Showing posts with label CVS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CVS. Show all posts
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
How I profited off my child's misfortune ~ CVS & their awesome rewards program
After talking with a couple great friends last night about the mysteries of CVS I realized it might be time to rework a previous blog post.....
Most of us at one time or another will need a perscription filled. Of course a trip to the Doctor and then the pharmacy is a hassle, but many times it can be used to our financial benefit....
You can apply this little nugget of financial wisdom to nearly any pharmacy - but because I am on a CVS kick - I am going to write about a CVS experience, but just know most pharmacies will honor competitors coupons.
I personally always keep the '$25 gift card for a new or transferred perscription' coupons.
A few month's back my son needed a perscription. With our insurance it was a $10 copay for a one time perscription. I handed the CVS pharmacisist $10 along with my '$25 gift card for a transferred perscription' coupon. He handed me my perscription along with a $25 gift card good for anything in CVS. (Is it wrong that despite my son's discomfort I am a little giddy at this point?)
So with our insurance my free gift card has pretty much paid for my son's perscription and his copay for his Dr. visit - nice! But that is not good enough for Kate, I took it one step further.
I had already researched the items I could purchase at CVS and recieve ECB's for that week. For those of you unfamiliar with ECB's - they are basically a rebate printed out instantly on a reciept that you can use the next time you come into CVS. Many times there are one or two items that have FULL credit given back to you for your purchase - ie - mouthwash for $4.99 - you get $4.99 in ECB's. You can also apply coupons to any item at CVS - ie - that mouthwash that is $4.99 - if you have a $1 coupon you apply, you still get $4.99 in ECB's - what?! I know! You just 'made' a dollar for taking mouthwash out of the store! CVS also often has printable coupons (either at the register or the scanner) that will give you $5 off a $15 or $4 off a $20 purchase that you can also stack with your coupons - what?! OK - so how many of you have I lost at this point?? I know it can be confusing - but at the very least I suggest you try it out. That $25 gift card can very easily be stretched out into quite a bit more in that first visit AND can give you credit for your next visit.
The key is learning to 'roll' these ECB's - essentially getting to the point where you are spending no money at all (or in our case here in CA - just covering the tax). My personal best was a reciept around $40 that worked out to $2.49!
Despite my love of coupons and an intense desire to save, I really didn't start applying the whole ECB aspect to my shopping until about a year ago. It was all so confusing - I share the prescription story because this made it SO easy for me! I had basically a $25 cushion as I learned.
I don't write drugstore 'match up' posts because there are so many other sites that do such a great job of it - here are two of my favorites - http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ and http://www.couponingtodisney.com/ -these ladies have CVS (along with other drugstores) down to a science! Don't let it intimidate you - just learn what you can. Apply what is realistic to your life - it is a little work in the beginning, but maintaining (like anything really I guess) is not that intense. If you are looking to cut something in your budget this is a GREAT way to do that. In the last year I don't think I have paid for toothpaste, toothbrushes, bodywash, feminine products, deodorant,....the list goes on and in my experience it really does add up!
Happy Shopping!
Kate
Most of us at one time or another will need a perscription filled. Of course a trip to the Doctor and then the pharmacy is a hassle, but many times it can be used to our financial benefit....
You can apply this little nugget of financial wisdom to nearly any pharmacy - but because I am on a CVS kick - I am going to write about a CVS experience, but just know most pharmacies will honor competitors coupons.
I personally always keep the '$25 gift card for a new or transferred perscription' coupons.
A few month's back my son needed a perscription. With our insurance it was a $10 copay for a one time perscription. I handed the CVS pharmacisist $10 along with my '$25 gift card for a transferred perscription' coupon. He handed me my perscription along with a $25 gift card good for anything in CVS. (Is it wrong that despite my son's discomfort I am a little giddy at this point?)
So with our insurance my free gift card has pretty much paid for my son's perscription and his copay for his Dr. visit - nice! But that is not good enough for Kate, I took it one step further.
I had already researched the items I could purchase at CVS and recieve ECB's for that week. For those of you unfamiliar with ECB's - they are basically a rebate printed out instantly on a reciept that you can use the next time you come into CVS. Many times there are one or two items that have FULL credit given back to you for your purchase - ie - mouthwash for $4.99 - you get $4.99 in ECB's. You can also apply coupons to any item at CVS - ie - that mouthwash that is $4.99 - if you have a $1 coupon you apply, you still get $4.99 in ECB's - what?! I know! You just 'made' a dollar for taking mouthwash out of the store! CVS also often has printable coupons (either at the register or the scanner) that will give you $5 off a $15 or $4 off a $20 purchase that you can also stack with your coupons - what?! OK - so how many of you have I lost at this point?? I know it can be confusing - but at the very least I suggest you try it out. That $25 gift card can very easily be stretched out into quite a bit more in that first visit AND can give you credit for your next visit.
