CVS Deals and Transaction Scenarios 9/12 - 9/18

I started putting together scenarios in July after talking with a friend who insisted that you could shop at CVS for FREE after an initial $25 investment. If this was true, it would work well with my budget. : ) So I decided to give it a try.

Step 1: Buy a $25 CVS gift card. (This helps you to see how much of your initial investment money you've spent.) Tip: If you have to actually buy your $25 gift card, buy it from somewhere that gives you rewards for your purchase (your local grocery store perhaps, Upromise, MyPoints). (I'm a member of MyPoints which allows you to earn pts. for looking at advertisements, among other things. It's slow going, but it doesn't cost me any money. I look at one or two a day and wait for my pts. to accumulate. When I have enough I can redeem them for gift cards. So, to jump start my CVS shopping I redeemed some of my pts. for a $25 gift card.)

Step 2: Get a CVS ExtraCare card (ask for one in the store) and a CVS Green Bag Tag. The tags cost about $1. Hook that tag around any reusable shopping bag (it can even be a plastic CVS bag from a previous purchase) and remember to take it with you to CVS. Every time you go in and make a purchase be sure to have the cashier scan your tag. (Your card will only record 1 scan per day.) You will earn $1 ECB every 4th time the tag is scanned. : ) (Your Green Bag Tag can be used with any CVS ExtraCare card. So the next time you go CVS shopping with a friend, let them use your tag too. Both your card and your friend's card will record one scan.)

Step 3: Clip/gather your coupons and get ready to go shopping. If this is your first trip to CVS you will not have the ECBs to pay for purchase #1. That's okay. This is where you will want to use your $25 gift card to pay for your purchases.

Note: CVS will not accept any internet coupon with a barcode that does NOT scan.


Well after last week, I'm SoBe'd out for the moment.  : ) I had 7 groups of 6 coupons each; that would be 84 SoBes!! (I told you I'd been saving up my coupons!)


WEEKLY PURCHASES

Day 1 / Purchase #1 (Must go by Tuesday - 9/14!)

1 Brach’s Candy (pg. 1) candy corn, autumn mix, or mellowcreme pumpkins $0.99/1
- $0.99 ECB (Limit 1) = FREE

Total before coupons = $0.99 + tax (??)
- $1 ECB (from Green Bag Tag) from 3 weeks ago
Total OOP $0 + tax
(Remember to scan Green Bag Tag! - Scan #4)
Earn $1 ECB for Green Bag Tag


Day 2 / Purchase #2

1 Nivea for Men Active 3 Body Wash (pg. 11 and 16) 16.9 oz. $4.99/1
- $1/1 Nivea For Men Body Wash, exp. 9-25-10 (RP 07/25/10) = $3.99/1
[or $1/1 Nivea for Men Body Wash, exp. 10-31-10 (RP 08/29/10)]
[or $1/1 Nivea Body Wash or Shower Gel, exp. 10-31-10 (ALL YOU Sept '10)]
- $4.99 ECB (Limit 1) = MAKE $1

1 High Octane Energy Chews (pg. 13) 3 ct. $1.99/1
- $1.99 ECB (Monthly deal - Limit 1 per transaction; Limit of 2 total in Sept.) = FREE

4 Air Wick Aqua Mist (pg. 5) $10/4
- 2 B1G1 Air Wick Aqua Mist, exp. 9-19-10 (SS 08/08/10) = $5/4
- 2 $1/1 Air Wick Mist Printable = $3/4
- $5 ECB (Limit 2) = MAKE $2

Total before coupons = $16.98 + tax (??)
- $8 (in MFC)
- $8.98 ECB ($6.99 ECB for Philips from 2 weeks ago; $0.99 ECB for Gum; and $1 ECB for Green Bag Tag from above - purchase #1)
Total OOP $0 + tax
(Remember to scan Green Bag Tag! - Scan #1)
Earn $4.99 ECB for Nivea
Earn $1.99 ECB for Energy Chews
Earn $5 ECB for Air Wick


Day 3 / Purchase #3

4 Air Wick Aqua Mist (pg. 5) $10/4
- 2 B1G1 Air Wick Aqua Mist, exp. 9-19-10 (SS 08/08/10) = $5/4
- 2 $1/1 Air Wick Mist Printable = $3/4
- $5 ECB (Limit 2) = MAKE $2

1 Tylenol Precise (pg. 13) $5.99/1
- $2/1 Tylenol Precise, exp. 12-12-10 (SS 09/12/10) = $3.99/1
- $2/1 Precise External Pain Relief Printable (This is a CVS store coupon on Coupons.com.) = $1.99/1
- $2 ECB (Limit 1) = MAKE $0.01

1 Skintimate Moisturizing Shave Cream (pg. 12) 6 oz. $3.99/1
- $0.75/1 Skintimate Shave Cream or Gel, exp. 9-18 (SS 8/1/10) = $3.24/1
- $3 ECB (Limit 2) = $0.24/1

Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies (pg. 16) $1/1
- $0.75/1 Select Pepperidge Farm Cookies, exp. 10-24-10 (SS 08/01/10) = $0.25/1

Total before coupons = $20.98 + tax (??)
- $12.50 (in MFC and CVS coupons)
- $8.50 ECB ($2 ECB for Listerine and $2.50 ECB for Crest from 3 weeks ago; $4 ECB for Schick from last week)
Total OOP $0 + tax
(Remember to scan Green Bag Tag! - Scan #2)
Earn $5 ECB for Air Wick
Earn $2 ECB for Tylenol Precise
Earn $3 ECB for Skintimate


Day 4 / Purchase #4

1 Nature's Way Alive Energy Multivitamin/Multimineral (pg. 13) $9.99/1
- $1/1 Alive Multivitamin Printable = $8.99/1
[or $1/1 Alive Multivitamin Printable]
- $9.99 ECB (Limit 1) = MAKE $1

1 High Octane Energy Chews (pg. 13) 3 ct. $1.99/1
- $1.99 ECB (Monthly deal - Limit 1 per transaction; Limit of 2 total in Sept.) = FREE

1 Skintimate Moisturizing Shave Cream (pg. 12) 6 oz. $3.99/1
- $0.75/1 Skintimate Shave Cream or Gel, exp. 9-18 (SS 8/1/10) = $3.24/1
- $3 ECB (Limit 1 - possible Limit of 2) = $0.24/1

Total before coupons = $15.97 + tax (??)
- $1 (in MFC)
- $14.99 ECB ($4.99 ECB for Nivea and $5 ECB for Air Wick from purchase #2; $5 ECB for Air Wick from purchase #3)
Total OOP $0 + tax
(Remember to scan Green Bag Tag! - Scan #3)
Earn $9.99 ECB for Nature's Way
Earn $1.99 ECB for Energy Chews
Earn $3 ECB for Skintimate


So, I'll end the week with (2) $1.99 ECB for Energy Chews, (1) $2 ECB for Tylenol Precise, (2) $3 ECB for Skintimate, (1) $9.99 ECB for Nature's Way. I'll have used up all my ECBs from past weeks. I'll have paid nothing OOP (ie. not used my gift card). Total sale value of products $54.92.