Frugal Friday--Why I Broke up with CVS
8:08 AMHeatherI used to CVS. Now, if you did not know that to be a verb, then this blog post might not make much sense to you. Allow me to offer a definition:
to CVS--(verb) the act of shopping at the drug store named CVS as part of the
Grocery Game, using coupons and advertised sales in an effort to earn
CVS bucks on said purchases to use for future purchases
Grocery Game, using coupons and advertised sales in an effort to earn
CVS bucks on said purchases to use for future purchases
If it sounds complicated, it's because it is. Ah, I was bought in, hook line and sinker. In fact I once blogged about it here. I even included a little section about CVSing in my Savings Seekers class. Don't get me wrong--the thrill of the hunt was alluring. I scored some GREAT bargains! I even used my CVS bucks to get things for free. And, I stock piled my "miscellaneous" supply closet full of OTC meds, shampoos, toothpaste, mouthwash, and various and assorted items. I was able to pull from said stock pile for Operation Christmas Child AND the Super Bowl donation drive for a local charity. Not to mention that TWICE when an extra child was sleeping over, I was able to compensate for their toothbrush packing oversight.
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with CVSing. I just decided to break up with them, but we can still be friends. What happened was that I needed to change my shopping and cooking styles last fall while my husband was on a particular diet. That required some extra effort that I decided to steal from my CVSing. Not to mention that I noticed something interesting. On my Grocery Game list, my grocery store started advertising the same sales on miscellaneous items that CVS had for that week. It's like the grocery store wised up to the profits they were losing to CVS. And, for the same price or just pennies more, I no longer had to search the shelves for an item that was advertised on sale but not stocked. I no longer had to search for sales items with no sales price posted. I no longer had to combat my friendly CVS employee or manager for the location of said items, the actual advertised price of said items, and the use of my coupons for said items.
INTENTIONAL challenge: There are many ways to save yourself some money. In fact, it can really become a full time job if you let it. At some point, it is wise to take a step back and assess your approach. How much money are you really saving? Do you really need those items? What good is a huge stock pile you will never use up or items you simply don't use? How much time and emotional energy are you investing in your sales? It's all a fine balance, friends. Between saving money and investing YOURSELF wisely. I'll leave you with a challenge. What money saving relationship do you need to evaluate? You might need a "DTR!" (that's Define the Relationship). It might be wise to set new perimeters (or gasp) break up all together.
There is nothing fundamentally wrong with CVSing. I just decided to break up with them, but we can still be friends. What happened was that I needed to change my shopping and cooking styles last fall while my husband was on a particular diet. That required some extra effort that I decided to steal from my CVSing. Not to mention that I noticed something interesting. On my Grocery Game list, my grocery store started advertising the same sales on miscellaneous items that CVS had for that week. It's like the grocery store wised up to the profits they were losing to CVS. And, for the same price or just pennies more, I no longer had to search the shelves for an item that was advertised on sale but not stocked. I no longer had to search for sales items with no sales price posted. I no longer had to combat my friendly CVS employee or manager for the location of said items, the actual advertised price of said items, and the use of my coupons for said items.
INTENTIONAL challenge: There are many ways to save yourself some money. In fact, it can really become a full time job if you let it. At some point, it is wise to take a step back and assess your approach. How much money are you really saving? Do you really need those items? What good is a huge stock pile you will never use up or items you simply don't use? How much time and emotional energy are you investing in your sales? It's all a fine balance, friends. Between saving money and investing YOURSELF wisely. I'll leave you with a challenge. What money saving relationship do you need to evaluate? You might need a "DTR!" (that's Define the Relationship). It might be wise to set new perimeters (or gasp) break up all together.
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