Tidy Tuesday

On this edition of Tidy Tuesday we are going to talk about cleaning up...but not like you think.

Instead of allowing this title to dictate my evening's to-do list tonight, I threw caution to the wind and went on my weekly excursions to CVS & Wags. Therefore this Tidy Tuesday we'll be talking about "cleaning up" at the drugstores.

Ya' know getting things for cheap.

If you haven't popped over to my other blog - Craving Savings - lately, you should because I'm on top of all the deals at CVS, Wags, Food Lion and Kroger.

Although I will admit Kroger has not been impressing me with their sale ads for two weeks running. Hello, Kroger - you really should step up your game.

Ahem.

As I was saying, I've been "cleaning up" at these stores for the past nine months and counting. My savings tally for 2009 so far is $3466.56 $3710.21. That's not counting what I got tonight.

After bragging talking about my great deals some of my friends - IRL and fellow bloggers - decided to take the plunge into the land of Extra Care Bucks. Since then I've heard nothing but great things.

They are ecstatic with the savings and seeing how all those little paper coupons can really add up when you take the time to redeem them.

So instead of cleaning my filthy house for this post, I sacrificed and went on another trip to CVS to show you how easy it is to do.

Tonight I got this AND 4- 12 packs of soda:



For only 98 CENTS. As in 98 pennies...as in not even a dollar...as in less than you would pay for ONE of those Vitamin Waters.

And if I can do it, YOU can do it. Here's the perfect scenario to start you out:

1. Buy 3 Kellogg's cereal for $10 (Sale price is $3/10 for select varieties)

2. Use 3 of the $1 off Kellogg's coupons found HERE.

3. Pay $7 + tax and receive $5 ECB's.

Bada Bing baby! Welcome to the game...the drugstore game.

If you really want to be adventurous and do TWO transactions I would say to start with the Adidas deodorant that is on sale for $3.99.

1. Pay for deodorant and receive $3.00 ECB's. (BTW, there was a $1 coupon for Adidas in the 4/5 inserts that you can use if you have it.)

2. Then use that $3 ECB to pay for part of the cereal.

3. You end up spending $8 out of pocket, but you have 3 boxes of cereal, deodorant AND $5 ECB's to show for it.

How ya' like me now?

Yep, I'm "cleaning up" and you can too!

Now that I've admitted I have an addition to a certain drugstore in my area, and that my house is filthy, feel free to leave me a comment about how great I am. No, really I won't mind. Then head over to Denise and Brandy's place to see what kind of "cleaning up" they are doing for Tidy Tuesday.

Another confession from yours truly...

On Monday when I recapped my holiday weekend for your viewing pleasure I mentioned my midnight trip to CVS. Well...I'm a CVS addict. There I said it. I admit it. CVS is my addiction.

Or rather saving at CVS is my addiction.

When I first stumbled on the world of blogs, it was because I was bored at work and started searching for money saving sites. I found Money Saving Mom almost immediately and learned the CVS way. I've never looked back.

I'm not going to bore you with the details, but if you are interested in playing what is commonly referred to as the "drug store game" then click HERE for all the deets. What I'd like to share with you is what I got on my midnight and early morning visits on Thanksgiving.


I got all this for ONLY .72 - I'm not even kidding. (Actually it was $2.72, but then the cashier had overcharged me so I got a $2 refund.) And I still have $57.48 in Extra Care Bucks to spend. (ECB's are like cash at CVS.)

This is some of my stockpile that I've gathered for pennies by playing this "game".



So what will I do with all this stuff? Obviously a lot of it we use. With everything else my Aunt M and I are putting together goodie bags for about 10 elderly ladies at the home where my Granny lived.

Many of these people don't have family in town or family that can be bothered to visit. So we thought it would be a good idea to share some of what we have with these ladies.

You would be surprised how a little bag of soap or candy can brighten someones day. The fact that someone thought of them means the world to them.

And to me.

What are some ways you are giving back this holiday season?

