Tips: seedlady's wagon train (a guide for newbies.)

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by cag seedlady...what is the off/on list method?

well. let's use tonight's target shop.

i went in with a coupon for a free joint juice, and a 25 dollar gift card, which had to all be spent.

thus, my off column was 25.99.

i needed to spend at least 25.99, and buy one joint juice.

i put joint juice into the cart.

my on column had 99 cents in it.

i added 2 packs of airborn at 5.99 each. so the on column was 12.97.

i needed to spend another 13.03, so i chose 4 packs of granola bars, 2.33 each, and needed about 3.50 more, so i picked up 2 packs of cereal bars at 1.59 each and had to pay 1.0something from a gift card. ( mostly tax, which i didn't add in.) i did all the math in my head, and got 63 cents back after being overcharged on one cereal bar.

[shannon1189]

I gave the Bayer Meter to my mom, she can use it. Now she can keep that one at work. I am going to get my grandmama one also.I did not notice a $5 ebc though.

[sadlady12]

Seedlady, first THANK YOU for doing this thread! It's been such a wonderful help to me in trying to learn how to shop CVS.

This may not be the place to post, if not, please feel free to move it to an appropriate place.

I'm extremely upset with myself and very discouraged. I unintenionally let about 40 bucks of ecbs expire. I know, I should be shot and drug through the mud. :( I am now finding it very hard to get back into it. I can't help but keep thinking about that 40 bucks. I find myself checking the weekly ads and just getting so frustrated because I have no ecbs to work with and have been used to having such low OOP that I don't wanna spend a lot to get going again. According to insert previews there should be a BOGO on soyjoy coming soon. I have a raincheck for 20 free after ecb soyjoys that I've been holding onto. Maybe that will get me going again, I'm hoping, lol. What I wouldn't give for a 4/20 to help me out a little more. Is this the best way for me to get going again or is there a cheaper way?

Also, with the monitor deal coming, I have a question. I have a few copies of the monitor coupon, should I use them all on this ecb deal coming or maybe hold back some for a better deal? It seems like the monitors were free after ecb a while back and then came out for 10 ecbs, now it's down to 5? Is that typical?

[lovely1tc]

Thx for the info. I thought you had to buy all $20 worth of stuff at once. ooh wee that's makes me HAPPY! :) Now I can purchase throughout the week.

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by Iloveisla VERY new at this...do you get ecb put on your card or are they at the bottom of the receipt? Do they accumulate on your card or do you have to keep track of the receipts?

they print at the bottom of the receipt like teeny tiny gift cards. you cut them out and spend them.

[karaboo]

Newbie...and totally addicted now.

I made my list and drug (dragged?) DH to CVS with me. I saw his mouth twitching...he was afraid we were going to have to mortgage the house. I was so proud to watch my total go from @$60 to @$20...and then get $15 ecb back.

Thank you, Seedlady, for a delightful, informative thread.

[aneesha33]

Seedlady can you help me??? Is this right???

Today I went to my planned transaction and they had everything I wanted. Here it is:

santa hat 3.99
Essence of beauty 4.99
2 mini ornaments 3.98
meter 14.99
bic razor 6.99

I had a RC for for the bic (BF ad) but my RC was for 2. I only wanted to use 1. The MOD said I had to do it all at once. So I went ahead with my transaction.

I know in the past I have redeemed 1 and then they wrote a RC for the other. Is this a YMMV situation or should I be able to fight this??? Or from now on should I just say I only want 1????

I also did a raincheck for 2 of the Accuchek meters from last week. I only bought 1 as well and they took my RC.

Im really disappointed because this totally screws up my scenarios:sad:

[seedlady]

one of my stores writes another rc for the "change" and one insists i buy all of them or lose the rest. i called, and cs said each store can decide.

you might want to call 1-800-shop-cvs and ask. at least then it would go on record as making you unhappy.

[dionada]

This thread has been so informative!

I got lots of good advice and I actually went to CVS earlier tonight. My OOP was a little higher than the recommendations, probably because as a n00b I have relatively few coupons (and, also, I'm sure, because I wanted to go ahead and get my card and join in the fun). I think I did get pretty good deals on things I need (like the Pantene worked out to $2 each). Altogether I spent $12.50 and saved nearly $18. Baby steps, I guess. I got $4 ECBs to get myself started, though, so woohoo.

I've really gotten addicted to this couponing business. Funny thing is, I worked at CVS until 2001, and when I left they were just rolling out the ExtraCare business and I never thought it'd last. When I quit, I was 19 and probably secretly rolled my eyes at many a "crazy coupon lady". Never thought I'd want to be one, or that I'd get the idea from my little sister.

In the interest of gender equality, I know there are "crazy coupon dudes", but I only ever saw one. He kept his in a fanny pack. :shrug7:

Wow, how OT am I? seedlady, you're a genius. Thanks to all others who posted tips.

[seedlady]

well, wagon train riders, it's been a wonderful year. this started the very end of 2008, to answer a few questions, and we have traveled together the whole of 2009.


as we enter 2010, my wish is that we will continue the good work, helping others, and saving whole suitcases full of money.

happy new year, and happy saving.