I the way home from work yesterday I ran into my local Wal-mart. It takes so much less time if DS is not with. Plus DS is acting very anti-shopping lately.

I noticed on the Money Saving Mom blog that Scrubbing Bubbles Shower Cleaner machines were suppose to be on sale at Wal-mart for $12.00. I actually had three coupons for $10 off that I clipped from the newspaper. When I got there they actually did have machines for $12.00, the difference from the full sized $19.99 boxes is they only have one bottle of cleaner in them instead of two, and the more expensive box had a sample wipe and coupons inside. So I got three machines @ $2 after coupon, which is less than the cost of a refill. I now have one for every shower in my home and a spare (birthday/Christmas present).

Also I had a $1 off coupon for any suave lotion. They have a 3.2 oz size that is not a trial size for $.97, so I got that for free. I love that size for in my desk drawer at work.

I had a $3 off 2 Huggies clean team products and they have refills for $1.64 so after the coupon I got two for $.14 each. I wish I could get more of those coupons, or even the $1 off ones because $.64 is still a good price.

I had two Buy One Get One Free cough drops coupons, so I got two bags FREE, or four for 50% off if you want to look at it like that.

I also price checked a bunch of things to make sure that the CVS sale price was better than the Wal-mart regular price.

All in all not bad for a trip to Wal-mart. The cashier was very nice and you could tell she was shocked at how well I did. I bought other things everything but one item had a coupon (need to write the company and tell them how much I love their product and ask if they ever have coupons available). I walked away with three bags plus the three Scrubbing bubbles Machines and the total was a little over $20.

It is only Tuesday, but Sunday was a big CVS day for me. If I make another trip to CVS this week I will either have to update this or start another post.

April 27 Order #1
6 bottles (bonus size) BOGO Lorelle Pro vive shamp & cond $4.99 each
3 rolls CVS Big Roll Paper towels B2G0 $.99 each

Used one save $3 on a $15 order from ewashigtonpost AD
$6 in manu coupons for the shampoo

Saved 15.96 in BOGO special.
Paid out of Pocket $.31 & used $8.00 ECB

April 27 Order #2
4 bottles (bonus size) BOGO Lorelle Pro vive shamp & cond $4.99 each
2 post its flags $2.50 each
1 Bic Soleil Razor $5.99 each
1 Bic Soleil Razor Blade refills $5.99 each
Used one save $3 on a $15 order from ewashigtonpost AD
$3 in manu coupons for the shampoo
$3 in manu coupons for the post its
$4 in manu coupons for the razor/blades

Saved 9.98 in BOGO shampoo special.
Paid out of Pocket $15.40 (Earned $6.00 in ECB's & 1/3 of the way to my Post it $5 ECB's reward)

April 27 Order #3
2 post its flags $2.50 each
1 Bic Soleil Razor $5.99 each
1 Bic Soleil Razor Blade refills $5.99 each
Used one save $3 on a $15 order from ewashigtonpost AD
$3 in manu coupons for the post its
$4 in manu coupons for the razor/blades

Paid out of Pocket $1.46 & $6 ECB (Earned $6.00 in ECB's & now 2/3 of the way to my Post it $5 ECB's reward

April 27 Order #4
6 packages CVS brand 18ct (female product)B2G0 $2.49 each
1 CVS 2pack cookie .59

Used one CVS coupon $3 on a $10 CVS products
Saved 4.98 in BOGO special.
Paid out of Pocket $1.61 & $6.00 in ECB's

TOTALS
Out of Pocket 18.78
ECB's from Prior 8.00
$5 Post it purchase away from $5 ECB's earned

Bought:
10 bonus size Shampoo & conditioner (1.35 each)
3 big roll Papertowel (.66 each)
4 packs Post-its flags (1.00 each)
2 Bic Soleil razors (.99 each)
2 Bic 4pk Soleil razor blades (.99 each)
6 18ct Female products (1.48 each)
1 CVS 2pk cookie (.59)

*Overall I think I did great, the price was way under what I could have gotten the items at Wal-Mart, plus my next post it purchase will be free after ECB or a $2 money maker if I can find a store that has flag's instock and I needed to buy the items above in preparation for my courses this summer! Also I love to buy the Lorelle Pro Vive Shampoo & Conditioner whenever I can get it for the same price as my generic shampoo..It is my personal splurg- so caulk the shampoo & conditioner up to my Mother's Day gift!

