UP for more UPs

Some of our Savvy Simple Savers have asked me to give detailed information about how I plan multiple transactions.  The goal of this post is to show you how I set up my transactions to receive the best possible deals.  When you shop at Rite Aid, you can buy selected items each week that give you an UP Reward at the bottom of your receipt.  You can then use that reward on your next purchase (see here for more details).  Over the past month, Rite Aid had an offer to buy $100 worth of products and receive a $20 UP Reward.  Using coupons, allowed me to pay just $38 to get the $20 reward.  As I began my shopping trip today, I started with that $20 reward.  Here is how my transactions went:

Transaction # 1
4 Dove Shampoo 2/$7

3 Dove Body Wash $3.99
2 Q-tips 2/$5

Coupons
4 $1 off Dove Hair Care
3 $1 off Dove Body Wash
2 $.30 off Q-tips

Total After coupons and tax: $24.32
After using $20 UP Reward: $4.32 OOP
Received: $10.00 UP Reward (WYB $30 in participating product) & 2 $1.00 UP Rewards (WYB 2 Dove Shampoo)




















Transaction #2
4 Chex Mix $1.49
4 Dixie Paper Plates $4.29 (BOGO)
2 Old Spice Body Wash (w/free deodorant) 2/$8

Coupons
2 $.60 off Chex Mix
1 $.50 off 2 Chex Mix
1 $1.00 off 4 Chex Mix Rite Aid Video Values
2 $2.00 off Old Spice Body Wash
2 $1.00 off 2 Dixie Plates

Total After coupons and tax:  $14.37

After using $ 10.00 UP Reward & 2 $1.00 UP Rewards from Transaction #1:  $4.37 OOP
Received: $5 UP Reward (WYB $15 in The Big Game products) and  $2 UP Reward (WYB 2 Old Spice Body Wash)

Transaction #3
2 Triscuit 2/$5

2 Wheat Thins 2/$5
2 Dreyers Ice Cream $6.49 (BOGO)

Coupons
2 $1 off 2 Nabisco Crackers

Total after coupons and tax: $14.49
After using $5.00 UP Reward & $2.00 UP Reward from Transaction #2: $7.49
Receive $5.00 UP Reward (WYB $15 in The Big Game products)



Transaction #4
1 Glad Garbage Bags $6.99

Total after tax: $7.60
After using $5.00 UP Reward from Transaction #3: 2.60
Received $1.00 UP Reward (WYB 1 Glad Garbage Bags)


Transaction #5
6 Puffs 5/$5.00 ($1.00 each)

Coupons
2 $.25 off 3 Puffs

Total after tax $6.02
After using $1.00 UP Reward from Transaction # 4: $5.02










After all transactions are complete, I spent a total of $23.80.  Total retail was, $147.88, which is an 84% savings!  If I only bought the items I needed (paper plates, tissues, garbage bags and crackers), I would have used my $20 UP Reward and paid $7.07.  Instead, I used my UP Rewards to buy items to add to my stockpile which also created more UP Rewards and still allowed me to get the items I needed.  It takes some planning to make it all happen, but the savings is all worth it in the end.  If you have questions or want help putting together a shopping trip like this, just ask.