Hello...My Name is Minnie's Pal & I stink at CVSing...

[Minnie's Pal]

Am I the only one???

I've just recently started doing the CVS "game" and I'm finding it hard to do multiple trips/transactions and to keep my OOP under $2 each time. And, even though I save my coupons like crazy, I don't always have the coupons listed to use.

I seem to spend more ($20ish) but I always come up with just about the same in ECBs. So it's still profitable to me. For instance, today I got around $50 worth of products for $16 and got $17 back in ECB. I'm happy. I think I have just come to accept that I'm not a pro but I do ok. And I'm happy with that.

Am I the only one who isn't a pro? Everyone else seems to do great at it!

 

[zero2riches4me]

I think it's one of those things that you just get better at the longer you do it.

Hang in there. Good deals are good deals even if you spend a little more.

 

[maggiew]

I agree, you get better the more you do it.

But also, it depends on how you CVS. Do you only buy the things that are free after Extra Bucks or do you buy stuff you need/want that might be on sale and a good price, but not free? That makes a big difference.

The way I look at it, if you are buying stuff you need and saving money at it, then its all good!! I just remember before I started CVSing and I paid FULL PRICE for toothpaste.

Maggie

 

[chell]

Can I learn how too? I'm a CVS shopper anyway but would love to know more about this. Thanks!

 

[semo233]

Can I learn how too? I'm a CVS shopper anyway but would love to know more about this. Thanks!

There is a weekly CVS thread about the sale items and then posts about how well other DISers did. We don't always get the same coupons, so it doesn't always work out exactly the same.

Here is next week's thread to get you started:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1915447

Good Luck! It varies greatly week to week for me.

 

[chell]

There is a weekly CVS thread about the sale items and then posts about how well other DISers did. We don't always get the same coupons, so it doesn't always work out exactly the same.

Here is next week's thread to get you started:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1915447

Good Luck! It varies greatly week to week for me.

Thanks!

 

[Kathi OD]

I suck at CVSing too. I'll bet there are lots of us out there, but most are intimidated by the people who are so good at it they keep their mouths shut.

ETA: I'm not saying that the people who are good at CVSing set about to intimidate those that aren't. It's more like those of us who stink at it are insecure.

 

[heartbeeps]

Am I the only one???

I've just recently started doing the CVS "game" and I'm finding it hard to do multiple trips/transactions and to keep my OOP under $2 each time. And, even though I save my coupons like crazy, I don't always have the coupons listed to use.

I seem to spend more ($20ish) but I always come up with just about the same in ECBs. So it's still profitable to me. For instance, today I got around $50 worth of products for $16 and got $17 back in ECB. I'm happy. I think I have just come to accept that I'm not a pro but I do ok. And I'm happy with that.

Am I the only one who isn't a pro? Everyone else seems to do great at it!

I think CVS is COUNTING on most folks not being good at it... or not even being conscientious about it! Personally, I tried it and feel like it's a great ploy for CVS to get you to keep returning to their store but I'm sometimes at a loss for needing anything before the coupon expires and just don't want to burn it on unnecessary items nor do I want to stock up on toothpaste etc. so I don't plan on doing it again. If it works out and I get a coupon, fine, but I'm not going to make special trips to CVS (where the prices are higher than Wal-Mart for many items) just to get Extra Buckets!

 

[THE HAT]

I suck at CVSing too. I'll bet there are lots of us out there, but most are intimidated by the people who are so good at it they keep their mouths shut.

ETA: I'm not saying that the people who are good at CVSing set about to intimidate those that aren't. It's more like those of us who stink at it are insecure.

Well said..this is my situation!! I love CVS, and go often...even have the card, but other then the 5.00 off 25.00 coupon can't for the life of me figure it out!!

 

[semo233]

There is also a website called iheartcvsdotcom that lists sale items, coupons and will even include links to coupons you can use.

I don't buy anything I can't use, but between CVS and Rite Aid, I will never have to pay for shampoo & conditioner again!! This past week, I did not visit CVS at all because there was nothing I could use that was a great deal.

 

[englishrose47]

I'm fairly new at it too and some things evenwith c/os are not a good deal. I agree I have enough tootpaste to last months already and paid next to nothing for it but how much do I need? Deodarant is reaching that point !! Right now I'm getting makeup for stocking stuffers and getting great deals. Also did great on candy for the goodie bags for birthdays. I am getting better at it and knowing what are good deals . But I am in awe still of the pros !!

 

[maggiew]

I think CVS is COUNTING on most folks not being good at it... or not even being conscientious about it! Personally, I tried it and feel like it's a great ploy for CVS to get you to keep returning to their store but I'm sometimes at a loss for needing anything before the coupon expires and just don't want to burn it on unnecessary items nor do I want to stock up on toothpaste etc. so I don't plan on doing it again. If it works out and I get a coupon, fine, but I'm not going to make special trips to CVS (where the prices are higher than Wal-Mart for many items) just to get Extra Buckets!

But see, it doesn't matter that CVS prices are higher. You don't pay real money out of pocket anyway. They could charge $50 for a tube of toothpaste and I wouldn't care - as long as they gave me $49 in ECB back and I had a $1 coupon.

I don't stockpile things like some people do. But I do have about 5 tubes of toothpaste that they paid me to take out of their store. That way I have enough to last until the next time there is a great deal. And if I run out of toothpaste at 10 pm some night, I don't have to run to the gas station to pick some up and pay crazy prices. I also have a few shampoos/conditioners to hold me over until the next sale where I can get them free. Same with razors, lotions and body washes, etc.

