This week has been really busy. We have both Angel Food distribution and quizzing this Saturday. I have not been as prepared as I was last week and so have been working on preparing quizzes as well as getting back up to close to the hours I should be working. Today (Thursday) it was nasty outside with snow turning to rain around lunch. I was not scheduled at the hospital but did have to work the nursing home. I was able to spend the morning making junk (chex mix, muddy buddies and reindeer crack). One of the reason, I have stayed so busy is we are in the process of trying to restock our freezer and pantry.
On Monday, I was able to have a awesome CVS trip. I spent $17.92 and saved $76.01 or 94%. I used two rain checks I have been holding on too and spent 10ECB. I did have coupons for most items and did 3 separate transactions. For the basically eighteen bucks I purchased 3 ZHU ZHU pets, a rechargeable toothbrush and 3 bags of candy for Christmas, I also got 8 cans of Tomato soup, 2 tubes of toothpaste, a single serving Mac and cheese and 8 Advil tablets. I also snagged 4 free candy bars at Food Lion the same day. I definitely am getting back in the swing of things.

I shop at CVS differently then most of what I have been reading lately. There are several reason for this first with 2 in diapers, I have to be able to supply these and still try to stay on a budget. I also enjoy the challenge of finding good deals. I rarely save ECBs. My thought is why keep free money, I am also afraid of losing or letting it expire. I probably made my best trip to CVS yesterday…looked at in isolation there is no way you can’t be impressed. I spent $0.80, saved 95% or $15.47 and earned an ECB as well. But this is just one of 3 trips this week.

Last Sunday, I made my weekly trip, I discovered a monthly deal on AZO anti-itch wipes and lotion over at Couponing to Disney. It is a monthly long deal. Original price was $6.99, coupon for $2 off making the product 4.99 plus you receive 5 ECB back with each purchase. This deal can be completed 3 times. I bought 2 of these items last Sunday and got a rain check for an additional 5 because the store was out. I returned on Wednesday to the store and they were still out so I decided to go to Thomasville. On Thursday, I went purchased the other 3 for my monthly limit as well as 3 bags of candy and a bag of candy corn, with coupons I spent 16.87 and received 15 ECB back. I used these on Saturday at CVS to purchase the Formula, Zach needed. So as you can see this is a game. Currently, I can repeat this deal using Amanda’s card prior to the end of the month and also until my coupons run out in December I can do another 5 on my card with the rain check I received. These items will get used around here but they would not be something I would normally buy. In reality I earn one cent for each time I buy so I buy use and then purchase what we really need with ECB. Are you playing the CVS game? Share how you play!

I will have to admit at first when I checked out the ad for CVS this week, I was unimpressed. In fact, I even told Matt that I didn’t think I would go to the store at all this week. So of course things change around here. I was checking out my stash and realized that we had about 8 rolls of toilet paper left. I remembered that P &G had an ECB deal this week. So I went back and re-looked at the sale. I am so glad I did. I have ended up going to CVS once on Sunday and back again on Monday. I am not sure you can repeat these transactions again for two reason. First I used Amanda’s card for a deal on Monday that included a free candle. Secondly, quarterly ECB bucks printed this week, I earned 7 and Amanda’s card 1.50. Third, I used several rain checks to purchase the Diet cokes and water, because we needed them at home. Finally, there is a glitch at the store so that I have been able to claim the P&G ECB twice. But I still wanted to share because it is COOL!

– 6 separate transactions
Total spent= 19.30
Total saved = 121.98 or 86%

Here is what I was able to purchase 2 scented candles,3 20 roll packs of toilet paper, 2 9 volt batteries, 1 Deodorant, 7 bags of candy, 2 bottles of nail polish, 2 boxes of panty shields,1 razor, 24 pack of water and 6 two liters of Diet Coke.

I enjoyed shopping this week!

