CVS 2-15-12

Realized I had some additional coupons and got some unexpected ones from the " CVS Magic Machine".

TIP:  ALWAYS ... ALWAYS ... Scan your CVS card when you are there ... Some people scan ONLY 1X ... Some scan 1X upon entering the store and 1X upon leaving the store ... I use the "scan until the machine tells me to go away" method ... I have found that method works best for me ... Not sure if anyone ever noticed ... but sometimes you get more coupons on the second scan.  CVS coupons for FREE items are fun! ... And remember that a Manufacturer Coupons can be used with the CVS Magic Machine coupon!

13 Items ... Retail $47.14 ... Saved $42.73 ... Paid $4.41 ... 90.64% saved ... I still have $12 in Extra Bucks ... My actual out of pocket is $0 ... with $7.59 left over ... Adjusted amount saved is $54.73 or 116.10% savings ... I start my next shopping trip with $12 in EB:-)

Ralphs 2-12-12 Rainchecks are awesome!

77 Items ... Retail $140.95 ... Saved $92.90 ... Paid $48.05 ... 65.90% savings! 

I patiently waited for a special order to come in to fill my raincheck ... I LOVE the new Lipton 100% Natural Iced Tea ... Lemon flavor! They are pricey retail ... usually $1.39 to $1.79 ... When I can find them on sale or have a coupon ... I stock up!

A couple weeks ago they were on sale For $.99 and also part of the "Buy 10 - Get $5" deal ... That is $.49 each ... Woooo!   My store did not carry Lemon flavor so I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask if ... since they carried other flavors ... maybe they could get Lemon. After some confusion and time ... they were able to fill my raincheck ... (I got a raincheck in hopes that they would be able to get them for me). It was a nice surprise when I got the call that my order had arrived.

In addition to my raincheck ... I picked up a few other deals!

Positive shopping trips and left over RR & EB!

A little explanation of "a positive shopping trip" & " Extra Bucks & Register Rewards" left over for next week.

I use those phrases from time to time.  Once my shopping trip is complete ... I add up how much I have spent (combining totals from multiple transactions if that is the case).  Then ... I add up how much I saved ... usually printed on the receipt somewhere near the bottom. If I have Extra Bucks or Register Rewards left from my shopping trip, I subtract that amount from my amount spent (because that is ... in reality ... paper money for that store).  The same amount is then added to the amount I saved.  Taking the new totals ... I add the new amount saved with the new amount spent ... The total gives me the total retail. To find the % saved ... I take the amount saved and divide it by the retail amount.  Ta Da!!!

Example:,
*Total Retail = $8.00 ... Total Saved = $6.00 ... Total spent =  $2.00 ...  A 75% Savings but with $3 Extra Bucks left over.

---> Subtract $3 EB from amount spent ... and ... Add $3 EB to amount saved
*New totals are   $0 paid and positive $1EB ... essentially spending $0 with $1 left over ... and ... Amount safer reflects the left over EB ... or $9 ... A 112.50% savings ... more accurate!

It all sounds much more confusing than it is ... I used to get overwhelmed trying to figure out and understand how to best maximize EB & RR ... I used to go in the store with my list in hand ... multiple transactions (for rolling over EB & RR) all figured out ... then get flustered when items were not in stock.  I would have to re-work my plan or start over.

In time ... once you are comfortable with how it all works ... you too will get to the point where you just have your list (I include the breakdown of item cost, coupons, EB or RR, and final cost) ... shop for what is available from your list ... and work out your plan on the fly. It usually takes me about 5-10 minutes to plan out my transactions ... The goal is to spend the least 'out of pocket ' per transaction.

If you are not familiar with CVS and Walgreens .... They offer Extra Bucks and Register Rewards when certain items are purchased. CVS usually has a limit on the number of items that can be purchased per card ... Walgreens Limit the number of items they can be purchased per transaction. Feel free to read the info located on the tabs at the top for more information on how to shop at he both CVS & Walgreens. Check out the videos for additional helpful information!

I hope you find this info helpful!

Happy Saving!
Tracey

CVS 2-13-12

13 Items ... Retail $51.10 ... Saved $53.21 ... Paid $0 ... $2.11 left over!  A positive shopping trip ... That includes $15 in Extra Bucks for next week!