how do you get things for free?

[mandah2386]

After reading this forum over and over I constantly see where you ladies are getting tons of stuff for free, HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS???!! I just paid 1.66 for toothpaste and thought that was a deal, but after seeing I could've gotten it for free it seems like a 1.66 wasted! Please share your secrets.

[carisal]

You'll be getting tons of free stuff in no time at all if you hang around ;)

right now you can get "free"(after RR and just pay tax) colgate , no coupon needed, at Walgreens<if you have a Walgreens> :D also "free"(same as above) shaving cream and chapstick!
sound good? hop on over to the Walgreens forum and have a look around, read about those deals and how to roll your RRs and you can get started!

A lot of my freebie deals, though, come from combining sales and coupons, rebates(Walgreens, Rite Aid, or from the manufacturer), RR(walgreens) or ECB(CVS) deals.... another good one this week at Walgreens, you need the coupon and to submit the rebate - Oust spray is on sale for 2.99, use the $2 coupon that came out in the inserts recently(past couple weeks), then submit for a $1 rebate = free :D Just a couple of current examples. CVS also has the Skintimate shaving cream for "free" (after ECB)

Good luck! and welcome!

[goatette]

Yep, I used to think $1.66 was a deal too, but I now have to agree with carisal, it's mostly a matter of matching up coupons with sales:

For example, last week my local Price chopper had a sale: 2/$4 Colgate toothpaste, and there was a recent $1/1 coupon from a Sunday paper insert, which my store doubled, making it :free1:

I find it's really helpful to go through the flyers when the first come out, and then search the coupon database (thanks to those who keep it up to date :encourage15:) to find the best deals on my grocery list each week

Hope that helps :wink7:

[tmsmalley]

I have to say I was thrilled when I ended up with my just a few cents toothpaste a few weeks ago. Mr. Fussy only likes Colgate Luminous. It is normally $2.99 a tube and just wouldn't go on sale, wouldn't go, wouldn't go. Finally, it goes on a special Safeway 99 cent deal. And I have coupons. Mr. Fussy is set for the year.

He also goes through a ton of Equal. Periodically, Equal goes on sale at Walgreens for $2.50 a box (normally about $5). I've got a source that has been keeping me supplied with $2.50/1 Equal coupons (they don't offer them in my area). I was able to pick up 20 boxes last week.

So, it is a matter of being patient, catching things when they go, being ready with coupons in hand, and stocking up so you don't have to give in and get it at $2.99 because Mr. Fussy is out and no longer minty fresh or his cup of coffee is no longer sweet.

Hang in there!
Tess

[ukkitty]

I just came from Target where I got 6 Dry Idea deodorants and 30 tubes of Colgate toothpaste for $6.54. The Dry Idea is free after a coupon at coupons.com...it's on sale for 2.00 this week. There is also a 1.00 coupon at same site for Colgate and I found 3-packs on an end cap clearancing at 1.48 each.....bought all 10 3-packs at 48 cents each. Gotta match up your coupons with sales and read A LOT of forums and blogs.....EVERYONE will tell you what deals to go after.

[bobbi0235]

You'll be getting tons of free stuff in no time at all if you hang around ;)

right now you can get "free"(after RR and just pay tax) colgate , no coupon needed, at Walgreens<if you have a Walgreens> :D also "free"(same as above) shaving cream and chapstick!
sound good? hop on over to the Walgreens forum and have a look around, read about those deals and how to roll your RRs and you can get started!

A lot of my freebie deals, though, come from combining sales and coupons, rebates(Walgreens, Rite Aid, or from the manufacturer), RR(walgreens) or ECB(CVS) deals.... another good one this week at Walgreens, you need the coupon and to submit the rebate - Oust spray is on sale for 2.99, use the $2 coupon that came out in the inserts recently(past couple weeks), then submit for a $1 rebate = free :D Just a couple of current examples. CVS also has the Skintimate shaving cream for "free" (after ECB)

Good luck! and welcome!


what size colgate how do you know

[bobbi0235]

can you use r r & still get r r when you buy items that offer them

[savelot08]

can you use r r & still get r r when you buy items that offer them

Yes. but u can cot purchase the same thing. for example - in walgreens thr is a deal going on for Edge shave gel, it is for $2.99. when u purchase 1 Edge shave gel ull get $2.99/ $3 RR for your next purchase. now u cant use this $3RR to purchase another Edge/ skintimate ..but u can purchse colgate/ chapstick with this RR & ull get Colgate/ chapstick RR back for ur next purchase.

