CVS Weekly 3/8-3/14

[RobinFabulous]

I am of the thinking that walmart and target do not save me money. I always buy things I don't intend to buy, and a lot of times I see the same items on sale somewhere else at a better price,
I very rarely shop at either place anymore. Just Target for the cute little kid clothes

I hear ya! I want a couple of those $3 Barbies, but I know that a trip to Target won't just be $6

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I hear ya! I want a couple of those $3 Barbies, but I know that a trip to Target won't just be $6

Mason seems to think he gets a new Cars character every time we go to Target.

On another note - post 5,000!

I had to post it on the CVS thread.

 

[maggiew]

On another note - post 5,000!

I had to post it on the CVS thread.

Congrats! If only we got one ECB for every post ...

Maggie

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Congrats! If only we got one ECB for every post ...

Maggie

That would be amazing!

 

[CajunDixie]

I am of the thinking that walmart and target do not save me money. I always buy things I don't intend to buy, and a lot of times I see the same items on sale somewhere else at a better price,
I very rarely shop at either place anymore. Just Target for the cute little kid clothes

I figured out the key to shopping at WalMart...dont get a shopping cart nor a basket. My arms can only hold so much then I have to check out!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Anyone use the printable ProMax coupons from their website? The ones I've been using are buy 1 get 3 free. Two out of three times they scanned. But even though they did scan those 2 times, the cashiers still had a hard time with them. I have enough ProMax bars now I won't use them anymore.

 

[slamzim]

Awesome deals! Amazing things are cheaper at CVS!

Also, what is the Lumene deal? Heard a buzz last week, but never figured it totally out. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[iwynlea]

Ok, friends, I need help figuring this out! DH has been out of real work for 9 months, the simple math says we have more bills to pay than money coming in each month, we've canceled cable TV, no eating out, learning to love Aldi, and I have to find even more creative ways to save! I like the posts comparing WalMart and Target to CVS...that's really eye opening!

But I still have a hang-up...see below....

I think get the concept of CVSing...after much research on here and various coupon sites. It goes like this... If I take $20 in cash, I can spend it and end up with a bunch of items (that I may or may not need!), plus end up with, for this example, $15 in ExtraBucks to use on another purchase, and then "roll" those ECBs from week to week, hopefully not spending more than a few bucks out of pocket each week after the first "investment". Right? Am I missing anything in the big picture view?

Here's my hangup...what if I don't need those items which I purchased just to get the ECBs (the "free" Vitamin D from this weeks ad comes to mind--I spend $2.99 now and get $2.99 in monopoly money to spend later)? I get that I can donate to charity, and that would feel good to do. But in my current situation, am I better off keeping that $15 in my bank account earning it's pittance in interest -- "real" money and not "monopoly ECB" money, knowing that CVS can then take my "real" money and earn the interest on it, while I just have monopoly money in my pocket.

Does anyone else struggle with this??? Everyone who does CVS LOVES it. So what am I missing? Can someone help show me the light? I want to learn and be brought into the fold -- and save $$ in the process!

 

[PaulaSue]

Ok, friends, I need help figuring this out! DH has been out of real work for 9 months, the simple math says we have more bills to pay than money coming in each month, we've canceled cable TV, no eating out, learning to love Aldi, and I have to find even more creative ways to save! I like the posts comparing WalMart and Target to CVS...that's really eye opening!

But I still have a hang-up...see below....

I think get the concept of CVSing...after much research on here and various coupon sites. It goes like this... If I take $20 in cash, I can spend it and end up with a bunch of items (that I may or may not need!), plus end up with, for this example, $15 in ExtraBucks to use on another purchase, and then "roll" those ECBs from week to week, hopefully not spending more than a few bucks out of pocket each week after the first "investment". Right? Am I missing anything in the big picture view?

Here's my hangup...what if I don't need those items which I purchased just to get the ECBs (the "free" Vitamin D from this weeks ad comes to mind--I spend $2.99 now and get $2.99 in monopoly money to spend later)? I get that I can donate to charity, and that would feel good to do. But in my current situation, am I better off keeping that $15 in my bank account earning it's pittance in interest -- "real" money and not "monopoly ECB" money, knowing that CVS can then take my "real" money and earn the interest on it, while I just have monopoly money in my pocket.

