CVS scenarios for the week of 5/24


If you are just learning how to shop at CVS, start here for some helpful tips.

The coupon match-ups for the weekly deals are here.

The following are scenarios for people who are “new” to shopping at CVS or who have very few ECBs to start with: (these are just ideas….you do not have to follow this exact order and you can skip some items if you do not need them or don’t have the coupons that match up with them)

$16.34 in merchandise for $2.98, $3.99 ECB left to spend
Transaction #1:
Buy Band Aid bandages – $2.99
Buy 2 Sobe Life water – BOGO free

Use $1 manufacturer’s coupon
Use BOGO free printable

Spend $1.99, get a $2 ECB

Transaction #2: (you could also buy Band Aids again and follow the details of transaction #1 above)
Buy Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste – $2.99

Use $1 manufacturer’s coupon
Use $2 ECB from Band Aids (they will have to adjust it down to $1.99)

Spend $0, get a $2 ECB

Transaction #3:
Buy Clearasil – $3.99 (you could substitute Playtex tampons or the Revlon nail color here as well – they also have $1 manufacturer’s coupons, so it works out the same with OOP, but you get a $3 ECB instead of a $3.99 ECB)

Use $1 manufacturer’s coupon
Use $2 ECB from the Colgate

Spend $.99, get a $3.99 ECB

Transaction #4:
Buy Speed Stick Pro deodorant – $3.99

Use $3.99 ECB from Clearasil

Spend $0, get a $3.99 ECB

Great money maker! (If you can find them): (originally posted on HCW)

There are trial-sized tubes of Neutrogena sunblock that have been confirmed to be working as part of the buy 2 Neutrogena sun care, get a $10 ECB. The tubes are priced at $1.99.

Buy 2 @ $1.99/each

Use your $3.99 ECB (adjusted down to $3.98), earn a $10 ECB

The following two UPCs have been confirmed to work for this deal:
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SFP 55 with Helioplex
UPC 70501 48792

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer SPF 55, 1.0 FL oz, UPC #070502 487921

My transactions for the week: $42.28 in merchandise for $0 OOP (I will “lose” $2.43 more or less in ECB, but I need laundry detergent, so it’s OK with me!)

Transaction #1:
Buy 2 Band Aid bandages – $2.99/each
Buy Clearasil face wash – $3.99
Buy Colgate Total Advanced – $2.99
Buy Playtex Gentle Glide tampons – $3.99
Buy Revlon nail color – $3.99
Buy 2 Sobe Life water – BOGO free

Use 2 $1 Band Aid manufacturer’s coupons
Use $1 Clearasil coupon
Use $1.50 Colgate coupon
Use $1 Playtex coupon
Use $1 Revlon coupon
Use BOGO free Sobe Life water coupon

Total before coupons = $23.32

Total after coupons = $14.44, earn $15.99 ECB

Transaction #2:
Buy 2 Speed Stick Pro deodorant – $3.99/each
Buy Gain laundry detergent – $5.99
Buy 1 Glade fragrance collection candle – $4.99 (after clip free savings)

Use $1 Gain coupon
Use $4 Glade coupon

Total before coupons = $18.96
Total after coupons = $13.96

Spend $13.96 (pay w/ ECB), earn $9.98 ECB

A few other potential scenarios if you need these items:

Buy 2 Kotex Ultra Thin pads – 2/$7

use 2 $1 Kotex coupons

Spend $5, earn a $2 ECB (it’s like getting them for $1.50 each after coupons and ECB if you have ECB to pay with and roll into the deal!)

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Buy 2 Olay wash/Quench lotion – 2/$12

Use 2 $1 manufacturer’s coupons

Spend $10, get a $5 ECB (it’s like getting the for $2.50/each after coupons and ECB if you have ECB to roll into the deal!)

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Buy Dry Idea Clinical – $7.99, get a $2 ECB

Use $2 Dry Idea printable

Spend $5.99, get a $2 ECB (it’s like getting it for $3.99 after coupons and ECB if you have ECB to roll into the deal)

Walgreens scenarios for the week of 5/17

You can access coupon match-ups for this week’s scenarios here. If you are new to shopping at Walgreens, be sure to read the tips at the end of the match ups post.

Here are some suggestions for the deals this week: (you can skip or “roll” as it works for you – just remember, you can’t roll the same RR into another RR deal and you can’t roll the Bayer deals into each other)

$33.95 in merchandise for $7.97 OOP, $3 RR left to spend
Transaction #1:
Buy Skintimate or Edge Shave Gel – $1.99, get a $1 RR

Use $1/1 Skintimate coupon

Spend $.99, get a $1 RR

Transaction #2:
Bayer Quick Release Crystals (4 ct) – $2.49, get a $2.49 RR

Use $1 Skintimate RR
(you can use the $1 Quick Release coupon if you have it, but you will need to add a “filler” item if you plan to use the Skintimate RR as well…the Royal gelatin is .25 this week with the in ad coupon)

