CVS and beyond: The superstars of 'The Drugstore Game'
Posted
May 14 2008, 09:01 AM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
We have to save vicariously through the superstars of drugstore shopping. The closest stores like CVS and Walgreens are 110 miles away.
Bloggers at sites like The Centsible Sawyer, Mommy Making Money and Money Saving Mom are buying toiletries, diapers and other necessities for a teeny fraction of what they normally cost. Cathy at Chief Family Officer, a superstar-in-training, has dubbed their use of coupons, rebates and other store discounts "The Drugstore Game."
As these champions of saving might say, the proof is in the free pudding.
If you need proof, go to Denise Sawyer's post about "CVS superstars ... and wild women at Walgreens" and click on the links to read testimonials from other serious savers. For instance, "Sarah Z" at Raising Weeds bought a Venus Embrace razor, Tums and two toothbrushes for $0 and also earned $15.67 in ExtraCare Bucks at CVS.
We've written about this phenomenon before, but think that in today's economy it deserves more attention. If you're new to this, there is plenty of help available online.
Money Saving Mom offers "CVS 101" to get you started and additional help with "Q&A: Making CVS work for you." Plus, read her "Walgreens 101."
Cathy offers more advice with her post about The Drugstore Game.
Apparently prompted by readers' questions, Mommy Making Money explained why it sometimes makes sense to buy things you don't need to use the CVS system to your best advantage. For instance, she bought toothpaste even though she has 10 tubes at home.
Here's my thinking: Buy one toothpaste at $2.99, and use the $1.50-off coupon. Pay $1.49 and get back $2 ECBs. I now have 51 more cents than I started with, which I can apply to something else that I do need. I can include that item in that same order, or save the ECBs for next time.
Click here to read her full explanation. And if you really can't use the stuff, she writes, you can give it to someone who does, use it for gifts, or sell it on eBay.
