It has been months since I had a great time at CVS (aka getting stuff for almost free) so I thought I’d let you all know how I managed to get back $18.00 in cold, hard CVS cash! In the past, I would always shop at CVS to get the best deals because I would use coupons plus extra-care bucks too.  You can read my past posts HERE and HERE on how you can get yourself started on saving at CVS too.

This week was a fabulous week for getting some well-needed items, especially for the flu season.  I’m trying to be frugal and save some extra money by cutting coupons and buying sale items as well.  Combining both coupons with sale items can save you lots of money!

Here is what I purchased:

2- Bottles of Thera-flu Warming syrup – $12.00 (Buy $20 worth of select Flu Remedies, Get $10 ECBs – Limit 1)
1- Bottle of Adult Robitussin Night Time – $5.00
1- Bottle of Vicks 44 Custom Care Liquid – $6.00
2- Glade Sense & Spray – $12.00 – Buy $12 worth of Glade products, Get $4 ECBs – Limit 1)
4- Glade Oil Plug-Ins refills – $12.00

Total $47.00

Coupons used:

2- $2.00 coupons for Thera-flu
4- $2.00 coupons for Glade Oil Refill
1- $1.00 coupon for Vicks 44 Custom Care
1- $1.00 coupon for Adult Robitussin
2- $4.00 coupon for Glade Sense & Spray

Total coupon value: $22.00

Total out-of-pocket: $18.83

Extra Care Bucks received: $18.00

So, the above items cost me a grand total of 83¢

Not bad for a CVS day, uh?

Note: The above items were bought on three separate transactions with 2 CVS cards.

CVS!

Yes, you read that right.

There are quite a few blogs that have a great explanation on how CVS’s Extra Care Bucks (ECB’s) work. MoneySavingMom was the very first blog that taught me how to “CVS”.  After I read her tutorial, I was hooked.  I don’t save a lot all the time but when I do, I come out of the store with some free or almost free products.

The catch is you must use coupons to maximize your savings and you have to buy items that give you big CVS bucks (ECB’s) back.

BargainBriana has lots of information on how to score freebies too and not on just CVS.  She knows lots of other stores where you can get products you use everyday for just pennies.

Here is what I bought last weeks at my local CVS:

(Renuzit Tri-Scents not shown)

I got all this for exactly $28.59 out-of-pocket (oop).  The Organic Physician’s Formula Bronzer was $14.99.  So that was like half of my purchases.

If I would’ve bought all this without the use of coupons and ECB’s, the total would’ve been $90.37.  That’s a $61.78 savings.

If you count the number of items and divide the total that was o.o.p., each item costs about $1.50.

Isn’t that a great deal?

Doesn’t that make you want to go out to your nearest CVS and stock up?

I know some people have a way of spending a lot less out-of-pocket, but I don’t have much patience.  This was purchased through 6 transactions. To spend less money, you to break them up in different transactions.

(Sorry for the dark picture)

I really haven’t had “great” deals at CVS in awhile so when I saw this week’s deals, I thought it was time to score some well needed stuff and other items too.

So I went to CVS yesterday and I also got some free items as well.  I had $20.46 in ECB’s (two cards; hubby and mine) and my goal was to spend less than $5 but that didn’t quite happen.

Here’s what did happen:

This was done in two transactions:

• Sensodyne $4.49 ($.75 Q)
• Mylanta $6.00 ($3 Q)
• Motrin for Children $6.00
• Listerine Agent Cool Blue $4.49 ($.50 Q)
• Colgate Max Fresh $2.99
• 3- Hallowen Candy Teeth $2.97
• Motrin IB $7.00 ($1 Q) (2nd. transaction)
• Tylenol PM $6.00 ($2 Q) (2nd. transaction)

I also used: $5 CVS coupon; Buy $30 and get $5 off.

Total without Q’s: $39.94

New total after coupons: $31.32

TOTAL after ECB’s used: $10.22 - This wasn’t too bad, right?

Received $15.00 in ECB’s

So, do you have any savings you would like to share?

The Thrifty Mama is giving away 2 free years of All You magazine.  It is a magazine that has great recipes, household tips, parenting tips, weight loss advice, lots of great coupons for those frugalistas like me and much more.

Thrifty Mama is also full of information on how to save money and even get items for free.  This post is one of my favorites because I haven’t been on a CVS spree lately so this one woke me up.

So go check out her site here and enter her contest!