Coupons 101- A Guide to CVS

If you have a CVS near you, then you’ve probably shopped there at least once before. But did you know that there are so many ways to save money at a drug store like CVS?

CVS is a great place to shop at and save money while buying more expensive items that drug stores normally carry. Here are some tips to get you started.

Earn Extra Care Bucks
Extra Care Bucks, usually known throughout couponland as “ECBs” are rewards that you earn at any CVS or even online whenever you use your Extra Care Card with a purchase. This is the main reason we can shop frugally at CVS. You can get an Extra Care Card at any CVS or by signing up for one here.

Every week, CVS’s in-store ad will feature numerous items in which the purchase of them will earn you ECBs. Sometimes you’ll be required to purchase two items in order to earn the ECBs. Its always best to read the fine print. They also do ECB deals that last the whole month in addition to the regular ads. After making a purchase of the selected items, your ECBs will print out onto your receipt. You’ll want to treasure this with your life! Its as good as cash at CVS.

Most sale prices are only good with the card, so you’ll want to make sure you have it with you at all times. Without it, you’ll most likely pay regular price.

Another way you’ll earn ECBs is through CVS’s rewards program. Every quarter (3 months), you’ll receive 2% of your in-store and online purchases in the form of ECBs! These will print onto your receipt every 3 months or you can go here and print them off.

You’ll also earn 1 ECB every time you fill 2 prescriptions at CVS or online.

Using Your Extra Care Bucks
ECBs become like gold when you earn them. Just like you save your cash, you’ll save ECBs. You can use them just like cash. Combining them with coupons makes your deals even sweeter! Using them on an item that you can earn ECBs on will help you to roll them over and get free/cheap stuff in the meantime. Using coupons for X amount off of X purchase will make your deals sweeter. For example a $5 off a $20 purchase coupon.

The required amount to earn the ECBs is always calculated before your coupons.

I have found that using the coupons in combination with ECBs work best in this order:

• Hand over your $X/$XX coupons first. You want your total to be highest before using this coupon.
• Next, present any CVS store coupons that you might have.
• Then, present all of your Manufacturer’s coupons.
• Last, hand them your ECBs. They work just like cash.

Tips to Remember:

1. Always have the cashier scan your Extra Care Card BEFORE they scan your items.
2. ECBs expire a month from the date that they were generated.
3. CVS allows one store coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon per item.
4. ECBs cannot be transfer to anyone else. They can only be used with the same Extra Care Card that they were earned with.
5. You cannot get money back if you don’t use an entire ECB. You will lose what you don’t use. I suggest throwing in a filler item if you don’t want the excess to go to waste.
6. ECBs can be used on anything in the store. Excluding- alcohol, tobacco, lottery, gift cards,  money orders, postage stamps, pre-paid cards, prescriptions, and special order home health, including footwear,
7. You can use the ECBs that you earned in one transaction to use on another one. This is considered “rolling them over”.

I hope that this guide will help you in your CVS shopping! You can really get some amazing deals at CVS when combining multiple types of coupons. Feel free to let me know if you have questions.

You might also be interested in these coupons:

75¢ off ONE package of Yoplait® Light yogurt with Granola

50¢ off when you buy EIGHT CUPS any variety Yoplait® Yogurt

30¢ off when you buy any Yoplait® Lactose-Free Yogurt cups