CVS'rs...Am I Doing This Right?

[kristenrice]

I'm new to CVS but their ad this week had a lot of stuff I needed AND have coupons for...double bonus.

So, here are my planned transactions...does this look right?

First, I already went today and bought (3) boxes of Special K for $9 (-$1 off 3 coupon) and a 4oz tube of Colgate Pro Sensitivity for $4.49 (-$1.50 off coupon that expired today). I paid $11.xx and received $1.50 ECB for the toothpaste and $3 ECB for the cereal.

Next, I plan to buy (1) Herbal Essences shampoo ($2.99) and (1) Herbal Essences conditioner ($2.99) with a coupon for $1 off 2. I would use the $4.50 in ECB's from today towards this transaction for a total of $0.48 + tax. I should receive another $2 ECB (1 for each bottle) on this transaction.

Then, I need pizza and Hot Pockets. I want (4) Jack's pizzas (2/$6 and a coupon for $1 off 3) and (4) Hot Pockets (2/$6 and a coupon for $1 off 3). I will apply the $2 ECB from the previous transaction to this one for a total of $20 + tax. The ad says that I will receive $5 in ECB for a combined purchase of $20 in pizza and Hot Pockets.

Finally, I need Excedrin. It is on sale for $6.99 for an 80ct bottle. I have a coupon for $1.50 off and I will apply the $5 ECB which should bring my total to $0.49 + tax.

Does this look correct? I've never done this before so I want to make sure I have it right. I'd love to get all this stuff for about $30.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Oh My, I am impressed that you did all that....

I have no idea but Just thinking about figuring that all out, makes my head spin and the time it would take me to figure it all out would negate my savings

Good Luck!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, it all looks right . Good job!

One thing I would suggest (beg ) if you're planning to do this all in one trip: if the store is at all busy, or if anybody is behind you in line during any transaction, please consider stepping to the end of the line.

 

[canopynut66]

I'm new to CVS but their ad this week had a lot of stuff I needed AND have coupons for...double bonus.

So, here are my planned transactions...does this look right?

First, I already went today and bought (3) boxes of Special K for $9 (-$1 off 3 coupon) and a 4oz tube of Colgate Pro Sensitivity for $4.49 (-$1.50 off coupon that expired today). I paid $11.xx and received $1.50 ECB for the toothpaste and $3 ECB for the cereal.

Next, I plan to buy (1) Herbal Essences shampoo ($2.99) and (1) Herbal Essences conditioner ($2.99) with a coupon for $1 off 2. I would use the $4.50 in ECB's from today towards this transaction for a total of $0.48 + tax. I should receive another $2 ECB (1 for each bottle) on this transaction.

Then, I need pizza and Hot Pockets. I want (4) Jack's pizzas (2/$6 and a coupon for $1 off 3) and (4) Hot Pockets (2/$6 and a coupon for $1 off 3). I will apply the $2 ECB from the previous transaction to this one for a total of $20 + tax. The ad says that I will receive $5 in ECB for a combined purchase of $20 in pizza and Hot Pockets.

Finally, I need Excedrin. It is on sale for $6.99 for an 80ct bottle. I have a coupon for $1.50 off and I will apply the $5 ECB which should bring my total to $0.49 + tax.

Does this look correct? I've never done this before so I want to make sure I have it right. I'd love to get all this stuff for about $30.

Good job and I also big CVS shopper they have some good deals on toliet paper and paper towles as well as dish soap and lot of times coffee and tea. the only thing is if it 2 for say $5 and you only get one they charge your full price not sale price. manager here said they trying to get that changed since most other stores have.

 

[hsmamato2]

agree with above, and while I'm not extreme by any standards, I can usually match coupons to sales and save a lot of $$$ at CVS....
when I go thru the circ. when I get it, I write a list, the item, if I have a coupon,plus any ECB from buying it. Then I add any good sales/coupon items that DON'T have EB's for the week..... the 1st category gets a #1 next to it, the 2ndgets a #2-
then I go,buy items on list #1 -receive the EcB's and,later in the week go buy items on list #2 with the EcB's.

