Walgreens 101

I have a short version first and then a longer explanation after.  Please print out Walgreen’s coupon policy HERE and keep it in your coupon binder.

Walgreens is the most complicated store because of their many varieties of coupons and rules to using them.

• Can use store and manufacturer coupon together (stacking)
• Earn Register Rewards by buying items (will be advertised)
• Can use Manufacturer coupons on Register Rewards items
• Can NOT roll 1 Register Reward to buy another of the same kind product and expect to get another Register Rewards
• Register Rewards expire in 2 weeks
• You MUST spend the WHOLE amount of Register Rewards (ie if an item is .99 and you have $1 Register Reward, they won’t let you use it)
• 5 man q’s = 5 products (Store coupons don’t count) You can’t have 4 products and 5 coupons. Register Rewards count at a manufacturer coupon.
• Rain checks don’t expire

Walgreens Weekly Ad Coupons:

These are coupons found in the weekly store ad. They will advertise a price or money off a product 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 Mars candy bars .49 (limit 3) then you can buy up to 3 Mars candy bars and use the one coupon.

Once the coupon is scanned, it will subtract a certain amount of money that will make all of your candy bar purchases .49 each.  I have found that if a coupon states 3 for $1 and I only want to buy 1 of these items, I can still use the coupon and I will get the sale price of .33 for the item.

IF you want more than the stated limit, it will be up to the store to allow you to buy that many and use the coupon still.  The one coupon WILL take off  the amount of money over no matter how many you buy.  These coupons can be combined with all other coupons.  At many stores, you will not need to cut them out of the ad, but there are some stores who still like to have them.

Walgreens Easy Saver Catalog Coupons:

The Walgreens Easy Saver 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.   These coupons work very similar to the in ad coupons as to the point that if you  buy 2 items, you will only need 1 coupon to cover both.  The amount will come off for both items.

Walgreens Register Rewards:

Walgreens Register Rewards (RR)  are manufacturer coupons that print out from a catalina machine (next to the register) when your transaction is complete. They are coupons that you can use on your next purchase at the store.  You CAN use manufacturer coupons on these items to get the cost down and you will still earn the Register Reward that is advertised.  For example:

Natrol Melatonin $3, Earn a $3 RR when you buy one
Use $2/1 Natrol Product coupon from 10/10 RP (Red Plum)Insert
= Pay $1 out of pocket and receive a $3 Register Reward

If your Register Reward doesn’t print, then you either bought the wrong items/not enough items or there is a problem with the system/Catalina machine (where the coupon is suppose to print).  Look over what you bought to make sure that everything is correct.  If it is, then ask for the manager and they will hopefully help you out.  Don’t be afraid to post void out a transaction…I have been there and done it.

Now 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:

Natrol Melatonin $3, Earn a $3 RR when you buy one
Use $2/1 Natrol Product coupon from 10/10 RP Insert
= Pay $1 out of pocket and receive a $3 Register Reward

Now you don’t want to use that $3 Register Reward to buy more Nartol because it will not give you another $3 Register Reward.  You will want to use it on another item to lower the cost of the item.  ie…

Activ-On Joint & Muscle or Arthritis Pain Relief $7.99, Earn $7.99 in Register Rewards (Limit 1)
Use $3 Register Reward from Natrol
= Pay $4.99 out of pocket and receive a $7.99 Register Reward

Walgreens Register Logic:

Walgreens registers are really picky and not at all like any other store. They will not let you use more manufacturer coupons than items purchased (Walgreens coupons don’t count as they are store coupons). Register Rewards are a form of payment but considered a manufacturer coupon. So you will need to have an equal amount of items with manufacturer coupons. For example:

Holiday M&M’s 4 for $10, Earn $5 in Register Rewards
Use 2 of the $1/2 Mars Holiday products coupon (11/14 RP)
= Pay $8 out of pocket, but get back $5 in RR

Now, lets say that I have that $7.99 Register Reward from above and I want to use it to help pay for my M&M transaction. If I hand it over, the register is going to beep at me saying I have too many coupons. Though I only used 2 coupons with 4 items. One of those coupons cover 2 products, so in reality, according to the register I have a coupon for each item bought.

This is where you need to look for a cheap “filler” so that you will have that extra item to use the $7.99 Register Reward on. Many times, I will look in the ad for cheap item to use(remember that 5 for $1 coupon will work on one item).

Holiday M&M’s 4 for $10 (Earn $5 in Register Rewards) = $10
1 Holiday Cup 8 for $1 w/ in ad q = .13
Use 2 of the $1/2 Mars Holiday products coupon (11/14 RP) = – $2.00
Use $7.99 Register Reward = – $7.99
= Pay .14 plus tax out of pocket and receive $5 Register Reward for the M&M’s

Walgreens Coupon Order:

The best order to give the cashier your coupons is:

*Manufacturer Coupons
*IVCs from monthly Easy Saver Catalog
*In Ad coupons
*Register Rewards

The reason that you do it in this order is that there is a possibility for overage.  An example:

2 Packs of Gum @ $1.19 = $2.38
BOGO coupon = – $1.19
Walgreens Weekly Ad Q gum 2/$1 = -$1.38
= .19 overage (they will NOT give you .19, so have something else in your order to cover the overage)

Walgreens BOGO Coupon Policy:

If Walgreens is advertising an item as Buy One Get One Free, it is in their policy that you can use a coupon on the free item or even use a Buy One Get One Free coupon making both products free.

Use Walgreens Register Rewards at other stores:

Yes, you heard me right.  You should be able to use Register Rewards at your local Cub Foods (expired ones too) or Rainbow Foods Store.    Why?  Because they are manufacturer coupons that the store will get reimbursed for.  Of course this isn’t true at all stores, but it sure helps to ask.  Cub Foods stores did get an email saying to accept them, so ask your manager if you can if you are unsure.