I see lots of freebies this week at Rainbow (and I understand Pick ‘N Save and Copps have similar sales), plus another great sale for stocking up on cereal.
You can read this for full details, but in essence Rainbow will double the face value of up to 5 coupons when the shelf price (which is usually the full price) totals $25 before coupons on Wednesdays. That means a $1 off coupon becomes like $2 off. Learn to read this shopping list here. You should be able to print each online coupon two times from each link using your browser’s back button and if you have problems printing these online coupons try the suggestions found here.
Your turn: Which cereals did you buy with the General Mills promotion this week and how much were they?
Meat
Klements Cooked Sausage $3.50
Use $1/1 from 8/9 Smart Source insert
Final price: $1.50 after doubled coupon
Freezer
Rhodes Warm N Serv Rolls $2.00
Use $1/1 from 6/14 Smart Source, 7/19 Smart Source, 8/16 Smart Source, or 9/20 Smart Source inserts
Final price: Free after doubled coupon
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel $2.25
Use $1/1 printable here
Final price: $0.25 after doubled coupon
Birds Eye Frozen Veggies $1.50
Buy 2 and use $1/2 printable here
Final price: $0.50 each after doubled coupon
Healthy Choice Frozen Meals $2.50
Use $2/1 printable here**
Final price: $0.50 after coupon
**Not all Rainbow stores accept printed coupons over $1 in value
Eggo Waffles $1.50
Buy 2 and use $1/2 from 8/2 Kellogg’s insert
Final price: $0.50 each after doubled coupon
Pillsbury Savorings $3.00
Use $1/1 printable here
Final price: $1.00 after doubled coupon
Palermo Pizza $3.33
Use $1/1 printable after registering here
Final price: $1.33 after doubled coupon
Jacks Pizza $2.50
Use $.40/1 from 8/23 Smart Source insert
Final price: $1.70 after doubled coupon
Dairy Case
Pillsbury Sweet Rolls $1.66
Use $1/1 here or
Buy 2 and use $1/2 printable here
Final price: As low as free after doubled coupon
Dannon Yogurt Multi-Pack $2.00
Use $1/1 from 7/26 Smart Source , 8/9 Smart Source, and 8/30 Smart Source inserts (multiple copies in each insert for multiple on-sale products) and stack with
“Try me free” Yo-Plus rebate after completing this formand mailing in Activia UPC
Final price: Better than free after doubled coupon and rebate
Yoplait Yogurt Cups $.50
Buy 6 and use $.50/6 printable here or here
Final price: $0.33 each after doubled coupon
Country Crock Spread $3.89
Buy 2 as they’re on sale buy one, get one free and stack with
Two $.55/1 printable here
Final price: $0.85 each after doubled coupon
Yoplait Go-Gurt $2.00
Use $.40/1 printable here
Final price: $1.20 after doubled coupon
Grocery
Emerald Nuts (select varieties) $1.75
Use $1/1 from 8/16 Smart Source insert
Final price: Free after doubled coupon
Barilla Pasta $0.98
Whole Grain: Use $.50/1 from 8/23 Smart Source insert**
Plus Pasta: Use $.75/1 from 8/23 Smart Source insert**
Final price: Free after doubled coupon
**Assumes these varieties are included in sale
Old El Paso Seasoning Mix $.75
Buy 2 and use $.60/2 printable here or after registering here**
Final price: $0.15 each after doubled coupon
**Can print coupon twice and mix and match Old El Paso products. I have highlighted the lowest priced ones
Old El Paso Refried Beans $1.00
Buy 2 and use $.60/2 printable here or after registering here**
Final price: $0.40 each after doubled coupon
**Can print coupon twice and mix and match Old El Paso products. I have highlighted the lowest priced ones
Powerade $1.00
Buy 15 and use “Buy 10, get 5 free” coupon available on an in-store display near the product
