If you haven't read my other couponing 101 articles over the past weeks I suggest you start at the first post and read through. This is a lot of information. Take some time to read each section and go over it before you dive right in.
Part 4 Drug Store Shopping
Shopping at the drug store is different than shopping at the
grocery store. Most drug stores print their own money at the register. They
want you to use this money at their store. Walgreens has Rapid Rewards RR, CVS
has Extra Care Bucks ECB’s and Rite Aid has Single Check Rebate Program SCR’s. I am going to be mostly informing
you on CVS today.
With the money they
print for you at the stores, you can roll this each time you check out and not
pay a lot of your money out of pocket, OOP.
HOW IT WORKS for
CVS
First of all you
want to make sure you get a CVS card. Ask for one when you enter the store
before your first purchase. To register your card complete the form on line.
You will receive additional coupons and sometimes ECBs through email. You can
load these onto your card so next time you enter the store you can use your
savings and not worry about finding a piece of paper.
Now you will need
to scan your circular to see if there are any items you want or need that print
ECB’s. Now look to see if you have a coupon to matchup with this item to bring
your total OOP down even further. Please keep in mind the ECB prints at the end
of the transaction. At first it is difficult to get started. Please check out Simply
CVS for beginner $5 & $10 OOP scenerios she posts each week. Once you have checked
out you will have ECB’s you can use towards your next transaction. Please be considerate
of others
I roll my ECB’s a
little differently than other people. I like to have ECB’s left over at the end,
so I can get my items for the advertised price or free. I try to do all my
purchases in one transaction with all my ECB’s and coupons at one time. This
way I don’t have to worry if they are out of an item in order for all my
transactions to work. I also know what I am going to spend before I get there. My
budget is $5.00 on toiletries and $5.00 on diapers when I can get it.
THE LITTLE RED BOX
There is a little
magic red box when you walk into CVS. This is a coupon dispensing machine. It
spits out extra CVS coupons. You can stack or combine these with any additional
coupons you may have to get items for free or really cheap. It frequently gives
away free items. You just need to make sure you print it out. This is the first
thing I always do when I walk into the store and see if it gives me anything
good. This is a must in my book.
BAG TAG
CVS has a bag tag
program. You can purchase this little tag or sometimes it gives you a free one
at the magic red box. Every four times this is scanned it will print you a $1
extra buck. Yup that is FREE money just for visiting the store. You can only
use it once each day and it only will scan after an item is scanned.
BEAUTY CLUB
On more program CVS
has is the Beauty Club. This is free to sign up. To sign up look near the register
to see the Beauty Club tear pad. Just hand this to the cashier when your make
your first purchase. For every $50.00 you spend you will receive $5.00 back.
QUARTERLY EARNINGS
CVS will add up all
your purchases before ECB’s and Coupons and give you 2% back at the end of
every quarter. You can receive this at the little red box or it will print at
the register. Again free money you can use to purchase additional items at the
store.
Things you need to
do when you go to CVS:
1. Get a CVS card –
Sign Up on line
2. Get a Bag Tag –
You may need to pay $1.00
3. Sign up for the
Beauty Club – FREE tear pad at registar
4. Scan the red box
when you go to the store.
Items I often get
at CVS:
Razors – FREE
Make up – FREE or
$1
Nail Polish – FREE or
$1
Food – FREE or
CHEAP
Milk – CHEAP when
on sale
Hair Care – CHEAP
Diapers – CHEAP
