CVS 101

CVS 101.

Where and How to Begin?

Getting the CVS deals can seem like a daunting task when you look at all the information at once. After reading this guide and doing a few transactions, you will be just fine.

Where to begin?

Step 1: Get a CVS card.

You can do this in store or online. I suggest in the store because you can begin to use it immediately. If you do it online, they will mail it to you. Always have them scan your card 1st, because all of the sales and ECB deals are linked directly to your card.   

Use your card for every transaction, even if it not a sale item. They tally your spending for quarterly ECB distribution.

Step 2: Register it online

By doing this, you will receive emails and regular mail from them, often containing coupons or special sales.

Step 3: Figure out what an ECB is.

An ECB is an Extra Care Buck. This is CVS “money”. It comes in the form of a coupon on the bottom of your receipt. It is used as cash when checking out. I have also received ECB’s in the mail and email.

You will also receive ECB’s quarterly based on your spending for that quarter. They will automatically print out at the end of each quarter.

There is usually a limit on how many times you can use an ECB deal. It will be posted in the ad.

ECB’s do have restrictions. You can not use them on alcohol, stamps, tobacco. The restricted items are listed at the bottom of the ECB.

Step 4: What coupons does CVS use?

CVS accept Manufacturer coupons (MC or MQ) and CVS store coupons (SQ). You can use 1 MQ and 1SQ per 1 item. This is called stacking. You can also use a $/$$ coupon. For example $5 off a $20 purchase.

Sample scenario:

You have 5 items

1. Scan your card.

2. Ring in your items

3. Give them the $/$$ coupon 1^st

4. Next, give them SQ and MQ

5. Finally, give them ECB’s that you are paying with.

This will maximize your savings.

Step 5: Rolling ECB’s:

This simply  means that you have an ECB to use from a previous transaction.  You then buy an item that is offering an ECB for buying it.  You buy the item, pay with your ECB and you get another ECB back.

There are 2 main benefits from rolling your ECB’s

      1.       You will pay less out of pocket

      2.       Your ECB’s will have later expiration dates as you roll them, so it is less likely that it will expire before you use it.

Rolling is a great way to get inexpensive and free items. With very little out of pocket (oop) This will help you build a stockpile for the things your family needs and uses every day.  Sometimes, you may end up buying something that you do not necessarily need or will use just to gain the ECB and often times a “money maker”. Why? Would you buy something that you know that you will not use? Because it makes you an ECB to roll into items that you do need. What to do with the unneeded item? DONATE IT!  I am able to donate a ton now because of coupons and ECB’s without spending any more money  than I would have before.  

When we say free, it is not entirely free in that you paid for it out of pocket, however, once you have paid for the item and then received the ECB that you then use to purchase another item. Therefore, you always want to use your ECB’s you earned to roll in to another ECB qualified purchase that will earn you the same amount or more.

In some cases, the item you buy is less expensive than the ECB awarded. This is what we call a “money maker”  For example. You buy shampoo for $3.00,and use a $1 MQ and , you get a $4.00 ECB. You pay OOP $2.00, but you get a $4 ECB. This was a $2.00 Money Maker (MM) 

Step 6: RAINCHECKS

I had never got a rain check until I started couponing. Now, I regularly get them. At CVS they DO NOT EXPIRE. If an advertised item is out of stock, they will give you a rain check. A rain check is a piece of paper with the sale price, the quantity that you want to get when it becomes available again and they will also write down if it was eligible for an ECB. 

To redeem a rain check. When you find the item in stock again, simply pick up the product, take it and the rain check to the cashier and they will price adjust the item to the sale price stated on the rain check. They will also manually enter any ECB that you are to receive.

Why a rain check?

Rain checks are great to get so that you do not miss out on a particular great sale or ECB award. And often times, you will have a rain check and a better coupon for the item will come out to make it an even better deal.

Step 7: Filler Items

Sometimes, you will need to add a small item to get your total over the amount of your ECB. These items are called Filler Items. My favorites are the $0.33 caramels at the register. This will often bring my total high enough so that I do not have a negative balance. Other great filler items are candy bars or travel section items. CVS will not ever pay you in cash to take their products.    You can leave with a 0 balance though.

For example:  You buy 3 items and it comes to $5.50. and  you have a $7.00  ECB. You now need a filler item so that they do not adjust down the ECB and you lose out on that extra $1.50. It is the use it or lose it rule.

Step 8: Stockpiling at CVS:

It is easy to get a small stockpile going while shopping at CVS using your ad match ups with coupons and rolling your ECB’s.  Now I am not talking about massive stockpiles that over run your entire home and life. (I consider that hoarding) When I use the term stockpile I stock enough product in mine for about a 4 to 6 month supply for my family.  And to make it to my stockpile, it must be free or under $1. You will come up with your own standards and rules on how much of a product and how much you are willing to spend on it.

A stockpile is necessary because it assures that you will never have to pay full price for any basic and non perishable item again. Stockpiles take time to build. It will not happen overnight.  Take your time, find the right deals it will grow. Paying retail will be a thing of you r past.

Remember, with coupons, sales and ECB’s, building a stockpile will be easier than you ever thought and you will spend pennies on the dollar. GUARANTEED.

You are now thinking that you have NO ROOM for a stockpile. I will go out on a limb and tell everyone who is reading this and tell them they DO have room. It can be under your bathroom sink, in your garage, in a linen closet, under the bed storage container. There are endless possibilities. It foes not have to be rows and rows of shelving like on TV.

 

Step 9: Multiple Transactions

At CVS it is often necessary to do a couple of transactions to get the most product for less out of pocket (OOP).  Because you can get an ECB for and item and then on your nect transaction use it to lower the next transaction.  This is rolling your ECB.

For example:

You are buying :

Shampoo @ $2.99 and get $2.99 ECB

Detergent @ 6.99 and get $5 ECB

Hair Color @ $7.99 and get $ 7 ECB

If done in 1 transaction, you would pay $17.97 plus tax and get back 14.99 in ECB’s.

If done in 3 transactions:

Transaction #1 Buy Shampoo: OOP is 2.99 and get 2.99 ECB back

Transaction #2 Buy Detergent 6.99 (use (2.99 ECB from transaction 1) OOP is 4.00 get $5 ECB

Transaction #3 Buy Hair color 7.99 (use 5.00 ECB from transaction 2) OOP is 2.99 get 7 ECB

Scenario 1= OOP 17.97 and 14.99 in ECB

Scenario 2=OOP 9.98  and   $7 ECB

Yes, in this scenario  equals the exact same, but this is where your  personal preference comes into play.  And 9 out of 10 times, you will also have coupons to sweeten these deals. Do you want less OOP right away or in the long run?  I prefer right away, but it is an individual choice. And remember, most of the time you would also have a MQ or a SQ to go with these sales so your OOP would be even lower.

If you do multiple transactions, use your manners with fellow shoppers. I do my 1^st transaction and then go to the back of the line if there is one. I also let people go ahead of me if I see that they have less than me.

 

Always go to the register with an approximate total in your head. This way if it is off, you can figure it out immediately instead of later which is much harder for you and the cashier.