Final price: $0.66 each after doubled coupon
New England Coffee $5.99
Buy 2 and they’re on sale buy one, get one free and stack with
Two $1/1 printable here
Final price: $1.00 each after doubled coupon
Ragu Pasta Sauce $2.00
Buy 2 and use $.75/2 from 8/2 Red Plum insert
Final price: $1.25 each after doubled coupon**
**I don’t usually pay more than $1 per jar for pasta sauce, but if you need it then it is better than full price
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $2.25
Buy 1 and use $.40/1 from 8/9 General Mills or printable here
Buy 2 and use $1/2 after registering here or $.75/2 after registering here
Final Price: As low as $1.25 each after coupons**
**Not the best price in the world, but if you need them it beats full price. I aim for $1 or less per box.
Barilla Pasta Sauce $2.29
Use $.50/1 from 8/23 Smart Source insert
Final price: $1.29 after doubled coupon
Tree Top Juice $2.29
Buy 2 and use $1/2 printable here
Final price: $1.29 each after doubled coupon
Macaroni Grill Dinners $3.33
Use $1/1 from 8/9 General Mills or 9/13 General Mills inserts
Final price: $1.33 after doubled coupon
Betty Crocker Supreme Brownies $2.25
Buy 2 and use $.75/2 from 8/23 Smart Source insert or printable here or here
Final price: $1.50 each after doubled coupon
Buy 6 Full-Priced General Mills Cereals,
Get $10 off current grocery order and coupon for free milk on next visit
To create your own deal scenario consider this. The $10 off when you buy 6 boxes is like getting $1.66 off per box. The lowest priced General Mills cereals start at $2.99 and you can get quite a selection for under $3.29. I stick with these lower-priced ones, add the full priced value of all 6 boxes ($19.74 for 6 boxes at $3.29 each) and then subtract out the $10 and then the total value of the coupons. Remember, that although you can use six coupons only the face value of the first five coupons the cashier scans will be doubled in value.
Since I do not know the full price of all these cereals, I am not putting a deal scenario together for you. However, if readers leave comments with prices I’d be happy to compile one.
An FYI about the milk coupon. When redeemed it typically rings as if the coupon said “Take $3.50 off your next order that has milk in it”. If I am purchasing groceries in more than one transaction I usually buy my cereal first, then buy milk in a subsequent transaction to use this coupon the same night. It keeps me from losing it or forgetting about it.
Current General Mills Coupons include (in order from highest value to lowest value):
Honey Nut Cheerios. $1/1 mailed with this sample or $.55/1 printable here or printable here or after registering here or after registering here
Cocoa Puffs. $.75/1 printable here
Kix. $.75/1 printable here or after registering here or after registering here
Cheerios (select varieties). $.75/1 printable here or $.55/1 printable hereor $1/2 from 8/16 Smart Source insert or printable here
Trix. $.55/1 printable here or after registering here or after registering here
Any General Mills Cereal. $1/2 printable hereor $1/3 from 9/13 Smart Source insert
Basic 4, Chex any, Fiber One any, Honey Nut Clusters, Oatmeal Crisp any, Raisin Nut Bran any or Total any or Wheaties Cereal.$1/2 from 8/23 Smart Source insert
Kids Varieties. $1/2 printable here (Internet Explorer) or here (Fire Fox)
Household
Marcal Napkins $2.00
Use $1/1 from 8/30 Smart Source insert
Final price: Free after doubled coupon
Sparkle Paper Towels $5.99
Use $1/1 from 9/13 Red Plum #2 insert
Final price: $3.99 after doubled coupon
Angel Soft $5.99
Use $.50/1 from 9/13 Red Plum #2 insert
Final price: $4.99 after doubled coupon**
**I usually wait for a 12-pack to be on sale for $5.50 before I buy, but this is still a decent price
Baby
Beech Nut Stage 2 Baby Food $.45