Does anyone else struggle with this??? Everyone who does CVS LOVES it. So what am I missing? Can someone help show me the light? I want to learn and be brought into the fold -- and save $$ in the process!

For me (not a professional CVSer) I only get the free after ECBs (thar I don't need and then donate)if I need to roll my ECBs because they are expiring in the next few days before the next sale.

Also don't forget to use coupons with ECB deals.

 

[maggiew]

Yes, you can start off buying only things you need for the initial investment. THEN, when things might be moneymakers (like Free after ECB plus coupon amount) you can buy them even if you don't need them because the overage can be used towards something you need.

For example, you may not need Lumene wipes, but
1 wipe $2.99
-$4 coupon
= $1.01 overage you can apply towards something you may need.

OR, if your ECB may be expiring and there isn't anything you need right then, you can "buy" some of the ECB things that you may or may not need to "roll them" for the next week when there might be something you need.

Maggie

 

[maggiew]

the crest was an insert. also I found a few w &w nail kits and a few perfume sets and a kitty camera had them price check the cam and it was $29.99 so I didn't bother checking the other stuff.... the toothpaste was good though.... I wish I had saved mine last week.

OK. I found a Crest Whitestrips coupon for $5. It says any Crest Whitestrips Premium, Pro-Effects, Daily Whitening multicare, or Daily Whitening plus Tartar Protection (excluding Classic).

Is that the one? It doesn't say anything about Radience??

Maggie

 

[stitchlovestink]

I was bad and double dipped with rain-checked free L'oreal free products. (To make up for the $16 in ECB that expired while I was ill.)

Forgot to add this earlier. Both CVS stores let me use 7 identical coupons for the LOreal deal.

Okay, I went back to the original post, but I don't see anything about a LOreal deal? Can someone please advise? thanks.

Mason seems to think he gets a new Cars character every time we go to Target.

On another note - post 5,000!

I had to post it on the CVS thread.

CONGRATS. i just got to 1,000. I can't even imagine what year it'll be when I hit 5,000.

 

[CajunDixie]

Here's my hangup...what if I don't need those items which I purchased just to get the ECBs (the "free" Vitamin D from this weeks ad comes to mind--I spend $2.99 now and get $2.99 in monopoly money to spend later)? I get that I can donate to charity, and that would feel good to do. But in my current situation, am I better off keeping that $15 in my bank account earning it's pittance in interest -- "real" money and not "monopoly ECB" money, knowing that CVS can then take my "real" money and earn the interest on it, while I just have monopoly money in my pocket.

Does anyone else struggle with this??? Everyone who does CVS LOVES it. So what am I missing? Can someone help show me the light? I want to learn and be brought into the fold -- and save $$ in the process!

Check with your bank on how much interest you'd get on that $15 for 1 month. Seriously the only time you "need" to do deals for products you don't want is when your ECBs are going to expire or when they could be a MM (money maker) for you. No one here is going to be upset if you only pick and choose the items you want but just know that the ones that succeed the most (so not me) are the ones that roll into all the MM deals. When the Energy Shots were free after ECB I didn't do them...but I still did great with what I did get free.

Buying multiple papers, signing up for product newsletters/coupons and learning to combine what ECB you did get with sales and coupons on items that give ECB back are what makes your $15 last you for months at a time. The savings on one free tube of toothepaste alone is more than the interest you'd have earned on that $15. And if worse comes to worse you can use that $15 on things you need like milk and food items if you have a bad week whereas monopoly money you can't spend.

The deal I did below wasn't free, but I saved $$$$ stocking up on good shampoo. Sure I can always find V05 shampoo for $.79-$1 but it can really make my hair turn into a mess. So it was worth it to me to put out a few dollars to get 22 bottles stocked up.

Okay, I went back to the original post, but I don't see anything about a LOreal deal? Can someone please advise? thanks.


CONGRATS. i just got to 1,000. I can't even imagine what year it'll be when I hit 5,000.

