I + CVS(long post)

Today I officially had my Best Couponing Receipt ever! I was a little bored this afternoon and decided I needed to update my look. A really quick, and inexpensive way to do this is to buy a new Lipstick.

I love lipsticks. Girls my age don't wear them anymore... only lip gloss... But I always have at least 2 lipsticks with me, and apply them liberally. When I was growing up my girlfriends got in trouble for wearing make-up; but my Grandma was always telling me, "Put on some lipstick you look washed out." I headed over to the drug store to see what I could find.

I have decided that CVS is my favorite store ever!!! The value of my purchase was $109.18 and I only paid $38.41! Want to see how I did it? Keep reading...

Like I said, I went in for lipstick... but I came out with a few other things as well...

All Maybelline cosmetics were on sale so that helped sway me to buy some things. A few weeks ago I got a Colorsational Lipstick and loved it, so I went back tonight and got another one in Party Pink. I also got the Colossal Volume Mascara in Glam Black. This mascara is apparently 9X the volume, and my current mascara is only 7X... Upgrade. I also got a new eyeshadow palate to try, Eyeshadow Quad in Natural Smokes. Now for the savings...

I had 3 coupons with me. The first was a B1G1 (buy one get one free) Maybelline Eye Product. The other two were each for $1 off of 1 Maybelline product. I ended up getting $1 off the Lipstick and $1 off the mascara. I got the eyeshadow for FREE. I paid $12.48 for all three products.

This week all Revelon eye and lip products are B1G1. I also had (3) $1 off coupons. I bought two Super Lustrious Lipsticks in Pink Velvet and Berry Rich (I got $1 off one and the other for FREE). I'm obsessed with Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Sueded Brown (I borrow my mom's daily, so I figured I should get my own). I used my $1 off coupon, and got the Colorstay Lipliner in Pink for FREE. I also bought nail clippers (used my $1 off coupon) and got a Universal Pencil Sharpener for FREE. All in all I spent $16.97 for 6 products.

I found a $3 coupon for any Loreal product on a package of hair dye my mom had under her sink. I used it to buy an Infinite Eyeshadow Single in Frosted Icing. Because it was on sale for $2.49 (with my CVS card) I basically got it for FREE.

Pretty much the only thing in my whole purchase I paid full price for was my Burt's Bees Lip Balm... but it was only $2.99 so I don't feel terrible.

There were a few household sales I couldn't pass up... Softsoap hand soap was B1G1, and I had a $1 coupon. I paid $1.99 for the 2 of them.

Fabreeze Air effects was also on sale for $2.99 each (normally around $4 and change or more)! For these, I had a few coupons... First, I had (2) coupons for $1 on 2. I also had (2) B1G1 coupons. I ended up paying $3.98 for all 4 sprays. Do you believe it!? I got 4 for less than the price of 1!

Last buy not least, I got everything you see here. All CVS brand, I'm not picky and I don't always NEED the brand name. For example I compared the cotton swabs with brand name Q-tips. For 375, Q-tip brand wanted $3 something; CVS wanted $1.99, so even though I had a $0.30 off coupon for the Q-tip brand , it made more sense to go generic. Plus when I compared them side by side, the generic brand was "fluffier." I also bought CVS Eye Makeup Remover ($3 less than Physicians formula, $2 less than Maybelline and I got 1.5 more ounces), and cotton balls.

My other two purchases are not because I suddenly had a baby. I bought the Baby Shampoo to clean my make up brushes... apparently it works better than those pricey brush cleaners (I used to have the one from Bare Essentuals, $14 for 4oz). I also bought CVS Soft Cloths. I first tried these when I went camping a few months ago and let me tell you, they are fantastic! I refuse to use toilet paper after a #2. I know, I'm sorry TMI... Seriously though, they are quite large, they don't smell funny and I feel so pampered when I use them.

The best part is, I got everything you see above for FREE!!! How you ask?

There's a little known CVS trick available to CVS cardholders. Every time I go into the store, before I do anything else, I go to the little red scanner thing and scan my CVS card to get 2-3 printed coupons. They're usually good for a few weeks and are often things like $5 off a $20 purchase, or Free CVS Brand Product. I also keep ALL of my CVS receipts in my wallet because there are usually 2 coupons printed at the bottom of each one.

I had in my coupon collection (3) $5 off $20 purchase, so I used them. The total cost of items pictured above is only like $11 and change so because I didn't use all of the value of my coupon, the extra money was put on my card for a discount next time!!!!

It seems like Ina is always working when I shop {and yes, we are on a first name basis} She loves to see how much I save and then she brags about it to other shoppers. While I was checking out, she gave me these... They are available to everyone, SO GET ONE or two...

The first is the CVS "Christmas Catalogue". Basically it just shows the awesome sales that will last until the end of the year, there are also coupons inside. The other one is a coupon book with literally $100 worth of savings. I flipped through it and the coupons are for stuff I actually use, which is awesome. Also if you shop at CVS from now until the end of the year, you'll get double rewards points (4% back on everything you spend, this is what is printed in coupon form on your receipts).

If anyone is interested in starting to coupon, or if you have questions please ask. It is so So SO easy and the savings are so worth it!