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
Tom,
My total, had nothing been on sale, would have been $26.73 (meeting the $25 limit). Because I shopped sales prices, the register read $17.94. From what I understand from Carrie’s posting on Rainbow’s policy for doubling coupons, it should be the pre-sale, pre-coupon price of $26.73.
Here’s my cereal deal from this morning at Rainbow in St. Louis Park (by the way – they have additional sale items with an additional flyer since it’s a brand new store.)
Kix – 2 boxes at $2.99 each
Yogurt Burst Cheerios – 3 boxes at $3.79 each
Banana Nut Cheerios – 1 box at 3.65
Roundy’s brand gallon skim milk $2.59
Total $23.59
Coupons: $10 off as advertised
3.50 off 2nd transaction for the milk
2 of the 75 cents off Kix (doubled was $3 for the 2 coupons)
$1 of 2 frosted/yogurt cheerios (it was expired but they took it) – $2 off
2 of the 75 cent off various cheerios – for another $3 off
Total OOP: $2.09 for 6 boxes of cereal and a gallon of milk
I’ve been searching the Rainbow and roundy’s web sites for an “official” coupon policy and haven’t found one yet. If anyone finds one, please let me know. Not that we don’t trust you, Carrie, but it would nice to be armed with the facts to discourage the over zealous cashiers.
I learned something new today – if you bring your own reusable bags in to Rainbow they’ll give you a 5 cent credit per bag.
Even if they are Cub bags ;-) ?
I tried the $25 thing at my store last week (shelf price was over $25 but sale price was under) and it worked out fine. I go to the Rainbow in Chaska around 7 or 8 pm pretty much every Wednesday.
Here’s another amazing deal at Rainbow this week – Portabella mushrooms are $1.99 per pound instead of $4.99! That makes a wonderful dinner for a budget dinner price!
I just want to say I am a cashier at Rainbow (Maple Grove) and I don’t clearly know the coupon policy but wanted to say from my perspective, if the coupon scans and works I won’t give you any grief, I am all about seeing the customers save money. I am always fasinated on Wednesdays to see customers totals drop. I honestly don’t really pay attention to what the coupon is (like last week when you could use $1 of pizza and they were on sale BOGO I wouldn’t have noticed if you used 2 coupons) I just look at the date and try to scan the larger ones first. Hope that helps a little. I am also willing to answer any questions, I believe I’ve told Carrie this before as she is always trying to give you the best information.
The “Asian Sensation” products (in the freezers) are on sale 5 for $10 which makes them $2 each. There is a $1/1 coupon in one of the coupon inserts from last week’s Star Tribune paper, so if you double that it is free :) We happen to love their cream cheese wontons and pork egg rolls…
And the frozen bag of Simeks Meatballs are half off! Instead of 9.99 they are 4.99 which I thought was a pretty good deal, even though I didn’t have a coupon for it. I did notice that Cub prices them at 8.99, and every now and then they will do a BOGO sale on those, which makes their price just a little bit better, but I rarely go to Cub so I went ahead and got one at Rainbow today.
And for those of you who have been having problems… so sorry to hear that!!! I go to the new Rainbow on Larpenteur in Roseville and I’ve never had a problem with doing 2 transactions or having my coupons rejected. I even did 3 transactions today because I was doing a favor for a friend while she was watching my 2 kids, so I just said that one of the transactions was for her (even pointed out her list vs. mine) and they didn’t have any problem with that since I went this morning when it wasn’t too busy. When two of my printables wouldn’t scan (because my youngest scribbled over the UPC with a blue marker… the cashier was so nice to go ahead and manually enter the code and then it doubled from there). However, I do admit that I “scan” the cashiers before picking out a check out lane because there are some who seem more friendly in general… and there are one or two that I have developed a relationship with and they are happy to see me come through their lane even if I have 20 coupons and am doing more than one transaction. Just an idea?? Maybe their coupon policy will help!
coupon policy
If you want the official coupon policy you have to email the company. It is not on the website. Hotcouponworld.com has the official coupon policy. I was told by the company it is after sale prices and store coupons. I have also been denied the double coupon, apparently my cashiers must have overided the system because mine never doubled?? I have been lucky the last couple weeks with going with the sale price. I am just hoping to continue to get doubles based on shelf price. I think as more people start to shop on double coupon day and take advantage of the great deals we will probably run into more problems. I was over the $25 based on sale prices today so I knew I wouldn’t have any problems.
OH YEAH- I found Roundy’s coffee 50% off, so it was $2.99. If you use alot of coffee that’s a good price. It was certain flavors.
opps that was supposed to say ” I have been lucky the last couple of weeks going with the shelf price.”
I went back to the Brooklyn Park one tonight. Was told I could only do one transaction. Even if I came back in line, she could not double my coupons again. I questioned her, she went to the head cashier, sure enough, I was ok’d to do more than one. She was frustrated because last week, the head cashier said only one transaction per person. So not only are we frustrated wtih the rules variation, so are the cashiers.
