2010-03-29 -- $3.20

I start with 5.99ECB on the card for Household #1.

Regular Prices:
4.49 Dove Chocolate
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
0.99 CVS Hair Gel

26.42 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sales Prices:
3.00 Dove Chocolate
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
3.49 CoverGirl EyeEnhancer
0.99 CVS Hair Gel

24.93 TOTAL Sales Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
4.00 STORE Coupon "$4 OFF $20 Skincare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Dove Chocolate"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Hair Care"
3.49 MANUFACTURER Coupon "CoverGirl BOGO"
3.49 MANUFACTURER Coupon "CoverGirl BOGO"
3.49 MANUFACTURER Coupon "CoverGirl BOGO"
2.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Save $2.50 on 2 CoverGirl"
2.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Save $2.50 on 2 CoverGirl"
2.00 ExtraBuck

23.47 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance came to $1.46, plus $1.74 in tax, for a total OOP of $3.20.  I also messed up a bit, mistakenly using a second "$2.50 OFF" manufacturer coupon when I was only paying for three, and not four.  I had originally picked up 7 CoverGirl items from the rack, where the signage indicated that they were $2.99 each.  When I scanned the items, I discovered they were actually priced $6.99.  Yikes.  I returned the seven items to the rack and retrieved six different items priced at $3.49 (confirmed at the scanner).  I only needed six to reach the $20 ECB threshold.  Thus, I had only 6 items, which would match up to only four coupons and not five.  The error meant a $1.50 benefit to me, as I should have used one of my "Save $1 on One" rather than the "Save $2.50 on Two" coupons.  There was no register beepage, so the CVS system accepted the coupons.  When shopping at CVS, if it doesn't beep, it's good.

Also, some may argue that the CVS Store Coupon "Save $4 off $20+ Skincare Purchase" may not appy to "cosmetic items", but my cashier agreed that cosmetics are used on the skin and accepted the coupon, which scanned beeplessly.

It was very frustrating to shop at this store.  I had at least a half-dozen other items to purchase and the store was once again depleted.  I did receive a rain check for the 2ECB-generating Crest.  Of course, my dollar-off coupon expires in two days, so there goes free toothpaste.  I also have a stack of soon-expiring coupons that, combined with sales and clearanced pricing, would make some purchases extra-cheap or nearly-free.  But the shelves were wiped out at this rural location.

On the plus side, a formerly bitter cashier seemed really pleased with my transaction.  The woman behind me in line joked that she "needed to get her act together" like me and save so much.  The cashier then offered that I always do great deals and a great job saving with coupons and sales.  I was a tad verklempt as this busy-body-ish older cashier has often grumbled and muttered about my stack of (almost-always) perfect transactions or when I find expired merchandise in the store and request my complimentary $2 "oops coupon".

I started with 5.99ECB, spent 2ECB, and earned an additional 9ECB (8ECB for CoverGirl and 1ECB for the fourth use of my cloth bag).  That leaves 12.99ECB for this card.