Money Saving Tips

I never really shopped at drug stores (i.e. CVS, Walgreens) until I had to get something on my way to work a couple years ago and there was no stores between my home and work besides CVS.   So I ventured in and to get the good price on the item I wanted I had to get their ExtraCare card.  It is pretty much like a Kroger Plus card, but on steroids. It tracks your purchases and you get 2% back in the form of ExtraBucks every quarter.  ExtraBucks are basically a coupon for anything in the store.  And every week they have special deals where if you spend so much on a product (or group of products) you get X amount of ExtraBucks to use on your next purchase (you can even use them that day).  This is where you can get great deals (a while ago I got a normal size container of laundry detergent for $.90!)  


I will tell you about a couple of my recent trips to help you maximize your money when shopping here.  I'm using CVS because it is very close to my home, but I know Walgreens has a similar program-Register Rewards-but without the (free) ExtraCare card, if that is closer for you.  To get the best deals, it's good to visit the store weekly, or at least 2-3 times a month if you can.  If you stop going, you stop getting the Extra Bucks.  :)


Purchase 1:


ExtraBucks (or EB) Offer: Purchase $20 in Excedrin products, get $10 EB (you want to look for the offers that have 50% or more in EB.  So the offers for spend $20, get $5 EB are good, but spend $20 get $10 EB are best).


So I paid $21.49 for 3 bottles of Excedrin (and I used my HSA, score!)  There was several types and I figured out how to get the closest to $20 (before tax my total was $20.27, I think I did a good job!)  Usually there is a group of products to choose from so make sure to take a calculator so you can figure out the best combination.  I left that day with enough Excedrin to last me a couple years and $10 EB.


Purchase 2:
I don't remember the exact details, but I got $7 EB and a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $25 or more (*when you have these coupons, get your total to just over $25 and use that coupon first*).  I used my $10 EB (from the Excedrin purchase) to get Physician's Formula mineral powder make up, CoverGirl eyeshadow and 2 candles, all for $10.  It would have cost about $30-35 normally):


Purchase 3 :


I was excited about this weeks deals!  Here's what I bought:  

-Coke products on sale for 3/$11 and if you bought three 12-packs you got $2 EB
-Buy one CoverGirl Makeup item (I got face powder) for $7.99 get $2 EB (normally costs $6.50 @ Target)
-Buy 2 Biore face items, get $5 EB (I got the nose strips & face wash that had a $1 off coupon on it-*look for items that have a coupon on the package, this maximizes your savings!)
I also bought Brett's type of deodorant (on sale for less than Wal-Mart had it), adorable folders on clearance ($.69 a piece and I haven't decided on a use yet, maybe some creative filing/organizing system), and the album to organize my coupons. 
I paid $35.52 for items that would have cost me $60-65.  Whoo hoo!


Purchase 4:


I'm pretty proud of this purchase!  I'm getting better as I do this more. :)

The deals weren't that great this week but I really needed some new chap stick and my hands are becoming severely dry. So I went in with my $5 off purchase of $25 coupon, $12 EB and a coupon I was emailed for $2 off a $10 purchase to see what I could find.
The only EB reward I got was:
-Buy one Pantene, Herbal Essence, Head & Shoulders or Aussie item, get $2 EB.  But I had coupon for $2 off 2 Pantene items so I bought 2 (unfortunately you can only get one reward per card so I only got $2 EB for this).
Then I found the Curel Hand and Cuticle lotion that had a $1 off coupon attached.  Perfect!  And I got my chapstick, 2 kinds to last me a while (I'm interested to see how I like the ChapStick Ultra Shimmer). 
With all my coupons, I paid $8.06 for my items that would have cost me over $30!  Yay!  And I got $2 EB,  a $5 off purchase of $25 coupon, a $2 off $6 bar soap/body wash purchase and $4 off Dr. Scholl's for Her.  


These ExtraBucks deals are a great way to stock up on items for less.  


And at the bottom of my receipt of my last purchase it says my YTD savings is $100.69!!  And I could probably count on both hands the times I've been to CVS this year. I'd say that's a good percent saved per trip! 


Saving money and good deals make my bargain shopper soul happy, I'd love to hear about your good deals & tips!