Last Saturday, I made a shopping trip to my CVS only to discover a company policy change regarding uploading the next week’s sales.

Prior to last week, my CVS activated the new week’s sales at noon on Saturdays. Now the new sales are loaded into the system, but the computer does not activate those sales until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

It was a little setback as I arrived at 3:30 p.m. and had gathered my items in about 10 minutes. Never fear, I used my time wisely to exchange one of our propane tanks at Bi-lo, which is next door. When I returned to CVS, it was after 4:00 p.m.

Do you want to see what I purchased and how I stretched my dollars? I thought you might, so I took a picture. Here are the items I purchased:

To keep my out-of-pocket (OOP) total to a minimum, I purchased these 6 items in 3 transactions.

Transaction #1

1 Zyrtec – 5 count for $5.99

1 Irish Spring Deodorant – $3.99

Scanned my green bag tag to earn a $1 Extra Buck after 4 visits – $0

Subtotal: $9.98

Used $2.50 coupon for Zyrtec

Used $1 coupon for Irish Spring Deodorant (printable)

Used $5 Extra Bucks due to expire from a previous visit

New Subtotal: $1.48

Tax: $0.09

Total: $1.57 – paid using the gift card received from filling a prescription

OOP: $0 and received Extra Bucks: $5.99 (Zyrtec) and $2 (Irish Spring)

Transaction #2

1 Revlon nail polish – $4.99

1 Hershey’s Bliss Chocolates – $5.99

Subtotal: $10.98

Used $1 coupon for Revlon

Used $1 coupon for Hershey’s

Used $5.99 Extra Bucks from Transaction 1

Used $2 Extra Bucks from Transaction 1

New Subtotal: $0.99

Tax: $0.03

Total: $1.02 – paid with gift card received from filling a prescription

OOP: $0 and received Extra Bucks: $3 (Revlon) and $6 (Hershey’s) – on Saturday the Hershey’s Extra Bucks ($5.99) did not print, so the employee manually issued the Extra Bucks for $6.

Transaction #3

2 Jumbo packages of Huggies diapers – $8.99 each

Subtotal: $17.98

Used $3 coupon for Huggies

Used $3 coupon for Huggies

Used $6 Extra Bucks from Transaction2

Used $3 Extra Bucks from Transaction2

New Subtotal: $2.98

Tax: $0.18

Total: $3.16 – paid $1.48 from remaining balance on gift card

OOP: $1.68 (cash) and received Extra Bucks: $2 ($1 for each package of Huggies)

By purchasing items in multiple transactions, I am able to stretch our dollars to keep the out-of-pocket expense low. I willingly spent the $2 on diapers, nail polish, and chocolate. The Zyrtec and deodorant were a bonus money-maker and freebie. I purchased $43.56 worth of product for $1.68 which is a savings of $41.88 or 96%.

These are the results of my shopping trip. What great deals have you seized to stretch your dollars? Remember to start slow. You will get to great savings as you learn from each shopping trip. Keep up the great savings!

Your eyes are not deceiving you. This is another installment of Register Review, but from a drugstore perspective.

With most of our household items fully stocked, the only way drugstores can lure me into their doors is by offering a great deal on diapers or holiday items, or if my rewards are about to expire.

This week, CVS won me over. I shopped early in the week to snag these 12 items for $0.75 in 2 transactions. Yep, less than a dollar for 12 items. Want to see how?

When I entered the store, I scanned my CVS Extra Care Card at the red coupon machine. The machine ejected coupons. My children scanned the card again which resulted in more coupons. On the third scan, a message indicated that more coupons would be available tomorrow.

The coupons that print from the red coupon machine are CVS store coupons, which you can combined with manufacturer coupons. I received a CVS coupon for $1 off 2 seasonal M&Ms packages, and another coupon for $.25 off any 2 Mars Easter eggs. Knowing I was purchasing these two items, I added them to my CVS envelope to use at checkout.

Transaction #1

Allowed cashier to scan my Extra Care Card and my Green Bag Tag (which earns $1 in Extra Bucks for every 4^th scan – only one scan allowed per day)

Purchased 2 single Snicker Easter Eggs – earn $1 in Extra Bucks (store credit) when you buy 2 Mars Easter Eggs or Bunny Singles for $0.50 each (limit of 2 deals).

