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!!