 

[PatsMom]

OP, you have it right I think. I do pretty good at CVS usually. Combining ECB's, sales and coupons can allow you to pick up some really good deals. Also, its not on your list but this week Represh tampons are $6.79 wsith $6.79 ECB. So they are basically free (except for tax if you live in a sales tax state). There is also a $1.00 coupon you can print on their web site, making it a money maker. Even if you don't want/can't use them, toss them in a food pantry donation box the next time you go by. Food pantries are always wanting non-food personal items. Big demand for things that can't be purchased with food stamps at the pantry I volunteer with!

 

[amylynne01]

I would do the Jack's pizza and Hot Pockets first.

#1
4 Jack's pizza $12
4 Hot Pockets $12
= $24
- $1/3 Jack's
- $1/3 Hot Pockets
- $4.50 in ECBs from previous day
= $17.50 plus tax, get back $5 ECB
*If you get only 3 pizzas or 3 Hot Pockets, you still meet the $20 and save $3.

#2
2 Herbal Essences $5.98
= $5.98
- $1/2 Herbal Essences
- $5 ECB from #1 (will be adjusted to $4.98)
= $0.00 plus tax, get back $2 ECB

#3
Excedrin $6.99
- $1.50/1 Excedrin
- $2 ECB from #2
= $3.49 plus tax

How badly do you need Excedrin? That's not a great price for it, but if you need it, you need it. If you can wait, I would. Next week at CVS, you get a $10 ECB WYB $20 of Excedrin, which makes it at least 50% off plus any coupons you have. Maybe save your $2 ECB from #2 for next week.

 

[kristenrice]

I would do the Jack's pizza and Hot Pockets first.

#1
4 Jack's pizza $12
4 Hot Pockets $12
= $24
- $1/3 Jack's
- $1/3 Hot Pockets
- $4.50 in ECBs from previous day
= $17.50 plus tax, get back $5 ECB
*If you get only 3 pizzas or 3 Hot Pockets, you still meet the $20 and save $3.

#2
2 Herbal Essences $5.98
= $5.98
- $1/2 Herbal Essences
- $5 ECB from #1 (will be adjusted to $4.98)
= $0.00 plus tax, get back $2 ECB

#3
Excedrin $6.99
- $1.50/1 Excedrin
- $2 ECB from #2
= $3.49 plus tax

How badly do you need Excedrin? That's not a great price for it, but if you need it, you need it. If you can wait, I would. Next week at CVS, you get a $10 ECB WYB $20 of Excedrin, which makes it at least 50% off plus any coupons you have. Maybe save your $2 ECB from #2 for next week.

The pizzas and hot pockets are 2/$6 but my coupons are for 3. Would they ring up as $3 each, or would the third one be full price? If they rang up as $3 each, I would only be at $18 if I only get 3 of each.

I don't really *need* Excedrin. I suffer from frequent headaches but I usually just use the generic equivalent. I like Excedrin because I think it works faster, but I usually only get it when it is on sale and even then, I don't really stock up.

 

[Maddies Mama]

If you could use the "free after ECB" box of tampons this week, this is what I would do personally

Transaction #1
$12 4 pizzas
$9 3 hot pockets
-$1/3 pizza coupon
-$1/3 hot pockets coupon
-$4.50 ECB from prior transaction
=$14.50
$5 ECB earned

$6.79 Rephresh tampons
-$1 coupon (Google "brilliant coupon" it comes right up)
-$5 ECB from #1
=$.79 + tax
$6.79 ECB earned

Transaction #3
$8.97 3 Herbal Essence (I saw the limit was 3, I know your coupon is for $1/2, but bear with me)
-$1/2 coupon
-$6.79 ECB from #2
=$1.18 + tax
$3 ECB

Hang on to ECB to use next week on Excederin or something else since you don't actually need it for sure this week. This way, you save about $4 over your initial plan and you get a pack of tampons and an extra bottle of shampoo as well.

