Welcome, my fellow CVS fanatics! It’s Sunday, time for another CVS $5 Challenge. We continue to grow! Last week there were 21 participants– another record!
I am super excited about this week, since I see several options for low OOP. This is a great week for newbies!
If you are a first time visitor, here’s the lowdown:
Join me on Sundays as I host The $5.00 CVS Challenge!
Seasoned CVSers: share your best scenario(s) for the upcoming week at CVS.
Your budget: $5.00 out-of-pocket cash.
Your mission: to grow that $5.00 into even more ECBs to use in upcoming weeks.
Simply post your scenarios on your blog (you are welcome to grab the button by right-clicking on on it and saving), then drop by Keeping the Kingdom First and add your permalink to the Mr. Linky box.
Please link directly to your post, not your homepage. It would be lovely if you would also link back to The CVS $5 Challenge in your post.
If you have any questions about linking, please feel free to email me!
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*Note about sale dates: “Be sure to look carefully at your CVS ad this week since CVS has changed the sale dates in several test markets, including Dallas/Ft. Worth. In these markets, the sale will run Friday-Thursday, rather than Sunday-Saturday. From what I hear, CVS plans to try this out for six weeks and then evaluate whether to apply these new sale dates nationwide.”
*RULES*
1. Come up with your best scenario/scenarios for the upcoming week at CVS using the current weekly ad, monthly deals, and coupons available. Your budget for Out of Pocket (OOP) expenses on the first transaction is only $5.00 (either cash OOP or ECBs on hand).
2. Using up to (3) scenarios (we don’t want to overwhelm the newbies with too many transactions), offer up your best scenarios to “grow” that $5.00 into more ECBs to use in following weeks.
3. If you want to divide your $5.00 allowance over the three scenarios to make them work, that’s fine!
4. Be sure to list coupons by inserts and/or with links to printables to make it easier for everyone to follow along.
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Here is MY scenario for the week of September 7th:
Transaction #1
Buy (1) L’Oreal Age Perfect, Revitalift or Skin Genesis Cleanser @ $5.99
Buy (1) Chex Mix @ $1.00
Use $1.00 L’Oreal coupon from 8/10 insert
Use $1.00 Chex Mix printable here
Total After Coupons= $4.99
ECBs Earned= $5.99
Transaction #2
Buy (1) Excedrin Migraine @ $1.99
Buy (1) Purex Laundry detergent @ $2.99 (hidden deal)
Buy (1) Right Guard Extreme or Sport @ $2.99
Buy a $1.50 filler of your choice
Use $2.00 printable Excedrin coupon here
Use $0.50 Purex coupon from 8/10 SS insert (or you may have received a coupon with this sample)
Use $1.00 Right Guard coupon from 8/10 SS insert
Pay with $5.99 ECBs from above
Total after coupons= ZERO OOP (possibly tax, varies regionally)
ECBs Earned= $3.00
Grand Total OOP= $4.99 or very close to it!
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There you have it! A new way to play the CVS ECB game by helping newbies learn the ropes. And who knows – you just might be inspired yourself by some of the deals you find, too!
Don’t have a blog? You can leave a comment with your scenario, too. I invite everyone to participate in The $5.00 CVS Challenge – no deal is too small, believe me!
By the way, we bloggers LOVE to get comments, so please do take a moment to spread a little comment love. Thanks!
Do CVS extra bucks expire? I never shop at CVS, but am inspired to start!
Hi Sheri! Yes, they do expire, but you have a whole month to use them. Most serious CVS shoppers shop every week, so it is not an issue.
I hope you will give it a try!
I went to CVS today(09/07) and bought 2 Herbal Essences shampoos for $2.49 each. I used two $2.00 coupons and paid $.98. I got back an ECB for $2.00 and a coupon for $4.00 off my next order.
Hey Alyssa!
I thought it would be fun to play along, since my transaction came in under $4 this time! I wish I’d been able to get some milk though. They actually had a gallon that had expired yesterday, but they would not let me get it. They aren’t allowed to sell expired milk; instead they have to pour it down the drain! I said, “That is such a shame!” I tried my best to convince them to let me just have it, but they wouldn’t budge. What a waste. Oh well. I did get some good deals though 😉
Hey Alyssa, do you know if CVS is taking comments about the test market dates? I also live in texas, and am not real fond of the friday-thursday dates. Mostly because i live an hour from a cvs and it is in the town where i work, but i work most of the time Mon-Thursday. So i don’t get back up there until Monday, and some deals are over, and others are out of stock. Just isn’t fun.
Thought i would ask and see if you knew.
and THANKS for the website, i love it.
Hello, Thank you for the inspiration – my link actually shows not only my CVS but my Walgreens and KMART trip. This is AWESOME and my husband is hooked as well. I’m not sure if my CVS qualifies as my OOP was 7.83 but if you subtract my 5.00 ECB it is 2.83! This was my very first time to shop at CVS!
Now I know I’m not as crazy as my friends think I am!!
Thanks again!
I wanted to let folks know that I am noticing at some of the CVS stores, there are CVS coupons tucked in front of products that are on sale. I’ll bring them with me to the counter when I go to cash out and see if the cashier will allow both my manuf Q and the CVS Q — so far, they’ve always allowed both! Once I got an extra $2 off Olay body wash and another time (today) I got another $1 off Loreal Skin Genesis cleanser. A wonderful surprise!!
Hey Alyssa! I just got back from CVS, and they did not have Chex Mix on sale for $1, nor could I find Excederian Migrane for $1.99. I used the “Magic Scanner to be sure -the chex mix was $1.99 and the excederian migrane was $5.39.) What am I missing???
Am I correct in that the ECB is an instant credit on your CVS Extra Care card? I have a card, but have never really shopped there. Thanks!
I love reading everyone’s $5 CVS deals. It’s great inspiration!
The only thing I don’t like is people who “double-dip” when they post their savings. Some bloggers give themselves credit for their ECBs when they earn them, and then turn around and give themselves credit for the same ECB when they use it to buy something else. Why do they do this?
Hi Alyssa,
I have been CVSing for almost a month now. I stumble across your page a couple of weeks and it helped me so much! THank you for your tips and $5 challenges. Shopping at CVS is a hooby of mine, now… I love it! I walked out today with Loreal Skin Genisis Cleanser, Revlon Nail Polish, BOGO Schick Razors, Right Guard Deo, Renezit Tri Scents, and 3 pack of Refillable Pampers Baby Wipes. After coupons and ECB I spent $7.40 (on a gift card from tranferring a prescription). I needed the razors and wipes, otherwise the OOP would have been less. Still I earned $13.99 in ECB!!! Whata steal! Can’t wait for the next ad… yay for CVS and using our noodles. 🙂