CVS the Skincare Edition

It didn't work out exactly as I intended, but it's OK. My local flyer didn't include the Crest ProHealth deal. In hindsight, I should have scanned a tube to see if it was at $2.99 to attemp to do the deal anyway.

The upside to that is because of that, I was having some difficulty coming up with the $25 I needed in order to use the $5/25. In the end, I decided to get a fifth Vaseline, even though I only had four $1.50/1 Qs.

Also, there is a Calamine Aveeno cream for $4.49. There's a $2 Internet Printable and the monthly deal gives you 2 ECBs, so it's 49 cents OOP!

I have discovered that the $2 on any 2 Gold Emblem nuts does work on the 99-cent nuts at CVS. I think that impressed the cashier, even. He didn't say anything about that, but he did say I had done a good job when he saw my OOP.

I also got all my Vaselines with the 30% extra free. Yippee!

So ...

5 Vaseline "10" oz = $18.45
2 Gold Emblem nuts $1.98
1 Aveeno Itch cream $4.49
2 ACT trial size (I thought this was a monthly deal. It wasn't so I didn't get my ECBs. It's OK, though.

- 4 $1.50 Vaseline Qs $6
- 2/2 Gold Emblem nuts
- $5/25
- $2 Aveeno Internet printable
- $10.99 ECBs

= $0.91 OOP + $12 ECBs ($10 Vaseline, $2 from Aveeno)

Cheap L'Oreal Hair Color

This weekend was spent at a conference. When I left late afternoon, I stopped off at a CVS in the town I was in ... a college town. They were wiped out already of most of the good stuff I wanted. I had a $5/25 expiring today, so I checked a store closer to home. They at least carried the ACT trial size, but were out. They still had everything else, though.

I had gotten a calculator last weekend to help with these scenarios. I used it today and it helped greatly!

I needed a filler and there was still some Valentine's Day stuff posted at 75% off. The college store had it marked off at 90% off, so I decided to scan the lone candy-related thing left. Do you believe that little bit of candy and that stuffed bear was retailing for $5.99? Well, I got it for 59 cents.

I'm particular about my hair color and it's only L'Oreal Preference. It's currently 40% off. There's a $3/1 in RP 2/1 that makes this stuff $3 a bottle! I have a CVS Q for $2 cosmetics, so I'll be checking out what I can combine for L'Oreal makeup over $8.02 so I can get $5 more ECB.

ETA: This is a month-long deal (buy $20 of L'Oreal and get 5 ECB). It looks like the 3/15 - 3/21 flyer will have HIP eyeshadow for $5 each. There's a $2/1 HIP Eye or Lip product in 2/1 RP, which will make these $3 each.

2 L'Oreal Preference HairColor $11.98
1 SlimQuick Energy Pack $4.99
1 Carnation Instant Breakfast Chocolate (the last one, but they still had vanilla) $4.99
1 CVS Vitamin D $2.99
1 Candy Heart with Bear $.59

= $25.54

- $0.75 Carnation Q in All You January
- $6 L'Oreal Hair Color (2 $3 Qs, RP 2/1)
- $5/25
- $11.98 ECB
= $1.81 OOP + $2.99 ECB Vit D + $4.99 ECB Carnation + $4.99 ECB SlimQuick = $12.97 ECB

Suave ECBs print now!

I got my free Suave coupon that was offered online on Jan. 14 in the mail earlier this week and I printed Internet Printable $1/1 coupons, so I went back to CVS to do the Suave deal again (well, the card didn't catch it the first time, so according to them it's the first time).

Some interesting things about this trip:

1) The cashier took $3 off the order
2) Since that happened, I didn't use the $2 ECB from the last transaction
3) I ended up with more OOP, but also more ECB
4) The store I went to earlier this week had them priced at $2. Today they were $1.99.

so for three Suave bodywashes (2 18 oz, 1 12 oz), I spent 1.99 * 3 = $5.97
- $3 Suave free coupon
- $2 2 $1/1 Internet coupons

= $0.97 OOP + $2 ECB that printed out on their own without cajoling the manager ...

