Today, I made the happy mistake of checking a local Rite Aid that I generally avoid to see if they had any of this week's sale items in stock. Specifically, I was hunting Biore strips. Not only did they have them, they had them in abundance, and I was inspired to visit all 3 of my local Rite Aids to score some deals. Between the 3 stores, I did 7 transactions so I could use soon expiring $1 off you order Video Values coupons.
As I am generally opposed to shelf clearing, I limited myself at each visit based on how much stock the store had.
Today's score: 5 packs of Biore strips, 5 assorted Biore cleansers, 5 John Frieda shampoo, 2 John Frieda conditioner, 5 John Frieda Full Repair stylers, 1 John Frieda Weather Works/Frizz Eaze styler, and, not pictured, a lip gloss and 2 Old Spice body washes.
The lip gloss was courtesy of my daughter, who came with me and was lobbying for make-up. After coupons, one of my transactions had a subtotal of $9.99. I had $10 +UPs that I had planned on using to pay for the purchase, and, as teenagers are want to do, my daughter recognized a moment of weakness when I said, "Really?!?" to the cashier, and I caved. At that moment, being short ONE cent to be able to use the +UP, and knowing I was going to be making money, I let her have a full priced item. I don't carry make-up coupons in my binder, unless they're a known moneymaker, because I don't wear make-up. $4.99 for lip gloss, yikes!
Even after expensive lip gloss, I made money on this stuff today. I had spent my last few +UPs last week buying baby stuff that is never free (though I do insist on getting a good deal), so I had to actually spend real money today. Here's the break-down.
Spent $25.99, got back $30 +UPs.
Spent $10 +UPs and $6.61, got back $14 +UPs. (lip gloss, anyone?)
Spent $4 +UPs and $2.66, got back $10 +UPs.
Spent $2.31, got back nothing.
Spent $6.93, got back nothing, but I should have received $10 +UPs.
Got $10 gift card back, because my +UPs didn't print.
Spent $2.31, paid using GC, got back the $10 +UPs I should have gotten before.***
Spent $7.93, most of that what was left on the GC, got back $10 +UPs.
I got back $15.26 more in +UPs than I spent in the store. Even if you subtract the $10 I made that I shouldn't have because their computer burped, I still made money.
***Failure to print was in one store, printing was in a completely different store. I didn't even look at the receipt before putting it in my pocket, because there shouldn't have been a +UP. Didn't even notice it til I came home and wanted to see how much I made.
I work pretty hard trying to make money at the drugstores. It's all a cleaver ploy to reduce my cost for items I actually need, like diapers, that are almost never free. The drugstores have pretty good diaper prices frequently enough, at least once a month jumbo packs are under $5 after +UPs and coupons at Rite Aid. I haven't paid more than $5 for a pack of diapers since the baby was born, and the lowest I've lucked in to was $2.99 each. Making $15 equates to 3 or more free packs of diapers later, when they go on sale.
Free is the greatest four letter word in the English language.
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