CVS Couponing Trip

I know I haven't update regularly like I should but I did go on my weekly Sunday morning CVS run and I'd like to let you know what I left with. I did end up with a little out of pocket (OOP) today, but it is well worth it in my opinion...

Bought

(2) Softsoap 56 oz. refills (2@ $5.00=$10.00)

(1) Schick Hydro 5 razor with bonus cartridge ($10.99)

(1) Gillette Venus razor ($6.99)

(1) Dermasilk 30 second neck lift ($19.99)

 $47.97

Coupons

$4 off $20 purchase (received in email from CVS last Thursday)

$10 off any Schick Hydro 5 purchase (from CVS coupon machine last week)

$10 off any Dermasilk (internet printable coupon here)

$5 off one Venus razor (6/16 Red Plum)

$1.50 off any $5.00 Beauty purchase (from CVS coupon machine last week)

$15 in ECB (Extra Care Bucks if you are not familiar....just like money but only for CVS and some restrictions, just Google it)

subtotal after coupons $2.47

tax (6.75% in my area) $2.77 (more than subtotal, lol)

total $5.24

got back $18 ECB ($10 from Dermasilk, $4 from buying $10 of Softsoap, and $4 from buying a Gillette razor

So, after the ECB I received (remember, I gave $15 but received $18), total oop for today is $2.24, which is less than the tax on my order, so I will call today a success.

 As you can see, not every couponing trip ends up being free, (especially in states like mine where you have to pay the tax on the price of the item BEFORE manufacturer coupons...that is how taxes can be more than the subtotal) but you can still get some REALLY good deals. 

What made my trip more expensive today was the Softsoap refills. The Softsoap coupons I had expired yesterday on 6/22/13, and I had originally thought to take advantage of the buy $12 worth of CVS products, get $4 ECB back deal and get their handsoaps, which are $2.00 each at my store when you buy 3 or more, but changed my mind once I saw how many ounces are in a Softsoap refill. (I guess it is pretty needless to say that we go through hand soap like crazy at my house and I am ALWAYS trying to stock back up on it). The refills are 56 oz., and the CVS handsoaps are 11.75 oz., so there are almost 5 CVS handsoaps in one Softsoap refill bottle, which were on sale for $5. You can easily determine the price per ounce by dividing the cost by number of ounces, as well. There is also the ECB deal on the Softsoap, where you receive $4 ECB when you spend $10, so you can say the refills are really $3 each, which as you can see, is a much better deal than the CVS soaps, plus the Softsoap is a little bit thicker, which we like!!