Buy 16 and use $2/16 from 8/2 Smart Source #2 insert
Final price: $.52 each after doubled coupon
Buy Similac at $21.99 and Pampers at $19.99,
Get $5 Off Your Current Grocery Order
Buy 1 Similac at $21.99
Buy 1 Pampers at $19.99 and use $2/1 or $1/1 from 8/30 Procter & Gamble insert
Get $5 off current grocery order
Final price: $34.98 for both coupon and promotion ($17.49 each)**
**If you have any Similac “checks” you can pay with those to bring your final out of pocket price down even more
Personal Care
Brut Deodorant $1.00
Use $.55/1 from 9/20 Smart Source insert
Final price: Free after doubled coupon
Goody Hair Accessories—price start at $1.29
Buy a $1.29 accessory and use $.75/1 manufacturer-issued coupon from within ad (or clip and save for a future date)
Final price: Free after doubled coupon
Skintimate Shave Gel $2.00
Use $1/1 from 8/2 Smart Source #1 insert
Final price: Free after doubled coupon
Suave Body Wash $1.66
Use $.75/1 from 8/2 Red Plum insert
Final price: $0.16 after doubled coupon
Suave Lotion $2.33
Use $1/1 from 8/2 Red Plum insert or printable here
Final price: $0.33 after doubled coupon
Edge Shave Gel $2.00
Use $.75/1 from 8/2 Smart Source #1 insert
Final price: $0.50 after doubled coupon
Bic Soleil Disposable Razors $3.50
Use $3/1 from 9/20 Smart Source insert
Final price: $0.50 after doubled coupon
St Ives Lotion $3.00
Use $1/1 from 9/20 Smart Source insert
Final price: $1.00 after doubled coupon
Pets
Friskies Canned Cat Food $0.33
Buy 15 and use $1/15 from 6/28 Smart Source or 8/9 Red Plum insert
Final price: $0.20 each after doubled coupon
Pedigree Good Bites $3.00
Use $1/1 from 9/13 Red Plum #2 insert
Final price: $1.00 after doubled coupon
Pedigree Jumbone $3.49
Use $1/1 from 8/30 Red Plum insert
Final price: $1.49 after doubled coupon
Pocket Your Dollars is part of BeCentsable’s Grocery Gathering, a compilation of shopping lists for stores nationwide. If you want a shopping list for a store not covered by Pocket Your Dollars, then check out the Grocery Gathering.
About Carrie Rocha
The last time I did the cereal deal (8/19), I found that the cereals we eat run between 3.19 & 3.99 per box. Here’s my plan for tomorrow:
2 Kix @ around 3.19/bx use .75 off 1KIx x2 – most of the GM sites and smartsource have these and the next one
2 Fiber 1 @ around 3.99/bx use .75 off 1 Fiber One x2
2 Total Raisin Bran @ around 3.99/bx use $1 off of any 2 (last week’s insert q I believe)
Some type of filler might be needed like OJ to get to $25
$3.19 x 2 = 6.38 – $3q = 3.38 (the Kix should be around this price)
$3.99 x2 = 7.98 – $3 q = 4.98
$3.99 x 2 = 7.98 – $2q = 5.98
Total after coupons = 14.34
after $10 groc q = $4.34
$4.34/6 = $.73/bx (and this is the high end low sugar kind)
I do the same thing with the Milk. I have a second transaction ready to go with some odds and ends that we need and hopefully using my raincheck for the cheap softener salt from 2 weeks ago.
After your list today Carrie – I’m tempted to make a third transaction, but my budget might not approve :).
Has anyone ever tried buying milk with a doubled coupon, then using the cereal $3.50 off coupon on the same purchase? I don’t remember if the cereal coupons print as store or manufacturer coupons.
Diana
Not able to get the New England Coffee coupon to print from link but go to Redplum.com and you can print 2.
I tried printing the Toaster Strudel coupon but I use firefox and it’s not printing. Is there another link for it?
If I remember correctly it is a manufacture coupon.
Whiskas Temptations Cat Treats are on sale for 2/$3. I believe it was in one of last weeks coupon inserts that there was a $1 off of 1 Temptations coupon. So if you buy just 1 for $1.50 and double the coupon, you get a free bag of cat treats plus 50 cents overage!
