CVS Trip - 1/5/2009 ($9.42 out of pocket, $171.94 worth of merch)

Today I did my weekly CVS shopping trip in between a parent-teacher conference and work.

I bought $171.94 worth of stuff for $9.42 out of pocket (i.e. actual cash from my wallet). I earned $5.00 in Extra Care Bucks, so I really paid a net of $4.42 for everything.

Here is what I got:

3 Glade scented oil refills - on sale for $2.50 each, had a B2G1 coupon = $5.00
2 Glade candle jars - on sale for $2.50 each, had $1.50/2 coupon = $3.50
Bayer Contour Glucose Monitor - on sale for $30, had $30 off coupon = free (I will donate this item)
2 Vaseline Total Moisture body lotion - on sale for $2.99 each, had 2 $1.25 off coupons = $3.48 (I will donate these items)
1 Valentine card for my husband = $4.29
1 small chocolate heart for my son to give my daughter for Valentine's Day = $1.49
1 container of high-end SPF 45 sunscreen on clearance = $2.75
1 pack of Star Wars Valentine's cards for my son to give out in class = $2.99

Total = $60.00
Manufacturer's coupons = -$36.50
CVS coupon $10/$50 = -$10.00
CVS extra care bucks = -$5.00

Total out-of-pocket, $9.42
Earned $5.00 ECBs, so a net of $4.42 for $171.94 worth of merchandise!

I see this transaction as me buying some Valentine's cards and candy and getting everything else free.

CVS Trip 1/5/2009

My first 2009 trip to CVS!

I ran in for some shaving cream for my husband. Of course, that didn't work! I got sucked into the Christmas clearance section where everything was 75% off.

I got all this for $1.21 out of pocket (OOP), after I cashed in ECBs.

I got 3 packs of festive votive candles and 4 little packs of holiday tissues which will go into gift bags for teachers next year. Also found 4 little wind-up Santas for kids' stocking stuffers, a pack of holiday-themed foamies for crafts, and a gold wire tree that I'd wanted for a while.

My favorite find was a metal cookie tin - it had a cookie mix with sprinkles inside, 3 holiday cookie cutters and a small spatula, and a paid, one-year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens magazine! This was only $2.50, well worth the subscription alone. I really enjoy BH&G magazine and already read it, so this was a great deal!

Oh yeah, and the shaving cream! :)

I use Febreze Air Effects daily in my house - it's a really great product, much better than traditional air fresheners. These were "out of season" as they were a fall/winter scent of apple and spice. I don't think apple and spice goes out of season, so I'm thrilled I found these!

CVS Trip 9/28/2008 ($10.42 OOP, $50.09 saved, $5.49 ECBs earned)

Well, apparently Columbus, Ohio has received a different flyer from the rest of the country. I peeked online at the CVS flyer last night thanks to some other CVS bloggers, and I wasn't thrilled with the ECB offers this week. Well, when I got my Columbus Dispatch this morning, I was surprised to see a totally different flyer with only 3 ECB offers for the entire week! However, I will say that I really preferred the layout of the CVS flyer we received today. It was much cleaner, easier to read, not so cluttered. Of course, this is because there were so FEW deals on the pages!

Nevertheless, I stopped at the Sawmill/Bethel CVS on the way to Giant Eagle to do my weekly grocery shopping. I noticed my fellow CVS fans had already hit the store as there were no Johnson's Buddies soaps on the shelf for me to use my $3/3 coupon on! ;) I'll try again next time on that one. Today was also the last day for the $2/$10 coupon, and I only used one instead of the 2 or 3 I had hoped to use.

Thanks to Shynea at Penny Pinching Diva (http://pennypinchingdiva.blogspot.com/), I was tipped off that some CVS stores still have summer clearance items. Sure enough, there were some good back-to-school/summer clearance items that I thought were 75% off but were actually 90% off! And there were some very good deals in the general clearance end-cap at the back of the store.

I ended up having a GREAT shopping experience. I scored lots of deals, including a few gifts. The store manager rang me up and he was very nice and knew exactly what to do with my coupons and ECBs.

