Debt Mutiny!

“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.”
Benjamin Franklin

CVS has high prices compared to other discount stores. They do, however, have a very lucrative rebate and loyalty program. CVS’s ExtraCare Program gives you ExtraCare Bucks (ECB’s), which are store credits for purchasing an advertised rebate item. ECB’s print out at the bottom of your receipt, and are available right away. They can be used to buy almost anything in the store (excluding prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, lottery, stamps, gift cards, and money orders).

Almost every week, there are one or two items which are advertised as completely free after ECBs. This means is that you will pay for the item out of pocket and receive an ECB at the bottom of your receipt in the amount of the item purchased. Once you have paid for the item and earned an ECB, you can then use it to pay for the next transaction. Ideally, you should use the ECBs you earned from your last transaction to buy something in the next transaction which will earn you the same amount (or more) of ECBs than you spent.

The goals are:

*to spend as little out of pocket money as possible,

*to buy items offering ECBs in the same amount (or more) as the ECBs spent,

*and to combine manufacturer’s coupons with ECB’s.

By taking advantage of the rebates, coupons, and promotions, you can consistently buy merchandise whose retail value greatly exceeds your out of pocket costs. You will need to spend some initial money to get started. However, you can easily build up a large supply of heavily discounted soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, toothpastes, razors, toilet paper, tampons, over-the-counter medicines, detergents, cleaners, and batteries. Be sure to stockpile only items that your family uses or needs. You are no longer saving money if you buy products that you won’t use.

The first thing you need to do is sign up for an ExtraCare card. You can do this either in-store or online. Next, go through the CVS flyers. There are weekly deals, which are advertised in the weekly fliers, and monthly deals, which are advertised in the monthly ECB booklet. You can find them in the Sunday newspaper or on the CVS website.

Look for items that you NEED, WANT or WILL USE that are generating ECBs this week. Make a detailed shopping list, including exact item description and size. Make sure you have a manufacturer’s coupon for every item on your list. You are allowed to use one ECB and one manufacturer coupon per item. Be careful to read the small print on the coupons for specific conditions regarding brands, sizes, and dates.

When checking out, give the cashier your ExtraCare card before they start ringing up your transaction. After the items are scanned, give the cashier your coupons then your ECB’s. Your new ECBs will print out on the bottom of your receipt. Extra Care Bucks expiration dates are usually indicated on your receipt. Be sure to sign up for the email list, to receive XXdollars off/XXpurchase coupons that you can print out and use in their stores.CVS also offers you 2% back in the form of Extra Care Bucks for all of your purchases (with the same product exclusions). The 2% Extra Bucks rewards are added to your account quarterly.