CVS Coupon Deals and Transaction Scenarios 10/10 to 10/16

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.


I know that last week I never got around to putting the deals into scenarios, so I have a question for you this week. Do you all really like the scenarios? Or is it just as easy without them? Do they make any difference for you? Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

WEEKLY PURCHASES

2 Colgate Total Advanced or Enamel Strength Toothpaste (pg. 16) 4 oz. $2.99/1
- $0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste, exp. 10-23-10 (SS 10/03/10) = $2.24/1
[or $1/1 Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste Printable - if this is also on sale - MAKE $1]
- $2.99 ECB (limit 2) = MAKE $0.75

1 Accu-Chek Aviva (pg. 13) $9.99/1
- $9.99 Accu-Chek Aviva MIR (should be on package) = FREE

2 Quaker Quick Oats 18 oz., Instant Oatmeal, Granola Bars 8-10 ct. (pg. 6) $5/2
- 2 $1/1 Select Quaker Oatmeals, exp. 10-31 (RP 8/29/10) = $3/2
[or $1/1 Select Quaker Oatmeal Products, exp. 12-31-10 (RP 09/12/10)]
[or $1/2 Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, exp. 11-13-10 (RP 09/19/10)]
[or $2/1 Quaker Hearty Medleys Printable - if included, you would MAKE $1 after ECB with 2 coupons]
- $2 ECBs wyb 2 (limit 2) = $1/2

2 Purex Complete 3-in-1 Sheets (pg. 7) 20 ct. B1G1 ($7.99/1) = $7.99/2
- 2 $3/1 Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry sheets no 2 load to-go pack, exp. 11-6-10 (RP 10/10/10) = $1.99/2

1 Tone Bar Soap (pg. 10) 2-3 pk. $1.99/1
- $1 ECB (limit 1) = $0.99/1

1 Dawn Hand Renewal (pg. 1) 9.5 to 10.3 oz. $0.97/1
- $0.50/1 Dawn Hand Renewal Product, exp. 10/31/10 (P&G 09/26/10) Regional Coupon = $0.47/1
[or $0.25/1 Dawn Product, exp. 10-31-10 (P&G 09/26/10)]

1 Lindsay Olives (pg. 4) $1/1
- $1/1 Lindsay Re-Closeables, exp. 12-31-10 (RP 04/18/10) = FREE
[or $1/1 Lindsay Re-Closeables, exp. 12-31-10 (RP 08/29/10)]
[or $0.55/1 Lindsay Olives Re-Closable, exp. 12-31-10 (Peelie on Product)]
[or $1/2 Lindsay Olive Product, exp. 3-31-11 (Family Circle, Sept)]

2 Campbell’s Select Harvest or Chunky Soup (pg. 4) $5/4 = $2.50/2
- $1/2 Campbell’s Chunky Soup, exp. 10-24-10 (RP 09/12/10; Printable; Printable) = $1.50/2
[or $1/2 Campbell's Select Harvest Soup Printable or Printable]