The CVS $5 Challenge: October 12-18th

I am back! Welcome, all my fellow CVS fanatics and newbies! It's Sunday, time for another CVS $5 Challenge. Thank you so much to everyone who participated last week!

If you are a first time visitor, here's the lowdown:

Join me on Sundays as I host The $5.00 CVS Challenge!

Seasoned CVSers: share your best scenario(s) for the upcoming week at CVS.

Your budget: $5.00 out-of-pocket cash.

Your mission: to grow that $5.00 into even more ECBs to use in upcoming weeks.

Simply post your scenarios on your blog (you are welcome to grab the button by right-clicking on it and saving), then drop by Keeping the Kingdom First and add your permalink to the Mr. Linky box.

Please link directly to your post, not your homepage. It would be lovely if you would also link back to The CVS $5 Challenge in your post.

If you have any questions about linking, please feel free to email me!


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*RULES*

1. Come up with your best scenario/scenarios for the upcoming week at CVS using the current weekly ad, monthly deals, and coupons available. Your budget for Out of Pocket (OOP) expenses on the first transaction is only $5.00 (either cash OOP or ECBs on hand).

2. Using up to (3) scenarios (we don't want to overwhelm the newbies with too many transactions), offer up your best scenarios to "grow" that $5.00 into more ECBs to use in following weeks.

3. If you want to divide your $5.00 allowance over the three scenarios to make them work, that's fine!

4. Be sure to list coupons by inserts and/or with links to printables to make it easier for everyone to follow along.

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It is slim-pickins this week at CVS. Hopefully your scenarios are better than mine! Here is MY $5 Scenario for the week of October 12th:

Transaction #1
Buy (1) Colgate Total Advanced @ $3.49
Use $1.50 coupon from All You magazine or printable here

Total After Coupon= $1.99

ECBs earned= $2.00

Transaction #2
Buy (1) Skin Vitals Mask @ $2.99
Use $2.00 ECBs from above

Total After ECBs= $0.99

ECBs earned= $2.00

Transaction #3
Repeat tranaction #2

Grand Total OOP= $3.97

Remaining ECBs= $2.00

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There you have it! A new way to play the CVS ECB game by helping newbies learn the ropes. And who knows - you just might be inspired yourself by some of the deals you find, too!

Don't have a blog? You can leave a comment with your scenario, too. I invite everyone to participate in The $5.00 CVS Challenge - no deal is too small, believe me!

By the way, we bloggers LOVE to get comments, so please do take a moment to spread a little comment love. Thanks!

Arkansas Here I Come!

Today is the big day. In a few short hours I am getting on a plane and flying to Bentonville, Arkansas for an opportunity to meet my fellow eleven moms and the Walmart team. Actually, Erin will be on the same plane so it will be nice to have some company!

Thankfully, I have the shortest flight of the group. A one hour direct flight from DFW to Bentonville. This is quite an adventure for one pregnant mama! I have never been to Arkansas, but I hear that it is beautiful and the weather is mild.

This is the first time in my married life I will be traveling alone. My children will be in the very capable hands of my husband for 3 days. Of course, I will miss them terribly.

Walmart will be keeping us moms very busy during this visit! You can read all the details here. Heather is already there, and posted some lovely photos of our accommodations.

A few other moms are there early as well, for a very special reason. There is a live chat today with 6 of the moms at noon CST, and you are invited! Submit your questions on anything related to saving money.

I am so honored to be included in this amazing opportunity. There will be much learned over the course of the visit, and I can't wait to share! I look for the frugal in everything.

By the way, I will be without a laptop over the next 3 days (lately I am borrowing hubby's). I still have not decided what to do about my broken one. To replace or repair, that is the question?

I know my fellow moms will gladly share, so hopefully I will get a little computer time. Until then, I will miss y'all!

Free Potatoes and More!

What could be better than free food? Even if this is not something you would normally serve your family, your local food bank will gladly accept it.






Or, your kids will enjoy this:





The $10 Betty Crocker Coupon Booklet is still available!






Here's an oldie but goodie, if you have not already requested your Free Vitamins:



Happy Clicking!

Coupon Stigma is Contagious?

I have always believed in coupon stigma. Apparently, it is not only real, but a new study shows that it is also contagious. Huh?

Bloggy friend Kami sent me this very, uh, interesting article about the study. Authors Jennifer J. Argo and Kelly J. Main, conducted a study on "stigma-by-association". They claim that standing near a coupon redeemer in a check-out line, regardless of whether or not you know them, will stigmatize you as "cheap".

"The researchers interviewed shoppers who observed people using various kinds of coupons. They tested participants' impressions of the coupon shoppers and people standing near them. They found that people had negative ideas about the people using coupons, especially low-value coupons. This stigma was more likely to be transferred if the shoppers knew each other well, stood in the same line, or were of similar (average) attractiveness."

Thankfully, the kind authors also offer a remedy for this stigma. (Of course!) They suggest that in order to avoid this contagious condition, stand in a different checkout line, OR simply be highly attractive.

So, next time you see me at the store with my bucket fistful of coupons, don't stand in my line unless you are a supermodel. I might just make you look cheap!

Further reading on the study can be found here or here. Enjoy!