It Never Hurts To Ask! (Saved 100% At CVS)

I had taken a long break from CVS shopping.   All of my ECBs had expired, and I wasn't really looking forward to paying the OOP expenses to get myself started again with some fresh ECBs.  Then I happened to notice that I had enough MyPoints to request a $10 CVS gift card.   While I was waiting for it to arrive, I stopped by CVS one day to browse for something they did not have, but I scanned my card, and out popped $6 in ECBs.   I guess having to get 6 prescriptions filled when I had bronchitis after Thanksgiving during the double ECB event ended up having an advantage!

So yesterday when my gift card came in the mail, I was excited.   I was almost out of shampoo for my kids, and I wanted to stock up using the Suave deal.

I went to the store and picked up 6 bottles of the 2-in-1, which is all they had left, but it is the kind we like because we have bad tangles around here.   I had two $0.50/2 from Sunday that I used, so my total came out to $11 plus tax, and I used my $6 ECB.  I was left owing $5 plus tax, and would get back $4 in ECB.   Not a bad deal.

I still had my expired ECBs in my coupon folder with me though, and I had heard that some stores accepted expired ECBs so I thought I would just ask.  The worst that could happen would be they would say no.   And they did say no to two that had expired in October, but I had another $6 one that expired mid December that she said was new enough to use, so she put it in and it zero'd out my balance.   I walked away with 6 FREE bottles of shampoo and $4 in ECBs for next time, and haven't even touched my $10 gift card yet!  =)

Read more...

CVS Trip 9/11 89% Savings

I made a quick trip to CVS this morning before heading over to Kroger.   I had $8 in existing ECBs and was especially wanting to get the children's Colgate toothpaste, as my supply of kids toothpaste had completely run dry.

Here's what I got today:

Why, yes that is a wrapper from chocolate that didn't make it out of the parking lot...but come on...free chocolate!

The other candy was a bit of a splurge, but I needed a little bit of filler after my extra bucks, and I've seen some yummy looking things on pinterest using candy bars, so I figured I'd just go ahead a grab a few packs while I could get an ECB back.

The small shampoo in the middle was something I had gotten a free beauty club coupon emailed to me for, so I picked that up while I was there.

The red machine printed me out a $5 off Centrum Flavor burst (which I had read would be free after a coupon stack), however my store did not even have them in the planogram on the shelf.   The manager looked them up for me in the computer, and there was one store in my area across town that had two bottles, so be on the lookout for that coupon, but beware you may have issues redeeming it!


Total Shelf Price:  $23.73

Total Sale Price:  $16.16

Price Paid After Coupons/ECBs:   $2.64  and I got back $5.67 in ECBs.

That's a savings of  89%!

Read more...

CVS Trip 8/20

This afternoon I had to run out to the RedBox machine to get my daughter a movie as a reward for filling in her second reading chart in as many weeks.   The RedBox is at CVS, so I thought, hey while I'm there I might as well just walk inside and scan my card and see what coupons it gives me.

I was quite surprised to find that it gave me a $5 ECB for a Beauty Club reward.  I had no idea I was even close to getting another!  So, suddenly I had $10 in ECBs to work with instead of $5, and the ad started looking a little bit better!

I sat down and made my list out after I got the girls to bed, and I planned on going in the morning, but since it was only 8:30, I decided to just go ahead and run on over there tonight...alone!  I had forgotten how much I enjoyed shopping at night at CVS.  So peaceful!

Here's what I got:

2 Cheerios @ 2 for $5   Used 2    Get $2 ECBs

• Used 2 $0.50 off ONE BOX Original Cheerios cereal 

Zantac 150 24ct.  @$8.99   Get $2 ECBs

• Used $5/1 from 7/8 SS

Revlon Lipstick @ $6.49  Get $4 ECBs

• Used $3 Revlon makeup from coupon scanner (also printer this afternoon)
• Used $1/1 from from 7/22 SS  (also one in 8/5 SS)

Hershey Simple Pleasure @ $3

• Used $2/1 from 8/19 SS

Also used $10 in existing ECBs.

