Friday, April 30, 2010

2010-04-30 -- $1.02

I had a couple of decent coupons expiring at the end of the month, so I cobbled together a somewhat decent transaction.  I began with 9.80ECB.

Regular Prices:
3.99 OralB Toothbrush
3.99 OralB Toothbrush
2.19 CVS Suncare
2.19 CVS Suncare
1.99 Golden Oreos (6oz)
1.99 Golden Oreos (6oz)

16.34 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
2.99 OralB Toothbrush
2.99 OralB Toothbrush
2.19 CVS Suncare
2.19 CVS Suncare
1.00 Golden Oreos (6oz)
1.00 Golden Oreos (6oz)

12.36 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
2.99 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 1 OralB, Get 1 Free"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Save $1 on Two Nabisco"
5.00 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck
1.00 ExtraBuck

11.99 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My total came to 37 cents, plus 65 cents in tax, for an out-of-pocket amount of $1.02. In addition, I spent 8 ECB, earned 7ECB (5ECB for two CVS Suncare and 1ECB for each toothbrush).  As a result, I end the month with 8.80ECB.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

2010-04-28 -- 21 Cents

A piddly money-maker.  I started with 9.99ECB.

Regular Prices:
2.19 CVS Sunscreen
2.19 CVS Sunscreen

4.38 TOTAL Regular Price

Sale Prices:
2.19 CVS Sunscreen
2.19 CVS Sunscreen

4.38 TOTAL Sales Price

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
2.49 ExtraBuck
1.89 ExtraBuck (reduced from 2.00ECB)

4.38 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance came to zero, since my 2.00ECB was reduced to 1.89ECB.  My tax came to 21 cents, which was my total out-of-pocket for this tiny purchase.  Buying two CVS sunscreen products generated a 5.00ECB.

So I started with 8.99ECB, spent 4.49ECB (losing 11 cents), but earned back 5.00ECB.  My current ECB total for this card is 10.50ECB.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

2010-04-24 -- $1.01

I started with 8.99ECB.

Regular Prices:
1.99 Golden Oreos (6oz)
1.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
1.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
1.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

10.93 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sales Prices:
1.00 Golden Oreos (6oz)
0.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

6.94 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare Item"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare Item"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare Item"

6.00 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance came to $0.94, plues seven cents in taxes for a grand total of $1.01.  In addition, I earned 1ECB for the fourth use of my cloth bag.

I began with 8.99ECB, spent NONE, and earned 1ECB, for a total of 9.99ECB for Card1.

Friday, April 23, 2010

2010-04-22 -- 49 Cents

I started with 10.49ECB for Card2 in Household #2.

Regular Prices:
3.49 Schick Hydro Shave Gel
1.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
1.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

9.45 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
2.79 Schick Hydro Shave Gel
0.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

6.75 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
2.49 ExtraBuck

6.49 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My total came to $0.26, plus $0.23 in tax, for a grand total amount of $0.49.

I began with 10.49ECB, used 2.49ECB, an earn 1.80ECB (Hydro).  As a result I currently have 9.80ECB.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Wednesday Balance

Card1 = 8.99ECB
Card2 = 10.49ECB

Monday, April 19, 2010

2010-04-19 -- $2.27

I started with 5.00ECB for Household #2 (Card2).

Regular Prices:
2.99 Russell Stover Easter Bunny
2.99 Russell Stover Easter Bunny
2.79 Thermacare Wrap
1.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

11.75 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
0.29 Russell Stover Easter Bunny
0.29 Russell Stover Easter Bunny
2.49 Thermacare Wrap
0.99 CVS Tissues (200ct)
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

5.05 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Thermacare"

3.00 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My total came to $2.05, plus $0.22 in taxes, for a grand total of $2.27.  I decided not to spend any ECB on this trip, but earned 2.49ECB for Thermacare, 1.00ECB for using my cloth bag for the fourth time, and an additional 2.00ECB for again finding boxes of CVS Allergy medicine which expired in DECEMBER 2009.  So, for a $2.27 outlay of real, actual cash, I earned back 5.49ECB.

That brought my ECB total for Card2 to 10.49ECB.

2010-04-17 -- $1.73

I started with 8.99ECB for Household #1 (Card1).

