Filler Items

I mentioned purchasing some "filler" items in the very first post I wrote.  As promised, here is a post explaining those "filler" items.

Every store will be a little different and have a few rules to go by if you shop there with coupons.  (I am in the process of creating a page on my blog with links to the online coupon policies of some of the most popular stores.)  Walgreens' registers are programmed with a coupon/item ratio.  Basically, you can not have more coupons than you have items in the transaction...in store coupons do not count as one of these coupons, but Register Rewards do (and this is usually where the issue arises).

An example: Say you went to Walgreens and purchased some things and in that purchase was an item that earned you Register Rewards (RR)...say $2 for this example.  You do a second transaction (so that you can use the RR then) or go back another day to use them.  Your second purchase is say a box of cereal that is $3.00.  You have a manufacturer coupon for $1.00 off plus you have your $2.00 RR.  The cashier will scan the box of cereal, then your manufacturer coupon, and then your RR coupon.  The register beeps and will not take the RR.  This is because you are only purchasing one item, but trying to use two coupons.  This is where the "filler" item comes in.  For these "filler" items, I normally look in the clearance baskets, and find something cheap...like less than $0.50...that I can use.  The filler item I purchased during my very first couponing trip, was a pen for $0.20 I believe.  I can always use pens!  So, pick up one filler item, and there you have two items, and you can now use two coupons for your cereal.


So, I hope this clears up the meaning of "filler" items.  

As always, your comments/questions are welcome!

Have a GREAT day!

~ jenn ~

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My First Couponing Shopping Trip!

Well, I'll start off by saying my first couponing shopping trip was pretty successful...hit a few bumps during the check out process, but overall successful.  Since this was my first time, I figured I'd concentrate on one store.  I chose Walgreens.  I scoured through the Walgreens ad from the Sunday paper, looked for items I needed, or will be needing soon (you see, I don't have the space to stock pile, so for now I'm just purchasing items I use), searched through the coupon inserts to see if there were any I could "stack" on top of the items I was planning to purchase that were on sale, and made my shopping list.  I found that in order to have a smooth shopping trip, it's best to plan your purchases before you even get to the store.  I spent a couple of hours doing this.  I have a notebook specifically for my couponing shopping trips.  I wrote down each transaction I was planning, each item I was planning to purchase, and each coupon and/or Register Rewards (RR) I was planning on using.  My list looked something like this:

Transaction #1

Dove hair care products           4 for $15.00

(4) $2.00 off 1 coupons                (  8.00)

Earn $5.00 RR for next purchase

AquaFresh Kids Toothpaste               $ 2.00

In Store Coupon                          (1.00)

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

1 "filler" item  (I will discuss these in a later post)

Transaction #2

Coppertone Sunscreen                    $9.79

Manufacturer Coupon                     (1.00)

RR from prior transaction               (5.00)

Earn $3.00 RR for next purchase

AquaFresh Kids Toothpaste               $ 2.00

In Store Coupon                          (1.00)

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

1 "filler" item

Transaction #3

Lysol Disinfecting Wipes           2 for $6.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

RR from prior transaction                (3.00)

Earn $2.00 RR for next purchase

Lysol All Purpose Cleaners         2 for $6.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

Earn $2.00 RR for next purchase

Lysol Disinfectant Spray                 $3.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

Earn $1.50 RR for next purchase

Transaction #4

Purex Laundry Detergent  B1G1           $5.00

RR from prior transaction               (5.50)

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner          2 for $3.00

Manufacturer Coupon                      (1.00)

Ban Deodorant                            $3.99

In Store Coupon                          (2.00)

Manufacturer Coupon                      (0.75)

Remember that those transactions written out above were my plans....now for what I got and the transactions that actually happened....

Transaction #1

Transaction #2

 

Transaction #3

 

Transaction #4

 

So, there you have the outcome of my first real couponing shopping trip!  Not too shabby for the first time...hope to increase my savings as I continue to learn how all this couponing works!

Stay tuned for future posts explaining all the coupon lingo.

I love feedback and comments on my posts, so post away! 

Have a GREAT day!

~ jenn ~