Friday, March 12, 2010

2010-03-12 -- $2.96

I started the day with 20.99ECB.

Regular Prices:
3.29 Stacys Pita Chips
2.69 PopTarts
2.69 PopTarts
2.69 PopTarts
5.49 OralB Toothbrush
5.49 OralB Toothbrush
5.99 Head+Shoulders Shampoo
2.29 Betty Crocker Warm Delights
2.99 Nivea LipCare

33.61 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
2.50 Stacys Pita Chips
2.50 PopTarts
2.50 PopTarts
2.50 PopTarts
4.00 OralB Toothbrush
4.00 OralB Toothbrush
4.99 Head+Shoulders Shampoo
1.00 Betty Crocker Warm Delights
2.99 Nivea LipCare

26.98 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
4.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 1 OralB, Get 1 Free"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Any Nivea"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Stacys
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Head+Shoulders
0.75 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Any OralB"
0.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon BC Warm Delights
7.99 ExtraBuck
4.00 ExtraBuck
3.00 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck

25.24 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

My balance was $1.74 + $1.22 TAX, for a total OOP of 2.96.  I started with 20.99ECB, spent 16.99ECB, an earned 17.99ECB (8ECB for OralB, 5ECB for PopTarts, 2.99ECB for Nivea LipCare, and 2ECB for Head+Shoulders).  I now have 21.99ECB.

2010-03-12 -- $0.00 ZERO!

Just a quick run to close out one deal.

I started with 11.49ECB.

Regular Prices:
3.29 Stacys Pita Chips
0.99 Small Bag Gold Emblem Mixed Nuts

4.28 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
2.50 Stacys Pits Chips
0.99 Small Bag Gold Emblem Mixed Nuts

3.49 TOTAL Sale Prices

Coupons and Discounts Applied:
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any Gold Emblem Almond"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Stacys
1.49 ExtraBuck (Reduced from 1.50)

3.49 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts

Since there is no tax on food, my total amount due was exactly zero.  I did spend 1.50ECB (reduced by the cashier to 1.49) and received 1ECB in completing the weely Stacys deal.  That leaves me with 10.99ECB.

2010-03-11 -- $1.20

Three items, one coupon, and an ECB.

Now that the weekly "$5 OFF $20" STORE coupon appears to be history, the days of super-low OOP are probably over for awhile.  I wanted to finish off the deals I had started, so I popped in and made a super-quick transacation.

I started with 12.49ECB.

Regular Prices:
5.99 Head+Shoulders Conditioner
2.69 PopTarts
2.69 PopTarts

11.37 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
4.99 Head+Shoulders Conditioner
2.50 PopTarts
2.50 PopTarts

9.99 TOTAL Sale Prices

Discounts and Coupons Applied:
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Head+Shoulders
8.00 ExtraBuck

9.00 TOTAL Discounts and Coupons

My total amount due came to $1.40, including tax. I started with 12.49ECB, used 8ECB, and received 7ECB (5ECB from Kelloggs and 2ECB from Head+Shoulders).  That leaves me with 11.49ECB.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

2010-03-08 -- 77 Cents

I started with 10.50ECB.

Regular Prices:
4.49 Oral B Toothbrush
4.49 Oral B Toothbrush
3.29 Stacys Pita Chips
2.69 PopTarts
2.69 PopTarts
3.19 Nivea Lip Care
2.29 Betty Crocker Warm Delight
2.19 CVS Moisture Rich Hand Wash
1.39 CVS Paper Towel Roll

26.71 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sales Prices:
4.00 Oral B Toothbrush
4.00 Oral B Toothbrush
2.50 Stacys Pita Chips
2.50 PopTarts
2.50 PopTarts
2.99 Nivea LipCare
1.00 Betty Crocker Warm Delight
1.10 CVS Moisture Rich Hand Wash
1.39 CVS Paper Towel Roll

21.98 TOTAL Sale Prices

Discounts and Coupons Applied:
5.00 STORE Coupon
1.00 STORE Coupon "$1 Off Any CVS Paper Towel"
4.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy One OralB, Get One Free"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Any Nivea"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Stacys
0.75 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Any OralB Toothbrush"
0.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon Betty Crocker
4.00 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck
0.73 ExtraBuck (reduced down from 1.00ECB)

21.98 TOTAL Discounts and Coupons

Since the cashier reduced my 1.00ECB to 0.73ECB, my balance became exactly "$0.00".  The tax amount came to $0.77, so that was my total amount spent out-of-pocket.  Afterward, I also realized that I had forgotten to use one of my "Save $2 on an CVS Skin Care" coupons, so I could have kept one of my 2ECB for future use and had the same OOP expense.

