CVS: Deals for the week of August 24-30, 2008

Here are the best deals at CVS this week, with thanks to Erin at Coupon Cravings for her help in compiling them. Erin has a helpful post with free birthday treats and some great try-me-free offers you won't want to miss!

******ECB DEALS******

Buy 1 Kotex Lightdays (16 ct) at $1.49, Get $1.49 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $1/1 printable coupon
Free plus overage after coupons and ECBs!

Buy 2 Stayfree Pads at 2 for $9, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use B1G1 coupon from 6/29 SmartSource insert (expires 8/31)
Free plus overage after coupons and ECBs!

*DEAL*
Buy 1 Kotex Lightdays at $1.49
Buy 2 Stayfree Pads for $9
Use $2/10 CVS coupon, if you have one
Use $1/1 Lightdays coupon
Use B1G1 Stayfree coupon
Spend $2.99 out of pocket
Get $6.49 ECBs back!

Buy 1 Zipfizz Energy Drink for $5.99, Get $5.99 ECBs (Limit 2)

Buy $15 Worth of Garnier Products, Get $5 ECBs

*DEAL*
Buy 3 boxes of Garnier 100% hair color (on sale for $5/box)
Use $2/10 CVS coupon, if you have one
Use 3 $3/1 coupons from 05/04 RedPlum
Spend $4 plus tax out of pocket
Get $5 ECBs back! (Thanks, Thrifty Mama!)

Buy 1 Playtex Gentle Glide or Sport Tampons at $4.99, Get $3 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $1/1 coupon from 6/22 SmartSource insert or $1/1 Playtex Sport printable coupon
$0.99 after coupon and ECBs

Buy 2 O.B. Tampons at 2 for $9, Get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use 2 $1.50/1 coupons from 6/29 SmartSource insert
$1 after coupons and ECBs!
*Note: The Stayfree & O.B. scenarios are part of the same overall ECB deal, so you can do one or the other but not both.

******NON-ECB DEALS******

Ajax Dish Liquid – on sale B1G1 (2 for $1.79)
Use 2 $.20/1 coupons from 8/24 SmartSource insert. Less than $0.70 each after coupon and sale!

Colgate Total - on sale B1G1
These should be free or almost free if you buy 2 and use 2 $1.50/1 coupons here or from the August All You magazine.

Kellogg’s Cereals - on sale B1G1 
Use $1/1 Smart Start or Frosted Mini Wheats printable coupons. A great time to take advantage of the “Try Me Free” offer for a free box here.

See all deals for this week along with coupon match-ups here.

******AUGUST ECB DEALS******

Buy 1 Children's Advil Infant Drops .5 oz or liquid 4 oz (age 2-11) at $5.79, Get $5.79 ECBs (Listed as Limit 1, but is actually Limit 2) 
Use $1/1 printable 
Free plus overage after coupon and ECBs

See all deals for this month along with coupon match-ups here. 

******ESPECIALLY FOR BEGINNERS******

New to CVS-ing? Don't try to make heads or tails of this post because it probably won't make a lot of sense to you. Instead, go here where I explain the CVS program in full detail. Want to join in the fun and incredible savings? Then go here where I share more about how to make it work for you. 

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Share Your Scenarios! 

Have your shopping trip planned or did you come up with a great deal scenario/idea? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. Please include full details on coupons you are using, etc. so that those who are just beginning to get the hang of CVS can especially benefit from seeing things broken down for them like this. If you don't have a blog, feel free to share your scenarios in the comment section.

Note: So as not to confuse the newbies, please only post deal scenarios/deals which are applicable at CVS this week. In order to faciliate efficiency for those navigating the links, your link must link directly to your blog post on this week's CVS deals. Any links which do not link directly to your blog post on this week's CVS deals but link to your blog's homepage or elsewhere on your blog will be deleted. Thanks so much for your help in this!