I checked out the CVS sales last week (thursday) on line and was not that impressed. I also have been unable to find a 5 off 25 coupon in several weeks. So after going to CVS on Tuesday last week and getting more rain checks than actual items. I decided to try my luck on a Saturday night. The idea is that you get the better of the 2 weeks sales. I had a store coupon for diaper so I thought that would help. We are at the point where several needs have come us like shaving cream, contact solution and with both the kids being sick last week, I think we have doubled the use of diapers. I ended up spending 42 and saving only 17. The reason I wanted to post this is because sometimes it happens…hopefully not again soon!

One of the things that I try to do on a regular basis on Fridays is check out Southern savers for the upcoming Sunday ad. Last week, I was disappointed. I really didn’t see much that I wanted. So I skipped the Sunday trip. On Monday, I realized that I didn’t have any ladies deodorant in the stockpile and of course we needed some. I did remember that they had deodorant on sale so I decided to make a quick trip.

I was nicely surprised to find that when I scanned my card I received a coupon on diapers to use in the future. I also discovered that CVS brand formula was on sale buy one get one 50% off. Of course they only had one container of soy. I decided to be brave and ask if they would give it to me at 50% they did. I ended up spending $23 and saving $47 or 68%. I was pleased with my trip because I got formula, pacifiers, 2 hair products and 4 deodorants for $23. I also received a bonus of 5 off 15 at the register. The only catch was that it ran out on Friday.

This brings me to the second trip, on Thursday night. I decided to make a another trip to use the coupon and I knew I would also earn another ECB for use of my green tag bag. I scanned my card and got a free 2 ECB. I always carry my rainchecks with me and usually check. I found they had more of the Gillette body wash from several weeks ago. I decided to do 2 transactions. I ended up with 2 packs of diapers, 3 packs of batteries ( 2 off 2 coupon from the machine), 2 body washes and a 9 pack of toilet paper for $12.75 my savings 79% or $46!!

This is probably a good place to explain my thoughts on ECB. Many people (most I think) like to roll their ECB and try to leave the store with as many as they started with. I have a different idea, at this stage in our lives we have 2 in diapers and are buying baby food and formula. Diapers at “regular price” are around $10 a bag for the generic brand, so 3 bags a week $30 a week or around $120 a month. Zach is on Soy Formula so that is around $20 a week or another $100 a month. So I like to use any ECBs that I get to lower my OOP expenses for these items. I feel that if I bring ECBs home and save I am wasting money so I try to spend all that I receive in my last transaction to buy diapers and or formula. This week at CVS I was able to buy a week supply of diapers and formula for less than I would spend on diapers without couponing! That is the reason I love CVS!

I am going to do a detailed post on my trip to CVS today. It is a beginner transaction that anyone who uses diapers or wipes can repeat this week as well. I had not planned on buying diaper but the body wash ECB printed out together as one 8 instead of two 4ECBs.

I did start out with 3ECB from the Pantene deal that is also running this week. But I did 2 transactions today.
First Transaction: 2 Gillette body washes on sale for $4.00 each.
Used BOGO coupon from 5/2 PG and 2 ECB. Total OOP 2.62 and earned 9ECB (8 for Body wash and 1 for 4th time using Green bag tag)

Second Transaction: Huggies Wipes (216 count) $5.99 (Sale)
Huggies Jean Diapers (sale) $9.99
CVS lip balm 30 SPF $1.99
Used CVS printed Wipes coupon 2.00, Man. coupon 1.00, Diaper coupon 3.00, CVS printed $1 off any sunscreen product and 9ECB from previous transaction. Total OOP $1.09 which was tax!

This made by total OOP $3.79 and my saving $31 or 91% . Now just to be fair I am adding my trip from Sunday because I would have done a similar transaction if they would have not been out of the body washes already. My total OOP at CVS for the week is $23 with a savings of $47 or 67%. Prior to couponing, I would have spent $23 on the two packs of diapers on sale and a large pack of wipes. So I am still REALLY pleased with my trip. In fact Amanda and I may go tomorrow and use her card for body wash just as a money maker!