It's "Egg"citing!

I got a PED EGG!! Whoop!



Informercials are my thang, and most of the time I can refrain from being drawn in and ordering a useless piece of crap.

I finally caved for the ped egg since they had it at CVS which means no shipping, I used ECB's (ie, free money) and I'm PMSing so it made me happy.

I already used it and it seems to work just like the commercial says and trust me - I needed it. I haven't gotten a pedicure since the beginning of June and my feet were getting a little crusty. Ewwww. Gross, but true.

Have you tried anything from an informercial? Did you love it or hate it?

CVS Deals - June 6-12 Part Two

I woke up Friday morning to find a bunch of emailed coupons from CVS, including $5 off $30 and $4 off Playskool Diapers. I didn't think much about it since I still had a $4/20 CRT so I didn't bother printing anything. Then I went out to pick up breakfast for work and ran by the CVS near Hardees intending on only picking up an iTunes gift card for my friends son. (This is where the brainstorming started!)

I grabbed a $15 gc and it dawned on me that I could easily use the $4/20 CRT by picking up the Playtex tampons. So I grabbed those, used a $1 coupon for them and walked out with free tampons, an iTunes card and $3 additional extra card bucks PLUS another $4/20 CRT. (I didn't use any because I had already budgeted the money for the iTunes card.)

While I was there I priced the diapers...low and behold they were on sale 2/$19.99. I didn't have my email coupons with me so I didn't get them while I was there, but I had plans to go into town for dinner and knew I would be making a pit stop.



Here's what I got:

2 - Mega packs of Playskool Diapers - $19.99
2 - Buddies soap bars - $.99/each
1 - CVS cotton balls - $1.69

I used:

1 - $4/20 coupon
2 - $4 off Playskool diapers
1 - $2 off 2 Johnson & Johnson products (adjusted to $1.98)
1 - $2 off CVS beauty product

I spent $2.91 on my debit card and $5 ECB's

I didn't earn any new ECB's but what a great deal! These and the Huggies from the previous week will be a gift for my SD since I will be a grandmother in October.

CVS Deals - June 6-12

After all the trouble I had last time at CVS, I thought it was best to take a break. But I couldn't control my addiction pass by when I needed a card for my friend's birthday. During this visit I spent $2.59 for a card, .99 for CVS panty liners (earning .99 ECB), $2.99 for CVS wipes (earning $1 ECB) and 4 packs of clearance candies for .50/each. This gave me $1.99 in ECB to start me all over again. It had not been enough time for the $5 ECB from the swiffer deal (explained here)to print on my receipt BUT I did get a $4/20 CRT.

So on Sunday I got my paper out, gathered my coupons and made a CVS shopping list in order to take advantage of the $4/20 CRT.



I got:

2 Febreeze aerosols - 2.50/each ($10 ECB)
2 Febreeze sprays - 5.99/each
2 Dawn Dish Detergents - 1/each ($1 ECB)
1 Scott TP - 6.49

I used:

$4/20 CRT
2 $1 off Dawn Detergent
1 $5.99 BOGOF Febreeze coupon (I tried to use two since it was buy one Spray get one Aersol free but the clerk rang the first coupon wrong and then couldn't figure out how to fix it. Since it was only .99 more than it should have been, she left it.)
1 $1 off Febreeze product

I spent $7.17 on my debit card and used $1.99 EBC's

I earned $6 in ECB's + my $5 ECB for the swiffer that finally printed for a total of $11 ECB's + another $4/20 CRT

*******************************

On Tuesday I had to go to the DMV in the city before heading to work so I ran by CVS on the way there and did these two transactions:



Transaction #1

1 Gillette Body Wash - $3.99
3 Olay Body Wash - $5.99
1 CVS Cotton Balls - $1.69

Used:

1-$4/20 CRT
3-$2 off Olay Ribbons Body Wash
1-$1 off Gillette Body Wash
1-$2 off CVS Beauty Product

I spent $1.03 on my debit card and used $10 ECB's

Earned $11 ECB + ANOTHER $4/20 CRT

Since I got another $4/20 CRT I went ahead and did the 2nd transaction while I was there.



