CVS – 8/27

Before I start working, let me post about my CVS run last night. I have less than 24 hours to get my Free 12 ECB so armed with a GPS I went to another CVS Store.

This store was bigger that my nearby CVS and their coupon machine is working. The machine spitted out my 12 ECB, $2 off Renu Contact Lens Solution and another coupon which is going to the trash bin. I was excited about the 2nd coupon (oh yeah my life is so babaw) because I’m almost out of contact lens solution. These eyes of mine is expensive! First off I’m almost blind as a bat if I don’t wear contacts, I hate wearing glasses and beats me how my grade progressed from 150 to 400 in 3 years! Buying a box of contact lens for $26 every 2 months is not fun at all from a thrifty gal like me.

Ok, back to my CVS run. I really, really wanted to do this deal because I found out that I am so hiyang with the shampoo after trying out the sample that they sent to me. At last I’ve finally found THE shampoo/conditioner for me. When I was in Pinas, I was hiyang with Lux but sadly that product is no longer avaible. I’ve tried Herbal Essense, L’oreal, Vibe, Pantene and Suave here but it all made my hair blah. I still have stocks of those at home, but I’m going to ship it off as pasalubong. I’m never going to buy another brand of shampoo again period.

Here is my loot:

- 1 Aveeno Shampoo $6 each
- 3 Aveeno COnditioner (returning back the 3rd and exchanging it for shampoo this sat)
- 1 Aveeno Moisturing Lotion $3.49 (Used 5 $2 Q for all Aveeno items)
- 2 Reese Peanut Butter Cup 2 for $1 (Used 2 $0.55 Q)
- 1 Carefree Pantyshield $3.49 (Used $1 Q)
- 1 Mini stapler $1

Total before coupon (an estimate): $36.47
Total after mfr coupons, 5 off 25 Q and $12 ECB = $5.08 and I got $13.49 ECB back.

They were out of some deals that I wanted to make but nonetheless, I don’t need those anyway. I just really wanted the Accucheck Sugar thingy because my Lola is diabetic but I’m sure they’ll get them on stock later (forgot to take a raincheck).

Funny thing was the $5 off 25 didn’t scanned at first saying I already used the coupon (which I really did), I was just testing the waters if it would scan and I told the guy cashier, “I have another one of that, can you check if it works?”, he scanned and it went through woohoo! I was sneaky all right, I brought 2 each printed from different PCs, my plan all along was to show the other printout if the other didn’t work. Heh!

Nifty Deals at ShopRite and RiteAid

As promised, I will post my nifty deals today. First off I went to RiteAid (a CVS competitor) an hour before closing at that

I got 3 30-count Zyrtec Allergy meds. Initially, I thought they were out of them but I found out they were placed elsewhere without the sale price tag (clever clever store associates). I don’t like going to RiteAid because they are rebate-based which means you spend more on the day you shop and wait at least 30 days to get your rebate. But since this is really a good deal, I went on and did it. I come from a family with severe Allergic Rhinitis and this medicine is a staple on our home in Cebu, too bad I’m immune to them because I’ve been taking the darn medicines since I was still a virgin highschooler! It would be crazy for me not to do this deal, my Mom bought two bottles of these when she was here to bring to Cebu because they were a lot cheaper.

Total before coupons: 56.97
Used 3 $4 Zyrtec Mfr coupons, 1 $5 Zyrtec RiteAid coupon and 1 5 off 25 Rite Aid coupon
Total after coupons: 34.97 and I will get $25 rebate which brings the total to 9.97.

Now if RiteAid will accept my receipt for Zyrtec rewards (I read that you need to spend $50 worth of Zyrtec tabs AFTER coupons), I will get another $10 making them totally free. But still 9.97 for 3 bottles is a nifty deal.

Then I went to Shoprite (grocery shop) and bought the items below

– 2 loaves of Wheat Bread on sale for 1.50
- 2 velvetta mac & cheese (used B1G1 Q)
- 2 beechnut cereal (used 1 off 2 Q)
- 1 Caffeine Free Classic Coke (because Yiek keeps on pestering me if I bought them)

Total before Coupons: 11.74
Total after coupons: 4.45 (used 5 Catalina that I earned from previous grocery trip) plus I got $1 Coupon/catalina to spend on my next shopping trip. I could not wait for a good deal on the cereal and coke so I got those,  I could have saved more if they were on sale.

I then went to CVS, but they were out of Carefree pantyshield and Glade sense & spray, so I walked home empty handed. I might go tomorrow lunch at a store near my office.

