Inexpensive CVS Fillers

If you're fairly new to CVSing, you might be wondering what bloggers mean when they say they used items as "fillers". Why do you need to bump up your order total when the goal is to spend as little as possible?

Once you start CVSing, you'll begin to get coupons such as $4 off any $20 purchase. (You can get a $2 off any $10 purchase here.) In order to get the discount, you order total has to reach the specified dollar amount. I can't tell you how many times I've had an order worth $9.87, not allowing me to use the $2 coupon that I had. I had to find something inexpensive to get me to $10 so that I could save $2.

If you take a $2 off any CVS Skincare product coupon (here) with you, you have LOTS of options for padding your order. My favorite one lately has been handsoap. We were running low when I found this coupon, so it was helpful. In my example above ($9.87), I could add a $1.99 handsoap to my order, making it $11.86. Then, when I handed my coupons to the cashier, she removed $1.99 for the soap because of my skincare coupon. So it didn't cost me any more, and I got to use my $2 off a $10 purchase coupon. I also ended up with a bottle of handsoap, making the deal even better.

I've now realized that you can only have so many bottles of handsoap! You can also only donate so many. So I needed to start thinking of things that I could use to pad my order. I came up with a few ideas, and I wanted to share them with you. I'll break them down into two lists, one that will work with the CVS skincare coupon and one that is for other items (no coupons for these).

Skincare items - all CVS brand (Use $2 coupon):
handsoap $1.69-1.99
hand sanitizer $1.19
Cool Moisturizing beauty bar 2 pack $2.59
shave gel $2.29
aftersun wipes $2.49
2 oz. sunblock lotion SPF 30 $2.19
moist wipes refill pack $2.19
100% pure petroleum jelly $1.49
aloe vera gel 6 oz. $2.59
baby shampoo $2.89
baby powder $2.99
soft skin spray bath oil $2.99
hydrating body wash $2.99
bath baby powder $2.99

**NOTE: Your cashier will probably adjust your coupon down if you use it for items that cost less than $2. If your item is $1.49, they will take $1.49 off in coupons instead of $2.

Non-Skincare items:
CVS brand toothbrush $0.99
CVS brand pencils 10 pack $0.99
CVS cough drops 9 count $0.99
purse-sized tissue pack $0.50

You can also use a candy bar or pack of gum as a filler. I used this as a behavior reward for the first time today. My daughter and I shared a pack of M&Ms on the way home because she had been SOOO good! Eating this much candy at one time is a rare treat for her!

I also love the idea of asking the cashier what her favorite candy is. Use that as a filler and then leave it with her. That should make her smile!

What do you use as fillers? Have you found anything inexpensive that you don't mind buying regularly?