Regular Prices:
5.29 CVS Allergy Tablets (5ct)
3.49 CVS Fruitopia Shampoo
2.79 Thermacare Wrap
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.89 Dove Chocolate Bar
0.73 CVS Purple Folder

14.18 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
3.49 CVS Allergy Tablets (5ct)
2.50 CVS Fruitopia Shampoo
2.49 Thermacare Wrap
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.49 Dove Chocolate Bar
0.73 CVS Purple Folder

10.69 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
2.00 STORE Coupon "Fruitopia"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Thermacare"
4.49 ExtraBuck

9.49 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My total came to $1.20, plus $0.53 tax, for a total out-of-pocket cost of $1.73.  I spent 4.49ECB, but earned back 2.49ECB (Thermacare).  In addition, I found four boxes of EXPIRED CVS allergy medicine.  As a result, I received a 2.00ECB, per the CVS policy when you find expired items on sale in the store.  So, I spent 4.49ECB and earned back 4.49ECB.

As a result, my ECB balance remained 8.99ECB.

Friday, April 16, 2010

Two Months and 31 Transactions Later

OK, so now it has been two months since I first started tracking my savings at CVS.  By using store coupons, manufacturers coupons, and in-store "scrip" (ExtraBucks!), I have made quite a haul.

My 31 transactions have cost me slightly under $50 in actual cash out-of-packet ($48.77).  That small amount of real, actual currency has yielded $880.84 worth of products.  While it is true the nearly $881 in product represents the grossly-overpriced prices that drugstores often charge, a savings of 94.5% is pretty impressive.

Of course, I would rarely buy any item for FULL PRICE, so let's take a look at the savings versus Sale Prices.   Many, many of the items I have purchased have been on sale or clearance. Still, the total purchase amount comes to $580.63, a savings of nearly 92%.

Now, the other key number is the amount of tax I have had to pay.  My total out-of-pocket actual expense has been $48.77. Yet, of that amount, well over half is TAX.  My total tax paid comes to $28.77, leaving the actual amount of cash used to purchase nearly nine hundred dollars worth of items is barely twenty dollars.

Yup,  that's right, $20.20 is the non-tax amount spent to buy dozens of items.

2010-04-15 -- $2.43

Since I received a $4 Off $20 coupon by joining Recyclebank, I figured I could manage a somewhat large purchase again.  I started with 4.49ECB.

Regular Prices:
6.99 Nivea Body Wash
5.99 Nivea Body Wash
5.99 Nivea Body Wash
3.49 Fruitopia Shampoo
1.50 Chocolate Easter Bunny
1.99 CVS Absolutely Divine Chocolate Bar
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

28.12 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
4.99 Nivea Body Wash
4.99 Nivea Body Wash
4.99 Nivea Body Wash
2.50 Fruitopia Shampoo
0.38 Chocolate Easter Bunny
1.99 CVS Absolutely Divine Chocolate Bar
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

22.02 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
4.00 STORE Coupon "Save $4 Off $20"
2.00 STORE Coupon "Save $2 Fruitopia"
1.99 STORE Coupon "Free Absolutely Divine Chocolate"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
2.00 MANUFACTURERS Coupon "Save $2 Nivea"
2.00 MANUFACTURERS Coupon "Save $2 Nivea"
2.00 MANUFACTURERS Coupon "Save $2 Nivea"
4.49 ExtraBuck

20.48 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance came to $1.54, plus $0.89 local tax, for a grand total of $2.43.  I spent all 4.49ECB, but earned 5.00ECB (Nivea).

2010-04-12 -- 58 Cents

Another quick and tiny purchase.  I began with 4.50 ECB.

Regular Prices:
4.49 Dove Shampoo
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

6.67 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
4.49 Dove Shampoo
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)

6.67 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
4.50 ExtraBuck

6.50 TOTAL Coupons and Disocunts

My balance came to 17 cents, plus 41 cents in tax, for a grand total of 58 cents.  Once again, I spent all 4.50ECB, but earned 4.49ECB (Dove Shampoo).

2010-04-12 -- 67 Cents

I start with 6ECB.