Mojo back – Deal plans at CVS 8/26

Sometimes it pays to complain I was pretty peeved last Sunday when I went to get some deals at CVS, only to screw all my plans because the ECB (Extra Bucks) did not print as I expected. I had to pay 12.62 OOP definitely not what I want since I was expecting to pay only $2! I did not want to complain to the manager on duty because it’s such a hassle and it would definitely hold up the line. I don’t want to screw other people’s day, just not my cup of tea so I chuck it up and resolve to call customer service. Today, I called and I will get back 12 ECBs in return woohooo! which means the things I bought last Sunday was just 0.62 cents.

I got 1 Olay Cleanser, 1 Olay pore scrub and 1 Infant’s Motrin (baby got sick last Sunday and I was out of medicine). Today, I’m going to do a deal again at CVS. This is a challenge since I don’t have existing ECBs. The one I complained about will be available this Friday and I can’t wait since I’m out of bread, I might as well do some deals while running some errands.

Okay here is my plan:

Transaction 1:

1 Glucose/Sugar Monitor Kit $10.00 (use $10 Q) – FREE
2 Glade Air Sense 2 for $10 (Use 2 $4 Q) – $2.00
1 Carefree Pantyshield 3.49 (Use $1 Q) – 2.49
4 Reese Peanut Butter Cups 2 for $1 (use 2 0.55 Q, 1 BOGO Q) – 0.50

Total before Q = 25.49 + tax
Total after Q = 4.99 Use 5 off 25 coupon (If they will allow me to use again) FREE or pay pennies for tax!

Plus get back 3 ECB (Glade) and 3.49 ECB (from Carefree)

Transaction 2:

2 Aveeno Shampoo $6 each
1 Aveeno Conditioner $6
1 skin Revitalizer $7 each (If I can find it otherwise mix and match other aveeno products to bring the total to 25)

Total before Q = 25
- Use 5 $2 off Q, 4/20 CVS Q and 6.49 from above deal
Total After Q = 4.51 + tax plus get back 10 ECB in return. Not bad eh?

I’m also going to try doing some deals at RiteAid, my 3rd try. I hope the 3rd is the charm the other two was a complete waste of time.

Be posting my deals tonight or tom morning.

Burned out

I’ve been remiss with updates, I’ve lost my mojo so it seems. Truth be told, I got burned out of going after a deal only to be dissapointed when they are out of stock or the price was different than what was published. It does take a lot of time to list and do these deals, something I’m sorely lacking. So, I’ve taken things slowly and psyched myself that I don’t have to do the deals just for the heck of it. Also, I am repeating this mantra to myself “Just because I can get it for pennies does not mean I have to take it”. It’s hard to resist free items afterall and harder to store them. Right now, I have two boxes of Blue Bunnies ice cream cone that I got for 0.25/box and I am having a hard time trying to resist not eating them grrr! Must think of the calories, must think of the calories. Yiek, also laugh at me when I brought home a bulb saying “what are you going to do with that?” what else for stockpiling. Truth is I wasn’t sure if it would fit on our bulbs because it’s free I got it..see the danger of the “because its free” statement, pretty soon we will be filled with junk mwehehe.

Anyway, I’ve saved 8-10% of my groceries, not really much buy hey I’ll take it. I’m also proud to have purchased a washing maching for $150 at the recycling shop, why did I wait 7 months to buy the darn thing, why? why? Now, I enjoy the convenience of doing the laundry anytime I want, a far cry from dragging myself at the Laundromat.

I’ve also been in draught with my CVS shopping, something I am correcting this week since there are so many beauty deals that I’m crazy not to take! My only peeve with CVS is that they won’t take my ECBs (free money) to pay for Caleb’s prescription. Tomorrow, I promise to do some deals at RiteAid and CVS and share them to you even though you are bored to tears with my deals.

Vacation Galore

How do you fit numerous activities for 3 weeks?

Already, I have a lot of activites lined up for our vacation this December.

First of, the baptism of Ria’s baby is scheduled to be on Dec 20 and we are scheduled to arrive Dec . 19. Errr! So, the next day I (no husband and toddler just me) will fly-fly to Davao to attend the baptism and go back to Cebu that night or the next day because it will be our 5th Wedding anniversary on the 21st (I’m planning to have a nice dinner at Marco Polo).

The 24th and 25th is of course Christmas and we are shuffling between two families, mine and Yiek. A bridal shower probably on the 26th, a bongacious wedding on the 28th and Caleb’s kiddie party on the 29th or 30th.

Already, my Tita is demanding we go to Negros to visit my two grandmas, Georgia is scheduling a trip to Bohol and there is still the New Year event. Throw-in massages, a much needed haircut, a LASIK procedure, shopping trips, eat outs and movie dates (because finally we have a babysitter lots of them).

O wow what a busy busy vacation ahead. I haven’t booked the tickets yet, blame that on the travel agency they still don’t have Dec available.