 

[Maddies Mama]

Also, for transaction #3, if you don't mind spending $.70 cents more, you could earn more ECB back - CVS also has "free after ECB" on their 5-ct boxes of their house brand of allergy relief medicine:

Transaction #3
$5.98 2 Herbal Essence shampoos
$3.69 CVS Allergy Relief
-$1/2 coupon
-$6.79 ECB
=$1.88 + tax
Earn $5.69 ECB to use next week or you could even go ahead and use it on the Excederin this week with a cheap filler item, like the single pieces of candy they have by the cash register. But $5.69 would be a good amount of ECB's to hang on to until the $10/$20 deal on it next week when paired with coupons to stock up on.

 

[amylynne01]

The pizzas and hot pockets are 2/$6 but my coupons are for 3. Would they ring up as $3 each, or would the third one be full price? If they rang up as $3 each, I would only be at $18 if I only get 3 of each.

I don't really *need* Excedrin. I suffer from frequent headaches but I usually just use the generic equivalent. I like Excedrin because I think it works faster, but I usually only get it when it is on sale and even then, I don't really stock up.

They'll all ring up at $3. CVS does not make you buy 2 for the sale price. I was saying you could buy 4 pizzas and 3 hot pockets OR 3 pizzas and 4 hot pockets. Either way you do it, you have 7 items at $3 each or $21.

 

[kristenrice]

Also, for transaction #3, if you don't mind spending $.70 cents more, you could earn more ECB back - CVS also has "free after ECB" on their 5-ct boxes of their house brand of allergy relief medicine:

Transaction #3
$5.98 2 Herbal Essence shampoos
$3.69 CVS Allergy Relief
-$1/2 coupon
-$6.79 ECB
=$1.88 + tax
Earn $5.69 ECB to use next week or you could even go ahead and use it on the Excederin this week with a cheap filler item, like the single pieces of candy they have by the cash register. But $5.69 would be a good amount of ECB's to hang on to until the $10/$20 deal on it next week when paired with coupons to stock up on.

If you could use the "free after ECB" box of tampons this week, this is what I would do personally

Transaction #1
$12 4 pizzas
$9 3 hot pockets
-$1/3 pizza coupon
-$1/3 hot pockets coupon
-$4.50 ECB from prior transaction
=$14.50
$5 ECB earned

$6.79 Rephresh tampons
-$1 coupon (Google "brilliant coupon" it comes right up)
-$5 ECB from #1
=$.79 + tax
$6.79 ECB earned

Transaction #3
$8.97 3 Herbal Essence (I saw the limit was 3, I know your coupon is for $1/2, but bear with me)
-$1/2 coupon
-$6.79 ECB from #2
=$1.18 + tax
$3 ECB

Hang on to ECB to use next week on Excederin or something else since you don't actually need it for sure this week. This way, you save about $4 over your initial plan and you get a pack of tampons and an extra bottle of shampoo as well.

I printed these all out and added them to my itinerary for today. I had to tweak my plan a little because if I am going to buy the frozen pizzas first, it can't be my first stop of 11. I'm heading out right now on my marathon shopping excursion!

 

[Maddies Mama]

Good luck! I hope all of your items are in stock! My stores are so hit or miss with the items in stock. Drives me crazy. If they would just stock them back up on the same day every week, they would make my life easier LOL!

 

[kristenrice]

Success!! (sort of...I think I got a few things in the wrong order, but it was a learning experience)

Here's what I ended up with...

(2) Bottles of Herbal Essences, shampoo and conditioner
24ct CVS diphenhydramine (*bought this on accident, thought it was the one you got the ECB's back on...I kept it anyways because we'll use it)
100ct Excedrin migraine
5ct CVS cetirizine (*THIS is the one that is free after ECB)
18ct RePhresh tampons (*thanks for the heads up on those!)
(3) boxes of Hot Pockets
(4) Jack's pizzas
(3) boxes of Special K
4oz Colgate Pro Sensitivity relief toothpaste

I added up all my receipts and here's the final total....

Spent: $37.77
Saved: $44.99

Not bad! It was a little more than I was looking to spend, but it is all stuff that will get used (probably soon!) and it was a great learning experience.