CVS plan for Mother's Day 2010 - 5-9-10

I have a $2.50 ECB (from quarterly spending) and a $5 (from doing the Nivea deal last week - I used 2x$4, 2x$1, $2-2-body-wash-CRT, and did the deal).

First, I have to buy the paper (not at CVS, at Kroger, where they always have the double paper available). That will be $3 cash.

Then I'll fish out the $5 Schick coupon.

Next: Crest - $3.50 (I actually want/need the mouthwash, so I won't use the coupon that's for the toothpaste) plus Schick - $8.99 minus $5 coupon = $3.99. I'll be a penny short of my ECBs, so I'll see if the cashier will take them first. I'll break even, ECB-wise.

Then a second Crest, because I need it - use $3.50, get back $3.50.

Then 2 Right Guard deodorants - $5.98, minus $3-2 coupon, so $2.98 - and Kotex $4.99 - here's where it gets tricky, as I have the regular coupons.com printable AND the CVS-only printable. If the cashier will let me use both (and she should), I'll need $1.50 in filler stuff (paper towels or toilet paper, most likely). If not, just 50 cents in filler, which is a travel tissue pack. I'll get back $4 and $4.99 - profit!

We'll see....

Update:

Done! Not pictured, 12-pack of Cottonelle toilet paper. Total OOP: about $4. And I now have $9.50 in ECBs.

CVS plans for 3/7/10

I am planning at the moment to hit CVS tomorrow morning. I have $6.50 in ECBs.

Ideally I'll get:

2 Nivea lip products - $5.98
1 Oral B toothbrush - $4
Use BOGO Nivea (-$2.99), 75 cents off Oral B. I guess I'll need a 26 cent filler - the pocket tissues for 50 cents always work nicely for my needs...
Get back $6.99. ($4, $2.99)

And I need the double paper, which has gone up in price to $3 (used to be $2.50). Probably will do that second and use the $2.99 to get it free.

I also MAY do the Stayfree deal: get 2 Stayfree products (I think they're around $3.80 each? I can use the $4 and throw in a filler), use BOGO, get back $4. Maybe.

CVS - Scenario/plans for 12/6

I haven't done a proper CVS trip - all by myself, early in the morning on a Sunday - in some time. As of right now I am planning on going tomorrow morning though!

I need to get the Sunday paper and some lotion for my daughter. I have $8, $1.59, $3.

Plans:

Bayer monitor - use coupon, get it free, get back $5.
Zantac - use $1 coupon and $8 ECB, get back $8.99. (There's a $2 printable out there too - if I can get it to print I may use that instead. If I do that, I will use the $8 and the $1.59 and get the paper in this transaction so it's free.)
Then spend a bunch of ECBs on the lotion - there's a $1 coupon for the brand I want so that will help.
I think I need 2 more Green Bag Tag scans to get my next dollar.

So. Not very exciting, and I need to make sure I have the right coupons...

I am Jewish, by the way, so I'll be skipping the Christmas freebies this week. They're cute but I don't need them and I don't need to roll any bucks.

CVS - Scenario for 9/13/09

I'm starting to figure out my plans for this weekend. As always, this post may change (or even disappear completely) over time.

I have a $6 ECB that expires on the 15th that I need to spend, and a $15-and-change that expires on the 22nd (so I have a bit of time for that but...).

I plan on getting two of the energy drinks - they are $4.99/get $4.99 and I am going to see if I have any $5 ECBs to roll and buy them one at a time.

I am going to "spend" some of my bucks on the Cottonelle 12-pack for $5.99 - that's a good price and we can always use TP.

I found two $2/Listerine coupons and one $1/Listerine coupon in my pile (and I feel like I should have one more $2 - if I have time before Sunday I'll dig around...) so I'm definitely getting three bottles. It's fine with me to spend the $1 on all three because I use this stuff and I'd rather have Total Care than the others in my stash.

I so far haven't been able to get the Dove deodorant coupon to print but if I can, I'll probably get two of those and spend another $1.

And then of course I need the newspaper.

