My gather earned, $10 CVS gift card and a nickle (I had to spend in trip #17 when the gift card ran out) is now "worth" $34.74 in CVS extra bucks after shopping with it 17 times. I have purchased $727.28 in products and have increased my spending power at CVS. Find out how.
My ending balances are: $.00 gift card and 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.89 and 2.00, 3.99, 1.98, 1.98, 8.00 and 5.00 in CVS extra bucks**.
**some of these are CVS extra bucks that I will not need to pay tax on, and some are manufacturers' that I will have to pay tax on.
The first of April I cashed out for my first Gather card, a $10 CVS gift card. I am keeping track of how far it goes and posting each trip I take with it to CVS so others can see the advantage of CVS shopping and learn how to get lots for little.
I use coupons, rain checks, sales and any extra bucks (instant CVS store rebates--show up as coupons on the bottom of the receipt) that I earn on purchases from this card only--I did not start out with any extra bucks, just the gift card amount.
To keep the individual "chapter" posts from getting too long I have decided to put this post on with the links to each chapter which I will edit to add any new chapters; and I will put a link to this post in each new chapter post for those who want to check out earlier trips.
If you want to learn how to do this join us at CVS Extra Bucks Make Cents, a gather group to learn the art of CVS shopping and to share our deals so others can get them, too. Check out the CVS 101 Tutorial Series for a beginner's overview of the steps to saving at CVS.
To see the trips click on the links for each "total trip."
Total trip 1: $32.33 in retail products, balance $9.20 gc and $3.99 extra buck. Total left: $13.19
Total trip 2: $19.16 in retail products, balance $8.92 gc and $2, $2.89 extra bucks. Total left: $13.81
Total trip 3: $4.29 in retail products, balance $8.85 gc and $2 and $2.89 extra bucks. Total left: $13.74
Total trip 4: $4.99 in retail products, balance $8.75 gc and $4.99 extra bucks. Total left: $13.74
Total trip 5: $102.64 in retail products, balance $7.57 gc and $5.00 & 2.00 in extra bucks. Total left: $14.57 Total Retail so far: $163.41
Total Trip 6: $13.47 in retail products, balance $7.30 gc and $5.00 & 2.00 in extra bucks. Total left: $ 14.30
Total Trip 7: $42.60 in retail products, balance $6.88 gc and $3.99, 3.99, & 3.00 in extra bucks. Total left $17.86
Total Trip 8: $119.40 in retail products, balance $5.70 gc and $5.00, 4.00 and 4.99 in extra bucks. Total left $19.69.
Total Trip 9: $44.77 in retail products, balance $ 5.52 gc, $12.00, $4.98 extra bucks. Total left: $22.50
Total Trip 10: $7.98 in retail products, balance $5.44 gc, $12.00, $4.98 extra bucks. Total left: $22.42
Total Trip 11: $36.29 in retail products, Balance $4.70 gc, $5.00, $4.47, $2.97, $2.00 and $4.98 extra bucks. Total left: $24.12
Total Trip 12: $46.32 in retail products, Balance $3.52 gc, $10.00, $4.47, $2.97, and $2.00 extra bucks. Total left: $22.96
Total Trip 13: $55.90 in retail products, Balance $2.88 gc, and $4.47, 5.98, 1.98, 5.00 and 9.00 in extra bucks. Total left: $29.31
Total Trip 14: $66.95 in retail products, Balance $2.81 gc, and $4.47, 5.00, 9.00 and 7.99 in extra bucks. Total left: $29.28
Total Trip 15: $40.30 in retail products, Balance $2.61 gift card and $4.47, .89, 6.00, 4.00, 9.99 and 1.98 in extra bucks. Total left: $29.94.
Total Trip 16: $44.54 in retail products, Balance $.96 gift card and $4.00, 1.98, 2.00, 3.99, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.89 and 2.00 in extra bucks
Total Trip 17: $45.35 in retail products, Balance $.00 gift card and 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.98, 1.89, 2.00, 3.99, 1.98, 1.98, 8.00 and 5.00 in extra bucks
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Comments: 47
Hope you are hanging in there well waiting.