Spend $1.49, get a $2.49 RR (or spend .74 if you use the $1 Skintimate RR, the Bayer coupon and buy the Royal gelatin)

Transaction #3:
Buy Colgate Visible White toothpaste – $4.49, get a $4.49 RR

Use $2.49 Bayer RR
Use $1 Colgate printable (you will need a filler)

Spend $1.25 OOP, get a $4.49 RR (if you use the gelatin as your filler)

Transaction #4:
Buy Right Guard Professional or Dry Idea Clinical Complete (1.8-6 oz) – $5.99, get a $5 RR

Use $4.49 Colgate RR
Use $1 Right Guard/Dry Idea coupon (you will need a filler)

Spend .75 OOP (if you use gelatin as your filler), get a $5 RR

Transaction #5:
Buy 4 Johnsons Band Aid Bandages (2/$5 = $10)

Use 4 $1 coupons (you will need one filler item to use a RR also)
Use $5 Right Guard RR

Spend $1.25 OOP (if you use the gelatin as your filler), get a $4 RR

Transaction #6:
Buy Off! Clip on mosquito protection – $8.99, get a $3 RR

Use $3 printable coupon (you will need a filler)
Use $4 Johnsons RR

Spend $2.24 OOP (if you use gelatin as your filler), get a $3 RR

Some helpful tips:
*At Walgreens, you cannot do a promotion more than once in a transaction and earn Register Rewards. So, if you buy more than 1 Skintimate in one transaction this week, you will only earn one $1 RR.

*You also cannot use the Register Rewards earned from a promotion on the same promotion and earn Register Rewards again. For example, if you buy Skintimate shave gel, get a $1 RR and use it to buy another Skintimate shave gel, another RR will not print.

*Register Rewards are considered to be “manufacturer’s coupons” and you can only use one manufacturer’s coupon per item. You will have to add “filler” items. The in ad coupons often have good, inexpensive filler items. (see the weekly match ups for some cheap filler items from this week’s ad)

*If you are buying items that would result in a “free” item or “overage” when combining a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon, give the manufacturer’s coupon FIRST, and the store coupons LAST to avoid beeping/issues at the register!

*****NOTE: I have had poor experiences at Walgreens myself in this situation and I have had other readers write to me about their poor experiences in trying to use coupons for items that would be “free.” I have found that Walgreens cashiers tend to be misled when it comes to coupon policies and will often tell you that you cannot use a $1 coupon on a $.99 item because it “beeps.” I actually had a cashier write to me last week accusing me of advocating coupon fraud. Stores are reimbursed for the FACE VALUE of the coupon (and typically .08 or so extra), so they make money when we use these coupons. Many cashiers do not realize or understand this. If you encounter a situation where you are receiving poor customer service or cashiers are making accusations, my advice is to get the name of the manager/district manager, walk out of the store, and contact the manager/district manager to help educate them about proper coupon usage (and customer service, too)

*If your Register Reward doesn’t print for some reason and you have fulfilled all of the obligations for the “deal” DO NOT let them tell you it is because you used coupons! Chances are they didn’t print because the catalina machine is not working. You have two choices: you can return your items and try again or you can contact the catalina company by doing the following:
*The store will give you a form to fill out and mail in to catalina
*Call 1-888-8coupon, option 3
*Use the online form to contact them: Contact Catalina Marketing (when I have tried contacting them this way, my results have not been very good….your best bet is to call)

CVS scenarios for the week of 5/17

If you are just learning how to shop at CVS, start here for some helpful tips.

The coupon match-ups for the weekly deals are here.

The following are scenarios for people who are “new” to shopping at CVS or who have very few ECBs to start with: (these are just ideas….you do not have to follow this exact order and you can skip some items if you do not need them or don’t have the coupons that match up with them)

$8.99 in merchandise for $1.99 OOP
Transaction #1:
Buy 2 Dry Idea deodorant – 2/$5

Use 2 $2 Dry Idea printables

Spend $1, earn $2 ECB

Transaction #2:
Buy 1 Colgate Sensitive or Colgate Visible White – $3.99

Use $1 printable
Use $2 Dry Idea ECB

Spend $.99, earn $2 ECB

My transaction for the week: $20.98 in merchandise for $0 OOP
Buy 2 Dry Idea deodorant – 2/$5
Buy 1 Colgate Sensitive – $3.99
Buy 8 Chef Boyardee – 4/$5 ($10 total)
Buy 1 Dial soap – $1.99

Use 2 $2 Dry Idea printables
Use 1 $1 Colgate printable
Use 2 $1/4 Chef Boyardee coupons
Use .35 Dial coupon

Total before coupons = $20.98
Total after coupons = $13.63

Spend $13.63 (pay w/ $14 in ECB adjusted down), earn $10 in ECB

Walgreens scenarios for the week of 5/10


You can access coupon match-ups for this week’s scenarios here. If you are new to shopping at Walgreens, be sure to read the tips at the end of the match ups post.

