[bclarkcaldwell]

This is great! I got my 2 orders figured for the week, and I thank you BigJim Tremendously....................

[lifeworthliving]

This weekend I can feel your pain. ALL the fam here. Sales started today. Couldn't go. OMG.

Lunch hour tomorrow. Will post my then.

Thanks for the spreadsheet. Love it.

[Kimi in MD]

It's nice that you took the time to do this...even if I don't uderstand it.

Based on the informaton posted here, by various members last week... I bought $116 woth of merchandise and paid $ 2.11..plus I received $40 in extra bucks back.

This board rocks. A BIG SHOUT OUT to Dawn for introducing me to afc.

[mpayne]

There is a separate thread to post your completed spreadsheets if you want. Share the love, folks!!

[Pweetersie]

My CVS stores in Florida have allowed me to "stack" coupons, with no problems. While visiting family near Philadelphia, I hade a very rude cashier who told me you can't use more than one coupon per visit (refering to the $5 off $15, and $2 off $10). Does anyone know where to find CVS's policy on this, or had a similar experience?

[mrsfloyd]

Originally Posted by Pweetersie

My CVS stores in Florida have allowed me to "stack" coupons, with no problems. While visiting family near Philadelphia, I hade a very rude cashier who told me you can't use more than one coupon per visit (refering to the $5 off $15, and $2 off $10). Does anyone know where to find CVS's policy on this, or had a similar experience?

It really just depends on the store you go to and who's checking you out. I have one store where everyone lets me stack like crazy and enjoys seeing my total OOP go down to almost nothing. Then there are other stores close by that would never dream of letting me stack. Being able to do that at any given store is not really a 'right' that we have, it's basically a lucky break that the store decides to let you do it. It's one of those 'enjoy it while it lasts' kind of things b/c you never know when your 'good' store might decide they don't want the coupons used in that way anymore.

Regardless, though, the cashier shouldn't have been rude to you.

[zenfire]

I just had to thank you. I usually fly by the seat of my pants when I go in. Tonight I finally got around to using the spreadsheet and it worked like a charm. Over $80 before any Qs. Used $19 in ECBs, .42 oop, and got back $33.98 in ECBs. AND I did it all in like 10 minutes instead of the 30 minutes to 1 hour it usually takes me.

Thanks!!!

[lifeworthliving]

[jerzeygirl1223]

This is freakin awesome Big Jim!! Thanks. You've saved me sooooo much time!!

[zenfire]

I just had the thought that having a Palm (or some other PDA) with Excel on it would come in so handy with this! You could rearrange your numbers and items if you couldn't get something or couldn't find/lost a coupon right there in the store while you shop.

Wish my Palm was new enough to use Excel... Who knew geocaching equipment could come in handy with coupons! Paperless geocaching = (almost) paperless couponing? LOL (PM me if you really want the details, I won't bore you with them here)

[BigJimSlade]

I have a Palm Treo 650 (cell phone) which can access Excel files and let you manipulate them. So yes, you are correct. I don't ever have to actually print anything out. I can take my phone in with me and update as I go.

[CouponNewt]

That is the neatest spreadsheet! And it has greatly reduced the time it takes me "plot" (what DH calls it) my shopping trips.
Thank you for sharing it!

[diannew]

Am I the only one that can't get this to open? I'd love to see what everyone is bragging about!

[BigJimSlade]

Hi diannew,
You will definitely need to have Microsoft Excel or OpenOffice installed on your computer. OpenOffice is free and can be downloaded online. I'll send you a PM, let me know if I can help.

[BigJimSlade]

Erinlooneybin (AFC member) found a slight issue with the spreadsheet when you use multiple coupons for the same item type. It just wasn't adding up all of the coupons right to show your appropriate savings. It's fixed now with a new version at the top of the thread. Thanks, Erin!

[rntg83]

It is STILL all Greek to me I just don't understand the whole deal! How can you go into a store, purchace X amount of items, and come out with more money in your pocket than you had when you went in? Am I correct in assuming that the ECB's are used on your NEXT trip? You can't use them on the same order, can you? So when it says it is like getting something for "free" it doesn't mean free that day, it means you get credit for the next visit?

[WishfulThinking]

1. How can you go into a store, purchace X amount of items, and come out with more money in your pocket than you had when you went in?