The key is learning to 'roll' these ECB's - essentially getting to the point where you are spending no money at all (or in our case here in CA - just covering the tax). My personal best was a reciept around $40 that worked out to $2.49!
Despite my love of coupons and an intense desire to save, I really didn't start applying the whole ECB aspect to my shopping until about a year ago. It was all so confusing - I share the prescription story because this made it SO easy for me! I had basically a $25 cushion as I learned.
I don't write drugstore 'match up' posts because there are so many other sites that do such a great job of it - here are two of my favorites - http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ and http://www.couponingtodisney.com/ -these ladies have CVS (along with other drugstores) down to a science! Don't let it intimidate you - just learn what you can. Apply what is realistic to your life - it is a little work in the beginning, but maintaining (like anything really I guess) is not that intense. If you are looking to cut something in your budget this is a GREAT way to do that. In the last year I don't think I have paid for toothpaste, toothbrushes, bodywash, feminine products, deodorant,....the list goes on and in my experience it really does add up!
Happy Shopping!
Kate
Monday, May 10, 2010
How I profited off my child's misfortune....
Repost ~ I am doing this again today. The only upside to going to the Dr. is knowing that I get a little extra $$ from CVS when I do.
So yesterday we had to go to the Dr. for an ear infection - poor little girl! It was too far gone to just 'let it take care of itself, so she needed antibiotics.
Luckily I had one of those 'free gift card for new perscription' cards in my wallet - I always save these just in case. Even if you don't want to change pharmacies - MOST will take competitors coupons. I went to Ralphs with a CVS coupon for $25 - it was a $10 generic perscription (which our medical reimbursement account has already refunded).
My tip - always save those coupons - it is a great deal! If you don't get them mailed to you - check online, I have seen them as printable coupons from time to time. We all get sick from time to time - may as well make it work to our financial benefit if we can!
Kate
So yesterday we had to go to the Dr. for an ear infection - poor little girl! It was too far gone to just 'let it take care of itself, so she needed antibiotics.
Luckily I had one of those 'free gift card for new perscription' cards in my wallet - I always save these just in case. Even if you don't want to change pharmacies - MOST will take competitors coupons. I went to Ralphs with a CVS coupon for $25 - it was a $10 generic perscription (which our medical reimbursement account has already refunded).
My tip - always save those coupons - it is a great deal! If you don't get them mailed to you - check online, I have seen them as printable coupons from time to time. We all get sick from time to time - may as well make it work to our financial benefit if we can!
Kate
Sunday, March 28, 2010
CVS ~ Free Shampoo & Conditioner - nice!
I know there are tons of sites out there that show deals with coupons & store sale match ups for CVS and many others, so I am not trying to compete at all -
But when I went to CVS today to buy my hacking children some generic Mucinex ($3 less than the 'real' stuff & it is made in the same factory - bonus - there is no booger spokesperson on the box - does that gross anyone else out??) I found a deal I had to point out.
On an endcap was 'Bioluxe' shampoo & conditioner. I have never heard of this brand. Depending on my level of thriftiness I may or may not be willing to purchase hair care at a drugstore (PS - i get that is lame, I have seen all the 20/20's & read consumer reports enough to never purchase 'salon brand' hair care, and yet I get sucked in from time to time.) Whether it is a good brand or not, I am giving it a try & this is why (whoa, took me a LONG time to get to my point)
They were $9.99 each
BUT - they were buy one get one free
AND - one had a 'try me free' - mail in redemption via Visa Prepaid card
yay! free shampoo & conditioner!
I found this deal at the CVS in San Marcos - I would imagine it is everywhere though - happy shopping!
Kate
But when I went to CVS today to buy my hacking children some generic Mucinex ($3 less than the 'real' stuff & it is made in the same factory - bonus - there is no booger spokesperson on the box - does that gross anyone else out??) I found a deal I had to point out.
On an endcap was 'Bioluxe' shampoo & conditioner. I have never heard of this brand. Depending on my level of thriftiness I may or may not be willing to purchase hair care at a drugstore (PS - i get that is lame, I have seen all the 20/20's & read consumer reports enough to never purchase 'salon brand' hair care, and yet I get sucked in from time to time.) Whether it is a good brand or not, I am giving it a try & this is why (whoa, took me a LONG time to get to my point)
They were $9.99 each
BUT - they were buy one get one free
AND - one had a 'try me free' - mail in redemption via Visa Prepaid card
yay! free shampoo & conditioner!
I found this deal at the CVS in San Marcos - I would imagine it is everywhere though - happy shopping!
Kate
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