Allison's Durham Deals: CVS

Showing posts with label CVS. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Leave No Extra Bucks Behind

I haven't been doing much, well really, any, shopping at CVS in recent weeks. I haven't been too impressed with the sales, and after surveying our bathroom closet, and seeing a stockpile that should last us well into 2016 (give or take), I decided that it was really time to take a break from buying body wash and the like. So when I was cleaning out my coupon binder the other day, I realized that I had $4.48 in CVS Extra Bucks, which were set to expire tomorrow, as well as $4 Extra Bucks expiring in a few weeks.

Not one to leave Extra Bucks unused (hey, they're free money!), I needed a shopping plan. ASAP.

I could walk into CVS and just spend $4.48 on random items, but I like to shop with a bit more savvy. My goal was helped along when I received an e-mail yesterday from from CVS, giving me a coupon for $5 off a minimum $25 purchase (PRE-COUPONS). OK, now I could get creative.

We were in need of diapers, and I saw that Pampers big boxes (80 ct.) are on sale this week for $18.99, with $4 Extra Bucks back. I also had a $1 Pampers coupon. $18.99 would not put me at the minimum $25 to use my $5 off coupon, though. I would need to add more to my cart.

I realized that I had a coupon for FREE Sauve Dry Shampoo (up to $3.00 off), on sale for $3.49. This would bring me to $22.48. Close, but not quite $25. Coupons for free products are perfect to use at CVS when you have a coupon for $5 off $25 or $4 off $20. Free item coupons help you raise your total so you are able to reach the minimum purchase amount, but they do not add to your out of pocket expense.

With about $2.50 left to spend, I saw that American Greeting Cards were offering $3 Extra Bucks when you bought three cards. Cards priced at $0.99 were included! I decided to pick up three. This brought my pre-tax total to $25.45. Perfect.

Now it was time for savings! Here's a breakdown.

I bought:
Pampers Cruisers (80 ct.) - $18.99
Sauve Dry Shampoo - $3.49
3 American Greeting Cards - $2.97

Pre-Coupon Total = $25.45

- $5 off $25 CVS coupon (check your e-mail for one if you've signed up for e-mails)
= $20.45

- $1.00 off Pampers (Manufacturer Coupon from baby home mailer)
- $3.00 off Dry Shampoo (free product coupon from Sauve promo)
= $16.45

- $4.48 Extra Bucks
- $4.00 Extra Bucks (decided to use them all)
= $7.97 + tax = $9.35 OOP
AND I earned $7.00 in Extra Bucks ($4.00 and $3.00)

Sunday, October 2, 2011

What Can CVS Do for You?

I just got back from my weekly CVS trip, and I wanted to share a post of encouragement, showing you just how much CVS pays off, given a little time and persistence.

For those of you who haven't been reading this blog since its inception, let me rewind and tell you how I began my CVS shopping. I started in mid-July, purchasing about $20 worth of diapers and contact solution. These purchases earned me $8 in Extra Bucks, which is CVS rewards currency. These Extra Bucks can be used on any future store purchases, excluding stamps and alcohol.

I've been rolling these Extra Bucks ever since. Most weeks, I purchase one or two items, using Extra Bucks as payment. I focus on finding items that I will actually use, that offer most or all of the purchase price back in Extra Bucks. I skip weeks when the sales are lackluster or the big sales are simply things we would never use in our house. As a personal goal, I try to pay as little out of pocket as possible for each transaction. Most weeks, by using coupons and Extra Bucks, I reduce my bill to $0.00, only paying sales tax. Since my initial buy in of diapers, I have not spent more than $5.00 at CVS in any given week. Even with these limits, I have managed to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of products.

As of this morning, I had $21 Extra Bucks in hand from previous purchases. I also had $2 Extra Bucks from the CVS promo mentioned here a few days ago, AND I had $3.50 Extra Bucks from my quarterly 3% return for my CVS spending. (Honestly, I have no idea how I earned $3.50, as I hardly spent any money this quarter.) Altogether, this gave me $26.50 EBs to work with.

We were running low on toilet paper and laundry detergent, and this week's ad offered $10 for spending $30 on select Procter and Gamble products, including Charmin, Bounty, Puffs, and Gain detergent. I calculated that using coupons and Extra Bucks, I could get these items FREE and earn back $10 EB.

Here's a look at my haul (also got free gum and makeup), including a break down of coupons used.

