On this trip I paid $0.00 out of pocket for $22.32 worth of items. My goal for 2011 is to not spend any money out of pocket, while using coupons and ECBs to get tons of items at CVS, with an initial gift card of $50.

I realized after getting to the register that I could have used more coupons when the cashier told me that they accept expired coupons. I had more coupons for the Nivea items but they had expired 5 days prior so I began to crumple them up and throw them away…but one remained in my reusable bag and fell out when I was being checked out. The cashier grabbed it and said they do take expired coupons as long as the machine accepts them. I will file that away for next time!!!

Transaction 1

Item: Dial soap

Price: $1.88

CVS Extra Care Bucks earned: $1.00

Coupons used: $1.00 MFR

Item: Nivea body wash…got two of them

Price: $4.88

CVS Extra Care Bucks earned: $5.00 for spending $15 on Nivea

Item: Nivea lotion

Price: $7.49

Coupons used: $10.54ECB + $2 MFR

Item: Nivea lip balm

Price: $3.19

Coupons used: $1.00 MFR

Total paid today: $8.42 , on gift card.

Total CVS Extra Care Bucks earned today: $7.00 (earned $1 ECB for my reusable bag)

Total out of pocket to date: $7.31

Total item cost to date: $126.13

Gift Card balance : $40.58

Total CVS Extra Care Bucks earned to date: $51.53

CVS Extra Care Bucks Used to date: $44.53

CVS Extra Care Bucks Balance: $7.00

Abbreviations used

MFR = manufacturer coupon

ECB = extra care bucks

Join me next time as I look for more ways to save money as I visit CVS.