Comments

[Jaycie]

Unfortunately, I don't have any family members/co-workers/friends with extra coupon inserts so I will buy an extra paper when the coupons are good. I figured out a decent scenario to get them without paying out of pocket,so to speak. It's up on my blog if you are interested. The scenario will work for the next two Sundays.

[Carrie]

I like to get some extra papers at CVS even though I DO have family saving their papers for me.

[Jessica]

I needed to add to my paper towel stockpile, so I worked out a good scenario for the Viva paper towels!!

[Jenny M]

Man, is it PMS week or what??? Haha! Thank God I'm a woman! : )

[Crystal (The Thrifty Mama)]

Thanks for putting this up! I've got a great scenario for newbies to get started, as well as great info and scenarios for veteran CVSers. I do this every week and try to make it easy to follow. (It's up by every Saturday, sometimes earlier) BTW, I love that Mr. Linky! :)

[Erin]

Just wondering where I should be looking to get these 2/10 coupons that are suggested to use all the time?

[Sandra Rowell]

Thanks for providing money-saving information. I have found your site very useful!

[Alana Jo]

Im buying my first Sunday paper today. Hope there is alot of good Qs.

[Jen @ JenuineJen]

Just want you to know that I really appreicate your blog and this column in particular. Thanks for taking the time to do this each week. Thank also for all the people who participate and list their deals.

BTW, are you on twitter? If so, I would like to follow you. I am jenuinejen on twitter. Thanks!

[Shynea]

The OB 40 count tampons are in the August ECB book. If you buy two of those, then you get $5 ECBs with a limit of 5. CVS just so happened to put those same 40 count OB tampons on sale this week. I spoke with someone from customer care at CVS, because I tried to go ahead and get them while they were on sale, and the computer didn't print out my ECBs. The lady at customer care said that it was their mistake, and she then corrected it.

You can read all about it at my blog just in case I am not explaining it correctly: http://pennypinchingdiva.blogspot.com/2008/08/little-problem-with-cvs.html

Thank you.

[Erika]

I love my CVS in Forney, TX! They are so nice! I had a great trip.
3 Centrum Kids Vitamin for $7 ea= $21
1 Advil Childrens =$5.79
1 Playtex Sport =$4.99
1 JJ Buddies Easy Grip Soap =$1.19
Used 3/$3 coupons for Vitamins = -$9.00
$5/$25 = -$5.00
Playtex $1/1 = -$1.00
JJ Buddies $1/1 = -$1.00
Advil $1/1 = -$1.00
ECB's used = -$8.00
OOP $7.97
ECB's gained $13.79
They were out of the pantyliners so that threw me off. But I still walked away with more ECB's than I came in with!

[Maryjane]

I've been reading for a few months, but this is my first comment. I really appreciate your site and like so many others, have learned SO much! I recently moved back to the US after being abroad for several years and I think I'm ready to jump into CVSing. I have a question, though. If something is on BOGO, and I have two manufacturers coupons for that item, can I use *both* of them? Specifically, I noticed that CVS is having Revlon makeup BOGO and I have two coupons from inserts -- one for $1/1 and one for $2/1. Would I be able to "stack" these? Or since I'm only paying for one item, I can only use one manufacturers Q? Thank you in advance for your answer -- and for all you do!

[Alana Jo]

Awesome day today!!
Overall Today
Spent $2.34
Saved $53.45
Still have $5.99 ECB Available

[Katie]

Thanks again for your site! I can't wait to find more deals! It is like a game every Sunday morning!

[Riannon]

OOPS. I left my link on CVS instead of Walgreens. Sorry!

[kisha]

This is my first one, I think I did pretty good for a first try CVSing, lol.

[Rachel]

Anyone else having trouble printing the Kotex coupon from the above link after already downloading the coupon printer? Help!

[Rachel]

Anyone else having trouble printing the Kotex coupon from the above link after already downloading the coupon printer? Help!

[Ann]

As a newbie, I thought I did good this week. =)

[Nancy]

My post from Saturday was deleted by mistake. My CVS is one of those that is doing sales starting on Friday. So my sale started Friday, 8/22, and ends on Thursday, 8/28. Therefore my deals from Saturday are valid for THIS week.