So I'll probably end up with about $10 fewer in ECBs than I started with (I don't see any overage deals so far that I'm interested in fiddling with) but I feel like $30-ish is more manageable, especially since I'm going on vacation in a few weeks and may not even be anywhere near a CVS. PLUS in November is Black Friday - just around the corner! - and I know I'll roll my bucks back up again!

CVS - Scenario for 8/30 and an update

First the update! CVS corporate emailed me and apologized and is giving me a $1 ECB to replace the one I lost. Hooray!

Second, my plans. I have all sorts of things I want/need this week and a $4/$20 I'd like to use. So I'm going to get some of the following, depending on what my store has in stock.

1 double Sunday paper - $2.50
1 Glade candle - $6.99 - I have a $2 printable coupon for this. I also have a feeling my store is going to be out of the candles, but I REALLY want one.
1 Clairol hair color - $4.99 - I have a $4 coupon for this, and I've been thinking it maybe time to dye my hair again.
2 boxes of baby wipes - they're on sale buy one, get one 50% off. We need these. We use cloth wipes too but sometimes we use the wet wipes for various things.
Possibly either the Aquafresh or Sensodyne toothpaste - I have a $1 coupon for each that would make them $1 after ECBs. The products look interesting and I really want to SPEND some of my bucks.

That should bring me to $20.

THEN:

2 bottles of Renu - $7.99 x2 - I have a $2 CRT for the Sensitive Eyes and two $2 printable coupons for the Sensitive Eyes and two for the fresh lenses, plus $3/$12 eye care from the Readyfill booklet. This is my eye care solution of choice and I'm running low, though I still have a bunch of bottles of Complete eye solution that I got for free a while back too. This is all IF the Sensitive Eyes version is part of the sale. But even if it isn't, I'll probably go for it.

AND (Thanks to moneysavingmom.com)

1 Aquafresh, 1 Sensodyne, use two $1 printables and the $2/$10 oral care Readyfill coupon, get both for free. (Throw in a penny Arm&Hammer trial toothpaste if they have any left to get to 9.99.)

OTHER OPTIONS:
1 photobook - I still have my rain check for $7.99/$7.99.
I also still have a rain check for glue sticks (my Sunday store hasn't had them but the walking distance CVS has), as well as coupons for free small Glade candles (haven't yet seen these in any of my local stores), free Rice Krispies (my husband wants Cocoa Krispies though, and CVS doesn't have those that I've seen), and today I got free Lipton tea bags. All of these could be filler to get to $20.

Seriously, I think $30 in ECBs is manageable for me personally, and I have nearly $60! I may start buying toilet paper, paper towels, and more baby wipes or something. I also wanted a new memory card for my camera, so I might grab one of those. I have a $15+ ECB that I want to get rid of!

CVS - Scenario/plans for August 16

OK here's what I think I'm going to do.

Option 1:

1 L'Oreal wrinkle cream $14.99
1 L'Oreal cleansing wipes - $5.99

Then some or all of the following:

6 Red Cross travel kits - $5.94
1 Phillips headphones - $6.99 (and you KNOW they'll be out of these, right? but I can try!)
2 school boxes - $3.98
2 filler paper - $1.98
2 mini composition books - $3.98
2 packs of pens - $1.98
2 packs of glue sticks [with rain check] - $1.98 [I think?]

I'll use $5/L'Oreal printable, $1/L'Oreal from 8/2/09 RedPlum, $5/$25 printable, 5x$1/Red Cross. The L'Oreal will be free after ECBs and I should make a profit on the Red Cross travel kits.

Then I'll save the free Rice Krispies and the photo book rain check for the following week, when I'll use my last $4/$20 (ReadyFill coupon) (I'm hoping I can combine the rain check $7.99/$7.99 Photobook with the BOGO sale - my favorite cashier wasn't sure but I'll ask again tomorrow.)

OR! Option 2:

If my store has every single freebie, including the free headphones, I may skip the L'Oreal (I don't need it but I do like the towelettes so...), get the free Rice Krispies and some of the other stuff listed above, and still use the $5/$25 for a bigger profit.

