How I robbed Walgreens (AGAIN)!!!

So I realize that I promised in my budget blogs that I would share some of my couponing tips and ways I save money. I've really slacked on that - but yesterday I had a FABULOUS trip to Walgreens that has inspired me to share.

Now, I will preface this with - THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME!! But, it does happen, and when it does it is SO FUN!! I do however, on average, save about $20-$30 each shopping trip.

Yesterday I went to Walgreens and purchased $77.70 worth of items for $24.37 (before taxes).
No, that is not a typo - I only spent $24.37 - that is a savings of about 68%. I purchased 20 items and the price I paid was the total of about 5 of those items. So I essentially got 15 items free!! - See isn't this FUN!!!

Here is a picture of what I purchased.

And a list:

1 - Dial body wash

2 - V8 Fusion Juices

4 - Nivea Body washes (these alone are 5.99 each at full price)

4 - Lysol toilet bowl cleaners

2 - Boxes Ziploc bags

4 - Mentos Gum

1 - Box Kotex Tampons

1 - Package of Pilot pens

1 - Aquafresh Toothpaste

So how did I do it? I have several resources I use to make this happen.

1. If you don't know about it yet, and/or haven't tried it sign up for http://www.stlmommy.com/ It is free and she will send you updates on your email (you can also sign up via facebook) about freebies available AND most importantly she goes through the drug store and grocery store ads and finds the deals for you. Basically, she does the hard work and you reap the rewards.

2. Clip coupons. Sign up for the Sunday paper and clip any and all coupons that you think you may use. If you use stlmommy.com she will give links to coupons you can print out - but some are ones you have to clip out of the paper. Sometimes you can get the coupon both ways (out of the paper AND through a link to print from) which means MORE savings!

3. Double check the ads yourself for deals on things you may need at the time. She didn't have the mentos deal posted, but I had coupons and Walgreens had a coupon.

4. Stock up on items when you can get great deals. I didn't NEED 5 bodywashes - BUT you rarely find them as cheap as I was able to get them and now I won't need to buy any for a long time.

5. Only buy things you will use. It's not a deal if it will go to waste.

6. Be patient. When I first started using the website and clipping coupons I almost gave up. I didn't feel like I was saving much. But, I kept it up and now I regularly save us LOTS of money. You just have to hold on to the coupons and wait for sales and store ads to match up with the coupons you have.

Check out the website - start clipping coupons and I'll be back to let you know the best ways to put those coupons to use. Let me know how it goes!!