Calling all people who use toothpaste, razors, shave gel, etc!!! You need to stop buying these expensive items in the grocery store and start using CVS ExtraCare Bucks program to score seriously inexpensive toiletries, medicine, and cleaning products. This post will help guide you into shopping at CVS and how to play the CVS game.
What is their sale cycle?
Their sale cycle renews every Sunday and their new sales ad comes out in the week's Sunday newspaper, usually next to coupons! Also, visit CVS.com to look at their ad online.
What are Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) and how do you earn them?
In order to obtain Extra Care Bucks, you will need to sign up for an Extra Care Rewards Program card.Once you have done that, you can start earning. Extra Care Bucks are like cash that can only be used at CVS. You earn them when you purchase an item that will generate an ECB. Once you have purchased the item and you finalize the transaction, your ECBs will print at the end of your receipt. Also, ECB deals will be printed in the weekly sales ad as well.
What is their sale cycle?
Their sale cycle renews every Sunday and their new sales ad comes out in the week's Sunday newspaper, usually next to coupons! Also, visit CVS.com to look at their ad online.
What are Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) and how do you earn them?
In order to obtain Extra Care Bucks, you will need to sign up for an Extra Care Rewards Program card.Once you have done that, you can start earning. Extra Care Bucks are like cash that can only be used at CVS. You earn them when you purchase an item that will generate an ECB. Once you have purchased the item and you finalize the transaction, your ECBs will print at the end of your receipt. Also, ECB deals will be printed in the weekly sales ad as well.
How to effectively use your earned Extra Care Bucks.
To maximize your savings and pay as little out of pocket as possible, you will need to learn how to ROLL Extra Care Bucks. Roll: purchase new Extra Care Buck deals on a regular basis while rolling Extra Care Bucks earned from previous weeks to purchase them. Eventually, you will be paying as little as nothing out of pocket!
Deal Scenario:
St. Joseph Aspirin 36 ct. - On sale for $2.00
Pay: $2.00 Out of pocket (OOP)
Get back $1.00 ECB to put towards your NEXT transaction.
So essentially, you would be getting St. Joseph Aspirin 36 ct. for $1.00. BUT! To make this deal even sweeter, you add a coupon.
New Deal Scenario:
St. Joseph Aspirin 36 ct. - On sale for $2.00
Use $1 off of one St. Joseph Aspirin manufacturer coupon
Pay: $1.00 Out of pocket (OOP)
Get back $1.00 ECB to put towards your NEXT transaction.
Making this aspirin essentially FREE!
So each week, usually Saturday night, I will post my game plan for Sunday's CVS trip. The more ExtraCare Bucks you earn, the lower your out of pocket expense will be. When you first start to shop at CVS, be on the lookout for great deals that generate ExtraCare Bucks so you can start to roll them every week. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Here are the deals I scored last week:
I started off the week with $25 ECBs. (This is why it so important to start earning as soon as you can!) The majority of CVS promotions are always "Spend $$, get $$ ECBs". CVS has a rule where if you spend 98% of the qualifying amount, they will still grant you ECBs. For example: Spend $25 on Schick items, get $10 ECBs. If I only spend $24.58, they will still grant the ECBs even though I am a little under the $25.
I did two separate transactions. First transaction:
(3) Windex Touch Ups $4.99 each
I used (1) Buy One Get One Free Manufacturer Coupon (also known as MQ). I also used a $1 off one internet printable coupon (also known as IP). Because I'm purchasing three items, I can essentially use three coupons. The BOGO coupon deducted $3.99 (maximum value) along with that $1 off one coupon. So here's the math:
(3) Windex Touch Up @ $4.99 = $14.97
Minus $3.99 from BOGO coupon and minus $1 from internet coupon = $9.98. The CVS promotion offers $5 ECBs if you spend $15 on Windex products. Since I spent $14.97 (they will still grant your ECBs even though I'm $0.03 shy) I earned $5 ECBs.
(2) Aveeno Shave Gels $4.99 each
Minus $2 off two MQ = $7.98
CVS promotion: Buy two men's shave gel products, earn $5 ECBs
(2) Schick Hydro Men Razors $12.29 each
Minus (2) $4 off one internet printable coupons (Again, because I bought two items, I can use two coupons)
Total: $16.58
CVS promotion: Spend $25 on Schick products, get $10 ECBs.
My total before coupons: $49.53
Every Thursday, CVS will email a CVS coupon. This week, I received a 20% off my entire purchase coupon. CVS coupons are not manufacturer coupons, so you can "stack" these coupons together! This CVS coupon deducted $9.54.
Total after 20% off: $39.99
Total after manufacturer coupons: $25.00
Remember, I had $25 ECBs from the week before. So this transaction cost me absolutely nothing out of my pocket.
In this transaction, I earned $20 ECBs.
