In total, I paid $17.01 OOP and $1.48 in sales tax for one Contrac Cold & Flu, one two-pack of soft white lightbulbs, one pack of Theraflu, one Aveeno leave-in conditioner, two Aveeno moisturizing lotions, two Clean & Clear face washes, and two Lubriderm intensive healing lotions. My OOP total was so high because *drum roll please*, I purchased much of this (at a steep discount) for the Johnson & Johnson Beauty for All Ages rebate. Between the J&J rebate and the SCR rebates, I will receive $19.99 back for this purchase, leaving me with a *PROFIT* of $1.50.

In total, I paid $6.97 OOP and $2.55 in sales tax for six Neosporin lip treatments, two Colgate toothpastes, two Triaminic thin strips, two Lubriderm lotions, two bar soaps, and five caramel candies (filler items!). I was also able to end the week with $21.00 in RRs, increasing my RR total by $5.00!

Though Rite Aid and CVS are my absolute favorite stores to coupon at, Walgreens has its moments– and this week was one of them. One of the quickest ways to my heart is through free or dirt cheap makeup, lotion, and lip treatments; boy did I hit the jackpot this week! I was also able to get rid of a $10.00 RR from Procter & Gamble, which was a relief. It’s difficult to roll such high-value RR, especially when they are from one of the biggest manufacturers!

Here is what I was able to get this week at Walgreens:

Transaction #1:

(2) Neosporin Lip Health @ $4.00

- (2) $3.00 printable coupons ( IE ) ( FF )

- will receive $3.00 RR

(2) Reach Total Care Toothbrush @ $3.99

- (1) $3.99 B1G1 coupon from 1/3 RP

- (2) $2.00/1 in-ad Walgreens coupon

(3) Revlon Matte Eyeshadow @ $4.99

- (2) $2.00/1 coupons from 12/13 SS

- (3) $3.00/1 in-ad Walgreens coupon

(1) Finish Electrasol Detergent @ $3.49

- (1) $2.50/1 coupon from 1/3 SS

- will receive $1.00 RR

(2) Glade Fragrance Collection, 2 0z. candles @ $2.50

- (1) $3.00/2 coupon from December’s All You magazine

- will receive $3.00 RR

(2) Jergens Natural Renewal Lotion @ $3.59

- (1) $3.00/2 from 12/6 SS

- will receive $5.00 RR

(2) Chips Ahoy, 6 oz.  @ $0.99

- will receive $2.00 RR

Subtotal: $13.11

5%/2.5% Sales Tax: $1.33

Total RR Used: $10.00

Total OOP: $4.44

RR Received: $14.00

Transaction #2:

(4) Reach Total Care Toothbrush @ $3.99

- (2) $3.99 B1G1 coupons from the 1/3 RP

- (4) $2.00/1 in-ad Walgreens coupons

(2) Chips Ahoy, 6 oz. @ $0.99

- will receive $2.00 RR

(2) Revlon Matte Eyeshadow @ $4.99

- (2) $2.00/1 coupons from 11/22 SS or 1/3 SS

- (2) $3.00/1 in-ad Walgreens coupon

Subtotal: $1.94

5% Sales Tax: $0.65

Total OOP: $2.59

RR Received: $2.00

In total, I paid $5.05 OOP and $1.98 in sales tax for two Neosporin lip treatments, six Reach toothbrushes, five Revlon matte eyeshadows, a 20 ct. Finish/Electrasol detergent, two 2 oz. Glade Fragrance Collection candles, two Jergens Natural Renewal lotions, and four 6 oz. boxes of Chips Ahoy. I was also able to end the week with $16.00 in RRs, increasing my RR total by $6.00! I spent far more OOP than I would’ve preferred, but I’m choosing to look at it as an investment for the year– I have more RR to roll now, and will not pay OOP in the future as a result.

Just as Rite Aid’s deals this week were amazing, so were the deals at CVS! Bonus Deals were in effect this week, which sweetened some of the regular ECB offers. I started the year with plenty of leftover ECBs ($16.99, which I spent on this week’s first transaction), so as I’m striving to do, I was able to pretty much just pay sales tax!

