My CVS plan...

I'm not planning to spend $19+ out of pocket though.

I want to purchase the John Frieda deal first, using $2 ecb from last week, spending $8 oop.

Then I will use the $10 ecb from the John Frieda transaction to purchase the remaining items on my list.  Balance should be around $0, and I will receive $8 in ecb.  (I HOPE!)

Vacation's over!

I took a longer break from money saving and blogging than I had planned. But I didn't get all crazy or anything with my spending!

Today was a fun trip to CVS! I had been stressing about how to spend my $30 ECB from the Aveeno deal for a few weeks now. Being that it expires on 7/15, I decided to just get it spent this week. Here's the run down.

• (3) 10-count pencils .99 x 3 = $2.97
• (2) Trail Mix Cruch 3.34 x 2 = $6.68
• (1) Fruity Pebbles $3.33
• (2) Dawn Dish Soap 1.00 x 2 = $2
• (2) Planters Mixed Nuts 3.00 x 2 = $6.00
• (2) Febreez Noticables 6.50 x 2 = $13.00
• (2) Lays Chips 3.99 BoGoF = $3.99
• (1) CVS Pantyliners $.89
• (2) Mars candy .67 x 2 = $1.34
• (2) Hair clips (dollar spot) $2.00

Subtotal: $42.19 (non-sale price $62.31)

Coupons used:

• -$4.00 Febreez Noticables
• -$2.00 Trail Mix Crunch
• -$2.00 Trail Mix Crunch
• -$1.50 Planters
• -$.89 Mars candy
• -$.89 Mars candy
• -$.25 Dawn
• -$.20 Dawn

Total after coupons = $30.46
Used my $30 ECB and paid $.85 oop (tax)

Received: $5 ECB for Febreze, $.89 ECB for pantiliners, $5 ECB for Post Cereal, $1 ECB for Dawn and $2.97 ECB for pencils! Rougly $15 in ECB received today!

Plus, I still have $9 in ECB from previous weeks, and was rewarded $5.50 ECB from my first quarter spending and prescription fills. I'm loooooaded. :D

Join the CVS Advisor Panel

Go here to become a CVS Advisor Panel member! You will be rewarded for filling out surveys with ECBs ranging from $2 to $15!

Free sunscreen!

CVS ~ did the Aveeno deal. Purchase $20 worth of Aveeno products and receive $10 in ECBs.

4 Aveeno sunblock spray @ $10.99 ea. (included a free sample of Lip Conditioner w/ SPF 15 on all)
2 Aveeno face sunscreens @ $11.99 ea. (included a free sample of Daily Moisturizing w/ SPF 15 on all)
Subtotal = $67.94

less: $10 off of $30 CVS coupon
$10 off of 3 Aveeno Positively Ageless products
$10 off of 3 Aveeno Positively Ageless products
$8 in ECBs

Total OOP = $32.95
Received $30 in ECBs

My only concern now is having to spend $30 in ECBs all at once.... it all printed on one coupon. :(

Last minute trip to CVS, week ending 6/13

I had such a busy week, that I barely made it to CVS this week! It was 8pm Saturday night when I finally got there. Whew! I didn't have a lot to purchase, but it was (as usual) worth it.

• 2 Dawn dish soaps, on sale for $1 ea, less (2) $.50 q, and $1ecb = FREE!
• 4 12-packs of Coke products, on sale for $3.25 (4/$13), less (4) $1.00q, and $3ecb = $1.50ea!
• 2 Colgate toothpaste BOGOf (2 for $1.99), less (2) $1.00q = FREE!

I'm mad that I forgot to use my $4 off of $20 q. :(
But I paid with $10 in ECBs and spent $.41 OOP.

Rec'd $4 in ECBs.

And!!!! this is the most exciting coupon on my receipt.... Save $10 on a purchase of $30 - 3 Days only! I was just reading this deal on Aveeno sunscreen, so now this will make it a definite STEAL!

Memorial Day @ CVS!

Yup, went to CVS on a holiday to take advantage of their 2-day specials!
Purchased:

• Revlon nail polish $3.99 - $2 Q .......... rec'd $3 ECB
• Playtex tampons $3.99 - $1 Q ........... rec'd $3 ECB
• Clearasil face wash $3.99 - $1 Q ........ rec'd $3.99 ECB
• 2 boxes of Bandaids $4.58 .................. rec'd $4 ECB
• Maybeline concealer (on clearance) $2.99
• 5 large guaze patches (on clearance) $1.25

The last 2 items were fillers to get me to $20 so I could use my $4 off of $20 coupon. So really they were "free", and hubby needed some new dressing to cover the stitches from his surgery.

