News Flash! Publix now accepts CVS coupons!!

So, I’d heard from my friend, Tahsha, that she was getting amazing deals on groceries at Publix using her $4/$20 coupons from CVS as well as Walgreens and other pharmacy coupons. However, I was so sad to try my own hand at it, and find out that they did NOT accept pharmacy coupons – only other grocery store competitors like Food Lion, Bloom’s, Bi-Lo, etc.

After doing a little talking to some district managers, store managers, and cashiers, I was pleased to get a call from Stuart at the McBee Station Publix (the downtown one!) telling me that after talking with his district manager about it, they decided that they should take CVS coupons for like items they sale in their store (Groceries and health and beauty items). YIPPEE!! THis means we can use TRIPLE coupons at Publix – Store couons, Manufacturer’s coupons, AND competitors coupons. . .. oh boy. . . can you tell I’m excited?!?!?

Here’s a roundup of what their current policy is. Remember, this was only confirmed at the McBee station Publix in Greenville, so I’m not sure what the policy is in other stores, but you could always refer them to this store if you’d like! (And anytime you see a “Stuart” walking around, give him a big thank-you!)

*Publix will double coupons up to $0.50

*Publix puts out their own coupons in the Sunday and Wednesday paper as well as in their in-store ads in the front of the store.

*Publix will take competitors coupons like Food Lion, Kroger (if there’s one nearby), and now (at McBee station only) CVS and Walgreens!! Also keep in mind that if you sign up for a “Breeze card” with Bloom’s, you can get some $10/$40 purchase coupons to use as well (these are sent to your mailbox)!

* Publix will allow you to use up to 3 different categories of coupons on one item – only your total cannot be negative.

Publix also has a great Baby Club that you can join to get awesome coupons as well for things like $3/$10 dairy purchase or coupons from the meat department and deli. You can sign up for those here

$120 spent at CVS? No Way! Only $18. :)

So, it’s been awhile since I posted some CVS deals – I kinda took a little break. . . and now I’m regretting it because I missed out on the amazing diaper deals 2 weeks ago.  But, we all know they’ll be back, so I’ll just have to bear buying regular diapers at regular prices with coupons at Wal-Mart for a while.  (Can you hear my sighs!) 

On a good note, though – here’s the deals I struck last night!   It was a lot of fun, and I love watching the cashiers go – WOW!  How do you do this?   I have chosen to keep my favorite CVS store a secret (because I know you guys – you will all come get the deals while I’m reading the paper or something!)  But, one thing that’s really helped me only have to go to one CVS is to find out when they restock their shelves.  My particular store is on Thursday mornings, so I try to go during Chris’ lunch break – or after he gets off work.  And EVERYTHING I need is there – I haven’t missed anything yet!

Here’s a picture of what I got: sorry the pitures a little fuzzy – I had to use my husband’s camera phone for it!

Here’s the breakdown!

Transaction #1:

2 Colgate Totals $2.99 each (2 Coupons -$1.50 each) + $2 ECB for each one

1 Colgate Max Fresh $2.99 (1 coupon -$.50) + $2 ECB for each one

1 Oral B Twin Pack Toothbrushes $6.99  + $6.99 in ECB’s for each set

2 Zooth Hello Kitty Twin Pack Toothbrushes $4.99 each (BOGO free coupon -$4.99) + $2 ECB’s for each set

I used $6.00 in ECB’s on this transaction from last week’s game!

TOTAL OOP: $13.92

TOTAL ECB’s Earned: $16.99 

Transaction #2:

1 Bounty 8 pk Paper Towels $5.49 (Coupon – $.25)

2 Charmin 12 rolls ($5.99 each) (coupon – $.25)

1 Duracell AA 12 pack 6.74 each (coupon – $.75) +$10 in ECB’s from buy $20 in Charmin, Bounty, Duracell, get $10 ECB’s back.

I used my ECB’s from the last transaction!

TOTAL OOP: $1.13

TOTAL ECB’s Earned: $10.00

Transaction #3:

1 Aussie Shampoo $2.99 each + earned $2.00 ECB

8 Soy Joy Bars $1.00 each + earned $1 ECB each

2 ALL Detergent $6.49 each (BOGO FREE – $6.49 – 2 ALL coupons $1.00 each)

I used my $10.00 ECB’s here

TOTAL OOP: $5.48

TOTAL ECB’s Earned: $10.00

Transaction #4:

2 CVS Bandages $1.99 each + earned $1.99 ECB’s for each box

1 Oreo cookie box (for my husband who lets me do this crazy stuff!) $1.00

I used only my $2.00 ECB’s here.