I can’t find the New England coffee, please help.
Jenn, Did you change the ‘vi’ in the browser address to ‘wg’? and then hit enter again? For bricks coupons you have to make sure you change those codes for the right browser for it to print. I have sat waiting too many times waiting when I forgot to change them and then nothing prints. Live and learn:) Check out Carrie’s tips for printing coupons if you still have trouble! Good Luck.
Carrie-
The Toaster Strudel coupon states “do not double”
Thanks
there is no coupon for the new england coffee, i have spent 20 minutes reading and rereading where you say to click on to coupons.com and there is nothing
CAN’T FIND OLD EL PASO COUPONS ON THOSE SITES
FYI–
there is a $5 Disney Earth rebate from Marcal paper products
http://www.marcalsmallsteps.com/contest.html
The math for the Beech Nut baby food is off — it’s more like 33 cents each, I think.
Thanks for all the great bargains!
Denise,
Thank you for pointing out the change from “vi” to “wg”. I, too, have sat and waiting a long time for nothing to happen! It worked perfectly when I tried it on the Pillsbury Sweet Roll coupons!
I’m also excited about the meal deal. I plan to get a 3-4 pound beef roast at 2.49 a pound, and get free onions, carrots, and potatoes ($6.50 worth of free stuff!). That helps me get to the $25 mark for one of my transactions tomorrow.
The link to the Bird’s Eye printable didn’t work – there’s no coupon for it there. But i googled it & found the coupon here:
http://www.birdseyefoods.com/promotions/default.aspx
Happily,
Heather =)
I was going to buy two Marcal Napkins in one transaction but the coupon says one coupon per person. Does anyone know if I will have an issues if I buy two napkins and use two coupons?
@Deoxy – I have used a doubled milk coupon plus the $3.50 off coupon on the same transaction. I never paid attention to whether it was a manufacturer coupon or not. The $3.50 is a coupon from Gen Mills if it is a manufacturer, and the milk coupon was Kemps, so I didn’t think anything of them conflicting, and apparently neither did the register at my Rainbow. But my Rainbow is pretty easy going on coupons – if the register takes it, they take it.
Regarding the Marcal napkins. I tried to use 2 of these a couple weeks ago on double coupon Wednesday, however, when the cashier scans it and enters in $1.00, it did not double. I asked the cashier about it not doubling and he said that is how it was coded. I think, because it can also be used to get a smaller amount for free (although I have not found them anywhere), it will not double. I was a little disappointed, but I save money week after week, so I didn’t get too worked up. I just thought I would share my experience using that coupon.
What page is the Goody coupon on? It seems to be eluding me.
I think the Goody coupon is in the Rainbow ad. Anyone find the coffee coupon yet? I need coffee.
Denise, thank you!!! Never knew that — and it worked. I’ll have to check out that article on printing coupons! I’m still fairly new to this site, but trying to get through all of her amazing articles! :)
Michelle -
Just wanted to make sure that you knew Rainbow doubles only the first five coupons. Also, if the coupon UPC code starts with a 5, it likely will double, but if it starts with a 9, they typically don’t double. Just learned that piece of info from another one of Carrie’s faithful readers! :)
Help, please. I have looked through both sites multiple times, there are no Old El Paso coupons there. Has anyone found them?
Do they let you do more than one transaction per visit to the store?
Heather – I think the Old El Paso coupons reached their global print limit and have been taken offline. Bummer.
Andrea – Yes they do at my store. I do two at a time, then go to the car and do another two if I need to.
Andrea – Yes they do at most stores. Two things: first, lots of people do two transactions at a time because they have one for personal and one for business, so it is more common than you might think. Second, call your store and ask so you can go in with confidence.
Will this work?
