Toiletries for free at Walgreens or CVS?

**luminajd** · 01-14-2011, 11:04 AM

I read on another thread it is possible to get toiletries for free from CVS and/or Walgreens by coupons. Can you point me to the right direction on how to do this?
Any chance I can get toilet paper reduced also?
Thanks

**IntlMom** · 01-14-2011, 11:48 AM

Yep, I do this all the time.

There are some great blogs out there that will actually walk you right through the process. They will even spell out the current deals going on.

without naming any of them:

google: coupon saving blogs

once you find one, go to the side of the blog and you should find a list of other great blogs...... you;ll get more than you ever bargained for,

have fun!!!!

**kitkat0649** · 01-14-2011, 12:44 PM

My favorite site for coupons and sale match ups is deal seeking mom. Basically you combine coupons with sales and ECBs(CVS) or Register Rewards(walgreens) to get things free or next to free. ECBs and RRs are coupons that pop out with your receipt good for the next transaction. Say Colgate toothpaste is on sale for $2.49, plus you get a $1.49 ECB that will print out and you have a $1 off manufacturer coupon, making it free. You want to save up ECBs and continuously roll them into your next transaction, so you virtually never have to pay for items at CVS or walgreens again. Usually each trip, I have 2 or 3 transactions that I just roll the ECBs from each into the next, so I have next to no out of pocket expense.

**kitkat0649** · 01-14-2011, 12:47 PM

CVS also requires that you have their card to get the ECBs, but no card is necessary at walgreens. I much prefer CVS though, their coupon policy is much less stringent.

**The Muse** · 01-14-2011, 01:18 PM

Waaaahhhhh! I miss shopping in the US! I've been a master at this since college. I've gotten thousands, possibly tens of thousands of dollars of free stuff over the years. Long before it was cool, when cashiers and customers alike used to roll their eyes at me.

Where I live now, they don't have coupons. But people seem to love hearing about them. They can't believe it's possible to get so much stuff for free...lol!

**luminajd** · 01-14-2011, 01:37 PM

Thanks! Off to look at those sites...

**moasmom** · 01-14-2011, 01:45 PM

I keep seeing people talk about getting their toiletries free or nearly free, and I have done a little investigating, but I am still not convinced it's worth it to me to wade in. I realize that results will be different for everyone, based on what you put into it, and also what you want to get out of it.

Anyway, it really seems to me that, in order to earn enough free stuff, I would first have to begin by buying way too many things I don't need or want, and also ordering coupons from online sources, both methods that don't interest me at all in my simple and frugal life.

So, I would really love honest opinions about whether getting involved with these programs would work for someone who has no interest in buying most commercial cleaning products, convenience items, or even very many health and beauty items.

Hope this question makes sense,
Kara

**Neeley** · 01-14-2011, 02:39 PM

Luminajd,

Take a look at Iheartsavingmoney.com, SouthernSavers.com, IheartCVS.com, and WildForWags.com.

They are all pretty good sites to help matching up sales w/coupons for various drug stores including Walgreen's, CVS, Rite-Aid along with some grocery stores.

Each site will also have a blogroll with links to several money saving blogs.

I cannot remember the last time I paid more than a quarter for toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, shaving cream, etc...Literally it has been years.

I have been teaching my cousin for several months how to do it. She has gotten frustrated a bit when she makes an error and has had weeks when she would get a little confused, but she is finally catching on and is now calling herself the "CVS Queen". It will take a bit of trial and error and you will make a mistake or two, but don't let that discourage you. I still mess up here and there. As long as you keep at it you will get the hang of it and will be stocking up your cabinets with H&B items that were free or next to free. It actually gets to be like a game and is sort of fun - looking forward to each week's sales circular, getting the match-ups together, etc...

If you run across any problems or questions, feel free to ask. There are quite a few of us who will be happy to help.

Happy shopping!!!

**imagine** · 01-14-2011, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by moasmom

I keep seeing people talk about getting their toiletries free or nearly free, and I have done a little investigating, but I am still not convinced it's worth it to me to wade in. I realize that results will be different for everyone, based on what you put into it, and also what you want to get out of it.

Anyway, it really seems to me that, in order to earn enough free stuff, I would first have to begin by buying way too many things I don't need or want, and also ordering coupons from online sources, both methods that don't interest me at all in my simple and frugal life.

So, I would really love honest opinions about whether getting involved with these programs would work for someone who has no interest in buying most commercial cleaning products, convenience items, or even very many health and beauty items.

Hope this question makes sense,
Kara

We buy almost no commercial cleaning products and very limited health and beauty Because for a need to be loyal to certain kinds of health and beauty an items due to allergies( My gums even broke out in a rash once from a toothpaste). I don't get lots of free stuff ( we also only has a Walgreens not a CVS) but I do love when a items and is cheaper due to registrar rewards. So I keep my eyes peeled.

Free sometime lets me be a bit adventures with out a financial cost. Example once Herbal Essences was free with coupon Daughter wanted to try it so I bought it after all it was free. It ended up being great of her hair and didn't break anyone out. So that ended up a win win.

**shoiji** · 01-14-2011, 07:16 PM

The coupon mom website is great for doing this. It is free and will help you keep track of coupons.

This is how I save money on hba items.

**meredith1629** · 01-14-2011, 10:27 PM

I think you really have to want to invest the time upfront in order to get the good deals. At first it will be a pain the butt until you learn the rules for each store and the best ways to go about doing the deals. After you see what you can get for free and a small time investment, you will wonder why it took you so long.

Today, I got 14 packages of stayfree pads, 10 boxes of chalk hearts, and a package of gum for almost free at Rite Aid. I spent $2.27 for someone to send me 5 BOGO free stayfree coupons and one $1/1 stayfree coupon. I printed from the internet 2 BOGO stayfree coupons and four $1/1 stayfree coupons. Combined with the UP rewards at Rite Aid, I got all the pads free (with .50 overage for every two, which is why I got the heart candy and gum). This one deal will keep me in pads the rest of the year. This is just one example. I stocked myself up for a year for less than the cost of one package.

It is doable and worth it if you want to learn.

**moasmom** · 01-17-2011, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the info, everyone. I'm not really concerned with a time investment, although I do feel like it's one more thing I don't have time to deal with (but of course I can find the time if it's worth it), but rather, I refuse to buy things I don't need, just to earn rewards dollars.

So, I'm still not sure it would be cost/time effective for me, based on the few h&b items I actually buy. When i have looked through Wallgreen's and CVS sale flyers in the past, I haven't seen one thing on sale that I needed to buy. But obviously no one can answer this for me; I will need to just investigate more for myself.

Kara

**khaski** · 01-18-2011, 08:39 AM

For those who do not use the stuff, if you had the time or inclination to, you could always scoop up the deals and donate them to your local food pantry or homeless shelter....they are ALWAYS happy to have toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, soap, feminine products etc for those in need.....

I don't get much 'free' here, but I DO get a lot at a steep discount- feminine things for $1-2 a pack instead of $5-7, higher end shampoos for $1-2 instead of $5-7, body washes for $1 instead of $4 or 5......It DOES take time and practice to 'master' the systems of using store rewards and coupons together, but it's worth it, for us.