CVS Transaction 10/2

Charmin Ultra Strong (16 rolls) - regular price $15.99, on sale for $10.00
- $0.25 Q (10/2 P&G insert)
= $9.75

Bounty Paper Towels (8 rolls) - regular price $12.79, on sale for $7.49
- $0.25 Q (10/2 P&G insert)
= $7.24

Puffs - regular price $1.50, on sale for $0.99

Gain Detergent - regular price $8.49, on sale for $5.97x2 = $11.94
- 2/$2Q off Tide or Gain Powder Detergent (9/11 Smart Source)
=$7.94

CoverGirl Blush - regular price $4.99 - on sale buy one get one 50% off = $7.48 for both
- $8/2 Q (P&G insert 10/2)
= FREE ( + $0.52 overage)

Rain Gum - regular price $1.57, on sale for $1.00

Total after coupons = $26.40
- $26.50 Extra Bucks
= -$0.10 (was applied to sales tax) + $2.25 sales tax = $2.15 OOP
+ $10 EB for future purchases

My receipt says that I saved $59, for a 96.5% savings!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Freebie Find - $2 EB at CVS

CVS is taking action to educate their shoppers about Extra Bucks rewards, which print at the bottom of your receipt after certain purchases. Many people throw this free money away, not realizing that it's CVS currency, and can be used on any future purchase.

Visit the CVS website and take a pledge to not throw away your Extra Bucks, and you will earn a free and easy $2 EB!

Go now, as it's limited to the first 500,000 pledges.

*Thanks to Krazy Coupon Lady for the heads up!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Freebie Find: Drugstore Deals for Week of 9/25

Saturday morning: sitting with a cup of coffee, listening to the rain, catching up on celebrity gossip with my issues of People and US Weekly....scoping the best deals for the coming week.

Let's meet the The Big 3 of the drugstore world: CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. Each store's reward system is slightly different, some more complicated than others (Walgreens, I'm looking at you).

CVS
We've already covered shopping at CVS (buy products that earn Extra Bucks, roll those Extra Bucks to buy other items for little or no money. Reread this post for a review.

Rite Aid
Rite Aid operates pretty much like CVS. Use your store card to get sale prices, look for items that earn Up Rewards, use Up Rewards to buy almost any other product in the store. I haven't shopped Rite Aid deals yet, mostly because I started at CVS and built up Extra Bucks. With only two people actually using products in our house, there really isn't a need to stock pile and go crazy buying sales at multiple stores. Rite Aid seems pretty easy to shop, though, so below you'll find this week's best deals, just in case you see something you like and want to give it a try!

Walgreens
Oh, Walgreens, I want to like you, I do. You seem to have good deals, but honestly, I find you to be a pain in the butt. Walgreens operates a money back program, called Register Rewards, that doesn't use a store loyalty card. There are complicated rules about how you earn these rewards and what they can be used on in the future. If you already know how to operate this system, you've likely found next week's deals on another site by now. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, sorry, today IS NOT going to be the day I get into it. Remember, it's Saturday, time for coffee and Kardashian sleaze.

So, here are next week's FREE drugstore finds (after rewards), listed by store, along with coupon match-ups.

CVS

Schick Quattro for Women - $8.99
Get $4 EBs (limit 1 per card)
$5/1 printble (no longer available - hope you printed it!)
$4/1 Schick Quattro Razor or Refill (SS 9/25) (Prince would be $1 with this Q)
Pay $3.99, get back $4 EB = $0.01 money maker

ThermaCare Lower Back and Hip Heat Wrap - $3.79
Get $3.79 EBs (limit 1 per card)
Pay $3.79, get back $3.79 EB = Free

Bausch and Lomb Re-Nu Sensitive (12 oz) - $8.99
Get $7 EBs (limit 1 per card)
$2/1 printable
Pay $6.99, get back $7 EB = $0.01 money maker

Excederin Extra Strength, PM or Migraine - $0.99
Get $0.99 EBs (limit 2 per card)
Pay $0.99, get back $0.99 EB = Free

Rite Aid

Similasan Computer Eye Drops and Dry Eye Relief - $6.99
$1.75/1 (9/11 SS insert)
$1/1 printable (price $0.01)
Pay $5.24, get back $6 Up Rewards = $0.74 money maker

The Doctor's Nightguard or G-U-M PerioBalance - $24.99
$20 Up Reward when you buy 1 (limit 1 per card)
$5/1 printable
Pay $19.99, get $20 Up Reward = $0.01 money maker

Walgreens
I don't feel like typing them up. There are 8 potentially free deals. Check them out here, thanks to Couponing to Disney.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

CVS - EB Preview (Week of 9/25)

It's only Wednesday morning, but I've already been checking out the CVS deals that will be starting next Sunday. Sad, I know.

