CVS

Couponing at CVS – What you need to know!

I’ve avoided CVS for years. If I need something quick at a drugstore, I tend to swing by Walgreens or Rite Aid. Little did I know, I was missing out. CVS offers a great rewards program, called Extra Bucks. These are rewards that print out on the end of your receipt when you purchase specific items, and can be used on future purchases. They also have a coupon machine in their store that prints out CVS-specific coupons!

What are Extra Care Bucks? Similar to the way Target does their $5 gift card deals, CVS has a promotion called Extra Care Bucks. Extra Care Bucks are earned when you purchase specific items each week, and they’re printed out on the end of your receipt. You can then use this as a discount off of your next purchase. Example: Buy a Colgate toothpaste, get $2 ECB. You purchase the toothpaste, pay full price, but get $2 ECB on your next offer. The next day/week, you go in and purchase something else. You can use the ECB from your prior purchase to save $2 this shopping trip. Some people just continuously roll their ECBs.

How do I get ECBs? Each week or month, CVS will promote certain items that trigger an ECB when purchased. Different amounts apply to different items, and they are specified throughout the store and in the weekly ad.

How many times can I do each deal? There is a limit on how many times you can earn ECBs on each product. Generally the ad limits you to 1 or 2.

Can I use coupons, too? Absolutely! You can use manufacturer coupons and/or CVS store coupons.

What are CVS store coupons? CVS store coupons can be printed right there in the store, from their red coupon machine. Just scan your Extra Care card, and it will print you some coupons! You can only try every few days, though, so if you go every day, you’ll get a message to come back later.

What is “rolling” ECBs? Rolling ECBs just means you use and gain ECBs every transaction. So if you get $4 ECB from a transaction, you’ll use them on your next transaction that will also generate ECB’s, and then you’ll use them to get more ECB’s. Instead of paying out of pocket for everything an accumulating $30 worth of ECB’s, people like to “roll” them so that it’s less out of pocket.

Can I save my ECBs? Of course, you don't have to spend them right away. However, they do expire in 30 days, so don't forget about them!

CVS also offers other rewards to their Extra Care card holders, such as 2% rewards! For every dollar you spend at quarterly CVS, 2% is given to you in ECB to use - awesome!

When shopping at CVS, be sure to use your coupons in this order!
CVS Store Coupons
Manufacturer Coupons
ECB's (comes right off your total)


My advice @ CVS is to start small. Pay OOP and receive ECB for an item, then use the ECB on your next purchase - I hardly ever make a huge trip at CVS!

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the CVS Coupon Policy!