Next week, the plan is to just get the razor and I found some 25-count cotton rounds at the store downtown. Yippee!

Also, last night I stopped by Meijer to get 10 Dannon yogurts on sale for $4.00. I had a $1/10 coupon from 1/4 SS left (expires 2/28), so I took advantage. This time, I even got vanilla yogurt (which I like) instead of coffee (I thought the picture of the bean on the carton was vanilla, not coffee), which I don't like so much. I'm having car trouble and Walmart is further away, so I didn't drive there.

CVS Deals

I went looking for a place to use my $5/25, but no dice. However, I did do this.

Transaction 1 (store 1)

2 Neutrogena facial bars $2.99 each
1 Snickers candy hearts .25

- $6 ECB
= .23 OOP

Actually, I could have used the $5.98 ECB I used last night for the Colgate and ended up with 0 OOP. So, if you're a newbie and have no ECBs, you could do just the Colgate deal (with Q, but without the candy in my post ...), get $5.98 ECB, then buy the Neutrogena bars, have 0 OOP and $10 ECB!

So you would have two tubes of toothpaste and two Neutrogena bars for $3.98 OOP and $10 ECB!

BTW, at the store, the Ultimate Strength Mint Mylantas are still $7.49 ...



Transaction 2 (store 2)

They had the Neutrogena bars at this store, too. If I hadn't gotten it at the other store, I could have gotten used the $5/25 CRT. C'est la vie.

They had no Ultimate Strength Mylanta, or 25-count cotton rounds, or J&J bandages. They did have Gillette razors, though, so I did this ...

3 Suave Body Wash 18 oz (50 percent free, makes up for not having the 75 cent coupon)$6
1 Gillette Fusion Gamer $7.99
1 4-pack AAA batteries (for the camera) $2.99 (no Q, I know ... left at home)

- $4 Gillette 2/8 Q
- $12 ECB

= $0.98 OOP + 6 ECBS

The Suave ECBs didn't print out. Evidently there is a problem with them printing out on the Body Washes. If you're intending on doing this, make sure you have the flyer with you when you check out so you can show them. Then they can push through the ECBs manually.

When I said this to the cashier (older lady), she almost acted she didn't know what an ECB was. When I pointed it out to her, she said, "Oh, you got $4 ECBs here."

That was for the razor, I said. She left for a minute, came back and asked, "Where does it show in the ad for the razors?" I showed her.

At this point, I was really glad I did the Neutrogena deal at the other store. Finally she called the Assistant Manager. After a few minutes, he came out, then pushed through the ECBs.

Before this transaction, I had $30 ECBs. $30! I'm single with no kids or SO (my manly stuff is getting donated). I'm not going to die for burning a few ECBs. Plus, I got some stuff I wanted/needed (I like Suave body wash ... so sue me).

CVS Colgate

I was bummed at CVS tonight. I was able to find the toothpaste fine, but no Dental Rinse, no Gillette Fusion Gamers, no J&J with Neosporin, no Mylanta, and one 25-count round.

So I decided to get the toothpaste and picked up some Valetine's candy for what I thought was filler. No, it wasn't necessary for filler.

2 Colgate $2.99
1 Snickers Heart .25

-2 Colgate Total Qs $1 each
-3 ECB
= $1.23 OOP plus $5.98 ECBs

I'm coming down with a cold and didn't feel like traveling all over town to try to find a CVS so I could do a $30 deal.

On the upside, I got a $5/30 and two $5/25. I have a total of four $5/25s. Not sure how I'm going to use them all.

I could feel it ... CVS wanted me to spend money. I mostly resisted, however ...

Sally Hansen Hair Remover

I was able to pick up two more Mylanta Ultimate Strength at $3.75. On Sunday while at Rite Aid, I picked up some $2 off Sally Hansen hair remover tearpad Q. I had seen some lotion hair remover on clearance at CVS.

2 Ultimate Strength Mylanta $3.75
1 Sally Hansen Lotion Hair Remover $2.25
1 CVS Cotton Rounds $0.99

- $4/2 Mylanta Man Q
- $2 Sally Hansen Q
- $4 ECBs

= $0.34 OOP + $6 ECB

ETA: There is a $3/1 man Q in 12/14 RP. I only get two papers a week since I'm single, but if you have a plethora of papers, it can be a even better moneymaker!

