My first CVS/Walgreens outing
After months of managing the Frugal Blogroll and following Crystal’s Money Saving Moms, I finally decided to jump on the CVS/Walgreen’s Super Shopper bandwagon. I had heard enough of people spending fourteen cents on $76 worth of toiletries and getting another $45 in rebates. With 10 people in our house we could really use $76 worth of toiletries. Weekly.
Unfortunately, my first outing was less than glorious. First, my printer wasn’t cooperating. This took the wind out of my sails. Stacking sales, coupons and rebates doesn’t work as well if you can’t print out all the best coupons that everyone is hyperventilating over.
Then the car was dead. I was forced to drive the gas guzzling 15 passenger van. I told myself the savings would still be worth it, especially since I wasn’t making a special trip to town - I was going for a dental cleaning first.
My dental appointment didn’t go well. They smiled apologetically and told me I was doing a fantastic job keeping my teeth clean, but…and then they said things about fillings, cracks in my teeth, crowns, and the long term effects of amalgam fillings. I was not happy.
Then I arrived at CVS to learn that they were all out of the book of monthly deals. I don’t remember its real name and I didn’t remember why I needed it, but I suddenly felt lost and out of place with no coupons or Monthly Deal Book. To top it off, my CVS list was at home. I felt like a Typical Spender, not a Super Shopper. I applied for my Extra Care Card and meekly left, resolving to return armed with coupons and a list.
My next stop was going to be Super Target, but without coupons that just wasn’t going to happen.
On to Walgreens. I had clipped a few coupons from the weekly ad and I was jazzed about the Free After Rebate deals - even without printable coupons this would be a worthwhile stop. An hour later, I stood in line with my meager purchases. The clerk patiently helped me find the items I had missed and I left with 3 small bags of paper products and various toiletries, consoled that I had a luxurious $10 razor that would be free after rebate along with a few other choice items.
When I finally got home, I only found 2 Walgreens bags in my van. I looked again. I moved The Stuff That Stays In The Van and looked again. Two bags. No luxurious razor. No receipt for said razor. I called Walgreens and they knew nothing. “So, I guess I’m out of luck” I inquired lightheartedly. There was an awkward silence. “Well…I don’t know what to tell you, ma’am…” Right. That’s because people in customer service aren’t allowed to tell customers that yes, they are out of luck.
No wind in my sails again. I was worse than a Typical Spender. I spent money and came home with nothing.
Then my knight in shining armor went out to the van. Twenty seconds later, he strode cavalierly back into the house carrying my bag. My day is looking brighter. I can’t wait to file for my rebate and shave my legs. And I can’t wait to print some coupons for CVS. I just know it will be worth the trip!
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so sorry to hear about not getting the printer to work and forgetting the coupons. I’ve had trips like that. But glad to hear that your knight in shining armor found the missing bag.
Sounds like my every shopping experience. It seems to be an incurable disability of mine.
Glad you at least have your razor after all.
As I read your post about your shopping experience today, an “Oh No!” kept coming out of my mouth at various points in your post. I’m so glad your dh found the razor in the van, and I wish you luck for that first trip to CVS!
I had the same thing happen to me about the monthly deals! I’d worked so hard to get all these nice little deals worked out, and then with no Precision Xtra Monitor to be found, I felt like the air had been let out of my CVS balloon! We have a couple of CVS stores that are about 30 minutes away…I have to be in that town on Wednesday, so I’m going to check those stores too. I can’t wait until the March deals come out…now I know to get there early!
I LOVE CVS!
Once you get into the groove you’ll have a lot of fun. I do spend some money out of pocket every week, but I have some things stocked up for the entire year. Useful stuff too like TP and Cascade.
Aw man! Sorry to hear about that. It will get better, I promise.
This week isn’t the greatest for CVS, I’m afraid.
And, I’ve found that it can be most beneficial to go to Walgreens at the beginning of the monthly rebate period.
Kim, I too want to get into this. I know a few people and a yahoogroup I’m in that talk about these wonderful trip to CVS buying lots of products for very little. I have yet to take the plunge. I am not sure I completely understand it all.