 $1.68 OOP and got back $8 in ECBs.

Read more...

CVS Trip 8/8

I finally made it out to CVS this afternoon.  I wanted to do the Dove deal, and I had a ton of coupons for Simple products, so I did a second transaction in order to do that deal as well.

Here is what I came home with:

Transaction 1:

Dove Shampoo/Conditioner @ 2 for $6
Dove Men Care @  $5
2 Dove Deodorant @ 2 for $5

Used $3/$15 Beauty Club
Used $3/2 Shampoo/Conditioner from 7/29 RP
Used $1/1 Men Care from 7/29 RP
Used $7 ECBs

Paid $2.10 OOP, Got back $5 ECBs.


Transaction 2:

Simple Scrub  $5.79
Simple Gel  $5.79
Simple Exfoliating Wipes  $4.39

These were all on sale $2 off, and get $5 ECB wyb $15.  This subtotal was $15.97.   I misread the signs about the $5 and thought they were on sale $5 each.  I could have spent less if I got a second wipe instead of the Gel.

Used $2 Simple CVS scanner Q
Used $3.50/2 printable  (watch the video to add $1 to coupon value)
Used $1.50/1 printable
Used $5 ECBs from transaction 1

Paid $4.30 OOP, Got back $5 ECBs.


Altogether today, I got $47.82 worth for $6.40  (87% Savings), and I have $5 ECBs for next trip.

Read more...

CVS Trip 7/22: FREE Kotex, M&Ms, and Amp

Made a quick trip to CVS this afternoon to pick up a few things.   I wanted to use my $2/1 Kotex from today's paper to get FREE Kotex, and I also wanted to get 2 Starbucks Refreshers for free after ECBs.  My store did not seem to carry then, however, so I opted for the Amp drinks in hopes that my husband will like them.  He's more of a Monster kinda guy....

I also got a nice surprise from the little red machine on the way in.  It printed a $1/2 Mars singles for me, and those happened to be on sale 2 for $1, so that meant 2 FREE candy!  My daughter was excited about that one!

I had $6 in ECBs to start with , so I needed one more item.  I decided to take my 6 year old along and let her pick out a new shade of Revlon nail polish.  (She is currently doing her nails as I type this--Glitz & Glam--AKA Red Glitter!.)  I used the $1/1 from this morning's paper, but it would not scan.   The cashier (obviously new) tried several times, and then called a manager who told him how.   However when he put it in, it didn't come off.  I knew it didn't because the total didn't change, and it was over $2 when the subtotal I had figured at home was just $0.99.

I went ahead and paid, and then examined my receipt once I walked outside, thinking maybe something had rung up wrong.  But, I was right and I was missing a $1 coupon.   I walked back in and showed him, and he and the manager pulled all of my coupons back out of the drawer and added them up, and found that I was right.   Instead of giving me back $1, they printed me an extra $1 ECB, which is fine by me, but be warned if you try to use that coupon that you may have issues with it.

Here's everything I got  (sorry blurry phone pic):

I left my receipt in the car so I'm not sure the total savings, but I paid $2.16 OOP originally, and I got back $6 in ECB plus the $1 from my coupon that didn't scan, so $7 ECBs total remaining for next time.

Read more...

CVS Trip 7/8: $0.07 OOP

I made a trip to CVS this afternoon.  First off, its been a really long time since I've been to CVS.  One of my ECBs was actually a few days expired, but they let me use it without any trouble.  I also had a $3/$15 that I had gotten by email that I had to use today.

There wasn't a whole lot in the ad that I really was interested in, except for the free chocolate, which sadly my store had not gotten in stock yet.

