[angel nee nee]

You know, I make plan A, B, and C before I go to CVS, and I triple check and check some more, but still I come up with unexpected.

Today at the store#1, they did not have the hand sanitizer, or M&Ms... So I did not buy anything from there. We went to store #2 to buy everything.

At store #2, my husband wanted to buy a magazine.
I found few things, did not find few things....
Total did not come up to what I expected, coupon I used was -1 instead of -2 (I though it was -2)...

Does this happen to you or does this just happen to a dorky newbie like me?

[mochanchan]

Every time I go I have to make adjustments. My stores NEVER have what I planned to buy ( unless i go first thing Sunday morning). So, I usually plan everything out to the penny and then I end up having to wing it. You can't predict when a store will be out of stock so you aren't a dorky newbie!!

[angel nee nee]

Thanks.
I have tried going on Sundays, but then, their system does not have that week's sales programmed yet sometimes....

[kandikid82]

Happens all the time to me. I make a list of all the monthy deals I want and all the weekly deals I want and I keep it with my coupons. This also helps b/c I have to keep track of two cards. When something on my gameplan isn't there I pull out this list and try to find something with a comparable price.

For example my monthly list looks something like this:
Asprin - limit 5 - reached with card 1, none reached on card 2
Energy Drinks - limit 3 - reached on both cards
Gum - limit 3 - Reached on card 1, 2 reached on card 2
Toothbrush sanitizer - limit 1 - neither card has bought
Precision -limit 1 - Neither card has bought
etc.

And for example my weekly will look something like this:
Maybelline - limit 3 - reached on both cards
CVS fabric softener - Limit 5 - 2 reached on card 1, none reached on card 2
Crest Deal - limit 1 - Reached on both cards
Colgate - limit 1 - Reached on card 1, none on card 2
etc.

So when they are out of one thing I can just replace it with something else quickly and easily. I hope this made sense!

[lifeworthliving]

I have finally got to the point that I have a general idea of what I need to pick up. At least half won't be there. So I add up as I go. If i'm to low I add, to high I put back. I have 3 cards. One I only use for hot deals, like money makers. The other two are running all the time. One really is my DD that just won't take the time to shop. So since she takes all the stuff I buy, I now buy it all twice. Once on her card and once on mine. That way in my mind she is really taking what is hers anyway.

Angel you are not a dork, Thats why this is a game. You never really know what the score is going to end up as. Win some, don't win some!

[MSMom]

I make a plan before I go, but once I'm in the store, I always have a calculator in my hand. I get a buggy no matter what I'm getting so that I can prop all my stuff on it while I I'm calculating. If I just can't get something to work out, I'll come up with a few ideas, price them, and then leave. I'll go back the next day or go to another one with my reworked deal.

[NJMom]

On Monday I had a great plan, and I was picking up some Purell which I wasn't sure they were going to have. On my list, I wrote down how much my total would be with and without the Purell so that I would know how much more I would need if they didn't have it to get to $50 since I was using a 10/50 CRT. This helps me a lot, but you can't always anticipate what won't be in stock. Take a calculator or use your cell phone calculator to add everything up (I do that sometimes). Oh, and even with my perfectly planned trip, I STILL messed up! I learned from my mistake though, so I moved on to planning my next deal! We all make mistakes, so don't worry!!

[daliadoll]

What I do maybe help somebody!, I like you ladies make a list and coupons I will use and how much will be my total, but in one side the my list I what I did is put other products on sale or with EBC like reeplacement in case the product is out of stock, and with almost the same amount os $$$ for be almost the same total, I bring some more other CVS coupons $/$$$ just in case I have some tentation products in 75% off I buy up to $20 and use $ 4 on 20 and some others coupons I have with me and pay between $8 to $10. I hope this help!

[angel nee nee]

thanks so much.

[October]

I have tried many times making lists and it just never works for me. I take the ad for the week, the monthly ECB book, a calculator and my coupon binder. In my head I know what I want and what I have Q's for. I just keep doing the math till I get to a total I am willing to pay. It sometimes takes me a little while and I have to wait till a time when my hubby is home and leave the kids with him or they get in to everything. This works for me as it was really annoying to spend all that time planning only to get there and have half of my list out of stock. Even winging it like this though, mistakes still happen. A few weeks ago I did not read the fine print in the ad and did not get my ECB because I had already done the deal and didn't realize it was a one timer.

[luv2sav]

I do make a plan, and go on Sunday afternoons. My store always has the things I need in stock, thankfully. But, I always put a few items on my reserve list just in case one of my items is gone. That way I don't have to leave and start all over again. One question though, where can I find the book listing the ecb's deal that is month long?tia