Couponing 101-Lesson #5-CVS shopping

Now we're ready to learn the ins and outs of shopping at CVS pharmacy. This will take you a couple of shopping trips to get the hang of it, but don't give up!! First, log on to www.couponmom.com and click "cvs" under "drugstore deals". Filter the results by pressing the upside down triangle next to % saved. This will bring all of the free items to the top. Make your list and gather your coupons. Always double check your local CVS sale paper to ensure accuracy. You will notice a few items state "free after x amount of extra care bucks". In a nutshell, this is how I work the system. If the paper states that a bottle of x brand shampoo is on sale for $3.99 but it's like getting the bottle for free after $3.99 ECB, a tube of x brand toothpaste is on sale for $2.99 but you get $1.00 ECB, and so on, here's what I do. I make a list of the items I will purchase with each transaction. On transaction #1, I will buy the shampoo and pay $3.99 out of pocket (if I don't have any ECB left over from previous shopping trips). While I'm still in line, I then buy the toothpaste but use the ECB from the previous transaction, and so on. Yes, I hold up the line with an average of 5-6 separate transactions per trip, but I never come more than $5.00 out of pocket for each trip. You can also use coupons that match up with the ECB deals, saving even more money, and you still get the full amount of ECB. Please note, if you have for example a $5.00 ecb voucher, you have to use the entire voucher, not just part of it, for the transaction. I always use cash at CVS so that I don't have to swipe my debit card in case I have to come out of pocket 2 or 3 times. Have fun shopping! More lessons coming soon!