I began with 10.50ECB, spent 9ECB (actually only 8.73ECB), and received 10.99ECB (8ECB for the OralB and 2.99 for the Nivea).  The balance for my second household account is 12.49ECB.  Once again, CVS has paid me to shop.

2010-03-06 -- $1.02

I started with 11.49ECB on Card2.

Regular Prices:
4.99 SoftSoap NutriSerum
4.99 Excedrin (24ct)
4.99 Excedrin (24ct)
4.99 Excedrin PM (20ct)
3.89 Colgate Total Advantage (4oz)
3.89 Colgate Total Advantage (4oz)
2.29 Betty Crocker Warm Delight
2.29 Betty Crocker Warm Delight
2.99 Progresso Soup
2.99 Progresso Soup
2.99 Progresso Soup
1.99 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash

43.28 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
4.99 SoftSoap NutriSerum
2.50 Excedrin (24ct)
2.50 Excedrin (24ct)
2.50 Excedrin PM (20ct)
2.50 Colgate Total Advantage (4oz)
2.50 Colgate Total Advantage (4oz)
1.00 Betty Crocker Warm Delight
1.00 Betty Crocker Warm Delight
1.67 Progresso Soup
1.67 Progresso Soup
1.67 Progresso Soup
1.00 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash

25.50 TOTAL Sales Prices

Discounts and Coupons Applied:
5.00 STORE Coupon $5Off$20 from Santa Cruz Sentinel online
2.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Skin Care"
1.50 STORE Coupon Colgate
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Excedrin
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Excedrin
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Excedrin
1.10 MANUFACTURER Coupon Any Three Progresso
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon SoftSoap
0.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon Betty Crocker Warm Delight
0.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon Betty Crocker Warm Delight
7.99 ExtraBuck

25.59 TOTAL Discounts and Coupons Applied

Yet again, my total goes negative ( $25.50 - $25.59 = -$0.09).  There was $1.11 in tax, bringing my out-of-pocket total to $1.02.

I also had a second Colgate coupon rejected. The terminology is often murky on coupons and sometimes confuses the cashier. It's often best to not argue too much. This coupon cites "one per purchase" and since I was "purchasing" two Colgate in this single "transaction", the coupon should have been allowed.  CVS tends to uphold the policy that "if it scans, we will take it."  The cashier attempted to scan the second Colgate coupon for the second Colgate being purchased, but it did beep.  She offered to let me make a second transaction by pulling out Colgate #2 and buying it separately, but I just opted to take back the coupon, as it is valid until 03-31-2010 and I will likely be able to use it later.

I started with 11.49ECB, spent 7.99ECB, and earned 7ECB (4ECB Softsoap, 2ECB Colgate, and 1ECB for the fourth scan using my cloth bag).  That leaves me with 10.50ECB on the card for my second household.

2010-03-06 -- 20 Cents

I start with 21.49ECB on Card1.

Regular Prices:
4.99 Excedrin (24ct)
4.99 Excedrin (24ct)
4.99 SoftSoap NutriSerum
3.79 Lady SpeedStick
3.79 Lady SpeedStick
2.69 PopTarts
1.99 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash
1.99 CVS Clear Bandaids (100ct)
1.79 Fig Newtons

31.01 TOTAL Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
2.50 Excedrin (24ct)
2.50 Excedrin (24ct)
4.99 SoftSoap NutriSerum
2.99 Lady SpeedStick
2.99 Lady SpeedStick
2.50 PopTarts
1.00 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash
0.37 CVS Clear Bandaids (100ct)
1.00 Fig Newtons

20.84 TOTAL Sales Prices

Discounts and Coupons Applied:
5.00 STORE Coupon $5Off$20 from online Santa Cruz Sentinel
2.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Skincare"
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Excedrin
2.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Excedrin
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon SoftSoa
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon SpeedStick
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon SpeedStick
3.50 ExtraBuck
3.00 ExtraBuck
1.00 ExtraBuck

21.50 TOTAL Coupons and Discounts Applied

Once again, my total goes negative ( $20.84 - $21.50 = - $0.66 ).  The tax came to 86 cents, making the total amount of cash paid twenty cents. Yup. Two dimes.

