Trying out Walgreens Balance Rewards

After doing some reading, I decided to go ahead and try out the Walgreens Balance Rewards this week.

If you're not familiar with Balance Rewards, it's a new program that Walgreens has started.  This is in addition to their Register Rewards.  You can sign up online or in-store.  Basically you earn points for buying certain items.  Those points equal a dollar amount that can be redeemed for items in store.

Before I share my trip, here are some helpful tips I've learned:
-You can use coupons on Balance Rewards items and still receive the points.
-You can use Register Rewards on Balance Rewards items and still receive the points.
-If you use Balance Rewards towards Balance Rewards items, you will NOT receive the points.
-If you use Balance Rewards towards Register Rewards items, you will receive the points.
-Some items will have limits, others will not.  You will earn the bonus points for each of those items, even if bought in the same transaction.

So here's what my trip looked like:

8 Stride ID, 2/$2
Buy 2, Get 1000 Bonus Rewards
Used 4 BOGO from 9/16 SS

4 Mitchum Deodorants, $1.99 each
Buy 1, Get 2000 Bonus Points
Used 4 $.75/1 from 8/19 SS (also found in 9/16 SS)

3 Mini Highlighters, Clearance Priced $.19 each (fillers)

Subtotal: $9.53, Total: $10.77
"Paid" with 2 $2 Register Rewards, 5 $1 Register Rewards, and $1.77 OOP
Earned 12000 points (equivalent to about $12),
so I'd consider this trip a $1.23 Money Maker!

How to Use Menards Rebates

I shop at Menards quite a bit for their FREE after Mail-In-Rebate items.  I thought I'd type up a tutorial so you can see just how easy it is!

Simply check the Menards ad(s) or walk around the store to find items that have a rebate.  When you purchase the items, the bottom of your receipt will have a list of rebate numbers.  It will also have individual rebate receipts containing the same numbers.

The rebates are located at the front of the store in numerical order.  Simply tear a rebate from the corresponding pad.

Now all you need to do is fill in the back of the rebate form(s).  You can simply stick a return address label to the back if you don't want to hand-write everything.  Mail the rebate form (from the front desk) and the rebate receipt (found at the bottom of your receipt) to the address on the rebate form.  You can send multiple rebates in the same envelope.

Then watch your mail!  Your rebate will be a green and white postcard.  You do not need to use the entire value in one shopping trip.  The cashier will simply cross off the old amount and write your remaining balance.

While you'll spend money out of pocket on your first set of "freebies," you can roll your Menards rebate into more freebies!  When paying with a rebate, you aren't even charged tax!

How to Collect and Organize Coupons

Where to get coupons:

Sunday Paper: Coupon Inserts

Look for coupon inserts from General Mills (GM), Proctor & Gamble (PG), Smart Source (SS), Red Plum (RP), and more!
Tip:  Larger papers, such as the Chicago Tribune, have more and better coupons than smaller, more local papers.

Online
Some popular site featuring coupons include: 
Coupons.com 
Coupon Network
RedPlum
SmartSource



In Store
Blinkies-blinking machine located near products
Catalina-coupons that print out with your receipt
Hang Tags-coupons hanging on products
Peelies-coupons that peel off the product you're buying
Tear Pads-located near products
Weekly Circular-in your newspaper or front of store

Loyalty Cards
Some loyalty cards allow you to load coupons right onto them.  A couple examples include:
Dominick's Just 4 U
Jewel-Osco 

Mail
You can get coupons in the mail from companies you've signed up with or with free samples you've requested.

Magazines
All You is a popular coupon magazine.  It is sold exclusively at Walmart or through a subscription.  Coupons can periodically be found in various other women's and other magazines.

How to Organize Your Coupons

 

There are several ways you can choose to do this.  Below is how I personally choose to organize my coupons.

1.  Label all of your newspaper inserts with the date.  For example 5/8 for May 8.

Some people prefer to cut out all coupons and organize them into categories into a coupon binder, so that they have all their coupons with them at all times.

2.  Label hanging file folders with the month and year to keep your inserts organized.  I keep my folders in a crate.
Others choose to label folders by insert:  "P&G," "Redplum," "Smartsource," etc.
 

By organizing your coupons this way, you can use online coupon match ups to easily locate the coupons needed for the week.

3.  Cut and carry the coupons you need.  I carry a coupon organizer with me at all times.  It is organized by store with my coupons for that week's deals.  I leave the front pocket open.  As I put products in my cart, I place the corresponding coupon into the front pocket so that it is ready at checkout.