Yonkers, NY – It’s easy to overspend on personal-care products – costly necessities add up quickly, and before you know it, you are walking out of the drugstore with a tiny bag and a giant bill.
The April 2012 issue of ShopSmart magazine, from the publisher of Consumer Reports, features a how-to-save guide on everyday, personal-care items including shampoo, razors and highlights the most rewarding store-loyalty programs.
Money-saving lessons learned
- Walmart can save you big bucks. It had the lowest prices on the most items on our shopping list – similar to what we’ve found in previous price scans. Target was often a close second but rarely had the absolute lowest prices.
- Drugstores can cost you. CVS and Walgreens had the highest prices on the most products. They might be convenient, and their loyalty cards can net you some good discounts, but you could pay as much as 112 percent more than you would at Walmart.
- Websites are the place to go for higher-end brands. If you’re looking for Aveeno instead of Vaseline, or a natural brand like Burt’s Bees, you might find the best deals online. But you’ll pay extra for shipping if you don’t spend at least $25.00 at Amazon and Drugstore.com, or at least $50.00 at HarmonDiscount.com.
- Supermarkets aren’t so bad. We were surprised to see that their prices were pretty competitive. So if you’re in a pinch, don’t worry that you’re paying a premium for the convenience of grabbing a bottle of shampoo along with your groceries.
More ways to save
- Stock up when stuff is on sale. Instead of waiting until you run out of something or start to run low, load up on products when they’re marked down. Ad circulars and websites like SundaySaver.com can help you plan ahead.
- Max out coupons. Read the retailer coupon policies. Most supermarkets allow stacking – using store and manufacturer coupons together. Some stores, such as Stop&Shop and Piggly Wiggly, also double coupons. If you hit a sale, you have a coupon, and the store will double it, you may end up paying a lower price at a supermarket than somewhere else.
- Try store brands. Many store-brand products are just like their name-brand versions, and you might even like them better. Walmart’s Equate brand, for example, got high marks in our most recent body-lotion test.
Store cards that pay
- CVS Extracare Rewards Program (Free)Earn 2 percent back on all purchases, and ExtraBucks Rewards for select items. Use ExtraCare Coupon Center kiosks in stores for extra savings and get special offers via e-mail and on your receipt at checkout.What’s new: Rewards can be automatically sent to your card so that you don’t have to print and remember your coupons.
- Rite Aid Wellness+ (Free)Earn 1 point for every nonprescription dollar spent; the more points you get in a year, the more you save. Access members-only sales, collect register rewards, and get up to 20 percent off all nonprescription purchases. Collect bonus rewards when you buy select items; they’re printed on your receipt at checkout.What’s new: The Load2Card program lets you save, manage, and redeem store and manufacturer online coupons from your computer. When you hit 500 points, you can earn health rewards to use for gym memberships, wellness screenings, and other things.
- Target REDcard Rewards(No fee; variable APR)Get 5 percent off all online and in-store purchases. Plus, 1 percent of what you spend goes to a school of your choice if it’s eligible.What’s new: Use a REDcard on Target.com and get free shipping.
About Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is the world’s largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website, and other publications. Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.
About ShopSmart Magazine
Launched in Fall 2006 by Consumer Reports, ShopSmart draws upon the publication’s celebrated tradition of accepting no advertisements and providing unbiased product reviews. ShopSmart features product reviews, shopping tips on how to get the most out of products and “best of the best” lists. It’s ideal for busy shoppers who place a premium on time. ShopSmart has a newsstand price of $4.99 and is available nationwide at major retailers including Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, Borders, Kroger, Safeway and Publix. ShopSmart is available by subscription at www.ShopSmartmag.org.