4 lbs boneless chuck roast $9.96
3 lbs onions $2.99
5 lbs potatoes $2.49
1 lb carrots $.99
total $16.43
add $8.57 (celery, spinach, milk etc)
total $25
is it at this point that I can double 5 $1 coupons? Or could I use coupon items like the Barilla Pasta sauce $2.29 towards the $25?
I hope this makes sense and would not fit under the “dumb question” category!
Thank you
Penny – your total only has to be $25. So your $8.57 could include the items you wanted to double (i.e. Barilla Pasta, Rolls, etc.).
Penny-
You can use the coupon items toward the $25. As long as the regular price of all items in your transaction adds up to $25 you can have 5 coupons doubled
Here you can sign up for a New England Coffee coupon :
http://www.newenglandcoffee.com/coffee/offers/index.asp
Last week at 6:45 am in Brooklyn Park I was stopped from doing 2 transactions. The Customer Service person even picked up the phone to call the “Manager” I was told I could this time but not again. Funny no one else in line with with or maybe even in the store. I will see if the evening cashiers will let me do two transactions tonight.
I’m just so excited! I went to Rainbow this morning at 6 so I have time to get to work by 9 this morning. I did 2 transactions and spent 14.30 out of pocket. Here’s what I got:
Transaction 1: 3 Fruity Cheerios, 3 Regular Cheerios (which had a coupon on back for 1.50 off Pampers (any size); 2 32-oz Dannon vanilla yogurt and 1 4pk Activia. Total after coupons: $4.39 (Q’s were $1/2 Cheerios x 2, Dannon yogurt $1/32 oz. x 2, Activia $1/1, Cheerios .75/1)
Transaction 2: 2 Smart Balance peanut butters, 14 Ramen noodles, 3 Barilla pastas, 4 Marcal napkins, Roundy’s whole milk gallon, 2 Activia 4-pks. Total after coupons: $9.91
(Q’s were $1/1 Smart Balance PB x 2, $1/1 Activia x 2, $1/1 napkins x 4 (not doubled, cashier had to enter by hand), 50C/1 Barilla x 2.)
Thanks SO MUCH for your website Carrie! I just started my store at home in July and it is growing. I feel I can afford to feed guests now and be generous with food shelf donations.
PS. I even took a picture if you want it : )
I’m having a hard time finding the coffee coupons too. Any one having any luck?
okay you might think this is out of control but I have done 4-5 transactions in one visit at my rainbow – I actually got a high 5 from my cashier for being so “smart” about my shopping!!! (it was guy too! fun to see that they appreciate our savvy shopping!) Thanks Carrie for your diligence and heart for others!
I too can’t find the coffee coupon, would really like it!
I’ve done 4 transactions before too. I did that last week. The guy seemed to think I was a little crazy, but he was nice to me and gracious about it.
I could not find the New England Coffee coupon on the coupons.com link either but did find it here under zip code “01089″ http://coupons.redplum.com/hotcouponworld/
The Savage Rainbow has no problem at all letting you do two transactions in a row. I do it almost every week with no issues. I even asked at the CS desk in advance to make sure. :)
I found the coffee coupon here–but not any of the others mentioned, except the one that you sign up for–but it’ll be a week too late. Check it out–
http://www.retailmenot.com/printable/merchant/new-england-coffee
Thank you Jennifer and Michelle. I’ve been doing it all wrong..thinking I needed to spend $25 before the coupon items…I was saving, but now I’m excited that I’ll REALLY be saving!
I’m going to do the Cereal deal as my first transaction and then use the milk coupon in my 2nd transaction which will be the meal deal plus three Palermo pizza’s, free milk, 2 free Rhodes warm and serve rolls.
My first try at multiple transaction…little scary, but also exciting!
I went this morning to double the Old El Paso coupons. A catalina coupon printed out for $3 off a future beef or chicken purchase. If you buy 3 Old El Paso products, you get $1 off future beef or chicken purchase. If you buy 6 Old El Paso products, you get $3 off future beef or chicken purchase. Just a heads up in case any plans to buy meat in the same trip, you can do a second transaction and use the coupon right away.
