I just don't have the time or energy to shop at CVS anymore. Between the blizzard of sales, coupons, Extrabucks restrictions, and differing expiration dates, they've made shopping there a logistical nightmare, especially if you want to try to maximize the savings.

Being inundated with promotions via snail mail, email, and reams of coupons at the store is also a reminder of how much loss of privacy comes with the discounts.

So in recent years, I've taken to shopping at stores that don't use loyalty cards, or, failing that, at stores that have simpler, less stress-inducing sales practices.