CVS Mock Shopping Trip

A lot of people have mentioned to me that they are very nervous to try shopping at CVS or Walgreens. They say that it seems very confusing and that they really don't know where to begin, so I thought I'd give you a mock shopping trip to try to help you get started. I'm basing this shopping trip on the best deals at CVS this week, and with coupons that are available online or from the newspaper the last couple of weeks (so if you are just starting out, you'll be able to take part in these deals as well). Okay, here we go :)

Transaction #1:
U by Kotex Liners, Pads, or Tampons ($4.99)
-use coupon for $1.00 off U by Kotex (found here)
-OR use coupon for $1.00 off U by Kotex (found in 4/18 SmartSource insert)
AND use CVS store coupon for $1.00 off U by Kotex (found here)
Final Cost: Pay $2.99 (plus tax) and receive a $4.99 ECB

Transaction #2:
2 Right Guard Total Defense Deodorant ($5.98)
-use coupon for $3.00 off 2 Right Guard Deodorants (found here)
Total for deodorant: $2.98 and receive a $4 ECB

1 gallon of milk $2.99
Total for milk: $2.99 and receive a $1.00 ECB

Use $4.99 ECB you earned in Transaction #1:
Final Cost for Transaction #2: $0.98 (plus tax), and you'll receive a $4 ECB and a $1 ECB

Transaction #3:
1 gallon of milk $2.99
Total for milk: $2.99 and receive a $1.00 ECB

Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste or Rinse $3.50
-use coupon for $0.75 off Crest Toothpaste (from 5/2 Proctor and Gamble insert)
-OR use coupon for $0.75 off Crest Rinse (from 5/2 Proctor and Gamble insert)
Total for Crest: $2.75 and receive a $3.50 ECB

Use $1.00 ECB and $4.00 ECB from Transaction #2.
Final Cost for Transaction #3: $0.74 (plus tax), and you'll receive a $1.00 ECB and a $3.50 ECB.

At the end of this trip, you'll have bought:
-1 box of Tampons/Pads
-2 Right Guard Deodorants
-2 gallons of milk
-1 Crest toothpaste/rinse

You'll spend $4.71 and still have a $1.00 ECB AND a $3.50 ECB to spend on your next trip!! Two gallons of milk at most grocery stores will cost you about this much, but you'll have bought several other items...and don't forget, you'll still have $4.50 left in CVS ECBs!!

CVS and Walgreens can save you A LOT of money once you learn all the tricks of shopping there.

Let me know if this was helpful for you. If you'd like me to do a list like this every week...see what you can buy for less than $5.00 at CVS, let me know. Also, if you are already starting out the week with ECBs then you can really go in and shop and spend next to nothing. Save those ECBs and use them on deals that will generate even more ECBs. If you do this, you'll find that you can go in and buy several bags of items with change from the bottom of your purse! :)