Regular Prices:
5.49 Dial NutriShield Soap
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Book
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.89 Dove Candy Bar

8.56 TOTAL Regular Prices


Sale Prices:
5.49 Dial NutriShield Soap
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Book
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.49 Dove Candy Bar

8.16 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
4.00 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck

8.00 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance came to $0.16, plus 51 cents in tax, for a total out-of-pocket cost of $0.67.  I used all 6ECB, but earned 4.50ECB (Dial),

Sunday, April 11, 2010

2010-04-11 -- 98 Cents

Another lackluster week with low limits on ECB items (1 per household) and, of course, no store coupons for any $XX Off $XX purchase.

Oh well. You do what you can.

I started with 10.99ECB.

Regular Prices:
5.49 Dial NutriSkin BodyWash
4.49 Dove Shampoo
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.89 Starburst
0.89 Starburst

13.94 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
5.49 Dial NutriSkin BodyWash
4.49 Dove Shampoo
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloths (12ct)
0.49 Starburst
0.49 Starburst

13.14 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
8.99 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck

12.99 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance came to $0.15, plus a whopping $0.83 in tax, for a total cost of 98 cents.  In addition, I reduced my ECB by a dollar. I began with 10.99, spent all of them, and earned back 8.99ECB (4.49 for Dove and 4.50 for Dial).

Not horrible, although a tad boring.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

2010-04-10 -- $2.20

I start with 13.98ECB.

Regular Prices:
9.99 Complete Lens Solution
5.99 Head+Shoulders Shampoo
5.99 Head+Shoulders Conditioner
3.49 Spiderman Gift Box
3.49 Spiderman Gift Box
1.50 Moisturizer Item
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloth Wipes (12ct)

32.63 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
8.99 Complete Lens Solution
4.99 Head+Shoulders Shampoo
4.99 Head+Shoulders Conditioner
0.87 Spiderman Gift Box
0.87 Spiderman Gift Box
1.50 Moisturizer Item
1.19 CVS Mini Memo Pad
0.99 CVS SoftCloth Wipes (12ct)

24.39 TOTAL Sales Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Paper Product"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare Item"
5.99 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 1 HS, Get 1 HS"
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Complete"
8.00 ExtraBuck
3.99 ExtraBuck
1.00 ExtraBuck
0.99 ExtraBuck

23.97 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance came to 42 cents, plus $1.78 in local taxes (arrghh), making my total cost come to $2.20.  In addition, I spent all 13.98ECB and earned back only 10.99ECB (8.99ECB for Complete and 2ECB for the Head+Shoulders).

Not the best of transactions.  Oh, how I miss the 5OFF20 CVS coupons.

2010-04-10 -- $3.20

I start with 7ECB.

Regular Prices:
11.61 SoyJoy Assortment (9)
5.99 Head+Shoulders Shampoo
5.99 Head+Shoulders Conditioner
4.49 Scunci Hair Item
0.99 CVS Coastal Rain Conditioner
0.59 CVS Creme Filled Easter Egg

29.66 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
5.85 SoyJoy Assortment (9)
4.99 Head+Shoulders Shampoo
4.99 Head+Shouldere Conditioner
1.12 Scunci Hair Item
0.99 CS Coastal Rain Conditioner
0.14 CVS Creme Filled Easter Egg

18.08 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Hair Care Item"
4.99 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 1 HS, Get 1 HS"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Save $1 on Head+Shoulders"
0.65 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 2 SJ, Get 1 SJoy"
0.65 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 2 SJ, Get 1 SJoy"
0.65 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 2 SJ, Get 1 SJoy"
5.00 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck

15.94 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance was a whopping $2.14, plus $1.06 in tax, for a total out-of-pocket cost of $3.20. In addition, I spent all 7ECB, but earned back 6ECB (4ECB for SoyJoy and 2ECB for Head+Shoulders.)  Yet another less-than-great transaction.

2010-04-08 -- 57 Cents

I start with 14.49ECB.

