CVS: No Extra Bucks, No Problem!

When I went to CVS last week, I used all my Extra Bucks. It was by accident, you see. I tried to buy the Paas Easter Egg Kits to roll some Extra Bucks, but the deal ended on Monday. I THOUGHT it was Monday, but in actuality, it was Tuesday! So the kind lady did a return for me and put the money on a gift card...it's all the same to me!

I made a return trip to CVS yesterday to do the great Diaper Deal! But me, not feeling well and tired from pregnancy #2, made some simple mistakes. My OOP could and SHOULD have been much lower, but I did things a little backwards. I did get 1 ECB from my quarterly spending, so I did have that to start with. Here are my 3 transactions:

#1
Easter Baskets 2 x $1.99
Easter Grass 2 x .79
-1 EB
TOTAL $4.88 on GC, nothing OOP
Earned 3.98 & 1.58 EB

#2
Huggies Gentle Wipes 3 x $5
Huggies Gentle Diapers $10
-$5/$25 from email
-$15 Gentle Care PRODUCT printable (no longer available)
-$5 Gentle Care DIAPER product printable (no longer available)
TOTAL (tax only ) $1.40 on GC, nothing OOP
Earned 10 EB

#3
Coke 3/$11
Mentos 3 x $1.69
-$2 Coke coupon from Kroger mailer
-$3 Mentos Coupons
-10 EB
TOTAL $1.49 on GC, nothing OOP
Earned 3 & 1 EB

SO, I have quite a few Extra Bucks left. Now I know it looks like some great transactions, but my OOP could have been lower. How?? Well, let me show you! The order you do transactions COULD save you some money!

#1
Huggies Gentle Wipes 3 x $5
Huggies Gentle Diapers $10
-$5/$25 from email
-$15 Gentle Care PRODUCT printable (no longer available)
-$5 Gentle Care DIAPER product printable (no longer available)
TOTAL (tax only ) $1.40 on GC, nothing OOP
Earned 10 EB

#2
Coke 3/$11
Mentos 3 x $1.69
-$2 Coke coupon from Kroger mailer
-$3 Mentos Coupons
-10 EB (from Trans #1), 1 EB from quarterly
TOTAL .42 on GC, nothing OOP
Earned 3 & 1 EB

#3
Easter Baskets 2 x $1.99
Easter Grass 2 x .79
- 4 EB (from previous trans)
TOTAL $1.67 on GC, nothing OOP
Earned 3.98 & 1.58 EB

My total OOP for my actual transactions was $7.77, and I have 9.56 EBs. If I did my order differently, my OOP would have been $3.49, and I would have $5.56 EBs. So I would have saved $4.28 , but I would have less EBs for next time*. I guess it all comes out in the wash, but none of it was "my money," so I'll just let it go and do better next time!!

*If you noticed, my difference in EBs is $4. Add 7% tax to that and it is $4.28!! There you go!

Now, if you need a little help learning the ropes of CVS, The Thrifty Mama has a great series going on right now. She taught me what I know, and has saved me LOTS of money. So go visit her series on From The Ground Up, and you'll learn all you need to know!