I have a love-hate relationship with CVS

Let's talk CVS for a moment, shall we?

I like the extra care bucks ... I really do, but I have a hard time using them before they expire.

I like the deals, but I don't like all the calculating, counting, & strategizing.

I don't like getting my shopping scenario all planned out, coupons matched, etc ...
only to get there to find empty shelves where someone has bought the sale items in mass quantities.

I don't like that every.single.cashier has a different plan & program he/she follows.
One does things this way ... another does things totally different.
It's the same story from store to store.
One store follows one procedure ... & the next ... well, you get the idea.

Whew ... now that I've gotten all that off my chest ;)

I haven't been posting many things lately about saving money, couponing, or stretching my bucks,
but I have been getting some decent deals.
Nothing too fantabulous, but saving a few dollars here & there.

I've not been major couponing since early fall & as I've said before, I do not miss it.
I do not get a 'high' from it ... there's no rush of exhiliration.
{ok, maybe the triple coupons deals ... those were pretty exciting, I'll admit}
I'm not chained to the internet to find every deal & chase it down.
None of those things.
It's lots of work, time-consuming, & sometimes frustrating.
I use coupons to, plain & simple, save a few dollars.
Sometimes it's just easier to head to Aldi & not have the coupon hassle.
Plus, I can get in & out of there in no time flat.
Time is money.

So, now that I've updated you a bit on what's been going on with me in this area of life,
I will share what I got yesterday at CVS & the whole reason I am posting this.

Here are the items I bought today for $4.30.

Pantene shampoo
Pantene conditioner
toothpaste
toothbrush
2 mouthwashes
2 Rimmel make-up products

Every item was on sale & I had a coupon for each one.
I used $24.75 in coupons -- $12 ECB's & $12.75 in manufacturer/CVS kiosk coupons.
AND, I got $5 back in ECB's to use the next time.
Not a super, super deal, but not a bad one either.


One last thing, I let $13 ECB's expire on accident.
This was the same $13 ECB that was already re-issued to me for letting it expire once before!
Good grief ... what is my problem?!
I HATE it when I do that. 
Herein is a perfect example of my ongoing love-hate relationship with CVS.
I HATE  having a clerk tell me in the store that I can't use my ECB
even if it only expired 2 days ago, when I know they usually take them
{especially when I only left the house -looking less than lovely- to go use this ECB!}
I also hate calling to beg ask for it to be re-issued.
But, thankfully, they did re-issue it ... again ;)
I will use it ON TIME this time around ... I promise.
All to save a buck or two.
Shaking my head ;)
I get on my own nerves.
When will I ever learn?

How about you?
Getting any great deals with coupons lately?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monday         Make It Yourself Monday        The Better Mom       C.R.A.F.T     Sunny Simply Life
Tuesday    Domestically Divine     A Bowl Full of Lemons    Titus Tuesday      A Stroll Through Life
Wednesday   Raising Homemakers        Savvy Southern Style         Adorned From Above
                   Women Living Well    Southern Lovely     The Thrifty Home
Friday    Happy-Go-Lucky     The Thrifty Groove      Farm Blog Hop
Sunday  Suburbsmama    Sew Many Ways