Transaction #2

2 Dawn Dish Detergents - $1/each
2 Pert Plus Shampoos - $2.50/each
1 Crest Whitestrips - $19.99

Used:

1 $4/20
2 $1 off Dawn
1 $2 off Pert
1 $3 off Pert
1 $7 off Whitestrips

I spent $10.14 and I did not use any ECB's choosing to save the $10 I had just earned.

Earned $1 ECB

CSV Deals - June 29-July 5

I spent a lot of time deciding on transactions for this week. I wrote my list, got all my coupons together and went to the only CVS in my town. (There are many in the surrounding areas with the closest one being a little over 10 miles away.) Needless to say I wasn't very pleased when I left. I realize that the $4 off $20 coupon says one per customer but the same manager let me use it twice the day before and only when I have a cart full of stuff (4 transactions) does he say no. And when I asked why he left me do it the day before...he said that he didn't want to make a scene. (But I guess today was okay?!?!)

And then after that I didn't even get my ECB's for the swiffer deal...and I was in line for more than 30 minutes. It was closing time so the manager said sorry, call the 800 #. Which I did and they are supposed to have them added to my card by the end of the week.


+ 2 cases of water (not shown)

Transaction #1

1 Gold Emblem Water - $2.99 (Sunday & Monday only)
1 Huggies Wash - $3.49
1 Bic Soleil razor - $6.99
1 Bic Soleil refill - $6.99
1 Clean & Clear lotion - $6.49

I used these coupons:

1- $4/$20 (clerk put it in before mgr came to the register)
1- $2 off Clean & Clear
1- $4 off Bic
1- $2 off Bic

Total after coupons: $2.09 & $16 EBC's OOP

ECB's Earned = $6.00

Transaction #2

1 Kashi bars - $2.50
1 Swiffer wet - $5.99
1 Crest - $1.99
1 CVS Cotton swabs - $3.19
1 Physicians Formula Mascara - $7.99


I used these coupons:

1- $4/$20 (I had a CRT that I used when they refused the printed one)
1- .75 off Crest
1- $2 off CVS Beauty product
1- $2 off Kashi product

Total after coupons: $2.08 & $15 EBC's OOP

ECB's Earned = $10.99

Transaction #3

1 Kashi bars - $2.50
1 Swiffer dry - $5.99
1 OB tampon - $4.49
1 Renuzit - .77
2 Huggies wash - $3.49/each


I used these coupons:

2 - $1 off Huggies
1- $1.50 off OB tampons
1- $2 off Kashi product

Total after coupons: $4.66 & $10.99 EBC's OOP

ECB's Earned = $5.50 I should have received an extra $5 for the swiffer, but it didn't print.

Transaction #4

1 Clairol haircolor - 5.99
1 Renuzit - .77
1 Right Guard Professional - 6.99
2 Softsoap body wash - BOGOF @ 3.99
2 Lifesavers - BOGOF @ 2.19


I used these coupons:

1- $4 off Clairol
1- $1 off Softsoap
1- $1 off Right Guard
1- BOGOF for Lifesavers - $2.19
1- $2 off Kashi product

Total after coupons: $6.90 & $5.50 EBC's OOP

ECB's Earned = $6.00

Then realizing that I didn't get the swiffer EBC's, the clerk tried to refund one and ring the other to get them to print. It didn't work but since he refunded $6.29 and when he rung it up again I paid with ECB's so when it was all said and done I spent all my ECB's; I had started with $16 ECB's and I should have gotten $5 back so I'll count it as $11 ECB's and $9.44 on my debit card. At first, I was mad about that but then I thought about it...look at what I got for about $20. That is a lot of stuff!! And I couldn't have gotten half of that with $20 anywhere else.

