Checking store receipts for bonus savings and offers

It's all too easy to throw away a store receipt after arriving at home (or before) with your purchases.  Everything checks out and nothing is broken, so you think "ok, I can throw out the receipt."  But, look closely at the bottom of them and you might notice special offers.  I noticed one the other day for CVS.  Just sign up for CVS emails and get a $4 coupon emailed to you.  That's $4 tax free, awesome!  Of course, with CVS, the bottom of the receipt also shows you how many ExtraBucks you might have earned on your shopping trip.  So, don't throw away the receipt until you check it.

I don't bother very often to respond to them, but fast-food restaurants especially seem to offer chances to win prizes for filling out surveys over the phone or on-line.  Prizes can be lucrative, usually around $1,000, so worth a few minutes of time.  The next time you finish your burger, look to see if there is a cryptic code at the bottom of the receipt a phone number to call.  Fill out the survey and you could be a winner. 

Rite Aid's new customer loyalty program

Rite Aid just launched a new customer loyalty program called Wellness Plus.  The program is free and easy to join.  Once a member, shoppers can immediately earn a $5 off $25 purchase coupon, as well as points towards additional savings. 

The savings are based on a tiered system, meaning, the more you spend, the greater the discount.  Once a member earns 125 points, they are eligible to save 10%, one-time, on non-prescription drug purchases.  At the silver level, which requires 500 points, members can save 10% off non-prescription drug purchases for the remainder of the year.  Finally, at the gold level, which requires, 1000 points, members can save 20% off their non-prescription drug purchases for the remainder of the year.

The analysis:  since there is no Rite Aid in my neighborhood, this won't disuade me from shopping at CVS.  In contrast to CVS, which earns a guaranteed 2% back on each purchase (and don't forget the Extra bucks), one has to spend quite a bit at Rite Aid to get a discount.  Moreover, unlike CVS, the details of the program stipulate that it cannot be combined with another offer, which might mean coupons as well.  But, I would still try using your coupons when making purchases (at any store). 

Here is some strategy, which will help you earn your 10 or 20% off quicker: be sure to fill your prescriptions at Rite Aid.  Prescriptions earn 25 points per dollar vs. 1 point per dollar for all other items.  One prescription might score you a 10% off pass really quickly.  In contrast, one would have to spend $500 or $1000 on non-prescription purchases to yield that discount.  The terms and conditions stipulate that Medicare/Medicaid subsidies are ineligible, as well as in NY/NJ, but if you have an allergy pill prescription that costs $5 after your health care kicks in, that's enough for a one-day 10% off pass. 

Join their program and let me know what you think of it.

A video about using ExtraBucks at CVS

This is a very helpful explanation of how the ExtraBucks program works at CVS from two ladies called the DoubleSavingsDivas.  I have mentioned this program, too, but not nearly as interesting than how a video does it.

The tactics mentioned are tried and true and I have used some of these, except that I try not to make people wait in line.  Definitely look for the bar code scanning kiosk at the store to see what pops out when you scan your ExtraCare Card, though.




I will continue to post a few more relevant videos.  The great thing about YouTube is that all subjects are covered, and one can learn just about anything for free. 

Don’t forget the in the-store coupons as well

Since most coupon hunting takes place either in the Sunday newspaper, or increasingly on-line (hint: search for "printable coupons"), a possibly overlooked hiding spot for valuable money savings is at the grocery store, supermarket, or drug store itself.  Specifically, CVS offers a handy, dual-function kiosk that serves as a price checker and a coupon dispenser.  As much fun as it is to scan my ExtraCare card, I never have scanned an item, you know, “to double check” the price.  Perhaps I should. 

Most of the time I have tried to use the kiosk for coupons I have been disappointed.  $1.50 off tampons or something I clearly do not need.  Lamenting at the waste of paper (one would think that CVS might want to give the option to print the coupon out or not), I am usually discouraged.  However, lately I have had a stroke of luck.  Not only has the coupon machine been working, but also it provided valuable savings that I used at the same store visit.  The first was the ExtraBucks that I was eligible for based on winter spending.  I did not realize you could print them out there, too.  And, the second was for $1 off paper products and I happened to be buying paper towels that night.

What is cool about CVS, at some locations, is the ability to do self-check out.  Sometimes it is slower than waiting in line, particularly if the machine jams up for whatever reason, but I have had success by and large.  And, don’t worry about not being able to use CVS coupons during self-check out, one can still scan those, too.

Long-time readers know that I love CVS and always feel like I got a good deal for my money.  You should, too.