I go to the Brooklyn Park one too. The M. Grove one is not convenient for me. Today was the first time I dared try 2 separate transactions. I was in line with a well known crabby cashier, but she was the only one available. Suddenly another person showed up and said, Ma’am, I will open a line for you. An angel from heaven! I had one of my transactions in a basket with the coupons and she did them, no complaint. That one was $25.14 before coupons, and $11.13 after. The second one was $49 before coupons, $22.59 after. My free items were Rhodes Warm n Serve rolls, Activia yogurt 4 packs and Asian Sensations egg rolls. Almost free were EAS Myoplex bars for my brother. They were marked 1/2 price ($1.24). I got the 4 they had left in the box and had 3 $1 coupons, all which doubled. So I got a real good deal on those. Free plus overage. I was surprised I got overage on them. This gal who rang me up didn’t give me any grief about my separate orders. You just never know what is going to happen on Wednesdays at the B Park store.
I like to always go to the crabby cashier and make her day. I only seem to find them at Target.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but I did 5 transactions today and they all went smooth. Today was the first time I went by the shelf price and not the sale price. My total out-of-pocket was $49.48 and I got a ton of groceries. Some of my favorite buys of the day were 4 packs of Bic Soleil razors for .50/ea. I was lucky and got the 4 packs that had 2 extras in them. Also, free Asian Sensations, free Rhode’s rolls and free Pillsbury sweet rolls (including overage). I did the cereal deal too and ended up paying .84/box for cereal.
I haven’t had to do this at Rainbow yet, but if I run into a cashier that trys to manipulate the system so that coupons won’t double, etc, I will simply ask for my coupons back and ask them to cancel the order. The only reason I’m shopping at Rainbow is to take advantage of the sales and double coupons.
I bought the garlic Rhode’s rolls. Has anyone had these before? I have never bought them. They look good, and maybe not as greasy as the garlic bread I usually have with spaghetti. Anyways, the price (free!) was right to give them a try.
The Soleil razors were an amazing deal. I will save them for my daughter who uses this brand.
Joanna, you rock! 5 transactions, wow. It’s nice that it went smooth for you and no cashier gave you grief.
I used 2 coupons on the Marcal napkins and they didn’t double. I even asked and she said it must not double that coupon because it says either free or 1.00 off. After looking at the long line at the customer service desk I figured it wasn’t worth the 2.00 this time.
Kim – I had the same thing with the Marcal coupons. I ended up at Customer Service and finally (politely) left without the napkins.
hmmm…so maybe it was a blessing in disguise that my rainbow was out of the napkins :)
I was very disappointed today that the Rainbow in West St. Paul would not accept expired coupons today! I had some that were expired on Sept. 19 – and no go. I even had the cashier ask the head cashier and she said no. Boo!
i had the same thing happen with the marcal coupon. but i always use a lesser value coupon with each transaction as a 6th option in case something like that happens so i cna still get the doubles.
i think $1 is still good for 250 napkins.
I had a great experience at the Lakeville Rainbow last night. The cashiers were the greatest. They all took down this website because they wanted to see how I did it. We were the last ones in the store, so they didn’t mind that both me and my cousin did about 14 transactions between the two of us. And last week I had to get a raincheck for the BOGO Disney vitamins, and since then two of my coupons expired. So I asked them if they would still honor them, since they’d been good last week, and the head cashier who was standing right there with my cashier said, “Oh, definitely! We want you to stay happy so you keep shopping at our store instead of going to some other store we won’t name!” She was just so darn friendly. When they were out of the 5 lb potatoes that were part of the meal deal, she went and got me a 10 lb bag instead. Can you believe it? They were wonderful.
So I got 4 Disney gummy princess (and Hannah Montana and Wall-E) vitamins jars for less than $2 each – a total of $6.96 for the four of them, and my daughters were SO excited! Plus we got Toaster Strudel for $0.25 a box – thank you Carrie for the link to the $1/1 coupon! And I’m looking forward to trying the Rhodes dinner rolls (free) and the Pillsbury sweet rolls (free). And I got 5 bags of Tyson chicken tenders on a raincheck from last week, for $2.99 a bag.
I had no trouble with two transactions last night at Rainbow in Columbia Heights. Just told her they were a “his and hers” and used two sets of coupons and two separate Roundy’s Rewards Cards. She did look at each coupon carefully but did not give me any problems. I also got the “reusable bag” discount.
Janet ~ Rainbow unfortunately does not take expired coupons. So far Cub is the only store I’ve found who will.
If you don’t know this yet, there are bags of Lifesavers in the candy aisle that sell for $1.99 and have a $1 coupon inside. That means you buy your first bag and everytime you go to Rainbow after that they are free when doubled.
I happen to have saved the advert from a couple months ago when they advertised Wednesday as “Double Daze” and it has some specific wording that should clear up some official policy questions.
