CVS - Free $25.00 Gift Card

A few weeks ago we got a coupon that printed out on our receipt for a free $25.00 CVS gift card if you transferred a prescription from a competitor or brought in a new one (couldn't be a refill). I thought, "We probably won't need this (as we don't get sick much in our house), but I'll keep it just in case." Well good thing I did because I had to get a prescription for Procardia (contraction reducing medicine) this week. I brought in my prescription, paid for it, and got a free $25.00 gift card. That will definitely go a long way with how I coupon. I am thinking 5 packs of diapers. ;)

CVS - Lots of Baby Stuff - 9/5

CVS has some great deals this week (9/5-9/11), especially on Gerber formula and J&J baby products. I also had some awesome coupons, including 4 $3.00 off $15.00 purchase, 2 $6.00 off formula, $8.00 in total coupons off the diapers and wipes, and the J&J coupons they mailed me.

I have 2 CVS cards (one in my name and one in Lee's name). I don't usually use more than one, but the formula/baby products deal was too good to not do it twice. We did three transactions with my card and two transactions with Lee's card (we went to two CVSs - used one card at each).

Here's everything we got:

Store #1 - My Card

Transaction #1 -
25.7 oz Gerber formula - normally $23.99, on sale for $20.00
2 J&J baby wash - normally $4.49 each, on sale for $2.50 each

Total before sales = $32.97
Total after sales = $25.00
Used a $3.00 off $15.00 purchase = $22.00
Used a $6.00 off formula = $16.00
Used 2 $2.50 off J&J = $11.00
Used $6.00 ECBs (from last week) = $5.00
Paid $5.69 with tax
Got back $10.00 ECBs (if you buy $25.00 in formula and/or J&J baby products, you get this)

Transaction #2 -
40ct Huggies diapers - normally $11.99, on sale for $8.99
360ct Huggies wipes - normally $11.99, not on sale

Total before sales = $23.98
Total after sales = $20.98
Used $3.00 off $15.00 purchase = $17.98
Used $4.00 off diapers & wipes (CVS coupon) = $13.98
Used $2.00 off diapers = $11.98
Used $2.00 off wipes = $9.98
Used $10.00 ECBs (from previous transaction) = FREE
Just paid the tax of $1.40

Transaction #3 -
3 Scott 6pk paper towels - normally $7.49 each, on sale for $4.99 each
2 Wisk - normally $8.49 each, on sale for B1G1 ($8.49 total)

Total before sales = $39.45
Total after sales = $23.46
Used $3.00 off $15.00 purchase = $20.46
Used 3 $1.00 off Scott = $17.46
Used 1 $3.00 off Wisk (I had 2, but she only let me use 1) = $14.46
Paid $16.05 with tax

Store #2 - Lee's Card

Transaction #1 -
25.7 oz Gerber formula - normally $23.99, on sale for $20.00
2 J&J baby wash - normally $4.49 each, on sale for $2.50 each

Total before sales = $32.97
Total after sales = $25.00
Used $3.00 off $15.00 purchase = $22.00
Used $6.00 off formula = $16.00
Used 2 $5.00 off J&J = $6.00
Paid $6.69 with tax
Got back $10.00 ECBs

Transaction #2 -
2 Wisk - normally $8.49 each, on sale for B1G1 ($8.49 total)

Total before sales = $16.98
Total after sales = $8.49
Used 2 $3.00 off Wisk (she let me use both this time) = $2.49
Used $2.49 in ECBs = FREE
Just paid the tax of 66 cents
Had $7.51 in ECBs left over*

EVERYTHING -

Total before sales = $146.35
Total after sales = $102.93
Used $77.47 in coupons
Spent $25.46 (plus tax)
Got $7.51 in ECBs left over

Saved 83%.
Saved 88% if you factor in the ECBs I got.

Quick CVS Trip - 8/30

Lee took me up to CVS tonight after dinner. I just wanted to get a few things really quick.

