Black Friday Shopping

After looking over all of the sales flyers for Black Friday, I decided that the only stores that I was going to go to on Friday were CVS and Walgreens. Both stores have good deals on things that I already need, and I don't have that much Christmas shopping left so, it seemed like the logical choice.

First, I went to Walgreens. I did 4 different transactions to use Register Rewards to reduce my total out of pocket.

Here is everything that I bought.

Transaction No. 1:
Venus Embrace $9.49 - $4 MQ
Total: $6.34
Paid with Gift Card
Earned $6 RR

Transaction No. 2:
2 Bounty Basics @ $.89 each (weekly ad coupon)
2 Kleenex @ $.89 each (weekly ad coupon)
3 Tylenol Cold $4.99 each - $4.50 MQ
1 Schick Quattro Midnight $3.99 - $3 Easy Saver Coupon
2 M&M Premiums 2/$8 - $1 ESQ - $2 MQ
Used $6 RR from previous transaction
Total: $16.45
Paid with Gift Card
Earned $5 RR

Transaction No. 3:
1 Venus Embrace $9.49 - $4 MQ
1 Trident Xtra Care Gum $1.49 (needed 2 items because I was using 2 coupons)
Used $5 RR from previous transaction
Total: $2.90
Paid partially with Gift Card and $1.03 OOP
Earned $6 RR

Transaction No. 4:
2 Lil Webkinz $6.99 BOGO
Used $6 RR from previous transaction
Total: $.99 + tax
Paid $1.62 OOP

Total cash out of my pocket $2.65.
The gift card I used was from rebates which is now empty, but I'll work some more deals later to refill it. Plus I have a coupon for $3 off my next magazine purchase.


CVS

Part of my decision to go to CVS is all of the free after ECBs deals. The other was a coupon I received in the mail for $5 off $10 for a new store that opened, which helped to start rolling ECBs.

Transaction No. 1:

2 Aussie Products $2.99 each - $2 MQ

1 Bic Soleil $5.99 - $3 MQ

1 Schick Quattro Trimmer $7.99 - $2 MQ

- $5 mailer

Total: 9.31

ECBs received: $5.98, $5.99, $6.00

Transaction No. 2:

1 Right Guard Professional Strength $7.99 - $1 MQ

1 Complete Multi-Purpose solution $8.99 - $2 MQ

1 Crest Pro-Health $3.49 - $.75

1 Lypsyl

- $5.98 ECB

- $5.99 ECB

- $6.00 ECB

Total OOP: $2.23

ECBs received: $7.00, $8.99, $3.49, $1.00

Transaction No. 3:

1 Right Guard $7.99 - $1 MQ

2 Softlips $3.99 each - $1 MQ

1 CVS Acid Reducer $3.69

4 Crystal Light @ $.50 each

- $3.49 ECB

- $7.00 ECB

- $8.99 ECB

Total OOP: $.30

ECBs received: $7.00, $2.00

Transaction No. 4:

1 Right Guard $7.99 - $1 MQ

2 Motrin $6.99 each - $2 MQ

- $1.00 ECB

- $2.00 ECB

- $7.00 ECB

Total OOP: $10.05

ECBs received: $7.00, $5.00

Transaction No. 5:

1 Bic Soleil $5.99 - $3 MQ

1 Crest Pro-Health $3.49

- $7.00 ECB

Total OOP: $.70

ECBs received: $5.99, $3.49

ECBs left for future transactions: $5.00, $5.99, $3.49

CRTs received: Save $2 on Playskool Cottony Cloths Baby Wipes (160 or 240 ct), $3 off In Store 6x8 Photo Books - Make it in minutes

In total I spent $25.24 and still have $14.48 in ECBs to spend at CVS and added stuff to my stockpile, got things I needed and a couple of Christmas presents. I probably could have planned better to have less OOP, but I think I did well at Walgreens using RRs and a gift card. Besides $.99 for two Lil Webkinz is as close to free as you can get.

Bonus Christmas Shopping

I read a lot about ways to "save" money while shopping. One of the places I get ideas from is Imommies.com. One of her posts was about a site called Ebates.

I usually do my online shopping through MyPoints (you get points for shopping which you can redeem for gift cards) or Upromise (you get money posted to your account to use for your child(ren) for college), but with Ebates you can choose to get cash back for purchases. The downfall is that they only pay out quarterly.

Ebates gives you up to 26% Cash Back every time you shop online. You can shop at over 1000 stores including Barnes & Noble.com, Gap, Target, Buy.com and Expedia. Plus you get additional savings with exclusive coupons, free shipping offers, and limited-time sales! (If you sign up with Ebates through this link: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=i%2FYPnC15PNVZYl0803Zkmw%3D%3D, we'll each get a $5 bonus when you make your first purchase!)

I made my first purchase last week using Ebates and have received a credit of $11.50 in my account. I think I've found my new favorite place to start me online shopping.

Target Shopping Trip

This week's sales flyer had the Scrubbing Bubbles shower spayer on sale for $14.99. The ones my store had were a bonus back that included a "caddy" or shelf to put shampoo, etc.

I had still had the IP coupons from a few weeks ago for $10.00 off and they expired today, so my cost was $4.99. I bought two.

I need paper towels and since they don't go on sale very often, I bought 2 rolls of the Bounty Basics ($.99 minus $.29 MQ) for $.75. I bought two of these also.

The last thing I bought was Pictureka (a board game). It was on sale this week for $15.00, minus the $5.00 Target coupon = $10.00.

Total OOP: $25.13 including tax
Total savings in coupons: $25.50

I had yet another "difficult" check out. I had to have the "one per purchase" discussion with the cashier. The best part was that none of my coupons beeped and none of them had to be pushed through.

CVS Trip

Here's the deal I have worked for today.
This is how it worked out...
Coke 12 pk. 4/$12
- 2 BOGO coupons from Mycokerewards.com (The coupons had to be manually entered)
4/$6 - Done
Earn 3 ECB Earned 3 ECB

Dawn $.99 x 2
- 2 $.25 MQ
1.48 - Done

Crest Pro-Health Whitening $3.49 - Didn't have any on the shelf
- 1 $1 MQ
$2.49
Earn $3.49 (money maker)

Kellogg's Cereal 2/$5
- 2 $1 IP
2/$3 - Done

Went during lunch and was hungry so I bought some Pringles. $1.99

Total OOP: $12.97 - 1.69 ECB = $11.28 Actual OOP: 11.47
Earn 6.49 ECB - Earned 3 ECB

CRTs (Cash Register Tape coupons) that printed were:

Save $2.50 on any Pain Reliever Purchase of $10 or more

Save $1.00 on any (3) Kleenex

Save $2.00 on your next Gillette purchase of $10 or more

$2.00 off Pediacare Gentle Vapors Plug & Nightlight

These all expire on 11/21/08 and can be matched up with manufacturer coupons for extra savings.