Second Transaction: I have $20 ECBs to spend from transaction 1
(2) Garnier Fructis Shampoo/Conditioner $2.99 each
Minus (2) $2 off one = $.99 each = $1.98 total
(2) Skinny Cow candies $0.79 each
Minus BOGO coupon = $0.79 for both candies
Earn $0.79 ECBs when you buy one
(2) Scope To Go $2.57 each
No coupons used - Earn $4 when you buy 2
(1) Gillette Venus Razor $6.99
Minus $3 off one = $3.99
Earn $5 ECBs when you purchase one Gillette razor
Total before coupons: $19.69
Total after coupons: $11.60
Used $10 ECBs from first transaction. Paid $1.73 (tax) out of pocket.
Earned $9.79 in ECBs. I will have a total of $19.79 in ECBs for next week's deals.
To maximize your savings and pay as little out of pocket as possible, you will need to learn how to ROLL Extra Care Bucks. Roll: purchase new Extra Care Buck deals on a regular basis while rolling Extra Care Bucks earned from previous weeks to purchase them. Eventually, you will be paying as little as nothing out of pocket!
Deal Scenario:
St. Joseph Aspirin 36 ct. - On sale for $2.00
Pay: $2.00 Out of pocket (OOP)
Get back $1.00 ECB to put towards your NEXT transaction.
So essentially, you would be getting St. Joseph Aspirin 36 ct. for $1.00. BUT! To make this deal even sweeter, you add a coupon.
New Deal Scenario:
St. Joseph Aspirin 36 ct. - On sale for $2.00
Use $1 off of one St. Joseph Aspirin manufacturer coupon
Pay: $1.00 Out of pocket (OOP)
Get back $1.00 ECB to put towards your NEXT transaction.
Making this aspirin essentially FREE!
So each week, usually Saturday night, I will post my game plan for Sunday's CVS trip. The more ExtraCare Bucks you earn, the lower your out of pocket expense will be. When you first start to shop at CVS, be on the lookout for great deals that generate ExtraCare Bucks so you can start to roll them every week. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Here are the deals I scored last week:
I started off the week with $25 ECBs. (This is why it so important to start earning as soon as you can!) The majority of CVS promotions are always "Spend $$, get $$ ECBs". CVS has a rule where if you spend 98% of the qualifying amount, they will still grant you ECBs. For example: Spend $25 on Schick items, get $10 ECBs. If I only spend $24.58, they will still grant the ECBs even though I am a little under the $25.
I did two separate transactions. First transaction:
(3) Windex Touch Ups $4.99 each
I used (1) Buy One Get One Free Manufacturer Coupon (also known as MQ). I also used a $1 off one internet printable coupon (also known as IP). Because I'm purchasing three items, I can essentially use three coupons. The BOGO coupon deducted $3.99 (maximum value) along with that $1 off one coupon. So here's the math:
(3) Windex Touch Up @ $4.99 = $14.97
Minus $3.99 from BOGO coupon and minus $1 from internet coupon = $9.98. The CVS promotion offers $5 ECBs if you spend $15 on Windex products. Since I spent $14.97 (they will still grant your ECBs even though I'm $0.03 shy) I earned $5 ECBs.
(2) Aveeno Shave Gels $4.99 each
Minus $2 off two MQ = $7.98
CVS promotion: Buy two men's shave gel products, earn $5 ECBs
(2) Schick Hydro Men Razors $12.29 each
Minus (2) $4 off one internet printable coupons (Again, because I bought two items, I can use two coupons)
Total: $16.58
CVS promotion: Spend $25 on Schick products, get $10 ECBs.
My total before coupons: $49.53
Every Thursday, CVS will email a CVS coupon. This week, I received a 20% off my entire purchase coupon. CVS coupons are not manufacturer coupons, so you can "stack" these coupons together! This CVS coupon deducted $9.54.
Total after 20% off: $39.99
Total after manufacturer coupons: $25.00
Remember, I had $25 ECBs from the week before. So this transaction cost me absolutely nothing out of my pocket.
In this transaction, I earned $20 ECBs.
Second Transaction: I have $20 ECBs to spend from transaction 1
(2) Garnier Fructis Shampoo/Conditioner $2.99 each
Minus (2) $2 off one = $.99 each = $1.98 total
(2) Skinny Cow candies $0.79 each
Minus BOGO coupon = $0.79 for both candies
Earn $0.79 ECBs when you buy one
(2) Scope To Go $2.57 each
No coupons used - Earn $4 when you buy 2
(1) Gillette Venus Razor $6.99
Minus $3 off one = $3.99
Earn $5 ECBs when you purchase one Gillette razor
Total before coupons: $19.69
Total after coupons: $11.60
Used $10 ECBs from first transaction. Paid $1.73 (tax) out of pocket.
Earned $9.79 in ECBs. I will have a total of $19.79 in ECBs for next week's deals.
Whew! There is a lot of math dealing with coupons and deals. However, I believe it is totally worth it. So every Saturday, I'll type up my game plan. Every Sunday, I'll share with you all the deals I purchased. Thank you so much for following along and ask any questions in the comments!!
-Christina Andrade
-Christina Andrade