Here's what I ended up getting:

5 drinks @ $1 each  (Got back $1 ECB)
Neosporin @ $9.79  (used $2/1 from 6/10 RP)  (Got $3 ECB for spending $7--there were cheaper options)
Bic Soliel Savvy  @ $6.79  (used $3/1)  (Got $2 ECB)
Dove (to cover overage)  $0.99

Used $3/$15
Used $5 ECB and $9.50 ECB

Paid $0.07 OOP     99.7% Savings and I got back $6 in ECBs.


Then, when I went back to my van, there was $0.30 just lying on the ground by my door.  I guess that means I made $0.23 today?

Read more...

CVS Trip 6/4

I have been absolutely so busy around here with houseguests and school ending, I happened to realize that all my ECBs were expiring tomorrow!  I gathered up my coupons and made a quick trip there this morning to do one deal:  DOVE!  Then, I totally forgot that I was supposed to grab a deodorant for myself, but that's ok!

Here's what I got:

Total Shelf Price:   $24.75

Total Sale Price:   $17.50

Price paid after coupons and $11.75 in ECBs:   $2.39 including tax   90% Savings

I also got back $5 in ECBs to use on my next trip.   Took a big hit in ECBs but my husband was needing deodorant and I was getting low on shampoo, so I think it was a good trip.  It will take some good sale/coupons and some hard work to build my ECBs back up, but that's a good excuse to get my back motivated.  I'm been a total slacker regarding drug store shopping lately!

Read more...

Late Night CVS Trip 5/6

Tonight after we got the kids to bed, I decided to go ahead and head to CVS for the week, mostly because I noticed this morning that all my ECBs were expiring on Tuesday, so I needed to use them up.

I quickly made a list, grabbed a few coupons, hopped in the van and was on my way.  I did my shopping, and when I got up to the register, while I was waiting in line I realized that I didn't grab my little purple accordion file, which meant I didn't have my ECBs!

I pushed my cart off to the side, told the cashier I'd be right back, and I went home and retrieved them, as well as another coupon that I didn't bring along the first time.  (You must understand that I live 3 blocks from CVS...its under 5 minutes to get there).

The cashier laughed when I told her what I'd gone home to get, but hey...that's like forgetting your wallet! ;)


Here's what I got tonight:

Total Shelf Price:   $35.24
Total Sale Price:    $25.53
Price Paid After Coupons & $9.50 in ECBs:   $3.77 including tax  PLUS I got back $6.75 in ECBs and I should be getting another $5 ECB reward from the beauty club next time I scan my card at the machine.


My favorite deal was the make-up.   My husband picked up a prescription last week, and the receipt printed a $7 off any Physicians formula.  I paired that with the $1/1 from today's paper.  Now I went in there hoping to find some clearanced make-up but there was none.   I did notice signs that all of the Physicians Formula were $5 off.  That made the $13.79 make-up I bought on sale for $8.79.   I used the $7 and $1 coupons and paid just $0.79 for it!

Read more...

CVS Trip 4/8--$0.44 OOP

Last night after we got back home from having a lovely Easter celebration with some relatives that live nearby, I was really tired.  I sat down at my desk, and began thumbing through the CVS ad because I knew I had a $5/$25 to use by today.  I really just wasn't feeling it, though.  I had flipped through quickly that morning, and nothing had really jumped out at me.

Last night, I saw a deal that I had overlooked....Biore!  If I bought two Biore at 2 for $15, I would get back $5 ECBs.  I knew I had a BOGO Biore coupon, and I knew this $15 added to the few other things I wanted to get would put me over the $25 to use my $5 off  coupon, so I dug into the ad and started clipping my coupons and working my calculator.

I had $11.99 in existing ECBs, and my total was going to come to $11.48, so I was going to get everything for FREE and even need to pick up a filler item.  I decided to run out right then instead of waiting until this morning and risking them selling out, so I made a quick trip while my husband tucked out girls in for the night.

