How to play the CVS Game (9/15/2008)

>> Monday, September 15, 2008

As I mentioned below if you don't need certain items and are not going to get them free or nearly free then don't rush out to get the 'deal' because you can do better. Economic Endeavors has made the CVS Game easy to play with her CVS for Beginners. Here is a peek from her blog. I could not say it any better then her. Please click on the title or links in order to see the rest of her blog...there is more to the game.

Here it is, everything you need to know to walk into a CVS store today, pay a few dollars out of your pocket, and be all set up to purchase future transactions in the amounts of $15, $20, $30 or more for less than a dollar out of pocket. Every time.

The key to shopping at CVS is their Extra Care program. When you sign up for an Extra Care card, that card allows you to save money at the store and earn "Extra Care Bucks", or ECBs, on the purchases that generate them. Have the cashier scan your card before every purchase, and these ECBs will print on the end of your cash register receipt and can be used like cash on your next transaction at CVS.

Every month, starting on the 1st of the month, CVS puts out a monthly Extra Care booklet, which you should be able to pick up in your store, usually by the front door. This booklet details all of the items that will generate ECBs that entire month. A different sales ad also comes out each week on Sundays, and has additional ECB offers.

Each month (and sometimes weekly), there are at least a few items that are "free after ECBs". For example, a tube of Colgate Total toothpaste is on sale for $2.99, earning $2.99 in ECBs. That means when you purchase it for $2.99, at the end of your receipt will be a portion that says you earned $2.99 Extra Bucks for purchasing Colgate Total. You cut off that portion of the receipt and save it to use on your next purchase.

Now let's say you had a manufacturers coupon for $1 off of that Colgate Total. You purchase that toothpaste for $1.99, and earn $2.99 ECBs. That's now a one dollar profit.

But wait. Let's also say the limit for the Colgate Total ECB reward is 5. That means you can have $2.99 ECBs print out five times before you have reached your limit. So here's an easy scenario:

:buy 2 Colgate Total toothpastes for $2.99 each
:use 2 $1 off coupons
:pay $3.98 out of pocket (oop) +tax
:earn a $5.98 ECBs

Now you take that $5.98 ECB coupon and do this scenario:

:buy 3 Colgate Total toothpastes for $2.99 each
:use 3 $1 off coupons
:total will be $5.97 plus tax
:pay with your $5.98 ECBs (you don't get money back if your ECB is more than your total. The cashier can adjust it down)
:total will be $0 +tax
:earn $8.97 ECBs.

So there you have it. The CVS game in it's simplest form. Combining coupons with sale prices on items that earn ECBs. And then using those ECBs to purchase items that earn more ECBs (called "rolling" your ECBs), and possibly "growing" them by utilizing manufacturers coupons.

You got 5 tubes of toothpaste and were able to turn an initial investment of $3.98 into $8.97. I like to say that, essentially, CVS paid YOU to take that toothpaste home with you! :)




Here is a Walgreen deal to take note of...

Calling all Walgreens shoppers! What's better than getting free or cheap items at Walgreens? Getting other goodies for purchasing those free or cheap items of course!

Visit Deal seeking mom for the 101 on this great Walgreen's deal. I love getting free stuff!


Like to shop at Walmart then head over to Coupon Diva
...OMG I have never seen shopping quite like this before....I will be checking her blog regularly to see her savings. If the stores shut down she will have enough to last awhile that is for sure.

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