My $.51 CVS Trip - Totally Unplanned

I wasn't planning on stopping at CVS today. But I heard that the coupon printing machine in the store was printing out the quarterly ECBs this week. I've had to use most of my ECBs for necessities lately, so I really wanted to see how many I had coming for my quarterlies. (It was $12.50 by the way... evidence that we've been sick and had lots of prescriptions this quarter! Yikes!)

Since my roots were once again sparkling in the sunlight, I figured I'd pick up some hair color while I was there. And while I was at it, why not try to spend ALL $12.50 of those ECBs? I've never done this without a well-thought-out plan! But, hey, why not!?!?

Here's what I ended up with.

Starting ECBs: $12.50
Merchandise Value: $22.01
Out-of-Pocket Cost: $.51 (plus $.61 tax = $1.21)
Ending ECBs: $6.99
Savings: $21.50 (98%)

What I Bought:
1 Single-Serve Doritos* - $.99
1 20-ounce Diet Mt. Dew* - $1.59
3 Pantene Shampoo/Conditioner - $2.99 each
1 Colgate Total - $2.99
1 Stride Shift Gum - $.99
1 Garnier Hair Color - $4.99
1 Kotex Liners - $1.49

Coupons Used:
-$2.00 off x 3 Pantene coupons from Vocalpoint home mailer
-$1.00 off Colgate coupon from April All You Magazine
-$1.00 off Kotex printable coupon (no longer available)
-$1.00 off Kotex CVS printable coupon (no longer available)
-$12.50 ECBs

Out-of-Pocket Cost: $.51 plus tax

ECBs Earned:
$1.00- Doritos/Mt. Dew
$.99 - Stride
$2.00 - Colgate
$3.00 - Pantene ($1 each)

* I wasn't planning to buy the Diet Mt. Dew/Doritos combination. (Those pesky Diet Mt. Dews keep ending up in my shopping pictures, don't they!?) But in order to use the $12.50 ECBs without losing any of them (you don't get change from them), I needed a couple of small filler items. The cashier suggested the Dew/Doritos deal, because I would get another $1 ECB back. Good idea!

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