Here's what I came home with:

Total Shelf Price:  $31.34
Total Sale Price:   $26.86
Price Paid After Coupons and $11.99 in ECBs:  $0.37 +  .07tax =  $0.44  PLUS  $9.50 in ECBs

That's a savings of 99% and plenty of CVS money to spend on my next trip!

Coupons used:  BOGO Biore, $1/1 Speedstick (3/25 SS), $1/1 Always (4/1 PG)

Read more...

CVS Trip 3/26--Saved 93%

Last night I sat down and pulled out coupons to shop at 4 different stores.  I went to two today, and plan on hitting the other two tomorrow morning (had to wait until payday!)

My first stop today was at CVS.  I went in with $15 in ECBs to spend.  I was able to stock up on Easter candy, as well as some food items we were running low on.

Here's what I got:

Shelf Price:  $34.89
Sale Price:  $22.99  (Already 34 % Savings)
Price Paid After Coupons and ECBs:  $2.40  93% Savings    And I got back $7.99 in ECBs.


The scanner machine gave me a $0.25 off two of the small eggs that are $1 for 2 and FREE after ECBs, and I used $1/2 coupons so I got them for much better than free!

I think that should be enough candy for my little ones for Easter....if only I can hide those Reese's eggs from myself and my husband.  *Shhhhh, they're in the Easter baskets on the top shelf of the closet*  And I only ate 1.   ;)

Read more...

CVS Trip 3/12

Our plane is leaving later on this evening, but we were all done packing (except my laptop obviously), and I had a $4/$20 that was expiring at CVS, and I also needed to gas up the van, so after lunch I ran over there, and here is what I came home with:

I made one big transaction, and I had missed out on printing some coupons (zyrtec and pedialyte) so the only coupons I had to use were the Irish Spring ones from yesterday's paper and my $8 in ECBs.

I tossed in the Reese's because I was a few cents short of reaching $20 to use my coupon.  I had no idea it cost $1.19!  EEK!

Total shelf price:  $24.05
Total Sale Price:  $20.17
Price Paid After Coupons & ECBs:   $6.81  72% Savings!!!   and I got back $14.99 in ECBs!

That's the most OOP I've spent in a long time, but that's also the most ECBs I've had in a long time, too, so I guess it will even itself out next trip. ;)

Read more...

CVS Trip 2/19--Saved 93%

I had gotten a  $4/$20 CVS coupon by email, and it was expiring today.  I was a little late getting home from church, but it didn't take me very long at all to put together a list, and I was off to CVS.

My store rarely is out of anything on the first day of an ad, so I was able to get all the things I planned on getting:

Total Shelf Price:   $38.53
Total Sale Price:    $29.49
Price Paid After Coupons/ECBs:   $2.74 (93% Savings)   and received $8 in ECBs.


Here's how I did it:

2 Vick's Nature Fusion @ $6 each -  2x $3/1 Nature Fusion from 1/29 PG  (Get $3 ECB wyb 2)
4 Nivea Lip Care @ $2.50 each - 2x $3/2 from 2/12 RP  (get $3 ECB wyb $10)
Tylenol Precise $7.49 - $5/1 from today's RP  (get $2 ECB)

Also used $4/$20 and $6 existing ECBs.

Read more...

Shopping Trip 2/6

This weekend we'd run out of (or nearly so) several items, so I had to make a quick trip to Aldi this morning.  I also noted that I had over $16 in ECBs that would be expiring tomorrow, so I had to go to CVS and use them up, and while I was out I ran into the 99CentsOnly store to look for a couple items, and check out their produce.

Here's what I got at CVS:

 8 Sauve Smoothers @ 2 for $3 =  $12  (Get $4 ECBs)  *They allowed me to use 1 $1/2 coupon that expired yesterday.  I only had one, and I asked up front.*
2 Hershey Bliss @ 2 for $6  (Get $2 ECBs)  A $1/1 printed at the scanner.

