CVSing

It's late, but according to my clock, I still have about 5 minutes to get this posted before I broke my promise to let you know about the great deals that I have been getting (like walking out today with just under $100 worth of product for just over $6)!

So what is "CVSing"?  Well, it all involves "ECBs".  ECB stands for "Extra Care Bucks".  These are coupons that print at the end of your transaction when you buy specific items and have them scan your ECB Card (which is free to get and no different than any other annoying little card hanging from your keychain for the supermarket, Petco, etc).  ECBs are no different than a CVS Gift Card, with the exception of not being able to use them to buy stamps, gift cards, cigarettes, etc (the usual exceptions).  They are "CVS cash".  Each Sunday when the CVS flyer comes out, they tell you which products generate ECBs.  There is also a flyer each month with additional products that will generate ECBs for the entire month.

The trick is to use coupons, both manufacturers and CVS ones and "stack them"....and to try to continue to use the ECBs on items that give you the same amount of ECBs back.  In some cases, you can actually end up actually making money on the transaction.  If you aren't clipping coupons from the Sunday paper, Parents/Weight Watchers/First magazines, then you need to start today.  Don't skip the ones for products you might not use (although I skip pet food ones)....you might be able to make money using those coupons and then you can just donate the product to a food bank, etc

Let's use Jenefur as an example.

Jenefur recently went to CVS and bought 2 toothbrushes that generated the exact amount back in ECBs.....she has $9.98 in ECBs.

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that Jenefur and her family brush their teeth...and while she doesn't need 5 tubes of toothpaste today, she and her family will eventually use 5 tubes.   One of the March Specials is on 4.0 oz Colgate Toothpaste...they each will generate $2.99 of ECBs back (limit 5)

However, throw in a couple of coupons on that toothpaste?  They will still generate the $2.99/toothpaste ECB, but if you use a coupon to reduce your out-of-pocket cost, you actually end up coming out ahead!  

I started out 3-4 weeks ago spending $17 out-of pocket on a purchase that generated the exact amount in ECBs.  Since then, I have purchased over $200 worth of product...things I usually use anyway (toothpaste, shampoo, etc) using those same $17 in ECBs to purchase other items that generated ECBs.  When I was able to use coupons with the purchases, I have either got "pretty good deals" to be "fanfuckingtastic deals" or just got the stuff for free. 

But where do you find all these coupons?  If you are like me, your Sunday paper often has shitty coupons.  This is where online coupons become invaluable.  I'll talk more about online coupons tomorrow, but they are essential. 

I could start listing deals and scenarios for Jenefur to start increasing her ECBs, but the truth is - I didn't figure this out on my own....nor do I have time to sit down with my coupons and the circulars each week.  This is where the follwing website come in handy:

MoneySavingMom (my absolute favorite)

iMommies

These are 2 sites that outline each deal, where to find the online coupons, etc.  MoneySavingMom even has a "CVS 101" post that can be found here.  These sites do all the work...all you have to do is follow the links to print the online coupons, look for & clip coupons in your Sunday newspaper, and reap the benefits.

Tomorrow I'll talk about the grocery side, my coupon binder and some other great sites.

And then we will return to dick & fart jokes........