"CVSing"

So, with motivation from the other savvy saving/frugal bloggers that I now follow, I have decided to try my couponing hand at CVS (which conveniently is the closest store to our house). I've done a couponing shopping trip once before there, but not like this. Now, I am attempting what a bunch of people apparently do, which is rolling their Extra Care Bucks (ECBs). If you're not familiar, ECBs are essentially reward money that you get to spend at CVS. Each week in the ad, there are certain products that will yield you ECBs to use in the store. So, what many people do is pay "x" amount of dollars up front (a primer trip) and then get "x" amount back in ECBs. Then, for subsequent purchases, you use your ECBs to purchase other items that will yield you more ECBs (rolling them). So, in theory, you could potentially not ever spend a dime again at CVS.

Here's what I got:

Depending on where you buy those items, at regular retail value, you are looking at about $75 out of pocket. I only spent $8.26!

Here's how:

We got a coupon in the mail the other day from them for a $25 gift card when you fill a new or transferred prescription. So, we transferred Eli's prescription there and got a $25 gift card (that's over a $17 profit!!!--And, we will be doing this whenever possible there, by the way).

Then, when dropping off the prescription, we scanned our CVS card at their little coupon printing machine (always do this!) and got a coupon for $5 off a $15 purchase.

We've tried to do an ECB primer trip for a few weeks now, but the good deals are all gone by the time we go. So, I was ready this week and went this morning, the day the new ad comes out.

I did two transactions:

in the first, I purchased the razor and the blink eye drops. I had coupons for each and used my $5 off coupon. I paid with the gift card and that transaction alone gave me $12.99 in ECBs.

Then, in the second transaction I purchased everything else. I used that $12.99 in ECBs. Plus, I had coupons for every single item I purchased--for the floss, I had 75 cents off coupons. All other items, I got an additional $1 off with my coupons. So, after she scanned the coupons and ECBs, I put the rest on the card and only had to pay her $8.26 out of pocket. That's the price of one of the CoverGirl lipsticks!!

I think that would be a pretty good deal anyway. But, what makes this all the more sweet is that I now have an even $20 in ECBs to spend. So, I will be watching their ad each week to match items I have coupons for and will give me more ECBs...let's see how far I can make that $8.26 go!!