Here's the Deal: Get a $10 gas card by buying essentials

For more daily bargains and freebies, visit the Here’s the Deal blog online at journal-news.com/go/bargains or middletownjournal.com/go/bargains

A summerlong deal at CVS will score you some inexpensive household essentials and a $10 gas card for very little cash thanks to coupons.

Since May, CVS stores have been offering a $10 gas card when you buy $30 of qualifying products. Thanks to sales at the store this week, you will pay very little out of pocket and still get this gift card to pay for a little of your summer traveling.

There are a couple of ways to score these deals as long as you’ve been saving your coupons. Also, make sure you go to the coupon machine at the front of your CVS store and scan your card to possibly receive a $10 off coupon for your order of $50 or more.

Beginning Sunday, purchasing Herbal Essence and Aussie brand shampoo, conditioners and stylers — which are $2.49 on sale — will qualify you for the gift card. Even better, these items all have coupons available now.

Here’s the scenario for how you can get the most out of this promotion when you shop:

• Six Herbal Essence or Aussie stylers for $2.49. Use six $3 off coupons found in the July 3 Procter & Gamble newspaper insert.

• Six Herbal Essence or Aussie shampoos or conditioners for $2.49 each. Use six $1 off coupons found in the June 12 Red Plum newspaper insert.

• Total before taxes and coupons: $29.88.

• Total value of coupons: $24.

• Total after coupons: $5.88 plus you’ll get a $10 gas card.

Just a note, some stores will let you apply the tax to your total for the gas card promotion. If your store won’t, the larger bags of M&M’s will be on sale for $3 and are part of the promotion. Use a $1 off coupon found in the June 19 Red Plum insert and you’ll pay $2.

The end result is a money-maker since your expenditure is still lower than the value of the gas card. You also end up with some household essentials at a low price.

Stock up on coupons now to score this deal. Make sure to ask family and friends for extra copies if you need them, or order inserts from The Q Hunter online.