Subtotal: $1

Used CVS $0.25 off coupon

Total: $0.75 + $0 tax

Paid the $0.75 and received $1 in Extra Bucks (a coupon that prints at the bottom of my receipt)

Transaction #2

Allowed cashier to scan my Extra Care Card before ringing merchandise

Purchased 2 single Snicker Easter Eggs – earn $1 in Extra Bucks when you buy 2 Mars Easter Eggs or Bunny Singles for $0.50 each (second deal – limit reached)

1 bag of Gold Emblem Jelly Beans – earn $.99 in Extra Bucks when you buy these jelly beans for $.99 (limit 1)

1 Colgate 360 Toothbrush – earn $2 in Extra Bucks when one purchases this toothbrush for $2.99 (limit 2)

6 bags of M&Ms – $3, but buy one get one free (limit of 6). My store was already out of the seasonal peanut and almond varieties, so they substituted the non-seasonal version for my sale.

Subtotal: $13.98

Used the following coupons:

CVS $1 off coupon for 2 bags of seasonal M&M’s

4 – Manufacturer’s coupons for $1 off any 2 Mars Easter Items

1 – Manufacturer’s coupon for $1 off Colgate 360 toothbrush

Used the following Extra Bucks

$5.99 from a previous week

$1 from an earlier week’s green bag tag usage

$1 from Transaction #1 – rounded down to $.99

Total: $0 with $0 tax, and received Extra Bucks for $1 (Snickers eggs), $2 (toothbrush), and $0.99 (jelly beans).

For a total of $0.75, I purchased $33.31 of merchandise which is a 97.7% savings, and I have $3.99 in Extra Bucks to spend at CVS by April 24, 2012.

Taking the time to learn the drugstore game was time well spent. By matching sales, store coupons, and manufacturer coupons, the savings multiply. Long before I began seeing the deep discounts at the grocery store, I practiced and refined the drugstore game. I concentrated on CVS for a few months.

When I understood and had successful trips, I branched out to learn Walgreens. After nailing down the Walgreens system which is different from CVS, I learned Rite Aid which is unique from CVS and Walgreens.

Each store is different and learning the tips and tricks takes time, but for my family, it is using time wisely. Hope you have enjoyed these register reward breakdowns.

The sales in this post were for this week. However, the M&M and Snicker eggs were part of a 3-day sale that ended on Tuesday. The toothbrush deal will continue through today. If your store is out, request a rain check. Happy savings!

Question: Do you shop at CVS? Why or why not?

During August, select CVS locations will offer a free health screening for immunization awareness month. In helping to raise awareness, you will receive a $5 CVS coupon after completing your free health screening.

To get the free screening and coupon, you must present your Extra Care card at your visit. The coupon is limited to 1 per customer and cannot be used with other CVS coupons. You can use your $5 CVS coupon with manufacturer coupons to lower your out-of-pocket expenses.

Participating CVS locations

Health Screening Details

If you have further questions, call 1-855-287-7867 for more about the free health screening events.

In stretching your dollars, consider stopping by a participating CVS location for a free health screening and snag a free $5 coupon while using time wisely. This event runs through August and expires on September 1, 2012. Happy savings!

Question: Would you use this service or schedule an appointment with your own doctor?

Wow! CVS is granting double quarterly extra bucks from September 16 – December 15, 2012.

When shopping with your Extra Care card at CVS, you can earn extra bucks in the following 2 ways:

1. Immediately – printing on the bottom of your receipt, and

2. At the end of the quarter – earning 2% on everyday purchases and $1 for every 2 prescriptions filled.

Increase in Quarterly Extra Bucks

Beginning tomorrow, Sunday, September 16, you can earn double quarterly extra bucks. Instead of the 2% on everyday purchases, you can earn 4%.

Earning Double Quarterly Extra Bucks

To get the double quarterly extra bucks, you need to do the following:

1. Get a CVS Extra Care Card

2. Sign up for double quarterly extra bucks

• In store – scan your Extra Care card at the coupon center (red machine also used for price checking) and receive a coupon to double quarterly extra bucks. When you checkout, allow the cashier to scan your Extra Care card and the double quarterly extra bucks coupon. In December your quarterly Extra Bucks will print at the coupon machine, at the bottom of your receipt, or at your home via your on-line account.

OR

• On-line – register your Extra Care card on-line

3. Make purchases in store and on-line using your Extra Care card

4. Watch for your quarterly rewards to print in December.

In stretching your dollars, allow CVS to give you extra savings through their double quarterly Extra Bucks promotion. With a few moments of your time, you can earn extra credit for items you already purchase. In using time wisely, sign up and start the double earnings tomorrow. Happy savings!

Question: How often do you make purchases at CVS?