Play the Drugstore Game

Home Lifestyle Buying Shopping Strategies Play the Drugstore Game

Since the beginning of this year, I've learned how to pay next to nothing for things my family needs, like diapers, toiletries, paper goods, and cleaning supplies, all thanks to what I like to call The Drugstore Game. Let me show you how to do the same.

The first thing you'll need to know is how store coupons and manufacturer coupons work together. Coupons that come with the Sunday newspaper are most commonly manufacturer coupons that can be used at any store that takes coupons. Manufacturer coupons can usually be combined with a store coupon, which is a coupon that is put out by the store. For example, if you have a $1 off Pampers manufacturer coupon and a $1 off Pampers CVS coupon, you can use both coupons at CVS to get $2 off a package of diapers.

The next thing you need to know is how the various store rewards and rebate programs work. My personal favorite drugstore is CVS, which has the ExtraCare Bucks (ECBs) program (www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/extracarehome). ECBs are coupons that print at the end of your receipt after qualifying purchases. The ECB coupon can then be used like cash on a future purchase.

Walgreens has a somewhat similar program called Register Rewards. Walgreens also has the monthly Easy Saver rebate program (www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp). Each month, Walgreens comes out with the Easy Saver catalog, which includes many rebate offers as well as coupons. After you make your purchases, you submit the required information and wait until you get your rebate. You'll receive an extra 10% on your rebate if you have the rebate credited to a Walgreens giftcard.

Rite Aid has the Single Check Rebate program (https://riteaid.rebateplus.com/), which is similar to Walgreens' program. Like Walgreens, Rite Aid puts out a monthly rebate booklet. Make your purchases, enter your information online, and wait for your check.

Once you understand how manufacturer and store coupons and the various store rewards programs work, you need to combine that knowledge. The key to saving big in The Drugstore Game is understanding how coupons and rewards programs work together. This can be very tricky, but it is absolutely worth mastering. For example, if a toothbrush is on sale at CVS for $2.99 with $2.99 in ECBs, a Drugstore Game pro would use a manufacturer coupon, and pay less than she receives in ECBs. She'll then use the ECBs to buy more items.

Here's another example: I recently paid less than $4 and left CVS with four 12-packs of Diet Coke, three packages of Kotex feminine products, a package of cotton swabs, a bottle of Huggies baby wash, two boxes of Cheerios, and four boxes of Nature Valley granola bars. I saved $40 on sale prices using manufacturer coupons, store coupons, and ECBs, and received additional ECBs to use on my next purchase. I could have saved even more if I had been able to print some Nature Valley coupons from the manufacturer's coupon site.

In order to play The Drugstore Game at a high level, you need a game plan before you head out the door. The key to a good game plan is good sources of information. You could sit at home poring over the weekly and monthly drugstore circulars, or you could simply visit the sites that do all the math for you. Sites like A Full Cup (http://afullcup.com), SlickDeals (www.slickdeals.net/), and FatWallet (www.fatwallet.com/forums) often list coupons and deals. I've also listed the sites I refer to at my blogs, Chief Family Officer (http://chieffamilyofficer.com) and CFO Reviews (http://cfo2.blogspot.com/).

When you head out to the store, bring a calculator in case you have to re-work some of your deals due to some items being out of stock (this happens rather often, so I also recommend having some alternative scenarios prepared before you go shopping). Also take the weekly and monthly circulars with you (or pick them up at the front of the store before you start walking around). The stores don't always mark the shelves properly, and sometimes the only way to tell which item qualifies for a deal is to check the printed circular.

One final word of advice: Sometimes using a lot of coupons can create problems with the registers, which are programmed in a certain way. Sometimes the cashier or manager can override the computer, sometimes they can't. Whatever happens when you're checking out, please try to always remain polite and courteous. It's good for all Drugstore Game players if the stores think of us as their best customers!

Cathy Tanaka publishes a blog called Chief Family Officer (http://chieffamilyofficer.com), featuring tips on family finances, parenting, and cooking.

Take the Next Step:

• Familiarize yourself with how the various store rewards and rebate programs work. Start with links above.
• Subscribe to our new weekly "Inflation Fighters" newsletter by sending mailto:subscribe-InflationFighters@hub.thedollarstretcher.com

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