Saving Money at CVS

I bought those 11 items at CVS yesterday for $1.71 plus tax. Here's how I did it:

• Puff's Kleenex: The two smaller boxes on top retail for $1.77 each. The larger box on the bottom retails for $1.99. All three were on sale for $0.99 and I had a coupon for $0.25 off the purchase of 3.
• $0.99 x 3 = $2.97 - $0.25 = $2.72
• Secret Deodorant: The one on the left is Secret Outlast and it retails for $5.79. The one of the right is Secret Clinical Strength and it retails for $8.99. Both were on sale for $4.00 and I had a $3.00 off coupon for both. I haven't tried either of these items, but at this price, why not?
• $4.00 + $4.00 = $8.00 - $3.00 - $3.00 = $2.00
• Irish Spring Body Wash: Retails for $4.99, but was on sale for $2.99. I had a coupon for $0.75 off.
• $2.99 - $0.75 = $2.24
• Softsoap Foaming Hand Soap: Retails for $3.29, but was on sale for $2.99.
• CVS ran a special for $2.00 back in Extra Care Bucks (shown in pic) for the purchase of this item. This made the item $0.99.
• Edge Shave Gel: There were 7 oz and 8.4 oz cans for the same price. I bought the larger cans to get more for the money. It pays to read the labels and to compare the prices! The cans retail for $3.19 each. I had two Buy One Get One Free (up to $3.00) coupons.
• $3.19 x 4 = $12.76 - $3.00 - $3.00 = $6.76
• I had an email coupon (hint: sign up for your favorite stores email list for special savings) for $5.00 off a Beauty purchase of $25 or more. I spent $26.74 to make sure that I could use this coupon.
• CVS ran another special for $5.00 back in ECB's (shown in pic) if you spend $15 on Irish Spring or Edge. I spent $17.75 so I qualified for this.
• I had a second email coupon for $3 off any $15 purchase so I used that as well.

Here is the calculation of the bold numbers above:

• $2.72 + $2.00 + $2.24 + $0.99 + $6.76 - $5.00 - $5.00 - $3.00 = $1.71 + tax! The retail price was $41.35.

The key to saving so much money is to (1) pay attention to the store sales, (2) stack manufacturer and store coupons, and (3) check the rewards that the store gives for purchasing certain items. These three key factors can be added together for maximum savings.

The two email coupons I received were an added savings on this trip. In addition, I also get CVS quarterly rewards for purchasing items from their store and every little bit adds up. Last quarter I got a coupon for $8.50 off the pruchase of anything in the store. That's huge!

HAPPY (cheap) SHOPPING!