As I take a few minutes and collect my thoughts about my first visit yesterday I can't help but giggle to myself. I do this frequently.
I showed up at CVS last night in MN - armed, empowered and ready to use my coupons. I was going to get some lipstick, dawn and suave. I was feeling good. Listening to the overhead music, tapping my foot as I choose my lipstick. Hmm, not a lot to choose from but found a few. Moved on to Dawn, shelf cleaned out, oh well, it's okay, (I feel good) was playing on the overhead. Found my Suave, got 10 bottles. (very first time buying 10 of anything) I jiggered my way to the front (frank sinatra) was now playing. The cashier was a young man, hair a little long but he kept it nice. I told him ahead of time, I have coupons, I am new to couponing so lets work together and figure this out. He smiled. I first gave him my BOGO coupons for the lipstick - I had 4 coupons and 8 lipsticks. I could read his expression and new we were in trouble. I should have only paid for the tax but my total was $37.xx - now pointer sisters were playing over head and I was starting to do a little toe tapping but only because I had to pee. The nice young gentleman tried to ring it again and came up with $28. I asked if we could double check the receipt because that did not sound right. I then asked if I could maybe have a manager do it. I had started to sweat because I had to pee, I went from toe tapping to crossed legs. The manager came over and was very polite, we showed him the coupons, I could tell he was not real sure what to do either. By this time I was sweating so bad pools of sweat had started to form at my feet. I gave him that nervous giggle I have and tried to explain how I thought it should go. I know my total was wrong, I know they had to send a mop and a bucket over to checkout and I know I have 8 lipsticks and 10 bottles of suave. I ended up paying $22 something but it really cost me more since I had to replace the shoes that were soaking wet. Oh, I got $6 in rewards too. AND a coupon for a new toothbrush. Please tell me everyone that it does get easier, I need reassurance.

What a cute and funny Story!

When you first start out your out of pocket will be high. Once you get rolling with earning ECB's and using MFR Q's you will see a huge difference.
Did you have Q's for the Suave?
10 Suave @2.00 ea. comes to 20.00 and you paid 22. I'm assuming the difference of the 2 is the tax. Your Bogo lipstick went through fine.

Look at the ad for next week, match-up Q's to items that will earn you more ecb's and used your present ecb to get a low OOP. HTH

Great story! It gets better!

I really liked reading your story! How funny!
I agree with sweetsali, the initial oop is higher until you start rolling your ECBs. It gets easier the more you work your deals and pretty soon you'll have a super low oop.

LOL I am fairly new but yes it does get better! LOL

Hello. I did have coupons for the Suave. BOGO. I am going to pull my receipt and post it maybe someone can see what went wrong.

Here is how the register played out.

10 suave at $2.00 = $20
I had 5 BOGO coupons = $10
8 Cover Girl lipsticks
9.99 x 8 = $80
tape says i cvr girl brns
i cover girl cnyn (free)
1 cvrgrl outlast brns 9.99
i cvgrl outlast ruby free
icvgrl wtcrys cndy 5.99 /saved 50%
i cvgrl wtslcik tut 5.99
i cvgrl wtslck mauv 5.99

tax 4.11
total 23.09

coupons
-2
-2
-2
-2
-2
-5.99
-5.99
-9.99
-9.99

hmmm, looks like I got the wrong product?

here come those sweats again.

I enjoyed your story and yes it does get better!

Yes it does get better...but next time make sure you pee before you leave home..

thanks for the laugh!!! and yes it will get better..when i first started out, i paid $15.98 OOP..but i got better every time...

that was the problem. You got one product that was buy one get one free. You should take back the ones that were $5.99 unless you really want them then keep them and chalk it up to your first time!

and it gets a lot better and sometimes it is easy!

Yep it looks like you got the wet slicks which were b1g1 50% off- not BOGO- live and learn! Like everyone else said, it DOES get easier.

Wasn't the wetslicks giving $5.99 ECB's too??? I did the deal with the bogo coupon to get 1 free after ECB's and one free with the coupon. Since it's a limit of 1 I would take the other 2 back and get your $12.00 back. The Suave should have given you$6.00 ECB's if I'm not wrong!!!