Should you buy items you don’t need or can’t use if it will save you money in the long-run? Kimberlee sent me the following guest post on why she does just that and I thought it might be a good start to a great discussion. I appreciate her honesty and I think she provides some interesting food for thought. Read her post and then I’d love to have you chime in with your thoughts. – Crystal
Guest Post by Kimberlee at The Peaceful Mom
Question: Why did I buy the Depends at CVS this week if I won’t use them?
Answer: They are part of my overall plan to save money.
(If you are unfamiliar with the CVS customer rewards program, Extra Care, you can read more about it here.)
I use this program for several reasons:
1. To Make Money to Purchase Other Items
My daughter has severe eczema and we have found that a CVS-brand ointment is the best product for her to use. I bought the Depends for $6.99, but I used a $2 off coupon so my net expenditure was $4.99 plus tax. I then received $6.99 in ECBs, thereby making an extra $2 to spend on the ointment or special body wash.
2. To “Roll” My Extra Care Bucks
Extra Care Bucks have an expiration date. So as not to lose them, I occasionally buy something I won’t use, but will give me “fresh” Extra Care Bucks in return. I strive to buy only things which will give me the same or a greater amount of ECBs so that I spend as little cash as possible out of pocket.
3. To Donate
Even though we have quite the stockpile of toothpaste, when I can get free toothpaste (almost every week at CVS!), I do. Why? Because I can give them to friends who don’t coupon or donate them to our church’s homeless ministry. Body wash is another item that I can regularly purchase free (by combining sales, coupons and ECBs) and is a welcome donation at any battered women’s or homeless shelter.
So even if I won’t use the Depends, they will go to a good home and I made a little extra money to buy my daughter’s expensive necessities. I think that is a win-win scenario.
Kimberlee is the wife of one very patient husband and the homeschooling mom of four hilarious children ages 9-15. She regularly feeds her family of six for less than $450 a month and in her “spare” time she enjoys writing, planting things, and getting free stuff from CVS. You can visit her at ThePeacefulMom.com.
What do you think? Do you buy products you know you won’t use? Why or why not?
I understand we may have differing opinions and I welcome friendly discussion, even when there’s a need to agree to disagree. However, as always, any comments which are attacking, demeaning or mean-spirited will be deleted.