Originally Posted by
Kathianne
I always was a 'careful' shopper, never been a spendthrift. The past 18 months I've become a shopping whiz. Now granted, I'm limited to just buying food and paper products, a few cleaning and personal care supplies.
I don't have to buy school supplies, but for those with school aged children, this is probably your biggest cost of the year, with exception of Christmas. While I know what's been up at Walgreen's, I've no doubt the same holds for other national chains.
'Register rewards' are items that are bought where the manufacture gives from $1-10 to next purchase. Check out the flyer for those and you could be buying things you need or would need shortly-usually on sale plus the 'rewards.' Last week there was a $2 reward for purchase of $1.50 barrettes. However, only get one per purchase, regardless of quantity. Cool barrettes for older kids. One lady had me ring up 6 separate transactions, costing her $9 and netting her $12 in rewards. If just done in one transaction her cost would have been the same and should would only have gotten $2 for next purchase. With careful planning, buying what you want/need, could collect quite a bit of rewards. Now she could have bought one, then used the rewards for next purchase, but not in this case, as the coupon was worth more than the purchase!
In the past 3 weeks some of the 'best buys' have been 100 sheets of paper, $.10; 2 pocket, 3 prong folders in 8 colors, $.11. Basic calculator, $.09. Ream of printer paper in box, $5.00. Lots more. Each week there are probably 5 'super buys.' However to get all that are available, need to shop that store each week. Yes, they'll gladly tell you when the 'shipment' comes in, so that you can get the pick, not leftovers.
I didn't do this when my kids were in school, my bad. Seriously, it used to cost me at least $70 per kid in high school, when they didn't need glue, crayons, erasure, sharpeners, etc. If I'd shopped wisely it would have been probably $15 per kid. Really. Trappers, the most expensive item I had to buy back when, was $12. Yes, I remember. Last week they were on sale for $4. and if I used my register rewards from hair coloring? $.0