jessica's blog

WHY I LOVE CVS

For those of you who have seen my posts week after week about how much money we are saving shopping at CVS, and wondering if it really could work for you, and whether you really save on the things you need, here is a perfect example for you.  I know most of my transactions are larger, contain multiple coupons, etc, but here's a very simple one for you!

We are out of eggs (which almost caused a divorce last night when my husband decided he needed to bake chocolate chip cookies at 10:00pm last night).  Normally you wouldn't think to get them at CVS, right?  Well, CVS carries them, we use alot of eggs, so I try to squeeze them into my shopping trips to get them free or discounted (same with milk!).

The CVS by my house has been out of the Softsoap that is free this month since I wiped the shelves clean on April 1st :)  I've been on the hunt for 2 more, and I found them this morning.  Softsoap body wash is $4.99, with $4.99 back in ECB (so free after ECB).  Since I've been CVSing for awhile, I had $5 in ECB already on both my CVS cards (and you will quickly accumulate this after just 1 trip too!).  So I paid in 2 identical transactions, on 2 different cards.  

Softsoap $4.99
Dozen Eggs $1.89 (I think?)
I had a $1 off coupon for the soap (still a good deal here if you don't have one!)
I paid with $5 ECB I already had
My total OOP was $.88
And I got $4.99 back in ECB to use next time I shop

So, 2 transactions = $1.76 for 2 dozen eggs and 2 bottles of body wash!  Not a bad deal considering the eggs alone are close to $2 for 1 dozen full price!  Plus I got free body wash to stash away for later.  I paid both transactions with loose change from the bottom of my purse, so it didn't dent our monthly budget at all, and now I can make those cookies for my husband...everyone is happy :) 

MORE CVS FREEBIES

I forgot to mention a couple of other freebie deals at CVS

Mennen 24/7 Speed Stick is $3.99, with $3.99 ECB.  There is a $1 off coupon here, giving you overage!  Limit 1 per card. 

Also, CVS Rapid Release 24 ct are $3.99, with $3.99 ECB, so free after ECB! 

FREE ALAVERT AT CVS

This is an unadvertised deal at CVS this week.  Alavert is on sale for $6.99, but $4 ECBs are printing with them!  There is also a $4 off coupon for them here.  So there is a $1 overage for each one, and there is limit 5 per card.

FREE SKIN EFFECTS AT CVS

Buy any Skin Effects products at CVS this week and get $5 ECBs.  The foaming fash wash and the exfoliant are both only $6.99 (other products go up to $19.99).  There is also a $2 off coupon in the beauty book, found at CVS stores.  Free after coupon and ECB.

UNADVERTISED SOFTSOAP DEAL

I believe this is listed in this week's circular, however it seems to be an unadvertised monthly deal.  Softsoap Spa Radiance body wash is $4.99, with $4.99 ECB.  There were $1 printable coupons available, but I tried to print more tonight and the link says the offer expired :(  Oh well, it's still free body wash!

Also, I've read in another blog that the larger size of Softsoap seems to be free after ECBs also (also unadvertised).  It is $5.49, and it should print $5.49 in ECBs. 

TARGET PRINTABLE COUPONS

Some of you may not realize that Target always has several decent printable coupons on their website.  Most say Super-Target, but I've never had a cashier refuse them at the regular Target I shop at.  Also remember these Target store coupons, so you can stack them with manufacturer's coupons!  A few coupons worth mentioning:

Cheetos - $1 off 2
Eggo Waffles $1 off 2, plus there was Eggo coupons in last Sunday's insert
Market Pantry granola bars or cereal $.50 off - I believe cereal is only about $1.50-$1.75 anyway, so not a bad deal for cereal.
Lipton Tea $1 off
Pace Picante Sauce $.50 off

Click here to print your Target coupons. 

CVS DEAL FOR BEGINNERS: WEEK OF APRIL 13TaH

Here's another deal for those of you who are interested in starting the CVS game.  If you get weekly coupon inserts, you should have gotten a coupon for $30 off a Contour Blood Glucose Monitor a couple weeks ago.  This monitor usually runs for around $80 at CVS, but this week it is on sale for....hold onto your seats.....$14.99!  Oh, AND you'll get $14.99 back in ECBs!!!  So, that's a free monitor, and $14.99 worth of credit at CVS!  Not a bad way to get started.

