Free!

Frequent buyer cards. Ho hum. I rarely get anything from using those little pieces of plastic I have on a separate key ring. I've mentioned before that really, it doesn't cost a company much to offer such a program. The percentage of people who will actually use the $10 off they get for frequenting the store is low so it doesn't hurt the bottom line to have it. (That reminds me. I have $10 off at The Bookstore to use up.)

I'm not quite on a first name basis with my pharmacist but it's getting there. Let's see: Prednisone, Folic Acid, Vitamin D and Methotrexate. All of those come up for renewal at odd times so last month, I was in CVS every week. I'll be needing the Folic Acid and the Methotrexate next week.

I need to check around to see what other places charge for the metho. That's the killer. I had my friend, Jon, figure out my medicine cost for the rest of the year. Assuming Dr. Francis doesn't change anything, it will cost me $390 to finish out the year. Fortunately, my health insurance, such as it is and don't get me started on THAT, will cover it. The other pills are a pittance. I got 90 Prednisone at the last refill for $3.47. I can handle that.

All of these little bottles on top of the microwave mean that I use my CVS frequent buy card a lot. Every script purchased means a swipe of the card. I think I've blogged before about the coupons they have at the bottom of the receipt. I almost never use those. They aren't useful to me.

But last month, one came up that was useful. I had accumulated enough points or whatever they track that I got $10 off my next purchase. I had to go back to get yet another script so what could I use it for? I went through the house looking. I didn't need groceries. I didn't need laundry detergent. I didn't need cat food. I didn't need shampoo. I wound up getting soda and a couple of birthday cards. I didn't need the soda either but free is wonderful.

In hindsight, I should have used the $10 to stock up on something I use. Toilet paper. Fabric softener. Package tape. Heck, I should have purchased a giant size bag of M&M's. At the time, those things didn't occur to me. It was the thrill of actually being able to use a $10 off coupon.

So, when I wander in this weekend, I wonder what will be at the bottom of this receipt. Free chocolate and Dr Pepper. Can't go wrong with that.

Beverage:  Edinburgh's Finest tea

Deb