$5 CVS Challenge - June 15-21

Last night I sat down with my ads, coupons and blog list so that I could make my shopping list for CVS. I went at lunch today and ended up having to make a few adjustments because they were sold out of the Smart Rinse Listerine (I'm loving this stuff...must get some more before the ECB's end) and Oral B toothbrushes. I thought they were sold out of the CVS bandages too, but they had a huge container full in front of the register. Make sure you look really well for the products you want or even ask a clerk.



Here's what I got:

2 CVS Bandaids - 1.99/each
1 Brut Deodorant - 3.39
1 Adidias Deodorant - 4.99
1 500ct Q-tips (w/ free travel size attached!) - 3.19
1 Greeting card for my sis - 1.99
1 Tylenol 24 ct Rapid Release - 4.49

I used these coupons:

$4/$20 from email for signing up for email alerts
$2.00 off CVS beauty product - found HERE (print at 50%)
$1.50 off any pain reliever - Store coupon that printed last week
$2.00 off any Tylenol product - found HERE
Free Adidias deodorant coupon - $4.99 value (expired 6/15/08 but I they took it anyway)
$1.00 off any Brut product - from All You

Total after coupons: $7.05 OOP

ECB's Earned = $10.98 = $3.93 PROFIT

I only had a $10 ECB certificate so I paid with my debit card, but I was still playing it out in my mind after leaving and if I would have grabbed two more band aids then it would have only cost me $1-2 OOP b/c I could have used my ECB's and I would have received $3.98 more in ECB's...oh well, there is always next time.

Now I have $20.98 in ECB's to spend!! And lots of goodies to boot! I ♥ CVS!

Visit The New Frugal Mom for more $5 Challengers. Want to see more CVS savings? Visit the "Cents"ible Sawyer's CVS Superstars!

$5 CVS challenge - 6/8-6/14

I'm not sure that I won this challenge but I still got a helluva deal. I've been reading other's blogs for about two weeks and more or less "studying" their techniques. When I saw the deal on cereal this week, I knew it was my turn. Upon accepting The New Frugal Mom's challenge I gathered my coupons and wrote a list of my potential transactions. Earlier today I signed up for the CVS email list so they sent me a $4 off $20 email that I was able to use twice even though it says one per customer. The shift manager had to ring up the first one and even apologized for the trouble. [-:



Transaction #1

3 Dove Deodorants - $2.50 each ($3 ECB)
1 Dove Body Wash - $3.99
1 Brut Deodorant - $3.19 ($3 ECB)
2 Listerine SmartRinse - $3.49 each ($6.98 ECB)

Subtotal = $21.66

Coupons -
$4 off $20
1-$1.00 off Brut
1-.75 off 1 Dove deodorant
1-$1.00 off 2 Dove deodorants
2-$1.00 off Listerine HERE
1-$1.00 off Dove body wash

Subtotal = $12.79

ECB Earned = $12.98

Total = .19 PROFIT



Transaction #2

2 boxes Cheerios - $6.67
2 box Cinnamon Toast Crunch - $6.66
1 box Lucky Charms - $3.33
1 box Total - $3.34
1 box Nature Valley Oat Bars - $3.34

Subtotal = $23.34 (I bought an extra box because some of the tags said 3/$9 & I didn't want to be short at the register...looks like the tag was incorrect)

Coupons -
$4 off $20
1-.55 off Cinnamon Toast Crunch -HERE or click on sidebar widget for coupons
1-.65 off Nature Valley
1-.75 off Total
2-$1.00 off 2 General Mills Cereal

Used ECBs earned in the previous transaction

Subtotal = $2.53

ECB Earned = $10.00

Total = $7.47 PROFIT

Technically I spent $15.32 but still have $10 in ECBs so it was only $5.32 OOP. Either way I really needed deodorant, body wash and mouthwash...and we eat a lot of cereal around here so it was an ideal way to earn ECBs for me.

Visit The New Frugal Mom for more challenge information or to see other money making transactions.