Thanks.

[JBLeach]

This was a great week for me:
Total OOP: $16.54
Total Saved: $264.48
ECBs for Next Time: $42.47
Well worth the 20 minute drive, gotta love CVS!

[Liz]

At my CVS the Playtex Sport rang up at $5.99, no ECB generated..it was only the regular Playtex that was part of the deal.

[Lydia]

If I am not mistaken the O.B. coupon is in the RED PLUM insert not the SmartSource. At least that is where I found mine after looking for a long time!

[Anna]

CVS gave me some problems this week. The first one I went to had a sign that said CVS was no longer accepting online coupons (coupons printed from the Internet). The 2 other stores I went to did not have such a policy posted. Though one store didn't let me use 2 $1/1 coupons when I bought 2 Stayfree products. The manager said it says one per purchase (I said that I was purchasing 2 but that didn't seem to matter). Then at another CVS the cashier told me I couldn't use the $2 CVS brand skincare coupon on the hand soap - that that wasn't skincare (I told her that I was able to do this before but she didn't care). Both cashiers were unpleasant; one nearly made it seem like I photocopied the $2/10 coupon. Needless to say, CVS was very frustrating this week.

[Anna]

Addition to my above post: Does anyone know how CVS handles returns? If I used coupons and Extra Care Bucks to bring my total to under $1 will they let me return an item whose purchase price was more than that?

[Jenn]

HI, I was looking thu the posts this morning and I came across one that the mom had made gotten a 500.00 gift card and she was very detailed on how it was done and listed several sites to check out. I can not find it again can any one help me???? Thanks a bunch

[Lindsay]

This is my 3rd week CVSing. I'm just starting to get the hang of it. Although I spent $72 there today, I saved $34, stocked up on a lot of normally pricey items like contact solution and diapers, did not pay full price for anything but a body sponge, and earned $6 in ECB. Plus I discovered my EC rewards are already at $21...yeah!

[Tony's Mom]

Anna, you can return even if you pay with ECB and coupons. You will get credit for the purchase price on a gift card.

This is a great week for CVS. My favorite icecream is on sale as well. There are peelies on the fridge door to make them even better deals. :-)

[Jennifer]

I have returned things twice, and the first time they put the total amount back on my credit card (they way I paid, less than $1) and the second time they gave me a cash card which I am still using! I think it depends on who you get.

[Kimberly]

I'm somewhat new at this - I've been at it one month. But I love puzzles so I do the deals, especially at CVS, accordingly. I don't get a ton products, just what we as a family may need, but I thought my scenarios might help others.

CVS - I made several transactions to get the full use of my coupons - and specifically did them in this order:

1. 4 12-packs of pepsi soda - 4/$12
5 sobe life waters - 5/$5
-5 coupons for free Sobe with a 12-pack pepsi purchase
-$2 off $10 CVS coupon
-two $5 ECB's from last week
Total OOP - Nothing
Received $5 ECB's

2. 1 Garnier hair color for $5
2 Garnier conditioner with free
shampoo and conditioner travel pack (2.5 oz. each)
1 Garnier leave-in conditioner (Garnier was 3/$10)
- 4 $1.00 Garnier coupons
-$2 off $10 CVS coupon
-$5 from previous transaction's ECB's
Total OOP $4.65
Received $5 in ECB's

3. 2 ZipFizz energy drink mix at $5.99 each
-$2 CVS coupon
-$5 ECB from previous transaction
Total OOP - $4.98
Received $11.98 in ECB's

4. 2 OB 36 count tampons for $9
1 advil child for $5.79
2 colgate toothpaste B1G1 - $3.49
2 Colgate toothbrush B1G1 - $3.29
-$1 CVS toothbrush coupon
-$1 colgate toothpaste coupon
-$1 colgate toothpaste coupon
-$2 when spend $10 CVS coupon
-$1.50 OB coupon
-$1.50 OB coupon
-$11.98 ECB's from previous transaction
Total OOP Nothing
Received $10.79 in ECB's

5. 1 CVS tampon for $4.99
1 playtex tampon for $4.99
-$1 playtex coupon
-$2 when spend $10 CVS coupon
-$5.79 in ECB's
Total OOP $1.37
Receive $5 ECB's

So I spent a total OOP of $11 and I still have $10 in ECB's.

