CVS -seedlady's wagon train (a guide for newbies.)

[seedlady]

today we look at the OTHER symbol down at the bottom left. we have done the online icon (person), and the rep button (scales).

today, meet "uhoh, better tell the mod".(triangle).

if something is seriously wrong, and you want it reported, click on the triangle, and make a note of the problem. this generates a report file down in modland, AND an email to each forum mod. mind you, we want to hear about the problems, but don't overuse the button. it is for serious matters, not just to say you don't like her haircut. if someone ticks you off, just get over it. but, if it is really serious, go ahead and punch the button. i'd rather get 3 reports than no reports.

[momtoemryab]

Originally Posted by seedlady sure- don't buy things that aren't moneymakers! don't ever just randomly throw junk into the cart- their regular prices are way high. i am trying hard to close out an account that has my name on it. i don't like the cashiers to call me by name. so i figure i'll switch to one that says i'm "valued customer". i had 12 dollars in it, spent it down to 9, and today i spent the 9 and got back 6. i bought olives and tuna with the extra 3 dollars, so i'm happy. it looks like in 2-3 weeks i can empty this one. i have another account started that will be used at this store, but i want to dump one before i switch over. i've been spending bucks and not getting any in return, so i'm down to maybe 30 or 40 bucks left. it's not like the old days.

k,seedlady. i need more.
i'm having the same problem as the other poster -- i just can't seem to "bank" many bucks. on a good week, i carry maybe 5 til the next week. i do lots of of multiple transactions at a few different stores (trying to be on the down low!) i'm getting good deals, using qs, and usually have a pretty low oop--many times i spend nothing due to series buying.

i was seriously contemplating having a huge oop this week just so i can build my bank and "start over" with all the bucks i can get on on the 8/2 flyer (about $50).

i feel like i have done something wrong and i don't know how else to "fix" it.

help!

[seedlady]

wait, Wait, WAIT:


the object is not to collect bucks, the object is to get things you need without spending much from your personal budget.

there is never any point in intentionally tying up your money in cvs money, which can only be spent at cvs. keep your greenbacks free, so you can use them anywhere.

having 100 carebucks will do you NO good when you pull into taco bell, hungry.

[momtwoangels]

Edited to add: Ahhhh, while I was on the phone seedlady responded . Good to know I wasn't missing something!

Originally Posted by momtoemryab i'm getting good deals, using qs, and usually have a pretty low oop--many times i spend nothing due to series buying. i feel like i have done something wrong and i don't know how else to "fix" it. help!

I'm a newbie who has been CVSing for almost 4 weeks. I'm using 2 cards, and having fun learning the ropes and getting some GREAT deals. Sounds like you are doing the same I guess I'm wondering why the need to build up ECBs or "fix" something. If more ECBs will help you get more or better deals, I can see why, but I don't see how that helps. By getting the deals, using qs, and have a low OOP it sounds like you are doing it right
This next week will be a big one for me. I've planned out my transactions, making the most of my ECBs and coupons (which I think is key). I'll be purchasing $141.18 in merchandise, and I'm beginning with ECBs of $16.92 (total of my 2 cards). I'll have to pay tax on the whole thing (about 11.28, but it's an estimate since I shop in 2 different stores that tax different amounts). My OOP will be the tax plus 10.72. My earned ECB total after my shopping trip - $29.82.
So, although my OOP sounds high at $22, most of that is tax, and I'll be $12.90 ahead on my ECBs. THAT makes this girl happy!

Am I missing something? Is there a reason to have bigger ECB balances?

[momtoemryab]

on the scenarios threads, i see the pros posting their deals where they are plunking down 10 or 20 ecb in one transaction, with low oop, and earning back close to the same in ecbs. i guess i just assumed i would eventually be able to go to 1 store, do 1 transaction, and still get deals AND ecb's.

but i guess free and cheap is the goal...i guess it's too much to ask for it to be easy, too!

[seedlady]

i'm not big on scenarios.

they get all involved and convoluted, and then people come back in and say, well, they were out of this and this, so i had to.....

i just circle what i'm interested in, or list them on scratch paper, and paperclip the relevant coupons to the paper, and do the math in the store.

that way, if they are out of corn, i can choose green beans. and i don't have to add and re-add $1.98 and $4.59 minus $1, but wait, i can't use that coupon because....so, $1.98 and.........


i throw the 6 things into my cart, and head for the pharmacy waiting area. then i add what i HAVE, and do my figuring.