Total OOP after my ECBs was $0.00  (she even adjusted my last $0.75 ECB down to $0.51...they usually make me grab something else when that happens, but I'd never seen this girl before so I guess she was new).

I took a huge hit on ECBs but this is the shampoo I always use on my girls hair (its 2 in 1 and gets the tangles out well), and I was down to my last bottle, so I took this opportunity to stock up--nearly a year's worth for FREE.

Here's what I got at Aldi:

Total Spent:  $19.47

The baby carrots were still priced at $0.59/ 1lb bag from the previous week's ad, so I picked up some more. I split the bag up into 5 snack bags with a handful of carrots each for the lunchbox.


Here's what I got at the 99Cents Only Store:

Total Spent:  $8.00

I usually buy some medicines here, the small can is chopped clams (our pet turtle loves them!).  I went in looking for dishwasher tablets that I've found there before, but they do not seem to carry them any longer.

Whenever I go, I always check out the produce and refrigerated sections.  I usually find Romaine lettuce (often spinach, but not today), and cheap carrots.  Today I found strawberries (half the price of Aldi's), and I also found kid's yogurt and valentine's cookies with plenty of time before they expire.

I usually find some type of ready to bake goody as a treat at this store, so it's an inexpensive way to give the kids something special.


I've spent $27.47 so far this week, so I've got plenty of wiggle room left in the budget.  I've already made my menu based on what I had on hand, so unless there are great stock-up prices in Wednesday's new ads, this may be all the shopping I do this week.

Read more...

Great New Toiletry Coupons

Here are a few great coupons that popped up this morning:

       $1.00 off (1) 4-oz. Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief


       $2.00 off 1 NIVEA FOR MEN Face Care Product

       $3.00 off 2 John Frieda Sheer Blonde

This week at both CVS and Walgreens, John Frieda products are buy one, get one 50% off.  I'm sure it won't be long before we see some of these items giving back ECBs and RRs also, so print now!

Read more...

CVS Trip 1/8: $0.25 OOP 99% Savings

After we got home from church, I ran back out to the store to bed some extra newspapers, and then I came back home and went through the CVS ad.  They finally had an ad that I was excited to shop, and I had a lot of ECBs to spend!

I had the $9 ECBs from my last trip, $5 from the Beauty Club, and I got $8 from my quarterly spending.  They only thing I can figure with that one is that we had a few extra prescriptions filled with our sickness last month.  I've never gotten that many in my life!  So I went into the store with $22 of their money to spend.  Here is what I left with:

Total Shelf Price:   $47.70
Total Sale Price:    $35.69
Price Paid After Coupons and ECBS:  $0.25   99% Savings   and I received $16.24 back in ECBs.

Coupons I used were:
FREE AXE coupon (by mail)
BOGO Axe coupon from today's paper.
$1/2 GM Cereal from 12/11 SS
$2/2 Reach toothbrushes

Note:  The toothbrushes I found were a bonus 3 pack, and still included in the sale.

Read more...

Shopping Trip 12/23: 3 Stores And A 5 Year Old! (74% Savings)

I didn't make it out shopping yesterday before my husband went to work as I intended, so instead of bringing both children with me, I decided to wait until today.  He had some projects he needed to work on around the house on his day off, so  I took the big one along with me while the little one napped.

I went to three stores:  Tom Thumb, CVS, and Albertsons.  I thought it was going to be ridiculously busy, but I was surprised to find that I had little waiting in lines to do at the stores.  I spend more time circling parking lots, honestly.

I went into Tom Thumb for just one item--Fun Da Middles.  These things normally sell for about $3, but they we on sale for $0.99, and with the $0.75/1 coupons I had, they would be just $0.24 a box.  I had not tried these yet, and my kids keep seeing them and begging, so I just couldn't pass it up.  I had an e-coupon come off of my total when I scanned the first one, and I assumed it would either not take my last coupon, or put the e-coupon back on my total like it has done in the past, but it didn't, so I saved an extra $0.55 today.