It's more ECB's in the pocket then when you went in... which is technically a Gift Card to CVS just on a slip of paper instead of a card.

2. Am I correct in assuming that the ECB's are used on your NEXT trip?

Yes, I started out purchasing 6 cases of Pepsi and a few other odds and ends that gave me $15 ECB to start with. My next trip I used the $15 ECB (rolled them) on my purchase and received $17 ECB back to use next time. I have kept using those ECB's everytime I shop and I plan my shopping to either KEEP the ECB amount I have the same or increased (which is tricky).

3. You can't use them on the same order, can you?

Nope. Cannot use them on the shopping trip you receive them from. Basically you do have to "invest" a little into CVS to get the ECB's started. Buy the products that are on sale that receive ECB's though and use manufacturer coupons too and it's all good. The CVS sales are usually a good discount anyway, then the ECB's are icing on the cake.

4. So when it says it is like getting something for "free" it doesn't mean free that day, it means you get credit for the next visit?

Yes, and sometimes free too. That's why they word it, "It's like getting it for FREE". Technically it's not free, but if the price is already a low price for the product, you have a coupon and then receive ECB's to use the next time to REALLY get something free... it's good.

Does that all help any? Hope so... I am still new to the program too.

[rntg83]

YES! it helps a lot, except, what do you mean by "rolled them"

[WishfulThinking]

Rolling ECB's means you take the ECB's you've received and before they expire you use them on another purchase that you will increase the ECB's you receive back.

You roll them into new ECB's... sorta.. hehe...

[jhonaker]

Is there a place on the spreadsheet to input how many ECB's I have to use when I go to do my deals?

I would also like to have a sheet to keep a running total of my trip. I've started a sheet and am trying to program it in but well...my spreadsheet knowledge is limited to say the least.

Thanks.
Jo Ann

[BigJimSlade]

Currently on the spreadsheet, there is no specific place to enter your ECBs that you would use in a transaction. The spreadsheet was initially created more as a tool to show others how they could score big savings. Once an expert had filled it out for the week and submitted it to AFC, everyone could "copy" their success. Since not everyone has the same ECBs, using them in the spreadsheet and then sharing with others could take away from the true value of the posted weekly spreadsheets to fellow AFC members. For example, lots of people post their "deals", but they often contain elements not available to everyone. The spreadsheet did its best to avoid those elements.

However, since stacking is somewhat a dead deal these days, I plan on adjusting the spreadsheet to focus more on the specific individual using it. Your request for a place to enter ECB will be handled in the next version.

As for running a total, could you elaborate a bit? There are a number of totals calculated as data is entered into the spreadsheet.

Thanks,

Big Jim

Oh, and the spreadsheet will no longer be called the "stacking" something something. It also won't say "Stacking" on the actual spreadsheet or print out anymore (although I will leave the availability to perform such if you find a CVS still willing to allow this sort of transaction).

[WishfulThinking]

Originally Posted by BigJimSlade

As for running a total, could you elaborate a bit? There are a number of totals calculated as data is entered into the spreadsheet.

Maybe something like a multiple trip calculator?? I've done that and it's sooooo nice to plan three trips at once or to even work out 3 different types of trips all at once.

I've also put a spot to type in ECB's to use... was that not on the original sheet? It's a wonderful little fun thing too.

[BigJimSlade]

I think the multiple-trip calculator might get a bit lengthy. Wouldn't it just be easier to print out the spreadsheet multiple times with different data entered in it? If you had a different idea, feel free to PM me and we can discuss. I am happy to add anything I think most people would like.

[BigJimSlade]

Added a new version tonight. Most of the big work on this is thanks to WishfulThinking! She did a great job making the spreadsheet easier to read and added the functionality to add the ECB you want to use in.

One big thing that might be confusing at first, I set the spreadsheet to only include 1/2 of earned and applied ECB. This is because if we apply 100% in this transaction and then we use the earned as applied in the next transaction and count them 100% again, we will be doubling the use of our ECB and fooling ourselves into thinking we are saving more than we are.

Please let me know if there are any errors, and I will fix them quickly.

Thanks, and thanks again to WishfulThinking for her great aesthetics and applied logic!

Big Jim

[WishfulThinking]

Thanks Jim!! I love excel and making spreadsheets. I am HORRIBLE at math but I can always figure out a formula in excel... go figure!

I sent ya a PM with my indepth review. I think it looks good!!