I got 2 Purex, 1 Cascade, and a Bounce.
It would have cost $25.16 (before tax).
I had $9.20 in CVS savings which brought me down to $15.96.
I used a $3.00 off $15.00 which brought me down to $12.96.
I used $1.45 in manufacturer's coupons which brought me down to $11.51.
I used a $10.00 ECB from last week which brought me down to $1.51 (before tax).
I got back $6.00 in ECBs.

So not counting my $10.00 ECB, I technically "spent" $5.51 (before tax), for a savings of 78%.

CVS & Rite Aid - 8/22

Today could be called Toilet Paper Day. Lee and I stopped by CVS and Rite Aid and I ran in and got some awesome deals on toilet paper, diapers, and laundry detergent.

CVS

3 packs (16 double rolls) of Charmin toilet paper - normally $11.99 each, on sale for $9.99 each

Total before sale = $35.97
Total after sale = $29.97
Used $5.00 off $25.00 purchase = $24.97
Used 2 25c coupons = $24.47
Total with tax = $26.41
Got back $10.00 ECBs

Saved 60%.

RITE AID

Transaction #1 -

2 packs (12 rolls) Cottonelle toilet paper - normally $11.49 each, on sale for $6.49 each

1 pack Huggies diapers - normally $11.99, on sale for $8.99

2 Xtra detergents - normally $3.49 each, on sale for $2.00 each

Total before sale = $41.95

Total after sale = $25.97

Used $5.00 off $25.00 purchase = $20.97

Used $1.00 and 50c off coupons on Cottonelle = $19.47

Used $2.00 and $3.00 off coupons on Huggies (stacked RA & mft cpns) = $14.47

Used 2 $1.00 off Xtra coupons = $12.47

Total with tax = $13.71

Got back $1.00 UP reward for Xtra and $2.00 UP reward for Huggies

Transaction #2 -

2 packs (12 rolls) Cottonelle toilet paper - normally $11.49 each, on sale for $6.49 each

1 pack Huggies diapers - normally $11.99, on sale for $8.99

2 Xtra detergents - normally $3.49 each, on sale for $2.00 each

Total before sale = $41.95

Total after sale = $25.97

Used $5.00 off $25.00 purchase = $20.97

Used 50c coupon on Cottonelle = $20.47

Used $3.00 coupon on Huggies = $17.47

Used $1.00 coupon on Xtra = $16.47
Used UP rewards ($2.00 and $1.00) from previous transaction = $13.47

Total with tax = $14.71

Got back $1.00 UP reward for Xtra and $2.00 UP reward for Huggies

I also get a $5.00 SCR for the 4 Cottonelle.

What I would have spent = $83.90 (minus tax)

What I did spend (after sales, coupons, SCR, and UP rewards) = $17.94 (minus tax)

SAVED 79%.

Quick Diapers & Wipes Run at CVS

Tonight, I made a quick run for diapers and wipes at CVS. The other night Lee had to get a prescription filled and get some meds for his ear infection, and he, being the brilliant husband he is, saved all the coupons that printed on the bottom of his receipt (he's learned fast that you never throw out coupons). One was for $3.00 off a purchase of $15.00 and the other was for $4.00 off Huggies Jeans diapers.

Well, Huggies Jeans diapers were on sale for $8.99 (normally $11.99) and I had the $4.00 coupon plus a $1.50 off any Huggies diapers. You can stack coupons (AKA use a CVS coupon and a manufacturer's coupon) so that was $5.50 off.

I also had a $1.50 off Pampers coupon and a buy a pack of Pampers diapers, get a free pack of Pampers wipes (awesome coupons to use together). Well Pampers happened to be on sale this week for $8.88 (normally $11.99).

I figured I would get the Huggies diapers, the Pampers diapers, and the wipes, and use all my coupons and save a bundle. Well when I went it, I scanned my card at the CVS coupon machine in front (always do this!) and it gave me a $3.00 off $15.00 purchase and a $5.00 off $15.00 purchase. The $5.00 off $15.00 expired before the $3.00 off $15.00 and was the better coupon, so I used that one.

