Nothing Ventured, Nothing Bar-gained

Back when it was still Jon & Kate Plus Eight, I liked to watch the show. One episode followed Kate on her typical trip to the grocery store (!). She said something that resonated with me. Since she stays home with the kids and Jon was the breadwinner, she said the least she could do is contribute to their fiscal health by being frugal with their grocery money. She called it being a good steward. Interesting.

I have to admit that I've always been what one of my friends calls a European shopper. You buy what you need, when you need it and pay what price they are asking for it. With the seemingly recent "couponing" boom, I thought maybe I could seek to stretch our dollars further by giving it a go. After all, Jesus did bless and multiply the little boy's lunch of two fish and five loaves to feed 5,000. So then, I can bless and multiply what I have...


I have one friend who told me all about her affinity for CVS. It sounded very complex and difficult and even though she was really excited and seemed to have saved a lot of money; it didn't seem to me like she needed all of the stuff she bought (at the time...read on to see my conversion). I did get a CVS Extra Care card on her recommendation, but never really did anything with it, because I very rarely ever patronize them.

A second friend recently gave me some tidbits of how she was able to virtually get things for free. Again, it sounded laborious but her methodical system was what convinced me it could be done by lousy shoppers like me. She said she got emails each week on the specials and when I realized I wasn't getting those same emails she said that I must not have given them my email when I signed up. She was right, I didn't want them spamming me with specials. I can't believe how my mind works sometimes.

So, the next day I went online and got $4 just for registering my email. So, I was rewarded for changing my mind about the spam. Next, I spent a good portion of the evening browsing CVS' circular to find items that counted for Extra Care Bucks (ECB). As I understand it, ECB is essentially a dollar value off coupon off of your total order. Once I did that I went through CVS' store coupons and again went to coupons.com to find manufacturer's coupons. Even though it annoyed me that there is not a lot of organizational process occurring, I knew if I did my best that the system would come later.

Something worth mentioning is that we have a flex spending account (FSA) through Dapo's work. His benefit actually gives you a Mastercard with the money they deduct pre-tax from your paycheck loaded onto it. That way it removes the middle man of reimbursement. It is a nice bennie.

I found a couple of things on the ECB offer that I didn't really NEED that I could USE the flexcard for. In particular, Tylenol precise heat patch. On sale for $5.99. Unadvertised, was a $2.00 mfg coupon on the display case. Reducing to $3.99. And I got $2 in ECB for my NEXT purchase. I also got Motrin PM which I did not see in the circular for $9.99. I got $3 ECB. I asked her to ring these up separately from my next purchase because it was through the flex card (you have to provide FSA receipts from time to time, and I prefer my receipts to be compartmentalized).

What is beautiful is that I was able to find things I NEEDED to try this new method of shopping on. Also in the circular was DIAPERS. You know I need those! :D They were "on sale" for $19.99. That's about what Publix and Kroger charge for regular price. But the Pampers were an ECB eligible item, $3. I also had a $2 mfg coupon for Pampers as well. I bought a few other items: deodorant, body wash and toothpaste. The toothpaste was also ECB $2. I am still a little confused about how it all worked, but I only paid $22.16 for the diapers, deodorant, body wash and two tubes of toothpaste. I would have spent $22 on diapers alone at Publix. So it was kind of like getting the other three items for "free".

But the fun doesn't stop there. I now have two coupons for $3, and $2. The next time I go in, I have a $5 coupon.

I don't know if the ECB coupon that prints out at the end of your receipt has to actually be retained and used or if the CVS card recognizes you have earned it and gives you instant credit for it on your purchase. MAYBE ONE OF YOU VETERAN CVS COUPONERS CAN TELL ME? If it doesn't apply automatically, then I actually have four coupons totaling $10; and I'm in the dark as to how I saved $5 for no apparent reason. I'm not complaining, tho.

Another nice thing is that between the items you purchased and your coupons, there is a summary of the trip (how much you saved today) as well as a summary of your endeavors to utilize the ECB offers. It tells you the item, what the offer is, Qty you have purchased toward the reward, and bal remaining to receive reward.

The only drawback is that CVS is about 13 miles from home, round trip. I will need to work my trips there into times I'm already "headed to town" to make it more feasible.

Overall, though, I loved it. I don't exactly understand it all yet...but like anything you get better with practice. I can't wait to make another trip there. They are so smart to have given me incentive to move my business from their competitors! And I can't help that think that the people who shop WITHOUT coupons are essentially paying for the people who shop WITH coupons. Maybe socialism isn't so bad after all?...

I'm definitely just kidding about that last line. And I'm definitely hooked on the couponing. I can't wait to find more deals and bargains. If you get inspired by this, you have to go into the CVS to get a card. Do like me and don't put your email on there. Then, go online and add your email and get $4 to start your adventure off.

If you already coupon, I'd like your input or tricks or methodology or betterment or any clarification you have to offer!