CVS Deals: July 25 - August 1

I got all this for $7.11! Here's how I did it:

I started off with $7.99 of ECB's from a previous purchase last week and did three transactions. (Photo books were on sale, buy one at $7.99 and get $7.99 in ECB's. I did this twice paying out of pocket for the first book.)

Transaction #1:
Arm & Hammer Detergent 2/$6
Colgate: $2.88

Total: $9.87 - $.75 (colgate coupon) - $7.99 ECB's = $1.26 (w/ tax) out of pocket. SWEET!
Earned: $2 ECB's for Arm & Hammer and $2 ECB for Colgate

Transaction #2:
Snickers x2 $1.34 (I needed a filler so I could use one ECB from the previous transaction)
Shampoo $2.99
Mouse $2.99

Total: $7.32 - $2.99 (B1G1 for the Shampoo/mouse) - $1 (snickers) - $2 (ECB's from the Colgate) = $1.85 (w/ tax)
Earned: $1.00 for the shampoo

Transaction #3:
Kashi crackers 3/$10

Total: $10.00 - $1.50 coupon x2(found here) - $1 (ECB from the Shampoo) - $2.00 (ECB from the Arm & Hammer) = $4.00 (w/ tax)
Earned: $5.00 for the crackers!

I had a problem printing the 3rd coupon, it would have been a better deal had it printed. Usually you can only print two but if you use two different web browsers and/or two computers you can print up to four times.

So I walked out with all of that and with $5.00 in my pocket for next time.

Still Here, Saving Cash, Nothing Else To Do

38 weeks, full-term baby inside, but I've got other things to do besides wait.

I love scoring good deals, especially on things we use often. Last week at CVS, I bought 2 Soft Scrubs, laundry detergent and toothpaste for (and I'm not kidding - ask Justin) $3. AND I walked out with an additional $2 in ECB's to use another time. Justin was shocked at how much I paid.

If you have a CVS, I highly recommend using it. And if you incorporate coupons, the deals are even better. (That's how I scored such a sweet deal for those four things. The toothpaste was FREE!)

Wednesday's are double coupon day at the local grocery store. Not a store I like to go to, but if they've got good prices on the items I need and I've got the coupons, I'll go. Here's what I got:

6 boxes of cereal (we eat a lot of cereal)
2 - 4 packs of yogurt
2 - 1 lbs. strawberries
3 boxes of kleenex
1 6-pack ziploc containers
1 gallon of milk
1 packet of jam pectin (for strawberry jam)

Without sales/coupons: $42.05

With sales/double coupons: $21.55

That's like 48% savings! Trips like these leave me more money to get the things we need or want for lunches and dinners. And I always look for sales at my favorite stores and still use coupons. It just makes sense to maximize when I can. Plus, babies like cereal and jam, right?

Attack

I don't really want to complain, because I know things will get worse*, but being pregnant and short sucks.

We successfully closed on the house yesterday. Thank you, thank you. We've been formulating a plan of attack because this house needs an attack, and fast. We knew it would need work, and luckily, it's all cosmetic. But deciding what needs to be done first is a battle. But we both agree that painting the joint needs to be first. Blue is nice (we're actually painting our bedroom the same blue we had in Vegas), but the colors they have are, well, a little crazy. And bright. And very, VERY blue. And turquoise and green.

So we'll be priming everything this weekend. Any extra hands are welcome because I can't paint. I can, but we don't want a retarded fish-frog baby - so no painting for me.

Justin is gladly letting me stock up on things now, knowing the deals I'm getting. For those who have a CVS near them, I strongly urge you to use them. They have a program where you earn dollars for qualifying purchases. At first I was like, "I don't need that right now." But I changed my thinking to, "I will need it and use it eventually - say, in a few weeks or a month." THEN, can you score killer deals.

Here's what I got for $3 last night:
2 - liquid laundry detergents
2 - big bottles of shampoo

The best part, I earned $6 to spend at CVS as well as a $5 off my next $20 purchase. Once you start earning Extra bucks, you can roll them over to your next purchase and use them like cash. And if you have coupons, the deals are even better. (I used coupons for both products last night.)

How many of you know about this program? How has it worked out for you?

*Ok, "worse" probably isn't the best word for pregnancy. But I meant, I know I'll be getting bigger and the belly, it grows fast now. I have short arms, how the heck am I going to drive or type at my desk?