Dual Drugstore Deals: $272 for $17!

We had an excellent trip to the drugstores today, though by looking at the photo you probably wouldn't think that's where we went.

LATE EDIT: the Bumble Bee tuna & Hormel Compleats deal as detailed in the Rite Aid section of this entry is no longer working as of 1/11/11.  Hormel is now giving a single $1 +UP per package, Bumble Bee is giving a $1 +UP per 4.

Look at all that food!  Not pictured: 2 ceramic plates shaped like cupcakes, 4 2 liters Diet Coke

Walgreens - shelf price $34.02
3 EOS lip balm $2.99ea, $8.97
3 Snickers bars, 3 for $2
2 L'Oreal lip gloss $2.29ea, $4.58 (clearance)
Subtotal $15.55
Less two $2 off L'Oreal, total $11.55, received back $6 RRs ($2 for each EOS)
Out of pocket $5.55

I really only wanted to get the EOS today because that is an amazing lip balm and I'm glad to pay $.99 after RR for one.  Seriously, I love this stuff.  A quick trip 'round the cosmetics area and I found some L'Oreal lip glosses clearanced down to $2.29ea.  I had some $2 off coupons for L'Oreal cosmetics; with these normally priced at $9.99, $.29ea is a steal.
The Snickers bars are the cashiers' suggestive sell item this month.  As I've mentioned, they get a small bonus for selling these items so I try to pick some up when I can.  It never hurts to help out your cashiers; they'll remember you for it and it makes life much easier in the long run!


Rite Aid - shelf price $238.11

This week at Rite Aid it's all about the food which is a really strange thing to buy at a drugstore.  Many food items are giving a $1 +UP per item through 1/22, and some are giving a weekly $1 +UP in various forms for this week.  You do get both, and if the stars line up - we're talking super cheap or even free shelf goodies.

One very important thing to keep in mind is that you can overload Rite Aid's registers if you have too many +UPs due to print in one transaction.  More than 24 or so individual +UPs (no matter their denomination - could be $1, could be $10) glitches out the register and nothing prints.  I'm telling you this because if you go nutso on the food deals this week, it's not hard to reach that threshold!
For example: the Hormel Compleats are on sale for $1.99ea.  They're giving the $1 monthly +UP as well as a $1 weekly +UP - two $1 +UPs for each one (yes, that means they're free in the end!).  Don't buy more than 10-12 at a time or you run the very real risk of overloading the register system.

That said, I had to break my cartload of goodies down into several transactions because the register would have crashed.

Shelf price $238.11
Total after sales & coupons $98.91
And I received back a total of $87 in +UPs for an out of pocket of $11.91
I also got a raincheck for Motrin PM 20ct, on sale for $3ea with a $2 +UP.  With the $1 coupons in today's paper, those will be free when they're in stock!

The tuna and pasta are giving the $1 monthly +UP per item.  With these being on sale for $1.25ea, that works out to a quarter for each item, which is fantastic on its own.  However - this week when you buy 4 items, you get an additional $1 +UP back, which makes each set of 4 items free after +UPs.  My store only had one lone box of pasta left; I'd hoped to get a lot of pasta, but ya win some ya lose some.  There was PILES of tuna and I love tuna.
As mentioned above, the Hormel Compleats work out to free (well, $.01 profit) after monthly & weekly +UPs.  We've never had these before, but being free after rewards and with no tax on food, we got some to try.  If they're good, we've got some shelf-stable quick meals on hand.  If we don't like them, the food pantry will love them.
The Oberto beef jerky is on sale for $2.50ea with a $1 +UP back when you buy two.  This also has the monthly $1 +UP, so you get $3 back total on each pair - $1ea after rewards.  To make it even better, some packages have $1 off coupons attached!
Extra gum - they're on sale for buy one get one free.  I had 11 BOGO coupons which got me 22 packs of gum for FREE.
Tylenol Precise - on sale for $5 with a $3 +UP back each.  In today's paper (in most areas; some areas didn't get this coupon!) there's a coupon for $6 off two for assorted products including the Precise, turning these into a $1 profit per package.


The other stuff we got was various items we needed which were at a good price.  And I totally needed those cupcake plates ($1.80ea after my discount) and the clearanced Ghirardelli!  Don't forget to check your clearance section - most Christmas merchandise is 75% off and I found some Ghirardelli chocolate for $.74 for the bars and $1.24 for the bags.

Today's totals 

Shelf price $272.13
Total $110.46
Earned rewards $93
Out of pocket $17.46 for a savings of $254.67 or 94%!!

We've got to hit the grocery store this week for some real food... must.have.produce!