BellaOnline Forums Money Frugal Living Cheap Fillers at CVS and Walgreens

If you make a habit of using Extra Care Bucks at CVS or Register Rewards at Walgreens (wags), then you often need to find a filler item to fully use your 'extra money'. Here are some easy freebies to grab instead of candy:

Hand sanitizer (usually 1.00 but sometimes .50. (Right now - Wags has a Cootie Killer that you can hang from your bag or backpack for 49 cents.)

Ramen Noodles - usually 39 cents each. I use the ramen a lot as a filler, since i do eat them.

You can get tuna fish for 19 cents at wags using their store Q and an internet printable q. (this week at least)

Anything from the clearance shelves (i like the 75 cent soups)

Anything from the trial size bins (sometimes you can find a really sweet deal in there)

Cans of cat or dog food. A can of Friskies is around 57 cents.

Sometimes there are cheap office supplies (like pens) or razors (2 pack disposables)

Carefree pantliners. Often on sale for 99 cents, you can use one of the miany 50/55 cent off coupons floating around. They are often in the stores themselves on tear pads.

A packet of Crystal Light to Go for 50 cents. Usually inside the cooler on the door in front of things like Gatoraid.

of course you can simply go over the amount by getting something you need anyway, preferably with a coupon. I have done this with bug spray, kitten chow and coffee filters. Lots of people grab milk or eggs.

Great tips Jilly!

I love travel size and sample size things! so portable and economical! Great idea--I need to go get some pens!

Thank you! I actually just filled out this info a little and made an article for everyone, here - cvs and walgreens filler article

I didn't write about Rite Aid since I don't have one here. So RA people, please pass along your tips.

Right now CVS is having a clearance sale for 1 buck on the rolling tape white out. Those are usually four dollars, so this is a great filler, if there are any left by you.

Candy bars and gum...I know...not the healthiest but filler ideas nonetheless...lol

Right, lol. I do try to avoid those.

Wags also has little nail supplies for under a dollar - files, clippers, stuff like that.

CVS sells individual sterile dressing/bandages for around a dollar too. And I usually have a 50 cents off johnson and jonson coupon, so that brings those things down to 50 cents. I just toss them in my medical kits.

I was just noticing this week that my CVS has little 33 cent caramels by the register that work easily as filler items.

I still prefer to grab a package of ramen noodles when given the choice, but having the caramels right by the register is great when there are people behind you, waiting, and you just want to finish your transaction and get out of the way.