I've been asked by readers about shopping at drugstores and reader Stephanie asked about Walgreens. First, before you even step foot in the store, you need to read the coupon policy.

One of the main points in shopping Walgreens is that you can't have more coupons than items purchased. That number includes store coupons, manufacturer coupons and Register Rewards. If you need another item, you have to get a "filler" item, which is normally the cheapest thing you can find in the store.

While some folks call couponing the grocery game or drugstore game, to me it is simply the math game. So, always take your calculator so you can sort out your out of pocket expense and how many transactions you will need in order to purchase your items.

Drugstores are good to find deals but I'll have to be honest in telling you that often by the time you get to the store, the item is out of stock. And, at Walgreens you can't get a raincheck on an item that has Register Rewards. You really have to take stock in the expense you have in running from store to store and the cost of gas. 

I made a quick run yesterday to see what items they had that my family members would actually use. They still have items on clearance and so I focused on matching coupons with the clearance items. Here is what I bought:

Transaction 1:

Gillette Fusion Power Razor, $9.99

Used $4 off Gillette Fusion Razor (June P&G)

Received $5 Register Reward

Total out of pocket: $5.99 plus tax=$6.89

Transaction 2:

Gillette Fusion Power Razor, $9.99

Used $4 off Gillette Fusion Razor (June P&G)

Received $5 Register Reward

Total out of pocket: $5.99 plus tax=$6.89

Transaction 3:

Plackers Orthodontist Floss, Regular $2.99, clearance $1

1 Soft Soap Refill 56 oz, Regular $7.99, clearance $3

1 U Kotex, Regular $7.99, clearance $4

Hawaiian Tropics Sun Tanning Lotion, Regular $9.99, clearance $4

John Freida shampoo, Regular $6.49, clearance $3

Right Guard deodorant, Regular $4.49, clearance $2

Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, Regular $4.99, clearance $2

Reese candy, $.69

-          $1 U Kotex printable from here

-          $2 Hawaiian Tropic Lotion or Creme SPF 15 , (Walgreens Summer Beauty Guide

-           $1 Hawaiian Tropic Suncare Product, 4 Oz. , Any (06-26-11 SS)

-          $2 John Frieda Product, any (06-05-11 SS)

-          $1 Right Guard product, received in mail

-          $1 Tom's of Maine Toothpaste or Mouthwash, any (06-19-11 SS)

-          $10 Register Rewards

Total before coupons: $19.69

Total Coupons: & Register Rewards: $18.00

Total out of pocket: $1.69 plus tax = $3.28

Total trip out of pocket: 15.84

That’s almost $64 in savings!

P.S. I bought the Reese's because the cashier at Walgreens is amazing and it helps her quota for the items sold at the register.                                                

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Winn Dixie Buy One Get One Free deals. Courtesy of The Jacksonville News. Prices in parenthesis are "save up to price" listed in the ad.

Meat/Poultry/Fish

WD Brand Beef boneless top round London broil ($5.39 on 2lbs)

WD All Natural boneless center cut prokchops ($5.69 on 2 lbs)

WD All Natural assorted boneless pork chops ($4.99)

WD All Natural boneless pork loin country style ribs ($5.69)

WD boneless chicken breats or tenderloins

Sanderson Farms split chicken breasts ($2.99 on 2 lbs)

Hormel Natural Choice ham or turney ($3.99)

Hormel pork shoulder roast with BBQ seasoning ($9.99)

Fisherman's Wharf flounder, perch, grouper, cod, whiting fillets ($7.99)

Fisherman's Wharf easy peel 51-60 ct medium white shrimp ($9.99)

Sea Best breaded butterfly or popcorn shrimp, breaded clams, scallops, calamari ($6.99)

Ocean Cafe crab cakes ($8.99)

Grocery

Nature's Own sandwich ournds ($3.29)

Thomas bagel thins ($3.69)

WD long grain rice ($2.99)

Balsamic vinegar or classic or extra light Pompeian olive oil ($5.99)

Peter Pan peanute butter ($2.69)

WD BBQ Sauce ($2.39)

WD seasonings, sauces or gravies ($10.99)

Taco Bell dinner kits or salsa ($3.29)

Reisen, Werther's (5.5 oz) or (1.6-2 oz) of Dove, Twix, 3 Muskateers, Milky Way, m&ms or Snickers candy bars  ($1.99)

Blue Bird sugar donuts ($2.99)

Welch's 100% grape juice ($4.99)

Van Camp's beans ($2.29)

Del Monte vegetables ($1.99)

Household

6 foot beach umbrella with tilt or steel quad chairs (no price listed)

open gazebo (no price listed)

Bamboo torches, selected varieties (no price listed)

Melamine tumblers, selected varieties (no price listed)

Toys, selected varieties (no price listed)

Hefty foam plates ($4.99)

Cleaners

Lysol toilet bowl cleaners, Scrubbing Bubbles aerosol ($3.49)

Health & Beauty

Nature's Bounty or Disney vitamins ($40.99)

Wet 'n Wild cosmetics ($6.99)

Arm & Hammer or Close-Up toothpaste ($3.79)

Double Play

Get (1) FREE 12 ct fresh bakes dinner rolls when you pruchase (1) rotisserie chicken in a single transaction.

Get (1) FREE 18.25 oz Pillsbury cake mix when you purchase (1) 15.6-16 oz Pillsbury frosting in a single transaction.

Get (1) FREE 16 oz Blue Bell pint ice cream when you pruchase (1) 10-11 oz Michael Angelo's dinners in a single transaction.

(Get (1) FREE 16 oz WD mayonnaise or sandwich spread when you purchase (1) 12.5 oz Valley fresh white chicken in a single transaction.

Make-A-Meal

Buy 3 particpating General Mills cereals (Lucky Charms, Cookie Crisp, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Trix, Honey Nut Cheerios, Cheerios and get

• Seneca 100% apple juice, 48 oz
• 12 oz Simply buttermilk biscuits or 8 ct Pillsbury Grands
• gallon WD milk (excludes chocolate)
• Smucker's grapy jelly, 20 oz

What-A-Deal

Buy any (2) participating Pantene shampoo or conditioner 2/$11 and get

• 4 bar Ivory Soap
• 3.5 oz Crest toothpaste
• 2.6 oz Secret deodorant
• 200 ct TopCare cotton balls

Other Deals

WD pharmacy Store Coupon: Save $1 Take Away Environmental Return System package

Purchase $20 in participating P&G items and recieve $5 off instantly on your fresh meat purchase

• Gain detergent 48-64 load, $9.99
• Downy fabric softener, Febreeze fabric spray, $4.99
• Puffs facial tissue 3-4 pack, $4.99
• Cascade dishwasher detergent, 2/$9
• Dawn or Ivory dish detergent, 2/$5
• Swiffer Duster kit, $6.99
• any Pampers bag diapers, $8.88
• Bounty napkins 160 or 200 ct, 2/$6
• Iams dry dog food, $16.99
• Prilosec OTC, $9.99
• Alway feminine pads, Tampax tampons, 2/$5.49
• Crest toothpaste, 2/$6