Walgreen's, CVS, Target, Costco, grocery store?

[Enchanted_Mama]

I am curious where, in general, items like soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, dish soap, are the cheapest? I've always just bought them at the grocery store, but seeing some of these threads makes me think there are better deals to be had. So, where do you buy these things?

 

[Bren's Mom]

In general, I've found grocery stores to be the most expensive for cleaning supplies and toiletries, drug stores next and Walmart least expensive.

However, when they have a deal and I utilize coupons and the store doubles coupons the grocery stores and use register rewards, rebates, etc plus coupons at drug stores, those are most often the cheapest.

So if I need something NOW, can't wait for it, I go to Walmart/Target. Mostly, though, I buy things and stock up when they're on sale to get the best prices.

 

[CherylA]

I am curious where, in general, items like soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, dish soap, are the cheapest? I've always just bought them at the grocery store, but seeing some of these threads makes me think there are better deals to be had. So, where do you buy these things?

When CVS had dollars off coupons ie $4 off a $20 purchase that you could use in combo with manufacturer's dollars off coups for the individual items I got everything I could from there, some groceries even. Now that there are no longer dollars off coupons for CVS I find Walmart gives me the best deals with a coupon. I also shop Costco but they don't take coupons and you really have to know your prices because often an item at Costco is cheaper on sale at the grocery store.

 

[Ava]

I usually buy toiletries at a drugstore - much bigger selection than the grocery stores in my area. I'm in NY, so I mostly use Duane Reade because it's convenient and we have the club card that gives us a $5 coupon for every $100 we spend. I will go to Walgreens too, but only for great deals because its farther away. Sadly we don't have a CVS near us any more.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Also, BJs wasn't on your list. But for anyone reading this; you can get good deals at BJs if you know their coupon policy. You have to know your prices, of course. See their coupon policy below:

"Can I use coupons?
Absolutely! BJ’s accepts all manufacturers’ coupons — including the ones that come in your Sunday newspaper — giving you additional savings on top of our everyday low prices. Plus, we offer BJ’s Members-only coupons throughout the year. After all, saving you money is what BJ’s is all about.

You can get your exclusive BJ’s coupons:

* Online. To access and print online coupons, you will need to activate your Profile by creating a Password.
* In BJ’s Journal, a BJ’s Member magazine
* Through special-offer mailings
* In BJ’s in-Club coupon flyers

Can I use more than one coupon?
You may not use more than one coupon on a single item. However, if you buy a multi-pack (a pack that contains multiple full-sized packages of a single product shrink-wrapped together) you may use multiple coupons.

For example, if you have 2 coupons for 50% off an 8-oz. bottle of face cleanser and you are buying a multi-pack that contains 2 or more 8-oz. bottles of face cleanser you may use both coupons.

 

[Imzadi]

Sadly we don't have a CVS near us any more.

That's okay. The CVSs in the metro-NYC area are crappy when it comes to sales. They put out a different sales circular than the rest of the country and there is hardly any sales in them. It's barely 4 pages whereas the rest of the country may get a full 8 pages. Also, the "sales" prices are higher that the rest of the country. I don't even bother with the CVS threads as the info posted in them just aren't pertinent to here.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

All health and beauty stuff comes from cvs unless it's free elsewhere. I got some shampoo free at kroger a month or so ago. It's always free or very close to at cvs.

Cleaning supplies I go with where ever the sale is. Lately it's been a lot of bogo sales at publix with coupons (my stores double). Otherwise stuff like that is way too expensive at the grocery store.

Laundry detergent is another one of those I watch for the sales and grab it wherever it's cheap. I happened to grab a bottle at kroger this week.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, razors, and sometiems deodorant, I get free after rebate from Rite Aid. Most other stuff I get from Walmart. Once in a great while, there is a good sale at the grocery store (often on their brand) and I'll stock up there.

 

[CajunDixie]

I am curious where, in general, items like soap, shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent, dish soap, are the cheapest? I've always just bought them at the grocery store, but seeing some of these threads makes me think there are better deals to be had. So, where do you buy these things?

CVS or Walgreens Nothing better than free Dove soap from Wags (Walgreens) unless it's being paid $2 to buy it like we got last week. Or today getting a bottle of mouthwash, a toothbrush and floss for free. Or how about paying 76 cents for 2 bottles of Herbal Essence. CVS had a 3 day sale on Irish Spring Body Wash, pay $4.99 get $4.99 in ECB, if you had a coupon for it you made money. Laundry soap is possible but if you're brand loyal you'll find less deals. Dishsoap is another thing that is easy to get free or really cheap, again name brand but if you're flexible deals are out there for several brands. You can always find free toothepaste!!

 

[CobraBubbles]

If there is no sale...usually Walmart. Many coupons for toiletries are $1 and up so most places won't double those....so the cheapest place is usually Walmart with Target not too far behind that.

That's good if you are brand specific, especially. Also, I really like most of the Target store brands if you like generic.

If you don't care, or are flexible or like to watch the sales CVS and Walgreens have good sales...and you just have to watch the grocery stores.

 

[Colinsmom]

I've also done well lately with KMart double coupons (it isn't all the time, watch your local ads online). BUT KMart's regular prices are VERY high so you need to know prices going in there and not assume that all the deals are good. There is always stuff that you can get free or dirt cheap each time they do doubles - on Sunday at KMart doubles, my bill started at $110 and with double coupons, we paid $19 ($4 of it tax).

My local grocery store had a deal last month that got me super-super cheap Tide laundry detergent.

I do fairly well at Walgreens and CVS, too. One thing is that you have to be prepared to buy and stock up (in an amount that makes sense to you) even if you normally buy one bottle at a time. Once you figure out how to get razors, shampoo and toothpaste for free, it is very hard to pay for it because you just finished your last one and NEED it now (but know it will be free again in a week).

