How To Save Money At The Drugstore

When people start brainstorming ways to save money, stores like CVS and Walgreens don’t usually come to mind.  But, drugstores can be great places to get a good deal, if you know what to shop for.

The reason is because drugstores have an extremely limited amount of floor space.  Unlike big box stores like Target or Wal-Mart, it’s vital that small drugstores move their merchandise quickly.  Which goes back to knowing what to shop for.

So, what are the best ways to save money at the drugstore?  Be a savvy shopper.  Here are two products you can get great deals on:

1.  Milk

Drugstores consider milk their “loss leader”.  This means they usually offer a great price on a gallon of milk to get you in the door.  After that, they’re hoping that you’ll buy a few extra items, and they’ll recoup their loss on the milk.

The concept of loss leading isn’t new of course (Wal-Mart has turned it into an art form) but if you can resist the shiny packages of candy and over the counter medications (which are usually cheaper at Target) then you can often find milk at half the price you’d get it for at the grocery store (where it almost never goes on sale).

2. Seasonal Items

We just got done with Halloween, so if you want a fantastic deal on candy now’s the time to go get it.  Keep this in mind for any event: July 4, Easter, back to school, Christmas, Valentines Day…you get the picture.

Also, check drugstores once the seasons change.  For instance, September is a great time to buy super discounted beach towels, folding chairs, and flip flops.  

Remember, because of their size drugstores have to get this stuff out the door quickly.  And while bigger stores will mark seasonal items 50% off first, then 75%, drugstores will usually go straight for 75% off.  Sometimes they’ll start marking products down right before the holiday, but you’ll get the best bargain right after it’s over. 

Saving With Reward Programs

If you’re not a regular drugstore shopper, you might not be aware that the two biggest chains (CVS and Walgreens) have reward programs.  And, their reward programs are equal to, if not better, than most grocery stores.

For instance, at CVS you can join their Extra Care Rewards program.  It’s free to join, and you get back 2% of everything you spend in the form of “Extra Care Bucks”.  These bucks print at the bottom of your receipt every three months, which you must keep in order to use them; it’s just like cash.  

So, if you end up spending $100 at CVS over the course of 3 months, you’ll have $2.

Now, that doesn’t sound like much, right?  Well, the good news is that CVS also has weekly sales, where you can earn extra bucks just by buying items they have on special.  And, you get a buck every time you have two prescriptions filled.  

Over three months, these bucks can add up pretty fast.

Save Money By Using Coupons

Now, if you’re already a coupon clipper you can save even more by tag-teaming them.  

The reason is because places like CVS also offer their own “savings booklets” (if you’re a reward member, of course).  Plus, every time you buy something under your membership card, you also get coupons printed off with your receipt.  And, they’re usually good coupons.

The good news is that (in most stores) you can use your online or newspaper clipped coupon in addition to their coupon, and double your savings.  And if you use your Extra Care Bucks, you can even get stuff for free.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to save money at the drugstore.  And in some cases, you can actually save quite a lot.  Tag-teaming your coupons and joining the rewards programs are great ways to save over the long-term, but make sure you check in for milk sales and seasonal super-sales.