TOTAL OOP: $3.13

ECB’s Earned: $3.98

KEY TO IT ALL: I now have $13.98 in ECB’s to use next week, which is more than I started with!

I also got a few good deals at Walgreens on the milk, nuts, plates, and the mac n cheese – you can read about it here.  So, it was a fun day!

Spend $10 and make $52? Plus walk out with $112 worth of stuff?

So, here’s how I fared. I ended up spending a little more than I had intended – partly because the cashier, in her attempt to be helpful, ended up scanning my mom’s card and my card for different transactions, meaning some offers weren’t necessarily reached, and the ECB’s didn’t print at the right time. Still a great day, though! I ended up spending $10 OOP, and got $112 worth of stuff, and I’ll get $52 in rebate checks in a few weeks. I’m happy!

> “Chloe needs free diapers” Deal!

1 pkg. Playskool Diapers (9.99)

2 pkgs. Playskool wipes (3.49 each)

TOTAL: 16.97

- $3/$15 CVS coupon

- $2/1 coupon for diapers

- 2 1 $1/1 coupon for wipes (I could only use one )

TOTAL OOP (But I used GIft Card for 16.97!) $10.97

Total Left over: $6 Gift Card total

> “Daddy and Mommy need stuff, too” deal

Just for Men Haircolor (not really for him, but I make money off of it, so I’m buying it! ) $7.99

2 Speed Stick Deoderant (BOGOfree!) $2.79 for both

Softsoap SPA Body Wash $4.99 They were out of this, so I bought some things we “needed” – a Pepsi, a Mtn. Dew, and some milk.  Didn’t get my ECB’s, but that’s ok.

TOTAL: $15.77 + tax

- $3.00 CVS coupon

- $2.00 off Just for Men Coupon (+ rebate here)

- $1.00 off Softsoap Spa Radiant Body Wash Coupon

- $0.75 coupon for deoderant from 4/27 paper

- $1.00 off coupon for deoderant printable!

TOTAL OOP = $9.02

- $7.00 Gift Card remainder

= $2.02 + tax

Extra Care Bucks (ECB’S) Earned from this deal: $12.98 7.99 + $7.99 rebate for JUST FOR MEN = $20.97 I get paid for shopping! 

> “I just want more ECB’s’ Deal

2  Post it Notes – $5.00

4  Post it Flags  – $10.00

2 PalmOlive Dish Soap (BOGOfree!) – $1.39

TOTAL = $16.39 + tax

- $3/15 CVS Coupon

- 2 $3/2 Post it Flags Coupon + REBATE for MacDonald’s Gift Certificates

- $0.25 Palmolive dish soap coupon (4/27 paper)

TOTAL OOP = $5.14 + Tax

I paid cash for these.

I just earned $5.00 in ECB’s + I will get $10.00 in MacDonald’s Gift Certificates!

BUT WAIT!  I’M NOT DONE YET!

> “So, I’m just really trying to get to know the cashier” deal

1 One Touch Glucose Monitor (Missionaries could use this!) $29.99

1 Neosporin $2.99 (?)

1 Benadryl Topical $3.49 (?)

1 Purell – $3.49 (?)

TOTAL: $39.96 + tax

- 1 $3/15 CVS coupon

- 1 $4/20 CVS welcome coupon

- $20/1 coupon in 4/27 paper

- $1 coupon for Benadryl (4/27 paper)

- $0.50 coupon for Neosporin (4/27 paper)

- $1 Purell coupon (4/27 paper)

TOTAL OOP = $10.44 + Rebate in package for $29.99!!

Pay with ECB $7.99 = $2.45 OOP + tax

And I earned another $5.00 in ECB for next week!

 

I think I’m done now – by this time, I think the dear cashier will want to throw me out of the store!   Here’s a summary of how I’ll do (if it all works out!):

Total merchandise value: $112.25

Total Spent with my spare change after coupons and ECB’s : $9.50 ish+ tax

“Leftovers” : $5.00 ECB’s for next week

Rebates that I’ll send off for: $10.00 in MacDonald’s Gift Certificates, $29.99 Mail In Rebate for Glucose Monitor, $8.00 Mail In Rebate for Just for Men = $47.99

IN OTHER WORDS – I JUST GOT PAID $52.99 TO SHOP AT CVS AND WALKED OUT WITH ALL OF THAT STUFF!  THAT’S THE SAME AS ROBBING A STORE AND A BANK ON THE SAME DAY. . . AND IT WAS ALL LEGAL – not to mention, super fun !!!