Coupon Class – Lesson Two – All About CVS

 CVS is my favorite store! My husband is always amazed at how much I can get at CVS for FREE or almost FREE. 

1. If you don’t a CVS Extra Care card – get one! You can only access the discounts with this card. You can get one at any CVS store or you can sign up online here. If you get one at the store make sure you go online here and enter your information. CVS will e-mail you coupons if you do this. You can also check your ECB’s status.

2. ECB stands for Extra Care Bucks. These are CVS reward dollars that you can use on your next purchase at CVS. They print at the bottom of your receipt.

3. For every 2 prescriptions that you fill at CVS, you will receive $1.00 in ECB’s (extra care bucks). These print quarterly on your receipt or at the red coupon centers. 2% of your paid purchases are also rewarded to you as ECB’s every quarter.

4. One manufacturer coupon can be stacked with one CVS coupon.

5. Get a green bag tag. These cost $1.00 to purchase. Attach this tag to a reusable shopping bag and bring both of them every time you shop at CVS. For every 4 times that you scan this tag, you earn $1.00 in ECB’s (extra care bucks). The initial cost of this tag is earned back after 4 uses. Only one scan of this tag will count per day.

6. Check your receipt! Sometimes coupons are printed on the receipt.

7. Look for the red coupon center in the store and head to it first thing every time you enter CVS. Scan your card to get coupons. Often you will receive coupons for free items or a few dollars off of a purchase.

8. Most sales at CVS involve ECB’s (extra care bucks). These bucks are CVS reward money. An example of how ECB’s are issued is: buy a certain toothpaste that costs $2.00 and earn $2.00 in ECB’s. You would pay for the toothpaste in full. However, attached to your receipt will be $2.00 in ECB’s that you can use next time to pay for another item. In essence, you have just received the toothpaste for free. The neat thing about ECB’s is you can combine them with a coupon. For example: buy a certain toothpaste that costs $2.00 and use a manufacturer coupon for $1.00, and earn $2.00 in ECB’s. You would pay CVS $1.00 for the toothpaste and $2.00 in ECB’s would print with your receipt. You have just made a profit of $1.00! This situation can get even better if you have a manufacturer coupon and a CVS coupon.  For example: buy a certain toothpaste for $2.00 and use a manufacturer coupon for $1.00, use a CVS coupon for $0.50, and earn $2.00 in ECB’s. You just made a profit of $1.50!

9. ECB roll. That means you can immediately use them to pay for your next purchase even if it’s on the same deal. Make sure you know the limits for each ECB offer. Often there is a limit of one deal but sometimes there are higher limits.

10. ECB’s cannot be used to pay for prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, money orders, gift cards, or stamps.

11. ECB’s and coupons are tied to your card. That means, you cannot use someone else’s ECB’s or their coupons with your card.

12. If CVS is out of an item that involves earning ECB’s ask for a rain check. Rain checks never expire and you will receive the advertised price and the ECB’s offered in the sale when you eventually purchase the item.

13. ECB’s usually expire 30 days after they are issued. The date will be clearly printed on the ECB’s. Note: My local CVS has allowed me to use expired ECB’s. I’m not guaranteeing your CVS will do this but if you ever let any expire it’s worthwhile to ask them if they will still take them.