Things that make you go hmmm...

As you probably know, I am a HUGE fan of CVS! They pay me to buy things! How could you not love a store like that? The original reason for their existence though, was as a pharmacy. They also give Extra Bucks (effectively CVS cash) for taking your prescriptions there, so I dutifully obliged.

Most recently, Sean needed ear drops as his tubes are on their way out and there was a chance of infection. Drops were prescribed and called in, of course, to CVS. I showed up, paid my $25 (!!!) co-pay, and went merrily on my way. He needed them again this week so once again, I had the prescription called in to CVS. Unfortunately, this was setting up to be a busy week with the vacation looming, so I had them change it to Target as I needed many things from there for our trip. This was also handy as I had a coupon for Target that gave me a $10 gift card with any prescription! Can't beat that!

The pharmacist rang up Sean's prescription, handed me the gift card and said goodbye! I handed her my credit card and she said "Oh, there's no co-pay with that"!!!! Ummm...excuse me? CVS charged me $25 for this very same medicine! She double checked and sure enough, completely free!!! They paid me $10 to have Sean's prescription filled at their store!

Sorry CVS, I love you and all, but apparently being a competitive pharmacy is just not your thing. Thank you Target, I will be back.

Shame on those of you who doubt the sheer awesomeness of CVS!!!!!

So, I have explained my CVS obsession to some people but to others this is probably going to sound like a foreign language.... Read on though as it will knock your socks off!!!

CVS is the greatest place in the universe. It's a broke single mama's Disneyland! The rush you get after spending NO MONEY for LOTS OF STUFF really is comparible to the Tower of Terror!!! Today's trip was an especially fun trip....

ECB = Extra Care Bucks - simply put, you buy something from CVS that has an ECB promotion attached to it and a receipt spits out at the end of your transaction for the amount you earned. It's basically cash to spend on whatever you want.

B1G1 = Buy one get one free

Transaction #1:

Tums Quick Pack 24 count $4.69

Neutrogena Sunless Tan cream $9.99

Lysol Healthy Touch foam $1.99

I used:

$1 off manufacturers coupon for the Lysol

$2 off manufacturers coupon for the Neutrogena

$2.25 off manufacturers coupon for the Tums

$5 off $15 CVS coupon

$5 ECB

Paid $1.89 cash and earned $4.69 back in ECB from the Tums!

Transaction #2:

Tums Quick Pack 24 count $4.69

Neutrogena Sunless Tan foam $9.99

Lysol Healthy Touch foam $1.99

I used:

$1 off manufacturers coupon for the Lysol
$2 off manufacturers coupon for the Neutrogena

$2.25 off manufacturers coupon for the Tums

$5 off $15 CVS coupon

$5.58 ECB

I paid $1.27 cash and earned back $4.69 for the Tums and $5 for buying over $15 of Neutrogena in ECB's...however since the Neutrogena ECB did not print, they gave me $5 cash, and I completed the rest of my purchases with that!

Transaction #3:

Excedrin 24 ct $1.99

Lumene facial exfoliator $9.99

Lumene face mask Free (B1G1)

Kids Tums 36 ct $4.99

I used:

$2 off manufacturers coupon for the Excedrin, making it -0.01!!

$2 CVS coupon for Lumene

$2 CVS coupon for the Lumene

$4 Target coupon for Lumene - our CVS's take competitors coupons now!!!!!!

$5 off $15 CVS coupon

I paid $2.25 in cash (from the $5 given to me for the Neutrogena). No ECB's earned I will be sending in for my FULL REBATE for the kids Tums! $4.99 back for the measly cost of a stamp!

Transaction #4:

6x Sobe Life Water $1 each

Excedrin 24 ct $1.99

Oral-B Cross Action toothbrush $2.99

Lumene face mist $7.99

Lumene eye makeup remover Free (B1G1)

Lysol Healthy Touch foam $1.99 (Sean and I use a LOT of this stuff!)

I used:

3x Buy One Get One coupons for the Sobe water

$1 off manufacturers coupon for the toothbrush

$2 off manufacturers coupon for Excedrin (making it -0.01!)

$2 CVS coupon for Lumene

2x $4 Target coupon for Lumene

$5 off $15 CVS coupon

I paid 87 cents (with my Neutrogena money) and earned back $1 EBC for the toothbrush and $3 ECB for the Sobe waters (it was buy 2 get $1). Plus, I had $1.88 REAL cash left over from the Neutrogena mishap! WOO HOO!!!!!

Isn't that just unbelieveably awesome????? CVS, you are the bomb, baby!!! Jenny, I owe you my sanity for introducing me to this!!!

To learn more about how to CVS, see Money Saving Mom's CVS 101 here: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2008/03/cvs-101.html

Just in case you were wondering what the red hammer looking thing is in all the pics, it's , well, a red wooden hammer....Sean insisted that it be in the photos!

And to top it all off, here is a pic of Sean from the playground on Tuesday: