Hello Everyone!  I had a quick trip into CVS this morning.  It didn’t take me more than 10 minutes to grab my goodies, pay a whopping 1 dollar and 94 cents, and head back home to my sleepy eyed husband.

I think I did pretty good ~ If you go to the store right now to buy a tooth brush, you are probably going to pay 2 bucks…   I get all giddy when I think that it is like I bought a tooth brush and got everything else for free!

Here is the breakdown
2 snickers bars  @ .50 = $1.00 ~ used $1.oo off 2 coupon ~ both for free
1 speedstick deodorant @ $2.50 ~ used $1.oo CVS coupon stacked with $1.50 coupon ~ free
1 bic razor @ 6.99 ~ used 1 $3.00 off coupon ~ received $3.00 ECBs ~ only .99 cents
1 makeup @ $9.99 ~ used $1.00 off coupon ~ received $9.99 ECBs ~ free plus 1.00 overage
2 toothbrushes @ 2.99 = $5.98 ~ in store bygo ~ used $3.00 off coupon when you buy toothbrush and toothpaste
1 toothpaste with free toothbrush @ $2.49  ~ combined with coupon above ~ paid $2.49 for 3 tooth brushes and toothpaste.
1 CVS mouth wash @ $2.59 ~ used $2.59 CVS coupon ~ free
used $5.00 off $25.00 coupon
used $9.97 ECBs
Out of pocket $1.94
Received $12.97 ECBs
I currently have $29.91 in ECBs

It all comes down to:

started out with $24.00 ECBs
I now have $27.00 ECBs ( my coupon book is in the car, this is an estimate, I’ll have to update later with correct amount.)
Total out of pocket $3.01!

I only spent 3 bucks for everything and gained it back in ECBs so technically everything you see I got for free! Not too shaby when the instant coffee is 8 bucks at the grocery store!

1st transaction
5 Elec power tabs @ $4.50 each = $22.50 ~ used 5 $2.50 off 1 coupons ~ received $10.00 ECB = all 5 for free
1 Basil Leaves dried herbs @ .88
1 Oregano Dried herbs @ .88
2 packs candy @ .99 = 1.98 ~ used $1.oo off 2 coupon = both for .98
Used 1 $5.00 off 25.00 CVS coupon
total $26.24
used $18.50 in coupons and  in $7.87 ECB
Out of pocket $.1.90
Received $10.00 ECB’s

2nd Transaction
2 instant folgers coffee @ $3.00 = $6.00 ~ received $1.00 ECB ~ Paid $5.00 for both
2 packs pencils @ .99 = $1.98 ~ received $1.98 ECB ~ both for free
1 blink tear eye drops @ $7.99 ~ used 1 $1.50 off coupon ~ received $7.99 ECH ~ free plus $1.50 overage
2 notebooks @ .99 = $1.98 ~ received $1.98 ECB ~ both for free
2 scissors @ $2.99 = $5.98 ~ received $5.98 ECB ~ both for free
2 protractors @ $1.50 =$3.oo ~ recived $3.oo ECB ~ both for free
2 post it notes @ .99 = $1.98 ~ received $1.98 ECB ~ both for fre
1 Irish spring body wash @ $4.99 ~ used 1 $2.oo off coupon ~ used 1 $1.00 off CVS coupon ~ received $2.00 ECB ~ free plus .01 overage
used 1 $5.00 off $25.00 coupon
total $
used $9.50 in coupons and  in $23.96 ECB
Out of pocket $1.11
Received $27.00 ECB’s

It all comes down to:

I started out with 15.98 ECBs
I now have: $16.94 ECBs
Total out of pocket .71 cents!

1st Transaction:
2 memo note pads @ .99 each = $1.98 ~ received $1.98 ECB = both for free
2 Eclipse Gum @ $1.29 = $2.58 ~ used 1 BOGO Q = Both for $1.29
2 papermate pen packs @.99 = $1.58 ~ received $1.58 ECB = both for free
2 Loose leaf paper @ $2.00 = $4.00 ~ received $4.00 ECB = both for free
1 pack  liners @ .89 ~ received .89 ECB = free
2 three pack Wrigley gum @ $2.00 = $4.00 ~ used 2 $1.00 Q = both for $2.00
2 speed stick @ $2.99 =$ 5.98 ~ received $4.00 ECB ~ used 2 $1.50 Q and 2 $1.00 CVS Q = free plus overage
total $26.38
used $12.29 in coupons and 14.09 in ECB
Out of pocket $.43
Received $16.83 ECB’s

The first transaction, I forgot I could combine the CVS coupons with the manufacture coupons for the speed stick until the very second I was checking out ~ so my extra savings threw my scenario off, and it appears I lost $1.89 in ECBs, I only had one ECB for $15.98 from two photo books, and I noticed my receipt says I used a $14.09 ECB

2nd Transaction (different store):
2 binders @ $2.29 = $4.58 ~ received $5.00 = both for free
total $4.58
used $4.58  ECB
Out of pocket $.28
Received $5.00 ECB’s

The second transaction was confusing, it was the first time a cashier substituted an  item for a sale item, I didn’t have the best EBCs, (left coupon book in car, never never do that!) one ECB was adjusted down, and when she gave me the ECBs back, she said it rounds up, so I got $5.00 instead of $4.58  ~ it was weird!  lol

I had fun piddling around CVS this morning!  On my way out this morning, I grabbed a decaf coffee, an orange and an apple from the resident lounge.  Nothing like starting out my morning with free fruit and coffee!

I started my morning in the lounge with free decaf coffee, strawberry nutri-grain bar and a fresh orange.  Pat and I headed to our neighborhood CVS, but ended up in at totally different area at a different CVS ~ thanks TomTom!  lol This CVS just opened at 8am, no one was there, just a lonely guy by himself in the store.  Nothing was tagged for the sale and this CVS was the most cramped CVS I ever been to!   Good thing I was prepared to do my shopping! 

First Transaction:
Folders @ .05 ~ bought 10
Packs of pens @ .99 ~ bought 2 received $1.98 ECB (free)
Bottles of glue @ .99 ~ bought 2 received $1.98 ECB (free)
Pairs of scissor @ 2.99 ~ bought 2 received $5.98 ECB (free)
Wooden Ruler @ .99 ~ bought 2 received $1.98 ECB (free
One subject notebook @ .99 ~ bought 2 received $1.98 (free)
total $14.40
used $12.91 in ECB’s
Out of pocket $1.52
Received $13.90 ECB’s

Second Transaction
Five subject notebook @ $3.99 ~ bought 2 received $6.00 ECB (.99 cents each)
Fusion Razor @ 7.99 ~ bought 1, used $4.00 coupon, received $4.00 ECB (free)
total $11.97
used $11.68 in ECB’s
Out of pocket $ .29
Received $10.00 ECB’s

Total out of pocket $1.81
Current ECB’s 14.87

I am happy with my trip, considering Pat’s razor sells for 8.99 regular price, to get ALL that stuff for 2 bucks is pretty damn cool!  PrincessFaith only paid .73 cents for a ALL of her items, she did amazing!

For this weeks CVS highlights and great info if you are new to CVSing, check out Bargain Briana
Here are some CVS  Super stars last weeks deals, find them at the CentsibleSawyer.com.

I had $20 Extra Care Bucks from my previous CVS trip when I bought 20 soy joy bars.   I had some coupons that matched up with the new CVS sales add so I made a list, checked it twice and headed to CVS this morning with Patty Pat Pat.

I used my coupons and ECBs and brought my total from $42.91 down to $6.17 and received a whopping $22.44 in ECBs!

So… technically I spent $3.73 for everything!

Whoa Man I am so excited to get all this stuff and I still have over 20 bucks to go back and shop for free next week!

Here is the break down of my trip ~

Safeway had some amazing deals this week! I took advantage of the grand opening sale and racked up on some good deals! Reg price for it all was around $115.00 and I got it all for like $47.00! It is give or take a couple/few dollars because I went in twice, got dollar from customer service, I was a little unorganized! lol But It paid off. I bought a lot of organic. and one highlight was the vitamin water and power aid, I got them all completely for free!

Check it out:

Not too shabby eh? ~

I just had to go back to saftway to get a few more awesome deals.  Pat was feeling blah, so I decided to take the car out by myself!  I am a big girl, I can handle it.  Hey, no big girl pregnant jokes, okay?  lol

Now, I will not do this breakdown all the time… I wanted to show how important it is to

buy items on sale and combine with a coupon

This is a great example.  We buy this stuff whether on sale or not, so you better believe that I am ecstatic to have bought everything for sooooo cheap!  I am loving my coupon book right now… it is my best friend!   Yeah, I am lonely, go ahead and sing along…  my coupon book and me like to climb up a tree, my coupon and me we’re the best friends could be! lalalalaaa

ok look at how much money I saved

I have been out of the CVS loop for a couple few months… and decided this week was a great week to get back into my weekly CVS trip.

When all is said in done, it is kind of like I made money.

CVS gave me $7.39  for shopping today!

It was a very simple transaction… we like soy joy bars, they make a great snack for Pats lunch… and for every 4 bars CVS gave me $4.00 in ECB money, the drinks, and the picture was handed to me completely free.

And seriously, who does not like completely free stuff!    I tried to break it down in the chart below…  It is so simple once you get the hang of it.  I am already planning my next trip to spend the $2o.oo I have in ECB money!  I hope there are some good deals for next week!

