Black Friday Freebies - CVS

As far as drugstores go, CVS's Thanksgiving Weekend sale is pretty impressive. They are offering twenty eight products for FREE after extra bucks rewards. A number of these products can be matched up with coupons, actually making them money makers, meaning you earn more in rewards than you paid. You can check this post for coupon match ups. You can also visit the CVS website to view the sale ad if you did not get one with a newspaper.

As a tip, my CVS had the free sale items in big tubs at the front of the store. I didn't think to look there when I got to the store, and initially thought most items had sold out, when really, there were buckets full of each one.

Though 28 items were free, I knew that Alex and I would only use a small number of them, so I stuck to buying just a few items. I did three transactions, spending $1.22 (mostly sales tax), with $10.48 in extra bucks still in hand. Here's a look at my purchases.

Transaction 1: 
2 Snickers Bars $0.75 each (earn $0.75 EB for each Mars brand bar, limit 4)
1 Finish Quantum $2.99 - $1.00 printable (earn $2.99 EB, limit 1)
2 Reese Peanut Butter Cups Minis $0.99 each (earn $0.99 for each Hershey's King Size, limit 2)
1 Kleenex Cool Touch $1.50 (earn $1.50 EB, limit 1)

Total After Coupons = $6.97 - $6.97 EB from previous trip = $0.00 pre-tax, $0.54 with tax
EARN $7.97 Extra Bucks

Transaction 2:
2 Colgate Total Advantage $2.87 each - 2/$1 off Colgate Advantage (earn $2.87 for each EB, limit 2)
1 box Fiber One Brownies $3.99 - $0.40 off Fiber One Brownies (earn $3.99 EB, limit 1)
1 Dove Chocolate Bar (earn $0.75 EB for each Mars brand bar, limit 4)

Total After Coupons = $8.08 - $7.97 Extra Bucks from Transaction 1 = $0.11 pre-tax, $0.63 with tax
EARN $10.48 Extra Bucks

Transaction 3:

1 Dove Chocolate Bar (earn $0.75 EB for each Mars brand bar, limit 4)

Total = $0.75 - $0.75 Extra Bucks from Transaction 2 = $0.00 pre-tax, $0.05 with tax

Earn $0.75 Extra Bucks

Total OOP = $1.22

Still Have $10.48 in Extra Bucks

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)

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!

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!

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!!!