Yep. What are the chances? My last two CVS shopping trips have both turned out to be $.22. I’m guessing I couldn’t do that again if I tried.
Here’s the promised pic of my booty.
I think I did even better than my last twenty two cent trip. I especially love it when I can score essentials like laundry detergent, dish detergent, and cereal! Here’s the breakdown:
Transaction #1:
3 Bounce Dryer Bars @ $4 ea.
1 Tide Stain Release @ $4
1 Tide Total Care @ $6
3 Dawn dish detergets @ $1 ea.
4 Mom’s Best Naturals Oatmeal @ $1 ea.
Used $5/25 coupon here
Use one $2.50/1 and two $1.50/1 Bounce Dryer Bars coupons from Vocalpoint mailer
Use one $1.50/1 Tide Stain Release product coupon from mailer
Use one $1/1 Tide Laundry Detergent from RP 8/23/09
Used two $.50/1 Dawn detergent from Year of Savings booklet
Used four $.75/1 Mom’s Best Oatmeal coupons here
Used $11.99 in ECBs from previous transactions
Total before coupons: $40.07
Total after coupons: $.16
Received $10 ECBs
Transaction #2:
2 Kellogg’s Raisin Bran @ $2 ea.
1 Vaseline Sheer Infusion lotion @ $7.99
1 Caliber notebook @ $.99 (had a raincheck to receive $.99 ECBs)
Used $1.50/2 Raisin Bran printable here
Used $1.50/1 Vaseline printable here
Used $10 ECBs from previous transaction
Total before coupons: $19.82
Total after coupons: $.06
Received $8 ECBs
My new method of couponing worked like a charm. I’ll admit, it required a little bit more work up front. But I’ve discovered that if I go to CVS without a well-organized plan, I end up spending much more than I intended and I end up completely stressed out as I’m trying to figure out which coupons go where and how many items I can get for the amount of ECBs I have without going over or under. That always seems to be the time that my youngest starts screaming and my oldest starts running around the store. (Please tell me I’m not the only one this happens to!)
I learned that I’d like to label some of the pages in my couponing book. But, I’m excited about this new method! Plus, I looked all stylish and stuff!
By the way, if you’d like to look as stylish as me, stay tuned for some sweet news later this week!
Helen,
If you click on the links in Lessie’s comment above, you can find out more in her blog.
Sharon at http://www.GoodTrueandBeautiful.com also has a very helpful CVS spreadsheet that you can download right from her site. Just click on her site and then scroll about halfway down the page–it’s on the right sidebar.
would u share your spreadsheet, i am lousy at figuring those out.
thanks
Kaley,
I agree with having to have a well mapped plan BEFORE hitting CVS. I was getting so stressed out that in January, I decided to start doing a ‘grand plan’ in an excel spreadsheet BEFORE going. That has helped so much. I now leave paying pennies or making money. I did start posting my grand plan to my blog recently, so that others may benefit. Here is the one for this week….notice that the P&G items aren’t included. That is because that one took me a while to wrap my head around. But I post one for Walgreens too. Here they are:
CVS: http://mycouponlady.com/2009/09/25/cvs-grand-plan-927-1003/
WAGS: http://mycouponlady.com/2009/09/26/walgreens-preview-927-103/
Wow. I really like your spreadsheet idea, Lessie! I’m sure that helps a ton!
I’m new to the CVS & Walgreen’s deals. Can you tell me which store you prefer and which you think offers the best deals (where you get more bang for your buck). CVS w/their ECB’s or Walgreen’s w/their RR? Do you find one store has better clearance over the others? How are prices amongst the different stores? Thanks for any help/advice you can offer!!! I LOVE your .22 cent shopping trips at CVS though, so I’m wondering if I need to switch over to CVS .. currently I’m shopping Walgreen’s and trying to keep up there. Oh, one last question … how many ECB’s or RR’s do you try to collect in any one given week? I have $49 to use next week!!!!! I only just started this a couple of weeks ago, however, the RR’s at Walgreen’s have been fantastic. 🙂 Thanks again!
Christy,
That is such a great question, I decided to use it to write a post! In case you missed it, you can see it here: https://chachingonashoestring.com/2009/09/30/drugstores-which-is-best/
Oops! I forgot to add that I had $11.99 (I think) in ECBs for the first transaction! Thanks for watching out for me. =) I’ll update the post.
Rachael,
All CVS stores accept coupons and ECBs like mine did in this transaction. (I’m not sure about Longs stores.) It is important to try to match the amount you to spend to the exact amount of ECBs that you have or higher. You will not get change from ECBs and they cannot pay for tax.
I was a little confused as to how the tax worked in my situation. The cashier would tell me a total and then open her cash register drawer and the total would lower! We were both very confused–but hey, it worked out well for me!
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Hi, I had a question and also after reading Maria’s comment I too am confused lol. I came up with $12 also for the first transaction.
My question is whether or not all CVS (including the Longs/CVS stores) accept coupons and issue ECBs the same way yours does? I live in Nevada so I just wanted to know in case it is regional or something-thinking of trying your methods out in the next few weeks.
Thanks ,
Rachael
🙂
I’m confused. How did your total come out so tiny? I crunched the numbers from your first transaction, and came up with $29 as your original total, minus $18 in coupons. that comes to $12 for the first transaction plus $10 in CVS dollars.
The second transaction, It makes sense to me. 12.98 before coupons, -.02 after coupons. Of course, I did not do anything in regards to sales tax.
Thanks!
Marie A.