I'm Baaaack and CVS

I have no idea what I was doing for 2 months, but I'm back!! I've been couponing and saving, but my house is embarassingly messy and I can't remember the last time I tried a new recipe (except for a braised fennel one that made me gag two nights ago). But, here goes to a summer of house-wife goodness!

I heart school supplies. In "You've Got Mail", Tom Hanks says to Meg Ryan (via email, no less), "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address". A man after my own heart...

I digress. CVS is starting to have great deals on school supplies, and I was the first one through the doors this morning to get my fill! Here's how I did (reminder: ECBs is a CVS store credit):

Portfolio Folders: Usually $0.59 each, on sale for $0.05
No Coupon --> Total Price: 10 for $0.50

Bic Pens: Uusually $1.99, on sale for $0.99
No Coupon --> Total Price: 3 for $2.97
Earned $2.97 in ECBs --> Free!

Rulers: Usually $1.19, on sale for $0.99
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $1.98
Earned $1.98 in ECBs --> Free!

Scissors: $2.99 each
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $5.98
Earned $5.98 in ECBs --> Free!

Notebooks: Usually $2.29, on sale for $0.99
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $1.98
Earned $1.98 in ECBs --> Free!

Glue: $0.99 each
No Coupon --> Total Price: 2 for $1.98
Earned $1.98 in ECBs --> Free!

8-Hour Tylenol: Usually $5.99, on sale for $3.99
Used $2 Coupon --> New Price: $1.99
Earned $3 ECBs --> -$1.01 (aka: Money Maker)


Gillete Fusion Razor: Usually $9.99, on sale for $7.99
Used $4 Coupon --> New Price: $3.99 Earned $4 ECBs --> Free!

Total for items without sale prices/coupons= $44.06
Total for items using sale prices and coupons= $22.66 (incl tax)
Used $9.93 in ECBs from last week
Final Price= $12.73
Total ECBs Earned= $21.89 ($9 more than I spent!)


So, what am I going to do with this stuff?? We will definitely use some of it and the rest is marked for donation!

CVS

I am always amazed when I walk out of CVS... I feel like I've committed highway robbery. Here's what I got today (yes, the photo was taken in the car...):

It's only three items, but it should have cost me $13.24, but I only paid $1.59- yes folks, that's 88% off!  Here's the breakdown:

Secret Deodorant: Usually $5.49- on sale for $3.99

Used $2 Coupon --> New price: $1.99

Earned $1 Extra Buck for next week.

Crest Toothpaste: Usually $3.89- on sale for  $2.99

Used $1 Coupon --> New price: $1.99

Earned $2 Extra Bucks for next week.

Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion: $3.69

Used $1.25 Coupon --> New price: $2.44

Earned $2 Extra Bucks for next week.

Total for items without sale prices/coupons= $13.24

Total for items using sale prices and coupons= $6.59 (incl tax)

Used $5 in Extra Bucks from last week.

Final Total = $1. 59

Earned EB's = $5

And yes, these are all things we needed! 

This Week at CVS

I mentioned before that I'm starting to really love shopping at CVS. Why? Because they have the greatest Customer Loyalty program and I'm racking up free items :) When you purchase certain items with your member's card, you get an ECB (Earned Cash Back... it's literally like a gift certificate for a future CVS purchase). Here's what I purchased today:

Gillette Shampoo
Cost: $5.99 (used a $2 coupon) --> $3.99
Earned ECB: $3.00

Natural Dentist Healthy Gums Rinse
Cost: $6.99 (used a $2 coupon) --> $4.99
Earned ECB: $4.00
I purchased two of these (and used two coupons) so that I could actually get money back with a $10 mail-in-rebate. Thanks, BeCentsAble!

** I also had $3 worth of ECBs (gift certificate to CVS) that I used during my purchase.

Total without coupons: $19.97
Total with coupons: $10.97
Earned ECB's: $11
MIR Check:$10

If you consider ECB's like cash (I do because I use them on things we actually need...), we paid nothing for these 3 items and actually made $10! So, in a small, small way- it's like I was paid to shop :)