Love and Hate at CVS: Minimum Wage Challenge

I have a love-hate relationship with CVS. I love that I can get things there for free / nearly free (one of my goals for this minimum wage challenge is to try to get all of my personal care products for free this year, and using the CVS program will be a big part of making that happen), but it also seems to be a place where I have terrible dilemmas like whether or not it’s worthwhile buying tampons in order to get peanut butter. Today I needed to get a couple of sticks of deodorant (I had some coupons expiring which gave them to me for free) which wouldn’t seem to be an issue in most cases, but you have to realize what happened the last time I went into CVS to buy deodorant.

I walked in and headed to buy the deodorant when I noticed a woman who was having trouble reaching something she obviously wanted on an upper shelf a couple of aisles from where I was. To the rescue, I headed over and helped her get down some make-up tool that she was trying to reach.

Her: “Thank you. I hate when they put things up on the upper shelves.”

Me: “You’re welcome. Glad I could help. Have a wonderful day.” I began walking back to buy my deodorant while thinking, “wow, she was quite attractive. Maybe I should have tried to strike up some type of conversation…” My back was turned and I was walking away when I heard “hey!” from the end of the aisle in direction from where I had just come. I turned in mid-stride to see the woman wave with a big smile on her face.

Her: “Thanks again!”

Me: Still walking backward, I smile back. “No prob….” and promptly plowed directly into an in-aisle feminine protection display sending packages of pantyliners flying in all directions. I then spent the next ten minutes trying to clean up the mess I had just made as other customers walked by wondering why the hell there was a random grown man on his hands and knees picking up pantyliner packages in the middle of CVS.

As you can see, I’m quite the ladies man. For some unfathomable reason, the attractive lady was nowhere to be seen when I had finished cleaning up. Even worse, I was so flustered from the entire incident that I ended up leaving the store without buying the deodorant that I had gone there to buy.

So, you can see why I have a love-hate relationship with CVS. That being said, anyone that lives in an area where CVS, Walgreens or Rite-Aide exists should learn basic couponing techniques to save them a bundle on personal care products. Each drug store has a different way their program works and it will take a bit of effort and time to learn how each system works, but it’s well worth the time investment as it can literally save you hundreds of dollars a year on basic necessities. With just a bit of practice, you should be able to get the following things for free / nearly free

• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Body Soap
• Toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Shaving cream
• Razors
• Over-the-counter medications

This is actually a short list of what you can get a most drug stores for free or nearly free. Anyone who is on a tight budget should take advantage of the deals that these drug stores provide for many of the basics that most people pick up at the grocery store for a premium price. Even with the occasional embarrassment which I only seem to be able to achieve, the savings more than makes up for it. You can learn more about how CVS works here to begin taking advantage of all the deals that they offer.

Next article: Day One: A Well Stocked Fridge

(Photo courtesy of NNECAPA)