Walmart
3 boxes of Electrasol 2.99 ea (price-matched to CVS ad)
-3 $2.50/1 Coupons
=$2.10 Out of Pocket (OOP), Saved $10.68
(My mother did the exact same thing and got 3 boxes of Electrasol as well).
CVS
3 Freedom Lite Monitors $9.99 ea.
2 Cases of Disani Water $3.99 ea
1 Ear Rinse $7.99
1 CVS Aspirin $1.99
1 Extreme Energy $4.99
1 3 pk CVS Brand Paper Towels $2.49
-$10/50
-$1/1 CVS Paper Towels CRT
-$15 ECBs
-3 $9.99/1 Monitor Coupons
= .24 cents on Gift Card, Saved $93.38, Earned $14.97 in Extra Bucks. My savings is actually higher because of the monitors, but I subtracted those out because I don’t like the monitors to inflate my savings.
I was actually with my Mom today and was showing her how to shop at CVS. She needed water and paper towels, so I showed her how to easily include things that you need when you are shopping at CVS. Instead of spending $8 on water like she normally does, I was able to get her the water, and a lot of other stuff for .24 cents (which was put on a gift card). And I was still able to roll my $15 in extra bucks while getting what she needed.
I just hope this shows some of you how shopping at CVS can be worth it. Yes, you have to get things you won’t use sometimes, but it enables you to get things you do need.
YTD Spending: $223
YTD Savings: $1,175
Coupon Costs: $28
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
And you can always donate the things you don’t need, to people who do need them!! I took your spring cleaning box idea, and I put the stuff I won’t use in it. When its full I’m going to bring it to our local senior center! Those no drip nose sprays that were free last month are in there, along with some of the sure deodorant, and some pert shampoo, and all those free meters!!
How do you receive the $x/$x Qs for CVS? I signed my email address but I still do not recieve anything.
Would you mind explaining your comment on getting things that you don’t need? I don’t understand getting the monitors because wouldn’t you have to spend ECB’s to get them? Why not just put those ECB’s toward the things you do need? This still confuses me
Thanks!
Amy – The monitors were free after the coupons I used. If you look at my transaction you can see that I spent 15 ECBs and got back 14.97 in ECBs, so I only lost 3 cents in ECBs on the whole transaction.
S. Carter yes! That’s where all that stuff I won’t be using went as soon as I walked in the door
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Kelly – Those coupons print out at the coupon scanning machine that is in the store.
I’ve been curious as to what you, and others I’ve seen at other blogs, do with the glucose monitors? I’ve never bought one of these because I don’t know who to donate it to. The manufacturer gives these away to physicians offices, because they know the patient will then buy thier brand of test stips, which is actually the most expensive part of monitor blood sugar. Just wondering where these might be needed/used?
Ah-ha! I get it – thanks!!
When I was pregnant, I had gestational diabetes, and I did not get a meter fro the doctor, or the hospital. We had to buy one on our own. I was not into coupons then, so we paid 75 oop and got 50 back with a mail in rebate. So I take any for free now, just incase! I’m planning on donating mine to a senior center. Even if they don’t need the meter, they can always use the few lancets and test strips that come inside. Oh, and I’m a klutz. Its always nice to have a back up incase you drop it and break it..
Once again, I’m super impressed. I usually look over the flyers 4 or 5 times to find deals I’ve missed. But I think I really really need to start thinking ‘out of the box’ to see what I can start getting or free. Thanks for the post!
money-savingmommy’s last blog post..
Thanks for showing us these great shopping tips! I really learn a lot from you! I got a few questions,
1)IS CVS the same as Longs Drugs?
2)Those coupons print out at the coupon scanning machine that is in the store, can you use it at the same transaction?
I am still not too sure how the process works. Thanks!
Where did you find the freedom lite monitor coupons? I can’t seem to find them anywhere.
Thanks!
Those particular ones were in the 1/4 inserts.
Where did you find the 2.50 off electrasol coupons??
They came in the 1/4 inserts. But sadly, they expired yesterday.
Just a tip: I get the free glucose monitors and then sell them on ebay. I usually sell them for a buck or two then make a buck or two on shipping. It’s not much, but since I got them for free I figure why not!
Also, I’m not sure that my CVS has the coupon scanning machine you are talking about. What does it look like???
Thanks!