Total Shelf Price:  $15.96  (Seriously?!?  $3.99?)
Total Sale Price:  $3.96  Already 75% Savings!  That's right they were selling 4 for the price of 1!
Price Paid After Coupons:  $0.41    I actually dug change out of my purse!  97% Savings!




On to CVS, and I was sure I would not be able to find the things on my list, however there was only one item that the shelf was bare and there was a cart full of them waiting to be stocked 3 feet away!  I had actually made a last minute change of plans--I planned to get 2 nail polishes, but found an expiring coupon for FREE pantene (which actually gave me back an ECB!), so my total ended up being just shy of the $20 I needed to use my $4/$20 coupon, so I grabbed my daughter a $0.57 blow pop sucker (not pictured).

Total Shelf Price:  $27.00
Total Sale Price:  $20.04  (wow!  that was close!)
Price Paid After Coupons:  $0.73   97% Savings!


I had  a $4/$20, a $3 Birthday ECB and my ECBs from my Black Friday trip.  That manager was like "Wow!  You know how to do it!  And look you got more, too!"  I left with  $9 in ECBs and should be getting another $5 from the beauty club so I'm all set to do some major CVS shopping in the new year!


Then it was on to Albertsons.  I had a rather lengthy list to get at Albertson's, and I soon discovered that the $0.57 sucker was the best investment I had made all day!  My daughter sat in the pink butterfly car licking on that sucker and did not make a peep the whole time we were shopping--even when my phone rang and my mother in law and I were discussing her Christmas gifts...spelling words I *know* she knows how to read now.  She would normally be all over that, but not today...no, she was quite engrossed with strawberry sugary goodness.

Here's everything I got at Albertsons:

Total Shelf Price:  $79.21
Total Sale Price:  $56.42  (Already 29% Savings...seems like it should be more than that! hmmm)
Price Paid After Coupons:  $30.47    61% Savings


I had free coupons for the little (which cost .49 more than the allowed limit) and the gaucamole, and I just needed bread, milk, and the pie shells on my shopping list, so I picked them all up there.  they all happened to be on sale, too!


Here is everything I got today:

Total Shelf Price:  $122.17

Price I Paid:  $31.61     Average Savings of 74%




How did you do this week?  Leave a comment, or link up if you have a post!

Read more...

$25 CVS Gift Card Challenge: Final Tally--$259.24 Value 90% Savings

My shopping trip on Saturday finished off my $25 from Cheryl at Simply CVS.  Here is a rundown of the final tally of everything I got with my $25.  (Click images to see individual posts.)

Trip 1:

$39.61 Value, Paid $5.10

Trip 2:

$21.25 Value, Paid $0.28

Trip 3: 

$27.77 Value, Paid $3.62

Trip 4:

$22.52 Value, Paid $0.61

Trip 5:

$37.64 Value, Paid $0.63

Trip 6:  

$35.97 Value, Paid $7.91

Trip 7:

$34.60 Value, Paid $5

Trip 8:  

$27.74 Value, Paid $1

Trip 9:

$12.14 Value, Paid $1.24 (last $0.85 on GC plus $0.39)

Overall, I was able to get $259.24 worth of items (shelf price), for just $25.39!  That's an average savings of 90%!

Now, I want to make one thing VERY clear:  You can do this, too!

In fact, this is not my best work, by far!  During this challenge, I went through some pretty rocky patches of life:  A child starting school, a husband working two jobs, a death in the family, three sets of houseguests!  I was busy.  I was stressed.  Coupons were not the foremost thing on my mind.

These trips were rushed, and frankly, i'm a little bit disappointed in myself.  I know that under different circumstances, I could have saved even more.  But, you know what?  I'm glad things weren't different!  I'm glad things were crazy and hectic.  

