Saving Money

Check out http://mrsmustakas.blogspot.com/ for my savings trip today

CVS on July 7

Since we're going on vacation in July I bought a few things I don't normally buy that we will pack to take with us (Pringles, for example).

so, the run down this week is:
3 cans Pringles
2 Dawn Handsoaps/dishdetergents
1 Cascade Dual Action pack
2 packs tampons
1 package of facial cleansing wipes
1 pkg Chex Mix
1 tube scar gel
1 Orajel (toddler-safe toothpaste)

coupons I used: $.20 off 3 cans Pringles, $.50 off Dawn, $1.00 off Cascade Dual Action packs, $2.00 CVS coupon off facial cleansing wipes, $.55 off Orajel, $1.00 off Chex Mix

Total should have been $37.98
items on sale save me $5.75
total coupon savings $3.25
used $15.96 in ECBs

I paid only $13.02

Also, I received in ECBs $2.98 for tampons, $1.00 for facial wipes, $1.00 for Pringles, $1.00 for Dawn, and one coupon for 10 free digital prints.

Today, July 10, in my email I received a coupon for $5. off a $30 purchase. Also got a coupon on July 4th for $4. off a $20. purchase (to use on July 4th only). Didn't/haven't used these.

July 2 at CVS

4 Softsoap body wash bottles
4 feminine items
1 bottle of WetOnes Wipes

total retail value of items purchased $29.91
on sale items (reduced the toal by $8.98)
7 coupons used for $20.97 (including $13.98 of last weeks ECBs)
Spent out of pocket $0.00

Earned $4. in Extra Bucks for my spring spending.
Earned $1.98 ECB for a feminine item.

CVS bargains

I'm adding CVS to my labels, as this is becoming a thrill for me to get such great deals (even things for free)! Here's what I purchased today for $22.40: 4 pkg of Charmin 12 double rolls, 2 bottles of Listerine Smart Rinse, some moleskin, CVS bandages, and a tube of Neosporin with a cool carrying case (see below).

So how did I get down to paying $22.60 for a $62 retail value of these items? I'm so glad you asked!

1. I had 2 coupons, each a dollar off, for the Listerine and the Neosporin.

2. Everything was on sale (that saved me $22.60).

3. I had $19. in ECBs to use from last week, so it became quite the deal.

Even beyond that, I have more ECBs to spend next week from what I purchased today. ($22. in ECBs came with my receipt).

Also, when I got home there was a spend $30 get $5 back email from CVS in my inbox... And starting July 1 you get your 2% earnings for Spring spending, so I feel like I am sort of getting paid by CVS to shop there :) Pretty sweet!

Now, on to this cool Neosporin carrying case: I have a son who loves to talk about owwies. He notices everyone's owwies, he has to have bandaids on his own owwies, and likes to have "meicine" on his cuts and "crapes". So when I saw Neosporin came out with a spray, I was considering spending the extra $ on the spray. HOWEVER, when in the CVS aisle today looking at it, this box was next to it. You get a .5 ounce tube of Neosporin, 3 Band-Aid brand bandages, and this awesome carrying case that has a key chain attachment and a huge magnet on the back... I was thinking of leaving it in the van, and may end up doing that, or it will be living in our diaper bag so that it's with us wherever we happen to get a crape or need some meicine. I know you aren't as excited about this as I am, and that's ok. You can still read my blog :)

today's bargains

I found these five flannel fabrics, most likely former baby blankets, at the Salvation Army for $.50 each... I'm going to make a blanket for Billy to wrap up his baby in (as he has to copy Abby in her Ella-obsession) and likely make some other items for the new baby... I'm getting into the fabric craftiness again :)
As for this, well, this was my CVS run today. The candy is part of this pregnancy obsession for sweets... I have to have chocolate or caramel ice cream (or cookies) every day. It was on sale for $1.97 per bag, BUT when you buy $10. of candy, you get $5. back, so in essence, it was one dollar a bag... pretty good when it's usually $3.50 a bag!

The sets of toothbrushes were originally $6.99 each, but with a coupon I had, one set was free. They were also on sale, so I saved $2. in addition. Oh, and I received $13.98 back in Extra Bucks. Thus $13.98 cost - $2. sale - $6.99 coupon + $13.98 EB = $18.97 "given to me in coupons" for buying the toothbrushes.

The AirWick oils are usually $3.99 each, this week are on sale for $2.50 each, and I had a coupon for a dollar off, so I bought 2 for the original price of one...

CVS this week

Purchased these this week (Charmin 9pk, $4.99 each; cotton swabs $3.79). Received $10. E.B. from Charmin and $2. E.B. from the swabs.

Total value about $33.

Spent $25.

Got $12. in Extra Bucks (so I really only spent $13.)

Not bad.

CVS trip #2

First I appologize for the photo... I couldn't get things in focus tonight.

Today was shopping trip number two for me at CVS. The only thing we needed that was on sale was baby shampoo. Buy one get one half off.

I had a $1. off manufacturer's coupon for the Post-It Flags, and since my head is hurting every day with our current weather, sinus medicine was in order! The body wash was also needed but not on sale.

I paid $2.26 for all of this, using the CVS ECBs from my previous trip and the Post-It coupon. I saved $16.

CVS savings

Ok, so due to my friend Heidi's blogging about saving money on typical personal/pharmacy items I thought I would check out the CVS Extra Care system and see what I could save. I signed up for their CVS Extra Care card last week, but didn't find the items I was looking for as I shopped with my toddler through their store undergoing renovations... I vowed to try a new store this week (we have 2 CVS stores fairly equal-distant to our home), and to look through their ad first.

As I didn't find all that many things this week, I just bought a necessity (contact lens solution), a need-eventually (air freshener), and a nice-to-have (lip color).

For these items, their regular cost totaled $27.28. Using a coupon I found at Money Saving Mom and with a few items on sale, I saved $3.40. Okay, so I spent $24.96... not that great for only really needing the contact lens cleaning solution. But the coolest part, is that I have $12.99 in Extra Bucks to spend, for free, in essence, the next time I shop at CVS (which needs to be by April 18th since that's when the $12.99 Extra Bucks expire).

Thanks so much, Heidi, I think I'm going to enjoy getting into this Extra Care program at CVS.