sunday shopping 11-7-10

After taking a few weeks off from CVS, I just couldn't stay away any longer  I had a couple of rain checks leftover from the Oral-B Vitality toothbrush deal a few weeks ago that I wanted to use, and I had received a couple of coupons via email and regular mail that I figured I would use as well.  The only deal in this week's ad that I was really excited about was the BOGO raisins, but wouldn't you know it, when I got there, the raisins were all sold out!  I did grab a raincheck, though, because my girls can't get enough of those little buggers.  There are 4 CVS stores within 5 miles of my house, but there are two in particular that I really like.  One of those, I found out today, is ranked #7 for customer service out of all the CVS stores in the whole country.  No wonder I like it so much!

Walgreens was actually a lot of fun today as well.  I wasn't sure if all of my coupons and Register Rewards would work out the way I had planned, and the very nice cashier was more than willing to bear with me as I "tested the waters" with my first transaction.  Happily, everything worked out perfectly, and it was a great trip.

Here is what I got:

At CVS I spent $13.86 for $115.58 worth of drugstore merchandise, a savings of 88%.  I have heard it said that it is better to be lucky than good, and I was very lucky with my first two transactions.  The manager is very accommodating, and he not only happily accepted my 2 expired Oral-B vitality coupons, he also had no problem using the $5 off $30 coupon, even though the raincheck made the sale price $23.  But like I said, this store prides itself on customer service....and it shows!

Transaction 1

Bought :

1 Oral B Vitality Toothbrush ($32.99)

Used:

CVS Raincheck--sale price of $23 + $13 ECBs back

$5 off $30 purchase (CVS email coupon)

(1) $10 off Oral-B Vitality (Proctor & Gamble insert, 9/26 (expired 10/31))

Total Paid OOP: $9.26

Got Back: $13 ECBs

Transaction 2

Bought :

1 Oral B Vitality Toothbrush ($32.99)

Used:

CVS Raincheck--sale price of $23 + $13 ECBs back

(1) $10 off Oral-B Vitality (Proctor & Gamble insert, 9/26 (expired 10/31))

(1) Get $4 ECBs with a $20 purchase (CVS coupon, received in CVS Holiday Catalog Mailer)

$13 ECBs (from Transaction 1)

Total Paid OOP: $0.70

Got Back: $13, $4 ECBs

Transaction 3

Bought :

(2) Lysol Wipes

(2) Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner

(1) Lysol 4-in-1 Cleaner

Used:

(1) $1 off 2 Lysol Wipes (printable here)

(1) $1 off 2 Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner (printable here)

$13 ECBs (from Transaction 2)

Total Paid OOP: $.68

Got Back: $5 ECBs

Transaction 4

Bought:

(2) Disney Princess Vitamins

(1) Nuk Pacifier 2 pack

(1) CVS Green Bag Tag

Used:

(2) $1 off Disney Vitamins (Red Plum insert, 10/3)

$9 ECBs (from Transactions 2, 3)

Total Paid OOP: $3.22

At Walgreens, I spent $5.88 for $67.04 worth of groceries and drugstore merchandise, a savings of 92%.  I was all over the awesome deals on baking supplies.  In fact, I may have to go back for a few more cans of evaporated & sweetened condensed milk because those are great prices.  And the cornbread is a money maker!  (For the cornbread, I handed the 3 manufacturer's Qs to the cashier first, followed by the in-ad coupon, and the register had no problems accepting it.  There is a limit of 3 per transaction.)   I purposely went to a Walgreens that was right across from CVS because I knew they accepted competitor's coupons.  (Most Walgreens don't, but it is up to the manager's discretion.)  I started with $6 RRs leftover from last week, but if you are just starting out, you could just do Transactions 3 & 4 and end up spending only $3.25 OOP (may vary slightly depending on tax in your state).

Transaction 1

Bought:

(2) Reach Floss

(1) Revitalens Contact Solution

(1) Schick Xtreme 3 Razor (4 pack)

(3) Betty Crocker Cornbread Mix

Coupons Used:

(2) $1 off Reach Dental Floss (Red Plum insert 10/10)

(1) Reach Floss or Toothbrush for $0.99 (Walgreens in-ad coupon, automatically doubles for 2 items)

(3) $0.50 off Betty Crocker or Fiber One Muffin Mix (printable here, here, and here)

(1) Betty Crocker Cornbread 3/$1.00 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

(1) $3 off Schick Xtreme 3 Razors (printable here)

(1) $6 Register Reward (leftover from last week)

Total Due OOP: $1.30

Got Back: $3, $4 RRs

Transaction 2

Bought:

(2) Reach Floss

(3) Betty Crocker Cornbread Mix

(1) Huggies Little Movers Diapers

(2) Carnation Evaporated Milk

(2) Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk

(1) Libby's Pumpkin

(1) Filler (clearance halloween candy for $0.12)

Coupons Used:

(2) $1 off Reach Dental Floss (Red Plum insert 10/10)

(1) Reach Floss or Toothbrush for $0.99 (Walgreens in-ad coupon, automatically doubles for 2 items)

(3) $0.50 off Betty Crocker or Fiber One Muffin Mix (printable here, here, and here)

(1) Betty Crocker Cornbread 3/$1.00 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

(1) $3 off Huggies Diapers (CVS coupon, received in mail)

(1) $2.50 off Huggies Little Movers (no more prints available)

(1) $.50 off 2 Carnation Evaporated Milk (Smart Source insert, 9/26)

(1) Carnation Milk, Kraft Marshmallows, or Libby's Pumpkin for $0.99 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

(2) $.55 off Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk (Red Plum insert 11/7)

(1) Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk for $1.79 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

$7 RRs (from Transaction 1)

Total Due OOP: $1.33

Got Back $0 RRs

Transaction 3

Bought:

(2) Reach Floss

(3) Betty Crocker Cornbread Mix

(1) Schick Xtreme 3 Razor (4 pack)

Coupons Used:

(2) $1 off Reach Dental Floss (Red Plum insert 10/10)

(1) Reach Floss or Toothbrush for $0.99 (Walgreens in-ad coupon, automatically doubles for 2 items)

(3) $0.50 off Betty Crocker or Fiber One Muffin Mix (printable here, here, and here)

(1) Betty Crocker Cornbread 3/$1.00 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

(1) $3 off Schick Xtreme 3 Razors (printable here)

Total Due OOP: $3.03

Got Back: $3 RRs

Transaction 4

Bought:

(2) Reach Floss

(3) Betty Crocker Cornbread Mix

(1) Domino Sugar

(2) cans Libby's Pumpkin

(1) filler (clearance Halloween candy for $0.12)

Coupons Used:

(2) $1 off Reach Dental Floss (Red Plum insert 10/10)

(1) Reach Floss or Toothbrush for $0.99 (Walgreens in-ad coupon, automatically doubles for 2 items)

(3) $0.50 off Betty Crocker or Fiber One Muffin Mix (printable here, here, and here)

(1) Betty Crocker Cornbread 3/$1.00 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

(1) Carnation Milk, Kraft Marshmallows, or Libby's Pumpkin for $0.99 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

(1) $0.40 off Domino Sugar (Red Plum insert, 10/17)

(1) Domino Sugar for $1.79 (Walgreens in-ad coupon)

$3 RRs (from Transaction 

Total Due OOP: $0.22

Got Back $0 RRs

Altogether, today I spent $19.74 for $182.62 worth of groceries and drugstore merchandise, an average savings of 89% for the day.