The CVS ExtraCare Program provides shoppers with Extra Care Bucks (ECBs). These are ‘coupons’ that print out at the end of your receipt after you purchase certain items. The coupons are a dollar amount that can be used on your next purchase at CVS.
Weekly and monthly, CVS promotes products by offering a certain amount of ECBs if you buy them. My goal when I shop at CVS is to figure out how I can get the most ECBs for the least amount of money. This means buying items that either offer a high amount of ECB or items that I have a coupon for or BOTH, which is the ultimate deal. (For example, CVS has toothpaste this week for $3.49 that will earn you $3.49 in ECBs, PLUS I have a $1.00 off coupon. So, I will spend only $2.49, but get $3.49 back. That’s good stuff.)
Suddenly, you have a coupon burning a whole in your pocket and you may feel like you should use it right away. Actually, the best idea is to save your ECBs so that you can use them when there is a new week with new deals and new coupons. Again, the goal is to figure out how you can get the most ECBs for the least amount of money. And now you have a coupon that will make it that much easier to do so!
Here’s what made learning this game possible for me. I had no idea that there is a whole world of resources available online. There are numerous web-sites dedicated to helping you figure out the best deals and the coupons that you can use with them. So I just let others do all the work!
KALEY’s TOP 5 BIG TIPS for CVSing:
- Sign up for a CVS Extra Care Card. You can do so online, but I suggest just signing up in the store so that you can start using your card right away.
- Keep your Extra Care Bucks! You will need them when you make your next purchase. I recommend getting a coupon organizer that goes wherever you go. You will also receive coupons good on other items at the end of your receipt.
- Look for the deals that will give you the most ECBs for the littlest amount of money. Stacking a manufacturer’s coupon with a store coupon on a sale item is a great way to do that.
- Remember that you DON’T get change from your ECBs. Your goal is to get your total as close to the amount of ECBs that you have as possible or you will end up throwing away money.
- Register your card at CVS.com and sign up for their e-mail list. You should get a $4 off $20 coupon in your inbox right away and various other coupons in the future. These coupons are a great way to lower your total amount spent.
[...] with how to shop at CVS, you may want to check out my Top 5 tips for Drugstore Shopping and my Top 5 Tips for CVSing. Please note that coupons vary by region. You can read more about my coupon lingo [...]
[...] with how to shop at CVS, you may want to check out my Top 5 tips for Drugstore Shopping and my Top 5 Tips for CVSing. Please note that coupons vary by region. You can read more about my coupon lingo [...]
[...] with how to shop at CVS, you may want to check out my Top 5 tips for Drugstore Shopping and my Top 5 Tips for CVSing. Please note that coupons vary by region. You can read more about my coupon lingo [...]
[...] with how to shop at CVS, you may want to check out my Top 5 tips for Drugstore Shopping and my Top 5 Tips for CVSing. Please note that coupons vary by region. You can read more about my coupon lingo [...]
[...] with how to shop at CVS, you may want to check out my Top 5 tips for Drugstore Shopping and my Top 5 Tips for CVSing. Please note that coupons vary by region. You can read more about my coupon lingo [...]
You have some great tips on using CVS extra bucks cards. I am kind of new to the game but I quickly found out that my local CVS has some amazing prices when things are on sale.
Thanks for the tips. I didn’t think about getting my extra care bucks down to zero.
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For almost everything CVS is more expensive…innitally. at first i never shopped there for anything but cigarettes because they have by far the best deals, then i discovered their energy drinks were cheaper there too, then i looked closer and started playing the game. i have been for a while. Their sales are amazing and the thing about the ECB is so true i just used mine on triple paste diaper ointment for my son.
they had the largest tub on clerance for $8 the best price i have found anywhere else is around $35!!! I had $5 ECB so it really cost me only $3 AMAZING.
they always have something “free” aka same amount of ECB:$ but their clerance racks are awesome too.
the only dissapointment is you cant use the ECB on cigarettes which is the only thing i really buy there on a seriously regular basis, you also dont get credit for your 2% ECB on cigarettes or alcohol. if they did i would be rolling in the ECB’s! wow, i sound like a really bad mom
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