oh the joy...

thought i would share my "loot" from cvs this week. i'm telling you...this is a bit addicting, but i can't even believe how much "bang" i got for my "buck" this time around. this is my 3rd cvs attempt since i discovered all the savings, and it really does start to make more sense each week. if you thinking about trying this out, you will have to spend a bit "out of pocket" the first week, but you will end up with extra care bucks "ecb" to begin rolling the next week. if you have a cvs nearby and are wanting to start out this might be a good week if you have interest in softsoap body wash. they cost $4.99 each, but you receive $4.99 back in "ecbs" on each one purchased (limit 5)...so you would spend $24.95 (or less if you have coupons from this weeks coupon insert--there is also a coupon online for $1.00 off one--check at moneysavingmom for the coupon link) but then have almost $25 of ecbs to begin "rolling" for deals in the coming weeks. anyway...i hit cvs after we got home from church and our flock group lunch (once the girls were tucked away for naps). i had done some planning ahead as to what my transactions would look like (to maximize coupons)....here's how i made out (like a bandit!).


TRANSACTION #1

1 softsoap spa radiance ($1.50 off coupon)--this was free after ecbs (plus i had $1.50 overage w/coupon!)
2 scrubbing bubble cleansers ($.75 off coupon x2)
1 shout stain spray ($.75 off coupon)
1 fantastik heavy duty cleaner ($.55 off coupon)
2 lady speed stick 24/7 ($1 off coupon x2)--these ended up free after coupon and ecbs
1 palmolive dishsoap ($.25 off coupon)
*i also used a $4 off $20 purchase coupon--printed on the in-store coupon printer

TOTAL
spent $14.95 extra care bucks
then i paid $0.40 out of pocket and earned $12.99 in extra care bucks!
*i did "lose" 2 or so ecbs, but i think it was worth it for all that i got!--plus i still have plenty left!


TRANSACTION #2

3 softsoap spa radiant shower gel ($1 off coupon and $1.50 off coupon)--free after ecbs, plus $2.50 overage!
5 deoderants ($1 off coupon and $.75 off 2 coupon x2)
2 zone bars ($1 off coupon x2)--these were "fillers" to reduce my out of pocket expense...w/ coupons they only cost $0.19 a piece
*i also used another $4 off $20 purchase coupon printed from the in-store coupon printer

TOTAL
spent $18.85 in extra care bucks...
i paid $0.28 out of pocket and earned $20.97 in ecbs (pretty much "making up" my loss of ecbs in transaction #1!)


TRANSACTION #3

1 softsoap spa radiant shower gel
1 24.7 facial cleansing scrub (no coupons...but it ended up being just $1 with ecbs and $4 off $20 purchase coupon from in-store coupon printer!)
*i used one $4 off $20 purchase coupon

TOTAL
spent $16.97 extra care bucks
then i paid $0.01 (yep...one penny!) out of pocket and earned $14.99 in ecbs


TOTAL OUT OF POCKET FOR ALL 3 TRANSACTIONS....
$0.69...yep...69 cents!

after all of this, i still have over $22 in extra care bucks to "play" with next week!

want to try your hand at cvs...here is the link once more (its where this madness started for me)! cvs 101
fyi: if you don't have a cvs nearby she also posts deals for walgreens, meijer, target, etc...and often links to others who post those kind of deals....other regional stores that we don't have in indiana as well. might be worth checking out for those who are trying to pinch pennies (or just be more frugal in general!--really, who doesn't like "free" stuff!