Don't need a blood glucose monitor?  Me neither, but I profited $14.99 on it, and I have something useful to donate to someone in need!  The great thing about CVSing is I am able to get tons of things for my own family that we use regularly cheap or free, and I always have more than we need.  I am able to give away our extras, and help others out.

Now, here's a way to make this deal extra sweet!  I remembered I had never registered an email address with my husband's CVS card, so this past week, I did just that.  My monitor was $14.99, so I added $5.01 more (Arm & Hammer laundry detergent for $5.49, buy one get one free this week, and I had a $1 coupon).  So, using my $4/$20 coupon for registering an email, I got the blood monitor and 2 detergents for $2.12 out of pocket, and I got back $14.99 in ECB to use next time I shop.

REVOLUTION MONEY EXCHANGE - SIGN UP AND EARN $25

I've heard of this before, but I didn't think too much of it. I recently did a little more research and I signed up a few days ago, and the $25 was in my account within 5 minutes! It only takes minute to sign up too!

Revolution Money Exchange is FDIC insured, and it looks to be a great alternative to PayPal, where you can send, receive, request money. I'm assuming giving out $25 to everyone who signs up and $10 for referrals is their way of marketing the service, after all, word-of-mouth is usually best!
So if you have a few extra minutes, could use $25 (or more if you choose to use their referral program), click here and follow the steps.

WALGREENS $5 COUPON - FRIDAY, APRIL 11TH ONLY!

Click the picture below for your $5 off coupon!

EXTRA BUCKS ARE HERE!

If you regularly use your CVS card, your spring earnings should be available now.  I have my email registered with them, so they emailed them to me.  If not, they should print at the bottom of your receipt next time you check out.  If you don't have an email address registered with your card, doing so will instantly give you a coupon for $4 off a $20 purchase, and you will likely start getting extra coupons by mail!

NEW TO CVS?  WANT TO START EARNING EXTRA CARE BUCKS?

First, I would recommend reading my write-up about CVS Shopping 101.  I've tried to compile as much info as I could to explain in detail how to make the most out of shopping at CVS.  See CVS Shopping 101 here.

A GOOD CVS DEAL FOR BEGINNERS!

Buy 5 Excedrin 24 ct. at $1.99 each.
Printable coupons HERE for $2.00 off.  You will need 5 of them, so you may need access to more than 1 computer.
Your out of pocket total should be around $.70, and you will get $5 ECB back!

Now you have $5 ECB, so you can peek through the weekly or monthly circular and see if there is another deal you can roll your ECBs over with, or hang onto them till next week.  Either way, the goal is to end up with at least $5 ECBs after your next transaction, and hopefully more.  Continue rolling ECBs over and over, and in no time you will have a stash!

MORE DEALS AT CVS! 

Another good deal is Softsoap body wash is $4.99, with $4.99 ECBs back, and there is a $1.00 off coupon HERE.  There is a limit of 5, and this deal is a money maker!

Also, Pantene products are on sale 3/$11, with $4 ECBs back. The CVS
Reinventing Beauty booklet has $2 off coupons for Pantene Stylers,
which are included in the 3/$11 sale.  My CVS had these booklets on a little display table right in front of the checkout lanes.  Use 3 $2 off coupons, making it 3 Pantene
styling products for $5, with 4 ECBs back, so only $1 after coupons and ECBs.

Another deal, Buy 2 CoverGirl TruBlend Whipped Foundation $9.49 each.  There were B1G1 coupons in last weeks coupon insert.  Also use the $2 coupon from the Reinventing Beauty booklet found in stores (or $1 coupons in last weeks insert).  Spend $7.49 out of pocket, get $12 ECBs!

Buy 1 CVS Pain Relief Rapid Release Gelcaps 24 ct at $3.99 each, get $3.99 ECBs back, limit 5.  If you have a $3/$10 CVS brand purchase coupon, you could use it here, and this deal is also a money maker.  No $3/$10 coupon, it's still free after ECBs.

Anyone else have any good deals to share? 

CVS APRIL EXTRA VALUE BOOK IS OUT!