Well I checked my blog stats today well to be truthful for the fourth time today.

It is pretty amazing!! I am having more and more 'Unique Visitors' everyday. This was my stats as of the last time I checked.

Date: UV
2008-04-28 52
2008-04-27 17
2008-04-26 14
2008-04-25 45
2008-04-24 73
2008-04-23 13
2008-04-22 8
2008-04-21 5
2008-04-20 12
2008-04-19 15

I am really surprised!! Are other blog'ers surprized that people actually checkout their blog? I do not tell people I know about my site, I don't want them coming back and saying "how could you write about me? I know I am Mrs. X from the blog entry on the 24th." Does that make me a closet blog'er? Is there another word for people who do not share their online blog identity with their family and friends.

Now I guess I know what it is like to be on the other side. Wondering if what I am writing is something someone else can relate to or atleast finds entertaining.

Sincerely,
CouponAddict

Do other people find that the stores in their area are out of half of what they want to buy to make the deals, so you end up making the deals at the store? It makes we wonder how some people do so well, but they probably just post there scores and not the things that they really wanted but did not get.

Sunday April 20th, 2008
Bought
5 20oz Sobe waters @ 5/5 = $5.00
1 Mennen Speed Stick 2.72 oz = $3.99 (free after ECB)
1 CVS trail pack cookie .59
2 CVS (female product) @ 4.99 each = $9.98
1 Johnsons Buddies .99
Total $20.55
USED:
$4 off order of $20 or more coupon
$3 off $10 worth of CVS products coupon
$1 off Speed Stick coupon
$1 off Johnsons buddies (reduced down to .99)
Total after coupons $11.56
Used $10, and $1 ECB
.56 plus tax = .68 Out Of Pocket
Received $3.99 ECB for next time.
* the Buddies soap was free, female products after the CVS & Total purchase coupons was one free & one $1.50 less than the price at Wal-mart. the Speed Stick was a money maker, Sobe- taking the extra from the Speed Stick coupon they are .80 each- these are being saved for this summer for when I want the kids to hydrate when we are camping/fishing; sometimes water doesn't cut it and they need some flavor to stay hydrated.*


Wednesday April 23rd, 2008
I bought:
2 Alavert 12ct for $6.99 each = 13.98

Used:
2 $4 off manu coupons = 5.98
$5 ECB = .98 before tax, plus .54 tax??
paid 1.52 Out Of Pocket

Received $4 ECB per box = $8 ECB for a profit/credit of $1.48

Thursday April 24th 2008 (Trip one):
I bought:
alavert 18ct (50% more free) $6.99
2 Lum Firm .34 oz Lotion $1.99 each

subtotal $10.97

used coupons:
-$2 alavert (manu coupon)
= $8.97 plus .18 tax
(used $8 in ecb, $1.15 cash)

received:
$4 ecb for alavart (hidden April deal)
$4 ecb for Lumien ($2 each item)
*1 18ct box Alavart for $1.15-good deal

Thursday April 24th 2008 (trip two):
I bought:
2-alavert 18ct (50% more free) $13.98
1 CVS Candy .88

subtotal $14.86

used coupons:
-$2 alavert (manu coupon)
= $12.86 plus .17 tax
(used $11.99 in ecb, $.87 cash)

Received:
$8 ecb for alavart (hidden April deal)
Summary:

* this could have been a no Out of Pocket but my DS wanted the 2.99 box of red fish, he settled for the .88 CVS fish and the treat lasted through ALL my nightly errands!

I normally am a one/two trip to CVS weekly girl, but the alavert deal I did not notice until midweek and my DH's allergies just kicked into high gear, so I grabbed my limit (one without coupon even)

Well I am very thankful for the opportunity to save money. Often CVS freebees can overflow the bathroom if not kept in check. How do I keep it my HOBBY in check? Yes getting deals is a Hobby for me.

First I only have one card, some CVS shoppers have many cards so they can get multiple deals, for me I am lucky if the store has enough in stock for me to get the max on one card.