[nmeadows0101]

this is true


having 100 carebucks will do you NO good when you pull into taco bell, hungry.

[momtwoangels]

seedlady, I've heard others that like that method too. I usually have my 2 kids (distractions) with me, and it's easier for me to have my game plan written out. That way, if something is out of stock (although I've not had problems with stock of anything in the month I've been shopping) I can scratch it out on my list, and substitute/rewrite my scenario, or just not do that deal. Maybe someday I can relax and do it on the fly, lol.
As a side note - I was worried about using 16 coupons on 16 items this week. Hubby went in the store with me (because he just couldn't believe what I was doing, lol) and was amazed that they accepted it. The cashier handed me my bag and said "you got a great deal there!" Hubby thinks she'll be sick of me in a few weeks ;)

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by momtoemryab i guess that's what i'm "doing wrong" -- i don't do the meters or the other mm's unless i also want the product. so there's the answer, i guess...bc i WANT the things i'm getting, i tend to roll all my bucks in the same week and have to "start over" each week at zero. i think i will make an effort to "save" bucks this week so i have at least 10 going into next week. my goal is to always have low oop, and right now, i always have at least one transaction that's over $5 oop (usually my first and/or my last transaction of the sale). i'm doing lots of deals tomorrow, so i will fight the instinct to spend every last ecb! then, i'll have to fight it every week if i want low oop's the following week....give me strength!!

i've been trying to think of an analogy for the moneymakers. let's see if this works.

suppose you go to mcds for lunch, and they have a special deal. if you buy a burger and a drink, you get back a coupon for a free burger, fries and drink, and you can use it once a week for a year. you don't want the drink.

you only want the burger.


would you add in the drink?


in my world- in a heartbeat! because over the year, i will get back much more in value than i spend on the drink. ( and at some point, i will realize that the drink would include milk, which i could bring home and put on cereal.)

and that's why i buy the moneymakers .



let's take some random week. suppose there was a deal on visine. if visine was 4 dollars each, and paid back in carebucks, and i had coupons:

this is what i would think:

i don't use visine.

but, if i bought 3 of them, and used 3 coupons, i think i would pay about 3 dollars, and i get back 10. woo hoo. then i realize- there is a 3/12 coupon in that new booklet, so if i buy FOUR, i can use it, and pay pretty well nothing, and get back 10. let the dancing commence.



then, the next week , i take visine to farmers market, and hope to trade it for a case of plums, some potatoes, and maybe a lettuce or two.


i see no flaw in this plan. ( visine- get it? )



but, if you don't use visine, you pass on it, and you pay 10 oop the next week at cvs to start over.

[loveebella]

Originally Posted by momtoemryab just thought i'd share this, since you've all put up with my whining for the past few days... it didn't take a case of visine falling on my head....it was nutriserums that did the trick! i bought the limit on 2 cards and spent $6.00 after ecb and q's (can't seem to find all the receipts to give the exact figure). then i did the following transaction (leaving out the tax info bc i don't get it - but it seems like i only pay tax on the subtotal): 7 lysol neutra airs 21.00 (need this badly - 2 cats and lots of diapers) 1 cvs aspirin 1.99 1 ge laffy taffy .99 1 ge cow's tails .99 1 pack of m&m's .89 (shut my son up, so they are actually priceless) SUBTOTAL 25.86 - 4.00 (redi-fill q) - 10.50 (7 x 1.50 neutra qs) - 1.99 (free cvs aspirin crt) - 1.00 (1.00 off 2 ge candy) TOTAL 8.37 paid with 8 ecb and .37 oop, earned 10 ecb i have seen the light!

YOU DID IT! YOU DID IT! YEAH!!
I try to only "buy" money makers or break even. The 2nd post on this thread says you should only use 10-20$ to start at CVS and from then on out it should be mostly tax oop. There are times when I spend real money like today I spent almost 5.00. I got 3 Visine wipes 2 NutriSerums 1 jumbo O.B. and 2 bags of G.E candy. I started with 1.00 ecb and 1.91 on a gift card. I ended with 0 ecb but I was trying to kill this card,which I did and got stuff I will use and for cheap:)
I would have spent around 4.00 but I bought the candy becaue my boys were so used to the free nuts.Everytime we passed a CVS my boys said peanuts mom. The candy made them chill out too