Used:

• $4 off of $20
• $12 in ECBs

Paid $.79 OOP! And received $14 worth of ECBs! Have one left over from a previous week, so I have $15 ECBs to spend. My receipt says that I saved $29.40, based on the shelf price of everything I purchased. :)

CVS this week

Eh.... not so exciting this week, for me anyway. I bought a Physicians Formula Organic concealer that was on 75% off clearance.... and it sucks! It's going back, I don't care that I spent $1 oop (after $1 coupon) on it. Also found a Cover Girl Outlast lipstick that was on 50% off clearance, for $4.99 and used a $2 off Q. This was supposed to produce a $4 ECB, but it didn't print. Wonder if it's because it was clearanced? I'm going to find the number for customer service and have them check it out. I've read that they will tell you if something was supposed to trigger the ECB and can add it to your card if it was. I guess we'll see. The best deal of the day was the Lysol NutraAir, regularly $13.99, on sale for $5.99 and used a $5 Q. So after using $7 in ECBs, my oop was $.48 - I'll take it. ;)

I still have $13 in ECBs left.

Nooooooo! (Happy Mother's Day!) :)

This morning, Michael took the girls while I was still in bed to buy a card and potted flowers for me! :) Awwww. <3 Then he came home and made breakfast for everyone (my sister, BIL & nephew were still in town) - waffles, bacon & sausage! My extra "present" was getting to leave the house all by myself, and what did I choose to do? My regular shopping stops!


I can't believe I did this, but *sigh* I forgot to take my Extra Care Bucks to CVS with me today. Maybe because I was so excited to be able to leave the house by myself for Mother's Day? Well I didn't realize it until I was done shopping. I had everything figured out so that I'd only spend $3 oop, since Michael added coffee to my list, otherwise it would have been $0 oop!!! I was so discombobulated by the time I got to the register, that I ended up spending $29.33. OMG. I wanted to do 2 transactions so I could reuse the ECBs, but I think I just gave up at that point. I did receive $11 more ECBs, for a total of $23. So I guess I'll be getting lots of "free" things over the next few weeks (I hope anyway). Here are some highlights......

• Kellogg cereal is on sale for 2/$4. There are $1 Qs here, making them $1 each.
• Schick Quattro TrimStyle (been wanting to try this) on sale for $8.99, had a $4 Q and rec'd $4ECB, making it .99
• Colgate toothpaste is BoGoF, and I had 2 $1Qs, making them .50 each.
• Crest ProHealth for $3.49, less a $1Q and $2 ECB was also .50

Moving on to Target..... only a couple deals here, but I was taking my time - ALONE! ;)

• bags of Hersheys Bliss are $3.49, and I had a $1Q, plus a Target $1Q, making them $1.49 (them... I bought 2)
• 12 packs of Dr. Pepper are on sale 2/$7, and I had a $1Q plus a Target $1Q, so $1.50 ea.
• I also bought myself a dress for a June wedding, and a few other things on clearance.

Last stop for my Mother's Day adventure was Giant Eagle. Since I also forgot my coupon binder AND my list, I just bought the non-sale items that were "needs" for the week. Chicken breasts (BoGoF), 3 pounds of ground meat (1lb for this week, 2lbs to freeze), fruit, spaghetti sauce, hoagie rolls, pot pies and apple juice. I was happy to keep it under $45, but I did forget milk. :(


So beyond the disappointment of forgetting my coupons, ECBs and milk, I thoroughly enjoyed my solo shopping afternoon! <3

Fun times @ CVS

My goal for this week was to not spend any more than I had in ECBs ($11.00). Well, then the ad came out, and I saw the sweet deal on Coke products (spend $20 and receive $10 in ECBs), so I've pushed my goal back a week! :)

So I first purchased 5 12-packs of Coke Zero @ $4 each = $20
Used a $4 off of $20 coupon.
Used $11 in ECBs.

$5.00 OOP for 5 Coke Zero 12-packs!!! Aaaaaand, I rec'd $10 in ECBs!

