I am very thankful that my Husband works in Clarkston because CVS has to be my favorite drug store because they are by far the most coupon friendly.  (in my opinion)  I had to take the baby to the pediatrician so I stopped into CVS myself because there is a good deal on Charmin toilet paper this week.

Side note: a car seat fits perfectly on top of the cart’s main part so it is sitting in the cart but you have room underneath it.  Way safer than sitting it in the seat part!  I wish I would have taken a picture!

I thought I had committed 2 party fouls while I was there but it turns out that I committed 1 and the Manager committed 1.  I typically will not buy toilet paper unless it is about .25 a roll unless I am out.  My last toilet paper deal was when I was pregnant.  (thank goodness because I was going through TP like crazy!)

I did 3 transactions (only meant to do 2) so I could use $5 ECBs on my second purchase.

Transaction #1

Buy $10 in Nivea and get $5 ECB
4 Lip products @ $2.50

Use (2) $3/2 from
OOP = $4 before tax
Get back $5 ECB
= $1 MM

Transaction #2

2 Charmin Basic double rolls @ $5.49
6 Pantene shampoos @ $3.33

Use $1/2 Charmin from 1/1 PG
Use (3) $3/2 Pantene from 1/1 PG
Pay with $5 ECB
OOP = $15.96 before tax
Get back $10 CVS cash card
= $5.96

This is the transaction that got messed up by the Manager.  I gave him 6 Pantenes to ring up and he only rang up 5 but gave me 6.  So really my oop was $12.63 (14.29 after tax) and I was now $2.32 short of my CVS cash card.  Instead of trying to figure out why I just went and did a third transaction.  Then the whole way home I went over and over the math trying to figure out where I went wrong.  ( I do not condone coupon misuse and this was a fault by the Manager that I did not catch until I sat down to do this post.  Please know that this was not done on purpose.)

Transaction #3

2 Dawn Hand Renewals @.99
CVS candy .99
4 Skinny Cow candies b2g1 @ $1.19

Use $1/2 Dawn from 1/1 PG
Use (2) b1g1 Skinny Cow printables
OOP $3.28 (before tax)

This is the transaction I messed up on because the ad showed candy as b1g1 not b2g1 but that is a small thing really.  All 4 would have been free but I paid $1.19 for 4 (or .30 each).

The price breakdown below is calculated with all ecbs and cash cards factored in.  I divided the $10 cash card by the amount of items I bought that went towards earning it.

In the scenarios I outlined in #1 and #2 I would have spent $20.96 before tax and got back a $10 CVS cash card.  Nivea would have been 100% free, Charmin would have been $3.24 per pack (.27 per double roll), Pantene would have been $3.48 for 6 (.58 a bottle)

What ended up happening was I paid $15.60 and got back a $10 CVS card.  got the Nivea 100% free, I made .84 profit on the 2 bottles of Dawn, paid .08 for the candy, paid .37 for each bottle of Pantene and paid $4.08 for each Charmin (.34 a double roll).

I know the math is hard to follow but it helps me to know what I am really paying for something by calculating the reward earned into it.  If I just wanted to see overall I would just take my $15.60 – $10 cash card = $5.60 and divide it by 11 which is .51 an item.  And for my original scenario it would have been $20.96 – $10 cash card = $10.96 diveded by 10 which is $1.10 an item.  That would have been way easier

Balance Bar $1.69
OOP $1.69
Get back $1.69 ECB
Final Total = $1.69

Complete Contact Solution $7.99
OOP = $7.99
Get back $7.99 ECB
Final Total = FREE

Coke 2 liter .99
Use $1 coupon from Recycle Bank
Final Total = FREE

Lysol Wipes 2/$5
Buy 3 wipes $7.50
Use $1/2 Lysol Wipes coupon
OOP = $6.50
Submit for $2.50 MIR
Final Total = $4 or $1.33 each
(think back to school)

So crazy me decided to go shopping after my obgyn appointment yesterday and that was a pretty bad idea but I survived!  I stopped at all three drug stores: CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens.

Like I mentioned in the deals that I already had posted for these stores the deals are rather lacking this week across the board!  With that in mind I was pleasantly surprised at CVS with some great coupons to print from the magic coupon machine!  So I will start with my CVS trip!