Why?  Because I don't think this challenge is at all about making myself look good with how much stuff I was able to get.  It's about showing how easy it is to get a lot of stuff for a little at CVS, and I think that anyone, no matter how short of time they've been couponing, should be able to accomplish at least this level of savings at CVS.  It's EASY! 

I'd like to say thanks to Cheryl at Simply CVS for giving me the opportunity to take this challenge, and share my shopping trips with everyone.  If you'd like to see a true CVS master in action, go over and have a look at the $50 CVS GC Challenge she gave to herself!  She's doing an *amazing* job!

Read more...

CVS Trip (Black Friday Sale)

Sorry it took me so long to get this trip posted, but here it finally is!

I did not get to CVS until late Saturday afternoon since I spent much of Thanksgiving day baking and Friday my husband worked two shifts at Radio Shack and the kids were nuts.  I was actually in the middle of doing some freezer cooking on Saturday when I had the realization that these sales ended that day, so I did a hurry up and grab some coupons and hit the store trip.  I was doubly in a rush because my husband also had to work Saturday night, so I had a time frame to be back home.

Now, if you'll recall my last CVS trip, I left the store with only $3 in ECBs and $0.85 left on my gift card, so I didn't really have much to work with.  I made a small list, and planned two small transactions, but I went to the store assuming they would be out of most of them and I would have to regroup...I was right!

I actually was only able to find one item after I asked for a raincheck, and the cashier pointed me to a small display down by the photo counter that was apparently the few FREE after ECB items they had left.

Here is everything I got, minus a Starbucks double shot that I handed off to my husband as he was walking out the door when I got out of the van.

See!  Very small trip!

First Transaction:  

• LA LOOKS  $2.49  Used $1/1 coupon
• Carmex  $1.00   Used $0.30/1 coupon
• Starbucks  $1.69  (no coupon)

Paid With $3 ECBs.  Owed $0.88 + tax.

Paid with $0.85 remaining on my CVS Challenge Gift Card, and 7 cents of my own cash.  Got back $5.18 in ECBs.  ($2.49, $1, and $1.69)

At this point I asked for rainchecks for the Finish, and also the Breath Right strips.  They led me over to the Finish, so I grabbed one and got back in line.  A line of about 4 people had stacked up by this point, and I was running out of time to get back home, so I opted to not worry with the other Rain Check I wanted.  I always find those at the $0.99Cents Only Store, anyway.

Second Transaction:

• Finish Quantum  $2.99  Used $1/1 coupon

Paid with $1.69 ECB from transaction 1, and owed $0.32.  Got back $2.99 in ECBs.

So, when all was said and done, I didn't walk away with much in my bag, *BUT* I only spent $0.39 of *my* money, and left with over twice the amount of ECBs that I walked in with.  ($6.48 now)

I've still yet to decide if I want to shop CVS this week or wait until next week.

Will you be shopping CVS this week?  My favorite makeup that my kids just ruined in son sale, so maybe I should!

Read more...

Shopping Trip 11/7: CVS, Kroger and Albertsons (Saved 63%)

This morning I took full advantage of having my in-laws here.  I gathered up my coupons and went out shopping by myself.  I had to go to CVS today, even though the deals weren't that great, because my ECBs were expiring.  Kroger and Albertson's were also both having Mega Sales this week.

For my first stop at CVS, I did two small transactions, which I do not normally do, but today it worked out in my favor.  I actually ended up spending less that I thought I would because the scanner printed me a $2 off 2 Glade products, so I opted to get Glade instead of shout an fantastic along with my 2 Pledge products and $2/2 from yesterdays SS.  I had $8 in ECBs already, so my total came to $0.00 for my first transaction, and I got back $4 in ECBs.  Then I purchased 2 Jif peanut butters for $5, used my $4 ECB, and paid just $1 from my gift card.  I have $0.85 remaining, and I got back just $3 in ECBs.

