CVS

CVS can be a goldmine for savings if you know how to work the program. Getting an extra care card is essential. Scan it every time you go, even for prescriptions. Coupons and ECB's (earned cash back) print on the bottom and they are key to great savings.

You get ecb's when you purchase certain items. Check the sales flyer and get the monthly ecb flyer, which is found in stores (it's red). I then carefully look it over and decide what I need or could use and I pay special attention to what generates an ecb.

For example: a few weeks ago this was the deal--buy huggies wash 3.49 and get 3.49 in ecb's. There were also a few coupons available.

3.49
-1.50 coupon
-.50 coupon
-------------
1.49 out of pocket
3.49 ecb

then you can take your 3.49 ecb and purchase another wash --paying nothing out of pocket (and use coupons if you have more) and get more ecb's.

The idea is to build up your ecb stash and use them with a $3/15 coupon and pay little to nothing out of pocket. It's complicated at first but really fun when you get the hang of it. I have been doing this for almost 2 months now and bought over $160 worth of products but only paid about $15 out of pocket. Check out www.moneysavingmom.com for a great cvs 101 lesson. That's were I started out.

Now for this week. I didn't see a lot of ecb deals this week that were of interest to me.

ECB deals:
trident gum--buy 2 get $1 ecb--use bogo coupon (where available) or .50/1 and get 2 packs for $1 this week and $1ecb.
Clean and clear-buy $15 get $5 ecb--use multiple $2/1 coupons from www.coupons.com

Non ecb deals:
bogo Revlon lip/nail--$2 coupon in paper
bogo Maybelline mascara
***bogo L'oreal shampoo/conditioner--use bogo coupon in paper in get 2 free!
bogo Colgate toothpaste--use with 1.50 coupon and get 2 for .50!
glade flameless candle 7.99--use $5/1 from www.coupons.com and $3/1 from paper--FREE!
Right Guard deodorant-1.99 use $1/1 only pay .99!