Today was the first day of the sale, so if you want to get started on CVSing, even if you have no coupons, go and spend 20 bucks on soy joy bars, and you will get that money right back in ECBs to use next time you visit CVS! Have fun saving money!

For more information on CVSing…

Read about it here at Bargain Briana and over here and Money Saving Mom oh and don’t forget the “Cent”sible Sawyer! They are all incredible sites for loads of money saving opportunities!  Go and Subscribe or sign up to get updates!  Its FREE!  lol

June 17, 2009
I went to my local Target and purchased a few grocery items.   Prior to my trip I printed a Target Web Coupon … you know since I am on super budget so I can buy my baby a tricked out diamond encrusted pacifier!  At checkout my Target Coupon would not scan, the cashier said she could not accept it.   She called over the manager, and the manager said “if it doesn’t scan, we can’t accept it.”  I said, but it’s a “Target coupon that I printed from target.com and it says right here in all caps TARGET WEB COUPON”

The manage said “NO, I am not accepting it.  If it doesn’t scan  we are not allowed to take it.”  I said well don’t you have a list of current accepted Target coupons? Her reply was “Sorry there is nothing I can do.”  I asked her to type in the numbers to see if it would work. Her reply was “we are not allowed to type in the numbers.”

What?
So I took back the coupon and completed the transaction.  I made it outside and told Pat,

I can’t let this go…

I am going back in to customer service.  I was explaining it to the associate when the phone rang, and the other associated answered then turned her back towards me and told the girl helping me, “the manager already told her that she would not accept the coupon.”

What?
Where is that woman?  Is she spying on me or something?  I couldn’t believe the manager called over and didn’t give the associates the opportunity to try and solve a customer issue.

I was so disappointed and in shock!  Target, my favorite store of all time, had just betrayed me by not accepting the coupon they gave me in the first place.

My sister Faith, stumbled me some Target contact info, if I decided to call or write a letter. Well I didn’t want to call, I was just to upset about the situation.

I sent an email to the CEO on June 18 at 11 am

Dear Mr. Steinhafel:

I had a disappointing experience yesterday at my favorite Target store.
I tried to use a Target web coupon that was from Target.com, the cashier refused it, the manager refused it and customer service refused it.   The problem was that it would not scan.

The coupon clearly says
“TARGET WEB COUPON”  all in caps.

Shouldn’t the managers have a log or print out of current Target web coupons?   I was, and still am floored that they would not accept it.

I am a store manager for a Pier 1 Imports, and I would never let a customer go through what I went though yesterday at my local Target.

I tried to let it go, but I feel that in this case the customer is right, the coupon is a Target Web Coupon!  I feel it should have been honored.

A disappointed Target Shopper,
Angel Matthews
555-555-5555
myrealemail@gmail.com

Details:
Target located in Baltimore Maryland 555-555-5555
Date of purchase: 06/17/2009
Time: 04:22 pm
Coupon info: Target Web Coupon – Expires 06/20/09
$2.00 off with purchase of two morningstar products

At 7:00 pm this evening I received a phone call from Gregg’s assistant… Greg.   He told me lots of great information.  He called the Target where I had the problem prior to calling me, talked to the appropriate people in regards to accepting Target coupons, said he appreciated my feedback and will use it to coach the team members at the store in an attempt to prevent further similar situations.

Asked me what happened.  He even asked if they tried typing in the number…  and he couldn’t believe the manager didn’t try that.  We had a nice conversation,

Greg also congratulated me on my pregnancy!

He asked my permission to send me a $10.00 gift certificate to cover the coupon and to get me back in the store.  I told him that was more than fair, and the important thing was to coach the team members to handle these scenarios.

I was surprised at the prompt reply from Target.  In fact I wasn’t expecting any feedback at all.   But I am glad he called and happy he talked to the Manager at the store where I had the issue.

I think I did good!  At the time of the incident, I wanted to cry and scream and make them take my coupon!  I sent a short concerned email, and my patience and good-natured attitude lead me to a solution.

Thanks Greg for calling me and setting things right. I am happy to know there are people out there that take consumer feedback seriously.

Did you know during your birthday month, there are so many places out there that give you free stuff? One place that gives you a really really nice birthday dinner is Benihana’s.  When you sign up to become a member of the Chef’s Table, you receive a $30.00 birthday dinner certificate!  Wow weee!

Visit Freebies 4 mom, they have a really nice list of freebies.

Just google something like “Birthday Freebies” and get loads of free stuff!

I am switching into money saving mode ~ remember my awesome coupon deals?  Well they are coming back, I have a baby on the way, time to get to saving some money!

Love,
Your Budgeting Angel