CVS - Expired ECBs, free Lifelock starter kit, free razors

Before you go any further, check out this article I just wrote about how to save money by packing bento-style meals for your family - they're fun and nutritious AND thrifty!

I woke up this morning and decided to skip CVS - the deals weren't that great and there are no coupons in today's paper, so why not. But then a few hours later I checked my ECBs and realized in a panic that I had $9 that expired last Tuesday! If it had been a dollar or two I might've just written it off, but $9 is a LOT. So out I went, because I know some stores do take expired ECBs and I figured I'd have the best luck at my favorite CVS with the staff who know me by now.

My goal was to spend as close to $9 as possible.

The store only had one pack of the disposable razors that are on sale, and that pack was rather hidden in a bin. And the cashiers didn't know where the Lifelock thing was and told me they didn't think they had it in the store, but I found it randomly stuck to an endcap near the seasonal stuff. I actually was considering buying a hair towel ($5, may get it next week) and happened to look at the rest of the rack and found them. So then I grabbed a three-pack of the CVS paper towels, because we need them and they are on sale this week for $1.99. Other things I considered included the nearly-free Scope stuff, but I have been destashing my toothpaste like crazy and I didn't have the coupon with me anyway. And I must admit, I eyeballed the ridiculous margarita blender that's $30 - if it will crush ice, it may be something I'll grab next week.

I handed over my ECBs first, and they beeped, but the cashier pushed them through. Hooray! Then I handed over the coupon for the razors, making my pre-tax total negative 3 cents. I paid the 81 cents in sales tax with my money card, so I had a ZERO OOP today. Got back $6.99 - a loss of $2.01 in ECBs, but not a loss of $9!

Next week I need to spend a LOT of bucks that are expiring. Today's lesson learned: I cannot deal with having so many ECBs on hand, and I really need to cut back. I'll be getting toilet paper and other necessities next week, I'm sure.



Total OOP: $37.18 ($21.71 tax)
Total merchandise: 20 double Sunday papers, 3 single Sunday papers, 4 boxes Throat Coolers, 1 Garnier 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner, 8 packs of Stayfree maxi pads, 1 box of sheer Band Aids, 4 boxes of Soy Joy bars, 20 Soy Joy bars, 1 pack of Nutra Trim gum, 6 bottles Dawn, 4 travel packs of tissues, 7 greeting cards, 2 boxes 5 ct. allergy meds, 3 3-packs of CVS brand paper towels, 1 box of CVS cold medicine (Dayquil-ish), 1 Gillette shampoo, 1 Gillette conditioner, 1 Gillette shampoo+conditioner, 1 box of 30 Breathe Right strips, 4 Gillette Gamer razors, 4 L'Oreal towelettes, 1 KY product, 1 CVS toilet paper, 1 10-count Excedrin, 1 chewable aspirin, 2 Johnson's Buddies soaps, 1 20 oz. Dr. Pepper, 2 small CVS mouthwashes, 10 25-count CVS cotton rounds, 4 small boxes of Wheat Thins, 1 Boost Kid Essentials, 2 Cascade Action Pacs, 2 bags of Halls cough drops, 2 Energy Shots 2 pack, 5 Colgate toothpastes, 1 small box Breathe Right strips, 5 bottles Suave body wash, 2 bottles Herbal Essences shampoo, 2 bottles Herbal Essences conditioner, 1 Snickers heart candy, 2 bottles Mylanta Mint, 1 Fruitopia shampoo, 2 Venus Spa Breeze razors, 1 Renuzit Tri-Scent starter kit, 1 box 10-count Carnation Instant Breakfast, 2 single-serving Pringles, 1 bottle Vaseline lotion, 1 tube Crest toothpaste, 1 bottle Irish Spring body wash, 5 Dry Idea roll on deodorants, 1 Colgate Max White, 3 Colgate Max Fresh, 1 Crest Pro-Health Enamel, 2 Hylands teething tablets, 2 Skintimate shave gels, 1 pack Juicyfruit gum, 1 Softsoap coconut scrub, 2 Colgate sensitive toothpastes, 1 Zantrex 2-pack, 1 Adidas deodorant, 3 Contour monitors, 1 Bayer quick-release aspirin, 3 tubs CVS-brand baby wipes, 2 bags Purina dog treats, 1 box of Playtex tampons, 2 boxes of Hello Kitty bandaids, 1 Clearasil face wash, 3 Speed Stick pro deodorants, 1 diet Dr. Pepper, 2 Gillette Fusion razors, 3 Powerades, 2 Thermacare wraps, 2 packs CVS panty liners, 3 boxes Post Trail Mix Crunch cereal, 2 rolls CVS tape, 2 bottles school glue, 8 10-packs of pens, 2 rulers, 3 scissors, 4 1-subject notebooks, 3 Dove chocolate bars, 1 Bayer Breeze2 monitor, 5 photobooks, 1 photo DVD, 2 small packs of almonds, 4 packs of filler paper, 2 vinyl binders, 2 small memo pads, 3 bubble mailers, 4 composition books, 2 packs of Pilot pens, 3 caramels, 2 packs of sticky notes, 3 boxes Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal, 1 Blink Tears, 5 bottles Softsoap Serum, 1 Revlon mineral mousse, 2 travel packs CVS baby wipes, 6 Twix bars, 1 Milky Way dark bar, 1 Axe shampoo/bonus hair gel, 2 mini composition books, 1 L'Oreal Revitalift deep set wrinkle repair, 1 L'Oreal Revitalift Eye Duo, 6 Red Cross first aid kits, 1 pair Phillips headphones, 4 packs of Carefree panty liners, 1 trial size Arm&Hammer toothpaste, 10 packs of Poise liners, 1 big Glade Fragrance Collection soy candle, 1 mini Glade Fragrance Collection soy candle, 1 Clairol Living Color hair dye, 2 bottles Renu (one sensitive, one regular), 1 pack of Schick disposable sensitive razors, 1 Lifelock starter kit.

Current ECB status: $53.91