The Drug Store Game!

1. You will need to have some seed money to get started. This does not have to be a lot of money.
Once you buy an ECB-extra care bucks (at CVS), Register Rewards (at Walgreens) or rebate qualified product (at RiteAid), you can roll over this money future purchases for other items. You want to make sure that you always get as much if not more in ECBs, Register Rewards or rebates. This way you will always be spending their money not yours.

2. Be sure to read the details of the rebate* item.
If the rebate* is for Claritin Liquid gels 24 count you won't be able to use it on Claritin RediTabs 24 count or on Liquid gels 60 count. You must purchase the exact item listed. You must also purchase the exact number of the item listed.



3. Find the ads and saving programs for each store you want to work with.
CVS will require you to sign up for their loyalty program. You can do this in one of two ways. In the store ask for and Extra Care Card Application, fill it out and receive you card on the spot or you can sign up online and receive your card in the mail prior to going to the store. Once you sign up you will receive an Extra Care Card. The Extra Care Card is how you earn Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) which are essentially rebates that work just like cash at CVS — but they expire one month after you receive them. The ECBs will print off on the register tape at the bottom of your receipt.

CVS has several ways to earn ECBs. You will earn 2% back in ECBs for each purchase you make using your Extra Card. These rewards print on the bottom of your receipt each quarter. Earn $1 in ECBs for every two prescriptions you purchase. These rewards print on the bottom of your receipt each quarter. Extra Care Bucks can also been earned in two other ways. There is a monthly Extra Care booklet — the items inside of it will either be on sale or earn you Extra Care Bucks throughout the entire month. Then there are weekly ads that come in the Sunday newspaper (or you can get them at the store / online). The weekly ads will feature some ECB specials as well as sale items.

Walgreens (WAGS) program is a bit different. You are not required to sign up for a loyalty card program to take advantage of Walgreens Register Rewards program.

Register Rewards (RRs) work very similar to Extra Care Buck offered by CVS. When you purchase an item that offers RRs the RRs will print on the bottom of your receipt. They are good for two weeks. There is no limit on the number of these you can earn, on repeat trips, since no loyalty card (that tracks your rewards) is involved.

Rite Aid is different from both Walgreens and CVS. They don’t offer any kind of instant rewards. Their program is a rebate program call Single Check Rebates (SCR. You will need to get a single form rebate booklet each month. These are available in the store. A check can only be requested once per month so do not request your check until then end of the month. Register online for single check rebates at www.ritheaid.com or fill out the form in the rebate booklet and mail it with all of your reciepts.

4. Start collecting Sunday newspapers and coupons
The easiest places to get coupons are the Sunday paper and online. Make sure you are aware of the coupon insert schedule. This will keep you from buying a paper on the rare Sunday there are no coupon inserts. The insert schedule also shows that April 5th there will be two SmartSource inserts and one Proctor & Gamble insert. Normally there is just one of each.
Once you buy a paper open it up the coupon sections and grab some scissors. Cut out everything of any remote relevance to you. And even items that you aren’t sure you will even use because one of the stores may run a deal where by using the coupon you’ll get the item for free. This may seem pointless — why get an item you won’t use for free? Well, you may have another coupon that states your total subtotal on your receipt has to reach a certain amount to get a discount. That item might get you over the top and save you a ton of money. You can then donate the items you won’t use. This will make more sense once you start playing the Drug Store Game.

5. Organize your coupons.
Some people choose not to cut out the coupons from the Sunday Circulars, but instead just punch the circular and place it in a notebook. Other use baseball card sheets or heavy page protectors to hold their clipped coupons. Still another method is to place them in an expandable file. You will have to decide which method works best for you.


6. Don’t expect huge rewards immediately.This won’t result in hundreds of dollars worth of savings in the first week It may take you several weeks even a couple of months to start to see big rewards--suddenly you’re getting a buy one get one free (a.k.a. BOGO) deal and using a coupon that makes both items free. Take your time and have fun as you play the drug store game.
* rebates= ECBs, Register Rewards, or Rebates by Mail.