20 December, 2009

Free: The Best Bargain

Sometimes, free giveaways come with strings attached or are just too worthless to bother with. Not so with these two. Check out some excellent freebies lurking out there for the savvy shoppers who know how to stay above bankruptcy.

McDonald’s & WiFi

According to msnbc.com, most U.S. McDonald’s locations will begin offering wireless Internet for free. The move is generally seen as a way for the fast food chain to compete with Starbucks, which already offers free WiFi.

Since introducing its McCafe coffee drinks, McDonald’s has tried to cultivate an atmosphere conducive to lingering; the wireless hookup will likely sweeten the deal.

Super Bargains at CVS

The blog WiseBread.com reported this week on how to work the drugstore CVS’s rewards program to get certain items for very little money (or free!). Here’s what you need to know to get started.

  • Find a store near you. CVS is a national chain, but if you don’t have a branch within reasonable shopping distance, the bargains probably aren’t worth the trouble. So before proceeding, check out its online store locator.
  • Sign up for ExtraCare Bucks. In the store (or online, if you don’t mind waiting to get your card), sign up for CVS’s rewards program. Like many rewards cards, it’s free and, well, rewarding.
  • Start planning. To really reap the benefits CVS has to offer, you’ll have to do a bit of research, which is no problem for avid bargaineers like myself. Luckily, a couple of websites make this job a lot easier. SlickDeals.netand DealSeekingMom.com both offer lists of products to buy to maximize savings from sales, coupons and ExtraCare Bucks.

So how does this crazy scheme work? Once you know which items are on super-sales, you need to go to CVS and buy them. (If the store has run out, ask for a rain check.)

  • Use them or lose them: Be sure to use your ExtraCare Bucks each month, or else they’ll expire! Aaaah!
  • Use your coupons in the right order: first CVS dollar-off coupons (e.g. $5 off a $25 purchase), then CVS store coupons, then manufacturer’s coupons, then ExtraCare Bucks.
  • Enjoy the freebies.

So what if you don’t need/want the items that earn rewards each month? It may be in your best interest to buy them anyway, since they could be free and/or end up getting you future items you need.

And any drugstore goodies you know you’ll never use can always be donated to shelters and charities! Happy saving!

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