Ok, can I just say...I LOVE CVS?! I mean, I really really do. I love CVS. For me, there is no greater place to shop for all my toiletry needs. Now, I must point out...CVS (specifically their staff) doesn't necessarily love me. I've read all kinds of online posts about how much the CVS workers just adore some of you shoppers; however, at my store, I'm pretty sure they dread the sight of me. Every time I go, there is one of two ladies who absolutely seem like they would rather be forced to listen to nails screech on a chalkboard than to have to check me out at their register. And every time I go, I apologize profusely for using coupons and my Extra Care Bucks and for doing multiple transactions (usually two, but no more than three). I feel like I'm pretty respectful. I make sure to let all others go ahead of me. I do one transaction and then move away from the register to all my stuff in order for the next. I try my best to make conversation with the workers, but it doesn't seem to matter. The two ladies just really don't seem to enjoy my presence. Oh well. What can I do? I'll just continue to be caring toward then and hope that they realize that I'm not trying to make their lives difficult (I really do try to have everything in order. All they have to do is scan). Anyway, on to the deals.
I got some FABULOUS deals today! Check out what I got:
I did two transactions and spent a total of $3.17 out of pocket!!! I saved $44.36!!!!!!!!! Can you say AWESOME?! Here is how I did it:
First Transaction:
Aussie Conditioner $2.99; earned $2 ECB
Colgate MaxFresh Toothpaste $2.99; coupon for $.50 off; earned $2 ECB (Getting home, I realized I was actually overcharged for this. This specific toothpaste was supposed to be on sale for $2.49, thus making my purchase FREE plus an overage of one cent!).
Colgate MaxFresh Toothpaste $2.99; coupon for $.50 off; earned $2 ECB (See above about the incorrect price)
Colgate Total Advantage Whitening Toothpaste $2.99; coupon for $1.50 off; earned $2 ECB (OVERAGE OF $.51 CENTS!!! They paid ME for this toothpaste!)
CVS Sheer Bandages $1.99; ECB $1.99 FREE
1 Huggies Natural Care Bath Wash $3.49; coupon for $1 off; earned $2 in ECB
Candy for Tristan $.79
Used $13.98 in ECBs and $1.13 cash out of pocket!!! Saved $19.58 on this transaction!!!
Second Transaction:
Colgate Total Advantage Whitening Toothpaste $2.99; coupon for $1.50 off; earned $2 ECB (THEY PAID ME $.51 CENTS!!!)
Colgate Total Advantage Whitening Toothpaste (SEE ABOVE)
CVS Sheer Bandages $1.99; earned $1.99 ECB FREE
2 All Small & Mighty (Buy one get one free); used 2 $1 off coupons
1 Blade Viper Shower Gel $3.99; earned $1 ECB
Used $11.99 in ECBs and $2.04 cash out of pocket!!! Saved $24.78 on this transaction!!!
The only thing I wasn't thrilled about was that I went in with $15.98 in ECBs and only came out with $9; however, our budget is kind of tight this month, so it was better to go ahead and use ECBs to take advantage of the great deal on the ALL Detergent. All in all, it was a great day at CVS!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
My CVS Deals
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13 comments:
Just got my EC card in the mail yesterday, and am scared to death to go try. I'm afraid I'll do it all wrong, the people will cuss me out, and I'll spend like $200 by accident. Don't you want to come visit me and show me how to do it? I'll treat you to Starbucks and introduce you to Keith and Nicole! OK, I won't introduce you, but you can introduce yourself!
Holly, you are SO funny! If I can figure it out, you can too (of course, I AM a pretty big genius). ;)
The Starbucks trip and a stay at your house does sound pretty intriguing, though! ;)
I mean to say "do sound intriguing".
Annie...you are the CVS bargain QUEEN!! Those are some awesome deals. I've gotta go to CVS tomorrow. YAY!!! for deals.
Annie,
If you do come to Nashvegas for a CVS ECB tutoring session, I need to be there. I always read your posts and am so jealous of your great deals!! But, it's like reading a different language to me. I just don't get it! :)
i'm sure you are very respectful...they probably just hate their jobs...OR they are jealous that YOU have it all figured out and are saving truckloads of $$$. are you sure you didn't laugh at them falling down in the parking lot or something?? just a thought ;)
Please teach a class here in trussville. I don't know the rules about coupons and why you did two separate transactions.
Brandi, there is still SO much I want to learn, but I really am planning to lead a small group in the fall to teach people what I've learned on saving money while shopping. I know so many people (like me) want to give to charities and different organizations but don't have the extra money to do so. So I want to offer a small group that focuses on getting stuff for next to nothing and giving it away. I think I'm going to call it 'Shop to Give'. It will be my way to give back. :) With the Dream Center in the making, that is one place we could give to. I mean, I can't tell you how many razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant I have! It's CRAZY!
As for the two transactions, I did that to maximize my Extra Care Bucks and minimize my out of pocket expense. A great rule of thumb is to try to buy items that give you immediate ECBs with ECBs that you already have. For instance, in June, you could buy the CVS band-aids for $1.99 and earn $1.99 in ECBs (thus, free). The limit for this particular deal was two boxes. If you bought both boxes at the same time, you would pay $3.98 out of pocket. However, if you do two transactions and buy one box of band-aids, get your ECBs back and then do another transaction, you only spend $1.99 out of pocket and earn $1.99 in ECB.
It takes a little math each visit (especially when you plan ahead and get to the store and see that they are out of what you planned to buy), but it's well worth it.
I spent $3.17 out of pocket with the two transactions, but if I had done it all in one, I would have spent like $20 out of pocket. I would have earned more ECBs, but would have spent more cash. I would rather have less ECBs and do more transactions to maximize those rather than spending cash.
Does this make sense? If not, I'll just have to come drop by and see that beautiful baby and do a tutorial! ;)
Oh, and angelgirl, I PROBABLY have laughed at one of their falls at some point! You know me! ;)
annie you rock!!
Sign me up for the small group. That totally makes sense. I'm ready to learn.
Don't feel bad. The store manager at CVS can't stand me. He tried to take back my ECBs tonight from my Soy Joy bars because I returned my Duracell batteries from the same transaction when my ECBs didn't print! He is a real jerk. The asst. manager told me one day that there are about five people in our town that have "figured out the CVS system" and the main manager can't stand us. Oh well! Sorry for his luck! Its not like it is coming out of his pocket!
oh I am so glad to hear that i'm not the only one that cvs employees hate! THey have even been accusing me of photocopying coupons ! I swear they act like it's coming out of their pockets! I too apologize profusely and am always nice. Stick with it!! I am!
smiley_2516@yahoo.com
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