Here are some suggestions for the deals this week: (you can skip or “roll” as it works for you – just remember, you can’t roll the same RR into another RR deal and you can’t roll the Bayer deals into each other)

$40.24 in merchandise for $3.26 OOP, $2.49 RR left to spend
Transaction #1:
Buy 1 Bayer Breeze 2 blood glucose meter – $14.99
Buy 1 Reach toothbrush – .99 (w/ in ad coupon)

Use $30 coupon
Use $1 Reach coupon

Spend $0, get a $5 RR

Transaction #2:
Buy Roots of Nature Hair Care – $6
Buy Tuf paper towels – $.59 w/ in ad coupon (this is a filler item)

Use $1 Roots coupon
Use $5 Bayer RR

Spend $.59 OOP, get a $6 RR

Transaction #3:
Buy 3 Kellogg’s cereals – 3/$10
Buy 1 Swanson Chicken broth – $.69 w/ in ad coupon (this is a filler item)

Use 3 $1 Kellogg’s printables
Use $6 Roots RR

Spend $1.69, get a $3 RR

Transaction #4:
Buy Colgate Dental Care – $2.99
Buy 3 Armour vienna sausages – 2/$1 w/ in ad coupon

Use $1 Colgate coupon
Use $3 Kellogg’s RR

Spend .49, get $2 RR

Transaction #5:
Buy Bayer Quick Release Crystals – $2.49

Use $2 Colgate RR

Spend $.49 OOP, get $2.49 RR

Some helpful tips:
*At Walgreens, you cannot do a promotion more than once in a transaction and earn Register Rewards. So, if you buy more than 1 Breeze meter in one transaction this week, you will only earn one $5 RR.

*You also cannot use the Register Rewards earned from a promotion on the same promotion and earn Register Rewards again. For example, if you buy a Colgate toothbrush, get a $2 RR and use it to buy another Colgate toothbrush, another RR will not print.

*Register Rewards are considered to be “manufacturer’s coupons” and you can only use one manufacturer’s coupon per item. You will have to add “filler” items. The in ad coupons often have good, inexpensive filler items. (see the weekly match ups for some cheap filler items from this week’s ad)

*If you are buying items that would result in a “free” item or “overage” when combining a store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon, give the manufacturer’s coupon FIRST, and the store coupons LAST to avoid beeping/issues at the register!

*If your Register Reward doesn’t print for some reason and you have fulfilled all of the obligations for the “deal” DO NOT let them tell you it is because you used coupons! Chances are they didn’t print because the catalina machine is not working. You have two choices: you can return your items and try again or you can contact the catalina company by doing the following:
*The store will give you a form to fill out and mail in to catalina
*Call 1-888-8coupon, option 3
*Use the online form to contact them: Contact Catalina Marketing (when I have tried contacting them this way, my results have not been very good….your best bet is to call)

CVS Scenarios for the week of 5/10


If you are just learning how to shop at CVS, start here for some helpful tips.

The coupon match-ups for the weekly deals are here.

The following are scenarios for people who are “new” to shopping at CVS or who have very few ECBs to start with: (these are just ideas….you do not have to follow this exact order and you can skip some items if you do not need them or don’t have the coupons that match up with them)

Get $66.94 in merchandise for $1.97 OOP, $4 ECB left to spend
Transaction #1:
Buy 2 Bayer Contour Blood Glucose meters

Use 2 $30 coupons

Spend $0 OOP, get a $10 ECB

Transaction #2:
Buy 2 Crest Pro-Health rinse – $3.49
Buy Schick Quattro – $8.99
Buy Bayer Quick Release crystals – $2

Use 2 $1 Crest coupons
Use $4 Schick coupon
Use $10 Bayer ECB

Spend $1.97 OOP (less if you can find the $1 Bayer tear pad), get $10 in ECB ($4 for the Crest, $4 for the Schick, $2 for the Bayer)

Transaction #3:
Buy 1 Schick Quattro Pro – $8.99
Buy 5 boxes of Kelloggs cereal

Use $4 Schick coupon
use 5 $1 Kelloggs coupons
Use $10 in ECB from previous transaction (they will have to adjust it down to $9.99)

Spend $0 OOP, get $4 ECB back

My scenarios for the week: $75.89 in merchandise for $0 OOP, $26 ECB left to spend!
Buy 2 Bayer Contour blood glucose meters – $14.99/each
Buy 2 Crest Pro Health rinse – $3.49/each
Buy Schick Quattro razor – $8.99/each
Buy 6 Colgate toothbrushes ($1.99/each)
Buy 2 Hellman’s – $3
Buy 3 Skippy – $5 (for 3)
Buy 5 boxes of Kelloggs cereal

Use 2 Bayer coupons
use 2 $1 Crest rinse coupons
Use $4 Schick coupon
Use 6 $1 Colgate coupons
Use 2 $1 Hellman’s coupons
Use 3 $.40 Skippy coupons
Use 5 $1 Kelloggs printables

Total before coupons = $75.89

Total after coupons = $25.71, pay w/ ECBs (ECBs may need to be adjusted up or down to accommodate)

Spend $0, earn $26 ECB