CVS - How it works

I though I would try and map out each store and it policies and how to get the most for your dollar.

CVS in one of the easiest and straight forward stores to coupon at.

They have a reward program in the form of an Extra Care Card which is card you sign up for and slip on your keyring. Every time you make a purchase have it scanned and you will earn Extra Care Bucks or ECB's for certain items.

The easiest way to do this is to search the Sunday CVS insert and see what items will be producing ECB's that week.

Buy using coupons on items that will produce ECB's not only can you get an item for FREE but you can actually get overage to put towards other items.

ECB's will print out at the bottom of your CVS receipt - keep them and use them as money towards you next purchase. The expiration date for ECB is usually 2 - 3 weeks from them being printed.

For Example:

Dove Deoderant is on sale for $2.99; when you buy one you recieve @2.00 fo ECB's back to be used on your nexxt purchase.

So you pay $2.99 but have a ECB worth $2.00 that you can use on your next purchase.
Out of pocket for that transaction is .$2.99
Like getting it for .99 when you use the ECB on the next transaction.

Here is how to sweeten the deal by using a coupon:
Buy one Dove Deodeartnt on sale for $2.99 - use a manusfacturers coupon for .75 and receive a $2.00 ECB.
Out of pocket for this transaction is 2.24.
Like getting it for .24 when you use your ECB on the next transaction.

Sweeten the deal furthur by using a high value coupon.
Buy one Dove Deoderant for $2.99 - use a $2.00 coupon and get a $2.00 ECB.
Out of pocket for this transaction is. 99 and get a $2.00 ECB.
Like getting it for free with $1.01 Overage to go towards your next purchase.

May be a bit confusint at first - the ost important thing is that you do not realize your true savings until you spend the ECB that you earned.

In other words, if I did the above transaction and bought the deoderant for $2.99 with no coupon and received the ECB for $2.00 but then never spent is, it is like I soent $2.99 and never received any savings.

The great thing about CVS is that there are no restrictions on using ECBs so if you wanted to roll them; do the above transaction get a $2.00 ECB and then in a seperate transaction buy another one use the $2.00 ECB to pay for art of the Dove deoderant and pay only .99 out of pocket, and recceive another $2.00 ECB for the next transaction.

A great site to check out is http://Iheartcvs.com it has the latest deals and previews for the next for weeks upcoming ads so you can get your coupons ready.