Tips for CVS Shopping

In case you have never had a conversation with me about couponing, I just gotta say to start with that I LOVE CVS!! They are undoubtably my favorite drug store because they have terrific deals and its so simple to learn the "ins" and "outs" of the Extra Care Buck (ECB) system. If you are just starting out with couponing, I would strongly suggest that you start with one grocery store and one drug store and work on those until you get some experience "under your belt" and CVS would be my reccomendation for that drug store to start with. Here is a little "CVS 101" for you all:

~ CVS uses a "reward type system" called Extra Care Bucks (will refer to as ECB from here out) that prints out on your reciept. In order to "earn" these ECB, you must have an Extra Care card (like your grocery member cards - Advantage, VIC, Bonuscard). So the first thing you want to do is sign up for a card - you can do that in store your first shopping trip and use it the first time to start your ECB earning. The ECB are earned by purchasing the items that are specified ECB deals - some will be current for a week, others for as much as a month.

~ Each week in the CVS sale ad, there are item that are identified as ECB deals. They will be an item you buy for $xyz amount and then earn $xy back on making it "like paying" $z for item. So, the idea is to buy the item that are "FREE" or really close to free after ECB and then "roll" the ECB into something else. What is "rolling" you say? Rolling means taking the ECB you earned from buying one ECB deal item and using ito to buy another item that will be earn you more ECB so you will always have ECB to pay for your next purchase - ECB is really alot like "free money" that you can use in place of your "real cash money"

~ There is no limit to the # of ECB you can use to pay for your shopping trip at CVS until you get your subtotal down to just the tax on your purchase. Then you have to pay tax out of pocket (at least this is what I have found, some states are different I think depending on how sales tax works).

~ You can use coupons towards ECB items you are purchasing to make your ECB you earn back cause the item to be free or even a money making purchase.

Here is my trip to CVS this week (I had ECB from last week to spend - but if you were starting with $0 ECB, you can break down each item in its own transaction - I will show that too):

ECB Deals*

*1 Colgate Total toothpaste $2.99
*1 Clairol Hair Color $5.99 (yes, now you all know...)
*2 Pantene shampoos @ $2.99 ea = $5.98
1 box pantiliners $2.49
1 pk Easter stickers $0.25 (to keep the 3yo happy while we shopped - had stickers from head to toe by the time we were home - but it works)

Total $ 17.70

subtracted at the register:
$1 off Colgate coupon
$3 off Clairol coupon
$3 off 2 Pantene coupon
$2.49 CVS printable coupon for a free box pantiliners (got this from the machine in the entrance of CVS where you can scan your Extra Care card for coupons - I get some really good ones by doing this each time I shop)
Brings my total to : $ 8.21
Then I had the following ECBs from last week:
$3; $1; $2; $2
which I used for a total of : $0.21 plus tax of $1.29 = $1.50 out of pocket for my $17+ purchase and I had 3 X $2 ECBs print out for next weeks trip.

Here is a Newbie CVS transaction idea:

Buy 1 Colgate Total  @ $2.99
Use a $1 off coupon (I got mine from my April All You mag - but think there is another out there that came in the Wednesday freebie paper in Hend Co last week or maybe a printable one online.
Pay $1.99 + tax and get
$2 ECB back

Buy 2 Pantene Shampoo/conditioner @ $2.99 ea
Use a $3/2 coupon that came in Sundays Proctor and Gamble coupon insert = $2.98
Use your $2 ECB and pay $0.98 + tax and get
$2 ECB back ($1 for each Pantene)

Buy 1 Clairol hair color for $5.99
Use a $3 off coupon from same insert as above = $2.99
Use your $2 ECB and pay $0.99 + tax and get
$2 ECB for next week

Total out of pocket: $3.96 + tax - $2 ECB for next week = $1.96 + tax for about $15 worth of stuff

~ Use the CVS/Walgreens/Rite Aid deals each week and you will always have plenty of free toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, shave cream, razors, mouthwash, deodorant to use and many other items for just pennies!

~ Last tip: Pick up a "Green Tag" at CVS and put it on a reusable bag and each time you shop, use your own bag and have them scan your tag along with your Extra Care card and purchase and you will earn $1 ECB every 4th trip. I have earned $1 each month by doing this. Not much, but it paid for those stickers I bought up there....;o)