Being new to our site can be overwhelming. This email is to help explain how to CVS. You can save hundreds to thousands of dollars by learning how to CVS, so we want to help others as much as we can. So, here it goes:
The idea behind CVS is to pay as little as possible out of pocket to maximize your savings.
Step 1:
Sign up for a CVS card. It is just like a loyalty card. The cashier scans your card each time in order to receive rewards which will be explained later. You can receive a card at the store or you can get them online HERE.
Step 2:
Take the CVS flyers (there’s a weekly and monthly booklet) to figure out your deals. Some of the items will be listed as 1 item with so many Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) back. For example, purchase Garnier Nutrisse Shampoo or Conditioner for $2.99 and receive $2.99 ECBs back (Limit 6). There is a limit on these deals, so be sure to pay attention to those. You will pay $2.99 out of pocket (oop) plus tax and then receive a “coupon” which are the ECBs of $2.99 attached to your receipt. Don’t lose this! It acts as a coupon for the next time you purchase something.
Step 3:
Add a manufacturer coupon with your deal. Take the Garnier deal mentioned above. Garnier usually has coupons for $1/1 Shampoo or Conditioner. Use this coupon in conjunction with the deal in the flyer. So, purchase the Garnier at $2.99, but use your $1/1 manufacturer coupon. Pay only $1.99 oop and receive $2.99 ECBs to use on your next transaction. So, in essence you’ve made $1.
Sometimes CVS releases their own coupons, so the next scenario will explain what to do when you have those.
Step 4:
When using a CVS coupon in conjunction with deals, the coupons are usually for $3/$15 or $4/$20. They are usually emailed to you, so be sure to sign up for email alerts on their site. Your total of the items to use these coupons can be $15 (or $20 depending on the coupon) before taxes and before coupons. Awesome, huh? So, using the deal above, the limit is 6. You could purchase 6 Garnier Shampoo/Conditioners at $17.94. Hand your CVS coupon for $3/$15 to the cashier. We are now at $13.94. Hand the cashier 6 Garnier manufacturer coupons (if you have 6- it’s not always possible) to the cashier and receive another $6 off. We are now at $7.94. You pay $7.94 oop and receive $17.94 in ECBs back. You’ve made $10 off this deal. Then, take the $10 and use it on your next purchase to “roll” the ECBs as you can receive ECBs off your next deal.
Just take note that you do not receive cash back for your ECBs, so make sure your items total at least the amount on the ECBs or you are not using them to their max potential. Also, note the expiration date on the ECBs so that you are sure to roll them each time. They are usually good for about a month.
This can be really confusing. We post the deals each weekday usually on Sunday and to get started it’s usually easiest to follow someone else’s deals that match the items you would purchase. You can find all of our deals HERE for practice. Be sure to email or leave us a comment if you have any questions!