CVS for Beginners
CVS is a great store for beginners to start couponing. If you do not have an Extra Care Card, the CVS loyalty card, first thing you should do is sign up for one. You can do this online or in store, it is best to do it in store, if you plan to shop this week, because you get it immediately.
When you look at the CVS ad, you will see deals like “Buy 2 Lotions and receive $2 in Extra Care Bucks” You will need your CVS card to get these deals. Once you get your card, scan it at the red box inside the store. There is a picture below of the red box. Store coupons will print once you scan your card which you can stack with manufacturer coupons. Sometimes red box coupons are $5 off $15 in lotions; you can use these types of coupons on any lotion and stack them with your manufacturer coupons and others are for specific items.
Another great aspect which makes CVS shopping easy is your purchases will “roll” meaning you do not have to buy all your items in one transaction to “get the deal”. For example this week there is a deal which you receive $5 when you spend $15 on Scott products. If today you go and spend $5 on Scott products and tomorrow you spend $10, you will receive your $5 Extra Care Bucks on your second purchase. Your Extra Care Bucks print on your receipt when you have reached the promotion requirements. The requirements are also tracked at the bottom of your receipt which lets you know how much more you need to spend to receive your extra care bucks.
Extra Care Bucks can be used to purchase nearly anything in the store. (Excluding prescriptions, alcohol, gift cards, lottery, money orders, postage stamps, pre-paid cards and tobacco products) they also cannot be used to pay the tax on a transaction. Your Extra Care Bucks do expire, usually in 4 weeks. You want to “roll” your Extra Care Bucks to get the most advantage out of them. You will have none to start with, so it will take a trip or two to build some bucks up. For example if you do the Scott deal and earn $5 extra care bucks, you want to roll them before they expire and earn as many as you spend. So next week, if there is a deal on Revlon and you earn $5 extra care bucks, spend your $5 extra care bucks and earn $5, this is referred to as “rolling”. Extra Care Bucks are like a gift card, they take the amount of the extra care bucks off your CVS purchase total.
You cannot receive money back when you use your extra care bucks. So if your total is $4.00 and you have a $5.00 Extra Care Buck, buy a candy bar or something, because they will not refund the extra $1.00.
It also tracks on the bottom of your receipt how many deals you have left. For example if a deal is limit 2, the bottom of your receipt will tell you how many deals you have left.
This should get you started on your CVS shopping, if you have any questions feel free to post them in our Facebook group. Here are some great deals, which start today, to get you started. If you need help reading the lingo click here for a cheat sheet.
Start small, pick one or two of these deals for your first trip, just to get your feet wet. Gradually increase the size of your trips once you feel comfortable.
Click on the green links to print coupons for the deals below.
CVS deals which start 3/6/16 – 3/12/16
Colgate Total Toothpaste 4-4.2 oz, Max 6 oz, & 2-in-1 4.6 oz $2.99 get $1 Extra Care Buck (limit 2)
Buy (1) Colgate Total Toothpaste 4-4.2 oz, Max 6 oz, & 2-in-1 4.6 oz $2.99 get $1 Extra Care Buck (limit 2)
Print your (1) $2.00 off one Colgate Total Smart White Toothpaste
Pay: .99¢ – get back $1 Extra Care Buck
Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick ~ get $2.50 Extra Care Bucks when you buy 2 for $5.50 limit 1
Buy (2) = $5.50
Use (2) Print your $0.50 off any Speed Stick Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Pay $4.50 ~ get back $2.50
Final Price: $1 each
Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner, & stylers $2.99
OR use (1) $2/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product – 3-6-16 RP ( first numbers are the date of the insert the coupon can be found in, RP =Red Plum insert)
Pay: .99¢
General Mills Cereals, Lucky Charms cereal 11.5 oz, Reese’s Puffs 13 oz, Cheerios 8.9 oz, Cocoa Puffs 11.8 oz, Cinnamon Toast crunch 12.2 oz, & Cookie Crisp 11.25 oz. $1.88
Buy (2) Cereals = $3.76
Use (1) Print your $1.00 off 2 General Mills Big G Cereals
Pay: $2.76 for two ~ $1.38 each
Hershey’s singles 1.3-2 oz, Egg, or Bunny ears .95-1.55 oz & Cadbury egg 1.2 oz or Mini eggs 1.5 oz $.99
Use (1) SCAN YOUR CVS CARD @ the red coupon printing box inside CVS and this coupond will print ~
-$.74 hershey’s singles 1.3-2 oz, egg, or bunny ears .95-1.55 oz, or cadbury egg 1.2 oz or mini eggs 1.5 oz crt (printing for everyone 03/06-03/12)
Pay: .25¢
Post Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal 11-18 oz $1.99
Print your $1.00 off any ONE Box Post HBO cereal
Pay: .99¢
Purex 43.5-50 oz. $1.99
.50¢/1 Purex Liquid or Powershot Detergent – 3-6-16 RP; Includes 30 oz or Larger Only
Pay: $1.49 each
Good luck! Make sure you post your first haul in our Facebook group so we can celebrate!