You should always always scan your card at the beginning of your trip because you never know what surprises you are going to get!  This time it also printed my quarterly ECBs that I earned from shopping at CVS.  You earn a percentage of what you spend at CVS back in ECBs each quarter.  I had only earned .50 but the whole goal is to not spend a lot OOP so you shouldn’t get a high value back each quarter.

So the coupon printed out a $2 off coupon for Pantene, Aussie or Herbal Essence Hair Care item.  I was able to  stack this coupon with the $3/2 coupon from 7/3 PG for a total of $5/2.  So I used those coupons in conjunction with the ECB deal on Herbal Essence/Aussie.  So OOP for 2 items was $1.97 and I earned a $1 ECB bringing the final total to .97/2 or .49 each.  I was stoked because I just ran out!

The coupon machine also printed out a $1.50 off a Gillette body wash  coupon that I could stack with the $1 coupon from the 7/3 PG.  They were on sale for $3 so total OOP was .50 for body wash.

The third fantastic coupon that printed out was for a 100% FREE Hershey’s Air Delight bar!  Umm.. delightful!

I ended up spending $2.43 OOP for everything which is OK I guess.  I am trying to not have store dollars like ECBs, RRs or UP rewards around the house just in case I get a surprise birth and they just expire.  What a waste!

CVS Transactions: 

#1

2 Herbal Essence Stylers $6.97
Used $2 CVS coupon
Stacked with $3/2 coupon from 7/3 PG
Paid w/ .50 quarterly ECBs
OOP = $1.86
Earned $1 ECB

#2

Hershey bar $1.19
2 Coke 2 Liters $1.38
Gillette body wash $3
Used free CVS Hershey coupon
Used b1g1 Coke 2 Liter coupon from Recyclebank
Used $1.50 CVS coupon for Gillette
Stacked with $1 coupon for Gillette from 7/3 PG
Paid with $1 ECB from #1
OOP = .57

Well I stopped into CVS after my Obgyn appointment and was able to find a couple of the deals by going to two stores.

Transaction 1:

2 Colgate Total Toothpastes $5.58
1 Power Bar Protein Bites $2.29
- (2) $1 Colgate coupons
Paid with $5 ECBS
OOP = $1.40
Got back $6.49 in ECBs

Transaction 2:

2 Schick Hydro 5 razors b1g1 ($10.49)
Hershey Bliss $5.99
Irish Spring $2.99

Coupons Used:
$1 off bliss from 5/1 SS
(2) $4 off Schick from 6/12 SS
$1 off Irish Spring from CVS booklet

Paid with $6.49 ECBs
OOP = $3.35
Got back $7.99 in ECBs

So I meant to grab the Schick Hydro 3 razors and not the 5 because those are about $8.99 not $10.49 making them $1.25 apiece which I regret but that’s life.  I spent $5.19 OOP and I have $7.99 to use when I have my next OB appointment.  Once my back starts hurting I stop focusing on the task at hand… only 4.5 more weeks to go and this 20 pound watermelon is out of my belly!

Always double check your ad when things aren’t marked on the shelf.  My store didn’t have the toothpaste marked so I just verified it was included in the sale in the ad and sure enough my ECBs printed out on my receipt!

The CVS coupon book I am referring to is on sale for .99 and is the Reinventing Beauty book found in the stores- usually in the makeup section.  It includes:

1. $1 off Irish Spring body wash, deodorant or soap
2. $1 off Colgate Total gum Defense toothpaste
3. $1 off any Lady Speed Stick
4. $1 off Crystal Light drink mix
5. $3 off Nature Made vitamins

These coupons will expire on 6/30/11 and can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon if you have one.  EX: Take a $1 Colgate Gum Defense coupon and also use the $1 CVS Colgate Gum Defense coupon to get $2 off!

Matchups:

PowerBar Energy or Protein Bites $2.49
OOP= $2.49
Get back $2.49 ECBs
Final Total = FREE

Hershey Bliss $5.99
Use $1 coupon from 5/1 SS
OOP = $4.99
Get back $5.99 ECBs
Final Total = $1 MM

Colgate Total Toothpaste $2.79
Use $1 coupon from 6/12 SS
OOP = $1.79
Get back $2 ECBs (limit 2)
Final Total = .21 MM!

