For this week only, I think I should rename this The $5.99 CVS Challenge because the best deals out there cost $5.99 after coupons but earn you $5.00 in ECBs back. ;)
Again, the idea of The $5.00 CVS Challenge is to "roll" or "grow" your $5.00 in ECBs into the same or (hopefully) more ECBs, or use $5.00 cash OOP (out of pocket) as buy-in money if you're a beginner at CVSing.
For a more in-depth explanation of how the CVS ECB (Extra Care Bucks) system works, read this post.
You can read a previous $5.00 CVS Challenge here; since it features a Monthly ECB deal, it's good through the end of June if you haven't already bought those items.
I'm so thankful to all of my readers who have already participated in the previous two challenges. By sharing your sweet deals, you've helped others!
I invite everyone to participate in The $5.00 CVS Challenge - no deal is too small, believe me!
Post your $5.00 (or, for this week, $5.99!) scenario on your blog (be sure to note coupons used and their locations to help the newbies), then come back here and drop your post's permalink in the Mr. Linky box below. Please link to this post somewhere in your post; if you want to grab my button above to use in your post by right-clicking and saving it, please do!
Don't have a blog? You can leave a comment with your scenario, too.
And, since I mentioned comments, I really appreciate all of you who drop a note after reading my posts. I absolutely do read all my comments and am happy to say that I've only had to delete one for negative content. That says a lot about you as readers and about the blogosphere in general, IMHO.
I do try to make my rounds in the blogosphere to give y'all a shout out in reply if you've commented here. But LIFE (in the form of my three children) usually gets in the way of my social graces when it comes to blogging etiquette. As so many of you frugal faithful are parents, I know you understand that reality and thank you for that understanding.
Alrighty -- onto the Challenge deals!
Deal #1
Buy (1) Almay One Coat Mascara, $6.99
$1/1 Almay, SS 3/9 or SS 5/18
Total OOP (ECBs or Cash): $5.99
New ECBs earned: $5.00
(There's a limit of {2} for this deal, so you could easily do it twice over two transactions, rolling the ECBs from the first transaction and paying the extra $0.99 in cash.)
Deal #2
Buy (1) Sally Hansen Color Quick (Nail Color Pen), $7.99
$2/1 Any Sally Hansen, SS 3/30
Total OOP (ECBs or Cash): $5.99
New ECBs earned: $5.00
(This one has a limit of {5}, so just like above, you can do this transaction again by rolling that $5.00 in ECBs and paying $0.99 in cash. Or, do the one above and then use the ECBs earned in Deal #1 to do Deal #2 -- roll, baby, roll!)
Deal #3
Buy (2) Oral B Cross Action Power Toothbrush, 5.99 {limit of 5}
B1G1Free, SS 6/15 (as previewed at SlickDeals)
Total OOP (Cash or ECBs): $5.99
New ECBs Earned: $6.00 ($3.00 per toothbrush)
(Again, if you have {2} of the B1G1Free coupons, do this transaction again and use the $6.00 ECBs earned the first time to pay your OOP the second time. Or use this deal as your first transaction then roll the $6.00 ECBs to Deal #1 or Deal #2)
And...finally...
Deal #4
Buy (2) Alavert or Alavert D, 12 or 15 ct, $6.99 ea
$4/1 printable here; print one, then hit back, refresh, and print a second one
(I can't guarantee these will print; as I've been typing this post, I've had this screen open in another window and it hasn't printed for me yet. But my printer and Alavert's website might just be arguing. If you need allergy meds, it's worth trying to print these from your computer.)
Total OOP (ECBs or Cash): $5.98
New ECBs Earned: $5.00
I can't wait to see your $5.00 deals! Thanks for participating!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The $5.00 CVS Challenge: June 15 - 22
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The $5.00 CVS Challenge, 6/8 - 6/14
Alright, time to help the CVS newbies again this week!
Remember, the goal for the $5.00 CVS Challenge is to grow that $5.00 into even more in ECBs to use in the future. Since growing or rolling over your ECBs is the number one rule of playing the CVS game, these scenarios are meant to help those members of the Frugal Faithful who are just getting the hang of how to make CVS work for their needs.