[jenrose]

I just wish I lived somewhere with no sales tax. Since the tax is based on the full price before coupons I end up paying 10 times as much in tax as for the products themselves! But at least I don't still pay full retail for everything + tax!

It will come in time. Just keep paying attention to the forum and your local ads & MQ's and it will be no time before you are getting the great deals.

[sindy9002]

Everybody is doing a good job.

[Lady P]

do I have to go to different forums on the site to get "free" stuff?....I'm really confused!

[Shadowchasy]

do I have to go to different forums on the site to get "free" stuff?....I'm really confused!


no, you not but in order to find the deals for each store, you will need to visit those forums.

[tmsmalley]

do I have to go to different forums on the site to get "free" stuff?....I'm really confused!

To get "free" stuff you have to have the right coupon matched with the right sale. There are many ways that can happen. You can scour the threads for the stores near you, watch for someone to post a "free" deal on something you want and then go after it. Or you can just keep an eye out yourself in the course of your shopping. As you collect coupons and start getting savvy to sales, it will all start coming together.

Tess

[shoebottom]

I have tons of HBA products that I get for free or close to it, but what about food. What food do you get free or cheap. I only have a Kroger that doubles up the 60c, Walgreens, and Walmart. I have a hard time getting free deals to work around food.

[bugface711]

There are soooo many free and cheap food items to be had, the key is that the sales are in cycles so you have to stock up for 6 months to a years worth when you buy (at least for me) so you do not have to but it again until its on a great sales cycle.

If you follow the Kroger forum you should see some great cheapies!!!

I use my register rewards for food items all the time. Most of my HBA stockpile is for CVS so the main reason I shop wags is for RR's so I can spend those on the food items they carry that are not free or super cheap at the grocery store.

[cookin4less]

Oh, I wish my Krogers would double up to 60 so I could use all those .55 q's I get all the time...we get doubles up to .50 LOL

You can get free or cheap at Krogers. You just have to take the time to pair your coupons with the right sale. The Krogers forums are great for keeping the sales ads and matchups updated as well as the catalina deals that are going on.

Don't forget to check the catalina deals on here b/c they can add to your savings and help you get things free or cheap that you might not notice if you don't watch it here on the board. My Krogers never keeps the catalina deals marked well at the store so I get all that info here and am able to get deals that I normally wouldn't know anything about.

And you can get some good deals at Wags from time to time too. Anything from PB to Ragu to chips, drinks, etc...

Read the board and follow your stores forums and ask questions in the forums about anything you don't understand. Good luck on your grocery savings. HTH

[elisablaze]

I'm still working on geetting more food vs. hba items.
I don't have kids and have been trying to eat healthier so it's a bit harder, sep since I don't eat pop-tarts, crackers, etc.

[mommytaylor]

We have no doubles here.

I usually get free beef, chicken, salad dressing, hot dogs, milk, bread, buns. Cheap (under $.50) shredded cheese, pasta, cereal, rice...

Through MIRs I usually have free frozen pizzas, deli meat, etc.

Kroger is your best bet. If something is free or cheap with a sale with a database coupon, don't be afraid to hunt it down without having a sale going for it currently. If you have a longer expiration - it will come back!

[Ggbwg]

I live where there are no doubles at all. The only way i have realy been able to save is...
1). Price match what is on sale at Walmart
2). Use coupons on those sales

Target- When you get to combine a Target Coupon w/ a Man. Coupon

This month i have got for free or dirt cheap would be:
Chicken Breasts $.85lb
Jacks Pizza's $1.86x2=$3.72 -$1/2 Coupon =$2.72
Airhead Sour Belts $.64-$.55/1 =$.09 I bought 20 for $1.80
Apples were $.32 for 3 at Target w/ there coupon
Kraft BBQ Sauce $.76 -$1 =FREE & $.24 Overage
A-1 Steak sauce $2.08 -$2 coupon-$.08 i bought 11 for $.88 cents!

That's just a few things i could think of for this month. I use Register Rewards at Walgreens sometimes for the food. I have no CVS here. If i do go to one i have to drive an hr to get there. So i have not been since Christmas. If i had a CVS i would be there about every other day, lol. There are some members here that have blogs or saving sites. If you have't looked in the blog roll section maybe do so.