Gum Periobalance Lozenges $15.99
OOP = $15.99
Get back $15.99 Ecbs
Final Total = FREE

Schick Hydro 3 Razors b1g1 (8.99)
Use (2) $4 coupons from 6/12 SS
Final Total = .99 for two razors!

Irish Spring Body Wash $2.99
Use $1 CVS coupon
OOP= $1.99
Get back $2 ECbs
Final Total = FREE

So I try not to look at the CVS ad unless it is a week where I am going to be at the OBGYN and down by a CVS store.  I don’t like to tease myself with a good deal that is too far away for me to get

Sure enough I was going to be in Oakland County because Michael’s awesome co-workers wanted to throw us a baby shower during lunch today.  I was thrilled because there was FREE Zyrtec this week!  I have already expressed how much I dislike paying for allergy medicine for Michael

If I wouldn’t have used my coupon for a free 5ct of Zyrtec that I got in the mail earlier this week I could have used it for a $6 profit on the Zyrtec I bought at CVS today.  The coupon isn’t available anymore but some of you may have gotten it in the mail too.

I did find the 9.5 ounce Seattle’s Best coffee in the drink cooler!  So I was able to get them free with the free coupon from the 6/5 SS insert.

In the end I spent $2.52 and I have $5 ECB to go back next week when I am down for my appointment.  It still keeps me under budget this week too!

Here are the match ups:

Zyrtec 5ct $5.99
OOP $5.99
Get back $5.99 ECB
Final Total = FREE

Schick razor $8
Use $4 coupon from 6/12
OOP: $4 ECB
Final Total = FREE

Motrin PM 20 ct $4
Use $1 coupon from 6/12 RP
OOP = $3
Get back $3 ECB
Final Total = FREE

Bayer Aspirin $3
Use $2 coupon from 6/12
OOP = $1
Get back $1 ECB
Send in for $1 MIR
Final Total = $1 Money Maker!

Frito Lay Chips .99
Buy 3 ($2.97)
Get back $1 ECB
Final Total = $1.97 or .66 each

Seattle’s Best Coffee Drink 9.5 oz $1
Use Free coupon from 6/5 SS
Final Total = FREE

So here is the breakdown:

Transaction 1:

Zyrtec $5.99
4 Seattle’s Best Coffee drinks $1 each
2 Frito Lay Single Chips $.99 each
Paid with $6 in ECB from a previous trip
OOP = .97
Got back $5.99 ECB

So this transaction did not work the way is was planned to for me so I need to explain in case you try to recreate it.  The coffee drinks are $1.49 and were on sale this week but the cashier took off the $1.49 instead of $1.  That is the exact reason why it is important for you to scan your rewards card before your cashier starts scanning items.  Since it took off an extra $1.96 and I needed to have $6 that wasn’t tax so I could use my $6 ECB to pay.  So I grabbed a second bag of chips.  The chips are an ECB deal where you buy 3 and get $1 ECB.  So this is how your transaction would have worked out if the cashier hadn’t messed up.

Zyrtec $5.99
4 Coffee Drinks $4
1 Chips $.99
-$4 in drink coupons
OOP = $1.28
Get back $5.99 ECB

Transaction 2:

Schick Razor $8
Coffee Drink $1
CVS Allergy clearance meds $1.95
Frito Lay Chips $1.29

Coupons Used:
Free drink coupon -$1
Schick coupon – $4

Paid with $5.99 ECB
OOP $1.55
Got back $5 ECB

So I wasn’t able to find the Motrin and Bayer at my stores which throws a kink in my ‘planned scenarios’ but at least I found the clearanced allergy meds so I could get to the $5.99 I needed to pay with the ECB from transaction 1.  I hope you were luckier than me and were able to find all of the freebies for this store this week!

So I had an OB appointment yesterday which means that I was in Oakland County and therefore close to a ton of CVS stores!  I had that $3 Extra Care Bucks sitting in my wallet so I wanted to take advantage of the free mouthwash this week.  I did two transactions so I was keeping my OOP low- I only spent $4.26 and earned $6 in ECBs to go back when I go down for another Obgyn appointment.  So I am still way under out budget for this week and Michael is a very happy man with his mouthwash!

