CVS Trip 9/4 Saved 97% $0.61 OOP

I shared with you the other night how I had taken a couple weeks off from my CVS Gift Card Challenge, but I was ready to jump back in!  I was very excited writing out my shopping list using the Extra Buck Deals listed by Cheryl at Simply CVS.

While my younger daughter was napping this afternoon, and my older daughter was playing quietly (after we finished her math homework), I grabbed my newly organized coupons and my CVS ad and began circling the items I wished to purchase.  I used the post linked above to see if there were any coupons to go along with my planned purchases, and I was able to put together a list and gather up my coupons in about 10-15 minutes!  (I say this just to let you know that drug store shopping is not *nearly* as time consuming as people think it is!).

My daughter napped on and on, so I was able to finish putting together my Aldi list (more on that in a bit) and do my dishes and fold all of my laundry (while my older one, who had now insisted that she be addressed as princess unicorn, was giving me a ballet performance---she even danced the folded clothes to there proper locations for me!)

Once the little one finally woke up, we left for CVS.  I was able to quickly find everything on my list except for the Keebler Granola bars.  When I looked closely at the ad, it stated that they were available in select locations.  I did not even see a spot for them, so I guess we are not a select location.

That purchase was part of my plan to use my $4/$20 purchase (which I had subtotaled to be $19.97, so I planned to toss in a 3 for $1 notebook and call it a day).  I would not be able to use my $4 coupon if I didn't find a replacement for these items, and I had to think fast because my children were getting antsy!  (I'd had to stop by the pharmacy first and drop off an Rx with new insurance cards....)

I knew that after the coupons I planned to use on the granola bars, I was going to be spending $3.50, so I decided to instead grab a tube of the Colgate Optic White.  I'm sure there was a coupon for this that I didn't bring along, but so be it!

In the end, I spent only 30 cents more than I had planned (because my makeup cost more in store than the website indicated) and received only 50cent less in ECBs than I had planned, so I don't think I made a bad substitution.  The little scanner machine even gave me a FREE dove bar coupon (or milky way)!  Gotta love FREE chocolate!  =D

Here is everything I got this afternoon:

1 Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Powder @$12.79  (Get $7 ECBs wyb $10)

---Used $1/1 from 8/7 SS

1 Carefree Pantiliner   $1.00  (Get $1 ECB)

---Used  $0.50/1 Printable or from 8/21 SS

1 Colgate Optic White  $3.49  (Get $1.50 ECBs)

---No coupons used.  (Cheryl does list a $1/1 toothbrush from 8/28 SS--also included)

2 Hershey Air Delight @ $0.99 each  (Get $0.99 ECB Limit 1)

--Used BOGO from 8/28 SS

1 Dove Bar  (FREE  with coupon from scanner)

Total Shelf Price:  $22.52

Total Sale Price:   $20.05  (talk about keeping it close to my $20!)

Price After Coupons (Including $4/$20):  $12.57

Price Paid OOP After my $12 in ECBs:  $0.57 + tax for a total of $0.61!    97% Savings

*Plus* I got back $10.49 in ECBs to use next trip!

I still have $15.39 remaining on my $25 gift card and $10.49.  That is like having $25.88 left to spend for my challenge!

So far altogether I have spent $9.61 on items that retail for $111.15.  That is an average savings of 91% each trip so far!

If you would like to catch up on my previous trips:

Week 1:  Spent $5.10 OOP on $39.61 worth w/ $12 ECBs remaining.

Week 2: Spent $0.28 OOP on $ 21.25 worth w/ $10.99 ECBs remaining.

Week 3: Spent $3.62 OOP on $27.77 worth w/ $7 ECBs remaining.

Weeks 4-5:  Did Not Shop

Week 6:  Current Trip--   $0.61 OOP for $22.52

If you need a little bit of help planning your trips, Cheryl at Simply CVS has you covered!  You can check out all of the current sale prices, and see the coupons available for each item on her page.

If you are like me and need some visual assistance, each Monday she posts a link up for bloggers to share their trips  (it will be on top once she posts it, so check back!).  I will be linking mine up there, as always, but it always helps me to see what others have bought.  I usually find something I missed out on just scanning the ad myself!

Cheryl will be beginning her own $50 GC challenge this week, armed with NO ECBs to begin with, so you will definitely want to check that out!  I can't wait to see how she does!


Did you go to CVS this week?  Do you plan to go?  Leave a comment and let me know what you got.  If you blog about it, link up!