If you're just tuning in, I'm mentoring Nicole in The Drugstore Game. If you've always wanted to play but weren't sure how to get started, follow along with Nicole as she becomes a Drugstore Game Master. You can read all of the posts in this series here, in reverse chronological order. Please read my Drugstore Game Primer and Common Sense with Money's FAQ to get an overview of the Drugstore Game and definitions.
I had an absolute blast working with Nicole, and I'm so impressed at how she caught on to The Drugstore Game so quickly. She's graduated to Drugstore Game Master status, and I'll be introducing our new Padawan very soon. But before we say good-bye to Nicole, I asked her to share a few tips she picked up. Here's what she had to say:
1. Shop early in the week. It's no fun to have an AWESOME transaction planned, only to have that transaction AND an alternate foiled by the other TDGers out there.
2. Be brand flexible. I know that there are some things out there that we won't budge on--for us, it's our contact solution. For others, it's toilet paper, or toothpaste. The key to really succeeding at TDG is allowing yourself to try new products. After all, if you're not paying for them, what's the harm in it.
3. Check out the deals that are available ahead of time. There are great resources out there--blogs that publish coupon lists ahead of time, I Heart Wags and I Heart CVS. [CFO note: And I Heart Rite Aid.]
To anyone that is just getting started, start small. My first transactions were bitty--Moneymakers that gave me 2 RR's, but from those 2 RR's, you can grow an entire week of deals, if you plan things right.
Other than that, have fun with what you're doing! Even if you have to change a transaction in the store, seeing the difference in what your OOP [out of pocket] cost should have been, and what it actually was is amazing.
Thanks again, Nicole - and continued Happy Shopping!
2 comments:
Thanks for this series! Even if I don't end up being the next padawan, I'm very much looking forward to following along as someone learns how to play at Rite Aid. Not sure how it all works without the immediacy of RRs or ECBs.
I went shopping at Walgreens tonight to do the drugstore game. I came out okay. I missed 1 coupon and bought something that wasn't on sale even though I thought it was. So, I will take that item back. I got some great RR that I'll be able to use on my next shopping trip. All told, I think I did okay. I am hoping you pick me as the next padawan!
Sue
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