Explain to me how u get free stuff from CVS

**lovestoread** · 05-12-2008, 07:02 AM

....... i shop CVS, and do okay, but you all seem to get tons of stuff for free or even sometimes get money back. Do you have coupons for all the items in their flyers or how do you do it?????

I rarely find good coupons for much, only getting them in the Sunday paper, occasionally in a magazine......

Thanks

Sheri

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-12-2008, 07:44 AM

You use that rewards 'card' from CVS.
Each time you shop.. they swipe and out comes coupons and 'bucks' to use.

**gatorx** · 05-12-2008, 07:57 AM

You can plan ahead and look at future weeks ads online.

Every month, in addition to the normal weekly ad, they put out a special book of deals (not sure what it's called sorry). In there it lists ongoing deals for the entire month. So this month, there are about four or five free after extra care bucks deals. They each have a limit....in the past it used to be 5 and this month you can only get 3 items.

This month I got free after Extra Care Bucks (ECBS) 3 adidas deodorants, 3 toothbrushes, 3 toothpastes. There was also a metal toothpick contraption I wasn't interested in buying that was also free too. Then you can "roll" those ECBS into the weekly deals that come up that generate more ECBs, or you can use them to purchase other items in the store (excludes alcohol, gift cards, cigarettes, and rxs).

I use another forum for my CVS deals research, but I don't know if I can post it on here since I'm new. Feel free to PM me. The forum I use is honest, Ive seen other forums post about how to buy gift cards and restricted items and "scam" CVS and I don't agree with that.

LOL I have to go get ready for work at Walgreens now!!

**POOTERSMOMMY** · 05-12-2008, 11:22 AM

berryshaker, I've wondered the same thing. I very seldom shop at CVS, as in our city they are very expensive - even with sale prices. I can almost always buy a similar product else where for much less. I have a CVS card, but I have never received a coupon for money back or anything like that. I have never understood how people do this either.
Glad you asked, I've been thinking about posting the same question.

**pkellyc** · 05-12-2008, 12:15 PM

I go once a week. Initially I spent about $20 on the ecb's. Every month there are products that will give ecb's so that the items are free. CVS will take any kind of mfg coupon. So for example if toothpaste is $1.99 and you have a $1 coupon for that brand you will get and ecb for $1.99 that will print out at the register. Therefore you will actually make a dollar after all is said and done. There are people who will use more than one card and make a lot of trips to CVS in one week to make money with these ecb's. I am not one of them. I am also on the up and up with these deals. I am a diabetic but there are only so many blood monitors that I need. I refuse to buy them to make money. Part of my being frugal is not liking waste. So anything that I can not use or give to someone who will does not get bought.

**latierra84** · 05-12-2008, 02:29 PM

I made this post a while ago, I didn't get my whole purchase for free but did get the total "out of pocket" amount down pretty low.

[ame="http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93027"]CVS Deal - Paper Towels, Dish Detergent and Excedrin - Frugal Village Forums[/ame]

if you have specific questions, ask away.

for instance, this month the AquaFresh Extreme Clean toothpaste is on sale for $2.99, and get $2.99 in ecb's (Extra Care Bucks, which are good as cash on your next purchase). Use the ecb's to purchase other items that also generate ecb's and you're rolling the money. You can also use manufacturer's coupons on items that generate ecb's, and you end up making money on the deal.

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 05-12-2008, 03:08 PM

It does take some money out of pocket initially, but once you get past that, you should be able to roll your ECBs each week. The first time you shop, make sure you are purchasing items that will generate ECBs. Then the next week use those ECBs to purchase new products that are on sale and offering ECBs. Combine the sale stuff with coupons to get better deals. Eventually you will build up a good supply of ECBs and be able to buy pretty much whatever you want for free. I print a lot of coupons off the internet.

For example I had $25 in ECBs today and went shopping. I bought $16 in duracell batteries, using a $3 off $15 purchase coupon as well as2 $.75 coupons, bringing my total to around $12. I paid in ECBs and got back $5. I needed batteries. Then I did another transaction and bought 3 Adidas deoderants for $15, used a $3 off $15 purchase and paid $12 something in ECBs and received back $14.97 in ECBs. I walked out with $22 (I didn't use all of what I brought in). I hope this makes sense. It does take planning and buying things that you might not need right now, but will eventually use in order to produce ECBs. I have a very good stockpile of almost all toiletries thanks to CVS. Out of pocket expense for the last 6 months is about $40 and we have used a lot of what I have bought and I give stuff away too. It was hard for me to figure out, but worth it in the end!

**Marie78** · 05-12-2008, 03:51 PM

CVS is out of the way for me, but we have Rite Aid down the road from us and they do FREE AFTER REBATE items FAR for short. I just look through their weekly circulars (they are online) and you can see what is FAR for the week, I think they even have the FAR monthly flyer online. You can enter your receipts right online, so you don't have to mail anything in.

The store limits you to how many of one item will count for FAR for your household per month. You have to pay for the FAR items initially, but then once your rebate check comes in the mail you have your seed money back and you can put that towards future FAR items. I also use coupons on FAR items, which means I am making money on the items I am buying

. I did this a lot in March and April and I have $25 cash from the FAR checks I received, I plan on putting that money towards my future FAR items, I stashed it away for just that purpose.

**anna021** · 05-13-2008, 09:06 AM

If you go over to moneysavingmom.com, she explains it beautifully for you, and gives you all specials for the week, and even links to the coupons that go with the sales. Very helpful. As for myself, I been rolling over the same 24-42 ECB's since last November.(black friday) Really gets to be quite a game. I haven't paid for any HBA products, milk, soda,or snacks since then. Well worth a try.

**lovestoread** · 05-13-2008, 11:13 AM

Thanks everyone...hopefully I can figure this out!!!!

**DaisySue** · 05-13-2008, 12:39 PM

I signed up for a card, got some really good deals, but didn't keep my receipt. Does that mean I have lost my rewards? I thought it was all done electronically on the card?

**VanVivCam** · 05-13-2008, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by DaisySue

I signed up for a card, got some really good deals, but didn't keep my receipt. Does that mean I have lost my rewards? I thought it was all done electronically on the card?

I have the exact same question. I hardly keep receipts after I check to make sure the pricing is OK. What is the point of the card if your "money" is not on there?

**Hannahs mom** · 05-13-2008, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by DaisySue

I signed up for a card, got some really good deals, but didn't keep my receipt. Does that mean I have lost my rewards? I thought it was all done electronically on the card?

At the bottom of the receipt it prints off a Extra Care Reward "ticket" You don't have to keep up with the receipt, but ECB's aren't saved in a computer system or anything so you HAVE to keep the bottom part of your receipt.