The way I see it, I have LOTS of ways to get to $25, and I can still hold on to my photo book rain check!

CVS - Scenario for 8/9/09

Here's my plan...

1 Revlon makeup - $9.99
4 candy bars - $2
1 6x8 photobook - $7.99
1 double paper - $2.50
2 glue stick packs - $1.98
Axe shampoo or Rice Krispies

$2/Revlon coupon from Glamour magazine, 2x2/$1 candy coupons, free Axe coupon from Maxim magazine [assuming CVS carries this line] or free Rice Krispies coupon sent to me from Vocalpoint, $5/$25 from cvs.com, rainchecks for photobook and glue sticks. I'll get back $9.99, $7.99 and $1.98. This all hinges on my store having photobooks and glue sticks in stock, of course. I also have a $4/$20 from the ReadyFill booklet if I can only reach $20.

Oh and couponmom.com says that in the 8/9 Sunday paper's Smartsource there will be a coupon for $6 off an Air Wick product that will be on sale for $5.99. I don't need nor really want this thing (I prefer tarts/candles to any air freshening spray...) but if I need to get it for filler, I'll buy the paper first with ECBs and then get the coupon...

ETA: I was told that the 5/25 beeps and says it's invalid until the 10th, so I'll just use a 4/20 and save the photobook for next week, I think.

CVS - Scenario for August 2, 2009

I think either this week or next is the last of the fun freebie weeks. So far my favorite store has been good about having about 80-90% of the freebies in stock. It's tax-free weekend here in Georgia and all the school supplies I buy should be tax free (which won't matter MUCH but should keep my final total low). So here's what I plan on doing:

Transaction one (because I need a coupon from the paper for a later transaction):
2 packs of Stayfree - $10
1 double Sunday paper - $2.50
1 SoftSoap - $4.99

Use BOGO Stayfree coupon and $2 Softsoap coupon. Pay $11.49 plus tax, get back $9.

[I just did the math and I can get to $11.87 with ECBs, so I'll have to find a 30-ish cent filler. A caramel, probably...]

Transaction two (only the tax-free stuff):
2 folders - 98 cents
2 notebooks - $1.98
2 packs of glue sticks - $1.98
2 pairs of scissors - $5.98
2 packs of pens or pencils - $1.98
MAYBE 2 rulers - $1.98 (I don't need these at all, but I could donate them I'm sure)
MAYBE one of each of the protractor/compass - $3
MAYBE 2 book covers - $1.98

All free and no tax, so pay with ECBs and should have no OOP.

Final transaction:
Blink Tears - $7.99
Use $3 coupon from Sunday paper, pay $4.99 get back $7.99.

I should wind up with 50 cents more than I started with. :)

CVS Scenarios - July 12, 2009

So I really hope my CVS has everything in stock. Here's what I think I'm going to do:

1 CVS Photobook - $7.99 [I hope my area has a higher limit because these make great gifts, but I'll at least make one!]
3 Tylenol Arthritis - $11.98. Use $2.50/$10 pain reliever CRT that I got last week plus three $2/Tylenol Arthritis coupons [hooray, just checked and I had two from the papers I bought PLUS my mother happened to send me that week's coupons!]. So pay $3.48, get back $9.

Then the freebies in order of what I really want (odds are so good my store will be sold out of everything...)

Two of the big notebooks - $7.98
Two of the small notebooks - $1.98
Two of the school glue - $1.98
Two of the scissors - $5.98
Three of the pens - $2.98
Two rulers - $1.98

If the store had every single thing in stock, I'd pay $34.35 - I have $31.46 in ECBs though, so I'd have to split up the transactions. (I'd probably do the photo book separately.) I also have at least one more diabetes monitor coupon for another $5.

Should be a great week!

CVS - Scenario for 5/24

So my $5/$30 doesn't expire until Sunday. SCORE! Let's see if I can make a scenario that makes it worthwhile:

1 Clearasil face wash - $3.99 [-$2 coupon]
1 Playtex tampons - $3.99 [-$1 coupon]
2 Bandaids - $5.98 [- 2 $1 coupons]
1 Colgate - $2.99 [-$1 coupon]
$16.95

There's also the $3.99 Revlon nail color - get back $3 ECBs. There's a coupon for $1 off a "Revlon Color Cosmetic Product" but I have learned in the past that there is a *specific* type of nail polish that is also a "Color Cosmetic." Let's say for scenario's sake that I buy it without the coupon...that brings me to $20.94.