Next transaction (there was no line, and the cashier was nice enough to let me do 2):
3 boxes of Kellogg cereal @ 3/$10, less $3 in coupons (receive $5 ECB wyb 3!)
2 Colgate toothpaste @ $2.99 each, less $2 in coupons (receive $2 ECB on each!) *free*
1 Adidas Deoderant @ $3.99, less $1 coupon (receive $3 ECB) *free*
4 boxes of Kleenex @ $1 each! Super cool cashier rang them up for $1 because they were clearanced, but I couldn't remember the price. We ~needed~ tissues badly and I also had a $1 off of 4 coupon, so this worked out even better than planned!
I went a little *crazy* in the clearance section, LOL. 4 folders for the girls @ .50 ea, a calculator for .38 and a Bon Jovi CD (New Jersey) for $2.50.... hee hee.

Used another $4 off of $20 coupon.
Spent the $10 ECB from first transaction.

OOP = $8.15 ~ Received $12 ECBs!

So my goal for next week is to only spend the $12 ECB ($0 oop). That is until the next ad comes out...... *wink*

I was actually giddy....

It's amazing how much this new "outlook" on spending has changed me. I have always liked to spend money, sometimes recklessly. But now that my focus is on saving, I'm actually leaving the store(s) feeling so good about myself!

I made 2 stops tonight, CVS and Safeway.

CVS
I spent a bit more than usual, but wanted to take advantage of the Aveeno promo they have going on, so I was stocking up on sunscreen. (This is the 2nd time I've used this promo).

*Spend $25 on Aveeno products and receive $10 in ECBs.
I purchased 3 sunscreens totaling $31.47 -$6 in coupons.

Also purchased:
Crest toothpaste on sale for $1.99 -$1 Q ($1 ECB)
2 ALL Small & Mighty - BOGO free $7.49 -$2 Q
2 Purell Antibac $2.98 -$2 Q

Used $4 off of $20 Coupon
Spent $14 in ECBs

Total OOP = $16.49
Received $11.00 in ECBs


Safeway
Promo - Purchase $30 of included items and receive $10 OYNO.

First transaction:

4 Cottonelle 12-rolls @ $6.49 -$1.00 Q ($25.96)
*receive $1 OYNO when you purchase 2 Cottonelle items
Reynolds Recycled Foil $2.29 -$.55 q (doubled)
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter sticks $1.99 -$.75Q (doubled)
=$30.24

Also purchased:
6 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (4 rolls) @ $1.50 -various Qs ($9.00)
*receive $3.00 OYNO when you purchase 3 Pillsbury items

Spent $32.89 OOP
Received $18 OYNO

Second transaction:

Kraft Dressing $2.89 -$1.50Q
3 Bertolli Pasta Sauce @ $2ea -$2.50Q ($6.00)
2 Capri Sun Sunrise @ $1.99ea -$2.00Q ($.3.98)
Horizon Organic Milk $6.49
Reynolds Recycled Foil $2.29 -$.55Q (doubled)
Bright Green Detergent $8.49 -$2.00Q
Bright Green Tissues $1.49 -$1.00Q
= $31.63

Used $18 of the OYNO coupons
Spent $6.51 OOP
!!! Should have rec'd another $10 OYNO coupon, but it didn't print! When I questioned it at the service desk, they just gave me a $10.00 BILL!

So, I spent $29.40 OOP (after receiving the $10) for what would have been $95.69 regular price!
That is approx 70% off. :)

Starting to feel like I'm stealing from CVS...

Today I purchased:
Garnier Fructis, reg $4.59, on sale for $2.99 - $2.00 ECB = $.99

*Tylenol Extra Strength, reg. $8.49, on sale for $8.00 -$1.00 Q
*Zyrtec Childrens, reg $12.99, on sale for $10.00 -$2.00 Q
*Bandaids, reg $2.49 -$1.00 Q
*purchase $20 of the above and receive $10 in ECBs

Crest, reg $2.49, on sale for $1.99 - $1.00 Q and -$1.o0 ECB = FREE

3 Mentos Gum, ($1.69ea) $5.07 -$2.55 Qs and -$1.00 ECB = $1.52 for 3

Used $4.00 off of $20 CVS coupon

Paid with $12.89 in ECBs

Total OOP = $6.10
RECEIVED $14.00 in ECBs!