Wow–Just have to say that I never knew to change the vi to wg–great tip!! It all works so smoothly now…ahhh! Thanks!
I found the coffee coupon, go to this link, scroll down and it printed two!!
http://www.retailmenot.com/printable/category/Coffee
Heather, that Birds Eye coupon is $1.00 off of 4. There is a $.35/1 coupon in the 9/13 SS. Not as good as $1/2, but it’ll do.
I went to Rainbow this morning, was doing two transactions. Put my stuff on the conveyor. The woman then told me I had to get to $25 before coupons would double. I asked her to try it, because I think the register decides if I purchased enough. She said it will double them, but she will over-ride it. I told her I would come back later when she wasn’t working because no one ever does that. She was the only cashier working this morning, and she’s refused to let me use 2 coupons on a BOGO offer in the past. I had 8 transactions planned, so I knew they weren’t going to go well. I left and went to another store, did my transactions, and everything went fine. I could have bought gift cards to meet the $25 requirement, but I really didn’t feel like dealing with her.
Carrie,
My wife and I went into Forest Lake Rainbow to do one trans. each. When my trans. came to $17.94 (regular price $26.73). She told me they would not double. I asked her to scan the coupons and she insisted they would not double until I spend $25. She scanned them and they doubled. My wife then went thru and hers came to $13.94 (regular price $25.61). She told my wife she needed to spend $25. She then called her manager over and she was told they would not double. They did, however, double but they manually deducted the doubled coupons. Her bill would have been $3.94 after doubled coupons, instead it was $8.94, plus she received $3.50 coupon back for future purchase of milk. They were quite rude to her.
I’m wondering, Carrie, where did you find Rainbow’s coupon policy. I want to print it and bring it back into that manager.
Jennifer,
Were you by chance at the Forest Lake Rainbow? I experienced the same issue this morning. She did over-ride my wife’s coupons.
Wayne & Jennifer,
I’m trying to better understand your transactions. Wayne you said that your transaction came to $17.94. I’m curious to know why you would have expected the coupons to double if your transaction was less than $25. Does the policy use normal shelf price vs sale pricing? Jennifer, it looks as if you were in a similar situation.
Tom
I went to do 2 transactions this morning and it didn’t do as good as I had hoped. I had my coupons set up with the five that I wanted to double first and the cashier went through all of my coupons and was circling the dates…why I don’t know, none of them were expired. Then she said that she couldn’t use the ones that said DO NOT DOUBLE (which is all of the General Mills cereal coupons). I know that they’ve worked in the past so I tried Carrie’s recommendation of asking the cashier to scan it and see if the computer takes it. She eventually did but not until after she had scanned my other coupons so most of them didn’t double.
I had 2 small children with me which I wouldn’t do again because in all of her sorting with my coupons she also didn’t scan my coupon for $1/1 PB sweet rolls. When she said the total I knew it was too high but with 2 fussy little ones and I didn’t get to watch her ringing all of the coupons.
Has anyone else had this type of experience at the Rainbow in Maple Grove? I think that I’ll go in the evening from now on even though the selection isn’t as good because the cashiers are much friendlier.
Wayne – no, I was at Brooklyn Park.
I was tempted to contact Roundy’s this morning about their policy as well. I needed to use a cashier vs a self check lane and the cashier was upset that my coupons that said Do Not Double were doubling. I would like Roundy’s to at least put in writing what their policy is about DND q’s so that I don’t have to worry about a cashier overriding my transactions when I plan them out. Some times all of my q’s say DND – most of them do lately. Roundy’s won’t get as much of my business if my q’s don’t double so I’d like to find out what exactly is the policy and then decide where to take my business.
And I laugh on the two transactions being denied… I figure I’ll just tell them to put my stuff back and I’ll put one transaction away in my vehicle and come back in. Not sure that’s what they really want…..
I think that’s why I prefer the self-check lanes.. sometimes cashiers make you feel like you are doing something illegal, when in reality you are trying to shop strategically for your family….