After coupons, all the above will cost me $14.94 and I'll get back $15.99.

What can I get for $9-ish more to bring me to $30 so I can use the $5/$30? Hmmmm.

I only have $12 in ECBs and I hate paying OOP, so if I can't finagle the $5/$30 [and I don't think I can with a low OOP - may be able to figure out something we need though and just get it cheap], I'll skip the nail polish (which isn't even free), pay $10.95 [may need filler to get up to $12] and get back $12.99.


Update (thanks awshucks!):

1 Clearasil face wash - $3.99 [-$2 coupon]
1 Playtex tampons - $3.99 [-$1 coupon]
2 Bandaids - $5.98 [- 2 $1 coupons]
1 Colgate - $2.99 [-$1 coupon]
1 Revlon nail polish - $3.99
2 Speed Stick Pro - $7.98
1 Diet Dr. Pepper - $1.50ish [I found my coupon for a free one!]

= $30.42 before coupons
= $17.92 after coupons [could be $16.92 if I can get the Revlon to work]
= $12 ECBs + $5ish OOP (which is really high for me, so I don't know if this is all worth it)
Get back $23.97 ECBs. (Right?)

Update: I now have two $3/Purina coupons. I think I will do this:

Clearasil - $3.99
2 Bandaids - $5.98
Colgate - $2.99
2 Speed Stick Pro - $7.98
Diet Dr Pepper - $1.50 (approx)
1 Playtex - $3.99
2 Purina treats - $5.98
$32.41 before coupons, $14.91 (ish) after coupons, use $12 ECBs, get back $17.97.
Maybe.

CVS - Scenario for 4/12/09

I'm kicking myself for not getting the Reinventing Beauty magazines in one of my recent transactions, because it has a coupon in it for $1.50 off the Softsoap that is on sale this week - and if I had it, well, you'll see...

My plan:

1 Softsoap - $4.99
1 Colgate - $3.99
-$1/Softsoap, -$1/Colgate
$6.98, use $6.48 ECBs and 50 cents+ tax cash (see? if I'd had the $1.50 coupon I would've had zero oop/just tax. Oh well.)
Get back $8.98. Small gain which will go back down the following week when the paper has coupons in it again.

I may then use another $1/Colgate coupon (I have two) and get a travel pack of baby wipes + more Colgate, since the limit is 2. We'll see.

There are NO coupons in the paper this week as far as I know.

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CVS Scenario - 4/5/09

I'm not that excited for this week. Next week looks more fun (two moneymakers that are actually on useful things).

I'm going to buy:
1 double paper - $2.50
1 Easter basket (even though I do not celebrate Easter) - $1.99
1 Skintimate shave gel - $3.49
=$7.98
Use $4.99, $2.99. Get back $1.99, $3.49. Have less than $10 in ECBs for the first time in a while...

Or maybe skip the Easter basket and get the 99 cent Reinventing Beauty mag, since there's the $1.50 Softsoap coupon in there so I'll get the ECBs back next week...

My other card has a $4.99 ECB and I may use that for a shave gel plus either the Easter grass and a 50 cent filler or another basket.

CVS - Scenario for 3/22/09

Here's what I'm planning:

1 double paper - $2.50
1 Crest - $3.69
1 Kotex Lightdays liners (I think) - $4.19
1 50 cent filler

-$3.69 (free Crest coupon that I got from a rebate), -$1.50 Kotex CRT, -75 cent Kotex coupon [the Kotex CRT + coupon combined equal free Kotex after ECB]

Use $3 ECB that expires this week, $2 ECB. If I give these first and the coupons second, I should get 6 cents off sales tax (or the coupon will be adjusted? or I should just eat the 6 cents by letting them adjust the ECBs). Get back $3.69, $2. 69 cent profit that likely will be balanced out by whatever I pay OOP in sales tax on the Crest and Kotex. I may just skip the Kotex as I don't really need them nor do I need to roll the $2, but it's also hard to resist free stuff, you know? ;)

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CVS Scenario for 3/15/09

OK, option A is to go tomorrow to the CVS that I know starts its sales on Saturday and use my $1/Colgate coupon (that expires on 3/14) to make $1 on the Colgate.

