Here is a guide to shopping at CVS for those who are new to getting fabulous Shopping Goddess deals!
CVS Extra Care Card
CVS has a loyalty card called an Extra Care Card that will you use every time you shop there. Let me repeat that: EVERY TIME you shop there. There are certain sale items that will only scan at the correct sale price IF you use your card. You will also earn 2% back on all of your purchases. CVS Extra Care cards are FREE and limited to one per person. You can get one at CVS or you sign up for one online and it will be mailed to you. If you get one at the store make sure to register it online. CVS occasionally sends emails with printable coupons for card-holders.
CVS Price Scanner Coupons
CVS now has Price Scanners somewhere near the front of each store. (They are red and are in a different spot in each store). Each time you go into CVS, the FIRST thing you should do is go to the scanner and scan your Extra Care Card. It will print CVS Store Coupons that are good for your card only. The coupons are even better because they can be stacked with Manufacturer’s coupons! So, for example, if the Price Scanner gave you a coupon for $1.oo off Pantene Shampoo, and you had a manufacture’s coupon for $1.oo off Pantene, you could use both at the same time to get $2.00 off!
Extra Care Bucks (ECBs)
You can think of Extra Care Bucks, aka ECBs, as being CVS money. When you buy an item advertised as earning ECBs, you will pay for the item and then the wonderful ECBs will print at the bottom of your receipt. You then rip the ECBs off the receipt keep them for your next transaction. They are like gold! The next time you buy something at CVS you can use your ECBs to pay for it!!!!
For Example:
In the CVS ad: Buy razors for $9.99, receive $4 ECBs:
Scenarios:
Transaction 1:
Buy the razors – pay $9.99 (assuming you don’t have coupons, which of course you would, right?)
Receive $4 ECBs on the bottom of your receipt
Transaction 2:
Buy Laundry Detergent at $6.99
Give the cashier your $4 ECBs to be used like cash
Pay only $2.99!
What ECBs Can and Cannot Be Used For
ECBs can be used on anything in the store except for exclusions like prescriptions, stamps, tobacco etc.). ECBs cannot be used to pay the tax.
Rolling your ECBs
The best way to maximize your ECBs is to “roll” them. Buy something that earns ECBs then use those ECBs to buy something else that earns ECBs. This way you make an initial cash purchase and then use CVS’s money for your future purchases.
Don’t Waste ECBs
Make sure you don’t waste ECBs! You can’t use an $8 ECB on a $5 purchase and keep the $3. You’ll end up losing that $3 in ECBs! Your purchase must be equal to or greater than (before tax) the ECB amount. You will not get cash back and your ECBs will not be carried over.
Quarterly ECBs
In addition to the weekly ECBs that you earn for buying advertised products, you earn quarterly ECBs. CVS gives 2% back on all your purchases! So, every 3 months you will get an ECB for 2% of what you spent at CVS that quarter. If you spend $100 in one quarter then you will get a $2 ECB.
Weekly Deals
Every week CVS puts out an ad with deals that are good for one week only. There are regular sale items and there are ECB deals. ECB deals usually are the ones you want to focus on for saving or even making money! ECB deals maximize your savings! On one deal you can use a manufacturer’s coupon, a CVS coupon and earn ECBs!
For example:
Deal: buy Crest Toothpaste at $2.99 and earn $2 ECBs
If you have a $1 off Crest Toothpaste coupon when you scanned your CVS card at the red Coupon Scanner, if you were lucky enough to get one.
If you also have a $1 off Colgate Toothpaste coupon from the paper or the internet
So, buy Crest Toothpaste at $2.99
*use $1 off CVS store coupon
*use $1 off Manufacturer’s coupon
Pay 99¢
Earn $2 ECBs…a $1.01 profit!
Even if you don’t use Crest toothpaste, this is still a good starter because you now have $1 more than you had before to use on something that you need. You can always donate your freebies to women’s shelters and homeless shelters! ECB deals always have limits, so make sure to read the fine print! In the ad, underneath the deal, it will say “Limit x per household.” If it is limit 1 then it means that if you buy more than one then you will only get extra bucks for the first one you purchase.
There are also some ECB deals that require you to buy multiple items. You do not have to buy all the items in one transaction. Just make sure to purchase them before the sale period is over. Once you buy all the qualifying items or reach the dollar amount required, your ECBs will print.
Coupon Order
Order matters! At CVS it is best to give your coupons in this order: $/$$ coupons, manufacturer & CVS coupons, then ECBs. This way there is no confusion over whether your total meets the $/$$ requirements and you also can make sure your total is high enough to use your ECBs effectively. Why waste ECBs that you’ve worked so hard to earn, when a manufacturer’s coupon will pay that part of the bill!
$/$$ Coupons
CVS occasionally sends out $/$$ coupons. They are typically $4/$20, $5/$30, or $10/$50. That means if you buy $20 worth of merchandise (price BEFORE manufacturer’s coupons!) then you can use the coupon to get $4 off your total. You can use one per order and you can use all other coupons and ECBs in addition.
Multiple Transactions
You don’t have to purchase all of the ECB or sale items in one transaction! You can make several transactions in a row in order to roll your ECB’s instantly and lessen your OOP (Out of Pocket). Just purchase the ECB items within that weekly sale in order to get the ECB to print.
For example, there was an ECB offer for Buy $25 in Household Products, get a $10 ECB. In order to use store coupons and get the maximum savings, I did three separate transactions. On my third (and final) transaction, I had fulfilled the required $25 purchase amount and my $10 ECB printed at the end of my receipt.
To do multiple transactions and maximize your ECBs, use this scenario:
1. Complete one transaction and use store coupons, MFG coupons. Get your ECBs.
2. Complete another transaction use any store coupons, MFG coupons, ECBs (the ones you just earned). Get your ECBs.
3. Complete your third transaction using the same coupons/ECB’s as above. You get the idea.
Cashiers generally do not get upset about completing multiple transactions. Just be aware of how many people are waiting in line so you’re not holding everyone else up. I will personally only do 2 in a row.
Using your ExtraCare card online
Now you can manage, view and redeem your ExtraCare rewards online in a few simple clicks. To begin, you will need to create an online account. If you already have an account, go to the ExtraCare page and follow the instructions to attach an ExtraCare card. Once you have signed in to your account and attached an ExtraCare card, go to the ExtraCare page and click on the Current Rewards tab to view your rewards.
Recent Comments