Here is what I came home with:

Total Shelf Price:  $27.74

Total Sale Price:   $17.00   (already 39% Savings)

Price Paid OOP:   $1.00     (96% Savings and $3 ECBs remaining)

I will have a full post of my CVS Gift Card Challenge up to this point later.

At Kroger, I grabbed 3 sets of Mega items, along with a few things I needed around the house (cat food, little, bread and butter).  Those elevated my total OOP a bit, but Kroger has these items cheaper than other stores in their store brand, so i opted to grab them while I was out.

Here is what i got from Kroger:

Total Shelf Price:  $90.74

Total Sale Price:   $54.49  (Already 40% Savings)

Price Paid OOP:  $43.72   52% Savings  (Just my mega items were 70% Savings)

After this, I stopped by Albertsons.  Persistence paid off in returning to the milk aisle three times.  There were no Silk Dark Chocolate almond milks on the shelf, but the dairy truck had just arrived and they were unloading boxes.  I finally saw someone with a stack of boxes, and asked.   She quickly grabbed me a couple from a box.  I love these.  I also got several boxes of $0.88 cereal (I still have more coupons for them that I did not use, but I had to have multiples of 10 items.)

Here is everything I got at Albertsons:

Total Shelf Price:  $44.30
Total Sale Price:   $23.85  (Already 46% Savings)
Price Paid OOP:  $14.77  (67% Savings)

Altogether today I spent $59.49 on $162.51 worth of products.  That's an average savings of 63%.

Did you do any shopping this week?  I'd love to hear about it!  Leave a comment or link up below!

Read more...

Week 10 CVS Gift Card Challenge: $5 OOP 86% Savings

I did not have a chance to make it to CVS towards the beginning of the week, like I usually do.  I thought that  I may just let this week go by without shopping at CVS, but then I got a $5/$25 coupon by email.

The coupon would have expired tomorrow, so I had to decide if I wanted to shop this week's sale, or hurry up and shop tomorrow for next week's sale.  After comparing this week's ad with the 10/9 Ad Scan on Simply CVS, I decided to do my shopping today.  I mean, I can't pass up ECBs on Frappucino's....you know me. ;)

I only had $6.85 left on my CVS gift card after my last trip, and I knew this would use up a big chunk of that.  But, the items I was buying today were all grocery items, and quite honestly, we need that sort of thing (and we go through that sort of thing) a lot more than any of the other items in the add, such as toiletries and drug items.

Here is what I grabbed tonight:

Total Shelf Price:  $34.60
Total Sale Price:   $25.50
Price Paid OOP After Coupons and $12 ECBs:  $5.00  And I got back $8 in ECBs to use next time.

This is a savings of 86 %!

So far I've been able to buy $219.36 worth of items for just $23.15.  That's an average savings of 89%!

I still have $1.85 remaining on my CVS gift card, as well as my $8 in ECBs to use next time.  It may be the last trip, or it may not! You never really know with CVS.

Now quite honestly, I could have found a way to spend less on this trip.  I could have gotten some make-up items using my great $8/2 covergirl coupons.  But, I'm not a make-up person, really.  These items were more practical for my family, and will be enjoyed by all.  Plus, i got all of that for the cost of just the green tea! =)

If you'd like to see how my other shopping trips went, you can check them all out through the links below:

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: Spent $0.61 OOP for $22.52

Week 7: Spent $0.63 OOP for $37.64

Week 8:  Spent $7.91 OOP for $35.97.

Week 9:  Did Not Shop

Week 10:  Current Trip--Spent $5 OOP for $34.60.

Today was the last day of this week's sale, and tomorrow starts a whole new ad.  Cheryl over at Simply CVS already has next week's deals ready to go, so you can pre-plan your trip!

ECB Deals are always my favorite, but she also has some $5 and $10 scenarios that you may want to check out as well.

While you're there, have a look at her $50 CVS gift card challenge that is is doing herself (starting over with $0 ECBs and a brand new CVS card!).  I think she's doing great!

Read more...