Monday, January 05, 2009

Tackling the CVS "game"

Along with better menu planning I've decided to join the bandwagon (again) and try my best at playing the CVS "game". At the beginning of 2008 I tried my hand at CVS'ing and didn't keep up the pace and decided to quit after only one attempt. While reading blogs over the past year I was continually amazed at the many women who were able to score such great deals at CVS and decided I'd try once again and see where it got me. I've been collecting coupon inserts for the past couple of months in anticipation for the new year and a fresh start.

My first attempt of this year has been very time consuming.

I have spent many hours organizing my coupon binder (check back Wednesday for an inside look), researched various websites reading firsthand experiences of how to make CVS work for me, and also searched and searched their weekly ad and multiple blogs for the best deals to make it worth my time and money. Not to mention that I spent well over an hour and a half in the store today.

Here are some of the great sites I used:
Deal Seeking Mom
Money Saving Mom
Couponing 101
Bargain Briana
Centsible Sawyer

Thank you so much for the time and work you put into sharing with us the great deals you find!


With all of that said, I feel really great about the outcome I had today! The store employees were more than helpful and were so patient despite the fact that I accidentally purchased non-sale items instead of the ones I meant to and had to return them. They took the time to look in the back of the store and find what I really needed, they helped me in reading my receipts and were very supportive of my new "hobby". I was nervous that they would be annoyed with my utter confusion and my multiple coupons, but I didn't have that problem at all.

Because I made multiple transactions, had to return some items, and was reimbursed in the form of a CVS giftcard which I used for the remainder of my transactions... I'm slightly confused as I look over my receipts, but I can basically tell you what I accomplished on my first CVS shopping trip of 2009.

Just take a look at the picture and see for yourself.



Retail price of these items before using coupons and ECB's came to a little over $95. After using a number of manufacturer's coupons, store coupons, and rolling over ECB's from one transaction to the next... it seems I spent just around $20 for all of these products. BUT!!! I still have $11 in ECB's to use next week when I go shopping again. So the way I look at it is that I really spent close to $10 for all of this - the cost of one L'Oreal lipstick!

I'd say that's pretty impressive and worth trying for again next week.

For more Tackle it Tuesday inspiration (yes, I know it's only Monday at this point) check out 5 Minutes for Mom.

8 comments:

Tara @ Deal Seeking Mom said...

Wow, looks like you're doing a great job to me, Meshellyn! Way to go – and thanks for the link. :D

Tara @ Deal Seeking Mom

The Proverbs Wife said...

I'd say it's worth another try as well. Great job and great tackle. I wish you much success at CVS'sng. Once you get it you'll never want to shop any other way.

Susie said...

That's an impressive tackle!

Jena Webber said...

I've never heard of this. It sounds addicting. Glad you got a good deal though.

Maddy said...

Now I shall have to book mark that for later after the morning rush around here as I could certainly do with shaving off a few pennies.
Cheers

Mrs. Frogster said...

excellent! I wish we had CVS around here!

StephanieB said...

Okay kiddo, I am fully hopping on board with you on the new years resolution since it is mine too :). Lets get together an talk coupons and food menus soon :).

Amy said...

One of my new year's resolutions was to learn the CVS game, too! I posted about my first trip of the year. Way to go with yours! :)