Option B is more likely.

Transaction 1:
Dry Idea - $2.99
Newspaper - $2.50
Use $2/Dry Idea coupon (printable from coupons.com), $3 ECBs, pay 50 cents + tax OOP. Get back $2.

Fish out coupons and then get:

Colgate - $2.99
Irish Spring - $4.99

Use .50/Irish Spring, .75/Colgate [I just noticed this will be for the "Total" line - and I don't know for sure that the free Colgate is part of that line, so I may not be able to use that.]

Total is $6.73 - I think I probably have a combo of ECBs that will equal $7 so I'll add filler, pay whatever OOP, get back $7.98 - or use $6 ECBs + the money card, pay a tiny bit OOP, get back $7.98. Not sure yet. But basically end up with close to what I started with - getting the paper for free, hooray!

We'll see. I'm reevaluating and if the Colgate coupon isn't for the right thing, the 50 cent Irish Spring coupon isn't worth it for me to fish out (I'd just have to add a 50 cent filler, basically). So here's Option C:

Colgate - $2.99
Irish Spring - $4.99
Dry Idea - $2.99
Double paper - $2.50

Use $2/Dry Idea coupon. Total will be $11.47 (I have to figure out what combination of Bucks I have). I'll get back $9.98.

Edit: Two different forums (hotcouponworld and afullcup) are reporting that the Dry Idea limit is 3. I have four coupons printed now - and I think I may go for it, as that $3 in overage would cover my newspaper! My total would be $13.45 [I could use $12.99 in ECBs and 41 cents on my money card] and I'd get back $13.98!

CVS - Scenario for 3/8

Yeah, it's a bit early, but I wanted to start figuring things out.

I have a coupon for a free Crest toothpaste, so I'll be using that to get a free $2 in Extrabucks, hooray!
I think I'll use my last $3/2 Herbal Essences coupon - they're on sale for $2.88 each with $1 ECB back on each, so I'll spend $2.76 and get $2 back. This is my preferred brand too.
Then...probably not much else aside from the paper, unless some super deal shows up. I could grab the vitamin D this week but I may put that off. We'll see.

More to come as I see more deals!

Edited 3/7/09: Ah! According to iheartcvs.com, Crest Pro Health Enamel toothpaste will be on sale the week of 3/22 giving $3.49 back! I'm holding onto my coupon until then! :)

CVS - Scenario for 2/15/09

I just found out that there are no coupon inserts in this weekend's paper, which means I don't have to "spend" bucks on the paper!

Thus, this is my plan so far (UPDATED 2/13):

2x Colgate -$2 (2 coupons)
1x Gillette Gamer -$4 coupon
1x cotton rounds w/coupon
1x cotton rounds w/out coupon (I can only use one coupon per transaction...)
3x Suave body wash -free coupon ($2), -$1/2 coupon.

$11.95
Use $10, $2.

Get back $13.98.

If I add cheap Valentine's Day markdowns (candy???), I could get my total up to $14, have zero OOP and still get back $13.98.

-----

I also could decide to only buy one cotton rounds with a coupon (so free) in this transaction and do a second transaction of another one + coupon (so, again, free). If I do that, I would instead add in a second energy drink (apparently the limit is now two) so my total would be $14.96 - I could use $10 and $4.99. Then get back $14.97. Then do the second cotton rounds transaction and use the Boost coupon in that one (I can make a good excuse to do that second transaction actually) and get $2 more. We'll see. I'm keeping up the original plan so that I can print this all out on Sunday.

Also, apparently mini Pringles are $1 and I have four coupons for $1 off...

I have a bad feeling the cotton rounds and toothpaste will all be gone on Sunday though. This is going to be interesting.

