Friday, November 14, 2008

Thanksgiving Weekend Plans for CVS

There are lots of items that are FREE after ECB (Extra Care Bucks, printed at the bottom of your receipt to be used like cash on your next transaction). Of course CVS is hoping that you'll go out and buy a bunch of these in one transaction, then end up with a bunch of ECBs that you'll either forget about or come back and use on ridiculous regular prices. We're smarter than that, right?

I'll show you my plan that only requires $3 (and some change) out of pocket, will get lots of free things (toothpaste, shampoo, razors, lotion, tampons, chocolate, etc), and will finish you off with over $15 in ECBs (which I will show you how to wisely use on good sales in the future).

Before I begin, I will warn you that my plan includes several coupons. I don't get the paper, but I occasionally order coupons at The Coupon Clippers when I know that the money I save/earn will be lots more than I spend on the coupons. (I was going to explain about The Coupon Clippers here, but it was getting long, so I'll explain it in my next post.) In this case, the coupons minimize the number of transactions necessary to keep the out-of-pocket minimal and rack up the ECBs. I planned this scenario to do with my mom and sisters when I'm home for Thanksgiving. I ordered the coupons for all 4 of us and it came out to $2 of coupons per person. Not bad!

FREE after ECBs that I used in my scenario (see Ad Scan for more)
Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste $2.99 (earns $2.99 ECB) limit 2
Aussie shampoo, conditioner, styler $2.99 (earns $2.99 ECB) limit 2
Hershey’s King Size candy $1.00 (earns $1.00 ECB) limit 1
Johnson’s softlotion $5.69 (earns $5.69 ECB) limit 1
Gatorade G2 20 oz. $1.49 (earns $1.49 ECB) limit 3
Bic Soleil razor $5.99 (earns $5.99 ECB) limit 2
Garnier Nutritioniste towelettes 25 ct. $5.99 (earns $5.99 ECB) limit 1
CoverGirl Smoothers pressed powder $5.99 (earns $5.99 ECB) limit 1
L'oreal lip gloss $6.99 (earns $6.99 ECB) limit 1

Deal from Weekly ad
Playtex tampons 18 ct $3.99 (earns $3 ECB) limit 1$.99 after ECBs

MY SCENARIO
I rounded things up a penny for typing and reading ease ($3.99 = $4)

Transaction #1
1 Soleil razor $6 - $3 coupon = $3
= $3 oop, earn $6 ECB

Transaction #2
1 Soleil razor $6 - $3 coupon = $3
1 Aussie shampoo $3 - $1 coupon = $2
1 Hershey candy bar $1
=$6 pay w/ ECB from T#1, earn $10 ECB

Transaction #3
1 Aussie shampoo $3 - $1 coupon = $2
1 Garnier towelettes $6 - $1 coupon = $5
2 Gatorade $3
=$10 pay w/ ECB from T#2, earn $12 ECB

Transaction #4
2 Colgate $3 = $6 (maybe $1.50 less with printable, buy something for $1 if using coupon, already used mine)
1 CoverGirl Powder $6 - $1 coupon = $5
1 Gatorade $1.49
=$12.50 pay w/ ECB from T#3 +change, earn $13.50 ECB

Transaction #5
1 Playtex tampons $4 - $1 coupon = $3
1 Johnson’s softlotion $5.69 -$1 coupon = $4.69
1 L'oreal lip gloss $7 - $1 coupon = $6
=$13.69 pay w/ ECB from T#4, earn $15.69 ECB

Make adjustments depending on the items you will use. If you're new to this, I'd be happy to help you organize them into transactions that will minimize the out-of-pocket. Just tell me what you want to get and what coupons (if any) you have. I think it's fun!

6 comments:

Jacob and Whitney Lauritzen said...

I'm glad you'll be there to hold my hand through this :) It all sounds way too confusing! We can't wait to see you :)! Love you!

The MacQueens said...

Hi,I am somewhat new to couponing & CVS & I was wondering if I could take you up on your offer to help me get organized. If you have the time, that would be GREAT! I am hoping to do the least amount of transactions possible. I am starting with $21.98 in ECBs.

Here's what I'd like to get:
Maybelline Foundation $8.99 (earn 8.99 ECB)
(1) Complete Multipurpose Solution $8.99 (earn 8.99 ECB)
(2) Colgate Total $2.99 each (earn 5.98 ECB total)
(2)Aussie $2.99 each (earn 5.98 ECB total)
Johnson's soft lotion $5.69 (earn 5.69 ECB)
(3)Gatorade $1.49 each (4.47 ECBs total)
Hershey's candy bar $1 (1 ECB)
(1 or 2) Bic Soleil $5.99 each (5.99 or 11.98 ECB earned)
Garnier towelettes %5.99 (5.99 ECB earned)
(2)Loreal colour juice lipgloss $6.99 (13.98 ECB earned)
Sally Hansen nail color $3.79 (3.79 ECB earned)
Covergirl Smoothers liquid makeup $7.99 (7.99 ECB earned)
Covergirl smoothers powder $5.99 (5.99 ECB earned)
Playtex tampons $3.99 (3 ECB earned)
Schick Quattro razor $7.99 (6 ECB earned)
Right Guard $7.99 (7 ECB earned)
All small & mighty B1G1 $7.49

