How Brigette Turned $32.08 at CVS and $15.51 at Walgreens into Net Money Makers

# Overview

# CVS trip: $32.08 out of pocket, $28 in ECBs and $12 in rebates

• Cereals: 2 General Mills boxes for $3.98. Used a $1/2 CVS digital manufacturer coupon and received a $1/2 Ibotta rebate. Net cost shown as $2.98 out of pocket for the two, with $1 rebate reducing it further.

• L'Oreal face cream (clearanced) priced $4.64. Applied a $5/1 CVS digital manufacturer coupon (adjusted at register) resulting in a free item after coupon.
• Colgate set: multiple mouthwashes and toothpastes totaling $30.98. There were tiered ECBs (get $10 ECBs when you spend $20, plus $5 ECBs when you buy 2) and several CVS digital coupons applied. Final shown as $14.98 out of pocket for six items, with $15 in ECBs expected, effectively free after rewards.
• Haircare: six items across Tresemme, Monday, and L'Oreal Elvive totaling $39.54. Multiple buy-2 ECB offers and digital coupons applied, plus a $10/$40 hair care coupon. She received 5,000 Fetch points (valued at $5) and expected $13 in ECBs, lowering the effective cost to about $1.54 for six items after ECBs and rebates.

# Walgreens trip: $15.51 out of pocket, $9.30 Walgreens Cash and $15 Register Rewards

• Laundry products: 4 items for $10 total.

• Dove shampoo: 2 for $10. There was a $5 Register Reward when you buy 3 offers, and a $4/2 Dove coupon reduced the out-of-pocket.
• Snuggle fabric softener: $3.99, applied a $1 coupon and earned a $1 Register Reward.

Net effect: $15.51 paid at checkout and $24.30 in combined Walgreens Cash and Register Rewards returned for future use.

# Practical steps you can replicate

• Clip both store and manufacturer coupons in each store's app before you shop. They often stack on the same item.
• Target threshold offers (spend X get Y ECB/Register Reward) by bundling qualifying items in one trip.

• Use store-issued cash or boosters (Walgreens Cash, CVS boosters) to reduce immediate out-of-pocket costs.

# Bottom line Using app coupons, store reward promotions, and rebate apps together can convert a sizable portion of what you spend into future store credit or even net profit. Brigette's trips show how planning purchases around reward thresholds and stacking digital discounts can dramatically change the effective cost of everyday items.