Teach me your ways: CVS

[llori7]

I keep reading about everyone saving so much money at CVS. Please teach me, so I can save money! I just started getting the Sunday paper, so I hope to be able to start using coupons. Tell me all I need to know about CVS and/or using coupons!! I need to get to Disney in 2011!!!!!

Thanks so much!!!!

 

[richmond282]

I'm fairly new to CVSing too, so I probably can't help you as much as some others, but i'll try.
1. Do you have a CVS rewards card? That's the first step.
2. Scan your card at the price checker machine. It will print out CVS coupons for various things. Keep scanning until it tells you there are no more coupons available. You can stack store copuons with manufacturer's coupons. So 2 coupons for 1 item.
3. Match the sale items with coupons you have to save the most money. Look for items that have ECBs (Extra Care Bucks). These are in store credits that will print on your receipt for use on a later purchase.
4. The goal is to "roll" them or use ECBs to pay for items that you are going to get more ECBs on.
5. You can look on any number of money saving blogs (I like hip2save.com) to help with matching up the sales with the coupons. Some even have links to printable coupons.

Good luck! HTH!

 

[jls886]

Start following Flakypuff's threads and ask any questions there, they're super friendly! Thats where I learned what I know about CVS'ing and now I'm hooked! Here is this week's:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2469986

 

[llori7]

I don't have a card. I will get one. I never shop at CVS, but I want to "learn" how to. Thanks so much!!!

 

[maggiew]

This is a decent week to start. You can buy one Old Spice body wash for $4 and you will get back $4 ECB. Then use that $4 ECB to buy another Old Spice body wash and get back another $4 and owe no money (except maybe tax) out of pocket. (Limit 2 for this deal). If you have the buy one get one free body wash coupon from the paper a couple weeks ago, you can buy both body washes at the same time, it will cost you $4 out of pocket and you will get back $8 in ECB.

Use these ECB to buy something else that will get you more ECB. The goal is to get back as many ECB as you use in the transaction while paying as little out of pocket as possible.

Look at the CVS thread that was posted before. People post coupon match ups and scenarios to help.

Maggie

 

[ah1126]

Check out www.southernsavers.com . There is some great info on there! It is fun coming home with a bag full of goodies that you paid less than a dollar for!


Been to Twinsburg! Stopped on our way to Sea World years ago with some friends that are twins!

 

[eatatmidnight]

Try this link. This lady has a method for teaching people how to do well at CVS. It is clearly written and very helpful.
http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/cvs/195681-seedladys-wagon-train-guide-newbies.html

 

[3boymthr]

As PP definitely follow Flaky's thread. It's how I got started and I'm an old hand a couponing.

For CVSing, I did have to throw out the old axiom of only cutting coupons for things I need, take a new tack and cut every coupon possible and save it for CVSing as you never know when you will make money with a really good coupon.

For example, I don't normally buy Glade, never, ever use it. But last week it was on sale for 83 cents/can. I had coupons for $1 off one and $2 off 2. I used these coupons and made 17 cents per can which cut the cost on my kid's vitamins. I'm giving the cans to a girl at work who loves Glade.

Also check out iheartcvs.com. She has some great tips on there, lists the coupons that the scanner is printing each week and she has available a spreadsheet that you can dowload that will help you plan your trips so you have the least amount of money OOP.

This is a decent week to start. You can buy one Old Spice body wash for $4 and you will get back $4 ECB. Then use that $4 ECB to buy another Old Spice body wash and get back another $4 and owe no money (except maybe tax) out of pocket. (Limit 2 for this deal). If you have the buy one get one free body wash coupon from the paper a couple weeks ago, you can buy both body washes at the same time, it will cost you $4 out of pocket and you will get back $8 in ECB.

Use these ECB to buy something else that will get you more ECB. The goal is to get back as many ECB as you use in the transaction while paying as little out of pocket as possible.

Look at the CVS thread that was posted before. People post coupon match ups and scenarios to help.

Maggie

Be aware that some CVS stores will apply full price not sale price on the B1G1 coupons so in the scenario above, if for example, you have a $4 ECB you may end up with $1 too much in coupons. CVS does not allow you to split the difference on ECB and save the rest for later, so you then will need to grab a pack of gum or bar of candy or bottle of soda, etc. to cover that extra $1 in overage or else have $3 in OOP costs. Try to go for something that's 99cents as most stores will round that out. I generally go for the grabbing the gum as my kids will use it anyway.

And while YMMV - there is also a coupon out there for buy a Bodywash get a free deodorant. I've been able to use this in combination with an Old Spice offer before; slightly different offer (deodorant) so I bought two deodorant, used the B1G1 Deodorant coupon and the B1 Bodywash G1Deodorant coupon.

 

[llori7]

Thanks for all the tips! Looks alittle confusing, so I guess I have my work cut out for me!!