I have noticed for our family it is harder to get food and Toilet paper deals than health & beauty deals. Produce & meat is one of the hardest for us. Good Luck!

[loladooder99]

I got a free thing of ice cream,8 oz cheese and a bag of lays. I got these at krogers from free coupons they sent to me threw their home mailer. I started getting the home mailer by signing up to recieve their ad in my email. Even though i already had a member card.

[puakinikini]

This moth at Kroger (Fry's) I got cheap or free:
Vitamin water (currently free)
Quaker Quakes
Chicken (had rc for 1.77/lb Tyson and used $1 off fresh Tyson Q for .77/lb chicken breast) - bought 1 lb at a time.
Kroger carrots (Kroger Q)
Pepperidge farm bread
Kellogg's cereals
Kraft dressings
A-1 sauce
Lawrey's marinade
McCormick spices
Wheat thins

...hmm...can't really remember what else. Definitely sign up to get the store Qs mailed to you - I had to call corporate to get oin the list - well worth my energy! I get coupons that appear to be regular things I buy about once a month.

[Ggbwg]

I got a free thing of ice cream,8 oz cheese and a bag of lays. I got these at krogers from free coupons they sent to me threw their home mailer. I started getting the home mailer by signing up to recieve their ad in my email. Even though i already had a member card.

:giggle2: OH yes how could i forget about those coupons they mail out. I don't have Krogers but have Bakers which is there family store. Bakers sent me some coupons this month and in them was a coupon for FREE Strawberries. That made me happy! :excited2:

[tmsmalley]

You can get free or cheap anywhere if you are patient and you happen to want what they offer for free or cheap.

Just this week I got free strawberries from Safeway (store coupon for 1 free lb) and a free Haagen Daz (free coupon from writing to them). On the cheap scale, I got 15 boxes cereal reg $68.91 after sale and coupons $11.46 and 4 packs Ball Park franks bun size reg $13.96 after $2.98.

Tess

[Kulis]

I'm not near Kroger country (but I wish I had one here).
At my grocery stores I can usually combine sales and coupons to get free/cheap pasta, cereal and condiments (ketchup, mustard, vinegars, salad dressing).
Right now grilling items such as BBQ seasonings and sauces and meats like hot dogs are on the list.

[Ggbwg]

Yes hot dogs are cheap right now. Super Saver has Bar-S jumbo hotdogs for $.68 this week. $.68x2=$1.36 -$1/2 coupon =$.36 cents!!

[amzasmommy]

the only way i've been able to get free things is from the kroger mailers. i have a coupon for free eggs and one for free cereal bars right now. i love kroger mail.

[indymoney]

I live in a place where Walmart and walgreens are the big stores.

I tried others too. But they're costly.

I'm finding it hard to spend less :poke:

[DamianMom]

I agree about getting on the Kroger mailing list. I just got a coupon the other day for free Hunt's ketchup, and some other coupons. Also it is wise to e-mail companies to get coupons, even free coupons for food items that you often use too. An example is when I e-mailed Tyson chicken. They sent me 2 or 3 frees for free chicken breasts up to $5 (and if I remember right they didn't expire). I often will just try to be sure to use it before it expires, but sometimes I save it for in a deal. Like if it matches in a spend $X amount, and save $X amount.
Another thing I am just not learning to do. Watch the catalina deals. Sometimes you can free or cheap stuff when you get catalinas back. You'll pay more out of pocket the first time and get a catalina back, but then you can roll that catalina. Right now I've got plenty of bbq sauce and mac 'n' cheese from doing that! LOL And anything else I say just watch the sales, and match with coupons to get the cheapest you can get it. Oh, and the next step for me to learn, but I know can help too is to look for MIR or TMF or rebates. (I'll only do them if it's worth the stamp myself! lol) but sometimes those can be a moneymaker. HTH!!

[Lurkergirl]

I have gotten 4 bottles of bbq sauce for free at Kroger .They had it 10/10 and I printed 4 of the buy 1 get 1.00 off so free

I also have stocked up on Bologna and hotdogs

I have trouble with hba myself

I also stocked up on cereal it was 1.88 and there were tons of coupons for 1.00 off so each box was only .88 cents