So, the other day I wrote about how I shopped at CVS for less than $3. I was inspired by a blogger who was challenged to eat well for $1 per day. In that article, I explained that by using weekly sales, CVS Extra Care Bucks, and coupons that printout in the store at a kiosk, I was able to buy about $30 worth of items for $1.15 (before tax)!
As a reminder, Extra Care Bucks (ECB’s) are essentially store credits at CVS. They print out along with your receipt at the register and can be used as cash during a future purchase. Each week CVS will identify certain items that when purchased, will yield ECB’s.
Unfortunately, there weren’t too many “ECB-yielding” items this week. However, if you use printable coupons, clipped coupons, cantina coupons and rebates, this can be conquered.
The other day I felt awful and actually stayed home from work. My wife and I then discovered that much of the medicine that we have has expired (some as far back as 2008 
)! So this meant a quick trip to CVS.
Here is what we purchased:
1 Can of Pringles – $1.50
2 CVS brand Pringles – $1.98
1 Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaner – $2.50 (2/$5)
3 Glade Fabric & Air Fresheners – $7.50 (2/$5)
3 Tropicana Orange Juice w/Calcium – $8.97
1 Starburst – $0.89 (BOGO Free)
1 Snickers – Free w/Starburst
The totals are as follows:
Before sale prices – $36.48
After sale prices – $23.34
Before checking out, I scanned my CVS card at the Extra Care coupon kiosk and received a coupon for $4 off of a $20 order. I then combined this with my $10 in ECB’s and paid $9.34 before tax.
What this receipt doesn’t show is the $52 that we purchased in prescription and over-the-counter medicine. This is because we use a flexible spending account through my job (I’ll go into detail regarding this in another article).
As you can see, CVS has various cleaning supplies on sale for 2/$5 and they have Tropicana OJ on sale for $2.99 (reg. $4.39). Buy $10 in these cleaning supplies and earn $5 in ECB’s!
Visit our coupon and deals page with includes great grocery deals from Amazon.com and a coupon database to help make your shopping easier: http://knsfinancial.com/coupons-and-deals/coupon-database/
Also read about someone was was able to eat well for $1/day here: http://knsfinancial.com/can-you-eat-well-for-1-a-day/
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© 2010, Khaleef Crumbley. All rights reserved.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Great article K! Who knew you could save so much money!
Why do you think more people don’t take advantage of these deals? Do you think they just don’t know? or Maybe they don’t really care?
Thanks for the comment, Vithya! I think that most people don’t know that these type of savings exist (I didn’t until a few weeks ago). And many who do know, don’t realize how much can be saved and how easy it really is. If I actually used other coupons it would have been more. I think that being frugal has gotten a bad name in the past and people are just starting to realize the benefits.
WTG! Such a great feeling getting all of that for so little huh? Another thing I do is save all the coupon sections from the Sunday papers and even ask friends to save them for me if they do not use them. I have a folder I keep them all in and watch for when sales hit that I can not only use extra bucks and CVS coupons such as the $4 off $20 that you used but also manufactures coupons as well to save even more. I get so excited just reading about your adventures in CVS just as if it were me getting the deals
(Also when I get a cheap or free product with extra bucks or coupons that I have no use for its a great way to donate to a good cause. Seeing it is low cost or even free it’s a great way to help someone in need…I do it with razors, baby wipes etc)
Kelly, it does feel good to save like this. I can’t wait until we start piling on the manufactures’ coupons as well.
That is a great suggestion about getting cheap/free items that you won’t use and donating them!