[Dina]

After buying 2 Stayfree I looked at my receipt and it show that for Feminine Care Buy 2 Get $5 EB I still have 2 more to buy. I wonder if Limit 2 instead of 1???? did anyone try to purchase it 2nd time?

[Trevor]

I tried using the Frosted Mini Wheats coupon at CVS, but it printed without a barcode for some reason. The cashier told me it wasn't a real coupon, as if to imply that I was trying to pull something.

[Karen W]

Everyone is so helpful!!! Love this site!

[Megan]

If you use a coupon for a product, does the register count the before-coupon price towards what you need to earn the ECBs, or the final price? For example, this week if you buy $15 of Nivea, you get $5 ECB. I have several Nivea coupons. If I use them, will that just bring my total down so that it doesn't equal $15, or will it consider the before-coupon price what I need to get the ECBs? In other words, can I use my coupons but still get the ECBs? (I hope that makes sense!)

[Megan]

If you use a coupon for a product, does the register count the before-coupon price towards what you need to earn the ECBs, or the final price? For example, this week if you buy $15 of Nivea, you get $5 ECB. I have several Nivea coupons. If I use them, will that just bring my total down so that it doesn't equal $15, or will it consider the before-coupon price what I need to get the ECBs? In other words, can I use my coupons but still get the ECBs? (I hope that makes sense!)

[Rae]

Liz, there are two different Playtex Sport tampons on sale. Maybe you took up the wrong ones. The 36count w/ intuition razor are on sale for $5.99. The Playtex Sport 16ct (or 18ct Playtex gentle glide) are the ones on sale for $4.99 plus $3 ECB.

[Alana Jo]

I accidently entered the info in #84 on the wrong topic. It was suppose to go on the deals one. Sorry about that.

[Jamie]

Crystal - The Stay Free BOGO is in the RedPlum 6/29 not the smartsource. Just wanted to let you and anyone wondering know!

[Bethany]

This afternoon I did my first CVS run ever! I'm sure I could've done it better (if anyone has any suggestions, please share them!), but I am quite happy with how it worked out, especially for my first time. I was thrown for a loop, too, 'cause none of the CVSes I went to had all of the items I had originally intended to buy. So there's my first lesson: don't shop on the last day of the sale week. LOL.

Here's what I did:
TRANSACTION 1
Advil Children’s $5.79
- $1 MQ
=$4.79 OOP, $5.79 ECB, $1 profit

TRANSACTION 2
Milk $3.69 (we needed it)
Bag of candy $ .99 (since I was getting the milk, I needed a filler to get me over $10 to use the $2/10 Q)
2 Revlon nail polish (BOGO) $3.99
CVS toothbrush $1.99
Kotex Pantiliners $1.49
-$1 Revlon Q
-$1 Kotex Q
-$1.99 toothbrush Q
-$2/10 CVS Q
=$6.16
- $5.79 ECB (from T1)
=$.37 OOP, $1.49 ECB, $1.12 profit

Obviously if I hadn't gotten the milk and candy my earnings would've been higher, but then I would've had to get something else to not waste the rest of my $5.79 ECB.

Not counting my $1.49 remaining ECB, which I will apply to my next transaction, I spent $5.16 OOP. Basically I paid for the milk, which I would've bought anyway, and the candy (which I also probably would've bought anyway, LOL), and got the pantiliners, toothbrush, Advil, and nail polish for free.

I see how people get so addicted to CVSing!

Thanks so much for your tutorial and tips and putting together your scenarios. Your tutorial was the first one that actually made sense to me.