Moving on, though, I am happy to say I've found some potentially great deals!

Starting on Sunday, 9/25, Renu Sensitive Contact Solution will be on sale for $8.99. There is a $2.00 printable coupon that will lower the price to $6.99. You will earn $7 EB making a profit of $0.01.

Schick Quatro Women's Razors will also be on sale for $8.99. There is a $5.00 printable coupon that will lower the price to $3.99. You will earn $4 EB, again making a profit of $0.01. (While you're at it, you might want to print all of the $5 razor coupons you find at coupons.com. You won't see razor coupons that high in value very often, and they don't expire until 11/20!)

My preliminary plan for next week: Buy Renu Solution and Schick Razors

Total after coupons = $10.98 + tax
- $11 EB from previous weeks
Earn 11 EB

If you are new to CVS shopping, you could buy just one of these items to lower your out of pocket expense, and then use the EB's earned on another purchase. *See this post on rolling EB's.

These deals are great for anyone with bad eyes or hairy legs, so they're likely to go quickly! Don't forget, CVS offers rain checks for sale prices and EB deals.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

CVS, Work Your Baby Magic!

New parents, listen up, this one's for you! Anyone have those great $5 checks from Similac?? Look in the boxes of formula you brought home from the hospital. They also might have shown up in your mailbox.

CVS is running a deal this week where you earn $10 EB for spending $25 (pre coupons) on select baby products. Similac Ready to Feed Formula is on sale for $5 a bottle and is included in this promo. Buy five bottles, and pay with five $5 Similac checks, and you will walk away with $10 EB, only paying sales tax. (In NC this comes out to $0.50.)

Your baby isn't a formula drinker? (Nolan isn't either) Donate the formula or give it to a friend, as I plan to do!

CVS store out of Similac? Ask for a rain check for the $5 price, as well as for the Extra Bucks promo.

Use your $10 profit on other baby items or household needs....OR....hold onto those extra bucks for another day, where you can keep the freebies rolling!

~~Need Similac checks? I found four more in a previously unopened gift pack from the hospital. Local ladies, they can be yours. Let me know if you're interested!~~ ALREADY CLAIMED!!!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Picture Me Rollin'

Alright...I've been avoiding writing about rolling Extra Bucks at CVS, because this always seems trickier to explain than to actually do.

It might be easiest to show you an example from this week's CVS trip. A while back, I mentioned that I began my CVS shopping in July, by purchasing contact solution that gave back the full purchase price in Extra Bucks. If I remember correctly, I walked away with 8 EB's on my first trip. I've been rolling those EB's since, spending very little out of pocket on hundreds of dollars worth of products.

This week, I started with a $5 EB and a $0.99. I had earned these in previous weeks by purchasing Gatorade and a candy bar.

I walked in with a very specific, three transaction plan, that, if everything went as planned, and all items were in stock, would send me away spending under $5, with $12 EB's in hand!

Transaction 1:

Soft Soap Body Wash - on sale for $2.99 ($2 EB back)
($0.75 printable coupon available here would make a better deal, but I couldn't get it to work with our printer.)

CVS Brand 5 count allergy medicine - on sale for $3.69 ($3.69 EB back)

Total = $6.68 (with coupon would be $5.93)
Use $5.99 in EB, Total OOP = $0.68 + tax, $5.69 back in EB's ($2.00 EB + $3.69 EB)

Transaction 2:

Rephresh Tampons - on sale for $6.79 ($6.79 EB back)
- $1 Printable Coupon

Total = $5.79
Use $5.69 EB from transaction 1, Total OOP = $0.10 + tax, $6.79 back in EB's

Transaction 3:

3 Airwick i-motion air fresheners (smallest version) - on sale for $4.99 x 3 = $14.97
($10 EB back when you spend $20 on specific products - includes Airwick and Finish)
2 boxes of Finish Gel Packs - on sale for $2.99 x 2 = $5.98
(See EB deal above - total for all products involved in deal = $20.95)

Aussie Shampoo - on sale for $2.99 ($1 EB back)

Herbal Essences Shampoo - on sale for $2.99 ($1 EB back)

Newton Fruit Thins - on sale for $2.50

Total before coupons = $29.43

Coupons used:
- $5/$25 CVS coupon from Magic Machine! = $24.43
- 4 x $4/1 Airwick starter kit (in the Sunday paper - 9/11) = $12.43
- 2 x $0.75/1 Finish Gel Pack (previous Sunday insert) = $10.93
- $1/1 Aussie Product (previous Sunday insert) = $9.93
- Free Newton Fruit Thins from Magic Machine ($2.50 value) = $7.43
- $6.79 EB from transaction 2 = $0.64
Total OOP $0.64 + tax, $12 back in EB ($10 EB + $2 EB)

After tax, I spent about $4 on almost $100 worth of product (considering prices before sales), and I came home with $12 EB, so a profit of $8! See why I'm hooked? You might not have coupons from weeks past, but if you're looking into starting at CVS, you could certainly begin by trying the first two transactions above. You'll spend about $6.00 and walk away with $6.79 to use another day! Get those EB's rollin'!