CVS Scenario for 2/8

I'm totally open to suggestions on how to improve on this!

I have 2 $10s, a $4, and a $2.

My plan:
4 American Greetings cards - the 99 cent ones apparently work, and I have two BOGO coupons. So $1.98 and will get back $3.
2 cotton rounds - I'll use one coupon (it's one per transaction) and so pay 99 cents and get back $2.
2 Cascade Action Packs - the main reason I need to go back, this is the brand we prefer and it's on sale, I have two $1 coupons, so $5.98.
1 Halls - after coupon, this will be 79 cents. My husband goes through cough drops like you wouldn't believe.
1 Listerine - apparently after coupon I can score a big bottle for 39 cents.

All together, $10.13. Use a $10, get back $5.

OR, if the store has the Mylanta, substitute that for the Halls/Listerine. Total will be $10.60 plus tax, use $10 ECB, get back $8.

Can you figure out a better way for me to do this? Basically I want to get the Cascade + things that give me profit. And all of my stores are out of the bonus packs of everything, more or less.

Go!

CVS - Scenario for 2/1/09

My plan is definitely this:

2xL'Oreal - $11.98
Double paper - $2.50
-2x$2/L'Oreal
Pay with $9.98 and 50 cents + tax, get back $10.

But I also want to do:

2x Stayfree = $7.98
-BOGO Stayfree ($3.99)
Get back $4.

And:

Excedrin - $2.49
Use $1 CRT.
Get back $2.49

And:
L'Oreal BOGO - Find two things for $6, use 2x$3 coupon, get both free.

And maybe the Ear Rinse ($7.99). Maybe.

And I still have the $10/$50!

I am also looking for the last of the Kotex bonus packs...and I *think* I used all my Gillette coupons, but I want to double check.

So I have to check my ECBs and see what I can finagle for a low OOP. Stay tuned!

Edit: 2xEar Rinse, 1xEnergy Drink, 2xsomething $6 L'Oreal? [this is unlikely if prices match CVS.com], 2x L'Oreal face wipes, 2xStayfree, 1xnewspaper, 1xExcedrin = I could use the 10/50! After all coupons and 10/50, I'd have to spend 26.93. I have $25.56 in ECBs so I'd spend about $1.50 OOP plus tax and get back $37.46 if my math is right. What are the odds my store will have everything in stock? Cross your fingers and stay tuned? (Oh and I'd substitute the Kotex pack for the energy drink if they have it...)

Scenario for CVS - January 25, 2009

This week isn't particularly exciting but here's what I'll probably do:

2x - Gillette shampoo - $9.98
1 double Sunday paper - $2.50
- 2x $2/Gillette

$8.48 (and get back $6 for the Gillette)

I can either add a 50 cent filler here and spend a $3.99, $3, and $2, or add a $1.50 filler (we do need paper towels) and spend a $9.98. I don't mind taking a loss - I kind of feel like the deals are slim right now and I have a LOT of bucks to spend.

But we'll see.

Some Scenarios for CVS - January 18, 2009

I have a few ideas for today - it all depends on what's in stock...

1 box of Soy Joy bars - $6
2 bottles of Dawn - $1.49 minus two 50 cent coupons, 49 cents.
2 boxes of CVS allergy medicine - $7.58
3 greeting cards - $2.98
99 cent filler - diaper wipes
$18.04
Use $12, $2, $3.99. Get back $6, $7.58, $3

But what are the odds my store still has Soy Joys? And it seems that the American Greetings limit (what my store carries) is one.

I also could throw in a Throat Coolers - I have already bought 4 on this card, and I have a 50 cent coupon so it would be a small money maker. That would mean I would need to pay with a $10 and $12 and add a filler. But again, odds aren't very good that my store will have these.

In the end, I really want to get the cards and the Dawn - and probably the allergy meds too. We'll see how I do.

I also have a $2 ECB set to expire in a few days on my other card, so I'll probably use that to buy the paper. I'm going late, so I don't know if they'll have any double papers left, and I may need to go elsewhere and pay cash for that this week.

We'll see!

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