by C.L. R.
Member since:
March 14, 2009

The Adventures of a Gather Earned CVS Gift Card: how far can it go?? ~chapter 4

May 07, 2009 09:18 AM EDT (Updated: May 07, 2009 09:35 AM EDT)
views: 145 | comments: 43

I cashed out for my first Gather card, a $10 CVS gift card.  I am keeping track of how far it goes.  I am hopping to get at least $100 in retail price.

I will 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.  So here is today's trip.   The CVS card goes shopping. 

Today's Beginning Balance:  $8.85 gc (May 6, 2009)

    And a $2 and a $2.89 extra buck earned in earlier transactions

Transaction #1                                                                         ITEM                                                   RETAIL         SALE PRICE  

1  Zantrex 3 Energy shots                    $4.99            $4.99  receive 4.99 extra bucks      

Paid with $2.00 extra buck and $2.89 extra buck and $.10 from gift card.

Received:  $4.99 in extra bucks                                      

 $8.85 balance on the card, Less above transactions leaves a balance of:  $8.75 and I have a $4.99 Extra Buck coupon to use on my next shopping trip. 

To see the other 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 Retail so far: $60.77

It's been a couple of slow weeks at CVS--but I hope it picks up soon.

Can you tell this is my hobby?  I love it.  It gives me lots of necessary items for free and I even have leftovers to donate often.  I actually have started a gather group so others can share their experiences and/or learn how to get the savings for themselves.

 Learn all about CVS shopping:  CVS 101 Tutorial Series and visit CVS Extra Bucks Make Cents for current information.
link to this page
Bookmark this post:
Facebook
Twitter
Delicious
Buzz
More