The LOreal deal was spend $20 on ANY LOreal and get $5ECB. The deal was in last weeks CVS ad and it didn't picture the LOreal Pro Vive Shampoo. It ends 04/11/09 I think. This week the LOreal Pro Vive is on sale and there are $1 coupons out there. I bought 7 bottles which got me over $20 then used 7 $1 coupons and I did receive the $5ECB. Not free but I have long curly hair and to keep it healthy I switch shampoo/conditioners about every week to avoid build up.

 

[LanaJae]

Ok, friends, I need help figuring this out! DH has been out of real work for 9 months, the simple math says we have more bills to pay than money coming in each month, we've canceled cable TV, no eating out, learning to love Aldi, and I have to find even more creative ways to save! I like the posts comparing WalMart and Target to CVS...that's really eye opening!

But I still have a hang-up...see below....

I think get the concept of CVSing...after much research on here and various coupon sites. It goes like this... If I take $20 in cash, I can spend it and end up with a bunch of items (that I may or may not need!), plus end up with, for this example, $15 in ExtraBucks to use on another purchase, and then "roll" those ECBs from week to week, hopefully not spending more than a few bucks out of pocket each week after the first "investment". Right? Am I missing anything in the big picture view?

Here's my hangup...what if I don't need those items which I purchased just to get the ECBs (the "free" Vitamin D from this weeks ad comes to mind--I spend $2.99 now and get $2.99 in monopoly money to spend later)? I get that I can donate to charity, and that would feel good to do. But in my current situation, am I better off keeping that $15 in my bank account earning it's pittance in interest -- "real" money and not "monopoly ECB" money, knowing that CVS can then take my "real" money and earn the interest on it, while I just have monopoly money in my pocket.

Does anyone else struggle with this??? Everyone who does CVS LOVES it. So what am I missing? Can someone help show me the light? I want to learn and be brought into the fold -- and save $$ in the process!

If you want to try this, start by buying these items next Sunday morning:

One (1) $4.99 Irish Spring Body Wash (some regions in the US got a Proctor and Gamble home mailer with $1 coupon)
One (1) $2.99 Colgate toothpaste or toothbrush ($0.75 coupons from 2-22-09 Smart Source insert)
One (1) $2.99 Dry Idea roll-on ($2 coupon for roll on at coupons.com or couponbug.com)

Lets count on you having at least the $2 Dry Idea coupon, so you'll pay $8.97 plus tax (less if you have a Colgate coupon)

You will earn these Extra Bucks on your receipt: $4.99, $2.99, $2 = $9.98

Right there, you've already earned more in store credit (Extra Bucks) than you've spent.

Then you wait for the next week (or the week after) and buy items that are free after Extra Bucks or free after Extra Bucks and coupons. Some weeks it might only be another toothpaste or a shampoo or ?

You use the Extra Bucks you have to pay the balance after coupons for the new items. At that point, you might have $13 in store credit (Extra Bucks), but you've only spent your original $8.97 plus tax and possibly another $1 (mostly tax).

This is the concept. You can, at that point, use the extra $3 in Extra Bucks to buy something you need, such as a gallon of milk. That leaves you will $10 in Extra Bucks for the next week's sale and so on, plus you have the products from those shopping trips.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

Mason seems to think he gets a new Cars character every time we go to Target.

On another note - post 5,000!

I had to post it on the CVS thread.

yay for you!!!!!!

Congrats! If only we got one ECB for every post ...

Maggie

wouldn't that be nice...

Okay ladies, I'm in the money now... DD got an ear infection.... do I hear a $25 gift card???!!!!! Oh yeah!!!! It was lovely. Not for DD of course...

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO MAKE UP A FAKE SICKENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, I haven't CVSed in a while. Like 2 weeks. I'm running out of shampoo!

I better sort my coupons....


And, Flakypuff: thanks for doing the thread! How nice!

 

[maggiew]

I know, I haven't CVSed in a while. Like 2 weeks. I'm running out of shampoo!

I better sort my coupons....

How can you go through 294 bottles of Garnier shampoo in 2 weeks!

Never fear, there is free shampoo at Walgreens this week and cheap at CVS.

Maggie

 

[tngramma]

Ok, friends, I need help figuring this out! DH has been out of real work for 9 months, the simple math says we have more bills to pay than money coming in each month, we've canceled cable TV, no eating out, learning to love Aldi, and I have to find even more creative ways to save! I like the posts comparing WalMart and Target to CVS...that's really eye opening!

