Is It Worth Using Register Rewards At Walgreens

Is it worth learning how to use Register Rewards at Walgreens?

This actually is a question I have asked myself on occasion. Are you wondering if rotating the Register Rewards really does put you out ahead? Or.. is it a gimmick to get back in the store?

I thought it would be fun to put it to the test. So, I spent a little time in both Walgreens & Walmart to see how I would come out. I'll lay out my transactions just like I would in a coupon match-up so it's easy to follow along. Please note, these transactions were from previous posts that were time sensitive and are no longer available.

Here we go..

I choose these items because, unlike some Register Reward deals, these are things that most people use everyday.

Walgreens. I made 3 transactions.

Transaction #1:

• Purchased 2 Cottenelle 12 pack single rolls – $5 ea
• Use the $0.75/1 Cottonelle coupon in the 7/17 SS Plus..
• Use the $1/1 Cottonelle coupon in the August Walgreens booklet (takes off $2)
• Pay $7.25 -Get Back a $3.50 Register Reward.

Transaction #2:

• Purchased (2) 15 pack pouch of Cascade, $3.99 ea
• Purchased (1) Downy 21 load, $3.99
• Purchased (1) Penway note pad, $0.49 (*filler item)

• Use (2) $1/1 Cascade coupon in the 7/1 and 7/31 PG
• Use the $1/1 Downy coupon in the 7/1 PG
• Use the $3.50 Register Reward from above
• Pay $5.96 – Get Back a $3 RR

Transaction #3

• Purchase (1) Tide 32 load, $5.99
• Purchase (1) Penway note pad, $0.49 (*filler item)
• Use the $1/1 Tide coupon in the 7/1 PG
• Use the $3 Register Reward from above
• Pay $2.48

Final out of pocket for everything – $15.70

Now lets head to Walmart.

Only two of the products were identical and the Downy was already lower than Walgreens. So, I was only able to price match the Tide.

Here's how it turned out:

• (2) Cottonelle 6 double rolls (instead or 12 single rolls), $6.97 ea
• (2) 16 pack Cascade gel packs (instead of 15), $4.54 ea
• (1) Tide 32 load $7.54 – identical product can price match $5.99
• (1) Downy 21 load $3.16 – $0.83 cheaper than Walgreens
• (2) Mini Note Books $0.49 ea

Subtotal $33.15 – Minus the same $4.75 worth of manufactures coupons from above.

Final out of pocket $28.40 – Walgreens beats Walmart by $12.70!

**Side note: Let's say for arguments sake you were able to find the exact products at Walmart and price match the Cottonelle & Cascade. Your bottom line at Walmart would be $23.36. Walgreens still beats Walmart by $7.66

Filler Items: Walgreens requires that you have at least one item purchased for each manufacturers coupon you use. A Register Reward is considered a manufactures coupon. So, in transactions 2 & 3 I needed a small “filler item”, hence the $0.49 note pads.