Walgreens Shopping Trip $1.11 per Item (what NOT to do, plus a Video)

This shopping trip is an example of making easy mistakes because you are feeling pressure from the store because of the closing time, and therefore messing up an otherwise great shopping trip. I have told you before…this is REAL life, and I am not above using this trip to teach what NOT to do in order for you to learn the ins-and-outs of couponing!

The intent of this trip was to teach some dear friends how to shop at Wags (boy did they get more than they bargained for ). We should have gone to a 24 hour store so that when the “10 mins to closing” announcement was heard over the intercom it would not have stressed us (me) out! They had plenty of products in the store, except Scope mouthwash. As a seasoned couponer, the bottom line is that when couponing for high quality products if you take out the “hype” of free items with rewards, you end up spending around $1 per item. Even with the errors on this trip, I still spent only $1.11 per item!

Maybe this trip was doomed from the beginning because I was going to use it as a video teaching opportunity and James scared the shopping mojo right outta me in this video:

The items in this shopping rip are all from the Weekly Ad HERE and can easily still be done (the sale is good through Sat 9/8)!

Here’s the breakdown of what we got at Wags last night:
(6) $2 RR wyb (2) Aussie or Herbal Essence Hair Care 6-14 oz, 2/$6 – $3.00
Used: (3) $3/2 Herbal Essences or Aussie Product, RP 8/5 = $0.50 each after Reward = $3.00
(1) $3 RR wyb Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash 33.8 oz, Pro-Health Clinical Rinse or 3D Arctic Fresh Rinse 16 oz – $3.99 (and it had a *bonus* hanging on the front)
Used: $0.50/1 Crest Rinse, P&G 8/26 = $.50 after Reward
(2) $4 RR wyb (2) EOS Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream 7 oz, 2/$6 – $3.00
No coupons used. $1.00 each after Reward = $2.00
(4) $4 RR wyb (2) Mitchum or Lady Mitchum Antiperspirant/Deodorant 1.5-2.7 oz, 2/$6.00
Used: (2) $1.50/2 Mitchum or Mitchum for Women Product, SS 8/19 = $.25 each after Reward = $1.00
(2) Sinful Nail Polish – $1.00
No Coupons used. This was an Annabelle-is-with-me-special-helper Filler = $2.00
(2) KaBang Energy Candy – 2/$1.00
No coupons used. I was caught without a Filler, already standing at the checkout, with about 2 mins before closing time, so I grabbed these 2 items to make it all “work”. Plus, I can use it as a special treat for our boys (since Annabelle received nail polish). = $1.00
(1) Lollypop – $.59
No coupons used. Yes, another needed Filler, and since I have another little boy waiting at home, this was a Special Treat for that child too. = $.59
(1) Ocean Spray Craisins (not on sale, and no coupons used, a needed personal item) used as a filler = $3.00
(1) $4.99 RR wyb Alteril Sleep Aid Liquid Shots 2-pk 2 oz – $4.99
No Coupons used. = FREE after $5 Reward
Grand Total Value of Products $65.86 (includes $2.63 in sales tax).

Here’s the step-by-step breakdown:
{Transaction #1:}
Bought (1) Crest Mouthwash $3.99
Used (1) $.50/1 MQ
Paid OOP: $3.49 (includes $.28 sales tax)
Got Back: $3.00 RR

{Transaction #2:}
Bought (2) Herbal Essence Hair Care products 2/$6.00
Also Bought (1) Craisins $3.00 {1st mistake…I already had 2 items, so I didn’t need this item to utilize the RR from #1, so I would have just paid $.42}
Used: (1) $3.00/2 MQ
Used: $3.00 RR from Trans #1
Paid: $3.42 (includes $.42 sales tax)
Got Back: $2.00 RR

{Transaction #3:}
Bought (2) Mitchum Deodorant 2/$6.00
Also Bought (2) KaBang Energy Candies 2/$1.00 {2nd mistake…I also didn’t need these to utilize the RR from #2}
Used: (1) $1.50/2 MQ
Used: $2.00 RR from Trans #1
Paid: $3.99 (includes $.49 sales tax)
Got Back: $4.00 RR

{Transaction #4:}
Bought (2) EOS Shave Cream 2/$6
Used $4.00 RR from Trans #3
Paid: $2.42 (includes $.42 sales tax)
Got Back: $4.00 RR

{Transaction #5:} (Repeating Trans #3)
Bought (2) Mitchum Deodorant 2/$6.00 {realized my earlier mistake and did not buy an additional Filler}
Used: (1) $1.50/2 MQ
Used: $4.00 RR from Trans #4
Paid $.92 (includes $.42 sales tax)
Got Back $4.00 RR from Crest

{Transaction #6:}
Bought (1) Alteril Sleep Aid $5.00
Used $4.00 RR from Transaction #5
Paid $.99 (no sales tax)
Got Back $5.00

{Transaction #7:}
Bought (2) Herbal Essence Hair Care products 2/$6.00 and (2) Sinful Nail Polish $1.00 each = $8.00 Total
Used (1) $3.00/2 MQ
Also Bought (1) Lollipop Filler = $.59 {My total was $4.98 initially…how FRUSTRATING to need a $.02 Filler, but because of the time pressure I picked the Lollipop for $.59}
Also Used $5.00 RR from Trans #6
Paid $1.17 (includes $.60 sales tax)
Got Back $2.00 RR

{Last Transaction:} {aka; the Mega Mess Up. In my defense, several people had “played through” and were flirting with our cashier, plus, I was helping my friends check out on the other register which distracted my focus!}
Bought (2) Herbal Essence Hair Care products 2/$6.00
Used (1) $3.00/2 MQ
Paid $1.42 (includes $.42 sales tax)
Got Back NOTHING…I used a Herbal Essence RR on another Herbal Essence product. So sad to know better and not use my brain power correctly. What YOU should do is add in another transaction before this last one, that is around $2 out of pocket (hopefully that produces it’s own RR) to utilize the Aussie RR without losing it like I did!

So what did it really cost?
$3.49 + $3.42 + $3.99 + $2.42 + $.92 + $.99 + $1.17 + $1.42 = $17.82 {whoa! That’s a disappointment!}
The original price tag on all this stuff was $78.49, that is a 73% savings! Makes each item $1.11 (16 items, I excluded the 3 little candy Fillers)

But it gets even better….I have a $5 MIR HERE for the P&G products purchased in this and last weeks shopping trip (HERE). That makes it as if I only spent $12.82! On a more personal note, thank goodness last weeks trip was under budget because this just about shot the Budget through the roof!

~Be Encouraged that you can DO this too! Just take your time and think through things before getting to the register!