But I still have a hang-up...see below....

I think get the concept of CVSing...after much research on here and various coupon sites. It goes like this... If I take $20 in cash, I can spend it and end up with a bunch of items (that I may or may not need!), plus end up with, for this example, $15 in ExtraBucks to use on another purchase, and then "roll" those ECBs from week to week, hopefully not spending more than a few bucks out of pocket each week after the first "investment". Right? Am I missing anything in the big picture view?

Here's my hangup...what if I don't need those items which I purchased just to get the ECBs (the "free" Vitamin D from this weeks ad comes to mind--I spend $2.99 now and get $2.99 in monopoly money to spend later)? I get that I can donate to charity, and that would feel good to do. But in my current situation, am I better off keeping that $15 in my bank account earning it's pittance in interest -- "real" money and not "monopoly ECB" money, knowing that CVS can then take my "real" money and earn the interest on it, while I just have monopoly money in my pocket.

Does anyone else struggle with this??? Everyone who does CVS LOVES it. So what am I missing? Can someone help show me the light? I want to learn and be brought into the fold -- and save $$ in the process!

Here is what I can tell you about this. 2 years ago a friend encouraged me to try CVSing. They were offering a $25 gift card with new or transferred prescription (they still do this). I used that $25 to get me started and have been playing on the same $25 eversince. My ECBs have been as high as $120 and as low as $10 at times.

The thing with CVS is you have to put some work into it each week to get what you want or need and make sure you do not let ECBs expire.

I now keep my household, DS's and DD's household supplied with all our health and beauty aids. Plus a few more things in my stash.

CVSing is an addiction that pays off big time! Don't forget you can have a yard sale to make money off your stash.

 

[SalandJeff]

If you want to try this, start by buying these items next Sunday morning:

One (1) $4.99 Irish Spring Body Wash (some regions in the US got a Proctor and Gamble home mailer with $1 coupon)
One (1) $2.99 Colgate toothpaste or toothbrush ($0.75 coupons from 2-22-09 Smart Source insert)
One (1) $2.99 Dry Idea roll-on ($2 coupon for roll on at coupons.com or couponbug.com)

Lets count on you having at least the $2 Dry Idea coupon, so you'll pay $8.97 plus tax (less if you have a Colgate coupon)

You will earn these Extra Bucks on your receipt: $4.99, $2.99, $2 = $9.98

Right there, you've already earned more in store credit (Extra Bucks) than you've spent.

Then you wait for the next week (or the week after) and buy items that are free after Extra Bucks or free after Extra Bucks and coupons. Some weeks it might only be another toothpaste or a shampoo or ?

You use the Extra Bucks you have to pay the balance after coupons for the new items. At that point, you might have $13 in store credit (Extra Bucks), but you've only spent your original $8.97 plus tax and possibly another $1 (mostly tax).

This is the concept. You can, at that point, use the extra $3 in Extra Bucks to buy something you need, such as a gallon of milk. That leaves you will $10 in Extra Bucks for the next week's sale and so on, plus you have the products from those shopping trips.

Thank you. This is a great explanation for those of us who have been struggling with spending money on stuff we don't need.

 

[puffkin]

iwynlea-

I don't have anything additional to add from the others....but just wanted to share that I have been doing this since June. I pretty much buy everything that is Free after ECB and/or coupon. My stash is HUGE! I donated a lot of items around the holidays as well as used lots of stuff for gift bags and baskets. I will be trying to sell items at our community yard sale next month and then the rest of my stockpile will get donated and I will start over. It is amazing what you can accumulate for a $15-$20 initial investment and a few dollars a month.

If you want to get started this week, I can give you the deals that I figured out for an article my local paper is doing on me. It isn't the best week in terms of earning tons of ECBs, but you can get a really good lot of products (things most families would actually use) for cheap. Plus, you will have ECB's left over to start rolling next week. Just let me know and I will pull the post off of last weeks thread.

 

[fofinia]

I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO MAKE UP A FAKE SICKENESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!

OMG I'm laughing so hard. And my DD just asked me why! I can't tell her how all the CVS mommies like prescriptions for the gift card!!!