I began with 21.49ECB, spent 7.50ECB, and earned 7ECB (4ECB SoftSoap and 3ECB SpeedStick). My ECB balance for this card is reduced to 20.99ECB.

Friday, March 5, 2010

February Flashback

I started tracking my purchases halfway through February. Here are the savings amounts for those two weeks.

10 Total February Transactions

307.08 Total Non-Sale Cost
189.32 Total Sale Cost
9.11 Total Out-Of-Pocket Cost (including tax)

297.97 Total Savings Amount

TOTAL SAVINGS PERCENTAGE = 97.0%

I started mid-month with 31.50ECB and ended February with 32.98ECB.

So in two weeks, over 10 transactions, I bought nearly $310 in product, paid only $9.11 in cash, and also "earned" another 1.48ECB.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Wednesday Balance

Card1 = 21.49ECB
Card2 = 11.49ECB

Monday, March 1, 2010

2010-02-27 -- $1.07

I start with 20.50ECB.

Regular Prices:
9.99 EaRinse
3.99 SpeedStick Stainguard
3.99 Planters Unsalted Peanuts (16oz)
3.99 Planters Unsalted Peanuts (16oz)
3.29 Colgate MaxFresh
2.39 Mrs Cubbisons Seasoned Croutons
2.29 Betty Crocker Frosting
1.99 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash
0.99 CVS Travel Size Sports Hair Gel (3oz)

32.91 TOTAL Non-Sale Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
7.99 EaRinse
2.99 SpeedStick StainGuard
2.00 Planters Unsalted Peanuts (16oz)
2.00 Planters Unsalted Peanuts (16oz)
2.99 Colgate MaxFresh
1.20 Mrs Cubbisons Seasoned Crouton
1.50 Betty Crocker Frosting
1.00 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash
0.99 CVS Travel Size Sports Hair Gel (3oz)
 
22.66 TOTAL Sale Prices
 
Discounts and Coupons Applied:
5.00 STORE Coupon $5Off$20 from Santa Cruz Sentinel
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Hair Product" 
1.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS Skincare"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon SpeedStick
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Colgate
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon "Buy 2 Planters, Save $1"
0.50 MANUFACTURER Coupon Betty Crocker Frosting
5.00 ExtraBuck
4.00 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck
1.00 ExtraBuck
 
22.50 TOTAL Discounts Applied (Coupons+ECB)
 
After coupon deductions, my balance came to 16 cents.  Add in $0.91 in tax and my total amount paid was $1.07.
 
I spent 12.00ECB and earned 12.99ECB (7.99ECB for EaRinse, 2ECB for SpeedStick, 2ECB or Colgate, and 1ECB for using my cloth bag for the fourth time).  So after this final transaction of February, I gained 0.99ECB and have 21.49ECB to start the month of March.

2010-02-27 -- 73 Cents

I started with 13.00ECB.

Regular Prices:
9.99 EaRinse
4.49 Dove Milk Chocolate (9.5oz)
3.99 SpeedStick Stainguard
2.89 Fritos
1.99 Bowl Appetit
1.99 Bowl Appetit
1.99 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash
2.99 XMAS Music CD
2.99 XMAS Music CD

33.31 TOTAL Non-Sale Regular Prices

Sale Prices:
7.99 EaRinse
3.00 Dove Milk Chocolate (9.5oz)
2.99 SpeedStick Stainguard
1.99 Fritos
1.00 Bowl Appetit
1.00 Bowl Appetit
1.00 CVS Deep Moisture Hand Wash
0.74 XMAS Music CD
0.74 XMAS Music CD

20.45 TOTAL Sale Prices

Discounts and Coupons Applied:
5.00 STORE Coupon $5Off$20 from Santa Cruz Sentinel online
2.00 STORE Coupon "Any CVS SkinCare"
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon Dove Chocolate
1.00 MANUFACTURER Coupon SpeedStick
4.00 ExtraBuck
3.50 ExtraBuck
2.00 ExtraBuck
1.95 Extrabuck (Reduced from 2.00ECB)

20.45 TOTAL Discounts (Coupons+ECB)

A 2.00ECB had to be manually reduced by the cashier to 1.95, bringing my balance to $0.00. That meant I only had to pay 73 cents in tax.

I started with 13.00ECB, spent 11.50ECB, and earned 9.99ECB (7.99ECB for EaRinse and 2.00ECB for SpeedStick).  That leaves my balance for Household #2 at 11.49ECB.