Comments: 43

j - Frugal Mom - r. May 7, 2009, 9:23am EDT
Great job!
Tammy N. May 7, 2009, 9:30am EDT
This is awesome! I'm inspired to do this too! My next cashout will be a CVS card!
norene t. May 7, 2009, 9:32am EDT
amazing!
Karen M. May 7, 2009, 9:37am EDT
That is really cool!!
Netty B. May 7, 2009, 9:37am EDT
You are making a fun game out of it! LOL
Marsha S. May 7, 2009, 9:41am EDT
from what I am seeing...you can use more than one extra care buck per product....as well as combine the extra care buck with a manufacturers coupon?? Unlike how we have to do it at Walgreens with the register rewards.....we don't have CVS as I've said, but I am trying to stretch the $15.94 I got in rebates to my Walgreens card as far as I can, and I almost have enough points to order a $10 Walgreens card from mypoints.
Gul Dixon May 7, 2009, 9:44am EDT
This really is awesome!
Melissa R May 7, 2009, 9:44am EDT
you are getting so much! that's awesome!
Alex In Wonderland May 7, 2009, 9:48am EDT
Wonderful work! I am planning my second trip to all the stores today. I have $4 in CVS bucks to use for today. I have somewhere around $20 to use at Walgreens from my first trip there!!
Mooch -. May 7, 2009, 9:52am EDT
glad you are able to stretch your gift card. I am waiting to get my Amazon gift card so I can combine it with my balance and get a filter for my Sigma Lens.
mooch
pamela r. May 7, 2009, 9:55am EDT
great job
John S. (arizona) May 7, 2009, 10:01am EDT
You keep this up and you will put them out of business and make the news, LOL.
Good job!
Jennifer W. May 7, 2009, 10:03am EDT
Great job.
C.L. R. May 7, 2009, 10:05am EDT
Tammy, that is all I have cashed out for so far--you can even use them on prescriptions.
C.L. R. May 7, 2009, 10:07am EDT
Marsha, I haven't cashed out at mypoints yet. Yes, you can use 1 CVS q and 1 manufacturer's q per item and then use the extra bucks like cash to pay for the balance. And you can earn more extra bucks with the purchase using them in the first place.
Samantha D. May 7, 2009, 10:14am EDT
That is so awesome. You have great skills.
Candice(Candy) E. May 7, 2009, 10:27am EDT
CONGRATS" THAT'S AWSOME" YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO SHOP!!!
fancy c. May 7, 2009, 10:46am EDT
awesome
April H. May 7, 2009, 10:48am EDT
You're doing great!
Nikki S. May 7, 2009, 10:57am EDT
I love playing this game!
C.L. R. May 7, 2009, 11:08am EDT
Thanks everyone for cheering me on. I have learned thru much trial and error. It is actually a little hard to do it without all my other extra bucks in there--this is starting fresh except for using rainchecks I have accumalated. Takes much more thinking to get it to work out.
Holly K. May 7, 2009, 12:21pm EDT
That is so cool!
Dawn G. May 7, 2009, 12:41pm EDT
Sounds like you are making your money count. I have not been buying at cvs lately because my store has decided that they are not coupon friendly. It seems that if you have items with manufacturer coupons they must be rung up seperately. I had ten items all with coupons and the cashier rung each item seperately. I wasted a lot of time paying for ten items individually. I hope you continue to have success in your dealings with CVS.
C.L. R. May 7, 2009, 12:55pm EDT
Whoo, Dawn. That's a bummer. I'd die! Extra bucks can't be used well that way. I run into all those problems at our Walgreens. I have gotten to know the manager at my little CVS really well so unless CVS messes with the actual redemption policy I should be fine.
Lori A May 7, 2009, 1:22pm EDT
Awesome job !
Jennifer S. May 7, 2009, 1:58pm EDT
This is amazing...great job!
Renita P. May 7, 2009, 2:50pm EDT
It really is amazing when you add it up like this!
Renita P. May 7, 2009, 2:54pm EDT
by the way... Thanks for posting to Grocery Deals
Misty W. May 7, 2009, 4:33pm EDT
You are doing wonderful!!!
Congrats!!! I'm here to let you know your content has reached the minimum of 30 comments and has therefore been removed from:
~If it starts with "G," it's all good!~ Thanks for your continued support!
Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. May 7, 2009, 8:51pm EDT
I just ordered a $25 CVS gift card and I can't wait to see what it takes me. I bet I still have money left after a month...
C.L. R. May 7, 2009, 8:55pm EDT
Congrats, Amanda! It is so fun to stretch a dollar at CVS!!
Marsha S. May 7, 2009, 10:56pm EDT
Just letting you know your content has reached 25 comments and has therefore been removed from ~3,000 Here We Come!~
Kevin (''The SiteWizard'') V. May 8, 2009, 2:12am EDT
I can't wait to see the summary at the end. I'm certain that it will be quite surprising!
~Jamie W. May 8, 2009, 5:05am EDT
CLR, has anyone ever told you that you are their hero? Wow, I wish I had half the skills and time needed to do this. I'm going to just call you Miss CVS! We need to get you red cape.
C.L. R. May 8, 2009, 6:45am EDT
Jamie, that is why I started my group "CVS Extra Bucks Make Cents" so I can help others get the great savings. I hope to continue to learn shortcuts and have the info on the group posted by me and other CVSers so that everyone can at least take advantage of some of the savings and it won't take them much time.
C.L. R. May 8, 2009, 6:48am EDT
LOL, Jamie, I can just see me with my red CVS cape walking into my CVS store. Mild mannered CLR changed when walking thru the CVS doors to "Super Saver." I have made friends with all the cashiers and managers there and they know I am a little crazy so they probably wouldn't be surprised!
Marie C. May 8, 2009, 12:10pm EDT
Great Job!
Dana W. May 8, 2009, 8:45pm EDT
that is awesome
Nora C. May 9, 2009, 7:54pm EDT
I know you'll be able to do it (and probably go way over $100 if you try). I started the year with about $105 in CVS gift cards, and looking at my last receipts I have $51.75 left, and I've saved over $1,200 year to date.
Kelly P. May 9, 2009, 9:46pm EDT
Way to go C.L.
C.L. R. May 10, 2009, 6:33am EDT
wow, Nora, that is great!! You need to share lots of your secrets with us all--or just the deals you get each week.
Victoria H. May 17, 2009, 8:32pm EDT
Thanks for posting this to my group "Eating While Broke"!!

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Make New Friends | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Health | Moms | Money | News | Politics | Spirituality | Sports | Travel | Writing
Version 16961, "Pacino"; Copyright © 2009 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.