 

[jls886]

Its really not as hard as I thought it would be, but I'm probably not as hard-core about as some people are either. I made a couple of purchases in the beginning totally out of pocket, just to get some ECBs. Now, I use those ECBs only when I'm getting ECBs back.

So if Colgate toothpaste is $3 with $2 ECB back, I would use $2 ECB to pay and then pay $1.00 out of pocket. Then I am given $2 ECB for the purchase to replace the $2 ECB used. That is just my personal preference, I just use them when I'll be getting the same amount back, and I've really liked my method.

 

[3boymthr]

It is confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it it's really easy. And it's definitely easier than say walgreens or rite-aid.

Definitely take a look at Flaky's thread. Look at prior weeks as well to get an idea of how things work.

One of the trickiest things I find is that in order to keep things rolling I have to buy ECB items even if I don't need them that week so I have ECB to roll forward for the items I do need.

As MaggieW stated the Bodywash is the best way to start if you're looking to get the most bang for your buck, but if you don't want to do that deal, do you have any items in this week's flyer that you are interested in buying? If yes, post them and we can try to help you come up with trip scenarios.

 

[llori7]

Thanks! I currently don't have any coupons (new to this whole thing). Should I wait till I get a supply of coupons before I start my "CVSing"? Or are their still deals w/o coupons?

 

[CoP Luv]

I love weusecoupons.com. Click on the Forums link at the top and it will take you to a list of MANY stores (including CVS) where you can find out great deals at a lot of the stores you already shop.

I am not super hard core, but I have done pretty well!

Good luck!

 

[blana]

Also, if you have a reusable bag, bring it with you & get a bag tag ($1). If you bring your bag w/ the tag every time you shop, after every 4 trips, you get $1 ECB. So, after 4 trips, you've paid for your investment in the tag & after that, it's free ECB's.

 

[jls886]

If there are things you need anyway, I'd go ahead and buy them and save the ECBs. Otherwise, look for free items until you have coupons.

For instance, like maggiew said, there is a good deal this week on the Old Spice and Gilette body wash. They cost $4 but you'll get $4 in ECB back on your receipt, and you can do it twice. So you will spend $4 (or maybe $8 if you do it twice) out of pocket, but you'll get that same amount back in ECB to use in the future.

So it does take an out of pocket investment at first, but once you get your ECBs rolling, you'll hardly spend anything out of pocket. If I were you, I'd do that deal, and then use those $8 in ECB in the future on products when you'll be getting ECB back in return.

 

[llori7]

If there are things you need anyway, I'd go ahead and buy them and save the ECBs. Otherwise, look for free items until you have coupons.

For instance, like maggiew said, there is a good deal this week on the Old Spice and Gilette body wash. They cost $4 but you'll get $4 in ECB back on your receipt, and you can do it twice. So you will spend $4 (or maybe $8 if you do it twice) out of pocket, but you'll get that same amount back in ECB to use in the future.

So it does take an out of pocket investment at first, but once you get your ECBs rolling, you'll hardly spend anything out of pocket. If I were you, I'd do that deal, and then use those $8 in ECB in the future on products when you'll be getting ECB back in return.

Can you buy 2 at one time? Or does it have to be 2 different transactions?

 

[3boymthr]

Thanks! I currently don't have any coupons (new to this whole thing). Should I wait till I get a supply of coupons before I start my "CVSing"? Or are their still deals w/o coupons?

You don't have to wait until you have coupons. They help, but aren't required to get started. Plus you can get coupons today by going to afullcup.com, coupons.com, redplum.com smartsource.com and/or the website of the item you wish to buy.

For example, do you like SOBE lifewater?

If yes, it's on sale this week B1G1 Free. if you go to www.sobe.com there is a link at the bottom of the page to print a a B1G1 Free coupon for Sobe Lifewater. After installing the coupon drivers you should be able to print two of these coupons. Take them to CVS and go home with 4 free SOBE lifewaters.

 

[jls886]

You can buy 2 at one time, but when a deal has a limit that is more than 1, like this one, the ECBs print together. So if you buy 2 at one time, an $8 ECB will print on your receipt. If you buy 1 at a time, you'll get $4 ECBs on your receipt each time. And be aware that when you spend ECBs, you must spend the whole amount or you lose it. So if you aren't sure that you'll use an $8 ECB in one trip, you probably want to do the purchases separately.

And if you do decide to do them separately, you could do this:
Buy 1 for $4.00 and get $4.00 ECB.
Turn around and buy the second one for $4.00 and use the $4.00 ECB from the first one to pay for the second one.
You are then left with $4.00 ECB to be used in the future.

 

[llori7]

Is there a printable coupon anywhere for the B1G1 Bodywash? I can't find one anywhere.

 

[3boymthr]

Is there a printable coupon anywhere for the B1G1 Bodywash? I can't find one anywhere.

Unfortunately, no. This was in the P&G brandsaver at the beginning of the month. But if you want to PM me your address I can send you one as I have several.