CVS ExtraBucks... Where to Get 'Em and How to Earn 'Em - PART I

Extra Care Bucks at CVS is one of my favorite programs! Today's post will be how to earn Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) which we can use to get free/severely discounted products.  In the next blog, I'm going to walk you through step-by-step and show you how to USE them... But first things first!  :) Hope you have fun!

1. You will need to get yourself a CVS card. If you don't already have one, next time you go to the store, request one at the register. You will need to fill out a quick form, and then you get a key ring tag and a regular card. I highly reccommend that you use your "Coupons Only Email" that we created in Coupons 101 Part Two.

2. Every time you go to CVS, be sure to stop by the Coupon Machine and scan it. Little coupons will print out. Continue trying to scan until the screen reads: "No More Coupons for Today; Try Again Tomorrow." The coupon machine looks like this, and it can also be used as a price checker:

TIP: There are usually TWO per store. Sometimes the one in the front of the store isn't working, although this rarely happens. For example, it might be out of paper. If you run into this, try the one in the BACK of the store, which gets used less often!

The ExtraCare Coupons the machine will print look like this:

Sometimes, the coupon is for a dollar amount or percentage off off any (e.g., $4 off a purchase of $20 or more; 30% off your total purchase; $1 off any deodorant, etc.). Other times, it will be for a dollar amount off of a particular item, as pictured above -- $1 off Belvita Breakfast Biscuits.

TIP: About a third of the time, in my experience, if it is for a particular item, the coupon will cover the ENTIRE COST OF THE ITEM -- meaning you get it for FREE!! That's right, Belvita Breakfast Biscuits cost $.99 -- making this a free item for me to try!

Did I mention that I LOVE FREE?!? So, be on the lookout for these coupons. Even if its something you might not normally buy, you might be able to get some freebies out of it. I always check the price of the item in the store just to see if it will be a "freebie." I have discovered several items in the past few months that I LOVE that I might never have tried if I didn't get it as a free sample.

GOOD KARMA TIP: Additionally, sometimes the items are things I might not need or want. However, I will DONATE them to a food pantry/other charity. Seriously, if it costs you NOTHING, try to remember that there are people out there who need food, toiletries, and other items. Please consider getting these FREE things -- even if you don't want them -- and donating them. There are many people out there in need.

3.  Get yourself a "Green Bag Tag" and always bring it with you to CVS along with your CVS card.  I attached it to my key chain.  Bring a reusable shopping bag, or an oversized purse with you too.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY A REUSABLE BAG FROM CVS.  ANY REUSUABLE BAG WILL WORK FOR THIS PROGRAM.  This little gizmo earns you 1 free ExtraBuck for every four uses.  And hey, recycling is AWESOME for the environment.  Half the time, the cashier will try to give you a plastic bag, anyway, LOL.  But, let's keep our landfills as free of plastic as we can... and that $1 in ExtraBucks can add up and also come in handy!  Free "money" is always good! 

TIP:  You can use your Green Bag Tag once per day, but ONLY once per day!  

Now that you have a little information on the basics of the program, see Part II, where I will walk you through step-by-step through using your ExtraBucks and how they can get you free or severely reduced products!