Come up with your best scenario that costs $5.00 or less out-of-pocket (paying with cash or with ECBs you have on hand), post it at your blog (or in the comment section below), then add your permalink below (the direct link to your blog post).
Please list the full scenario with details/locations on coupons used. If you use any of the CVS coupons out there (like the $3/$15 coupon expiring 6/14 - details on how to find it here at MSM), be sure to add info/linkage for those coupons.
If you want to right click/save (.jpg or .gif) on my button above (I'll get around to adding an html code box one of these days...) and add it to your post, I'm fine with that! Just be sure to link back to me/this post somewhere in your post. Thanks in advance - you're a peach!
For those of you just stumbling upon the mega-savings that is the ECB program at CVS, read more about how it works here.
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My $5.00 Scenario:
All the stores are focused on Father's Day gifts (FD is 6/15). CVS has this deal available:
Buy $10 of any Nivea for Men, get $5.00 ECBs (prices start at $2.59 - my ad, Cincinnati)
Items included in this offer:
*Lotion, 1.7-2.5 oz
*Balm, 3.3 oz
*Wash, 5 oz
*Shave gel, 7 oz
*Scrub, 4.4 oz
*Eye Cream, 0.5 oz
*4 Step Starter Set
*Body Wash, 16.9 oz
CVS ran a similar deal on Nivea for Men back in December; if I remember correctly, the Shave Gel was the lowest priced item.
I've not been in CVS yet to confirm this deal (I'll be there tomorrow), so here goes my best scenario:
Buy (4) Nivea for Men Shaving Gels, $2.59 ea (I'm assuming this is the price; will confirm and revise this post after I go to CVS on 6/9)
*use $4.00/2 (Extreme Comfort Shaving Gels), RP 6/8
*use (2) $2.00/1 Nivea Body Product printables found here (print one, hit Back, then hit Refresh and you'll print a second coupon with a different bar code - totally legit)
....and then add this monthly ECB deal into the transaction:
Buy (1) CVS Bandages (Sheer, 40 ct or Plastic, 40 ct), 1.99 ea
*earns $1.99 in ECBs (FREE after ECBs)
Total after coupons: $4.35 + tax
ECBS earned: $6.99
Net Profit: $2.64 (minus tax on transaction)
***REVISED, 6/10/08***
I took a trip to CVS yesterday and here are the prices I found (I'm in the Cincinnati area):
Nivea for Men Extreme Shave Gel, $3.99 (bought 2)
*used $4/2 coupon above (it's for this product)
Nivea for Men Shave Gel, $2.99
*used $2.00/1 printable above
Final Cost with Coupons: $4.97 + tax
New ECBs earned: $5.00
So...unless you have a good $/$$ CVS coupon you can work into your transaction (like the $3/$15 one mentioned above), you won't net a profit on this ECB deal. But you will walk away with (3) Nivea shave gels for your $5.00 investment and $5.00 in ECBs to work with in the future!
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Don't need that shave gel for anyone in your immediate family or circle of friends? Donate it! Food pantries are in great need of everything given the current economic climate.
Click here and see if there's a local food pantry near you where you can donate it; if there isn't, maybe you can start a donation box at your church, school, local community center, hospital, or YMCA.
Get creative, get Googling, and I'm sure you can find a way to use your extras from CVS and elsewhere to help others in need!
Thanks in advance for sharing your deals!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
CVS $5.00 Challenge, June 2 - June 8
It's the start of a new month at CVS; you can view all of the June ECB deals here (thanks, SlickDeals).
The best way to "grow" your ECBs as a newbie at CVS is to buy the FREE after ECB items and use manufacturer coupons for those items when you purchase them. You'll net an instant profit.
There aren't too many FREE after ECB items this month, but there is one which will help you grow your $5.00 (real $$ or ECBs).
My $5.00 CVS Challenge Scenario:
Buy (2) Listerine Smart Rinse 250 ml (Limit 2), $3.49 ea
*use (2) $1.00/1, RP 4/27; or,
*use (2) $1.00/1 printable here; or,
*use one of each of the coupons above.
