I’ve definitely fallen into the trap of buying extra stuff just to hit some points threshold, then realized later I probably spent more than I saved. The exclusions drive me nuts too—last time at CVS, I tried to use both a coupon and points on vitamins, but apparently “health supplements” were excluded from one and not the other. It’s like they’re hoping we’ll just give up and pay full price. Do you ever wonder if the hassle is even worth it, or am I just being cynical?
Yeah, I get what you mean—the hoops you have to jump through just to save a couple bucks sometimes make me question my sanity. I’ve definitely done the mental math and realized I “saved” negative dollars after chasing those points. The exclusions feel like they’re written by lawyers trying to win a game of hide-and-seek. Sometimes I just cut my losses and skip the whole thing... but then again, I can’t resist a deal when it actually works out.
It’s wild how much mental gymnastics go into stacking deals these days. I’ve definitely been there, standing in the checkout line, phone in one hand, coupon in the other, trying to figure out if I’m actually saving anything or just wasting my lunch break. The exclusions are always buried somewhere in the fine print—like, “Oh, you wanted to use points and a coupon? Sorry, not on Tuesdays if you’re wearing blue socks.” It’s almost like they want us to give up.
But honestly, sometimes it does pay off. Here’s what I usually do to keep my sanity: first, I check the store’s policy online before even bothering with points or coupons. Some places are super strict about “one offer per transaction,” while others let you stack if you do it in a certain order (like applying points first, then a coupon). If I can’t find the info, I’ll ask at the register—sometimes the cashier knows a workaround or can split up your purchase.
I also try to set a mental limit for how much effort I’ll put in. If it takes more than five minutes of fiddling around or arguing with the system, I just skip it. My time’s worth something too. But when it works? That little rush is real. Like last month, I managed to stack a birthday reward with a clearance item and some points at a coffee shop—ended up paying 37 cents for a fancy drink. Felt like I’d cracked some secret code.
Anyway, you’re not alone in feeling like these deals are more trouble than they’re worth half the time. But every now and then, it all lines up and you get that sweet win... makes all the failed attempts almost worth it.
I get what you’re saying about the “little rush,” but I’m not sure it’s always worth the hassle.
I’ve tried that approach, but sometimes even five minutes feels like too much for a couple bucks off. Maybe I’m just burnt out on chasing deals that never quite work as advertised. Half the time I walk away feeling like I just did free QA for their checkout system.“If it takes more than five minutes of fiddling around or arguing with the system, I just skip it.”
- Been there, honestly. Last time I tried stacking points and a coupon, it took longer than just paying full price.
- Not worth the stress, especially when the checkout glitches out and you’re left re-entering everything.
- I’d rather miss a tiny discount than deal with another broken promo code page.
