Clark Shows You How To Save Money At The Drug Store

Stephanie Nelson has a problem. She calls it OCD: obsessive coupon disorder. But it's a problem that has saved her tons of money at grocery stores. Now she has a new target. Drug stores.

Stephanie told Channel 2 Consumer Advisor Clark Howard that she's figured out a way to make drug store chains a potentially cheaper place than anywhere else to shop. She said, "Drug stores have some unique savings policies that the grocery stores don't have."

Watching Stephanie shop is like watching a magic show -- except she lets us in on her tricks.

Trick #1: Combine store coupons with newspaper coupons.

"This toothpaste is $3.49. I got a coupon last time I shopped for $2 off and you always combine store coupons with newspaper coupons. I have a newspaper coupon for $1 off so by using both coupons I'll pay just 49 cents," said Stephanie.

Trick #2 is exclusive to CVS stores. They have Extra Buck Reward specials. An Extra Buck prints at the bottom of your store receipt. Stick it in your wallet and use it just like money on your next trip to the store.

"Here's a great deal, because I can combine all of my tricks together. This lotion gives me a $5 Extra Bucks reward when I buy two. I also have a store coupon for the lotion and I have a coupon from the newspaper. So by combining all three of these, I'm going to pay about 55 cents a bottle for lotion thats usually $4.29. Not bad," said Stephanie.

Not bad, but the woman who owns the Internet site, www.CouponMom.com won't stop there.

Trick #3 is how to actually make money at the drug store.

We used a pain reliever, Goody, as an example. It cost $1.49 But it was on special -- there's an Extra Buck reward of $1.49, so it's essentially free.

"So, if the item cost $1.49 and you get $1.49 Extra Buck reward, my net cost is zero. But, I used my 50 cent coupon, so I actually made a profit of 50 cents," said Stephanie.

Using the same trick, Stephanie made a $2 profit buying skin care items.

So, how do her tricks add up? Stephanie walked to the drug store counter with all her items and the clerk didn't know what was about to hit him. Her total came to $134.22. After Stephanie handed over all her coupons, her total was $9.96.

From $134 to less than $10. But at the bottom of the coupon, those Extra Buck rewards. "So our net cost was $2.47," said Stephanie.

If it sounds complicated, here's some good news. On the Coupon Mom Web Site you can go right to a section called CVS. Every week, Stephanie spells out her tricks on specific items so you can get things cheap, free or even make a profit.

Other drug stores are on the site too, as well as the grocery chains.