Bargain Quest

I think we’re set on toilet paper til the baby’s potty-trained…

OK, maybe not quite, but 100 double rolls of Cottonelle will last us quite a while. Net cost from CVS in the deal I did? $9.50 plus some tax, less than 10 cents a roll.

The deal is that the special 20 roll bonus packs are now half-price, $4.99 (down from $9.99) and each generates $2 in ECB’s as part of the January monthly promotion. (Limit is 5 per ExtraCare card) Combined with $.50 manufacturer’s coupons and $ off $$ CVS coupons, they are uber-cheap!

Here’s a simple scenario -
-Buy 4 packs x $4.99 = $19.96
-Add a little filler to bring your total over $20, like a $.25 pencil = $20.21
-Use a $4 off $20 CVS coupon = $16.21
-Use as many manufacturer coupons as you have, up to 4 x $.50 = $14.21
-And receive $8 back in ECB’s
So $6.21 net cost (plus tax) for 80 rolls.

Can you ever have too much TP?

While at CVS, you might as well use a $10 off $50 coupon instead and get your free after ECB Stayfree pads, Speedstick, SoyJoy, etc. Crystal has all the scoop on this week’s hot deals.

$1871.23 - The amount I saved in 2007 at CVS, per my receipt.

I won’t get around to a comprehensive retrospective of my whole year in bargains, so I figure my CVS numbers represent a good microcosm of the year that was. I started “CVSing” in October 2006, so by the beginning of 2007 I was getting the hang of it.

That total includes store sales, manufacturer’s coupons, CVS register coupons, $ off $$ CVS coupons, and ECB’s redeemed. The receipt only shows my fall quarterly spending total ($12.11), but my out-of-pocket expense for the year was less than $100, and mostly from last winter when I was still learning the ropes. By the end of the year, my out-of-pocket transaction totals were almost always less than $1 and I could do most of the calculations in my head. I also learned that, for me, $30 in ECB’s was the optimal amount to be holding at any one time, to do the deals I wanted but not run into expiration problems.

What did I get? In addition to lots of items we use (food, baby items, toilet paper, etc.), much of my spring yard sale inventory and another batch of items donated to the Food Bank last month (partially pictured below) came from CVS.

It sounds like a lot, and it is, but it pales in comparison to the CVS die-hards out there that juggle multiple cards, stack “$ off total” CVS coupons, take full advantage of internet coupons, and do every single deal that can be finagled to break even.

I’m actually in the process of spending down my Extra Care Bucks, at least temporarily. Keeping up with all the deals and monthly ECB expiration dates is more than I can currently handle. And with baby in tow, it’s not quite as simple to make a quick CVS dash.

But if you’re starting out ECBing, here are some resources that can help you along:

Hot Coupon World - Main CVS Discussion Board for scenarios, and even a CVS for Rookies message board.
Slickdeals also has weekly CVS deal discussion threads (Just search for “CVS”) and you can find current $ off $$ CVS coupons listed on the Coupon Board (Here’s the current thread).
Money Saving Mom has written a comprehensive CVS 101 primer, in addition to posting weekly deal scenarios.

The sales keep coming - Old Navy’s extra 50% off clearance merchandise starts today!

75% off is starting today, as Target clears out its Christmas stock of toys.

I haven’t been aware of this annual phenomenon until now, but I made a Target trip this morning (baby-free, thanks to my mom!) and the first thing I saw was an SUV pulled up to the store entrance being loaded with several carts full of bags. I didn’t even venture into the toy section. It was guarded by a small mob of parents industriously piling boxes into their carts like squirrels hiding away nuts.

I did browse the baby department, and there were lots of good clearance deals there as well, reduced between 30%-75%. I saw plenty of bedding and blankets, hats, swaddle wraps, slings, bouncy seats, and even the Medela Pump In Style Original marked down to $175.

For anyone with children or infants, it’s definitely a sale worth checking out!

Hope everyone’s 2008 is off to a great start!

For readers who are interested, I’m blessed to report that Baby Bargain Quest made his safe arrival into the world almost 3 weeks ago. We’re very thankful for a safe delivery with relatively little complication, especially since he unexpectedly weighed over 10 pounds!

Babies, blogging, and bargain hunting aren’t exactly a match, so I’ve had to sit out the after-Christmas sales in favor of diaper changes and getting less than 3 hours sleep at a stretch. I don’t think I’ve used a single coupon in the intervening days.

But I’m starting to think about my re-entry into the world. My first bargain, post-partum? Signing up for a free Chick-Fil-A biscuit coupon and 2008 calendar this morning.