Here's a look at everything I scored on this trip. :)

CVS, Work Your Magic!

In my last post, I gave you the basics about getting a CVS card and looking for and using Extra Bucks. Something I waited to tell you, and one of the most fun parts of a CVS shopping trip, is the "Magic Coupon Machine." When you walk into a CVS store, look near the entrance or cash register for a machine like the one below.

Scan your CVS card, and the fun begins! After some anticipation, the machine will pop out a chain of mystery coupons. Some will be low value coupons for money off specific products, but most weeks, you'll find some much better surprises! Most weeks, you'll find coupons for FREE products. Over the past few weeks, I've gotten coupons for free candy bars, band aids, panty liners, and crackers. Sometimes, if I'm passing by CVS, Nolan and I will walk in, scan my card, pick up a free item, and be on our way, happy to have scored a freebie with almost no effort.

On days when you're really lucky, the Magic Machine might spit out a coupon for a certain dollar amount off your purchase, like $4 off $20 or $5 off $25. This $20 or $25 total is BEFORE your coupons. Let's say that you add up the price of your items and it totals $21. You're over $20, so you can then use your $4 off coupon. Now you can also add any coupons or extra bucks you have earned. This can equal great savings!

*Tip - You DO need to pay sales tax on free items. I keep loose change to use for things like this. I do not count change as money coming out of our budget, as we've already deducted the initial cash withdrawal. So...any purchases I can make by only using pocket change, will not be added into our monthly spending. You'll be amazed at how much shopping you'll be able to do at CVS by only using coins that might have otherwise sat unused in your car or a change jar!

Reader Response: Have you used the CVS Magic Machine? What is the best coupon you have received?

Sunday, September 11, 2011

C-V-S! C-V-S! C-V-S!

Every Time I walk out of CVS, I feel like cheering! I just can't help but get excited over the larger hauls and huge savings I make on almost every visit to the store.

A few posts ago, I mentioned that we'd talk about saving big money on personal care items and other household goods. Well, your best bet for doing this is shopping at drugstores, of which, CVS has quickly become my favorite. With a little know-how and planning, you can shop drugstores and practically eliminate spending on items like shampoo, toothpaste, soap, razors, cleaning supplies, etc. Let me begin to tell you how...

The very first step to big CVS savings is signing up for a CVS Extra Care Card - this allows you to receive the sale price on items in the weekly ad.
Next, search the weekly ad for items that will earn you Extra Bucks, which is CVS currency. These extra bucks are reward dollars that can be used to pay for your next transaction.
To maximize savings, try to buy sale items that offer extra bucks that you also have a coupon for. In some cases, this will actually MAKE you money.
Roll your Extra Bucks in future purchases to buy other items that earn Extra Bucks. With the right amount of planning, after you initial purchase, you can roll your Extra Bucks to get many free items, only paying state sales tax!

Let me give you can example.

Start by looking for an item, THAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY USE, that is advertised to return the full price of the item in Extra Bucks. These tampons are on sale for $6.79, and you will earn $6.79 in Extra Bucks by purchasing them. I can't stress this enough...couponing is only worth your time if you buy products you will actually use! I started my CVS shopping in July by purchasing contact solution and diapers, two things we needed in our home!

Next, see if there is a coupon that matches your product. Here is a printable coupon for $1.00 off. By using it, you will pay $5.79, but you will earn $6.79 in rewards, which is making you a profit of $1.00!

Finally, use your rewards on a future transaction to buy other extra bucks earning products. You could do this on the same visit if there are more good extra bucks deals, or save them for another sale week. Just be careful, the extra bucks do expire. The expiration date is located on your receipt. It's also important to note that each extra buck reward must be used in its entirety at one time. That means, using the example above, you would need to spend all $6.79 at a time. It won't deduct and keep a balance like a gift card.

I will share more CVS tricks and teach you how to roll your extra bucks in another post.

Reader Response: Which household and personal care items do you find yourself spending the most money on? (If I know, I can share specific deals!)

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