 

[JB2K]

Also, BJs wasn't on your list.

Gotta remember, BJ's, unlike the others, is an "east coast only" store.

 

[puffkin]

I was interviewed for the Money section of our paper about couponing just last week. I bought about $50 worth of products for the article to show an example. I bought:
Shampoo/Conditioner (Herbal Essence)
Maalox
Palmolive dish soap
Schick Quattro razor
Aveeno Shave gel
Total and Lucky Charms cereal
Fiber One bars
Secret Flawless deoderant
Renuzit Triscents
Crest toothpaste

I then did a comparison with the same products and coupons at CVS, Walmart, Target, and Giant (large grocery store in this area). Using approximate numbers cause I don't have the exacts in front of me, CVS was by far the cheapest using their Extra Bucks program at $9. Surprisingly the grocery store was the next cheapest at $26. Walmart was next at $27, and Target was last at $28.

It was a very eye opening experiment, and I noticed that some of the non-sale prices were actually cheaper at the grocery store!

 

[rflorek]

That's okay. The CVSs in the metro-NYC area are crappy when it comes to sales. They put out a different sales circular than the rest of the country and there is hardly any sales in them. It's barely 4 pages whereas the rest of the country may get a full 8 pages. Also, the "sales" prices are higher that the rest of the country. I don't even bother with the CVS threads as the info posted in them just aren't pertinent to here.

That's funny because when my BF lived in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, his CVS sale flier was exactly the same as mine in Central NJ - size of flier (10-15 pages), sale prices, etc. Now that he's moved to Carroll Gardens, he doesn't even geta sale flier from CVS anymore - he has more Rite Aids in his neighborhood.

 

[Imzadi]

Walgreens Nothing better than free Dove soap from Wags (Walgreens) unless it's being paid $2 to buy it like we got last week.

Before I moved and knew there would not be a Walgreens close enough to me to make a trip worthwhile, I used multiples of coupons to stock up on free full size, Dove soaps. I was even able to donate several to a women's shelter near me. I even stockpiled enough free Gillette shavers to last me a good 5 years. Since it's all plastic & metal, it's a product that won't go bad in my cupboard.

Now that he's moved to Carroll Gardens, he doesn't even geta sale flier from CVS anymore - he has more Rite Aids in his neighborhood.

Yes, I LOVE Rite Aid. I get the national sale prices at Rite Aid. I have about 4 "Free After Rebate" toothpastes stocked up and so many free shampoos, conditioners and styling products that when I looked at this week's free styling product offered, I said, "No more! I need to work my way through what I have before they all dry out & go bad or expire.

 

[DisneyNeckCoolers]

I don't know where you (OP) lives, but where I'm at (CA) I'm lucky enough to get all of my health and beauty aids (HBA) at either CVS, Walgreens, or Rite-Aid (in that order) for free (or even get paid to take them!). I have not paid for any HBA for over about over 8 years or so. I have a family of 4 (DH, me, DD8, DD8). The drugstores have some really great deals on HBA's almost all of the time, and lots of deals on dish and laundry detergents, air fresheners, snacks, sodas, makeup, diapers (woo hoo at Walgreens last week!), milk, bread, and more. Being able to cut these expenses out of my grocery runs has really helped me cut down on my grocery expenses.

But there is a big secret that people who get such great deals don't necessarily mention (because we all take it for granted, not that we're trying to keep it to ourselves ) to getting all these great deals: You need MULTIPLE coupons! I thought I did good by never paying full price for my Sunday paper delivery (for my coupons). However, when I got into couponing, I needed more coupons to "sustain" my family's stockpile, i.e., in order to buy 3 or 4 shampoos (for free) rather than just one (for free) because I only had one coupon. Today, I receive about 7-10 coupon inserts per week from friends and family. So, even if you don't have a CVS or Walgreens near you, for example, you should still find some decent deals with the coupons at whatever stores you do have from time to time. It's with the mulitple coupons that you will be able to stockpile enough toothpaste, shampoos, etc. until the next sale. There are multiple places on the internet to help you organize your coupons and find the sales in your area to use your coupons.

Good luck! and happy couponing!

 

[Imzadi]

I don't know where you (OP) lives, but where I'm at (CA) I'm lucky enough to get all of my health and beauty aids (HBA) at either CVS, Walgreens, or Rite-Aid (in that order) for free (or even get paid to take them!). I have not paid for any HBA for over about over 8 years or so. I have a family of 4 (DH, me, DD8, DD8). The drugstores have some really great deals on HBA's almost all of the time, and lots of deals on dish and laundry detergents, air fresheners, snacks, sodas, makeup, diapers (woo hoo at Walgreens last week!), milk, bread, and more. Being able to cut these expenses out of my grocery runs has really helped me cut down on my grocery expenses.

But there is a big secret that people who get such great deals don't necessarily mention (because we all take it for granted, not that we're trying to keep it to ourselves ) to getting all these great deals: You need MULTIPLE coupons! I thought I did good by never paying full price for my Sunday paper delivery (for my coupons). However, when I got into couponing, I needed more coupons to "sustain" my family's stockpile, i.e., in order to buy 3 or 4 shampoos (for free) rather than just one (for free) because I only had one coupon. Today, I receive about 7-10 coupon inserts per week from friends and family. So, even if you don't have a CVS or Walgreens near you, for example, you should still find some decent deals with the coupons at whatever stores you do have from time to time. It's with the mulitple coupons that you will be able to stockpile enough toothpaste, shampoos, etc. until the next sale. There are multiple places on the internet to help you organize your coupons and find the sales in your area to use your coupons.

Good luck! and happy couponing!

Yes, wrote down a Couponing Basics in this thread and other people have added on their tips:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=30642606#post30642606