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I used to hate coupons. I tried to make them work — cut them out, bring them to the store, then leave them in the car or forget them in my purse. I was terrible at it.
Then I read Amanda Grossman’s money-saving ebook, The Drugstore Game, and decided to give her strategy a real try. To keep things simple, I only looked at coupons redeemable at CVS so I wouldn’t get overwhelmed.
The first week I focused on buying items that earned CVS “extra bucks.” I didn’t have coupons, so savings were small, but I did earn almost $20 in CVS bucks. I clipped a few coupons from the paper for things I could buy at CVS and went back the next week.
Armed with a 25% off everything coupon for signing up for CVS rewards, the $20 in extra bucks, a $5-off makeup coupon (I needed moisturizer), a buy-one-get-one-style deal on Gillette disposables, and another manufacturer coupon, I saved $40 on a $60 bill — about 66% off. That felt amazing and motivated me to keep going.
It does take a little prep time, but not much. I bought a folder and sorted coupons into four categories: household supplies, personal care, food, and restaurants (not CVS). I keep any extra bucks in the folder too. I try to keep shopping simple by buying only a few items at a time and only things my family will actually use.
One week my daughter wanted Physicians Formula makeup, which had a $6 extra-bucks offer with a $10 purchase. I told her I’d reimburse the $6 if she bought it at CVS. It wasn’t a saving for me, but it helped her, which is fine.
The ebook costs $3.97. If I, a former coupon hater, can use this strategy, anyone can. I’m comfortable with investing and growing wealth, but coupons used to stump me. Give it a try and save.
What’s your best money-saving strategy — coupons or not?
