Living better, spending less.
I drove to the next town over this afternoon to have lunch with my husband, and also, go to CVS. I had $14.89 in ECBs that expired last week. I had been planning on using them, but I ran out of time on Thursday, and I didn’t have a car on Friday since M’s was in the shop. But! I wasn’t worried about it because I had asked about expired ECBs there before, and was told that they could use them if they weren’t too far expired. It was less than a week, so I figured I’d be safe, but this cashier wouldn’t push it through, saying it had to be within the sale week. Crap. So, I called the other one, and he said he’d take them, so I figured it was worth driving over for.
I guess you didn’t need my reasons for shopping, did you?
Anyway, today’s CVS purchases were really boring.

I bought the TENA for the mail-in rebate–it was B1G1, so that was convenient. (Hint: if you’re going to do a mail-in rebate for an item like this, try to find it on a B1G1 sale–two for free is better than one for free! Use two coupons while you’re at it to turn it into a moneymaker.) I didn’t have anything left on my list to buy that would cost $15 so I was happy to have a rebate to “cash out” with. I threw in the crackers because a) I needed a little more to cover the expired ECBs, and b) they’re on sale, $1.25, and c) they’re delicious. Better than Cheez-its.
I’ve already filled out the rebate form and sealed the envelope (aren’t I organized this time!), so I kind of have to wing it on the math here. I happen to remember my OOP expense was $0.56, plus $14.89 ECB. That means that the above cost $15.45, minus $12.99 mail-in rebate. (The TENA was actually $13.99, but the rebate only allows for $12.99. Too bad.) The above cost $2.46. Not my best work, but considering that my other option was throwing the expired ECBs in the trash, it’s good enough!
Then, on to Walgreens.

On the left half of the picture, there are three identical transactions. Calcium ($8.99 with a $9.00 RR), Reach toothbrushes (2/$5 with $3 RR, plus $2 in coupons for one set, and two B1G1 coupons for the other two, making them slightly profitable), Colgate (2.49 with $1.50 RR and $1 coupons) and Bayer ($2.49 with $2.50 RR and $1 coupons.) The last transaction, I did without any RR items so I could pay using the larger ones I had. I bought six Once A Day drink mixes ($1.49 each, paid with two $3 coupons–oops, forgot to hand over the right coupons so I paid full price for two. Oh well–it happens.) two trial Dial bodywash ($.99, used two $1 coupons), 2 Ecotrin ($2.19, used two $2.25 coupons), 2 sunflower seeds ($1, used two $1 coupons), 15 Vitamin waters ($1, used fifteen $1 coupons), and four clearanced ibuprofin (.25 each–great filler! I’ve been waiting weeks for these to go on clearance at my store, but I think I’ve bought all they have already.)
Anyway, altogether, I spent $42.67 out of pocket +$41 Register Rewards used for a total cost of $83.67. That includes $35 that I reloaded onto a gift card, for a merchandise cost of $48.67. I received three sets of Register Rewards of $9, $3, $2.50 and $1.50, which amounts to $48. That brings the total cost of the above picture to a whopping $0.67… which includes my $3 mistake.
I do love Walgreens.
What do you do with all this stuff? We’ll eat the crackers, and I’m going to try at least one or two of the Vitamin waters. I bought some a while back and never got around to even tasting them. I want to see if I’ll like them but chances are high that I won’t. We may or may not eat the sunflower seeds–it’s kind of a lot of work for such a small snack, you know? Other than that, it’s all yard sale stock. After last weekend’s success, I am pretty eager to replenish the contents of my stockpile so I can sell it off again. :)
When I became a stay-at-home-mom, I promised I could save our family money by shopping sales and maybe even using a few coupons. I had no idea what I was getting into. These days, I am on a first-name basis with the cashiers at the local drugstores, I haven't paid for toothpaste or shampoo in over a year and I spend my free time here, helping others do the same. So please, make yourself at home while you learn how to save, and when to spend!
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