For many families, Target is the line item that shows up the most on credit cards. Whether it’s food, school supplies, or birthday presents, those superstores are a one-stop-shop. But they’re also a one-stop frustration if you’re trying to track spending. Who knows if the $100 went mostly to groceries or pet food or toothpaste? And by the time you find the time to figure it out, that receipt is long gone.

In recent months, I’ve been avoiding the big boxes. And I haven’t paid for toiletries in I can’t tell you how long.

Yes, I’m still showering and brushing my teeth. I’ve just been using up my travel-size toiletries collection. For years I’ve saved them from hotels and brought them home for camping trips or other times when small bottles are helpful. But lately, we stay with family or in hotels where we get new mini-bottles to use.

I’ve also been trying to master the CVS ExtraCare program.

1. Scour the weekly circular for items that are “free” after using your ExtraCare card. They are free because some deals will net you merchandise credit, called “Extra Bucks” equal to the purchase price you paid.
2. Save coupons to pair with those deals so you are essentially being paid to take an item away.

3. Keep those ExtraCare bucks that print out with your receipt in a safe place until next week and do it again.

Confused? Check out this overview from WayMore4WayLess.

I have enough free toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, soap and bandaids to get us through many months. Off the top of my head, I can remember also netting free mascara, chocolate and antacids.

According to CVS, ExtraCare cardholders shopping the 33 CVS/pharmacy stores in Minneapolis received nearly $500,000 in Extra Bucks rewards in 2007.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 14th, 2008 at 5:26 pm and is filed under saving, shopping. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.