CVS 101
CVS is the best way to get free/cheap items. In my opinion you pay less out of pocket and there are fewer rules to their reward program.
Extra Care Card:
You will need to go in store and sign up for this card. You fill out a small form and they give you a card right there. You will need to get this card before you start doing any deals!
Extra Care Bucks or ECB:
This is essentially CVS cash. You will know when an item gives you this by simply looking at the ad or the price sticker. It will clearly state if you will receive ECB on the item or not. You are allowed to use ECB’s on anything in the store. ECB will print at the end of your receipt.
Extra Care Coupons: This is a CVS coupon. Most of the time you can get these through the CVS Coupon machine, at check out or online. CVS coupons can be “stacked” meaning you can use one CVS coupon and one Manufacture coupon for the item being purchased.
How to “roll” ECB’s:
This is how you get the best savings on products at CVS. “rolling” is a term used when you use ECB’s to purchase another item that will give you ECB’s back. When you first start out, you will have to pay cash initially but as long as you continue using you “CVS money” you will pay little on your next transaction. Here is an example:
Huggies $8.99 Get $3 ECB back
Buy (1) Huggies at $8.99
Pay$ 8.99
Get back $3 ECB
=5.99 for Huggies after ECBs
Hold on to all ECB’s!
You go back to CVS and buy another item that gives you back ECB’s:
Doritos 2/$4 get back $2 ECBs
Buy (2) Doritos chips = $4
Use $3 ECB (from Huggies transaction)
Pay $1 out of pocket; get back $2 ECB.
Now if you have coupons to use, this makes the deal even better! It’s as simple as that!
Some tips:
Always hit the coupon machine and scan your card. You may get coupons to use for your purchase.
You can use manufactur coupons on ECB purchases, this helps to get the lowest OOP as possible!
If you plan to use a ECB at checkout, make sure your total is over the ECB amount because you will not get cash back for the ECB
Example: You have a $10 ECB but your purchase is only $8, you will not get back the $2 in ECB. It dies and goes to ECB heaven. 
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My Name is Josie and I live in sunny Southern California and I am a stay at home mom to three beautiful boys. We all know that living in California is a task of it's own and saving in California IS possible! I started this blog mainly to share all the awesome deals out there and show others how to save in any area of life. Even though you may make the commitment to be frugal and pinch your pennies doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice!
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