I have been asked to give step by step examples how I do my moneymaker scenarios to help people understand better. The first one I did with CVS didn't involve using Extra Bucks, but the one I did today did. This is what I did:

1. I had a $5 off a purchase of $30 coupon that I had received when I scanned my CVS card in the in-store machine (this is something that I do on every visit to CVS because you are never sure what type of coupon will pop out). My goal was to reach $25 in free / nearly free goods so that I could use the remaining $5 to purchase anything I wanted.

2. I looked at this week's CVS deals from what Niki had put together.

3. The first deal was a Complete Multi Purpose Contact Solution 12 oz Extra Buck moneymaker when using the 5/16 Red Plum Sunday newspaper coupon insert. Complete Multi Purpose Contact Solution 12 oz cost $7.99, but upon purchase you received $7.99 in Extra Bucks to use on your next purchase. The Red Plum coupon was worth $2.00 off which meant you paid $5.99 and received $7.99 in Extra Bucks back for the $2.00 moneymaker. I pulled the 5/16 Red Plum Sunday newspaper coupon insert off my shelf, found the coupon and cut it out:

contact lense coupon

4. The second deal was for a John Frieda Products moneymaker when using two John Frieda Root Awakening coupons from the 6/6 Smart Source Sunday newspaper coupon insert. John Frieda Root Awakening products cost $6.99 each or $10.00 for 2 and I would get $5.00 in Extra Bucks Back. The John Frieda Root Awakening coupon from the 6/6 Smart Source Sunday newspaper coupon insert was for $3.00 off which meant that if I used 2, I would paid $4.00 and received back $5.00 in Extra Bucks making it a $1.00 moneymaker. I pulled two 6/6 Smart Source Sunday newspaper coupon inserts off my shelf, found the coupon in each and cut them out:

John Frieda coupon

5. I calculated where I stood. Adding up the above products came to $21.97 ($7.99 + $6.99 + $6.99), so I needed $3.03 more to hit my $25.00 target.

6. My hope was to be able to take advantage of the M&Ms Pretzel rain check and coupons I had which would have added $8.90 to the total, but would be free for me:

cvs rain check

mm get one free

7. Knowing from experience that there was a good chance that the items I wanted to purchase might not be available, I also prepared some other alternative scenarios to reach the $25.00 goal.

8. The following items were all available with no manufacturer coupons needed which could help me reach the $25.00 goal:

Bausch & Lomb Biotrue Multi-purpose solution, 2 oz. – $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.99 Extra Bucks: Limit 2
Final Price: FREE!

CVS Pantiliners 22ct. – $0.50
Buy 2, Receive $1.00 Extra Bucks: Limit 3 free
Final Price: 2 FREE

Caliber Scissors – $0.99
Buy 1, Receive $0.99 Extra Bucks: Limit 1
Final Price: FREE!

PaperMate Pens 10 ct – $0.99
Buy 1, Receive $0.99 Extra Bucks: Limit 1
Final Price: FREE!

10. I decided to also prepare to use the Gillette Pro-Glide Razor deal with coupon from the 6/6 Proctor & Gamble Sunday newspaper coupon insert. The Gillette Pro-Glide Razor cost $9.97 and I would get $5.00 in Extra Bucks Back. The Gillette Pro-Glide Razor deal with coupon from the 6/6 Proctor & Gamble Sunday newspaper coupon insert was for $4.00 off which meant I would pay $5.97 and received back $5.00 in Extra Bucks. While not a money maker, the cost was relatively small and combined with the other moneymakers, I still would have about $5.00 to spend on anything. I pulled the 6/6 Proctor & Gamble Sunday newspaper coupon insert off my shelf, found the coupon and cut it out:

fusion razor coupon

11. With coupons and various possible ways to reach $25.00, I set off to CVS.

12. M&Ms Pretzels were still sold out so that immediately ruled them out as an option.

13. The Complete Multi Purpose Contact Solution 12 ounce was available so I put it in the basket.

14. The John Frieda Root Awakening products were available so I placed them into my basket.

15. The Bausch & Lomb Biotrue Multi-purpose solution, 2 ounce and CVS Pantiliners 22 count were both sold out.

16. The Gillette Pro-Glide Razor was available so I added that to put me above my $25.00 target.

17. I decided to get 2 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread with the overage I had (I am happy that I have been able to eat 100% whole wheat bread this entire challenge — although not a specific requirement, my sister said that she didn't want to see me eating white bread the entire time)

cvs whole wheat bread

18. While it wasn't necessary in this case, I asked the cashier not to total the transaction until after she scanned the $5 off $30 purchase coupon. This is just a good habit to get into so that it is easier to hit these purchase targets. When the cashier hits total, all the CVS discounts get taken out which can sometimes bring the total below the amount you need for the $x.xx off a purchase of $x.xx coupon to work.

19. I handed over $18.50 worth of Extra Bucks that I already had on hand (If I didn't have these, I would have had to pay this amount out of my pocket)

20. The total came to -$1.96, but because of $2.16 in state taxes, I had to pay $0.20

cvs receipt

21. In addition I received $18.99 back in Extra Bucks (the extra $1 Extra Buck came from using my green tag for the fourth time).

cvs extra bucks

22. Since I paid out $18.50 in Extra Bucks and $0.20 in cash and got $18.99 in Extra Bucks back, I actually made $0.29 on this transaction which must be used at CVS in the future.

The contact solution, shampoo and razor will all be donated to charities.

This is the current list of food I still have
This is the current list of what I have purchased:

Goal: 100 days eating on $1 a day
Current Money Spent: $46.90
Money Left to Spend: $53.10 ($5.83 must be spent at CVS)
Retail Value of Everything Purchased: $1313.34

************************

The Beginning ::: Day 72: Shopping Without Coupons

************************

Rebate Fanatic. Saving you money every time you shop online! Sign Up and Start Saving Today