with extra bucks and I decided to take $25 of my free gift cards and buy some necessities. This was a big step for me.
All of these items would be regularly priced at CVS at $ 40.51. I used $24.61 of the gift card--which also paid for the tax. So my total savings with tax was $ 41.85 (see details at the bottom of the post of the transaction). Another bonus is I will receive 2% back in extra bucks on all of my Gift Card spending at CVS.
My philosophy on my "free" gift cards was that they were still money and I had to make them go as far as possible and at CVS that meant using them on extra buck deals, but I actually found myself paying more at another store at times for items that are on sale at CVS or even that are not on sale but that I need. I read of others who count the gift cards as part of their savings--sort of like it is a coupon to spend on what is needed making it free. You can virtually make your own sales--whatever you need (or want) is free with the card. I was so spoiled at CVS shopping all of these years with so many money makers that I always had extra extra bucks to use on such items, but not over this last year--I need to change my strategies to save the most.
Frugal Mom at Frugality Is Free is a good example of this way of thinking. She regularly posts great savings she gets by combining sales, coupons and gift cards to get her family what they need. Now she is a great frugal shopper, but if her son needs a new tank top and pair of shorts and she has a gift card, she will find a reasonable sale to combine it with if that is all she can find (normally this gal has store coupons, clearance and bonus percentage off the clearance and gets remarkable deals). But she has learned the value of the necessity to buy what her family needs with her free gift cards she has earned and stretching her budget even further. Here are two of her shopping posts where she used gift cards: Gap Savings & Kohl's shopping.
I hope some of this makes sense, it is just two different philosophies behind the use of free gift cards. Many of the bloggers who link up their weekly CVS shopping trips here at Simply CVS use CVS Gift Cards earned online and consider they save 100% every week--and pick up things their family needs. I am sure it will still take a while for me to change my way of thinking; and perhaps I never will completely switch over. But when I see, for example, my grocery budget having a little more leeway with picking up items at CVS for free like I did today it will become easier.
Do you get free gift cards? How do you look at them?
Here's what I got and the sale prices. These are all CVS products that we have used before and were pleased with.
4 -- Apple Juice @ $2.00 each
2 -- Kitchen Bags @ $5.79 each on sale buy one get one free
2 -- Lunch bags @ $3.49 each on sale buy one get one free
1 -- CVS mouth rinse (like Colgate Peroxil) @ $5.99 -- this was not on sale but we needed it and the CVS brand was much less than the Colgate brand
8 Comments:
mypoints is another way I earn CVS giftcards.
Sunny, I used to do MyPoints but they got too time consuming for me once I got into Simply CVS. I may start up again, though, to get more gift cards, I actually just finished the last one I got from there.
I watch for online deals and then go and order through them. Every 4 orders you get a $10 gc.
Thanks, Sunny, I need to get back organized there. You are getting me interested again. I do order online some--now to remember to go thru MyPoints :-). I know you can order online at Swagbucks, too, so I need to check that out.
I think if you're spending the gift card in a "smart" way instead of just going into a store and buying full price for just anything then you are saving! You did awesome today. Proud of you!
For example, I had received 40.00 worth of gift cards to Hyvee food store for christmas, but hardly shop there due to high prices. If I catch a good sale on meat or paper good then I will go in and use it. Still have 12.00 left from this year and planning on catching Cottonelle on sale tomorrow for 5.33 (with coupon). Saving me out of pocket expenses!
Thanks, Kayde, for the insight and confirmation. It is so hard for me to change my CVSing habits after all of these years. But the more gift cards I can get the more I can save.
Thanks for highlighting my posts Cheryl.
Yes, I do consider gift cards as a part of my savings, and when I have one I make sure to stretch it as far as possible, which means I am basically increasing the value of the gift card.
I think that one of the important things with gift cards, is that you do not go out and spend it just for the sake of spending it. It is much better to hold on to it, for when you actually need something and when you can combine it with coupons and sales.
I use Mypoints to get JCP and Kohl's gift cards. I get the $10 ones, and then I wait for the great coupons to stretch them even further.
I always have a mental list (and sometimes even a written list) of what we need in the family. As an example uniform clothes is always on my list, and another one is shoes....with three growing boys, I need to buy a shoe size up.
I use gather to get Target gift cards and sometimes CVS gift cards to use for giveaways.
I also do a couple of survey sites, but it is a very small amount as blogging is taking over.
BTW with Mypoints, I just go do the emails about once a week. I search for Mypoints, and then all the Mypoints bonus mails come up. I rarely buy anything through Mypoints, since most of my online purchases are done through Amazon with gift cards.
JR, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Funny you mentioned your mental list of needs -- I was wondering your organizational system for knowing what you need. you always seem to get just what you need at a phenomenal price. You need to give us all lessons. Of course seeing how I don't have any stores closer than 30 minutes and most you shop at are at least 50 or non-existent in this area it would be hard for me.
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