I went to CVS yesterday to use up a couple of free coupons that were going to be expiring at the end of August. I tend to hold onto my free coupons if I don’t need the products. I keep an envelope with the expiration dates and products written on the front so that I know when I need to use them by. Then, when I have an opportunity to make money or get two for free, I have the coupon available.
You can make money with free coupons by using $/$$ coupons at stores, as you’ll see below.
You can get two for free by pairing a free coupon with a B1G1 sale. For example, you purchase two products which ring up $x.xx for one and $0.00 for the other. This is the store sale. When you use your free coupon (which is a manufacturer’s coupon) you will be given credit for the $x.xx price (making both of your products free) and the retailer will be reimbursed the value of the coupon. Everybody wins!
Here’s what I got at CVS today:
2 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups $1
1 Glade Oil Candle Refills $2.50
1 Glade Oil Candle Holder $2.50
2 Carefree Ultra $7.58
2 Burt’s Bees Lip Balm $5.98
1 Ball $.99 (they were on sale, I needed an extra couple of cents to bump myself over $20 and my son was looking at them longingly)
I used
-$4/$20 coupon from the Readyfill Booklet
-Buy 1 Holder, Get 1 Glade Refills Free
-$1 off Glade Refills (I forgot I was getting the refills for free already and wouldn’t have done this if I realized, but it went through anyway!)
-Buy 1 Reese’s, Get 1 Free (which actually took off the shelf price of $.79)
-$.55 off Reese’s
-$1/2 Carefree
-2 Get One Free Burt’s Bees Lip Balm coupons (no longer available)
I used $4 ECB and paid $1.88 in cash
I then received $3 for the Glade and $7.58 for the Carefree
So, I made $4.70
*One note – I only did half of my Glade deal during this transaction. I went on Sunday to do my original Glade deal idea and picked up 5 instead of the 4 I planned on. I had the extra coupon and they were a little hard to find. Because of this, I knew I’d have to finish the deal later in the week in order to get my ECB. *
Alli is a Chicago based wife and mother of two children. She has turned money-saving into a game and enjoys searching out the best deals to help you save money! Alli shares her insight, tips and up-to-the-minute deals for local and national retailers and brands. Her hope is that you will play the game and learn to save money at the same time!