Here are the results of this week’s trip to CVS:

Transaction #1:

(2) Soy Joy, 6 ct. box @ $6.00 (limit 6)

- will receive (2) $6.00 ECBs

(2) Oust Air Sanitizer @ $3.99 (limit 6)

- (1) $3.99 B1G1 coupon from 1/3 SS

- will receive (2) $3.00 ECBs

(2) GE Energy Smart Bulb, 20W @ $2.99 (limit 1)

- (1) $1.00/1 printable coupon ( IE ) ( FF )

- will receive (1) $2.00 ECB

Subtotal: $17.98

5%/2.5% Sales Tax: $0.85

Total ECBs Spent: $16.99

Total OOP: $1.84

ECBs Received: $22.00 ($2.00 extra ECB from Fall Spending)

Transaction #2:

(1) Soy Joy, 6 ct. box @ $6.00 (limit 6)

- will receive (1) $6.00 ECB

(2) Oust Air Sanitizer @ $3.99 (limit 6)

- (1) $3.99 B1G1 coupon from 1/3 SS

- will receive (2) $3.00 ECBs

(11) Powerbars, Chocolate & Peanut Butter @ $1.00 (limit 1)

- (2) $1.00/5 coupon from 1/3 SS

- will receive (1) $5.00 ECB

Subtotal: $18.99

5%/2.5% Sales Tax: $0.82

Total ECBs Spent: $18.00

Total OOP: $1.81

ECBs Received: $17.00

Transaction #3:

(1) Soy Joy, 6 ct. box @ $6.00 (limit 6)

- will receive (1) $6.00 ECB

(2) Oust Air Sanitizer @ $3.99 (limit 6)

- (1) $3.99 B1G1 coupon from 1/3 SS

- will receive (2) $3.00 ECBs

Subtotal: $9.99

5%/2.5% Sales Tax: $0.47

Total ECBs Spent: $9.00

Total OOP: $1.46

ECBs Received: $12.00

Transaction #4:

(2) Soy Joy, 6 ct. box @ $6.00 (limit 6)

- will receive (2) $6.00 ECB

Subtotal: $12.00

5%/2.5% Sales Tax: $0.30

Total ECBs Spent: $12.00

Total OOP: $0.30

ECBs Received: $12.00

In total, I paid $2.97 OOP and $2.44 in sales tax for six boxes of Soy Joy bars (36 bars in total), eleven Power Bars, six Oust Air Sanitizers, and a CFL lightbulb. I was also able to end the week with $24.00 in ECBs, increasing my ECB total by $7.01! What a great way to start the year at CVS! (I know my husband is happy, as he now has more than enough protein/energy bars to last him the semester.)

Though I’ve only been couponing a year, I’ve seen a lot of really great deals and a lot of really great weeks for couponing. This week takes the cake, in my opinion! With my son teething up a storm (poor little guy), I was only able to scratch the surface on the deals, but still did well nonetheless, and as I always tried to do, I just paid sales tax.

I was able to stockpile enough Stayfree maxi pads to last at least a year (with extras for friends and the women’s shelter), as well as Nivea lip treatments (which are such great lip products). This was today’s RiteAid trip (Walgreens and CVS are tomorrow):

Transaction #1:

(6) Stayfree Maxi Pads @ $3.99 B1G1

- (3) $3.99 B1G1 coupons from 1/3 RP

(8) Nivea Lip Treatment @ $2.99 B1G1

- (4) $2.99 B1G1 coupons from 1/3 RP

(2) GE Reveal Light Bulbs, 4 ct. @ $2.00

- (2) $1.00/1 coupons from 11/22 SS or 1/3 SS

- will receive $2.00 SCR

(1) Listerine, 500 mL @ $3.50

- (1) $1.00/1 coupon from the 10/18 RP, the 12/6 SS, or the 1/3 RP

- will receive $3.00 SCR

Subtotal: $4.50

5% Sales Tax: $0.80

Total OOP: $5.30

Total After SCRs: $0.30 (LESS THAN SALES TAX!)

Transaction #2:

(8) Stayfree Maxi Pads @ $3.99 B1G1

- (4) $3.99 B1G1 coupons from the 1/3 RP

(6) Nivea Lip Treatment @ $2.99 B1G1

- (3) $2.99 B1G1 coupons from the 1/3 RP

Subtotal: $0.00

5% Sales Tax: $0.67

Total OOP: $0.67

Transaction #3:

(4) Stayfree Maxi Pads @ $3.99 B1G1

- (2) $3.99 B1G1 coupons from the 1/3 RP

Subtotal: $0.00

5% Sales Tax: $0.35

Total OOP: $0.35

So, in total (after SCRs), I paid $1.32 in sales tax for eighteen packs of Stayfree maxi pads, fourteen Nivea lip treatments, two packs of lightbulbs, and a 500 mL Listerine. Not bad at all! (It sounds even better when you break it down to about $0.04 in sales tax per item!)