And here are the coupons I have:
(2) $1.50 Colgate
(1) $1 Aussie
(1) $1 Johnsons soft lotion
(2) $3 Bic Soleil (I have 2 Q's, but one is for refill blades & I don't know if they will be the same price or if they are included in the free after ECB deal)
(1) $1 Garnier towelettes
(1) $3 Maybelline foundation
(1) $2 complete multi-purpose solution
(1) $1 Loreal lipgloss
(1) $1 Covergirl liquid makeup
(1) $1 Covergirl powder
(1) $1 Playtex tampons
(1) $2 Schick quattro razor
(2) $1 All small & Mighty

I also have another $1 Q off Loreal cosmetic but it is a Walgreens Q. I don't know if CVS will take it or not. I know it is a crazy time, but if you have the chance to do this please email me at merrileemacqueen@hotmail.com. Thank you SO much! Happy Thanksgiving!

MoreTimeThanMoney said...

Hi! I'm glad you found my blog! I got your purchases into 3 transactions with about $1.48 out of pocket. I hope this helps!

I rounded all $.99 up to a dollar to save my sanity. This price on the left is the price minus coupons you have, the ecbs earned are to the right. I figured in the coupons, though I didn't note them here. Just have your coupons divided up beforehand so you don't forget to use any of them. I just included one of the Bic razors since I'm pretty sure the price is only for the razor, not refills. Please double check my work to make sure I didn't forget anything!

#1
$3 oop- Bic Soleil ($6 ecb)
$7 oop- Complete solution ($9 ecb)
$6 oop-Maybelline ($9 ecb)
$3 oop- 2 Colgate Total ($6 ecb)
$3 oop- Playtex ($3 ecb)
----------------------------------
$22 oop
- $22 ecbs =$0 oop (your total may be a few cents under ecbs, but I'd rather lose a few ecb pennies, than have to pay out of pocket)
$33 ecbs earned

#2
$13 oop- 2 L'oreal lipgloss ($14 ecb)
$5 oop- Garnier ($6 ecb)
$7 oop- Covergirl liquid ($8 ecb)
$8 oop- Right Guard ($7 ecb)
----------------------------------
$33 oop
- $33 ecb = $0 oop
$35 ecb earned

#3
$6 oop- Schick ($6 ecb)
$5 oop- 2 Aussie ($6 ecb
$5 oop- Covergirl powder ($6 ecb)
$5.69 oop- Johnson's ($5.69 ecb)
$4.50 oop- 3 Gatorade ($4.50 ecb)
$3.79 oop- Sally Hansen ($3.79 ecb)
$5.50 oop- All small and mighty
$1 oop- Hershey's ($1 ecb)
---------------------------------$36.48 oop
-$35 ecb = $1.48 oop
$32.98 ecb earned

Anonymous said...

I'd love it if you'd help me out! I am new at this and am trying to be as organized as possible when I head out tomorrow. Here is what I'd like to get:

Maybelline Foundation $8.99 (earn 8.99 ECB)
(2) Colgate Total $2.99 each (earn 5.98 ECB total)
(2)Aussie $2.99 each (earn 5.98 ECB total)
Johnson's soft lotion $5.69 (earn 5.69 ECB)
(3)Gatorade $1.49 each (4.47 ECBs total)
Hershey's candy bar $1 (1 ECB)
(2) Bic Soleil $5.99 each ( 11.98 ECB earned)
Garnier towelettes %5.99 (5.99 ECB earned)
(2)Loreal colour juice lipgloss $6.99 (13.98 ECB earned)
Sally Hansen nail color $3.79 (3.79 ECB earned)
Covergirl Smoothers liquid makeup $7.99 (7.99 ECB earned)
Covergirl smoothers powder $5.99 (5.99 ECB earned)
Schick Quattro razor $7.99 (6 ECB earned)
Philips Headphones $6.99 ($6.99 ECB earned)

And here are the coupons I have:
(2) $1.50 Colgate
(2) $1 Aussie
(1) $1 Johnsons soft lotion
(2) $3 Bic Soleil
(1) $1 Garnier towelettes
(1) $3 Maybelline foundation
(1) $1 Covergirl liquid makeup
(1) $1 Covergirl powder
(1) $2 Schick quattro razor
$10/$50 or more
$15 ECB to start

If you do have time, I appreciate it. If not, no worries! Happy Thanksgiving! tchalk_22@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Sorry, sent that message twice - see, new person! Anyways, I forgot I also have a $4/$20 beauty purchase.

THANKS!

MoreTimeThanMoney said...

Sorry I didn't get your comment in time, Theresa. We spent all day yesterday driving and then today we were with family. I hope you were able to get the things you wanted. The CVS stores near me were both out of Soleil razors, so we had to rethink our plans, but it turned out pretty good anyway.