Total after (2) coupons: $4.98 (pay with real $$ or ECBs)
New ECBs earned: $6.98 ($3.49 on each)
Net Profit: $2.00
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Have a $5.00 CVS Challenge scenario you'd like to share? Post it at your blog, then add your post's permalink below. Please link directly to your post and link back to The New Frugal Mom, too. Thanks!
If you're still learning the ropes at CVS, read more on how to save at CVS here.
Share because you care!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Super Savings Saturday at MSM
I'm linking up with Crystal's Super Savings Saturday at Money Saving Mom; click over and see all the great deals found by the Frugal Faithful this week!
Alas, it was slim pickings for deals at CVS last week. Since I plundered Walgreens during their P&G RR promotion, the pantry and the goodie box in our hall closet are both well stocked; why spend real $$ or ECBs when I can just "shop" my stockpile at home, right?
I'd decided to skip CVS altogether this week and save my $12 ECBs for another week...that is, until I came home after school drop-off to find one of the pink fake-Crocs belonging to my daughter (purchased a couple of weeks ago at CVS with ECBs, of course) had been happily chewed to bits by our dog, Brownie:
This photo is from one of his prior frenzied moments (German Shorthair Pointers are bundles of energy); I imagine he looked much like this as he tossed my daughters fave new summer shoes around the living room and office.
So what's a mom to do?
Head back to CVS right away!
And so, rather than a picture of my purchase at CVS, I offer you this pseudo-MasterCard commercial moment:
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1 pair pink Croc-like summer clogs, on sale 25% off:
$5.99
Getting a replacement pair for FREE before my daughter discovered her new shoes had become new chews:
PRICELESS
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I did have to burn $7.00 in ECBs (I bought {2} candy bars as fillers for my sons) leaving me with only $5.00 in ECBs to flip in next week's deals.
Which brings me to my next point: I've been hosting Shopping Scenario Sunday here for about a month; as I've worked on changing this blog around a bit, I've been thinking of ways to improve everything and help people who are newbies to CVS, couponing, and living with a frugal mindset.
Starting tomorrow, Shopping Scenario Sunday will change!
Since rolling ECBs at CVS offers one of the best ways to start slashing your grocery/personal care/paper goods budget, I want to focus on helping newbies master the CVS system.
Instead of Shopping Scenario Sunday, I'll be hosting...
The $5.00 CVS Challenge!
Here's how it will work:
1. Come up with your best scenario/scenarios for the upcoming week at CVS using the current weekly ad, monthly deals, and coupons available. Your budget for Out of Pocket (OOP) expenses on the first transaction is only $5.00 (either cash OOP or ECBs on hand).
2. Using up to (3) scenarios (we don't want to overwhelm the newbies with too many transactions), offer up your best scenarios to "grow" that $5.00 into more ECBs to use in following weeks.
3. If you want to divide your $5.00 allowance over the three scenarios to make them work, that's fine!
4. Be sure to list coupons by inserts and/or with links to printables to make it easier for everyone to follow along.
Here's my reasons for coming up with The CVS $5.00 Challenge:
*The CVS ECB game can be tricky and intimidating to newbies who've never tried it or to those out there who are new to coupons in general.
*When starting the CVS ECB game, it's best to set a low OOP budget, like $5.00, and "grow" your ECBs over multiple transactions.
*Many of us are very experienced at the CVS ECB game; this is a chance to use that knowledge to help beginners throughout the blogosphere.
There you have it! A new way to play the CVS ECB game by helping newbies learn the ropes. And who knows - you just might be inspired yourself by some of the deals you find, too!
Come back tomorrow (Sunday 5/18) and look for The CVS $5.00 Challenge post; I may not have all the whiz-bang buttons done, but I'll have the Mr. Linky box ready and waiting for your great ideas!
**Want to get cracking on your deals? Check out Alyssa's preview of tomorrow's (5/18) coupons here; check out Taylor Town Preview, too.
Remember, coupons can and do vary by region and newspapers!**
As always, thanks for spending a few minutes of your day reading The New Frugal Mom, and...
Happy Savings!