Here is what I got for $10.42 OOP:

Swanson chicken broth 3 for $1.50 - .40/3 coupon: $1.10

(I then went to Giant Eagle and noted that the same exact cans were $1.09 each)

Large insulated lunch box (for soccer games, car trips, etc.): $0.79

Rainforest insulated lunch box (for Roman): $0.59

4 packs of twisty/bendy pencils (good stocking stuffer or gift bag filler for kids): $0.09 each!

2 shopping lists (they had ugly dogs on them, but I couldn't turn down the price): $0.09 each

2 sets of 4-pack plastic tumblers: $0.09 each (gave these to my mom for when the kids visit her)

2 Dawn antibacterial dish soaps: $0.99 each - 2 $0.25 coupons

2 Softsoap liquid soaps: $0.99 each - 2 $0.50 coupons

2 Folgers coffees: $1.99 each - $0.25 coupon

1 Cover Girl Clean Liquid Makeup: $5.49 - $1 coupon, earned $5.49 ECBs

1 Cover Girl cover up: $4.79, but had the coupon for B1G1 free Cover Girl makeup

Pack of 3 pretty floral cosmetic bags: $2.00 on clearance (another gift item)

1 Dr. Something's wrinkle cream boxed set (originally $19.99): $2.00 - $2.00 coupon from CVS beauty flyer in some stores (I've only seen them at CVS Kingsdale)

I paid $10.42 OOP, I used $4 ECBs and earned $5.49 ECBs from the Cover Girl makeup. I saved $50.09 and plan to go back tomorrow after I score some more beauty flyers from the Kingsdale CVS.

Note: My CVS receipt says that our Summer Quarter 2% earnings will start printing at the register October 1st! That's this Wednesday! Woo Hoo!

Et tu, CVS?

Yes, CVS had a good money-earning deal this week but only on Sunday and Monday on L'Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle Serum.

The product was on sale for $11.99 and you earned $11.99 back in ECBs. I had a $1 manufacturer coupon (some people had a $3 one, lucky girls) and a $2/$10 CVS coupon. So it could have been a money-maker and I could have put away the wrinkle cream for my mother's Christmas gift basket [don't worry, she knows she is old and has wrinkles].

Alas, I went to two CVS stores Monday night and both were completely sold out of this product! There were big, elaborate floor and shelf displays touting this product line, but no wrinkle cream.

I suppose I could have asked for a "rain check," but 1) the store was very busy and I know the cashier would have been a bitch about it and 2) I don't see how they'd give me a "rain check" for the ECBs, which is what I really care about.

I guess I have to decide Sunday morning if I'm going for an ECB deal, and then do it immediately!

I was bummed big time.

CVS Trip Week of July 21, 2008

Yes, I love CVS and I find myself sneaking online on Saturday nights to peek at the deals from the Sunday flyers. My husband is patient and rolls his eyes while I check out how good the next week's CVS-ing will be. This Saturday night I delayed a James Bond film, but he forgived me.

• Colgate BOGO - $1.00 mfr coupon
• L'Oreal Vive Pro BOGO, plus used BOGO mfr coupon. I didn't think this would work, as it defies all logic and I read that it doesn't work at some stores - BUT I GOT 2 FOR FREE! So, $10 in fancy conditioner for free - woo hoo
• Crest twin pack of toothpaste - used 50 cent and 75 cent coupons, earned $2.00 ECB
• Oral-B twin pack toothbrushes - bought cheapest twin pack at $4.99, used $1.00 coupon, earned $2.00 ECB
• Kotex 2/$11 tampons and maxipads, minus $1.00 coupon and 75 cent coupon, earned $3.00 ECB
• Pepsi 4/$11, earned $3 ECB
• American Greetings cards - used coupon to buy one and get one free up to $3.00 I found this one through Money Saving Mom: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2008/07/free-american-g.html

So, I paid $31 out of pocket and got $10 ECBs back. Note: the $2/1 CVS skin care product coupon is not showing up online for me at all. So I decided to forgo the $15 in baby products deal. With the $2 off coupons, it would be worth multiple trips to CVS this week to get the $5 ECBs, but without the coupons, it's not worth it to me!