CVS trips–worth the effort

Monday and Tuesday I spent about an hour each day sorting thru the CVS ad, sorting thru my coupons and working out what I would buy. It was well worth the effort. I have 2 cards–one in my name and one in my husband’s name, but here is my week’s tally–I think I’m done for the week though I am tempted to go back for more batteries. Check your ad for the Free after ECB items and see what coupons you have–great deals to be had.

6 bottles of Gatorade-free after ECB
2 Schick Quattro razors, raincheck for 2-monemaker after ECB and Qs
4 tubes of Colgate-moneymaker after ECB and Qs
4 bottles of Aussie hair stuff-moneymaker after ECB & Qs
2 Bic Soleil razors, raincheck for 2-moneymaker after ECB, Qs
4 Maybelline Minerals powder foundations-moneymaker after ECB, Qs
2 bottles of Purell-good price after coupons & ECBs
2 giant Hershey bars-free after ECB
2 bottles of Sally Hansen nail polish-moneymaker after ECB, Qs
4 L’oreal lip glosses-moneymaker after ECBs, Qs
2 Cover Girl pressed powders-moneymaker after ECBs, Qs
2 Garnier cleansers-moneymaker after ECBs, Qs
2 bottles of Johnson’s lotion-moneymaker after ECBs, Qs
4 boxes of Playtex tampons-free after ECBs, Qs
8 packs of Duracell batteries-free after coupons
1 rice cooker/steamer-good price
1 electric hair trimmer-good price
2 bottles of Eucerin face lotion-clearance + coupon
1 Philly Inquirer-no discount
1 Hallmark ornament-no discount

All that………and…
Card 1-started this week with $45 in ECBs, currently have $42 in ECBs.
Card 2-started this week with $25 in ECBs, currently have $29 in ECBs.

I think I spent less than $3 out of pocket, I only ever had to pay tax which was usually around $0.40 a transaction.

Don’t forget to scan your card at the in-store scanners–I got two $10 off $50s.

This week was a real pickmeup as far as a bargain high, that’s for sure.

My Thanksgiving day adventures

I really was not prepared for the competitive shopping. When I got to Kmart (Pike Creek) the line was wrapped around the building! On Thanksgiving day!

But everyone was well behaved except for one older couple. Kmart had all of their board games on sale for bogo. I wanted two preschool-aged games for my nephew. This couple took all of them. All.Of.Them. FIVE carts full. I have no idea what they were doing with them, I can’t believe they have that many grandchildren. But it wasn’t like I had my heart set on the board games, so I found a very cool Play Doh activity center at a good price. I also was able to get 4 of the Leap Fridge things I wanted for my nephew, niece and for Kevin.

I stopped at CVS on the way home and the only people in there were 2 other couponers and me. You could tell because we all had the ECB items in our carts. Everything printed the ECBs correctly for me. This morning I’m going to wade through my receipts and go back for whatever I missed yesterday. They were out of a few things (Newark Rd location) so I’ll just get rainchecks. I’m also off to Big Lots this morning and I have a coupon for Peebles so I figure I’ll stop in since it’s right across the street.

Kohl’s is having really good sales, I’m tempted to go. But I don’t want to fight the traffic on either Kirkwood Hwy or Concord Pike, seeing as there really isn’t anything I need.

I’m shopping tomorrow!

Ugh, I can’t believe it. I’m actually going to go out to a few stores tomorrow. After years of seeing stores advertised being open, then saying “who would go shopping on Thanksgiving day?” Apparently I am now one of those people.

I had a paper today at work and saw tomorrow’s Kmart ad. They have these Leap toys that we really wanted to get and they are bogo tomorrow only. Then I saw the Big Lots ad and they have the TMX Cookie and Ernie for $5 each………so while I’m out…….you know. And I figure while I’m at it, stop at CVS and do their Black Friday deals–lots of moneymakers on ECBs to be had. Deal talk found here.

Anyway, I’m not cooking tomorrow. We’re going to a relatives house and I’ve already taken care of what I’m bringing, and we don’t have to be there until 2. Stores open at 7 am, so I have plenty of time……….see, now I’m justifying my nutty behavior. But hopefully I will avoid most of the crowds and will be staying home on Friday. Here is a Peebles coupon for the weekend if you are going there. Their ad actually looks pretty good for the weekend, it’s just not anything I need.

Santa at Pyle’s

I haven’t seen it advertised yet, but every year Pyle’s hosts Santa the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I’ll keep looking out for it on their marquee. Why I like it–the Santa and backdrop for photos is decent, no mall traffic, no mall crowds………and the best part, the bargain. They let you bring your own camera and snap photos of your kid(s) with Santa! No mall stand is going to let you do that. So then you can just order prints from CVS or Walgreen’s or wherever, pay a much lower fee and get better photos.

They also host other characters like Elmo, Spongebob and others. Again, watch for ads in the little local papers like AG Sun/CC Press or on their marquee.