CHEAP AND YUMMY BROWNIE RECIPE!
6 TBSP cocoa, 1/4 C butter, 1 C sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1/3 C flour, 2 eggs, Cook 350 - 25 mins.

1/27/08

MY FIRST CVS STORE ADVENTURE

I don't think I've ever actually gone into a CVS Pharmacy Store to buy every day items. I go there regularly to buy prescriptions and I used to go there to develop film, back in the day before I got a digital camera, but to just go there on purpose to buy toiletries and what-not, I never did. I didn't go there because I think it is a very expensive store actually.

You can imagine my surprise when I began watching a few fellow bloggers who have discovered the wonderful world of CVS shopping.
They described how they have been saving big bucks every week and getting things essentially free!

"Whaaa?!"

I read a few posts at The Money Saving Mom and thought nothing of it. Then I started seeing a fellow homeschooling mom, who is from my own neighborhood, post about her savings. (Hi Kristie) Well, I was indeed skeptical, however after watching Kristie post about buying so many items at one time and the whole bunch for under a dollar, I thought there must be something to this thing. I trusted that Kristie was indeed truthful and decided to try it for myself.

Yesterday, I looked at my CVS Coupon paper and noticed that they had men's deodorant for free.

Well, actually I had to pay $3.99 for each of them, limit 5. I paid $19.95 for 5 deodorants BUT I got a coupon called Extra Care Bucks (ECB) for that full amount on my receipt. Extra Care Bucks can be spent like cash at any CVS Store within one month from the date of purchase. So I paid for the deodorants, which were extremely high in my opinion, but got that money right back in the form of an ECB coupon.

Today is a new week for CVS in regard to coupon offerings. Today I went into CVS and decided to spend my $19.95 coupon. I bought the following items.




I made sure to buy items that offer ECBs and/or were on sale so cheap that I could get them free with a manufacturers coupon. I piled up my basket, strolled it up to the front of the store and put the items on the counter.

I used a $3 off $15 purchase CVS coupon, 3 regular manufacturers coupons and then used my $19.95 ECB coupon from yesterday. The lady range up my merchandise and said something to me that I've never heard before. She said, "You have a negative balance honey, you'll need to buy some more items." I thought, "What?! I'm using the same money from yesterday and I am buying a ton of stuff here and I have a negative balance?"

I grabbed whatever was in front of me. I put a few candies and such up there. I should have gone back to get some milk but I didn't think about it.

I ended up spending .44 cents for $33.24 worth of merchandise (see picture)

AND...

When my receipt printed up I got a coupon for 120 count aspirin for free

and $6.29 in more Extra Care Bucks to use within the next month!

Next week I'll use those ECBs to buy some more items on sale and rack up some more free items and more ECBs! I'll post what I get next week!

HOW FUN IS THIS!!

7 comments:

HISchild said...

I guess I'm still in denial. Let us know how next week goes too.

Prince Andrew and the Queen Mum said...

oh my..it kind of gives me a head ache to think about it math wise... i need a chart or something LOL! I think the last time I was in a CVS was in a Saginaw mall when I was in HS - going in there to buy some Bonnie Bell lip gloss!

Anonymous said...

Hey I was just checking in on ya and saw what a great job you did at CVS the last couple of days. I think this is the most fun I have had shopping ever. My kids love when I have to grab for extras to bring up my negative balance because that means they get candybars :-) Thanks for the link back to my blog.

*Kristie*

Kristina said...

Exactly! The only problem is that it can get addicting! It is amazing to me how much money I can save this way.

I, too, never shopped there. Their prices ARE more expensive than, say, Walmart. However, if you do it right (which you are), you can save a TON of money.

Have fun!

momwithbrownies said...

Hischild,
You'll come over to the other side my friend! :-) Today I got 6 cartons of Mt. Dew for $20 then I got $10 back in ECB's. You'll be shopping in no time! LOL



Hello Queen Mum,
Yes the math is crazy but I'm going to get my kids into the action. We will have a class once per week I do believe. Why not learn and save at the same time! LOL



Kristie,
No, I want to thank YOU for showing me how to do this on your blog. I'm so excited!

Tonya said...

ha ha. you're hooked:):):). it's fun isn't it. sorry about no caps...i'm eatung and typing with one hand.

momwithbrownies said...

Tonya!! That's right, you do this too!

I am so hooked it's bordering on obsession this week! I'm sure the novelty will wear off, but boy is this fun!

Thanks for checking out my blog. :-)