“DOUBLE DAZE IS EVERY WEDNESDAY! We’ll double the value of any 5 manufacturer’s coupons including these (Limit 5 up to $1.00 in face value)
Customers must spend $25 in a single transaction to double manufacturers’ coupons. ($25 is before tax and after store coupons)
Only Manufacturers’ coupons with a face value of $1.00 and under can be doubled.
A LIMIT OF 5 manufacturers’ coupons in total can be doubled.
No cash back will be given.
Does not apply to manufacturers’ coupons that are not valid for doubling.
Does not apply to alcohol and tobacco manufacturers’ coupons.”
I was so mad yesterday when I went to the Brooklyn Park location. After having to figure out what I was going to substitute for some items that weren’t available to add up to $25 and take advantage of double $1 coupons, I was told before the cashier started ringing (which was very nice of her) that if it says No Doubling on the coupon, it is now their policy to charge back the double amount, even though the register ran it up that way. Does anyone know if this is just a BP policy now or are all sites going to be enforcing? There were a couple of items I probably won’t have gotten if they hadn’t been free after doubling. I should have just left, but I went along with the transaction and pouted all the way home. My family doesn’t understand why I get so upset if the double coupons aren’t going through smoothly, but they aren’t the ones taking the time and effort to make sure I’m calculating every transaction to be $25 and maximizing every coupon to its fullest. I don’t even like Rainbow, but do it to try to save a few hard earned bucks.
In the past at the Brooklyn Park store I go through Linnea’s line if she is there. She’s always very kind and thoroughly polite and she says that if the coupon doubles as she scans it, even if it says “do not double” then she lets it double.None of this charging back the amount that Holly is talking about. That’s just ridiculous; it doesn’t even make good business sense to me. It seems like the coupon policy varies from Rainbow to Rainbow, and from cashier to cashier. They need to have a chain-wide policy in place, and a copy of it on their website, and a copy of it printed up and maybe posted at customer service too. I totally understand why you would be upset when your transaction doesn’t go smoothly, Holly. It takes a lot of work to figure out the coupons, put them in monetary order, etc. And, when a coupon is NOT going to double, you have to take the time to find another deal worth doing, look for the Q, etc. Can end up eating up quite a bit of time.
I was searching the web for an official coupon policy — it appears a gentleman wrote to Roundy’s supermarkets (PNS, Copps, Rainbow chains) in October of 2008 questioning their policy and got this reply. I hope this helps! But as Carrie says over and over again — it is usually best to contact your individual store’s manager to see what they say.
Thank you for taking the time to contact Roundy’s with your Double Daze and Internet coupon policy inquiries. We are sorry for the delay in response.
You may use coupons up to $1.00 and only 5 coupons may be doubled per one shopping trip.
PNS and Copps customers must have their Pick ‘n Save Advantage Plus Card or Copps Key Savings Card to receive double manufacturer’s coupons.
Customer must spend $25 in a single transaction to qualify for double
Manufacturer’s coupons. The $25 minimum purchase is after tax and after store coupons (i.e., when the cashier hits the total key).
Only manufacturer’s coupons with a face value of $1.00 and under will be
doubled. Manufacturer’s coupons with a face value greater than $1.00 will not be doubled (i.e., if a customer has a $1.25 coupon, it will not double).
No cash back will be given.
Alcohol and tobacco manufacturer’s coupons may not be doubled.
These are the general guidelines for Internet “Cents Off” coupons. Please be aware that the acceptance of Internet coupons is up to the discretion of the Store Director.
The following are general guidelines we use to verify authenticity:
? Coupons can be printed in color or black & white as long as the
following items appear on the coupon:
? The words “Manufacturer Internet Coupon or Manufacturers Instant
Coupon” reads across the top
? URL address of the distributing website should be visible (usually on
bottom of coupon)
? A watermark (shaded in gray over the original copy) of some type e.g.
the words “Internet Coupon” or “Outlined Character” right of the
product logo
? A scanable bar code
? Billing address (where the coupon needs to be billed by our clearing
house)
? The customers name who is redeeming the coupon
? A unique pin number can identify the shopper who redeemed the
coupon
Our company uses great caution towards Internet manufacturer’s coupons due to
the high activity of fraudulent coupons on the Internet. We do not accept free
item coupons from the Internet nor do we honor any coupons that appear to be
suspicious.
I hope this helps to answers your questions. Thank you again for contacting us.
Jonathan Wood
Customer Experience Representative
Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc.
Ref# 455256
Jenn and all – I emailed a VP at Roundy’s with whom I have worked on some other things last week and will post about it this weekend. In essence, I shared with her that I didn’t realize their formal written policy said, in effect, $25 of sale priced items. I shared with her that the reality of how their registers work is different than that. I told her that I was going to continue to communicate with folks about how the registers really work, but would do it with a clean conscience since I disclosed to her the discrepenancy. I’ll post the full text and my thoughts in a new post this weekend. –Carrie