Get in the CVS Game!

I haven't really had the chance to catch everyone up with the extent of my forays into CVSing, but after nearly 6months of frugal shopping, I've definitely bought into the game. Despite the chatter on other blogs, I'm actually pretty happy with the deals CVS is offering this week and month. I've got a few senarios planned:
My card - (1) NasoGel Drip Free Gel Spray, 1.52oz - $7.99 - $2/1 coupon - $5.99 w/$7.99ecb
              - (1) 1 Nutratrim Weight Management Gum - $3.99 - w/$3.99ecb
              - I'll pay the $9.98 total w/ecb (after doing the Throat Coolers deal I have the exact amount!) and
                get $11.98ecb back
              - Next, I'll get 2 boxes of SoyJoy bars ($12total w/$12ecb) and pay w/ecb and $0.02oop
              - I'll repeat this once.
              - Then, I'll get 1 more box of SoyJoy bars and 1 Sally Hansen Nail Laquer (I have a rain check for 
                 a $5.99sale w/$5.99ecb. If they care about the penny I'll use a filler item, which means I'll pay
                 $0.49.
The alternative isn't as much fun, but if they don't have the nasal spray and/or gum I'll have to go with buying 1 box of SoyJoy and a gallon of milk for my family. That'll be $6ecb and I'll have to repeat buying the SoyJoys 4x, ending w/$6ecb.

Dad's card - (2) boxes Children's Throat Coolers - $4.99ea. w/$4.99ecb ea.
                  - (1) bottle Coke - 2L, 4/$5
                  - Total of $6.24 (bottle deposit), I'll pay w/$6ecb plus $0.24oop and get $9.98ecb back!
Unfortunately, I don't have any alternative for him...Maybe if there is the nasal spray and no Throat Coolers, I'll just run that deal for him and let him get the milk and a three pack of Kleenex ($3.69 w/$1ecb).

Isn't it neat how I can make money shopping? Granted, some of the stuff I don't really want (the gum and nasal spray), but I can just give it away and someone/group I know must need it. I wonder how food pantries feel about receiving diet gum, lol....
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Shopping Stack Up

So how did I do this week? Just to remind everyone, I was trying to make it until Friday on just $10. And...success! I only spent $4.63, even though I did a lot of shopping. On Friday with my $5 Kohl's coupon, I got a cardigan that was put on clearance and only spent $2.20 of my budgeted money! Then on Saturday, I went to Shop Rite where 8th Continent soymilk was on sale for $2.99 and with a $1/1 coupon and my own green bag bought one for $1.94.

I also went CVSing, which is a relatively new development. Here, if you're keeping track, I spent $0.43, which breaks down to:
Dad's Card: Used raincheck to get 5 Right Guard Pro Strength deoderants (reg. $9.99, sale $6 w/$6ecb=free). I used $5.98ecb and $0.02 oop. Also, with $3/1 CVS brand purchase coupon from Baltimore paper online, I got a box of 500 qtips (reg. $3.39, $0.02 got added, tax maybe?), spending $0.41.
Total: 5 Right Guard Pro deoderant and qtips=$5.98ecb + $0.43oop=$6ecb
         Also, my dad bought a box of 625qtips for $4.39 and somehow got $3.50ecb and also got $0.50 from the instant coupon printer.
My Card: Used the BOGO Throat Coolers coupon (see last post) to get 2 boxes (6ct) for $4.99. I used $5ecb (didn't bother with the penny and neither did the cashier) and got $9.98ecb. Also got $0.50ecb from the instant coupon printer.

I'm not quite sure what to do with the extra money yet. I'd like to save it in cash for expenses that I'm anticipating (sister's birthday, gas, etc.), but maybe I'll find something else. An idea I'm toying with is couponing on a regular basis for a food pantry, which would allow me to really make my weekly donation count for more. Any input is appreciated!

Best,
Ali
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Shopping Deals!

Heads up, Femmes! I've found some frugal buys out there this week that you should know about. I'm trying a new format where I list the store, the items, corresponding coupons, and where to find more deals that I may not have listed here. Let me know what you think!

ShopRite:
Progresso Soup, Microwaveable Bowls/Rich&Hearty/Light--$1.24ea.--coupons.com for $1/2--buy two for $1.48--$0.74ea.
CoffeeMate Creamers, 16oz liquid--$1.49ea.--coffeemate.com for $1/1--$0.49ea.
Dannon 6oz yogurts--10/$2.99--$0.29ea.!!!
Ronzoni pasta--$0.54ea!!
PopSecret popcorn--$1.49ea.--$1/2 SS 12/21/08--get $2/2 or $1 ea.
Chichi's Salsa, 1lb jar--$1.49ea--SS 12/21/08
General Mill's cereals--$1.77ea--coupons.com for $1-$0.55/1 on various

XPect Discounts/Marcs:
Kashi Soft-Baked Cereal Bars, 6p box--$6/2--use $2/1 coupons from Kashi to get them for $1/1!!

CVS:
Get $3/off any CVS beauty item! Step 1. go to http://thebeaconnewspapers.com/newspaper.php

Step 2. Click on the "Balt Edition"
Step 3. Go to Page 14 by selecting it from the top menu.
Step 4. the Page will load on the left side. Click on the page and a larger image of the page loads on the right side.
Colgate Total--2/$5 w/$2ecb--use 2 $1/1 Colgate from SS or RP, using ECB they're $0.50ea.
Children's Throat Cooler Ice Pops 6ct --$4.99 ECB--get a BOGO coupons from throatcooler.com when you sign up for their email

That's all I'm really excited about this week, but I left a lot out so look around at other frugal diva's blogs to find out about more savings!

Happy Shopping!
Ali

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Staying Frugal in the New Year!

It's time to start the New Year right, so get ready to fulfill your frugal resolutions with the help of your two prodigal friendly femmes! We both apologize profusely for leaving our readers in the lurch during the holiday season, but if your holidays were anything like ours, you already understand why we didn't have time to write for a while. We did, however, add some frugal shopping skills that will be coming into play a lot more often this year (to your benefit!).

But before we go shopping, I'm going to remind you all to get yourselves in order! I'm especially talking about that coupon book I hope everyone has been maintaining. I did mine the day after New Year's Day and, seriously, it's almost like I'm starting from square one. More than half of my coupons expired on December 31st! Now I'm in the regrouping phase--checking online for any good coupons, especially. I'd recommend everyone head over to the Centsible Sawyer's page, because she's got some great coupon finds and freebies. A bunch of other frugal bloggers are still on hiatus, but we'll keep checking and keep you updated. Anyway, back on the original point I was trying to make, being organized is more than half the battle. The last thing you want to do is be *that* person in line at the checkout!

Cheers,
Ali

P.S.--As part of a New Year's resolution, I (Ali) will be posting my own entries to the blog, so bear with me if it's not as link-y or streamlined as it was when Kathy was posting for me!
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