[FormerDreamer]

Hi All,
I took a trip to CVS today and am considering taking everything back since I think I didn't do too well. The deals definitely don't seem to be good, but then again, I'm still really new to couponing.

Anyhoo, coming from Broke-ville, I have no idea what a good price is for things. If someone could help me out that'd be great! Here's what I bought today at CVS:

Keebler Club crackers 2/$5 with $1 off cpn

Duracell 4 pack batteries 5.99 with .75 off cpn

Cottonelle 12 pk 5.99 with .50 off cpn (I don't even like Cottonelle that much!)

So, are these good prices for these items or can I get them lower if I wait? I feel like I wasted my coupons, but I really couldn't tell. Plus, I didn't get any ECBs back! I just couldn't find anything I thought worth buying to get them.

My other question is when you get ECBs do you have to buy the exact same product or are they like cash where you can buy anything else you want?

Thanks for the help!

[sar1]

Definitely on the Duracell, I would have waited. Around the holidays last year there were so many battery deals where you buy $20, get $10 ecb back, or similar deals, (someone correct me, but I think those were the deals) and there were $1 coupons for them, too. I have a TON of cheap Energizer and Duracell from those deals.

I can't say on the others b/c I don't buy those items.

When you get ECB's, you can use them on anything, including the same item or other items. Some states do not allow you to buy alcohol, tobacco, a few other minor exceptions.

[roadrunner_12348166]

duracell 2 pk are 1.00 @ rite aid so that was a bad deal
keebler if you wait and use your coupon when they r on sale at your grocer it probably would have been cheaper.
the toilet paper if you like scott the wags brand i dont think is that different and you would of gotton the same amount of rolls but more paper for the same price. if im wrong on any of this please advise me tia

[shopinmom3]

I think the thing to realize here is that if you're not feeling it while you're in the store, you should probably just skip it. That's my rule. Whether it's because I'm tired or don't know what I'm really after or whatever, I will leave emptyhanded rather than buy something I didn't need or want. Hth!

[LindseyLouXOX]

They usually have Keebler crackers around $2 at my grocery stores or less with a sale, plus the coupon would make it a deal. Usually CVS "sale" prices are still higher than most grocery stores. You just have to work the deals and ECBs. I had a raincheck for the Cottonelle for $4.99, used a $1/1 coupon from All You mag, ended up getting 2 plus some other items for .74 with my ECBs. $5.99 minus .50 is not a good deal in my book and they robbed you on the batteries! I am sorry, you'll get the hang of it and if you don't feel like you got good deals then return.

[lululu888]

I bought the cottonelle the other day, only bc I had the 5/25 Readyfill Q, the $1 off Cottonelle Q and tons of $1 off J&J Travel Kit. So basically I got everything free + tax. You'll just have to work your deals based on the Qs you have. The idea is to get everything free (or even MM) after Qs and EBs. I'm sure you'll get better at this as you spend more time here...

I'd probably return the stuff you bought if you didn't get to use any $/$$ store Q. Last year they had a deal on Duracell, buy $20 get $15 ECB. To sweeten the deal they had $5 off Duracell store Qs(I don't remember if it was for 2 or just 1) and there were also mani Qs to use. So it was a good MM. I'll definitely wait for any deal like that if you're not in a hurry to get any batteries. HTH.

[FormerDreamer]

Thank you all SO much for the advice! I just need to listen to my intuition more. I decided to return everything. I just know I can get my OOP super low. My goal is to get more of the free deals like you pros! I'll get there. Thanks for the encouragement!

Oh, btw, I bought some Dove deodorant at Publix for 75 cents! I was stoked! Okay, it wasn't free, but I really wanted this particular scent and brand. Not too shabby. I'll have to switch brands to get some deodorant for free. Now I can't do without my Tom's toothpaste (which is NEVER on sale, nor can you find cpns!!!) so I figure I'll get it when WAGs has a cpn or RA has an SCR for it, which RA did so I bought it. It was expensive, but c'est la vie!