Free Cards

On my way home from work today, I stopped off to get more free cards after ECBs. Yesterday I did a scenario that included a package of makeup circles.

3 .99 cent American Greetings cards = $2.97

1 25-count makeup circles = $0.99

1 package of pencils on clearance = $0.25

- $4 ECBs

= 0.21 OOP + 3 ECBs for the cards and $2 ECBs for the CVS cosmetic monthly deal.

I love helping the store get rid of their clearance items!

Free Stuff at CVS

I went to CVS and got my free snacks the other night. According to the receipt, I saved $14.51.

$4 for 4 Wheat Thins
$3.50 for Planters nut snack

- $4 (2 $2/1 Nabisco products)
- Free up to $5 for Planters Nut snack (up to $5)

= $0.00 OOP

The cashier was impressed and said, "That's the way to shop!"

CVS Fun in the Sun, in Michigan!

Today was a great day at CVS. I'm not sure how the rest of the month will work out, but today was wonderful.



Transaction #1:

2 BodiHeat 3.99 x 2 = $7.98
2 Natural Dentist Oral Rinse $9.99 x 2 = $19.98
1 Detroit Free Press $1.00

- $2 (2 $1 peelies on BodiHeat packages)
- $4 (2 $2 Internet Printable available here)
- $5 / $25 CVS Q
- $15.98 ECB

= $2.40 OOP + $8 ECB from Natural Dentist and $6 ECB from BodiHeat (both monthly deals)

I felt bad about this, thinking I messed up. I had a $3 ECB that I wasn't able to use in this scenario.

But, Natural Dentist has a $10 rebate here when you buy two Natural Dentist products. So I suppose ...

$2.40 - $10 = $7.60 Moneymaker + $14 ECBs!

Transaction #2

2 Mylanta Cherry Ultra Strength $3.75 x 2 = $7.50

- $4/2 from 1/4 inserts (I forget whether RP or SS)
- $3 ECBs (that I wasn't able to use in Transaction #1 and I was kicking myself for ... LOL!

= $0.50 OOP - $7.60 MM from Transaction #1 = $7.10 MM + $6 ECB




Transaction #3

1 Natural Dentist $9.99
2 Bodi Heats $3.99 * 2 = $7.98 (and I've reached the limit for this deal)
1 Gillette Fusion Gamer $7.99
1 Chips Ahoy $1
1 Snickers Hearts $0.50 (these are fillers)

- $14 ECBs
- $5 /25 CVS CRT
- $4 Fusion Q P&G 2/8
- $2 (2 $1 peelies from BodiHeat)
- $2 Natural Dentist Internet Printable

= $0.46 OOP ($7.10 - $0.46 = $6.64 MoneyMaker for the day) + $4 ECB Fusion + $4 ECB Natural Dentist + $6 ECB BodiHeat = $14 ECBs

I can't wait to take pictures of this tomorrow. It looks like fun! I still want to do the $1 Wheat Thins deal.

CVS Test Ad - Making Lemonade

I live in Michigan, so I'm one of the "lucky" to have the test ad this week. My intention going into CVS this morning was to check out the CRT machine to see if it would give me any goodies. Yes! A $5/$25. I already had one, but it expires 2/8 ... not much time use it for great dealies before it expires.

But since it gave me a $5/$25 and $1 CVS lotion, I decided to give it the old college try. In my arsenal was the Try Me Free MIR for Vitamin Shampoo. It prices at $6.99 and I didn't have a coupon for it, so I decided to just see what I could do ...

I found the two Earinses and the chewable aspirins that are part of the monthly ECB promotion. In test ad land, that's a girl's only option. I grabbed another 3 oz CVS lotion (the trial ones are for 99 cents in the trial area) and I was good to go.