Transaction 1

Crest Pro-health Rinse $4.50
Use $2 coupon from 6/5 PG
OOP = $2.50 each
Get back $2.50 ECB (limit 2)
Final Total = FREE

Transaction 2

Oral-B Pulsar Toothbrush $6
Use $3 coupon from 6/5 PG
OOP = $3
Get Back $3 ECB (limit 2)
Final Total = FREE

I do have a slight suspicion that the $3 coupon isn’t actually for the Pulsar brushes.  If you read the coupon it states battery operated brushes and below is a $2 coupon for the Pulsar brushes.  These are two different products if you take a moment to look at the brush options available.  The Pulsar brushes are vibrating brushes but not ones that replace the batteries which I think is what battery operated means.

But I tried it out because the ad told us to use that coupon which boggles my mind?   The cashier allowed the coupon so perhaps the computers aren’t catching it or I am just really paranoid about using the appropriate coupons.  This is a new coupon to me so perhaps the next time they publish that coupon they will clarify what product it is actually for on the coupon so I don’t stand in the store and wonder haha.

There are some sites advertising that you can use the $5 John Frieda coupon at CVS this week as apart of their ECB deal.  This is not true.  The $5 products are shampoos and conditioners and the $5 coupon is for stylers and treatments which are $8 this week.  If you need shampoo and conditioner the legit coupon to use is the $2 coupon from the same insert.  Go to Rite Aid if you want to score the money maker on the John Frieda stylers.

Since I had have a lot of time to kill between my OBGYN appointment and class starting I figured I would hit up the CVS stores down here while I waited.  I went into the store without any Extra Care Bucks (ecbs) so I knew I had to figure out a transaction to get some money to roll without ending up with a ton of ECBS too.

CVS has a great deal this week on Suave items much like Rite Aid but a little different.  Suave deodorant isn’t included in Rite Aid’s sale because they are doing the Degree deodorants.  And I only have two bottles of laundry detergent left at home so I start to worry that I will have to pay full retail price for something and that’s a big no no for me!

I can’t tell you how important it is to scan your CVS card at the coupon machine in the stores EVERY TIME you walk in the door!  I scanned mine and I got a coupon for a free bag tag.  If you bring a reuseable bag and it has this tag your cashier will scan it at your checkout.  Once you have scanned it 4 times you will get $1 ECBs just for bringing a bag with you to the store!  That blows away the other .05 store credits from other stores!

Transaction 1
Spend $10 on Suave and get $3 ECB

6 Suave deodorants $6
2 Suave body wash $4
I used (5) .75 off Suave deodorant coupons -3.75
I also used a b1g1 Suave body wash coupon -2
OOP = $4.25
Get back $3 ECBs
Final Total = $1.25 for 8 items or .16 each

Buy Stride gum .99 get .99 ECBs

Buy Green bag tag $1 use free coupon from the magic coupon machine!  = FREE

I only buy 5 papers a weekend so I wasn’t able to use (6) .75 off coupons which would have sweeten the deal a bit more.  I would have only spent .50 on 8 items but it was still a good deal!  You could also work the deal a little differently if you wanted to.  It all depends on what you need in your stockpile and the coupons you have at home.  My stockpile doesn’t ‘need’ anything so I purchase for the best deal.

4 Body wash $8
2 Deodorant $2
Use (2) b1g1 coupons -$4
Use (2) .75 coupons -1.50
OOP = 4.50
Get back $3 ecbs
Final Total = $1.50 for 6 items or .25 each

OR even another way

5 body wash $10
Use (2) b1g1 coupons – $4
OOP = $6
Get back $3 ecbs
Final Total = $3 for 5 items or .60 each

Transaction 2

2 Purex detergants $3.96
Used (2) $1 coupons
Paid with .99 ECBS from #1
OOP = $1.21

So my OOP total for this whole trip was $6.05 and I have a $3 ECBs to come back to the store that doesn’t expire until 6/23/11.  I don’t have a CVS nearby anymore but I figure we will be down in the area every two weeks for an OBGYN appointment!  So a $3.05 trip for everything pictured above is a fabulous way to kill some time before going to school!