Before you begin Step 7, check out:

~Step 6: Saving at the Grocery Store


Drugstores are known to be more expensive than the grocery stores or chain stores but they have fantastic customer loyalty programs that can save you a bundle. They are actually one of my favorite ways to save money, you just need to know how.

Over the next three weeks I will be teaching you the Drugstore Game. The drugstores are a little more complicated than what we have learned so far, but once you learn how you will find that the savings are worth the extra effort. This week we will be taking a look at CVS and learning the ins and outs of their customer loyalty program. So let’s get started.


GETTING STARTED

1. Sign up for an ExtraCare Card – To get all of the great deals that CVS offers you need to have and ExtraCare Card. You have two options in obtaining a card. The first can be done by visiting CVS.com and creating an account. Your card will arrive in about 2-3 weeks. The second option is to sign up in the store. You will receive your card immediately and you won’t have to wait to begin saving. *If you sign up at the store be sure to register your card on line so that you can track your savings.

2. Weekly Sales – CVS publishes a weekly store ad, these can usually be found in your Sunday paper, online at CVS.com or you can pick one up at any CVS store. Every week I post a CVS Shopping List with highlights of the best deals for that week. *The weekly ads can vary by region.

3. What are ExtaCare Bucks (ECB’s)? – They are an incentive that CVS offers on certain products. When you purchase an item that offers ECB’s they will give you money back, in the form of an ECB, that you can spend on your next purchase. ECB’s will print at the bottom of your receipt. These are not coupons, CVS treats them like cash. So be sure to put them in a safe place because if they are lost they cannot be replaced.

4. How to earn ExtraCare Buck (ECB) – There are several different ways to earn ECB’s.

• You can earn 2% on every purchase that you make in the store or online. Once every three months an ECB will print out at the end of your receipt.
• You can earn one ECB for every two prescriptions filled at CVS.
• You can earn one ECB for every 4th time that you use your Green Bag Tag. The Green Bag Tag can be purchased for $0.99, you simply attach it to your reusable shopping and bag and CVS will scan the tag each time you use your bag.
• The best way to earn ECB’s is by taking a look at the weekly ad or the CVS Shopping List. Look for items that will generate ECB’s when you purchase them. The ones that save you the most money are the items that are FREE after ECB’s.

5. Turn your ECB’s into a profit – This can be achieved by using manufacturer, CVS and/or $/$$ coupons on items that are offering ECB’s.

Example:

Dove Body Wash, $5.29 (buy 2)
Use: (1) B1G1 FREE (mfg coupon); plus
(1) $2/$10 Body Wash purchase (CVS coupon); plus
(1) $3/$10 any CVS purchase ($/$$ coupon)
Earn: $5.00 ECB’s wyb 2 Dove products
Final Price: $0.29 for 2
Profit: $5 ECB - $0.29 = $4.71

6. Rolling your ECB’s – Once you have earned a few ECB’s you can start “rolling” them. What this means is that you will use the ECB’s that you have earned to purchase new items that offer ECB’s. By “rolling” your ECB’s you will significantly reduce your out of pocket expense week after week. *Purchasing items that you don’t really need to earn the ECB’s is a common practice. There are several things that you can do with these unwanted items you just need to think creatively. You can donate them to homeless shelters, food banks or even nursing homes. They can also be sold at garage sales, you could use them in gift baskets or you could use them as stocking stuffers.


MORE WAYS TO SAVE

1. Price Scanners – When you first enter the store look for the Red price scanning machines. These machines not only scan the prices of the items but they also issue coupons when you scan your ExtraCare card.
2. Rain Checks – If the store is out of an item be sure to ask one of the associates for a “Rain Check”. The great thing about CVS is that they will still give you the ECB attached to that product after the promotional period is over if you have a “rain check”. *Rain checks are a great way to save more money. The “rain checks” do not have an expiration date. So you can hold on to them until a coupon for that product becomes available, thus saving you even more money.
3. CVS Coupons – Occasionally CVS will publish coupons. These coupons can be found at CVS.com and in coupon booklets located in various sections of the store. *When new booklets become available you can learn where to find them by checking out my CVS posts.
4. Peelie Coupons – Keep your eyes open for Peelie coupons, these are coupons attached to products.
5. Trial Size Items – CVS has a large selection of trial size items and a lot of times you can get these items for FREE when you use a coupon. *Make sure that the coupon does not state “excludes trial size items”.
6. Competitor’s coupons – CVS accepts competitor’s coupons. This is a great way to maximize your savings even more.

LET’S GO SHOPPING

1. Get Ready to Shop - Sit down with the weekly CVS ad and/or my weekly CVS Shopping List and create your own shopping list. Then gather the coupons that you are associated with the items. *I also bring a calculator and some back up coupons just in case an item is out of stock and I have to do some last minute changes.

2. Multiple Transactions – To get the most bang for your buck you’ll want to do more than one transaction. Why? So that you can maximize your savings on the $/$$ CVS coupons and to “roll” your ECB’s. Look at the Dove example that I gave you. This could be your first transaction. In the second transaction you could use the $5.00 ECB that you earned to maximize the savings of your second transaction. *When doing multiple transactions be sure to have your coupons organized by transaction, this will make the check out process easier.

3. Presenting Coupons – There is an order that you should present your coupons in when checking out in order to maximize your savings.

1. Scan your ExtraCare Card.
2. $/$$ CVS coupons (ex. $5 off $10 purchase).
3. Manufacturer’s coupons.
4. CVS coupons
5. ECB’s*

TIP 1: CVS treats ECB’s like cash however, they will not give you change for them. So, make sure that you use them to their fullest. One way to do this is by using cheap filler items to cover the difference.
TIP 2: ECB’s cannot be used towards tax. Tax is an out of pocket expense.

4. Check your Receipt – Double check your receipt to verify that your ECB’s have printed. If there is a problem it is much easier to resolve it before you leave the store.

I have given you a lot of information and it may seem very overwhelming but don’t give up. If you have any questions I am here to help you get started, just send me an email or leave a comment. Once you have mastered CVS you will be amazed at how much you have saved. *Take a look at your CVS receipt you will see a section that shows your year to date savings, it is exciting to watch this number grow week after week.

TIP: Before moving on to the next lesson I suggest spending some time mastering CVS. Once you have master it, then move on.

Good Luck and remember I am here to help you!


Next Weeks Lesson: Step 8: Saving at Walgreens