You can find great deals in the drugstores (CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens). Often you can find items for free or even earn money (if the store allows it) when you combine sales, coupons/in-ad coupons, rebates and Register Rewards (Walgreens) or Extra Bucks (CVS). Here are a few tips to make sure you get the best deals.

1. Make a List:Before you enter the store make a detailed list of what you plan to buy and what coupons/rebates are necessary. I also include the weight or size of the product to make sure I purchase the right item. If you know the information you may want to include the area of the store where the items are located to save you time when shopping.

2. Get the Circular/Rebate Book: Upon entering the store, I grab a circular and rebate book (only at Rite Aid and Walgreens). This way I can double check the sales, making sure I purchase the correct item, size, weight as I shop. I can also use any in-ad coupons. You can combine in-ad coupons with manufactures coupons.

3. Check your receipt: Before leaving the store always check the receipt to make sure the items are the correct price and the coupons were deducted.

4. Save your receipt: Always save your receipts since you will need the receipt numbers for the on-line rebates. You also never know when you might need to return or exchange an item.

5. Rebates: Walgreens and Rite-Aid both offer on-line rebate programs, no mailing necessary. The checks are mailed to you or at Walgreens you can get a gift card and earn an extra 10% back from the rebate (i.e. if your rebate check is for $100 you would earn an extra $10). This program is a great way to get a lot of free items or even earn money when combined with coupons (if the store allows). However, you do need enter your receipt on-line and you should always check to make sure the rebate was issued. On a number of occasions the rebate was not issued to my account. I called to find out what the problem was and they either issued the rebate or I returned the product. You should also keep in mind that the sales tax is not included in the rebate so you will have to pay that out of pocket. I have a credit card that I earn 5% cash back at drugstores which happens to be the sales tax where I live. You may want to consider doing this, but of course remember when using credit cards only charge what you can afford.

6. Use your Extra Bucks or Register Rewards: Walgreens or CVS offer these coupons when you purchase certain products. Sometimes the product will be free when you consider the fact they are awarding you the coupon amount for the price of the item (i.e. you pay $5 for the product and earn a coupon for $5 off your next purchase). Keep in mind it is a coupon and does expire. You should keep the coupon in a safe place and make sure to use it before it expires. You can even use the coupon to purchase another product that is free after the rewards.


Sounds like a lot of work? It is time consuming but it is worth it. In only three months I have accumulated enough shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, moisturizer, razors, and body wash to last for the next year!

I cradled the receipt in the palm of my hand like a first place prize ribbon. Gazing at the paper, my Cheshire cat grin intensified as I dissected the sales, coupons, and rebates. My loot was worth $31.29 but I earned $1.25 when I bought it. The final step to solidify the deal required me to enter the receipt number on-line to earn a $6 rebate. My musings were interrupted when my husband removed the key from the car ignition. I tossed the receipt in the bag.

The next day I positioned myself facing the computer screen with the intention of completing the task necessary to obtain the rebate, input the receipt number. I riffled through the scattered papers on the desk, unable to locate the indispensable receipt. This process was repeated 10 times with futile results. Panic set in as I began to grasp the reality of the situation, the receipt was missing.

After searching in all reasonable locations, I focused my efforts on the improbable places. When I unfastened the kitchen garbage, the stench of day-old half-eaten morsels of food enveloped my nasal passages. Cheerios saturated in milk, chicken nugget crumbs and fragments of tuna fish seeped beneath my finger nails. For the first time in my life I understood the criminal defense of, "temporary insanity" and I wondered if I would need to make use of it. The search was aborted. I attempted to resume my "normal" activities, yet the nagging question remained, "Where was the receipt?"

The day was drawing to a close and I had come to terms with the fact I would not be receiving my rebate. The rational side of my brain stated, "It is only $6 you really need to get over it." The curious side of my brain inquired, "Where on earth did I put the receipt?" The insane side of my brain demanded to know, "How could you lose the receipt?"

With a defeated disposition, I ambled in the direction of my room with the intention of going to sleep. En route to my destination, I paused before the laundry room. "Wait a minute," I said as I swung open the door to the laundry room. "I bought cleaning supplies . . . the bag had a hole in it and I threw it away." Once again, my hand was in the garbage, yet this time the bag was on top. Inside the bag I discovered the missing receipt. Case Closed.

Cook your own meals: The only way to truly know the calorie content of what you eat is to prepare the meals yourself. By cooking your own meals you can substitute for less fattening or lower calorie choices when necessary. Most recipes list calories, fat grams and other useful information to help you keep track of your daily intake. When you eat at restaurants or fast food places you eat more calories and fat grams since the portions are typically larger then what you would have at home. Furthermore it is difficult to keep track of calories or fat gram intake. Cooking at home is significantly less expensive then eating at restaurants or fast food places.


Drink Water: Tap water is free and free of calories. If you were to only drink water for a week you could probably save at least $20 or more depending on your current drinking choices. Most drinks contain 200 calories or more, whereas drinking water has zero calories. Water has numerous health benefits. By drinking water you eat less since people tend to think they are hungry when they really need water. Water helps your body to break down fat which increases fat loss.


Turn off the TV: If you eat meals while watching TV, you are often unaware of how much you eat. Research by Eliot Blass found, people eat between 31 and 74 percent more calories while watching TV. Most people watching TV are motionless which burns few calories. In terms of energy consumption, watching TV will cost you about $100 per year in your electric bill and your cable bill about $600 per year.


Workout with a friend: Working out with a friend will help you stay motivated and provides extra support or new ideas to keep your workouts interesting. You can carpool with your friend to the gym to save on gas.

"Drugstores and for drugs," was the false assumption I believed until 2 months ago. My printer ink cartridge was empty. A friend informed me, you could refill cartridges at Walgreens. Typically I never even glance at the drugstore weekly flyers. However, I was curious about this new information so I grabbed a circular. As I was perusing the weekly ad, I noticed 3 free after rebate items. After further investigation I discovered the rebate only required me to enter the receipt number. "Is it really free? Do other stores do this?" I wondered to myself.

I then examined the rest of the weekly flyers and ascertained Rite Aid offered 6 free after rebate items. "Wow, I can get 9 free items in one week." I was dumbstruck. My astonishment only increased when I learned these stores offer free items on a weekly basis. I felt as if I was panning in a river and struck gold.

The following week, instead of tossing the drugstore flyers to the side, I snatched them up the second I opened the paper. "What new treasures would I unearth today?" I speculated as I scrutinized each page. "Contact solution, shampoo, facial cleanser nail polish, hair color, light bulbs, razor," as I read the words I thought, "I normally have to pay for these things." I gathered up my pan, I mean purse and rushed to the gold store!