She rang it all up - $11.99 for the Huggies diapers, $11.99 for the Pampers diapers, and $2.99 for the CVS wipes (they were out of Pampers so I asked if I could substitute and she did it).

She scanned my CVS card - I saved $3.11 on the Pampers diapers and $3.00 on the Huggies diapers ($6.11 in CVS savings). My total was then $20.86.

I gave her my coupons in this order (I say this because it is very important):
$5.00 off $15.00 CVS coupon(always use these 1st because if you give the coupons and get below $15.00 they can't take it).
$4.00 off Huggies diapers CVS coupon
$1.50 off Huggies diapers manufacturer's coupon
$1.50 off Pampers diapers manufacturer's coupon
Free Pampers wipes with purchase of Pampers diapers manufacturer's coupon

I had a total of $14.99 in coupons.
I had a total of $21.10 in total savings.

The total was then $6.79 including tax.
It would have been $28.99 including tax.

I SAVED 77%!!!

Quick CVS Trip Today

So I went to CVS today since I had $10.00 in ECBs to use and needed sunscreen. I had a handful of sunscreen coupons and figured I could find a good deal. If nothing else, I wouldn't have to "pay for" the sunscreen. ;)

Well I went in and looked for things I had coupons for. Ironically none of them were on sale. I saw Coppertone was on sale from $10.99 to $8.99, but the best part was it had a $2.00 ECB. So, I decided I would get the Coppertone and some candy to use my $10.00 ECBs and get the $2.00 ECB and use that to buy a Banana Boat which I had a coupon for.

Transaction #1 -
Coppertone - normally $10.99, on sale for $8.99, got a $2.00 ECB
2 candies - normally 89 cents each, on sale for 50 cents each

Total $10.77, used $10.00 ECB. Paid 77 cents. Got back a $2.00 ECB AND a $3.00 off $15.00 purchase coupon.

When I got the $3.00 off $15.00 purchase coupon, I decided to get a few more snacks for our beach trip since they were virtually free.

Transaction #2 -
Banana Boat - $10.99
2 Pretzels - 99 cents each
2 Pringles - $1.00 each

Total $15.71. Used the $3.00 off and the $2.00 ECB as well as a $1.00 off Banana Boat coupon. Paid $9.71.

So I would have spent $29.25. I saved $18.77. I spent $10.48. I saved 64%.

Not bad for a quick trip into CVS to get some sunscreen.

How to Play the Drugstore Game

This is a general breakdown of how to shop at CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens. I will be devoting a post to each one individually, but I thought I would give you a general idea of "How to Play the Drugstore Game."

CVS
CVS Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) program is an instant rebate program that prints out CVS “money” on the bottom of your receipt when you purchase qualifying items. They work just like cash on your next purchase (or any purchase before the expiration date). You also get an additional 2% or your total spending quarterly. This program is a great money maker for toiletries and baby items. You can use manufacturer coupons, store coupons, and ECBs on the same item. You need a CVS card (FREE!!!) to access these bucks.

Rite Aid
Rite Aid’s Single Check Rebate (SCR) program is a monthly rebate program that gives you money back in the form of a monthly check for qualifying items. You simply buy the item (hopefully using a coupon in addition), pay for it, go on their website and type in a few things off of your receipt, submit for your check at the end of the month, and a couple of weeks later you get a check. You can only request a check once in the month, so it’s best to wait until the end of the month.

Walgreens
Walgreens Register Rewards (RR) program is an instant rebate program that prints out WAGS “money” on a coupon when you purchase qualifying items. They work just like a cash coupon on your next purchase (or any purchase before the expiration date). You can only use as many coupons as you have items (ie if you have 4 things, you can use 4 coupons – a RR counts as a coupon). You can get a cheap filler item to get past this.

CVS Couponing

2 40-count packs of diapers
20-count double roll pack of Charmin
Cascade
2 Oust
6 12-pack sodas
6 Soy Joy bars
2 Cover Girl foundations
2 Revlon powders

This would have cost $137.00. I paid $37.00. That's $100 in savings (73%).