I've gotten to the stage in my CVSing where I will only buy stuff if its free or a moneymaker. Or if its a good price on something I need/want that I know from experience I can't get free.

Maggie

 

[Minnie's Pal]

I think CVS is COUNTING on most folks not being good at it... or not even being conscientious about it! Personally, I tried it and feel like it's a great ploy for CVS to get you to keep returning to their store but I'm sometimes at a loss for needing anything before the coupon expires and just don't want to burn it on unnecessary items nor do I want to stock up on toothpaste etc. so I don't plan on doing it again. If it works out and I get a coupon, fine, but I'm not going to make special trips to CVS (where the prices are higher than Wal-Mart for many items) just to get Extra Bucks!

The good thing is, I am getting my money back in extra bucks. I just don't get out for a small amount OOP. Like I said, I paid $16 something and got $17 in ECBs back. (I give them $16, they gave me $17 back in ECBs and a bag full of merchandise - which had totaled $50ish before coupons and CVS sales prices.) So as long as I keep rolling my ECBs, I feel like I'm doing ok. I just can't go numerous times per week to keep my OOP down nor do I always have the coupons listed. (And I have been on the iheartcvs website too.)

 

[cseca]

I am not getting anywhere near making $ either but I figure that's because I don't usually buy everything with ECB on it...
I only buy the ones with really good deals and coupons.
And I am trying walgreens too right now.
This week they seem to have a much better deal than cvs and they have this thing called register rewards which I assume is the same as ecb (I haven't tried it yet).

If I am following my plan correctly this week I'll be spending $53 with a rewards of $18.
I know it's not much but it's stuff that I need and I still get them cheaper than meijer/cvs.

 

[estherhead]

Personally, I don't try to be good at it. I decided to buy things that are good deals, even if I don't spend under $2 oop. I've even spent (stop for gasping) $30 before at CVS. That's right. I try to find good deals, not just free things which I won't ever use.

But I LOVE CVS because I know now that I never need to spend a dime on toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, etc. And every once in awhile I get a great deal. I bought ten packs of the lifesavers with the coupon I had which made them free & then I got 10 ECB's back. So the next week I went back & they had Pampers for $8.88 a pack & my free gift for August of CVS painkiller & some gum for free also.

I know the next time I go I'll have to spend lots of money as I have no ECB's. But for me getting a pack of Pampers, 24 painkillers, and 10 bags of Lifesaver's gummies completely FREE is awesome. So I won't feel bad at all when I go in & spend $30.00 next time getting more ECB's.

So I'm not a CVS Olympic Champ, but CVSing sure does help me stretch my dollars around here.

 

[Lilogirl]

Yeah, I am not good at the CVS thing. I am a great bargain shopper-but I really don't use the stuff they have the best deals on. I just don't get it- I try-but........

 

[Anne34]

Yeah, I am not good at the CVS thing. I am a great bargain shopper-but I really don't use the stuff they have the best deals on. I just don't get it- I try-but........

I feel the same way -- I'm usually a good bargain shopper, but I have a hard time doing CVS. I don't use most of the stuff they have the bonuses on so I don't buy them -- I never have enough CVS bucks to pay for another order.

 

[MinnieForMe]

For me the trick is to make a list of what I'm going to buy, add it up and subtract out my ECB's and coupons at home. If it doesn't work out right, I play with the products until I have my perfect deal. It does take longer but it's quicker in the store. My career before children was finance so maybe that's why it's easy for me. I love to play around with figures!

It also helps to read moneysavingmom.com daily and IheartCVS.com

 

[bucket o' butter]

Am I the only one???

I've just recently started doing the CVS "game" and I'm finding it hard to do multiple trips/transactions and to keep my OOP under $2 each time. And, even though I save my coupons like crazy, I don't always have the coupons listed to use.

I seem to spend more ($20ish) but I always come up with just about the same in ECBs. So it's still profitable to me. For instance, today I got around $50 worth of products for $16 and got $17 back in ECB. I'm happy. I think I have just come to accept that I'm not a pro but I do ok. And I'm happy with that.

Am I the only one who isn't a pro? Everyone else seems to do great at it!

I am the same way, but like you said, we are breaking even and that makes me happy. I do usually spend between $10 - $20 oop, but I get that back in ecb. I think it takes practice. We only have one CVS in our town, so I am not able to go to multiple CVS's to get items that one store is out of. Traveling to another city makes it unprofitable due to gas prices. But, I am happy with all of the "free" stuff I've got and hopefully will get better with practice. I am at the point that I too many things and I will happily donate it to an organization that can use it.

 

[heartsy77]

I am the same way, but like you said, we are breaking even and that makes me happy. I do usually spend between $10 - $20 oo, but I get that back in ecb. I think it takes practice. We only have one CVS in our town, so I am not able to go to multiple CVS's to get items that one store is out of. Traveling to another city makes it unprofitable due to gas prices. But, I am happy with all of the "free" stuff I've got and hopefully will get better with practice. I am at the point that I too many things and I will happily donate it to an organization that can use it.

I am with you guys! I have been CVSing for 3 weeks and I always pay 10-20 OOP as well. I am trying to stop spending $ 200 a week @ Walmart and 200 a week at the grocery store. At Cvs I can buy the stuff I have always bought at Walmart; stuff that is I would never buy @ the grocery store (toiletries). My problem is I shopped at a Super Walmart and their is just too much for me to be tempted! Because CVS prices are higher I stick to just what I want or need. So I may not be making a goldmine off CVS but I have saved so much staying away from Walmart!