If you downloaded the $1.50 Colgate coupon from the Aetna website, you are out of luck. This coupon has been “recalled” by the manufacturer and they will no longer redeem them.
Read the full story on I *heart* CVS.
I’m a huge fan of I *heart* CVS. I appreciate the integrity of the site and know I can trust them to be 100% honest and forthright about the coupons and information on their site.
Kudos to I *heart* CVS for posting this coupon recall.
At CVS, you can use four types of “coupons” to reduce your total at the cash register: ECBs (Extra Care Bucks), $x/$xx coupons (dollar off coupons), CVS register tape coupons and manufacturer coupons.
The CVS “dollar off” coupons are usually $2 off of $10 purchase, $3 off $15, $5/$20, etc. Most websites will refer to them in a shorthand of $x/$xx when referring to using whatever dollar off coupons you have or specifically $3/$15.
Where do you get the $x/$xx coupons?
Does it matter which order I use the coupons?
Yes! You want to get the most money off your bill as possible and there’s a science to doing so. I find it easiest to explain this by using scenarios.
Let’s say you have a total of $20.01 before any coupons. In your hand, you have a $3/$15, $4/$20, $1 ECB, $5 ECB, $10 ECB and $5 in manufacturer coupons.
$x/$xx First
You want to get the biggest discount possible using your dollar off coupon. These coupons are based on the total *after* all over discounts. If you gave this coupon last, you wouldn’t qualify because your total must be more than $20 to use the $4/$20 coupon. If you used the $5 mfg qs first, your total would be $15.01 and you would have to use the $3/$15 coupon which means you lose out on a dollar of savings. Never leave a dollar on the table if you can use a coupon!
For a time, you could stack these coupons, i.e. use the $4/20, then use the $3/$15. This was abused by so many people that CVS has cracked down on how these coupons can be used. There are some store managers who will let you use more than one with this stipulation: your total bill must equal the total of the coupons. Translation — to use the $4/$20 AND the $3/$15, your total bill must be $35 or more ($20 + $15). This is not commonly done though and I ask, beg, please, implore that you do NOT look for ways to abuse these coupons.
Manufacturer/Register Tape Coupons Second
Now that you’ve used the CVS dollar off coupons, go ahead and hand over all your manufacturer and CVS register tape coupons. You want to use as many of these as you can to reduce your overall total.
ECBs Last
ECBs expire so you need to use them in a timely fashion. When handing over your ECBs, always use the oldest ones first so you don’t let them expire.
It helps if you think of ECBs as cash. I sure don’t want to part with any more cash than I need to and I feel the same way about ECBs. Therefore, you want to use as many of your coupons as possible to reduce the amount of ECBs you use.
Whoops! I have overage!
Ahh, the joys of overage! Overage means you have done an excellent job of working your deals and the store “owes” you money. Unfortunately, they don’t pay you. You need to find some filler items to bring your total to over $0.00. This is how I ended up with so many notebooks for free. I was -$4 and needed to bring my total up so I grabbed four $1 notebooks.
In the scenario above, if you had used the $10 ECB you would have had an overage and would have needed filler items. If the $10 ECB expired that day, I would use it and find some filler items. But if you have a week left until it expired, I would save it for another trip.
Confused?
I’ve tried to explain this as simply and straightforward as possible but it does take a bit to wrap your brain around it. Just remember: $x/$xx first, coupons second, EBCs last.
Have questions?
Leave a comment and we’ll help you as best we can!
Coupon Bootcamp II: CVS has been scheduled for a class of 15 Richmond Mommies. I’ll be discussing the basics of creating your deals, coupon hopping, ECBs, how to stack your manufacturer coupons, CVS $X/$XX coupons and ECBs to generate the greatest discount, fillers and when you might need them, tracking your savings, and resources for finding the deals.
*WHEW* That’s a lot to cover in just 2 1/2 hours!
What are your essentials of CVS shopping? What are the tips you think the most important? The tools or websites you can’t live without?
If you were lucky enough to get $1 off 1 coupons for Dawn in your Sunday paper yesterday, CVS has Dawn 2 for $2 with $1 ECB…so if you have the mfc, you pay nothing out of pocket and make one ECB on every 2 bottles you buy. *Money Maker* …Do the dance….
Also, there were coupons for buy one fabric refresher spray, get one air effects spray free. If you buy 3 refreshers for 3.99 each, you can get three air effects sprays free, plus you’ll get $5 ECB’s back. If you have coupons for the three fabric refreshers, you can sweeten this deal even more.
Finally, Olay skin care is a good deal. $10 ECB when you buy $20. Remember, the $20 is before coupons at CVS!!! The cheapest combination I could work out was to buy 4 Ribbons body wash, use the $2 off coupons for an out of pocket of $15.96 and get $10 ECB back.
Now. If only I’d get off my computer and go shower and clean my house!
I absolutely love CVS. I save so much money by shopping there. Most of the time I pay pennies for $10s and $20 worth of products. The key is to combine the sales with coupons on products that generate Extra Care Bucks (ECBs). For those who aren’t familiar with ECBs, they are a type of coupon that prints at the end of your register receipt and can be used as cash for future purchases.