I went this morning. Of course they didn't have the pencils and I just realized I missed getting the memo books so I have to go back. Because of forgetting the memo books yes I had it written down,lol) and they didn't have the pencils, it got a little messed up with the extra bucks I had. So this is what I got and paid.
1 pk duracell 9volt battery $2.99 coupon $1.00 Cost 1.99 with ECB $1.00
2 Filler paper Cost 4.00 with ECB $4.00
2 papermate pens pkgs. 1.98 with ECB $1.98
1 speed stick pro 2.99 coupon $1.50 cost 1.49 with ECB back of $2.00
Total cost of products on sale $11.96 plus tax - Man coupons $2.50 - ECB used $7.99 - oop 1.81 because I forgot the memo books and got a raincheck for the pencils I didn't use the other ECB I had. OOP is $1.81. With $8.98 in extra bucks back. Whew! I hope you can follow all that I know I am not as clear as C.L.R.
So now I have 2 rainchecks in my possession one for the two boxes of pencils and one I still have for the soy joy bars with $4.00 back. So when I get those two items I will have another 7.98 in ECB's plus I have in my possession $14.95 in ECB's. They are adding up. Thanks C.L. R.
This is what I got.
No, each extra buck has the number of the card on it. Some people think coupons are for, well, "low life" I guess. They are coming into vogue tho in this economy.
I still get thrown off. The school supplies I ordered didn't all come in and the gal wasn't there that ordered them for me, but there were still boxes around so I dug thru and found a couple of the items. I have to sigh deeply and start over.
And I hate when i forget to check out something free to get my coupons--today I got a 1.50 off mennon speed stick pro--AFTER I bought it:( $1.50 at CVS buys a LOT of stuff!!!! I don't get quite as frustrated over it like I used to, but it is still disappointing. Glad you are having fun (most of the time).
My first CVS notebook was falling apart so I took one of the two free ones I got and redid it today.
Do you see the part about putting in pics later? See you are just lucky with the nice people at yours. I told them I wouln't have the time to go back after their answer to do the books by the time the offer was over. This was their response.
Thank you for contacting CVS/Pharmacy in regards to the Photo Book offer.
Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience this offer may have caused you. In order to take care of your request, I would like to send you a rain check for the additional 4 books. Unfortunatley you can not do blank books now and put the pictures in them later. Please verify your full mailing address and ExtraCare card number and I will be happy to send you a rain check for this offer.
Thank you for taking the time to contact us so we could service your account.
Sincerely,
Denise St. Pierre
CVS/Caremark
ExtraCare
But CVS customer service is great isn't it? They lean in the customer's direction whenever possible.
To start with look over the CVS 101 series that are all listed on the home page of the group.
What I did basically was the first time I had a free coupon for an item that was free after extra bucks. So Ipaid tax only and got an extra buck back. I used that on other free after extra buck deals and almost free and used manufacturer coupons from the paper or printed off the internet and by doing that it keeps increasing the amount of the extra bucks I have, though if I use a manufacturers' coupon I have to pay tax on that amount and that is what I pay for with the gift card. The gift card will run out and I will still have extra bucks left and as long as CVS has free after extra buck items I could keep them rolling into new bucks each week indefinetly.
It is a great way to get lots of the health and beauty items you can use in a year all for free.
If you are interested, check out the group and I'll answer any questions I can to help you get going.
Today and the nest two week's three day, Sun/Mon/Tues, sales have lots of free after extra buck school items that you can put very little cash out at first and then keep using the extra bucks to pay for the next items and get more extra bucks.
It is a whole new way of shopping and thinking but you can easily learn with practice and lots of reading of the transactions people make. I'll send you an invite to to the group.
Thanks for posting to Grocery Deals