Regular Prices:
4.99 Lady Mitchum RollOn
1.49 Stride Shift Gum
1.49 Stride Shift Gum
1.49 Stride Shift Gum
0.99 CVS Crystal Rain Shampoo

10.45 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
1.25 Lady Mitchum RollOn
0.99 Stride Shift Gum
0.99 Stride Shift Gum
0.99 Stride Shift Gum
0.99 CVS Crystal Rain Shampoo

5.21 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Hair Care Product"
0.99 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 2, Get 1 Stride"
0.75 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Any Lady Mitchum"
0.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Any Stride"
1.50 ExtraBuck

4.74 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My total came to $0.47, plus ten cents in tax, for a total out-of-pocket cost of $0.57.  In addition, I spent 1.50ECB and only earned back 0.99ECB (Stride).  As a result, I end up with 13.98ECB.

Monday, April 5, 2010

2010-04-01 = $5.17

-- started with 3.50ECB, including my 1.50ECB promotional award for my First Quarter 2010 purchases.

Regular Prices:
5.99 Nivea Touch of Honeydew
5.99 Nivea Touch of Waterlilly
5.99 Nivea Touch of Waterlilly
5.49 Gillette ClearShield RollOn
5.49 Gillette ClearShield RollOn
4.99 Gillette BodyWash
4.99 Gillette BodyWash
3.89 Crest Vivid 3D (4oz)
0.99 CVS Coastal Rain Shampoo

43.41 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
5.99 Nivea Touch of Honeydew
5.99 Nivea Touch of Waterlilly
5.99 Nivea Touch of Waterlilly
2.75 Gillette ClearShield RollOn
1.37 Gillette ClearShield RollOn
3.99 Gillette BodyWash
3.99 Gillette BodyWash
2.99 Crest Vivid 3D (4oz)
0.99 CVS Coastal Rain Shampoo

34.05 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
4.00 STORE Coupon "Save $4 Off $20 Skincare"
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Hair Care"
5.99 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Free Gillette BodyWash"
5.99 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Free Gillette BodyWash"
4.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "$4 Off on 2 Deodorant"
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "$2 Off Nivea"
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "$2 Off Nivea"
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "$2 Off Nivea"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "$1 Off Any Crest"
2.00 ExtraBuck
1.50 ExtraBuck

31.48 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

I had the benefit of an over-eager assistant manager as my cashier.  I had two coupons for a "free bodywash" when I bought a Gillette deodorant product.  The ClearShield rollons were on clearance, one 75% off, the other 50% off.  The total for both came to $4.12, allowing me to use the "Save $4 on two Gillette deodorant products" coupon.  As for the free bodywash, the cashier should have deducted just $3.99 for each, as they were on sale. I advised the manager that the price was 3.99, but he went ahead and applied the $5.99 price for the Nivea.  I wasn't going to argue.

My balance came to $2.57, plus $2.60 in taxes, for a total out-of-pocket expense of $5.17. This was a rather high OOP, but I did generate 7ECB, 3.5 more than I spent.  So that makes my net "cost" just under two dollars.

I started with 3.5ECB, spent all of them, but earned 7ECB (5ECB for Nivea and 2ECB for Crest).  That leaves me with 7ECB total.

CVS Quarterly Rewards

Every quarter, CVS awards an ExtraBuck for your previous quarter's purchases.  This amount is based on the out-of-pocket amount spent at the store.  As I generally have minimal OOP expense, my quarterly ECB is usually quite small.  This quarter was no different.

Household1 = Card1 = 1.50ECB
Household2 = Card2 = 1.50ECB

Not a huge amount, but every bit helps.

Friday, April 2, 2010

March Madness

Well, March wasn't as great as January and February had been, but there was still substantial savings, mostly due to CVS regional ads offering "5OFF20" coupons.  By the end of March, it appeared that special marketing campaign had ended.  Boo-hoo.

March Results:

13 Transactions

$400.32 TOTAL Regular Prices
$259.59 TOTAL Sale Prices
$ 23.86 TOTAL Out-Of-Pocket Cost (including $12.96 in tax)

Yup, that's right, if you exclude the tax, I spent less than $10 for over $400 in merchandise.

Savings from Regular Retail:  94.0%
Savings from Sale Prices: 90.8%

In addition, I depleted my ECB inventory significantly.

Card1 March 01 = 21.49ECB
Card1 March 31 = 14.49ECB

Card2 March 01 = 11.49ECB
Card2 March 31 = 3.50ECB

Card1 "lost" 7ECB, while Card2 "lost" 7.99ECB.