Welcome back to another week of The Teacher’s Salary series.
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Click HERE to see links to some of my previous posts from this series.
A couple months ago, I posted about 7 ways we save on groceries and I’ve decided to break down some of those concepts a little further. I talked more in-depth about menu-planning, posted about how to shop the grocery store sales, discussed how to start your stockpile, and wrote about how to save money by using coupons. This week, let’s talk a little more about the drug store game.
How I got started
Before I quit work, I rarely shopped at drug stores. Walmart was usually my go-to store for beauty and household products because drug stores always had higher prices. The only time I stepped foot into a drug store was in an emergency or when I was picking up a prescription. All of that changed when I quit my full time job to become a stay-at-home mom and our income was cut in half. I scoured coupon blogs to try and find ways to save money and I kept hearing about playing the drug store game. I quickly learned that drug stores can be a great place to get beauty and household products for pennies on the dollar. My mind was blown – I had been missing out for so long!
What is the drug store game?
The drug store game is the process of combining drug store sales, coupons (manufacturer or store), and national drug store loyalty programs to get products for a fraction of the cost. Oftentimes, you can walk out of a store without spending a dime and have “money” to spend on your next trip. The three main drugstore chains, CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid, all have loyalty programs that you can utilize to “play the game” and save a lot of money!
To give you an idea, here is a real-life example from my trip to CVS last night.
Transaction #1:
(2) Crest Pro Health toothpaste – On sale for $2.99 ea. and part of an ECB deal
(1) Colgate Optic White toothpaste – On sale for $3.00
– Use (2) $.50/1 Crest manufacturer’s coupons
– Use (1) $1.00/1 Colgate manufacturer’s coupon
– Use (1) $2.00/1 Colgate CVS store coupon
– Use 5 ECB from a couple of weeks ago (this is like a CVS store coupon)
Total w/ taxes: $.37
Get back: 4 ECB (2 ECB printed for each Crest toothpaste)
Transaction #2:
(1) Gillette Venus razor – $7.79
– Use (1) $3.00/1 Gillette manufacturer coupon
– Use 4 ECB (from transaction #1)
Total w/ taxes: $1.20
Get back: 2 ECB
Grand Total: $1.57
Have 2 ECBs to use on my next trip
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My trip last night was a great example of some of the great deals you can find at drug stores. Everyone uses toothpaste and razors, so why not try to spend as little money on them as possible? I’d rather spend my grocery budget on something yummy to eat than toothpaste!
Playing the drug store game does take some effort, and some of you might find it’s just not worth the time and energy, but I would encourage you to commit to spending 1 hour each week for at least a month (trying to learn the ropes) before you totally dismiss this. Here are 7 tips for getting started.
1. Learn a store at a time
I recommend starting out with one store. Depending on where you live, you may not have a choice about the store, but if you do then pick one store and start there. Each store is different. Learn one store at a time so that you won’t get overwhelmed or confused.
Read up on that store’s loyalty program and coupon policy on the store’s website or on one of your favorite coupon blogs (see a list of some of my favorites below). It might even be helpful to print off a copy of the store’s policy in case you run into a cashier who is questioning you on something.
2. Plan out your trip (using a coupon blog)
Work out your scenarios at home when you can focus on what you are doing. Use the store’s weekly flyer alongside a reputable coupon blog to help you plan your trip. Bring a list with you so that you what you are planning to buy, the coupons you will use, what the totals will be, and what rewards you should be getting back. When you get to the cashier, you know what to expect and can make sure everything rings up correctly. Here are some of my favorite coupon blogs.
Moneysavingmom.com
SouthernSavers.com
TheKrazyCouponLady.com
Passionforsavings.com
Just do a simple search and tons should show up for you. Many of them will even let you print off your shopping list so it’s all right there for you!
3. Start slow
I would recommend starting out simple. Start out with a simple transaction. Get used to scanning your loyalty card, handing the cashier your coupons, and then check to make sure any of your rewards printed off correctly. Bring your rewards back later in the week to buy more or just wait until the next week. Keep it simple in the beginning, or you might get flustered and give up before you’ve even learned how to play the game.
4. Leave your children at home
I’ve done this enough that I can usually manage alright with my children in tow, but that was not the case in the beginning. When I was starting out, I would always do my drug store shopping trips at night when my husband could watch my kids.
5. Visit the store when it is less busy
I used to get nervous whenever there was a long line behind me and I was working out some of my transactions. Because of this, I tended to do my shopping when I anticipated shorter lines {sometimes right before closing}. Also, if you are about to check out and someone comes up behind you, feel free to let them go first so you don’t feel nervous or anxious by someone waiting behind you.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
Some cashiers aren’t as familiar with coupons or their own coupon policies or rewards programs, so feel free to gently question the cashier if you feel like something didn’t work out the way you had expected. If nothing else, it’s a great opportunity for learning all around.
7. Be patient and have fun!
If this was easy, then everyone would be doing it. It takes some time to get comfortable with every store’s program and policy and the more you try, the more confident you will become. Don’t let people rush you and don’t rush yourself. Make sure you have some fun with it too because it’s exciting to walk out of a store with items you need knowing that you spent next to nothing on them. Think of it as a challenge so try to enjoy it.
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Any questions for those who are getting started?
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