Ah, you’ll get the hang of it. Glad your knight found your razor.
There is a huge learning curve when you’re first starting out. You should have seen me when I was just learning; I didn’t have a clue what I was doing and didn’t know anyone else who did either. Very frustrating, to say the least, but I’m more than happy I stuck with it. Hang with it and it will pay off–I promise!
By the way, it could be a great way for your girls to practice their math skills each week. Better yet, let them keep a percentage of the savings to give even further incentive for them to figure it all out for you.
I, too, have been gearing up for my first expedition into the wide world of CVS/Walgreen super-shopping. And, I’ve hit a few snags, too.
First, I signed up for my CVS card online, to get some kind of extra-savings offer I thought they were giving. Now I’m waiting two weeks to get the card.
Undaunted, I decided to concentrate on Walgreen’s in the mean time. I went over the ad and organized my coupons last night…only to find my little man running a temperature this morning.
Oh well…Lord willing he’ll be over it soon and there will still be something left on the shelves. (sighhh)
Keep up the good work! It definitely takes a few tries to really get in the swing of things, but you can do it!
Great retelling! Here we say: Mommy brain…
While I love deal shopping at CVS and Walgreens, it can be one of the most splitting headache experiences when things don’t go right! I try not to stress too much about it because even if I do spend money and something happens (like losing a receipt) I still know I have saved a whole bunch more. I always try to remember what I would have been spending if I hadn’t started doing CVS etc. Ya know? Stick with it! I’m sure you’ll love it once you get the hang of it!
I have been CVSing for about two months now, and it takes a while to get used to it. I must admit that figuring out strategies of what to buy is very addictive! I am so glad that you have a nice razor! Blessings!
Kim–
I had almost the EXACT SAME experience yesterday. I went out after the little ones were asleep to brave the world of Wal-greens shopping for the first time with a little trip to Target too. I fogot my coupons at home! After I had carefully printed them out WITH the deals that Crystal suggested as well. So I wandered around Target checking prices and skipped Wal-green entirely. Sigh. So disappointing.
My daughter and I were laughing out loud as we read your account. Not because your ordeal was particularly funny, but because we both knew it sounded just like something I would do!! Although I feel for your frustration, there is a small part of me (ok, a big part) that is glad to know I am not the only one who leaves the flyer and coupons at home and then can’t find the things I bought when I get home. I’ll keep trying if you will :-).
AWE,
I LOVE Bargin shopping!!!
What a story to tell on your first trip!!!
But dont worry it will be easy soon enough once you
get the hang of it.
Nichole
I used to do the Walgreens rebate thing, but every other month they would refuse part of the rebate by saying “item not found on receipt.” I would call them and read what was on my receipt and they would then admit their error and refund that amount, too. But it got to be so consistent and such a hassle that I came to the conclusion that Walgreens is either run by not-so-smart or not-so-honest people. (Make a copy of the receipt before mailing in that form!) Now I’m exclusively a CVS shopper. I love getting the instant rebates at CVS — you just have to keep them in a safe place. I use them toward my next rebate-type purchases or for photos.
I have had so many CVS experiences like that! It has taken me quite a while to get the hang of it, but now that I have it is so worth it!!
Beware of buying EXACTLY the EXACT thing in the ad… EXACT size, EXACT color, EXACT everything. Very tricky and that has really burned me more times than I can count… and it takes the wind out of my sails to buy something and then not get the rebates because it was the 3.5oz version instead of the 3.7oz version. Frustrating!
Thank you all for the encouragement! I knew there was a real learning curve to all of this and I even expected it; I just didn’t know exactly what to expect and was a little blindsided by so many difficulties from so many directions at once.
But like any difficult day, I found some consolation in the fact that I could always blog it. And the worse my day got, the better the post would be, because we all like to know that we’re not the only one who has a day like that, right?
[...] is really excited about CVS and Frugal Hacks. After my first trip to CVS, I need to take some lessons from [...]
ah yes…”consolation in being able to blog about it”. I didn’t go at all this week. The deals aren’t great. Looking forward to next week. Keep at it! Leinani