One of the many things I’ve learned is that if you want the “money maker” items, you can’t slack. And this week Keri lotion (regularly $8.29) at Walgreens was one of those coveted items so I got my ass over there Sunday morning. Allow me to explain:

The lotion was on sale for $5.99, and I had a few $2 off any Keri coupons from the past week’s newspapers. For buying one you received a $5 register reward, which earns you $1.01 for each one you purchase. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) you can’t just clear the shelves and get a bunch of free money, but actually the reward is limited to one per transaction and you can’t use the reward on your purchase and get another one. Let’s just say it’s complicated.

But I’ve been wanting to get some make up (I’m all grown up!) and I figured this would be a good use of the money, (plus I had coupons!) so here’s what I did:

Transaction 1:

Keri Lotion (8.29, on sale 5.99 – $2 coupon +$5 back = $1.01 Moneymaker)

Campbells Tomato Soup (Reg .99, on sale .69, filler item to allow use of another $2 Register reward I already had)

Paid: $2.69, saved $6.60, got back $5.

Transaction 2:

Loreal Mascara ($8.99-$2 coupon)

Loreal Concealer ($9.49- $2 coupon)

Rimmel eye shadow ($4.99- $2 coupon – $2.50 (buy one get one 50%))

Rimmel Eye Liner ($6.49- $2 coupon)

Mini Memo book (On sale $.20 and purchased so I could cash in the $5 reward)

Paid $14.66, saved $16.29

Transaction 3:

Another Keri Lotion (8.29, on sale 5.99 – $2 coupon +$5 back = $1.01 Moneymaker)

Purex Laundry Detergent 50oz (Regular $5.99, on sale $1.99- $.50 coupon = Paid $1.49)

2 Ban Deodorants (Regular $3.99, on sale $1.49 – $1 coupon = paid $.49 each)

Paid $6.46, Saved $15.80, got back $5

I’m still working on mastering Walgreens and in hindsight, I should have done transaction three second and put both $5 RRs towards the make up, but oh well. Now who wants to come over and show me how to use this damn make up?

What’s that saying? If at first you fail, try, try again? I took it to heart and went back to Walgreens yesterday after my defeat there last weekend. Actually, it had nothing to do with proverbial wisdom, but more the fact I had $5 worth of register rewards I would be stupid not to cash in. This time, things went much better. First, I discovered the Walgreens on 82nd and Holgate, which is my new go-to store. At first I was scared by the people outside, but once inside it was big, organized and stocked! Even better the girl running the register was awesome. She literally had her coupon collection out, giving a relevant coupon to the girl in front of me in line, so I knew she wouldn’t give me any guff. When I got up there with my purchases, one of which had a register reward, she asked me if I wanted to ring things up separately. I said something about how coupon-friendly she was and she just replied, “I love seeing people save money.”

Anyway, with my $5 in register rewards I got:

2 bottles of Walgreens Ibuprofen (50 and 24 count, on sale, buy one, get on 50% off so $5.98 total)
1 package of goody hair clips (one sale $2, got back $2 RR)

Paid $2.98, got back $2 in Register Rewards

For those playing along at home, you have to have as many items as you do coupons at Walgreens (RRs count as MFG coupons), so in order to use all three register rewards I had, I needed three items. I was excited the barrettes were in stock because that was an easy way to make it work.

Remember that Walgreens Register Reward I didn’t know what to do with? Well, I actually put it to good use. I went snowboarding on Sunday and with summer snowboarding comes very chapped lips. I am really good at losing/washing Chapstick so I stopped at Walgreens in Sandy on the way up and picked up four sticks of Blistex (normally $1.69 each, on sale for $.99) and cashed in that $3.50. My total out of pocket (well actually out of the bottom of my purse) was $.46 and that’s just smart shopping.

Note: There are only 3 pictured. That’s because I already managed to lose one. Duh.