CHMommy,
ECB's are your Extra Care Bucks that print out on the bottom of your receipts at CVS when you buy items that generate bucks when you buy them.
***CVS for beginners***
If you have a CVS near you (one you are willing to drive to) then you can sign up for a CVS card. If you don't have a card you cant get the CVS bucks. You can sign up in the store or online. Its best to do this in the store so you can use your card immediately. If you choose to sign up online, it will take approximately two weeks to receive your card.
Next you'll need to register your card online with your email address or by phone at 1-800-SHOP CVS. Once you do this you will hopefully get a welcome email with a $4 off $20 coupon sometime or another, some people have never received one but that is rare I think? If your store has a card scanner you can scan it and get more coupons. I get mostly $5 off $25 or more and other store coupons when I scan mine.
If you don't collect coupons all ready, do it! Get a couple newspapers for the coupon inserts, buy the All You magazine at WalMart, keep an eye out for in store "blinkies" the little things that give out coupons and have a blinking red light on them and in store tearpad coupons. Keep them all don't throw any away you never know when you may come across a deal for it.
This is the hard part I think, making your scenarios. You can find the weekly and monthly ad scans or lists at I heart cvs or slickdeals. If you need help making scenarios I use this spreadsheet. Scan through the ads and find items that give back extra care bucks that appeal to you. The most lucrative offers are usually the ones that are already free after ExtraCare Bucks (ECBs). For example this week you pay $1.99 for CVS brand childrens or adult low dose chewable asprin and get $1.99 ECBs back so its like getting it for free.
Once you're in the store go through and get all items in your scenarios. It’s not at all unusual for some items to be out of stock, so it helps to have a few backup items in mind if possible. I always bring my calculator and coupon binder in case I have to do some changes.
You may want to group your purchase into multiple transactions. Often I’ll do multiple transactions in one trip, so I group each transaction and organize my coupons before approaching the cashier so as to make checking out as efficient as possible. There are a couple of reasons for doing multiple transactions. One is to maximize your savings from $/$$ CVS coupons when they’re available. For example, if you have a $3/$15 purchase coupon, it makes more sense to do multiple transactions as close to $15 so you can get $3 off each one. A second reason would be to roll your ECBs that print from one transaction and use them to pay for your next transaction to minimize your actual OOP expenses.
Learn the proper order to present your coupons. When you’re ready to check out, first make sure the cashier scans your ExtraCare Card. Then it’s important that you present your coupons in exactly this order to maximize your savings – CVS dollar off transaction coupons, your ECBs you want to use and then any regular manufacturer coupons. Doing it this way makes your OOP lower than any other way.
Transaction #1
Buy (2) L’Oreal Revitalift Cleanser 5 oz or towelettes 30 ct. $5.99 each ($11.98)
- (2) Loreal Facial Skincare QP's from 1/4 RP
Total after Coupons: $7.98
ECB's Earned: $10.00
Transaction #2
Buy Ear Rinse Ear Cleansing Spray 1 oz. $7.99 - monthly deal
Buy Excedrin 10 ct. vial $2.49
-$10.00 ECB's from the previous transaction
Total after Coupons: $0.48
ECB's Earned: $10.48
Transaction #3
Buy Gillette shampoo or conditioner $4.99
-$2.00 Gillette QP from 1/28 PG
-$2.49 ECB's from Excedrin in previous transaction
Total after Coupons: $0.50
ECB's Earned: $3.00
Total OOP: $8.96
ECB's you have left: $10.99
By doing the scenarios I have above you now have $10.99 in ECBs to "roll" or use on items later that can earn you moe ECBs and your OOP should be smaller.
If anyone has any other questions please dont hesitate to ask and I'll do my best to answer it myself or direct you somewhere where you can find the answer.
Stumble It!
i just wanted to say I've had a card since last fall and i've never gotten an email. Especially one with a coupon.
Anonymous, I'm sorry you haven't received any emails or coupons. You have registered your card with your email address or called the CVS customer service and you still haven't received anything? I think I would call again and tell them and ask them why you haven't received yours.
Thank you so much for the great tutorial. I've noticed the ECBs on my receipts on occasion but have never really made use of them. I will now! You've really demonstrated how big a difference it can make especially when the right startegies are used.
This is a really great tutorial for the new CVS saver shopper (which is me)! Thanks for all the work that went into this post.
thanks for such a well laid out strategy for converting extrabucks into savings. And a big thanks for the spreadsheet that will make it easier to put the plan into action.