was on clearance it did not qualify for the register reward. The rep was wrong – the item being less than the RR doesn’t affect it. I believe you either bought a non-qualifying deo. or the deo being on clearance affected the RR.
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Thanks Stephanie. I knew what the rep was saying didn’t sound correct.
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I really like your 101 couponing web site i didnt even know walgreens had a saver book. Last week i brought the glade senor and toothpaste and the gariner shampoo and condition and i only had to pay the taxes thanks so much I also like your dinner to save money.
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I am fairly new at coupon clipping and have found that going to the cosmetic counter at Walgreens to check out is much better. There is usually an employee standing by to check you out and if there is a problem with a price/coupon the manager is always handy. To many times at the regular check out, internet coupons would not scan…the line would grow and the cashier would get frustrated. Since I have been using the cosmetic check out I usually get the same cashier who is now familiar with “the deals”. I can also make sure the right prices are scanning and have made them make numerous price adjustments to my purchases.
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Thanks for your helpful cousel on the Walgreens Crazy Coupon Game. I just got back from a trip bought 8 items with 7 coupons and a RR. Pd $.96 oop, saved over 25$! everything went smoothly I used your coupon order, nothing beeped at me and checkout was a snap. The cashier on the phone with his girlfriend didn’t matter either. Thanks fellow Texan (I’m a Fort Worthian). Blessings on you.
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ooh that was super helpful. thank you so much!
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Thanks so much for showing me ways of saving at Walgreens. I went into our local store to find that they were not offering the Easy Saver Catalog anymore.. I was heartbroken. Is there anywhere else that a person can grab some Walgreens store coupons?
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Lori,
Sadly, the Walgreens EasySaver Program has been discontinued: http://www.couponing101.com/2009/05/walgreens-easysaver-program-discontinued.html
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I hate shopping at Wal-Greens. The last trip they would have owed me back .50 cents, but would not let me get change when using my coupons. I was rather irritated.
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First of all I want to say that I love your blog and tell all my friends about it all the time. In fact, one day when I was in line at Target and the cashier was scanning my $127 worth of coupons, the lady behind me asked me how I did this and I told her about your site and how it has helped me so much.
Now, I have a question about the RRs at Walgreen’s. Can I buy more than one item in one purchase and get RRs for each item purchased. For example, this week there is a $3 RR for Aquafresh toothpaste. Can I get 3 tubes of toothpaste and get $9 in RRs all in one transaction? I’ve never know for sure so have always gone back multiple times or had my daughter buy one for me to get the number that I have coupons for. I can’t seem to find anything anywhere that tells me whether or not you can do multiple purchases and get multiple RRs. Thought maybe you could help me with that.
Thanks!
Debbie
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Debbie,
You will only earn 1 register reward per offer per transaction. I’m so glad you enjoy my blog!
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Thanks Stephanie. For some reason that is what I’ve always thought and so I’ve always done it that way. Glad to know for sure. Yes, you have helped me save hundreds of dollars, feed my family on the same very tight budget I was always on but am now buying SO much more with that amount. What is really exciting is having extra to give away during food drives, etc. Just yesterday, my college daughter was home for the weekend and got to go “shopping” in my pantry. It was so fun to help her out when before I barely had food to feed the two kids I have still living at home. I also gave a bunch of toiletries (all things I got for free) to a group from my daughter’s school that is now in Zambia to take to the orphanage there and am restocking to send with her on a mission trip to Ecuador. All of that is possible because of your blog. I do subscribe to a few others but most of what I use comes from here. You have truly been a God-send to me. I am legally blind an unable to comb the ads and coupons like you do. But, my computer reads aloud to me. So, I can listen to your blog and then find what I need to save money…something I couldn’t do before I discovered your blog. So, thank you a hundred times over for your hard work.
Debbie
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I just wanted to tell you that I get a military discount at my Walgreens in Delaware. If anyone gets military privileges it definitely pays to ask if they offer one. They offer it on top of coupons and RR.
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Hi there,
I just wanted to say thanks for posting all of this great information. After reading the policy on register rewards, I have a few questions.
“When you earn a Register Reward you can use it to buy other items that earn Register Rewards..” — Does this mean that my register rewards are only good on other items that earn register rewards? Or are they good on most other things in the store?
“Using the Reward will cancel out the Register Reward that you should be earning.” — what does this mean?
“But, you can use Register Rewards on OTHER deals earning Register Rewards.” — this seems to cancel out the last statement.
Thanks!
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Went to my Walgreens today, have been using this system for about 4 months now…. Today it changed! They said if you use any coupons on RR items you will not get the RRs! They said the Manufacturers changed it! Do you know why they changed it?? Is it because of us
?
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Amanda,
Your store is just misinformed. It has not changed. If they warn you that your RR won’t print, I always say “I’m willing to risk it.” They are always shocked when my RR prints anyway.
Good luck!
-Stephanie
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Raleigh,
Great questions!
Register Rewards can be used to buy anything in the store (except the usual restrictions like stamps, tobacco, etc.)!
“Using the Reward will cancel out the Register Reward that you should be earning.” it means, if you buy Chapstick, earn a $2 register reward, then buy another chapstick, use the reward you earned from buying the chapstick, another $2 reward will not print.
“But, you can use Register Rewards on OTHER deals earning Register Rewards.” this means you can use the chapstick $2 register reward to pay for tide detergent, and the tide detergent reward will still print.
I hope that helps! I know it can be very confusing!
-Stephanie
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I faced a problem the other day. I had a walgreens Register reward coupon for $5 and purchased an item worth $5 but the cashier refused to use the RR coupon stating that i had to purchase something more than $5. In the past, i did not have any such problem. The asst manager on duty agreed with her. Do you think that is right? i wrote to walgreens customer service asking for a clarification but never heard back from them.
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Stephanie Reply:
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:27 am
Cy,
It is strange but sometimes for me, the coupon will make the tax negative. So, since they can’t give cash back, they coupon won’t be accepted. It is very strange, but usually I just add in something really cheap (like a 10¢ pencil) to cover the negative tax.
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