Drugstore Trip 1/8

I decided to brave the cold this morning, and with coupons and list (and a diaper bag, baby and dawdling toddler in tow), try my hand at drugstore couponing again.

Although I didn’t get everything I wanted, I got some things on sale. Here’s some of the items that I got this week. Sorry there’s no pictures, my camera battery was dead.

2 pkgs Stayfree pads: $0.29 after 3/1 BOGO coupon and in-store coupon

1 Revlon Eye Shadow: -$.01 overage with $2.00/off coupon and in-store coupon

Desitin: $1.99 after online coupon

2 pkgs Christmas after sales candy: $0.24

Tax: $0.83

Total: $3.34

2 Oust Sanitizers: $3.99 with 1/3 BOGO Coupon, earned $6 ECB

1 Palmolive Dish Soap $0.96

Tax: $0.63

Total: $5.58

ECBs earned: $6.00

Check out Common Sense with Money for more drugstore deals.

Getting Back Into Couponing

So I’ve taken about a month-long break from couponing and CVS shopping, but now I’m getting back into gear. I did my major grocery shopping last week but I went to CVS and Kroger’s this morning to pick up a few other sale items. I was also hoping that Kroger’s would have some mark-downed produce and dairy products. I was out of luck, I guess 8:30 in the morning is too early for the mark-downs to be out.

CVS

Scott Paper Towels: $4.99 (I’ll use them for homemade baby wipes)
Colgate Total: $2.99 each ($2.99 ECBS earned for each) -$0.75 coupon

Total:
$10.99
ECBs earned: $6.00

Krogers

Total: $4.65
4 rolls Cottonelle ($0.43 ea after coupons)
1 box Kroger’s instant oatmeal ($0.65 after sale and catalina)
1 bag Kroger’s 8 oz cheese ($1.05 after sale and catalina)
1 box 20 ct freezer bags ($0.99)

Although I didn’t stock up on any amazing deals I was still pretty satisfied with what I picked up. I plan to drop by CVS again this week and rotate my ECBs.

CVS Ups and Downs

I have to admit I haven’t been to CVS much this past month because of the holidays and lukewarm sales. So earlier this week I was frustrated with myself because I let $4.00 in ECBs expire. I also didn’t pay as much attention to the limit on certain products and so I bought more than I would receive ECBs for. So I was a little disappointed with myself, but I still knew overall that I’ve saved a lot at CVS and received a lot for free so I can’t complain.

Yet because of a few specials I found this week I am now excited for CVS again. I saw that they were running a special for $.15 4 x 6 photos. So I log on and put in my extracare card and since I’m new to the site they give me 50 free 4 x 6s. I still have yet to pick these up and might have to pay a $1.50 service charge, but that’s still only $.03 per photo. I was really excited because now I have pictures to put in the beautiful picture frame Tim gave me for Christmas and some pictures to send to grandparents.

Another deal I scored this week was getting 4 packs of Stayfree pads and some children’s bandaids for $7.05 and receiving $10 in ECB. Here’s the break-down

Buy $20 in select Johnson & Johnson products, receive $10 ECB

• Bought 4 packs Stayfree $4.50/ ea and 1 package bandaids for $3.00 (also in J & J sale)
• Used 1 $4 off $20 CVS coupon (I get these frequently by scanning my CVS card when I walk in the store)
• Used 2 B1G1 coupons 1-4 for Stayfree
• Used $2 ECBs I had
• Total after taxes $7.07 and received $10 ECB in return

Cheap/Free Garnier Fructis Hair Products

Walgreen and CVS are running a deal on Garnier shampoo, conditioner and styling products this week.

At CVS you buy one product for $2.99. receive $2.00 ECB. Limit 1. Pair this with a $1 off coupon from the 1-4 paper and it’ll be free. Garnier frequently has coupons in the paper and there are six out right now good on either shampoo/conditioner or a styling product. Go here for specific inserts.

At Walgreens Garnier is on sale for $2.99. Pair it with a 2.00 coupon from their easy saver catalog and a manufacturer’s $1.00 coupon for free product. There isn’t a limit as far as I know but the popular types of shampoo were out when I went yesterday.

From both of these deals I am stocked up on shampoo and hair products for awhile. Since I rarely use hair products the hair spray, mouse and styling gel should last me a while and I won’t need to buy shampoo for a few months.

Don’t Forget to Scour After Christmas Sales

If like my family, you are just starting off and don’t have a lot of Christmas supplies, today is the perfect day to search for bargains on wrapping paper, decorations and perhaps even presents for next Christmas.

Because of holiday traveling I haven’t been able to go to the store yet, but I’m hoping to hit up CVS today after we get our car’s alignment fixed.

I’m planning on CVS having Christmas bargains because I went there a day or two after Halloween this fall and I got a nice wreath, dishtowels and lots of candy for 90% off and only spent a few dollars total. I learned that you can get some steals after the holidays. I also learned to beware of storing chocolate in the cupboard above the fridge because it melts, re-melts and eventually grows mold in less than two months.

If our car gets fixed in a reasonable time and I make it to the store I’ll be sure to add some pictures of my finds.

CVS & Walgreens

Every week you can save big bucks shopping at CVS and/or Walgreens and utilizing their savings programs. With the snowy/chilly weather we’ve been having lately I haven’t gone shopping this week, but when I do I’ll share my savings.

Here and here are the CVS deals for the week. It’s not the best week but you can still snag some cheap toothpaste and deodorant. And if you’re running low on cereal check out the General Mills deal. I did a little peek at the future ads and next week (12/21-12/27) there are some great ECB deals including “37 free items Sunday and Monday”.

Here are the savings for Walgreens including some overage (money you make from utilizing coupons and deals) for Russel Chocolates, and some free deodorant and Progresso soup after coupons. There is also a more complex money-maker here for Olay Regenerist Cleansers.