Not only is it available (you may have to ask for it), but they deals are already working!  A few deals worth mentioning:

CVS Pain Reliever, $3.99 with $3.99 ECB
Precision Xtra $19.99 with $19.99 ECB (I believe there is also a $10 off coupon out that expires 3/31)

It's also their semi-annual beauty sale, so lots of buy $15 worth of X brand, get $5 ECB.  If you have the $5/$15 coupons or the $3/$15 beauty coupons (both expire 3/31), may be worth looking to see if there's anything you need!  I haven't done much digging yet to see if there are corresponding coupons out yet, but if I find a good deal, I'll post it.

CHECK YOUR INBOX FOR EMAILS FROM CVS

I just got an email today from CVS's advisory panel, but it was in my junk mail.  Check your junk mail, if you are on the advisory panel, you may just have an email waiting for you!  I get $10 ECBs added to my account just for completing the survey, and it took me about 10 minutes.

CVS CIRCULAR FOR WEEK OF 3/30/08 

Softsoap Spa Radiant $4.99 with $4.99 ECB (free) limit 5 - there are a couple of coupons in circulars over the past few weeks, there is also one coming out 3/30 ($1.50, I think), and you can print one HERE (more if you have access to more than one computer) 

$5 ECB when when buy $15 of the following (Limit 1):
Fantastik - $.2.99
Scrubbing Bubbles 16 oz - $.2.99 - $1 Coupon here
Shout - $.2.99
Windex 26 oz or wipes 25 ct - $.2.99 - $1 Coupon here
Palmolive Dish Liquid 11 oz - $.99 - coupons in recent circulars
Suavitel Fabric conditioner 64 oz - 2/$7

$5 ECB wyb $15 of any Caress, Dove, Lever Bar Soap or Dove Body wash ($5.99 each)
Do this deal before 3/31 and use $5/$15 and $3/$15 beauty coupons, plus some other coupons that are out:
$1 Dove Beauty Bar, any 6-bar pack -  3/16 circular
$1 Dove Beauty Body Wash, any 10 oz - 3/16 cicular
$1 Dove Supreme Cream Oil Body Wash, 10 oz.+ or 6+ Beauty Bars, - 3/16 circular
$0.75 Lever 2000 Bar Multipack, any 4-bar+ - 3/9 circular
$1 Lever 2000 12oz. body wash or larger or 4-bar mulitpack or larger here

$5 ECB wyb $15 Clean & Clear
$2.00 Clean & Clear - coupon

$3 OFF CVS BRAND PURCHASE OF $10 OR MORE

Here is a coupon for $3 off a $10 purchase of CVS brand products.  I also noticed there are lots of CVS brand items on sale this week!

Idea:
Buy 3 of the pain reliever in the April  extra value book, use the $3 off coupon.  You will spend approx. $9, and get $11.97 back in ECB.

FREE JOHNSON'S BUDDIES SOAP

Coupon in 3/2 coupon insert for $1 off.  I bought one at CVS today for only $.97, and I've heard they are only $.99 at Target.

FREE GLADE WARMER AT WALMART

In the 3/16 coupon insert, there was a $3 off coupon, and they are  only $2.47 at some WalMarts!  Free, plus overage!

FREE STAPLER

Click here, take a brief survey, and they claim they will mail you a free Swingline stapler.  I just took the survey last night, so no guarantee I'll get my freebie, but worth a few minutes if I get it.

CVS DEALS WEEK OF MARCH 23RD

The good CVS deals are few and far between this week.  Most of the ECB deals are right out of the monthly book, so not alot of new deals.  But the good news is, the $5 off $15 purchase coupon is good through next Monday!  So see if there are at least a few sale items in the circular this week and take advantage of $5 off!

Also, NO coupons in the Sunday paper this week because of Easter :(

I went tonight and got the Kleenex for 88 cents, we all seem to be coming down with yet another cold, so I also got some cough drops and Nyquil.  My total came to just over $15 for 4 boxes of Kleenex, a huge bag of cough drops, a big bottle of Nyquil, and something out of the dollar bin...I paid just over $10.  Not a huge savings, but worth using my $5 coupon.

I also plan to print out some more of my $5 coupons and go stock up on baby formula!  It's $14.29, so that and a small filler item, use my $5 coupon, and a can of formula for $10.  I also have a load of ECBs that I could be using to help save a little more. 

If anyone sees any really great deals that I'm overlooking, let me know.  I will try to get a list of the monthly ECBs you could take advantage of before month's end, and use up your $5/$15 coupons if you have them.  Stay tuned....