There are couple tools I use to help me work out my deals and keep track of my savings. The first is the CVS Calculator. It’s a spreadsheet created by BigJimSlade on A Full Cup.
Tonight I was working out my deals using the spreadsheet. Based on all the items I wanted to purchase, it was going to cost me about $65 out of pocket (OOP) even with all my ECBs and coupons. So I broke it down into smaller “trips”.
Using the spreadsheet, I was able to recalculate all my purchasing into three different trips, all in less than 15 minutes or so. With my less than stellar math aptitude, it would have taken me forever to figure it all out on my own. But I probably would have just given up! In the end, I was able to make almost all of the same purchases (some items weren’t in stock) and spend about $3 OOP! I just LOVE that spreadsheet!
The second tool, and one I’ve only recently started using, is the CVS Savings Calculator available for free download at I *heart* CVS. Now, I’ll admit — this is the type of tool for someone who is incredibly OCD about their CVS shopping and savings. But I love it! It gives me a type of validation that tickles me every time I open that spreadsheet!
Between the two of these spreadsheets, you will be able to plan your shopping trips and keep track of your overall savings. When people ask me if it’s worth the time I put into researching my shopping, I pull out my savings spreadsheet and let them see for themselves. The numbers speak for themselves:
Oh how I love CVS! Even my three year-old son knows that Momma gets the best deals at CVS. Here are the deals to add to your list this week… and get ready to do the Profit Dance!
CVS brand sheer bandages (40 ct) - $1.99 generates $1.99 ECB (limit 2 but some people are getting up to 5 ECBs)
Chex Mix - On sale for $1. Printable $1 coupon.
Brut deodorant - Antiperspirant is $3.19 or $3.39 depending on the type you purchase. $3 ECB. $1 off coupon (limit 5) PROFIT DANCE! 
Listerine Smart Rinse - $3.49 generates $3.49 ECB, $1 off coupon (limit 2) PROFIT DANCE!
OralB Cross Action Two-Pack toothbrushes - $1.99 ea, generates $1.99 ECB. (I went to two CVS stores and could not find these. They were completely out of stock.)
1 Revlon nailpolish - $3.99
2 CVS kids sunblocks - $5.99 ea
2 bags Hershey kisses - $1.88 ea
4 Sierra Mist 2-liters - $1.59 ea/ BOGO
BOGO - 2 Sierra Mists for free
$5/$15 CVS coupon
2 Sierra Mist BOGO coupons for $1.69 ea ($.10 more than the sale price!)
$2 Revlon coupon
$10.97 ECBs
Total OOP: $1.56 paid with gift card
Gift Card Balance: $16.73
ECBs Earned: $3 and $10/$50 coupon
How’d you do? Post it on your blog and add your name to the linky widget below!
How could we have a holiday without going to CVS?
Check out Sierra Mist…BOGO, limit 4….BUT WAIT! Add in this coupon and you gotta lotta free soda…or pop…whatever you call it in your neck of the woods. Just grab 4 Sierra Mist 2 liters, you should get all of them for the price of one!
How about we make a little money buying Revlon nail polish?!
$3.99 with card, 3 ECB’s, so only .99 after ECB….BUT WAIT! Grab your inserts from 5/18 and snip out your $2/1 on any Revlon Colorstay or any Color Cosmetic product…now we have .99 PROFIT!!!
*Pardon me while I do the profit dance*
Finally, get ya some CHEAP French’s mustard or Kraft Barbecue Sauce…only .66 each! I may also be able to find some q’s on these…I don’t like Kraft bbq sauce, so I’ll be looking for mustard to see if I can turn Hubster’s sandwiches into MONEYMAKERS! (Besides, I’ve been busy buying KC Masterpiece for .67 a bottle at Albertson’s. They are on sale 3/$5, or $1.67 each, use a .50 mfc from the 4/13 Red Plum and if your store doubles…you pay .67 each. The Sweet and Tangy is delish.)
CVS prices are good only on Sunday May 25th and Monday May 26th…so hurry on in to stock up!
Yes, it’s time to do the “I made money at CVS” dance again!
Many area’s received $1/1 coupons in their 5/18 inserts for Tums QuikPak, PLUS, the ad also included a mail in rebate for the same! These are free after ECB deals this month so…..MONEY MAKER!!!
I hit CVS last night. Here’s what I bought:
Hershey Symphony chocolate bar $.99
Ajax dish detergent $.77
Colgate Max Burst toothpaste $2.99
Hershey Kit Kat pack $.99
3 Aquafresh Advance $2.99 ea
2 Hershey Bliss $4.29 ea
—————————-
Total $23.29
Coupons:
BOGO Bliss up to $3.99
BOGO Bliss up to $3.99
3 Aquafresh $1 ea
Colgate $1
$10 ECB
Total OOP $1.17
Total left on gift card: $18.29
Total ECBs earned: $15.97
- $5 for Hershey
- $8.97 for Aquafresh
- $2 for Colgate
Total PROFIT!!! ($15.97 - $1.71) $14.26
Go do your CVS shopping for the week and post your results here! Leave a comment and you’ll be able to add your url to the Mr. Linky widget.