Second, I do not buy things I will not use (example the Diabetes tester that was a money maker after coupon from newspaper last month). I do however collect toiletry items to place in care packages, & to donate to charity. PS I do not claim these items (they are free for me so I do not take a tax credit for the donation)

I am actually very excited, I have given myself a goal for some of the very nice freebees that I get this year. I am going to create a large toiletry gift basket. My grandmother does not drive, she does not get to the store often and often will just buy the cheapest thing available at the Grocery Store (price ouch). Well I want to make her a huge toiletry gift basket. I am not sure if I should use a laundry basket and put some towels in the bottom, use a storage tote, or wrap up a cardboard box. I do not want to use a wooden basket because it would not really be something she could use later. She could use all the other options.

Friday April 18th 2008 my DH ate some of the Chocolate Honey Bunches of Oats cereal I got Thursday Apr 17th at Wal-mart for FREE. He liked them!

I had a coupon for Zantac, I had to decide, if I want to get one box for FREE, and hope to get more $5 coupons. Or to use the $5 coupon to buy a bigger box (they had a bonus box with free extras). I also have a bunch of $1 off coupons. My DH has daily heartburn because of a medication he is on, but does not want to use a product like Prilosec OTC, because he thinks a pill product like Prilosec OTC is medicine and the others are not. ??? I bought the middle size box, because in the long run it is better to have a supply at home than one small box of free.

Two days until the new CVS specials come to the store. I cant wait. I better go check out iheartcvs to see if I can figure out what items I need to be on the look out for next week. I have a $10 ECB, a $5 ECB and a $1 ECB in my purchse just waiting to be used to make FREE items appear in my closet.

I have only been shopping once this week.

Today I had to pickup fruit to make a fruit salad for work tomorrow. We are BBQ'ing so that is what I signed up to bring. I love leftover/extra fruit rather than tons of extra potato salad for leftovers at home.

I went to Walmart and the big deal of the day was they rolled back the price on the chocolate honey bunches of oats. They are now $1.98 a box, I purchased three boxes with three $2 off coupons, I LOVE FREE. I was able to find two coupons online and then I received the third a non-internet one from a coupon trading buddy.

I bought other stuff also but that was the best deal of the day for me at Wal-mart. my DH was there because he needed a birthday card to a party tonight and put the card on the counter and jokingly said sorry could not find a coupon for the card. After the lady finished ringing up my purchases she said those were some good coupons. I love good coupons, I love when the cashier gets excited about my deals!

**Edit Friday 18 April 2008 Add**
My DH called me at work he said he had a bowl of the chocolate Honey Bunches of Oats. I said to him that they are good aren't they. He said "yeah, but I could not find an open box so I had to open a new one". We were talking about it and how I actually made 6 cents off buying it, and he said, "Are groceries FREE now?" LOL I had to explain that was why the cashier said "Those were some good coupons". Slowly but surely my DH is realizing a person (ME) can shop using coupons and take a huge chunk out of the cost of eatting.
**End edit**

CVS was not very exciting this week because I already bought all the FREE/Moneymaker April deals, except I still have three of the $1.99 Lumene Body Aktive Skin Care tubes to keep a look out for. I am really looking forward to the sale the last week of april/first week of May.

So this week I bought the buy two stomach remedies get $10 extra bucks.

My order
1 Gas-x 18 ct Chewable 5.69
1 Gas-x 18 ct thin strips 5.69
1 clearance item 1.00

Total 12.38 plus tax
minus $1 off Gas-x product
minus $1 off Gas-x product
minus $10 CVS bucks from last trip
Subtotal $.38 with tax $.52 Out of Pocket
Because I used the two $1 off coupons I actually made the Gas-x only cost $9.38 so with the $10 Extra bucks I made $.62.

I want to post a picture of the $1 clearance item, but that may have to wait. We have our basement in boxes due to the sheetrocking and do not know what I did with the cable for my camera. The $1 clearance item which after subtracting the $.62 really only cost me $.38 was a paperdoll dressed in hair scrunchees, barrettes, and clips. The regular price was $1.99, I thought it would be a great item to add to my rubbermaid tote filled with gifts. I think that paired with another little something is going to work great for my DS godmother's daughters birthday.

They had some V05 shampoo on sale for $.66 so I could have gotten it for $.04 out of pocket but I have alot of shampoo and I really like the paperdoll it is so cute.

This is my first ever blog entry!!

I am a married mother of one, stepmother of two. I love shopping for a great deal. I recently have started CVSing. I plan to post my many great CVS deals on this site.