2 Earinses $7.99
1 CVS chewable aspirin $1.99
1 CVS lotion $1.49
1 Vitamin Shampoo $6.99

-----
-$5 $5/$25 CRT
-$1 CVS Lotion CRT
-$13.98 ECB

= $6.86 + $17.97 ECB

-$6.99 = $0.13 + $0.42 postage = $0.29 OOP

Picture tomorrow

My CVS Score

I started the New Year with a resolution to learn more about CVSing and the enigmatic ECB phenom. I'll review the results a little later. Short version is I made some mistakes (like newbies do) and spent too much money. Also, my Mom died in the middle of the month, so I'm sure that affected things as well. For now, though, I love this deal. I'll take the picture tomorrow am.

Meanwhile, I've discovered that this works (I guess) for the Alyssa's Keeping the Kingdom First's CVS $5 Challenge.

ETA: Here it is:



The goal for tonight was just to see if the local CVS had gotten the famed Gillette Fusion Gamer razors in. Yes. Then, I've been looking for a new cosmetic bag because I've used my current one that I inherited from my grandmother since 1985. I am dead serious. Well, I'm only serious ...

Anywho, I found one not made out of cheap, shiny vinyl that will crack in two years. Yea, the inside of my current bag is all cracked in the middle, but the outside is cloth. This one is black satin. Very nice.

Modella train case 3 piece set $9.99
2 Throat Coolers (they were in this store! Finally!) $4.99 x 2
1 Gillette Gamer Razor $7.99
1 CVS Advanced Healing Lotion (filler) $1.49


-$5 $5/25
-$4 Gillette Q 12/28 P&G
-$1 CVS Lotion CRT
-$4.99 B1G1 Cooler Q 12/7 SS
-$13.99 ECBs

---------

= $0.47 OOP + $13.98 ECB ($4 from Gillette razor and $9.98 from the Throat Coolers)

Trip Summary: Today You Saved $30.98.

Getting More Bang for the Buck at Work

Part of my duties at work are making sure we have small gifts ready for benefactors. They give out 5 x 7 framed pictures and they love the polished cherry frames at CVS. I got a bunch the week before Mom died, but needed to finish up that task.



I went to a particular store that I knew tended to stock more (6, instead of up to 4 at other stores). I also had the $10/$50 coupon that was going to expire soon, but I didn't have time to think of another scenario.

The frames are normally $7.99. Most of CVS's sales on these frames are B1G1 50%. This week's is just a flat 25% off, which works better if you're seeking an odd # of frames.

I found 6 in various places in the frames section of the store. That would bring it up to $35.94. Since we're non-profit, we're also tax-exempt.

But that coupon was burning, YKWIM?

I had the $5/2 Duracell tearpad coupon, so got 2, 2-pack of C batteries. I had a $1 coupon for Divine cookies, so got a box. Then I got the 2/$5 Kellogg cereal deal (I left my other coupons back in the office, drat!). Live and learn.

So ...

6 5x7 frames $35.94
2 Kellogg cereal $5
2 Duracell batteries $5.98
1 Divine cookies $3.49

$50.41 :-)

-$10/$50 coupon
-$5 Duracell coupon (cashier wouldn't let me double up with a $1 P&G coupon I had)
-$1 Divine cookie CRT

= $34.41 OOP

The food went to the non-profit. I explained it to the house manager when I gave him the food. He was happy.

So, couponing is not only helping me, it is helping my non-profit to "buy" free stuff creatively.

CVS Cards

A few months ago, I thought I was being frugal by buying greeting cards at the dollar store for 50 cents each. Now that I'm starting to roll ECBs at CVS and couponing, that isn't the case anymore.

I took advantage of CVS's American Greetings buy 3 get $3 ECB deal this week. There's a 99-cent section in the card area. That's where you get your best selection of your el-cheapo cards.

3 Cards @ .99 = $2.97
1 CVS Loratadin $3.79
2 Hershey Special Dark bars 2/$1.00

-$6 ECB
-$.89 B1G1 Hershey Coupon (the coupon said limit .79, and I was only charged .50 a bar, so not sure how that will work with CVS in the end. I wasn't paying that close attention)

= .87 OOP plus $6.79 ECB

This is the first picture taken with my new camera. I can see that it'll never take pristine pictures, but I should be able to take pretty good ones in time.