Walgreens is another great place for couponers to shop. They offer store rewards that have very long expiration dates, which makes it really nice if you don’t need something each week. Walgreens has a rewards card now as well. This rewards card is completely free. It is needed to use the program called Balance Rewards. You can get your card online at www.Walgreens.com or sign up at your local Walgreens store.
What is Balance Rewards? Balance Rewards is a fairly new program at Walgreens. You will earn points on qualifying purchases. These points can be redeemed for gift cards when you reach certain amounts. For example, if you have 5,000 points, you’ll earn a $5 gift card. The nice thing about this points program is that your points never expire as long as you shop at Walgreens at least once every six months and use your points within three years.
Savings and points will be earned when you show your card or provide your telephone number. You must enroll first. Points are earned for purchasing specific items in the store. You will know which items come with points by looking at your local Walgreens ad. You can earn 500 points for each prescription or immunization. You cannot earn points on a purchase in which you are redeeming points. You can access your point totals at the checkout, online or through your mobile device.
They still have Register Rewards, but the new program is much easier to use. Register Rewards is phasing out, but they still have it on some purchases. Register Rewards are “store rewards” offered by Walgreens. They print as a Manufacturer’s Catalina from the Catalina machine located by the register. You can view which items will give you back a Register Reward by looking in the store flyer.
You can only get one Register Reward per promotion. So, if you are purchasing two identical products, you will only get one Register Reward. To get more than one, you will need to do separate transactions — although most stores limit these type of deals to one per person per day. You cannot use a Register Reward that printed from a product to purchase an identical product. If you do, another reward will not print. If you are purchasing more than one identical item, you should purchase them in two separate transactions or you can purchase your first item, and then purchase a totally different item. You can use the reward from the first item to help pay for the second item and because that second item is different you will get your reward. After that you can use that reward to buy the same product you bought the first time. Since all rewards are from different promotions, your rewards should print without an issue.
There are two types of in-store coupons available at Walgreens.
IVC stands for Instant Value Coupon. These are coupons found in a small booklet located by the store flyers. These can be used with your manufacturer coupons on a single item/purchase. You do not need to clip these coupons. The cashier can simply scan the coupon in your book. You only need one coupon book. Unlike regular coupons, when you purchase multiple items, these types of coupons will deduct the coupon amount times however many you purchased.
Another form of an in-store coupon is a Walgreen’s “in-ad” coupon, which is located in the store flyer. This can be combined with your manufacturer’s coupon. You cannot combine an IVC and in-ad on a single product since both of these are “store coupons.” You can only combine a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon —not a store coupon with a store coupon or a manufacturer’s coupon with a manufacturer’s.
Walgreens coupon policy requires that you have an equal amount of items versus manufacturer coupons being used. Since Register Rewards are manufacturer coupons, they count towards your manufacturer coupons being used. In the event that you are using a manufacturer’s coupon on each item you are purchasing and you plan to use your Register Reward to pay the difference, you will need to get what I call a “filler” item.
A “filler” is an inexpensive item you can add to your order so you are able to use that Register Reward to pay the difference.
To find more information on how to shop at Walgreens, click the Walgreen’s tab at www.StephanieSavings.net.
