Couponing at Walgreens

Walgreen does not have a store loyalty card. Their system revolves around Register Rewards producing deals. Register Rewards (RR) are printed out at the end of a transaction by what is called a catalina machine adjacent to the cash register. Sometimes, Walgreens advertizes products “free after register rewards”. This means the RR you receive are worth the cost of the item.

To further enhance savings, you could combine a Register Rewards deal with a manufacturer’s coupon. Walgreens also offers their own store coupons (in flyers and newspaper inserts). These can then be further stacked with the manufacturer’s coupon and Register Rewards to maximize savings.

Points to remember:

• RR are earned once per deal per transaction. For example: If Dial Body Wash is yielding a $3RR one week, each bottle must be purchased in a separate transaction to receive the $3RR. If you bought 2 bottles in one transaction, you would only receive a $3RR (not two $3RR).
• A RR will not regenerate the same RR. You can use the Dial $3RR to buy more Dial Body Wash in a subsequent transaction, but will not receive RR’s for the second transaction
• RR may be ”rolled“. Let’s say Ajax Dishwashing Liquid yields a $2RR.
  If you may use the Dial $3RR to purchase Ajax Dishwashing Liquid, you will receive the Ajax $2RR.
  In a subqsequent transaction, you can switch and use the Ajax $2RR to purchase more Dial and get another Dial $3RR.
  Repeatedly alternating between at least two items that yield RR is a great way to minimize your out of pocket (OOP) expense.

• Walgreens treats RR like manufacturer’s coupons. The total number of coupons must not exceed the total number of items purchased in each transaction. Therefore, “fillers” are sometimes needed if you are using multiple coupons along with Register Rewards. Fillers are inexpensive items used to increase the number of items purchased. I look through the clearance shelf and sale flyer to find items that I know we need, use or just for a special treat.
• RR have an expiration date. Normally, they expire two weeks from the date generated.  Sometimes, a store manager may approve using the RR to purchase Walgreens gift cards – which do not expire. A question never asked is always “No”, but  make sure you are always friendly and courteous.
• RR are transferable. If I know that I am not going to shop before they expire, I give them away – usually to my daughter-in-law. I don’t but I guess you could trade them with your friends.

“Money-makers” are created by stacking coupons with a RR deal. Your coupons for an individual item may be worth more than the actual cost of the item. The store will not pay you the difference, but you generate “overage“. That overage can then be used on other items purchased in that same transaction, all the while receiving RR.
Often, you can leave Walgreens with as much or more in RR as when you walked in, while spending very little money out of pocket (tax is usually unavoidable).

At my local Walgreens stores, I have found it is best at check-out to tell the cashier I have coupons and let them ring up all the items. I then present the Walgreens coupons first, followed by manufacturer’s coupons, and finally my Register Rewards. If I use the Walgreens last, they are usually not accepted to generate “money-makers”. Most cashiers are not able to manually push a coupon through. If your coupon beeps and will not go through it is often easier to have that item removed.

1. You may do a single deal transaction.
2. You may do the deal transaction multiple times, paying out of pocket each time and save the RR collected to use later.
3. You may roll your RR between at least two different RR producing deals.

I started with simple, one or two item transactions and built my confidence. Then I moved on to more complicated scenarios. In my opinion, the third option of rolling your RR is the best as it minimizes your out of pocket expense.