CVS Couponing Explained
Here is an explanation on how you can get amazing deals at CVS every week.
First, you will need a CVS ExtraCare card
Ask a cashier, or sign up online.
If you’re excited to get started, ask for it at the store, otherwise you’ll have to wait for it to arrive in the mail.
Everytime you purchase items at CVS you will need to have the card scanned.Next, earn EB’s (Extrabucks)
EB’s are earned through shopping promotions, such as “Buy XX, receive $YY in eb.” you will see these promotions in the monthly and weekly ads. The eb print at the end of your receipt – clip them and keep them as carefully as you would cash. (I keep a small accordian file just for CVS EB’s and coupons I use for my trips)
My tip here would be if an item is free after EB’s then buy it whether you need it or not. (the idea is that it is free and you will roll you EB’s to the next week when there is something you will need or use)
- The required amount to receive the eb is calculated before coupons.
- You do not have to buy all the products for that particular promotion in the same transaction or at the same store. (Ex. buy $10 worth of Pantene products get $5.00 in EB’s you can buy a shampoo and come back later and buy more)
- EB’s can be used to purchase nearly anything in the store. (excluding prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, and Gift Cards)
- You cannot get change back when you spend your eb’s. they can be entered as less than their face value (if your cashier knows how), for example if your total comes to $1.97 and you have an eb for $1.99 that you would like to use, and you don’t mind losing 2 cents
- EB’s expire 4 weeks from the date they are printed
- EB’s are linked to your card (and the last four digits of your card will print on the EB’s register tape)
Couponing @ cvs
CVS accepts manufacturer’s coupons, including ip (internet printable) coupons. CVS also issues their own store-specific coupons. you can get these by email or printed out at the end of your receipt (these are referred to as CRT’s – cash register tape).
Both EB’s and CRT coupons are linked to your CVS account, which means you cannot use them without the same CVS card that earned them. So coupons (like $3 off $15 or more purchase) will beep and the cashier will receive a message that the coupon was not issued to your card.
The CVS coupon policy allows for you to use of one manufacturer and one CVS coupon on the same item. This is one of the reasons I love CVS so much. Often you can get items for free or make money when you combine a CVS item coupon and/or a manufacturer’s coupon on an item that gives back EB’s. (Ex. I bought Revlon Mineral makeup for $9.99 with a CVS coupon for $1.00 off and a manf. coupon for $1.00 off and earned $9.99 back in EB’s, so I made two dollars on this transaction)
